An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 122

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 122

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John Thornton, the subject of this sketch, at- tended the schools of lowa and remained on the old homestead, earing for his parents until both had departed this life. In 1850, when the emi- gration to the West gained such momentum, Mr. Thornton sold his interests in Iowa, and in company with eight other men, among whom was Henry Van Asselt, now of Seattle, they purchased two prairie wagons and eight yoke of oxen, with which they left Iowa on April 8, 1850, for the long. wearisome journey across the plains. On September 20 following they arrived safely in Oregon City, none the worse, with the exception of fatigue, for their pro- tracted journey. They spent the winter in Ore-

gon City, and in March, 1851, he and his asso- ciates started for the mines of northern Cali- fornia, near Mount Shasta. They here spent several months in mining, realizing about $1,000 each, when, instead of expending their money in prospecting, as was the usual custom, they decided to leave the mines and go to Puget Sound, locate claims and engage in farming. Accordingly they traveled on horseback to St. llelen, Oregon, where they were ferried across the Columbia river. Here an unfortunate acci- dent befell Mr. Van Asselt, in the discharge of his gun, by which he was wounded in the arm and was obliged to return to St. Helen for sur- gical treatment, Mr. Thornton accompanying him and remaining with him for about thirty days.

They then set forth again and met their friends on the Nesqually river, where they secured a contract for the loading of two vessels with piling, which they cut and hauled from the woods by hand. In November they proceeded to the Sound country, and reached Steilacoom at the time of the gold excitement on Queen Charlotte's islands. Mr. Thornton joined a small company of men and embarked on an old sloop for Gold Harbor, but through adverse circumstances they were wrecked off the coast of the island and captured by the Indians, in whose custody they remained for fifty-four days, until both money and patience were exhausted. They were then reseued by Captain La Fayette Balch, and returned to Steilacoom without reaching the gold fields.

The subject of this sketch then engaged in cutting and hauling piles, until in June, 1852, he came down the Sound and located a donation claim of 320 acres near New Dungeness, Clal- lam county, Washington, on which he built a log cabin, plowed a small piece of land and planted potatoes. In the summer of 1853 he went to Port Gamble, where he assisted in building the mill, and continued at work notil April, 1854, when he returned to his claim. In the fall of 1855 he volunteered in the Indian war, and served three months in the company of Captain Eby, on Snohomish prairie. He then returned to his claim and actively engaged in farming and stock-raising, where he continued to reside until 1884, when he rented his claim and retired from the hardships of farin life. Hle then settled in Port Townsend, where he bnilt a pleasant home at No. 30 Winslow ave- nue, and is now enjoying his declining years

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while surrounded by every necessary comfort. He also owns other valuable improved and un- improved property in the city.

Mr. Thornton was married at New Dungeness, in 1868, to Mrs. Sarah Henderson, a California pioneer of 1852, who had four children by a former marriage, and they now have three more, making seven in all.

While residing on his farm, Mr. Thornton was elected Treasurer of Clallam county, in which capacity he served for six years, with his usual efficiency and uprightness. In 1860 he was elected to the Legislature from Clallam county, and served one term. He has taken an active part in the advancement of the country, and is justly numbered among the represent- ative citizens of the Key City of Washington.

J OHN C. KLEBER, one of the rising at- torneys of Olympia, was born in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, August 1, 1861. His father, Christopher Kleber, was a native of Germany, and of French and German extrac- tion, and a grandson of General Jean Baptiste Kleber, one of Napoleon's Generals, and who fought the battle of Mount Tabor. He was reared in the United States from his sixth year, and learned the cooper's trade in Milwaukee, and in that city was afterward married to Miss Elizabeth Bersch, a native of Germany, who came to Wisconsin when ten years old with her parents. Mr. Kleber became thoroughly Ameri- canized, and at the breaking out of the ('ivil war tendered his services in defense of his adopted country. He enlisted in 1861, as did also his three brothers and three of his wife's brothers, seven boys having enlisted in the two families, and all performed valiant service in defense of the Union. After the war Mr. Kleber returned to Milwaukee, and in 1867 removed to Winneconne, Wisconsin, where he bought a farm, improved the same, and where he now re- sides with his wife.

John C. Kleber, the only child of his parents, was educated in the common schools of Winne- conne and at Lawrence University, Appleton, Wisconsin, and at the Oshkosh (Wisconsin) State Normal School. He began teaching at the age of sixteen years, and continued four years, in- terspersing his teaching with his years of study. In 1883 he began reading law, was admitted to

the bar of the Supreme Court of Wisconsin in due time, and then entered upon a professional career in Milwaukee, where he continued to practice law for eighteen months. At the end of that time he was engaged as traveling cor- respondent to the Oshkosh Times, journeying through Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. In February, 1887, he moved to Washington, first locating at Tacoma, where he practiced law for two years. Being advised to try life in the country for his health, he en- gaged to teach as principal of schools at Orting for one season, commencing in September, 1889, and while there also performed the duties of City Attorney. In June, 1890, he came to Olympia to reside, but continued business in- terests in Pierce county until October, the same year, when he opened his office in Olympia and resumed the practice of his profession, which he has since followed very successfully, and especially as a criminal lawyer. He also is an extensive owner of real estate, city and country.

Mr. Kleber was married at Winneconne, Sep- tember 10, 1885, to Miss Matie A. Owen, and they have one child, Frances Elizabeth.

Socially he is a member of the F. & A. M., and politically is a Democrat.

R EV. DAVID E. BLAINE, the first minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to locate in Seattle, was born in Varick, Seneca county, New York. on March 5, 1824, a son of John and Martha (Edwards) Blaine. His early life was passed on a farm and in pursuing his preparatory studies at the Waterloo Academy.

He entered Hamilton College, at Clinton, New York, in 1845, and graduated in 1849. He had united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1842, was licensed as a local preacher in 1848, attended the Auburn Theological Seminary three years, and graduated in 1852. He was then employed as a tutor in Hamilton College one year. On August 11, 1853, he was married, and during the same month was ad- mitted into the East Genesee Conference, or- dained a local Deacon by Bishop Edmund S. Janes, and at once sent to Puget Sound to labor under the direction of the Oregon Mission Con- ference. On October 5, he left New York for his field of labor, by steamer to San Francisco,

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via Panama, and thence by sailing vessel to Puget Sound. On arriving at Olympia, the residence of the Superintendent of the Puget Sound District, he was assigned to Seattle. Re- turning with the vessel on which he went to Olympia he landed at Alki Point, November 20, 1853. Here in the evening of the same day he preached his first sermon in Washington Territory, to a congregation of about twenty persons -- nearly all the population of the place. The next day he crossed Elliott bay, about five miles, to Seattle, in a canoe manned by Indians. During the following year he built for himself a house on the four lots of the block on Cherry street, between Second and Third, the present site of the New York building, and began the erection of a church on the adjoining lots, the present site of the Boston block. He paid $10 a lot for his own home site. The two lots ob- tained for the church site were donated by Car- son D. Boreu. The church building was erected thereon and dedicated by Rev. William Roberts, from Portland, Oregon, in May, 1855.

Mr. Blaine remained in Seattle two and a half years, when, his work being interrupted by Indian hostilities in the Sound country, it was decided that he should remove to Portland, Oregon, and supply a vacancy in the Taylor street church in that city. At the ensuing session of the conference, in 1856, he was appointed to Oregon City, where he labored two years; then served in Corvallis a year; next, was Principal of the Santiam Academy, at Lebanon, one year; then was in charge of the Albany and Lebanon circuit one year; his next work was that of Presiding Elder on the Upper Willamette District one year.

At the next annual conference, in 1862, be obtained leave of absence for a year to go East in accordance with a long cherished plan; but by the earnest invitation of the trustees of the Portland Academy he remained to take charge of that institution, to fill a vacancy during the fall and winter term of school. In April, 1863, with his wife and two boys, he left Portland by steamer to San Francisco, and thence, after a brief delay, by steamer, via the isthmus of Nic- aragua to New York in May. Being unable to return to the Pacific coast as intended, Mr. Blaine spent ten years as a farmer and local minister, and then was re-admitted to the East Genessee conference. He filled appointments in Barclay and Mainsburg in Northern Pennsyl- vania; at Reading Center, Hopewell and Allen's

Hill, in central New York. He was then granted a supernumerary relation by the Gen- essee Conference, at his own request. In 1883 he returned with his wife to Seattle, on Pnget Sound, and is now a supernumerary preacher and member of the Puget Sound Conference.

Having retired from active ministerial work, lie is pleasantly passing the evening of his days with his ebildren and grandehildren settled near him, in the city of his early labors and men- ories, and which meanwhile has increased from a pioneer hamlet to contain a population of nearly 60,000 inhabitants.

A LMON QUIMBY CHURCH was born on May 8, 1836, in Genesee county, New York, on the Allegheny river in what was then known as the lumber region. His parents are Joseph and Mary Maria (Beede) Church, both being natives of the State of Vermont, and their ancestry of Scotch extrac- tion. His father was a physician and came to the coast in 1846, crossing the plains in an ox- wagon, and located in Clackamas county, Oregon, where they remained about one year and then took up a donation claim about twelve miles east of Oregon City, and there the father lived until 1867, when he removed to Pacific county, Washington. He lived there until 1884, when he removed to Clarke county, where he lived until 1890; he then went back to Pacific county, Washington, and at the present time resides there. He lost his wife in 1885.

Almon Quimby Church was the fourth child, in the order of age, in a family of eleven chil- dren, five sons and six daughters. He remained with his parents until September, 1855, when he joined the Oregon volunteers to fight the Yakima and Walla Walla Indians, serving dur- ing the winter campaign. In the spring he was discharged, but he re-enlisted in June, in a regiment commanded by Colonel Layton, which went by way of the Dalles up the John Day river and across the Blue mountains. They had engagements on John Day and Burnt rivers. On this trip Mr. Church lived at one time for twenty-five days on horse and mule meat, and he served his entire time without pay.

His term of military service ended, he re- turned to his father's place on the Clackamas, and in company with his older brother went

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into the timber business, on the Clackamas river. But in March, 1863, he enlisted in the United States army for three years. lle was at Vancouver for eleven months, and was then ordered to southeastern Oregon, where the men linnted Modocs and Pintes until April 16, 1865, when our subject was severely wounded, and lay in a hospital for eleven months. At the ex- piration of his term of enlistment he was munstered out, at Fort Vancouver.

He afterwards located in Pacific county and followed oystering, fishing and ranching for a livelihood until 1883, when he removed to ('larke county and bought eighty acres of land, four and one-half miles from La Center, where he now resides. Of this he now has about fifty acres cleared off and planted in grain and hay. He also has a large orchard, composed of apples, plums, prunes, and peach trees.

Mr. Church was married in Pacific county, Washington, on March 20, 1869, to Miss Ruth Ann Adams, daughter of John and Martha Shaver. Her mother died when she was only six weeks old and she was adopted by Mr. William Adams of Hillsboro, Oregon, who was one of Oregon's early settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Church have had ten children, of whom two, Cora and Ellsworth, by name, are deceased. Those living are: Almon, Stewart, Annie, Laura. Arthur, Walter, Archie, William Winford and Lincoln.

Mr. Church is a stanneh Republican, and is a School Director of his district, No. 32, Clarke county, and is serving his third term.

0 REGON COLUMBUS HASTINGS, of Victoria, was born in Hancock county, Illinois, April 26, 1846, the eldest son of Loren B. and Lucinda (Bingham) Ilastings, eminent pioneers of the Northwest, and asso- ciate founders of the city of Port Townsend. Crossing the plains in 1847, the earliest recol- lection of Oregon C. is of the pioneer life of Oregon, with its weird and varied experiences. He was subject to many changes until in the spring of 1852, when by sailing vessel the fam- ily came to Port Townsend, then almost a wil- derness, the only white settlers being Messrs. Plummer and Batchelder. With the passage of years and increase of population, schools were established, and there young Hastings secured

his education. fle lived with his parents ou the donation claim, and with mature years en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, also in mercan- tile work in his father's store. In 1874, in part- nership with his brother Frank, the firm of Hastings Bros. was established and succeeded their father in the store, which they continued about two years. Mr. Hastings then sold his interest and returned to farm life on the old homestead. In early life our subject became interested in the chemistry of light, and through that study drifted into photography, engaging actively in the business in Port Townsend. He afterward conducted a successful business in Victoria, British Columbia, until 1890, when he retired from active labor, except in looking after his private interests.

Mr. Hastings was married in Port Townsend in 1867, to Miss Matilda Birch, who died in 1881, leaving two children, Oregon A. and Minnie. Ile was again married, in Victoria, in 1885, to Mrs. Sylvestria Theodora Smith, of English aneestry. They have one child, Juanita. In political matters Mr. Hastings is a Republi- can, and while in Port Townsend served for several years as Deputy Treasurer of Jefferson county, also as Inspector of Customs under M. S. Drew. Since residing in Victoria he has taken no active part in politics.

EWIS P. BERRY was born at Leaven- worth, Crawford county, Indiana, on the 23d day of November, 1842. His par- ents were Thomas F. and Martha J. (Timber- lake) Berry, the former a native of Guernsey county, Ohio, the latter a native of Kenton county, Kentucky. The first ten years of Mr. Berry's life were spent in Marion and Shelby counties, Indiana. Ilis family started from Shelbyville in 1853 and went to Louisville, Kentucky, on the railroad; down the Ohio river and up the Missouri and Mississippi to St. Joseph, Missouri; and then outfitted and started aeross the plains, erossing the Missouri river at a point near the Iowa line. They continued their journey westward, arriving at Tumwater, Washington, in October, 1853, about six months after crossing the Missouri. They spent the winter there and cared for their stock. His father took up a ranch a short distance from Tumwater. In the spring of 1860 they re-

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moved to Miami prairie, in Thurston county, and remained there till the spring of 1864, when the family removed to Walla Walla, where his father died in 1866. His mother died in 1890 at Milton, Oregon, about ten miles from Walla Walla.

Mr. Berry received a common-school ednca- tion in Thurston county. Ilis early life was spent at hard work on the farm. When nine- teen years old, during the spring of 1861, he taught school at Seabeck in Kitsap county, and later on he tanght four or five years in Walla Walla county. He afterward engaged in sheep- raising, which occupation he followed for several years, and removed to Colfax, Whitman county, in 1878, where he was agent of Wells, Fargo & Co., and also Postmaster for four years. In 1886 he was elected and served one term of two years as Sheriff of Whitman county. He re- moved to Tacoma in the spring of 1890, and now holds the position of Deputy Collector of Customs at Tacoma.

Mrs. Berry was formerly Sarah Elizabeth Baldwin, a native of Olympia and daughter of A. J. Baldwin, one of the early settlers who came to Olympia in 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Berry have one child, named Mabel.

Mr. Berry is a member of Walla Walla Lodge, No. 7. F. & A. M .; Colfax Chapter, No. 8, R. A. M., and also of Colfax Lodge, No. 52, A. O. U. W. He has always been an active Re- publican.

J OHN S. MAGGS, one of the early pio- neers of the Puget Sound district, was born at Jersey Shore, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, October 2, 1832. His father, George Maggs, was a native of England, but was brought by his parents to America in his childhood, in 1804. He was reared in Penn- sylvania, lived the life of an agriculturist, and was there married to Mary Snyder.

John S. Maggs, the subject of this sketch, received his education in the common schools, two and a half miles from his home, and was obliged to walk the entire distance morning and evening. He remained with his parents until 1853, and in that year started for California, via New York and the Panama ronte, arriving in San Francisco in May, 1853. For the follow- ing four years Mr. Maggs followed mining in

Calaveras county, with limited profits, was en- gaged in ranching one year in the Sacramento valley, and in 1858, during the Fraser river gold excitement. started for that locality. Af- ter arriving at Victoria he found the prospects had been overestimated, and he accepted the po- sition of lighthouse-keeper for one year. In 1859. Mr. Maggs went to Neah bay, as clerk at the trading post of II. A. Webster, subsequently became manager of the store, but in 1872 re- turned to his old home at Jersey Shore to en- gage in the study of dentistry. He was there married, and in December, 1873, brought his bride to Seattle, where he was engaged in the practice of dentistry until 1880. In that year he became keeper of the lighthouse at Point No Point, which had just been established, but four years after resigned his position and re- turned to Seattle. He located on his farm of twenty-seven acres on Lake Union, which he had purchased in 1865. After building his residence Mr. Maggs began clearing his land of brush and timber preparatory to other improve- ments. He presented ten acres of his purchase to the Seattle & Walla Walla Railroad Com- pany, as his contribution to the subsidy, and in 1887 platted ten acres for building purposes, known as the Lake Union addition. He was one of the organizers, and is still president, of the Seattle Dry Dock & Ship Building Com- pany, who elevate their vessels by a marine railroad. He still owns valuable property on Lake Union, and also twenty acres of choice bottom land at Point No Point.

Mr. Maggs was married at Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, in October, 1873, to Miss Caro- line Marshall, a native of that place. They have three children,-George, Molly and John Marshall. While et Neah bay Mr. Maggs rep- resented the Republican party of Clallam connty at the Territorial Legislature, but since that time has sought no public office, although he is a stanch believer in Republican principles.

B ENNETT W. JOHNS, dealer in wag- ons, buggies, farm and mill machinery, etc., Olympia, is a highly respected busi- ness man of this city, having been identified with its interests for a number of years. He was born in Smith county, Tennessee, in 1838. His parents, Bennett L. and Elizabeth (Suttle)

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Johns, were natives of the same State, his father being engaged in farming there until 1844. At that time the Johns family moved to Graves county, Kentucky, where they passed one year, and in 1845 removed to Seott county, Missouri.

In 1853 Mr. Johns started for Washington Territory, his outfit comprising two wagons, eight yoke of oxen, two yoke of cows, and other necessary equipments. His family included his wife, nine unmarried children and one mar- ried daughter and her husband, Alex. Barnes, who also had an ox team. They suffered little from Indian depredations, but were delayed by sickness and the subsequent death of Mrs. Johns and Mrs. Barnes, whose lonely graves were made by the wayside. The rest of the family landed in Walla Walla in October, and, it be- ing too late to cross the Caseades with wagons, they stored their effects, purchased horses by barter, and set out for Puget Sound, driving a few of their cattle. They were caught in the snow on the summit of the mountains, and as all their supplies gave out they were obliged to kill one of their faithful oxen that had drawn them across the plains. Thus, being provided with food, they reached the foot of the moun- tains, where they were met by a resening party with food and assistance, and they finally reached their destination, Seattle, November 4, 1853. Here they passed the winter. In the spring of 1854 Mr. Johns located a donation claim nine miles from Seattle, and at onee be- gan the work of improving, renting other land for immediate support. In 1855 he sowed a few aeres of wheat on his own claim. When it was harvested he, with others, chartered a little seow, and by sailing and rowing carried their wheat to Tumwater to be ground, at that time the only mill in the Territory being located there. With the breaking out of the Indian war in the fall of 1855, Mr. Johns removed his family to Seattle, while he engaged in military service, which he followed nine months. After peace was declared, he continued in agrienl- tural pursuits on his farm.

Bennett W. Johns remained with his father until he was nineteen years old, with the ex- ception of about one year, when he was in the Indian war, he having served in the companies of Captain C. C. Hewitt and Captain A. A. Denny. In 1858 he went to Utsaladdy and worked in a sawmill for a few months. Then he went to the Fraser river and Cariboo mines,

where he was engaged in mining until 1864. That year he returned to Victoria, joined a small company, built boats, and with proper supplies and equipments started for the head- waters of Peace river on a prospecting tour. which resulted in fur trading, in which business lie was engaged until the spring of 1868. Ile then heturned to Seattle and later to Tumwater. At the latter place he engaged with his brother- in-law. W. H. Mitchell, now of Portland, in the sawmill business, which he continued for abont twelve years, and after that turned his attention to the live-stoek business. In 1884 he came to Olympia, took charge of the agency of the Mitell- ell & Lewis Company, of Portland, dealers in wagons, buggies, farming implements and mill machinery, and in this business he has contin- ved up to the present time. He still owns his farm near Olympia and has other valuable prop- erty here.

Mr. Johns was married in Olympia, in 1872, to Miss Mary Jane Vertrees, a native of Illi- nois, and they have one child, Ruth.

Socially, he is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the A. O. U. W. While in Tumwater he was a member of the School Board for a num- ber of years and served two terms as City Coun- cilman.

AMES M. LIVELY, President of the Port Townsend Steel Wire & Nail Company, was born in Jackson county, Ohio, Oe- ) tober 29, 1852. His father, Lorenzo D. Lively, was a native of Virginia, but located in Jackson county, about 1827, where he followed farming. His farm of 280 acres is located in the Hanging Roek iron region, and coal has been discovered there, which has been successfully developed and is being worked with great profit. Mr. Lively was married, in Jackson county, to Miss Eleanor Russell, a native of that county. The Lively family are of German extraction, and the first of that name in America emigrated to Vir- ginia abont 1720. They were there connected with the first furnace in the manufacture of pig iron, and the descendants have sinee followed the line of agriculturists.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 122

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