An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 153

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 153

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Mr. Mc Williams was married in St. Johns, in 1853, to Miss Eliza Megent, who died in 1857, leaving two children: John and Ada. He

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was again married, in 1869, to Miss Mary Brit- tou, a native of St. Johns. She died in Seattle, in July, 1886, leaving four children: Mary, James, Alice and Robert. The family reside on the corner of Adams and Sherman avenues, overlooking Lake Washington, where Mr. Mc. Williams erected his handsome residence in 1885. Ile also owns other real estate in the city, although his chief interest is electricity, to which he gives his undivided attention.

H ARVEY E. SIIIELDS, a member of the Seattle bar, was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, September 1, 1846, a son of John and Martha (Wilson) Shields, na- tives of Ohio. James Shields, the grandfather of our subject, located in the latter State at an early day, and was a member of the Legislative llonse and Senate of Ohio for thirty years. He was twice elected as a member of Congress, was a Democrat in his political views, and was a lawyer by profession. John Shields was edu- cated to the farm and tanning business, both of which he conducted quite extensively in Ohio. He removed to Indiana in 1832, where he fol- lowed the same occupations the remainder of his life.

Harvey E., the subject of this sketeh, passed through the public schools of Terre Haute, and pursued the higher studies in Wabash College, Crawfordsville. Returning to his native city. he began his law studies in the office of Judge William Maek, later entered the law school of Bloomington, was admitted to the bar in 1861, and then entered on the practice of his profes- sion at Terre Haute. Mr. Shields also took an active interest in the Democratic polities of the State, and was frequenty importuned to accept public office, but declined all offers in deference to his father's wishes, who was particularly op- posed to political preterment. Our subjeet fol- lowed a general law practice until 1870, and from that time until 1878 practiced in Mon- month, Illinois, but for the following seven years he was obliged to discontinue his profes- sion on account of ill health. He finally decided that a change of elimate might prove advan- tageous, and he accepted the appointment of special agent of general land office to Oregon,

removing to that State in August, 1885, and made his headquarters at Roseburg. In De- eember, 1886, he was put in charge of the Ore- gon City and Olympia land distriets; removed his office to Portland; June 30, 1887, was ap- pointed Receiver of Olympia land office by President Cleveland; took charge of the office August 15, that year, and November 1, follow- ing, removed the office to Seattle, Washington, June 30, 1889, Mr. Shields was removed from that office by a change in administration. He then resumed the practice of his profession, having devoted his time to land law until 1889, and since that time has followed a general prac- tice. He is a genial, courteous gentleman, very successful in his profession, and enjoys a large and lucrative practice.

In 1872, Mr. Shields was married in Mon- mouth, Illinois, to Miss Martha Nies, a native of Ohio. Our subjeet affiliates with the F. &. A. M., the K. of P., and for the past three years has been treasurer of the Mutual Loan & Building Association of Seattle. Ile is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and is closely identified with the enterprise and de- velopment of the Queen City of the Northwest.

S AMUEL S. WALDO, Manager of the Farmers Insurance Company, of Seattle, was born in Caledonia county, Vermont, in July, 1833, a son of Leonard (). and Caroline (llooker) Waldo, natives also of that State. The parents were descended from the Puritans of New England. Samnel S. was reared on a farm, and educated at the Caledonia County Grammar School, the oldest educational institution of the State. At the age of eighteen years young Waldo joined the tide of emigration toward the setting sun, and, duly arriving in Ohio, taught school in Champaign county one year. He then followed the commission business in St. Louis nntil 1857, when he located at Wenona, Illinois, and was there engaged in the general mercantile and grain business with his brother- in-law, W. R. Mills, until 1861. In that year Mr. Waldo retired from the firm, and, as sales- man for a nursery company of Rochester, New York, traveled through Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. In 1863 he embarked in the mer- eantile business in Iowa Falls, Iowa, and three

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years later was elected Recorder of Hardin county, filling that office by re-election four years. Our subjeet next purchased a flour mill at Eldora, county seat of Hardin county, which he operated five years, and was then obliged to discontinue business on account of ill health. In 1880 he again opened a mercantile store at Conrad, Illinois, and at the same time was ap- pointed Postmaster, but in 1885 resigned his position, sold his business, and eame to Seattle. He first purchased land near Meydenbaner bay. on Lake Washington, where le was engaged two years in farming and making improvements.

In 1887 Mr. Waldo engaged in the insurance business in this city, and in December 1888, was one of the organizers of the Farmers' In- surance Company, of Seattle, of which he was elected seeretary. This company was incor- porated with a capital stock of $200,000, which is largely owned by the farmers and hop grow. ers of the State. They began writing insurance in March, 1889, and in the following year Mr. Waldo was made manager of the concern. The company is non- board, preferring to govern its own rates, and while accepting a general line of insurance, they make a specialty of farin and dwelling risks, following a conservative poliey when it comes to city property, and by this principle they have escaped the great fires of Seattle, Spokane and Ellensburg; 82,000 is the limit of insurance on one risk, thus reducing the hazard. The company has advanced steadily to the front and is well reputed among the in- surance companies of the Northwest. They hold a re-insurance contract with the State In- surance Company of Des Moines, Iowa, and Mr. Waldo is also general agent of Washington for the Indiana Underwriters Insurance Com- pany, of Indianapolis.

In Wenona, Illinois, in 1858, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Martha Bennett, a native of Maine, and a descendant of Governor Carver, the first Governer of Massachusetts. They have three children, viz .: Carrie May, now Mrs. A. B. Cook, of Whidby island; Dean A. and Noma. Socially, Mr. Waldo affiliates with the F. & A. A., and the Odd Fellows.

C ILARLES F. SMITH, Postmaster of Kalama, the county seat of Cowlitz coun- ty, Washington, is a native of Canada. born September 17, 1843, son of Daniel

and Martha Jane (Waddle) Smith. He was the second born in their family of five children. When a boy, he went to live with a maternal aunt in New York city, where he learned the trade of ship joiner of her husband, Mr. John Hall. After acquiring the trade he worked at it for a time, but left it to join a minstrel troupe, with which he traveled about four years. He then engaged in the hotel busi- ness in a Canadian town, where he remained one year, and from there returned to his home. At this time he was commissioned by Oliver Mar- vot as a member of the Canadian police, but resigned after two years of service.

Leaving Canada, Mr. Smith went to Grand Forks, Dakota, where he was employed as a foreman for J. W. Ross, builder and contractor, and remained with him eighteen months. Afterward he went to the Devil's Lake country, and served two years as Sheriff of Ramsey county. During this time he accumulated con- siderable property there, and, upon retiring from the Sheriff's office, he disposed of his property and removed to Turtle, Montana, where he resided six years, serving as Deputy United States Marshal and Timber Inspector for that district. From there he came to Kala- ma, Cowlitz county, Washington, in 1889, and engaged in contracting and building. In Dec- ember, 1892, he was appointed Postmaster of Kalama, in which capacity he is universally recognized as an efficient officer.

Mr. Smith was married July 25, 1868, to Miss Jane Orser, a native of Canada and a de- scendant of Pennsylvania-Dutch ancestry, her family history dating back in Pennsylvania to a period before the Revolutionary war. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have two children: Eva I. and Claude H. The former is a teacher in the public schools of Kalama.

R W. MALONEY, who owns and ocen- pies a small fruit farm at Sumner, Pierce county, Washington, dates his birth at Tawas City, Iosco county, Michigan, July 26, 1855. His father was an Irishman by birth, and a blacksmith by trade. The latter moved back and forth from Michigan to Cana- da during the boyhood days of R. W., and at the various places where they lived young Ma- loney attended school and worked in his father's

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blacksmith shop. When he was eighteen years old he commenced steamboating on the great lakes, being employed on various vessels for five years, and for ten years having charge of a boat on Lake Superior. In 1885 he came to Tacoma, Washington, and the first year he and his brother Thomas built a boat, which they ran for two years. In 1888 he moved to the town of Sumner, bought a house and small fruit farm, and here he has since lived and pros- pered.

He married Eliza J. Fallowfield in 1879, and they have one son. Mr. Maloney is a member of the K. of P. and also of the I. O. O. F. He has served as Marshal of Sumner two years. Besides his property here he also owns im- proved property in Tacoma.

A LFRED H. TUCKER, Mayor of l'ort Townsend and one of the early pioneers of that city, was born in Portsmonth, New Hampshire, May 4, 1839. He is the only child of John and Sarah A. (Berry) Tueker, both natives of the same State, and descendants of Puritan ancestry. John Theker was a California pioneer of 1849, where he fol- lowed mining until 1858, when, on the outbreak of the gold excitement on the Fraser river, British Columbia, he started for that distriet. On his arrival at Puget Sound, however, he found that the golden bubble had burst, and he concluded to settle at Port Townsend. He there followed his trade of carpentry until 1870, and then engaged in mercantile pursuits, which he continued until his death in 1876, universally regretted.

Alfred H. Theker was educated in the schools of Portsmouth until his fifteenth year. Becom- ing then imbued with a spirit of adventure, he went to sea, sailing on cotton trading vessels be- tween Sonthern and European ports. After four years' experience he returned to his native city and passed three years in learning the car- peuter trade. He then again went to sea, going as ship's carpenter and eventually filling the offices of second and first mate. In 1862 he came to the Pacific coast, via the Panama route, proceeding direct to Port Townsend to join his father. On his arrival there he engaged in con- tracting and building in which he was engaged until 1883. He then became associated with

C. W. Flint and C. H. Pink, organizing the Quimper Manufacturing Company, with a cap- ital of $15,000, which was subsequently in- ereased to $30,000. Mr. Theker was elected treasurer, in which capacity he has ever since continued. They built a factory 55 x 110 feet, at the corner of Water and Madison streets, with storage and wharf facilities in the rear. This place was provided with complete machin- ery for sawing, planing and turning, and they were engaged in the manufacture of sash, doors, blinds and house finishing materials, conducting a very extensive business up to the depression of 1889, but are now running in accordance with the demands of the city. In 1889 Mr. Tucker engaged in the manufacture of brick with a steam plant and an annual capacity of 1,500,000 brick, thus supplying the building material for the principal business blocks in the city. He built the Tucker block in 1870 and owns other valuable property about the city, taking an ac- tive part in the development of his community.

In 1867 Mr. Tucker was married in Port Townsend, to Miss Mary Jane Caines, daughter of Captain Josepli Caines, a pioneer of 1853, They have four children; Herbert, Marshall. Hiram and Alice.

Politically Mr. Tucker is a Democrat and takes an active interest in public affairs. He ably served his constituents for one term in the State Legislature, lending his best efforts to ad- vance the general welfare. He was also for four terms a member of the City Conneil, and in 1892 was elected Mayor of Port Townsend, which office it is needless to say he fills to the entire satisfaction of all concerned.

Fraternally Mr. Tucker is an active member of the I. O. O. F. and encampment, also of the twentieth degree, Scottish Rite, F. & A. M. As a man and eitizen, he is distinguished by those qualities which build commonwealths and contribute to the advance of nations.

M COABE AND HAMILTON, the large stevedoring firm of Tacoma, and Seattle, Washington, has been operating on an extensive scale under the present title since June, 1891. They are virtually the suc- cessors of the Puget Sound Stevedoring Com- pany, which was organized in the spring of 1888, with Captain James Carroll, now of San

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Francisco, as president; W. L. McCabe, vice president; J. P. Betts, secretary; and Ed S. Hamilton, bookkeeper in Tacoma. The last named gentleman left the company, engaged in business on his own account, and, later, Mr. McCabe also left it to join Mr. Hamilton, when the present firm was organized, and now the great bulk of the stevedoring for the ports of Tacoma and Seattle is done by them. Their business, however, is confined to the extensive foreign shipping which centers at these ports, nine-tenths of its grain being handled by them as well as a large portion of the lumber trade; besides this they do all the business in their line for the China steamers of the Northern Pacific Steamship Company, as also its chartered sail- ing vessels, and in transferring cargoes from these steamers to fast overland specials, have many times made records which will always stand to their credit. They have kept pace with the commerce of Tacoma; consequently their business has increased many fold. Up to 1880, when they began operations as a firm, there was only one warehouse in Tacoma-that of the Portland Shipping Company; in the summer of 1889 the Tacoma Warehouse & Elevator Company completed their large plant and the building of the vast structures of the Northern Pacific Elevator Company followed. The completion of these and other facilities for handling foreign commerce has been met with increased preparations on the part of MeCabe & Hamilton, who now constantly employ from sixty to one hundred and fifty meu.

Captain Ed S. Hamilton. of the above firm, ranks as one of the representative men of Ta- coma. He was born in Brooklyn, Queens county, New York, July 15, 1865, son of George W. and Caroline (Agnew) Hamilton. The Hamiltons are one of the old and promin- ent families of New York.

The Captain was reared in his native county, and was educated in its common schools and at Westchester County Institute, where he gradu- ated with the class of 1882. His early business training was received in a clothing establish- ment at Peekskill and in a hotel at Sing Sing. Early in life he developed a taste for politics, and when hardly more than a boy in years he went to Albany with General Husted, two sess- ions, first as clerk of the General's committee, and afterward as his private secretary. In 1887-'88 he was clerk of the committee on ways and means of the New York Legislature.

While at Albany he met and formed the ac- quaintance of nearly all the men prominent in public life in the Empire State.

The date of his arrival in Washington was 1888. Here for a time he was engaged in the real-estate business at Port Townsend. In October of that same year he located in Tacoma where he became bookkeeper for the Puget Sound Stevedoring Company, and subsequently was promoted to the position of its manager. In 1889 he engaged in stevedoring on his own ac- connt, and, later, he and W. L. McCabe formed the firm of MeCabe & Hamilton, as above stated.

Captain Hamilton has taken a prominent part in both ranks of the Knights of Pythias. Ile is l'ast Chancellor of Tacoma Lodge, No. 42, and has been three times elected representative to Grand Lodge. Since July, 1892, he has been Commander of Sunset Division, No. 20, Uniform Rank, the best drilled company and banner or- ganization of the State.

He was married in Tacoma, April 9, 1891, to Miss Emma Ridgeway, a native of New York State.

S TEPHEN MICHAEL NOLAN, a prom . inent pioneer and capitalist of the North - west, is a resident of Tacoma, Washing- ton.

He was born in Sullivan county, New York, April 17, 1835, son of John and Ann (Mat- thews) Nolan. March 20, 1852, he bade adien to his Eastern home and started for California, via Cape Horn, as a passenger on board the steamship Pioneer, and reached his destination in the latter part of August. He lived at va- rious points along the coast until 1858, engaged in lumbering and farming, and in June of that year he went to Victoria and up the Fraser river, and the following year he spent in min- ing and trading. In September, 1859, he came to the Sound country, first to Port Townsend and later to Port Ludlow, opening a hotel at the latter place in 1860 and conducting the same for several years. During that summer he spent some time in eastern Washington and in the Boise basin. He continued the hotel business until 1872, during this period having charge at different times of the following hotels: the Enreka House at Walla Walla, the Pioneer House at Lewiston, Idaho, and the International

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Hotel at Placerville, Idaho. In 1872, upon re- tiring from the hotel business, he purchased 480 acres of land in Chimacum valley and es- tablished a stock and dairy farm. This prop- erty he still owns. He remained on the farm until 1877, when he came to Tacoma and opened a grocery in the Fife block, continuing business there until 1881, when he moved into his own building on Pacific avenue, between Eleventh and Thirteenth streets. This business he sold to Hotchkiss & Co. in 1888, and retired. All these years he has been extensively engaged in real-estate transactions, and his business eareer, both as a merchant and a real-estate dealer, has been one of marked success, he still being the owner of much valuable property. He has a controlling interest in the Tacoma Passenger & Baggage Transfer Company, office at 111 Tenth street.

Mr. Nolan's home, a magnificent residenee, which he erected at a cost of $30,000, is snr- rounded by spacious and attractive grounds and is located on American lake, ten miles south of Tacoma. He was married October 13, 1880, to Miss Helen I. McCann, daughter of Henry and Mary McCann, of Philadelphia.

Mr. Nolan has taken an active an commend- able interest in public affairs, and has been gen - erous in his support of all worthy canses. He wes a member of the first and second Boards of Trustees of Tacoma.

HEODORE F. PETERMAN .- Among the younger business men of the State of Washington, a mention of whose inter- ests comes within the scope of this vol- mine, is he whose name heads this sketch. He came to Tacoma as a young man, in the infancy of Tacoma, and now ranks as one of the sub- stantial manufacturers of the eity. An ontline of his career, therefore, becomes of interest in this connection.

Theodore F. Peterman is a native of Ger- many, born at Ruttenbruck, county of Meppen, province of Hanover, December 25, 1857, his parents being Frederick and Christiana (Schrei- ber) Peterman, the father having been an officer in the enstoms department of the German Government. Young Peterman was educated in the common schools of his native place and also in a gymnasium school, and immediately

after completing his studies left his birthplace for the New World. At this time he was just past fifteen years of age, and it was by himself that he set out to try his fortune in America, sailing from Hamburg January 17, 1873, and landing at New York city after a successful oce in voyage. From there he proceeded to Sin Francisco, where he arrived in March, and went to live with an unele who was a resident of Cal- ifornia. In order to complete his education and to became proficient in the English language he attended school at Mount Eden, Alameda county. His first employment in this country was with the firm of Schroeder & Albrechp, wholesale eandy manufacturers, No. 226 Battery street, San Franciseo, with whom he remained two years. After this he went to work for Blethen & Terry, corner of First and Broad- way. Oakland, with whom he remained from 1875 until 1879. After leaving this firm he spent a short time in San Francisco, and then came up to Puget Sound, arriving in Tacoma early in 1880. About the only institution here of any magnitude that offered an opportunity for employment was the mill of Hanson & Co., in the old town, and there he secured work, re- maining in the mill until August. He then went to work in the furniture factory of Hull & Paulsen at Seattle, and continued with them until the latter part of March, 1881. At that time he returned to Tacoma and about the first of April engaged in the sawmill of M. F. Hateh & Co., with which firm he continued until 1887. Next he went to Hoquiam to take charge of the planing machines in the mill of the North western Lumber Company, and remained with that company until his final return to Tacoma to start in business for himself.

At this point it may be well to mention an important event in Mr. Peterman's career. He was about the first competent workman in Ta- coma on mouldings and kindred work, but hav- ing passed through such periods of dullness as prevailed during a great portion of his resi- dence here, he had about come to the conclu- sion that it would be well to look about for something substantial in another direction, as he had made up his mind to remain here. Ac- cordingly he purchased from the Land Con- pany, at $20 an acre, a piece of land twenty acres in extent, where he intended in the future to make his residence and have a little farm. It would have been a very enthusiastic man who would have then predicted that the city

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would in such a short time reach out to and beyond his purchase. The turn came, however, and in 1889 he received an advantageous offer for his property and sold it, receiving for it the sum of $325 an acre. It passed into the hands of Mr. Cowan, who laid it off into "Cowan's addition" to the city of Tacoma. The result of this investment of his savings enabled him to make a start in business for himself, and, being of an independent temperament, he was not long in determining to do so. He purchased land on Jefferson avenne, and in 1889 built upon it a small planing-mill. His business prospered to such an extent that he found it necessary to make snch substantial improve- ments and additions in 1890 and 1891, that the small mill of 1889 has now grown to an enter- prise four times its original size, extending from 2533 to 2541 (inclusive) Jefferson avenne. This site is one of the most favorable in the city for such an establishment, being conven- ient to the business center, with which it is con- nected by the well-planked avenue. The ma- chinery also is of the best construction, and there is no better fitted institution of the kind in Tacoma. It is operated chiefly on local and Sound trade, though some extensive work is done for the country east of the mountains.

Mr. Peterman was married in Olympia, No- vember 15, 1887, to Miss Kate Corcoran, a native of Washington. They have one child, Olive Gladys.

Mr. Peterman is now Vice-Grand of Crescent Lodge, No. 44, I. O. O. F., and is also a mem- ber of the Encampment and Canton of Tacoma.

Although a young man, he has accomplished a great deal, when it is considered how few there are that rise from the ranks to become themselves business men and employers. It is not so many years since he came to Tacoma, at which time his entire capital consisted of 75 cents; but he had qualities which supplied what he lacked in a financial way, and to-day he is ranked with the substantial manufacturers of the city.

H ON. C. C. PAGETT, of Chehalis, Wash- ington, one of the pioneers of the North- west, and a prominent and representative citizen of this State, is a native of Ohio. Ile was born and reared in the vicinity of Cin-

cinnati, and after he had finished his literary studies he completed a medical course in that city. After his gradnation he at once entered upon the practice of his profession there, and prior to his coming to this coast, in 1851, prae- ticed principally in Ohio and Minnesota. When he came to Oregon, in the above-named year, he located in that part of the Territory which is now in the State of Washington. After stop- ping for a time on the Cowlitz river, he pro- ceeded northward to the Puget Sound country, and began practice where Shelton is now lo- eated. In those pioneer days he practiced throughout the Sound settlements, the region along Nesqually, Squaxon and Puyallup being principally the scene of his professional labors for a number of years.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 153

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