An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 101

Author: Hines, Harvey K., 1828-1902
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1056

USA > Washington > An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 101

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0 SSIAN J. CARR, of Seattle, Washington, was born in Dryden, New York, October 18, 1833, a son of Alvah and Martha P. (Tyler) Carr, natives also of that State. The

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father learned the trade of cabinet-maker in his early manhood, following that occupation in Dryden until 1841, when he removed with his family to Crawford county, Pennsylvania. While in that county he followed agricultural pursuits.

Ossian J., the subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm, and improved the educational facilities of Crawford county. With mature years he began teaching school, which he fol- lowed through the winter months, still passing his summers on the farm. In 1853 Mr. Carr entered the Kingswell Academy, in Ashtabula county, Ohio, passed one year in pursuing the higher branches of study, and in 1854 began the study of telegraphy in New York city, learning the House-alphabet system. Ile afterward found employment with the Washington Print- ing Telegraph Company, as instructor of agents along their line, but after one year resumed agricultural pursuits in Crawford county. In 1858 Mr. Carr emigrated with his family to the Pacific coast, journeying by steamer to Aspin- wall, thence across to Panama, thence by the steamship John L. Stephens to San Francisco, and then on the old Columbia for Portland.

Owing to the Fraser river gold excitement the crew had abandoned the ship for the mines, and a new crew of Mexicans were seenred. By traveling only during the day they arrived safely in Portland, after a voyage of nine days.

Our subject next taught the Jefferson Insti- tute one year, and was then principal of the Salem public schools the same length of time, when his health failed and he was obliged to seek a more active life. In 1861 he assisted in erecting the University building in Seattle, and during that time his wife taught the only dis- triet school of the town, which enrolled about twenty-five pupils, coming from all parts of the county. During the year 1862, Mr. Carr followed agricultural pursuits near Salem, fol- lowed hotel life one year, elected Assessor of Marion county for two years, and served as Deputy County Clerk four years. In 1876 he again visited Seattle, where he was appointed Deputy Postmaster, under W. H. Pomphrey, eight months, held the same position under Thomas W. Prosch one year, was then appoint- ed Postmaster by President Hayes and re- appointed by President Arthur. Mr. Carr next engaged in the carriage business with L. S. Roe and C. P. Stone, but one year later the firm dis- solved, and since that time our subject has de-

voted his time to private interests and to the improvement of his place at Edgewater, on Kilburn avenne. He also owns other valuable real estate about the city, both improved and unimproved.

In August, 1856, he was united in marriage with Miss Lucy L. Whipple, of Crawford county. They have one daughter, Myra, now the wife of Prof. E. S. Ingraham. Socially, Mr. Carr affiliates with the Masonic order. As a School Director he has advanced the educational interests of District No. 66, now embraced in Seattle District, and is ever ready with material support to advance the temporal interests of that city, which has justly been termed the Queen City of the Northwest.

C OL. E. M. CARR, one of the representa- tive attorneys of the Seattle bar, was born at Galesburg, Knox county, Illinois, Angust 30, 1859. Ilis parents, Colonel B. O. and Mary (Buck) Carr, were natives of New York and Vermont respectively, both branches having de- scended from the Puritan settlers of New En- gland. Colonel B. O. Carr removed from New York to Illinois in boyhood, his parents being among the pioneer settlers of Galesburg. With the outbreaking of the Civil war, in 1861, Mr. Carr was commissioned First Lieutenant in the Quartermaster's Department, and served through the war, receiving promotion as Division Quar- termaster with rank of Colonel. His brother. Eugene A. Carr, was a graduate of West Point, and in 1861 was commissioned Colonel of the Third Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, served through the war and is now Brigadier General in the regnlar army. Another brother, Rev. Horace M. Carr, served through the war as Chaplain, and a fourth brother enlisted as a private at the age of eighteen years and retired from service at the elose of the war as Captain, having arisen by successive promotion. Several members of the Buck family were also active participants in the war and rendered honorable service. .

After the close of the war. Colonel B. O. Carr engaged in business enterprises, and, in 1870, removed to the Pacific slope and was con- neeted with the Union Pacific and Central Pa- cific Railways until 1872, when he returned to Galesburg, where he remained only until the spring of 1873, when he was appointed United

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States Supervising Inspector of steamboats for the Sixth District, which position he held until 1881, with headquarters at Memphis, Tennessee, and Louisville, Kentucky. In 1881 he removed to California and is now engaged in banking at Lemoore, Tulare county.

E. M. Carr attended the public schools of Galesburg, the academie department of Knox College, and graduated from Norwich Uni- versity, at Northfield, Vermont, 1879. IIe then entered the law department of Columbia College, in New York city, and graduated therefrom in 1881. He at once entered upon the practice of his profession at Tueson, Ari- zona, remaining there until June, 1882, when he joined a small exploring party and went into the interior of Alaska. In the fall of 1883, he joined his family in California, and in February, 1884, located at Seattle, engaging at once in the active practice of law. In July, 1885, he formed a co-partnership with Harold Preston, which has been continued to date and is recog- mized as one of the leading law firms of the city.

In 1890 Governor Ferry appointed Colonel Carr as Prosecuting Attorney for the counties of King, Kitsap and Snohomish, to fill an nn- expired term. He was one of the organizers of Company B of the State militia in 1884, and was elected Second Lieutenant. In 1886 he was elected Captain of Company E, First Regi- ment, National Guard of Washington, serving until 1890, when he was appointed by Adjutant General R. G. O'Brien as a member of his staff with rank of Colonel.

Colonel C'arr was married at Lodi, California, in 1890, to Miss Alice Preston, a native of Mississippi. Socially, he affiliates with the K. of P., Loyal Legion of the United States, Pa- triotic Sons of America and Sons of Veterans.

J OHIN H. ALLEN, legal practitioner in the city of Seattle, was born in Lexington, Kentucky, September 4, 1844, and was the son of Colonel Robert T. P. Allen, of Mary- land, and Julia Ann (Dickenson) Allen, of Tennessee. The latter was a niece of General Andrew Jackson, and was born and reared at the " Hermitage," near Nashville.

Robert T. P. Allen was a graduate of West Point, and a classmate of Mcclellan, Thomas

and Johnston. As a member of the engineer corps he superintended the construction of several of the harbors on Lake Erie. Subse- quently resigning, he became professor of mathematics in Transylvania University at Lexington. In 1845 he built the Kentucky Military Institute near Frankfort, which he conducted until 1849, when he was appointed by the national Government to locate post offices and mail routes through California, and while in San Francisco he established the first news- paper in that city. In 1850 he returned to his institution in Kentucky, which he conducted until 1856, when, owing to failing health, he sold out and removed to Bastrop, Texas, and there founded the Bastrop Military Institute. In 1861 he went into the Confederate army as Colonel of the Seventeenth Texas Infantry, and was wounded at Milliken's Bend in his efforts to relieve Vicksburg, and subsequently retired from the army and returned to his institution in Texas. In 1865 he sold out and repur- chased his original institution in Kentucky, which he continued up to 1875, when he retired and passed the closing years of his life in Florida.

John H. Allen was educated in the military institutes of his father in Kentucky and Texas. In 1861 he entered the Confederate army as Second Lieutenant and drill master of the Second Texas Infantry, at Galveston, Texas, but was declined a commission because of his extreme youth. IIe then refused farther service, and was under arrest four months, when his commission was granted by Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States, making our subject the youngest commissioned officer in the Confederate army. He was actively en- gaged at the battle of Shiloh, and was then transferred to the Trans- Mississippi Depart- ment, under General E. Kirby Smith, to assist in drilling and disciplining military reeruits. He was then assigned by General Smith as aid to Colonel W. II. Trndor, who was in command of a brigade of dismounted cavalry and ex- changed troops, over which Prince de Polignac was subsequently appointed Brigadier-General by Jefferson Davis, our subjeet continuing as Aid-de-Camp and Acting Assistant Adjutant- General, and participating in the battles of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill. Ile was then transferred to the cavalry, and assigned to the command of Brigadier-General Bagby, who commanded a brigade of Tom Green's division.

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Our subject acted as Assistant Inspector-Gen- eral on General Bagby's staff. He was subse- quently elected Captain of Squadron B, of the Sixteenth Texas Cavalry, and surrendered his company near Corsicana, Texas, in 1865.

He then went to his home at Bastrop, and in October, 1866, was married to Miss Sallie E. Bell, of that city. He then removed to Ken- tucky and finished his education at the military institute, graduating in June, 1867. Within the same year he was admitted to the bar.

After one year as assistant professor of languages and commandant of cadets in the military institute, and one year in a similar position in the Kentucky Agricultural College at Lexington, he engaged in the practice of law in Kentucky, and in 1874 removed to Orlando, Florida, where he continued his profession, and where his wife died in 1886, leaving four sons and one daughter.

Mr. Allen was very active in politics in Flor- ida, and there resided until March, 1889, when he removed to Seattle. He then entered the office of Stratton & Fenton, at $100 per month, and shortly after, when Mr. Stratton was elected to the bench and Mr. Fenton removed to Ore- gon, Mr. Allen succeeded to their business, which he successfully conducted and has built np a very lucrative practice. In September, 1891, he formed a eo partnership with his son, Jay C. Allen, and with John H. Powell, of Illi- nois, under the firm name of Allen & Powell. They have since continued a general practice, making a specialty of commercial law.

Mr. Allen was remarried in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1888, to Mrs. Lucy A. (Ilodge) Ut- ley, of Boston, Massachusetts.

In politics Mr. Allen continues a stanch Democrat, but he eschews all activity and ab- hors this serambling for office. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and lives a quiet, retired life, de- voting his energies to the legitimate practice of his profession.

M ATTHEW A. KELLY, one of the repre- sentative druggists in the city of Seat- tle for upward of twenty years, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, Decem- ber 25, 1850. His parents were of Irish and Scotch ancestry, and were natives of Ireland,

where they were reared and married. In 1849 they decided to emigrate to America, which they did early in 1850, and, locating in Boston, Mr. Kelly there continued his trade, and there passed the balance of his life. Matthew A. attended the schools of the city up to his fif- teenth year, then went to New York city, and, as bell boy, secured employment at the Cort- landt Street Ilotel. In attendance on the guests of the house he waited upon Asa Mercer, who was a pioneer of Washington, and the origi- nator of female emigration to Puget Sound, and who was then in the East, organizing a company of women to bring to the Territory of Wash- ington. Mr. Mercer became interested in young Kelly, a bright, active boy, and offered him free transportation to Washington, which proposi- tion was gladly accepted, and Matthew accom- panicd the party of about 125 women, which embarked from New York on the 16th of Janu- ary, 1866, on the steamship Continental, which was furnished by the United States Government. The voyage was made through the straits of Magellan, and landing at San Francisco about halt the ladies stopped at that city, the balance coming to the Sound district, where they found occupation at teaching school or other light employment. Young Kelly came through to Seattle, then but a small hamlet, and first found a home with Henry Van AAsselt, working for his board and attending the three-months school. Ile then came to Seattle and attended one term at the State University, then went to Olympia, and into the office of the Weekly Echo, owned by R. H. Hewitt. After six months of service, he entered the drug store of Dr. Rufus Willard, continuing in study and practice up to September, 1869, when the firm became Willard & Kelly, and thus remained until September, 1870, when Mr. Kelly sold his interest, and returning to Seattle entered into partnership with Gardner Kellogg. After one year Mr. Kellogg retired, and the firm became Kelly & Settle, but one year later Mr. Settle withdrew, and Mr. Kelly continued alone up to 1879. A. B. Young then purchased an interest, but after two years sold ont, and Mr. Kelly car- ried on the business alone. During the de. structive fire of June, 1889, Mr. Kelly was burned out, at a loss of $13,000, but immedi- ately resumed and continued up to August, 1892, when, owing to sickness, he sold out and retired from business, except for certain real- estate speculations.

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Mr. Kelly was married in 1870, to Miss Anna Pullen, a native of Olympia and daughter of Edwin Pullen, a pioneer of 1850. She was the first white girl born in the town. They have five children: Chester Willard, Annie May (de- ceased), James G., Blanche A. and Frederick M. Socially, Mr. Kelly affiliates with the I. (). O. F., being Past Chief Patriarch of the En- campment. He is Past Chancellor Commander of Harmonie Lodge, No. 5, and for eight years was President of the Endowment Rank, K. of P'. He is also a member of the A. O. U. W., B. P. O. E., and Patriotic Sons of America.

C APTAIN WILLIAM J. BRYANT, de- scends from an ancestry of seafaring peo- ple who formerly resided in the North of Ireland. His grandfather was connected with the English navy. Ilis father, Captain Peter J. Bryant, sailed between New York, Liverpool and Atlantic ports. He married Catherine Har- rison, of Scotch descent, and to them was born, upon their voyage between Liverpool and New Orleans, in December, 1842, the subject of this sketch. Captain Peter J. Bryant followed the sea about fifty years and was well-known in the early packet-ship service. Our subject was reared upon the sea, and at the age of eight years was put upon the ship's articles at twenty- five cents per month. At the age of twelve years he shipped with Captain Heman N. Bart- lett, upon the bark Elsinore, of Maine, and re- mained with him a number of years, spending a part of each winter on shore in attending the public schools, the summers being spent upon the sea. He served in every capacity from boy and cook up the scale to Captain. At the age of eighteen years he was mate of the American Union and took a load of iron piles from Cardiff to the mouth of the Suez canal then in progress of construction. At the age of twenty-one years he became Master, his first vessel being a brig called Mary C. Comery. From sailing into every port in the world, the Captain became popularly known as the " Roving Sailor," and in 1872 he bnilt, in East Boston, a bark, which he christened under the same name. With her he made many successful voyages, as she was not only stiff, in a storm, but a very fast sailer. In August, 1873, as he was leaving Troon, Scotland, bound for Demerara, South America,

in passing through the English channel and opening up the North channel, he struck a heavy storm in which many vessels and yachts were washed ashore. The Captain sighted one yacht in a helpless condition, with five ladies and one man on board, drifting toward the beach, antl although realizing the dangers, his human heart prompted the attempt and he rescued the entire party, although plaeing his vessel in a critical condition. But, by being quick to answer the helm, his able management saved the ship and he returned the entire party to their homes. He was then tendered financial remuneration, but he declining their offers they inscribed the following letter:

"LEITH, SCOTLAND, September 4, 1873. CAPTAIN W. J. BRYANT, Ship ' Roving Sailor,' of Boston, United States:

Dear Sir :- We, the undersigned pleasure fishing party, whom yon so humanely and timeously rescued off Whiting bay, island of Arran, on the night of the 28th of August last, consider it our duty to tender you our best thanks for your kindness on that occasion. When totally exhausted by our fruitless en- deavors to make land, and hardly daring to hope that any vessel would notice us, we sighted your ship, and your promptitude in putting about to help us at evident risk and personal inconven- ience, was only equaled by your courtesy to us when received on board. We therefore beg you to accept this as a feeble but gennine expression of our gratitude for your human and courteous conduct on the above occasion, and to assure you of its being our united and individual wish that you may be spared to live a long, happy and pros- perous life. We remain, Dear Sir, yours most sincerely. Annie, Sr., Annie, Jr. and Mima Dun- lap and Maggie Young, of Leith; Jane Holme, of Liverpool, and Pat Cameron, of Leith."

After landing his passengers the Captain again set forth and made a rapid and successful voyage, and prosperity seemed to attend the " Roving Sailor " up to 1877, when she was caught in a typhoon at Yokohama, and washed, head on, to the beach. He attached a small line to a common kerosene can, which was whirled ashore by the wind and by this means connection with shore was established. Lines were drawn and the entire family and crew were saved. There were 175 vessels lost in the storm, and the beach was strewn with the dead from the other ships. Ile continued to follow

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the sea up to 1879, his last ship being the " A. C. Dickerman," which after an extended trip to China, Japan and the Sandwich islands, landed him safely in Puget Sound, and he retired from the sea.

He then settled in Sonoma county, California, and remained until 1883, when he came to Seat- tle to take charge of the shipping business of John L. Howard. He then passed one year at Bellingham bay and returned to Seattle in 1885 to accept the appointment as United States In- spector of Hulls. His district extends from Gray's Harbor to Chileat and covers all the waters of the Puget Sound and the inland pas- sage.

He was married, in Orrington, Maine, in 1864, to Miss Ellen J. Rooks, of that State. She died in 1874, leaving two children: William H. and Minnie E. Captain Bryant was again married, in 1875, at Pawtucket, Rhode Island, being united to Miss Fanny E. Harriman, of Orring- ton, Maine. They have five children: Charles E., Albert, Walter, George and Willis.

Socially Captain Bryant affiliates with the F. & A. M. He was one of the early developers of Bellingham bay. where he still owns town and farm property. He also owns valuable inside property in the city of Seattle.

H UGH CROCKETT, one of the most in- dustrions and successful men of the thriving town of Puyallup, Washington, is a native of Virginia, the date of his birth being September 21, 1829.

Colonel Walter Crockett, the father of HIngh, was born of Scotch parents, and was a member of the Virginia Legislature at the time General La Fayette made his first visit to America. Colonel Hugh Crockett, the grandfather of our subject, in company with General Greene, fonght Lord Cornwallis in the battle of Gnilford Court House, North Carolina, March 15, 1781.

In connection with that battle, Colonel Wal- ter Crockett used to relate the following:

During the progress of the battle the American armny retreated from the field and left a small boy wounded; and when Commander Wallace and his staff came up he heard the commander say, "Well, this is terrible! Here is only this boy and onr men are ent all to pieces!

It's them d-d rifles that done this." One of his subordinates said, "We have rifles too." His Lordship replied that they were the "fag end of the bar." The boy, whose name was Sawyers, was left on the field, but soon after- ward he overtook the army; and this is the story he related. He recovered from his wounds and returned to his home in Virginia, where he lived to manhood and became the the father of a happy family. Mr. Hugh Crockett has seen some of his descendants, who were pointed out to him in connection with the above story.

Hugh Crockett lived in Virginia until he was nine years old, when he went with his parents to Missouri. His oldest brother left home in 1844 and came across the plains in General Gilliam's train, the second emigrant train that came to this coast. He wrote home in such flattering terms of the delightful and healthy climate that even before the discovery of gold in California they were all anxious to come to Puget Sound. Then, after that great event, snch glowing accounts came to them they at once started for the West, leaving home in the spring of 1851 and arriving at Olympia, Wash- ington Territory, in November of that year. They all remained in Olympia during the winter, and in the spring Hngh Crockett went to Whidby island, took a claim of 160 acres, and lived there for twenty-three years.

Nearly all the pioneers had many hardships to endure, but there are very few that have ex- perienced as many difficulties, both in coming across the plains and in the early settlement of the country, as has this sturdy old pioneer, Hugh Crockett. They had much? to tear from the northern Indians, as the latter were contin- nally making raids upon the whites. If the Indians ever received an injury, fancied or otherwise, they were sure to retaliate, blood for blood being their motto; and the innocent and unsuspecting were usually the sufferers.

After Island county was organized, Mr. Crockett served as its first Sheriff.

After selling his farm, he moved to Seattle and worked in a sawmill for two years. In 1877 he bought six acres of land where the town of . Puyallup now stands. This land was subsequently laid out in town lots and sold as such. Then he bought seven acres located one mile from the town, to the cultivation of which he has since devoted his time and attention.

In October, 1863, Mr. Crockett married Mrs. R. J. Bond, formerly Rachel Good. She was

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born in England in February, 1833, and came to this country with her husband. They have no children.

He is a member of the Masonic lodge, No. 38, at Puyallup, also of the I. O. O. F., No. 18, at the same place Both he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star and of the Daughters of Rebekah.

E LI. B. MAPEL, one of the earliest pio- neers to the vicinity of Seattle, was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, November 12,

1831. His parents, Jacob and Catherine (Adams) Mapel, were natives of Greene county, Pennsylvania, of Holland-German an- cestry, the American descendants being con- nected with the Revolutionary war. Jacob Mapel moved to Ohio about 1820, and there farmed up to 1844, then pushed west and set- tled in Keokuk county, Iowa, which had been opened by Government purchase from the In- dians. There Mr. Mapel farmed to 1850, then, with his son, Samuel A., crossed the plains to California, and mined up to 1851. There he met L. M. Collins, a pioneer of 1847 to the Nisqually river, and Henry Van Asselt; and, learning of the Puget Sound country, they all came northi to Collins' place, and subsequently all traveled down the Sound to the Duwamish river, and located their donation claims, and were the first settlers in the vicinity of Seattle.

Eli B. Mapel was raised upon the frontier, and privileged with but a limited common- school education, chiefly gained by the fireside. He remained with his parents up to 1852, then, learning from his father by letter of the north- west country, he engaged with James Jinkins, of Iowa, to assist him in crossing the plains, receiving rations for labor. Young Mapel drove an ox team, consisting of ten yokes, from Iowa to the Umatilla river, when the provisions were running very low; and, to leave more for the family, our subject with four companions, each with his knapsack and gun and . without one morsel of food and no blankets, started on foot for the Dalles, distant 125 miles ! Hoping to meet emigrants, they took no supplies, but in this they were disappointed, and in conse- quence passed four days without food, sleeping upon the ground at night. Two of the men gave out, but were picked up by emigrants;

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 101

Author: Hines, Harvey K., 1828-1902 Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 1056

Author: Hines, Harvey K., 1828-1902
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1056