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 69
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residence on Queen Anne Hill in 1897, and there the family reside in one of the most attractive homes of the city, supplied with all the adornments that wealth, guided by refined taste, can secure. Always a lover of the nohle steed, Mr. Bunce has owned some very fine horses and now keeps a blooded team of roadsters. His has been an eventful career. Born in Canada, reared upon the frontier, suffering loss through fire and in other ways, yet overcoming all obstacles by determined and resolute purpose, he stands to-day among the successful business men of this great northwest, a leader in the political world and a man of marked influence in the city which he has chosen as his place of residence.
JOHN MEGRATH.
Prominently connected with the building interests of Seattle. John Me- grath has resided in this city since 1883. He is a native of Belfast, Ire- land. where his birth occurred May 27, 1850. He comes of a family of Scotch-Irish ancestry, his parents being John and Elizabeth ( Katherwood ) Megrath, both of whom were natives of the Emerald Isle. The father was a contractor and builder, performing his full share of the work along building lines in all the places of his residence. Both he and his wife were valued and loyal members of the Presbyterian church, and in that faith passed away. The father departed this life at the age of sixty years, and his wife was called to her final rest in the fifty-seventh year of her age, both being buried in the cemetery near Belfast. They were the parents of nine children, of whom five are yet living. One of the sons. Alexander Megrath, is filling the office of timekeeper for his brother in Seattle.
John Megrath pursued his education in the schools of his native city and afterward learned the bricklayer's trade there, but believing that the business opportunities of the new world were superior to those of the old world he determined to seek his home in America and accordingly crossed the Atlantic to the United States in 1872. He first located in Chicago, where he remained for fourteen months, but attracted to the Pacific coast, he made his way to San Francisco, California, in 1873. There he worked at his trade until 1883, at which time he came to Seattle, and since then has been continuously engaged in contracting and building in the city. He has erected numerous large buildings, among which are the Arling- ton Hotel, the Occidental Hotel, the Union Hardware buikling, and many others of importance, also superintending the erection of . the state university. He owns his own brickyards, at the mouth of the
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Dwamish river, his plant there having a capacity of sixty thousand brick per day. In 1900 he entered into partnership with E. J. Duhamel and F. M. Gribble, who are also experienced men in the business, and at the pres- ent time they are erecting the first steel building ever put up in Seattle. It is being constructed for the Steam Heat & Power Company and its dimen- sions are one hundred and ten by one hundred and eight feet, and eighty feet in height, the entire cost of the building to be about two hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars. Since his arrival in Seattle Mr. Megrath has enjoyed a constantly increasing patronage, his business growing con- timally both in volume and importance. Many large contracts have been awarded him, because he is known as a man of exceptional business ability and great skill in the line of his chosen vocation. Ile is, furthermore, re- liable, and faithfully lives up to the terms of a contract.
In 1875 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Megrath and Miss Lizzie J. Gilmore, a native of Ireland. Seven children have come to bless their home: Agnes J., the wife of Sylvester C. Pier, a resident of Portland, Oregon: Ella G .: Winnefred H .; Frances R. G .; Lilly K .; Violet May; and Pearl .\. The family home is one of the fine residences in the city. The parents are valued members of the Presbyterian church and the fan- ily occupy a very enviable position in social circles. Mr. Megrath is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the blue lodge, chapter and commandery; he is the eminent commander of Seattle Commandery, K. T. for 1902-1903, and has membership relations with Afifi Temple of Tacoma. Ilis political support is given the Republican party. The wisdom of his determination to make America his home has been fully demonstrated as the years have passed. With keen insight he understood the business . pos- sibilities of the new world, and, establishing his home on the Pacific coast, he has steadily advanced to a position in building circles, where he is hon- ored and respected by all.
JAMES CARROLL.
For a number of years Captain James Carroll has been classed among the prominent and influential citizens of Seattle, where he is interested in many important enterprises, being the agent for the Alaska Commercial Company, for the Rodman mines and for the Northern Lakes & Rivers Nav- igation Company, while he is also a general merchant and outfitter in Alas- ka. Hle was born in Ireland, November 1. 1840, but when only six months old he was brought by his father, Lawrence Carroll, to the United States,
Fax Carroll
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the latter locating on a farm in Kendall county, Illinois, where he died at the age of seventy years. This property is now in the possession of one of his daughters.
Captain James Carroll was reared on that farm to the age of sixteen years, and he then went to Chicago and took up the life of a sailor, following that occupation for forty years. After about two years spent on the Great Lakes he went to New York, and from that time forward during the re- mainder of his seafaring life he followed the briny deep. He was first in the merchant marine service, sailing principally to Japan and China, and was in the last named country during the Chinese war of 1861. Returning thence to California. he then sailed to the Sandwich and South Sea islands and then to the Atlantic waters, on which he made the trip to European ports. In 1863 he received his first promotion and afterward filled all the higher of- fices in the service, and has visited nearly all the foreign countries. In 1805 Captain Carroll again sailed to the Golden state, and from that time on he re- mained on the Pacific waters. In the early days he was connected with the National Steamship Company, and in 1866 he was the second officer of the brig "Swallow" when it took our envoy. Mr. Burlingame, to make the treaty with China. In 1878 Mr. Carroll became an employe in the Alaska service, sailing from Portland and Seattle, and he carried the first tourists to that country, which was prior to the advent of the mining industry there. In company with F. C. Hughes, N. A. Fuller and George E. Piltz, he fitted out the Juneau and Harris, and made a trip to that region in the fall of 1880. On the 4th of January, 1898, he abandoned his seafaring life and engaged in his present occupation. About ten years ago he erected a pleasant home at Berkley, in which he established his family, and he is also interested to a considerable extent in property at Port Townsend, where he owns both residence and unimproved property and is also a stockholder in the water- works there. He is also interested in and is the purchasing agent for the Rodman mines, which are located on Baranof island, this side of Sitka, where they have sixty stamp mill and seven miles of railroad. The trans- portation company in which he is interested, known as the Alaska Commer- cial Company, owns three ships which run from Seattle to Alaska, and they also own nearly all the boats on the Lower Yukon with the exception of those belonging to the North American Lading & Transportation Company. The company owns and operates nearly all the larger stores on the Yukon. A few years ago our subject removed his outfitting business from Seattle to Skagway, and has now turned that industry almost exclusively into the grocery line, of which he carries a stock amounting to twelve thousand dol-
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lars, while at Nome, Alaska, his outfitting business is capitalized at fifteen thousand dollars.
At San Francisco, California, in 1871, Captain Carroll was united in marriage to Dorothy Bowington, and of their children the only survivor is Jolin, who for a number of years served as purser, but is now engaged in mining at Nome. In matters of national importance the Captain casts his ballot in favor of the Democracy, but at local elections he votes independently of party ties. In his social relations he is a member of the Masonic frater- nity, being a member of Port Townsend Lodge No. 6, F. & _\. M., of Chap- ter No. 120, at Victoria, of California Commandery No. 1, Knights Tem- plar, and of Lawson Consistory No. 1. Ile became a member of the Knights of Pythias when that order was first organized, for many years has been identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In connection with his seafaring life he is identified with the Master Marines' Association and the Masters and Pilots' Association of San Francisco.
NELSON CHILBERG.
Nelson Chilberg came to Seattle in 1872. He has been a very prom- inent factor in the development of this section of the state, has contributed to the work of reclaiming Alaska for purposes of civilization, and in an early day he was actively identified with the mining interests of Colorado. He laid out the city of Georgetown there and in other ways promoted improve- ment and progress. It will thus be seen that his life has been a busy, useful and active one, and in the history of Seattle he well deserves honorable men- ion as one who has borne his part in the work of advancement.
Mr. Chilberg is a native of Sweden, his birth having occurred in that land on the 23d of September. 1840. He is a son of C. J. Chilberg and a brother of Andrew Chilberg. now the president of the Scandinavian Ameri- can Bank of this city. Nelson Chilberg pursued his education in the public schools of Iowa, his father having located in that state in 1846, in which year he brought his family from Sweden to the United States. When about eigh- teen years of age he went with his father to Minnesota to sell a lot of stock. Ile had been troubled with rheumatism, and his father desired to see if a change of climate would not prove helpful. He was greatly benefited there- by and after that he did not remain long in Iowa. In 1860 he and his brother Andrew accompanied their father to Colorado, crossing the Missouri river at Plattsmouth and thence proceeded by team to Boulder. Mr. Chilberg
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engaged in mining at what is now Golden and aided in constructing a road across Guy mountain. He followed mining on Chicago creek, about ten miles south of Central City, and during the second winter which he spent in Colorado went to the present site of Georgetown, laying out and founding the town. He remained in the mines for four or five years and then, purchas- ing an ox team, proceeded to Central City, where he engaged in teaming and hauling hay to the mines and the settlers living in that portion of the state. He there made his home for a year, after which he sold out and returned to Iowa for the winter.
The next spring Mr. Chilberg took a load of provisions across the plains and afterward made four or five such trips, but in the winter of 1864 abandoned this work and returned to his old home in lowa. He had to get a pass allowing him to cross the Missouri river, because of the condi- tions brought about the Civil war, then in progress. Ile remained in lowa in charge of his farm until 1872, when he decided to come to Washington, where his father had located three years previously. He then sold all his property with the exception of his land and made his way to the Pacific coast. He rentedl a tract of land in the Swinomish flats and there raised a crop of oats and barley. He sold the oats but could not dispose of the barley, for though the ground was rich and produced abundantly there was no market for such a crop at that time. Mr. Chilberg also took up a claim of eighty acres. The next year he went to Port Townsend and conducted a dairy ranch in the Chimasum valley, readily disposing of his dairy products in the ad- joining logging camps. During the next year he was in the employ of a farmer and in the following year came to Seattle and established a grocery store in the town, then containing a population of about twenty-five hundred people. In this enterprise he was associated with his brother Andrew, but later purchased his brother's interest and conducted the store alone. He continued the business until the great fire swept over the city in June, 1889. when his store was entirely destroyed. Just previous to this time he had be- come engaged in the real estate business, and since the conflagration he has given much of his time to dealing in real estate in the city. His efforts have largely contributed to the improvement, extension and upbuilding of the city. He laid out the Chilberg addition, the Northern Pacific addition and the Mc- Elroy addition to Ballard, and these have become improved districts.
In 1896 Mr. Chilberg went to Juneau and the next spring to Central America, returning in May. Shortly afterward he took a steamer to Alas- ka and spent the succeeding winter in Skagway. In the spring of 1897 he took up his abode in Atlin county, where he engaged in prospecting until
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autumn, when he returned to Skagway and established a grocery store. With the returning spring the railroad was completed and Mr. Chilberg then sold his store and returned home, but in the spring of 1899 he went to Nome and did some prospecting there. Upon his return to Seattle he resumed real estate operations and is now engaged in this line of business.
In lowa, in 1865, Mr. Chilberg was united in marriage to Miss Matilda C. Shanstrom, and to them were born two children: John Edward and Mabel V., the former a well known business man of the city. In 1877 Mr. Chilberg purchased a home in Seattle and in 1884 built his present residence. On questions of state and national importance he votes with the Democracy, but at local elections is independent. He belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and attends the Congregational church. The history of pioneer life and of the wonderful development of the west is largely familiar to Mr. Chilberg through actual experience. He visited the coast when it was set off from civilization and improvement of the east by long stretches of sand. almost impassable mountains and deep rivers. He knows of the hardships of the early mining days and of the trials incident to pioneer life here, and he takes great pride in what has been accomplished by the enterpris- ing citizens and well deserves a share of the praise and gratitude due to those who in an early day established homes in the northwest and advanced its in- provement.
MATT H. GORMLEY.
New countries naturally abound in young men, as only the strong and vigorous can undergo the labors incident to discovery and settlement. For similar reasons, as advancement is made in the various arts constituting civili- zation, and civil government takes shape, young men are apt to be found at the forefront in positions of responsibility and trust. The new northwest. which has been bounding forward so rapidly during the last few decades, is filled with ambitious spirits who have gone there in youth or early manhood to "grow up with the country." The Spanish war, owing to its diversion to the islands in the distant Pacific. furnished an advantageous opportunity to the adventurous spirits of the coast states, and incidentally a great stim- ulus to their commerce. It was natural. therefore, that when the scene of war was transferred to the Philippines and a call was made for a large num- ber of troops to go to those distant possessions that there should be an eager desire to enlist among the ambitious young men of the northwest. Among those who volunteered promptly, went to the front and saw arduous service
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amid the swamps and rice fields of the land of the Tagalogs, was the gentle- man whose name heads this sketch, and his title of captain was earned as the result of gallant service in the field. But not simply in military matters but in civil life as well, Captain Gormley has shown himself to be a fit associate of those progressive young men whose combined efforts have brought the northwest so prominently to the front.
Henry Gormley, who was a native of New York, came as a young man to Walworth county, Wisconsin, where he followed the business of contract- ing and buildling. Being attracted by the accounts heard of the Puget Sound country, he determined to try his fortunes in that section, and in 1878 came to Seattle, where he resumed his old occupation as a contractor. While re- siding in Wisconsin he had married Orra McGraw, by whom he had three children, and one of the two of these now living is the gentleman with whose life this memoir is especially concerned.
Matt H. Gormley was born at Delavan, Wisconsin, March 18. 1867. and was consequently about eleven years old when his father brought him to Seattle. He was given a good education in the public schools and at the state university, where he received the degree of B. S., in the class of 1886. After leaving college Mr. Gormley engaged with his father in the business of contracting and building, and was so employed until appointed deputy sher- iff, in which office he served during the period from 1890 to 1892, and then, after a short time in the county treasurer's office. he returned to building. In the same year of his graduation Mr. Gormley had joined the state militia. and when the call came for troops to fight against Spain the regiment to which he belonged was accepted in its entirety, and by the reorganization for the federal service he became first lieutenant of Company B. The command was sent to the Presidio, where it was drilled and disciplined for six months and then sent to the Philippine islands for what proved to be a long continued and arduons service. Lieutenant Gormley took part with his regiment in much hard marching throughout the quagmires of Luzon and adjacent isl- ands, and was engaged in innumerable skirmishes with the elusive Tagalogs, besides the more serious fights at Santa Ana, Guadaloupe, Pasig. Cainta. Taytay, Morong and Colamba. The captain of Company B having been killed at Pasig. Lieutenant Gormley succeeded him in command. and from that time on was ranked as captain. At the expiration of their term of enlist- ment this gallant regiment was returned to San Francisco and mustered out. and the individual members, after the American style of doing these things. all speedily returned to their places in the walks of civil life. With reputa- tion increased by his patriotic service in the distant orient Captain Gormley
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quietly resumed his okl duties at Seattle, but was not long allowed to remain in private life by his admiring fellow citizens. He first came to the city treasurer's office as clerk for Judge Foote, and after the election of S. F. Rathbun in the following spring he was appointed chief deputy under the new incumbent. He served in this position until 1902, when, at the spring election of that year, he himself was chosen city treasurer and in due time in- stalled in the office. Captain Gormley is a good business man by natural inclination and training, and has completely mastered all the details of the treasurer's office during his connection therewith. There is no part of the work, however small, which he is not able to do, and which at some time he has not done, and he takes the main responsibility himself. leaving only the routine matters for subordinates' attention. The result of all this has been a steady increase in the business of the office, and such accuracy in the ac- counting and serupulous care over the public revennes as to elicit general praise for the treasurer from his constituency.
Captain Gormley has long been one of the active young leaders in poli- tics on the Republican side, and is usually found as a delegate in the various party conventions. His fraternal connections are confined to membership in the Royal Arcanum. Like most game spirits he is fond of all sorts of out- door sports and exercise. especially hunting and fishing, in which lines he is an ardent devotee. He is fond of the study of ornithology, and, in connec- tion with his friend. Samuel Rathbun, has given much time to this interest- ing science made so popular in America by the great Anbubon. In 1892 Captain Gormley was united in marriage at Seattle with Miss Ida Schon- myer, and they have three bright and promising children, whose names are Lawrence. Rowena and Jack.
MORGAN JAMES CARKEEK.
Morgan James Carkeek, one of the most prominent contractors and builders of Seattle, Washington, has been identified with the business interests of this city for over a quarter of a century, and there are many notable ex- amples of his architectural skill and ability to be seen throughout the city. Thoroughly reliable in all things, the quality of his work is a convincing test of his own personal worth, and he has become an important factor in busi- ness circles.
Mr. Carkeek was born in Redruth, Cornwall, England, of old English ancestry, his parents being M. J. and Elizabeth (Shepherd) Carkeek, also natives of Redruth, of which place his father was one of the leading con-
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tractors and builders. He was a valued and influential member of the Meth- odist church, taking a very active and prominent part in religious work, and serving as superintendent of the Sunday-school. He established and built one of the churches of his native town. He died at the age of sixty-eight years, honored and respected by all who knew him, and the shock of his death proved fatal to his wife, who survived him only three days. They were people of the highest moral character, and had a host of warm friends. To them were born thirteen children, six sons and seven daughters. Con- tracting and building became the occupation of all of the sons. One of these, Arthur Carkeek, is to-day a prominent architect and one of the most influ- ential citizens of the parish in which he has always made his home. He is now serving as justice of the peace and chief of the local hoard.
In the public schools of his native land Morgan J. Carkeek acquired a good practical education, and with his father learned contracting and build- ing. soon becoming an expert workman. On his emigration to the United States in 1866, he settled in California, and for about three years engaged in mining in Tuolumne, Calaveras and Mariposa counties, meeting with but moderate success. He then returned to San Francisco, and in 1870 went to Port Townsend, where he worked at his trade for three years. He visited Seattle in 1870. but did not locate permanently here until five years later. He built the first stone block, known as the Dexter Horton Bank, which was destroyed by fire in 1889. During his residence here he was successfully engaged in contracting and building, and had erected some of the most im- portant buildings of the city, including the fine Burke and Haller blocks, and many of the most beautiful residences. Mr. Carkeek also built the Provin- cial jail in New Westminster, and other important buildings in Victoria ; the First National Bank building of Salem, Oregon: the barracks at Fort Lawton: and a part of the light-house on Destruction island under govern- ment contract. He has reared for himself a lasting monument in the city where he makes his home by the many beautiful and thoroughly substantial buildings which he has erected there. He has one of the most elegant homes of Seattle, which is located on the southeast corner of Madison and Boren avennes, and was built by him in 1886. It is situated in the midst of beanti- ful grounds, which are well laid out and attest the artistic skill and refinement of the owner. Mr. Carkeek also has a fine farm on the Dwamish river, six miles from the city, and owns property in several other counties of this state.
In 1870 Mlr. Carkeek returned to England, where he married Emily, eldest daughter of Mr. Jackson Gaskill, late of the Chase, Potters Bar, Middlesex, and this union has been blessed with two children: Vivian Mor-
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gen, now a member of the Seattle bar ; and Guendolen, who is still in school. T'ie parents hold membership in the Episcopal church, and in politics Mr. Carkeck is identified with the Republican party. He is a member of the Cham- ber of Commerce, and bas always taken an active interest in those enterprises calculated to advance the welfare of Seattle. He was one of the first board of trustees who took stock and organized the first street railway in the city; and was also one of the organizers of the Pontiac Brick & Tile Company. Mr. Carkeek invented and patented the improved shingle-bunch which so economizes space as to nearly double the capacity of cars for carrying shingles. As the shingle industry is important on Puget Sound, this inven- tion has been the means of saving thousands of dollars to the shingle man- ufacturer here. The career of Mr. Carkeek has ever been such as to warrant the trust and confidence of the business world, for he has ever conducted all transactions on the strictest principles of honor and integrity, and he right- fully enjoys the high esteem of his fellow citizens. His devotion to the pub- lic good is unquestioned, and arises from a sincere interest in the welfare of his fellow men.
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