An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 92

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 92

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In the spring of 1873 Captain MeMicken was appointed by President U. S. Grant as United States Surveyor-General for Washington Terri- tory, and entered at once upon the duties of that office. He was re-appointed by President IIayes, and later by President Arthur, serving continuonsly for nearly fourteen years, and dur- ing his last term was officially the oldest incum- bent of that office in the United States. Among the more prominent surveys during his term of office was that of the San Juan group of islands, the title to which was determined by arbitra- tion with Great Britain. He also surveyed the Indian reservations and subdivided them into tracts of forty acres each, for allotment to the Indians, forty acres being given to each man, woman and child. The special coal, timber and stone surveys, under special acts of 1873 and 1878, were conducted under his supervision. He also directed the surveys of the Palouse country and Big Bend of the Columbia river in eastern Washington. According to his sugges- tion and recommendation the meander line of lands bordering upon the Sound and tide lands was placed at mean high tide.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

After a long and unprecedented term of ser- vice, the General retired, in 1886, and was then appointed Territorial Treasurer by Watson C. Squire, Governor of the Territory, and in that capacity served two years, when he retired from publie service, which had been continuons for nearly twenty-five years.

General and Mrs. McMieken have three chil -. dren: Herbert, engaged in real-estate business in Seattle; Maurice, attorney in Seattle; and Nellie, wife of Frank Dayton, hardware mer- chant in Portland. Mr. and Mrs. MeMicken reside on the southwest corner of Tenth and Columbia streets, in the second oldest frame house in Olympia, the same having been ereoted, about 1860, by James Tilton, the first Surveyor- General of the Territory, and having been sub- sequently purchased by General McMicken. It commands a beautiful view of the bay city and mountains, and surrounded by a well kept lawn is one of the most attractive homes of the city.

The General is a distinguished Mason, having passed all the intermediate chairs; he is now Eminent Commander of Olympia Commandery, No. 7; Grand Iligh Priest of Royal Arch Ma- sons, Jurisdiction of Washington, and Past Deputy Grand Master of the State. He is a member of George II. Thomas Post, No. 5, G. A. R., Past Senior Vice- Commander of the De- partment of Washington, and a member of the Loyal Legion, Commandry of Oregon. For recreation the General is devoted to his dog, gun, and rod. and for fifteen years has been President of the Olympia Rod and Gun Club, and is one of the most expert marksman in the State.

Thus briefly is portrayed the life of one of Washington's most distinguished citizens,-one whose reputation has been made by years of faithful, conscientious service, and is now pass- ing his declining years surrounded by all the com- forts of life, and in the enjoyment of the honor and respect of a large circle of acquaintances.

HOMAS JACKMAN, one of the repre- sentative business men of Port Townsend, who has taken an active part in the devel- opment of the city, was born at Dittis- ham, Devonshire, England, February 14, 1834. Ile was the youngest of seven children and is the only survivor of his family. ITis father was

a sea captain and in early life our subject be- came enamored of a like occupation, and at twelve years of age left home and followed the sea for three years, leaving his ship at Buenos Ayres, South America, where he became inter- ested in the sheep business, first as employee and later proprietor, continning up to 1855. Ile then returned to the sea, and, with a brief ex- perience upon the great lakes, landed at San Francisco in 1858. He then started for the scene of the Fraser river excitement, but on arrival at Port Townsend in January, 1859, en- gaged in the revenue service on the Jefferson Davis. In 1861 and 1862 he visited the Cari- boo and Stickeen mines, then returned to the revenue service as Master of the cutter, Joe Lane, and continued until 1863, when he was offered a commission in the revenue service, but decided to return to private life. Ile was then placed in charge of the United States Marine Hospital at Port Angeles, and one year later became Inspector of Customs under Doe- tor Gunn, collector, and discharged the duties of that office abont eighteen months. Ile then purchased 160 acres of valuable land at the head of Port Angeles bay and engaged in farming. In 1869 he entered into mercantile life, was ap- pointed Postmaster and also secured the mail contract between Port Townsend, Dungeness and Port Angeles, making weekly trips. In 1873 he elosed out all interests and removed to Port Townsend, where he engaged in business, which he has continued at intervals with very great profit. In 1878 he engaged in canning clams, but, without knowledge of the business, and associates proving incompetent, the enter- prise was not successful. In 1879 he tried speculation in mining securities at San Fran- cisco, through which he suffered heavy loss, but through similar investments in later years he realized a very large return. In 1889 he became a member of the Eisenbeis syndicate, composed of Charles. Eisenbeis, Henry Landes, R. C. Ilill, Joseph A. Kuhn, and the subject of this sketch. They purchased 800 aeres west of town known as the Eisenbeis addition, which has been cleared, platted, and much of it sold for building purposes. They are also the build- ers of the Eisenbeis Hotel, and have brought about many other notable local improvements.

Mr. Jaekman was one of the directors of the Port Townsend Motor Railroad Company, which built the first street railroad in the city. He is a director of the First National Bank;

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

director of the Port Townsend Southern Rail- road, and was an active organizer and the first treasurer of the Port Townsend Steel Wire and Nail Company, besides taking a foremost part in the many other enterprises of city develop- ment.

He was married at Port Angeles, in 1865, to Miss Cynthia J. Smith, native of Illinois and sister of Hon. Victor Smith, who came to Puget Sound in the fall of 1861 as Collector of Cus- toms, by appointment of President Abraham Lincoln. Mr. and Mrs. Jackman have no children surviving. At present (1893) Mr. Jackman is president of the Mt. Olympus Water Company, a position he also filled two years ago.

F RANK HI. OSGOOD, one of the most successful and enterprising citizens of Seattle, was born in Charlestown, New Hampshire. After completing his education he engaged in business in Boston, Massachusetts, where he remained until 1882. In that year he made the tour of the Pacific coast, with a view to investments and business opportunities. Traveling through California, Oregon and Washington, he duly arrived at Seattle, which was the first city be found to fulfill his expect- ations. After making some investments, and having investigated enterprises, railroads, etc., Mr. Osgood returned to the East, closed up his affairs and again visited Seattle. The first street railroad was then under discussion, and after franchises were seenred Mr. Osgood became interested, and aided in the incorporation of the Seattle Street Railway. He was elected its president and manager, and proceeded to build the road, which was operated with horses about five years, it being the first Street Railway con- strueted in Washington Territory. During this time he became convinced that electricity was to be the coming power, although no roads were then in successful operation.

In 1857 Mr. Osgood again visited the East, reviewing such short lines of road as were then in operation, and while conferring with a com- pany of railroad men in Boston he announced his convictions regarding the utility of electric power, but found no supporters. Regardless of opposition, Mr. Osgood returned to Seattle, where he met still further opposition by his

own associates. Still he went carefully and systematically to work to convert the horse railroad to the electric system. Commencing in 1888, he completed the system the same year, it then being the first electric railway west of Omaha and one of the earliest successful ones in the United States, and after demonstrat- ing the successful application he then received the most cordial support from his friends in Seattle, and was also complimented upon his foresight by the railroad men of Boston. Since perfecting his own system Mr. Osgood has en- gaged quite extensively in building electric roads throughout the Northwest, and has done more or less work in every city where the electric system is now in use. In 1890 he built an electric plant in Victoria, British Columbia, for illuminating purposes, and is now lighting the larger part of the city. He was one of the original promoters and stockholders of the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern Railroad, and served as its treasurer until the road was sold; was one of the organizers of the Washington Improvement Company; was instrumental in building the first canal between Lakes Union and Washington; and has also rendered sub- stantial aid in minor enterprises, always having stood with the foremost in giving of his sub- stance in the upbuilding of the city.

Mr. Osgood married Miss Georgina B. Arqnit, a native of Brooklyn, New York. Mr. Osgood is a gentleman of modest demeanor, but of great persistency of purpose, and to his fore- sight, sound judgment and enterprise is due the vast electric-railroad development of the Northwest.

A II. WOOLERY, a resident of Sumner, Pierce county, Washington, was born in Lexington, Fayette county, Kentucky, February 16, 1825, and is the only one now lett of a family of eleven children. The Woolery family moved to Palmyra, Marion county, Missouri, when A. H. was seven years of age, and there he lived on a farm for twenty- one years. In 1853 he crossed the plains with an ox team, came direct to the Puyallup valley and settled on a donation claim of 320 acres, located one mile from where Sumner now stands. Here he engaged in farming until 1875. That year he turned his attention to hop-

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

raising, in which he was successfully engaged for some time. He now has his farm leased and makes his home in Sumner.

Mr. Woolery was married in 1848 to Mary Ann Whobrey. They have been members of the Baptist Church for forty-six years.

Mr. Woolery's father, Francis Woolery, was a farmer and was of German descent. He died in Marion county, Missouri, in 1856.

J ACOB FURTII, cashier and manager of the Puget Sound National Bank, and one of the most able financiers of Seattle, was born in Bohemia, province of Austria, in No- vember, 1840. His education was chiefly ac- quired in the activities of life, as at the age of thirteen years he was sent to Buda- Pesth to learn the trade of confectioner, and when seventeen years of age he started for the United States, traveling direct to California, where his brother, S. Furth, was then located. On arrival, Jacob went to Nevada City and spent six months in the public school, learning the English lan- guage; then as clerk entered the clothing store of Block & Co., and there remained until 1863, securing a practical education in business re- quirements. In 1863 the store was destroyed by fire, and subject found occupation in a gen- eral merchandise store at Shingle Springs, El Dorado county, up to 1868, when he went to North San Juan and became a member of the mercantile firm of Harris & Co. Shortly after they established a branch house at Colusa, and conducted a very successful business up to 1876; then Mr. Furth purchased the entire interest, and continued the same until 1883, when he sold out and retired from mercantile life. Ile then removed to Seattle and organized the Puget Sound National Bank, with a capital of $50,000. Business commenced on August 1, 1883, with Bailey Gatzert, president, and Jacob Furth, cashier and active manager. February 1, 1889, the capital was increased to $150,000, and February 1, 1891, to $300,000, with a sur- plus at this time (October, 1892) of $95,000. At the end of the first calendar year their de- posits amounted to $89,000; at the end of ninth, $1,545,000. While this bank has engaged the active attention of Mr. Furth, he has also been enlisted in furthering other enterprises. In 1887 he was one of the organizers and is still

the president of the First National Bank of Snohomish, with a capital of $50,000. HIe also assisted in the organization of and is still connected with the management of the First National Bank of Whatcom: capital $50,000; the Ellensburg National Bank : capital $50,000; the People's Savings Bank, of Seattle: capital $100,000; the Bank of Montezuma, Chehalis county : capital $75,000; the Scandinavian Amer- ican Bank, of Seattle: capital $75,000; and was one of the moving spirits in organizing the Seattle Clearing-IIonse Association in 1889, and has continued in the office of president. Ile is also a stockholder and director in the Front Street Electrie Railroad, the Madison street cable line, and the Second street electrie system. Ile is president of the California Land and Stock Company, with a capital of $300,000. They own 13,000 aeres of land in Lincoln county, Washington, and are engaged in farm- ing and stock-raising.

Mr. Furth was married in Shingle Springs, California, in 1865, to Miss L. A. Dunton, of Indiana. Three children have blessed the Union : Jennie E., wife of E. L. Terry; Anna W. and Sidonie E. Socially, Mr. Furth affiliates with the Masonic order. He has taken no active part in politics, as business interests have occu- pied the best efforts of his life. Ile owns valu- able property in the city of Seattle, and has re- cently completed a handsome residence on the corner of Ninth and Terrace streets.

Such is a brief synopsis of the life of one of Seattle's successful financiers, one who by per- sonal effort has overcome many obstacles, and, by maintaining a fixed purpose, has received a well merited reward.

B M. SPINNING, a farmer residing near Sumner, Pierce county, Washington, is one of the representative men of his vi- cinity, and of him we present the following brief sketeh in this work.

Mr. B. M. Spinning was born in Fountain county, Indiana, August 7, 1829, son of Isaac N. Spinning, a farmer and a Yankee. The subject of our sketch lived in Fountain county until he was twenty-two years of age, attending the schools of that place and working on a farm. Hle started across the plains for the far West,

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

March 24, 1851, and after a long and tedions journey arrived at Portland, Oregon, September 24, 1851. There he worked as a teamster dur- ing the winter, and the following spring went to Rogue river mines in the southern part of Oregon, where he remained until September 1, 1852. Then he spent a short time in Portland and from there went to Lewis county and at a place about three and a half miles from the present city of Chehalis he took a donation elaim to 160 acres. After farming there about six years, he came to Pierce county and took a claim about seven miles from the city of Taco- ma. The following four years he was employed in a sawmill owned by Andrew Byrd. Next, we find him on a reservation, twelve miles west of Olympia, as agent and teacher to 500 Indians. He taught the Indians to farm and do other kinds of work, and was thns employed for two years. Then he turned his attention to lumbering on Puget Sound, where he did a successful business about eight years. His next move was to his present loca- tion in Pierce county, and here he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits ever since.

Mr. Spinning was married in 1854 to Mary J. Castro, and they have two children.

Ile takes a commendable interest in public affairs. For two years he has served as County Commisioner of Pierce eonnty and for four years has been Justice of the Peace.

H IRAM BURNETT, one of the well- known pioneers of the Puget Sound country, and an honored citizen of Seattle, was born at Southburg, Massachusetts, July 5. 1817. His parents were Charles and Kezia (Pond) Burnett, both natives of the Bay State and descendants of pioneer aneestry, all of whom followed agricultural pursuits.

Our subject was educated in the - public schools of Southburg and at the city of Wor- cester, Massachusetts. At the age of eighteen years he began learning the carpenter's trade, and after four years of service went to Rhode Island, where he continued in that occupation. He was married in Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1845, to Miss Elizabeth M. Gibbs, and con- tinned to reside in the State of Rhode Island until 1852, when, after providing comfortable arrangements for his family he started for Cali-

fornia. Duly arriving in San Francisco, he found ready employment in one of the planing mills at $7 per day. He remained in San Fran- cisco until 1855, and then came to Port Gam- ble, under engagement with the Puget Mill Company, as superintendent of their planing mill. In 1856 he returned to the East for his family, but instead of returning at once to the Pacific coast he located in Kansas. Atter a short time, however, he became dissatisfied with that State, and in 1858 he removed to Puget Sound again, returning to the employ of the Port Gamble mill, in his old position of super- intendent.

In 1862 he removed his family to Seattle, in order to improve the educational advantages of his children. At that time he purchased fonr lots on Fourth street, between Marion and Co- lumbia, and subsequently added two more lots, at an average price of $100 each. His was the first house erected on Fourth street. After thus providing a home for his family, he re- turned to mill work in various localities, at which he continued until 1878, when he retired from active labor and permanently settled in Seattle and began improving his property, which is now well covered with substantial houses for tenants. In 1880 he bought ten aeres of land at Edgewater, in Lake Union ad- dition, which he subdivided and sold for resi- dence purposes, except four lots on the corner of Richard and Henry streets, upon which, in the summer of 1890, he erected an elegant and spacious residence, overlooking the beautiful lake, where he now resides in the full enjoy- ment of the fruits of his labors, accompanied by his dear wife, the companion of his pioneer struggles. Two children have been born to Mr. Burnett and wife, one of whom survives,- Charles H.,-who is superintendent of the South Prairie C'oal Company at Burnett, Pierce county, and who is active in the coal develop- ment of the State.

Politically, Mr. Burnett is a stanch Republi- can. While at Port Gamble he served as Jus- tice of the Peace, and for ten years as Probate Judge, and has also served a term as Commis- sioner of King eonnty.

Mr. Burnett is the recognized father of Trin- ity Episcopal Church, of Seattle, which was founded in 1865, and the first church erected in 1869. He was one of the first Vestrymen, and served in that capacity and as Senior Warden up to 1889, when he withdrew to assist in the or-

Villachintosh

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

ganization of St. Mark's Church, in which he has continued as Senior Warden. While in the performance of mill work about the Sound he was always active in Sunday-school work, and has done much pioneer work in that capacity, always exerting his influence on the side of morality and in the upbuilding of Christian institutions.

As a pioneer and citizen Mr. Burnett stands in the same relation to Seattle and the Sound country as such old citizens as A. A. Denny, Thomas Mercer, Henry Van Asselt, George Whitworth, J. J. MeGilvra, Orange Jacobs, Dexter Ilorton, and many others, who are re- garded not only as the pioneers but as the most honored men of the State of Washington to-day.

A NGUS MACKINTOSH, one of the ablest financiers of Seattle, dates his birth in Ontario, Canada, June 23. 1839. Ilis father, Norman Mackintosh, was born in Inverness, Scotland, a descendant from that dis- tinguished Scotch family of the Highlands. Hle emigrated to Canada and was there married to Miss Christine Morrison, also of Scotch de- scent, and after his marriage he remained in Canada and followed an agricultural life.

Angus Mackintosh was educated in the public schools of Ontario, and at the age of eighteen years began teaching school. He subsequently gained admission to the Huntingdon Academy in the Province of Quebec, and after one year of study there resumed his work of teaching, in Ontario, which he continued for three years. Then, considering the country too slow for one of his ambition, he went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he entered Duff's Com- mercial College, took a business course, and graduated in July, 1862. Soon afterward he joined a company of young men bonnd for Washington, District of Columbia, and there found employment in the commissariat depart- ment of the army, remaining till the spring of 1863. when he started for the lumber districts of Western Pennsylvania. Arrived at his destination, he engaged with Wolverton & Tinsiran as scaler of logs. After a brief ser- vice, and with an increased desire for business, he went to Saginaw, Michigan, and was there employed for six years, becoming proficient in every department. Having accumulated a little

money by his honest industry, he invested it all in the lumber business. Soon, however, he dis- covered that the affairs of the business had been misrepresented to him, and he was defranded of his hoarded savings. This reduced him almost to penury ; but, with the invincible conrage and iron resolution inherited from his ancestry, he decided to seek a new field of action and try his fortune on the Puget Sound. Accordingly he set out for the far West, and June 9, 1870, landed at Seattle, then a little hamlet of about 900 population. His first intention was to engage in the lumbering business here. Dis- covering, however, that a large capital was necessary for that purpose, he turned his atten- tion to other things. Property values directed his attention to the recorder's office, and finding the records arranged without index lie con- ceived the idea of preparing abstracts of King county, which he extended into Pierce, Island and Whatcom counties, and built up quite an extensive business. Ile also bought and sold real estate at this time, and being an expert accountant he was frequently called upon to settle complicated matters, for which he received large compensation. In 1877, as his business had increased to such proportions that assist- ance was necessary, he took in as a partner W. H. Reeves, establishing the firm of Mackintosh & Reeves. In 1878 they engaged in the bank- ing business, which increased with marvelous rapidity, and in 1981 they sold out the abstract department. In 1883 their private banking honse merged into the Merchants' National Bank, with a capital of $50,000, and of this institution Mr. Mackintosh has since been president. In 1887 the capital stock was inereased to $100,000, and in 1891 to $200,000, to meet the demands of the rapidly increasing business.

With the location of the terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad at Tacoma in 1873, Mr. Mackintosh became one of the active pro- moters of the Seattle & Walla Walla Railroad Company, with a view of developing the New Castle, Black Diamond and Franklin coal mines, and ultimately getting a road across the mount- ains. He continued as a stockholder and director of the road, and subsequently was one of the committee to negotiate the sale to Ilenry Villard.

In 1880 Mr. Mackintosh, associated with I. Dobson and D. B. Denton organized the Seattle Lumber and Commercial Co,, to manu-

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facture lumber, door, sash and building material, with $10,000 capital stoek. They purchased a small mill, with a capacity of 15,000 feet per day, on Front street between Marion and Madi- son streets. They borrowed $10,000 to improve the plant and increase the capacity to 40,000 feet per day, and $20,000 additional to stock up. Fifteen months after starting they paid back all borrowed money and also began paying divi- dends, which dividends were continued at ten per eent. a month up to the time of the great fire of June, 1889, which destroyed their plant. In settling up their accounts they realized a net surplus of 8106,000. After the fire the prop- erty was improved for business purposes.

In 1886 Mr. Mackintoshi was one of the lead- ing factors in starting the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern Railroad Company, associated with D. H. Gilman and Judge Thomas Burke, and was a large stockholder and treasurer of the construction company until the road was built from Seattle to the national boundary, with a branch to the Snoqualmie region, about 280 miles.

In 1883 he organized the Seattle Safe Deposit & Trust Company, with a capital stock of $100,000, and erected the office building at 701 Front street, four stories, with basement for the vaults. During the great fire of June, 1889, the building was destroyed to the foundation story, but on the following day the debris was sufficiently eleared away so that the vaults were opened for business, and they became the store-room for all the banks of the eity until order was brought out of the exist- ing chaos. They immediately constructed a seven-story building for offices and bank pur- poses. This was the first safe deposit company organized in the State. Mr. Mackintosh was elected its president and still holds that offiee. He is treasurer of the Seattle Trust Company, with a capital stock of $500,000. He is also a stockholder in the Sidney Sewer Pipe & Terra Cotta Works at Sidney, and a number of indus- trial companies about Seattle.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 92

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