From "The History of North Washington" Published 1904

Transcribed by: Nancy Grubb (nancyg@theofficenet.com)
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JAMES L. BRONSON 
James L. Bronson is one of the leading business men of Stevens county and
a detailed account of his labors and industries would far exceed the space we
are able to allot in this work. However, it is with pleasure that we are 
privileged to recount some of the salient points in his career and we feel
sure that the same will be read with interest by all. For there is nothing so 
interesting as the real account of the path of success, especially so when
that is brought about by the worthy efforts of one who starts in life with a
capital of pluck and hands ready for work. Such an one is the subject of
this article.
   James L. Bronson was born in Orleans county, New York, on June 5, 1838,
the son of Lemuel and Charlotte (Clark) Bronson, natives of New York. Mr.
Bronson does not know when his ancestors came to this country, but suffice 
it to say, they are true blue Yankees and have been identified with the
American cause before there was a United States. The mother died in the 
early 'forties and in 1856 the balance of the family removed to Michigan,
where the father died in 1896. Six children were born to them: Oscar, 
deceased; Levi: Fidelia, wife of A. Birge, both of whom died in Kalamazoo, 
Michigan, leaving one son, Warren; Horace; Mrs. Mary Birge, deceased; and 
James. Mrs. Mary Birge has one daughter surviving her.
   James L. was educated in New York and Michigan and when twenty married 
and started in life for himself. He had the cash capital of fifty cents at
that time, and we are not told whether it was good silver or paper change.
However, Mr. Bronson went to work with a rich fund of priceless common sense
and the result is that today he is one of the foremost men of Stevens county
and has interests and property all over the state. For the first year or so
of married life, Mr. Bronson gave attention to handling a rented farm, then
did saw milling, and later learned the carpenter trade and put his money into
good land, which he improved and rented. In 1888 Mr. Bronson came to Hatton,
Washington, to spend the winter, but in the spring he found the circumstances
so favorable that he opened a mercantile establishment. The same keen 
business ability and energy that had made him successful in the preceding 
years did the same with him there and he prospered exceedingly. He still owns
an interest in that business and also is proprietor of the town site of 
Hatton. In addition to that he has nearly onr thousand acres of well improved
wheat land in Adams county, all of which is annually returning a good 
dividend to the wise proprietor. In 1898 Mr. Bronson came to Newport, having 
some mining interests adjacent. He saw an opportunity for a good venture and 
put in the first cable ferry across the Pend d'Oreille river. He bought 
property in Newport, built the Bronson hotel, the first painted structure in 
the town, and also was occupied in various other ways. Later he purchased
nearly three hundred acres of meadow land in the Calispell valley and has it 
well stocked and handles it by a tenant. In addition, Mr. Bronson has a fine 
farm home in Michigan, and also owns timber land in this section.
   In 1858 occurred the marriage of Mr. Bronson amd Miss Julia C. Knapp, 
whose parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and pioneers to Michigan. The 
father was one of the 'forty-niners in California and had brilliant success,
which later was clouded by losses. The mother died while Mrs. Bronson was 
young and the father died in later years. Mrs. Bronson has the following
brothers and sisters John, Maria, Martha, and Orrin. To Mr. and Mrs. Bronson 
three children have been born: Delmar L.,in Michigan; Arthur W., in Newport; 
Charlotte, wife of O. Algoe, in Hatton, Washington. Politically Mr. Bronson 
has always manifested a keen interest in the welfare of the various 
communities and has adhered closely to the principles of the Republican party
He is affiliated with the A.F.& A.M.
   It is interesting to note some points in connection with Mr. and Mrs.
Bronson in their start in housekeeping. He made all the furniture they used, 
but when Mrs. Bronson's shoes wore out, he was met by a serious dilemma. No
money was at hand to buy a new pair, and as their principles of not going
in debt were strictly adhered to, some other way had to be devised to get
shoes. Finally Mr. Bronson cut the tops off from the old pair of boots,
secured a shoemaker to cut out the uppers of a pair of shoes, then purchased
a little sole leather from a neighbor, and set to the task of making a pair 
of shoes for his wife. The sole leather was white, but the shoes wore, and
while they were not the best she has had, still they were prized. Together
they have labored since, and Mr. Bronson always says that his wife has done
her share nobly and well in acheiving their excellent success.
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