INDENTIFICATION ON PHOTO: "Minnie Saunders"
PHOTO TAKEN: Gowman Studio, Spokane WA, circa 1910-1920
PHOTO ACQUIRED: Albany Antique Mall, Albany Oregon, 2016
This is Minnie Mary ALLISON (later SAUNDERS), born Nov 1861 in Corvallis Oregon to parents Amos ALLISON and Lucy Jane LAKIN. She lived most of her life in nearby Albany Oregon with her family. (This photo was acquired at an antiques mall in Albany, and may have been sent by Minnie to a family member living there.)
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She married Justice Wirt William SAUNDERS in 1896 and relocated to Spokane Washington where this photograph was taken.
The life-story of Wirt Saunders sold many newspapers from the time he was a young man through his death, and even beyond that. This historical recap of his life shows why he generated such interest.
1900 Federal Census > Washington > Spokane > Spokane > 1004 Mission Avenue
SAUNDERS, Wirt W., Head, July 1858, born in TX of KY parents, Lawyer
SAUNDERS, Minnie A., Wife, Nov 1861, born in OR of TN and OH parents
In 1910, the Saunders sold their "Quinne-Mo-Se" Ranch in the Spokane Valley to Frank Murray in exchange for $30,000 and also recieved in trade Murray's apartment in the brand new Duke Apartments in fashionable Brown's Addition area of Spokane.
1920 Federal Census shows the couple living at Apt A "Duke Apartments" in Spokane. The census tends to indicate that Minnie owned the whole apartment building. That is shown in the occupation section but is also crossed out.
The couple amassed a small fortune in Spokane, perhaps by means of savvy real estate investments since most mentions of Minnie in the local newspaper are in the section concerning real estate transfers. When Minnie died her estate was valued at $50,000 (a very large sum in 1924.) When her husband Wirt died later that year, his estate was near $150,000.
She died January 6, 1924 in Spokane. She is buried in the family plot at the Masonic Cemetery in Eugene Oregon.
