An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 145

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 145

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

He was an earnest supporter of Whig politics, a great admirer of Henry Clay and protection, and served several terms in the State Legisla- ture.

Thomas M., the subject of this sketch, was educated in the Ohio Wesleyan University, of Greencastle, Indiana, graduating thereat in 1855, with the degree of A. B., and subse- quently received the degree of Ph. D. from De Pauw University, at Greencastle, Indiana. After spending a few months at the Lane Theological Seminary, at Cincinnati, Ohio, he emigrated to California, by way of the Panama route, in the year 1856, landing at San Fran- cisco. Mr. Gatch then proceeded to the mines of Tuolumne county, but soon decided that mining was too laborious, for him and that teaching was more in accordance with his taste and training, and he accepted the profferred chair of mathematics and natural science at the University of the Pacific, at Santa Clara. One year later he was appointed Principal of the public schools at Santa Cruz for one year, was then married, resumed his old position at Santa Clara until the summer of 1859, when he re- moved to Olympia. Washington, as Principal of the Puget Sound Wesleyan Institute. While there Mr. Gateh was elected to the chair of ancient languages and moral science of Will- amette University, at Salem, Oregon, entering upon his duties in the autumn of 1860; in the following December was elected President of the University, but resigned his position in Au- gust, 1865. The following year was spent in California, and in 1866 he came to Portland, Ore- gon, as Principal of the Portland Academy; from 1870 to 1880 was President of the Willa- mette University. He was a member of the State Board of Education from its first organi- zation till he left the State. In 1877 he was elected Mayor of Salem, and re-elected in 1879. While in that city our subject was elected Pres- ident of the State University of Oregon, located at Eugene, which he declined, but subsequently accepted the Professorship of history and Eng- glish literature in that institution, which he taught until January, 1881. Mr. Gatch was then solicited to take charge as Principal of the Wasco Independent Academy, at The Dalles, re- maining there until 1886, and in that year made a trip to Europe, visiting England, Scotland, Belgium, Switzerland, France and Germany, spending considerable time amid the homes and haunts of the literary men and poets of the

north of England and Scotland. Returning to The Dalles, Mr. Gatch continued his instruction until June, 1887, when he was elected Presi- dent of the Territorial University of Washing- ton.

When Prof. Gatch became President, the pu- pils enrolled numbered 168, but the institution grew in strength and efficiency until during the year of 1890-'91 the enrollment numbered 313. In 1891 the preparatory department was abol- ished, although they continue a sub-freshman class, and the university is now recognized as an institution of high order, and in rank with the colleges of the country.

Prof. Gatch was married in Santa Cruz, in 1858, to Miss Orytha Bennett, a daughter of S. F. Bennett, who arrived in California soon after the discovery of gold, and was employed at Sutter's mill. Our subject and wife have had five children, three now living, viz .: Claud, the present Mayor of Salem, Oregon; Claire, libra- rian and teacher in art in the State University of Washington; and Grace, a graduate of 1893. Socially, the Professor affiliates with the F. & A. M. and the I. O. O. F. He has served as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, and Grand Patriarch of the Grand Encampment, I. O. O. F., of Oregon. In Masonry, he is Secretary of St. John's Lodge, No. 9, and being of the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, he is Secretary of Washington Lodge of Perfection, No. 1, and Washington Chapter, No. 1, Knights of Rose Croix. He is also Recorder of Washington Preceptory, No. 1, Knights Kadosh, and Registrar of Lawson Consistory, No. 1, A. & A. S. R.

F RANCIS E. MELOY, County Surveyor of Lewis county, was born in Multnomah county, Oregon, February 6, 1854, a son of Nathan H. and Mary W. (Goodell) Meloy, natives of Pennsylvania and Canada, respect- ively. The father crossed the plains with the tide of emigration in 1851, locating in Mult- nomah county, Oregon, where he died in 1862. In the same year Mrs. Meloy came with her children to Lewis county, Washington, where she still resides.

Francis E. Meloy, the second in a family of six children, received his education in the public schools, and was early inured to the hardships

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of the farm life. He was reared in the family of Henry M. Sterns, a prominent farmer and surveyor. Through practical experience with that gentleman, Mr. Meloy gained his knowl- edge of his profession, although he made a theoretical study of civil engineering a specialty, but theory and practical experience combined make perfect. He has followed his profession continuously since that time, with the exception of a brief period devoted to agricultural pur- suits on his own account. This venture, how- ever, proved unsnecessful from a financial stand- point, and he again resumed surveying. Since 1888 Mr. Meloy has served as County Surveyor of Lewis county.

November 28, 1880, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Helen M. Fay, a native of Illi- nois. They have three children: Ernest M., Millard E. and Leona F.

In political matters, Mr. Meloy is an active Republican, and is now a member of the City Council. He is identified with the Chehalis Title, Abstract & Guaranty Company, and a stockholder in the Washington Mining & De- velopment Company. which was organized in 1892. Socially, he affiliates with the I. O. O. F., Ridgely Lodge, No. 20, and holds a member- ship in Wildy Encampment, No. 9. He has passed all the official chairs in the subordinate lodge, and has been a member of the State Grand Lodge. Mr. Meloy has always kept abreast of the times, and is ever ready to aid and encourage public enterprises, especially those which have for their object the progress and development of the city and county.

H ON. J. M. PICKENS, City Justice of Chehalis, was born in Pike county, Mis- souri, Angust 26, 1851, a son of James A. and Hetten (Jordan) Pickens, natives also of Missouri, and both are descendants of early and influential families of that State. The pa- ternal family removed from South Carolina to Missouri, and the Jordans were also a well- known family of the South. John R. Jordan, grandfather of our subject, participated in the war of 1812, and was also a member of Daniel Boone's company during the famous Black Hawk Indian war.

J. M. Pickens, his parents' only child, lost his father by death in 1851, and the mother then

removed to Jacksonville, Illinois, where he at- tended the public schools. He also graduated at the Illinois College with the class of 1870. Having read law by himself for two years dur- ing his collegiate course, he entered the law office of Cyrus Epler, now Circuit Judge of Morgan county. His studies were completed in the office of Epler & Callan, eminent praeti- tioners of Jacksonville, and was duly admitted to the bar in 1874. Mr. Piekens practiced law in the city of Jacksonville nntil 1877, and then followed his profession about eleven years in southeastern Missonri. During his residence there he was elected to the office of Prosecuting Attorney three snecessive terins, of two years each. He then took up a pre-emption claim on Mc Neil island, but since March, 1889, has made his home in Chehalis, Washington, where he is now among the leading attorneys.

Judge Piekens was married in Missouri, July 4, 1888, to Miss Frances J. Farris, a native of that State. They have four children: Lucian A., Helen C., Horace Lee and Ray Far- ris. One sou, John S., died in 1893. In politi- cal matters the Judge is a stanch and active Democrat. He was elected to the position of Supreme Judge in 1892, and was the nominee for the same office at the fall election, but met with defeat. Socially, he has passed the official chairs in the A. O. U. W., and has also been a delegate to the Grand Lodge.

H ENRY S. ELLIOTT, City Attorney of Chehalis, Lewis county, Washington, was born in South Carolina, March 26, 1858, a son of General Stephen and Charlotte (Stewart) Elliott, natives also of South Caro- lina. The father served with distinction in the Confederate army during the war of the Rebell- ion. He departed this life in 1866, and the mother survived him one year.

Henry S. Elliott, the second in a family of three children, was reared in the city of Wash- ington, District of Columbia, where he received his education under private tutors until prepared for a collegiate course. He graduated at the Columbian College with with the class of 1877, and his professional studies were completed in 1880. In that year Mr. Elliott was admitted to practice in the courts of South Carolina. Two years later he removed to Johnson county, Wy-

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oming, and in 1891 came to Chehalis, Lewis county, Washington. While a resident of Johnson county, in 1889, he was a member of the Wyoming Constitutional Convention, and also served one term as Prosecuting Attorney of that county. He takes an active interest in political matters, and is a stanch advocate of Democracy. Socially, Mr. Elliott affiliates with the F. & A. M., and is Past Chancellor of the K. of P.

In Wyoming, in 1885, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Helen Elkhart, a native of Ohio. They have three children. Henry, Clarence and John.

J AMES R. WOOD, one of the argonants of California, a Washington pioneer of 1851, and a resident of Olympia, dates his birth in Husteds, Duchess county, New York, in 1825. His parents, Isaac and Catherine (Bahcoek) Wood, were natives of the same State.

Isaac Wood was a mechanic. He followed the trade of wheelright at Husteds, but, after removing to Springfield, in 1826, engaged in the manufacture of barrels, and also learned the business of brewing. In 1841 he moved to Utica. Michigan, where he continued as a coop- er until 1847, and whence he removed to Southport, Wisconsin.

James R. remained with his parents, and assisted his father in the shop until 1847, when he was married at Utica, Michigan, to Miss Delia Smith. He then removed to Spring Prairie, and subsequently to Southport, Wis- consin, engaged in the cooper business at both places. In April, 1849, he and his father started with an ox team for California, traveling through Utah and Arizona, and entering the Golden State by the southern route. From Los Angeles they directed their course to San Francisco, where they arrived in March, 1850. Proceed- ing to the mines on the American river, they worked through the summer, making fair wages, and in the fall the senior Mr. Wood returned to Wisconsin. The following spring. accompanied by his two sons, John and Rolland, he crossed the plains to Washington, being joined at Olym- pia by James R. Near the corner of Fifth and Columbus streets they built a cooper shop, which still stands, and for two years were en- gaged in the manufacture of fish barrels. Then

they turned their attention to the carper.ter's trade and worked at it untill 1861, when James and his father built a brewery on the corner of Fifth and Columbus streets, and began the mannfacture of beer. This business was con- tinued by the subject of our sketch until 1881, when he rented the brewery. Since that date he has worked at the carpenter's trade.

Having lost his wife in Wisconsin, in 1849, Mr. Wood was married at Olympia, in 1859, to Maria B. Yantis, a native of Kentucky. They have two children, Oscar I. and Francis A.

During the Indian troubles of 1855, Mr. Wood served three months in Company B, under Captain Hayes, and, re-enlisting, was six months in Company B, Washington Volun- teers, the last two months of service being de- tailed as Commissary Sergeant. He took an ac- tive part in the early organization of Olympia, having served as City Treasurer and as Secretary of Fire Company No. 1. Of late years, however, he has neither sought nor desired public office.

EORGE S. ARMSTRONG, M. D., Sec- retary of the State Board of Health, and a practioner of Olympia, Washington, was born in Grey county, Ontario, Canada, in 1858.

Ilis father, John W. Armstrong, was a native of Ireland, received a classical education at New Ross and Kilkenny, and immigrated with his parents to Ontario in the early settlement of that country. He subsequently married Miss Elizabeth J. Wilson, a native of county Fer- managh, Ireland, and settled in Grey county. In 1858 he was appointed Clerk of the Division Court, succeeding his father, who had served eleven years, and Mr. Armstrong is the present incumbent of that office, after thirty-seven years of continuons service.

George S. was the first-born in a family of twelve children. His preliminary education was obtained in the publie schools. Then he en- tered the Methodist Collegiate Institute at DuIn- das, Ontario, and, subsequently, took a finishing course at the Hamilton Collegiate Institute. In 1875 he began the study of medicine at the Trinity Medical College. at Toronto, and gradn- ated in the University of Toronto, in 1879, with the degree of M.D. He commenced practice in one of the country villages of Ontario, where

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he continned successfully np to 1883. He was then employed as surgeon of the Canadian Paci- fie railroad and was stationed at MeKay's harbor, on the north shore of Lake Superior, in charge of the railroad hospital, the duties of which office he discharged until January, 1886, when he went to Europe to take the British examina- tion, in view of accepting a professorship at the Toronto University. He was examined and passed the L. R. C. of Physicians in London, the L. R. C. of Physicians and of the Surgeons in Edinburg, and the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow. On returning to Ontario to in 1877, his plans were changed and he came the United States, locating at Minneapolis, Min- nesota, and engaging in a general practice, also accepting a professorship on the practice of medi- cine in the Collegeof Physicians andg Surgeons of that city.

In March, 1889, Dr. Armstrong came to Olympia, where he has since continned the prac- tice of his profession, and also performs special work in surgery and diseases of the eye. With the establishing of the State Board of Health by Governor Ferry, Dr. Arinstrong was ap- pointed a member of that Board, and by the Board was elected its first President. Subse- quently, by the resignation of the secretary, he was elected to fill the vacancy, and is still the incumbent of that office. He is also Vice- President of the Medical Society of the State of Washington. He is Senior Warden of Olympia Lodge, No. 1, F. and A. M , Surgeon for the Forester's lodge, Secretary of the Board of Pension Examiners, Surgeon for the North- een Pacific and Port Townsend and Southern railroads, and Coroner for Thurston county.

Dr. Armstrong was married at Belleville, Ontario, in 1884, to Miss Ina Maud Lazier, a native of Ontario. She is a lineal descendant of the Hugenots, and her ancestors have long been residents of Ontario.

E DWARD T. YOUNG, president of the Olympia Light & Power Company, Olym- pia, Washington, was born in Green- wich, England, December 17, 1846. In 1855 his parents emigrated to the United States, but subsequently settled at New Castle, Ontario, where Edward T. secured a common-school edu- cation. After which he attended Friends

Seminary at Pictou, Prince Edward Island, oue year, and at the age of thirteen years began self-support, and entered upon an apprentice- ship of several years to the trade of carpenter and joiner and general builder.

In 1863 he came west to California, where he followed his trade antil 1869. That year he moved to Olympia, Washington Territory, and engaged in contracting and building, which be continued until 1872. Then he went to Tacoma and built several residences in old town, and the first house erected in new town was under his superintendency. He also helped raise the bell upon the old stump in old town, this being the first church bell in Pierce county. Returning to Olympia in the spring of 1873, he entered into partnership with John Brown and estab- lished the New England bakery and restaurant, which they conducted nntil February, 1874, when it became necessary, owing to their large trade, to have increased facilities, and they rented the old Tacoma hotel, on the corner of Second and Main streets, and conducted a gen- eral hotel business up to 1876. At that time the firm dissolved, and Mr. Young continued to operate the house alone. In 1878 he purchased the property, made the necessary improvements, changed the name to Young's Hotel, and re- mained as its genial host until 1882, when he leased the property.

Mr. Young then made an extended trip through the eastern States and Canada, return- ing via Washington, District of Columbia, where he had particular business with the Government, in securing the order of opening to settlement a strip of land, fifteen miles wide and sixty miles long, across the entire reserva- of Chief Moses. His efforts were also instru- mental in opening the entire reservation to the public. This led to the creation of Okanogan county from Stevens county, of which it was formerly a part. The incentive which led Mr. Young to engage in this work was the valuable silver quartz mines in which he and others had been interested before the reservation was lo- cated. Mr. Young is president of the Eagle Mining Company at Mount Chopaaca, and the Smilkimeen mining district in Okanogan county.

Returning to Olympia in February, 1884, he resumed his hotel interests, the management of which he has continued to the present time, though lately his hotel has been conducted upon the European plan. In 1890 Mr. Young bought

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the Middle Falls at Tumwater from the estate of Mr. Crosby, the original proprietor, and organized the Capital Electric Light Company, which, later, was incorporated as the Olympia Light & Power Company. He then contracted with the Edison Electric Company for the in- stallment of a central station at Olympia, and thus established the first lighting station ever operated by electric motor. In July, 1891, they consolidated with the Olympic Gas & Elec- tric Light Company, retaining the old name, and Mr. Yonng was elected president, to the duties of which office he devotes a large amount of time.

He was married in Olympia, in 1876, to Miss Josephine, daughter of Isaac Dofflemyer, a pio- neer of 1849. They have had seven children: Edna Mabel (deceased), Edward A., Volney C. F., William C., Engene S., Edith V. and Don- ald McTavish.

Mr. Young is Past Grand of Encampment No. 1, I. O. O. F., Past Chief Patriarch and Past Grand Representative. He has been largely engaged in real-estate dealings, and re- sides in Young's addition on the west side, where he has extensive interests. He has served ten years as Mayor and member of the City Council of Olympia, and in 1887 was appointed Requisition Agent of the Territory of Wash- ington by Eugene Semple, Territorial Gover- nor. Mr. Young is one of the broad-minded men of Olympia, thoroughly enlisted in the de- velopment of his adopted city, and ever ready with financial support to stimulate her grow- ing institutions.

SAAC W. ANDERSON, manager of the Tacoma Land Company, one of the princi- pal promoters of the interests of Tacoma, and a representative citizen of the State of Washington, was born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, February 17, 1856. His parents were Dr. Isaac W. and Martha Y. (Crawford) Anderson. He was reared and educated in the East and came to Washington in Septem- ber, 1877, taking a clerkship in the office of the General Superintendent of the Northern Pacific Railroad. He subsequently engaged in steamboating on the Sound for one year, after which he devoted his attention to the develop- ment and operation of lime kilns in the Pny-

allup valley. In 1882 he assumed the man- agement of the Tacoma Land Company, and has since that time directed the extensive oper- ations of that corporation.

Mr. Anderson has figured as one of the principal promoters and founders of all the manufacturing institutions and other industries which have made the Tacoma of to-day possible, and of her large financial institutions was one of the organizers of the Fidelity Trust Com- pany and of the Tacoma National Bank, he being a director of the latter. He was Presi- dent of the Chamber of Commerce in 1889 and 1890. Much could be said of Mr. Anderson's connection with the growth of Tacoma; less could not be said, in justice to history. His impress on the annals of the city is indelibly made.

D R. T. H. MERRILL, prominent among the representatives of the medical pro- fession, who have associated themselves with the fortunes of Tacoma, Washington, is a native of New England, born in Harmony, Maine, January 8, 1841. His parents were James and Sophronia (Hurd) Merrill, the latter of whom died when the subject of this sketch was but ten years of age. Two years later the family removed to Pittsfield, Maine, where the early life of young Merrill was passed, his edn- cation being begun in the common schools and continned in the high school of that city. He later attended the Bloomfield Academy, and, when seventeen years of age began to teach, but subsequently relinquished this occupation to resume the prosecution of his own studies. This time he entered the State Seminary of Maine, now Bates College, at which he re- mained two years and a half. At the end of this time he was offered the position of Princi- pal of the Parkman (Maine) Institute, which he accepted, and efficiently discharged the duties incumbent on him for one year.

In the meantime, however, he had, after much consideration, decided to adopt medicine as a profession, and consequently resigned his position as Principal to begin his new studies under the supervision of Dr. J. C. Manson, of Pittsfield, Maine. When sufficiently advanced in his reading he began to attend lectures at the Kentucky School of Medicine, in Louisville,

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and on completion of his studies at that insti- tution entered on the practice of his profession in the Blue Grass State.

Ilis favorite occupation was interrupted by the exigencies of the war, which respects neither inclinations nor the persons who enter- tain them. During the years 1863-64 Dr. Merrill was Private Secretary to the Quarter- master in charge of the Union troops at Bowl- ing Green and Munfordville, Kentucky. Later, however, he returned to his native State of Maine and entered into the practice of medi- cine in Penobscot county. He was here chosen as Superintendent of Public Instruction, in which he took great interest, and was also ap- pointed by the Governor of the State a Justice of the Peace and Quorum. He was chosen chair- man of the District Republican Convention. Some time afterward, he determined to further pursne his studies, with a view to familiarizing himself with the latest advancements in the science of inedieine, and accordingly went to New York city, where he entered Bellevue College, at which he graduated in 1872. Fre- quently since then he has visited this celebrated institution of learning, to there review the rapid advancement of this science.

On leaving Bellevue College, he resumed the practice of medicine at Foxcroft, Maine, where the calls on his profession extended his labors over a large field of constantly increas- ing patronage. After seventeen years of con- stant devotion to his practice here, he came, in 1889, to Washington, then a Territory, his main object being to obtain needed rest and incidentally to establish his son, F. G. Merrill, in the profession of law at Tacoma. He had fully intended to rest from labor for a year, but his naturally energetic and ambitions disposi- tion soon rebelled against this prolonged period of retirement from active pursuits, and accord- ingly, in October, 1889, he began medical practice iu Tacoma. Attracted by the charms of the city and country, and encouraged by his renewed health and the results of his labors, he has uninterruptedly continued in the practice of his profession ever since. Ilis extensive experience and careful preparation in his chosen calling has naturally gained for him front rank in his profession, as is well attested by the fact that he has just been appointed Professor of the principles and practice of surgery in the Tacoma College of Dental Surgery, where a full course of medical in-

struction is given. Always interested in the advancement of the welfare of his fellow men, the Doctor has become closely identified with the best movements of his chosen city, and has contributed by his knowledge and energy to place her among the first in the Northwest.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 145

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