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 62
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ways he rendered valuable service to the cause he so nobly expoused. After a service of one year he met with an accident which confined him to nis bed for three years, and daring all this time the cause of his country weighted heavily upon him. After regaining his health he resumed the practice of his profession, and during his long term as district judge he served with marked ability and fidelity, being at all times true to duty and the right. His wife was called to her final rest in 1803, at the age of sixty-one years. To this worthy couple were born six children. four sons and two daughters: Charles A. and Fred W .. of Seattle: Edgar B. the managing editor of the Oregon- ian and a resident of Portland: and Mrs. E. W. Langdon and Mrs. E. D. Cusick, both of Albany, Oregel.
George U'. Piper, who completes the list of children received the advan- tages afforded by the public schools of Oregon during his early youth, and later became a student in the Willamette University. Throughout the early years of his life he was engaged in journalistic work, and after his arrival in Se- attle, in 1888, he and his brothers became the owners of the Post Intelli- gencer, and under their original methods of execution and their correct and spirited grasp of affairs the paper grew rapidly in circulation and importance until it ranked among the leading newspapers of the state. Since disposing of his interest therein to its present owners Mr. Piper has retired from the journalistic fieid and has since devoted his attention to loaning money and making investments. He is now interested in a number of business enter- prises, and is classed among the enterprising citizens of the northwest. Po- litically he is a life-long Republican, and is active in the ranks of his chosen party, ever wiekling a wide and valuable influence in the affairs of his city and state.
JAMES B. METCALFE.
The profession of the law when clothed in its true dignity, purity and strength, must rank first among the callings of man, for law rules the uni- verse. The work of the legal profession is to formulate, to harmonize. to regulate, to adjust, to administer those rules and principles that underlie and permeate all government and society and control the varied relations of men. Is thus viewed there attaches to the legal profession a nobleness that can- not but be reflected in the life of the true lawyer, who, rising to the responsi- bilities of the profession, and honest in the pursuit of his purpose, embraces the richness of learning, the firmness of integrity and the purity of morals. together with the graces and modesty and the general amenities of life. Of
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such a type James B. Metcalfe is a representative. He has for righteen years been practicing at the bar at Seattle and is recognized as one of the most eminent attorneys of the state.
Mr. Metcalfe is a native of Mississippi, his birth having occurred near Natchez in Adams county on the 15th of January, 1846. He is of English and Irish lineage. The Metcalfes arrived in Massachusetts in 1620 and were numbered among the Puritan settlers of New England, Michael being the progenitor of the family in America. Representatives of the name removed to Connecticut and others to Ohio, while the branch of the family to which our subject belongs was founded in Mississippi by his father. On the ma- ternal side the ancestry can be traced directly to Deacon Samuel Chapin, whose bronze statue adorns the park in Springfield, Massachusetts. Na- thaniel Chapin. the grandfather of our subject, was an ensign in the Revo- hitionary war, and members of the Metcalfe family were minute men at Con- cord and Lexington, so that on both sides Mr. Metcalfe of this review has inherited the right to become a Son of the American Revolution. He has availed himself of the opportunity this has given and is a valued member of the organization. His father, Orrin Metcalfe, was born in Enfield, Con- necticut, in 1813, removed thence to Ohio, and subsequently became a resident of Mississippi, where he was married to Miss Zulink Rosalie Lyons, a native of Adams county, Mississippi. The Lyons family had emigrated from Ire- land to this county at a very early day in its history and had for many years resided in the south, where they were people of very high repute and influence. Orrin Metcalfe was the owner of an extensive plantation, which he success- fully controlled and operated, at the same time taking a very prominent part in public affairs, his influence there being on the side of progress and improvement. For fifteen years he served as sheriff of his county. The cause of education found in him a very warm friend ; for many years he was treasurer of Jefferson College, and his wife was president of the board of trustees of the Presbyterian Orphan Asylum. Both held membership in the Presbyterian church, he being an elder in the First Presbyterian church of Natchez for forty years. His life, at all times honorable and upright, was an example well worthy of emulation and his influence and efforts were so discerningly directed that they proved of the greatest value to the commu- nity with which he was associated. He was called to his final rest in 1886 at the age of seventy-three years and his wife passed away in 1800. They were the parents of ten children, five of whom are yet living.
James Bard Metcalfe pursued his education under the direction of pri- vate tutors and in the schools of Natchez. In 1863 the need of the southern
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states to replenish the army with additional troops caused him to offer his services to the Confederacy. He had deep sympathy for the people of the south, and also prompted with a spirit of adventure, he ran away from home, joining the army as a member of the Tenth Mississippi Cavalry. His first service was in defense of Mobile, Alabama, and he had the honor of being a commissioned officer of his company. For some time he served under the gallant cavalry leader, General N. B. Forrest, participating in many of the memorable engagements of the Civil war. He remained in active service until the close of hostilities and endured all the hardships and privations which befell the southern army during the last two years of the great strug- gle. He was paroled at Jackson, Mississippi, by General E. R. S. Canby. He had many narrow escapes, bullets several times piercing his clothing, yet he was never wounded.
When the war was ended Mr. Metcalfe returned to Natchez. llis fam- ily had suffered much through the loss of property and in an endeavor to re- tricve his fortune he accepted a clerkship in a mercantile house, while later he was connected with a banking establishment. He studied law at night under the direction of Judge Ralph North, spending all his leisure moments outside of banking hours in the acquirement of his legal knowledge. De- siring better opportunities for advancement, in 1870 he came to the Pacific coast, locating in San Francisco, where he accepted a position in the Pa- cific Bank, continuing at the same time to pursue his law studies for a year. On the expiration of that period he entered the law office of the firm of Bart- lett & Pratt, where for a year he studied most assiduously and was then ad- mitted to the bar by the supreme court of California. At that time the firm of Bartlett & Pratt was dissolved and the firm of Pratt & Metcalfe was formed. He soon entered upon a very active practice, meeting with highly satisfactory success. His ability as a lawyer was rapidly winning him a foremost place among the able members of the bar of San Francisco when in 1883 business called him to Seattle, and he became so deeply impressed with the bright future that lay before the city that he decided to link his in- terests with its destiny.
In accordance with that determination, in May. 1884. Mr. Metcalfe took up his abode in Seattle and opened an office for the practice of his pro- fession, which he continued alone for some time, his clientage steadily grow- ing each year. After three or four years he entered into partnership with Junius Rochister under the firm name of Metcalfe & Rochister. The busi- ness relation between them was maintained for about two years. during which time they were connected with some of the most important trials in
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the territory. It was during that period that Mr. Metcalfe most signally distinguished himself as a jury lawyer in the homicide case of the Washing- ton territory versus Miller, which is found reported in volume 3 of the Washington Territory Reports. The case attracted muchi attention, and popular prejudice against the accused was so strong that it was difficult to obtain a fair and impartial trial. For two and one-half years this case was before the courts, and in the four trials which were heard every inch of the ground was fought with great skill by able lawyers in behalf of the ter- ritory. Unremitting zeal and almost unrequited toil-for the defendant was poor-were brought to bear on the case by Mr. Metcalfe and his able partner, and the final acquital of their client was regarded as one of the most brilliant victories in the history of criminal cases in the northwest. Mr. Metcalfe's appeal to the jury was a most masterful effort, and the entire management of the defense evinced the most thorough knowledge and application of the law. Since that time Mr. Metcalfe's practice has been largely in corpora- tion and admiralty law, in which it may be said he stands without a peer. While his practice has been of a very important character and his clientage is extensive, he has also been connected with other interests. He was one of the originators and one of the most active promoters of the first cable line in Seattle, known as the Yesler Avenue line, running from a point near the bay to Lake Washington. His prominence in business circles of the city is shown by the fact that he was sent as a delegate from the Seattle chamber of commerce to the Pacific board of commerce which met in San Francisco in September, 1890, and well did he represent his city's organization.
In his political views Mr. Metcalfe is a stalwart Democrat, and while in San Francisco he attained much prominence as a politician and was sent as a delegate of his party to represent California in the Democratic national convention held in Cincinnati in 1880, at which time General Winfield Scott Hancock was nominated for the presidency. In other political movements Mr. Metcalfe was also very prominent and influential. He served as captain of a company composed of Union and Confederate veterans during the Kear- ney agitation in San Francisco, and in 1887 was appointed by Governor Semple the first attorney general of Washington territory, in which office he served with honor and credit until the admission of the territory into the Union. During the campaign of 1886 Mr. Metcalfe made a thorough can- vass of the territory in behalf of the nominee of his party for delegate to congress. His addresses were magnificent oratorical efforts, spoken of in the highest praise by those who heard them. One journal in alluding to his
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speeches said. "We have listened to many powerful orators but never heard a clearer or more powerful argument," and he wouldl at one time have been the unanimous choice of his party for delegate to congress, but decided to decline the honor, and stood with unswerving fealty in support of his can- didate, the Hon. C. S. Voorhees, whom he placed in nomination in a speech which created the greatest enthusiasm. In many public addresses outside the line of his profession Mr. Metcalfe has established a reputation as an orator of much power, force and grace, and while he possesses in a very marked degree the qualities which would fit him for any position in public life, he desires to give his entire attention to his professional duties.
In the great fire which occurred in Seattle in 1880. it was his misfortune to lose his law library, which was at that time one of the most valuable private collections of law books in the city. Soon after the fire he built a three-story business block and in this building, after the formation of his partnership with C. W. Turner and Andrew J. Burleigh, he established new offices, which are equipped with probably the largest and most complete law library in the northwest. After some time Mr. Burleigh retired from the firm, and it continued as Metcalfe & Turner until the present firm of Met- calfe & Jury was established. They now occupy spacious offices in the Pa- cific block and among their clients are now numbered some of the largest corporations in the state of Washington. Mr. Metcalfe has also been in many ways a most valued resident of the city of his choice and has ever been ready to promote the welfare of Seattle. During the anti-Chinese agi- tation he served as lieutenant of Company D'of the national guards and was on active duty throughout this crisis in the city's history. Public excitement ran high, and on the evening of the day on which the riot occurred, in which one man was killed and several wounded, he was detailed to post the guards. the city being then under martial law. The undertaking was one of much dan- ger, as the streets were filled with throngs of excited men, but such was his patience. firmness and loyalty to duty that he accomplished his tasks with splendid success and continued to serve with his company from the time martial law was proclaimed until the arrival of United States troops, when Mr. Metcalfe and his men were relieved from further military duties. Mr. Metcalfe is known as a man of the highest type of bravery, having a cour- age which will face any danger if necessary, yet never taking needless risks. Hiis courage was strikingly shown on a cold night in February. 1887. when he and Ilon. D. M. Drumheller, then attending the legislature from Spokane. were about to take the steamer at the Olympia wharf. The deck of the
D. TB. Jackson
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steamer was covered with ice, which could not be seen in the darkness, and Mr. Drumheller shipped and fell into the water. Without a moment's hesi- tation General Metcalfe plunged in after his friend and saved his life at the risk of his own.
In 1877 Mr. Metcalfe was happily married to Miss Louise Boarman. a native daughter of California, born in Sacramento, her parents being Thomas M. and Mary Boarman, of that city. To Mr. Metcalfe and his wife have been born two sons, Thomas Oren and James Vernon. Mr. Metcalfe is a gentleman of strong domestic tastes, devoted to his family and their welfare, and gives to his sons every opportunity for obtaining a thorough education. He takes very little interest in fraternal matters, but was at one time colonel of the first regiment of the uniformed rank of the Knights of Pythias. In private life he commands high regard, and the circle of his friends is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances. As long as the history of jurisprudence in Washington shall be a matter of record, the name of Mr. Metcalfe will figure conspicuously therein by reason of the fact that his career at the bar has been one of distinguished prominence, and that his was the honor of serving as the first attorney general of the territory of Washington.
DANIEL B. JACKSON.
Throughout a long period Captain Daniel B. Jackson was a prominent figure in the annals of the Puget Sound country and aided materially in its development in many lines. By a life of uprightness, industry and honor- able dealing, a life devoted to the support of whatever was good and true, he won the admiration and genuine regard of a large circle of acquiantances, who sincerely mourned his loss when, on the 29th of November, 1895. he was called upon to lay aside the burdens, joys and sorrows which had fallen to his lot, as to ali, in the journey of life. The birth of Captain Jackson occurred in Warren, New Hamphire, on the 18th of July. 1833, and he was a son of William C. and Sarah P. ( Roberts) Jackson, both of English origin. The father was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, and his noble, manly life proved an inspiration to many of his friends and asso- ciates of that early day. The family subsequently took up their abode in Bangor. Maine, where they spent the remainder of their lives.
In 1847, when but fourteen years of age. Daniel ran away from home and went to sea as a cabin boy and officer's help. remaining before the mast for two years. on the expiration of which period he returned to his home.
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In 1852 he embarked in lumbering and steamboating on the Penobscot river, but in 1858 he went to California by the Panama route. During his one year's residence in the Golden state he was engaged in seeking its hidden treasures, after which he came to the Puget Sound country and entered the employ of Amos Phinney & Company, owners of large mills at Port Lud- low. In 1871 Captain Jackson accepted a position with the Puget Mill Com- pany, and during his long period of twenty years' connection with that cor- poration he had charge of their steamboats and outside business, discharg- ing faithfully the duties imposed upon him in that important position. In 1884 he organized the Washington Steam Ship Company, which was later succeeded by the Puget Sound & Alaska Steam Ship Company, and of both companies he served as president. It was during his regime that the elegant steamer City of Kingston was purchased and its sister ship City of Seattle was built, while under his skillful management a small beginning with the steamer City of Quincy, Washington, and one or two others developed into one of the largest and best equipped shipping industries on the Sound. Dis- posing of his interests in that company in 1892. two years later Captain Jack- son organized the Northwestern Steam Ship Company, which operated the elegant new steamship Rosalie on the Victoria route, also the steamers George. E. Starr and the Eliza Anderson on the Port Townsend mail line. Of this important company he was the president and principal owner at the time of his death, and it was largely owing to his unerring judgment and his excellent business ability that the concern obtained its high standing among the leading steamship companies of the Pacific.
On the 12th of September, 1852, Captain Jackson was united in mar - riage to Mary A. Rowell, whose father was a native of Maine and of English extraction, while her mother was born in the city of Glasgow. Scotland. Mrs. Jackson also claims the Pine Tree state as the place of her nativity, and in that commonwealth she gave her hand in marriage to Capain Jackson. whom she accompanied on his journey to the Pacific coast. To this union were born nine children, five of whom are still living, as follows: Henry F., the manager of the Jackson estate; Charles F .. vice-president of the Philo Mining Company: Daniel L .; May E., the wife of George T. Evans, of Seattle ; and Lottie E., the wife of James E. Guptill, the first mate on the City of Topeka. In political matters Captain Jackson was a stalwart sup- porter of Republican principles, but was never an aspirant for political honors, and in his fraternal relations was a thrity-third degree Mason and a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In AApril, 1889, just before the memorable fire in this city, he came to Seattle, where he purchased
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the present family residence, then in an unfinished condition, and during his residence here he did much for the city in the way of improving city prop- pery, having erected many residences and business houses, while in addition he was also largely interested in property in San Francisco. He was one of the best known steamboat men on the Sound and was also a popular factor in social life, and when his career on earth was ended the entire community mourned his loss, for he was a man of incalculable worth to the city.
ALEXANDER B. STEWART.
Among the energetic and enterprising business men of Seattle is Alex- ander Bruce Stewart, president of the Stewart & Holmes drug business, the largest and most successful wholesale and retail drug establishment in the northwest. He was born in Glenallan, Canada, on the 20th of February, 1854. His father, George Stewart, was born in Ireland, and was descended from the royal family of Stuarts in Scotland. In his native country he was married to Miss Jane Bruce, who was descended from the noted Bruces of Scotland. In 1840 Mr. Stewart emigrated with his wife and two chil- dren, William and Robert, to America, locating on a farm in Wellington county, Canada, and in that locality he became a prominent and influential citizen. He was called to his final reward in 1887, at the age of eighty-three years, passing away in the faith of the Methodist church, of which he was long a valued member. He survived his wife many years, she having died at the age of sixty-six years. Four sons and a daughter were added to the family circle in Canada, and three of the sons are now residents of the Pa- cific coast, the brothers of our subject being A. M., manager of the Stewart- Holmes branch drug store at Tacoma, and George M., the popular post- master of Seattle and one of the city's most successful business men.
A. B. Stewart received an excellent mental training in Victoria College of Canada, and in that country he also learned the drug business. When the time came for him to enter the business world on his own account he em- barked in the drug trade in Silver City, Nevada, where he was engaged from 1874 until 1879, and during that time he also established a branch store at Gold Hill, that state. In 1879 he removed from Silver City to Bodie, Cali- fornia, but in 1882 sold his interests in the latter place and removed his Gold Hill store to Seattle, where for four years he was engaged in the drug trade alone. The business was then incorporated as the Stewart-Holmes Com- pany, and they have since established branch stores in Tacoma and Walla Walla. Their business interests now extend over Washington and Alaska
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and through parts of Idaho and Oregon. Their trade has steadily increased. and they are doing both a large wholesale and retail business. Theirs is one of the leading industries of the northwest, and it is to such enterprises that Seattle owes her prosperity and substantial progress. Mr. Stewart has ever taken a deep interest in all that pertains to the welfare of his chosen city. and was one of the founders of the Front and Madison street car lines. An active worker in the ranks of the Republican party, he has served for four Years as a member of the Republican state central committee, and has taken an active interest in all the state conventions. In his social relations he is a member of the Masonic fraternity. and is now a Knight Templar.
In 1884 Mr. Stewart was happily married to Miss May Elia Martin, a native of Rockford, Illinois, and a daughter of J. N. Mattin. D. D., professor of languages in the University of the Pacific, of California. Their home has been brightened and blessed by the presence of one daughter. Alma May. Both Mr. and Mrs. Stewart are vahied members of the Congregational church. Their home is a favorite resort with a large circle of warm friends. who esteem them highly for their many excellencies of character and their genuine worth.
FRED F. FISHER.
This gentleman is a member of the progressive corps which may be described as the lumber army of the northwest, whose operations have been conducted on a gigantic scale and their products made familiar all over the world. There are few places where building is done that are not familiar with the shingles and other forms of lumber sent out from the Puget Sound country. Western Washington is covered with magnificent forests of pine. fir, cedar and other coniferous trees, which afford an immense amount of excellent material for sawed lumber and spars. Enterprising men from the east who reached this section shortly after the Civil war immediately saw the possibilities of its rich resources in timber, and no time was lost in crect- ing mills to cut the gigantic trees into shape for commercial use. It was to this industry chiefly that Washington owed the rapid development which enabled it in a few years to change from the chrysalis state of a feeble terri- tory into a full-fledged commonwealth of the Union. Mr. Fisher was stili quite a youth when his lot was cast among these energetic lumber men of the northwest, but he proved a worthy addition to such a body and has pros- pered in business since arriving upon the scene.
The Fisher family originated in France, but became residents of Ameri-
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ca by emigration and had representatives in Maine at an early period in the history of that state. One of the descendants removed with his wife to łowa in the early decades of the last century, and became the parents of Edward Fisher. The latter served nearly four years as a soldier of the Union in one of the Iowa regiments during the Civil war and made quite an honorable mihtary record. After the cessation of hostilities he spent some years in Illinois as a dealer in grain and lumber, but in 1885 removed to Nebraska. Here he renewed his connection with the lumber interests and operated through the states of Colorado and Nebraska. While in Illinois he married Mary Cotton, by whom he had ten children, eight sons and two daughters, and all of these are living but one.
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