An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 139

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 139

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W ARREN W. RILEY, M. D., a prom- inent physician of Olympia, was born in Marietta, Ohio, in October, 1844, a son of William and Julia (Dick) Riley, the former a native of Marietta, and the latter of Pennsylvania. The Rileys were among the earli- est settlers of Ohio, having located there about 1790, when all their supplies had to be packed on horseback from Philadelphia. William Riley passed his life in agricultural pursuits and died in the same locality in which he was born.

Dr. Riley spent his early lite on the farm and received his primary education in the schools near his home. He enlisted in Company L, First Ohio Cavalry, upon the organization of that regiment in 1861, and his first year of serv- ice was in the Army of Kentucky. He parti- cipated in the battles of Perryville, Bowling Green, Green river, Mount Washington, Fort Donelson, Nashville and Shiloh. Soon after the battle of Shiloh, at the skirmish of Carolina churches he was injured and was subsequently discharged for disability. Returning to Mari- etta, then a military post in command of Colonel Rufus Putnam, he assisted in the organization the Forty-eighth Ohio Infantry, of which he commissioned Lieutenant by Governor Tod. After rendering important services in the cap- ture of John Morgan, he was commissioned Captain of the Forty-sixth Battalion of Ohio State troops, In May, 1864, he was transferred

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and placed in charge of reconstruction of cavalry in the Army of the Cumberland, under General Baldy Smith, at Nashville, Tennessee. He was subsequently assigned duty at the head- quarters of General George H. Thomas, in gen- eral orderly duty and as an assistant surgeon, where he served until September 6, 1865, and was then discharged. Before being mastered out he was offered the commission of Second Lieu- tenant in the regular army, which however, he declined.

Upon his return to Marietta, he engaged in mechanical work, also pursning the study of medicine and surgery, in which he had con- siderable practice during the war. His studies were completed at the Medical College of Co- lumbus, Ohio, where he graduated in 1881. Hle entered upon his medical career at Belpre, Ohio, but soon afterward was burned ont. He then decided to come to the Pacific coast, and accordingly directed his course toward Olympia, where he established himself in practice, and where he has the reputation of being one of the most skillful physicians in the Northwest.

While Dr. Riley is devoted to his profession, he has also manifested great interest in the resources and topography of the country. His summer vacations have been passed in tours of exploration through the Olym- pic mountains and to the summit of Mount Rainier. His first ascent of Mount Rainier was in July, 1891, when he demon- strated the fact that ascent was possible by the west side of the mountain, which had never be- fore been accomplished. In the summer of 1892 he again made the ascent, and also made the first exploration of North Peak, which had never been visited. The Doctor has served the city tor a number of years as Health Officer, and is a member of the Board of Pension Ex- aminers. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and of the George H. Thomas Post, No. 9, G. A. R.

A RTHUR ELLIS, proprietor of one of the largest furniture establishments in Olym- pia, was born in Norfolk, county of Dur- ham, England, in 1850. His boyhood was passed in securing an education, and in learn- ing the trades of carpenter and cabinet-maker. At the age of eighteen he emigrated to the United States, went to Utah and found occupation in

mines. Later, at Salt Lake City he completed his trade, which he followed until 1878. That year he went to Boise City, Idaho, where he worked at house carpentering, at first by days; wages and afterward taking contracts himself. From there, in 1882, he came to Washington, and for six months was employed in the car shop of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company at Tacoma. In the fall of 1882 he settled in Olympia, continuing work at the carpenter's trade and subsequently opening a shop for cabi- net work. About 1885 he began carrying a small stock of furniture, which he increased from time to time, as circumstances permitted and necessity required to meet the exigencies of his extended business, nutil in 1890, he had a $20,000 stock, with monthly sales averaging about 85,000. HEis sales rooms, on the corner of Fourth and Adams streets, cover an area of 42 x 100 feet, and are filled with a well-assorted stock of office and household furniture, linol- eum, mattings, shades, house furnishing, and a large stock of mattresses of his own manufac- ture.

Mr. Ellis was married in Salt Lake City, in 1877, to Miss Emily J. Hughes, and they have three children: Mabel, Arthur, Jr., and Ethel. He resides on Fourth street, between East Side and Bonndary streets, where he erected his handsome home in 1892.

The success of Mr. Ellis, which has been sub- stantial and continuous since he engaged in business, is the just reward of ability and energy, concentrated in one direction, and adhered to with integrity and tenacity of pur- pose.

C Z. MASON .- In 1885, Mr. Mason came came to Olympia to manage the manu- factory of the Puget Sound Pipe Com- pany, a new corporation which had just pur- chased the Tumwater factory of W. H. Hor- ton, the patentee. Mr. Mason superintended the erection of buildings at Olympia, the re- moval and placing of the machinery, and the operation of the newly established factory. With a little experience, the defects in the old machinery soon became apparent, and with his mechanical ingenuity Mr. Mason began improv- ing until he had materially changed the system of manufacture, making it more simple and at the same time more efficacions. Among his

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more important inventions is the machine for tenanting the different sized pipes for couplings; also the boring of pipe nnder water pressure to clear chips and cuttings. The machine shop for repair of tools is very completely fitted with the most improved machinery for their partien- lar requirements. Here the imported steel bars are converted into bits and chisels of intricate design for the several purposes to advance the rapidity of manufacture.

H OWARD H. LEWIS, one of the enter- prising and progressive young business men of Sesttle, was born in Washington county, Iowa, in October, 1859, the older of the two children of Judge Joseph R. and Mary A. (Chapman) Lewis, who were natives of Ohio and of Welsh-English descent. Judge Lewis was a distinguished member of the Sup- reme Bench of the Territory of Washington for a number of years, and the wise measures in- nagurated by him while Chief Justice were towers of strength to the State builders and cast terror to the hearts of the gamblers, criminals and boodlers.

Howard H. Lewis came to Washington Terri- tory with his parents in 1872. He completed his education at the University of California, at Berkeley, after which he engaged in business in Seattle, in 1877. The following year he was appointed Clerk of the United States District Court, the duties of which office he faithfully dis- charged for two years. He then began the study of law under the wise preceptorship of his father, was admitted to the bar before the Supreme Court of the Territory in 1881, and at once entered into partnership with his father under the name of J. R. & H. H. Lewis. They continued in a general practice together until 1886, when the subject of our sketch retired from the profession to engage in the real-estate and insurance business, and in partnership with E. A. Turner, established the firm of Turner & Lewis, which continued successfully until 1889. That year the firm dissolved, selling the insur- ance business to W. L. Gazzam, who organized the insurance firm of W. L. Gazzam & Co. Mr. Lewis continued the real-estate business to 1891, when he purchased the interest of the above firm, and with B. W. Baker and H. A. Raser, incorporated under the name of W. L.

Gazzam & Co. Mr. Lewis was president of the company one year, at the end of which time he retired from active management, still, however, remaining a stockholder and director of the enterprise, which has become very'extended in its business connection. Mr. Lewis is now en- gaged in looking after his private interests, which embrace acre property in Yakima county, both acre and city property at Anacortes, and improved property in the city of Seattle.

He was married in Seattle, in 1881, to Miss Bessie Terry, a native of Seattle and a daughter of Hon. Charles A. Terry, one of the prominent pioneers of that city. They have four childran : Howard T., Marie B., Edward C. and Joseph R.

Mr. Lewis has recently erected a handsome residence on the corner of Tenth and Jefferson streets, which commands a pleasing outlook over the city and adjacent county.

J JOHN F. MILLER, Prosecuting Attorney of King county, Washington, was born at South Bend, Indiana, June 9, 1862. His parents, I. Newton and Martha E. (Ritter) Mil- ler, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, were natives of the same locality. His paternal grandfather, who removed from Ohio to South Bend about 1831, was the founder of the deaf and dumb asylum of that city. John F. Miller, an uncle of our subject, rose to the rank of Major-General dur- ing the Civil war; subsequently settled in San Francisco, California, in the practice of law, and later was elected to the United States Senate from that State. I. Newton Miller has followed an agricultural life near South Bend, and still resides upon the old homestead.

John F. Miller was educated in the public schools of South Bend and at the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. He then entered the law school at Valparaiso, Indiana, where he graduated with the class of 1887. Wishing to establish his future with the growth of a newer country, he decided . upon Seattle, and came direct to this city, where he arrived without means to maintain his support and without a friend in the Northwest. To satisfy immediate wants, he accepted anything which offered, and for some weeks worked in a sawmill. He then found occupation in the office of the Seattle Press, and later with the Daily Times, contiun- ing in the newspaper work until the fall of

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1888, when he was elected Justice of the Peace. lle filled that office for two years, performing a large amount of labor. In the fall of 1890 he was the nominee by acelamation of the Republi- can eouvention as Prosecuting Attorney of King county, and being subsequently elected, he assumed the duties of that office on the 12th of Jannary, 1891. In the discharge of his duties he has been so successful in convicting of crime-averaging ninety per cent of those in- dieted-that the Republican party, in conven- tion assembled in 1892, evinced their approval of Mr. Miller's efforts by renominating him for an additional term of two years.

Mr. Miller was married in Bloomington, Illinois, in 1889, to Miss Mary E. Stewart, and they have one child, Leath.

Fraternally, Mr. Miller affiliates with the Knights Templar and Shrine, F. & A. M., the Encampment, I. O. O. F., and is Captain of Rainier Division, No. 18, Uniform Rank, K. of P.

H ON. GEORGE WASHINGTON TIB. BETTS, one of the best known farmers and most highly esteemed citizens of King county, Washington, honored alike for his ability and great worth of character, was born in Acton, Maine, January 22, 1845. His parents, Daniel and Mary (Witham) Tibbetts, belonged to prominent families of New England, that of his father being among the oldest and had lived on the place where the subject of this sketch was born, for more than 150 years. Mr. Tibbetts of this notice was the youngest of fifteen children, only three of whom survive, himself and two brothers.

When My. Tibbetts was but one year old, he had the misfortune to lose his mother, and at the age of four was placed with an aunt, Mrs. Susan P. Witham, at West Milton, New Ilamp- shire, with whom he remained until he was fifteen. He then went to Great Falls, New IIamphire, where he was at the outbreak of the war, July 12, 1861, at the age of sixteen and six months he enlisted for three years in Com- pany F, of the Fourth New Hampshire Infan- try. At the end of this time he re-enlisted in the same company and was shortly afterward promoted to the rank of Sergeant. His com- pany was attached to the Tenth Army Corps, and participated in a number of important bat-

tles, the principal among which were those of Port Royal, Pocotaligo, Drewry's Bluff. Peters- burg, Bermunda Hundred, Deep Bottom and the Siege of Charleston. Ile was captured by the enemy at Deep Bottom and suffered all the hor- rors of southern prison life. He was finally mustered out of the army at Concord, New Hampshire, June 30, 1865, after four years' faithful and efficient service in the cause of his country and fellow men.

Owing to long imprisonment and consequent hardship and exposure. Sergeant Tibbetts' con- stitution was much impaired, and he sought change of seene and the bracing air of the West in hopes of regaining new strength. Ile went to Moniteau county, Missouri, and in October 1865, settled in Excelsior, which town he named and where he engaged in mercantile pursuits, which he followed there about six years. In the meantime, hearing favorable reports of the Northwest, in May, 1871, he came to Portland, Oregon, where he remained one year. At the end of that time he settled on his present prop- erty in Squak valley, near Puget Sound, where he has ever since resided, with the exception of one year on Whidby island and three years as Postmaster and merchant in Renton, King county. When Mr. Tibbetts first came to Sqnak valley, he and his family lived in a small log house, the only other white woman besides his wife within a radius of ten miles being Mrs. J. W. Bush. In the log cabin just mentioned, Mr. Tibbetts' daughter Ida May, was born. It was in this same cabin that William Castro and wife and John Halstead were murdered by the Indians, November 7, 1864. Some Indians having a grudge against the whites in their own community, eamne to the Sqnak valley and mur- dered this family. The only other family in the Squak valley at that time was that of James William Bush. Ile, however, succeeded in fortifying his cabin, and with the assistance of friendly Indians, managed to escape. Mr. Tib- hetts now owns about 1,000 acres of choice agricultural land and is numbered among the most successful farmers of his vicinity, his pros- perity being due entirely to his unaided and persevering efforts, and he is justly entitled to his reward.

Sergeant Tibbetts was one of the organizers of the G. A. R. Post, No. 1, of Washington and Alaska, which was very appropriately named the General I. I. Stevens Post, after the first Governor of the former Territory. On its or-

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ganization, Sergeant Tibbetts was elected Senior Vice Commander and a year later promoted to the rank of Commander. In 1881, he was elected Brigadier General of the State militia, in which capacity he ably served for two years.

Besides these positions of trust and responsi- bility, Mr. Tibbetts has been honored by election to numerous civil offices, in all of which he has reflected credit on himself and on the judgment of his constituents. He was in 1887 elected to the Territorial Legislature, serving the interests of all with efficiency and integrity. Ile has also ably served at different times as Justice of the Peace, Notary Public and Postmaster of Squak now Gilman. In 1889 he became a member of the convention which met at Olympia to frame the constitution of the State of Washington, and it is needless to say that he rendered material assistance by his counsel.

In March, 1868, Mr. Tibbetts was married, at Carthage, Missouri, to Rebecca A. Wilson, a lady of intelligence and rare worth of character. They have four children: Ida May, now Mrs. Goode; George Wilson, Fred S. and Charles F., all of whom hold honorable positions in busi- ness and society.

Few men are as widely known or as highly esteemed throughout the Northwest as General Tibbetts, and no one more thoroughly enjoys the best wishes of all for his future prosperity and happiness.

J AMES CARTY, one of the largest land- holders in Clark county, Washington, an extensive farmer and dairyman, is a native of Ireland, born in Wexford county, March 16, 1839. His parents, William and Margaret (Rossater) Carty, were thrifty and respected people, the father being a merchant and hotel- keeper.

Mr. Carty, of this sketch, spent the first fifteen years of his life in his native county, attending the local schools and enjoying the further advantage of a cultured and refined home. Induced by a love for travel, he entered the merchant service, in 1854, and followed a sea-faring life for a number of years. He spent six months on a French transport on the Black Sea, after which he was two years in the English, and three and a half years in the American merchant marine, his occupation tak-

ing him all over the world. In 1859, he sailed from Liverpool, on the ship Bodrydan, for Val- paraiso, Chili, and thence went to Panama, where he accepted a position as coal passer on the American steamer, Golden Gate, being later promoted to fireman. He was on this steamer three months and afterward on the Cortez for six months. In 1860, he came to Portland, Oregon, on the old steamer Panama, whenee he proceeded to Clarke county, Washington, to visit an uncle, who had come to the coast in 1843, in the employ of the Hudson's Bay Com- pany, and was in charge of the company's cooper shop in Vanconver for many years. Mr. Carty's uncle was the first settler on Union ridge, in Clarke county, where he died in 1872, regretted by all who knew him. He was a man of kindly impulses and upright character, and enjoyed universal esteem.

In 1861, the subject of this sketch went to the Oro Fino mines, in Idaho, where he spent eleven years with varying suceess, sometimes making a profitable income and again losing all his hard-earned savings in unsuccessful mining operations. At the end of that time, he onee more returned to Washington and settled on the Gee donation claim, besides which he bought 400 acres of Mr. Lancaster, and a part of the Fowler donation claim in 1876. He now owns about 700 acres, comprising pasture, meadow and farming land, elear of timber, fifty of which he cultivates to general products. His princi- pal industry is dairying, in which he uses the product of from forty to sixty-five cows, mak- ing butter for the Portland market. He has an orchard of about two acres and a half, most of the trees of which are apple, although there are other fruit trees in smaller quantities, all in a thrifty condition. The whole place bears an air of prosperity, the result of energetic and careful management, and reflects great credit on the methods pursued by Mr. Carty. He is not only profited thereby, but the community also is benefitted by his work, much of its prosperity being dne to this cause.

In 1873, Mr. Carty was married to Mrs. Jane Reed, widow of Captain G. H. Reed, and a native of Dublin, Ireland, her maiden name being Flynn. In 1886, Mr. Carty was called upon to inourn his wife's death. She was an estimable woman and contributed much by her intelligence and economy to her husband's prosperity. October 8, 1891, Mr. Carty was married to his present wife, whose maiden name

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was Anna O'Rourke, a native of county Car- low, Ireland, who is a worthy helpmate. Their marriage took place in Iowa City, Iowa.

The subject of this sketch, after thirty years spent in this western land, in 1890 returned to his native land to see his kindred and the old homestead. After a pleasant visit there he re- turned to his adopted home in the Evergreen State of Washington, in the land where rolls the Oregon.

Politically, Mr. Carty is a Democrat and takes an active part in local affairs. IIe has served a member of Clarke County Central Com- mittee of his party and has otherwise aided the cause of Democracy. He is a generons neigh- bor, faithful friend and good citizen, a credit to his community and the State.

A NDWARTH H. CHAMBERS, one of the enterprising developers of the city of Olympia, Washington, was born on Cbam- bers' prairie, Thurston county, this State, in 1851.

David J. Chambers, his father, was born in Belfast, Ireland, but his earliest recollection is of Tennessee, where he was brought by his par- ents in infancy, who resided for a number of years on the plantation of AAndrew Jackson, of presidential fame, for whom David's father acted as overseer. David was married in Missouri in 1845 to Miss Elizabeth Harrison, and the sum- mer was passed on the plains with his wife, parents and brothers in their tedions journey to Oregon. After six months' wearisome travel they arrived at The Dalles in October, 1845, and there passed the winter in whipsawing tim- ber, from which they built a flat boat, 12 x 40 feet, the planks being fastened together with wooden pins instead of spikes. On this their cattle were ferried across the river, and twelve families with fourteen wagons were transported down the river to Vancouver, and thenee through Portland to Oregon City. In this vicinity Mr. David Chambers settled on land which he im- proved and on which he continued to reside until 1847. He then came north of the Colum- bia river and worked for one season on the farm ot the Catholic mission on the Cowlitz river, threshing their wheat with horses in the primi- tive style. In the fall of 1848 he removed to Chambers' prairie, and in the spring of 1850 settled on the donation claim which he still

occupies. In 1852 he packed fifty fruit trees from the Lewellyn nursery, near Oregon City. which he planted on his farin, and many are still bearing fruit, his cherry trees being among the largest in the Northwest, the limbs covering an area of sixty feet in diameter. Besides his farming interests, Mr. Chambers has been an extensive dealer in beef cattle. Ile now owns 2,600 aeres on Chambers', Long and Yelme prairies, but allows others to cultivate and man- age his large estate, as he has retired from active pursuits. Ile is now in his seventy-third year, although appearing much younger, being still erect and in the enjoyment of every faculty. His worthy wife, the sharer of his hardships and success, also survives, and is bright and vivacious. Their seven children are all alive and well settled in various pursuits, a credit alike to their parents and the State in which they reside.

Andwarth II. Chambers, whose name heads this biography, was reared in his native county, and began his active career at the age of twelve years, by herding stock on his father's farm on Yelme prairie. He was thus engaged until he arrived at the age of nineteen years, when he came to Olympia to manage the city market, established at that place by his father, the arrangement being that he should receive a half interest in the business. This partnership con- tinned for seven years, when Andwarth pur- chased the entire business, which he continued to successfully conduct until he sold out in 1888 and retired from active pursuits.

He has not, however, confined his energies to the one enterprise mentioned, but, on the contrary, has aided every noteworthy undertak- ing calculated to advance the interests of his community. Ile was one of the organizers of the Olympia gas works in 1884, in which he bought a controlling interest in 1888. The company then established the first electric light plant in the city, both of which enterprises he continued until July, 1891, when they were consolidated with the Olympia Light & Power Company, under the latter name. The electric works are situated at Tumwater, the company owning the entire power of the Des Chutes river, which, with a fall of eighty-three feet, furnishes 1,000-horse power at extreme low water. In 1892 this company built the electric street car line running between Olympia and Tumwater, having four miles of track. Mr. Chambers is secretary and manager of the entire

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interest. In 1887 be built the Chambers Block, at the corner of Fourth and Main streets, which is one of the largest and best business buildings in the city. In 1889-'90 he was one of the campaign committee who rendered such efficient service in securing the State capital for Olym- pia. Ile was also one of the enterprising citi- zens who erected the Olympia Hotel, at a cost of $115,000, to which, besides his liberal con- tribution, he gave one year's time in the man- agement of construction. He was chairman of the committee who selected the site and super- intended the erection of Odd Fellows' Hall, at the corner of Fifth and Main streets. He has also served a number of years as director of the First National Bank. He was a member of the City Council for twelve years, serving several terms as Mayor of the city. In November, 1891, he was elected by the Democratic party a Representative to the Legislature from Thurs- ton county, serving to the best of his ability the best interests of his fellow-citizens. Indeed, few men have aided as much in the general ad- vancement of the State or city in which he lives, and few more justly deserve the com- mendation of all worthy people.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 139

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