An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 114

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 114

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R OBERT B. BRYAN, the first State Superintendent of Public Instruction eleeted in Washington, was born in Han- cock county, Ohio, August 1, 1842. He is a descendant of Irish ancestors, his great- grandfather Bryan having emigrated from the Emerald Isle to this country previous to the Revolutionary war, and having served eight years in the Colonial army. After the war his grandfather Bryan was for some time employed as surveyor in Ohio, and about 1801 took up his permanent residence there. His son, Elias L., the father of Robert B., was born in Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, and was educated for the medical profession. Ile practiced in Hancock and Defiance counties, Ohio, and, later, in Johnson, Mitchell and Cass counties, Iowa, where he passed the closing years of his life. He married Pamelia Ayre, a native of New York, whose death in 1844 deprived Robert B. of a mother's loving care.

The subject of our sketch received his early education in the common schools. In 1857 he entered Mitchell Academy, at Mitchell, lowa, which institution was subsequently merged into the Cedar Valley Seminary, in which he re- mained a student until the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion in 1861.

Young Bryan was among the early volun- teers. He enlisted with the Third Iowa Vol- unteer Infantry, Company I, Captain M. M. Trumbull. Up to March, 1862, he served in

Missouri, was then transferred to the Depart- ment of the Tennessee, and his first heavy en- gagement was the battle of Shiloh. September 11, 1862, Mr. Bryan was mustered out on ac- count of so-called pulmonary consumption, and went to Wisconsin. In the spring of 1863 he re-enlisted in the Seventh Wisconsin Infantry, in what was known as the Iron Brigade, and served with the Army of the Potomac, in the First and Fifth Corps, taking part in all the en- gagements, except during five weeks in 1864, when he was laid up in the hospital from the effeet of wounds. For honorable service he was successively promoted and commissioned Sec- ond Lieutenant, but his company was so reduced in numbers by the misfortunes of battle that he never filled the latter office, though he had com- mand of his company during the disability of the Captain. His last fight was at Appomat- tox, and, after taking part in the grand review at Washington, District of Columbia, he was innstered out July 3, 1865.

The war over, Mr. Bryan returned to Iowa and engaged in teaching school in Tama county, where he was thus occupied until 1869. That year he removed to Linn county, Kansas, and continued teaching in the public schools. He was principal successively of the Ossawatomie, Mound City and Pleasanton schools until 1874, when he was elected School Superintendent of Linn county, and filled the office four years. In 1880 he purchased the Linn Connty Clarion at Mound City, and from that time until 1883 de- voted his attention to newspaper work. He sold out in 1883, and the following year came to the Pacific coast. After spending ten months in traveling over various parts of California he came north, taught school near Portland five months, and in January, 1886, arrived in Olympia. Here he found employment as com- positor in the Partisan office for eight months, after which he secured the position as principal of the publie schools at Montesano, Chehalis county. In 1887 he was elected School Super- intendent of that county, and filled the office until the spring of 1889. At the first State election he was chosen State Superintendent of Public Instruction for a term of four years. During his inenmbency the schools of Wash- ington have largely increased in number and efficiency, and his ability as an educator has been fully demonstrated.

Mr. Bryan was married at Buckingham, Tama county, Iowa, in 1869, to Miss Nancy

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Hitchner, a native of Ohio. They have two children: Grace and Robert W., the former be- ing the wife of R. E. Dawdy.

Socially, Mr. Bryan affiliates with the Royal Arch Masons, and is a member of Garfield Post, G. A. R.

R OBERT DOAK ATTRIDGE, a re- spected pioneer and prominent citizen of Jefferson county, Washington, was born in Bathurst, New Brunswick, August 10,

1834. His parents, Arthur and Margaret (Dawson) Attridge, were of English and Scotch ancestry, and were worthy and well-to-do farm- ers. The subject of this sketch was reared on the home farm and attended the schools at Chatham and Doaktown, New Brunswick, the latter town having been founded by his maternal ancestors, who were there prominently con- cerned in farming and in wool and flour-milling interests. When nineteen years of age, young Attridge started out in life for himself, going first to Bangor, Maine, where he found employ- ment in the Inumbering districts and pine woods on the Penobscot river, and there remained two years. During this time he employed his leis- ure moments in reading Cooper's novels, from which he learned of the great West, and being of an adventurous spirit, he started, in 1855, to- ward the setting sun. In due time he arrived in Stillwater, Minnesota, where he found em- ployment with Hersey, Staples & Company, of Old Town, Maine, with whom he remained in lumbering and other occupations until 1859. Then, retracing his steps to New York city, he embarked by the Panama ronte for San Fran- cisco, whence he proceeded on the old steamer " Northerner" to Puget Sound. Among the passengers on the latter boat were General Win- field Scott and staff, on their way to investigate the San Juan island complication.

Ou arriving in Port Townsend, Mr. Attridge went to the old milling port of Utsaladdy, where he secured employment about the mills, contin- ning to be thus engaged for two years. At the end of that time, in 1861, he and his brother, Richard, removed to Whidby island, and en- gaged in cutting ship masts, under contract with an English firm at Victoria. In this they were employed for three years, when business declined and he and his brother sold their inter-

est in the business. Mr. Attridge, of this notice, then entered the employ of Amos, Phin- ney & Company, of the Port Ludlow mill, and filled various positions of trust and responsibility in their employ until he resigned, in 1869, to engage in the hotel business at Port Lndlow, in which he has continued to the present time. His house is a favorite stopping place with all who have enjoyed its prompt and efficient ser- vice, and he has justly met with success and prosperity. Besides his hotel interests, Mr. Att- ridge owus 320 acres of choice land in Chima- cum valley, eighty of which are under cultiva- tion. There he follows farming, dairying and the stock business, all of which have proved most profitable under his capable management.

In 1874 Mr. Attridge was married, in San Francisco, to Miss Sarah L. Hall, daughter of Captain Isaac Hall, of the firm of Hall Brothers, prominent ship-builders of Port Blakeley. She is a native of Massachusetts and a lineal de- scendant of Governor Winslow, of Puritan ancestry. They have two children: Harriette H. and Arthur Winslow.

Fraternally, Mr. Attridge is a member of the Eighteenth degree, Scottish Rite, F. &. A. M. He is Republican in politics, and served for six years as County Commissioner, besides fre- quently acting as a member of the Territorial Republican committees. Ile resides on his farm near Port Ludlow. although owning valuable property in the cities of Port Townsend and Seattle, finding his greatest pleasure in rural pursuits and domestic associations. Notwith- standing a retiring disposition, he is progressive and public-spirited, and prompt in aiding the advancement of his community, of which he is a prominent and worthy resident.

B RADFORD WEST DAVIS, a resident of Olympia, Washington, has been iden- tified with the interests of this portion of the Northwest all his life. He was born at Claquato, Lewis county, Washington Territory, April 19, 1855.

Levi A. Davis, his father was a native of Fort Wayne, Indiana. born in March, 1832, and was reared as a farmer and miller. In 1851 he crossed the plains with his parents to Oregon, passing the first winter in Portland, and in the spring of 1852 coming to Lewis county and lo-

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

cating on the Chehalis river, where they subse. quently established the town of Clagnato (rolling prairie). Levi A. was married in Lewis county, March 19, 1854, to Miss Mary J. King, a native of the Province of Quebec, who emi- grated to Oregon with her father in 1851, coming across the plains in the same train with the Davis party. Mr. Davis then located his donation claim adjoining his father's, and there engaged in the milling business, at first operat- ing a sawmill, and in 1859 completing his flour mill at Claquato. Ile continued milling until 1870, when he sold out, still, however, retaining his farming interests. In 1867 he was elected to the Territorial Legislature by the Republican party. During the same year he and Charles Granger secured the mail contract between Olympia and Monticello, on the Columbia river, and operated the same for six years. In 1882 he was elected County Commissioner. In 1886 he and his three sons: Syrenus A., Harry K. and Lewis H., proceeded to the Big Bottom, on the upper Cowlitz river, and there each located a homestead, " packing" their supplies a dis- tance of seventy five miles, and reclaiming and developing farming interests in the midst of that remote but delightful mountain scenery. They kept about 300 head of cattle, and during the summer of 1891 ent and cured eighty-five tons of hay.

Bradford W. remained with his parents until he was fifteen years of age, improving such ed- licational advantages as the locality afforded. In 1869 he entered the office of the Pacific Tribnne, at Olympia, to learn the printer's trade, remain- ing the eighteen months. After that he was employed in the office of the Puget Sound Conrier one year. Then, returning to his home at Claquato, he clerked in the country store of George J. Hogne until 1876, after which he was employed as printer until September, 1883, working successively on the Express, at Steila- coom, the Dispatch, at Seattle, the Courier and the Olympia Transcript, at Olympia. In 1883 he was appointed Assistant Postmaster, nuder J. N. Gale, and served in that capacity until 1888. The following February he was em- ployed as bookkeeper of the First National Bank, in which position he rendered efficient service until June, 1889. Not long after that he became chief clerk for O. C. White, Secre- tary of the Territory, and when Washington was admitted as a State and Allen Weir was elected Secretary, Mr. Davis was continned in

the same capacity. He is still (1893) chief clerk for Secretary of State, being retained in that position by Hon. James II. Price, who suc- ceeded Mr. Weir as Secretary. IIe was a mem- ber and assistant secretary of the Republican convention which nominated the first State officers, being one of three native sons in at- tendance.

Ile was married in Olympia, in May, 1888, to Miss Anna Pattison, a native of Thurston county, Washington, and a daughter of James and Jane Pattison, pioneers of 1849.

Mr. Davis is a charter member of Capital Lodge, No. 15, K. of P., and is Past Chancellor of the order.

UDGE D. J. CROWLEY, one of the best known men in Washington and the North- west, distinguished alike for ability and sterling worth of character, was born near Bangor, Maine, February 11, 1854. ILis pa- rents, Bartholomew and Julia M. Crowley, were old and esteemed residents of the Pine Tree State, whence his father went to California, in 1856, during the height of the gold excitement. In 1858, the family joined him, going via the Isthmus of Panama. The father first settled in Nevada county, California, near the town of Grass Valley, where he eventually engaged in farming, and whence he removed, in 1887, to Los Angeles.

The subject of this sketch was reared in Nevada county and educated in the public schools of Forest Springs. He subsequently had charge of the grammar department of the public schools in Nevada City, from which posi- tion he went into the law office of Hon. Niles Searls, who afterward became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of California. Mr. Crowley was admitted to the County and District Courts in Nevada City in 1874, and to the Supreme Court in October, 1876. He began his practice in Nevada City, where he continued about a year and then removed to Truckee, the same State, where he was engaged in active practice abont three years, when, in February, 1880, he went Walla Walla. He there entered into partnership with N. T. Caton, with whom he continued three years, after which he became a partner in the firm of Allen, Thompson & Crowley, which title subsequently became Allen & Crowley,

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continuing thus until the election of Mr. John B. Allen to the Senate. Mr. Crowley removed in February, 1891, to Tacoma, where he formed with P. C. Sullivan the partnership which has been profitably continued ever since. They en- joy well merited prominence in their profession and have the confidence and esteem of all who know them. Mr. Crowley is an active member of the Bar Association of Washington, which numbers some of the leading lights of the fra- ternity in the Northwest.

The public career of Mr. Crowley is particu- larly notable, covering as it does a good portion of his residence in Washington. He was a mem- ber of the Constitutional Convention of 1889, representing the county of Walla Walla, and lie served on the Judiciary Committee and acted as Chairman of the Apportionment Committee. He was an earnest advocate of the California judiciary system, which is practically drafted into the Constitution of the State. He was a member of the first State Convention of the Republican party, which was held in Walla Walla, previous to which he served in the Territorial conventions continuously, with the exception of one session, from the time of his arrival in Washington. His actions have al- ways been characterized by the highest motives and most able judgment, and he justly enjoys widespread esteem throughout the Northwest, where he is well and favorably known.

May 5, 1891, Judge Crowley was married in Walla Walla, to Miss Sarah Lynch, a native of that city and a lady of estimable worth of character.

It is to snch men of sterling principles and energetic nature that Washington owes its pres- ent prond position in the sisterhood of States, and although among the youngest of that brill- iant throng, she ranks favorably with the oldest in all that goes to make a great commonwealth.

JAMES PATTISON, a resident of Olyni- pia and an honored pioneer of 1849, was born in Randolph county, Illinois, Decem- ber 26, 1824. His father, William Pattison, a native of Ireland, came to the United States in 1805, and settled in South Carolina, where he married Miss Mary Munford. About 1822 he removed to Illinois and engaged in farming. Ile was a machinist and did considerable work

in connection with cotton gins and rice mills.

James Pattison remained with his parents until 1848, when he was married to Miss Jane Wyllie, a native of Scotland. Preparations were then made for crossing the plains to Oregon, and April 10, 1849, the little company set forth, composed of William Pattison, wife and sister, with his six sons and the wives of James and another son. They had three wagons, drawn by horses, mnles and oxen. The crossed the Missouri river at St. Joseph on the sixth of May, and, proceeding by the Forts Kearney and Laramie and the South Pass, they reached the Dalles on November 3. The brother's wife died in Ash IIollow, on the Platte river, and the aunt on the Blue mountains, both being buried in lonely graves by the way- side. Excepting these bereavements, the journey was only marked by the usnal hardships, fatigue and wearisome travel. It being too late to cross the Cascade mountains, they made a raft at the Dalles and floated their effects to the Cascades, the animals being driven by the trail. While in camp at the Cascades they were caught in a snow-storm and suffered great hardship for want of shelter and food. Their tent being about worn out, their strength exhausted from the long journey, food gone and their only subsistence being dried salmon and potatoes which they procured from the Indians, their misery can be imagined. Thus they remained for three weeks, until the Indians could be pursuaded to bring them down the river. The stock had been driven ahead but all died except two mules.

Duly arriving at Vancouver, they hired to a representative of the Government, and were employed in hewing timber, thus securing food for the winter. They remained until March, 1850, when they hired Indians to take them up the Willamette river to Linn City, the present site of Oregon City. There they found work until July, when they hired a boat and the en- tire family started for the Cowlitz river, part of the family remaining on the bottom lands to raise a supply of potatoes, and part proceeding to the Newankum prairie to put in a crop of wheat. The family again united in the spring of 1851 and proceeded, amidst great hardships of travel from muddy roads, frequently cutting their own trail, to Chambers prairie, and there located their donation claims, 640 acres to man and wife, and 320 acres to each single man. About 1861 the parents and certain of the sons

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went to Lane county, Oregon, where the parents subsequently died. Robert is still living near Eugene, Lane county, and Charles near Cor- vallis, Benton county, each engaged in farmning. James and Nathan remained on Chambers prairie, continuing their farming and stock interests up to 1865, when they removed to Olympia, purchasing town property, and have since engaged in real-estate speculations and the loaning of money. Nathan, being unmarried, still lives with his brother. Their financial interests are largely centered in Olympia, though they still own the original 640 acres of their father's claim.

Mr. and Mrs. Pattison have had seven chil- dren, only two of whom remain, James R. and Annie. The latter is the wife of Brad W. Davis. James R. was born in Thurston county in 1858, was educated in Olympia, and was married to Miss Cora M. Ferguson, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, June 1, 1893. He is engaged in the real-estate business. The handsome home of this worthy pioneer is located on the corner of Second and Quincy streets, where he and his family are surrounded by all the com- forts of life.

Thus, briefly is depicted the pioneer life of 1849, and one can but honor the strength and courage which induced the emigration, and re- joice in the prosperity which has attended these brave men.

B ENJAMIN F. PATTEN was born in Brown county, Ohio, on April 12, 1841. Ilis parents were James and Margaret (Cline) Patten, the former a native of New Jersey, the latter of Pennsylvania.

Benjamin F. was reared in Ohio, and when twenty-six years old removed to Nebraska, abont four miles from Lincoln, where he lived for more than ten years. In October, 1878, he came to Washington, first locating on Lake Washington, where he remained nearly three years, and then bonght his present home and property, consisting of 102 acres, none of which was cleared when he bought it. He now has in cultivation forty acres, mostly devoted to hops.

He was married in Ohio, on September 28, 1864, to Miss Nancy Mc Williams. They have four children, viz .: Laura B., John II., Benja- min and Elmer E.

Mr. Patten entered the United States army on June 5, 1861, enlisting in Company K. Twelfth Ohio Infantry. He was in numerons noted engagements of the Civil war, among which were the battles of Carnifex Ferry, second Bull Run, Frederick, South Mountain and An- tietam. He was mustered out in July, 1864.

Mr. Patten is a member of the General Grover Post, No. 51, G. A. R., and is a stanch Repub- lican politically.

W ILLIAM BILLINGS, well and favor- ably known to the residents of Wash- ington as the Sheriff of Thurston county for nearly twenty five years, was born in Addi- son county, Vermont, in 1827.

His father, Parson Billings, was a native of Connecticut, descended from Puritan ancestors, his forefathers belonging to a sturdy race of men who followed the sea. Ile married Miss Eunice Alden, lineally descended from John Alden, of historic fame.

William Billings was educated in the schools of Vermont, and remained with his parents upon the farm until his nineteenth year, when the proclivities of his ancestors became mani- fest in him, and, going to New Bedford, Massa- chusetts, he shipped upon a whaling vessel for a long cruise which carried him along the coast of Africa, thence into the northwest seas, via the Sandwich islands. While at Honolulu in 1849, he heard of the discovery of gold in Cali- fornia, left his vessel, and upon a merchant ship as a common sailor worked his way to San Fran- cisco, arriving July 4, of that year. He went to the mines on Feather and Yuba rivers. Not, however, immediately realizing his exalted an- ticipations of the abundance of free gold, he prospected around for a short time, then re- turned to San Francisco, and by sailing vessel came to Portland, Oregon, arriving in Septem- ber, 1849. Here he engaged in lumbering and hewing timber until August, 1851, when he visited Olympia and the headwaters of the Sound, returning to Portland the same fall. With the breaking ont of the Queen Charlotte mining excitement, he organized a company of seventy men, purchased the brig Eagle, and with neces- sary supplies started for the mines. The pros- pecting revealed plenty of gold, but as it was all in quartz, and as they had no facilities for

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mining, he returned to Olympia, arriving in June, 1852. He then located a donation land claim of 320 acres, three miles below Olympia, on the east side, and there engaged in the lin- bering business, which he followed at intervals up to 1860. With the Indian outbreak in 1855 he volunteered in Company B, First Regiment, Captain Gilmore Hayes, and served six months, taking part in the engagements of White river, Green river and South prairie. During the Fraser river mining excitement in 1858-'59 he passed eighteen months in the mining district, but was chiefly engaged in gardening and in running a pack-train between Spinlam Flats and Caribou.

In 1860 Mr. Billings was elected Sheriff of Thurston county, being the first Republican official elected in the county. In the latter part of 1862 he left matters in the charge of his deputy while he went to the Salmon river mines. lle prospected a short time, and then established a ferry across the Snake river, on the main line of travel. After a few months he sold out, returned to Olympia, and was ap- pointed carpenter in charge of the Puyallup In- dian reservation. There was then not a white resident between the reservation and Steilacoom, and for weeks at a time his family were alone among the 600 Indians. Ile remained nearly five years, and shortly after retirement was ap- pointed farmer in charge of the Black River Agency, where he superintended 300 Indians and the working of the reservation. He re- turned to Olympia in January, 1869, and was appointed Deputy Sheriff for J. Il. Kellett, and at the succeeding election was again elected Sheriff of the county, which office he held continuously up to Jannary 12, 1891. A nota- ble circumstance tonching his service and the care of prisoners, was that, in 1878, he con- tracted with the Territory to build a jail at his own expense, take all prisoners from point of conviction, and care for, board, clothe and pro- tect them during confinement, at the price of 70 cents each per day, he being permitted to use their services as he should see fit. He built his jail at Seatco, started a cooper estab- lishment, developed a coal mine, and organized the manufacture of sash, doors, blinds and lumber as the Seatco Manufacturing Company, continning the contract labor for the term of nine years. In 1878, by reason of its coal prospects, he bought a tract of eighty acres ad- joining the town of Tenino, which property he

subsequently decded to his son, Charles A. This is now the site of the Tenino stone quar- ries.

Mr. Billings was married in Oregon, in 1854, to Miss Mary A. Miller, who died in 1855. Ile was married at Tumwater, in 1861, to Miss Mary Ann Kandle, who died in 1868, leaving two children, one of whom, Charles A., sur- vives. Ile was again married in Olympia, in 1873, to Miss Jeannette M. Ballentine. They have had five children, namely: Frederick W., John Alden, Eunice C., Laura A. (deceased) and Laura Ethel.

Mr. Billings is a member of the blue lodge, chapter and commandery, F. & A. M .; has also taken the Scottish rite degree, and is an Ancient Odd Fellow. He owns a ranch of forty-six acres on Chambers' prairie, eight acres being devoted to the cultivation of hops, and fourteen acres to prunes, his orchard being among the finest in the county. Ilis two-story briek resi- dence, corner of Ninth and Washington streets, was built in 1874, the first brick house erected in the State. By wise and economic invest- ments he accumulated a large property, which he has judiciously divided among his several children. Ile is a man of genial disposition and social temperament, and enjoys an extended acquaintance throughont the State.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 114

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