USA > Washington > King County > Seattle > A volume of memoirs and genealogy of representative citizens of the city of Seattle and county of King, Washington, including biographies of many of those who have passed away > Part 21
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After the mother's second marriage it seemed that the family was too large for one household, and when he was only eleven years of age he, with a younger brother and two sisters, left home and went with their grandfather, John Laws, across the plains, with ox teams, to Oregon, his grandfather be- ing captain of a company which made the long and wearisome journey across the wide deserts of sand and through the mountain passes. The year was 1852 and they were seven months and one week upon the way. Amos Pettys was the only man out of twenty-one who died during the entire trip, but difficulties and hardships were endured, such as cannot be imagined by the traveler of today who speeds across the country in a palace car. The stock was stampeded by Indians on several occasions, but the emigrants al- ways succeeded in recovering their horses and cattle. While near Snake river Mr. Laws went on ahead of the company to look for a good place to encamp for the noon hour and was attacked by an Indian on horseback but managed to escape. The company settled in what was then Oregon, near Vancouver, remaining there through the first and very hard winter, and in the spring went to the beautiful Turlitin plains in Oregon. There Mr. Laws and his family remained during the harvesting season, after which they pro- ceeded to Lynn City, opposite Oregon City. In the fall of that year he removed with his family to Olympia, Washington Territory, where he conducted a hotel during the winter of 1853-54.
In the succeeding spring he secured a government land claim of three hundred and twenty acres on the Miami Prairie, which property he improved, transforming it into a rich farm and made his home thereon for many years. Energetic, industrious and hon- orable, his was a successful business career. He held membership in the Baptist church and died in Chehalis county at the age of seventy-four years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Goen, attained the very ad- vanced age of ninety-three years. She was a typical pioneer woman, courage- ously braving the trials and dangers of frontier life and on the journey to the Pacific coast she drove her own team the greater part of the distance across the plains, and for fifteen years after arrival did her own housework
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on the farm, and was never known to get angry enough to quarrel with any person.
Edgar Bryan was educated in the common schools of Olympia and at the Washington State University, the first term of which he attended, and he also attended the Puget Sound Wesleyan Institute at Olympia in early days. He first worked at the carpenter's trade and afterward engaged in teaching school for several terms. Subsequently he was employed as a clerk and filled the position of bookkeeper for the Washington Mill Company at Seabeck. The plant was a large one and an extensive business was carried on.
In 1865 Mr. Bryan was united in marriage, at Seattle, to Edna Ann Whipple, a descendant of the old Puritan family of Whipples. After their marriage the young couple took up their abode in Seattle, which was then a small town, and he followed contracting and building for ten years. He then suffered from paralysis and was obliged to retire from his business operations. Removing to Coupeville, Island county, he took charge of a large store, but subsequently returned to Seattle and received the appoint- ment of deputy assessor of the county. He was also clerk of the Seattle school district for many years, and after serving as deputy assessor he was elected assessor of King county, serving a term of two years, during which time he manifested such ability that he was again elected and continued in the office through the second term, but declined to serve a third. Since his retirement he has been engaged in dealing in real estate, besides conducting other interests, and is now controlling the white bronze monument business. He is a gentleman of keen sagacity and marked enterprise and carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Bryan has been brightened by the appearance of seven children: Albert W., who is now in Manila: Alberta, at home: Jessie, who became the wife of E. H. Crowe: Hugh L., who is a clerk in the postoffice at Seattle; Minnie, the wife of Samuel I. Robeson, of Seattle; Arthur A., at present a resident of Dawson, Northwest Territory; and C. Ernest, who is living at home. In 1893 Mr. Bryan was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who de- parted this life on the 15th of December of that year. She was a devoted wife and mother and a valued member of the Methodist Protestant church, so that her loss was deeply felt, not only in the family circle but also in the church organization and by her many friends. Mr. Bryan's daughter. Al- berta, is now acting as his housekeeper, their pleasant home being located at No. 330 Fourth avenue north. In his political affiliations Mr. Bryan has been an active Republican since casting his first presidential vote. He was assistant United States marshal in 1870 and was postmaster while in Coupe-
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ville in 1875-76. For several years he has been a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and is a gentleman of high character, of strong purpose and sterling worth. Few men of his years have spent so long a time upon the Pacific coast as has Mr. Bryan. The history of the won- derful development of this section of the country is familiar to him. A half century has passed since he came with his grandparents to the northwest, which was then largely the domain of the red race. The forests stood in their primeval strength, the rivers were unbridged and the land uncultivated. He has taken a just and commendable pride in everything pertaining to the ad- vancement and progress of this section of the country and has borne his part in the work of improvement in the city in which he has so long made his home. Well does he deserve the honor which was conferred upon him by his election to the position of secretary of the Pioneer Association of the state for five consecutive terms after having served as its president. Mr. Bryan could give many interesting reminiscences of the Indian war of 1855-56 in Oregon, Washington and Idaho, but was not then old enough to join the Volunteers. He was made useful in looking after the interests of the farm, which was about five miles from the fort where all families of the neigh- borhood had assembled for mutual protection, and members were accus- tomed to visit the farms occasionally to look after stock and other matters. On one of those trips he was detained over night and of course supposed to be murdercd. but turned up all right and found a posse ready to go and search for him.
JOHN P. FAY.
The subject of this sketch, Hon. John P. Fay, has long been promi- nent in the legal profession of the state and as a citizen is honored and re- spected by all. In his public utterances, always governed by his convic- tions, he has been a leader in thought and action in the public life of the state. His name is a familiar one in political and professional circles throughout the northwest.
The "Fay Family" is one of the oldest in Massachusetts. The pro- genitor, John Fay, emigrated to the Massachusetts colony in 1660 from England. His eldest son, John Fay, with two younger brothers, in the early years of 1700 acquired from the Indians a large tract of land, the greater portion of which is now divided into many beautiful homes that make the towns of Westborough and Southborough in the east central part of Massa- chusetts. Here a home was established which has since been known as the "Old Homestead" of the Fay family.
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Deep religious traits characterized the family and the church records throughout New England give evidence of the large number of descendants, bearing the family name, who as ministers did splendid service in Chris- tian work. Almost with the first settlement came the Congregational. church of Westborough. Of this John Fay was the first deacon and for more than one hundred and twenty-five years afterwards some member of the Fay family was a deacon in this church. Though the family is rapidly diminishing in numbers, there are many local landmarks that bear the name which, with the Fay Public Library at Southborough, will keep the family name for many years to come in honored remembrance. One place in par- ticular, carved out of the Fay homestead, will always be shown with pride by the townsfolks. It is the birthplace of Eli Whitney, the famous inventor of the cotton gin. His mother was the daughter of Benjamin Fay, son of John Fay. Although not buried in Westborough, a substantial monu- ment on the old burial ground in the center of Westborough evidences the respect of the community for the talents of Eli Whitney.
Joseph Brigham Fay, the father of our subject, was born in West- borough July 3, 1816. He was a descendant on his grandmother's side from the Brigham family, an old and honored family in New England, the most distinguished member of which was a cousin, the late Chief Justice Brigham, of the supreme court of Massachusetts. In middle life he was married to Sarah Houghton Purinton, a woman of singular beauty, grace and no- bility of character. The early years of his life were spent in New York city, where he was clerk in a bank and later served in the then well known house of Temple Fay & Company, bankers and brokers. Subsequently, tired from the bustling activities of metropolitan life, he returned to the old homestead of the Fay family, which he bought and where he died at the age of sixty-seven, a few years after the death of his beloved wife, who was called to her final rest in 1877, at the age of fifty-two years. They were life-long attendants of the Congregational church and were honored and respected by all who had the pleasure of their acquaintance. To this wor- thy couple two children were born, Charles Brigham Fay, the elder, and John Purinton Fay, the subject of this review.
The last named was born in Westboro, Massachusetts, August, I, 1861. He was educated at the Westboro high school and graduated in 1881 from Phillips Exeter Academy, of New Hampshire, one of the old- est institutions of learning in the east. After two years' special study in the academic course of Harvard University and at the Harvard Law School Mr. Fay removed to Eureka, Nevada, where he commenced the practice
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of law. While there he served as superintendent and principal of the Eureka high school. In the winter of 1889 he was clerk of the Nevada senate. The following spring Mr. Fay came to Seattle and immediately entered into a law partnership with Mr. John P. Gale; but two years later this partner- ship was ended by the death of Mr. Gale, after which the firm of Fay, Gest & Henderson was organized. This relationship continued until 1895, but two years of this time were spent by Mr. Fay in Oregon, as attorney for the eastern bondholders in their litigation with the Oregon Pacific and Willamette Valley Railroad Companies, and subsequently he was made at- torney for the receiver of the roads. The litigation with which he has been connected has embraced many of the most important cases, involving large sums of money and property, tried in the courts of this state and Oregon. Among them might be mentioned the Farmers' Loan & Trust Company of New York vs. Oregon Pacific Railroad; the same vs. the Willamette Valley Railroad: trustees vs. Oregon Development Company ; Deschutes Military Wagon Road Land Grant, involving three hundred thousand acres in east- ern and central Oregon; the famous Valentine Scrip cases, involving the business water front of Seattle, Tacoma and Port Townsend. besides fill- ing the position of arbitrator in several important mining controversies. In all these cases Mr. Fay won from his opponents of marked ability the com- pliment of sound judgment, keen analysis and a broad knowledge of legal principles.
In 1889 Mr. Fay was married to Miss Alice Ober, of Beverly, Massa- chusetts, a young lady of rare intellectual endowments, the sister of the dis- tinguished author, Fred A. Ober, and herself the valedictorian of her class, though its youngest member, at the commencement exercises in 1881 of Wheaton Seminary, the oldest college for the education of young ladies in Massachusetts. Unto' this union have been born five children, three sons and two daughters, namely : Dorothy Wheaton, Alice Ober, Temple Sedgwick, John Bradford and Winthrop Herrick.
Until 1896 Mr. Fay gave his political support to the Republican party. but in that year, his views on the money question not being in harmony with the party, he joined the Fusion forces and became an earnest and aggressive leader in the ranks of that political organization, delivering many schol- arly and effective speeches in its behalf during the following campaign. In company with Judge Richard Winsor, he was chosen by the Fusion state central committee to hold a joint debate on the money question. The Re- publicans selected as his opponent Hon. Andrew F. Burleigh, a prominent attorney and at that time receiver of the Northern Pacific railroad, and
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Hon. Frank W. Cushman, now a member of congress from this state. The debate was held at Yakima, Washington, October 1, 1896, and more than ten thousand people were present. In his speech Mr. Fay evinced a thorough knowledge, wide study and complete mastery of his subject. His peroration will always take high rank in choice literature for clegance of expression and diction. Mr. Fay left the platform a victor, with a reputa- tion as a speaker that brought him immediate and earnest solicitation to the platform from many different states. The success of the Fusion forces in Washington that year was largely due to his able efforts and in the Fusion legislature that followed his name was frequently mentioned in con- nection with the United States senatorship, although at no time did he place himself on record as a candidate. Mr. Fay's political work had been freely given in deference to a sense of duty to deep convictions upon the great financial questions of the hour. He sought no reward, but later lie had the honor of accepting an appointment by the governor to the board of regents of the University of the state of Washington. There his experience and knowledge of educational work and methods of teaching were quickly recog- nized and he was soon made president of the board of regents. This posi- tion he held until a difference of views arose in the board as to the propriety of eliminating the subjects of "Ethics" and "Moral Philosophy" from the university curriculum of studies. Mr. Fay insisted upon the retention of these subjects in the course of study and a fierce controversy arose. Un- willing to yield to executive pressure, after seeing the subjects firmly rein- stated in the college course of studies, Mr. Fay in deference to his own deep convictions retired from the board. His honesty and integrity in po- litical matters has never been the subject of question, even among his po- litical enemies, while as a polished and educated gentleman his social posi- tion is and always has been of the highest standard. Mr. Fay is just in his prime and there is no position of honor that he might attain that would cause surprise to any one.
HIRAM BURNETT.
More than a half century has passed since this gentleman arrived on the Pacific coast and he is justly numbered among the honored pioneers and leading citizen of this portion of the country. He has been prominently identified with business interests in many ways. His is the honorable rec- ord of a conscientious man who by his upright life has won the confidence of all with whom he has come in contact. He has reached the age of eighty-
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five years, and although the snows of many winters have whitened his hair he has the vigor of a much younger man, and in spirit seems yet in his prime. Old age is not necessarily a synonym of weakness or inactivity, nor need it suggest, as a matter of course, want of occupation or helplessness. There is an old age that is a benediction to all that comes in contact with it, that gives out of its rich stores of learning and experience and grows stronger intellectually and spiritually as the years pass. Such is the life of Mr. Bur- nett, an encouragement to his associates and an example well worthy of emu- lation by the young.
Hiram Burnett is a native of Massachusetts, his birth having occurred in Southboro, Worcester county, on the 5th of July, 1817. He is descended from English and French ancestors who were early settlers of New England and representatives of the family were active participants in the events which form the early history of this country. Charles R. Burnett, his grandfather, joined the colonial army that sought to throw off the British yoke of op- pression and at length won the victory which ended the English rule in the American colonies. He was a prosperous farmer, a worthy member of the Congregational church, and lived and died at Southboro, Massachusetts. Brazella Pond, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was also a native of Masschusetts and he, too, was a member of the patriotic army of the Revolu- tionry war. His religious faith was also that of the Congregational church and he was a citizen of the highest respectability.
Charles Burnett, the father of our subject, was born in Southboro, Mas- sachusetts, on the 12th of March. 1788, and married Keziah Pond, a native of Franklin, that state. They were industrious and respected farming peo- ple, holding to the faith of the Congregational church, and in their family were five children, of whom only two are now living: Hiram and a sister, who is eighty-six years of age and resides with her brother. The father died in the sixty-eighth year of his age, while his wife was taken from him by death in her forty-sixth year.
Hiram Burnett obtained his education in the public schools of Massachu- setts and in his youth worked at the carpenter's trade. Ultimately he became the owner of a planing mill and was engaged in the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds. Attracted by the opportunities of the golden west he resolved to seek his fortune on the Pacific coast and in 1852 sailed from New York for San Francisco by way of the Isthmus of Panama, reaching his destination in February. He remained in San Francisco for four years, at the expiration of which time he returned to the east for his family, having been married on the roth of April, 1845, to Elizabeth M. Gibbs, of Farming-
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ham, Middlesex county, Massachusetts. She was born March 3, 1824, and while residing in the east they became the parents of two children : Charles H. and Nellie M. With his wife and children Mr. Burnett again made his way to San Francisco and after a year's residence there came to Washington Territory in 1859, settling at Port Gamble, where he remained for four years, engaged in the operation of a planing mill. In this enterprise he met with success and in 1863 came to Seattle, erecting the first house on Fourth street, between Fourth and Fifth avenues and Marion and Columbia. He engaged in the operation of a planing mill in West Seattle, in Port Madison, and in Port Ludlow. His affairs were conducted with strict regard to commercial ethics and as a result of his enterprise, combined with integrity in all trade transactions, he not only won prosperity, but also secured the confidence and good will of all with whom he had business relations. His reputation in industrial circles is above question and the policy which he has ever followed serves as an example well worthy of emulation.
Of the two children who accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Burnett to the west, Charles H. is now superintendent of the Southprairie Coal Mine at Burnett, Pierce county, Washington, a town which was named in honor of his family. The daughter became the wife of Stephen P. Andrews, by whom she had three children.
In his political affiliations in early manhood Mr. Burnett was a Whig and voted for General Scott for president. When the Republican party was formed he endorsed its principles and has since remained in its ranks. After returning from San Francisco the first time he went to Kansas and did what he could to make that a free state, being there throughout all the exciting period when the border ruffians were determined to introduce slavery. While in Kitsap county he was elected and served as judge of the probate court, and in 1866 he was elected county commissioner of King county, evincing in the conduct of that office the same good judgment and conscientiousness that have always characterized the conduct of his private business. In 1890 he removed to Edgewater, where he had built for himself a commodious home, and there he is spending the evening of his life in contentment and peace. In his youth he was a Congregationalist, but in 1865, at Seattle, he aided in the establishment and building of the Episcopal church. He was also prominent in building the first Trinity church. When in Port Ludlow, as there was no minister there, he read the church services for four years in a most acceptable manner. He aided in organizing the first Episcopal Sun- day-school in Seattle and was its superintendent for many years, and his efforts in behalf of Christianity have been highly appreciated. He and his
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good wife have passed the fifty-seventh anniversary of their wedding day and are greatly beloved by a wide circle of friends. Mr. Burnett has attained his eighty-fifth year, his wife being now in her seventy-eighth year, and this venerable couple received in high measure the honor and respect from all with whom they have been brought in contact.
AUGUST MEHLHORN.
August Mehlhorn, one of Seattle's prominent old residents, was born in Saxony, Germany, on the 20th of March. 1842, his parents being Fred- erick and Maria (Cupp) Mehlhorn, both of whom were natives of Saxony. The father, who was engaged in the butchering business, died at the advanced age of eighty-four years, while his wife passed away at the age of eighty- eight years. They were industrious and upright people and highly respected in their native land. They were members of the Lutheran church, and be- came the parents of three children, all of whom are living.
August Mehlhorn was educated in his native country and learned the brick mason's trade and also that of a weaver. In 1867 he crossed the At- lantic to the new world, believing there were better business opportunities to be found in America, and upon arrival made his way to Chicago with the firm purpose of achieving success. Although he was unfamiliar with the language of the country, and was a poor young man, he possessed a vigorous constitution, a bright and active mind and honesty and industry were mim- bered among his chief characteristics. His first work was on a farm in Indiana, for which he was paid sixteen dollars per month, and this he con- tinted for eleven months. He then returned to Chicago and worked at brick laying at three dollars per day, but did not have a steady business. However, he was pleased with his prospects, for in his own country he could not have earned over fifty cents per day. After this he worked for about a year in an oil and lead works, and in 1870 lie came to Washington territory. going first to Steilacoom, where there was a colony being established, but which afterward was abandoned, and Mr. Mehlhorn went to Gray's Harbor to look for land for the colony, but they could not find as large a district as they wanted in that locality. In connection with Mr. Rupp he there cut one hundred and fifty cords of wood for a brewery, for which they were paid one dollar and fifty cents per cord. Mr. Mehlhorn saved his money and took up his abode on Hangman's Prairie. The land had not been surveyed and it was seven miles to any habitation from his home. Henry Rupp and Charles Greger were his nearest neighbors, but they left the locality and Mr. Mehl-
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horn remained for only nine months, for the country was then very wild and rough and gave little promise of a speedy development. In 1873 he came to Seattle, and for twenty-two months worked for Mr. John J. McGilvra upon his farm on Lake Washington. He drove piles with the horse-power pile driver and in that way built the first wharf on the lake. He next came to Seattle, where he secured a position as driver on a beer wagon for the firm of Smiech & Brown, and during the year thus engaged he saved his money. Mr. Brown sold his interest to Mr. Smiech, whose wife afterward died, and desiring to dispose of the business Mr. Mehlhorn purchased it and thus be- came the owner of the Northern Pacific Brewery, which was located on a lot one hundred and twenty feet square and is the ground on which the Mc- Dougal & Southwick store now stands. He engaged in the manufacture of steamed beer for eight years, meeting with excellent success. He also became the owner of a lot of thirty-five feet front on which the Union Block now stands, and at one time he could not sell this at any price. He built three buildings on his lots, and these were occupied by a wholesale liquor house, a barber shop and a restaurant. However, the buildings were destroyed by fire and he suffered a very heavy loss, but the era of prosperity later dawned upon him and he became connected with the saloon business as a partner of George Brobst, a relation that was maintained until 1886. As the city grew his property also increased in value and he sold a portion of his land, eighty feet front, for forty-eight thousand dollars. In 1876 he had been united in marriage to Julia Wilhelmina Wild, who was born near Boston, Massachii- setts, the daughter of Emil Wild, of German ancestry and a veteran of the Civil war. In 1888 Mr. Mehlhorn and his family returned to the old coun- try, remained in Germany for six months, visiting relatives and friends, and then returned to Seattle. The children who accompanied them were August F. and Ann Gertrude, their daughter Louisa having died when only eleven months old. Mr. Mehlhorn has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for the past quarter of a century and has filled all of the chairs in both branches, not only once, but twice. In politics he is a Repub- lican. He still holds considerable property, including part of the Union Block; on Second street he has a building with a sixty-feet front, and also owns a German hotel on Sixth and James streets. In 1889 he built his pleas- ant and attractive residence at No. 813 Ninth avenue, where he now resides, retired from active business, giving his attention to the improvement of his grounds. The home is an attractive one and a fitting place for this worthy old couple to spend the evening of their days enjoying the fruits of their industrious lives. July 17, 1901, Mr. and Mrs. Mehlhorn celebrated their
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