An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 112

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 112

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

affording facilities for the carrying of a full line of builders' supplies, including hardware, lime, cement, etc. Their retail trade extends all along the Sound.

Mr. Brown was married at Mound Prairie, Thurston county, Washington, in 1875, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Lawton Case, a pioneer of 1850. Mrs. Brown died, without issue, in March, 1891.

Mr. Brown is a Scottish rite Mason, having passed to blue lodge, chapter and commandery. He is vice-president of, and is largely interested in, the Olympia water works, and is a stockholder of the Capital National Bank. He has been prominently connected with the improvement of resident property on the West Side, and is creditably mentioned as one of the enterprising and successful business men of the city of Olympia.

A LLEN WEIR, Secretary of the State of Washington, was born in El Monte, Los Angeles county, California, April 24, 1854.

His grandfather, William Weir, a native of Scotland, emigrated to the United States at an early day, and in 1808 was connected with the Missouri Fur Company, as hunter and trapper, and during the summer crossed the Rocky mountains in charge of a squad of hunters and passed the winter on the Columbia river near the site of the present city of Portland. In traveling through the Mandan country, now called Dakota, they captured a chief of the tribe, whom they held as hostage during the winter and returned him to his tribe as they journeyed east in the summer of 1809.

John Weir, the father of our subject, was born in Missouri and there lived until man- hood. He went to Texas in the spring of 1845 and that year was married to Miss S. J. Buch- anan, a native of Tennessee. During the Mexican war he served under Colonel W. S. Ilarney, and, after the treaty of peace was de- clared, he settled in Texas and remained until December 25, 1852, when with ox teams he started for California, one year being consumed in the slow, toilsome journey. Landing in Los Angeles county, he took up land; but, after dis- covering subsequently that it was covered with Mexican grants, he decided to come north. In

1858 he made a prospective tour with the inten- tion of visiting the Fraser river mines. Arriv- ing at Victoria, he found the " bubble " had burst, and he passed one year among the San Juan islands, hunting wild game for the Vic- toria market. During one of his expeditions he was blown across the straits to the shore of the United States, and, liking the country, he took up a homestead on Dungeness river bottom lands in Clallam county, and then sent for his family, who arrived at Port Townsend, May 28, 1860. Settling in the dense woeds, Mr. Weir had to elear his land, which task, with the as- sistance of his sons, he was able to accomplish, and developed a fine farm of eighty acres. There he passed his life.

The early education of Allen Weir was secured by lamplight. At the age of nineteen years he started ont in life, his working capital being invested in the clothing upon his person. He passed two years in logging camps, saving his well-earned stipend for future education. In 1875 he entered the Olympia Collegiate Institute, eking out his small eapital by cooking his own food, performing the janitor work in the building to pay for tuition, and employing his odd hours before and after school in a printing office, learning the trade. Thus assid- uously he labored till April, 1877, when, instead of remaining to graduate in June, he accepted a position with C. B. Bagley, Territorial printer, as editor of the Olympian. Later in the month he was offered the purchase of the Puget Sound Argus, published at Port Townsend, and, assisted by kind friends, he made the purchase. The Argus was a weekly paper, with " patent outside," but under the wise management of Mr. Weir it soon assumed a different garb, and after four years was changed to a daily paper, which he successfully continued for eight years, selling out in Jannary, 1889.

When twenty-one years of age Mr. Weir was tendered the nomination to the Territorial Legislature by the Democratic party, and, although the nomination at that time was equivalent to an election, he respectfully de- clined, as his principles were in harmony with the Republican party. During the session of the Territorial Legislature of 1879 he was elected Chief Clerk of the Upper IIonse, and by Governor Ferry was appointed a member of the Board of Regents of the Territorial Uni- versity at Seattle. He was subsequently ap- pointed a member of the Board of Health at

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Port Townsend, and, by re-appointment of Governor Newell, he served three full terms, during the last term being President of the board. He was tendered re-appointment by Governor Squire, but deelined for business reasons. In 1881 he was elected City Magis- trate of Port Townsend, and also served several years as president of the Board of Trade. In 1888 he was a member of the Territorial con- vention which met at Ellensburg to formulate a mode of action to bear upon Congress, urging the admission of Washington into Statehood. In the fall of 1888 he was a delegate to the Republican convention held at Ellensburg, and was elected secretary of the convention. He was also nominated to the upper house of the Territorial Legislature from the Seventh Dis- trict, embracing Jefferson, Clallam, San Juan, Whatcom, Kitsap and Mason counties, all strongly Democratic. Mr. Weir made a vigor- ous canvass, and at the election held in Novem- ber, 1888, was elected by a majority of 810. The Legislature, however, never convened as the Territory was admitted to Statehood in February following. In May, 1889, he was elected a member of the Constitutional Conven- tion from the Fifteenth District, embracing Jefferson, San Juan and Clallam counties. The convention met at Olympia July 4, 1889, and was in session sixty days. Mr. Weir was elected secretary pro tem. and was a member of several of the leading committees. As Chair- man of the Committee of Executive Depart- ment, he dranghted Article 3 of the State Con- stitution. He took an active part in the several debates of the convention and was leader of the debate on the famous Tide Land question, which was warmly contested; but the plan proposed by Mr. Weir was adopted, and his exact words were embraced in a subsequent act of the State legislature. In the fall of 1889, at the Repub- lican convention held at Walla Walla, his name was purposed from western Washington as candidate for member of Congress; but, the Governor being nominated from the west side, it was deemed expedient to make the nomination for Congress from eastern Washington without contest. Mr. Weir was then nominated as Secretary of State, and was elected in October following. With the organization of the new State from Territorial conditions, the duties of his office have been exceedingly laborious and exacting, while he has also attended to the several ex-officio duties which have been im-

posed upon him. In this connection, he has been Superintendent of the Public Printing and Anditor of the bills of the State Printer, a member of the Board of Equalization and Appeal, secretary of State Land Commission, secretary of Special School Land Indemnity Commission, member of the State Board of Equalization of Taxes, Normal School Commis- sion, Sealer of Weights and Measures, Insur- ance Commissioner, custodian of the State Capitol buildings and grounds, and member of State Library Commission.

Mr. Weir was prominent in the Good Tem- lar movement for a number of years, serving two years as Secretary of the Grand Lodge and one year as Grand Worthy Chief Templar, with- drawing from the organization when it entered polities as third party prohibition. Since the age of twenty years he has been a member of the Methodist Church, He is a member of the Pioneer Society, the State Ilistorical Society, and the Washington Press Association. Ile was sdmitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of the State, upon examination, in December, 1892.

Descending from a family of pioneers and frontiersmen, Mr. Weir has taken an active part in the Territorial and State development of Washington, and justly esteemed as one of her most worthy citizens.

Mr. Weir was married at Dungeness, Novem- ber 14, 1877, to Miss Ellen Davis, a native of Canada. They have three children, Eva M., Frank A. and Royal F.

M RS. HATTIE L. FAY was born in Berkshire, Vermont, January 6, 1852, her maiden name being Deane. She is a daughter of Gerome and Emeline M. (Lamb) Deane, also of Berkshire, Vermont. Her father died when she was three years old, and ber mother, having a family to support, moved to Burlington, Vermont, where she was employed as principal of the Burlington school, filling that position for five years. In 1864 Mrs. Deane moved to Mitchell county, Iowa. where Miss Hattie met and married Robert Campbell, brother of Judge F. Campbell, of Tacoma, their marriage occurring February 19, 1872. Robert Campbell was a conductor on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

He died at Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 2, 1886, leaving his wife with two little children. Mrs. Campbell remained in Minneapolis until 1888. September 22, of that year, she became the wife of Charles T. Fay, and soon after their marriage removed to Steilacoom city, Wash- ington, where she still resides.

Charles T. Fay was born August 29, 1828, in Massachusetts. He learned the trade of shoe- maker. From an apprentice he rose to sales- man, and finally had an establishment of his own, which he eordneted four years. He left the old Bay State, bought a farm in Winnebago connty, Illinois, and spent three years on this place. Then he was employed as drover and butcher for twenty years. In 1873 he came to this evast and engaged in farming in Lewis county, Washington Territory. In 1878 he eame to Steilacoom eity, bought property and built a home, and for a number of years was prominently identified with public affairs here. He was a member of the Constitutional Con- vention for one year, and for six years served as County Commissioner.

Mr. Fay was nominated the fourth time for County Commissioner, but he was defeated. This being the first time he was ever defeated, and, being well along in years, the defeat seemed to prey upon his mind, and February 16, 1893, in a lit of despondeney, he came to death by his own hand! He was a faithful and efficient pub- lie servant, was well known and highly respected here, and his sad death was greatly lamented not only by his family but also by a large cirele of friends.

OB. P. LYON, one of the representative citizens of Seattle, Washington, was born in Troy, New York, June 15, 1860, a son of Ashel D. and Ilarriett E. (Forbes) Lyon, na- tives of New York and Vermont, respectively. The descendants on both sides trace their an- eestry to the Puritan settlers of New England. One Mrs. Lyon was of the seventh generation by direet descent from Francis Eaton, one of the passengers of the Mayflower in 1620. Ashel D. Lyon was educated as an attorney, and is still in active practice in Troy, New York.

After attending the public schools of Troy for a time Job P. Lyon entered the Union C'ol- lege at Schenectady, New York, graduating

there in 1881. He was then engaged as as- sistant principal of the academy at Mexico, Oswego county, tliat State, instructing in math- ematies and the sciences. Becoming ill from overwork and desiring out-door exercise, he next engaged in civil engineering fitteen months on the survey of the Fort Worth & Denver City Railroad in Texas, also on the Eureka Springs Railroad in Arkansas, completing his service with health restored. Mr. Lyon then began the study of law in his father's office at Troy, passed through the drudgery of the fun- damental principles of the profession, and in 1885 graduated at the Albany Law School. Ile was immediately admitted to the bar, and, in company with his father, followed a general practice until 1889, when he decided to locate in the Puget Sound district. After arriving in Seattle he spent several days in looking over the eity, and then opened an office in the old Yesler-Leary building, though as yet uneertain regarding a permanent settlement. · The fire of June 6, 1889, transformed business relations, and while the eity was still burning Mr. Lyon fell into conversation with Thomas R. Shepard. A partnership was at onee instituted, and, se- enring offices in the Boston block, they engaged in practice on the following morning. In De- eember, of the same year, Everett Smith en- tered the firm, which partnership continued until October, 1890, and in that year our sub- jeet was elected City Attorney by the Republi- ean party. In August, 1891, he formed a partnership with John B. Denny, and is now associated with I. J. Lichtenberg and Charles E. Shepard, under the firm name of Lichtenberg, Shepard & Lyon. Mr. Lyon follows a general practice, and since October, 1890, has been at- torney for the Rainier Power & Railroad Com- pany. Aside from his profession he has also given much attention to mineral development, and is secretary of the Silver Ingot Mining Company, which owns a number of elaims in the Gold creek district of the Caseade monnt- ains, which are now being developed. He is also interested in the Lake Cushman iron mines, located in the Olympie mountains. Transporta- tion tunnels have been opened to develop the inines, and a preliminary survey for a railroad is now being completed Mr. Lyon is a mem- ber of the Wenatchee Development Company, who own the town site of Wenatchee, on the Columbia river, and on the line of the Great Northern Railroad.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

In 1889 our subject was united in marriage to Miss Harriett H. Seaman, a native of Troy, New York. They have one child, Ruth Sea- man. Socially, Mr. Lyon affiliates with the F. & A. M., and is a member of several college societies. Legally, he enjoys a lucrative prac- tice and the confidence of the profession.

A LEXANDER FARQUHAR, one of the prominent and successful merchants of Olympia, was born in Dundee, Scotland, in 1820, his ancestors having long re- sided in that locality. Remaining with his par- ents until twenty-one years of age, he secured a practical education and learned the trade of flax dressing and weaving. In 1841 he emi- grated to America, landing in New York city, and passed about ten months in that vicinity, farming and gardening. Then, returning to Dundee, he was married, in January, 1842, to Miss Jane Mckay, and with his young bride came back to the United States. This time lie located at New Orleans, working upon the water front as foreman of a gang of men em- ployed in loading and unloading vessels.

With the breaking out of the Mexican war, he enlisted among the thirty-day men, on board the steamer Telegraph, under the quartermas- ter's orders, but lay in port during the term of enlistment, at the end of which time he was paid off and discharged.

Mr. Farquhar then continued " along-shore" work until the California gold excitement of 1849, when he was engaged as water-tender on board the steamer Falcon, which connected with New York steamers at Havana and transferred mail and passengers to Chagres, en route for California. In 1851 he returned to New Or- leans and worked upon the levee until the spring of 1852, when he removed his family to California via the Panama route, landing in San Francisco in April. He engaged in mining at Pine Log Crossing on the South fork of the S'aislans river, and there remained four years, meeting with poor success, barely paying ex- penses.

In 1856 he moved to Oregon and passed twenty months at Dayton, engaged in such em- ployment as he could secure. In 1858 he came to Olympia, Washington Territory, home- steaded 160 acres on South bay, and at once

began developing a farm. Ile continued there until the winter of 1860-'61, when the snow of January remained upon the ground until April, and to supply food for his family he was ob- liged to abandon his claim: so he removed to Olympia. Then he began clerking in the hard- ware store of Charles E. and Samuel Williams, and remained in their employ for fifteen years and fifteen days, and during that long term of service he never lost a day or failed to open the store every morning for business. In 1875 he erected a two-story frame building, 36 x 24 feet, on the corner of Adams and Seventh streets (having purchased the block in 1860), and there engaged in the hardware and grocery business. In 1889 he enlarged his store to 120x 120 feet, and added to his stock a general line of stoves, tinware, carriages, agricultural implements, paints, oils, building materials, and blacksmith supplies. He built his present residence on the corner of Adams and Eighth streets in 1860. In 1891 he built the Jefferson Hotel, a three-story frame, 40 x 180 feet, and also owns other valuable im- proved property.

Mr. and Mrs. Farquhar have three children, namely: Mary, widow of Ellison Eby, of Port Townsend; Ann, wife of George Allen, of the Olympia Door & Lumber Company; and Ed- ward M., who assists his father in the store.

Mr. Farquhar is a member of the F. & A. M. and of the Scotch Caledonian Club. He has served one year in the City Council. Feeling that to have work well done he must do it him- self, he has been a close advocate of that pre- cept, and his present success is the ontgrowth of careful, conscientious, persistent labor.

W ALTER CROSBY, of Olympia, Wash - ington, was born at Tumwater, Wash- ington Territory, in 1854, son of Cap- tain Clanriek Crosby, the founder of Tumwater.

Captain Crosby and his wife, nee Phoebe L. Fessenden, were both natives of Massachusetts and were married in that State. The Captain's early life, from the age of nine years, was spent on the sea. Becoming master of vessels, he sailed to the various deep-sea ports of the world. In 1849 he removed his family to the Pacific coast, coming on the brig Grecian, in which he owned an interest, and of which he was Captain.

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They made the voyage around Cape Horn, land- ed at San Francisco, and from there came north to Portland, Oregon, where he sold the brig In the spring of 1850 he started overland with his family for Puget Sound, sailing down the Columbia river and np the Cowlitz, and getting across the country to the Des Chutes river at the head-waters of the Sound. There M. T. Simmons was located with a little sawmill and the settlement about him was called. New Mar- ket. Captain Crosby purchased his right, filed his donation claim, and subsequently platted and laid off the town of Tumwater. He operat- ed the mill, opened a small store, and built the first gristmill of the Territory, wheat being brought to him from all quarters. In 1868 he erected the Lincoln mill, with increased capac- ity, and the same was operated by himself and sons nutil about 1880. In 1865 the Captain engaged in steamboating on the Sound, running between Olympia and Victoria, and while in the discharge of his duty at the wheel he re- ceived a stroke of paralysis. This was the fore- runner of other shocks, finally resulting in his death.

He served several terms in the Territorial Legislature, one term being Speaker of the House. He was a man of marked business ability, succeeding in whatever he undertook. Publie-spirited and generous to a fault, he gave liberally to advance the interests of the town and country in which he settled.

In 1856, while operating his sawmill at Tum- water, the Captain was solicited for a subscrip- tion toward building the Methodist Episcopal church at Olympia, by the Rev. J. F. De Vore. Ile jokingly replied that he had never seen De Vore work, and would give him all the lumber he could raft from the mill during one working day. The following day De Vore appeared at five o'clock in the morning and worked until seven in the evening, declining Captain Crosby's invitation to dinner, and only stopping for a hasty lunch. Thus he secured sufficient lum- ber to build the church, which still stands on the corner of Fifth and Adams streets, a monu- ment of both gentlemen.

Walter Crosby was educated in the schools of Tumwater, and acquired practical business habits in his father's store. After his father was disabled, he and his brother, William F, now of San Francisco, coudneted the store and ran the mill until 1879. That year Walter and Lambert Kratz, the old miller, formed a part-

nership, rented the mill and under the firm name of Crosby & Kratz ran it until 1881, when the partnership was dissolved. The sub- ject of our sketch then went to Portland, and for one year was engaged in the boot and shoe business. After that he became interested in the newspaper business at Dayton in Eastern Washington, being in partnership with John Y. Ostrander, publishing the Dayton News. In 1882 they were burned out, and after the fire Mr. Crosby was appointed Deputy Postmaster during the illness of William Matzger. After Mr. Matzger's death Mr. Crosby was made aet- ing Postmaster, serving as such until 1883, when he resigned. He then removed to Free- port, Cowlitz county, and took charge of the general merchandise store of Catlin Bros. In the fall of 1884 he was elected County Auditor by the Democratic party, receiving a majority of thirteen votes, while the rest of the ticket went Republican by 200 majority. He was re- nominated in 1886 and was beaten by only three votes. He then returned to Olympia, and en- gaged in the real-estate business, which he con- tinned until January 1, 1892. At that time he accepted the position of bookkeeper for the State Printing & Publishing Company.

Mr. Crosby was married in Olympia, in August, 1881, to Florence Ostrander, a native of Washington and a daughter of Dr. Nathaniel Ostrander. They have had two children: John W. and Eliza Louise, the former being deceased.

UCIUS L. TALCOTT, of Olympia, Wash- ington, was born in Owego, Tioga county, New York, June 19, 1819. His father, George Taleott, was a native of Hartford, Con- nectient, and his ancestor, John Talcott, built the first house in that now populous and wealthy city, with whose early history he was promi- bently connected. The mother of our subject, Sarah (MeQuigg) Talcott, was born in New Hampshire, a descendant of early pioneers of that State. George Talcott was reared on a farm and spent his whole life engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. About 1815 he moved his family to Owego, and there passed the rest of his days.

Lueins L. was reared and educated at Owego. In 1837 he went to Ithaca, New York, to learn the carpenter's trade, but on account of an acci-

CU Thomas ML?

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

dent was obliged to return home. He then at- tended school another term, and in 1838 began clerking for C. & P. Ransom, filling positions of trust and responsibility and remaining with that firm until the fall of 1843. That year he started westward, going by stage and rail to Buffalo, thence by steamer, touching at Cleve- land and Detroit, to Milwaukee, thence by stage to Madison and Mineral Point, thence to Galena, Illinois, where he embarked upon a steamer and proceeded by the Mississippi river to Quincy, Illinois, and by stage to Pittsfield. ' At Pitts- field he spent the winter with an uncle, William Watson, whom he engaged in business the fol- lowing year. In 1847 they built a large store and warehouse in Florence, Illinois, and contin- ned a general business there until the spring of 1849, when Mr. Talcott withdrew and returned to Owego, crossing to Chicago by the old Illi- nois canal, the first publie improvement in the State. The following fall he went back to Pittsfield and was engaged as chief clerk for Hodgkin & Company, general merchants, until spring. In April, 1850, accompanied by Isaac G. Hodgkin, with three wagons, nineteen horses and four mules, he started for ( 'alifornia, bringing ont eight men as passengers. The journey was safely accomplished and October 10 they reached Sacramento. Messrs. IIodg- kin & Talcott engaged in business at Pilot Hill. Mr. Hodgkin returned East in the spring of 1851 and Mr. Talcott continued alone until 1852, when, on account of failing health, lie went to San Francisco. There he bought and fitted out a vessel as store ship, which enter- prise proved unsuccessful and he sold the ship. He saw the first Chinese woman who landed in San Francisco; the first locomotive brought and put into operation there; the first honey-bee shipped into the State, the same having been consigned to Colonel Stockton and transported on the Brother Jonathan. He also saw the first omnibus in Sacramento as it made its initial trip up I street.

In June, 1853, Mr. Talcott started for the East, via the Isthmus route. He made the voy- age to Panama on the old steamship California, crossed the Isthmus by mule and railroad to Aspinwall, and from there went to New Orleans, where he purchased sugar and molasses, ship- ping to Pittsfield, Illinois. Upon his arrival at Pittsfield, he bought an interest in the mercan- tile and packing business of Noyes & IIarris. In the spring of 1854 they bought the Rockport

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 112

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