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 32
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HARHOWE
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SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY.
The last named was educated in the public schools of Minneapolis and in Seabury College, and has been continuously connected with theatrical busi- ness since 1869. He is one of the oldest theater managers west of the Rocky Mountains, having given his entire attention to the business through the past thirty-one years. He has probably controlled more theaters than any other man on the Pacific coast. Between the years 1884 and 1891 he had control of the Northern Pacific Theatrical situation, besides all the first-class the- atrical business of Portland, Oregon. Seattle, Tacoma and Walla Walla, Washington, and Victoria, British Columbia, together with that of a number of smaller cities. He was lessee and proprietor of the Columbia and Alcazar theaters of San Francisco during the years 1894-5. He has also owned and controlled M. Quad's funny play. Yoke, which Mr. Howe brought to the Pacific coast in 1880. He afterward was manager of W. E. Sheridan, the great tragedian, in King Lear, Louis VII and a repertoire of Shakespearean plays, and since then he has assumed the management of the Seattle theater. His efforts have met with phenomenal success. The theater was built in i892, at the northwest corner of Cherry street and Third avenue, at a cost of $150,000, and is a beautiful structure. It is strictly a Seattle institution, being a product of the city's enterprise and capital. Fire-proof and sub- stantially built, as well as being of a pleasing style of architecture, it is the equal of any first-class theater on the coast in both design and interior finish- ing and decorating. Mr. Howe assumed the management in 1898, since which time the citizens of Seattle have taken pride as well as pleasure in this excellent place of amusement and the play-loving people are to be congrat- ulated that a manager of such ability as Mr. Howe is in charge of this attractive house.
In 1882 occurred the marriage of Mr. Howe and Miss Mary Ella Shef- fiel 1, who was born in Vancouver, Washington, and is a daughter of A. H. Sheffield, a pioneer who went to Vancouver with Captain U. S. Grant and was also well acquainted with General Sheridan, who was then lieutenant, while the future president was only commander of a company, both he and General Sheridan being stationed at Vancouver. Mr. Sheffield served as sheriff for some years and was one of the well known and leading pioneers of the state. Unto our subject and his wife have been born two children : John Pardee, Jr .. now a student in the Washington Military College, and Queenie Bessie, at school. They have a nice home on Queen Ann Hill, and their circle of friends in the city is extensive. Mr. Howe is popular in busi- ness circles and is widely and favorably known all over the Pacific coast.
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COLONEL ALDEN J. BLETHEN.
In this age of colossal enterprise and marked intellectual energy, the prominent and successful men are those whose abilities, persistence and courage lead them into large undertakings and assume responsibilities and labors of leaders in their respective vocations. Success is methodical and consecutive, and however much we may indulge in fantastic theorizing as to its elements and causation in any isolated instance, yet in the light of sober investigation we will find it to be but a result of the determined appli- cation of one's abilities and powers along the rigidly defined line of labor.
America owes much of her progress and advancement to a position foremost among the nations of the world to her newspapers, and in no line has the incidental broadening out of the sphere of usefulness been more marked than in this same line of journalismn. Seattle, the city marvelous, has enlisted in its newspaper field some of the strongest intellects in the nation-men of broad mental grasp, cosmopolitan ideas and notable busi- ness sagacity.
Prominent among the men who have given the city prestige in this direction must be placed Colonel Alden J. Blethen, the subject of this re- view. His identification with the "art preservative of all arts" is one of personal predilection, and though he has intermittently turned his attention to enterprises of a different nature, still, true to the instinct said to charac- terize every newspaper man, he inevitably returned to the work, strengthened and re-enforced by the experiences which were gained outside.
Colonel Blethen is the editor-in-chief of The Seattle Daily and Sunday Times and comes of one of the oldest families of this country, his ancestry tracing back to 1680, when representatives of the name located at Ipswich, Massachusetts.
As a rule the men of the family have devoted their energies to either agricultural or sea-faring pursuits. The paternal grandmother was a sec- ond cousin of Ethan Allen, the gallant Vermont general, who led the Green Mountain boys to victory in the capture of Fort Ticonderoga.
Again the family was represented by loyal service in the Civil war, three brothers of our subject joining the Union army. Allen served for three years in the Army of the Cumberland and participated in the notable battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge and Frank- lin.
Charles Edward died from the result of injuries sustained at the battle of Cedar Creek where Early surprised Sheridan "twenty miles away."
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James L. was wounded at Gettysburg and served his country till the close.
Colonel Blethen is a native of Maine, having been born at Knox, Waldo county, on December 27, 1846, his parents being Alden and Abbie L. Blethen. After acquiring a common-school education he entered Wesleyan Seminary and College, where he was graduated in 1868, and in 1872 he won the de- gree of Master of Arts, at Bowdoin College. He then took up the profes- sion of teaching and was lessee and principal of the Abbott Family School from 1869 until 1873.
At the same time he carried on the study of law and was admitted to the bar of the state of Maine in the latter year, establishing an office in Port- land. He there engaged in practice until 1880, when on account of ill health he removed to Kansas City, Missouri, where he entered upon the vocation for which he is so admirably fitted. For four years he was editor and manager of the well known Kansas City Journal, at the conclusion of which time he removed to Minneapolis, where his field was enlarged by pur- chasing an interest in two prominent papers there-The Tribune and The Journal. He served as editor of the Tribune and manager of the Journal until 1888, when he sold his interest in those papers for two hundred and fifty thousand dollars spot cash.
Having a decided liking as well as a special ability for newspaper work, Colonel Blethen repurchased the Tribune the following year, but fire de- stroyed the building in November of the same year and he thus suffered a loss of one hundred thousand dollars. Nothing daunted, he set to work to build in 1890, erecting the new Tribune building at a cost of one hundred thousand dollars, but the great financial panic of 1893 followed so closely after the fire that it brought disaster to him as it did to so many others and he lost all that he had saved.
While there he took an active interest in military affairs and served as colonel on the staffs of both Governor Nelson and Governor Clough. He had enlisted at the time of the Civil war, but as he was the youngest of the family and there were three other brothers at the front, his mother --- a widow-induced him to remain at home.
After his financial failure, desiring to begin anew in the newspaper field. Colonel Blethen came to Seattle and in 1896 he purchased the plant of a bankrupt paper. It was housed on Yesler Way, in a room not adapted or adequate for the publication of a newspaper, and he soon removed the plant to more conspicuous quarters in the Boston block, with a circulation of thirty-five hundred of a four-page paper. He increased this over fifty-six per cent in the first year and The Times has since steadily grown until its
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circulation is about thirty thousand of a twenty-paged paper. This rapid and steady increase again demanded more commodious quarters and in 1901 arrangements were made for the construction of a building erected specially for The Times. Realizing the trend of business northward, Col- onel Blethen decided upon the corner of Second avenue and Union street.
Many of his friends laughed at him for going so far away from what was then considered the business center, but even the brief space of time which has since elapsed has proven the wisdom of his step. Here a building was erected four stories in height, including the basement, which is eigh- teen feet in the clear. The building is sixty by one hundred feet.
The business offices and mailing room are on the main floor. There are twenty offices on the second floor and the entire top floor is occupied by the editorial, news and reportorial department and the type-setting room.
In the last named are ten type-setting machines and in addition many men are engaged in compiling what is known as other than "straight mat- ter." The large "Quad" Hoe press in the basement turns out a folded paper of thirty-two pages in a single run, and the supplementary press of twenty-four pages supply the additional pages of the great Sunday and magazine paper which it had long been Colonel Blethen's dream to produce.
The first copy was issued February 9, 1902, and thus he put into work- ing force the idea which he had long entertained and which is the crowning glory of his other successes in building up such a splendid paper as he has made of The Times. Taking the month of May, 1902, for example, some idea of the magnitude of the business may be had from the fact that the ex- penses were twenty-four thousand eight hundred and sixty dollars and over two hundred and sixty thousand pounds of paper were used.
Employment is given to one hundred and fourteen persons, beside the services of eighty-three carriers which are required.
It would be a work of supererogation to attempt in this connection to enter into details concerning the history of The Times or to note the specific points which have marked the growth of the enterprise and the brilliant ac- coniplishment of the man who directed its destinies. These matters stand forth in their own exemplification and further comment in that direction is unnecessary. A local publication said :
"With matchless energy and foresight Colonel Blethen has made it the greatest evening daily on the Pacific coast and has devoted it as a mighty instrument for the upbuilding of Seattle. There is not at this time a better or more elegantly equipped newspaper plant west of Chicago than that from
G. M. Stewart
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SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY.
which The Seattle Times is issued, all the result of the indefatigable energy of Colonel Blethen."
At Farmington, Maine, on the 12th of March, 1869, Colonel Blethen was united in marriage to Miss Rose, a daughter of Captain David F. Hunter, a grand-daughter of David Hunter, who came from Scotland to America and was one of the early settlers of northeastern Maine. Four children have been born of this marriage, two sons and two daughters. Jo- seph, the eldest, is managing editor of The Times and the secretary and treasurer of The Times Printing Company. Clarence B. is the general news manager and the daughters are Florence A. and Marian R.
In 1900 Colonel Blethen erected a fine residence at No. 519 Highland Drive, which is not only an elegant and substantial home, but is an ornament to the city of his adoption.
The Colonel is the president of the board of regents of the State Uni- versity, in which position his executive ability is of great service. He is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce. He has taken an active interest in Masonic work in the past, in which he has advanced through the various degrees until he is now a thirty-third degree Mason.
Whatever tends to prove of public good receives his hearty co-operation and aid. He is foremost in advocating whatever he believes is for the ben- efit of the city. His charity is wide but entirely unostentatious and though his benevolences have been many, they are often known only to the recipient. He stands to-day as a high type of American manhood, progressive, pur- poseful and strong to perform.
GEORGE M. STEWART.
On the roster of Seatle's officials appears the name of George M. Stew- art, who is filling the position of postmaster and is also known as a prominent business man here. He was born in Elmira, New York, May 16. 1852, and is of Scotch-Irish lineage. His father, George Stewart, was born in Scot- land and in 1827 became a resident of Canada, where he was engaged in supplying contracts for timber used in the construction of men of war. He followed that business for a number of years and in 1850 returned to the old country and then came to Canada, where later he turned his attention to farm- ing. In early life he endorsed the faith of the Presbyterian church. but afterward became identified with the Methodist church and aided in building a house of worship. He remained one of its most earnest, valued and ac-
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ceptable members until called to his final home in 1897. Prior to coming to America he married Miss Jane Bruce, a lady of Scotch hneage, who was born in the north of Ireland. She too was a most earnest and consistent Christian and by her marriage she became the mother of seven sons and three daughters. Her death occurred in 1875 when she was sixty-four years of age. Three of the children have been called to the home beyond and three are living on the Pacific coast, while four are in Canada. One of the sons, Alexander B. Stewart, is prominently engaged in the drug business in Seattle. . \. M. Stewart is a druggist in Tacoma, and our subject is interested in the under- taking business in Seattle, as a member of the firm of Bonney & Stewart.
In the public schools, George M. Stewart obtained his education and when fourteen years of age came to the Pacific coast, making his way to Cali- fornia, in order that a change of climate might benefit his health. He was small and rather delicate at that time and the change did prove advantageous. He developed a strong and robust manhood that has proved an excellent foundation for his business activity in recent years. He attended school in San Francisco and subsequently engaged in clerking in a store there. Later he removed to Virginia City, Nevada, where he was engaged in general mer- chandising for eight years, meeting with gratifying success. He was married there in 1880 to Miss Mary Klupfer, but the wife of his choice and of his youth was only spared to him seventeen months and he was left with a little daughter. Mary Veronica, who is now in school at San Mateo, California. Two years after the death of his first wife. Mr. Stewart wedded Miss Katie Parkinson, a native of San Francisco. Her father. R. R. Parkinson, was a California pioneer of 1849. and for thirty-six years was the editor of a newspaper in Carson City. He was a native of England and in religions faith was an Episcopalian, while his political support was given the Repub- lican party. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart now have two daughters. Helen Mar- garet, and Gladys Mae.
For some time Mr. Stewart was a traveling salesman, representing Hall. Luhrs & Company, proprietors of a wholesale house of Sacremento, for which he traveled six years throughout the states of California, Nevada. " "tah and Oregon, having a very large patronage which brought to the house an extensive business. In 1880 he came to Seattle and purchased the interest of Mr. Shorey in the firm of Shorey & Company, undertakers, at which time the name was changed to Bonney & Stewart. They were burned out in the great fire in 1880. since which time they have erected a large brick buikling. planned especially for their business at the corner of Third avenue and Colum- lia street. They have managed their business, with great success and now
299
SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY.
stand at the head in this line in Seattle. They have the best planned and most attractively furnished undertaking parlors in the west, or perhaps in the United States. They are men of much public enterprise, taking an interest in every laudable movement or measure in the city. It has been wise- jy said that "the liberal man deviseth liberal things and by liberal things he shall stand" and this has been verified in the case of Mr. Stewart and his partner. He is a man of resourceful business ability and his efforts have not been limited to one line, for he is interested in various other business enter- prises. He is now the president of the Queen Oil Company of Kern county. California, and with the firm owns considerable stock in a gold mine in Sonora, which his partner, Mr. Bonney, is operating successfully.
Mr. Stewart is a valued member of several fraternal organizations, in- cluding the Knights of Pythias Lodge of Seattle, of which he is past chan- cellor. He has filled all of the chairs in both the subordinate lodge and en- campment of the Odd Fellows society and is treasurer of the Grand Court of Foresters of the state of Washington. He also holds membership rela- tions with the Fraternal Brotherhood, the Ancient Order of United Work- men, and the Royal Arcanum. He owns one of the nice homes of the city, located at the corner of Seventeenth and Madison streets and he and his fami- ly are highly respected here, enjoying the hospitality of many of the best residents of Seattle. Every movement, measure or interest which elicits the approval of Mr. Stewart also receives from him earnest support and it is therefore that he is known as an active member of the Republican party, his labors making him a leader in the organization in the state. He was treas- urer of the Republican state central committee for four years and for a num- ber of years served on the central committee of the city, doing all in his power to promote the growth and secure the success of Republican principles. In consideration of his efforts for the party and his effective labors in its behalf, as well as his fitness for the office, President Mckinley appointed him to the position of postmaster of Seattle, and the nomination being confirmed by the senate he took charge of the office on the Ist of January, 1900. The post- office is well arranged, and the service is highly satisfactory to the citizens of Seattle. The business is growing rapidly; in the year previous to his in- cumbency the receipts were ninety-three thousand dollars, and in the year 1901, amounted to two hundred and four thousand dollars, making an in- crease of more than double in two years, which is an excellent showing for the growth of the city, and also indicates that the duties of the postmaster are ·merous. In his official course, however, Mr. Stewart is indicating that the confidence reposed in him and in his ability was not misplaced, for no more
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capable official has ever been in charge of the postoffice at Seattle. As a citizen he is public spirited and progressive and in private life he commands that confidence and esteem which is always accorded to true worth.
ELBERT F. BLAINE.
With many of the leading measures resulting in the rapid development of the city of Seattle Mr. Blaine has been identified, and his efforts have been such that they have not only won him a place among the prominent people of the city, but have also contributed in a large measure to the gen- eral improvement and development of the city along lines of substantial advancement.
At the bar and in the handling of business interests, Mr. Blaine has become a factor in the life of Seattle, where he has made his home since 1885 and where he is now a member of the Denny-Blaine Land Company.
A native of Romulus, Seneca county, New York, Elbert F. Blaine was born on the 26th day of June, 1857, and is of Scotch-Irish lineage, his an- cestors on his father's side having emigrated from the old world to the state of Pennsylvania long prior to the Revolutionary war. His great- grandfather lived at Milton, Pennsylvania, and at this place his grandfather and father were born. His grandfather emigrated to the state of New York when James Blaine, the father of this subject, was four years old. James Blaine was a farmer by occupation and a man of the highest respectability. He filled various offices of honor and trust, and while not a member of any church he was always an active worker therein. He married Amanda De- Pue, a native of New York, and they became the parents of eleven children, eight of whom are yet living. The father reached the venerable age of eighty-three years, passing away in 1893, and the good wife lately died in her eighty-third year.
Mr. Blaine, of Seattle, is the only member of the family residing on the Sound. He completed his literary education in the Valparaiso (Indiana) Normal School, and afterwards took up the study of law in the Union Law School, at Albany, New York, in which institution he was graduated with the class of 1882. He was then admitted to the bar in New York, and removed to Huron, Dakota, and subsequently to Minnesota. He arrived in Washington in 1884, settling in Tacoma: the following year he moved to Seattle and took charge of the old Michigan sawmill at Belltown. On the first day of January, 1886, he took up the practice of law, entering into partnership with the Hon. John J. McGilvra, of Seattle, which relationship
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was maintained for several years, during which time the firm enjoyed a large and important business. Lee DeVries became a member of the firm and some time afterwards Mr. McGalvra retired and the firm name was then changed to Blaine & DeVries, this continuing until 1899. During Mr. Blaine's early practice of law no case was too small or unimportant for his consideration. However small the case he never neglected it, his motto being that whatever one undertakes to do, do well. When he had determi- ined that his client was on the side of right, he would never give up until he had employed every honorable means in his power to establish his posi- tion. He thus won a reputation as a painstaking, thorough and capable lawyer, and by degrees the practice of the firm increased until the time and energy of its members were taxed to the utmost. Through the influence of the late Arthur A. Denny, a very large clientage was secured from the old settlers of the city of Seattle and it fell to their lot to administer many of their estates. In the practice of his profession, Mr. Blame says he was successful in a degree greater than he ever dreamed he would be, and his ability as a lawyer is indicated by the fact of the few cases lost to the many won for his clients, and the legal business entrusted to his care, for many years, has been of the most important character.
Owing to press of business, Mr. Blaine has given very little time to political work. In national and state politics he is a Democrat, but in munici- pal affairs he believes that there should not be too much partisanism. In the upbuilding of Seattle he has ever taken an active part, believing from the very beginning of his acquaintance with the town that it was destined to have a great future. In 1899 the Denny-Blaine Land Company was formed, composed of Charles L. Denny and Elbert F. Blaine. At this time the health of the Hon. Arthur A. Denny was very much impaired and the new firm practically took charge of his large estate and since his death Mr. Blaine has been the attorney for the estate, which is being managed in the office of the Denny-Blaine Land Company. Through the efforts of our subject the Yakima Investment Company was reorganized, the property being acquired by the Washington Irrigation Company, and since that time Mr. Blaine has given much of his attention and energy to the control of its affairs. For a number of years the firm operated the Grant street car line. The Denny-Blaine Land Company has purchased and improved a number of tracts of land, notably one which is now the Denny-Blaine Lake Park, one of the very finest additions to the city of Seattle, and they are inter- ested in various other enterprises.
Mr. Blaine was married in 1882, to Miss Minerva Stone, a native of
.
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Seneca, New York, a daughter of John R. Stone, of that county, and a representative of one of the old American families. They now have one son, James Arthur. Theirs is one of Seattle's beautiful and attractive res- idences, located in the Denny-Blaine Lake Park. Mr. Blaine is a member of several secret orders and his wife is a member of the Trinity Episcopal church. For a number of years Mr. Blaine has taken a great interest in the upbuilding of the University of the state of Washington. Lately he has become president of the board of park commissioners of the city of Seattle and he and his associates have succeeded in creating such a public senti- ment in favor of parks that a large sum of money has been appropriated by the city council for the establishment of a magnificent park and boulevard system in Seattle and the commencement of work thereon. His life has been one of untiring activity and has been crowned with a high measure of success. He is possessed of great energy, is quick of perception and forms his plans readily. He has the will power and the courage to carry them forward to successful completion and to-day he ranks among the leading business men of the northwest and capable of controlling interests of great magnitude.
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