An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 149

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 149

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Mr. Fernandez was married on February 1, 1883, to Miss Maggie Meeker, daughter of J. V. Meeker, of Puyallup, and they have three children living, viz .: Leon Meeker, Percy Val- entine, and Ramon. They have two children dead.

Mr. Fernandez is a member of Corinthian Lodge, No. 38, Free and Accepted Masons, Puyallup; and also of Puyallup Chapter, No. 4, Royal Arch Masons; also a member of the I. O. O. F., Unity Lodge, No. 18, and of Alki

Encampment No. 4, I. O. O. F. He is also in- terested in the fire protection of Puyallup and at present occupying the position of Chief of the volunteer fire department of that town.

W ILLIAM HARMAN .- The subject of the following brief review stands as one of the distinctively representative men of Pierce county, and is well worthy of consid- eration in this connection. He is a native of England, having been born May 30, 1842, at Cranbrook, Kent county, about forty miles from London. His parents were Henry and Sarah (Morris) Harman, the father having been a mil- ler by trade, but having also followed the car- pentry business. The family came to America in 1845 and stopped for a time at Cincinnati, Ohio, but soon removed to Lawrenceburg, Indi- ana, where the devoted mother died, when Will- iam was but five years old. They subsequently lived at different times in Petersburg, Ken- tucky, Carrollton, Kentucky; Louisville, on the Indiana side; Brookville and Ashland, Indiana, and at Rockville, Dubnque county, Iowa, the father following the milling business during the years represented.

Our subject lived in Rockville, Iowa, until 1870, when he removed to Page county, in the same State, where he remained until 1873, when he went to Smith county, Kansas. There he took np a homestead and timber-culture claim, of which he cleared about eighty acres and had the same under cultivation when he left it to pay a visit to his relatives in Washington Ter- ritory. He arrived in Tacoma May 6, 1877, having left his wife and children in Kansas, where they had expected to remain for one year. They, however, joined him in September of the same year. Mr. Harman remained at Puyallup, Washington, for one year, after which he leased, for a term of five years, the 240-acre farm of Bird Wright, the place being located in Pierce county, nine miles fram Puyallup. He remained upon this farm for four years and then, in 1881, purchased of Anton Muller a farm of 160 acres in the same county, about forty acres of the tract being located within the corporate limits of the present thriving town of Orting. Mr. Harman moved to his farm in February, 1882, and there has since maintained his home. He retains abont ninety acres of the original

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

purchase, and has sixty acres under effective cultivation, devoted to general farming. He also owns another tract of eighty acres in town- ship 18, section 20, Pierce county.

Mr. Harman was married, in Page county, Iowa, October 13, 1872, to Miss Malissa Jack- son, daughter of Steven V. and Mary A. (Reed) Jackson. Our subject and his wife have two children : Harry and Icey.

Mr. Harman is a member of Orting Lodge, No. 63, I. O. O. F., of which he has been Chap- lain and Secretary. He is a Trustee and Elder in the Orting Christian Church and stands as one of the pioneers of Pierce county, with the development and best interests of which he has been most closely and conspicuously identified. His efforts in securing the location of the State Soldier's Home at Orting were indefatigable, while his financial contributions were of gener- ous order. He has been a Republican all his life and has held official preferments in the gift of his party. He was one of the stockholders directors in the First Bank of Orting, and no resident of the locality has contributed a larger proportionate quota to the general prosperity of the place.

P HILIP METZLER, one of the early resi- dents and prominent citizens of Tacoma, Washington, is a native of Germany, born in Hesse- Darmstadt, September 21, 1844, son of Jacob and Eliza Catherine (Weller) Metzler.

When Mr. Metzler was six years old his par- ents emigrated with their family to America, and in 1851 located in Chicago. There he was reared and educated. After serving as an office boy in the city for some time, he went into a nursery to learn that business. He had been in this nursery about one year when the war broke ont, and his brother, who was a tinner, left a good situation, and this place Philip took. He then devoted all his energies to learning the tinner's trade, and for four years remained in the same shop, which was on Sonth Canal street, near Van Buren. At the end of that time he went to St. Paul, making the trip on the ice from La Crosse to Winona, thence to Kasson by rail. from there to Fairibault by stage, and the rest of the way by rail and stage. In St. Paul he remained about ten years, and during the

most of that time worked at his trade, although for a while he was in business for himself. His next move was to Grand Forks, Dakota. He was the first tinner in the Territory north of Fargo, and in all the distance to the British line, 1,250 miles, there was not another. In partnership with a man named W. H. Brown, he established a tin and hardware business, and also handled sash, doors, etc., their combined capital being $1,500, and in six months they were doing a wholesale business, their trade ex- tending far up and down the Red river, and in- to the British possessions. They purchased their goods at wholesale rates in St. Paul, and could sell in competition with St. Paul houses. This enterprise, known as the Pioneer Hard- ware Store, they conducted together for three years and three months, and at the end of that time, Mr. Metzler disposed of his interests, he having in the meantime embarked in other business enterprises on an extensive scale.

In 1882 Mr. Metzler came out to Washing- ton. His first venture here was in the purchase of a large dairy ranch east of the mountains, seven miles from Waitsburg, on the Texas ferry road, in Columbia county, buying it from the O. R. & N. Company; but this property he afterward sold. His family in the meantime were in Tacoma, and he joined them here and located permanently. In partnership with Captain Burns, he started the first water works in the city, taking the water from the springs to supply only the Grand Central hotel at first, but afterward supplying other customers as well. About two years later they sold out to the Tacoma Light and Water Company. Mr. Metzler and Mr. Burns were not only associated together in their water enterprise, but that same year, 1883, they also opened a brick yard on Pacific avenue, where the National Bank of Commerce now stands, and this brick yard they operated one year. In the same year Mr. Metz- ler and S. M. Nolan built the Grand Central hotel. The following year Mr. Metzler and Captain Burns erected a two-story brick block adjoining the present site of the bank above mentioned. The steam laundry was started by a company, and on account of complications it became necessary for Mr. Metzler to take it, in preserving his own interests; and this he op- erated for six or eight months before he was able to dispose of it. He also inaugurated a sawmill enterprise at Buckley, but sold the machinery and plant before it commenced op-

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

erations. He is interested in mining enter- prises in the Okanogan country, and has invest- ments in and about Tacoma as well, among them the Puget Sound Dressed Beef and Packing Company, and the Commencement Bay Improvement Company. In 1882 he built his first residence in Tacoma, at the corner of Yakima avenne and Nineteenth street, his in- tention being to subsequently utilize the build- ing as a barn; but he disposed of it two years later. Next, he bought and built on Fifteenth street and Tacoma avenue. This part of the city was then in the woods and all about him was dense forest, and the clearing and improv- ing of it involved not only a heavy expense but also a great amount of hard labor. From the above it will be seen that Mr. Metzler has been intimately connected with the development of Tacoma, and that he is still interested in its further progress. In 1889, he built a $10,000 residence on the corner of North E and Third streets.

He was married at St. Paul, Minnesota, May 20, 1869, to Miss Louise Greve, a native of Mecklenburg, Germany, who came to America when a child of five years with her parents and was reared in this country. She is a daughter of Louis and Johanna (Graff) Greve, who la- cated near Dunkirk, New York, upon their ar- rival here. Mr. and Mrs. Metzler have tive children, viz .: Minnie E., Clara Louise, Frances C., Ettie Ione, and Lonie Alice.

D R. J. S. WINTERMUTE, Tacoma, Wash- ington, was born at St. Paul, Minnesota, April 27, 1860, son of Peter P. Winter- innte, one of the early residents of St. Panl. The Wintermutes have long been residents of America, the progenitor of the family in this country having settled in New Jersey in 1736.

When the subject of our sketch was a mere child, his parents removed from St. Paul to Canada, where he was reared, receiving his edu- cation at Weston Academy. His tastes and inclinations were in the direction of the medical profession, and at an early age he began reading with a view of familiarizing himself with its rudiments. In 1880 he began attending the medical department of the University of Mich- igan, Ann Arbor, and after two years spent at that place, he entered Rush Medical College,

Chicago, where he graduated in 1883. He then came to the Pacific coast, and, after a brief stay in San Francisco, proceeded to Tacoma, where he opened an office, established himself in prac- tice, and soon became a leading member of the profession. Ile was one of the first members of the Pierce County Medical Society, and was one of the prime movers in organizing the Washing- ton State Medical Society, founded in 1889. For eight years, beginning with 1883. he was associate physician to the Fanny Paddock Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Wintermute was married in 1888 to Miss Florence R. Jones, of Olympia, Washington. Fraternally, he is a member of the Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias.

Although a young man in years, Dr. Winter- mute is one of the oldest practicing physicians in Tacoma, from the standpoint of time of prac- tice here. Of him it may be said that he has always been a thinker in the line of development of his profession. and ever remained a close student, keeping in touch with the great pro- gress made in the science of medicine. As a citizen of Tacoma, he has always been prominent and active, and is reckoned among those who have stood by the city in days of good fortune and adversity alike, and helped to build it up to its present proportions and prominence.

D R. GEORGE C. WAGNER, is one of the representative physicians of Tacoma, and a man of the highest standing in his profession.

Hle is a native of the Dominion of Canada born at Dickinson's Landing, Ontario, on No-, vember 8, 1859, his parents being Dr. William H. and Margaret E. (Dixon) Wagner.

His elementary education was obtained in the common schools and in the Cornwall high school, and at the age of seventeen years, by diligence and close application to study, he had progressed far enough to admit of taking up the study of medicine, which he designed to make his life occupation.

He matriculated at McGill University, and after taking the course required by that old in- stitution, which ranks among the first on this continent, he graduated with honor in the class of 1881. He at once entered npon the practice of his profession at his birthplace in Ontario,

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where he remained until 1888, at which time he removed to Tacoma. He is thoroughly identified with the interests of the city of his choice, and in his profession is one of its ablest exponents.

In 1893 he was married to Miss Ileartie Griggs, daughter of . Crandall C. W. Griggs, one of the leading citizens of the Northwest.

Dr. Wagner is a member of the Pierce County Medical Society, and of the Washington State Medical Society, and since 1891, he has been Secretary of the latter body. Few men have taken as deep an interest in medical affairs or contributed more fully to all which pertains to the welfare of the profession, and few are more justly deserving of the gratitude of the people than Dr. Wagner.

E ARLE & ENGELBRECHT. This man- ufacturing firm, composed of Alfred Earle and R. T. Engelbrecht, represent the lead- ing boat-building interest of Seattle. Their fac- tory is located on Lake Washington, near Madi- son street, is two stories high, 80 x 80 feet, and fully equipped with the latest improved faeili- ties to transact the finest quality of boat-build- ing. in yachts, steam launches, canoes and boats of all sizes and descriptions.

Mr. Earle, the business manager of the firm, is a native of Liverpool, and came to California about 1889. Prior to the present partnership he was. connected with Mr. Engelbrecht in mining interests on the Stickeen river.

Mr. Engelbrecht, the practical member of the firm, was born in San Francisco, California, November 23, 1868, a son of Herman Engel- brecht, a native of Germany. The latter emi- grated to America in 1859, and in the following year located in San Francisco, where he subse- quently became extensively engaged in the manufacture of tobacco and cigars. R. T. En- gelbrecht made several trips to Germany in his boyhood, and attended school in Dresden, but completed his edneation at Santa Clara College and St. Ignatins College, California, graduating at the latter institution in 1885. He then entered on his boat-building experience with George W. Kneass, of San Franciseo, where he remained five years, and during that time also took lessons in drawing from F. S. Shields, the leading dranghtsman at Mare Island navy yard, and

later with the Union Iron Works. Mr. Engel- brecht was a faithful and diligent student, and has made a fine reputation in modeling and building canoes. In 1887 he built a sailing canoe sixteen feet long and three-foot beam, which he entered at the Mechanics' Fair in San Francisco, and received a diploma and bronze medal. His work has received many of the first prizes in competitive races on the water.

In 1889 Messrs. Earle and Engelbrecht en- gaged in mining on the Stickeen river, Alaska, which they continued two seasons, but without material success. In November, 1891, they formed their present co-partnership, erected their boat-house, and, against strong competi- tion, have built an extensive and Inerative busi- ness, which was founded upon scientific knowl- edge, conscientiously observed. Their ability to turn out fine work has promoted the interest in pleasure-boating, and the firm are now em- ploying from ten to twenty-five men in the con- struction of every variety of pleasure craft. The establishment embraces a complete steam and electric plant, with facilities for niekel-plating all of their yacht fittings. They build light and heavy boats for sail and steam purposes, and have received contracts from the Government for two revenne launches. The firm have estab- lished a fine reputation, with a bright promise for a successful future.

C ALVIN G. SHAW, a prosperous and progressive citizen of Clarke county, Washington, has the distinetion of clain- ing the same birth-place as the illustrious Daniel Webster, the spot being Salisbury, New Hamp- shire; there he first saw the light of day in 1843, and grew to maturity surrounded by the wholesome influences of simple New England life. His parents, Abraham and Hannah (Fifield) Shaw, were also natives of New Hampshire and descendants of the sturdy and honored colonists of the new world. Calvin G. is the ninth of a family of ten children; when his school days were ended he was variously ocenpied until he was twenty-two years of age; this was the turn- ing-point, and the beginning of a nsefnl career. Attracted by the many promising reports of the great West, he started out in pursuit of the fortune the new and untried country might have in store for him. He went to Clay county,

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Dakota, and for twenty-three years resided there; he was Postmaster of the town of Ver- million for a number of years, and represented the people of the county as Clerk for a term of two years.

He was married, while a resident of that State, to Miss Abby Laughton, a native of the State of Maine; this event was solemnized Sep- tember 1, 1872. They have had born to them two children, Leon A. and G. L.

Mr. Shaw identified himself with the citizens of Clarke county in 1889, and is now living in a beautiful home in Fruit valley, just outside the city limits of Vancouver. He purchased this place twelve years ago, when making a visit in the State, and twelve years of industry and thrifty management have wrought a change that reflects great credit upon the owner; he has twenty-four acres, twenty of which are de- voted to fruit culture; the varieties of prune embrace the Italian, French and Silver, and two acres of Bartlett pears yield a most profuse harvest. Mr. Shaw dries his entire prune pro- duet, the estimate of his crop for 1893 being twenty tons.

The political questions of the day present an interesting subject to Mr. Shaw, and he views them as an ur compromising Republican. He is a member of the Masonic order, belonging to the blue lodge and chapter. He is a man of untiring energy, and has done much to further the industries of the community where he bas been heartily welcomed as a citizen.

SAAC W. ROWLAND, one of the most enterprising and successful business men of Lewisville, Clarke county, is fully entitled to the space that has been accorded him in this history. He is a native of the State of Indiana, born August 28, 1837, and a son of William and Clarissa ( Rundell) Rowland; the father was born in the old Keystone State in the year 1800, and the mother was a native of New York State. The Rowlands emigrated from Wales to America; Griffith Rowland, the paternal grandfather of our subject, kept the first hotel on the old stage road near the summit of the Alleghany mountains. Isaac W. is the fourth of a family of thirteen children; he remained at home and assisted in the labors of the farm un- til he was nineteen years of age, when he turned

his attention to teaching. The great Civil war soon broke in upon his professional work, and the voice of duty called him to the battle-field; he enlisted in 1862 in the Seventy- eighth Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry, serving one year; early in 1864 he re-enlisted in the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, and did not lay down arms until the welcome declaration of peace. He resumed teaching, but after his removal to Jefferson City, Missouri, he turned his attention to agriculture.

Attracted by the superior climate and pro- dnetive soil of the coast States Mr. Rowland came to Oregon in 1880; two years later he purchased property near Lewisville, Washing- ton; the tract consisted of eighty acres, and he took up a homestead of eighty acres, and to this he has since added by purchase thirty-seven acres; he has twenty-five acres under good cul- tivation, and has an excellent orchard for fam- ily nse.

He was appointed Postmaster in 1882, and has since held the position; possessing good executive ability he manages the business of the office with great precision to the least de- tail. lle is an ardent advocate of temperance reform, and has taken a deep interest in educa- tional matters; he has been a member of the School Board a number of years, and in this ca- pacity has been able to carry out some cherished plans that have done much to elevate the stand- ard both of teachers and pupils.

Ile was married in Pennsylvania, May 23, 1865, to Miss Susan B. Neville, whose death occurred August 14, 1870; one child was born of this nnion, a son named Harry B. Mr. Row- land was married a second time, February 23. 1871, to Mrs. Mary E. Colyer, nee Manes. They are the parents of three children: Edwin L.,

Edgar J. and Cora R.

The mercantile business of which Mr. Row- land is the head was established in 1885; he started with a small capital, but a large patron- age soon placed his establishinent in the front ranks, and he is regarded as a most valuable addition to commercial circles in Clarke county. The upper part of the building he occupies is nsed as a city hall, and affords a place for en- tertainments and the meeting of local societies. Mr. Rowland is a member of the I. O. O. F., Lewisville Lodge, No. 97, which was organized May 2, 1891.

The unlimited quantities of a substance called land plaster, found near Lewisville, promise a

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new source of income to the county; this ma- terial is being tested as a fertilizer, and Mr. Row- land has given his personal attention to the ex- periments; should it prove a valuable fertilizer ite cheapness will render it one of the most de- sirable yet offered in the market.

D R. GIDEON ALLEN WEED, one of the most prominent medical practitioners in the State of Washington, and the oldest in the city of Seattle, has placed a continent between himself and his birthplace, his birth having occurred in New Providence, New Jer- scy, March 7, 1833. He comes of Revolutionary stock, his grandfathers on both sides, who came to America in an early day, having participated in that memorable struggle on the side of inde- pendence. The father of the subject of this sketch was born in Lanesboro, Massachusetts, and was one of eleven children. He was reared on a farm, to habits of thrift and industry, which characterized him through life. On at- taining mature years, he removed to the town of New Providence, where he engaged in manu- facturing interests, in which he continued for the rest of his life. He married Miss Martha Doty, a native of New Jersey and a descendant of an old and honored family. They had seveu children, the subject of this sketch being the youngest of four sons and the only one now living.

Dr. Weed was reared in his birthplace and received a preliminary education in the common schools, which was greatly supplemented by private study and self-culture. In 1856, when twenty-three years of age, he went to New York city and began the study of medicine, which he afterward continued at Rush Medical College, in Chicago, where he subsequently graduated with honor. The following year he was mar- ried, and in the ensuing year of 1858 he came with his wife to the Pacific Coast by way of Panama, settling temporarily in Salem, Oregon. In the spring of 1859, he and family removed to Sacramento, California, where he practiced medicine for nearly a year. In the fall of 1861, at the time of the Washoe mining excitement in Nevada, Dr. Weed went to that cainp and practiced medicine at Washoe City for six years. During the civil war, Dr. Weed was commissioned surgeon, with the rank of Major, and served on the staff of Brigadier General Slingerland, of

the Nevada State militia, during the rebellion. In 1867 and 1868, he practiced medicine at Crystal Peak, Nevada, and in 1868 and 1869 he was similarly engaged at Truckee, California. In the spring of 1870, he removed to Vallejo, California, where he practiced until the fall of the same year, at which time he came to Seattle, where he has ever since resided. Seattle was then a hamlet of 1,100 people, with small prospect of its present flourishing condition, but, being pleased with its unrivaled location, and becoming impressed with the belief that this village was destined to develop into a large city, he decided to make a permanent settlement here, which he accordingly did and began a general practice. Experiencing the difficulties of travel, to meet the exigencies of the case, he established, in 1874, a private infirmary at Se- attle, to care for and alleviate the sufferings of the sick. He is also connected there with a hospital for the indigent sick of the county, this being the first systematized effort in that direction. This is but one of his many contributions to the public welfare, devotion to which is one of his distinguishing characteristics.

In 1876, he was elected Mayor of Seattle, and so well did he discharge the duties incumbent on him that he was re-elected to succeed him- self. His administration was marked by pains- taking efforts and the institution of many reforms in municipal matters, which gained the confidence and esteem of all citizens, irrespect- ive of party lines. ITis sympathies have been broad and comprehensive, including not only the physical and political condition of the people, but also their moral and educational advance- ment, and along the-e lines he has contributed his time and means to the extent of his ability. Ile was for ten years Regent of the Territorial University, to the progress and welfare of which he gave the best energies of his mind and heart. He was one of the organizers and founders of the Territorial Medical Society, which came into being in 1873, and, owing to diffiulties of travel, was indifferently supported until 1879. It was then reorganized with Dr. Weed as President, with success insured. He has since filled nearly every office in the society, which was subse- quently merged into the State Medical Society, the original members being termed charter members of the new association. Dr. Weed was also prominent in the organization of the King County Medical Society, in 1888, of which he was elected the first President.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 149

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