An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 85

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 85

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In the spring of 1860 Mr. Coombs came to Seattle and found employment in the store of Henry L. Yesler, remaining about twelve years, a part of this time acting as Deputy Postmaster and agent for the Wells-Fargo Express Com- pany. About 1872 he engaged in the commnis- sion business, which he followed several years. Ile has been quite active in politics and was the first Auditor of King county, holding the office for several terms. He was also the first com- mitting Magistrate of the city of Seattle, and searved as Justice of the Peace for a number of years. While serving as Justice of the Peace in 1882, the murderers, Payne, Howard and Sullivan, were before him, and after a fair trial and commitment were taken by an ont- raged people and hanged near the corner of James street and Pioneer place.

Under the Cleveland administration in 1884, Mr. Coombs was appointed Warden of the

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United States penitentiary on MeNeil's island and served four years. Since 1888 he has not been actively engaged in business. Mr. and Mrs. Coombs have three children: Louisa, now Mrs. James H. Watson; William M., an Engi- neer; and Raphael, an artist.

Socially, Mr. Coombs affiiates with the Ma- sonic order. He has alwas taken a deep interest ih the Indian dialeets of the Sound, and has re- eently revised a Chinook dictionary for general circulation. He was formerly engaged as re- porter on the old Intelligencer, and still writes for the press on pioneer subjects, particularly relating to incidents and experiences with the Indian tribes.

E DGAR R. BUTTERWORTH, manager of the Cross Undertaking Company, of Seattle, was born in Boston, Massachu- setts, March 3, 1847. Ilis parents, William R. and Eliza (Norwood) Butterworth, were natives of the same State, descended from ancestry of Puritan stock and Revolutionary fame. Will- iam R. Butterworth was by trade a cotton man- nfacturer and for many years acted as superintendent of mills at Newton Upper Falls, Massachusetts. In 1857 he removed to Wright county, Minnesota, to engage in agricultural pursuits, and there improved a farm and re- mained five years; but the Sioux Indians were so hostile, and the dangers of the country so great, that after the Indian massacre of 1861- '62 Mr. Butterworth decided to remove to a more civilized country, and returned to Massa- chusetts, and resumed his earlier occupation. Edgar R. attended the schools of New England until he attained the age of seventeen. He then learned the trade of hatter, which he followed in different eities of New England for about five years. In 1869, he located in Boston and began reading law with his brother, and was ad- mitted to practice in 1872. Shortly after he removed to Woodson connty, Kansas, and in partnership with H. M. Ingrabam, engaged act- ively in the practice of his profession. In 1877 the firm went to southwestern Kansas, on the border of Indian Territory, to participate in the organization of a new county, but as public sentiment was opposed to the movement they gave up the enterprise and engaged in the stock business, continuing until 1882. Mr. Butter-

worth then closed ont his interests and came to Lewis county, Washington Territory, and lo- cated at Centralia, then known as Skookum- chuck, and having a population of about 250. Business was dull, so Mr. Butterworth engaged in carpenter work, of which he had some knowledge, and thus helped to build up the town. One year later he opened a furniture store and undertaking establishment, which he operated up to 1890; then, after a trip through the East, he returned to Centralia, but continued only the undertaking business. In Novem- ber, 1892, Mr. Butterworth came to Seattle to accept the position of manager of the Cross Undertaking Company, with parlors located at 1,427, Second street, the Centralia business being continned by his son, Gilbert M., who is also associated with his father in Seattle.

Mr. Butterworth was married in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1870, to Miss Grace M. Whip- ple, a native of that State. She died in 1872, leaving one son, Gilbert M. Mr. Butterworth was again married, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1873, when he was united to Miss Maria L. Gillespie. They have four children: Charles N., Frederic R., Harry E. and Benjamin. Mr. Butterworth has valuable property interests in and about Centralia, with fine residence, frnit orchards and improved lands. As member of the council and eight years Notary Public, he took an active interest in the city organization and government. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W., and for twenty-five years has been a consistent member of the or- der of Good Templars. He has been for many years a Deacon in the Baptist Church, and car- ries his Christian and fraternal life into his profession of undertaking.

R OBERT ROBB, Surveyor of Clarke county, Washington, was born at Ham- mond, St. Lawrence county, New York, June 25, 1842, a son of John and Mary (Robinson) Robb, natives of Scotland. The par- ents emigrated to the United States in 1828, where the mother died in 1847, and the mother in 1883.

Robert Robb, the seventh in a family ofeight children, attended the public schools of his na- tive county, and completed his education in the Wesleyan Seminary, in 1865. In 1862 he en-

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

listed as a private in the Forty-second New York Infantry, but, on account of ill health, was discharged thirteen months later, and returned to New York. After completing his academic course he visited the States of Michigan and Wisconsin, and in the latter State was engaged in teaching two years. In 1868 Mr. Robb re- turned to New York, but a few months after- ward went to Nebraska, where he taught sehool eight years, and during seven years of that time served as Superintendent of the Cumming county schools. He came to Clarke county, Washing- ton, in 1876, followed farming and teaching the first two years, for the following four years served as Superintendent of the County Schools, and was then associated with H. A. Proebsted in the mill business, having been lessee of the well-known Lueia mill property. In 1884 Mr. Robb was elected County Assessor of Clarke county, and at the expiration of his term of ser- vice engaged in the real-estate business. Since 1888 he has filled the office of County Surveyor. His management of the office has been highly satisfactory to the voters of the county, and for the past four years the opposite political party has nominated no candidate for the position.

Mr. Robb was first married in New York, to Miss Annett Hulett, who died June 13, 1877. They had four children: Donald B., Anna C., Ellen and Malcom. June 1, 1880, he was united in marriage with Miss Lida Brown, and they had three children: Lura, Walter and Ina. The wife and mother died January 2, 1890, and June 24, 1892, our subject married Mrs. May Flinn, nee Greenwell, a native of Iowa. Mr. Robb is one of the most popular citizens of Clarke county, has figured conspicuously as a local contributor to county papers, and has always been identified with its best interests. In his political relations he is a stanch and steadfast Republican, although is liberal in local politics. Socially, le affiliates with the A. O. U. W. and the G. A. R.

C YRUS F. CLAPP, one of the most suc- cessful business men of Jefferson county, was born in Medford, Maine, July 29, 1851, and was the son of Stephen and Alvina H. (Hunt) Clapp, both natives of the same State. Stephen Clapp was reared in the lumbering district of Maine, and concerned in such enter- prises up to 1852, when he came to California,

and followed the same line on the Sacramento and Feather rivers, and made a considerable for- tune, which was literally washed away in the great flood of 1862. Ile then went to Hum- boldt county and followed logging until 1880, then retired and located in Eureka, where he still resides. Cyrus F. Clapp laid the founda- tion of his education at Foxcraft Academy in Maine, and Hanover Academy in Massachusetts. Still ambitious for higder accomplishment, he then erossed the Atlantic and spent two years at the Royal Academic Institute at Belfast, Ire- land, and completed his course at St. Andrews College in Scotland. Returning to America in the fall of 1868, he soon secured a clerkship in the large dry-goods establishment of Jordan, Marsh & Co., and remained until the spring of 1870, when he came to California to visit his father, and later proceeded to Puget Sound, landing at Port Townsend on November 1st of the same year, with a cash capital of $5 in gold. Proceeding at once to business, he accepted the position of clerk at the Cosmopolitan hotel, and in the spring of 1871 went to San Francisco and secured a clerkship with D. Samnels, pro- prietor of " The Lace Ilonse." In the spring of 1874 he returned to Port Townsend and to his former position, which he retained until 1876, when, having accumulated sufficient means, he purchased the property and assumed the proprietorship of the hotel, which he suc- cessfully managed for three years. Disposing of this property in 1879, he removed to New Dungeness, where he became Postmaster and engaged in the general merchandise business, handling every variety of product in logs, lum- ber and farm produce, and with a sealing busi- ness in season, and a freighting business about the lower Sound, he conducted a very extensive enterprise, and made money rapidly. He oper- ated his store until 1889, though, in 1887, he removed to Port Townsend to look after his real estate and other interests. He also organized the private banking house of Clapp & Feuer- bach, and in 1889 purchased his partner's in- terest and incorporated as the Merchants' Bank of Port Townsend. He continued as president of the institution until the fall of 1889, when the bank was sold to William S. Ladd, of Port- land. Mr. Clapp has since devoted himself to the loaning of money and the sale of real estate in city and county property. He owns valuable improved business property in Port Townsend, with farm and timber lands about the State. Ile

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is a careful, conservative business man, but with keen judgment has foreseen results and profited thereby.

He was married in Port Townsend, January 21, 1875, to Miss Wilhelmina M. P. Lacy, step- daughter of Major Van Bokkelyn, a pioneer of the Sound. Five children have blessed this union : Nellie F., Vina, Elva (deceased). Beatrice C. and Alvin F. (deceased). Socially, Mr. Clapp affiliates with the Fourteenth degree, Scottish Rite, A. F. & A. M., I. O. O. F., K. of P., and A. O. U. W.

Politieally, he is a Republican. Ile served Clallam county one term as Treasurer. He was was one of the first Councilmen elected in Port Townsend.

In 1892 he was appointed by Governor Ferry as one of two representatives to the Nicaragua Canal Convention at New Orleans. In both his social and religious life he is esteemed and re- spected by all who know him.

N OAH BOSWORTH, a well known citizen of Lewis county, Washington, cast his fortune with the Northwest in 1857, and has resided in Washington ever since. Mr. Bosworth was born in Massachusetts in the year 1827, and was a resident of his native State until 1857, when he came West. Upon his arrival in Washington he first settled in Thurston county, from whence, in 1866, he re- moved to his present location in Lewis county. Ile was elected County Commissioner of his county in 1876.

Mr. Bosworth has never married.

P ETER GUNN, one of the early pioneers of Klickitat county, was born in Nova Scotia in 1839, the youngest son of David and Jean (Gunn) Gunn, natives of Scot- land. The parents removed to Nova Scotia in 1817, where they were among the early settlers, and the father died there in 1859, and the mother in 1853. They had twelve children: John, Katharine, Helen, William, Alexander, David, Robert, Aeneas and Peter. Two children died in infancy.

P. Gunn, the subject of this sketeh, spent his early life on a farın in Nova Scotia. In 1870

he came to the United States, spent the first year in Nevada, next followed the carpenter's trade in Solano county, California, until 1878, and in that year located on a part of his present farm in Klickitat eonnty, Washington. Mr. Gunn first purchased a squatter's right to 160 acres, later bonght another squatter's claim, and he now owns 320 acres of fine farming land. His danghter also owns a homestead adjoining this farm. He gives his attention principally to wheat raising, although he has from 300 to 400 fruit trees, which yield an abundance of fruit.

Mr. Gunn was married in Nova Scotia, Au- gust 10, 1865, to Miss Caroline A. Fraser, a native of that country, and a daughter of Will- iam and Mary (Cameron) Fraser, also born in Nova Scotia. Their parents came from Scotland to that country during its early settlement. Mr. and Mrs. Gunn have three children: Hattie May, Amelia Jane and Albert William. Mr. Gunn has been a member of the Masonic order for thirty-three years, has held a membership under four grand lodges, viz .: Scotland, Nova Scotia, California and Washington, and has served as Master for three years. Ile was the first Worthy Patron of the first Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star in Washington (Ever- green, No. 1, of Goldendale). The order has now a Grand Chapter in the State, thirty-two subordinate chapters, with a membership of 1,628 June 12, 1893, and is in a flourishing condition.

W ILLIAM J. WHITE is the proprietor of one of the best furnished drug stores in Klickitat county, and is himself well versed in pharmacy. He is a native of the State of Wisconsin, born in Green Lake county, March 2, 1862. His parents were Charles and Mary (English) White. The father was a native of Michigan, and was a farmer by oceupation; he lost his life during the Indian outbreak of 1862, and the widowed mother afterward removed to Minnesota and settled in Swift county, where William J. was reared and educated. Until the age of seventeen he divided his time between the lighter labors of the farm and the studies he pursued in the common schools; then he turned his attention to bookkeeping, but this profession was interrupted by a trip to the Pacific coast in

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1881. Hle first settled in Wasco county, Ore- gon, and for a year was engaged in agricultural pursnits; he was then employed in the O. S. N. Company shops at The Dalles, Oregon, where lie did carpentry and bridge work for two years. In 1883 he came to Goldendale, and for a short time was engaged in farming. Securing a po- sition as clerk with B. F. Saylor, who had pur- chased the drug business of J. M. Hess, he held the position for two years.

Desirous of rising to the top of the profession, Mr. White went to Chicago, Illinois, and there pursued a course in pharmacy in a leading col- lege in that city. He was graduated in 1889, and immediately returned to Goldendale, taking charge of the prescription eounter in the store which he purchased a few months later. In 1890 J. W. Snover became a member of the firm of White & Snover, the association continning two years. At the end of this period Mr. White bought the entire business ; lie carries a large and well-selected stock of pure drugs, oils and a choice variety of toilet goods. He gives his personal attention to the prescription depart- ment, attending to his duties with painstaking care and nnerring intelligence.

Mr. White was married in the city of Chicago, in December, 1888, to Miss Mary M. Hess of Iowa, and three children have been born tothem : Ethel E., Lonise Ellen and an infant son. In his social relations Mr. White affiliates with the I. (). O. F. and the Knights of Pythias.

G EORGE J. STONEMAN, City Clerk of Seattle, was born in Petersburg, Vir- ginia, May 4, 1868. His parents, Gen- eral George and Mary O. (Hardesty) Stoneman, were natives of New York and Maryland respectively. From Appleton's Cyclo- pædia of American Biography we copy the fol- lowing sketch of General Stoneman:

"General George Stoneman was born in Busti, Chautauqua county, New York. He was graduated at the United States Military Academy in 1846, and entered the First Dra- goons. He acted as Quartermaster to the Mor- mon battalion at Santa Fé; was sent with it to California in 1847, and remained actively en- gaged on the Pacific coast till 1857. In March of this year he became Captain in the Second Cavalry, and served till 1861, chiefly in Texas.

In February of that year, while in command of Fort Brown, he refused to obey the order of his superior, General David E. Twiggs, for the sur- render of the Government property to the seces- sionists, evacnated the fort, and went to New York by steamer. He became Major of the . First Cavalry on May 9, 1861, and served in Western Virginia till August 13, when he was appointed Brigadier General of volunteers and chief of cavalry of the Army of the Potomac. He organized the cavalry of that army and commanded during the Virginia peninsular campaign of 1862. After the evaenation of Yorktown by the Confederate troops, his cavalry and artillery pursued and overtook them, and thus brought on the battle of Williamsburg, May 5, 1862. He took command of General Philip Kearny's division after the second battle of Bull Run, succeeded General Samuel P. Heintzelman as commander of the Third Army Corps, November 15, 1862, and led it at Fred- ericksburg on December 13. Ile was promoted to Major General November 29, 1862, led a cavalry corps in the raid toward Richmond from April 13 to May 2, 1863, and commanded the Twenty-third Corps from January to April, 1864. On the reorganization of the armies operating against Richmond by General Grant. General Stoneman was appointed to a cavalry corps in the Department of the Ohio; was en- gaged in the operations of the Atlanta campaign from May to July, 1864, and conducted a raid for the capture of Macon and Andersonville and the liberation of prisoners, but was cap- tured at Clinton, Georgia, July 31, and held a captive till October 27. Ile led a raid to south- western Virginia in December, 1864; com- manded the District of East Tennessee in Feb- ruary and March, 1865; conducted an expedi- tion to Asheville, North Carolina, in March and April, 1865, and was engaged at Wythe- ville, the capture of Salisbury, North Carolina. and at Asheville. He became Colonel of the Twenty-first Infantry, July 28, 1866, and was brevetted Colonel, Brigadier and Major General for gallant conduct. He retired from the army Angust 16, 1871, and has since resided in Cali- fornia, of which State he was Governor in 1883-'87, having been chosen as a Democrat."

The earliest recollection of George J. Stone- man is connected with California, where his father located after his retirement from the army in 1871. He was primarily educated in the schools of Los Angeles, and then entered

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the University of Michigan, pursuing studies in both the literary and law departments, and graduating in the law department in 1889. He was admitted to the bar before the Supreme Courts of Michigan and Washington, and eoming at onee to Seattle he entered into the practice of his profession, from the law office of Hon. W. Lair Hill, prominent in the pro- fession throughont the Northwest, and who has manifested great interest in the advancement of the young legal graduate. After about one year of practice, Mr. Stoneman entered upon literary work as a member of the editorial staff of the Telegraph, the especial duties of his de- partment being the local politics and municipal affairs of the city. This naturally led Mr. Stoneman into polities, and in the spring of 1892 he was the nominee of the Democratic party, and elected in March, 1892, to the office of City Clerk for the term of two years. Ile is discharging the duties of his office with honor and distinction, having at heart the honest and impartial management of the trusts imposed upon him.

LARENCE L. WIIITE, eivil engineer of Seattle, was born in Littleton, Buch- anan county, Iowa, November 27, 1856. His parents, H. J. and Elizabeth (Richmond) White, were natives of Canada, where Mr. White learned the trade of millwright, and npon coming to Littleton about 1854, among the pioneer settlers of that loeality, he built a flouring mill, which he operated a number of years. Clarence L. attended the public schools of Littleton and worked in his father's mill up to 1872, when the entire family eame to Seattle, arriving on the 2d day of September. Spend- ing the first winter in Seattle, our subject at- tended the public schools, and in the following summer went with the family to a ranch near what is now Anacortis, and then worked at elearing up and improving the ranch until the summer of 1876, when subject began "rustling" for himself, attending the Territorial University at Seattle during the winters. In the spring of 1879 he went to Spokane Falls as editor and manager of the Spokane Times, the first news- paper started in that eity. His health failing from the sedentary work, he was obliged to re- sign within the following summer, and then

went'on a Government survey in the Grand Conlee country. With restored health he re- turned to Spokane Falls in November, 1880, and during the winter was employed as Deputy Anditor of Spokane county, under Mr. J. M. Nosler. During the summer and antumn of 1881 Mr. White was in the Northern Pacific survey party in Idaho and Western Montana, aeting as ehainman and leveler. Abont Christ- mas of that year he returned to Seattle and be- gan working for Whitworth & Thomson, civil engineers, and continued with them, except during the winter of 1882-'83, when he took a course in surveying in the university. In Jann- ary, 1887, Mr. White went out in a party on the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern Railroad, as transitman, working during the summer and following winter on preliminary and location. from Seattle to the summit of Snoqualmie Pass in Caseade mountains. In the spring he was transferred to the Spokane Falls division of the same road, doing work in Spokane and west- ward to the Columbia river. In July he was sent out as resident engineer in charge of work at crossing of Grand Coulee, 120 miles west- ward of Spokane Falls, at a point where the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern Railroad and the Northern Pacific Railroad were fighting for location. This work was abandoned, soon after the troublesome point was settled in favor of the Seattle road, and Mr. White returned to Spokane and had charge of the construction of the large railroad trestles near Spokane. Upon the completion of this work he returned to Seattle, and in the spring of 1889 beeame part- ner in the firm of R. II. Thomson & Co. In March, 1890, the firm name was changed to Thomson & White, which continned until Mr. Thomson beeame City Engineer, and thereafter Mr. White operated alone.

He was married in Seattle, April 17, 1890, to Miss Etta B. Whitworth, native of Wash- ington, and daughter of Rev. G. F. Whitworth, whose biography appears elsewhere in this vol- ume. The above union has been blessed by one son, Roydon Whitworth.

J M. FRINK, President of the Washington Iron Works Company at Seattle, was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, January 21, 1845. Ilis parents, Prentice and Deidamia

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(Millard) Frink, were natives of the State of New York, but married in Luzerne county, where Mr. Frink located as pastor of the Baptist Church. In 1859 he removed to Brown county. Kansas, where he engaged in farming and there died in 1861, leaving his wife with eight little ones to support. Our subject being the first- born son, took upon himselt the responsibility of the family and the care of the farm, and right manfully did he perform his duty until the children were reared to ages of self-support.

In 1870, Mr. Frink left the old home, was married in Topeka, Kansas, to Miss Hannah Phillips and then located in southern Kansas, where he followed farming up to 1874, then re- moving to California, whence he journeyed north to Seattle in the fall of the same year. Im- mediate labor being necessary he accepted the first position offered, which was on street work, but shortly after he was employed as teacher in the city schools which line of occupation he then followed for four years in Seattle, and at Port Gamble. In 1880 he formed the copartnership of Tenny & Frink and engaged in the foundry business on the corner of Second and Jackson streets. In 1881 they added a machine shop and in 1882 incorporated as the Washington Iron Works Company, Mr. Frink being duly elected president and manager. Their business extended all through the Sound country, and grew to such proportions that 160 hands were employed in the several departments, in general foundry, mill and machine work. Remaining in the same location up to the great fire of June, 1889, the entire plant was destroyed with a loss of $85,000, in patterns and equipments. The process of re-establishment was at once com- menced and their works were rebuilt on Nor- man street between Eighth and Tenth, where the foundry, boiler, blacksmith and machine shops cover an area of two blocks, with facilities for a very extended business.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 85

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