USA > Washington > Thurston County > Early history of Thurston County, Washington : together with biographies and reminiscences of those identified with pioneer days > Part 24
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32
Baseball, during the early days and during the period of underhanded pitching, was a favorite amusement and Olympia always had a good club, plenty good enough to hold the championship over the Victoria club, with which it plaved several games. Which suggests an amusing incident: At the time when the San Juan archipelago was still in dispute and Emperor William had been accepted by both sides to the con- troversy as umpire, but had not rendered his decision, there was a big game to be played between Victoria and Olympia. The Olympia boys were preparing for their trip to Victoria when there was posted upon a bulletin board on a Western Union telegraph blank, the following purported dispatch from Washington: "Emperor William has decided to let the re- sult of the coming baseball game between Olympia and Vic- toria dictate his decision of the international boundary ques- tion." Olympia won and Emperor William decided in favor of the United States, but it is not likely that he ever heard of the ball game. But there were those who took the above dispatch as authentic.
The great event of every boy's life-his first circus-I recall vividly. The tent was pitched upon the ground now oc- cupied by the Kneeland Hotel, Harris' building and the Capital National Bank. It was known as Bartholomew's, and was a good one for the day. It was brought cross country. and arriving Iate, the preparations for the performance were hurried. As a result, the seats fell three times, causing in- jury to several. After the third trial Bartholomew appeared and notified the people that he would refund their money or he would erect the seats and make another trial at their pleasure. The true Western spirit became evident and the cry went up: "Set 'em up again, we'll stay with you all
287
PIONEER REMINISCENCES
night," and they did. The second circus visiting this section came by water from Portland, met with heavy storms and lost much of its stock and its performance. was much impaired from this fact.
Looking backward, how insignificant incidents impress one. As the war had just closed and Indian war spirit had not entirely died out, juvenile military companies were a favorite diversion, which suggests an incident, showing the great political sagacity of Schooley Moore, who should be a politician now instead of a timber cruiser. One evening, the youth of the town meeting to organize, Schooley Moore had candidates for Captain and First Lieutenant which he desired to elect. Accordingly he went to each member confidentially and whispered: "Vote this ticket-Smith for Captain, Treen for First Lieutenant, yourself for Second Lieutenant." The result was that Smith was elected Captain, Treen First Lieu- tenant and every other man in the company had a vote for Second Lieutenant.
This isolated corner of the country was not frequently visited by the great men of the country, though I do remem- ber seeing Wm. H. Seward, the scar fresh upon his face, which the would-be assassin had placed there, when the great na- tional tragedy was enacted, after he had spoken in the old Tacoma Hall, where the K. of P. lodge room is now. And later I remember of an evening when the people of Olympia were to be addressed from wagons, which had been drawn up about the corner of Main and Third Streets, where the old Pacific Hotel then stood. Boy-like, I was to the fore and occupied a seat I found vacant in one of the wagons. I was somewhat astonished later when a gentleman near me arose and began to speak. I found out afterward that the man was Schuyler Colfax, afterwards Speaker of the House of Represent- atives, and still more recently Vice President, with President Grant.
I recall the half-masting of the flags over public build- ings here when the news of Lincoln's assassination was re- ceived, but was hardly able to appreciate the full import of the deed, or to fully sympathize with the deep feeling enter- tained by our patriotic citizens. I recollect that the old Pres- byterian Church was effectively decorated for the Sunday fol-
288
THURSTON COUNTY
lowing the assassination in the national colors and black. Con- siderable feeling was aroused in the church by this act of the pastor.
At the age of fourteen I entered upon a political career. brief and unsuccessful. The federal government allowed the Territorial Legislature, for the first time, to employ a page. My grandfather was a member of the House, which gave me a "pull," and I became an active candidate for the place. The caucus was held before the Walla Walla delegation ar- rived, and I was successful. Hillory Butler, then well ad- vanced in years, afterward a King County capitalist, who owned the Butler Hotel, was caucus choice for Sergeant-at- arms, and all went merrily on until the arrival of the Walla Walla delegation, who announced they had a candidate for Sergeant-at-arms who must be landed. They were too strong to be denied. This caused the displacement of Mr. Butler, and, as his Seattle property had not become as valuable as it did later, he was of necessity in line for a place. Under these circumstances I was removed and Mr. Butler given the pageship, which he had good reason to regret later, for Francis Henry, who was a member of the House from Thurs- ton County, cartooned him most unmercifully in his juvenile occupation, which quite hurt the feelings of the dignified Hillory Butler, who was a Southerner of the old school.
Of the boys who figured as my youthful companions Sam Woodruff stands out as a bright particular star. Gifted in many ways Sam was always a stellar attraction in all Euter- pian and Thespian events by local talent. Sam and I were bunkies for years and during this time conceived the idea of becoming cranberry merchants, gathering our product from the vicinity of Black Lake. Accordingly, one bright morn- ing. we started out for the lake with our utensils packed upon the back of a buckskin cayuse. We were not experts in mak- ing the diamond hitch, so familiar to the woodsman, but the horse was covered after a fashion, with blankets. frying pans. cups, etc. For convenience Sam had tied the halter, by which he was leading the horse, to his belt. Beyond Tumwater a hornet came in violent contact with our pack animal, who started to run, and as Sam was securely attached, he ran, too. Whereupon the loosely packed kitchen utensils commenced to
289
PIONEER REMINISCENCES
rattle, and then it may be fairly stated that that cayuse be- came frantic. There was a split in the atmosphere and that animal was gone. With a very taut halter, Sam went along- not that he wanted to, but more because the impulse was ir- resistible. As my partner was aware his life depended upon his keeping on his feet, he did so, but in so doing it is no ex- aggeration to state that in following his leader he touched only the very high places. Following along, picking up the scattered cooking utensils as they dropped from the fright- ened animal, I would see the firm impact of Sam's heel in the sand here and there, about twenty-five feet apart, till the ex- hausted animal stopped of his own accord and saved my part- ner's life, for it is sure that if Sam had gone down he would have been dragged to death, and the State of Washington would have lost the best institution man that it has had.
The girls of our time-at least some of them-have more or less distinguished themselves.
Among these I recall Annie Pixley, who became a fam- ous actress. Her father, in the early days, barn-stormed the country, using Annie and her sister Minnie as stellar attrac- tions. Their specialties were song and dances and very good they were. In off professional seasons Pixley ran a sort of a merry-go-round. I recall being struck and knocked out by one of the imitation horses. When brought around I found my head pillowed in the pretty Annie's lap. In later years, when I saw her as the buxom Gretchen, playing to Joseph Jefferson's "Rip Van Winkle," I felt not at all disinclined to be kicked by a mule, in order to be resuscitated by so fair a means.
May Tilley, daughter of Rice Tilley, a well-to-do livery man, who long ran a business in the old barn removed to make room for the new city hall, became the Countess Starva, and as such attracted considerable attention with her beauty. She died a few years ago, leaving a considerable fortune to her brothers, Frank and Guy, Olympia boys.
There lived down the bay, on the east side, many years ago, a truck gardener, who came to town frequently with the products of his garden, and, after disposing of them would return home, frequently "stewed." He had a squaw wife. Our little village was somewhat exercised when we learned
290
THURSTON COUNTY
that in a circus about to come to the town there was a lady bareback rider, Linda Jeal, and that she was the daughter of "our old Jeal." It was a proud day for the old man when he came to town, accompanied by his squaw wife in bright array. The talented daughter, be it said to her credit, gave the old man a gracious reception.
At the same time there was on our theatrical circuit a monologue artist, singer and dancer. named Charles Vivian. He was an exceptionally handsome Englishman, talented and well educated. He was the father of the Elks. Vivian was a great favorite on the Sound. After the show, when he had taken himself to a saloon for refreshment, he was especially entertaining. I remember him telling with great glee how Jeal had tried to persuade him to marry the fair Linda, graphi- cally portraying how profitable could be made the combined talents of the couple.
Woven into the woof of the life of Lucky Baldwin were the lives of two Olympia-born girls-one shot him, the other married him. After Baldwin had acquired his immense for- tune, he met Verona Baldwin, daughter of A. J. Baldwin, a pioneer of Thurston County. He persuaded her to go to his ranch in Southern California, there to teach school. For some injury-fancied or real-that Verona experienced there. she shot Lucky on the stairway of his own hotel, the Baldwin, in San Francisco. In 1857-8 there was here a man named A. A. Bennett, who, for a short time engaged in contracting and building. While here a daughter was born to Mrs. Bennett, after which they moved to San Francisco, where Mr. Bennett opened an office as an architect. Lucky Baldwin secured his services for some work on his Southern California ranch. The architect took his very pretty daughter. Lily, with him for a trip. Thus it was that during the time Mr. Bennett was engaged in his professional services, the fair Lily, a young woman of hardly thirty, met Lucky Baldwin, aged sixty or over, with a reputation that would shame any one, and they were married. Notwithstanding the fact that Baldwin was over sixty when married, he lived for many years thereafter. and when he committed the only commendable act of his life by dying. Lily Baldwin shared in his estate to the extent of $800,000, so the newspapers said. But she had earned it.
291
PIONEER REMINISCENCES
A RELUCTANT BRIDEGROOM
At one time there appeared in Olympia a man calling him- self Charles Henry De Wolf, claiming to be a physician, who delivered a course of lectures on phrenology, free love and kindred subjects. During his career in Olympia, Charles Henry contracted what he called a conjugal alliance and matrimonial copartnership, which was announced as follows:
"Married-At the house of the bride's parents, Dr. C. H. De Wolf of Philadelphia, Pa., to Eliza A. Hurd, of Olympia, in the following manner: 'We, the undersigned, hereby announce to the world that we have contracted a conjugal alliance and entered into a matrimonial copartnership, believing in the di- vine right of souls to dictate their own forms and the inspira- tion of Mother Nature and Father God as being above custom and priestly ceremony, however long dignified by legal enact- ment and Christian dictation. This act we perform. taking up- on ourselves the responsibility in the presence of these wit- nesses, whose names accompany our own on this public declara- tion Made this 13th day of May, 1862.
Eliza Ann Hurd.
Charles Henry De Wolf.
Witnesses :
H. R. Woodard.
Salome Woodard.
B. F. Brown.
Mary Brown."
On Sunday night Charles Henry and his new partner, went to the home of the bride's parents, intending to take the early morning boat down Sound. The deputy sheriff went aboard the boat and intercepted the party.
On the wharf at Olympia had been erected a temporary observatory, a field glass, mounted on a tripod, and many were the scientific observers.
About 11 o'clock the same day, De Wolf was arraigned be- fore Justice Bigelow, plead not guilty to a charge of violating the matrimonial law. Elwood Evans appeared for the Terri- tory and defendant for himself.
292
THURSTON COUNTY
Charles Henry De Wolf, M. D., F. F. L. S., and a minister of the gospel, had a right to marry himself, he declared, and then let loose a Pandora's box, this ingenious, self-possessed unscrupulous dog. The peacock, whose little heart is one beat- ing pulse of vanity, was not more vain. He assumed to de- sire martyrdom at the hands of "sneaking, lying, peddling. begging clerical sons of Ahab; the drunken Justices and be- sotted Judges and their black-hearted and villainous sup- porters."
Judge Bigelow bound the defendants over in the sum of $1000 to appear before the district court. and the bride's father furnished the bail and released the gay Don Juan and his victim.
Tuesday Charles Henry was apprehended on a charge of open and notorious fornication and sent to jail. On trial he repeated his former wild talk. He would never be married by a lawful party. It was degrading to his manhood to think of it. He would bow to no "fawning, hypocritical, thieving priest; no drunken, mercenary justice or corrupt judge for the senseless words : 'I pronounce you man and wife.' Olym- pians were incapable of appreciating his high motives. Future generations would recognize his martyrdom."
Judge McGill said he would ask a few questions which would materially bear upon his decision.
"Do you," he said, "consent to take this woman as your wedded wife?"
"I do."
"And do you," to the woman, "consent to take this man as your lawful husband ?"
"Yes."
"Then," said the Justice, cooly, "by virtue of the power vested in me, in the presence of these witnesses, pronounce you man and wife."
If you ever saw a hailstorm. thunder and lightning both included; if you ever saw the briny ocean, with the waves in high commotion, rise like unto snow-capped mountains, that was Chas. Henry.
"You can't come that dodge on me," the reluctant bride- groom shouted, but cooled down when threatened with fine for contempt.
293
PIONEER REMINISCENCES
The Justice dismissed the charges against De Wolf, who paid the costs. Charles Henry was married by a Justice and his free love career brought to an end. The current news- paper has this notice.
"Married-By Henry McGill, in the Justice Court, Wed- nesday, May 21, 1862, Charles Henry De Wolf and Mrs. Eliza Hurd."
"Be virtuous and you will be happy." Thus did the worthy pioneers resent the intrusion of an unscruplous char- latan upon an worthy family and saved from dishonor an illusionized but virtuous woman.
Although the Eastern people regarded the extreme west as wild and woolly, and do so still to a less extent, yet the fact remains that the standard of civilization has always been held high. The country from the first was peopled by an educated and refined, but hardy people, who, with the courage of their convictions, held morality in great esteem, especially as applied to the integrity of the home, and enforced its recognition with rigid firmness.
I recall a man living in the primitive Olympia, who had a large family and was brutal in his treatment of both wife and children. The ladies of the town held a mass meeting and addressed a letter to the brute, notifying him to mend his ways or be treated to a coat of tar and feathers, preparatory to being conducted to the city limits. The man took the delicate hint and left town soon after. There are old ladies living in Olym- pia today who signed that letter.
294
THURSTON COUNTY
GEORGE D. SHANNON
Among the men most prominently identified with the financial development of Olympia was George D. Shannon. who was one of the leading spirits in the organization of the Olympia Light & Power Company. Mr. Shannon sank a very comfortable fortune in this enterprise, which, although dis- astrous in the eventual outcome to the original promoters, was one of the most important steps ever taken in Olympia's de- velopment.
In the year 1870 Mr. Shannon was appointed superintend- ent of construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad, when that line was being built between Kalama and Tacoma, and at that time came to Olympia to make his home. After spend- ing a few years in the city. he became the owner of the magnificent farm of 11,000 acres on the Nesqually bottom. Here he lived for about twenty years lavishly entertaining the fore- most men of the State, and being generally regarded as a prince of good fellows, highly respected and liked for his sterling qualities.
In the late '80s Mr. Shannon, with others organized the Olympia Light & Power Co., and was also one of the original incorporators of the First National Bank of Olympia, of which institution he was a trustee at the time of his death.
Soon after Mr. Shannon's arrival in Olympia he became the warm personal friend of Governor E. P. Ferry, and through that executive was appointed a member of the State Building Committee and was acting on the Board of Trustees of the Western Washington Hospital for Insane at the time the main hospital building was erected.
While on a visit to the World's Exposition of 1876, Mr. Shannon was married to Miss Mary A. Kennedy, of Cleveland. Ohio, and brought his bride to the West with him upon his return.
George D. Shannon was a native of New York. and was born in the year 1832. At the early age of 16 the young man
295
PIONEER REMINISCENCES
started in a railroad career, working his way up until in 1858 he was appointed superintendent of construction of the Winona & St. Peters Railroad, on the completion of which Mr. Shannon was made conductor on the first passenger train ever run west of the Mississippi in Minnesota. He followed railroad- ing in that state until 1863, and subsequently engaged in rail- road contracting in New York, Indiana and Wisconsin.
Mr. Shannon was a 32d Degree Mason and upon the occa- sion of his death in 1895 the Masonic Fraternity from all over the State gathered in Olympia to honor their brother. The funeral services were in charge of this brotherhood and the interment was in Masonic Cemetery.
Mrs. Shannon made her home in Olympia after the death of her husband until 1905 when she, too, answered the last summons.
296
THURSTON COUNTY
P. M. TROY'S REMINISCENCES OF THE OLYMPIA COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE
Among the foremost of the educational institutions of the earlier Territorial days was the Olympia Collegiate Institute, and the associations and remembrances of that school are still treasured in the minds of many of the foremost men and women of the now flourishing State of Washington.
Desiring a sketch of this once famous place of learning, the compiler requested Mr. P. M. Troy to contribute a chapter of his reminiscences as an attendant at the O. C. I., which request that gentleman very kindly complied with.
Reminiscences of O. C. I. at the Time When I Knew It.
I came to the school in the Autumn of 1888. L. E. Fol- lenbee was then principal. L. P. Venen was the instructor in Greek, Latin and the higher mathematics. A Professor W. H. Lewis was in charge of the primary department. John L. Henderson was principal of the commercial department. There was also a music teacher, whose name I now forget. There were between two and three hundred students. It was then the first school in the Territory. There was a normal course. and a commercial course. I attended this school from the Fall of 1888 to the Summer of 1890, when I was graduated from the normal department.
Among those who were in attendance when I was there were Mr. W. C. Hazzard, now living in Wisconsin, and for- merly Superintendent of the Olympia schools; A. C. St. John, now a prominent merchant of Chehalis; Joel E. Stearns, now a county official at Chehalis; Harris Ward, now a minister in the M. E. Church; C. B. Seeley, also a minister in the M. E. Church; C. V. Leach, subsequently County Clerk of Thurston County, and now an official in the postoffice at Olympia. Washington; A. L. Callow, subsequently County Clerk and County Auditor of Thurston, now a merchant at Elma; Miss Nellie Trewick, who subsequently became Mrs. Geo. H. Gilpen. now residing in Portland, Oregon; Miss Emma Campbell, who
297
PIONEER REMINISCENCES
subsequently became Mrs. M. B. Christopher, of Bellingham; Miss Olive Parker, now Mrs. Olive Woods, of Waitsburg, Wash .; Miss Laura Marr, now Mrs. A. C. St. John of Chehalis; Miss Mary Chilberg, who subsequently became Mrs. A. L. Callow; Miss Eva Sturdevant, who subsequently became Mrs. F. M. Troy; Miss Jessie Barr, who subsequently became Mrs. Geo. S. Hopkins, and George S. Hopkins, now a prominent coal operator at Roslyn, Washington; W. W. Hopkins, since prominent in Thurston County politics ; D. S. Troy, who is now State Senator from Chimacum; Arthur E. Cornelius, a farmer at La Conner and many others whom I cannot now think of.
The school reached its high tide during the summer of 1890. There was a change in the management in the autumn of 1890 and the school flourished during the next year, 1891, but with the oncoming of hard times it went under. Then, when the State of Washington was admitted, there was a cor- responding rise of the State University, and a corresponding decline of private institutions.
The Olympia Collegiate Institute was a flourishing school in Olympia, Washington, for many years, and as I said before, for a number of years was the leading educational institution of the Territory of Washington.
L. E. Follansbee was followed as President of the school by Rev. M. A. Covington, in the autumn of 1890, and a com- plete new teaching force took charge of affairs that autumn. C. V. Leach took Prof. Lewis' place in the fall of 1889, in the primary department.
298
THURSTON COUNTY
BUILDING A PIONEER MEETIN' HOUSE
The story of how the Rev. J. F. DeVore built the first Methodist Church on Puget Sound is a well known one to the Thurston County pioneers. Rev. DeVore went to Capt. Crosby, owner of the first saw mill on the Sound, and asked the doughty captain how much lumber he was willing to con- tribute towards the erection of a new church in Olympia. "As much as you will raft in one day into the waters of the Des Chutes River with your own hands," replied the captain, with a sarcastic smile, regarding with no great degree of favor the scholarly-looking man before him. "Very well. I thank you in behalf of the church,and will be on hand in the morning," said the preacher.
How well this servant of God performed his part of the contract is told in verse by a native daughter of Thurston County. Lilla Spirlock, as related to her while she was a child, by "Squire Plum," one of the old landmarks of the early civilization of this county-long since gone to his reward. The building erected with the rafted timber is now Epworth Hall, situated on Fifth street, south of the original location on Fourth street. where it was removed many years ago to the site of the new M. E. Church and when that was built, to the rear part of the lot where it now stands. It was built in the early 50's, and nearly all the lumber used in construction was rafted by the interpid clergyman from the Tumwater mill-the first saw mill on Puget Sound-owned by Capt. Crosby.
When the West was all new and the frontier life Bristled with dangers for children and wife, When obstacles met within those early days, Were oft hard to overcome by primitive ways; When I was a child on Squire Plum's knee, He would tell stories of the wild woods to me, The ruggedest kinds of wild frontier tales, 'Bout Indian scouting with savage detail. And when I was good-didn't bother his curls- As good as could be, like his own little girls, He'd sing me songs, then tell other things And memory and heart around them still clings.
Now the one I relate, I remember so well,
299
PIONEER REMINISCENCES
And hear the quaint laugh when he chanced it to tell, How "Preacher DeVore," as he called him then, Tackled Cap Crosby while saving souls of men. For he needed a meeting house so very bad And lack of which made the old preacher sad For the zealous old man with his Godlike grace, With strength for a prayer or a danger to face, Found skeptical brethren among his flock Who hesitated long the purse to unlock, But strong in the faith that the good Lord willed, He armly determined that church to build.
Now there lived within that little town Where the river flows and o'er falls leaps down, An old sea captain, who'd forsook the brine, And had built a mill where the falls incline. He, jolly old soul, liked a sailor's yarn, Oft breathed words like unsanctified "consarn," But then, when the minister came one day, With the meeting house project to display, Asked how much he meant to give to the Lord, It's rumored the old Captain almost "swored" Declaring all preachers were drones in the swarm And labored with tongue and not with arm. But the preacher knew the captain's rough way, That patience was needed when the Lord was to pay, So at last old cap had promised most fair, He'd willingly give to the Lord his share All the lumber he'd carry away And set afloat at the head of the bay From dawn to eve of a long summer's day.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.