An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 102

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

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the others pushed forward and arrived in a half-dead condition. At the Dalles the meals were $1 each, but Mr. Mapel got the worth of his money, as he ate ten biscuits, beefsteak, beans and other things in proportion, and drank six cups of coffee ! After resting, they con- tinned their journey, meeting with similar hard- ships until arriving at Portland, where our subject worked for his board in the hotel of Dr. Schaug.

After a few days he continued his journey, and traveled by steamer to the month of Cow- litz river, in company with II. L. Yesler, then on his way to California, to purchase a sawmill to bring to Puget Sound. Mr. Mapel's journey from the mouth of the Cowlitz to Olympia was a series of hardships and difficulties, rendering services to the emigrants for food, at other times living upon dried salmon and potatoes. In Olympia he was employed by George Barnes, at $4 per day, in clearing town lots, paying $15 per week for board, consisting of dried salmon, potatoes, hard bread and wheat coffee, and rarely getting enough to satisfy hunger. There he

et Dr. D. S. Maynard, of Seattle, and with him and W. M. Latimer, made the trip down the Sound, experiencing a very stormy passage, and spending three days on the journey, arriv- ing in Seattle on November 12, 1852. He then joined his father on the Duwamish river, and with him engaged in getting out piles and squaring timber for the San Francisco market.

In 1854 Mr. Mapel purchased the claim of his father, who returned to the East for his family; but, finding a sick wife, unable to travel, le farmed in Iowa until his wife died, in 1861; then, in 1862, with four children, he again crossed the plains to Washington, and settled on the Duwamish river.

During the Indian war of 1855-'56, Eli B. was an active participant, first as a member of Company HI, three-months meu, under Captain C. C. Hewitt, and then in the volunteer service, under Captain Edward Lander, and later under Captain A. A. Denny, for six months,-the time being spent in guarding homes, opening roads and in driving back the Indian depreda- tors.

After peace was declared he was variously employed up to 1859, when he was married, in Linn county, Oregon, to Miss Harriette J. Hurlburt, a native of Illinois, and with her re- turned to his donation claim on the Duwamish river, and there resided up to 1872, when he

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

moved to Yakima county to look after his stock interests. After that date he alternated be- tween the east side of the mountains and his ranch near Seattle, until closing out his stock interests about 1882.

In 1884 he located near Albany, Oregon, purchased a valuable farin of 336 acres, which he operated about four years, then divided it among his children. Six children were added to his marriage -- four sons and two daughters. Mr. Mapel was again married in Springfield, Missouri, October 6, 1891, to Miss Agnes Red- dick, of Kentucky. They reside on the corner of Fourth and Wall streets, where Mr. Maple owns one- fourth of a block, well improved with large stable and two residences; and he has other city property. IIis life has been filled with incident and adventure, synonymous with the struggles and triumphs of the pioneers of the early '50s to the Northwest territory.

E A. LIGHT, a well-known citizen of Steilacoom, Washington, was born Octo- ber 8, 1822, near Westfield, Chautauqua county, New York, on the shore of Lake Erie. His paternal grandparents were natives of Ilol- land, but his father and mother, Israel and Polly (Price) Light, were both born in Penn- sylvania. Israel Light was a farmer by pro- fession, and this occupation he followed in Chautauqua county, New York. Of their fam- ily of six children only two lived to attain years of maturity: E. A., the subject of this sketch; and H. W. Light, who died at Snoho- mish, Washington, in 1892.

When eight years of age the subject of this sketch began his services as printers' "devil " in the office of the American Eagle at West- field, New York. He there worked for nearly five years, when he joined his family on a farm on the west side of Chautanqna lake. He re- mained at the home for some time, working at anything that he found to do, incidentally being employed for abont a year in a cabinet shop. where he became familiar with the varied de- tails of the work.

In the spring of 1842 Mr. Light started for Wisconsin, being unprovided with money and trusting in his ability to maintain himself. He passed his first night after starting in James- town, at the foot of Chautauqua lake. Here

he found work in a sawmill, and assisted in rafting lumber down through divers tortuous streams until he reached Pittsburg. The lum- ber was thence ratted down the Ohio river to Cincinnati. From that city he took a steamer for Galena, Illinois, where he arrived safely, but with his cash capital reduced to twenty-five cents. He, however, succeeded in completing his journey, and in due time arrived at his des- tination in Janesville; Rock county, Wisconsin. He found employment on a farm on East Roek Prairie, became an adept at splitting rails and in driving a breaking team, and finally, after a faithful service of eight months' duration, he attended a district school for three months, after which he rented an improved eighty-acre farm. In the ensuing fall he sold his crop, and with the proceeds purchased forty acres of prairie and forty of burr oak timber land, besides two lots in Janesville. He wished to further prose- cute his education, and accordingly entered the Milton Academy, where he remained one year, when he was compelled to abandon his studies, over-application having injured his eyes.

Our subject did not abate his ambition, but turned its course once more to agricultural eu- terprises. He purchased more land in Green county, Wisconsin, commenced operations and was soon married to a very estimable young lady, Miss Caroline A. Montgomery, a native of Genesee county, New York, who, by a singular coincidence, was four years, four months and four days younger than himself. Four years after his marriage Mr. Light fitted up a team for a trip across the plains to California, but he finally resigned this plan by reason of the im- paired health of his wife. He, however, passed over to the bottom lands, on the Volga river, in Fayette county, Iowa, and prepared an abun- dance of feed for his stock, and the next winter built a good double-log house. He decided finally that the land on which he had settled was particularly valuable and offered an excel- lent site for a sawmill. Ile accordingly pur- chased the property, and upon his return from a business trip to his old home in Wisconsin he got out the timber for a mill, taught a term of school the next winter, and in the following spring started a finely equipped sawmill, with a run of stone for grinding corn and chop feed. In the fall he sold out his entire property, mostly on time, and gave his attention to pre- paring for the projected but long deferred trip across the plains to the Pacific coast. In the

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early spring he set forth for the land of the set- ting sun, holding the Puget Sound country, in Washington Territory, as his destination. In the party were his wife and an infant son and two young men, John Bagon and Charles Had- ley. After a journey of over six months' dura- tion they arrived at Steilacoom plains on the 8th day of October, 1853.

Mr. Light's career in Washington has been one of very successful order, and his name has been associated with many notable enterprises and official preferments. He at first devoted himself to carpentry, and later sent several ship loads of square timber and piles to San Fran- cisco. In 1854 he built a fine residence in Steilacoom, Pierce county, the same having been said to be the largest house in the Territory at that time. The building is still the home of our subject and his family. In 1855, during the Indian war, Mr. Light, in company with Henry Wilson, was engaged in the hotel busi- ness at Steilacoom, their place being one of the most popular in the Territory. After about a year Mr. Light sold out his interest in the hotel and returned by water to Iowa to look after his property there, the same having reverted to him by reason of failure of the purchasers to pay for the same. On his return to Steilacoom, after an absence of a year, he became associated with Andrew and Preston Byrd and built the Byrd gristmill, three miles from the town. After the mill was completed he returned to Steilacoom and engaged in the book and sta- tionery business. He served in numerous offi- cial capacities, including that of Postmaster, Notary Public and United States Commissioner. Ile held the office of County Surveyor for a number of years, and finally had to refuse to qualify in order to free himself from service in the line. He has held preferment as Justice of the Peace and various municipal positions, in- cluding that of Mayor of Steilacoom. In 1862 Mr. Light made a trip to the Salmon river mines, in Idaho, crossing the Cascade mount- ains on snow-shoes. He was absent about three months, and soon after his return he was elected Probate Judge and County Treasurer. He also became largely interested in a wholesale and retail business in general merchandise. The firm bought a lumber mill on North bay, the Byrd gristmill purchased the wharf in Steila- coom and built and operated a vessel (named Clara Light, in honor of the daughter of our subject), which was placed in commission be-

tween San Francisco and Steilacoom. The firm dissolved after a successful career of about six years.

Mr. Light continued a grocery store and prosecuted his wharf and lumber business in Steilacoom, but removed his family to North bay, in Mason county, where he conducted a large lumbering business, remaining at that point about two years, and thus securing re- lease from the major portion of his official posi- tions. He secured the establishment of a post- office at his place in Mason county and was ap- pointed Postmaster. He finally disposed of his mill property and returned to Steilacoom, where he has since resided, but has persistently re- fused office. His last executive incumbency was as Superintendent of the Public Schools. Mr. Light claims to have never asked a man's influence or vote at a nomination convention or an election, and it has ever in his case been an exemplification of the office seeking the man, not the man the office. Mainly through his own influence he was defeated for joint Coun- cilman for Pierce and King counties, in the first Territorial Legislature. While running the hotel at Steilacoom he was again a nominee for the lower house of the Territorial Legis- lature, but was again defeated by false state- ments in regard to his being connected with the " Know- Nothing " party, and his own assertion that he could not leave his business to serve if elected. Many other similar episodes might be recounted in regard to the public and seini- public offices to which our subject has been called, but the enumeration is unneccessary at this point.

Mr. Light is a Freemason; has several times been Master of Steilacoom Lodge, No. 2, twice Senior Grand Warden, and also served one term as Grand Marshal and Deputy Grand Master.

Our subject and wife had six children, of whom the first-born died in infancy, and the youngest son, F. T. Light, died when eighteen years of age. Henry and Ira D. reside at home with their father; Clara V. is now the wife of E. F. Kubel, editor of the Los Angeles Sunday World; and Harvey A. is married and living in San Francisco. Mr. Light was called upon to mourn the death of his wife in August, 1885, at Steilacoom, her loss causing great sorrow to her family and a large number of friends who knew and appreciated her worth.

As the result of an industrious career Mr. Light enjoys a comfortable income, owning

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

property in California, a valuable farm in Pierce county, Washington, besides city realty in Ta- coma and in Steilacoom. Ile may justly be numbered with the substantial and influential men of the community, to the advancement and welfare of which he has devoted his best and noblest efforts.

L YMAN W. BONNEY, a pioneer of 1852 to the Territory of Washington, was born in Des Moines county, Iowa, March 17, 1843. Ilis father, Sherwood S. Bonney, was a native of Cornwall, Connecticut, but his earliest recollection was of Portage county, Ohio, where his parents emigrated in his infaney. There he was raised upon the frontier, undergoing many hardships, with few educational advan- tages. Ile was reared upon the farm, was mar- ried in the same locality, and in 1839 moved to Iowa, and lived there up to 1852, when he learned of the prospects and advantages of the Northwest territory, sacrificed his farin for $1,000, purchased two wagons, six yoke of oxen, two cows and provisions for the journey, and with his wife and six children, all in good health and spirits, started on that toilsome jour- ney across the plain and mountain, the stern realities of which were soon realized-through the difficulties of travel, high water in rivers, shortness of feed for cattle, or fuel for fire, and later by sickness of the family and the death of his dear wife and infant son, who were laid in their last resting place. Those were days of heroic labor and not of sentiment, and after concealing the graves as much as possible from Indians the march forward was resumed, and he ultimately arrived in the Willamette valley, and spent the first winter on French prairie, Marion county.

In the spring of 1853, he moved to Salem, where the children attended school. During the summer he met Dexter Horton and Thomas Mercer, and learned of the Sound country, and in the fall of 1853, with ox teams, he moved to Steilacoom, took a donation claim at American lake, afterward made a farm at Sumner, where lie lived to 1885, and then moved to Lake View, where he still resides, aged eighty-one years, but stout, hearty and apparently in perfect health. He was the first Justice of the Peace elected by the people in Pierce county, and per- formed the first marriage service.

The boyhood of our subject was one of labor, instead of educational advantage, and at the age of eleven years began working out. During the Indian war of 1855-'56, being too young to enlist, he and his brother David took their team and followed the volunteers, hauling supplies and performing other necessary work.

After the war our subject hired to Jacob Leach, and they were the first to return to the Puyallup valley, to resnine agricultural life. Thus his summers were passed in labor, and during the winters he attended the district school, thus securing a moderate education, taking some of the higher branches at the P'nget Sound Institute, at Olympia. In the spring of 1859 he engaged with Robert Goodburn, at Steilacoom, to learn the carpenter's trade, and retained with him to the spring of 1861, when a little company was formed to cross the moun- tains by the Natchez Pass to the Wonatchee mines. Reaching the snow line, the horses were returned to the Sound and the men started on foot, but the slow and difficult elimbing, with high water in the rivers-which they built rafts to eross-so delayed their progress that their provisions began running short, and they started for Wallula; but becoming lost in the woods and canons their food gave out, and five days were passed in hardship and exposure be- fore reaching John Day rapids, where they met a band of Indians and purchased a little dried salmon. They passed the rapids in a small canoe, and were then taken on the little steamer Spokane, and carried to the Dalles. There they built a boat and drifted down the Columbia river to the Cowlitz, and returned to Steilacoom. Then, with horses, they returned to the Dalles, which was a difficult and laborious journey, but, being finally accomplished, Messre. Bonney and Goodburn engaged in the carpenter busi- ness, which they continued up to 1866, then with horses and wagon, drove to the Owyhee country, Silver City, Idaho, and there followed mining and their trade. In the fall they dis- solved partnership, Mr. Bonney continuing the business, ultimately forming the partnership of Bishop, Bonney & Co., and followed contract- ing and building, built and operated a sash and door factory, and sold paints, oils, hardware and builders' supplies.

In 1869 Mr. Bonney made a trip to White Pine, Nevada, and passed about two years in various mining districts, engaged at his trade and prospecting. He then returned to Silver

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City, and Bishop retired from the old firmn. Bonney & Jones continued to 1873, when sub- ject sold ont and went to San Francisco, and followed mining speculations about five years, with its varied experiences of prosperity and ad- versity, which ultimately ended in his " dead- broke" condition, and he returned to his trade to get money enough to " carry him out of town."

In 1878 he returned to the old farm, which he rented from his father, but after one year quit farming and resumed his trade in Tacoma, and later at Portland, where he conducted a job- bing shop np to April, 1882, then came to Se- attle and bought an interest in the cabinet shop and undertaking establishment of O. C. Storey. and organized the firm of O. C. Storey & Co. This was the pioneer firm in the city in making undertaking a special business, and they were the first to run a regular hearse, as before open wagons and carriages had been used for hearse purposes.

In the spring of 1889 Mr. Shorey sold his in- terest to George M. Stewart, thus forming the firm of Bonney & Stewart, who still continne the business. They are located on the corner of Third and Columbia streets, where they have just completed a three-story brick building, all being devoted to the convenience of the bnsi- ness. They operate two dead wagons, three hearses, and attend the greater part of the fu- nerals of the city.

Mr. Bonney was married in San Francisco, in 1884, to Mrs. Ennice (Hickle) IInghes, a widow with four daughters, all of whom are living, and the family reside on the corner of Thirteenth and University streets, where Mr. Bonney built in 1891. Socially he affiliates with the Royal Arch Masons, the I. O. O. F., A. O. U. W., Woodmen of the World, Royal Good Fellows, and Improved Order of Red Men, and commands the respect and esteem of a large circle of acquaintances.

H ON. THOMAS MELBURNE REED, one of the California Argonants of 1849, and a Washington pioneer of 1857, was born in Sharpsburg, Bath county, Kentucky, December 8, 1825. flis parents, Garnett B. and Nancy B. (Workman) Reed, were natives of the same State, descended from English and

Scotch-Irish ancestry, both branches settling in Kentneky abont 1790. Garnett B. Reed was a manufacturer of boots and shoes at Sharpsburg, residing there or in that vicinity until his death in 1847, his wife preceding him by ten years. With no public-sehool system in Kentucky, the education of Thomas M. was acquired by self- application, and, being deprived of a mother's care at the age of twelve years, he was early thrown upon his own resources, and was taken by his uncle, James Workman, a farmer, with whom he remained seven years, at the monthly stipend of $S during the summer months. These amounts were saved by young Reed and expended upon his education during the winter months. At the age of nineteen years he began teaching school in Fleming county, but after one season was offered increased wages as clerk in a general merchandise store in Bath county. With experience his salary and position im- proved by successive association with other mer- cantile houses, until he became manager of a store in Mason county, the eenter of a large hemp and tobacco. section, where a large business was con- ducted. Remaining until February, 1849, he then started for California by the Panama route. With limited transportation facilities he spent six weeks in Panama; then a company of abont 200 individuals was organized and they pro- eeeded to Callao, and chartered the ship Sylph, at $150 each to take them to San Franeiseo. Encountering head winds, their progress was very slow, and seventy-eight days were con- snimed on the passage, the vessel entering through the Golden Gate July 26. Mr. Reed then proceeded to Sacramento, and being about stranded financially accepted a position as chain carrier in laying ont the streets of the city. After raising a little money he proceeded to Mormon island on the South fork of the Ameri- can river and engaged in mining, which he con- tinned very successfully until the rains began, then returned to Sacramento and performed such work as he could find during the winter months. In the spring of 1850, with his ship companion, Hon. Jolin Conness-late United States Senator from California-he returned to the mines and worked until the summer of 1851, where the two opened a general merchadise store at Georgetown, California. In 1853 our subject was elected Postmaster under President Pierce, which office he held one year, then was succeeded because of his anti-slavery proclivi- ties. He continued his mercantile business,

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however, until 1855, when he sold out. In 1853 he began the study of law with Selveius Garfielde; and during the same year was elected Supervisor of El Dorado county, and in 1855 was elected Treasurer of the same county. At the expiration of his term, in 1857, he came to Olympia, Washington Territory. Ile was ap- pointed agent for Wells-Fargo & Company, and in 1859 engaged in the merchandise busi- ness with II. A. Judson, continuing until 1861. He then sold his interest. Upon the breaking out of the civil war in 1861, Mr. Reed was among the first to help organize a company, and was elected Captain, but being so remote from the seat of war, the company was not ealled to the front and so disbanded. In 1862 he was appointed Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue under P. D. Moore, collector of Puget Sound and Idaho Distriets, and during the same year was elected to the Territorial Legislature from Idaho county, and with the assembling of that body was elected Speaker of the House. Having continued his legal studies he was admitted to the bar of Washington and Idaho in 1863, and in 1864, was appointed Prosecuting Attorney of Idaho, and was elected to the Idaho Legisla- ture from Nez Peree county. The legal busi- ness in Idaho being largely criminal, Mr. Reed beeame tired of his praetice, and in 1865 sold his library and returned to Olympia, where his family had continued to reside. Shortly after he was appointed chief elerk in the United States Surveyor General's office and hield that position continuously for seven years, and then entered the field as praetieal surveyor, in which occupation he continued until 1877, when he was elected to the Territorial Conneil from Thurston and Lewis counties, and was presi- dent of the Council during the session. On the last day of the session he was appointed Terri- torial Auditor by the Governor and confirmed by the Conneil before adjournment, and eon- tinued in that office until Jannary, 1888, when he was relieved by the Cleveland administra- tion. In 1889 he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention and assisted that body in framing the constitution of the new State. In the fall of 1889, at the first State election, he was elected State Auditor and com- pleted his term in that capacity.

Since 1877 Mr. Reed has been interested in mining operations in Idaho, Washington and British Columbia, and in real-estate speculations in Olympia. IIe has been an extensive de-

veloper of residence property, and built the Post-office block, corner Sixth and Washington streets, in 1891. His present handsome resi- dence, corner Main and Thirteenth streets, was ereeted in 1890.

Mr. Reed was married at Upper Blue Lake Springs, Fleming county, Kentucky, in 1853, to Miss Elizabeth H. Finlay, who died in 1866, leaving two children: Thomas M., Jr., now Register of the Land Office at Seattle; and Mark E. Mr. Reed was married in Olympia in 1867, to Miss Eliza C. Giddings, who died in 1871, leaving one child, Emma. Ile was again married, in 1873, to Miss Hattie Fox, the issue of this union being one child, Garnett Avery. Mr. Reed joined the Masonie order in Kentucky in 1847, and is one of its most distinguished members, having taken all the Scottish-rite degrees, ineluding the Thirty-third, and all the York-rite degrees, including Royal Arch, Council R. & S. Masters, and Knights Templar. He has served as Grand High Priest and for one term as Grand Master of York rite three terms. For thirty-two years he has been Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge, has served four years as Grand Secretary of Grand Chapter; two years as Grand Recorder of Grand Commandery, and is the present Grand Treasurer of the Grand Commandery, having served as committee on correspondenee for the Grand Lodge continuously, and, until the past two years, for the Grand Chapter and Grand Commander.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 102

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