An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 120

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 120

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abandoned the furniture business and built a sawmill at the same place, which they ran for six years, when Mr. Bresemann sold his place to the Tacoma Light and Water Company. It 1889 he located in Tacoma, then again going into the furniture business, with Mr. Klee, in which he is still engaged.

Mr. Bresemann was married Jannary 9, 1877, to Miss Bertha Vogel, of Peoria, Illinois, and they have five children, viz: Gertrude, Paul, Emanuel, Bertha and Gustav.

Mr. Bresemann is a member of the Germania Society and also of Lodge Chiller Hein, No. 1, ot the Order of Druids, the first of its kind in the State of Washington.

J OSEPH R. DICKENSON is a native of Virginia, and was born in Franklin county, September 17, 1828, his parents being Robert N. and Cynthia A. (Rives) Dickenson, both of whom were direct descendants of old families, the father being of English origin, the mother a lineal descendant of the French Hugue- nots. His father was a surveyor, and afterward County Clerk of Franklin county, where Joseph R. was born and where he lived until eight years old. In 1837 the family removed to Ed- gar county, Illinois, and were among the earliest settlers in that section. His father was for many years Clerk of Edgar county, and held that office at the time of his death, which occurred in August, 1851. His mother also died there, in 1879. His father was an old-line Whig, and at each election defeated his Democratie oppo- nent.

Mr. Dickenson was educated in Edgar county, and attended the Methodist Academy, of Paris, conducted by Jesse II. Moore, who afterward was made Minister to Chili, and died there of yellow fever. On the death of his father he became administrator of his estate and took charge of the farm. In 1861 he went to Cali- fornia by way of Panama, and remained there ten years, most of the time living at Knight's Landing. In 1871 he reached Oregon and stopped at Portland, and after a little while went on to Puyallup valley. He moved to Salem, Oregon, in 1886, having previously pur- chased the old Delaney ranch.

Mrs. Dickenson was a Miss Shelby, born in Indiana, her father being Judge Rezin Shelby,

of Indiana. Her mother, Jane (Thompson) Shelby, was born near Gettysburg, Pennsyl- vania. Mrs. Dickenson died September 6, 1883, leaving seven children: Joseph R., Charles F., Virginia V., Lizzie B., Rose J., Mae F. and Rezin Shelby; one child, William S., died in California, aged two years.

Mr. Dickenson has been a Republican since the inception of the party, and voted for John C. Fremont. He cast his first presidential vote for General Winfield Scott, in Edgar county.

P HILIP D. NORTHCRAFT, an old set- tler of Washington and an extensive landowner and farmer of the State, re- siding near Bucoda, was born in Warren connty, Virginia, February 4, 1825. His par- ents, H. and Susan (Woodward) Northcraft, were for many years residents of Montgomery county, Maryland, where his father was a farmer. When Philip was about eight years of age his mother died, and his father afterward removed with the children to Virginia. There were eight children in the family, of whom only two survive, the subject of this sketch and a brother.

As soon as Philip was old enough he was ap- prenticed to learn the carpenter's trade, which he followed for awhile in the East. When twenty years of age, however, he resolved to join the general westward-bound movement of emigration, and accordingly in 1845 he left the State of his birth and came as far west as St. Louis, Missouri, where he secured work at his trade and remained there about four years. In the meantime he heard more favorable reports from the extreme West, and in 1849, at the height of the gold excitement in California, he started for that El Dorado. Leaving St. Louis by boat, he proceeded down the Mississippi river to New Orleans and thence across the gulf to the Isthmus of Panama, across which he walked, about thirty miles. Arriving on the western coast, he took a sailing vessel for San Francisco, at which place he arrived after a stormy voyage from the isthmus of 116 days. He soon afterward started for the mining dis- triets and prospected and mined in several im- portant mineral centers throughout California, and also worked at his trade part of the time. He then returned to San Francisco, and in the

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winter of 1850 set sail for Portland, Oregon. Here he made his home and worked at his trade until 1852, at which time he started for the Sound country, crossing the Columbia river and thence overland to the present site of Chehalis. He remained at that point during the winter, and in the spring proceeded to Thurston county, where he settled on a claim of 320 acres situated a mile and a half from Bucoda. His brother, who accompanied him, and was in 1856 killed by Indians, took 320 acres adjoining, which the subject of this sketch afterward purchased, and at present owns both tracts, 150 acres of which is under cultivation and devoted to general farming, while much more is devoted to grazing and the production of hay.

At the outbreak of the Indian war, in 1835, Mr. Northcraft, who had remained on his farm up to this time, left his claim and joined Com- pany F, of the Oregon Volunteers, under the command of Captain B. F. Henness and First Lieutenant E. N. Sargent, and served efficiently for three months. He then returned to his claim, where he remained until 1869, when he rented his farm and made an extensive Eastern trip throughout the Middle and Southern States, being absent from home three years. On his return he took up his residence on his farm and engaged, in connection with his usual agrienlt- ural pursuits, in the raising of stock and in fruit culture, all of which he has since followed with uniform success, not only proving his abil- ity as a farmer, stock-raiser and fruit-grower, but also clearly showing the possibilities of the climate and soil of Washington. With such enterprising citizens it is not surprising that Washington should take a proud stand among her sister States, all of which owe their promi- nence to just such energy and determination of spirit.

July 15, 1891, Mr Northcraft was married to Charlotte Schulz, an educated German lady, daughter of Fred and Sophia (Schroder) Schulz, all of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Northcraft have one son, Philip Northcraft, Jr.

W ILLIAM A. EADON, identified with the interests of Lewis connty, Wash- ington, since 1864, was born in Wash- ington county. Arkansas, where he spent the first three years of his life. He was then taken

by his parents to Benton county, Arkansas, at which place he lived until he was sixteen. He then went to Parker county, Texas, two years later returned to Benton county, and subse- quently removed to Christian county, Illinois. Ile continned in Illinois until 1864, the date of his removal to Washington. His first stop in Washington was at Centralia, Lewis county, and so well pleased was he at that time with this part of the country that he decided to locate here permanently, and his first impressions in regard to the county have never since been changed. Mrs. Eadon's maiden name was Miss Alred. She and Mr. Eadon were married in 1872, and they have one daughter, Elizabeth, who is now Mrs. Brownlaw Arrington.

E S. IIAMLEN, Secretary and Treasurer of the Puget Sound Pipe Company, lo- cated at Olympia, was born in Gorham, Maine, May 25, 1850. His parents, Francis A. and Fannie H. (Blake) Hamlen, were natives of the same locality, their ancestors having settled in Maine among the pioneers of the State. Ja- cob Hamlin, the grandfather of our subject, was captain of military forces stationed at Fort Hill during the early Indian troubles. Francis A. llamlin was a cooper and Inmberman, act- ively engaged in business until 1874, since which time he has lived retired at Gorham.

E. S. Hamlin removed to Portland, Maine, with his parents in 1864. After completing his common-school education he took a course at Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, graduating in 1866. He was then employed for two years in the freight department of the Portland, Saco & Portsmouth Railroad Com- pany, and in 1868 entered into partnership with his father in the cooperage and lumber business at Portland, under the name of F. A. Hamlen & Son. Six years later he succeeded to the busi- ness, which he conducted on an extensive scale, shipping vast quantities of hoops, staves and general cooperage to the West Indies for the sugar trade. He continned exporting until the tariff was removed from sugar, and retired from the business in 1889. That year he came to the Puget Sound district, looking for a place to make investment, and, becoming attracted by the future prospects of the Puget Sound Pipe Company, purchased an interest and

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elected to the above named offices. The other officers of the company are John Corkish, of Portland, president, and C. Z. Mason, vice- president and manager. Under the able man- agement of these gentlemen, the company has made rapid progress in development and exten- sion of business, necessitating increased facili- ties for manufacture.

Associated with John Corkish and Joesph Nesbitt of Goldendale, Mr. Hamlen incorpor- ated the Goldendale Milling Company, Novem- ber 10, 1890, for the manufacture of flour and feed, with a capacity of 100 barrels per day, their product finding a ready market in the surrounding country and at Portland.

In May, 1892, he organized and incorporated the Chehalis Water Company, of Chehalis, and was elected treasurer of the company. The source of supply is the Newaukum river, the water being carried by flume a distance of seven and a half miles and then pumped into reservoirs for city purposes. The flume is also utilized for flooding lumber down to the city. The company holds a contract with the city of Chehalis, covering a period of thirty years, to furnish water for all city purposes.

Mr. Ilamlen is the proud possessor of a highly improved farm near Portland, Maine, stocked with Jersey cattle and a choice strain of horses. He is also engaged in mining in Colorado, and banking in Olympia.

He was married at Harrison, Maine, in De- cember, 1871, to Miss Mary P. Foster, a native of that State and a descendant of pioneers. Mr. Hamlen is a member of no societies. He gives the best of his time and energies to business, in return for which he has received a generous financial reward.

M RS. NANCY MEEKER was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, August 1, 1825, her maiden name being North. T. North, her father, was born in 1794, and was one of the pioneers of Pennsylvania. She lived in Mercer county until after her mar- riage to Mr. D. Burr, with whom she moved to Ohio and subsequently to Wisconsin. In April, 1854. they started across the plains for the far West, but Mr. Burr was doomed never to reach his destination .. He died and was buried at Fort Laramie. The widow, with a sad

heart, continued on with the train, and after a journey of six months finally reached Pierce county, Washington. The following year she became the wife of J. R. Meeker. The Indian war coming on, the settlers in Pierce county were compelled to seek refuge at Fort Steila- coom in soldier's garrison, and from that place Mr. and Mrs. Meeker went to Steilacoom plains. settling on a claim of 320 acres. There they lived until 1868, when they pre-empted 160 acres in Puyallup valley, where Mrs. Meeker is still living, she having managed the farm since the death of her husband in 1869. She has 150 acres in hops and hay and has her farm well stocked. Her ten children are all married and settled in life.

J AMES C. SAUNDERS, cashier of the Commercial Bank of Port Townsend, was born in Memphis, Tennessee, December 31, 1854, a son of Rolfe S. and Mary Eliza (Anderson) Saunders, natives also of that State. Ilis father has devoted his life to literature, was for a number of years associated with the Men- phis Bulletin, the Appeal and the Commercial, and is now editor of the National Democrat, at Washington, District of Columbia.

James C. Saunders received his education at the University of Tennessee. He then spent three years on his father's farm in east Tennes- see, and in 1875 removed to Washington, Dis- trict of Columbia, as private secretary for Cayse Young, a member of Congress from that State. He continued in that capacity until 1850. then established the Daily Herald at Fort Smith, Arkansas, which he conducted three years, and then returned to Washington city, to accept the position of Clerk of Committee on Commerce of the House of Representatives, holding that office until March, 1885. During the campaign of 1884, Mr. Saunders was stenog- rapher at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at New York city. Soon after the inauguration of President Cleveland, in March, 1885, he was appointed Executive Clerk to the President, and in December, 1888, received the appointment of Indian Inspector. He came to the Territory of Washington, and discharged the duties of that office until March 4, 1889. He then engaged in the real-estate business in Port Townsend, was one of the in-

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corporators of the Commercial Bank of Port Townsend in March, 1890, became its first vice- president, and in June, 1891, accepted the po- sition of cashier, which office he has since con- tinned to fill. Mr. Saunders was also one of the incorporators of the Puget Sound National Savings & Loan Association in 1891, and has since served as its president. After a success- ful career in Port Townsend the institution was removed to Portland, as a greater financial cen- ter. Ile also owns valuable unimproved resi- denee and business property in the city.

Mr. Saunders was married at Fort Smith, Ark- ansas, in 1882, to Miss Alice E. Sample, a daugh- ter of Rev. W. A. Sample, a minister in the Pres- byterian Church in that city. Three children have been born to this union: Minnie E., Will- iam Sample and Lamont. In his social rela- tions, Mr. Saunders affiliates with the F. & A. M., and politically, is a Democrat. He is a member of the City Council, and was appointed Collector of Customs for the Puget Sound dis- trict. May 23, 1893.

A RTHUR N. MILLER, of Puyallup, was born in Mountrath, Queen's county, Ireland, May 22, 1831. IFis parents were William Henry and Mary (Hunston) Miller. ITis forefathers, whose name was Mul- ler, emigrated from Holland to England. His mother's ancestry were Quakers from Nor- mandy.

In 1840 his parents came to the United States and located in Brooklyn, New York, where the subject of this sketch was brought up and re- ceived his education. When about twenty-one years old he went to sea, where he remained for nearly ten years, during which time he touched almost every port of entry known to sailing vessels. He arrived at Port Townsend on July 28, 1860, and August 5 reached Steilacoom. Ilere he joined his brother George (who came out in 1856) and with him proceeded to Puyal- lup valley, arriving at that place September 27, 1860, and took up a squatter's claim on section 27, township 20, range 4 east. Ilere he re- mained, but after a year his brother went to Oregon. In the spring of 1862, Mr. Miller, of this sketch, went to the Cariboo mines in Brit- ish Columbia, but the trip was not profitable and he returned to Puyallup seven months after-

ward, with only 35 cents in his pocket, although he and his partner took $1,400 away with them. In 1868, Mr. Miller went down on the river and ran a ferry and started a store, but a freshet came and washed it all away.

lIe then went to Oregon, April, 1869, and later secured work at Oregon City, which lasted until 1872, when he returned to Puyallup and immediately set to work clearing up his land there and building a house. Here he remained until the death of his wife. He was married September 8, 1878, by the Rev. George F. Whitworth, to Miss Alice Alma Steventon, a native of Brentwood, England. They have four children, viz .: Edith, George Steventon, Elizabeth Mary, deceased, Margaret E., and Arthur Everett.

Mrs. Miller died March 9, 1890, of la grippe, and was buried in the Tacoma Cemetery. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Puyallup. Mr. Miller is a member of Corinthian Lodge, No. 38, Free and Accept- ed Masons. He was made a Mason in Steil- acoom Lodge. No. 2. in 1867. He has filled all the offices of the lodge except that of Secretary. He was a Republican and one of the originators of the Union League. He was a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Puyallup.

J OHN G. JANICKE, attorney at law and a farmer of King county, was born in a town near Leipsic, Prussia, January 19, 1827, a son of John G. and Christina (Boehine) Janicke. In 1849 our subject landed in New York, shortly afterward went to St. Lonis, in 1851 to Chicago and one year later returned to St. Lonis; in 1855 went to Joliet, Illinois, and in 1857 to Minnesota.

While in the latter State he organized the First Minnesota Cavalry, of German volunteers, for the last war. They were mustered in Sep- tember 16, 1861, and soon ordered to Camp Benton, St. Louis, Missouri, where they joined the Fifth Regiment of Fowa Cavalry, command- ed by Colonel W. W. Lowe. In this regiment the company was designated as Company G, of which Mr. Janicke was elected First Sergeant. Later the company was known as Company A, in Brackett's Minnesota battalion. They served under General Sully during the Indian war in Minnesota, and were mustered out in May,

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1866. Mr. Janicke then served as recruiting officer for a time. September 17, 1864, he was appointed Second Lieutenant of Company G, Fourth Regiment of Minnesota Infantry, and afterward, for meritorious conduct, was pro- moted to the rank of First Lieutenant, com- manding Company G. During the war he par- ticipated in the battles of Fort Donelson, Paris. Dresden, Clarksville, Allatoona Pass, October 5, 1864, and was with Sherman on the grand march to the sea. During this campaign his regiment was attached to the Second Brigade, Third Division, Fifteenth Army Corps, and they marched and formed the center of General Sherman's army. In this movement Mr. Janicke was a participant in all the battles and skir- mishes of his company, including the five days' siege of Savannah, Georgia, and the battle of Bentonville, North Carolina. In April, 1865, while he was with his command at Raleigh, North Carolina, he received from General O. O. Howard a special commission, as a Provost Pa- trol officer.

After the close of hostilities, Mr. Janicke went to St. Paul, where he conducted a garden farm until in May, 1871, after which he came to Seattle. In June, 1871, be located on his present farm, two and a half miles from Fall City, his being the first white family in that im- mediate section. At the first general election in King county, and while Washington was a Territory, he was elected Justice of the Peace for Fall City and Tolt precincts; he qualified only for the latter precinct, however, and two years later was re-elected to the same office, for Tolt, but does not hoid the office now.

Ile was married, in the fall of 1863, to Eliza- beth Olson, and their children are: Charles F., who is residing on his farm a mile and a half from Fall City; Christina, who died, aged nine- teen years; George, who died at the same age; Rachel, who died at the age of eleven years; and Minnie, who lives with her parents on the old homestead.

W ILLIAM HUNTINGTON, one of the first settlers of Cowlitz county, Wash- ington, was born in New York in

1816. In 1819 he was taken by his parents to North Bend, Ohio, where they lived until 1825. That year they moved to Fayette county, In-

diana, two years later to Shelby county, same State, and in 1832 back to Fayette county again. William Huntington was employed in a tannery until 1836. That year he went to Delaware county, Indiana, where, in 1839, he was married. In 1841 he moved to Mt. Pleas- ant, Iowa, and after five years' residence at that place he returned to Indiana, this time settling in Brown county. Ile was engaged in the tan- ning business until 1850.

When news of the gold discovery in Califor- uia spread like wild-fire over the country, Mr. Huntington was one of the first to become en- thusiastic with the Western spirit, and he started across the plains for the new El Dorado. Arrived at " langtown " he engaged in mining there one year. He returned East in 1852, but came again to this coast the same year, bringing with him somewhat over $11,000. He was accompanied by his three brothers, James, Ben- jamin and Jacob, and their families, the first having three sons and one daughter, who were married, making in all eight families thus closely related and making one train. The journey was made from St. Joseph, Missouri, with ox teams, and consumed all the time from May 21 to October 25. At the last date the company reached the Dalles of Columbia, where the wagons and teams were left for the winter, the stock to be herded on the range while the families were brought in row boats to the month of the Cowlitz river. Mr. Huntington had 187 head of cattle at the time he crossed the Missouri river, but owing to the extreme sever- ity of the winter he lost all except one three- year old heifer. He also had five fine brood mares and a stallion, of fine stock: not one of these, however, survived the rigors of the "hard winter of '52," as it is yet termed by the old settlers of this country.

In the spring of 1854 he took a donation land claim and built a log house upon in and commenced clearing land for a home, he having at that time a wife and four children, and with- ont any means except the strength and labor of his hands, backed by a strong and unyielding confidence in that benificent Providence that never fails to help those who help themselves. His only thoroughfare to and from his home for a distance of twelve miles was a rapid and dangerous river or a rough, narrow Indian trail through the thick forest. Since then he has lived upon that place, leaving it only at inter- vals for the purpose of school privileges, which

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he could not have at his own place for lack of scholars to support a district school.

He was elected County Commissioner in 1854 and served one year; was elected Repre- sentative of his county in 1856, and at the ses- sion of the Territorial Legislature that year he made the first Republican speech ever made in the Legislature of the Territory, there being but four of the thirty members composing that body who claimed to be Republicans. In 1861 he was appointed United States Marshal for the Territory of Washington by President Lincoln, and the first of December of that year, qualified and took charge of the office. Ile served in that capacity during the entire time of Mr. Lincoln's presidency, and was re-appointed by President Johnson and served a second term.

While many men in office have been accused, and some rightfully, too, of swindling the Gov- ernment out of large sums of money, Mr. Hunt- ington, in the seven years and a half he was in the service of the United States Government, never spent but one dollar, except to defray actual expenses. Nor is this all: his pay was all in legal tender notes, and much of the time it was at a discount, going down to 40 cents on the dollar in coin, so that his pay, none too great had he received par value for his paper money, became very small, in fact not more than half of what he should have received for the services he rendered. He now claims that in accepting that appointment he made the greatest mistake of his life. At the time he gave np the office of United States Marshal he had legal demands against the Government to the amount of $1,264, which was unpaid and remained due him until 1886, when Senator Dolph, of Oregon, interested himself in the matter and urged Mr. Huntington's claim be- fore the department at Washington until tardy justice was at last rendered and he received his pay. In 1870 he was called upon by his fellow citizens to represent his county in the Territor- ial Council, and served during the session of 1871. In 1872 he was appointed Postmaster at Castle Rock, and held that office just fifteen vears; but he has taken no active part in poli- tics since the close of his last term in the Leg- islature, choosing to live in the quietude of home and in the discharge of social and do- mestic duties.

In early life Mr. Huntington embraced the principles of Christianity, and has been since 1844 identified with the Gospel ministry of the

Christian or Disciples' Church, never, however, having preached for a salary or for pay, but has volunteered his services as occasion required, freely giving his time to the service of the Church and often paying liberal smins to others for preaching, and in assisting his brethren who were identified with him in church re- lations. He was also a charter member of the first congregation of the Christ- ian Church that was ever organized in Washington Territory. He is now and has been a ruling Elder in his church since 1857. Having not despised the day of small things, he has lived to see a growth in membership of the little congregation, of some seven souls to one numbering scores of the best and noblest of the citizens by whom he is surrounded, and the place of worship, from the little, rough, log schoolhonse to a fine church edifice in the cen- ter of the town of Castle Rock, upon a plat of land donated to the church by himself and faithful wife, who still lives on the old farm with him. He still owns his original claim ex- cept 100 acres, which he has sold for the pleas- ant site of the thriving town of Castle Rock, Cowlitz county, Washington, respected and honored by all who know him.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 120

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