An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, page 357
	
	
	CHARLES LIFTCHILD, prominent throughout western Washington as a real-estate
man, a member of the firm of Galusha & Liftchild, and now a resident of Spokane,
has been so closely connected with the development of this part of the country,
that to omit biographical mention of him in this work would be to leave it
incomplete. Following is a brief sketch of his life:
	Charles Liftchild was born in New Jersey, in the year 1860, second in the
family of four children of Henry and Sarah (Lastrange) Liftchild, natives of New
York. His father, a prominent commission merchant, died in 1864, and his mother
passed away in 1892. Charles attended Peddic Institute in New York, and, in
1876, came West, his mother and older brother having already located in San
Francisco, and after his arrival there he attended Oakland high school six
months. Then he clerked for a time. In 1878 he went to Tombstone, Arizona, where
he was engaged in business for himself two years, and from whence he went to
Ames, Colorado. At the latter place he mined for a year and a half. His next
trip was made overland to the Black Hills, a distance of 800 miles, on
horseback. Arriving there in the fall, he located a ranch, improved the same,
and also invested in some lots in Rapid City. This was the beginning of his
real-estate transactions. He remained there, however, only a year, after which
he returned to San Francisco and engaged in the manufacture of Magic Soap, in
company with Willard H. Seaton, and continued the same until July, 1888, doing a
good business. They then sold out, and both he and Mr. Seaton came to the Big
Bend country of Washington, locating at Waterville. He then established claim to
a ranch about thirty miles east of there. Returning to Waterville, he invested
in considerable property, started the Waterville Board of Trade, and has since
taken an active part in the development of the town, having been Chairman of the
Emigration Committee all this time.
	October 1, 1890, Mr. Liftchild came to Spokane to take charge of the Douglas
county exhibit at the Exposition, made a unique display, and worked diligently
all the time to show up the Big Bend country. He soon afterward extended his
operations to Spokane, formed a partnership with L. McLain, under the firm name
of L. McLain & Co., and became interested in every town in the Big Bend except
Davenport, and has been active in building up every one. In 1892 his firm
started two new towns, Bridgeport and Northport. He was elected a member of the
Executive Committee to represent the Big Bend country in the State Board of
Trade. At this writing he has an interest in the following towns: Coulee City,
Chelan Falls, Lakeside, Waterville, Almira, Wilbur, Bridgeport and Northport. He
holds the absolute power of attorney of a great many people in all these towns.
He has made maps and written many articles descriptive of the Big Bend. Mr.
Liftchild has seen much of rough life in the West from his early youth, has
grown up with the country and is enthusiastic over its future prospects.
	While a resident of San Francisco, he was married, in 1887, to Miss Jessie
Carter, a stepdaughter of Rev. E.H. Gray, Chaplain of the United States Senate
under President Lincoln. They have had two children, Murcita and Jessie, the
latter having died in infancy. Mrs. Liftchild is a member of the Baptist Church.
	
	
Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in September 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer
	
	
	
	
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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project.  Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.