An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 87

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

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to reach the Pacific coast. Landing at Olym- pia, he then visited Tacoma and Seattle, finan- cially stranded and withont a friend in the Territory. It was not a question of practicing law with him then, but one of sustaining life, and he accepted the first job which offered, which was as a common laborer in the Port Blakely sawmill. After about three months he returned to Seattle and secured employment at clerical work in an abstract office, and was thus employed until January, 1889, when he entered the United States Land Office, where he remained until the time of the disastrous fire of June, 1889. He then decided to take his chances with the other lawyers, all being without libraries, and he once more engaged in the practice of his profession. He opened an office and, shortly after, the firm of Crocket, Brown & Fortson was formed and continued about one year. In the summer of 1891 the co- partnership of Fortson & McElroy was formed, and, they conducted a profitable business up to June, 1892, when it was dissolved and Mr. Fortson entered upon the discharge of the du- ties of City Attorney.

Ile is a member of the Seattle Bar Associ- ation, the K. of P. and of Company B, First Regiment National Gnard of Washington, which last he joined in 1889, and in which by succes- sive promotion he has attained to the rank of Second Lieutenant. By honesty, integrity, per- severance and studious habits, Mr. Fortson has steadily ascended the scale of success until he has made for himself a position and a name among the professional men of the city of Seattle.

G EORGE A. HILL was born near Nash- ville, Tennessee, in 1842. His father, Renben C. Hill, a physician and active Baptist clergyman, married Margaret Lair of Kentucky. They moved to Missouri in 1849, and after making his family comfortable in their new home upon a farm, in 1850, Dr. Hill crossed the plains to California, leaving his older children to look after their mother and the farm. In 1852 Dr. Ilill returned to his family and in 1853 crossed the plains with them to Oregon and located in Benton county, sub- sequently removing to Albany, where he actively followed his profession. In politics he was an old-line Whig, and an earnest worker in the

State, serving several terms in the Legislature. George A. spent his boyhood upon the farm, improving the educational facilities which the county and the city of Albany afforded. At the age of nineteen lie began teaching school in Albany, but after one year started for the Boise mines in Idaho and then passed three years in placer mining, prospecting and packing, and encountering the varied experiences of success, danger and adversity which mark the history of the average miner. Returning to Albany he then engaged in the drug business with his father and began reading medicine. Being an apt student, he soon became an able chemist and successfully conducted the business for six years, serving two years of that time as a mem- ber of the city council. In 1874 he retired from the drug business to accept the office of Clerk of Linn county, in which capacity he served the term of two years. In the mean- while he pursued the study of law during his hours of leisure, and under the combined strain his health became impaired and he went to eastern Oregon for change of climate and there engaged in the health-giving exercise of stock farming. This he continued about three years when loss of crops and Indian depredations drove him froin the country, substantially with- out financial resources. In the fall of 1880 he came to Seattle, where he permanently located. In 1882 Mr. IIill was admitted to the bar and en- gaged in active practice, subsequently forming a copartnership with Harold Preston, which as- sociation continued until 1884, when Mr. Hill waselected Police Magistrate, a position to which he was re-elected in 1886, serving throughout both terms. He has since been engaged in the practice of law, giving particular attention to land practice. He has dealt quite largely in real estate, in which line of operations he lias displayed good judgment, keen foresight and has acquired a modest competency.

Mr. Hill was married at Albany, in 1870, to Miss Julia A., only daughter of Jeremiah Driggs, an Oregon pioneer of 1847. Three children have been the issue of this union, two of whom survive: Victor L. W. and Donald V. S.

Socially, Mr. Hill affiliates with the F. & A. M., Royal Arch degree, also the I. O. O. F., I. O. R. M. and A. O. U. W. He speaks with pride of his connection with the volunteer fire department. Having served in Albany from 1872 up to the time of his leaving that city, he became identified with similar work in Seattle.

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He was one of the organizers of Company No. 4, and an active member until the service was changed to a paid departinent. He also served as President of the Board of Fire Commission- ers. While the management of his private af- fairs consumes much of his time, Mr. Hill is ever ready with encouragement and financial support in aiding such enterprises as tend to- ward the development of Seattle. He is a man of pleasing addresses, genial and kindly in- stinets, and possesses many warin friends, while his honesty and integrity command the respect of all who know him.

G HARLES MINOT SHEAFE .- One of the representative business men of Seattle, was born in Durham, New Hampshire, January 13, 1843. His parents, James S. and Eunice (Dodge), Sheafe, were natives of the same State, where their ancestors settled at a time in the early history of New England. James S. Sheafe was connected with railroad work as early as 1843, as employee of the Boston & Maine Railroad. In 1849 he located at Waverly, New York, as agent of the New York & Erie Railroad, and in 1865 removed to Elmira, New York, as agent of the Lehigh Valley railroad, and there continued up to his death in 1891, after having devoted upwards of fifty years to railroad work.

Charles M. was educated in the public schools of New York State and at the academy at Dur- ham, New Hampshire. At the age of fourteen years he began his career in railroad work as messenger boy at Hornellsville, where his father was then located. In 1859 he became car elerk at Susquehanna, and shortly after secured a position as fireman on a locomotive running from Susquehanna to Hornellsville. After two years' experience he was made engineer and eon- tinued in that capacity for three years. He then spent one year in Colorado in mining enter- prises, after which he returned to railroad work as brakeman on the Chicago & Northwestern from Boone westward. After about six weeks he was made conductor and continued in that position about three years. He was then em- ployed as engineer on the Southern Pacific from Junction City, Kansas, south, during construc- tion. One year later the road was reorganized as the Missouri, Kansas & Texas, and Mr.

Sheafe served as conductor two years, as divis- ion superintendent four years, and as superin- tendent of transportation, with duties pertaining to the office of general superintendent up to August, 1881, when Jay Gould took possession of the road and the old employees were permitted to resign.

On January 1, 1882, Mr. Sheafe went to New Orleans as General Superintendent of the Chi- cago, St. Louis and New Orleans Railroad, and discharged the duties of that office up to August, 1886, when he resigned and removed to Seattle, which city he had visited during the summer of 1885. That visit resulted in his being con- nected as trustee and manager with the organ- ization of the Puget Sound Construction Com- pany, which was incorporated with a capital of 8500,000, for the purpose of building the first forty miles of the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern Railroad. Mr. Sheafe was also one of the pro. moters of the Bellingham Railway and Naviga- tion Company, and has encouraged by advice and financial support many of the enterprises of development in and about the city of Seattle. In 1887 he engaged actively in the real-estate business in buying and selling outside property and improving the same for sale and investment.

He was married at Jefferson, Iowa, in 1868, to Miss Anna Jones, a native of Illinois. Six children have been born of this nnion: Lois, now Mrs. Howard Joslyn; Harry J., Charles M., James S., Ralph J. and Ruth.

Socially Mr. Sheafe affiliates with the Knights Templar, F. & A. M. He was among the first members of the Chamber of Commerce of Seattle, and served as Trustee for two years, and is a man of recognized ability and sonnd judg- ment, particularly as applied to the interior de- velopment of a growing city.

C HARLES D. EMERY, United States Commissioner at Seattle, and for many years one of the representative members of the legal profession of that city, was born in Wellsborough, Pennsylvania, May 17, 1833. His father, Josiah Emery, was a native of Con- cord, New Hampshire, descended from John Emery, who landed in Boston, from England, on June 3, 1635. The mother of our subject was Miss Julia Beecher, daughter of Hon. John Beecher of Connecticut, a family distinguished

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in literature and the church, for its able writ- ings and profound expositions of divine truths. Josiah Emery was educated at Dartmouth and Union Colleges, graduating in 1828. He then went to Pennsylvania and read law, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1831. He immediately en- gaged in a general practice which he continued up to 1871 when he retired and spent the clos- ing years of his life at Williamsport Pennsyl- vania.

Charles D. Emery was educated at Wells- borough Academy and at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He then returned to Williamsport and to civil life, and was admitted to the bar in December, 1853. He at once engaged in a general practice in Will- iamsport, and continued this until 1872, within that time performing efficient service as District Attorney for his county, for a period of three years. In 1872, he came to Seattle and at once opened an office for the practice of law, the town then being composed of a little settlement of about 1,500 inhabitants. As a man of literary at- tainments and a judicial mind, he soon came to the front in his profession and enjoyed a very representative clientage up to 1887, when he retired from active practice upon his appoint- ment, by the Supreme Court of the Territory, to the position of United States Commissioner, which appointment was extended by the United States Circuit Court, after the Territory was admitted to Statehood in 1889. Since his ap- pointment to the above office the Judge prac- tices only in the United States Conrts.

He was married in Philadelphia in 1858, to Miss Lavinia D. Evans, native of Pennsylvania. To this union have been given four children: Rae, widow of Judge Henry E. Hathaway, de- ceased; Mary, wife of James D. Lowman, of Seattle; David and Frances.

H ON. JOIEN II. LONG, a resident of Lewis county, Washington, since 1865, has been prominently identified with this part of the Northwest. It is therefore appropriate that some personal mention be made of him in this work, and the following facts have been gleaned for publication.

John H. Long was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1845, and in that city the first fourteen years of his life were spent. Removing from Ohio to

Iowa, he lived in Henry county three years. In 1864 he went to Boise City, Idaho, and the fol- lowing year came to Lewis county, Washington. On this long journey to the far West Mr. Long drove an ox team to pay for his board. He had good educational advantages in his youth, is a man of natural ability, and was soon recognized as a leader in the pioneer community in which he settled. In 1868 he was elected Assessor of Lewis county and two years later was elected County Treasurer. He was elected Represent- ative in 1876, Territorial Councilman in 1880, and State Senator in 1889. In all of these offi- cial positions he performed his duty with the strietest fidelity and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. In 1892 his name was prom- inently mentioned for Governor of the State.

Mr. Long has been twice married. His first wife's name was Deborah W. Hodgdon. She was born in Massachusetts in 1850, emigrated to Thurston county, Washington, in 1857, re- moved to Lewis county in 1867 and was mar- ried to Mr. Long in 1868, and died in El Paso, Texas, March 7, 1892. She left six children, as follows: Mrs. W. B. Alen, of Tacoma, and Charles E., Fred W., Stanley B., Josephine M. and Harry W. Mr. Long's second marriage oc- curred March 1, 1893, the lady of his choice be- ing Henrietta Steward. She is a native of In- diana, has been a resident of Lewis county, Washington, since 1890.

D R. JAMES SHANNON, president of the Board of Health, a medical practitioner in the city of Seattle, was born in Belle- ville, Ontario, Canada, June 6, 1861. His father, Daniel Shannon, of Ireland, emigrated to Canada in boyhood and was there reared and educated. Ile there married Miss Margaret Crawford. The early life of James Shannon was passed upon the farm and in prosecuting his studies at St. Catherines' Collegiate Insti- tute and at the Ottawa Normal School. His education was acquired by personal effort in teaching school, which he begun at the age of sixteen years, thus enabling him to graduate from the normal school in 1881. He then continned his teaching by day and employed his evenings in the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. Defoe, up to 1884, when he came to Seattle, and then entered

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the medical department of the University of California and graduated therefrom in 1887. Being offered the position of house surgeon in the city and county hospital of San Francisco, he accepted the appointment and discharged the duties of the office for one year, when he re- turned to Seattle and engaged in the active practice of his profession. After spending one year in getting himself established and in build- ing up a patronage, he sent for his brother, Dr. W. A. Shannon, a medical graduate of Trinity Medical School of Toronto, and with him or- ganized the co-partnership of Shannon & Shan- non, which has been continued in general practice and surgery.

With the reorganization of the city in 1890 under the new charter, provision was made for the Board of Health, and our subject was one of three physicians appointed by the mayor to perform the duties of that office, and during the present year is president of that body.

He was married in Seattle in 1891, to Miss Monica Crowkall, of Berlin, Ontario, and the issue of this union has been one son, Charles.

Socially, Dr. Shannon affiliates with the In- dependent Order of Foresters, the Young Men's Institute and the State and King County Medi- cal societies. The Doctor has built a comfort- able home on the corner of Rose and Madison streets, and is thoroughly identified with the substantial growth and development of his adopted city.

C HARLES H. BAKER, of Seattle, was born in Chicago, Illinois, November 30, 1864. His father, William T. Baker, is a native of Winfield, New York, and was edu- cated in the schools of the county, and received his first business training while clerk in a coun- try store. He located in Chicago about 1860 as clerk in a grain commission house, subse- quently becoming a partner of the firm of Knight, Baker & Co., and later W.T. Baker & Co. The firm are widely known for their ex- tensive operations in grain, and for developing the possibility of shipping grain direct from Chicago to Liverpool, they being the first to load vessels at Chicago, and, via the St. Law- rence river, to reach the sea without reloading. Mr. Baker retired from business in 1891 to ac- cept the position of President of the World's

Columbian Exposition Association, to which office he was re-elected in April, 1892, but re- signed in October following, owing to ill health.

Charles H. received his preparatory education in the schools of Chicago, and graduated as a civil engineer from Cornell University in 1886. He then went to Dakota and was employed with a surveying party on the Chicago & North- western Railroad up to January, 1887, when he came to Seattle and engaged as draughtsman in the office of the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern Railroad. In 1888 he was appointed Division Engineer in charge of maintenance of way and so continued up to May, 1889, when he re- signed and engaged in general engineering and contract work. In September, 1889, he organ- ized the firin of Baker, Balch & Co., and fol- lowed surveying and electric engineering for one year, then withdrew and continued business as Charles H. Baker & Co., contracting engi- neers. In 1892 he secured the contract for the Spokane & Montrose Electric Railway, three miles in extent, which he built and equipped, and the same year laid ten miles of track (in- cluding switches) for the Rainier Power & Rail- way Company, the line extending from Yesler avenne to Ravenna park. He also constructed the power house and turned over the road in running order, fully equipped.

Mr. Baker was married at Rome, New York, in June, 1888, to Miss Gladys G. France, a na- tive of Illinois. Two children have blessed the union: William T., Jr., and Leslie B. T. The family reside at Brighton Beach, on Lake Wash- ington, where Mr. Baker has improved a beauti- ful home called Enfield, which embraces nine acres, highly improved in garden lawns etc., with a water front of 700 feet.

J W. SPRIGGS, United States Commis- sioner of Washington, and resident of Seattle, was born in Noble county, Ohio, February 9, 1847. His parents, M. D. and Katherine (Pool) Spriggs, were natives of Penn- sylvania, but after marriage located in Ohio and later in Illinois, Mr. Spriggs continning an agricultural life. J. W. Spriggs was reared upon the farm and attended the common schools up to his seventeenth year, when he began teaching and thus paid his way while pursuing the higher branches of study at the high school

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at Senecaville. He studied law with his brother, J. P. Spriggs, at Woodfield, and was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1869. He then removed to Clay city, Clay county, Illinois, as principal of the high school, tilling that position for two years, when he located at Xenia, Illinois, engaged in the practice of law and was subse- quently elected City Attorney. In 1875 he en- tered the ministry of the Christian Church, influenced by the spirit to proclaim the princi- ples of divine truth as understood by that de- nomination, and in churches of Xenia, Pekin, Williamsville, Minier and Washington was en- gaged nntil the spring of 1882, when he was assigned to the church in Salem, Oregon, and was there located until 1885, when he again engaged in the practice of law, forming a co- partnership under the firm name of Dawne, Richardson & Spriggs. Mr. Dawne was subse- quently appointed United States District Judge of Alaska, and Mr. Richardson became City Attorney of Salem.

In 1888 Mr. Spriggs removed to Seattle and spent two years in the offices of County Andi- tor and United States Marshal. In 1889 he returned to his profession, and in 1890 was ap- pointed United States Commissioner by the United States Circuit Court, and since has given his attention to the duties of that office, the references of the District Court and Ad- miralty proceedings occupying much of his time. Ile was married in Xenia, Illinois, in 1871, to Miss Kate Gibson, of Indiana. They have had six children, five of whom survive: Winifred, now Mrs. Irwin Watson, of Portland; Florence, Lotta, Edna and Imo.

W ILLIAM D. WOODS, president of the Green Lake Electric Railway Company, and one of the enterprising developers of the suburbs of Seattle, was born in Marin county, California, December 1, 1858. IIis father, Guy M. Wood, was a native of Canada, but emigrated to California in 1853, by sailing vessel, around Cape Horn. He followed mining for a short time, then engaged in farming and stock-raising, subsequently marrying Miss Sarah J. Bell, of Canada, and continuing his interests in California until abont 1890, when he re- moved to Seattle to be near his sons, including the subject of this sketch. William D. was

educated in the schools of Marin county and at Napa College, where he completed his academic course. He then engaged in teaching, which he followed about three years. In 1880 he went to San Francisco and entered the office of Co- lumbus Bartlett, in the study of law, also at- tending lectures at the Hastings Law College, a department of the State University, and was admitted to the bar in 1882. Learning of the activity and enterprise of the inhabitants of Seattle, he then came direct to this eity of the Sound and there entered upon the practice of his profession. Without a friend in the city, he made the acquaintance of J. T. Ronald, the present Mayor of Seattle; a copartnership was formed between them and continued about one year. After the firm dissolved, Mr. Wood pur- sned a general practice and also engaged in court reporting, having acquired short-hand while in San Francisco. In 1884 he was elected Probate Judge of King county, and served two years. He then formed a partnership with A. C. Bowman, and engaged in court reporting and stenographic work up to 1887, when he sold ont and devoted his time to real-estate enterprises. Mr. Wood first engaged in the real-estate busi- ness in 1883, by investing his modest savings in suburban property and turning it as oppor- tunity offered. Thus he continued in small operations up to 1887, when the increasing population and activity in real estate caused him to give his entire attention to that class of busi- ness. He also formed a copartnership with Eben S. Osborne in the abstract business, giving personal attention thereto until 1889, when he sold out to enter actively into real-estate speeu- lations. Having purchased 600 aeres in the vicinity of Green Lake, his entire attention was given to the developing of that suburb. Trans- portation being an essential feature, he became associated with Dr. E. C. Kilbourne, and organ- ized the Green Lake Electric Railway to connect with the Consolidated Electric Line at Fremont. Mr. Wood was made president of the company, and four and a half miles of track were laid through the tract and nearly around the Green Lake. The line was then put into operation and the same year he platted Wood's Green Lake Park Addition, Wood's South Shore Addition, and Wood's South Division of Green Lake, add- ing in 1890, the Woodlawn Addition to Green Lake; and in 1892, the Green Lake Home Ad- dition. To facilitate building and development, he organized in April, 1891, the Green Lake

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Home Building & Guarantee Company, with a capital of $300,000. Of this company he is president aud manager. This company pro- poses to erect homes on the installment plan and negotiate all class of securities received in exchange.

Mr. Wood was married in Napa City, Cali- fornia, in 1883, to Miss Emma Wallingford, a daughter of Captain J. N. Wallingford, a na- tive of Minnesota. Two children were born of this union, and both are now deceased.

In 1889, after Washington was admitted to Statehood, Mr. Wood was the nominee of the Republican party for State Senator, and was duly elected under the enabling act, thus serving but one year. He is now one of the Regents of the University of Washington. He is a member of the Plymouth Congregational Church, Superin- tendendent of the Sunday-school, and takes an active interest in church work, as well as all that pertains to the development of Seattle, the " Queen City of the Northwest."

A LFRED A. PLUMMER, deceased .- This pioneer of the port of entry was born at Alfred, Maine, March 3, 1822. He was the son of John and Eliza Adams Plum- mer, of an old family of the Pine Tree State. In early life young Plummer removed to Bos- ton and learned the saddlery and harness trade, thereby acquiring practical ideas, and the facile use of his hands, thus fitting himself for the varied work of the pioneer on our coast. In 1849 he left for the Pacific shores, coming with the argonauts who steered their way across the sea of grass and the deserts of the West,-one of those hardy, keen characters that find a world of resources within their own hearts and minds sufficient for any demand to be made upon a human being; and he most fully justified this confidence in his after career. At San Fran- cisco he engaged for a time in the hotel busi- ness, but, feeling the drift of destiny still farther up the coast, boarded, in 1850, the brig Emory, Captain Balch, and arrived in the strait April 24. The present site of the port was then wholly uninhabited; but, seeing its great natn- ral advantages as the first really practical land- ing at the entrance of the Sound waters, he laid there his donation claim, and with Charles Batchelder, became the first settler of the place.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 87

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