An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 146

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 146

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In 1863 Dr. Merrill was married to Miss Susan C. Walker, a worthy lady, a native of Abbot, Maine, and they have five children.

Fraternally, the Doctor belongs to the Ta- coma Lodge, No. 22, F. and A. M., and to the chapter of the same order.

Essentially a self-made man, having pushed his way unaided through college and to success in his profession, he possesses all the attributes necessary for the unbuilding of cities and com- monwealths, and has evinced his ability in this line by his services in Tacoma, Washington.

HOMAS OLIVER, one of the substantial citizens of Cowlitz county, Washington, was born near the St. John's river, in New Brunswick, September 1, 1843, his parents being John and Elizabeth (McCorcon- dale) Oliver, both of whom were of Scotch origin, the mother having been a native of Glasgow. Thomas was the sixth born in their family of thirteen children. He spent his boy- hood days in the vicinity of his birthplace, be- ing employed at logging and in similar occupa- tions. When he was eighteen years old he went to Princeton, Maine, and in 1866 came to the Pacific coast, locating in California. He remained one month in Solano county, then went to Mendocino county, where he was en- gaged in lumbering until January, 1870, and from there he came north. On the 3d of the following February he arrived in Cowlitz county, Washington. Two weeks later he went to Columbia county, Oregon, where he re- mained until 1874. In June of that year he went to San Francisco, from wbence he re- turned to his childhood home in New Bruns- wick, on a visit. In October he came back to the Pacific coast, this time proceeding to Hum- boldt county, California, where he remained something like a year. Eventually, he came again to Cowlitz county, Washington, arriving December 7, 1876. Here he now has a fine farm on the Lewis river, lying about two miles northeast of Woodland, comprising in all about

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100 acres of land, of which seventy acres are under cultivation. He has twenty acres in hops, and has done much for the development of that industry in this county. On a hillside slope of his ranch he has five acres in winter apples, besides a family orchard, containing a general variety of fruit trees.

Mr. Oliver was married May 22, 1875, to Miss Harriet W. Tinnins, of New Brunswick, a cultured and intelligent lady, who has been of great assistance to him in his successful career. They have five children, Inez, Judson, Lewis, Walter and Pearl.

Mr. Oliver is a member of the Masonic or- der, having affiliated therewith in Maine. In politics, he is a Republican. He takes a com- mendable interest in the advancement of educa- tion, and has served two terms as Director of district No. 28.

H ON. D. W. PIERCE has been a conspic- nous figure both in the commerce and politics of Klickitat county since 1850, and it is with much pleasure that some recognition of his worth is made in this connec- tion. The senior member of the firm of D. W. Pierce & Son, he has been a prominent factor in pushing the lumber resources of the State to the front, and has established one of the most im- portant industries of the county. The present firm succeeded Pierce's Mill Company in 1888. They own 1,600 acres of pine timber land in Klickitat county, the manufactured product of which compares favorably with the hard pine of the East. They have erected a mill on this tract, twelve and a half miles from Goldendale, and their finished lumber finds a ready market over a wide section of country. Pierce Brothers & Company, a related business firm, own and operate an extensive plant for the manufacture of sash, doors, blinds and fine interior house-fin- ishings. They have a large local patronage, and have supplied the finishing material for many of the best houses in The Dalles, Oregon. This establishment is fitted up with the most ap- proved machinery in every department. The two firms mentioned employ from twenty-five to thirty men directly, while many others gain their livelihood in furnishing raw material for manufacture.

D. W. Pierce is a native of the State of Ver- mont, born in the town of Danville, Caledonia

county, August 31, 1835, a son of Daniel and Lucy (Edson) Pierce. Daniel Pierce was born in the town of Derby, Vermont, his parents be- ing natives of St. Johnsbury, Caledonia county, Vermont, and members of old and influential families of New England. Lucy Edson was born in Randolph, Vermont, her father being a native of the same town, and a descendant of honorable ancestors. The family removed to Derby, Orleans county, Vermont, when our sub- jeet was a mere lad, and there he received his education. He learned the cabinet-maker's trade with his father, and after a few years be- came a carpenter and contractor. In 1856, he left his old New England home and went to Waterloo, Jefferson county, Wisconsin, where he remained one year. In the spring of 1857 he went to Leavenworth, Kansas, and there cast his first vote for the Topeka constitution. Leaving Kansas, his next abiding place was in Richardson county, Nebraska, where he resided near the town of Salem for seven years. The twelve years following this period were spent in Pennsylvania, at Renova, Clinton county; there he was in the employ of the Pennsylvania Rail- way Company, and was also extensively en- gaged in contracting and building. Going from this place to Philadelphia he formed a partnership with John B. Given, and conducted a lumber commission business at 218} Walnut street, until he came to the Pacific coast.

After his arrival here he spent a few months in the Williamette valley, and then located at Goldendale, Klickitat county, Washington. During the first two years of his residence here he was engaged in building, and then entered into partnership with his brother, Edgar, this firm being succeeded by that of D. W. Pierce & Son. Later on Mr. Pierce became interested with his brother, Charles L., in the planing- mill and manufacturing business, the firm name being Pierce Brothers & Company.

Mr. Pierce was married in the town of Derby, Vermont, April 14, 1856, to Miss Be- linda Laythe, of Salem, Vermont. Mrs. Pierce is the daughter of Orrin and Thankful (Elliott) Laythe, descendants of Vermont pioneers. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce are the parents of six living children: Ella D., wife of Carlton Roe of San Francisco: Daniel William; Lizzie B., wife of C. C. Alvord of Goldendale; George E., Edson E. and Ruth M.

Since the organization of the Republican party, Mr. Pierce has given that body his

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allegiance. He has taken time from his private business affairs to attend the Territorial and State conventions as a delegate from the Repub. lican party. In 1890 he was the Republican candidate for State Senator, and failed of elec- tion by only four votes. In in 1892 he was on the ticket for Representative from Klickitat county, and was successful in the race. He served in the ensuing session as chairman of the committees on revenue and taxation, roads and highways, labor and labor statistics and the Agricultural College. He was on the special committee to visit the Soldiers' Home at Ort- ing. He is a member of the Goldendale lodge, No. 31, F. and A. M., and of Baker Post No. 20, G. A. R., department of Washington and Alaska. He enlisted in the service of the Union in 1863, joining Company L, Second Nebraska Cavalry. He was in the Northwest in General Sully's expedition against the Sioux Indians, and at the close of the campaign was honorably discharged at Falls City, Richardson county, Nebraska.

As is suggested by this outline of Mr. Pierce's career, he is a man of great energy and force of character, possessing much more than ordinary executive ability. And to men of this type is due the credit of the development of the great State of Washington.

C ONRAD AUER is a native of Switzer- land, and was born in canton Schaffhau- sen, town of Unterhallen, on May 30, 1842. His parents were Adam and Marguerite (Rupli) Auer; the former a carpenter and con- tractor by trade. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native place, and received his education in the common schools and later at the high school, completing his education at the age of seventeen. Meantime he had learned · the carpenter's trade with his father. He then traveled for some years in Switzerland, France, Germany and all over that portion of Europe. He spent the last half year at Bremen, and sailed from there in 1865 and landed in New York, after a voyage of forty-five days in a sai !- ing vessel. He located in Washington city, and remained there for two years. He was married there and then went to Wiscon- sin and located at Alma, Buffalo county, where he lived for four years, working

at his trade in partnership with his brother, George Auer, who still lives there. It was here that his wife died, and after a trip to Washing- ton city to see her relatives, he went from there to San Francisco, where he remained only a few months and went to Portland, Oregon. IIe worked there for two years for a Mr. Torkelson, and then came to Washington and located on a homestead about four miles from La Center, in Clarke county. It was in the woods, and he had to ent away the trees before he could build his house. He lived there six years and then sold the property and removed to his present loca- tion, two miles from La Center, where he has ninety-five acres, of which about thirty acres are cleared. Mr. Aner began planting prunes from stock which he bought in Vancouver, and now has fifteen acres in mostly Italian prunes. In 1886 he put in a distillery and began making brandy from prunes, and it may be said that he was the first one in Clarke county to embark in that business.

Mr. Auer was first married in Washington city, in June, 1869, to Miss Louisa Zimmerman. a native of Switzerland. She died in 1871, leaving one child, Alfred, who also died when three months old. He was married in 1972, in Portland, Oregon, to his present wife, who was a Miss Annie Barbara Wencker, a native of the same town in Switzerland in which Mr. Aner was born. They have had seven children, of whom six are now living, viz .: Delia, Alma, Margue- rite, who died at the age of twelve, Myrtle, George A., Marisca and Ollie.

Mr. Auer is an esteemed and honored citizen of Clarke county, and has held the office of School Director for five years, and also Road Supervisor.

S AMUEL F. STREET was born in Gallipo- lis, Ohio, June 21, 1844. His parents were Jacob and Rebecca (Cherington) Street; the former was a native of England, and was one of Ohio's earliest settlers. Samuel F. was reared in his native place until he had reached the age of sixteen, receiving his educa- tion at the common schools of Gallia county. In 1860 he removed to Keokuk county, Iowa, where he attended school for two years. In July, 1862, he enlisted at Oskaloosa, Iowa, in the Thirty-third Iowa Infantry, and was at- tached to Company F. He served for three years

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during which time he was in some of the most distinctive engagements of the war, and was sent on the most hazardous expeditions. Ile entered service as a private, and was mustered out with the rank of Orderly Sergeant. After the war he returned to Iowa and entered the Mt. Pleas- ant college, after which he taught school in Keokuk and Blackhawk counties. In 1868 he removed to Pontiac, Michigan, where he en- gaged in the book and stationery business, which he conducted until 1885, when he went to Kan- sas, but remaining only one year, came to Seat- tle, where he arrived on Christmas day in 1887. On his arrival at Seattle he secured the position of manager for Griffith Davies, a book and sta- tionery dealer, and remained with him until the great fire burned out the store and business. He then went into business for himself, but sold it in 1892, and accepted his present po- sition.

Mr. Street was married in November, 1868, to Miss Maria C. Bristol, of Michigan, who died in 1873, leaving one child, Homer B. Ile was again married in November, 1875, to Miss Mande S. McAlpine, of Canada. They have six children, viz .: Guy M., Bessie M., Florence M., Alice M., Samuel F., and Winifred M.

Mr. Street is a member of St. John's lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, Seattle; also of the Knights of Pythias, Bridge City Lodge, No. 69, Michigan. He has been a member of the Ste- vens' Post No. 1, G. A. R. since 1888, and has been twice its Commander. He has been a nice- ful and prominent citizen in whatever commu- nity he has resided, having been a member of various city councils in Michigan and Kansas, and was City Clerk in Iowa when only twenty- one years of age. His management of the Washington Soldiers' Home, at Orting, has been such as to make it one of the model institutions of its kind.

A DDISON A. LINDSLEY, a prominent citizen of Olympia, Washington, dates his birth at Waukesha, Wisconsin, Decem- ber 16, 1848.

His father, Rev. Aaron L. Lindsley, D. D., L. L. D., was a native of Troy, New York, de- scended from English ancestry that emigrated to the New World abont 1620, to escape relig- ious persecution. The family subsequently lo-

cated at Morriston, New Jersey, and took an active part in the Revolutionary war. After- ward they removed to Milton, New York, and followed milling and agricultural pursuits. The mother of our subject, Julia (West) Lindsley, was also of English ancestry, but of later emi- gration. Her family settled in New York city, where they were engaged in newspaper publica- tion. Aaron L. Lindsley was educated for the ministry in New York State, and after his mar- riage in 1846, went to the Wisconsin frontier as a missionary of the Presbyterian Board. While there he performed very laborious service, lay- ing foundations for educational and religious institutions. In 1852 he returned to New York and accepted an important pastorate at South Salem, Westchester county, where he re- mained until 1868. That year he removed to Portland, Oregon, as pastor-elect of the First Presbyterian Church; and during his pastorate of nearly twenty years he founded inany churches in the Northwest, and inaugurated evangelical missions in Alaska. In 1886 he removed to San Francisco, where he accepted a position as Professor of Practical Theology in the Presby- terian Seminary. His death in 1891 was the result of an accident while driving. His wife and seven children survive him.

Addison A. Lindsley received his preparatory education in private schools in the East. In 1868 he came to Portland with his father, mak- ing the trip from Laramie City, Nebraska, by the overland stage line to California, thence by rail and stage to Portland. He continued his studies under a private tutor until 1869, when he entered the senior class at the Pacific Uni- versity, and gradnated in 1870. He was thien employed by the Northern Pacific Railroad Com- pany, in preliminary surveys between Portland and Olympia; in 1871 was through eastern Washington and Idaho, continuing in the ser- vice of the company until 1873, when the road to Tacoma was completed. He next engaged in Government surveys. In 1874 he went to San Francisco, accepted a clerkship in a large estab. lishment, and was connected with it until 1877, when he engaged in business as importer and dealer in foreign and domestic coal. In the fall of 1879 he was elected Surveyor of San Fran- cisco county and city, and filled the office two years. In January, 1882, he came to Washing- ton and located in Clarke county, and, with his brother, George L., purchased 1,500 acres of land at the mouth of the Lewis river, engaging

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in the stock and dairy business. They put up the first steam dairy machinery in Clarke conn- ty, their dairy numbering an average of eighty- five cows.

In 1884 Mr. Lindsley was elected to the Ter- ritorial Legislature, and in 1889 to the Consti- tutional Convention, which convened at Olympia July 4, and continned in session forty-nine days. After the first State election, held Oc- tober 1, 1889, he was elected Treasurer of the new State. He is a member of the State Fish Commission, Mining Bureau, and by virtue of his office, by special act of the Legislature, is Fiscal Agent of the State.

W B. SPENCER, one of the enterprising young business men of Seattle, Wash- ington, was born in Boone county, Iowa, in 1856.

William A. Spencer, his father, was a native of Kingston, Ontario, and at the age of sixteen years went to Ohio to join his nucle, with whom he learned the trade of cabinet-maker. He was married in Utica, Ohio, to Miss Anna C. Burriss, and abont 1855 removed to Iowa. On account of the Indian depredations on the frontier. he returned to Ohio in 1857, and there followed his trade for ten years. In 1867, he settled in Missouri, where he followed agricul- tural pursnits until 1882. That year he went to southern California, and located near Los Angeles, at which point he and his sons own abont 1,000 acres of land and are engaged in fruit, nut and grain farming.

The subject of our sketch remained with his parents until he was fifteen years of age, receiv- ing only limited educational advantages. In 1871 he went to his father's old home in On- tario, aud there learned the trade of machinist and also the science of telegraphy. In 1875, returning to his parents in Missouri, he was employed as telegraph operator at stations on the line of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Rail- road, acting as relief to agents at various points along the line. In 1878 he was employed by the Santa Fe Railroad Company, as operator and dispatcher at Topeka, Emporia, Newton, Canon City and Alamosa, at the last named place filling the important position of station agent, employing about thirty hands. In 1880 he went to Gunnison, Colorado, and engaged in

the book and stationery business, and was ap- pointed Postmaster. While there he was in- strumental in connecting Gunnison with the mountain towns by the telephone system.

In 1882, Mr. Spencer came to Seattle and purchased a farm of 160 acres on the Nooksack river, and engaged in vegetable farming and the stock business. In 1883, he was employed by the Northern Pacific Railroad Company at Ta- coma, but a few months later came to Seattle as station agent for the Columbia & Puget Sound Railroad Company; was also agent for the Pa- cific Steamship Company, had charge of docks and coal shipping of the Oregon Improvement Company, and was agent for the Oregon Rail- way & Navigation Company, all of which offices he resigned in 1888 to take charge of the ticket and freight business of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, at Seattle. He re- signed this position in the fall of 1890 to take up the duties of County Clerk and ex officio Clerk of the Superior Court, to which office he had been elected by the Republican party in the November election. During his term of service the duties of his office were conducted so im- partially and satisfactorily, that, failing to get a renomination, he was nrgently solicited to be- come an independent candidate, and in that ca- pacity entered the campaign of 1892.

Mr. Spencer was married at Gunnison, Colo- rado, to Miss Emily Griggs, and has two child- ren, Jack and Archie.

Socially, he affiliates with the F. & A. M. By the judicious investment of his savings he has acquired valnable property in Scattle. He also owns ten acres on Lake Washington and still re- tains his farm on the Nooksack. He was one of the organizers and is the vice-president of the Black River Coal & Transportation Com- pany, which company has a mine fully devel- oped at the juncture of the Dwamish and Black rivers.

F RANK PAUL, one of the active young Republicans of King county, Washing- ton, and County Assessor from 1890 to 1892, was born near Coldwater, Branch county, Michigan, in 1862. His parents, David and Jane E. (Hall) Paul, were natives of Washing- ton county, New York. Mr. Paul located in Michigan in 1836, and lived on the old home stead until his death, November 20, 1890, at

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the age of seventy-two years. His widow still survives, now seventy years of age, and is occu- pying the old home.

Frank Paul was educated in the schools of Branch county, and was employed at farm work up to his eighteenth year. He then started out for self support, journeying westward and first stopping in Henry county, Iowa, where he farmned for three years. Then, in March, 1884, he pushed on to the Pacific coast, and located a homestead of 160 acres ten miles south of Seattle. He at once began improving his farm, and remained upon it until the summer of 1886, when, through accident, he shot himself in the shoulder. This necessitated his going to the hospital in Seattle, for treatment, and incapaci- tated him for manual labor. Upon recovery, he attended the State University for one term, after which he taught the Dwamish school until 1888. Froin that time until 1890 he was en- ployed as Deputy Assessor, and was then the nominee of the Republican party for Assessor, and was elected in November following. He performed the duties of the office most credit- ably, retiring in January, 1893.

Mr. Panl was married in Tacoma to Miss Rose M. Springer, a native of Iowa.

He still owns his ranch, a portion of which has been cleared, and is now farmed in hop-, orchard and hay. He also has property in Seattle, a house, barn and five acres adjoining the town of Kent, and 160 acres of unimproved land near Gilman.

D R. P. B. CARTER, an active physician of Tacoma, Wa-hington, estcemed alike tor professional skill and worth as a citizen, was born at Chapel Hill, in southern Texas, July 30, 1860. His parents, George W. and R. M. (Mellhaney) Carter, were both natives of Virginia, and descendants of early settlers of that State, their ancestors having been granted land in the Old Dominion by the king of England.

When the subject of this sketch was seven years of age, his parents returned to Virginia, and he was reared in Loudoun county, about six miles from Leesburg, the county seat, and re- ceived his literary education at Roanoke Col- lege. He afterward began reading medicine under the supervision of Dr. J. W. Taylor, an eminent physician of Hillsborough, and, in

1883, matriculated in the medical department of the University of Maryland, at which he graduated in the class of 1885.

The following year, he received an appoint- ment as physician in the Government Indian service, being first assigned to duty among the Brnles, in South Dakota. After a residence of about eleven months there, he was transferred to the Puyallup reservation, in Washington, where he remained about three years. From there he was transferred to the Skokomish agency, in the same State, and after three months' service there, was recalled to Washing- ton, District of Columbia, where he received an appointment as staff physician of the Column- bian Hospital. He remained there about a year, when he once more turned his face toward the West, retraeing his steps to Washington and settling in Tacoma, where he was actively engaged in the practice of his profession until January, 1881. Ile then removed to that part of the city known as Edison, where the North- ern Pacific Railroad shops are situated, and, for the past year, has been surgeon for the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. Although young the Doctor has achieved an enviable reputation for skillful and conscientious work, and is recog- nized as a rising physician.

September 29, 1883, Dr. Carter was married, in Virginia, to Miss R. Lee Milburn, a native of the Old Dominion and daughter of Jefferson and Mary E. Milburn, prominent and respected residents of that State. Dr. and Mrs. Carter have two children: Hall and Lee.

Aside from the esteem entertained for the Doctor as a professional man, he has gained the high regard of all by his progressive and pub- lic-spirited disposition and interest in the ad- vaneement of his adopted State and enjoys the best wishes of his fellow citizens for his future prosperity and happiness.

W ILLIAM LAFAYETTE STEARNS, a farmer of King county, was born in Ohio, June 11, 1837, a son of William and Sarah (Wooster) Stearns. When William L. was seven years of age he went with his par- ents to Illinois. While there, September 1, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Thirty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, was wounded by a bullet in the right leg at the battle of Pitts-

yours truly of A Bigelow

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burg Landing, and was discharge l in September, 1862. Mr. Stearns then remained at home nn- til 1865, for the following six years was en- gaged in farming in Kansas, and in the fall of 1877 arrived in Washington. He immediately located on a place one and a half mile below Fall City, where he has ever since remained.

Mr. Stearns was married in September, 1863, to Mary Richards, a native of New York. They had the following children: Alice, now Mrs. Wetmore; Mary, wife of a Mr. Hutchens; Evelyn Adeline, who died at the age of seven years; Jessie, now Mrs. King; William M., Susie A., and Maud, the youngest, who died when seven years of age. Mrs. Mary Stearns died March 24, 1888, and Mr. Stearns was again married, June 30, 1891, to Miss Julia E. Cruise, a native of Illinois.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 146

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