USA > Washington > Thurston County > Early history of Thurston County, Washington : together with biographies and reminiscences of those identified with pioneer days > Part 4
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HISTORICAL SKETCH
At the session of the legislature this year a bill was intro- duced removing the Capitol from Olympia to Vancouver, which passed the house by a vote of 19 to 9, but met defeat in the Council by one vote.
In the winter of this year, as a result of frequent fires. the first steps toward protection were taken by the organiza- tion of the Alert Hook and Ladder Company-Foreman, C. E. Williams; 1st Assistant, J. L. Head ; 2d Assistant, H. D. Mor- gan ; President, T. M. Reed ; Secretary. A. J. Moses ; Treasurer, W. G. Dunlap.
The Puget Sound University was chartered this year, with the following officers : D. R. Bigelow. Chancellor ; G. A. Barnes Vice President ; Rev. B. C. Lippincott. President and General Agent.
The town of Olympia was incorporated January 29, 1859, the election to be held in April following. The Act designated G. A. Barnes, T. F. McElroy, Jas. Tilton. Jos. Cushman and Elwood Evans as Trustees. Jos. Cushman was elected Presi- dent of the Board.
At the April election U. G. Warbass, Geo. A. Barnes. Edwin Marsh, W. D. Dunlap and Isaac Lightner were elected Trustees. Geo. A. Barnes was elected President and Richard Lane Clerk of the Board. Dr. Warbass declined to serve and Elwood Evans was appointed.
Contracts were let for cisterns at the intersections of Second, Third and Fourth Streets with Main Street. The old blockhouse on the square was fitted up for a jail.
A reaction from the good times of the previous years was experienced in 1860. The war cloud was looming large in the East, and helped to a degree the depression. The Capitol re- moval was again agitated in every County, which, together with a heavy assessment, on the previous year's boom valua- tions, did not help to relieve the feeling of discouragement.
William Wright resigning as County Treasurer, T. F. McElroy was appointed to fill the vacancy.
At this time Olympia was served by four religious de- nominations : Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic and Epis- copalian.
At the election this year the realignment in political parties began, as a result of the war issues, though the Democrats
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THURSTON COUNTY
elected most of their ticket. The following County officers were elected for the ensuing year: Representatives, D. L. Phillips, B. F. Ruth, B. L. Henness, U. G. Warbass, Gilmore Hays and C. H. Hale; Sheriff, Wm. Billings; School Superin- tendent, R. M. Walker; Auditor, Richard Lane; Treasurer, Wm. Wright; Commissioner, S. S. Ford; Probate Judge, R. M. Walker; Assessor, A. W. Sargent.
At the legislative session this year steps were taken toward the erection of a capitol building. A Commissioner was appointed and bids called for. The matter went by de- fault, however, as no satisfactory bids were received.
The Federal census of this year showed a population of 1489 for Thurston County-967 males, 522 females. Real prop- erty valuation was $942,990; personal, $586,710.
Henry Winsor was awarded a daily mail contract between Olympia and Monticello.
The Washington Standard was this year started by John Miller Murphy as a Republican paper and the Pioneer and Democrat was sold by Wiley & Furste to James Lodge.
Swantown was connected with the main town by a foot- bridge early this year.
The following Town Board was elected in 1860: G. A. Barnes. Elwood Evans. W. G. Dunlap. Isaac Lightner, Edwin Marsh. Wm. Billings was elected Marshal and D. R. Bigelow, Police Judge.
When the legislature of 1860-61 convened it was quite apparent that Portland, Oregon, was taking part in Washing- ton Territory's Capital fight. in her own interests. Under the great influence brought to bear the bill for removal to Van- conver passed both houses and was approved. However, it was discovered, after adjournment of the legislature, that the bill had no enacting clause, and, as enrolled, bore no date. At a session of the Supreme Court at Olympia, a plea as to the jurisdiction of the Court. in one case, was entered. This brought the question squarely before the Court. The plea was overruled, and Olympia has since remained the Capital.
The legislature attached the south part of Thurston County to Lewis County.
In July the question of Capital location was submitted to the people with the following result : Whole number of
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HISTORICAL SKETCH
votes cast 2315, of which Olympia received 1239, Vancouver 639, Steilacoom 253. Scattering votes went to Port Townsend, Walla Walla and Seattle.
In 1861 the people of Tumwater offered, as a bonus for the location of the County seat at Tumwater, a considerable amount in lumber, shingles, labor and land. C. Crosby and wife filed with the Commissioners a bond in the sum of $4000. conditioned on the delivery of a deed for four blocks of land. At the same session Olympia offered to donate the public square to the County on condition that the County seat remain undisturbed.
The matter being submitted to the people at the annual election following. Olympia received 344. Tumwater 104. West Olympia 4. Upon a delivery of a conveyance of the public square to the County a call was made for bids for 200,000 bricks, with which to build a jail.
By the attaching of a portion of Thurston County to Lewis, Commissioner Biles was disqualified from acting. though by failure of his successor to qualify. Mr. Biles presided at the next meeting of the Board. fixing a rate of 7 mills for school, court and Territorial purposes.
The legislature of 1861 had extended the terms of County officers to two years. hence only Representatives to the legis- lature and County Commissioners were elected this year.
B. F. Ruth. A. S. Yantis. Wm. Cock and Wm. McLain were elected Representatives. G. W. Miller and G. W. French were elected Commissioners.
In the Summer of 1861 A. M. Poe established the Overland Press in Olympia.
Rev. B. C. Lippincott this year assumed charge of the public school in Olympia.
At the Spring election Elwood Evans, T. M. Reed, B. Harned. A. Frankee and S. W. Percival were elected Trustees. R. Lane was chosen Clerk. Wm. Billings, Marshal, and W. G. Dunlap. Magistrate.
Upon the abandonment of the military post at Steilacoom. which occurred this year, some uneasiness was felt due to the prevalent idea that the absence of troops might encourage the Indians to resume hostilities. But the year closed with
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
AUTOR, LENOX AND TILDES FOUNDATIONS.
THOMAS OTCHIN
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THURSTON COUNTY
bright prospects for the County. Of 53 postoffices in the Territory, Thurston County had nine.
Early in 1862 the erection of a Courthouse was agitated. During the discussion of the matter it was discovered that the County had no title to the public square, which it had been reserving for County purposes. It will be recalled that a few years previously, after Tumwater had offered a bonus for the location of the County seat there, that Olympia made a deed to the County for the public square (bounded by Sixth. Seventh, Main and Washington Streets). Later it was found that Edmund Sylvester had donated this to the city for park purposes exclusively, hence the conveyance by the city to the County was invalid.
At the May term of the Commissioners this year they purchased property on the northeast corner of Union and Washington streets, which had formerly been used for school purposes, and awarded a contract to B. Harned to fit up the building for courthouse purposes.
F. M. Sargent resigned as County Treasurer and S. W. Percival was appointed to fill the vacancy.
The election this year resulted in the choice of the follow- ing : Joint Councilman, O. B. McFadden; Representatives, Win. MeLain. T. Hunt, H. Kandle, Jas. Longmire; Sheriff. R. W. Moxlie ; Auditor, A. W. Moore ; Treasurer. S. W. Perci- val; Surveyor, Edwin Marsh ; Attorney, B. F. Dennison ; Com- missioner, S. D. Ruddell.
News of the death of Isaac I. Stevens, who was shot in the battle of Chantilly on September 1, was received in Olympia October 18. Proper memorial services were held here.
Up to October of this year $2,210.08 had been raised in Thurston County to aid the Federal cause.
In 1862 B. F. Kendall, a man of marked ability, though combative and vindictive, had become publisher of the Over- land Press. In a December issue he charged a man named Horace Howe with burning the buildings of the Puget Sound Agricultural Company, in Lewis County. Later Howe met Kendall at the corner of Main and Third Streets, Olympia, and during a controversy struck Kendall with a switch he was holding. Kendall ran, Howe following, for a short distance, then turned and fired four shots at his pursuer, one entering
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HISTORICAL SKETCH
the left side of Howe, which proved a serious but not fatal wound. Kendall's version, as published in his own paper, gave offense to Howe's friends, and on January 8. 1863. Howe's son entered Kendall's office and asked to see him privately. The two retired to an adjoining room, when a pistol shot was heard and Howe came from the room saying. "I shot him in self defense." The young man was put under bail for his appear- ance for trial, but he later disappeared. The case was dis- missed, when some time afterward the news of Howe's death reached Olympia. The pistol used by the assassin was one be- longing to a prominent Territorial official, which gave some color to the belief at the time that Kendall was the victim of a plot among political enemies.
Town Council elected this year: G. A. Barnes, Jos. Cush- man, Jas. Tilton, C. E. Williams, W. G. Dunlap. R. Lane, Clerk; H. M. McGee, Magistrate; W. B. Gosnell, Marshal. Dunlap died soon after election and David Phillips succeeded him.
Logging had begun to be engaged in quite extensively in and about Olympia, the output finding ready market at good prices.
In 1863, being an off year, only a Legislative ticket, a Commissioner and Probate Judge were elected. The Unionists defeated the Democrats, with the following result: Repre. sentatives, C. Crosby, H. D. McGee, Wm. McLain; Commission- er, Joseph Gibson ; Probate Judge, F. M. Sargent.
At the Town election Jos. Cushman, C. E. Williams, B. Harned. S. Holmes and Wm. Mitchell were elected Trustees; R. Lane, Clerk; F. M. Sargent, Magistrate, and John Sealy, Marshal. W. J. Yeager succeeded the latter later.
The Fall of 1863 John Paul Judson was elected teacher of the public school and was authorized to collect from the scholars, or parents, a sum sufficient to make his salary $80 per month and for an assistant at $120 per quarter, in addition to the $50 allowed by law. The only examination to which teachers were submitted at this time was that made by a com- mittee of the Town Board.
The year 1864 was one of unusual quiet, little transpiring of sufficient importance to chronicle
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THURSTON COUNTY
A tri-weekly mail contract direct to Portland was awarded Henry Winsor.
At the election Republicans and Democrats placed tickets in the field. The result was a victory for the Republicans, losing only their candidate for Auditor. Representatives, C. Crosby, S. D. Ruddle, F. M. Rhodes; Sheriff, J. II. Kellett ; Commissioner, J. Dunlap; Auditor, R. Lane ; Treasurer, S. W. Percival.
The Fourth of July was enthusiastically celebrated this year, at the close of which a Lincoln and Johnson Club was organized, and notwithstanding the fact that the people had no vote for choice of President, the political interest was intense.
A slight flurry was occasioned the latter part of 1864 by the report that gold had been discovered in the Nachez Pass, about 70 miles from Olympia. This little community furnished its quota of gold-seekers, who soon returned to their homes disappointed.
Town officers elected : Trustees, L. D. Durgin, Jesse Chap- man, H. M. McGill, A. J. Brown, Edward Giddings; Clerk, R. Lane; Treasurer, Jesse Chapman ; Marshal, J. L. Head; Magis- trate, F. M. Sargent.
The first Sunday closing ordinance was passed by this Board.
The Committee on Streets was instructed to build a reser- voir about a spring on the northeast corner of Main and Fourth streets and establish a pump for the convenience of the general public. This spring, which furnished pure and cold water had long been a village institution, and this corner a gathering place in the evening when alike politics and village gossip were discussed.
On Sunday evening, September 4, 1864, the telegraph was completed to Olympia. The following congratulatory dispatch was sent by the Territorial executive to President Lincoln. It and its reply were the first messages sent between this Terri- tory and the National Capital :
Washington Territory, Executive Office, Olympia, Sept. 5, 1854.
To His Excellency Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States :
Washington Territory this day sends her first telegraphic
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HISTORICAL SKETCHI
dispatch greeting yourself, Washington City and the whole United States, with our sincere prayers to Almighty God that his richest blessings, both spiritual and temporal, may rest upon and perpetuate the Union of our beloved country, that His own omnipotent power may bless, protect and defend the President of the United States, our brave army and gallant navy. our Congress, and every department of the National government.
For and on behalf of Washington Territory.
WILLIAM PICKERING,
Governor.
(REPLY)
Washington, D. C., Sept. 6, 1864.
Gov. Pickering. Olympia. W. T .:
Your patriotic dispatch of yesterday received and will be published. A. LINCOLN.
For the first term of school contract was made this year with J. P. Judson; for the two succeeding terms with D. J. Hubbard as principal.
Olympia celebrated with great patriotic fervor the news which reached the West of the success of the Union armies. The news of Lincoln's assassination was received here, as else- where throughout the United States. with sincere grief.
In the Summer of 1865 the wagon road across the Cascade Mountains was completed. This had long been a dream of the pioneers on both sides of the mountains. Thurston County had contributed $800 toward the project and every means was resorted to to help the project. Even the ladies of Olympia had put their hands to the wheel. and on July 4 gave a Calico Ball, turning the proceeds, $120, over to the road project.
At the election this year Thurston County polled 362 votes, Denny (Republican) for delegate to Congress, receiving 220 votes, and Tilton (Democrat) 142.
The entire Republican County ticket was elected as follows: Councilman. S. S. Ford; Representatives, Wm. MeLain. G. W. Miller, S. D. Ruddell; Commissioners. A. Tilley, W. S. Parsons; School Superintendent. D. R. Bigelow; Coroner, Robert Frost.
Schuyler Colfax. Speaker of the National House of Repre- sentatives. visited the Sound in July of this year and addressed the people of Olympia.
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THURSTON COUNTY
The close of the war found the business affairs of the Sound region in good condition. Demand for lumber was active at good prices.
Up to this time the male population had far exceeded the female in number. In view of this fact A. S. Mercer con- ceived the idea of chartering a vessel and bringing to the Sound a large number of women. On receiving notice from Mereer that the ship Continental was soon to leave Boston, with a large passenger list, Olympia appointed a committee, consisting of Elwood Evans and wife, D. R. Bigelow and wife. T. F. MeElroy and wife. T. M. Reed and wife, Franeis Henry and wife. George Barnes and wife. James Biles and wife, Henry Winsor and wife, to receive and provide for the newcomers. Homes in the County were found for 80, of the 300 that arrived.
Panie struck the lumber industry, owing to a decision of a California Court that the export of lumber and spars cut from U. S. lands must be taxed $2.50 per M.
Tax levy this year : Four mills for County, 2 for School and 219 mills for road purposes.
Owing to a lack of funds no public schools opened this year. For the purpose of running a private school, Misses Giddings and Slocum leased the school house.
Town Trustees elected this year: Chas. Weed. U. E. Hicks, -J. R. Wood, B. F. Yantis, Robt. Frost. U. E. Hicks was elected Treasurer; R. Lane, Clerk ; W. J. Yeager, Marshal.
This Board levied a tax for school purposes of 112 milis and purchased a hand fire engine.
Three tickets were put in the field at the election in 1866. The split in the Republican party was due to the disaffection between President Johnson and Congress.
Change in the Republican party resulted in the election of the Democratic ticket with the exception of Henness for Sheriff. The following County officers were elected: Repre- sentatives, Jas. Longmire, B. F. Ruth, F. Henry; Sheriff. J. H. Kellett ; Auditor, P. F. Turpin ; Probate Judge, C. P. Judson ; Treasurer, I. Lightner; Commissioner, R. Waddell.
The faithful old town pump gave away to a water system that was installed this year.
The County Commissioners appropriated $800 toward the Swantown bridge, and provided bounties for the following
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HISTORICAL SKETCH
animals : Wildcat $1, Coyote $2.50, Wolf $4, Cougar $5, grown Bear $2, Cub $1.
S. S. Ford, Sr., who was a joint Councilman with Lewis County, died this year. In the election to fill the vacancy Wm. H. Mitchell defeated Geo. A. Barnes by 23 votes.
On December 20, 1866, the stores at the lower end of Main Street, were flooded by the highest tide that had been known up to that time.
Columbia Fire Engine Company was organized this year and formally took possession of the new hand engine. A. J. Baldwin was foreman.
Town Trustees elected this year : Geo. A. Barnes, T. M. Reed, Isaac Lightner, B. Harned, A. J. Baldwin. T. M. Reed was elected Treasurer and Richard Lane, Clerk.
L. P. Venen was this year elected principal of the district school.
An exciting County election occurred in 1861 and resulted in the selection of the following officers : Wm. McLane, Councilman ; F. Henry, Ira Ward and J. E. Baker, Representa- tives ; J. H. Kellett, Sheriff; A. W. Cairnes, J. M. Shotwell and Jas. Dunlap, Commissioners ; P. Turpin, Auditor; I. Lightner, Treasurer ; D. R. Bigelow, Probate Judge and School Superin- tendent.
Jas. Longmire contested the election of McLane for the Council, which was again referred to the people, and Mr. Long- mire lost.
In November of this year E. T. Gunn and J. N. Gale, com- menced the publication of the Olympia Transcript, as a Re- publican paper, the Washington Standard having been drawn into the Democratic field during the political evolutions now taking place. The Pacific Tribune was also established by Chas. Prosch & Sons.
The Town Trustees serving this year were: F. Henry, G. A. Barnes, Albert Robb, J. G. Parker, J. M. Hawk.
On November 15 occurred the death of M. T. Simmons, who lived in Lewis County. His death was mourned as a great loss. He had been identified with the history of the Sound country from the first, and was highly regarded as an upright citizen.
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THURSTON COUNTY
A contract was awarded to E. L. Finch to build a new Swantown bridge.
Coal Bank precinct was re-created this year, the population of the southeast corner of the County having increased to justify it.
The session of the Legislature of 1868 was a most acri- monious one. Personal altercations within and without the legislative halls made a very lively town out of the Capital, then a village of 500. So bitter was the feeling that personal encounters were frequent in the saloons and about the town of Olympia.
The Marshville bridge to the Westside was completed this year.
L. P. Venen was elected principal of the district school, assisted by Misses Slocum and Mary O'Neal as assistants.
Town Trustees were elected to serve for the year as fol- lows : G. K. Barnes. Wm. Mitchell, C. E. Williams, Benj. Harned, C. H. Hale. Richard Lane was elected Clerk and Mr. Williams, Treasurer.
The County Commissioners this year discovered that they were being systematically robbed by the wily Indians, who were taking animal scalps wherever they might be found and cashing in over Thurston County's counter. The practice was stopped by rigid regulations.
At the August term the County Commissioners ordered the Auditor to advertise for bids for a two-story jail.
The historical old blockhouse on the corner of the public square was razed this year and the lumber in it put upon the streets.
At the organization of the Territory there was established at Olympia as the Capital a Territorial library, for which Con- gress had made an appropriation. But the first town library was established in 1869. On January 1, 1869, D. B. Finch, a wealthy steamboat man, commanding the old Eliza Anderson, running between Olympia and Victoria, donated to the Lodge of Good Templars of this city what was then known as the Olympic building on the site now occupied by the K. of P. hall, on condition that the Lodge would maintain a library and free reading room. The conditions were complied with and the first town library opened July 19th. The first librarian to take
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HISTORICAL SKETCH
charge was John B. Allen, a young attorney just from Minnesota, who was one of the first U. S. Senators from the State of Washington. Mr. Allen, telling his early experiences. related that the Lodge. having defaulted in part of his salary, he was given an old silver watch, in lieu thereof. In a trip down the bay later Mr. Allen met with an accident and the old watch went to the bottom of Budd's Inlet. Thus, the librarian was illy recompensed for his labors.
As an indication of real estate values it might be stated that in February, 1869, C. J. Allen sold five acres of land adjoin- ing the Capital grounds for $5000. This is now known as the Mottman addition.
Early this year Wm. Billings took the contract to build a timber jail 16x20, two cells, on the County property, Union and Washington Streets.
In August 1869- Rabbeson & Clark were awarded a contract to build a Town Hall on Fourth Street. between Washington and Franklin. The building was completed November 26, and dedicated by ball and supper. The ground floor rooms were occupied for municipal purposes. while a hall, with ante room above. was utilized for many years as ball room. theater, etc. With other relics of the past the Town Hall, so familiar to the "old timer," is no more, as such. but has passed into private hands, and was recently torn down.
In the Spring of 1869 the Columbia River and Puget Sound Railroad Company desired a terminus on Puget Sound. A com- mittee, composed of O. B. McFadden. C. H. Hale, Joseph Cush- man, S. D. Howe, James Biles. G. W. French. H. Hartley. Clanrick Crosby. A. J. Chambers, W. H. Mitchell. C. C. Hewitt, P. D. Moore and J. H. Cleale were appointed to solicit for donations of land to induce the company to locate its terminus on Budd's Inlet.
Society at the Capital city was revolutionized after the inauguration of President Grant. As many of the inhabitants of the small community were Federal employes, the new ap- pointments made many changes.
At the County election in 1869 the full Republican ticket was elected, as follows : Councilman, J. Scammons ; Representa- tives. L. A. Treen, W. Packwood ; Commissioners. G. A. Barnes. C. Crosby, S. Hodgdon; Sheriff, Wm. Billings; Treasurer, B.
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THURSTON COUNTY
Bettman ; Auditor, A. A. Philips ; Probate Judge, D. R. Bigelow ; School Superintendent, D. R. Bigelow ; Surveyor, F. W. Brown; Coroner, C. Wood.
Thurston County had increased her assessed valuation in the last year by $123,267 and was $911,129.
The Commissioners appropriated $1000 for a bridge across the inlet to Tumwater. This amount was increased by private subscription to $3266.
The growth of the town now made an imperative demand for a definite location of streets and the Council so ordered. Cattle were restrained from running at large and a tax of $2.50 was put upon each dog.
There was considerable building activity this year and saw mills were kept busy meeting the demand.
The first bank building to be erected in the Territory of Washington was commenced this year by G. A. Barnes, who for several years conducted a banking business here.
The Town Trustees this year were G. A. Barnes, F. Henry, S. W. Percival, R. Frost, J. M. Murphy ; S. W. Percival, Treas- urer; R. Lane, Clerk.
Jacob Hoover was principal of the public school this year, assisted by Mary O'Neil. Mr. Hoover later practiced law, and became a wealthy capitalist of Spokane.
The Federal census of 1870 showed a population of 1203 for Olympia and 2246 in the County. Tumwater contained 206. By way of comparison it may here be stated that at this time Seattle contained 1142, with 2164 inhabitants in King County. Olympia had a public school of 75 pupils, taught by two teachers; fully 75 more pupils were taught in private schools.
March 1, 1870, the town paid the County $1333 for the public square, which the town had deeded to the County in the early days, when the County seat question was agitated. Al- though the deed then given was invalid this settlement was reached, and the amount paid to assist the County in building a Courthouse at the corner of Washington and Sixth Streets.
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