Gunna

Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.

     ARTHUR GUNN ranks with the leading men in the Columbia valley, in Washington, and his worthy labors in Wenatchee proclaim that he is holding the position by reason of real worth. It was Mr. Gunn who labored with Mr. Reeves in the excellent undertaking of making Chelan county. The measure was started in 1892, but failed to be carried through on account of lack of local strength. Mr. Gunn never let it escape from his thoughts and when the right time came he and Mr. Reeves put their shoulders to the wheel and were richly rewarded by the formation of Chelan county. This will be more fully treated in the historical portion of the work.
     Arthur Gunn was born in Maysville, Kentucky, on March 21, 1866, the son of Thomas M. and Catherine (Waggoner) Gunn, natives of Kentucky. The father's ancestors came to American shores about four hundred years since and are from the sturdy Scotch race. He was a graduate of the Dickinson college and later received the title of D. D. He was presiding elder for thirteen years in the Methodist church and later was superintendent of missions in the Presbyterian synod. At the present he is preaching the gospel in Mission, this county. The family were American long before there was a United States, and they fought for American interests in all the conflicts. Mr. Gunn served in the Civil war. The mother's people were related to the leading families of Kentucky, as the Adairs, the Monroes, and so forth. President Monroe and General Adair were included in this list. Her father served in Company I, Twenty-first Kentucky Volunteers, which after re-enlistment became the First Veterans. During the service he languished in Libby and other southern prisons for sixteen months and had the thrilling experiences of escaping and being recaptured eighteen times. The family removed to Illinois when our subject was five, and he was educated until fifteen there by his father. Then he entered Park College, in Kansas City, Missouri, where he graduated in the class of 1888. He largely wrought his way through college by work in the printing department, and for two years he was city editor on a Joliet daily paper, this being when he was seventeen. Following his graduation, Mr. Gunn came to Walla Walla, whither the family had removed, and after due exploration of the country, he settled at Kelso and started the Kelso Courier, which was a bright paper under his manipulation for two years. Then he left the management of that to enter the banking establishment of J. J. Browne of Spokane. In 1892 he started, in connection with Mr. Browne, a branch in Wenatchee, and in 1894 sold his interest in it. In 1896 Mr. Gunn organized the Wenatchee Water Power Company, and is today the president of the electric light company of Wenatchee. In addition to this, Mr. Gunn is doing a fine business in real estate. He manages the townsite company's business and for three years was land commissioner for the Nelson & Ft. Sheppard Railroad. Mr. Gunn discovered that he could do better by giving his entire time to local enterprises and so resigned that position. Mr. Gunn has two brothers, W. Chalmers and Thomas M. Jr., and one sister, Pearl Winchester.
     On July 12, 1890, Mr. Gunn married Miss Elizabeth Brown, at Walla Walla, a native of Darlington, Indiana. Her father is deceased, but her mother is living with our subject now. Mrs. Gunn was well educated in the seminary and spent some time in teaching. She has one brother, Charles F., and one sister, Nettie. To Mr. and Mrs. Gunn six children have been born, Arthur, Mary, Thomas, Catherine, Elizabeth and Anabel. Mr. Gunn is a member of the K. P., and is a strong Democrat. He and his wife are adherents of the Presbyterian church. He is treasurer of the Commercial Club, and is always active in promoting any measure that is for the welfare of the town and county. He has wide experience in the newspaper work and is a man of excellent ability.