An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 40

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

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COLONEL GRANVILLE O. HALLER .- Among the men whose lives have been largely spent in the military service, there are few living whose personal experience covers a broader range of usefulness than he whose name heads this sketch. His sagacity and judgment were powerful agencies in reclaiming the lands of Florida from the reign of savage barbarism. Again, in the Northwest Territory, during the reign of terror from Indian depredations, in 1855 and 1856, his wisdom and experience were towers of strength in recovering the country from savage rule and preserving it for settlement to the honest, industrious, law-abiding pioneer.

Granville O. Haller was born in York. Penn- sylvania, January 31, 1819. His parents, George and Susan (Pennington) Haller, were natives of the same locality. To them were born five children, of whom our subject was the youngest and is now the only survivor. The death of George Haller, in 1821, left the widow and four young children in limited circumstances; but she was possessed with a strong character aud

a devont, religions nature, and heroically took up the responsibility which fell to her and leared her children in comfort, giving then a liberal education. It was her desire that Gran- ville be fitted for the ministry. He, however, feeling in no sense drawn toward that profes- sion, could not conform to his mother's wishes. A military career was more in keeping with his desire, and in 1839 a vacancy occurring in the cadetship belonging to his district at the West Point Military Academy, he, with others, became an applicant for the place. The Seere- tary of War, Hon. Joel R. Poinsett, decided that the applicant receiving the endorsement of the Representatives of the district should re- ceive the appointment. Young Haller was thereupon recommended, but through the in- tervention of political influence his appoint- ment was defeated. He was then invited to ap- pear before a board of military officers, which met in Washington, for examination as to his fitness for a military profession. Haller pre- sented himself, was examined, and on Novem- ber 17, 1839, was commissioned a Second Lieu- tenant in the Fourth Regiment, United States Infantry, although at the time he was not quite twenty-one years of age. He then passed some time at Madison Barracks, New York, in re- ceiving initiatory instructions in tactics. Later he went to Governor's Island, his company be- ing in command of Captain Braxton Bragg, who became prominent in the Confederate serv- ice during the Civil war. In the summer of 1840, Lieutenant IIaller was ordered to Carlisle Barracks, and, in company with Brevet Major William M. Graham, took charge of a large number of dragoon recruits and conducted them to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, which, at that time, was well into the Indian country. Turn- ing over the recruits, they proceeded by wagon over the military road to Fort Gibson, and there joined their regiments. The regiment was subsequently (1841) ordered into Florida, where they renewed their struggles against the Indians in what is known as the " Seven Years' War," lasting from 1836 to 1843.

Granville O.Staller. Colonel U.S.a, Retired.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

Lieutenant Haller's first active service was in 1841 and 1842. He was with Brevet Major Belknap, Third Infantry, when fired upon by the Indians in the Big Cypress Swamp, and with Colonel Worth, Eighth Infantry, at the action of Pałakikaha swamp, which resulted in the capture of Tustennggee's band, ending the Florida war. Lieutenant Haller was Adjutant of the Fourth Infantry from January 1, 1843, until he resigned September 10, 1845, and was promoted to be First Lieutenant July 12, 1846. He was Brigade Major of the Third Brigade, United States Regulars, under General Taylor, when in Texas in 1845, and was subsequently relieved and assigned to duty as Assistant Com- missary of Subsistence to the Third Brigade. JIe received and receipted for all the provisions issued to General Taylor's command when leav- ing Brazos St. Iajo for the new fort opposite Matamoras. He participated in the fight of the 8th of May at Palo Alto, as a mounted staff offi- cer to Lientenant Colonel Garland, command- ing the Third Brigade. His subsistence stores were undisturbed by the enemy, also at Resaca de la Palma on the 9th, and received and took up, upon his returns of commissary stores, im- mense quantities of provisions captured from the Mexican army. He served under General Taylor in Mexico until after the capture of Monterey, when the Fourth Infantry was trans- ferred to General Worth's division and ordered to Vera Cruz to join General Scott's command. Lieutenant Haller now relinquished commissary duties and assumed command of his company. From the siege of Vera Cruz until the capture of Mexico he participated in all the battles on the route and in the valley of Mexico. In the attack npon the fortification of San Antonio, August 23, 1847, he is noticed as in command of his company and with other officers of the regiment, among whom was Second Lieutenant U. S. Grant, Regimental Quartermaster, and was mentioned as having rendered efficient serv- ice. He was one of the storming party of El Molino del Rey, September 8, 1847, having charge, with another officer, of a detail of 100

men, and for gallant and meritorious conduct was breveted Captain. At the battle of Cha- pultepec, September 13, 1847, Lientenant Haller is especially mentioned in the report of Brevet Colonel John Garland as having shown " evi- dence of courage and good conduct," and for his service upon this occasion he was breveted Major. Shortly before the close of the Mexican war, January 1, 1848, Lieutenant Haller was promoted to a captaincy in the Fourth Infantry. For a time he was employed at mustering out men who had enlisted during the war, after which he was assigned to recruiting duty.

In 1852 Brevet Major Larned's and Hal- ler's companies were ordered to the Depart- ment of the Pacific. They sailed in the United States store, ship Fredonia, via Cape Horn, ar- riving at San Francisco in June, 1853, having spent seven months upon the voyage. Major Larned's company proceeded to Fort Steilacoom, Washington Territory, and Ifaller's company to Fort Dalles, Oregon. Toward the fall of 1854 a small company of emigrants, consisting of a Mr. Ward, his family and a few others, were murdered by the hostile Indians at Boise river. Major Haller with a small detachment (twenty- six enlisted men, half of the garrison at Fort Dalles, Oregon) was dispatched to guard the emigrants and, if possible, to chastise the mur- derers. On the ronte he was joined by Captain Nathan Olney and a number of citizens who volunteered to resent the attack of Indians upon the immigrants, whose numbers were increased by emigrants on the road. They arrested four Indians at the Hudson Bay Fort Boise, who had been charged with the murder, and were tried be- fore a military commission, and each admitted his share in the massaere. One made an attempt to escape, and was shot dead by the guard. The other three were hanged on the massacre grounds within sight of the pyramid of bones of their victims. Others of the hostile band were captured, and two while trying to escape were hanged. Thus the band of murderers was broken up, and Major Haller returned with his command to Fort Dalles. In 1855, with a

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respectable force, he proceeded as far as Salmon Falls on the Snake river, where it was ascer- tained that some of the assassins had just left with a shod horse and a mule belonging to the Ward party sconted to the heat waters of the Missouri river, following the tracks of the murderers. On the return trip these In- dians were captured, the guilty hanged and the rest brought baek as prisoners.

Upon his return, he found the old friends of the whites greatly excited, the Yakima Indians under arms and the Indian agent, Bolen, had been murdered. Major Haller with a small force proceeded to the Yakima country, meet- ing the Indians near the present site of Fort Simcoe, where the fighting commenced, but his little band of 100 men against 1,500 Indians was unevenly matched and a retreat for an increased foree became necessary. He, however, discovered the well-laid plans of the Indians for making war, and this intelligence aroused the people to a realization of their dan- ger, and the Governors of Oregon and Washing -. ton called for volunteers. With a concerted movement the Indians were ultimately over- come and scattered.

The details of this war being elsewhere given in this history we will now pass on to the spring of 1856, when Major Haller was ordered to estab- lish a fort near Port Townsend for the protec- tion of the inhabitants in the event of a raid from the Northern Indians. He subsequently relieved Whatcom when invaded by the Nook- saek Indians; participated in the San Juan im- broglio in 1859; was ordered to Fort Mojave, Arizona, in 1860, and to Washington, District of Columbia, in 1861, to participate in the war for the suppression of the Rebellion.

Upon arrival at Washington, our subject found he had been promoted to be Major of the Seventh Infantry, September 25, 1861. The members of this regiment had become prisoners of war in Texas and were not at liberty to fight the enemy until exchanged. Thereupon be re- ported to General MeC'lellau, who attached him to the provost-marshal-general's staff (General

Andrew Porter). Shortly afterward he was ap- pointed Commandant-General of the general headquarters, and attached to General McClel- lan's staff, having under his command in that capacity the Ninety-third Regiment of New York Volunteers. He was thus employed throughout the Virginia and Maryland cam- paign. In July, 1863, Major Haller was re- lieved from service, aecnsed of " disloyal conduet and the utterance of disloyal sentiments."

Astonished beyond measure, he demanded an investigation and hearing, but in the excitement of the war his efforts were unsuccessful, and even after the war his appeal was not recognized until in March, 1879, when Congress allowed a court of inquiry. He was tried at Washington city, when the official papers in his case were submitted to the court and where for the first time he was permitted to read the original order of his dismissal, which was the fiat of Secretary Stanton, and not President Lincoln. The in- vestigation of the matter was continued for sev- eral days, many witnesses were examined and the most searching inquiry was made of all the facts in the case. The findings of the court, after this careful and thorough investigation, concluded as follows: "The court finds that Major Granville O. Haller, late of the Seventh United States Infantry, was dismissed for dis- loyal conduct and disloyal sentiments on insuffi- cient evidence, wrongfully, and therefore, here- by, by virtue of the authority constituting it, does annul said dismissal published in S. O., No. 331, dated War Department, A. G. O., Washington, D. C., July 25, 1863."

Major Haller's vindication was thus made full and complete. The proceedings and findings of the court were approved by President Hayes, and the Senate confirmed Major Haller's nomi- nation as Colonel of Infantry in the United States Army to rank from February 19, 1873. Subsequently a vacancy occurred by the death of Colonel Jefferson C. Davis, Twenty-third In- fantry, when the Senate confirmed the assign . ment of Colonel Haller to this regiment, and thus received a second commission, to date from

Geo. F Whitworth

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December 11, 1879. Colonel Haller continued in command of this regiment until February 6, 1882, when he was retired, being over sixty- three years of age.

From the time of his dismissal until his rein- statement as Colonel, Major Haller and family resided in Washington Territory. For a time they lived on his farm on Whidby Island. He then becameconnected with a small sawmill near Port Townsend, which he received for debt. Discovering that it was not running to a profit, he abandoned the enterprise and engaged in the mercantile business at Port Townsend, with a branch store at Coupeville, on Whidby Island, where he subsequently settled and continued the business up to his reappointment to the army in 1879. During this period he was most munificent in his assistance 'to the poor settlers and gave credit to such an extent that he be- came deeply in debt himself and was obliged to take a considerable acreage of poor, undeveloped land, which, by the process of the settlement and development of the country, has so increased in valnes as to be the means of his building up a handsome competency. Upon being retired in 1882, Colonel Haller located with his family in Seattle, where he erected a spacious and handsome home and is passing his declining years in ease and opulence.

He was married in York, Pennsylvania, in 1849, to Miss Henrietta M. Cox, and they have two children living: Charlotte E. and Theo- dore N.

Although in no sense a politician, Colonel HIaller has frequently assumed duties of trust in the development of this rising young country. For many years he was Postmaster of Coupe- ville, and he also served one terin as Treasurer of Island county. He is a thirty -second-de- gree Mason, an Odd-Fellow of high standing, a member of the National Association of Veter- ans of Mexico, and Vice Commander of the Loyal Legion of Washington. He is still in the enjoyment of health and physical vigor, and is respected and esteemcd by all who know him.

REV. GEORGE F. WHITWORTH, D. D., the

pioneer clergyman of the Presbyterian Church north of the Columbia river, was born in Boston, England, March 15, 1816, came to the United States with his parents in 1828 and located in Ohio. Having pursued a rudimen- tary course of study in England, he commenced his classical conrse at the age of seventeen at Hanover College, Indiana, and graduated there in 1838. He was married at Greensburg, Indiana, the same year, to Miss Mary E. Thom- son, a native of Kentucky. He commenced the study of law at Greensburg, in 1838, and was subsequently admitted to practice. He then followed his profession at Charlestown, Indiana. until 1842, when he turned his attention to theology and passed three years at the New Albany Theological Seminary, now known as the McCormick Theological Seminary of Chi- cago. His first ministerial charge was at Corydon, Indiana, but after a few months he removed to Cannelton, same State, and there organized the Presbyterian church and erected a house of worship. After remaining in charge until 1853, he was commissioned by the Board of Home Missions as a missionary to Puget Sonnd, a country of which he had read as early as 1832, in Irving's Astoria, and which then aroused a desire to visit the place. In the spring of 1853 a little colony was made up partly from the vicinity of Cannelton, which numbered about fifty souls, and with the neces- sary prairie ontfit and ox team, with Mr. Whit- worth as captain, they embarked npon that long journey across the plains, which was dnly ac- complished without serious inconvenience, and after about six months of travel they landed safely in Portland, but too late in the fall to continue the journey to Puget Sound.

While at Portland Mr. Whitworth assisted in organizing the first Presbyterian Church of that city, and ministered to its spiritual welfare un- til February, 1854, when, leaving his family, he started for Olympia. Traveling in those days was exceedingly slow and difficult. The first day was passed upon the river steamboat in reaching Monticello, and then two days in a

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canoe in reaching Olequa, the head of naviga- tion on the Cowlitz river, and thence on foot to Olympia. The hotel accommodations on the way were as poor as the facilities for travel, and hard bread, salmon and potatoes constituted the bill of fare.

He arrived at Olympia during the first session of the Territorial Legislature. He took a dona- tion claim near Olympia and in May returned to Portland for his family. The summer was passed upon his claim living in a tent and board shanty, while he split siding from white fir and cedar timber to build a more comfortable home. In the fall of 1854 he established at Olympia the First Presbyterian Church in the Territory, and in 1855 the second one, including the dis- tricts of Grand Mound and Chehalis. In the fall of 1855 he removed his family to Olympia to seek the protection of the stockade. During the Indian war, he continued his semi-monthly visits to supply the church at Grand Mound and Chihalis, a distance of from twenty-five to forty miles, through a deserted region as the families had all fled to the forts for protection. He con- tinued this service abont three years, never miss- ing an appointment.

Owing to the limited means of the early settlers and the slender support of the mission- ary board, he resorted to teaching school to eke out his modest income, and in 1855 he was elected Superintendent of Schools of Thurston county. Returning to his claim after the Indian war, he continued his church and school work until 1860, when the church was turned over to Mr. Evans, and he removed to Whidby Island and followed preaching, teaching and farming for one year; then returned to Olympia to ac- cept the position of Chief Clerk to the Superin- tendent of Indian Affairs, continuing to 1864, was next appointed Collector of Customs of Puget Sound District, with headquarters at Port Angeles, and in 1866 came to Seattle as president of the Territorial University. 1868 he was elected Superntendent of Schools and Surveyor of King county, and appointed Surveyor for the city of Seattle. . In 1872 he

returned to Olympia as Chief Clerk of Indian Affairs, and in 1873 was again elected president of the Territorial University at Seattle, for two years. He then passed four years as United States Deputy Surveyor of Public Lands.

He has always continned his ministerial duties, which have been of a missionary character in attending to the weak places and getting them in shape for occupancy. The Presbytery of Puget Sound was organized in 1858, and he was elected the first Moderator and filled the same office in the Synod of Columbia in 1876, and the Synod of Washington in 1890. Since 1879 he has acted as Stated Clerk to the Puget Sound Presbytery, and for many years has been a member of the Committee on Home Missions, and since 1890 chairman of that body. He lias been directly instrumental in organizing five churches and indirectly several others, there now being ninety churches in the State. While at the present time he has no special charge, he is nevertheless engaged in missionary work. The degree of D. D. was confirmed npon him by IIanover College, his alma mater, in 1890.

He has taken an active part in developing the coal interests of Washington, and was associated with Rev. D. Bagley and Philip H. Lewis in opening the New Castle mines in 1862, the first mine developed in King county. He was a member of the syndicate who opened the South Prairie Coal mines in 1884, and superintended the work during the first year, still retaining his interest. As a gas-producing coal, the product of this mine is said to be the best on the coast. He also owns valuable residence property in Seattle with substantial improvements, and a portion of his original donation claim.

After forty-eight years of married life, she who had been a strengthening help and comfort during his pioneer days, was called hence to her reward, leaving a lonely and bereaved husband and six children: James E., Frederick H., John Matthews, Clara (Mrs. Waldo York of Los Angeles), George F., Jr., and Etta B. (Mrs. Clarence L. White).

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CHAPTER XXXVI.

PRINCIPAL CITIES, CONTINUED.

WALLA WALLA.

A HISTORIC PLACE-THE WALLA WALLA VALLEY-DESCRIPTION THE CITY OF WALLA WALLA -FORT WALLA WALLA-SKETCH OF GOVERNOR MOORE-SKETCH OF HON. D. M. JESSEE --- SKETCH OF HON. DANIEL STEWART-SKETCH OF MRS. CATHERINE RITZ.

N EXT to Spokane, Walla Walla is the principal city of Eastern Washington. The first point to be settled in the east- ern part of the State, it long held the pre-eminence socially, politically and commer- cially of all that region. It was historic ground. From time immemorial it had been the chosen council ground of all the great Indian tribes that habited between the Cascade mountains and the eastern spurs of the Rocky mountains. Here the Walla Walla's, the Yakimas, the Spokanes, the Nez Perces, the Cayuses and many smaller tribes, comprising the very elite of the wild, brave chivalry of the plains, were wont to kindle their council fires and celebrate their own greatness in the foray and the chase. Here the keen insight and far outlook of culti- vated leaders of the Hudson's Bay Company detected the key to all possible success in their projects of trade and empire. And here, at a later date, the statesman-missionary, Dr. Whitman, saw the one point to lay the first stones in the foundation of the superstructure of Christian civilization which he bravely es- sayed to establish when paganism liad so long held sway. It was but in the natural order. therefore, that here our true American civiliza- tion should establish its first homes and altars in this great inland empire.

The city of Walla Walla is in the heart of the Walla Walla valley, of the most beautiful and fruitful portions of the State. This valley abuts against the Columbia river on its southern side. just where that river on its long flow soutlı- ward from British Columbia bends sharply to the west for its final passage to the ocean.

From this point the Walla Walla valley pro- jects southward and eastward fifty miles or more up to and far along the Blue mountain range. Down through it, clearly coursing from their mountain springs, almost innumerable streams flow toward a common center near the historic Waiiletpn. At their converging point stands Walla Walla, its streets stretehing across, and parallel to, several of the clear mountain riv- ulets that laugh over their pebbled beds as they flow toward the mighty Columbia. The well built, broad-stretched city is embowered in a forest of cultivated trees, above whose branches shine the sharpened spires and gilded domes of churches and schools. Just on its western border, on a rounded hill of fifty or sixty feet elevation and covering perhaps twenty acres of land, stands Fort Walla, over which forever shine the stars and flash the stripes of our national ensign, and from which morning and night, the year, around sound the clear shrill notes of reveille or the soft farewell cadences of retreat.

The distinguishing features of the city of Walla Walla is its gardens and orchards and vineyards that rival in beauty and fruitfulness Italy's most favored vales. In sweet contrast with these are the vast stretches of wheat fields that in their season stretch in golden billows over the plains, up the hillsides, and even crown the mountain ridges miles and miles away,-all in sight from the streets and windows of the town.

In the midst of this garden of delight and fruitfulness reposes, in a mostcharming serenity, the beautiful metropolis of this valley,-indeed of a country far exceeding the valley itself in

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extent. It stretches out its railroad lines west- ward toward the Columbia, northward toward the vast plains of Snake river, and sonth and east toward the Umatilla. Its position, its culture, its wealth, the sterling worth and intelligence of its citizens, its past history and manifest des- tiny assures that it will remain, what so far in Northwestern history it has been, the chief eity of the inland empire south of Snake river.

Like all other places the material Walla Walla is only the crystallized thought and work of its people. We seleet a few names as typical of the average intelligence and enterprise that have made this modern Damascus of the Plains. It will certainly not be inappropriate that we place at the head of the list.

Gov. MILES C. MOORE, the last Territoral Governor of Washington, who was born in Mus- kingum county, Ohio, April 17, 1845. At the age of twelve years he went with his parents to Point Bluff, Wisconsin, where he attended the Bronson Institute six years. In 1862, he came to the Territory of Washington, locating in Walla Walla, where he found employment as clerk in a mercantile house. In 1864, Mr. Moore purchased an interest in a general mer- eantile business in the mines of Western Mon- tana, but two years later returned to Walla Walla, and engaged in the stationery business, under the firm name of E. H. Johnson & Co. During the following year he traveled through the East, combining business with pleasure, after which he formed a partnership with Paine Bros., in this eity, under the style of Paine Bros. & Moore, dealers in general merchandise, ete. Mr. Moore followed that occupation for nine years, and during that time was twice a member of the City Conneil, and in 1877 was elected Mayor of Walla Walla, holding the lat- ter position one year. In 1879, he embarked in the grain business, under the style of M. C. Moore & Co., handling the larger part of the interior and export trade. In addition to these various interests, he has also been connected with several banking institutions as director, and is now vice-president of the Baker and

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 40

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