An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 28

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

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It was the logical ontcome of these changes that ex-Governor Moore should become the can- didate of the Democratic party for delegate to Congress, and accordingly he was nominated for that place, though his was a remarkably con- servative Democracy. The Republicans named against him Salneius Garfielde. Mr. Garfielde had been the candidate of the Union Democracy

for the same position in 1861, but was defeated by W. H. Wallace, Republican, because Ed- ward Lander, an ultra Democrat, divided the Democratic vote with him. As the war pro- gressed Mr. Garfielde had become a Republican, and had given a very cordial and earnest sup- port to both Mr. Denny and Mr. Flanders.

As an orator Mr. Garfielde had no equal in the Territory, and few indeed anywhere. Ile was a cousin of General James A. Garfield, afterward President of the United States, who at this time was winning his great reputa- tion as an orator and statesman in the House of Representatives. Mr. Salucins Garfielde had practiced law with success all over the Territory, had repeatedly canvassed it in behalf of other men for the position which he now sought, and was as well known all over it as any other man.

It was seen from the beginning that the strug- gle would be a close and a hard one. Mr. Moore was not an orator, but he had an easy way to the hearts and confidence of the people. His patriotism was undoubted. He had proved it on many a battle-field, and bore most conclusive evidence of it in the wounds from which he

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constantly suffered received at Missionary Ridge and at Jonesboro. The canvass therefore was a most animated one, and at its conclusion Mr. Garfielde was returned to Congress only by the narrow margin of 147 votes.

By a change in the time for holding the elec- tion the Territory was called upon to elect a delegate to Congress in 1870. Mr. Garfielde was again the candidate of the Republicans, and J. D. Mix, of Walla Walla, of the Democrats. At this election Garfielde was chosen by nearly 600 majority. In 1872 he was the Republican can- didate again, but was defeated by Judge O. B. McFadden, Democratic candidate, by over 700 votes. This retired Mr. Garfielde from popular office in Washington Territory, although he held, for a time, the office of collector of customs in the district of Puget Sound, to which he was appointed by President Grant in 1873. Per- haps the justice of history requires us to say that Mr. Garfielde failed to secure that influence in legislation, and that respect for the Territory that he represented in Congress that his abilities as an orator entitled his constituency to expect. Mr. McFadden was unfitted by illness for the arduous duties of his office, and so little was ac- complished for the Territory during the Con- gressional terms covered by these paragraphs. It is right, however, that we say that the posi- tion of a Territorial delegate does not carry with it much of influence beyond that of the man personally who holds it, as it gives him no vote nor position other than of political mendicant asking for alms, -- a mortifying and unjust posi- tion in which to place any nominal repre- sentative of any American commonwealth.

Alvan Flanders was displaced from the govenorship before he had served a year, and Edward S. Salomon, of Illinois, was appointed in his place. Ile was a German Jew, who had distinguished himself in the war of the rebellion. In about two years he was succeeded by Elisha P. Ferry, who held the office eight years, when he was followed by William A. Newell, of New Jersey, who retained the office four years.

There was little in the external or internal

history of the Territory during this time to call for special notice. The common subjects of legislation occupied the attention of the suc- cessive legislative assemblies. There was a steady growth of population. The vote of the Territory rose from 6,357 in 1870 to 15,823 in 1880, showing that the population had consider- ably more than doubled in a decade. Every material interest had kept full pace with the growth of the population, and Washington entered its last decade of Territorial existence with the surest prospects of soon realizing that for which its pioneers had toiled and waited for so many years. But we must not anticipate.

With the expiration of the Congressional term of Mr. McFadden the Democratic convention of the Territory offered him a renomination, but he was siek in Pennsylvania and declined that honor, when B. L. Sharpstein, of Walla Walla, was named. As his competitor the Republicans named Orange Jacobs, of Seattle, then chief justice of the Territory. In all ways these were representative men. In an unnsnal degree they had impressed themselves on the best history of the Territory, and as illustrating the better character of the people who have built up the feeble colony whose history we have so far traced into the magnificent State that gems the north- western sky of our glorious Union, we introduce a more extended notice of them both in this place.

Judge B. L. Sharpstine was born in Steuben county, New York, October 22, 1827, and was the second son of Luther and Abigail Sharp- stine, natives also of that State. When he was but six years of age his parents removed to Michigan, and he in 1846 to Wisconsin. He was reared on a farm. After reaching a suitable age he began the study of law, and was admitted to practice in 1852. Mr. Sharpstine followed his profession in Wisconsin until 1865, and in that year came to the then Territory of Wash- ington, locating in Walla Walla, where he has built up a large law practice.

Mr. Sharpstine has resided in the Territories of Michigan, Wisconsin and Washington, an

V. Jacobs

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has witnessed their admission to the Union. IIe was elected a member of the Washington Legis- lature, on the Democratic ticket, in 1866-67, also in 1879-'80 and 1886, by a large majority, although his county was largely Republican. Mr. Sharpstine was a member of the constitu- tional convention which convened Angust 22, 1869, and received the nomination for Congress in 1874. IIe made a thorough canvass of his district, which was largely Republican, and re- ceived a majority in his own connty of 292 votes, his opponent being the HIon. Orange Jacobs, then chief justice of the Territory. In 1879 he was a candidate for Supreme Judge, on the Democratic ticket, received 25,468 votes, running ahead of his ticket abont 2,000 votes, but the entire ticket was defeated. In 1890 he was appointed by Governor Ferry a member of the Board of Tide Lands Commissioners, and was made chairman of that body for three years. The Judge has held the office of School Director of Walla Walla for about twenty-five years, and had also filled the same office in Wisconsin.

In 1854, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah J. Park, a native of New York, but after- ward a resident of Wisconsin. The Judge has had five children, namely: J. L., engaged in the practice of law with his father; Ada E .; Arthur P. and Frank B., lawyers; and Charles M. Judge Sharpstine affiliates with the Masonic fraternity, being a thirty-second degree Mason. He has served as Master of the blue lodge and also as Senior and Junior Warden of the Grand Lodge of Washington.

These positions indicate the esteem in which B. L. Sharpstine has always been held among those best acquainted with him, and so most able to weigh his merits.

Judge Orange Jacobs was born in Livingston county, New York, May 2, 1829.

His parents, Hiram and Phoebe (Jenkins) Jacobs, were natives of Vermont and New York respectively. In 1831 they removed to the frontier of Michigan, where Mr. Jacobs engaged in farming upon an extensive scale, purchasing 1,600 acres of land, and was also interested in

the stock business. Subsequently he engaged in the mercantile business, which he followed the rest of his life, dying in 1887, at the ripe old age of eighty-six years.

Orange Jacobs was edneated at the Methodist seminary at Albion, Michigan, and the State University at Ann Arbor; but, on account of failing health, was obliged to leave college be- fore gradnation. After a period of rest and recreation, he commenced the study of law with John B. Ilowe, of Lima, Indiana, and was admitted to the bar in Indiana and Michigan in 1851. Hle then began the practice of law at Sturgis, Michigan. About this time, continned ill health, and the urgent solicitation of his father to visit the Pacific coast (his father hav- ing been to California), coupled with the fact that the migratory spirit was very strong in the spring of 1852, he was induced to come West. Ile joined an emigrant train of about fifty peo- ple and crossed the plains to Oregon. Being somewhat of a leader among men, Mr. Jacobs was elected captain of the train. Their number being small and the Indians numerous, the greatest vigilance was required to preserve their lives. Soon after crossing the Platte river, two emigrants were killed in an engagement; also several Indians. This aroused the wrath of the Indians, and at Shell Creek an ambnscade was inade to massacre the entire party; but, by tact and boldness on the part of the whites, two Indian chieftains were captured in a "parley" and held as hostage during one night, and in the morning were well fed, presented with a beef animal and releaseel, and no further trouble was experienced. They came in by The Dalles, thence across the Cascade mountains by the Barlow trail, and arrived at Oregon City abont four months from the date of their departure.

Upon his arrival here, Judge Jacobs went to the Waldo Hills in Marion county and engaged in teaching school, which he successfully con- tinned during the winter months until 1857, spending his summers in exploring the county. In the fall of 1857 he went to the Rogne River valley and taught school one year. Next, he

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engaged in the practice of law at Phoenix. In 1860 he moved to Jacksonville and took charge of the Oregon Sentinel, the leading newspaper of sonthern Oregon. He was induced to do this as the editor and two-thirds of the population of Jackson county were secessionists, and the Union people desired a Republican paper. Mr- Jacobs took up the work, and carried it forward in the most loyal and patriotic manner. Although he became one of the marked men by the "Knights of the Golden Circle" and his life was frequently threatened,. still he continued the paper until the close of the war. He was then offered a very flattering position on the Sac- ramento Union, which, however, he declined, thinking it better to stick to the practice of his profession, which he conducted at Jacksonville up to 1869.

In 1869 Mr. Jacobs was appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Washington Territory, and removed to Seattle for permanent settlement, arriving in July. In January, 1871, without distinction of politics, he was unani- monsly recommended by the Territorial Legis- lature as Chief Justice of the Territory, and to that office he was appointed by the President and held the office until 1875. One of his most important decisions involved the national juris- diction to the island of San Juan, a case which at the time excited widespread interest.

A man named Watts was on trial, charged with murder committed on the island of San Juan, which was then in joint ocenpancy by the English and American Governments. It was claimed by the defendant's counsel that the American courts had no jurisdiction in the case. Judge Jacobs held that the island was a country within the sole and exclusive jurisdiction of the United States, and any crime committed thereon could be punished by the courts of the Territory, which by the organic act of Congress possessed equal power in such cases with the Cirenit and District Courts of the United States. Feeling on the border ran high, and for a time inter- national complications seemed likely to ensue. Judge Jacobs, however, was immovable. Watts

having been convicted, the Judge sentenced him to death, but before the time for his execution arrived he effected his escape.

In 1874 the Judge was elected Delegate to Congress from the Territory, was re-elected in 1876, and at the close of that term declined a third nomination. He then resumed the prac- tice of law at Seattle, which he has continued very extensively in both civil and criminal prac- tice. In 1880 he formed a partnership with Charles K. Jenner, a leading authority upon the land laws of Washington, and continued the con- nection until 1891, when they dissolved by mutual consent, the Judge retiring from active practice except in selected cases, being now in partnership with his son, Iliram J. Jacobs.

In 1880 Judge Jacobs was elected Mayor of Seattle, and, after completing his term, declined a re-nomination. In 1884 he was elected to the Territorial Council, and materially assisted in effecting the change in the exemption laws and in seenring appropriations for the penitentiary, insane asylum and university. He was one of the commissioners of fifteen freeholders, elected by the people in 1889, to prepare a new charter for the city, to meet its increased requirements. Ilis ripe experience as a lawyer made his service especially valuable, and the charter bears the impress of his practical suggestions and careful oversight. The charter as prepared was adopted by a large majority vote of the people in 1890, and under the charter the Judge was elected Corporation Council.

Judge Jacobs was married in Southern Ore- gon, in 1857, to Lucinda, daughter of Doctor Jonathan Davenport, an Oregon pioneer of 1851 and a skillful physician. They have eight chil- dren, five sons and three danghters. Socially, the Judge is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and of the I. O. O. F.

Personally, Judge Jacobs is a man of large stature, commanding presence, and positive views. He has the courage of his convictions, but is liberal and tolerant. In the public affairs of the Pacific Northwest he has borne a promi- nent part as pioneer law-maker and judicial

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officer, and is still an active factor in the present era of rapid development.

Such were the two men that the two great political parties had placed before the people for their suffrages. There was no danger that the people would be unworthily or nnfaithfully representated no matter which was elected. Probably never before had an election been decided more purely on political grounds than was this, for the character of both candidates was irreproachable. They defined the political complication of the Territory as purely Repub- lican, Judge Jacobs being elected by over 1,200 majority. He was re-nominated and re-elected in 1876, and faithfully and usefully served his four years in the national Congress. Ilis com- petitor in the last race was J. P. Judson, of Port Townshend, a younger man of fair ability, and bearing an excellent reputation, but of course he could not carry a Republican Terri- tory against so representative a man as Orange Jacobs.

Mr. Jacobs was succeeded in Congress by Mr. Thomas 1I. Brents, of Walla Walla, who was elected in 1878. Ile was re-elected snc- cessively until 1885, when Charles S. Voorhees, a Democrat, but elected on issues extraneous to party principles, succeeded him. In 1887 John B. Allen, a Republican, was elected over Voorhees by over 7,000 majority. The local agitations that gave Mr. Voorhees his election in 1885 having subsided, parties had returned to their normal conditions. Mr. Allen did not enter upon his term of service as Territorial delegate, as before the first session of tlie Con- gress to which he had been returned Washing- ton was a State of the Federal Union.

Without entering into the minutiæ of office- holding in the Territory it is proper that we take up the line of executive officers and trace it down to the close of the Territorial history of Washington. Mr. Newell, who succeeded Mr. Flanders as governor, was a man far above average standing and influence. In New Jer- sey he ranked with the leading men of the State. He was three terms a member of Con-

gress from that State, and one term its governor, and was the candidate of the Republicans for that office against General George B. McClellan. In 1880, President Hayes appointed him gov- ernor of Washington. It was his fortune to follow Mr. Ferry in that office, a man whose administration had been marked by so much discretion that he had seeured high considera- tion among the people, and was already desig- nated as likely to reach even higher political preferment in the future. The two things es- pecially that marked the administration of Governor Ferry was the re-establishment of civil government on the Haro Archipelago, which had been determined a part of the United States by the arbitration of Emperor William, and the construction of the Columbia division of the Northern Pacific railroad from Kalama to Tacoma, together with the bnikdling of the nar- row-gauge road from Olympia to Tinino on the Northern Pacific line. These roads were the introduction of a new era in Washington his- tory, the unfolding of which we shall hereafter trace.

Following that of Governor Ferry, Governor Newell's administration fell on propitious times, and proved creditable to him and profitable to the Territory, which was now clearly on the flow of the tide progress, though it had not yet reached its crest. No longer was Puget Sound isolated from railroad communication with the great world. Overland connection had been made through Portland and the valley of the Columbia, and along that line the throb of the impatient footsteps of advancing multitudes could be felt. It was a time of auspicious promise.

Governor Newell was succeeded in 1884 by Watson C. Squire.

Mr. Squire was already a distinguished citi- zen of Washington, and had strongly impressed himself upon the business relations of the coast when he was appointed governor. He was the son of a Methodist preacher, born in New York in 1838, and educated at Middletown, Connecticut, where he was graduated in 1859.

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Ile entered at once on the study of the law, but soon patriotism called him to the service of his country, and he enlisted as a private, but was soon promoted to a Lieutenancy in the Nine- teenth New York Infantry. When the term of the three-months men had expired, he resumed his law studies in Cleveland, Ohio, graduating from the law school in that city, in 1862. He soon raised a company of sharp-shooters, and was given command of a battalion of the same, serving in the army of the Cumberland. He subsequently served on the staff of Major- General Rosecrans and (. II. Thomas, constantly rising in distinction until the close of the war, when he became agent for the Remington Arms Company, and managed their operations to the amount of $15,000,000. Hle removed to Washı- ington in 1879, settling in Seattle, and at once became deeply interested in everything that con- cerned the prosperity of the Territory. His close identification with the business of his adopted home, the distinguished character of his public services, and his stainless character as a man, as well as his great executive ability, ren- dered his appointment to the chief executive office of the Territory, just at this time, one of the most fortunate that could have been made. The country had entered on a career of great material development, and sagacity and ex perience in such lines were at a premium now.

Early in the administration of Mr. Squire the people of Tacoma, Seattle and other places on the Sound passed through a season of great agitation over the employment of the Chinese Indeed, for some years before, the feeling had been increasing that the gathering of great num- bers of these people in the cities and mines and along the railroads was a serious menace to so- ciety and a great detriment to the laboring classes. Their presence and work in the con- struction of the great lines of railroads had been a conceded necessity, as it was not possible to procure white labor enough to meet the exigencies of the occasion. Now, however, the Knights of Labor, an organization in the professed interests of workers, aided by many others, attempted to

expel them from the country by violent measures. At Tacoma they were required to leave at a month's notice. At Seattle and among the coal miners the agitation was greatest, and resulted in general disorder. Governor Squire acted promptly by issuing a proclamation calling on the people to preserve the peace, but this was answered the next day by the mob setting on fire several Chinese houses. Troops were ordered from Vancouver, and a statement of the situa- tion forwarded to the Secretary of the Interior, which resulted in a proclamation by the Presi- dent, and for a time the disturbance was quieted. A few months later, however, it broke ont more violently than ever. Lives were lost in en- deavoring to protect the Chinese, and a condi- tion of rebellion against the constituted authori- ties existed. The exigency was great. Gover- ner Squire adopted extreme measures, -- the only ones that can meet extreme cases. Ile pro- claimed martial law, and finally, by the aid of the citizens and troops, succeeded in restoring order. His course met the strong approval of President Cleveland and his cabinet, and as a token of the approbation by the national execu- tive of his course, his proffered resignation of the office of governor was not accepted until long after the Democrats has succeeded to power.

The reports of Governor Squire to the Secre- tary of the Interior were of such a complete character as to receive even a national attention. That for 1884 was declared by that official to be the "best that had ever been given by any governor of any Territory." The demand for it throughout the East was so great that. after the Government edition was exhausted, the Northern Pacific Railroad Company published a special edition of 5,000 copies at its own ex- pense. Ilis report for 1885 was even more com- plete than that of 1884, and under the title of the "Resources and Development of Washing- ton Territory" it was scattered all over the United States and Europe by the Northern Pacific Railroad Company and by the people of Washington, and did more than any other one thing to call unusual attention to the marvelous

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region of which he was the chief exeentive, and to prepare Congress and the nation for the admis- sion of Washington as a State in the Union.

The Demoeratie party having acceded to power in the nation, Engene Semple, of Oregon, was appointed governor of Washington. Mr. Semple, though a man of considerable talent, and industrions, did not possess the executive foree of his predecessor. Still his management of the affairs of the Territory was, on the whole, commendable, and ministered to its continned prosperity. During his term there were several questions of a political and local character that excited considerable attention. Among these was the contest in the legislation and before the courts on the question of woman suffrage. The long-drawn and rather acrimonious conflict on this question cannot be followed through its ramifications, but it may suffice to say that the legislature passed an aet conferring upon women

the right to vote at all elections. This act was subsequently declared by the Supreme Court of the Territory to be nnconstitutional. But the sentiment in favor of it was sufficiently strong to make it a party question in 1886. The Re- publieans incorporated it into their platform, and quite a majority of the members elected to the succeeding legislature was pledged to vote for a bill restoring woman suffrage.

In 1888 Mr. Miles C. Moore, of Walla Walla. a Republican, was appointed governor to sne- ceed Semple. He came to the office only just in time to entitle himself to the designation governor, as the Territory was just now in the whirl of excitement attendant on its change to the condition of Statehood. To this change, and the course of legislation and prosperity prepara- tory to it since 1880, we shall invite our readers in the next chapter.

CHAPTER XXIV.

PROGRESS TO STATEHOOD.

GREAT PROGRESS-ITS CAUSES-RAILROADS-THE NORTHERN PACIFIC-HISTORY OF ACTION CON- ('ERNING STATEHOOD- WASHINGTON ADMITTED INTO THE UNION-STATE OFFICERS ELECTED- OTHER QUESTIONS VOTED UPON-INAUGURATION OF STATE GOVERNMENT-J. B. ALLEN AND W. C. SQUIRE ELECTED SENATORS-FOLLOWING ELECTIONS.

HIE few years immediately antedating the point reached in the history of Washing- ton in our last chapter were marked by an advancement in every interest of the now prosperous commonwealth that was truly phe- nomenal. The Territory went out of the seventh decade of the century with hardly more than 70,000 people, and it entered the last half of the eighth decade with fully 150,000. Thus in five years it had more than doubled its people. Every material and social interest had kept pace with the growth of population. A very tidal-wave of progress was sweeping over the land. The hopes and prophecies of the pio- neers were being fulfilled. New towns, some

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 28

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