Biography of William H. Fife
William H. Fife, born on October 1, 1833, in Otonabee, Ontario, was the son of William and Mary Beckett Fife. He apprenticed in a general store and later moved to British Columbia during the 1862 gold rush. After various business ventures in Michigan and Iowa, he settled in Tacoma, Washington, where he became the first postmaster and established the first general store. Fife built the Fife Hotel and is known as an influential local businessman and generous taxpayer, actively involved in his community and family.