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"Spokane and The Spokane Country - Pictorial and Biographical - Deluxe Supplement." Vol. II. The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1912. (No author listed.) pgs. 166-168.
W. D. VALENTINE is the oldest continuous box-holder in the Spokane
postoffice, which indicates his connection with the city from early pioneer
times, his residence here dating from 1884. While he has long stood in the
front rank of his profession he has also become a prominent factor in mining
circles and like many of the residents of the northwest has won substantial
and gratifying success in developing the rich mineral resources of the
country.
He was born in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, January 22, 1850, and when
only three years of age was taken by his parents to Ogle county, Illinois. He
was graduated from the Rock River College in 1870 and continued his studies in
the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois, where he won a degree in
1872, further supplementing his more specifically literary knowledge by a
year's study in the Illinois State University, from which he was graduated in
1873. His preparation for the practice of medicine was made in the Chicago
Medical College and in the Pulte Medical College of Cincinnati, completing his
course in the former in 1875 and in the latter in 1877. He next entered the
Physio-Medical Institute in Cincinnati and was graduated in 1880. While
studying medicine he engaged in teaching for a time and was prominent among
its educators who raised the standard of scholarship in Ogle county until the
schools of that county won the gold medal at the Centennial Exposition of
1876.
Dr. Valentine located for practice in Polo, Illinois, where he
remained for two years, and then removed to Lanark, that state, where he
resided until 1884. At that time he came to Spokane and in the intervening
years has ever maintained a foremost position in the ranks of the medical
profession in this city. He was on the high road to prosperity when the fire
of 1889 occurred, bringing to him heavy losses, he worked untiringly and
heroically to save property belong-ing to several of his neighbors and then
finally turned to save his own, carrying out some of his office effects which,
however, were burned in the street. He was at length compelled to flee from
his office and on reaching the foot of the stairs found the air full of fire,
and as he crossed the street was badly burned, besides losing a very valuable
package of money and securities. A man who crossed just ahead of him was
suffocated in the street. Such was the effect of this fiery ordeal upon the
Doctor's lungs and upon the mucus lining of his stomach that for three years
he was disqualified for active business but finally recovered and resumed
practice. He has kept pace with the march of improvement that has brought the
medical profession to its present high standard of knowledge and efficiency.
His reading has been broad and his investigations and research have placed him
with those who speak authoritatively upon various branches of the medical
science. Moreover, his duties have always been performed with a sense of
conscientious obligation that has won the confidence and trust of his patrons.
Dr. Valentine has also become widely known in connection with mining
interests. For several years he was the vice president of the Federal Mining &
Smelting Company and is now a stockholder in various other good propositions
including the Elk City Mining Company, the Togo Mining Company and the United
Copper Mining & Smelting Company, of all of which he is a director. He is
deserving of the prominence and success that have come to him not only by
reason of his ability in his profession but also because he has proven a
valuable factor in many of the activities which have counted as of most worth
in the upbuilding of the city.
On the 26th of June, 1909, Dr. Valentine was united in marriage to
Mrs. Anna M. Hayes, who was also one of the pioneer residents of Spokane. He
belongs to the Vincent Methodist Episcopal church and is a prominent member of
Samaritan Lodge, No. 52, I. 0. 0. F. In fact he has taken the various degrees
in Odd Fellowship and has filled all of the chairs in the order, and also held
office in the Grand Lodge and the Canton. He is now examining physician for
Excelsior Camp, No. 5124, M. W. A., and other camps of the organization, and
also of the Royal Neighbors of America. He was one of the organizers of the
Modern Woodmen fraternity and was one of the three who named the order. He
likewise belongs to Oriental Lodge, No. 74, F. & A. M., to the Brotherhood of
American Yeomen, and for many years he has been a prominent and active member
of the Pioneer As-sociation. In strictly professional lines his fraternal
relations are with the County and State Medical Societies, the National
Medical Association and the Medical Association of Physio-Medical Physicians
and Surgeons. On matters of general history pertaining to Spokane he may well
be consulted for few residents in this city have longer remained here and
there are indeed few who have been in closer touch with the life and interests
of the community.
Submitted by: Nancy Pratt Melton
* * * * Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individuals featured in the biographies.