An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 158

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 158

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

pre-emption laws. After that he spent about two years in Seattle. In the summer of 1888 he returned to the slough and purchased a rauch of George Wilson, where he has since resided.

Mr. Ross was married October 26, 1883, to Mary Weeden, a native of Missouri. Their happy married life was of short duration, her death occurring before they had beer. married quite two years. November 22, 1889, he wedded Della McCoy, a native of Ohio, and they have two children.

Fraternally, Mr. Ross is identified with the I. O. O. F.

HOMAS PALMER, a farmer and black- smith of Lewis county, Washington, is a man who has won his way in life by his own honest toil. As a representative citi- zen of his county he is entitled to some per- sonal consideration on the pages of this work, and of him we present the following sketch:

Thomas Palmer was born in Richland county, Ohio, in 1830, and when three years old was taken by his parents to MeDonough county, Illi- nois, where his youth and early manhood were spent. In 1852 he emigrated to the Willamette valley in Oregon, remaining there until 1865. He then located at White River, King county, Washington, two years later moved to Thurston county, and after living there a year came to Lewis county. Here he has since remained.

Mr. Palmer married Arrilla J. Musgrave, a native of Clay county, Illinois, born in 1856. When she was seventeen she came to Chehalis county, Washington, and two years later to Lewis county, where she has since resided. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer have two children, Elizabeth and Francis.

I SAAC PARKER, of Seattle, Washington, was born in Waltham, Massachusetts, March 4, 1829, a son of Isaac and Lucy (Dins- more) Parker, natives also of that State, and descended from Puritan ancestry. Isaac was inured to farm labor, and received his educa- tion in the schools of his native town. In 1847 he entered the locomotive works of Hinckley & Druye, of Boston, to learn the machinist's trade. Two years later he entered the Globe Works of

Lyman & Souther, where he worked on the first locomotive shipped to the Pacific coast, ordered by Charles Minton, of San Francisco. The engine was shipped by sailing vessel around Cape Horn, and yonng Parker came to Cali- fornia to help put it together, arriving in San Francisco January 2, 1851. He was then em- ployed by the Union Iron Works until Jan- uary, 1853, and then came to Puget Sound, under engagement with Martin & Felt to erect a sawmill at Apple Tree Cave, now known as Kingston. The mill was completed and oper- ated until the following July, when it was moved to Port Madison, but Mr. Parker con- tinned as Master Mechanic for the company about four years, and in a similar capacity at Utsaladdy until in November, 1860. He then accepted as renumeration a eargo of lumber, chartered the ship Leandras, and with his Ium- ber proceeded to China, where he found ready sale. After visiting Yokohoma and Japan he returned to San Francisco, thence to Puget Sound, and shortly afterward became intereste I with a small syndicate to take Inmber and ma- chinery to Shanghai, China, and there Coll- struct a steamer for one of the large rivers of that country. The party embarked, duly equipped, by the United States revenue cutter, Jeff Davis, but while at San Francisco Mr. Parker sold his interest. In 1864 he went to Lower California and superintended the erec- tion of a quartz mill, where he remained as master mechanic three years. Since that time he has been engaged in mechanical work in and about Puget Sound. At the establishing of the local board of inspectors of steam vessels of Washington Territory, in 1871, Mr. Parker was appointed inspector of steam boilers, the first to fill that position ou the Sound. In 1888 he was elected Treasurer of Seattle, and in his po- litical views has always been an ardent Repub- lican, although, having passed his life in the Territories, his first presidential vote was cast for Benjamin Harrison, in the fall of 1892. Mr. Parker began investing in real estate in Se- attle in an early day, and by the development of the eity and natural increase in values he now enjoys a bandsome competency. His Com- mercial street property was destroyed by fire in 1889, but he has since erected two briek blocks, in keeping with the magnificent enterprises of the city developers, and has also built a hand- some residence on the corner of Eighth and Seneca streets, where lie now resides.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

September 9, 1867, in Seattle, our subject was united in marriage to Miss Lydia G. Rowell, a native of Maine. They have three children, -George F., Benjamin S. and Isaae C. So- cially, Mr. Parker affiliates with the F. & A. M., being a member of blne lodge, chapter and commandery and Lawson Consistory of Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction. IIe is also a mem- ber of the Seattle Encampment, I. O. O. F.

E ZRA M. STRATTON, one of the repre- sentative citizens of Cowlitz county, was born in Allegheny county Pennsylvania, April 1. 1833, a son of Silas and Betsey (Har- ris) Stratton, natives of New York. The pater- nal grandfather, a member of an old American family, fell at the battle of Bunker Hill. In 1833 the family moved from Pennsylvania to Allen county, Ohio, where Ezra M. was reared to manhood, and at the age of fourteen years began work at the carpenter's trade. In 1854 he located at Guthrie county, Iowa, where he was a'nong the pioneer settlers. In Jannary, 1864, Mr. Stratton enlisted in the First Iowa Battery, served throughtout the Rebellion as a soldier of the Union, with a ereditable and honorable record, took part in the Georgia campaign from Dalton to Atlanta, an almost constant engagement, and among others par- tieipated in the last battle of Nashville He was honorably discharged July 3, 1865. In May, 1866, Mr. Stratton started across the plains for the Pacific coast, and arrived in Cow- litz county, Washington, October 8, following. At his former home he owned 160 acres of land, and of his remaining forty acres he has thirty acres under cultivation, five acres of which is devoted to an orchard of a general variety of fruit. At his present home Mr. Stratton has eighty-eight acres, twenty-five acres of which is cleared, and where he has a fine residence. The place is located about five miles northeast of Woodland, on Lewis river. Mr. Stratten markets his fruit principally at Portland, and in 1891 he harvested over 600 bushels of apples. Among his small fruits are blackberries, goose- berries, currants, ete. He also has large black walnut and shell-bark hickory trees. Besides giving his attention to his ranehing interests, he also works at the carpenter's trade.

Mr. Stratton was married in Ohio, June 16, 1853, to Miss Lucy A. Robinson, a native of that State. They have eight children, viz: Margaret, wife of John T. MeFarland, of Co- lumbia county, Oregon; John W .; James A .; Ezza A., wife of Amos Burt, of Cowlitz county ; Thomas M .; Charles W .; Mary E., and Rosa M. One child, William, died in June, 1891. In politics Mr. Stratton affiliates with the Democratic party, and takes an active interest in public affairs. He is also interested in the canse of common school education, and for sev- eral years has served as a member of the Board of School Directors of his district.

HE PACIFIC NAVIGATION COM- PANY, which is the leading factor in Puget Sound commerce, with headquar- ters in Tacoma, was organized March 7, 1887, with a capital stock of $50,000, which was afterward increased to $100,000, divided into $1,000 shares. The company at once took front rank in its field of operations, and has maintained its position. Among the company's vessels are the well-known steamers State of Washington, Fairhaven and Henry Bailey.

The State of Washington is a fine vessel, built in 1889, at Ballard, by John Holland. She has a large passenger traffic between Tacoma Seattle and Everett. The Fairhaven was con- structed at the city in whose honor she was named, by the Fairhaven Land Company, and from that company she was purchased by her present owners. The Henry Bailey was built by Thomas R. Brown and was afterward pnr- chased by the Pacific Navigation Company. The various vessels of this corporation ply be- tween all important ports of the Puget Sound.

The management of the company's affairs is in the hands of the following officers: James M. Ashton, president; S. Sedgwick, vice-presi- dent; and Frank Waterhouse, secretary and Treasurer.

Frank Waterhouse, secretary, treasurer and general manager of the Pacific Navigation Company, is a native of Cheshire, England, born in 1866. The education he received in his native town was supplemented by a finish- ing course at Bowdon College in the north of England. In 1886 he came to the United States and located at Crookston, Minnesota, where he

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

engaged in the collecting business. Coming to Tacoma, Washington, in 1889, he became con- nected with the business departments of the Northern Pacific Railroad, with which he was identified until November 1, 1892. In the meantime his abilities had gained for him re- cognition, and on the date mentioned he was elected to the important and responsible posi- tion which he now occupies.

In his present capacity Mr. Waterhouse has done most efficient service for the company whose interests he handles, and his whole policy has been in the direction, and met with the re- sult, of making it popular with the various interests that support the Sound shipping.

R C. COREY, M. D., a prominent physi- cian of Olympia, Washington, was born in Bnrean, county, Illinois in 1862.

His father, Rufus Corey, a native of Massachusetts, went West when a young man and settled in Illinois. He married Miss Julia A Campbell, a native of Kentucky. For some time, Mr. Corey followed his trade of masonry, in Bureau county. In 1872, he was elected Sheriff of that county by the Republican party, and bycontinnous re-election served in that posi- tion for eight years. In 1880, he removed to Hastings, Nebraska, where he engaged in the real-estate business and continued to reside un- til 1891. In that year he removed to Olympia, Washington, and retired from active life.

Dr. Corey, the subject of this sketch, was primarily educated in the schools of Illinois. In 1879, he entered Princeton College at which he graduated in 1883. Returning to Hastings, he began his medical studies under the pre- ceptorship of H. P. Fitch, M. D., and in 1884 entered the Rush Medical College, Chicago, graduating at that institution in 1887, with the degree of M. D. He then became a student in the Homeopathic Medical College, St. Louis, at which he graduated in the spring of 1888. Again returning to Hastings, he there entered upon a professional career, conducting a suc- cessful practice until December, 1890, when he- came West and established himself at Olympia. He is the only homeopathic physician south of Tacoma. By personal effort and the successful handling of his cases he has built up an ex- tensive practice.

Dr. Corey was married in Hastings, Nebraska, in 1889, to Miss Kate E. Pearl, a native of Oswego, New York. They have one child, Margaret J.

The Doctor is a member of the State medical societies of Nebraska and Washington. He is a careful student and is devoted to his profes- sion, and, without doubt, a bright future awaits him.

W ARREN J. BOWMAN, an early settler of Washington, and prominent citizen of Pierce county,, was born near the town of Washington, Peoria county, Illinois, November 25, 1837, son of John C. and Mary (Mounts) Bowman.

John C. Bowman. born in Richmond, Vir- ginia, April 26, 1809, was a descendant of one of the early families of the Old Dominion. He, was married June 22, 1835, and died June 14, 1839. His wife, the mother of our subject was born near Peoria, Illinois, the daughter of pioneer settlers of that place. After Mr. Bow- man's death, she married for her second husband Taylor A. Rne. Mr. Rue was born in Ohio, went from there to Indiana, and later removed to Illinois, where he met and married Mrs. Bowman, their marriage occurring May 9, 1841. In 1842 the family removed into the city of Peoria, where they resided until March, 1850, and at that date they started with horse teams for Astoria, Oregon. They crossed the Mississippi river at Burlington, the Missouri at St. Joseph, thence proceeded via Forts Kearney, Laramie and Hall, crossed the Rocky mountains at South Pass, the Bear river at Soda Springs, on to Fort Dalles, where they stopped a short time, thence on to Portland, and abont October 24, reached the mouth of the Cowlitz river, where they settled. December 25, 1852, the mother died. Mr. Rue survived her many years, and became quite prominent in the local affairs of the new country in which he had settled. He held several offices in Cow- litz county, and was one of the Commissioners of Washington Territory, appointed by the Governor. Ile died on the old donation claim, near Freeport, September 10, 1880.

Warren J. Bowman, whose name heads this article, was reared to manhood at the old home- stead on the Cowlitz, and besides the education

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

he received in the schools of the neighborhood, he also had the advantage of training under Prof. Kingley at the Portland Academy. The original donation claim above referred to was increased by subsequent purchase until the ranch comprised 800 acress, it being ntilized as both a grain and stock ranch. llere Mr. Bow- man continned until 1869, when he went to Olympia and turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, where he remained two years. When the Northern Pacific Railroad was about to es- tablish its terminus at Tacoma, he came into Pierce connty and located on the Puyallup reservation. He was offered the agency by General Milroy, superintendent of Indian at- fairs, but declined, preferring to engage in the mercantile business, which he did on the Puy- allup river, near Puyallup. From that he turned his attention to the raising of hops, and in 1885 located on his present ranch, which was then covered with timber, and which he owned for two years before moving to it. Of the 145 acres in his ranch, 100 acres are now cleared and twenty acres are in hops. Ten acres are devoted to orchard purposes, the fruits comprising ap- ples, pears, plums, prunes, cherries, etc.

Mr. Bowman was married in Freeport, Cow- litz county, January 24, 1874, to Miss Olive E. Stone, a native of Freeport, Indiana, and daughter of Nathaniel and Emeline (Klink) Stone. Her father was born in the Green mountains of Vermont, June 12, 1815, and came of an old Vermont family, of Welsh origin. Her mother was from New York, and was of German extraction on the paternal side. IIer parents lived in Indiana for several years, and in 1848 crossed the plains with their family to this coast, making the journey by ox-teams. They remained in Portland during the winter of 1848-'49, went to Oregon City in the spring, and later in the same year located at the month of the Cowlitz river, where they took up a do- nation claim. Mr. Stone founded the town of Freeport, and named it after Freeport, Indiana, where Mrs. Bowman was born. He was a prom . inent man, served as County Treasurer, and in 1860-'61 was a member of the Territorial Legislature. In politics he was first a Whig and afterward a Republican, and took an active part in public affairs. He built the steamer Rescue, which he ran between Portland and Freeport for some time, in this way doing an extensive transportation business and also carry- ing the mails. After an illness of six months.

he died in November, 1876, aged sixty-one years. His widow, now residing near Yakima, Yakima county, was seventy-four years old on February 14, 1893.

Mrs. Bowman was educated at Freeport and at Salem University, having attended college two years. She taught school at Freeport sev- eral terms, at Oak Point, at Knappton, opposite Astoria, and at St. Helen, Oregon. The chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Bowman were five in number, one of whom -- Clyde-is deceased. Those living are: Mary Emeline, Edna Olive, Ina Eliza, and Warren.

Mr. Bowman was one of the organizers of the Farmers' Insurance Company, of Seattle, was its first vice-president, and still continues in that capacity. He was also one of the organiz- ers of the Farmers' Bank, of Puyallup, of which he was offered the presidency, but declined; was then elected vice-president. When the bank was consolidated with that of Stewart & Masterson into the Bank of Puyallup, he became vice-presi- dent of the new organization. He was also elected president of the Cannery Company that was or- ganized for handling the fruit of this region. He was president of the organization of fruit growers, from which sprang the Western Wash- ington Exposition at Tacoma, Henry Bucey succeeded him in that office.

A resident of the Northwest from his early youth, Mr. Bowman is familiar with every phase of life on this coast, from the pioneer days up to the present time, and during all these years he has acted well his part in ad- vancing the best interests of the community in which he lives. He is a veteran of the Indian war of 1855-'56, having enlisted when he was sixteen. He was mnstered into service at Van- couver, furnishing his own horse and rifle. He was in Company A, Washington Mounted Volunteers, under Captain William R. Strong, and his service covered a period of six months, a portion of which time he was engaged in sconting between The Dalles and the Walla Walla country. Being at The Dalles when the river began to freeze, they were ordered back to Vancouver, and went home on the ice. The next spring he volunteered to go back, but the steamer failed twice to call for them when they were mastered ready to go, and after that his father would not let him leave, fearing ill Inck.

He has never held political office but once, and then served as Auditor and Assessor of Cowlitz county.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

Many and great are the changes that have come under his observation. Arriving in Port- land early in October, 1850, when it was a mere hamlet of seattered huts, he has seen it grow into a populous city. Settling north of the Co- lumbia river in the same year, in what was then Oregon, he has seen the vast territory segre- gated and two great States formed therefrom and admitted into the Union; the counties, em- bracing areas of the extent of some nations have been divided and subdivided; the lonely cabin and little clearing of the hardy pioneer, when everyone in the county was known to everyone else, have given place to populous communities thronged with strangers. The cedar canoe with its erew of painted Indians and the winding trail laboriously threaded by the train of patient ponies have been superceded by the magnificent steamer and the modern iron horse, drawing long trains of palatial pas- senger coaches and wealth laden freight cars, and now the teeming multitude has met the tide of the mighty Pacitic and there is no more " Westward ho !" Mr. Bowman is now a mem- ber of the Historical Society of Washington, and of the Western Washington Pioneer As- sociation, and will assist in perpetuating their carly history.

J OSEPH CHILBERG, proprietor of the Chilberg block, Olympia, Washington, was born in Wapello county, lowa, in 1850.

His parents, John C. and Hannah (Pierson) Chilberg, were born and reared in Sweden, and after their marriage emigrated to the United States, loeating in Iowa about 1825. They were among the pioneer farmers of that State, and at the time they located there had to go fifty miles to the nearest flour. mill. In 1871 Mr. Chilberg sold his farm and removed to the Territory of Washington. Upon his arrival here he homesteaded 160 acres of tide lands upon the Swinnimish flats, in Skagit county, built dykes on his farm, and en- gaged in raising grain, particularly oats, the land producing an average yield of 100 bushels to the acre. In 1877 he rented his farm and removed to Seattle, where he improved residence property for renting purposes. He remained there several years, but, preferring country life, returned to his farm, where he is spending his

declining years. His good wife is still living, each being now about eighty years of age. Seven of their ten children are living, and all in Washington.

Joseph was the ninth born in this family. His early education was received in Iowa, and after they came West he attended the Olympia Collegiate Institute. He then elerked two years in the grocery store of Samuel Stork, at Olym- pia, after which he engaged in the grocery business for himself, continuing the same until he was burned ont in 1882. In 1891, upon the site of his okt business honse, he erected his new brick block, 34 x 100 feet, three stories. After the fire of 1882 he again elerked for one year. Then he conducted the grocery business of L. G. Abbott until 1890, when the stock was closed out. That year he turned his attention to the real estate business. He was one of the incorporators of the Olympia Land Company, which company laid off and platted the Park addition of 105 acres. He is also interested in the College Heights addition.

In October, 1890, Mr. Chilberg was elected Treasurer of the city of Olympia, was re-elected to the same position in the fall of 1891, and is the present incumbent of that office. In May, 1892. he was appointed assistant superintendent of horticulture of Thurston county to the World's Fair in Chicago, and was actively interested in his display of wild and enltivated fruits for that exposition.

Mr. Chilberg was married in Olympia, in 1878, to Miss Theresa Amelia, danghter of L. G. Abbott, who came to Washington in 1860. They have two children, Verne and Neva.

Socially, Mr. Chilberg affiliates with the A. O. U. W. and the I. O. G. T. Since 1889 he has served as Clerk of school district No. I, taking a deep interest in educational matters as well as the progress and development of the city of his adoption.

JOHN MILLER MURPIIY, proprietor of the Washington Standard, Olympia, Wash- ington, was born near Fort Wayne, Indi- ana, in 1839. John Murphy, his father, was a native of Ireland. When a boy he emigrated to the United States, and here learned the trade of millwright. He married Miss Susan Miller, a native of Pennsylvania, settled in Indiana, and

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in that State lived for a number of years. After the death of his wife, in 1846, John M., the subject of this sketch, was taken by his sister, Mr. George A. Barnes, of Cincinnati, Ohio, with whom, in 1850, lie came across the plains to Oregon. The Barnes family passed the winter in Portland, and the following spring came to Olympia, where they still reside.

John M. Murphy attended school at the va- rious places in which his early life was spent. During the winter of 1850-'51 he was a pupil of the first school organized in Portland. In 1856 he entered the office of the Oregon Weekly Times, in Portland, to learn the trade of printer, and made such rapid advancement in his work that at the end of two years he was foreman of the Democratic Standard, remaining with it until the close of its career. He then removed to Oregon City and worked on the Argus until June, 1860, when he came to Vancouver, Wash- ington Territory, and, in partnership with L. E. V. Coon, founded the Vancouver Chroniele. A few months later he severed his connection with this paper and came to Olympia and established the Washington Standard, which made its first appearance November 17, 1860, and which has continued to appear with weekly regularity for upwards of thirty-two years, never having missed an issne.

In 1865 Mr. Murphy built his printing office on the corner of Second and Washington streets, where his paper has since been located. In 1863 he was appointed Publie Printer, and served during one session of the Territorial Leg- islature. As Territorial Anditor he served from 1867 to 1870, during 1873 and 1874 and from 1888 to Statehood, and during the two later terms he served as ex-officio Quartermaster, an office of much labor and annoyance, but no compensation. For eight years he was a mem- ber of the City Council, and during one term served as County Superintendent of Schools.

Mr. Murphy was married in Portland, in 1861, to Miss Eliza A., daughter of Francis McGuire, a pioncer of the early '50s. Follow- ing are the names of their eight children: Henry M., foreman of the printing office; Winifred, wife of William Harris; Annie; Frank; Es- tella, wife of Charles R. Carroll; Bertha; Charles, and Rosa Pearl.

In 1890 Mr. Murphy built the Olympia The- ater, 55 x 140 feet, which is scientifically equipped with exits opened by electricity, water reels through the building, and a seating capac-

ity of 1,000 people. He is a member of Olym- pia lodge, I. O. O. F., and is Past Chief Patri- areh of Alpha Encampment. He was one of the organizers of the Olympia Fire Department, has served several terms as secretary and presi- dent, and has always actively supported the institution, as he does all enterprises which tend toward the development of the city of Olympia.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 158

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