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Features Article in Spokane, A View of the Falls

George M. Forster, one of the founders of Witherspoon, Kelley, Davenport & Toole, P.S., arrived in Spokane in 1883. He traveled from the Mississippi Valley to the Pacific Northwest with his brother-in-law, W.W. Witherspoon. Since 1883 was the year the Transcontinental Railroad linked to the Northern Pacific Railroad, it is likely that it was the mode of travel they chose.

Spokane was a frontier town settled by people attracted to this fertile area rich in natural resources. Water was abundant. Spokane is located near the junction of the Spokane and Columbia Rivers. Rich silver and lead deposits were located in Northern Idaho and British Columbia. Spokane Falls and close proximity to the mines created two natural advantages in the settlement of Spokane.

Spokane was founded in 1873, just 10 years prior to George M. Forster's arrival. It presented a golden opportunity for a young attorney. In 1884 Forster formed a partnership with Colonel W.W.D. Turner and founded the law practice of Turner and Forster. They were pioneers in establishing a law firm in this frontier town.

Forster was also one of the founding owners of the well known Le Roi Mining and Smelting Company in Rossland. He was instrumental in shaping the Spokane business community.

Forster was recognized for his integrity. Judge George Turner was appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Washington Territory in 1884 and assigned to the Fourth District, which covered much of Eastern Washington. He subsequently moved to Spokane. In 1887 Judge Turner resigned his judicial position to enter private law practice. He joined his brother W.W.D. Turner and George Forster, in the law firm Turner and Forster. The firm then became known as Turner, Forster and Turner. He remained with the law firm until 1890.

Judge Turner played a prominent role in shaping the destiny of the State of Washington. The Washington territory began to grow rapidly with the completion of the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1883. Statehood came soon after, in 1889.

As Chairman of the Judiciary Committee at the Constitutional Convention, Judge Turner played a key role in forming the Washington State Constitution. Judge Turner was later elected U.S. Senator from Washington. He considered public service a privilege and served his constituency well, also becoming prominent in national affairs.

Shortly after Judge Turner left the law firm in 1890, his brother, Colonel W.W.D. Turner, retired. During the period from 1891-92 Colonel Turner retired and a new partnership was formed between George M. Forster and W.J.C. Wakefield.

W.J.C. Wakefield completed his study of law in the office of Archer and Bowden in San Jose, California. In early 1889 he was admitted to the bar in San Francisco, California. He then moved on to the Pacific Northwest and settled in Spokane. In November 1889 Wakefield formed a partnership with Judge L.B. Nash, with whom he practiced law until the spring of 1892. He then succeeded Colonel W.W.D. Turner and the law firm Turner and Forster became Forster and Wakefield.

When an individual studies the law while working in a law firm in the company of an attorney or group of attorneys, it is called reading the law. Archibald W. Witherspoon, related by marriage to George Forster, began his law reading under the direction of Forster and Wakefield in 1895. He was admitted to the bar in January 1899.

Forster, the last original founder of the Spokane law firm, died in 1905. The law firm then became Wakefield and Witherspoon. Witherspoon was an attorney and a businessman. He was Chairman of the Board of the Old National Bank.

Wakefield died in 1931 and sometime after that the firm became known as Witherspoon, Witherspoon and Kelley. A.W. Witherspoon's son William W. joined the law firm in the late 1920s.

Today the law firm of Witherspoon, Kelley, Davenport & Toole, P.S. is a professional service corporation. It is the oldest law firm in the state. At this writing there are 40 attorneys in the firm, six of whom have been with the firm 30 years each or more. Witherspoon, Kelley, Davenport & Toole, P.S. continues to maintain the integrity it has maintained over the years. It continues to provide quality legal service and support to the Spokane area and continues to be an integral part of its growth. An office was established in Coeur d'Alene in 1987 in order to better serve the Inland Empire.

The firm is presently located in the U.S. Bank Building, formerly the Old National Bank Building. Until 1946 the offices were located in the Peyton Building near the railroad tracks, where the members of the firm suffered the inconvenience of coal dust settling on their books and papers.

Witherspoon, Kelley, Davenport & Toole, P.S. will carry its 100-year heritage of quality, expert legal services at cost-effective rates into the 21st century and beyond.

The attorneys and counselors of Witherspoon, Kelley, Davenport & Toole, P.S. are experienced in banking, bankruptcy, business litigation, condemnation, construction, corporate, employee benefit plans, employment and labor, environmental, health care, insurance defense (including medical malpractice and product liability), land-use planning, media, mergers and acquisitions, probate, real estate, securities, taxation (individual, corporate, estate & gift), trial practice, and zoning law.

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