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 47
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John Denny, the father of our subject. was born in Mercer county, Ken-
DJ, Denny
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tucky, May 4. 1793. and when a boy he enlisted in a Kentucky regiment to provide for the defense of the frontier against the Indians, who made raids against the settlers of Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. He thus traversed those states before much settlement had been made and a little later he was a mem- ber of Colonel Richard M. Johnson's regiment of mounted volunteers, serv- ing through the war of 1812. He was also with General Harrison at the battle of the Thames when General Proctor and the noted Indian chief, Tec- umseh. were killed. John Denny afterward married Sally Wilson, who was born in Greenbrier county, Virginia. February 3. 1797. the wedding taking place August 25. 1814. They became pioneer settlers of Indiana. Where they resided for a number of years, and they went to Knox county. Ilinois, in 1835. The father became a very prominent and influential citizen there and for several terms represented his district in the state legislature as a member of the Whig party. He was an intimate friend of Abraham Lincoln and was also well acquainted with other distinguished men of that time. His wife ched in Illinois March 21. 1841, and ten years later, in 1851, John Denny crossed the plains with his sons. Arthur A., James N., Samuel S .. David T. and Allen W .. but our subject is now the only survivor. They left their okl home on the roth of April, and were ninty-seven days in making the journey. ariving at Portland on the 22d of August. They accomplished the trip in safety but were almost ambushed by the Indians near the American Falls of Snake river. a family of the name of Clark being entirely wiped out by the Indians at that place only a little while after the Dennys had passed there.
John Denny located in Marion county, Oregon, and became quite active in the public affairs of the new territory. He was a prominent factor in the organization of the Republican party and was its first candidate for governor in 1858. The following year he came to Seattle, where he departed this life July 28. 1875. He was a typical pioneer, of resolute purpose, unfaltering courage and with the ability to become a leader in molding public affairs in a new locality. He was also a man of high moral character and his influence was ever on the side of progress, improvement of justice and of the right. In his early life he was a member of the Methodist church but later joined the United Brethren church, and continued one of its most faithful represent- atives until his death. In the Denny Genealogy. page 235. the following estimate of his character is given: "He was a man of large informa- tion and ready wit. served with Abraham Lincoln in the legislature of Ill- inois and their friendship and mutual respect continued throughout life. Mr. Denny going from Washington territory to visit President Lincoln at the time of the Civil war. He lived a faithful Christian and was a man of large
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influence for good in the community in which he lived. By his first marriage he had ten children. After the death of his wife he was married in Illinois to Sally Boren, who crossed the plains with him and died in Seattle, leaving a daughter. Sarah, who still resides in this city."
David T. Denny was the seventh son of the family. He acquired his education in the public schools of Illinois and was nineteen years of age when he accompanied his father to the Pacific coast. He drove a four horse teani, hauling their provisions. There were fourteen in the family and after they crossed the Missouri river they joined a train of twenty-two wagons. Near Fort Hall they were fired upon by the Indians, but all escaped unhurt. Had their horses been hit and thus disabled. probably every one would have been massacred. The party suffered from mountain fever but there were no deaths. Toward the last of the journey their supply of provisions became exhausted, but fortunately they found an emigrant who sold them some. Mr. Denny of this review drove the horses across the mountains and after remaining at Portland for about a month started for the Sound country, on the 10th of September, 1851. He drove the stock, accomplishing the entire journey on foot to Olympia, which was then a hamlet, containing but three small houses. Mr. Denny continued on across the country to the present site of Seattle and then wrote to his brother, Arthur .1., telling him what he had discovered and advising him to come to this region. He realized that there was a good shipping point here and hoped that a town might eventually spring up. His foresight has been proved by time. Mr. Denny first worked at Alki Point, helping to load a ship with piles, cutting the timber at the water's edge, for which he was paid seven cents per foot, running measure. The country was then full of Indians, but they were friendly.
In the spring of 1852 Mr. Denny secured a claim of three hundred and twenty acres of government land, where the city of Seattle now stands. On the 23d of January. 1853, he was married to Miss Louisa Boren, a sister of his brother Arthur's wife. She was born in White county, Illinois, and was :: daughter of a Baptist minister. Her mother belonged to the Latimer fami- ly. Mr. Denny built a log house in North Seattle, at the foot of what is now Denny way. He lived there less than a year, as the Indians began to be troublesome, and feeling unsafe at that place he removed to a new house which he built near his brother's on the present site of the Stevens Hotel. In the fall of 1855 the Indians, noting the greatly increased emigration to this portion of the country, determined to destroy the settlers who were coming into what they regarded as their own domain, but some friendly red men warned the white people of their danger and they built a block house, for
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which Mr. Denny furnished a lot of hewn timber. Into this the white people moved on the morning of the 24th of January, 1856. The Indians came on in large numbers and surrounded the settlement. The fight continued from nine o'clock in the morning until dark when the savages withdrew. There were probably one hundred and fifty white men and the ship of war Decatur landed its blue jackets, who shelled the Indians and thus the little settlement was saved. A band of the Indians were afterward captured and tried and Mr. Denny acted as the interpreter for he had picked up some knowledge of their language, in which he later became quite proficient.
For a number of years Mr. Denny carried on farming and stock-raising and prospered in this work. When the town began to grow and the land accordingly rose in value, he platted portions of his property at different times and.thus laid out seven additions to the city. He was the owner of the western sawmill and was also very extensively engaged in real estate dealings, but becoming involved in some financial obligations, when the great financial panic of 1892-3 came on it was impossible for him to raise money and with conduct in harmony with the honorable business methods that he has always followed he lost quite heavily, but now he is retrieving considerable of his lost possessions through his mining operations. He is one of the owners of the Esther gold and silver mines in the Cascade Mountains, which assays rich ore. He is also one of the owners of the Gold Creek mine in the same locality and is the president of both companies. At smelter test the ore has yielded ninety-three dollars to the ton and the prospects seem bright for Mr. Denny to retrieve much of his lost fortune-a consummation which his many friends greatly desire. He was at one time connected with street railroad interests here.
Mr. and Mrs. Denny have had a family of seven children, all born in Seattle, and five reached mature years, as follows: John B., an attorney of Alaska; David T., Jr., who resides on a farm; Victor W. S., who is asso- ciated with his father in mining operations; Emily J., at home; and Abby D., the wife of Edward L. Lindsey. There are also thirteen grandchildren. .Almost a half century has passed since Mr. and Mrs. Denny started out upon life's journey together as man and wife and as the years have passed their mutual love and confidence have increased as together they have met the ad- versity and prosperity. the sorrows and joys which checker all earthly pil- grimages. Mr. Denny and his family are most worthy and consistent mem- bers of the Methodist church, in the work of which he has taken a very active part, and he has twice been a lay delegate from his church to the general con- ference, attending the session in New York city and the one in Omaha. Hle
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has taken a very deep interest in everything pertaining to the advancement of the city along material. social, intellectual and moral lines. He was the first treasurer of King county, appointed to complete a term made vacant by a resignation, then elected to the office on the Republican ticket and re-elected by the Democratic party, filling the position for eight years in a manner which reflected credit upon himself and gave satisfaction to his constituents. For two terms he was probate judge of the county and for twelve years he was a school director in division No. 1. He has also been a member of the board of regents of the Territorial University of Regents and was treasurer of the same. For a number of years he was an advocate of the Republican party but his strong temperance views have led him to ally his strength with the Prohibition party and to do all in his power to promote is noble work of redeeming men from bondage to the use of intoxicants. In 1878 he became a charter member of Good Templars Lodge No. 6. the first organized in Seat- tle. He has ever been fearless in defense of whatever he believes to be right. It requires both moral and physical courage to face the conditions of pioneer life but this Mr. Denny did and he bore all the hardships of the frontier . with- out complaint. His strong character and resolute manhood also inspired others and his efforts contributed in marked degree not only to the material development of the city but also to its growth along those lines which tend to the cultivation of the noblest manhood.
GEORGE W. DILLING.
There is need of remarkable confidence and clear foresight in many realms of business: it is the men who have possessed these qualities in large measure who have amassed fortunes and have come to be designated as "captains of industry." The career of Mr. George W. Dilling shows occa- sions when these characteristics were valuable to him. One in particular. when in the midst of the financial depression attendant upon the panic of '93. when industry was paralyzed, when values were at their lowest ebb, and none had the courage to venture in the work of upbuilding and development. at this time Mr. Dilling started the pulsing beat of real estate activity and com- mumicated his confidence to others until building and improvement soon re- sumed their normal condition. This gentleman has been identified in many other ways with the progress of Seattle, and a short sketch of his life would certainly prove of interest to the readers of this volume.
When General Lafayette came to America to aid in the cause of inde- pendence of the colonies, there accompanied him two brothers who bore the
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name of Dilling, and from these early settlers and patriots have descended the later members of the family. Thus on the paternal side the family is of pure French stock. George Dilling, the father of George W .. was the first of the family to come west to the state of Illinois, coming through to that state from Indiana by wagon. Hle settled on a farm in Champaign county. at a time when there was only one building in the present thriving intellec- tual city of Champaign: this was in 1857. He was a prominent citizen of the county and was active in the work of the German Baptist church. He died at the age of fifty-seven years. Ilis wife, whom he married in Indiana was Margaret Rhodes, who, though born in France, was of German ancestry. She was but seven years old when she came with her parents to America, and she lived in Baltimore until she was thirteen. when she was brought by her parents to Indiana, the trip being made by wagon. They had eleven children. and the youngest of these was George W.
His birth occurred at Urbana, Champaign county, Illinois, on January 25, 1809. After receiving a fair education in the public schools and in the Decatur Business University, he started out for himself at the age of fourteen and for ten years carried on farming on a place of one hundred acres. He then moved to Cerrogordo, Illinois, and engaged in the retail shoe business. Three years later he sold out and in 1898 came to Seattle, having been called here to take charge of the estate of the late John H. Nagle, and he then de- cided to make this his permanent home. Ile engaged in the real estate busi- ness, and within two months after his arrival property began moving and investments became free and confidence restored. The properties which he has had control of have been improved and have increased to such an extent that they have been sold four or five times with profit to the seller each time. Mr. Dilling has become interested in the general real estate business and has much business and residence property in the city, having erected a number of residences since coming here.
A Republican in politics, Mr. Dilling has been interested in the advance- ment the party, and served as a member of the county central committee of Macon county, Illinois, for a member of years. He possesses special adapt- ability to work in the political field, and was one of the organizers and the first president of the Young Men's Republican Club of King county. He was also a delegate to the state convention held in Tacoma in 1902. In the fall of 1902 Mr. Dilling received the nomination for representative of the Forty-fifth district, and was successful in the election which followed in November. Mr. Dilling is identified with other affairs of the city, being one of the directors of the Seattle Athletic club. Ile became a Mason in Illinois
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and is the high priest of Seattle chapter No. 3, R. A. M .; he belongs to the Seattle Commandery No. 2. K. T .; and Afifi Temple, A. . A. O. N. M. S., of Tacoma.
JOHN H. NAGLE.
A half-century in the history of a country in the long established east and the much more ancient lands across the Atlantic is almost an inconsider- able point of time, a period in which the people and the development of their material resources would seem, even to the keen observer, to have made little progress ; but how different we find conditions in the new states along the Pacific coast, where communities, cities and larger political divisions have sprung up with the suddenness of the mushroom but with greater promise of permanence and stability. To whom must most credit be given for this phenomenal growth and upbuilding, such as all the centuries have never wit- nessed? Surely all the honor is due to those who first came and blazed the way for others, who laid the foundations upon which others should build, and who assumed the risks and responsibilities, and incidentally the rewards, which always fall to the lot of the pioneer. The gentleman of whom we now write was one of these early settlers, and came to the vicinity of Seattle in the fifties and was very prominent in the subsequent improvement of that pros- perous city.
John H. Nagle was the son of German parents and was brought by them to this country in 1833, when four years old. The family lived in Maryland for a few years, then moved to Indiana, where John was reared and received his education. He learned the trade of paper making and followed it in Indi- ana for some time. In the latter half of the fifties he joined a colony of emi- grants who were preparing to cross the plains. When he arrived at Seattle he decided to locate there. although at that time there was little prophecy of the city which was eventually to grow up there, and the inhabitants could have been kept in mind by one person. He was a very industrious man and cleared and improved much property that is now within the corporate limits of the city. He took up a section upon which the high school and the low- service reservoir are now situated, and when the city began to expand in his direction he laid out two additions to the city. The first was platted in 1884 and the second in 1890. each containing eighty acres.
Mr. Nagle never took an active part in political matters, but was an active worker in church affairs and devoted much time to helping along the cause of religion. He aided in the establishment of several churches in this
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city, and is remembered as a man of unimpeachable integrity of character and a thoroughly good man. His death occurred when he had passed the sixty-seventh milestone of life's journey, on February 12, 1896. His mem- cry will always be revered as one of the founders of the city of Seattle, and such a man should receive due consideration in this historical volume.
CLARENCE D. HILLMAN.
Clarence D. Hillman is known throughout Seattle and the northwest as a promoter and capitalist. The development of business interests has given him the first denomination. Men of marked ability and breadth of business scope have taken hold of the existing conditions in various towns and local- ities and have been the instigators of many enterprises which have developed the natural resources of the country and materially promoted its growth and development along the line of substantial and lasting improvement. No name is better known in connection with real estate transactions in Seattle than that of Clarence D. Hillman, nor is there another man in the city or county who has been more largely instrumental in platting land, in disposing of city lots, or in founding homes than he. With firm belief in his fellow men. with firm faith in the future, he has worked with and for his fellow citi- zens, and at the same time has promoted his individual interests until to-day he stands among the successful few, having long since left the ranks of the many.
Mr. Hillman was born in Pontiac, Michigan, August 12, 1870, and is a son of Erastus D. and Adella Hillman, the former a native of New York and the latter of the Wolverine state. The father was engaged in agricul- tural pursuits and in the live stock business. His death occurred in 1875 and his wife, surviving him for a few years, passed away in 1879. Clarence is the eldest of their three living children, the others being Lillie M., and Homer L. Only common school privileges were afforded to Clarence D. Hillman, but though fortune did not seem to favor him particularly in his youth, his was an energy and determination that would brook no obstacles or opposition that could be overcome by honorable and persistent effort. . At the age of twenty-one he engaged in real estate operations and speculations. In 1896 he came to Seattle and here continued in the same business. He had taken note of the business situation here, recognizing that Seattle was destined to become the metropolis of the northwest, and that its rapid growth offered an excel- lent field for the real estate dealer. In 1898, realizing advantages which the Green Lake property possessed as a resident location and also foreseeing its
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miture possibilities, he began operations there with his usual energy, and during the past four years has given to the Green Lake district his undivided attention. In the meantime he has demonstrated what can be accomplished by indefatigable energy intelligently directed. He has platted and soll land which extends almost entirely around the lake. Among the tracts of which he has disposed may be mentioned Hillman's school-house addition, Hillman's division of the Green Lake addition and Hillman's Lake Front addition. comprising ninety acres. He also owns the Kilbourne addition. the South Shore addition, the supplemental plat of Woodland Park addi- tion, and the Stinsons & Evans additions, comprising seven thousand lots in all. As a result of his enterprise Mr. Hillman has assisted more than four thousand people to secure homes of their own, selling them property on terms that enabled wage earners to become property holders. He has built over seven hundred houses, which have been sold upon easy payments and he has vouched for the payment of lumber sold to those wishing to build homes. In fact he has rendered all assistance possible to people of limited means who were deserving, to enable them to secure and pay for homes of their own. Ile deserves great credit for this and many of the residents of this section of the county entertain for him gratitude for what he has done. The Green Lake district is one so well known as a residence portion that it needs little com- ment here, and its rapid upbuilding is proof of the fact that the public com- mends the business judgment which Mr. Hillman displayed in placing this land on the market. The. last addition which he platted, Hillman's Lake Front addition, was practically all sold within sixty days after it was placed upon the market. As a result of his Green Lake operations he has made some three hundred thousand dollars. His elegant modern residence at Kenwood, erected in 1900 at a cost of seven thousand dollars, is a conspicu- ous feature of the Green Lake landscape. It occupies a commanding posi- tion on the lake front with beautiful and spacious grounds sloping to the waters. In November. 1902. he bought three hundred acres adjoining Seat- tle on the southeast, and has platted and sold over two thousand lots, also built over three hundred houses and sold them. This new addition is called Hillman City addition to the city of Seattle. Hle is now builling a twenty- five thousand dollar house at Hillman City.
In Michigan. in August. 1895, Mr. Ilillman was united in marriage to Bessie O. Kenney of Toledo, Ohio. Three children have blessed this union, Warren IL., who died in infancy, and Clarence D., who is a son of whom the parents have every reason to be proud: he won the first prize in the Toledo baby show in 1900. They also have a daughter. Bessie O. K.
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Hillman. Fraternally Mr. Hillman is connected with the Masonic order and with the Woodmen of the World, and both he and his wife hold membership in Palm Circle. The wise system of industrial economics which has been brought to bear in the development of the property which is placed upon the market has challenged uniform admiration, for while there has been steady advancement in material lines there has been the entire absence of the inflation of valnes, that erratic "boom" which in the past proved eventually the death knell to many towns of the west. Mr. Hillman has certainly contributed much to the healthful growth and advancement of the city of Seattle and he stands to-day a splendid example of what can be accomplished by untiring energy and perseverance. He commenced life with no capital, but obstacles and difficulties in his path seemed to serve as an impetus for renewed effort. He has been unflagging in his work and undaunted in the accomplishment of his purposes. His labors, too, have been of a character that commands re- spect and admiration because they have proved of marked benefit to his fel- low men as well as to himself.
JAMES BOTHWELL.
Among the representative business men of Seattle none are more deserv- ing of representation in this volume than James Bothwell, who is now success- fully engaged in the mortgage, loan, fire insurance business, and care of prop- erty and estates in that city. He has made his home here since 1883, and is prominently identified with its growth and upbuilding. A native of Illinois. Mr. Bothwell was born in Clay county, on the 23d of April, 1858. His pa- ternal grandfather. James Bothwell, Sr., was born near Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, and at an early day removed to Ohio, where he followed farming throughout the remainder of his life. He married Charlotte Potter, whose father served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. James K. Bothwell, the father of our subject, was born in Ohio in 1818, and about 1840 went to Illinois, settling in Clay county, where he carried on business as a merchant for a half century. When he located there. there was no railroad through that section of the state and he had but little money with which to embark in business. He sold goods in exchange for farm products and hogs, which he shipped down the Mississippi river to New Orleans. Although he became one of the leading and influential citizens of his community, he could never be prevailed upon to accept public office, the only public position he would hold being that of school director. He was held in the highest regard by young and old, rich and poor, and his death was widely and deeply mourned. He
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