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 42
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was made a member of the American Philosophical Society and an honorary member of the Franklin Institute, being thus honored on account of his ser- vices rendered as judge of the electrical exhibition and in the competition tests of dynamos and electrical machinery. In 1884 he was the first naval officer to propose and urge the use of oil in storms at sea, and although this was much ridiculed at the time its use has since become almost universal and has saved many vessels and innumerable lives. In 1887-88 he served as flag secretary to Rear Admiral Braine, of the South Atlantic Station, and in 1889 was made assistant to the chief of the bureau of yards and docks in the navy department, having special charge of the installation of electric plants in the navy yards. Under the law of March 2, 1891, he was ordered by the secretary of the navy to proceed to Puget Sound and select and pur- chase the lands for the Puget Sound naval station and locate the dry dock, and having satisfactorily performed this responsible duty he was ordered, on the 15th of September, 1891, as the first commandant of the new station. In 1891, however, soon after going on board the Yukon, Lieutenant Wyckoff had been stricken with rheumatism. The honor and responsibility of such an assignment to a junior officer was unprecedented in the navy and his pro- fessional pride made him remain umtil the duty was fully accomplished, not- withstanding his painful illness. As soon, however, as the dry dock was begun he asked for detachment and was relieved in January, 1893, after which he went at once to the army and navy hospital at Hot Springs, Arkansas. His promotion became due June 26, 1893, and he was ordered to Washington. When he appeared before the exannining board it was thought that he would never again be fit physically for duty at sea, and he was accordingly placed on the retired list July 3, 1893. So while he eventually saw his cherished project of a naval station on Puget Sound started it proved the means of his own undoing and prevented his reaching the high rank which is every naval officer's ambition.
After his retirement, in 1893, Lieutenant Wyckoff for three years was interested in the development of the Yakima valley and was a contributor to numerous eastern magazines in favor of establishing a system of irrigation, which has proved such a valuable enterprise for that section of the state.
In the family of Lieutenant Wyckoff are three children: Mary, the wife of George E. Wright, a prominent attorney of Seattle; Selah, the wife of Myron Westover, an attorney of St. Louis; and Carrie Wyckoff, the adopted daughter of Governor E. J. Ormsbee, of Brandon, Vermont. Mr. Wyckoff's reminiscences of his services on Puget Sound are contained in "The Washington Historian of january, 1901." He has written numerous
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articles for eastern magazines and papers regarding the state of Washing- ton and has been an enthusiastic "boomer" of Puget Sound in many parts of the world. Perhaps no other citizen has contributed more largely to the development and prosperity of the state. But his devotion and enthusiasm have cost him dearly, as his residence for nearly two years on an old rotten schooner while starting the navy yard caused the serious disease which led to his retirement and loss of the high rauk which he would have attained in the naval service. Since his retirement in 1893 he has been a resident of Seattle. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, a member of the American Philosophical Society and an honorary member of the Franklin Institute and Maritime Exchange of Philadelphia and the Chamber of Commerce of Se- attle. In all local affairs the Lieutenant is public-spirited and an enthusiastic promoter of all enterprises for the advancement of Seattle and the Sound country and is an ardent Republican in politics.
PATRICK D. HUGHES.
A practitioner at the bar of Seattle, Patrick D. Hughes has gained prom- inence as a member of the legal profession, and his advancement reflects credit upon him, for without outside aid or influence he began life here in the west and without previous preparation for a business career; he had been reared in the lap of luxury and had never known the necessity of earn- ing a dollar until he was twenty-three years of age, when owing to finan- cial reverses he was thrown upon his own resources, and that he has worked his way upward to an enviable position is due to no assistance, but to a strong determination to overcome all obstacles and win success, retrieving his lost position in financial circles.
Born in Toronto, Canada, August 5, 1863, Mr. Hughes is a son of Patrick Hughes, who was a prominent wholesale merchant there and a man of marked influence and force of character, known throughout the entire dominion. His extensive interests in important business concerns were no hindrance to his activity in affairs for the public good, and he took a prom- inent part in all matters intended for the betterment of the community and country in which he lived. He was a director in the Imperial Bank of Can- ada, and was a leader for many years in financial circles of that country. He married in Boston, Massachusetts, Miss Mary E. Donoghue, a daughter of Patrick Donoghue, of the Boston Pilot, and to them were born six children.
Patrick D. Hughes, the only representative of this family in the west. pursued his education in private schools of his native country and attended
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the Upper Canada College, after which he was connected with his father's business until 1887. Then thrown upon his own resources, owing to the financial reverses which encumbered his father's property, he determined to begin life anew in the far west, and though he had not been trained to meet hardships and adversity, the strength of a manly character was now mani- fest, in the way in which he faced new conditions and set to work to gain an honest, if humble, living.
He arrived in the west in 1888 and took up his residence in Seattle. He did not know where or how to find work, but was willing to perform any labor that would give him a start, and was first employed on a pile-driver for Dunham & Collins. Soon afterward he obtained a position in the post- office under J. M. Lyon, and later secured a situation in a grocery store. He began there in a very humble position, but it was not long before he gave proof of his ability for higher service, and he was promoted to bookkeeper and later was given charge of the business. When he severed his connec- tion with that house he became connected with real estate dealing as a rep- resentative of the firm of Crawford & Conover. But in the meantime he took up the study of law, and when Thomas Gordon became clerk of the courts he appointed Mr. Hughes to the position of deputy, and the latter served in that capacity through the entire term of four years, at the same time keeping up the study of law, which, together with the work in the courts, gave him an excellent understanding of jurisprudence and the methods of applying legal principles to the points in litigation. He passed an examination and was admitted to the bar in 1897 and since that time has been engaged in general practice in Seattle. He has won considerable prominence as a criminal law- yer, but recently has given up most of his practice in that department. His success has been gratifying, both from a professional and financial stand- point, and already he has gained a clientage that indicates that he is classed among the able lawyers of the Seattle bar.
In 1890 Mr. Hughes returned to his former home and married Gertrude, a daughter of Charles Crookall, of the Berlin (Ontario) branch of the Mer- chants Bank of Canada, and they have three children, Ursula, Harold and Monica. Mr. Hughes is an active member of the Republican party and has attended every convention here during the past ten years. He was appointed a member of the civil service board in 1899, from which he resigned in 1902, owing to the press of his private business affairs. Upon the breaking out of the Rice rebellion in Canada, Mr. Hughes entered the army and for gallant conduct was promoted to the rank of captain. He had command of a half company at Cut Knife in 1885 and was awarded the queen's medal and clasp
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in recognition of his meritorious service in the campaign. Fraternally he is connected with the Elks. He was formerly an active member of the Athletic Club, was a member of its board of trustees for several years and belonged to the four-oared crew, rowing with some of Yale's former oarsmen. He is still interested in athletic matters, although not so actively as he was former- ly because of lack of time. Mr. Hughes is a man of strong force of charac- ter and sterling worth, as is indicated by the way in which he bravely met the situation when financial reverses overtook him. Adversity has been called the character test, and through the ordeal Mr. Hughes came out tri- umphantly, his course winning him the respect and honor of all who have regard for upright manhood, for unfaltering diligence and for upright prin- ciples.
ALBERT W. HIGHT.
In all communities especial honor seems to be accorded him or her who did "first" things. The first arrival, of course, becomes perforce a historical celebrity, the first builder of a house gets honorable mention in all the local history, and the first baby born, especially if it were a girl, is made the fruit- ful theme of song and story. Naturally, therefore, the pioneer of a place who not only did see one but many "first" things becomes a notable and is entitled to a front seat at all old settlers' meetings. This subject is thus mentioned for the purpose of entering a claim to the last mentioned honor in the name of Albert W. Hight, the genial superintendent of the Wash- ington Pulley Company at Ballard. A simple enumeration will show that Mr. Hight has so many "firsts" to his credit that no strain will be put upon words to call him No. I in most of the early events of the bustling burg by the bay. He was one of the first arrivals in the town, served in the first two councils, received the first car-load of freight shipped to the town, built the first residence in the place, and one of his children was the first child born at Ballard. Under the impression that an interest will be felt in a busy life of this kind something will now be told of Mr. Hight's origin, what he did before coming, and more specific details given of the part he has taken in building up Ballard.
The Hights were settled in Pennsylvania at what the pioneer historians call a "very early day," and in that state, October 24, 1820, was born John R. Hight, father of the Ballard mechanic whose biography is being traced. About the time he reached manhood a great tide of emigration was setting in from the east and south toward the rich and rising state of Ohio, and
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young Hight, having all to gain and nothing to lose, abandoned his old home and joined the surging throng. Destiny directed him toward the shores of Lake Erie, and eventually he found a location in Lucas county, not far from the present thriving city of Toledo. John R. Hight was a carpenter by trade and possessed considerable mechanical talent, which doubtless has been transmitted to his more successful son. He seems also to have been of some consequence in his community as a leader in local politics on the Republican side, and he served for sixteen years as justice of the peace in his township. After coming to Ohio he married Asenoth Barkestoam, who died at a comparatively early age after giving birth to two children.
Albert W. Hight, the younger of these, was born in Lucas county, near Toledo, October 24, 1848, and was one of the boys destined, in the language of the farm, to have "a hard row to hoe." In fact it was a case of hard struggling almost from the cradle, and he has made his own living ever since he was eight years of age. His father was a soldier in the Sixty-eighth Ohio Regiment until incapacitated from service by a wound, and Albert W., though less than fifteen years of age, joined the same command about the middle of January, 1863, in time to see some very lively service in the great campaigns of the southwest. He was one of the mighty multitude that cut loose from their base of supplies at Atlanta and started overland under "Old Tecumseh" on that memorable march to the sea, whichi will ever shine in history as one of the supremest achievements of military genius. Being honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, after the close of hostilities, young Hight saw the urgent necessity of doing something for a living and with all the wide world before him where to choose, he chose, like many another for- tune-hunter, to go west. He spent four years in Illinois as an apprentice to the carpenter's trade, later was in Iowa for awhile, and about this time, having decided to take Horace 'Greeley's advice and go further west, he re- turned to Chicago to make necessary preparations for the trip. Taking passage on one of the overland lines to the Pacific coast, he arrived in a few days at San Francisco, thence decided to push on to the newer sections in the northwest. His trip up the coast, always a refreshing experience for a land- lubber, was taken on the old Tidal Wave to Port Madison, and from there he crossed over to Seattle on a tug. When Mr. Hight arrived on the scene there was little to indicate the appearance of a thriving city in that locality. Here and there might be seen some scattered buildings and a few humble shacks occupied by fishermen or lumber laborers. Most of the town site, however, was covered with timber, and the primeval forest stretched in unbroken magesty in all directions away from the Sound. The manufacture
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of lumber being the principal industry of the place at that time, Mr. Hight naturally drifted into the same channel and became interested in sawmills. The mill he erected at Ballard was the nucleus around which subsequently grew the present thriving city. When Mr. Hight came no town was in sight or anything to indicate that there would ever be one on that particular spot. A few brave spirits, however, saw the possibilities and were willing to risk their money on the prospects of eventually building up a thriving community at this point. After the pioneer blazes the way it is comparatively easy for others to follow, and in the course of time lots were for sale, incipient in- dustries got under way, a church, schoolhouse and newspaper gave unmistak- able indications that a town was growing up in the rapid style typical of America. In 1893 Mr. Hight abandoned the manufacture of shingles and other kinds of lumber to devote himself to making pulleys. He met with success, and by degrees built up a trade which extended as far away as San Francisco and Salt Lake City. As a kind of side line he manufactured a good many floats for fishermen's nets, but his chief energies were put forth in pro- ducing the split-wood pulley, which has the reputation of being the best of its kind on the market. April 1, 1902, the Washington Pulley Company was organized to conduct the business more energetically, and as they own the patents covering their output they enjoy a practical monoply in this particular product.
Mr. Hight married Clare Blackstone, of Portland, and has five children : Martha, wife of Charles J. Wicker; Laura, a teacher in the public schools ; John R .; Albert; and William Henry. His religious belief is in line with the Unitarians and his politics those of the Bryan Democracy, though he does not seem to have wasted any time seeking office from any party. Mr. Hight may be said to have rocked the cradle at the birth of Ballard, and when it took on corporate existence he acted as one of the city fathers by serving in the council two terms, and looked carefully after the embryo metropolis. He was one of the prime movers in having the twevle-inch pipe line laid, through which salt water may be pumped in large quantities when needed for fire pro- tection.
HARRY A. BIGELOW.
The state of Washington, with its pulsing industrial activities and rapid development, has attracted within its confines men of marked ability and high character in the various lines of business, and in this way progress has been conserved and social stability fostered. He whose name initiates this review
C
HaBigelow
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inas gained recognition as one of the able and succesful business men of Seat- tle, and by his labors, his capability and his sterling characteristics has justi- fied the respect and confidence in which he is held by the public in general as well as by his friends and associates.
Mr. Bigelow is the youngest of ten children born to Townsend and Diana H. Bigelow, November 1, 1848, in Hillsdale county, Michigan. His early life was spent in the rural district where school advantages were few, and possessing a desire to acquire knowledge and see more of the world, at the early age of sixteen he bade farewell to the home of his youth and went to Illinois. This was the year 1864, when the nation was trembling in the balance and the last call for troops so filled his enthusiastic heart that he offered his services to the government in subduing the rebellion, enlisting in Company M, Ninth Illinois Cavalry. His service was with the Army of the Tennessee under the command of General Thomas until he was discharged at Montgomery, Alabama. Returning to Illinois he resumed his studies; but the knowledge he had gained by his experience in the south imbued with- in him a spirit of restlessness and a determination to realize the posibilities of the far west. On October, 1869, in company with his sister, Mrs. Julius Horton and family, he came by way of the Union Pacific Railroad to San Francisco thence north by sailing vessel to Seattle. In the spring of 1870 he engaged in merchandising with one of Seattle's leading firms and con- tinued with that firm for several years.
In September, 1873, he was united in marriage to Emma K. Hall, only daughter of W. B. and S. E. Hall and three children were born to them, Lillian Floy, Clair Vivian and D. Earl Bigelow.
He was connected with mercantile interests from 1870 until 1890, when he was appointed deputy United States marshal under President Harrison and was chief deputy of the state for three years. He performed his duties as deputy in an efficient and forcible manner. Retiring from the marshal's office he engaged in the real estate and brokerage business, with which he was associated until July, 1897, when he sailed for Dawson, Alaska, by way of St. Michaels, but was destined not to reach the great gold metropolis on ac- count of low water in the Yukon river, and was forced to try his fortune in Rampart City on Manook Creek in American territory. After a year's pros- pecting and securing an interest in twenty-one claims, he resolved to return to Seattle, and in company with his son and three others embarked in a row boat and by traveling day and night made the one thousand miles in twelve days to St. Michaels, thence by steamer to Seattle. In November, 1898.
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he again engaged in the real estate business and carried on operations along that line until March 1901, when he became one of the incorporators of the Queen Oil Company with valuable landed interests in Kern county, Cali- fornia.
In his political views he is a strong Republican, having constantly supported that party up to the present time. He is truly American and reckons nothing that concerns Americans to be unworthy of his notice. Thrown in early life upon his own resources he has ever followed the dictates of his mind and through years of rugged toil has earned the posi- tion among men he now holds.
For years he has taken an active interest in the Grand Army of the Republic and is one of the charter members of the first post formed in the state, known as Stevens Post No. 1, serving three terms as Commander of his post and in June, 1901, he was elected department commander of the department of Washington and Alaska.
He has attended nearly all of the national encampments of the Grand Army of the Republic, serving on many of its very important committees, and figures prominently in the relations between the Grand Army of the Repub- lic and the Sons of Veterans. Since 1872 he has been a member of the Ma- sonic Order and now belongs to St. John's Lodge No. 9, F. and A. M., Seat- tle Chapter No. 3. R. A. M., Seattle Council No. 6, R. and S. M., Seattle Com- mandery No. 2, K. T., Lawson Consistory No. 1, Afifi Temple of the Mystic Shrine; also a member in good standing of the Knights of Pythias and Odd Fellows. In 1884 he took part in the organization of the grand lodge of the Knights of Pythias, and was elected sitting past grand chancellor. In 1885 he was chosen supreme representative of the state of Washington to the Su- preme Lodge and has attended every session of that body having been elected to responsible offices. He organized the military branch of that order in this state and was elected brigadier-general, which position he held for eight years.
Few men have a more intimate knowledge of Seattle's growth and up- builling than Harry A. Bigelow, whose identification with the city dates from the year 1869 and throughout the intervening years he has labored earnest- ly, not only for his own financial advancement, but for the city's welfare and progress, and his efforts have been an important factor in promoting the gene- ral good. He has attained an enviable position in business as well as fratern- ally, and in social circles he commands the high regard of all with whom he is brought in contact, and enjoys the warm esteem of hosts of friends.
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CHARLES GESKE.
From the age of seventeen years Charles Geske has been dependent upon his own labors for all that he has acquired and enjoyed in life, and as the architect of his own fortunes he has builded wisely and well. To-day he is a member of the Miller & Geske Construction Company, incorporated, of Seat- tle, and since 1885 has been connected with the industrial life of this city. Mr. Geske was born in Taylors Falls, Minnesota, in 1856. His father, Fred- erick Geske, was a native of Germany, and after obtaining his education in that country he learned the carpenter's trade. In 1854 he crossed the "briny deep" to the new world, locating in Minnesota, whence he afterward removed to Iowa, and there followed his trade. In politics he was a Democrat. In his native country he married Gretchen Kostman, who was born in Berlin, and they became the parents of eight children, but our subject is the only one living in Seattle.
In the schools of McGregor, Iowa, whither the family had removed when Charles Geske was only five years of age, he pursued his education, and at the age of seventeen he started out to make his own way in the world, fol- lowing harvesting. In the following winter he went to Minnesota, working in the forests there and in the succeeding summer he was employed in a whole- sale house. When about twenty years of age he began learning the carpen- ter's trade, which he has followed in one or more of its branches continuously since, most all of his work having been done for corporations. He was one of the first carpenters who crossed the Missouri river on the ice at Bismark, North Dakota; working for the Northern Pacific Railroad when they began building their lines west from Mandan. He was with the road until after Henry Villard, President U. S. Grant and Jay Gould drove the last spike, an act which he witnessed. Mr. Geske afterward came through to Oregon and then went down the coast to California, but soon returned to Portland and entered the service of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. Subse- quently he went to British Columbia and worked for about a year on the Es- quimault & Nanaimo Railroad. Later he returned to the Northern Pacific Company and was employed on the division work from Tacoma until 1885. when he came to Seattle. Here for four years he occupied the position of foreman for the Great Northern Railroad Company, working out from this point. He afterward entered into partnership with Mr. Miller, a relation- ship which has since been maintained. They began the contracting business, which has steadily grown in volume and importance until it has reached mammoth proportions. They have two scow pile-drivers and three land
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divers with hammers weighing from twenty-eight to forty-five hundred pounds. Their work has mostly been in this city and they have also done some work at Bremerton and other places on the Sound. During the busy season they furnish employment to one hundred men, most of them skilled workmen commanding high prices, none receiving less than three dollars per day and some as high as five dollars per day.
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