"Seattle and Environs, 1852-1924." Vol. 3.  Hon. C. H. Hanford, Editor. Pioneer
Historical Pub. Co., 1924.  p. 406.
 
HARRY GIBSON BRACE

     Harry Gibson Brace, one of Seattle's prominent business men and
manufacturers, who has achieved success in his line of activity, is a member of
one of the old and prominent families of this state. He has been a resident of
Seattle for more than a quarter of a century and has become widely known both on
the Pacific coast and in the inter-mountain country as an extensive manufacturer
of calendars and other advertising novelties. Mr. Brace was born in Wingham,
Ontario, February 8, 1875, and his parents were Lewis John and Mary (Gibson)
Brace, the former of whom was born in Goderich, Ontario, and the latter in
Ireland. He is a direct descendant of William Brace, who was a resident of New
York state and served as an officer under General Washington at the time of the
Revolutionary war. His son, Bannister Brace, was born in 1764 and removed to
Auburn, New York, where Harvey Brace, the grandfather of Harry G. Brace, was
born. In 1829 Harvey Brace crossed the border into Canada, locating at Toronto,
Ontario, where he engaged in the manufacture of edged tools. Later he followed
the same business in Goderich, Ontario, and was there married to Miss Fischer,
who came of German ancestry. He spent his declining years in Spokane,
Washington, at the home of his son, Lewis John Brace; and died at the age of
eighty-one. Lewis J. Brace was a successful lumberman and contractor,
constructing public buildings, bridges and roads, and he also engaged in the
lumber business. For many years he served as queen's magistrate in the town of
Wingham, Canada, and in 1883 became a resident of the state of Washington, where
he followed stock raising in addition to his operations in connection with the
lumber industry. Through the capable management of his various interests he
accumulated a substantial competence and on his retirement from active business
removed with his family to Seattle.                    
     The public schools of Spokane afforded Harry G. Brace his educational
opportunities. He came to Seattle in 1895 and three years later established the
firm of H. G. Brace & Company, manufacturers and distributors of calendars and
advertising novelties, of which he has since been the sole proprietor. Branch
offices are maintained in Los Angeles, California, and Vancouver, British
Columbia, and Mr. Brace is not only the pioneer in this line of work, but is
also conducting the most extensive business of the. kind west of the Mississippi
river. He is a stockholder in the Metropolitan Building Company and the Western
States Life Insurance Company and likewise has other investment securities and
real estate. He has the executive force, fine perspective and poise of the man
of large affairs and the exercise of effort keeps him alert. Mr. Brace is an
earnest, energetic member of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce and has served on
several of its committees. He belongs to the Rotary Club and has been chairman
of the business show committee and a member of the good roads committee. He is
an enthusiastic automobilist and has motored to places of interest in
California, Oregon, eastern Washington and British Columbia. He is a member of
the Rainier Club and the Ad Club and his church affiliation is with St. Paul's
Episcopal. A man of wide outlook and good judgment, he has recognized and
utilized opportunity, and his initiative, enterprise and ability have placed him
in a position of leadership in his line of manufacturing in the section of the
country where he operates.
     Mr. Brace was married in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, in 1919, to Miss Myrtle
Croonquist, a niece of H. E. Turner, one of the pioneer settlers of this state.
Mr. Brace has a son and two daughters: John Stewart, Myrtle Elizabeth and
Rebecca Ann. Mr. Brace's residence is at No. 1226 Eighth avenue West.


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Submitted to the Washington Biographies Project in July 2013 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.