Durham, N. N.  "Spokane and the Inland Empire: History of the City of Spokane
and Spokane County Washington."  Vol. 2.  S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1912.

FREDERICK V. PHINNEY

Frederick V. Phinney, one of the reliable citizens of Coeur d Alene, is the
present incumbent of the office of county surveyor of Kootenai county. He was
born September 5, 1872, at Areola, Illinois, his parents being George B. and
Bessie (Goodall) Phinney. His father was a civil engineer and followed this
calling throughout his life, assisting in the construction of various railroads
in almost every section of the country from Massachusetts to California.

Frederick V. Phinney obtained his education in the grammar school of his native
locality and in the high school of Fort Scott, Kansas, after which he attended
the University of Kansas at Lawrence, that state. He began active work as
levelman in Utah on the construction of what was then called the Utah, Nevada &
California Railroad, but is now known as the Salt Lake, Los Angeles & San Pedro
Railroad. He remained with this company two years when he returned to Fort
Scott, Kansas, where he became assistant city engineer, a position which he held
for several years. In 1899 he went to Wallace, Idaho, and engaged in mining
engineering, continuing in this occupation for eleven years. He then came to
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, in January, 1910, and established himself in the business
of surveying, finding much demand for his specialized knowledge of engineering
and surveying. In November of the same year he was elected to the position of
county surveyor for a term of two years. As a public official he has
demonstrated his ability to serve the public good in a most efficient manner and
to the complete satisfaction of the residents of the county who find him
altogether obliging, and whenever called upon to appeal to his judgment or his
technical knowledge have entire faith in the accuracy of his conclusions. In
deference to his thorough equipment he has been appointed a member of the
examining board of engineers for the state of Idaho. On December 19, 1905, Mr.
Phinney was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Key, a daughter of Thomas Key of
Clarks, Nebraska. They reside in a pleasant home at No. 611 Garden street, Coeur
d'Alene, where they are often the center of a merry group of guests who find
much enjoyment in their cordial hospitality. In Masonic circles Mr. Phinney
occupies an honored place. He is a thirty-third degree Mason, secretary of
Kootenai Lodge, No. 24, F. & A. M., the secretary of all the Scottish Rite
bodies in Coeur d'Alene, and also deputy of the inspector general of the
Scottish Rite of northern Idaho. Socially he finds recreation in the Commercial
Club of Coeur d'Alene in which he is a popular member. He is a loyal friend and
well liked by all who know him for his straightforward, undemonstrative nature,
and the kind spirit which he manifests toward all.

*******************

Submitted to the Washington Biographies Project in July 2017 by Diane Wright.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.