An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 155

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 155

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George B. Adair has supported himself since he was eleven years old. He spent three years with his uncle, Isaac Van Tuyle, working on the farm in summer and attending school during the short term in winter. He was apprenticed for three years to learn the hardware trade with William Langworthy, one of the oldest dealers in the United States, a kind hearted gentlemen who took a great interest in young Adair (who was only fourteen years old.) After he had learned the trade, Mr. Langworthy sent him to school for one year in Syracuse, New York, and then secured him a position in Elmira, New York, as buyer and manager for a hardware house, but as he had bronchial trouble he sought a milder climate. He arrived at San Francisco in November, 1868, and went to the mountains in search of his father whom he found and in- duced him to return to his family in the East.

He spent a year in the mountains, then re- turned to San Francisco and took a position as manager for John J. May & Company, hardware dealers, of Boston. He served in this capacity for three years, when a new firm was organized and he took an interest. This firm was short- lived, and Mr. Adair engaged in brokerage busi- ness iu iron, hardware, etc , with marked success.

In 1880 he sold out and assisted in organizing the Gordon Hardware Cempany, of San Fran- cisco, and was engaged as manager of the sales and interior department. In 1883 he withdrew and came to Seattle and organized the Gordon Hardware Company, of Seattle, becoming its treasurer and general manager, and in the face of strong opposition and difficulties, he has by his push, courtesy, and honest transactions built np an extensive business.

The fire of June, 1889, canght them with a stock of $167,000, which was almost a total loss, but they re-built upon a more extended seale, and their fine brick building at 627-629 Front, street is filled with a well selected stock of hardware, sporting goods and cutlery, repre- senting every manufacturing State of the Union. Mr. Adair is interested in all that pertains to the growth and development of the city. He was one of the original thirteen who organized the Board of Trade, was elected the first presi- dent, and is still holding the office. He is a inember of the Chamber of Commerce and president of the Mutual Loan & Building As- sociation, of which he was an organizer. He was an original stockholder of the Home Fire Insurance Company, of Seattle, the North- western Express Company, Puget Sound Dis- trict and the Seattle Savings Bank. He helped frame the new city charter in 1890.

Mr. Adair was married in San Francisco in 1873, to Miss Martha Jones, native of Califor- nia, and daughter of Seneca Jones, a pioneer of 1848, who came to the coast via Cape Horn, and bronght with him his frame house, which still stends on Folsom street, San Francisco.

Mr. and Mrs. Adair have five children: G. Harry, Mattie May, Florence, Winifred and Ruby Jean.

Close, careful and individual attention to business or private enterprises is the secret of his abundant success.

R OBERT LYALL, a medical practitioner at Port Townsend, was born at Caith- ness, in the highlands of Scotland, De- cember 26, 1856. He received his ed- ucation in the various schools of Scotland, and at the University of Edinburg. In 1878 he entered the medical department of the latter institution, but in 1879, before completing his

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course, he came direct from Glasgow to San Francisco. Mr. Lyall subsequently located at Portland, Oregon, and, having decided to locate permanently on the coast, entered the medical department of Willamette University where he graduated in 1882. After spending a few months in the Good Samaritan hospital of Portland, the Doctor came to Port Townsend, and accepted the position of physician in charge of the Quinaiutt Indian reservation, at Neah Bay, then in charge of General Oliver Wood. After two years there, Mr. Lyall returned to Port Townsend, where. with the exception of two years spent in Australia, he has since been engaged in a general practice of medicine and surgery.

The Doctor was married at Neah Bay, in 1883, to Miss Ollie May, a daughter of General Oliver Wood, who was appointed by President Hayes as Indian Agent for the coast reserva- tions between Puget Sound and the Columbia river. Mr. and Mrs. Lyall have two children, Hugh Oliver and Emily Jean. In his social relations, Dr. Lyall is a member of the F. & A. M., K. of P., A. O. U. W., and of the county and State medical associations.

P ETER J. SMITHI, one of the steady. re- liable agriculturists of Squak valley, Washington, was born January 15, 1848, in Lawrence county, Illinois, a son of Peter and Phoebe (Judy) Smith. He remained under the parental roof, a member of his father's household until nineteen years of age, when he started out to make an independent career in the world. He went to Kansas, and for one year was in the employ of the Government; the fol- lowing year was spent in Wyoming in the rail- road business, but at the end of twelve months he returned to Illinois, and became associated with his brother in business. Under the firm name of Smith Brothers, they operated a port- able sawmill, making a specialty of sawing black walnut; at one time they filled an order of two million feet for Colonel A. D. Straight, of Indianapolis, Indiana; they continned the busi- ness four years and met with fair success.

In 1875 Mr. Smith crossed the plains to the Pacific coast ; it was at a time when trouble was anticipated with the Black Hills Indians, but the train with which he traveled was not molested

and had no serious mishaps. Ile reached Seattle September 9, 1875, and during the winter of 1875-'76 was engaged in the butcher trade in New Castle. In March of 1876 he came to Squak valley, and purchasing eighty acres of land has since turned his attention to tilling the soil; the tract he bought was originally settled by Thomas J. Cherry whose history appears elsewhere in this volume. Here he has led a quiet life, devoting all his energies to placing his land under cultivation and making many valuable improvements.

He was married March 24, 1872, to Jose- phine Laird, who was born in the State of Illinois.

A NGELO VANCE FAWCETT, of Taco- ma, Washington, one of the most widely known and extensive business men in the Northwest, was born in Knox county, Ohio, March 6, 1846. His parents, Philip and Martha (Vance) Fawcett, were thrifty and en- terprising people. They were pioneers of sev- eral States, moving from Ohio to De Witt county, Illinois, in 1853, and thence to Logan county, the same State in 1856. They possessed all the hardy virtues engendered by life on the frontier and died as they had lived, in the heart- felt esteem of all who knew them. They carried the arts of peace and civilization into these new places, and as such are entitled to the gratitude of inture generations.

The subject of this sketch was seven years of age when his parents removed to De Witt county in the Prairie State, and was ten years old when they went to Logan county, where the ensuing years of his life, until the civil war, were passed. In 1863 he enlisted in Company E, of the Seventh Illinois Infantry, and participated in many of the most important engagements. He was wounded at the battle of Allatoona, Georgia, but lost only a short time, rejoining his regi- ment at Savannah, the same State, and for sixty days was engaged in fighting with Sherman in that General's march to the sea. Mr. Fawcett was mustered out of the service at the close of the war, in Louisville, Kentucky, and at once re- turned to his home in Illinois.

He entered a telegraph office in McLean county, that State, and for eight years followed telegraphy in Illinois. In the spring of 1876, he became a commercial traveler for Kingman

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& Company, of Peoria, Illinois, and was so sue- cessful that the company placed him in charge of their branch house in St. Louis in 1880, but he later put a manager in charge of that honse and again went on the road where he con- tinued until August, 1883.

In the meantime he visited the Northwest, and becoming impressed with the wonderful opportunities there he decided to start in busi- ness for himself. August 15, 1883, he arrived in Tacoma, Washington, and in the fall of that year opened an implement store at No. 1311 Paeifie avenue, under the firm name of Fawcett Brothers. This store still occupies the same site, but now deals exclusively in seed and garden tools. Their main agricultural implement house being located at 1515, 1517 and 1519 Pacific avenue. They have branch houses in both North Yakima and New Whatcom, and have a large wholesale trade all over the State and throughout the Northwest. They keep two men on the road attending to their large and in- creasing trade. In 1885, this company estab- lished a branch house in Portland, Oregon, but, after three years closed it on account of the enormous business done from that vieinity with the house in Tacoma. In 1891, the Faweett Wagon Company of Tacoma, was incorporated, which occupies a large establishment on Four- teenth street. Fifty per cent. of its manufactured products are vehicles besides which it makes everything in the implement line. Mr. Fawcett is president of the manufacturing branch as well as of Faweett Brothers doing business at Ta- coma, New Whatcom and North Yakima, and by his able management has done much to in- sure their continued prosperity. He also holds stock in numerous other enterprises in Tacoma, all of which feel the impulse of his energy and executive ability.

September 28, 1882. Mr. Fawcett was married to Carrie Magill, a native of Mount Vernon, Indiana, who has been to him a faithful counselor and a loving wife. They have four interesting children: Vance, aged seven years; Ethel, aged five; Edgar, three years old; and Jessie, a bright little maiden of one.

Fraternally, Mr. Fawcett is a member of the K. of P., the A. O. U. W., and the G. A. R., Custer Post, No. 6.

One who has read Mr. Fawcett's biography this far, will not be in doubt as to the amount of energy stored away in his mechanisin, or the exalted standard of the motive power which

gives shape to that force. Suffice it to say that no one has figured more prominently in the ad- vaneement of Tacoma and the surrounding country, or contributed more fully to her moral welfare than Mr. Fawcett, whose hand is always for progress, and head and heart for the better- ment of mankind.

C HARLES BERGER, president of the Charles Berger Carriage Manufacturing and Supply Company, Tacoma, Washing- ton, is one of the most enterprising business men of this city. A brief sketch of his life is as follows:

Charles Berger was born in Detmold, West- phalia, Prussia, February 11, 1849, son of Henry and Sophia (Nalte) Berger, his father at that time being a government official. Between the ages of six and fourteen years Mr. Berger attended school, and after that he learned the trade of woodworker, serving an apprenticeship of three years. Following this term of service, he spent one year in travel throughout Ger- many. In 1868 he came to America, landing at New York, and after a short time there pro- creded to Lake Superior, Michigan, spending the next six years in that region and at Chicago and vicinity. In 1874 he went to California, in which State he was located first at Placer- ville, afterward at San Francisco, and still later at other places.

It was in 1878 that Mr. Berger came to Washington. Upon his arrival here he took up land on Skagit river, lived there about two years, off and on, and in 1880 carne to Tacoma, which was then a small place of about 1,700 in- habitants, including old Tacoma. When he landed in Tacoma he had but $10, and this money he invested in a suit of clothes. He accepted anything he could get to do, working for the railroad company and for individuals as opportunity afforded. With the first $25 he earned, he purchased a lot on D street, between Thirteenth and Fifteenth streets. This lot he subsequently sold, and then bought three more, at a cost of $850; and three or four years later he sold them for $10,000.

In 1885, when the gap in the railroad was in process of completion, he opened a shop at his present location, and in 1891 the Charles Ber- ger Carriage Manufacturing and Supply Com-

1msmallyon

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pany was organized with a capital stock of $20,- 000, and with him as president. Sinee that time he has continued in business here.

Mr. Berger is a member of Steuben Lodge, No. 65, I. O. O. F .: of Tacoma encampment, No. 8 .; of canton, No. 4; Patriarchs Militant; and Rebekah degree lodge. He ranks as one of the pioneers of Tacoma, and has been an eye- witness to its wonderful growth from a border village to its present position as one of the most important cities of the Pacific coast.

W ILLIAM H. HANSON, one of the most prominent young business men of the Northwest and the efficient manager of the great Tacoma mill, is a native of California and a son of Charles Hanson, who first made the name of Tacoma known through his mill in the old town.

Charles Hanson, a well-known and honored pioneer of the Northwest, was born in Elsinore, Denmark, where his earliest years were spent. When quite young he ran away from home and went to sea, and after several years of seafaring lite he visited the United States, being then about eighteen years of age. It was not, how- ever, until 1852 that he permanently settled in San Francisco, of which city he was one of the pioneer lumbermen. He early foresaw the vast possibilities of the Puget Sound country in the Immber industry, and established his mill at Old Tacoma, when the whole country was a wilder- ness. He first came to the site of this town in 1866, and two years later built a mill with a capacity of 40,000 feet of lumber daily. This capacity was afterward increased to 275,000 feet for a day of ten hours, and the maximum output of this mill, which subsequently reached 462,000 feet in ten hours, was for a long time the world's greatest record. This mill brings to Taeoma a large fleet of vessels, which carry its produet to the four corners of the earth, - to Australia, China, Japan, South America, England, France, Germany, Spain, and other foreign countries, as well as to the eastern sea- port cities of the United States, to New York, Philadelphia, etc. No enterprise has played an equal part in the development of the country, and its founder is justly entitled to the grati- tude of the entire Northwest, whose interests he has benefited to a remarkable extent.

William HI. Hanson, whose name heads this sketeh, a chip of the granite block in his en- ergy, foresight and integrity, was reared in the State of his nativity, and educated at St. Matthew's Hall, San Mateo, California. He then began a practical experience in the lumber business, beginning at the very bottom and familiarizing himself with every detail, until he had so thoroughly mastered all intricaeies that he was capable of assuming the management of such an enterprise as the large Tacoma mill, with its extensive business interests, of which he has had charge since 1887. In 1890 he made a trip around the world, partly for pleas- ure and partly to familiarize himself with the countries which form the markets for the out- put of his mill, visiting Australia, China, Japan, the various countries of Europe, ete. In this way he gained much valuable information, which he has incorporated with benefit in the opera- tion of his business. This enterprise, now the largest and most advanced in the Northwest, shows in a marked degree the effects of an en- lightened and progressive management, and does honor to the man who is the canse of it all.

Deeply interested in the welfare of his com- munity, Mr. Hanson is naturally a prominent figure in the social and commercial bodies of Taeoma. He belongs to the Chamber of Com- tnerce, to the Union, Commercial and Bohemian clubs, and to the B. P. O. E. Both he and his father have done mueh by their progressiveness and public spirit to develop the resources of the Northwest, and deserve the respect and esteem of a grateful people.

W H. LLEWELLYN. - Among those men of energy, ability, forethought and will, who have taken a leading part in the development of Seattle and vicinity, and in- cidentally advanced the welfare of the State of Washington, the subject of this sketch is most worthy of mention.

A native of the Buckeye State, he was born in Youngtown, August 4, 1861. When a boy, his parents removed thence to western Pennsyl- vania, where the subject of this sketch passed most of his youth. He acquired a practical English educat on in the Keystone State schools,

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learning at home those lessons of industry, economy and honesty, which have contributed to his success in life. When fifteen years of age, he joined the tide of emigration then set- ting in toward Colorado, the Leadville mining excitement then being at its height. Reaching that place, he was for a time employed in a bank as clerk, the president of that institution being J. F. Eshelman, Mr. Llewellyn's recent partner and with whom he is still connected in a bnsi- ness way. Later on, Mr. Llewellyn became cashier of a bank at Robinson, Colorado, of which institution he was subsequently made manager. This was prior to his attaining his majority. In 1882, still following the Star of Empire, he removed to Seattle, where he formed a partnership with J. F. Eshehuan, under the firm name of Eshelman, Llewellyn & Company, who actively and extensively engaged in the real-estate business. In 1892, Mr. Llewellyn succeeded to the business of this firm, which he at present conducts in a successful and profit- able manner. He is also actively connected with a large number of other enterprises in Seattle, as director or in some other official capa- city. Indeed, there are but tew enterprises in the community which have not felt the impulse of his energy and ability, and he justly enjoys a high measure of the esteem of his fellow citizens.

In 1888. Mr. Llewellyn was married to Miss Janet, daughter of J. W. George, one of Seattle's leading residents. Their home reflects comfort and refinement and is the center of attraction to numerous friends, who find in the cheerful and hospitable surroundings a never ceasing enter- tainment, as rare as it is delightful.

T HE PUGET SOUND FLOURING MILL COMPANY, one of the most ex- tensive and best-known enterprises in the Northwest, which has played an import- ant part in the development of the country in its vicinity, was organized in May. 1890, with a capital stock of $160,000. It owns 1,000 feet of water-front and a wharfage in Old Tacoma, and has the second largest ocean warehouse on Puget Sound. The building of their extensive mill was begun in 1889 and completed in the spring of 1890, when they began operation and have since steadily continued, shipping their

flour all over the world. This mill was built by the Nordyke & Marmon Company of Mine- apolis, and is one of the best equipped institu- tions of its kind in the country. It has twelve double stands of rolls, 9 x 24, and twelve meas. nring 9 x 30; forty-five flour dusters, two shorts dusters, twelve Smith purifiers, five New Era scalpers, 350-horse power Lane & Bodley con- densing engine, a Rice automatic engine for dynamo running a 150-light plant, a forty- horse power Atlas engine for the elevator, which has a capacity of 80,000 bushels. The stated capacity of this mill is 800 bushels a day, and it is worked up to and beyond this limit. The first load of flour ever shipped from this mill, or from Puget Sound, was in May, 1890, and was taken by the British ship Earl Derby.

Charles Dawsou, a practical miller, who has been operating superintendent for the Puget Sound Milling Company since the building of their plant in Tacoma, has no superior in his department of work in the country, and is worthy of extended mention in this connection.

Ile was born in Baltimore, Ontario, Canada, May 16, 1856, and was reared and educated in that vicinity. In the summer of 1874, when eighteen years of age, he left home and went to Bowmanville, Ontario, where he entered the mill of John MeDougall, in which he worked for two years. At the end of that time he went to Napanee, Ontario, where he worked for a year in the mill of Isaac Warenp & Co., after which he assumed charge of the mill of John Robinson, in the same city, in which establish- ment he remained for a year and a half. From there he went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and later to River Falls, Wisconsin, in which latter place he was employed for a year in the mills of A. O. Freeman. At the expiration of that time he returned to Minneapolis, where he was for two years engaged by Morrison & Co. From there Mr. Dawson proceeded to Topeka, Kansas, securing employment in the Crosby roller mill of that city. Thence he once more returned to Minneapolis, where he entered the mill of Sidle, Fletcher, Holmes & Co., and after a short time with them he came to the Pacific coast. He was first employed in the Capital flouring mills at Salem, Oregon, where he re- mained a year, at the end of which time he took charge of the Imperial mills in Oregon City, for the Portland Flouring Mill Company, in whose employ he continued a year and a half. He then went to California and was in

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the Salinas mills of the Central Milling Com- pany for a year, at the end of which time he went back to Minneapolis and again entered the employ of Morrison & Co., and superin- tended the overhauling of the Excelsior mills. When that was completed he selected the ma- chinery and superintended the erection of the plant of the Puget Sound Milling Company at Tacoma, since which time he has given his entire time and attention to the operation of this mill, the success of which fully testifies to his superior ability in this line.

Fraternally, Mr. Dawson is a member of the Masonic order and still belongs to his old lodge, No. 112, Minneapolis.

If thorough, capable work, honest, upright citizenship and high moral standing are con- mendable, we find them all combined in the subject of this sketch, who is justly entitled to the universal esteem of his fellow-men.

D R. JOHN F. BEARDSLEY, who is one of the earliest physicians of Tacoma HOW practicing in that city, is a native of New Haven, Connecticut, boru March 13, 1857, son of Smith and Katie ( Mallett) Beardsley. He is a lineal descendant of David Beardsley, who with his brother John, came to this continent from England, and landed at Plymouth Roek during the early settlement of the colonies. The Malletts are also an old New England family.

Dr. Beardsley received his literary education at Yale College, of which famous institution he is a graduate. Choosing medicine as his pro- fession, he entered the medical department of the University of the City of New York, where he graduated as a member of the class of 1881. IIe also took clinies in that eity. He served one year as honse physician in the Brooklyn city hospital, and in 1882 eame to Tacoma, Washington, arriving in the future important city on the 6th of October. Since that date he has practiced here, witnessing in the meantime the wonderful growth culminating in the Tacoma of to-day. Six months later he became physi- cian to the Fannie Paddock memorial hospital, which post he held until the institution was re- moved to its new quarters. He is now surgeon for the St. Joseph's hospital, and also for the Tacoma Mill Company, having been appointed in the latter capacity in 1884.

Dr. Beardsley was married in Tacoma, Feb- ruary 2, 1887, to Miss Martha James, a native of Buffalo, New York, danghter of Phineas James, one of the early residents of that city.

Among the fraternal organizations, Dr. Beard- sley holds membership in both the B. P. O. E. and K. of P. Ile is also a member of the Pierce County Medieal Society. Ever since his advent to the State his professional standing has been in the front rank, and as one of the pioneer physicians of Tacoma, he is well known and highly respected.

P B. Mc DOUGALL MILLER, M. D., is one of the distinguished surgeons and physicians of Washington. He was born at Rothshire, in the highlands of Scot- land, January 1, 1835, received his primary ed- ncation in the public schools; he then entered the Carlton Hill high school at Edinburg and prepared for the University; entered the Royal College of Surgeons of Elinburg in 1854, and four years later graduated with the degree of L. R. C. S. E. He then went to Melbourne, Australia, later to New Zealand, practicing his profession. In 1872 he emigrated to California, loeating at Oroville. In 1873 he took a course at the University College of San Francisco (now Cooper Medical College) and received the degree of M. D., and returned to Oroville, and was ap- pointed physician of Butte county and surgeon of the county infirmary and jail.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 155

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