An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 105

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 105

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faith in the future of Seattle. His prompt action aided in establishing the confidence of the depressed citizens of the city. The new build- ing, 35 x 121 feet, four stories and basement, was hastened to completion, and four months and nine days from the date of the fire, Mr. Boyd again opened his doors for business, with largely increased facilities. He is a careful, pains-taking business man, and by zeal, industry and honest methods his efforts have been pros- pered, and he now stands at the head of one of the finest mercantile honses of the city. He was married at The Dalles, Oregon, in February, 1886. to Miss Anna C. Hinsley, of Illinois. They have two children: Margaret and Will- iam P., Jr.

In politics, Mr. Boyd is a Republican in principle, though he acts independently in all local matters. He is no office-seeker, believing that America should be ruled by Americans. He is a stockholder of the National Bank of Commerce, and the Merchants' National Bank, and was one of the organizers of the Seattle Steam Heat and Power Company. He was one of the charter members of the Board of Trade, and one of the founders of the Rainier Hotel, which was purely a philantrophic enterprise, instituted immediately after the fire, to provide for incoming visitors, and to thus establish the confidence of the people in the upbuilding of the city.

Thus is brieffy outlined a sketch of one of Seattle's representative citizens, one whose faith in the future of Seattle has ever been unswerv- ing, and who now glories in being a resident of this the " Queen City of the Northwest."

C LINTON MUNSON, M. D., one of the leading representatives of the science of medicine in Tacoma, was born in Cape Girardeau county, Missouri, August 10, 1846, his parents being Asahel and Serena Ann (King) Munson. Ilis father was a Presbyterian min- ister. His mother was born in St. Louis county, that State, where her parents were early settlers. Both are now deceased.

Clinton Manson was reared at his native place, and received his literary education at Pleasant Hill Academy. At the age of eighteen years he removed to St. Louis, and there began the study of medicine under the instructions of

Dr. Butean. Ile matriculated at the Missouri Medical College in 1868. He practiced the treatment of the allopathic school for two years, after which he entered Hahnemann Med- ical College, Chicago, where he graduated in 1871. He then came to the Pacific coast and until 1876 was located at Gilroy, California, after which he removed to Oakland. From that city he came to Tacoma, in March, 1883, and has ever since been identified with the city. Since March, 1885, he has been associated pro- fessionally with Dr. William W. Misner.

Dr. Munson was one of the organizers of the Pierce Connty Homeopathic Medical Society, and served as its president during the first term of the office: also was one of the organizers of the State Ilomeopathic Medical Society. He was one of the members of the first Board of Medical Examiners of the State of Washing- ton, and was President of the Board. He is a member of Rainier Lodge, I. O. O. F., Tacoma, and of Oak Leaf Lodge, A. O. U. W., Oakland, California.

Dr. Munson was married in Alameda county, California, February 20, 1873, to Miss Abitha Dyer, a native of the State of Maine. They have two children, Gertrude and Herrick.

OHN JOHNSTON, of the law firm of Buck, Johnston & Brown, Spokane, Wash- ington, was born at Glasgow, Scotland, March 14, 1850. ITis parents, John and Cath- erine (Biem) Johnston, were natives of Ireland and were of Scotch descent. When he was three years old his parents came to America and loca- ted in Prescott county, Canada, where they made their home eight years. In the spring of 1861 they went to Illinois and settled on a farm in the vicinity of Lincoln, that State. There the subject of our sketch grew to manhood. He took a classical course at the Lincoln University, graduating with the class of 1877, and then en- tered the law department of Harvard College, Massachusetts. From Harvard he was called home, a few months later, by the illness and subsequent death of his father. Then, instead of returning to college, he entered the office of Beach & Hodnett, under whose instructions he continued to study law for two years. From 1879 to 1882 he served as Treasurer of Ætna township, and at the same time was Justice of

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the Peace of that township. In the spring of 1882 he was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court, at Springfield, Illinois, and immediately began the practice of his profession at Lincoln. While a resident of Illinois Mr. Johnston took a prominent and active part in political affairs, especially during the campaign of 1884. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for three years was engaged in the ministry ; also taking an active part in the work of the Young Men's Christian Association.

Mr. Johnston was married in 1878, to Miss Dora Foster, a native of Vermont, and they have two children: Emma Alice and Walter Foster, aged twelve and two years, respectively.

In April, 1888, Mr. Johnston came with his family to Spokane, Washington, and at once opened an office and engaged in the practice of his profession. He associated himself with James R. Dabner, under the firm name of Johnston & Dabner. This partnership was dis- solved in the spring of 1892, and the present firm of Buck, Johnston & Brown was formed. Mr. Johnston has thoroughly identified himself with the best interests of Spokane. He was prominently mentioned as candidate for Prose- cuting Attorney by the Republicans of Spokane, and ran second in the convention, polling 87 votes ont of 198.

Socially, he is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, being ex-Master of Logan Lodge, No. 480, of Lincoln, Illinois, where he formerly re- sided.

R EUBEN CROWDER, an old settler of Washington, and a well-known farmer and prominent citizen, residing near Bu- coda, was born in Sangamnon county, Illi- nois, near Springfield, on November 12, 1829. His parents, Reuben and Nancy ( Martin) Crow- der, were natives of Kentucky and North Caro- lina respectively, and had twelve children, of whom three are now (1893) living. They were among the first settlers of Illinois, to which State they removed from Kentucky in an early day, when the country was new and wild and had few inhabitants. They homesteaded a farm, on which they resided until the father's death, the old homestead being now owned by one of the children.

The subject of this sketch resided at home and worked on the farm during his youth until

he became old enough to learn the chair-manu- facturing business, which he continued to follow for a few years. Having in the meantime heard of the opportunities afforded in the extreme Northwest to young men of energy and deter- mination, he finally decided to cast his fortunes with that far-away country. Accordingly, April 5, 1847, we see him starting from Springfield, Illinois, in the usual primitive style of the day, bound across the plains for Dallas, in Polk county, Oregon. On arriving at that point, in October of the same year he accompanied James Watson across the plains and settled in King's valley, Oregon. Just beyond the Dalles they met and camped one night with Dr. Whitman, who was on his way to his mission on the Walla Walla river, at the junction of Mill creek, and it was only a short time afterward that Dr. Whitman, his wife and eleven others were mas- sacred by the Indians, which event marked the beginning of the Cayuse war. On leaving the Dalles, Mr. Crowder crossed the mountains on Barlow's route, which he was advised to take by Dr. Whitman, who was well acquainted with the Northwestern territory, and he finally ar- rived safely in the Willamette valley.

On New Year's day, after Mr. Crowder's ar- rival in Oregon, he heard of the Whitman mas- sacre, and forthwith volunteered under Captain H. J. G. Maxen, taking an active part for six months in the Cayuse war. At the end of that time, in June, 1848, he returned to the Wil- lamette valley and was variously occupied until the spring of 1849, at which time he started for the gold fields of El Dorado county, Cali- fornia. After working eighteen months in the mines, he once more returned to Polk county. Oregon, and took a claim of 320 acres on un- surveyed land. IIe resided on this from 1851 to 1853, when he sold out. He had never noti- fied the Government of his settlement, as there were no land offices or places where such a noti- fication could be given. After disposing of his land, he came, in 1853, to Olympia, Washing- ton Territory, from which point he proceeded to the southern part of Thurston county, where he took a claim of 320 acres, situated a mile and a half from the present site of Bucoda. He has ever since resided here, except during the Indian war, when he volunteered in Com- pany B, serving three months under Captain Gilmore Hayes, First Lieutenant G. lfurd, Second Lieutenant William Martin, and Orderly Sergeant Joseph Gibson.

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Their first battle was on White river, and lasted all day, with the loss of one man. A second skirmish occurred on Green river, where Andrew Byrd was wounded; and the third and last engagement took place at South prairie, on the Puyallup river, where the company had five men wounded, only one of them dying. After a few other minor events, the company returned home, in 1856.

Reuben Crowder returned to his farm and engaged in its cultivation, also working at vari- ous times at carpentry in Olympia. So greatly have his industrious efforts been rewarded that he is now financially well situated, with valuable property and every prospect for future prosper- ity. A few years ago he took an extensive trip East, visiting the old homestead, his birthplace, after forty years' absence.

March 10, 1881, Mr. Crowder was married to Eliza A. Wilkenson, danghter of James and .Jane (Druce) Wilkenson, English people of abil- ity and worth. Mr. and Mrs. Crowder have an adopted daughter, their only child having died.

In the enjoyment of financial prosperity and surrounded by an interesting family and many friends, Mr. Crowder has at last attained the reward of honest and intelligent effort, and may truly be said to have gained the highest success.

W ILLIAM D. CLOSE, Deputy Sheriff of Cowlitz county, Washington, is a native of Mason county, Illinois, born Sep- tember 11, 1845, a son of John G. and Mary (Mounts) Close, natives of Kentucky and Ten- nessee respectively. John G. Close was one of the early settlers of Mason county, Illinois, and erected a mill on Crane creek, the mud-sills of which still remain on the original site.

Until William D. had attained his majority he remained on the old homestead; he was then married and removed to Missouri, loeating near Carrollton, in 1868; there he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1880, when he de- termined to remove to the Pacific coast. Carry- ing out this plan he arrived in Kalama, Cowlitz county, Washington, October 28, 1880, and located on a tract of land near Kalama, which he had purchased previous to his removal. He stocked this ranch, consisting of 200 aeres, with cattle, and did a general farming business; he also operated a fish- trap, which he had bought

with the place, that proved a profitable invest- ment, the catch netting from $5 to $72 a day.

In August, 1881, he opened a store at Car- roll's Point, was Postmaster there, and carried on a mercantile trade there until April, 1882, when he sold out the business and returned to his ranch. In February, 1883, he was appointed County Treasurer, and served in this capacity with marked efficieney for one year and eleven months. When he came to Kalama to assume the duties of this office there was but one store in the place. He formed a partnership with C. E. Forsyth, and they erected a building and placed on sale a general stock of merchandise. At the end of the year they disposed of the business, and Mr. Close went to his ranch. IIe devoted himself to agriculture until May, 1887, when he completed the purchase of the Cowlitz Advocate, and conducted the publication of this periodical at Kalama until October, 1888, after- ward furnishing as a hotel the building in which the Advocate had been published. IIe managed this hostelry until September 8, 1889, when he vacated, having sold the property a month previous to this date. Since that time he has been engaged in the real-estate, loan and insurance business. Ile was one of the prime movers in incorporating the town of Kalama; was elected one of its first Board of Aldermen, and re-elected, but resigned before the end of the second term. IIe has been president of the Kalama Board of Trade since its organization in 1890. In Jannary, 1893, he was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Cowlitz county, under Sheriff A. L. Watson.

Mr. Close is a member of Kalama Lodge, No. 17, A. F. & A. M .; he has been Finaneier of Kalama Lodge, No. 42, A. O. U. W., since its organization; he was a charter member of McPherson Post, No. 12, G. A. R., and for many years was its Commander; he was the first Quartermaster, and is now Officer of the Day. He was one of the prime movers and organizers in the incorporated company that erected the G. A. R. lIall at Kalama; was elected its first president, and is still president, having served three terms. He is a member of the Comrades of the Battlefield, and is Recrnit- ing Officer of this body.

In this connection an outline of the military career of our subject will be given: Mr. Close enlisted in the United States service, July 4, 1862, at Bath, Mason county, Illinois; at Peo- ria, Illinois, August I, he was assigned to Com-

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pany D, Eighty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infan- try, and proceeded to Lonisville, Kentucky. The first engagement in which he participated was at Perryville, under General Phil. H. Sheri- dan; he fought all through Tennessee under General George H. Thomas, and was with that valiant officer at Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, as well as in the campaign from Ring- gold, Georgia, to Atlanta. In the taking of Atlanta he was wounded and sent to the hospi- tal; he was afterward removed to Nashville, and later to Louisville, where he lay until May 16, 1865. He was then honorably discharged, and returned to his home in Mason county, Illinois. During his term of service he had participated in nineteen general engagements, and from the time of his enlistment until he was disabled before Atlanta he was in the thick- est of the fight, although only a youth of six- teen years when he offered his life to his coun- try. When a mere lad he had become very proficient in the handling of fire-arms, and while in the army was often called upon to act as sharpshooter. Since coming to this State he has performed many feats of marksmanship, but, thanks to our advance in civilization, his arm is no more lifted against his fellow-man.

Mr. Close was married at Havana, Illinois, March 6, 1867, to Miss Frances J. ()'Neal, of Mason county, Illinois. They have had born to them a family of ten children, eight of whom survive: Hardin W., Fred, Lena M. (wite of James Hughes), Edward, Lulu F., Nellie, Win- nie and Ivy ; Millard F. died at the age of four- teen years, and Edna passed away at the age of six years.

W F. HAYS, attorney of Seattle, was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, February 20, 1853. Ilis father, Cor- mican Hays, and his mother, Harriet (Bowen) Hays, were natives of Ohio, and both, early in life, moved therefrom to the State of Indiana, where they were afterward married, in Tippe- canoe county. They continued to reside there for about ten years, within which time Willian F. was born. They then removed with their family to White county, near Brookston, where his father acquired large landed interests and engaged extensively in the stock business.

The early education of William F. was con- ducted at Brookston Academy, and in 1872 he

entered the Asbury University, taking a class- ical conrse, and continuing until the sophomore year. He had acquired an extensive knowledge of the stock business, and had in the meantime engaged extensively in the trade on his own ac- count, having made a great many shipments of cattle to New York city, his first venture in that line being while he was yet under the age of seventeen years. It was with his own money and energy that he acquired his collegiate edu- cation, his father having failed in business and . become greatly involved during the financial panic of 1873.

In 1875 William F. began operations on the Chicago Board of Trade, in the wheat deal, where he made considerable money, and in the fall of 1875 he went to California for the pur- pose of examining a gold mine for a syndicate of capitalists, with a view to purchase; but having made his examination reported unfavorably on the proposition of purchase. In the winter of 1875-'76 he, with a number of other gentlemen, organized a corporation, capitalized at $3,000,000, and known as the Union Commercial Company. The object of the corporation was to reduce rates of freight and transportation by a combi- nation of shippers and commercial men. Hle continued in the organization and devoted much time to perfecting the plans of the corpora- tion, being one of its directors, and having ex- pended in its interest a good many thousands of dollars. Owing to the Centennial exposition, the plans of the association were found to be impracticable at that time, as it proved impossi- ble to form with the railroad companies the combination desired and to obtain the necessary concessions from such source. Further, a few of the directors of the association saw fit to dis- pose of their stock, and thereby relinquish their personal efforts and assistance in the enterprise, so that the venture proved a losing one to him. He then, in the fall of 1876, after visiting the Centennial exposition, went to the State of Texas, under a contract with some Pittsburg capitalists, for the purchase and sale of 150,000 acres of land. After arranging for the purchase of the lands, and taking all the necessary steps for the consommation of the deal, he was ad- vised by the Pittsburg capitalists that they were unable to carry out the contract for want of money. In the meantime, he had entered into a contract and purchase from the Olive Broth- ers of 26,000 head of cattle, representing many different breeds. The price to be paid was

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$73,000, being less than $3 per head. Their reason for selling so cheaply was on account of their having become involved in personal en- counter with their neighbors, in which alterca- tion one of the Olive brothers and a brother-in- law were killed, as well as several of the other faction. It consequently became dangerous for them to go on the plains to gather their cattle. He made every arrangement and preparation for gathering his cattle in the spring and complet- ing the entire payment of purchase money therefor, having arranged for the money and made a tender thereof to the Olives. But the value of cattle having advanced very rapidly in Texas that year, at the time of the delivery the cattle were worth more than double what they were on the day of purchase, and the Olives refused to meet their contract, the enforcement of which necessitated a lawsuit, preparation for which he had made, and had notified his father of the fact that he was going to enforce the con- tract by litigation. His father went down to Texas, and, after inquiring into the character and nature of the men with whom the deal was made, and at the earnest advice of local attor- neys, he thought it was dangerous for any man to have a personal controversy with these men, and after a great deal of persuasion induced William F. to abandon the suit and return to Indiana and take up the study of the law, in which profession he had been educated. He read law with Colonel R. P. Dellart, for a time at Lafayette, Indiana, and under the instruc- tions of Colonel John A. Stein, for a little over one year, and was admitted to the bar, and, in the fall of 1878, entered the law department of the University of Michigan, at which he gradu- ated in 1879. Ile immediately returned to Indiana and opened a law office in Lafayette, and was shortly afterward nominated by the Democratic party to the office of Prosecuting Attorney of Tippecanoe county. In the fall of 1880, the year when Dorsey "soaped the State," he was detcated in his election by a slender ma- jority, having run over seven hundred ahead of his ticket in the county. He continued the practice until 1881, when he removed to Chi- cago, where he remained four years, giving his time mostly to speculations, such as the organi- zation and operation of live-stoek companies, one in Montana and one in Colorado, and occa- sional deals on the Board of Trade. Within these years and out of these several deals he had accumulated several thousand dollars, the most

of which he invested in corn, in the fall and winter of 1883-'84, entering in what was known as the Truman .B. Hardy corn deal, in which deal William F. had over $42,000. Owing to his personal friendship for Mr. Ilardy, he would not take in his profits, but carried his deal to assist Mr. Hardy in successfully running the corner, which, however, proved unavailing, al- though in that deal corn was advanced to over $1 a bushel, and Mr. Hardy had purchased train- load after train-load and paid cash therefor. Within two days of settlement, his finances gave out, and as a consequence he failed and the cor- ner failed, leaving Hardy a bankrupt and losing W. F. all of his invested capital. Although financially greatly crippled, with his usual conr- age, he organized what is known as the Capital Accident Insurance Company, of Springfield, Illinois, with John M. Palmer as president and himself as the general manager and counselor. Ile continned in the management of the affairs of said corporation until 1889. In the mean- time he met Miss Katherine Gould, the daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. N. B. Gould, of Cambridge, Illinois, and on April 29, 1889, William F. Hays and Katherine Gonld were quietly united in marriage at the residence of her parents, the Rev. D. P. Garrett, present reetor of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, of Seattle, officiating. The marriage was the greatest surprise to the rela- tives and friends of the contracting parties, as Miss Gould was never suspected by any of her friends or relations as having the slightest idea of marriage. William F. was also supposed to be fixed upon "single blessedness." "Shortly after his marriage, and after a pleasant bridal tour, he disposed of a portion of his interest in the insurance business, at Springfield, Illinois, and with his bride removed to Washington, with the intention of making it his permanent residenee. He located at Port Townsend, en- gaging in the law practice in 1889, having suc- ceeded, at that place, the law firm of Bradshaw & Sachs, Mr. Bradshaw having been appointed Collector of United States Customs, and Mr. Sachs having been elected Judge of the Snpe- rior Court. He continued to practice his pro- fession with marked success, having been engaged in almost every important case in that court until July, 1892, when he removed to the city of Seattle, and there continued the practice of his profession. The first case which he had in this city was the celebrated breach-of-promise snit, Bellanger vs. Craswell, he being thie attor-

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ney for the plaintiff .. After a bitter fight he secured for the plaintiff a verdict of $10,000. Ile has recently formed a co-partnership with William E. Humphrey, also a native of Indiana, born near Crawfordsville, and a graduate of Wabash College. IIe formerly engaged in law practice in partnership with Hon. Michael D. White.

Mr. and Mrs. Hays have one child, Katherine Gould Hays, now (1893) two and one-half years old.

Mr. Hays has acquired considerable real es- tate since coming to Washington. He is a member of no fraternal society, and has declined every proffered political preferment, considering the work of his profession as the highest of all honors.

A LBERT BRAUN, vice-president of the Seattle Brewing and Malting Company, was born at Dusseldorf, on the Rhine, Germany, in February, 1863. He was educated in the schools of Germany and then traveled quite extensively through the European countries. His business career began under the direction of his father, who was an extensive manufacturer of preserved fruits, vegetables, meats and fancy canned goods, and was con- tinued in the same industry, in partnership with his brother at Mainz, on the Rhine.

In 1888 Mr. Brann sold his interest and came to the United States and, upon the advice of Adolphus Busch, president of the Anheuser- Busch Association, of St. Louis, Missouri, he entered the brewery of Peter Doelger, of New York, and learned the practical workings of the business, completing his instruction in the de- tails at the Anheuser-Busch brewery in St. Lonis.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 105

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