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 83
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Whitworth, and died there on the 22nd of June, 1858. She was a woman of great piety and an active Christian worker. By her marriage she had a family of eight children; two daughters and six sons. The eldest daughter, Almira, became the wife of the Rev. Samuel G. Lowry, a minister of the Presbyterian church, while Mary Elizabeth married the Rev. George F. Whitworth, also a minister of the gospel connected with the same denomina- tion. Three of the sons of the family became Presbyterian ministers.
Samuel Harrison Thomson, the father of our subject, was born in Nicholas county, Kentucky, on the 26th of August, 1813. He married Mag- deline Sophronia Clifton, who was born in Henry county, Kentucky, in 1820, and was of Huguenot ancestry, representatives of the family removing to America at a very early date. Her grandfather had a large estate in Washington county, Virginia. Mr. Thomson's father was a scientist and educator, and for thirty-two years was professor of mechanical philosophy and mathematics in Hanover College, serving in that position from 1844 until 1876, during which time there was conferred upon him the honorary degrees of Master of Arts, Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Laws. At length Dr. Thompson resigned his position in the college and in 1877 re- moved to Healdsburg, California, where for four years he conducted the Healdsburg Institute. He was a civil engineer, also an ordained minister of the Presbyterian church. It was for the benefit of his health that he sought a home on the Pacific coast, but his life was only prolonged for a few years and he was called to his final rest when in Pasadena, California, on the 2nd of September, 1882, at the age of sixty-nine years. His good wife sur- vives him and now resides with her son in Seattle. The eldest brother, Henry Clifton Thomson, D. D., has charge of the Presbyterian mission for the education of the Spanish-speaking ministers of the church at Albuquer- que, New Mexico. The next eldest, Rev. Williell Thomson, resides in Los Angeles, California. These three brothers are all that remain of a family of nine children.
Reginald Heber Thomson was educated in Hanover College, being graduated with the class of 1877 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Ten years later the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him, and in 1901 the honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy. After his graduation in 1877 he accompanied his parents on their removal to California, and en- gaged in teaching in the mathematical department of the Healdsburg Insti- tute. In his college work he had given special attention to civil engineering and for a time followed that profession in California. Removing to Seattle in 1881, he at once became assistant city surveyor and aided in laying out
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many of the improved streets of the city. During the years from 1881 until 1883, inclusive, he was assistant city surveyor. In 1882 he entered into part- nership with F. H. Whitworth, who was city and county surveyor, under the firm name of Whitworth & Thomson, and they conducted a general line of engineering in railroad, mining and city work. In 1884 Mr. Thomson be- came city surveyor and drew the plans for the construction of the first sewer constructed in the city on thoroughly modern principles, that on Union street, and it has been the pattern of the subsequent work of a similar nature here. He also, at that time, drew plans and superintended the construction of the Grant street bridge, which is a roadway twenty-six feet wide and two miles long, built across an arm of the bay south of the city, connecting the city with the manufacturing districts.
In December, 1886, the firm of Whitworth & Thomson was dissolved and our subject left the city employ and became the locating engineer of the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern Railway, now a portion of the Northern Pa- cific Railway. He made a location for it from the head of Lake Washington through Snoqualmie valley and the Snoqualmie pass to Lake Kitchelos. In March, 1888, he went to Spokane, where he was the resident engineer of the road for a year, locating and constructing its terminals. He also located the two crossings of the Spokane river and planned and superintended the con- struction of the two bridges. His work of locating the road through the rough and mountainous country was very difficult, but his line was adopted and has received the highest commendation.
On the completion of his work at Spokane in 1889 he left the employ of the company and retired to Seattle, where he became engaged in mining engineering and also served as consulting engineer until May, 1892, at which time he was appointed city engineer of Seattle. As such he has constructed the principal part of the sewer system of the city, including two sewer tun- nels, one six feet in diameter and more than a mile long, extending from Lake Union basin to tide water; the other is an egg-shaped tunnel four by six feet, extending from Rainier valley to tide water, nearly one mile in length. These tunnels were made through the most treacherous glacial drift, and the prosecution of the work had been practically abandoned by those in charge before Mr. Thomson's appointment. He has also perfected the plans and superintended the laying of all pavements in the city, and it was he who laid the first block of vitrified brick pavement on the Pacific coast. He has been the principal advocate of the gravity system of water for the city and has pushed that project for the past seven years until the system has been adopted and the city is now supplied with an abundance of pure mountain water,
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twenty-two and one-half million gallons per day, at a cost of one million and one hundred and seventy thousand dollars, which sum is eighty thousand dollars less than the original estimate, while the system is a better one than first outlined. The intake is twenty-six miles away in the mountains, where the city has acquired the watershed of Cedar river and Cedar lake, through a distance of twenty miles. Cedar lake, itself, is more than three miles long and a mile wide, its elevation being fifteen hundred and thirty feet above sea level. By the construction of a small dam, the lake can be made to hold sufficient water to furnish the city six hundred million gallons every day in the year. This has been the great life work and aim of Mr. Thomson, and Seattle could not possibly have a better water system. It will prove one of the great- est blessings to the inhabitants for all time and will be one of the city's great- est attractions-an unfailing supply of pure, clear mountain water at the cheapest possible rate at which an abundant supply could be obtained. Cer- tainly Seattle owes much to Mr. Thomson, whose labors have been of the greatest benefit. His work has been of a character that adds much to the healthfulness of the city and is, therefore, of direct good to every individual. A fall of six hundred feet is made by cascades in Cedar river a short distance below Cedar lake, and at the foot of these cascades Mr. Thomson is now con- structing for the city of Seattle the first section of a municipal electrical plant. The first installation is to deliver in the city about three thousand horse power, and the final installation about ten times that amount.
In 1883 was celebrated the marriage of our subject and Miss Adeline Laughlin, a native of California, who is of Scotch extraction. Her father, James Laughlin, was one of California's pioneer farmers. Their union has been blessed with four children: James Harrison, Marion Wing, Reginald Heber, Jr. and Frances Clifton. The parents are members of the Presby- terian church, and Mr. Thomson has served as elder for twenty-five years and as a teacher of the Bible class. He votes with the Republican party but is a strong temperance man and believes quite firmly in Prohibition principles. His labors along all lines have been for the progress and upbuilding of his city or for the uplifting of his fellow men, and the record of Mr. Thomson is one which has ever been above reproach.
HENRY YANDELL.
During the many years which mark the period of Dr. Yandell's pro- fessional career he has met with gratifying success, and during his resi- dence in Seattle of about thirteen years has won the good will and patron-
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age of many of the leading citizens and families of the place. He is a great student and endeavors to keep abreast of the times in everything relating to discoveries in medical science.
Dr. Yandell was born in Hinds county, Mississippi, on Big Black river, in April, 1835. The family was established in this country by the great- great-grandfather of our subject, Lunsford Yandell, who came from Scot- land in the early part of 1700. He married a Miss Moore, a native of coun- ty Antrim, Ireland. Under King George's rule Lunsford Yandell purchased six square miles of land in Mecklenburg county, Virginia, for fifty pounds. There Wilson Yandell, the grandfather of our subject, was born, and he, too, entered the medical profession, this occupation having been followed by members of the family for many generations. He married a Miss Pitt, of Virginia, and in 1790 they emigrated to Tennessee, locating in Sumner county, and after a residence there of a few years located in Rutherford county, that state, on Stone river. Four of their sons entered the medical profession, and one daughter became the wife of a physician. Henry Yan- dell, one of the sons, was born in the family home in Rutherford county, Tennessee, and as a life occupation followed in the footsteps of his father. He was practicing at Bedford, Tennessee, during the terrible epidemic of cholera there in 1832 and 1833. In 1834 he removed to Mississippi, where his life's labors were ended in death in 1835, at the early age of thirty- two years. He was married to Martha Davis, and after her husband's death she returned to Tennessee, where she passed away in death in 1850, when her son Henry was fifteen years of age.
Henry Yandell received his literary education in Dickson Academy at Shelbyville, Tennessee, and after his mother's death he made his home with an uncle in Mississippi. For three years he was employed as a clerk in a drug store, and during that time he also read medicine, later, in 1853, en- tering the University of Louisville, in which he was graduated with the degree of M. D. after a three years' course. His ability along the line of his chosen calling soon became recognized and he was made an interne in Louisville Hospital, but on account of the urgent request of his uncle to return to Mississippi he did not accept the position, but at once entered upon the practice of his profession at Yazoo, Mississippi, remaining there for nearly thirty-five years, during which time he built up an excellent medi- cal and surgical practice. In 1861, however, he put aside all personal con- siderations and entered the Confederate army as a surgeon, in which ca- pacity he served for three years, principally engaged in hospital work, al- though he applied for field duty and for a short time served on the staff
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of General Johnston. After the war had closed he remained until the last man was taken from the hospital, after which he resumed his medical prac- tice in Yazoo.
About this time the cause of temperance was being greatly agitated in Mississippi, and at the close of the war Dr. Yandell took an active part in having the option law passed. He organized the movement in his county, and defeated the saloon element in the following election. The question was very bitterly fought at a later election, but again his party came out victorious, with a still greater majority, and Dr. Yandell has the satisfac- tion of knowing that owing to his efficient work there has never been a saloon in the county since that time, and but three counties in the state license the sale of liquor at the present time.
In 1888, on account of failing health, Dr. Yandell was obliged to seek a change of climate, and accordingly arrived in Seattle, Washington, in April, 1889, and immediately opened an office and resumed the practice of medicine. He has confined his work principally to city practice, but has frequently extended his aid to the surrounding towns and country. He is now associated in practice with his son-in-law, A. R. Bailey. Soon after taking up his residence in this city he erected a commodious and substan- tial house on Sixth, near Bell street, where the family extend a gracious hospitality to their many friends.
In October, 1867, was celebrated the marriage of Dr. Yandell and Miss Rebecca W., the daughter of William C. Hays, a prominent land owner of Yazoo county, Mississippi. Two of her uncles nobly served their country in its wars, Colonel Jack Hays having been a member of the noted Texas Rangers during the Mexican war, while General Henry T. Hays made a fine record as a soldier. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Yandell was celebrated in Yazoo county, Mississippi, and has been blessed with five children, four sons and one daughter, namely: Claiborne B., who is a reporter on the Post-Intelligencer of Seattle; Martha, the wife of Dr. A. R. Bailey, of this city; William Henry, the leading clerk for the Schwa- bacher Hardware Company; John S., with the Bradstreet Company; and David L., at home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Yandell are members of the Presby-
terian church. Prior to the Civil war the Doctor gave his political sup- port to the Whig party and made a strong effort to defeat the secession movement in this state, but since the close of that struggle he has supported the principles of the Democracy. In 1896, on the fusion ticket, he was made the county coroner, in which capacity he served for two years. He is deeply interested in the political questions of the day, believing it the duty of every
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American citizen to attend the primaries and see that capable men are given the nominations for office. He has been a delegate to every city conven- tion since taking up his abode within its borders, and has frequently at- tended the state conventions, but has never been a seeker for political pre- ferment. While a resident of Mississippi he became a member of the Ma- sonic order, and there served as master of his lodge and as high priest of the chapter. He is also a Royal Arch Mason, and a member of the Knights of Pythias, and the Knights of Honor. In connection with his medical practice he is a member of the King County Medical Society. In all the varied relations of life he has been honorable, sincere and trustworthy, and has won the praise and admiration of all who have been associated with him in any manner.
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