An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 27

Author: Hines, Harvey K., 1828-1902
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1056

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In the spring of 1852, when they were ready to move upon their claim, they had the expe- rience of the fall over again in building new eabins in which to live. After the honses were built, they commenced getting out piles and hewn timbers for the San Francisco market, with an occasional cargo for the Sandwich Islands. Vessels in the lumber trade all carried a stock of general merchandise, and from them they obtained their supplies. The captains sold from their vessels while taking in cargo, and, upon leaving, turned over the remainder to Mr. Denny to sell on commission. On one occasion his commission business involved him in a seri- ons difficulty. In reference to it, he says:

"The captain of one of the vessels, with whom I usually dealt, carried a stock of liquors, but he knew that I did not deal in spirits, and dis- posed of that part of the cargo himself or kept it on board. On one occasion, as he was ready for the voyage from San Francisco, with his usual stock, something prevented him from

making the voyage himself, and he put a yonng friend of his, just out from Maine, in command. When they came to the whisky, the young cap- tain said, 'What am I to do with that? I will not sell it.' 'Well,' he replied, take it up to my agent, Mr. Denny, and if he will not dis- pose of it turn it over to a friend of mine at Alki Point, who is in the trade.' The vessel arrived and the new captain came on shore with a letter, explaining the situation. I told him, ' All right, Captain; take it to Alki. I have no use for it.' In due time the cargo was com- pleted and the captain came on shore and in- formed me that the man at Alki had on hand a full stock of his own, and would not take the stuff, and he would throw it overboard if I did hot take it out of his way. My obligation to the owner would in no way justify me in per- mitting so rash an act, and I told the captain to send it on shore with the goods he was to leave, and have his men roll it up to the house, and I would take care of it until the owner eame. I was cramped for room, but I found places to store it under beds and in safe corners about my cabin. It was a hard kind of goods to hold on to in those days, but there was never a drop of it escaped until the owner came and removed it to Steilacoom."

Mr. Denny continued in the commission busi- ness until the fall of 1854, when he entered into co-partnership with Dexter Horton and David Phillips in a general merchandise business, under the firm name of A. A. Denny & Co. Their capital was very limited. It would hardly purchase a truck-load of goods now, but for the time, in a small one-story frame building, on the corner of Commercial and Washington streets, -afterward occupied by the bank of Dexter Horton & Co.,-they did the leading business of the town. When the Indian war came on in 1855, the firm dissolved and Mr. Denny went into the volunteer service for six months. He served as County Commissioner of Thurston county, Oregon, when that county covered all the territory north of Lewis county, and when Pierce, King, Island and Jefferson counties

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were formed by the Oregon Legislature he was appointed a Commissioner of King county. In 1853 he was appointed Postmaster, and received the first United States mail in Seattle, Angust 27, 1853. On the organization of Washington Territory, he was elected to the House, and con- tinned a member of either the House of Repre- sentatives or of the Council for nine consecutive sessions. He was Speaker of the House the third session. He was Registrar of the United States Land Office at Olympia from 1861 to 1865, when he was elected Territorial Delegate to the Thirty-ninth Congress. In 1870 his old friends and business partners, David Phillips and Dexter Horton, founded the bank of Phil- lips, Horton & Co., and at the death of Mr. Phillips, March 6, 1872, Mr. Horton, althoughi alone in business, adopted the firm name of Dexter Horton & Co. Mr. Denny entered the bank at this time as exeentor of the Phillips estate, and, after closing the affairs of the estate, lie took a half interest in the bank, under the existing firm name, which Mr. Horton offered to change at the time; but, being fully satisfied with the name, Mr. Denny declined to allow the ehange. IIe has been identified with the for-

tunes and interests of Seattle from the day of its founding, and during the active period of his life it was his earnest endeavor to promote and protect those interests to the best of his ability. After reviewing his life, he adds:

"My work is practically over. If it has been done in a way to entitle me to any credit I do not feel that it becomes me to claim it. Should the reverse be trne, then I trust that the mantle of charity may protect me from the too harsh judgment and criticism of those now on the active list, and that I may be permitted to pass into a peaceful obscurity with the hope that their efforts may be more successful than mine."

Thus modestly does the founder of a great and prosperous city refer to his personal career, which is emblematic of honesty and integrity and all there is in life worthy of emulation. Ilis wife, the joy and comfort of his pioneer life, is still the companion of his prosperity. They have four sons and two daughters, all of whom reside in the city which is so closely as- sociated with the manly virtues of strength, enterprise and courage of their father, and the womanly graces and fortitude of their mother.

CHAPTER XXII.

TERRITORIAL HISTORY, CONTINUED.

ELECTION OF 1867- FRANK CLARK AND ALVAN FLANDERS -INCREASE OF VOTES-MOORE APPOINTED GOVERNOR E. L. SMITH -- RETURNING PROSPERITY- LEGISLATION SOUGHT-NAVIGATION AND RAILROAD COMPANIES --- ALASKA-DECAY OF INDIANS POLITICAL CHANGES-SKETCH OF JUDGE DENNISON.

D URING the Congressional term of Mr. Denny the reconstruction measures that followed the close of the war were pend- ing in Congress, involving the serious differen- ences between President Johnson and the party that had elevated him to power. Little could be attempted and even less accomplished for the Territory in the disturbed condition of the public mind. Mr. Deuny was faithful to his

trust but beyond the usual appropriations for the conduct of the Territorial government there was little to show for what was done. When the election of 1867 occurred both parties put forth new candidates, the Democrats nominat- ing Frank Clark of Steilacoom, and the Repub- licans Alvan Flanders of Wallula. Mr. Clark was a very representative Democrat. He was a pioneer of the Territory, and had been fully

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identified with its interests since 1852. On these accounts he was undoubtedly the strongest can- didate his party could have named. Mr. Flan- ders had been a resident of the Territory only four years, was little known, and therefore there was nothing in his nomination to inspire the party he represented to activity. The result was that Mr. Flanders received in 1867 only seventeen more votes than did Mr. Denny, the Republican candidate, in 1865, and Mr. Clark received 1,059 more votes than did Mr. Tilton in 1865 and came within less than a hundred votes of an election. In two years the vote of the Territory had increased 1,076, over thirty per cent, showing that a large immigration had entered its borders during that period.

Politically, the period through which the Territory was now passing was one of turmoil. Though the Republican party was undoubtedly in the majority, yet there were divisions in its ranks arising out of the defection of President Johnson who removed Mr. Pickering from the Governorship and appointed in his place George E. Cole, late Democratie delegate to Congress, who hastened to the capital and assumed the duties of that office before the Senate had acted on his nomination. That body declined to con- firm his nomination, and after the brief rule of two months he laid aside his " little brief authority." Finally, after several nominations had been rejected by the Senate, Marshal F. Moore was appointed and confirmed. Mean- time Mr. E. L. Smith of California had been appointed secretary, and, arriving at Olympia in June, assumed the duties of acting governor until the arrival of Moore but a short time before the assembling of the legislative assembly. Both Mr. Moore and Mr. Smith were well re- ceived at the capital and made an excellent im . pression on the people of the Territory. Mr. Moore, who was a native of Binghamton, New York, had served through the war with great credit and gallantry, and came out of it bearing the rank of brevet major-general. He was a gentleman of great snavity of manner, thoroughly devoted to his duties and conscien-

tious and intelligent in the discharge of them, Mr. Smith, originally from Illinois, had spent some years in California, where he had been a popular member of the legislature, and though he came to the Territory almost entirely un- known to its people he easily won their confi- dence and regard. Thus, although the admin- istration of Mr. Moore began under circum- stances of political nnrest, it really proved a most satisfactory one to the Territory.

Soon after Mr. Moore's arrival the legislature convened and the new executive delivered his message, most elaborately and intelligently dis- cussing the interests of the Territory. It was a document not only of mueh ability but of great practical utility, and at once gave the new gov- ernor a high standing as a citizen as well as great credit as an officer.

Washington had now evidently entered a season of prosperity. In two years, as evidenced by the vote of the late election, there had been a large increase in its population and commer- cial and mining interests had appreciably ad- vanced. A tone of assurance and a spirit of hope for the future were apparent in all depart- ments of life and business.

In legislation little now was needed or attempted. Some efforts were made to cure the evils resulting to the Territory from the erude and unsatisfactory manner of Territorial govern- ment under the practice of Congress and the national executive, and a slight relief was oh- tained. The practice of making the Territorial offices rewards to broken down or superannnated politicians from the East who claimed pay for partizan services not always honorable or higli- minded, and received it thus at the expense of the pioneers of the Territories, was one to be strongly condemned. The legislature attempted to cure this evil, and Congress made a partial response to its petitions and memorials by the enactment of rules holding appointees to more rigid responsibility on penalty of loss of pay when absent from their posts of duty, a pro- vision that would tonch the average office-holder in a most tender point.

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At this period the growing importance of the Territory was evidenced by the organization of navigation and railroad companies contem- plating the opening of channels of commerce and travel on the rivers, as well as by land, south- ward and eastward from Puget Sound. One, called the Puget Sound & Columbia River Rail- road Company, of which Mr. S. W. Brown, of Vancouver, was president, expended consider- able money, and by publieations in the press and the sending of an agent to Washington to co- operate with Mr. Alvan Flanders, who was then delegate in Congress, to procure favorable legis- lation, first drew the attention of the Northern Pacific Company to the line between the Co- lumbia and Puget Sound, where it, a little later, built its first division on the Pacific coast. This company actually entered into contract with Mr. Ben Holaday for the construction of this line from Vancouver to Stielacoom, near the present city of Taeoma, and bonds at the rate of $25,000 per mile were printed to carry out the project. Mr. Holaday was then railroad king of the North Pacific coast, and for a time the prospect of building the road was very bright; bnt Holaday's failure some time later destroyed that prospect, and meantime the Northern Pa- cific stepped into the opening this company had made, and obtained from Congress an extension of its right of way and grant of land over this most important link that its managers had un- aecountably overlooked up to this time.

Another incident of historic significance to the Territory occurred at this time. Mr. Seward, as secretary of State, purchased Alaska from Russia, and thus extended the domain of the United States far to the north and west of Washington. This really put Washington central to the possession of the United States on the Pacific, and greatly stimulated commercial enterprise on Puget Sound and the Columbia river, and indeed all over the northwest.

Such a change had ocenrred in the internal condition of the Territory, especially west of the Cascade mountains, that in 1868, the Govern- meut through the war department, abandoned

Fort Steilacoom, and disposed of the buildings at Gray's Harbor and Chehalis which had been abandoned some years before. This indicated what had really almost eluded the observation of the people themselves, namely, that the In- dians of that region had so nearly passed away that there was no longer any danger of an In- dian war. A few weak and ragged remnants of the once strong tribes that swarmed around this inland sea yet lingered here and there, poor, filthy, degraded, a prey to the vices that they had learned from abandoned white men, with scarcely a remnant of the fabled dignity and nobleness and bravery of which writers have spoken remaining to cover the hideous naked- ness of their wretchedness and decay. It may be confessed, however, that this writer believes that much of what was thus ascribed to them aforetime was " fabled " only; still it was sad to contemplate them now in their few shivering bivonaes when winter storms were dark about them, or in the unelad beggary of their want as they sought scant food at the back doors of the dwellings of the race whose coming had con- sumed their people. Still who shall say that it were not better that the steamer and the plow and the rail car should take the place of the canoe and the hunter's trail? And if this should be then they must perish, for no pagan tribe as such ever built a mile of railway, or launched a single steamer on any sea. It was the provi- dence of progress; and though we might feel the pain of sympathy for that which dies that higher creations may live, we must still feel that the providence of this law of universal growth is right. Thus these people were passing away, and thus they have ministered to the incoming of a displacing civilization. But we may not linger on such moralizations.

There were many political agitations, arising largely out of personal rivalries among offiee- holders, during this period of our history, but it would not repay the reader if we should reeite them. The machinations of the agitators were mainly directed against the district judges, or rather against some of them, and the purpose

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was openly proclaimed to force their removal. This purpose finally succeeded, and soon after Grant came to the presidency he completely changed the personnel of the judiciary, appoint- ing B. F. Dennison chief justice, with Orange Jacobs and J. K. Kennedy associates. These men were all old citizens of the Territory, able lawyers, and their appointment gave great satis- faction to the Territory. They displaced Hewitt and Wyche and Darwin. In a couple of years Jacobs succeeded Dennison as chief justice, and J. R. Lewis succeeded Kennedy as associate. Lewis was transferred from a term of service on the bench in Idaho to Washington, and came into the State with a record of ability and in- corruptibility that gave him great favor with his new constituency.

As we are illustrating the course of our his- tory with reminiscences of the life of the lead- ing builders of the State, whose story we are relating, we will now turn aside from the ordin- ary flow of the story and introduce to our read- ers Hon. B. F. Dennison, who, as they have seen, has just closed his term as chief justice of the Territory.

BENJAMIN F. DENNISON, NOW a resident of Olympia, was one of the Argonauts of Cali- fornia. IIe was born in Burke, Caledonia county, Vermont, in 1820. ITis father, Dr. George W. Dennison, was a native of Connect- ient, where he was educated in sciences and medicine; then settled in Vermont, married Miss Emeley Jenks of that State, and there lived, devoting his time to his profession. He was quite active in politics, and for a number of years served as County Judge. He was fitted for college at the Newbury Methodist Univer- sity, and graduated in 1845 from Dartmouth College at Hanover, New Hampshire. During the "Tippecanoe campaign" in 1840, though not old enough to vote, he was an active mem- ber of the Whig political club of his college, and was a participant in the county and State demonstrations, listening to the speeches of Webster, Choate, Johnson and other great ora- tors of that period. After his graduation he

went to Akron, Ohio, and engaged in the read- ing of law, which he continued at Cleveland in the office of Reuben Wood, who was subse- quently elected Supreme Judge and Governor of the State, and was admitted to practice in the court of common pleas and in the supreme court in 1848. He then opened an office for the purpose of practicing, but with the dis- covery of gold in California, and imbned with the spirit of adventure, he joined a company of seven young men who proceeded to Louisville, Kentucky, and purchased a prairie outfit with innle teams, and in the spring of 1849 started across the plains for California. Being inex- perienced in prairie travel their progress was fraught with many dangers and adventures. Their teams soon became jaded from too rapid driving, and by making haste in the start their arrival in California was delayed. They were chased by wild Indians, and saved from mas- sacre only by reaching a camp of emigrants. About 500 miles out from Sacramento they were overpowered in the night, robbed of their mules and left almost destitute. They then made small packs of supplies, and each with one blanket set forth on foot. The Digger Indians gave them much trouble at night, and though caught in the mountains in snow, they dare not make fires for fear of Indians. With scanty supplies of food or clothing, they were miserable indeed. Their food ultimately gave . ont and for three days they lived on sugar and water alone. Six months were consumed in this weary journey, and they arrived in the Sacramento valley in a half-starved condition, with only their clothes upon their backs- financially " dead broke " -- even pawning a re- volver for a square meal.

Mr. Dennison began mining upon the south fork of American river, but soon contracted fever and ague and became unfit for labor. He then went to Sacramento, and after recuperat- ing presented a letter of credit which he brought from New York city, drawn upon Messrs. Sim- mons & Hutchinson, merchants of that city. After describing his condition and circumstan-

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ces Mr. Hutchinson gave him $50 and an order for a bill of goods, which he advised him to take to Marysville and sell, that being a central point for miners. He followed this advice, and with abont $200 worth of sugar, bacon and camp supplies he hired a boat and two men to take him to that place. Accomplishing his journey, his stock was quickly exhausted at 100 per cent. net profit, and he thus raised his first " stake." Returning to Sacramento and pay- ing his bills, he then went to San Jose for his health, and after gaining a little strength he hired two Indians and went to the Mariposa mines, where he was quite successful, though unable to do anything himself. After about two months he went to Los Angeles, then a city of adobe houses and vineyards. He engaged in the practice of law, was elected one of three county judges, and also engaged in the whole- sale grocery and hardware business, under firm name of Childs, Hicks & Dennison, and con- tinued business for two years, realizing very large profits. He then sold out and by private carriage drove north with a view of returning to Ohio, but npon arriving at Stockton and learning that cholera was very fatal upon the Isthmus, he changed his plans and sailed for the Sandwich Islands, taking with him a quan- tity of California saddles, bridles, etc., for sale. These sold- rapidly in the market of Honolulu, paying a very handsome profit, and affording him a considerable amount of ready cash. About this time the whaling vessels were entering that port, and the officers were anxious to sell drafts upon their employers in the East, allowing very generous discounts for cash. These op- portunities Judge Dennison improved, and re- turning to San Francisco sold his drafts at a premium, thus converting his pleasure trip to one of considerable profit. Judge Dennison then located in Monterey and resumed the prac- tice of his profession in the courts of that city, Santa Cruz and San Jose. In 1858 he came to Puget Sound and located at Whatcom, which was then a settlement of 3,000 people living in tents, awaiting the opening of a trail to the

Fraser river mines. The road was subsequently decided impracticable and the people dispersed, many going to Victoria and advancing by water. The Judge opened his office and engaged in practice, meeting, among others, Mike Sim- mons, the old Indian agent; E. C. Fitzhugh, who was subsequently appointed district judge of Washington Territory; and Colonel B. F. Shaw, now of Vancouver. With the scattering of the miners Whatcom became very quiet, and Judge Dennison removed to Port Townsend and established a home and continned his profes- sion. In 1868 he was appointed Territorial Associate Justice, and in 1869 Territorial Chief Justice by President U. S. Grant, but after one year resigned to follow his large and lucrative practice as attorney for the representative mill companies then located upon the Sound. About 1870 the Judge moved to Olympia, subsequently to Portland, Oregon, in partnership with Gov- ernor A. C. Gibbs for two years, and then to Vancouver, Washington, where he followed a general practice to 1889. While at Portland he married Miss Hattie Menefee, a native of Iowa, who was appointed Postmistress at Van- conver by President Arthur, and discharged tlie duties of that office for five years. In 1889 the Judge returned to Olympia, and has since de- voted his time to cases in the Federal and su- preme courts, through which he has carried many intricate and complex cases to a success- ful termination. The first snit ever brought in the Territory to establish the right of dower was brought by Judge Dennison before Judge Will- iam Strong in behalf of Mrs. Eby, widow of Colonel Eby, collector of customs, who was massacred upon Whidby Island by the North- ern Indians. The Judge defended the widow's rights and established her claim, and that de- cision has since stood upon the statute books, never having been called in question. Com- mencing his political life as a Whig, Judge Dennison then joined the Republican party, and has continued one of its most earnest and faith- ful adherents. Ile has served two terins in the Territorial Legislature, one term as President of

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the Council, and once in the lower honse. Thus briefly have we attempted to portray the life of one of Washington's most able jurists, who has passed through all the phases of pioneer life socially and professionally, attending courts held in tents, without law book or brief in court, the judge . upon the bench being armed with

bowie knife and derringer. Yet npon this foundation has been established a legal super- structure and a State, upon which Mr. Denni- son has impressed himself most strongly, and which will more and more celebrate the work of himself and others like him as the years roll on.

CHAPTER XXIII.

TERRITORIAL HISTORY, CONTINUED.

ALVAN FANDERS, GOVERNOR -- MOORE AND GARFIELDE RUN FOR CONGRESS -- CHARACTER OF THE CANDI- DATES --- RESULT OF ELECTION GARFIELDE AND MCFADDEN, CANDIDATES-MCFADDEN ELECTED - CHANGES IN THE GOVERNSINP- GROWTH OF POPULATION --- SHARPSTEIN AND JACOBS, CANDI- DATES-SKETCH OF SHARPSTEIN-SKETCH OF JACOBS -- JACOBS ELECTED-RE-ELECTED-THOMAS II. BRENTS DELEGATE -- C. S. VOORHEES SUCCEEDS HIM -- J. B. ALLEN -- GOVERNOR FERRY- GOVERNOR NEWELL -- GOVERNOR SQUIRE -- CHINESE AGITATION --- FERRY'S REPORTS -- GOVERNOR SEMPLE -- WOMAN SUFFRAGE -- GOVERNOR M. C. MOORE.

W ITII the changes in the Federal office- holders in the Territory noted in the last chapter came the appointment of Alvan Flanders, late delegate in Congress, to the office of Governor. This was a surprise, as it was understood that he would again be a can- didate for the delegateship; but doubtless some political necessities ruled the hour incident to the hopes and aspirations of other men. Moore had served as governor with such an intelligent devotion to the interests of the Territory that the people generally were not gratified by his displacement. In the other changes that were made Elisha P. Ferry was appointed surveyor general and Hazard Stevens, son of General I. I. Stevens, collector of internal revenue, with Leander Holmes United States district attorney.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 27

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