An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 80

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 80

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A NDREW HEMRICH, president of the Seattle Brewing & Malting Company, was born in Alma, Wisconsin, October 31, 1856. His father, John Hemrich, was a native of Baden, Germany, but emigrated to America in 1850. By trade he was a practi-

cal brewer, and locating in Keokuk, Iowa, he erected a brewery and established himself in business. He was there married to Miss Kath- erine Koepple, a native of Bavaria. The tem- perance movement forced Mr. Hemrich to leave Iowa early in 1856. He then removed to Alma, Wisconsin, and there continued the same line of business up to 1884, when he moved to Seattle, where he now resides. Andrew IFem- rich received an elementary education at Ahmna, which was continued in the practical duties of life, as at the age of ten years, he began work in his father's brewery, and three years later was sent to La Crosse, as an apprentice to learn the brewing business. This was fol- lowed by two years in breweries in Milwaukee, one year at Denver, Colorado, and one year at Eureka, Nevada. In 1876, with two compan- ions, all well mounted, he made a trip of 1,700 miles through the Yankee Fork mining district of Idaho, but the claims being all covered and the country being in constant danger from the attacks of hostile tribes of Indians, the party continued to Butte, Montana, then bnt a small mining settlement. At Glendale, thirty-five miles from Butte, Mr. Hemrich started a small brewery, selling his product at $21 per barrel. This he continued for eighteen months, then sold out and engaged in mining, in which a short experience exhausted his accumulated savings. He then gave up mining and going · to Bozeman resumed his trade as foreman of a small brewery and there remained until Feb- ruary, 1883, when he came to Seattle and form- ing a co-partnership with John Kopp started a small steam beer brewery with an annual ca- pacity of 2,500 barrels. This was the nucleus of the present Bay View brewery.

In 1884 Mr. Kopp sold out his interest to the father of our subject, and in 1885, the lat- ter's brother-in-law, Fred Kirschner, entered the firm, then known as Hemrich & Co. With the growing demand the capacity of the brewery was increased from time to time up to 1887, when the brewery was rebuilt and with im- proved machinery the firm engaged in the man- ufacture of lager beer, with a capacity of 80,000 barrels per year. The product was sold throughout the Northwest. In April, 1891, the business was incorporated as the Bay View Brewing Company, with a capital stock of $300,- 000, and so continued up to the spring of 1893, when the company consolidated with the Albert Braun Brewing Company, and the Clauson-

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Sweeney Brewing Company, under the incor- porate name of Seattle Brewing & Malting Company, with a capital stock of $1,000,000, Mr. İlemrich continuing as president. In 1892 our subject was one of the organizers and in- corporators of the Victoria Brewing & Ice Company, of which he is vice-president. Ile has also extensive mining interests in the Cas- cade mountains, twenty miles east of Snoqual- mie Falls. The claims cover 6,000 x 600 feet on one ledge, and 4,500 x 600 feet on a parallel ledge, gold-bearing, running from $5 to $105 per ton. Mr. Hemrich is also president of the Eureka Coal Company, and owns valuable im- proved and unimproved property in the city of Seattle.

He was married in Seattle, in 1885, to Miss Amelia Hucke, of Essen, Germany. They have four children: John, Alvin, Earnest and Kath- erine. Socially, Mr. Ilemrich affiliates with the K. of P., 1. O. O. F., Sons of Hermann and the various German societies.

F RED KIRSCHNER, treasurer of the Seat- tle Brewing & Malting Company, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, May 21, 1856. His parents, Frederick and Mary (Weieke) Kirsch- ner, were natives of Germany, but emigrated to America in the early '50s and located in Cin- einnati, where Mr. Kirschner followed his trade of molder in an iron foundry. In 1856 he re- moved to Buffalo City, Wisconsin, and engaged in the draying business np to 1869, then in farming until 1888, when he removed to Seat- tle, where he now resides. Our subject was educated in the schools of Wisconsin, and re- maining at home followed the avocations of the farm until April, 1878, when he was married at Alma, Wisconsin, to Miss Emma Hemrich. He then located in Alma and was connected with the brewery of Mr. Hemrich for one year, then for three years was proprietor of the Union House. He then purchased a plant and engaged in the manufacture of soda water, which enterprise he continued until 1885, when he came to Seattle and purchased an interest in the Bay View brewery, assuming the duties of secretary and continuing in such capacity until April, 1891, when, upon the incorporation of the Bay View Brewing Company, he was made secretary and treasurer, and so continued up to

the spring of 1893, when the Bay View con- solidated with the Albert Braun Brewing Com- pany and the Clauson-Sweeney Brewing Com- pany, under the incorporate name of the Seattle Brewing & Malting Company, and Mr. Kirsch- ner was elected treasurer of the new organiza- tion. He is also interested in valuable mining interests in the Cascade mountains, and now owns real estate in the city of Seattle.

Mr. and Mrs. Kirschner have three children: William, Andrew and Emily. Socially, Mr. Kirschner affiliates with the social and benevo- lent German societies of Seattle.

H ON. JAMES M. CARSON, City Comp- troller of Seattle, was born in Shelby county, Ohio, June 7, 1846. His par- ents, Andrew and Mary (Wallingford) Carson, were descended from pioneer settlers of the same State. The subject of this sketch was reared npon the farm and educated in the com- mon and graded schools of Ohio. Hle remained at home until July, 1863, when the spirit of patriotism inspired him to enlist in defense of his country. Though but seventeen years of age, he was accepted and went out with Com- pany G, Ninth Ohio Cavalry, commanded by Colonel W. D. Hamilton. Their service was with General Sherman during his memorable march to the sea. Mr. Carson was detailed during part of service, as dispatch carrier, from the headquarters of General Brahman, but he took part in every engagement with his regi- ment, the most severe being at Atlanta, Georgia, Aiken, South Carolina, and at Rogersville, Ten- nessee, where his horse was shot from under him, though he himself was uninjured. He was mustered out at Lexington, North Caro- lina, in July, 1865, and then rode his horse back to his home in Ohio. He then resumed his education, and by teaching was enabled to complete the course of study at the State Nor- mal School, and also to take up the study of law.

In 1875 he was elected to the House of Representatives from Shelby county; and in 1877 to the Ohio Senate from the counties of Miami, Darke and Shelby. In 1878 he was ap- pointed by Governor Bishop as Aid-de-camp upon his staff, with rank of Colonel. IIe was admitted to the bar in February, 1878, before

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the Supreme Court of Ohio, and then located in practice at Anna, Shelby county, where he continued until 1885. During this period he served as Mayor of the city and as Justice of the Peace for four years. In 1885 he was ap- pointed, under the Cleveland administration, as special agent of the General Land Office, and assigned to the Puget Sound Land District with headquarters at Olympia, serving in that capacity until the inauguration of Benjamin Harrison, when he tendered his resignation. Having become well versed in the land laws, and with an extended acquaintance through the State, he then engaged in the practice of law, making a specialty of legal points connected with the land business, appearing before the land officers of Olympia and Seattle. He con- tinued this form of practice up to May 1, 1892, when he was appointed City Comptroller by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the city of Seattle.

Mr. Carson was married in Shelby county, Ohio, January 1, 1872, to Miss Bessie E. Staley, a native of Ohio and daughter of John and Katherine Staley, pioneers of the State. This union has been blessed by three children: Mil- lard E., Oliver P. and Victor V. Mr. Carson has recently completed a handsome residence on Harvard street, and by wise investment, owns valuable city and acre property in the counties of King, Pierce, Chehalis and Skagit.

In his official career he has been a wise and able manager, honest in his intentions and per- forming impartially tbe duties of trust imposed npon him.

J A. STOUT, one of the first landholders of Klickitat county, was born in Lenawee county, Michigan, in 1836, a son of John- son and Sarah G. (Castle) Stout, natives of New York. J. A., the fifth in a family of ten chil- dren, four now living, remained in his native State until twenty years of age, attended school in Baraboo, Wisconsin, one year, and then went to Winona county, Minnesota. While there, in 1863, he enlisted in the Ninth Minnesota In- fantry, for the late war, was stationed at Fort Snelling, was taken to Nashville, also to Mem- phis. He was assigned to the hospital at the latter place, where he was engaged as a nurse until the close of the struggle. Mr. Stout

then spent two years in Minnesota, after which he made an extended trip, by way of New York, around the Isthmus of Panama, landing at San Francisco. Ile spent the next two years in Salem, Oregon, was afterward in Linn county, that State, and then came to Klickitat county, Washington, purchasing the homestead of 160 acres where he still resides. The year of 1874 was spent in the reservation north, and during the following year he was in the Government employ at Fort Yakima, Washington. Mr. Stout is a member of the G. A. R., Baker Post, No. 20, of Goldendale, and, although not at present holding an office, has the honor of be- ing Past Commander. He supports the princi- ples of the Republican party, in which he takes an active interest. He was the first Clerk of the county, was appointed Auditor to fill an unex- pired term of two years, and in 1882 was elected to the office of County Commissioner, of the third district, which position he held four years.

Mr. Stout was married April 17, 1862, to Miss Allecia Pike, a native of Maine, and a daughter of Moses and l'hebe (Scribner) Pike, natives also of that State. They were of a race notable for longevity, and the grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Mr. and Mrs. Stout have one child, Elsie E. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

R OBERT WATSON, a progressive agri- culturist of Klickitat county, Washing- ton, was born in the Dominion of Can- ada, near Woodstock, Ontario, October 30, 1845. His parents, James and Mary Wat- son, were natives of the Emerald Isle, and his father was a farmer by occupation. He passed his boyhood and youth in the place of his birth, bnt in 1868 determined to see more of the world, and, attracted by the reports of the fortunes that were so frequently found in a day in the Golden State, he started for California, shipping from New York on the steamer Colorado. Hle went via Panama, arriving in San Francisco on the Golden Age, May 1, 1868. From that city he went to Napa county, and engaged in farming in the employ of H. II. Hudemann. He spent ten years in Napa county, and then came to the Willamette valley in Oregon, where he bonght a place twelve miles east of Salem ; he returned to California, but soon afterward came to Wash-

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ington, and purchased 160 acres, on which he now resides, nine miles from Goldendale. He also purchased of the Northern Pacific railroad company 240 acres, located eight miles east of his residence farm. He has made many good improvements and the place is well stocked with excellent grades of stock. Ile has also bought from the Government 160 acres on the hill-side adjoining his place.

"Mr. Watson was married April 15, 1873, in Canada, to Miss Anna Ferguson, who was born near Woodstock, Ontario, a daughter of Robert Ferguson. Six children have been born of this union: Elmer, Angus, Maude, Ida, Callie and Fred.

Mr. Watson is a member of Alumus Lodge, I. O. O. F., at Goldendale. He takes an active interest in the welfare of the community which he has helped to develop, and has put forth great efforts to elevate the educational standard of the county. For nine years he has served as Director of school disfrict No. 6, and has been very faithful in the discharge of his duties.

J AMES B. EAGLESON, one of the fore- most medical practitioners of Seattle, was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, August 30, 1862. His father, William Eagleson, was a native of county Antrim, Ireland, but at the age of three years emigrated with his parents to the United States, locating near Chillicothe, where he followed an agricultural life. IIe married Miss Elizabeth IIodsden, a native of Ohio.

James B., our subject, was educated in the public schools, and in the higher branches by private instructors. At the age of seventeen years he began teaching, and thus by personal effort secured the higher education, and made possible the study of medicine. In 1881, under the preceptorship of Dr. D. H. Scott, of Chilli- cothe, he began reading medicine, which science he perfected at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, of Chicago, graduating at that insti- tution with the class of 1885. By competitive examination Mr. Eagleson then secured entrance into the United States Marine Hospital at Chi- cago, as medical cadet, subsequently becoming Junior Hospital Steward. In September, 1886, he was sent to port Townsend, Washington, as Ilospital Steward; and in August, 1887, came

to Seattle, to establish the Marine Hospital station at this port, and was put in charge as acting assistant surgeon, which position he still continues to fill. The hospital has grown in importance, and is now in the second rank of marine hospital stations in the United States in charge of acting assistant surgeons. Shortly after coming to Seattle Dr. Eagleson was ap- pointed Surgeon of Grace Hospital, which posi- tion he filled until the spring of 1889, when he, with three other physicians, incorporated the Washington General Hospital Association, leased the Grace Hospital, which was continued under the above name, with accommodations for forty-five patients. In addition to hospital work, the Doctor has followed a general prac- tice. He formed a partnership with Dr. Lewis R. Dawson, on January 1, 1891, under the firm name of Dawson & Eagleson. To extend his knowledge of surgery, in September, 1892, Dr. Eagleson made a trip to Europe, and spent about four months in visiting the Royal Infirm- ary of Edinburgh, and the various hospitals of London.

The Doctor was married in Seattle, July 1, 1889, to Miss Blanche Mills, a native of Michi- gan. Dr. Eagleson has been an active worker in medical societies, and at present is President of the King County Medical Society; Treasurer of the State Medical Society of Washing- ton; a member of the American Medical As- sociation; the American Medical Temperance Association, and the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States. He is also a member of the State Board of Health and Bureau of Vital Statistics, and United States Board of Pension Examiners. He has always taken a great interest in the National Guard, having served as a private in Company E of the First Regiment for three years, within which time the company did active duty at the time of the big fire in Seattle, June 6, 1889, and during several mining strikes. On August 4, 1893, he was appointed by Governor McGraw as Surgeon General on the staff of the Commander- in-Chief, with the rank of Colonel.

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R ANKO PETKOVITS, a well-known resi- dent of Seattle, and the only manufact- uring furrier in the State of Washington, was born in Southern Hungary, July 26, 1854. After securing a practical common-school

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education, he decided upon the furrier business as an occupation, and, to perfect himself in the art, he first served a three-years apprenticeship with a manufacturer at Arrand, then spent four years in different mannfacturing establishments in Germany, Que year in Paris, six months in London, and in 1882 removed to America and spent nearly three years with the leading fur- riers of New York city and Boston, learning the language of the country and the styles and methods of doing business among the American people. In 1885 he came to San Francisco, and in the spring of 1886 to Portland, Oregon, gath- ering up ideas as to the handling of skins and furs on the Pacific coast. Thus securing a care- ful knowledge of the fur business of the United States, and being desirous of engaging in busi- ness, he selected Seattle as the most desirable location, it being the greatest city of the North- west and nearest to the seal fisheries of Bering Sea, and to the trapping grounds of British Columbia and Alaska. Mr. Petkovits came to Seattle in June, 1886, and with $3,000 as cash capital, at once engaged in the for business. In February, 1887, he took in as partner Mr. C. L. Hibbard, and the firm conducted a general business in hides, pelts, wool and manufacturing furs. After one year the firm dissoved, divided the stock, and Mr. Petkovits continned the manufacturing department, and ran a small tannery therewith for the preparation of skins. In the great fire of June, 1889, his manufactory was burned ont, with almost a total loss of pelts and stock. This was a serious blow, but two two months later he resumed business, which has forged steadily and successfully forward, until his stock now represents abont $20,000. For two seasons he sent out sealing schooners to the fisheries, but owing to unfortunate man- agement of vessels this venture proved a failure, and he now purchases skins in shipload lots and exports to the markets of New York and Lou- don, also handling the pelts of all the fur ani- mals of the Northwest, which are procured from the natives and trappers. He carries a large stock of manufactured goods in fancy furs, car- riage robes, rugs, etc. Mr. Petkovits personally supervises all the work which he produces, and with his thorough knowledge and honorable business methods, his success has been well de- served, and in the same he takes an honorable degree of pride. He has also dealt considerably in real estate, and owns valuable improved and unimproved residence property in Seattle and

acre property south of the city. July 12, 1893, Mr. Petkovits opened a branch establishment at Spokane, in the business operations of which city the enterprise is destined to become an important factor.

A ARON WEBSTER, a successful farmer and Inmberman who came to Washing- ton in an early day, and who now resides two miles from Bucoda, was born near Barnesville, in Belmont county, Ohio, July 30, 1828. His parents, William and Sarah (Dod) Webster, were natives of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, of sturdy German descent and pioneers of Ohio, where his father was a pros- perons farmer.

The subject of this shetch resided at home until he was sixteen years of age, when he started for the extreme west, of which many favorable things were told concerning the op- portunities afforded a young man of intelligence and energy. On arriving in Henry county, lowa, however, he found his surroundings so congenial that he decided to remain there, and apprenticed himself as a millwright, at which business he afterward worked in that vicinity for eight years.

Hearing in the meantime renewed rumors of the wonderful advantages of the far West, he left Iowa, in the spring of 1852, for the Pacific Coast, crossed the plains by ox team, and after a tedious journey of three months arrived safely at Portland, Oregon, then a small town. Soon after his arrival, he started for the Rogue river mines, and after four months there he proceeded to the gold mines in Shasta county, California, at which latter place he worked one year, when he returned to Oregon and com- menced work at his trade. He was thus en- ployed for three years, at the end of which time he emigrated to Washington Territory, making his home at Olympia, but working at various places on the Sound until 1857. He then went to the southern part of Thurston county, where he pre-empted 160 acres and afterward home- steaded 160 acres more, also subsequently enter- ing 160 acres with land warrants, all on the banks of Skookumchuck river and where Bucoda is now situated. Ile here built a sawmill, which be operated about seven years, at the end of which time he sold out bis land and mill and

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bought a farm of 540 acres, which is situated two miles from Bucoda, and on which he now resides with his family.

On the outbreak of the Indian war in 1855, Mr. Webster joined the company of volunteers know as the Spokane Invincibles, under the command of Captain B. F. Yantes. Mr. Web- ster was First Lieutenant of the company, which was mustered out of service after two and a half months, having done efficient work in the cause for which it was enlisted. In 1854, Mr. Webster was elected Colonel of the Territorial militia, but declined to serve, and it is men- tioned as showing the high regard entertained for him by his associates.

In 1861, Mr. Webster was married to Sarah Yantes, daughter of Alexander and Saralı Yantes and a niece of Judge Yantes, a prominent offi- cial. She crossed the plains to Washington with her parents in an early day. In 1871, Mr. Webster was called upon to mourn the death of his wife, who left three children to his care: Anna C., now Mrs. Wolf; Sarah M., now Mrs. Jackson; and Maude, at home. Mr. Webster continued to reside on his farm with his daugh- ters as housekeepers until his marriage, April 8, 1879, to Mrs. W. H. Smith, an estimable widow. Her maiden name was Louisa Miles, and she was born June 4, 1835. Her parents, H. and Nancy (Pickeral) Miles, were natives of Ken- tucky and Ohio, respectively. They resided in Mahaska county, Iowa, for many years, where Louisa grew to womanhood, and in 1859 was married to W. H. Smith. He died in Missouri in 1871, leaving his widow with six children: Laura, William, Dora, Andrew, Elmer and Belle. In 1877, Mrs. Smith came with her family to Thurston county, Washington, where she was married, in 1879, to the subject of this sketch.

The popularity which Mr. Webster gained in the militia is some indication of the esteem which he enjoys in his community, as a reward of his uniform integrity and worth of character.

S AMUEL P. MARSH, of Vancouver. Washington, claims the proud distinction of being the first white child born in Spencer Township, Medina county, Ohio, the date of the occurrence being March 24, 1826. He is a son of John and Clara (Rodgers) Marsh. The father was born in Vermont, and his death

occurred in Ohio, in 1836. The Marsh family are of English ancestry, and trace their lineage on this continent to the early portion of the seventeenth century. The mother of onr subject, a native of Connecticut, descended from one of the early and influential families of New En- gland. Her father was a patriot soldier during the Revolutionary war, and held the rank of Colonel.

Samnel P. Marsh, the third in a family of six children, was reared in his native State, and at the early age of ten years was apprenticed to the blacksmith's trade, serving five years. He then followed his trade as a journeyman until 1850, when he made the long and tedious jour- ney with ox teams to the Pacific Coast, spend- ing six months and five days on the road. Mr. Marsh first located at Portland, Oregon, and, being without money, his first $100 was earned by scoring timber. He hewed the logs and built the first blacksmith shop in the now densely populated city of Portland, having been obliged to borrow an ax for that purpose. After getting the logs to his shop site, Mr. Marsh proceeded to Milwaukee, the only sawmill in the country having been located at that point, purchased lumber on time, and towed the ma- terial on a raft to Portland. After completing his shop the next trouble was to get tools to work with, but this difficulty was evercome, however, by the purchase of an odd lot of second-hand tools, for which he paid 8400, giv- ing indorsed notes for thirty and sixty days. His first customer was William Bennett, then Sheriff of Washington county, who paid him $12 for shoeing one horse, and on the following day paid $24 for shoeing a span. At that time Mr. Marsh was obliged to pay 35 cents for iron, and $1 a pound for steel. He carried on busi- ness in Portland until 1854, and from 1851 until that time was also engaged in steamboat- ing on the Willamette river, having served as engineer on the second steamboat run on that river. In 1854 he established the pioneer blacksmith shop in Vancouver, where he does a general manufacturing business, both in wood and iron. Mr. Marsh is associated in business with his son, and they employ several skilled workmen. In addition to bis other interests, he owns both residence and business property in Vancouver, and among the public buildings may be mentioned the Standard Theater, which was erected in 1886, and has a seating capacity of 1,000.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 80

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