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 22
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silver wedding, on which occasion a large party of friends were present, wishing them many happy returns of the day. The Reverend Mr. Damon. who had performed the marriage ceremony for them twenty-five years before, was present and the occasion was a most delightful one, long to be remem- bered by all who participated.
THEODORE NEWELL HALLER.
Among Seattle's most prominent and influential business men is num- bered Theodore N. Haller, who is a pioneer of this state, being but six months old when he came to the territory with his parents. He was born on the 4th of January, 1864, in Pennsylvania, where his ancestors have made their home for several generations. The family came originally from Germany. George Haller, our subject's grandfather, was a native of York, Pennsylvania, as was also his father, the distinguished soldier, citizen and pioneer, Colonel Granville Owen Haller, who was born at that place, January 31, 1819. The Colonel was only two years old when his father died leaving the mother with four small children, but notwithstanding her limited means she succeeded in giving them all a good education. He attended the schools of his native town. Early in life he chose a military career, and being examined by a board of military officers at Washington, D. C., in 1839, he was commis- sioned second lieutenant in the Fourth Regiment, United States Infantry, although only twenty years of age. In 1841-2 he participated in the Florida war, taking part in the battle of Big Cypress Swamp and the engagement which resulted in the capture of Halleck Tushnugger's band and ended the struggle. He was adjutant of the Fourth Infantry from the Ist of Janu- ary, 1843, until he resigned September 10, 1845. He was brigade major of the Third Brigade, United States Regulars, under General Taylor in Texas in 1845, and during the war with Mexico had command of his com- pany from the siege of Vera Cruz until the capture of the city of Mexico, participating in all the battles in the valley of Mexico, the attack upon the fortification of San Antonio and the storming of El Molino del Rey. For his valiant service on the last named occasion he was breveted major. He took part in the capture of the city of Mexico and the skirmishing within its walls on the following day, and was reported for his distinguished gallantry. On the Ist of January, 1848, he was promoted to captain in the Fourth In- fantry, after which he was for some time engaged in recruiting duty.
In 1852 Majors Sanders and Haller, with their respective commands, were ordered to the department of the Pacific. They sailed on the United States
Grawelle & Naller
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store-ship Fredonia, by way of Cape Horn, and arrived at San Francisco in June, 1853, having spent seven months on the voyage. Major Haller and his company proceeded at once to Fort Vancouver, Washington Territory, and soon after to Fort Dallas, Oregon, after which he was in active service, punishing the Indians for atrocities and murders inflicted by them on the settlers. He was all through the Indian war of the northwest and rendered valuable service to the government and to the brave pioneers who were peopling this district and laying the foundation for the present development and progress. In the fall of 1856 Major Haller received orders to establish a fort near Port Townsend, and this work, notwithstanding many formidable difficulties, was satisfactorily accomplished, since which time the fort has been garrisoned. While there the Major and his men were a most efficient force in protecting the settlers, and well does Major Haller deserve mention in the history of the northwest, for his efforts contributed in larger measure than the vast majority to the development of this region, for had it not been for the protection which he gave to the settlers the Indians would have ren- dered impossible the labors of the pioneers in the work of reclaiming the wild land for purposes of civilization and planting the industries which have led to the material upbuilding of this portion of the country.
For some time Major Haller was with his command on board the United States ship patrolling the waters of the Sound and removed all foreign Indians from the district. While thus engaged he also participated in the occupa- tion of San Juan island until the boundary question was settled. In 1860 he was assigned to Fort Mojave, in Arizona, and while stationed there he treated the Indians with such consideration and justice that when his com- mand had withdrawn he had so gained the good will of the red race that the miners had no hesitation about continuing their operations there, and did so without molestation. In 1861 came orders for Major Haller to proceed with his command to San Diego, California, and afterward to New York city to join the army then being organized by General Mcclellan. He had previously been brevet major, but on the 25th of September, 1861, was pro- moted to major of the Seventh Infantry, but the members of the regiment were being held as prisoners of war in Texas and Major Haller reported to General McClellan and shortly afterward was appointed commandant gen- eral at the general headquarters on the staff of MIcClellan and the Ninety- third Regiment of New York Volunteers was placed under his command as guard of the headquarters. Major Haller was thus employed under Gen- eral Mcclellan throughout the Virginia and Maryland campaign and the subsequent campaign of General Burnside and also for a short time under
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General Hooker. He was then designated provost marshal general of Mary- land and later was detached and sent to York and Gettysburg to muster in volunteers and to get all the information possible of the movements of the enemy, also to order the citizens to remove the stock and property across the Susquehanna out of the way of the Rebel army.
While thus busily engaged in the service of his country Major Haller was wrongfully reported for disloyalty to the government, and in the latter part of July, 1863, he was dismissed from the service without a hearing. Astonished beyond measure, he demanded a hearing, which was refused. Not satisfied to submit to such a great wrong, after sixteen years of waiting he secured a hearing and was fully exonerated. His honor was fully vindicated and he was reinstated in the army and commissioned colonel of infantry in the United States Regulars. His command was the Twenty-third Infantry, and he continued as its colonel from December 11, 1879, to February 6, 1882, at which time he was retired, being over sixty-three years of age.
During the time of his dismissal from the service he had resided in the territory of Washington and improved a fine farm on Whidbey island, in which he clearly demonstrated the possibilities Washington for the produc- tion of products of nearly every description. He was also engaged in the manufacture of lumber and in merchandising to quite a large extent and his business interests greatly facilitated the settlement and improvement of the country, for he was very liberal in giving credit to the settlers who wished to buy provisions and implements and thus enabled many to gain a good start, thus carrying on the great work of upbuilding the commonwealth. While he was engaged in business he also acquired large grants of land, which were at first of little value, but as the state became more thickly settled and land was in demand it rose in value and improvements also increased its selling price, so that it became a large source of income to Colonel Haller and his family. Upon his retirement from the service he returned to the state to which he had become warmly attached during his former periods of residence here, and with his family located in Seattle in 1882.
The Colonel had been happily married on the 21st of June, 1849, the lady of his choice being Miss Henrietta Maria Cox, a representative of a dis- tinguished Irish family descended from Sir Richard Cox, who was her great- grandfather and who served as lord chancellor of Ireland. Her people lo- cated in Pennsylvania, where she was reared, educated and married. The union was blessed with five children: Morris, the eldest son, had settled in Seattle before the parents took up their abode here and had become promi- nent as an attorney. He was the organizer of extensive business enterprises
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which have proven of the greatest value and benefit in the upbuilding of the material interests of the state. He was one of the organizers of the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern Railroad Company and various other business affairs of great magnitude which contributed not alone to the success of the indi- vidual owners and stockholders but also to the general prosperity. In 1889 he was accidentally drowned while he was on a hunting and fishing trip in company with T. T. Minor and E. Louis Cox. His loss was deeply felt throughout the state, for his genial nature and sterling worth had gained him many friends and his prominence in business affairs had made him a most valued factor in public life. Alice Mai Haller, the eldest daughter, became the wife of Lieutenant William A. Nichols and departed this life, leaving two children. Charlotte Eleanor, the surviving daughter, is at home, as is the son, Theodore Newell, who has so kindly furnished us with the material for the sketch of his honored and distinguished father. Colonel Haller de- parted this life on the 2d of May, 1897, and thus ended a most honorable career. He was the president of the State Pioneer Society and had attained to a distinguished position in the Masonic fraternity, in which he was hon- ored with the office of grand master of the grand lodge of the state. He was also a Scottish Rite Mason and had attained the thirty-second degree of the consistory. He was considered authority on Masonic usages, tenets and rites and in his life exemplified the beneficent spirit of the craft. He was also the commander of the military order of the Loyal Legion of Washing- ton. From the advance in realty values and from other sources he had ac- cumulated considerable wealth and was enabled to leave his family in very confortable circumstances. The greater part of his life was devoted to his country's service, to which he was ever most loyal. He performed a work for the northwest in protecting the settlers and in establishing business inter- ests here that is of incalculable benefit and cannot be measured by any of the known standards of time. His influence was ever on the side of right, of progress and advancement, and the social qualities of his nature made him a favorite in all communities with which he was for any length of time con- nected.
His life was noble and the elements So mixed in him that Nature might stand up And say to all the world. "This was a man."
Theodore Newell Haller is now the manager and largely the owner of the extensive property interests left by his father. The estate includes the splendid Haller block and numerous other buildings in the city, among which
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is a very fine residence. There are also extensive tracts of valuable farming land, and the careful manner in which T. N. Haller controls his affairs makes them a source of profitable income. As before stated, he was only six months old when brought to Washington, where he has since resided. He acquired his elementary education in the public schools on the Sound, later continued his studies in Portland, Oregon, at Peekskill on the Hudson and then en- tered Yale College. He studied law with the firm of Burke & Haller, the latter being his elder brother. His attention is now largely occupied with his extensive business affairs. He is a Republican in his political views but has never aspired to political honors. He enjoys in high degree the con- fidence and esteem of a large circle of friends and he is numbered among the leading representatives of invested interests here, in the control of which he manifests superior business ability and executive force.
ALFRED L. PALMER.
One of the finest business blocks of Seattle, the York Hotel, stands as a monument to the enterprise and business ability of Alfred Lee Palmer, who has resided in this city since 1882 and has taken a deep and active inter- est in the growth and development of the municipality. He is a native of Mayyille, Chautauqua county, New York, born on the IIth of June. 1835, and is descended from English ancestors, who emigrated to that state prior to the Revolutionary war. His grandfather, David Palmer, a Revolutionary soldier, owned a farm upon which a part of the city of Rochester, New York, has since been built. Joseph Palmer, the father of our subject, was born on the old family homestead and after arriving at years of maturity he wed- ded Miss Mary Hill, a native of Vermont. In the year 1839 they removed to Iowa. The territory had been organized only the year prior and they became prominent families of the locality. The father, a leading and influ- ential citizen, filled the office of probate judge and also served as superin- tendent of public instruction. They were members of the Baptist church and people of the highest respectability, leaving a deep impress for good upon the moral, intellectual and material advancement of the state with which they became connected in pioneer times. The father departed this life in the seventieth year of his age, while his wife passed away in her fifty-sixth year, and of their four children the subject of this review is now the only survivor.
In the public schools of his native town Alfred L. Palmer began his edu- cation, which was continued in Mt. Morris, Illinois, and also in Oberlin College, of Oberlin, Ohio. With a broad general knowledge to serve as a
ALPalmer
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foundation upon which to rear the superstructure of professional learning, he entered the Albany Law School, and after graduation was admitted to practice by the supreme court of New York. He then opened an office and engaged in the prosecution of his profession in Jackson county, Iowa, where we find him at the time Fort Sumter was fired upon. In the fall of 1861 he closed his law office, sold his books and joined his country's service, enlist- ing in Company I, Twelfth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was sworn in as a private but his company elected him second lieutenant. The regiment was formed at Dubuque, Iowa, and thence ordered to St. Louis, where it re- mained during the fall and part of the winter. Their barracks were made of green lumber of logs which floated down the Mississippi river and dur- ing the winter the ice froze right on the logs and thus offered but little pro- tection from the cold winds, so that many of the soldiers were made ill. Mr. Palmer was detached to do recruiting service and secured one hundred men for the army. At the battle of Shiloh his regiment was captured, and he, with other recruiting officers, was ordered to bring up his men in order to fill up the ranks. He reported near Corinth, Mississippi, to General Grant and was assigned to the Eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, being made captain of his company. This regiment, together with other recruits, was formed into a union brigade. At the battle of Corinth he was shot through the right lung, and being thus unfitted for further duty he was honorably dis- charged, but the wound did not heal for years. The ball was taken from his shoulder blade and weighs one and one-fourth ounces.
Being mustered out at St. Louis in 1863, Captain Palmer returned to his home and as soon as he had sufficiently recovered his health resumed the practice of his profession. He was elected county judge of Jackson county and held that office for four years. Hearing that the capital of Ne- braska was to be located at Lincoln, he attended the sale of lots there, for the town had just been platted by commissioners appointed by the state legislature, and made several investments. The money received by the com- missioners for these lots was used in the erection of its public buildings, and enough lots were disposed of to pay for the entire number of public structures erected, consisting of the capitol building, the state universities, insane asylum and state penitentiary. Mr. Palmer was quite fortunate in his in- vestments there and made money by his real-estate dealings. For fourteen years he remained a resident of Lincoln and also engaged in the practice of law, winning a desirable clientage, while for two terms he acceptably served as county judge.
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The year 1882 witnessed Mr. Palmer's arrival in Seattle, where he purchased property and at once became identified with the progress and up- building of the city. He also made some investments in Tacoma, and in addition to the care of his property interests he practiced his profession. He built the Palmer house and in 1889 erected the fine brick York hotel. He has also built a residence on Lake Washington, where he now resides. The York hotel occupies a very desirable site on First avenue and is one of the finest buildings of the northwest. It is sixty by eighty feet and five stories and basement in height and is composed entirely of brick. Its owner has prospered in all his undertakings, for he is a man of keen foresight, unfalter- ing determination and strong purpose. To-day he stands among the most successful business men of his adopted city and well does he deserve his prosperity, for it has been attained by the most honorable business methods.
In 1860 was celebrated the marriage of our subject and Miss Lydia Butterworth, but she was only spared to him for a few years and at her death left two children, both of whom are now deceased. One of the daughters married John Denny and died, leaving two children, Harold and Annie Denny. For his second wife Mr. Palmer chose Miss Rocelia A. Chase, a native of Ver- mont, and their union has been blessed with seven children, five sons and two daughters, all of whom are still living: Frank, who is now in the real-estate business ; Hattie, the wife of Donald B. Olson, of Dawson; Don H., who is now a student in his third year at the Rush Medical College in Chicago; Leet R., who is in college; Lee Chase, a student in the high school : Ben B., also at school; and Esther, also attending school.
In his political views Mr. Palmer was formerly a Douglas Democrat but when he became a member of the Grand Army of the Republic he joined the Republican party and was one of its active and earnest supporters until the money question became the dominant issue before the people. Believing that gold and silver should both be established as a standard and the Republicans acknowledging only the gold standard, he withdrew his support and is now independent in his political views. Mr. Palmer was made a Mason in Bellevue, Iowa, and had just received an entered apprentice degree when he went into the army. When lying wounded and almost dying of thirst the kind offices of a brother Mason were the means of saving his life. In 1888 he was honored with the office of eminent grand commander of Knights Templar of the state of Washington. He has now retired from active practice of his profession, his attention being fully occupied with the supervision of his investments. His has been a career worthy emulation and deserving the highest commendation. The promptness with which he responded to what
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he believed to be his duty in the Civil war has always been a characteristic of his life and to-day he stands among the honored, respected and successful men of liis adopted state.
JOHN BEARD ALLEN.
The above named gentleman has been a conspicuous figure in the legis- lative and judicial history of the state. The public life of few other illus- trious citizens of Washington has extended over a longer period and cer- tainly the life of none has been more varied in service, more fearless in con- duct or more stainless in reputation. His career has been one of activity, full of incidents and results. In every sphere of life in which he has been called upon to move he has made an indelible impression and by his excel- lent public service and upright life he has honored the state which has hon- ored him with high official preferment. He is now giving his entire atten- tion to the practice of law as a member of the firm of Struve, Allen, Hughes & McMicken, of Seattle, which occupies a leading position at the bar of this commonwealth.
Mr. Allen is a native of Indiana, his birth having occurred in Craw- fordsville, that state, on the 18th of May, 1845. He is descended from En- glish ancestors who at an early epoch in the history of Pennsylvania took up their abode in that state. They were members of the Society of Friends, or Quakers, and were noted for their uprightness of character. Joseph Allen, the great-grandfather of our subject, became one of the pioneers of Indiana and was a mill-owner and manufacturer in the early history of that state. His son, Joseph Allen, Jr., the grandfather of John B. Allen, was born in Pennsylvania and with his father removed to Indiana. He became a well educated man, was an expert civil engineer and surveyed many of the national roads in that state before the rails had marked the path of travel with steam as the motive power of transportation. His son, the third to bear the name of Joseph Allen, was born in Indiana, in 1814, and was a physician and surgeon. When the country became involved in Civil war he offered his aid to the government in caring for the sick and wounded and was commissioned surgeon of the Tenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. A part of the time he was attached to the Fourth Brigade under General Thomas. After the war hie settled in Rochester, Minnesota, where he prac- ticed his profession for a number of years, and then removed to Washington. Later he was stricken with paralysis, which incapacitated him for the further performance of professional duties, and he departed this life in 1874. at the
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age of sixty years. He was a well informed and faithful medical practitioner and his skill and ability were recognized in the liberal patronage accorded him. He held membership in the Presbyterian church and was a most worthy citizen and honorable man.
In the years of his early manhood Dr. Joseph Allen had chosen for his wife Miss Hannah Cloud Beard, a native of Indiana and a daughter of Hon. John Beard, a gentleman who was closely identified with the organization and promotion of nearly all of the public institutions of the state of Indiana. For a period of thirty years he was a member of the state legislature, serving continuously either in the house or senate. He took a special interest in the building of the institution for the deaf and blind of his state and he left the impress of his individuality for good upon many measures which have been of the greatest benefit to that commonwealth. Unto Dr. Allen and his wife were born eight children, of whom only three are now living. The wife and mother died in the forty-ninth year of her age. She was a devout Christian, whose life was in harmony with her professed belief as a member of the Presbyterian church. She was devoted to her family, was of most amiable manner and kindly disposition and was beloved by all who had the pleasure of her acquaintance.
John Beard Allen, who was the fourth member of Dr. Allen's family, obtained his literary education in Wabash College, and then determining to make the practice of law his life work he began studying in the office and under the direction of the Hon. Charles C. Wilson, of Rochester, Minnesota, after which he took the law course in the Michigan University at Ann Arbor, and was admitted to practice in the fall of 1868. Opening an office in Ro- chester. Minnesota, he was engaged in practice at that place for a year, and in the spring of 1870 came to Washington, locating at Olympia, where he prosecuted his profession for a year. The district was then a new country and it was difficult to get along for some time, but gradually his patronage grew into a large and paying business.
While residing in Olympia Mr. Allen was appointed by President Grant to the position of United States attorney for the territory and was re. appointed by both Presidents Hayes and Garfield. During his ten years in- cumbency in that office he was practically a circuit rider, for it was the era preceding the advent of railroads, when travel was by stage over the rough mountain roads. He proved a most capable official. faithfully defending the legal interests of the state and gaining prominence by his masterly handling of intricate legal problems. While residing in Olympia Mr. Allen also edited volumes one and two of the reports of the supreme court of the territory,
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from the time of its establishment until 1883. In 1881 he removed to Walla Walla and continued practice in eastern Washington and in the supreme court. In 1888 he made the canvass for the position of delegate to congress on the Republican ticket. This was one of the most exciting and arduous campaigns ever made in the history of Washington. His party had been defeated at the two preceding elections, but he was elected by a very large popular vote, receiving a larger majority than had ever been given to any previous candidate. Before he took his seat Washington was admitted to the Union and he was then elected United States senator by the first state legislature. Three states were admitted to the Union during that session of congress, the two Dakotas and Washington. The members of the sen- ate were divided into three classes, the term of one-third expiring every two years, thus constituting the senate a continuous body. As a new state is admitted its senators take places for the terms of office in the uncompleted classes. In order to conform to this rule the three states just admitted were required to draw lots for their class position and after that the senators from each state had to draw lots between themselves to determine the length of their respective terms. Mr. Allen drew the four-years term, which expired March 4, 1893, and was again a candidate before the legislature for the office. In the legislature of one hundred and twelve members, seventy-five were Republicans, the balance being Populists and Democrats. In a Repub- lican caucus thirty-eight would have constituted a majority sufficient for a nomination, but a minority of the party refused to caucus and fifty members went into caucus, of whom forty-nine cast their ballots for Mr. Allen. While he had a continuous support of fifty-two or fifty-three members throughout the session, the legislature failed to elect and his supporters declined to as- sent to his withdrawal, so that the legislature adjourned without choosing a United States senator. He was then appointed to the position by Governor Jolın H. McGraw. A like failure occurred in Montana and in Wyoming, but the senate declined to seat the appointed senator on account of a precedent in similar cases, and that precedent has since been followed.
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