An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 121

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 121

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M AJOR QUINCY A. BROOKS, one of the respected pioneers of the North- west, now a resident of Port Townsend, was born in Washington county, Pean- sylvania, May 22, 1827, and is a son of Charles and Mary (Jester) Brooks, natives of the same county. His aucestry were from England, and were among the pioneers of Washington county, where they followed agricultural pursuits.

The subject of this sketch was reared on a farin and received a liberal education, gradnat- ing at the Western University of Pennsylvania in 1847. He studied law nuder the preceptor- ship of T. J. Fox Alden. of Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, and was admitted to the bar in 1849. He immediately commenced the practice of his pro- fession in Pittsburg, where he was successfully engaged nntil 1851, when, induced by the liberal opportunities afforded by the Northwest to men of activity and capability, he turned his face in the direction of the setting sun.

Ile came overland across the plains in the usual manner of that day, journeying by ox

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teams aud meeting with many exciting adven- tures, the trip consuming five months' time, at the end of which he arrived safely in Portland. Continuing his journey to Olympia, Mr. Brooks determined to settle in that city, and accordingly entered at once on the active practice of his profession. Fortune from the first seemed to smile on his endeavors. Shortly after locating here, he was appointed by Governor Gaines to the position of Prosecuting Attorney for that portion of Oregon Territory lying north of the Columbia river. From this time forth his life was a series of advances in honorable offices and important works, and, to him, as one of the early pioneers, much is due for the present high standing of Washington in commerce, ednca- tion, morality and all that goes to make a great State. In 1853, he was a member of the Cow- litz Convention, which secured the separation of Washington from Oregon. From 1856 to 1861, he served efficiently in the Indian service, under Governor Isaac 1. Stevens and Superin- tendents Nesmith and Geary, of Oregon. From 1865 to 1869, he served as special agent of the Post Office Department for the Pacific Coast, with headquarters at San Francisco. During the Modoc Indian war of 1872-'73, he served as Assistant Quartermaster General of the Oregon State troops, with the rank of Major.

In 1874, he located at Klamath Falls, south- ern Oregon, where he purchased 1,400 acres of land, became one of the town proprietors, en- gaged in farming and the real-estate business, besides filling various offices in the county.

In 1886, he was appointed Collector of Cus- toms of Puget Sound district, by President Cleveland, whereupon he removed to Port Townsend, and continued to discharge the du- ties of that office until change of administration. Since then, he has been engaged in the real- estate business and in looking after his large property interests, his income being such as to justify his retirement from active pursuits, were it not that his naturally energetic nature re- belled from idleness as contrary to the habits and thoughts of a lifetime. He has done mueh for humanity, and may now justly wears his laurels in comfort.

Mr. Brooks was married at Salem, Oregon, in 1878, to Miss Lizzie Cranston, daughter of Ephraim Cranston, an honored pioneer of 1851. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks have four children: Mol- Jie. now Mrs. W. M. Harned, of Port Towns- end: Lieutenant E, C. Brooks, of the Tenth

United States Cavalry, a graduate of the class of 1886 at West Point, and now detailed as military instructor at Girard College, Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania; Hattie, and Quincy.

Surrounded by an interesting family, in the enjoyment of prosperity, and the esteem of the people, Mr. Brooks has attained true success, which is not measured by material advancement alone, but by all the amenities of life which go to satisfy the human soul.

OHN M. McDONALD, another one of the successful farmers of Lewis county, Washington, was born in Scotland, June 24, 1825, and in 1830 emigrated with his par- ents to America, Nova Scotia being their objective point, and at that place remaining until 1835. That year they removed to Massa- chnsetts and settled at Roxbury, near Boston. Soon afterward he went to sea and remained on the deep the most of the time for seventeen years. He continued to make Roxbury his home, when on land, until 1847. Abont 1849 he emigrated to San Francisco, California, where he was appointed customhouse officer, which position he filled for three years. From San Francisco he moved to Lewis county, Washington (at that time Oregon), landing at Monticello in 1853.

Mrs. McDonald's maiden name was Mary J. Cutting. She was born in Suffolk, England, in 1838, and at the age of fifteen years she emi- grated with her parents to San Francisco, where she remained for five or six months. Since then she has made her home in Lewis county, Washington. Mr. and Mrs. McDonald have six children: Mary A., Katherine J., Isabella M., Heury D., Carlotta A. and Agnes R.

A LLEN J. MILLER, a Centralia capitalist, was born in the small town of Mount Rath, Queen county, Ireland, August 23, 1834. His parents were William H. and Mary (Hewson) Miller, both of them being natives of Ireland. When he was about five years of age his parents came to Brooklyn, New York, where he grew to manhood, learning the trade of carpenter, which he followed uutil

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1859, when he left on the steamer Illinois and crossed the isthmus of Panama, and landed at San Francisco, after a trip of twenty-eight days from New York. After a stay of a month there he took the steamer Northern for Olympia, Washington, where he arrived on May 10, but on the next day came to Steilacoom, where he engaged in the carpentering business and con- tinned at it until 1865, when he removed to Puyallup valley and cleared up a farm, which has since become a part of the present town of Puyallup. Ile followed farming until 1888, and since that time has put in a water system at Centralia, which he now owns. He ran a private bank there, known as the Bank of Centralia, which he started in 1888, and converted it into the First National Bank of Centralia in 1889, with a capital stock of $50,000, of which he was president until January 1, 1893. He also helped to organize the Farmers' Bank of Puy- allup in 1888, afterward known as the Bank of Puyallup, and was a director in both the old and new banks.

Mr. Miller is a member of Puyallup Lodge, No. 20, A. O. U. W., and has been several times elected Master Workman. He was a member of the first Council of Puyallup, has also been a School Director and Road Superin- tendent in that district for nine years in suc- cession. He has always taken a deep interest in educational matters.

He was married at Brooklyn, New York, December 26, 1955, to Miss Margaret C. Smyth, of New York. They immediately went to re- side at Fort Hamilton, a town on New York Harbor, which place they left to come to the Pacific coast. Mr. Miller built the first ferry- boat to convey teams across the Puyallup river, the lumber for which he paid $75 per thousand feet. This was in 1859. Ile was also one of the first to enter into the hop-grow- ing industry in the Puyallup valley.

B F. YOUNG, who is engaged in farming, hop-raising and fruit culture, in the Puyallup valley, Washington, was born in Oceana conuty, Michigan, July 6, 1847. Ilis father, Andrew Young, was born in Pennsyl- vania, and was a mechanic by trade. The Young family moved from Michigan to lowa when B. F. was quite small. Not long

afterward they went to Nebraska, and next to Kansas, and while he was yet a boy they made the journey across plain and mountain to Port- land, Oregon. This journey was made in 1860. They started with three yokes of oxen, and three of their oxen died on the plains.

B. F. Young remained in Portland three years, learning the printer's trade, and in the fall of 1863 took up his abode in Seattle, Wash- ington, where he was employed in a printing office, setting type on the first paper published in King county, -- the Seattle Gazette. Ile re- mained with that company two years, after which he worked at his trade in various parts of Washington, Oregon and California for about ten years, for two years being publisher and editor of a paper known as the Petaluma Cres- cent. He returned to Tacoma in 1873, and the following year moved to the Puyallup valley. llere he bought fifty-three acres of land, to the cultivation of which he has since given his at- tention.

Mr. Young is a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge, No. 43, Sumner, of which he is Past Grand Patriarch; Ridgley Encampment, No. 18; K. of P. Lodge, No. 53, North Yakima, of which he is Past Chancellor; the Grand Lodge . of Red Men, Tacoma; and is also a prominent member of other secret organizations as well as belonging to the State militia.

Mr. Young has been twice married -- first, in 1870, to Mary White, who died leaving one son, Edward M. In 1875 Mr. Young married Ella Calhoun, and they have tive children.

ON. M. J. GORDON, Judge of the Su- perior Court for Thurston county, resid- ing in the city of Olympia, was born in Sherbrook, province of Quebec, Canada, in March, 1857. His paternal ancestry descend- ed from Captain John Gordon, of Scotland, who was connected with General Wolf's army, and after the capture of Quebec, about 1759, moved to New England and settled near Middletown, C'onneetient.

Merrit Gordon, the father of our subject, was born in Quebec. He and his brother formed a partnership and carried on railroad contracting. They constructed a large portion of the Inter- Colonial Railroad between Nova Scotia and Ot- tawa, now a part of the Canadian Pacific Rail-

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road system, and also conducted the improve- ments on the Cornwall canal, the contract cov- ering five years amounting to $1,000,000. Mer- rit Gordon married Miss Sarah MeCarroll, a native of Canada. He now resides at Franklin Center, Huntington county, Quebec.

M. J. Gordon was educated in the common schools of Huntington county. In 1874 he came to the United States and located in Lanes- boro, Minnesota, where he was employed in the Bank of Lanesboro. In the spring of 1876 he entered the law office of Judge E. N. Donald- son, of that place, and remained with him until he was admitted to the bar in June, 1878, when he entered upon his professional career in Lanes- boro. He practiced there until March, 1879, at which time he removed to Watertown, Da- kota, and from there, in 1881, to Aberdeen, Brown county, same Territory, continuing the practice of his profession all the while. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention at Huron in 1883, and at Sioux Falls in 1885; District Attorney of Brown county from 1884 to 1888; President of the Bar Association of the Fifth Judicial district, Dakota, comprising twenty-two counties, from 1885 to 1889. In the Territorial Convention of 1886 he was cen- tral Dakota's candidate for Congress, but failed to receive the nomination. He served two terms as City Attorney of Aberdeen. He was a member of the first State Legislature of South Dakota and was Chairman of the House Jndi- ciary Committee.

In the early spring of 1890 Mr. Gordon moved to Olympia and associated himself in practice with Colonel T. V. Eddy. In the Re -. publican county convention held at Olympia, July 30, 1892, Mr. Gordon was nominated .Judge of the Superior Court, and at the election in November received the highest vote cast in the county.

Mr. Gordon was married in Carbondale, Penn- sylvania, in August, 1879, to Miss Jennie L. Thompson, of Lanesboro, Minnesota. lle and his wife are the parents of two children: Helen B., and Carroll A.

Socially, he is a Knight Templar Mason, being a member of Olympia Commandery and Elriad Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Sioux Falls, Dakota, and also of Capital Lodge, B. P. O. E., at Olympia.

H ILLORY BUTLER, a prominent resident of Seattle, Washington, and one of the pioneers of 1852, was born in Rappa- hannock county, Virginia, March 31, 1819. His ancestors, both paternal and ma- ternal, were among the pioneer settlers of Vir- ginia. Grandfather Butler was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, under Washington. The parents of our subjeet, Roland and Lucy (Emery) Butler, were natives of the same State, and passed their lives in agricultural pursuits.

Hillory Butler was educated in the common schools and reared upon the farm, remaining with his parents until 1842, when he struck out in life for himself, went to La Fayette county, Missouri, and was employed as a farm hand. Subsequently he engaged as overseer for John B. Webb, who had a plantation of 2,000 acres and fifty negroes. Young Butler received $20 per month, filling the position eighteen months. He secured the good will of the darkies as well as of their master, who was a kind-hearted and indulgent man, and all working in harmony they accomplished a large amount of work. Chills and fever, however, compelled him to abandon his position. He then started on horse- back for the Platte Purchase, traveling when able to ride. While continuing his journey, he was caught in an open prairie in a heavy thunder storm, and, being unprotected, was drenched with rain. Instead of producing siek- ness, this had the effect of curing him of his chills for all time to come.

Mr. Butler subsequently returned to La Fayette county, Missouri, and was married to Miss Catherine Iliekman, niece of George Ennis, for whom he had first worked. He was then engaged in farming there until 1849, when, with the death of his father-in-law, he turned his attention to the settlement of the estate.

April 23, 1852, Mr. Butler started across the plains for Oregon, in the train with Judge IFayes and Andrew Cowan, paying $175 for food and transportation. The train was attacked by cholera and a number of deaths occurred, but Mr. Butler and wife arrived at the Dalles with- ont serious inconvenience, though they suffered somewhat from sickness. They proceeded by small boats down the river to Portland, and their first night in Portland was passed in a small room of a wharf boat, Mrs. Butler still suffering with sickness. The next morning Mr. Butler rented a house at $33.50 per month, and secured the service of Dr. Wilson to attend his

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wife, assuring him that he had plenty of money, while really $2.50 was his entire capital! He had understood the physicians would not attend emigrants who were " broke:" so he attempted this ruse. After making his wife as comfort- able as the circumstances permitted, he began looking for work, and chanced to meet "Squire" Davis, who had a fine mule team and offered that with feed if Mr. Butler would take it and engage in teaming, agreeing to divide the pro- ceeds. This offer was readily accepted, and the results averaged from $20 to $40 per day, thus enabling Mr. Butler to pay all obligations. It may be added that he and Dr. Wilson were warin friends forever after.

In the spring of 1853, with E. M. Smithers, whom he met in Portland, he came to Puget Sonnd, via the Cowlitz river, and at Olympia they passed about two weeks with Calvin H. llale while looking over the country. Together they came to Seattle, a few rough shanties then comprising the town. Mr. Butler purchased a lot. 120 feet square, the present site of the But- ler block, for $150, and when Mr. Yesler started his mill he secured the first lumber and built a little house. Then he began clearing his ground for a garden and potato patch. He and Mr. Smithers next began cutting piles and squaring timber for the San Francisco market, which occupation they followed several years and with good success.

In 1854 Mr. Butler was elected Sheriff, and held the office two years. With the growth of the town, he purchased a team and engaged in draying, which he continued with success for many years. In 1886 his little house was re- placed by a large frame building, which afforded a profitable rental till the summer of 1889, when it was destroyed by the great fire. He then leased the land for building purposes, and sub- sequently sold it for $75,000. During the early '60s he served one year as Indian agent, and as Provost Marshal enrolled King county, subject to draft.

His good wife, the comfort and solace of his pioneer days, passed to the other world in Jan- uary, 1870, leaving him childless and alone. In the fall of 1889 Mr. Butler attended the tri- ennial conclave of Knight's Templar, at Wash- ington, District of Columbia, and took part in the great parade, during which, however he was taken suddenly ill, and compelled to leave the ranks. During that year, and while on his trip East, he visited, after forty-seven years of absence,

his old home in Virginia, but it was an unhappy visit, as the old landmarks had been obliterated and his family had been scattered or extermin- ated through the evil influences of the Civil war. Ile gladly returned to Seattle to live and die among his pioneer friends.

Mr. . Butler is a prominent Mason of the thirty second degree, Scottish rite, and for many years he served as Treasurer of the Consistory, also being for many years Treasurer of the Com- mandery No. 2, Knights Templar. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

G APTAIN HERBERT F. BEECHER, of the United States Revenue Service ou Puget Sound, was born in Brooklyn, New York, June 22, 1854, the youngest of ten children born to Rev. Henry Ward and Eunice (White Bullard) Beecher, natives of Connecti- cut and Massachusetts, respectively. Herbert F. was educated at the Gunnery, at Washington, Connecticut, Round Hill Seminary, at North- ampton, Massachusetts, and entered Amherst College in the class of 1872, but, owing to sickness, left in the sophomore class. He then entered upon the study of medicine at the Long Island College Hospital, but, after one year of study, decided that his sensibilities were too keen to carry surgery to success, and he accord- ingly retired from the profession. Becoming interested in yachting on the Hudson river and Long Island sound, Mr. Beecher decided to adopt navigation as a profession, and to that end entered the employ of the Norwich line of steamers, remaining there four years. He first worked as a deck hand, but by promotion finally became Captain of one of the best steamers.

In 1878 he came to California, was one of five to lease the Tejon ranch of General Beale, consisting of 400,000 acres of land, engaged in the sheep and cattle business, but owing to con- tinned dry weather the investment proved un- successful. In the fall of 1879 Captain Beecher returned to steamboating, in the em- ploy of the old Oregon Navigation Company, and for one year was engaged as freight clerk and purser on the steamship Oregon, running between Portland and San Francisco. He was then placed in charge of a large force of men at The Dalles, Oregon, in loading and unloading

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freight from boat to cars, but subsequently, on account of ill health, and to be on salt water, came to Puget Sound, in the employ of same company. He was Captain at different times of their several steamers running on Puget Sound. In June, 1883, Captain Beecher bought the mail ronte from Port Townsend, through the San Juan islands, to Blaine, and, with the steamer Evangel, covered the route until July 1, 1885.

He then entered upon the duties of Collector of Customs of Puget Sound District, to which position he had been appointed by President Cleveland. During the fifteen years and nine months previous to Captain Beecher's appoint- ment, smuggling had been carried on with a high hand, and the seizures, fines and forfeit- nres of the entire period amounted to about $36,500. Knowing of the illicit traffic, Cap- tain Beecher immediately entered upon a vigor- ous assanlt, without partialty or favoritism, and during the thirteen months of his service he seized $152,000 worth of opium, besides im- posing fines to the amount of 855,000. His policy was so vigorous and touched so many people and corporations engaged in the traffic that their influence was brought to bear upon the Senate, and the name of Captain Beecher as Collector was not confirmed. Charges of defal- cation and embezzlement were made against him, all of which were withont foundation, and in January, 1887. he was appointed by Presi- dent Cleveland as Special Agent of the Treasury Department for the District of Oregon, Wash- ington Territory and Alaska, with headquarters at Port Townsend, which position he held until April 10, 1889, when the administration changed.

Captain Beecher then repurchased the old mail route through the islands, and formed the Island Transportation Company, with the steamers J. B. Libby, Point Arena and General Miles. IIe leased the Commercial wharf, and engaged in a general shipping commercial busi- ness, continuing to September, 1891, when by losses by fire on wharf and steamer, he was forced to abandon steamboating, and accepted the position as pilot of the revenue cutter " Wolcott."

Captain Beecher was married in Seattle, in 1881, to Miss Hattie Foster, a native of Ind- iana. They have three children: Ilenry Ward, Mary E. and Beatrice B. The family reside in Port Townsend, where they have a beautiful home, overlooking the bay. Mrs. Beecher

graduated at the San Francisco Art School, and has devoted her time to the upbuilding of . artistic sentiment among the people of this city. As evidence of her success as a teacher, we can say that of the State exhibit, numbering 150 pictures, at the World's Fair at Chicago, thirty-eight pictures were selected from Port Townsend, and of these thirty-six were the product of Mrs. Beecher and her pupils.

S TEPHEN P. WILLIS, one of the pio- neers of the Northwest, was born on a farm near Hennepin, Putnam county, Illinois, September 3, 1831. a son of James W. and Ann (Stewart) Willis, natives respectively of South Carolina and Kentucky. About 1819 they settled in Illinois, where the father pur- chased and improved a farm of Government land. During the Black Hawk war of 1832 the barn belonging to Mr. Willis was converted into a stockade, and afforded protection to the families of settlers, while the men were ont fighting the Indians. From 1835 to 1839 Mr. Willis was engaged in the mercantile business in Canton, Fulton county. In the latter year he removed to Linn county. Iowa, and resumed the occupation of farming in Lin county, and his death occurred there in 1843, leaving a widow and six children. Mr. Willis was a Whig in political matters, with strong abolition proclivities, his family having left Sonth Caro- lina at an carly day to escape from the influence of slavery. He was also a strong temperance man, was instrumental in organizing the first temperance society in Illinois, was a man of strong, resolute character, and fearless in action or speech when he was satisfied as to the right.

Stephen P. Willis, the fifth in a family of six children, was reared to habits of industry on the farm. He was married in 1855, to Miss Caro- line White, a native of Ohio and of English ancestry. They remained with his mother until 1857, and in that year they all came to the Pa- cific coast, via the Panama route. After arriv- ing in San Francisco, they spent a few weeks in Sonoma connty, but distrusting the land titles, they located in Polk county, Oregon. Two years later they went to the Umpqua valley, where Mr. Willis followed farming until 1865. and they then located 152 acres of land on the White river, in the Sound country. The land

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was then covered with timber, but he began its ' improvement by building and clearing, and thus developed a fine farm of ninety aeres, the remainder being still in timber. The town of Kent is also located near his land. Mr. Willis followed general farming, with a small dairy of from ten to twenty-five cows, and lived on his farm until 1890, when he sold the entire tract, with the exception of abont thirty acres. In 1890 he came to Seattle, and was among the first to settle and build in the town of Latona, where he owns several fine building sites, be- sides other property at Edgewater. He was also active in the development of Kent, and for eighteen years was a Director of the schools of that locality.

Mr. and Mrs. Willis have two children: Charles L. and Sarah A., residents of Kent. The latter is the wife of William R. Ross. Our subject was reared an Abolitionist, but in later life has adopted the principles of the Pro- hibition party, believing that to be the party for political reform.

J OHN THORNTON, a well-known and re- spected pioneer of Port Townsend, was born in Tippecanoe eounty, Indiana, in March, 1825. Ilis parents, Levi and Katherine (Black) Thornton, were natives of Pennsylvania and Kentucky respectively, who removed to In- diana in the early settlement of that State, where the father of the subject of this sketch followed farming. In 1836 the parents removed to Iowa, where they passed the remainder of their lives in the enjoyment of the universal re- spect and esteem of their fellow-men.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 121

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