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 48
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passed away m 1899, at the age of eighty-one years, five months and two days. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary A. Brissenden, was a daughter of John Brissenden, who came to this country from England.
The primary education of James Bothwell was acquired in the public schools near his boyhood home, and he later attended Kemper's family school at Booneville and higher institutions of learning at Champaign, Illinois. After leaving school he was employed in the First National Bank of Flora, Illinois, for three or four years, and at the end of that time went to Boulder, Colorado, being offered the position of teller in the National State Bank at that place. Later he decided to cast his lot with the people of Seattle, but on his arrival here in 1883 he found business in a very depressed condition. Realizing the advantages of this section, however, he resolved to remain, and at once secured a position in a furniture store, of which he was made manager a year later. it being the property of the Hall & Paulson Furniture Company. and afterward of F. A. Chadbourne & Company. After two years' connec- tion with that establishment he was offered the position of teller in the Puget Sound National Bank by Mr. Furth, and as he was more familiar with that line of work he accepted it. He had come to Washington on account of ill health and the work of the bank soon proved too heavy for him, owing to the rapidly growing business, so that he was finally obliged to resign his posi- tion just as the prospects there seemed brightest. being unable to stand the close confinement.
Upon the organization of the Holmes Fire Insurance Company, Mr. Bothwell was asked to take the position of secretary, which he did and re- mained with them a year and a half. Desiring to be more independent, he then embarked in business on his own account in his present line as a financial agent. Owing to the general depression in business at that time, many com- panies and individuals who had made loans on property had to take the same to protect their loans, and it was in the settling up of such loans and the dis- posing of the property that he has since been mainly engaged. His connec- tion with banks and his well known honesty and reliability have caused large numbers of these properties to be placed in his hands for settlement, and the attention he devotes to it, looking to the ultimate interests of his clients, gives him a large clientage not only among the citizens here but among eastern people and corporations. This necessitates a trip to the principal cities of the east about every other year, and in 1900 he extended it to Europe. Mr. Bothwell has now been in this business for fourteen years and has met with remarkable success. For eight years he has also been interested in the fire insurance business, and now represents the National Fire Insurance Com-
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pany of Hartford, Connecticut. He also acts as agent for eastern life in- surance companies and individuals, as well as local parties, in making mort- gage loans, and is a stockholder in one of the leading national banks of Seattle, of which he was a director for a time. By untiring industry and sound business judgment he has won a merited success in all his undertak- ings, and is in all respects worthy of the high regard in which he is uni- formly held.
On Thanksgiving day in 1888 Mr. Bothwell was united in marriage to Miss Minnie C. Thorndyke, a daughter of Captain Eben Thorndyke, of South Thomaston, Maine, who was a sea captain and navigator of great experience and a man of splendid business ability as well. Our subject at- tends the Plymouth Congregational church, of which his wife is a member, and they are interested in charitable organizations. Mr. Bothwell is a worthy member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Masonic fra- ternity, in which he has risen to the thirty-second degree, being a member of Lawson Consistory No. I, and Afifi Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Ta- coma. He also belongs to the Seattle Athletic Club and is a trustee of the Economic Club, which has been instrumental in securing some of the lead- ing professors from eastern colleges to deliver lectures here. By his ballot he supports the men and measures of the Republican party, but has never cared for office, preferring to give his attention to his business affairs. He has ac- cumulated property since coming to Seattle, and is accounted one of the most reliable, energetic and successful business men of his adopted city, as well as one of its most popular citizens.
PHILIP L. RUNKEL.
Philip L. Runkel is engaged in the grocery business at 707 Seventh avenue and is the vice president of the Alaska Fisheries Union and has built up a splendid trade in this city. He occupies a store building with a front- age of forty-eight feet on Seventh avenue and gives employment to seven men. He has been a resident of the city since the fall of 1889 and has there- iore been closely associated with the new Seattle which rose from the ashes of the old city, after its destruction by fire thirteen years ago.
Mr. Runkel was born at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, May 25, 1857. His father, Henry Runkel, was born in Gunderblum in the Rhine province of Germany, July 9, 1824. and is still living. He was a contractor and builder in Milwaukee for some years and later conducted a brewery, but for the past ten years he has lived retired. He came to America in 1842. being one
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of the first settlers of Milwaukee, taking up his abode there when the place was but a village, containing a few log buildings. He served as county treasurer of Juneau county, and although a Democrat he was en- dorsed by the Republicans as well as the members of his own party, a fact which indicates his standing in the city and the regard and confidence reposed in him. He took a great interest in public affairs and always co-operated in any movement which he believed would contribute to the general good. He was married in Milwaukee to Maria Schaetzel, who was also a native of Germany and born in the same province as her husband. They became the parents of eight children, of whom two sons and three daughters are vet living. Two of the number died in infancy and a brother passed away at the age of twenty-nine years.
Philip L. Runkel entered the public schools at the usual age and con- tinned his studies there until he was fourteen years of age, after which he assisted his father until he had attained his majority. Then he started out in life on his own account and accepted a clerkship in a wholesale and re- tail grocery store at Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Ile remained with one firm for three years, after which he removed to Salem, South Dakota, and established a store of his own in connection with L. V. Snyder. They opened a general mercantile establishment and Mr. Runkel remained in Salem from the spring of 1882 until the fall of 1889. when he sold out in order to go to the coast. He had conducted an extensive wholesale trade, also did a retail business to some extent, and his large sales annually re- turned to him an excellent income. He was elected on the Democratic ticket to the legislature of Dakota in 1885. He was attracted to the west by the business possibilities of the Pacific coast. His wife's people had previously come to this section of the country and in the fall of 1889 Mr. Runkel brought his family to Seattle, where he embarked in business in connection with his brother-in-law, Louis Gilbert. This relation was maintained for a year. and since 1891. when Mr. Runkel bought out Mr. Gilbert's inter- est in the grocery store on Seventh avenue, his trade has constantly in- creased until he now occupies two large store rooms at No. 707-709. His patronage is steadily increasing and his trade is now very profitable. . 1 man of resourceful business ability. he has enlarged the scope of his labors, extending his efforts into other fields. He is likewise interested in real estate here. owning different tracts in the city, some of it improved, while some is vacant property. In 1901 he erected his residence at 303 Broadway. In connection with other interests he is the vice president of the Alaska Fisheries Union, in which he is a large stockholder. A man of keen dis-
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cernment, of sound judgment and marked sagacity in business affairs, he has carried forward his undertakings in a way that has gained a high measure of success, and at the same time his course has been one which woukl bear the closest investigation, and his methods are so honorable that they are well worthy of emulation.
In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on the ist of June, 1882, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Runkel and Miss Maria A. Gilbert, a daughter of Her- man Gilbert. Their union has been blessed with one son, Henry G. In politics Mr. Runkel affiliates with the Democratic party and taken quite an active interest in local affairs. Although urged to accept the nomination of mayor, he declined. Two years ago, however, he was nominated by acclamation for the office of city treasurer without his knowledge or con- sent. After several days' consideration he accepted the nomination, al- though he realized that the party had no chance of electing its men. While not successful, he ran far ahead of his ticket, a fact that indicates he is per- sonally popular and has the unqualified regard of many of the adherents of the opposition party. Prominent in the fraternal circles of the city, he has attained the Knight Templar degree in Masonry and he is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. There is no exciting or sen- sational chapter in his life history, for he has pursued the even tenor of his way, looking for advancement in the business world to energy, perseverance and diligence rather than to fortunate circumstances. Thus he has worked his way steadily upward until he is now well known as a successful mer- chant of his adopted city.
DILLIS B. WARD.
Forty-one years have passed since Dillis Burgess Ward came to Wash- ington. This state was then a wild district, its land unclaimed, its re- sources undeveloped. A few courageous frontiersmen had dared to locate within its borders, but the work of progress and improvement remained to the future and there was little promise of early development. In the years which have since passed Mr. Ward has not only witnessed a wonderful trans- formation but has largely aided in the labors which have resulted in the up- building of this great commonwealth. He has been particularly active in the work of progress in Seattle, his business affairs contributing to the general prosperity as well as to his individual success.
Mr. Ward is a native of Kentucky, his birth having occurred in Ohio county, on the 30th of June, 1838. The family is of English and Irish line-
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age and was early founded in Maryland, where the grandfather of our sub- ject was born. He removed to Kentucky in 1798, only six years after the ad- mission of that state to the Union. There he improved a large farm and reared his family of eight sons and two daughters. He attained to an ad- vanced age and was an important factor in the pioneer development of the state. The father of our subject, Jesse Ward, was born in Maryland in 1797, and was therefore but one year of age when his parents removed to Kentucky, where he was reared to manhood and married Miss Elizabeth Ford, by whom he had three children. After her death he wedded Miss Elizabeth Railey, a native of Kentucky, who became the mother of our subjet. When only eighteen years of age Jesse Ward volunteered for service in the war of 1812 and fought under General Jackson in the battle of New Orleans. After the cessation of hostilities he engaged in trading, in the winter constructing flatboats, which in the spring he loaded with pork and tobacco and floated down the Mississippi river to the Crescent city. He would then sell his pro- duce and boat in New Orleans and return to his Kentucky home. He made a trip each season for eighteen years, sometimes making the return trip on joot-a long and hard trip. After he abandoned that pursuit Mr. Ward turned his attention to farming, which vocation occupied his attention throughout the remainder of his business career. For eight or ten years he filled the position of constable of his district, an office similar to that of sheriff now. Eventually he removed to the Indian purchase in Kentucky and after two years went to Arkansas, where he remained for seven years. Ile had married a third time and on the 29th of March, 1853. he started with his wife and nine children across the plains to Oregon, locating near Salem, arriving at his destination about the Ist of October.
The subject of this review was then about fifteen years of age. His father had given him a saddle horse and he was in the saddle throughout the entire journey. assisting in driving the stock which made quite an extensive hierd. He had a boy's keen delight and interest in everything that transpired and vividly remembers the incidents of the long trip. After they had pro- ceeded on thir journey several hundred miles they passed the only United States fort on the western plains that they saw on the trip. Some little dis- tance before reaching the fort they noticed Indians and the night before go- ing into camp they were met by a detachment of six United States soldiers who informed them of the proximity of the fort and advised them not to .camp where they were but escorted them to the fort. Several thousand In- (lians were there and were holding a council, and the soldiers thought it un- safe for the travelers to remain any ways distant from the protection of the
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army guns. They also told them not to turn their cattle out, but to corral them, fastening them to the wagons, the fort furnishing them with hay. This was clone to keep them from the Indians. The emigrants remained at the fort until the red men had gone and then moved on as before. They crossed the North Platte river when it was a raging torrent. Securing a rope they man- aged to fasten it across the stream and then fastened two of their wagons on boxes together. in which they ferried their provisions and outfit across and swam their stock. Just previous to this time they had come across a party of Indians who had been on the war path against the Crow tribe. They had secured a number of scalps, which were tied to the bridles of their horses. The chief made them a speech, interpreted by a renegade white man who was with the Indians. He said they had made a treaty with the government which they displayed. From this the emigrants concluded that they were all right and started on, going down the side of the butte. At this the Indians became very hilarious, shouting and waving their blankets. It seemed to be their intentiton to stampede the cattle and teams. As they got to the foot of the butte three hundred warriors were drawn up in line in front of the emi- grants. The latter had with them a buffalo calf which they had captured and which one of the cows had adopted and fed. The Indians. however, claimed it and took it out and killed it. They then demanded pork and flour, saying they needed food. As there were but twenty well armed men in the company they decided to divide with the Indians who outnumbered them so greatly and when this was done they were permitted to pass on. The Indians, however, saw a young white woman with red hair in the company and another bright young woman, driving a pair of mules, and fancied and wanted the young ladies. The emigrants put the two girls in a covered wagon out of sight and said they would shoot the first Indian who molested them and they were let alone. In such ways the party were annoyed at various times. Other hardships and difficulties had to be encountered and they had much trouble in crossing the streams. Later they lost many of their cattle from drinking alkali water and on the Snake river their stock was all stampeded. They were amid hostile Indians, far from civilization and without means of going forward. The outlook was indeed a very dark and dreary one, but after getting breakfast the following morning they saw one of their horses returning, which gave them hope, and a number of the men then went on the trail and succeeded in recovering considerable of their stock with which to proceed. Mr. Ward's father. however, was obliged to leave one of his wagons with its load. The family made their way into Oregon and located on a farm, where the father continued to reside throughout his remaining
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days with the exception of a year spent in Seattle. He was a devout Chris- tian man, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, and died in that faith at the age of seventy-six years. His third wife had five children by a former husband and of the nine children Mr. Ward, a step brother and step sister are all that survive.
The subject of this review continued his education, begun in the east, by study in Salem, Oregon. He also assisted in the arduous task of develop- ing the new farm and cultivating its fields. For twenty-two years he en- gaged in teaching in the territory of Washington and left the impress of his individuality upon the intellectual development of the communities with which he was connected. He was a most capable instructor, inspiring his pupils with the zeal and interest which he had in the work. For a time he had charge of an industrial school for Indian boys and girls at the Sko-ko- mish Indian reservation. He also became connected with journalistic work in the west and for two years was manager of the old Post. afterwards con- solidated with the Intelligencer, now the Post-Intelligencer, published in Seat- tle. Since 1880 he has engaged in dealing in real estate and in mining brok- erage business, with an office in the New York block, and in this line he is meeting with well deserved success, having an extensive clientage. He served his state as emigration agent for five and a half years, his term end- ing on the Ist of April, 1901. In this regard he rendered valuable service.
On the 24th of September, 1863, Mr. Ward was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Isabella Byles, a daughter of the Rev. Charles Byles, a Cumber- land Presbyterian minister, who crossed the plains from Kentucky in 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Ward have six children, five daughters and a son. Sarah Eli- zabeth, the eldest daughter, is the wife of Professor Edmond, of the state university: Kate W. is the wife of James S. Bushnell, formerly of Pough- keepsie. New York; Maud W. married W. A. Dickey, a graduate of Prince- ton College, formerly a resident of Manchester, New Hampshire; Agnes W. married Karl V. Lively, of Portland, Oregon; and Mable, whose husband is Charles A. Penington, of Scattle. The son is C. C. Ward, a civil engineer of note, who is now in charge of the construction of the Wenatchee high line irrigation ditch.
For years Mr. Ward has been a strong temperance man by precept and example, laboring to promote the cause. For thirty-four years he has been a member of the Good Templar's society and has served in all the offices of the order from the lowest to the highest in his jurisdiction. He also has membership relations with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and has filled all the official positions in subordinate lodge in that fraternity. Through
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a long period he has been an acceptable member of the Methodist Protestant church and his influence has ever been on the side of the right, the true and the beautiful. Since attaining his majority he has given his political support to the Republican party, has been an active worker in its ranks and his influ- ence and labors have proven a potent element in its advaneen:ent in this state. He was honored with an election to the general assembly and during his term supported all legislation which he believed would redound to the good of the commonwealth. Thus along political, educational, moral and busi- ness lines he has contributed to the upbuilding of the state. He came to this city when it contained but eleven families and from that time forward has put forth every effort in his power for its advancement, rejoicing in its growth and aiding in shaping its policy along those lines which bring the greatest good to the greatest number. High on the rolls of honored pioneers is his name inscribed. and the pages of Seattle's history are adorned with the record of his work.
JOHN L. ANDERSON.
Captain John L. Anderson is the owner of the steamers Xanthus. Cyrene and Elsinore, plying on Lake Washington, and has been connected with navigation in the northwest for a number of years. For fifteen years he has made his home in Seattle. A native of Sweden, he was born in Gutten- berg, November 11, 1868. His father, A. Jacobson, was a seafaring man throughout his entire life, being connected with the merchant marine ser- vice, in which capacity he visited almost every port of the world. His record on the water was a remarkable one, for although he was only fifty-two years of age at the time of his death, he had spent forty years on the high seas. His wife still survives him and is yet living at the old home in Sweden. In their family were four children: John L .; Albert, who is engaged in halibut fishing on the Pacific coast; Adolph, who is upon one of his brother's boats; and Clara, who makes her home with Captain Anderson. The Cap- tain is a self-made man and when only fourteen years of age began to earn his own living. He had, while attending school, picked up many a stray dollar in various ways, but from the age of fourteen he depended entirely upon his own resources. At that time he became connected with the coast trade and after two years spent in that way crossed the Atlantic on a sail- ing vessel. On his second trip he contracted smallpox and was left in the hospital at Quebec, the boat returning without him. After his recovery he went to the west and was with a contractor in Canada for a few months.
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.At that time lie was unknown and could not speak the English language. He found it a pretty difficult situation, but he readily picked up a knowledge of the American tongue and thus found it easier to obtain employment. He spent some months in a hotel, after which he secured work as a painter on the Canadian & Pacific Railroad. Soon afterward he was given charge vi a gang of men, but owing to his youth and his foreign nationality, his position was made a very unpleasant one to him by the men who served under him, and he at once gave up his position ; but his capability and fidel- ity had so pleased the superintendent that he was given a pass to the coast and a letter of recommendation, which he still retains.
In 1887 Captain Anderson came across the country to Seattle and with the exception of a few months spent at Whatcom he has since made his home in this city. He first worked in a mill here and afterward followed various pursuits which would yield to him an honest living, but soon obtained a posi- tion on a boat. for he had a liking for the sea. After being employed on a tug for a time he secured employment on boats running between San Fran- cisco, Portland. Scattle and Alaska. He afterward secured a position on a Lake Washington boat and soon after was given charge of the C. C. Calkins, a new boat then being built for lake trips. He was in command of that for three years and then became interested in the Winifred, a new boat, in which he purchased a half interest. This he operated in the line to New'- castle and found that his business was proving a profitable one. After run- ning this boat for two years it was destroyed by fire, and Captain Ander- son then chartered the Quickstep, which he afterward purchased. He next built the Lady of the Lake, which he afterward sold. Hefor a time was in charge of a boat at Whatcom. but returned to Seattle and again engaged in business on the lake. He has bought and sold several boats and is now operating the eleventh. He has transferred more boats from the sound to Lake Washington by way of the river, and from the lake to the sound, than any other man. This work demands extreme care and a great amount of labor, but he has been extremely successful in this undertaking. Captain Anderson built the Acme, and of all the different boats he has sold, this is the only one still used on the lake. He has purchased boats at Tacoma and Ballard and put them on the lake in addition to those he has built. He purchased the City of Renton, which he ran on the lake for some time and in 1901 he bought the Cyrene and in the high water of the following year he brought it from the sound to the lake, at which time he sold the City of Renton. In 1901 he purchased the Inland Flyer at Portland, but soon afterward sold his interest in that vessel. In August. 1901. he became the
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