USA > Washington > Thurston County > Early history of Thurston County, Washington : together with biographies and reminiscences of those identified with pioneer days > Part 5
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At the Town election in April the following Trustees were elected : F. Henry, A. A. Phillips, B. Bettman, C. C. Hewitt, Levi Shelton.
At the County election the following were chosen : Council- man, L. P. Smith; Representatives, D. R. Bigelow, B. L.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH
Brewer, -Campbell ; Sheriff, Wm. Billings ; Auditor, A. A. Phil- lips; Commissioners, Wm. McLane, Ira Ward, Wm. James; Treasurer, L. G. Abbott; Assessor, W. M. White; Probate Judge, A. R. Elder ; School Superintendent, D. R. Bigelow.
C. Etheridge this year commenced operating a sash and door factory between Second and Third streets, near the West end of Swantown bridge.
The prospects of the location of the Northern Pacific Railroad terminus at Olympia was the cause of considerable real estate activity in 1870. In April T. I. McKenny and Geo. Barnes platted the town site of Puget City, this County. Later the plat was vacated.
C. B. Mann was chosen principal of the district school this year.
A franchise was granted to the Washington Water Pipe Manufacturing Company to lay pipe and supply the inhabi- tants with water.
Wm. H. Cushman was elected Town Clerk to fill a vacancy.
The Barnes Hook & Ladder Company was organized to supplement the Fire Company.
In September of this year, Olympia and vicinity was visited by the most violent earthquake ever experienced here before or since. The fact that the prevailing style of archi- tecture was one and two-story frame buildings saved immense damage.
This year the citizens of Olympia experienced their first disappointment relative to the location of the Northern Pa- cific terminus, which it was now reported would be located on the Columbia River. A committee, headed by E. P. Ferry. was appointed to confer with the railroad officials as to the best terms on which railroad connection could be had at Olympia. Little was gained by the conference.
In December, 1870, Marshall Blinn, C. H. Hale, A. J. Miller, James Pattison, E. Marsh, G. A. Barnes, W. H. Mitchell C. Crosby, J. M. Murphy and E. P. Ferry organized a Com- pany with a capital of $400,000 capital to construct a branch of the Northern Pacific Railroad. It petitioned for 1337 acres of the mud flats conditioned that the Des Chutes channel should be opened. It was the intention to obtain possession of these and offer them to the Northern Pacific Railroad Com.
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pany on condition that their terminus be located on Budd's Inlet, but the petition did not receive favorable action by Congress.
In 1871 the location of the Northern Pacific Railroad ter- minus was the paramount question.
The Northern Pacific Railroad Company had been ap- prised of the effort to secure the tide lands and present them to the Railroad Company. General Sprague of the Company replied by sending blanks necessary for making the donation
The Branch Railroad Company recommended that the citi- zen property owners on Budd's Inlet donate one-half their holdings to the Northern Pacific on condition that it would build and operate a railroad into Olympia before January 1, 1875, and locate the road before May 1, 1872. This most re- markable proposition did not meet with great favor with all classes, many feeling that if the Company desired to come here they would come anyway; if not, no reasonable bonus would be an inducement.
Railroad contractors were working during the Summer in the Cowlitz Valley, and expected to have 25 miles built from Kalama by October 2, and connection made with the Sound by 1872.
By November. 1871, the road was within 15 miles of Olympia. and still the matter of terminus was an uncertainty. On Christmas day Olympia citizens experienced great relief when a communication was received over the signatures of Goodwin and Sprague by Marshal Blinn accepting the propo- sition of the Branch Railroad Company, stating that the Northern Pacific Company would comply with the first con- dition by causing a railroad to be located before May 1 next, connecting the Columbia river with a point on the navigable waters of Budd's Inlet. They also asked a right of way from Bush Prairie. This seemed to the expectant citizens of Olym- pia that Budd's Inlet was to be the Western terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad. To many then living this seemed a realization of their fondest hopes which they had enter- tained since they emigrated here in the early '50's. Their real estate holdings were to assume a value that meant to them a competence. And, indeed, on this vague promise real estate did go to fabulous values, but little changed hands.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH
Building in and about Olympia was reasonably active. and considerable progress was made along the line of general improvement. At Tumwater D. Barnhart had installed a furniture factory. and Leonard & Cooper were also operating a sash and door factory at the same place. To add to the general tension of expectancy, the usual report of discovery of gold in the Black Hills became current.
In December, Geo. A. Barnes, Ben Harned and A. H, Stelle were elected School Directors. N. Crosby Clerk.
A farmers' organization was effected this year for the purpose of the advancement of agricultural interests. though it was short lived.
On the death of Wm. James, County Commissioner, G. W. French was chosen to fill the vacancy.
In this year Mrs. Case and Miss Churchill. two Eastern ladies, leased the old Court House on Union and Washington Streets and started a Young Ladies' Seminary.
During the Summer of 1871, a newspaper plant was brought from Port Townsend and the Puget Sound Courier was started. This was the organ of the Federal officeholders.
Town Trustees this year: F. Henry, S. W. Percival, John M. Murphy, A. H. Steele.
Mr. Boynton. assisted by Miss Mary O'Neil and Mary Post taught the public school.
Owing to the still prevailing hope that Olympia would be a railroad terminus, the year 1872 opened up with much ac- tivity. Streets and bridges were improved, a fire alarm sys- tem installed; while building was active rents were very high.
The fact that a man named Ira Bradley Thomas was in Olympia buying up land seemed significant. In fact, he had secured title to several thousand acres on the East side of the inlet. While still in pursuit of his business he died suddenly
In this year occurred the revolt against the so-called Federal ring. Selucius Garfield. a man of splendid ability and a magnificent orator, on the Republican ticket. was defeated for Delegate to Congress by O. B. McFadden, on the Peoples' ticket.
The full People's Party County ticket was elected as foi- lows: Councilman, Wm. McLain; Representatives, B. F. Yan- tis. Ira Ward, Frank Henry; Auditor. A. A. Phillips; Sheriff,
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Wm. Billings; Treasurer, W. J. Grainger; Surveyor, D. S. B. Henry; School Superintendent. C. A. Huntington; Pro- bate Judge, J. M. Lowe; Coroner, I. V. Mossman.
A vote on the question for a State Constitution was de- feated, 54 to 141.
The Burmeister building, on Third and Main, was built this year.
At the municipal election the following officers were elected : Mayor, W. W. Miller; Councilmen-First Ward. A. J. Burr, B. Bettman : Second Ward, M. Blinn, T. F. McElroy, Third Ward. J. S. Dobbins. D. S. B. Henry; A. A. Phillips, Clerk; R. W. Ryerson, Treasurer; A. R. Elder, Magistrate; J. J. Westbrook, Marshal.
On December 14th, of this year. Olympia and vicinity was visited by a severe earthquake, resulting in little actual damage.
As the year 1872 drew to a close it became evident, even to the most sanguine, that the Northern Pacific Railroad Com- pany was not going to keep faith with Olympia, but proposed to locate the terminus of its road at a point lower down on the Sound. As the time had arrived for some evidence of good faith. Marshal Blinn wrote to Messrs. Goodwin and Sprague, asking when the line would be located. They replied: "The line of railroad runs to the East side of Budd's Inlet to the Billings or Wylie donation claim, sections 25, 26, 35, 36, town- ship 19, range 2 West, and a point will be selected on one of these claims for a freight and passenger depot, where said line will terminate."
This restored confidence for a time until it was evident the road was being continued through Yelm toward Tacoma
The following statement may serve to throw some light on the inside history of the location of the terminus of the first transcontinental line to reach the Northwest.
Included in the directorate of the Northern Pacific Rail- road Company were men who composed the Lake Superior and Puget Sound Land Company. They were sufficiently strong in the railroad company to dictate its policy. The railroad company was not interested in town sites; the land company was-so they had sent a man West to secure title to lands at the prospective terminus. That man was Ira
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HISTORICAL SKETCH
Bradley Thomas, before mentioned. After having secured title to large tracts on Budd's Inlet he died. Thus, consid- ering the time that would be consumed in probating the estate of Mr. Thomas, with the law's delays, this land was withdrawn from the market indefinitely. Time was all in all. The result was that in order to realize their financial expecta- tions the Lake Superior & Puget Sound Land Company se- cured lands a few miles from Old Tacoma, and went into the Northern Pacific directorate and located the terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad.
On what seeming insignificant circumstances do great things depend. Had Ira Bradley Thomas lived but even a short time longer, in all probability Olympia would have been the terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad. and the site of the present City of Tacoma still a wilderness.
Thus, briefly sketched, is the history of Thurston County. First, as a part of the Territory of Oregon, and later an integral part of the fast-growing Territory of Washington. It was the intention of the compiler of this volume to trace merely the pioneer history of the County. The line of demark- ation between early history and the later was arbitrarily fixed by the Society of Thurston County Pioneers, which made eligi- ble those who had taken up residence in the County before 1872. Though the people who came to Washington Territory in the early 70's seem as "Che Chacos" to the pioneers of '49 or '50, yet the line as fixed by the Society seems a con- servative placing of time to mark the difference between old and new. The laying of the foundation, by a few sturdy pioneers, of a great commonwealth to be, who, after a life full of privation and hardship, were laid to rest in the soil of the new country, giving way to a young and sturdy race of new comers, no longer "pioneers" but "early settlers," until the year 1872 arrived, which closed the door, and all later ar- rivals must fall under the head of "Che Chacos."
From 1873 to 1889, that period during which Washington remained a Territory, Olympia and Thurston County made slow progress. The location of a railroad terminus at Tacoma de- tracted greatly from the head of the Sound. Seattle made a
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start and has experienced a phenomenal growth, which in a way, too, affected Olympia.
However, sinee admission of the Territory as a State in 1889, Olympia and Thurston County has experienced a steady improvement. The ability to command some attention in Con- gress, has resulted in appropriations for the improvement of the harbor, which has always been a deterring influence. Notwithstanding frequent attempts to move the Capitol, it seems at last a fixture, the State's investments here preclud- ing the possibility of a change. But what is of greater im- portance, the difficulties of transportation in and out of Olympia have to a great extent been. or are being, overcome. The Northern Pacific. after years of neglect, saw a territory in the Southwest that could no longer be ignored and the Tacoma and Grays Harbor branch of that road resulted. At this writing the Oregon & Washington Railway is making preparations to connect the Capital City with their line, with further possibilities of transcontinental connection in the near future.
Substantial fireproof buildings are taking the place of the old frames, paved streets are being actively extended and a spirit of enterprise has been the result of the advent of the new blood that is to take up the fight where the pioneer, after a hard fought battle, for which his successors delight to honor his memory. laid down his burden and entered into his rest.
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Reminisrentes
ISAAC INGALLS STEVENS
Isaac I. Stevens, the first Governor, as well as the most prominent man identified with the early history of Washing- ton, was born in a farm house belonging to his father, Isaac Stevens, at Marble Ridge. Massachusetts. He first saw the light of day March 25, 1818, and sprang from an honorable line of ancestry, one of whom, John Stevens, was among the original founders of Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts.
Even from tender infancy the little Isaac gave promise of more than ordinary mentality. Before his fifth year the lad was sent to school and soon astonished his teacher with his remarkable power of memory and his application and devotion to study. After his tenth year he attended Franklin Academy in North Andover, where he studied the usual English branches. But about this time Isaac decided to leave school for a time to enter the woolen mills owned by his uncle near Andover. At the end of a year spent in the weaving room he became so proficient in his work that he was able to manage four looms at a time, thus excelling the most experienced workmen in that department of the factory.
Having reached the age of fifteen years the young Stevens entered Phillips Academy in Andover. Here, while leading his classes in his studies, he paid for his board and lodging by making the garden and doing the chores about the place of a citizen of that town.
One of his school mates in describing Stevens' first ap- pearance at the academy said: "The door opened and there quietly entered an insignificant appearing boy carrying in his arms a load of books nearly as large as himself. But the im- pression of insignificance vanished as soon as one regarded his
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
TIDEN COLINNIT TINA
THE FIRST GOVERNOR AND HIS MANSION
&C LIBRARY
PH, LENOX AND
GOV. ERNEST LISTER AND PRESENT EXECUTIVE MANSION
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large head, earnest face and firm and fearless dark hazel eves."
After a little over a year at this academy, through his excellent record for ability and scholarship, as well as the recommendations and efforts of his uncle, William Stevens, Isaac was appointed a cadet at West Point.
Here he distinguished himself by rising to the head of his class in mathematics and during the entire four years' course so well did the young man bear himself that when the academic board came to review the standings of the members of the class to award to each his proper grade it was found that Cadet Stevens stood at the head in every one of his studies.
Upon graduation Stevens was promoted to be Second Lieutenant of Engineers and was ordered to proceed to Newport, R. I .. to take part in the building of Fort Adams. At Newport the social life was much enjoyed by the young man, and it was while at a social gathering at this town that Lieutenant Stevens met the young lady who was afterwards to become his wife. Margaret Lyman Hazard. On July 1, 1840, Stevens received promotion to be First Lieutenant of the corps of engineers. His marriage to Miss Hazard occurred in September of the year following. Soon after his marriage Lieutenant Stevens was sent to Bedford to take charge of the repairs to the old fort there. And on June 9. 1842, a son was born to the young couple. This child was named Hazard, after the maternal grandfather.
For the ensuing few years Lieutenant Stevens was in charge of engineering works at Portsmouth and later at Bucks- port, Maine. and it was while engaged in this work that he received his orders for service in the Mexican war. Stevens' first work upon arriving at the seat of war was to seek out covered ways to allow the troops to pass to and from the bat- teries at Vera Cruz without loss from the enemies' fire.
After taking this city by the U. S. soldiers. Stevens ac- companied the troops into the interior of Mexico and was made Adjutant of the Corps of Engineers. At the battle of Chapul- tepec a severe gunshot wound in the foot required his retiring from active service for the rest of the campaign. He was finally relieved and returned to the States.
Again was he put in charge of military works at various
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places in Maine and New Hampshire, continuing here for the next five years.
When the brevets were announced from the war depart- ment Lieutenant Stevens was brevetted Captain, August 2. 1847. for gallant and meritorious conduct in the battles of Contreras and Churubusco and Major for gallant and meritor- nous conduct in the battle of Chapultepec.
Major Stevens from now on for the following few years was engaged as assistant to Professor A. D. Boche, chief of the United States Coast survey. But in the Spring of 1853. President Franklin Pierce appointed Major Stevens Governor of the newly organized Territory of Washington.
Save for a handful of settlers on the lower Columbia and on the shores of Puget Sound, and a few mining and trading posts in the interior, the whole vast region of Stevens' place of administration was unsettled and for the most part unex- plored by civilized man. It contained many thousand Indians who regarded the settlement of the territory by the white man with jealous eyes; the Indian title to the lands had not been extinguished and there were many troublous questions to be settled with the Hudson Bay Company, which still held its posts in the territory and claimed extensive rights as guaranteed by treaty.
To govern a territory under these conditions would have appalled most men, but Major Stevens not only applied for the appointment as Governor. but also asked that he be placed in charge of the exploration of the most feasible route for the railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Coast. Con- gress had recently appropriated $150,000 for the explorative survey of the proposed railroad.
When the appointment as Governor to Washington Terri- tory was confirmed. Major Stevens was 36 years of age and in the full prime and vigor of his manhood. Besides the stupen- dous task involved in the administration as chief executive in a new and unknown territory, with surroundings and experi- ences totally different from any he had met in previous ex- periences, Governor Stevens was also, by virtue of his appoint- ment, made Superintendent of Indian affairs in the West. Surely the reader must be impressed with the courage and mental strength exhibited by Isaac I. Stevens in undertaking these duties and responsibilities, in addition to the formidible
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undertaking of exploring a railroad route to the Pacific Coast, through a totally unknown wilderness. How ably he re- sponded to the demands laid upon him is a matter of history.
Assembling an outfit at St. Paul, Minnesota, in which task Governor Stevens was called upon to overcome what to many would have been unsurmountable difficulties, the exploring party started for the far off Pacific Coast. A history of this famous exploring trip, compiled by the Governor's son, Hazard Stevens, from the diary kept by his illustrious father, reads like a romance of adventure, so many exciting experiences were encountered and so many hardships and dangers suc- cessfully overcome.
Arriving at the Columbia River, Governor Stevens fol- lowed the only route at that time to reach Olympia, the capital of the new Territory. Up the Cowlitz river by canoe, where the Indian crew had to progress foot by foot against the cur- rent of the flooded river, sometimes pulling the frail craft along by the overhanging bushes, then over a muddy trail by horse back. Stevens reached Olympia November 25. 1853, just five months and nineteen days since starting from St. Paul.
He found waiting for him his new Territorial Secretary, Charles Mason; Edward Lander, Chief Justice; J. V. Clen- dennin, District Attorney; J. Patton Anderson, Marshal, and Simpson P. Moses. Collector of Customs.
These officials had reached Olympia, coming via the Isth- mus to San Francisco, then by boat to Portland, and then up the Cowlitz River and over the trail.
To quote from Hazard Stevens' "Life of Isaac I. Stevens":
"It was indeed a wild country. untouched by civilization. A scanty white population numbering 3.965, were widely scat- tered over Western Washington and the Strait of Fuca. Among the settlers were Columbus Lancaster, on Lewis River; Seth Catlin, Dr. Nathanial Ostrander and the Huntingtons, on the Cowlitz; Alexander S. Abernethy, at Oak Point, and Judge William Strong at Cathalamet."
The Governor's first act was to issue his proclamation for the election of a delegate to Congress and members of the first Territorial Legislature and summoning that body to meet in Olympia on the 28th of February, 1854.
His next official act was to visit the Indian tribes around the Sound and to generally explore the waters of Puget Sound,
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Elliott Bay and the Straits. to learn of the general character of the harbors, etc. As this cruise was taken in an open sailboat, it could hardly be regarded as a holiday excursion in that stormy season, and among the swift tides and fierce gales of the lower Sound.
One of the objects accomplished on this cruise was the decision that the little settlement of Seattle was the logical terminus for the proposed transcontinental railroad.
At the assembling of the Legislature, when Governor Stevens delivered his first message, after reviewing the natural resources of this territory. he recommended the adoption of a code of laws, the organization of the country east of the Cas- cades into counties, a school system with military training in the higher schools and the organization of the militia.
The Legislature adopted all these resolutions with the exception of the one regarding the militia, which omission proved to be unfortunate, as it left the people defenseless when the Indian war broke out less than two years later. After the close of the Legislature Governor Stevens returned to Wash- ington. D. C .. to make his report to the Department of the ex- ploring and engineering expedition, and also to urge upon Congress the claims of the new territory.
Completing his work in the National Capitol, Governor and Mrs. Stevens, with their four children, the two youngest being only two and four years old. respectively. sailed from New York. September 20. 1854. en route for their far western home.
The rough experiences of this refined and cultured family in coming up the Cowlitz and over the trail and their bitter disappointment when beholding the capital city is graphically described in a letter written by Mrs. Stevens and reproduced in the historical sketch of Thurston County in the opening chapters of this volume.
The Governor's family were installed in quarters consist- ing of two long, one-story buildings. one room wide, unplas- tered, but lined inside with cotton cloth. In the rear was a large yard extending to the beach. An Indian camp began at the corner of the yard.
In the midst of these novel scenes and experiences the family soon began to feel at home and enjoy the western life.
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The Governor's days were now filled with strenuous labor. making treaties with the Indians, holding council with the Chiefs and endeavoring to cultivate their good will.
A history of the various treaties entered into between Gov- ernor Stevens and the Indian tribes. the councils held and the long. dangerous and fatiguing expeditions taken by the Gov- ernor, would more than fill the pages of this volume, conse- quently only a brief mention is all that space will allow. and that of the most important ones.
Governor Stevens was in the Blackfoot country holding council with the assembled bands and had just taken up his homeward march when a messenger, dispatched by Acting Governor Mason. reached him with the startling intelligence that all the great tribes of the upper Columbia country, includ- ing the Cayuses, Walla Wallas. Yakimas. Palouses, Umatillas, and all the Oregon Indian bands down to The Dalles, had broken out in open warfare.
Stevens at once, and with incredible difficulty, hastened back to Washington, and after doing what he could to establish peace with the warring savages, undertook to reach Puget ' Sound by forced marches. This trip was taken in the dead of winter over and through deep snows in the mountains, fording icy rivers and with seant provision and no comforts.
When Olympia was finally reached he found the entire country was overwhelmed. The settlers had fled for refuge to the small villages, with no resources of food or money. Starvation stared the pioneers in the face if prevented from planting and raising crops. There was also a deficiency of arms and ammunition. It was small wonder that the settlers were discouraged. and nothing kept many of them from leav- ing the country but their inability to get away.
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