Harris, William J., 1859-1942.

William J. Harris, mine and hotel owner, and was on the board of directors of the Le Roi Gold Mining Company. He was born in Canada in 1859 and came to the United States when he was twelve. In the fall of 1884, he followed the silver strike to Coeur d'Alene and spent several years mining. He came to Spokane in 1889 and got into the hotel and restaurant business, as well as maintaining mining interests. He was married in 1882 to Caroline Hanson and they had one daughter, Louise, who was born in 1883. Louise Harris died in 1904 when the steamer, the Clallam, was wrecked in the straits of San Juan de Fuca, near Victoria and all fifty-four passengers died. His first wife died in 1912, and he married Rosemary Cunningham in 1913 and had two more daughters.