USA > Washington > History of Washington the evergreen state : from early dawn to daylight with portraits and biographies Vol. I > Part 37
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and enterprising business man, who believes thoroughly in the assured and pro- gressive future of the Evergreen State.
BENTON, H. M., a farmer in the Atahnam, was born in Connecticut in 1836, being the older child of a family of three born to George and Moriath (Bishop) Benton. His early education was intended to fit him for Yale, but a passion for the sea militated against the classical course his parents marked out for their son. Leaving home in 1852 at the age of sixteen years, he shipped at New Haven for a voyage to Ireland, returned and sailed coastwise till 1854, then came to San Fran- cisco, making that city his home until 1862, when he moved to Oregon, entered tire employ of the Oregon Steamship Navigation Company, being in charge of their boats until 1867. He then migrated to Yakima County, locating on his present farm, where he has ever since resided. Mr. Benton was one of the build- ers of Fort Sod, on the Atahnam, for defence against the Indians, and also of the old centennial building of North Yakima, which was barricaded for a similar purpose. He was one of the company who arrested the Indian murderers of Mr. and Mrs. Perkins, finding them after many days' pursuit in Chief Moses' land nd bringing the criminals and Chief Moses to justice. The chief was afterward re- leased, but the murderers were hanged. Mr. Benton cultivates and owns one hundred and seventy-seven acres of fine farming land. He was married in 1865 to Miss Mary A. Allen. They have two children. Mr. Benton is a Mason, a Re- publican, and a man generally esteemed-a pioneer of the day when the Indian was a menace to the progress of settlement.
BEWLEY, JOHN M., County Surveyor and Justice of the Peace, of Colville, Wash., was born in Van Buren County, Mo., June 10th, 1845. He was the son of John W. and Catherine B. (Ellis) Bewley. Going with his parents to Willa- mette valley, Ore., his eldest brother was mercilessly killed in the horrible massacre by the Indians at the mission in Whitman County, Wash. ; his sister was captured at the same time and dreadfully treated until her release upon the savages being obliged to give up their captives. Young Bewley was educated at the Willamette University, at Salem, Ore., taking the full course, and graduating in 1866. Moving to California, he taught school in various localities until 1868. Returning to Oregon, he was married there in 1870. He engaged at Inde- pendence, Polk County, in the practice of dentistry for some years. Wholesale grain-selling occupied him from 1875-80, when he removed to Washington Terri- tory, locating at Walla Walla ; from thence to Spokane in 1881. From 1881-82 he assisted Contractor D. W. Small on the Northern Pacific Railroad. He came to Colville in 1883 and took up a homestead claim, which he subsequently sold at a profit. In 1884 he was elected Justice of the Peace at Colville, an office which he continues to fill with marked efficiency. Since 1885 he has been the County Surveyor of Stevens County.
BICKNELL, HENRY J., farmer, of Sunnyside, Wash., was born in Penobscot County, Me., in 1834, being third in a family of five children born to Henry and Betsey (Foster) Bicknell. His parents came of old New England stock, the one being a native of the Pine Tree State, and the other coming from Rhode Island.
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When but nineteen young Bicknell rounded the Horn, reaching California in the spring of 1853. He became a money broker in San Francisco until 1858, when he returned to Maine, and after a short stay removed to Virginia, thence to Illinois in 1861, where he engaged in the retail grocery business for two years, but ex- changed for a wholesale business in Jacksonville, where he unfortunately asso- ciated himself with a partner whose misrepresentations led him to failure. Re- turning to San Francisco, he engaged in mining in South California, but without success. Still undiscouraged, he became a day laborer in a Los Angeles mill for two years, and speculated in land only to find it a losing venture. After various but more remunerative changes he came to Yakima in 1881, where he has since resided, being engaged in farming and fruit-raising. Did space permit, it would be instructive to follow the difficulties which Mr. Bicknell encountered only to overcome. Suffice it to say that the path which finally led him to comparative wealth and prosperity was of the hardest. Mr. Bicknell's fruit farm is said to be the finest in Yakima County. The lives and early struggles of such representa- tive men as Mr. Bicknell cannot fail to encourage those who are in similar straits. There is eminent virtue in will power sensibly applied.
BIGELOW, I. N., President of the Seattle Dime Savings Bank, was born in Nova Scotia, May 15th, 1838. He is a descendant of the noted Bigelow family of England, and traces his family back for many generations. He received a good common-school education in his native province, and began life for himself as a ship-builder at the age of nineteen years. He followed that business and merchandising until 1868, when he removed to Lynn, Mass. There he engaged in the real-estate business and contracting, which he continued until 1875. In the latter year he came to Seattle, where he has since remained. Here he fol- lowed carpentering and contracting until 1879, when he embarked in the grocery trade. For two years he carried on a successful business in that line, then dis- posed of his interest, and engaged in the real-estate business, which he has con- tinued more or less extensively ever since. In 1890 he began the erection of a fine business structure, which is known as the Bigelow Block. In 1892 he pur- chased a controlling interest in the Seattle Dime Savings Bank, and became its President. Mr. Bigelow organized the company which built the first street rail- way operated in Seattle, but has disposed of his interests in that enterprise. As a business man interested in the welfare and advancement of the city of his adop- tion, Mr. Bigelow has taken a front place. His character is above reproach, and every obligation he assumes is fully and faithfully discharged. In manner he is genial and affable, and is esteemed by a large circle of admiring friends. Mr. Bigelow was married November 25th, 1863, to Miss Emeline Davison, of Nova Scotia. Three children have blessed their union-two sons and a daughter.
BLACK, ALFRED L., attorney-at-law, of New Whatcom, Wash., was born in Burlington County, N. J., November 16th, 1858. Educated by a private tutor and taking a preparatory course, he entered the sophomore class of Princeton College in 1875, and graduated with high honors in 1878. Determining to devote himself to the law, he became a student in the office of James Wilson, at Trenton, N. J., was admitted to the Bar in 1881, and practised in Camden, N. J., and
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Philadelphia until 1889, when he removed to New Whatcom, opened an office, and connecting himself with Mr. Leaming, established the law firmn of Black & Leaming, whose business continues to grow in a highly satisfactory manner. Mr. Black was married May 7th, 1883, to Miss Ada F. Abbot, of Trenton, N. J. Their union has been blessed with two children.
BLACK, HENRY, a thrifty farmer, of Whetstone Hollow, Dayton, Columbia County, Wash., was born in Kentucky in 1819, being the fourth of eight children born to John and Sarah (Myers) Black. His parents were natives of Virginia. Young Black, after the average amount of desultory school education, where the hours of field work exceeded those of study, which in those early days fell to the lot of farmers' boys, left home at the age of eighteen, going to Jackson County, Mo., where he remained two years. In 1840 he crossed the plains, travelling by mule teams, with the American Fur Company traders as far as Whitman Station. From thence he journeyed alone to Oregon, and'a short time later went to Cali- fornia in the Government employ. Returning to Oregon, he took up a claim near Portland, and lived on it thirty-seven years. Removing to Columbia County (then Walla Walla), he settled in 1878 on the farm which he still owns and culti- vates. He has five hundred and forty acres, growing all kinds of grain, a splen- did orchard, loaded in its season with many kinds of fruit, ample barns, and a spacious residence. He was married in 1848 to Mary A., daughter of Alexander Thackeray, a well-to-do farmer of Oregon. Twelve children have been born to them. Mr. Black is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in politics affiliates with the Republican Party.
BLACKWELL, WILLIAM B., an able financier and representative citizen of Tacona, was born in Milford, Conn., September 10th, 1837. When but a child of ten he removed to Utica, N. Y., and received his early education in the com- mon schools of that city. Going gallantly to the front at the breaking out of the war, he enlisted in the Twenty-sixth New York Regiment, was made Regimental Quartermaster, and served as such until 1863, when the regiment was mustered out. After the war he went to Chicago and Portland, Ore., where he engaged in the hotel business, but relinquished it November 1st, 1883, for a field more suited to his natural ability and financial genius. Then, in company with Gen- eral T. W. Sprague and J. W. Anderson, he organized the Tacoma National Bank, destined to become one of the most substantial and flourishing in the Western country, with a capital of $50,000, since increased fourfold. Mr. Blackwell was its Vice-President until 1888. Since then he has acted as its President. Tacoma has no more popular, energetic or public-spirited citizen than William B. Black- well.
BLALOCK, J. B .- The subject of this sketch was born July 21st, 1856, in Sevierville, Sevier County, Tenn., and received a common-school education in his native town. At the age of twenty years he learned the shoemaker's trade, and in 1878 came to Spokane Falls, Wash. Here he found work at his trade, and soon afterward purchased a stock of boots and shoes and engaged in trade as a merchant, which he continued until 1887, when he sold out to Mr. M. B. Dolan,
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and made investments in real estate. In this field he has been eminently success- ful, and has achieved a reputation for financial skill and business tact. After the great fire he erected the handsome and imposing Blalock Block, a credit to the builder and to the city. Mr. Blalock was married September 27th, 1886, to Miss Martha Hyde, of Spokane, by whom he has one son, Shirl Blalock, six years of age. Socially Mr. Blalock is genial and popular. He is a member of the Masonic order. In business and financial circles he holds a position of influence and power which he has deservedly earned. A capable and successful business man, thoroughly progressive in his ideas, he is an excellent type of that young man- hood which has done so much for the rapidly growing State of Washington.
BOATMAN, WILLIS, banker, pioneer, farmer and hop-grower, of Puyallup, Wash., was born October 6th, 1826, in Jessamine County, Ky. When but an infant his parents removed to Sullivan County, Ind., where he attended school and worked on the farm until 1850, when he went to Macon County, Ill., and the following spring to Sangamon County in the same Statc. In 1851 he married Miss Mary Richardson, of that county. Seven children have resulted from their union. Starting with an ox team for Portland, Ore., he arrived October 22d, 1852, and remained there until February of the following year, when he deter- mined to visit Puget Sound, hoping thereby to restore his health, in which he en- tirely succceded. Looking about for occupation, he determined to establish a boarding-house in Steilacoom, and in January, 1854, located on the farm where he still resides. He has been an extensive hop-grower since 1874. In October, 1855, he was driven from his home by hostile Indians, and remained away for two years, during which he found employment in the Quartermaster's Department at Fort Steilacoom. In the fall of 1889 he organized the Bank of Puyallup, of which he is the President. Mr. Boatman is an old and justly csteemed citizen of Puyallup, and an active worker in the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities, of which organizations he is a distinguished member.
BOGGS, GEORGE W., born May 30th, 1857, in Shelby County, Ind. ; left that section when but a year old, being taken to Moultrie County, Ill. There he was raised on a farm till the age of fifteen, receiving such education as the common schools at Decatur and Bloomington could afford. In 1872 he began clerking in a general merchandise store, in which occupation he continued for two years, when he became a drug clerk for three morc. Then, launching out for himself, he established a drug store in Rooks County, Kan., where he remained ten years. During this time he was also interested in the cattle business, to which he added banking, having organized the State Bank of Stockton. Then, attracted by the greater charms of Tacoma, he decided to join his future to that of the City of Destiny, sold out his interest in bank, cattle, and drugs, and settled himself in 1888 in that city. Here, though suffering from ill health, hc engaged in the drug and livery business, being Vice-President of the Wynkoop Drug Company. He was elected City Treasurer of Tacoma after one and a half years' residence, and proved himself a faithful, efficient, and honest public officer. Mr. Boggs mar- ried, August 20th, 1883, Miss Ella Cook, of New Hampshire, by whom he has three sons and a daughter. He is a member of the Masonic, Ancient Order
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United Workmen, Knights of Pythias, and Red Men Fraternities. A self- made and self-reliant man, he has always taken a prominent part in all matters pertaining to the city of Tacoma and State of Washington. He is a direct descendant of Governor Boggs, and a warm friend of the late General Kit Carson, the celebrated scout, Indian fighter, and guide.
BOWEN, WALTER, Special Deputy Collector of Customs, Puget Sound District, a man who has filled with credit to himself and advantage to the people various important offices, was born in Warren County, Va., December 17th, 1850. Graduating from its common schools, he engaged at the age of eighteen as clerk in a general merchandise establishment in White Post, Va., remaining there for two years, until 1870, when he removed to New York to become assistant book- keeper in Wheatley, Williams & Co.'s sugar refinery. In 1874 he migrated to California, making Los Angeles his home for three years, acting as book-keeper for the Los Angeles Street Railroad Company, as also in the District Attorney's office. Going to Mono County, Cal., in April, 1878, he devoted himself to mer- chandising and mining until 1881, when he journeyed to Washington Territory, settling at Port Townsend in the year following to accept a position with C. C. Bartlett & Co., a leading mercantile house of that city. With this firm he remained for upward of two years. In 1887 he was appointed Deputy Collector of the Port, Puget Sound District, retaining this office for two years, until his resignation in 1889 to devote himself to real estate brokerage. In November, 1889, he was appointed City Treasurer of Port Townsend, a position he held until July 1st, 1893, resigning to accept the Chief Deputyship of the Puget Sound Collection District. Mr. Bowen was married in Victoria, B. C., in September, 1883, to Mrs. Ruby R. Weeks, of San Francisco. Mr. Bowen is an active Demo- crat, and a member of the State Central Committee of that party, in which connec- tion he is serving his second term. He organized the first Democratic Club in Jefferson County in 1889, and is its present secretary.
BOYLE, JAMES G., City Clerk of Ellensburg, Washington, was born in Egypt, Ill., thirty-one years ago. He is the son of Thomas B. and Mary (Kilpatrick) Boyle, of Ireland, who came to America in the forties. . Educated in the public schools of Sparta, Ill., young Boyle took a higher English course, and then began life as a book-keeper. Moving to Pendleton, Ore., he remained for two years, then migrated to Washington Territory, locating at North Yakima, where for two and a half years he acted as an attorney's clerk. In 1888 he removed to Ellensburg and resumed book-keeping. He was elected Justice of the Peace, to hold office for two years, succeeding himself in the fall of 1892. In May, 1892, he was elected City Clerk, and was re-elected in 1893. He is also Clerk of the School Board. Mr. Boyle was married in May, 1888, at North Yakima, to Miss Anna Hawkins, by whom he has one child. He has a comfortable city home, consider- able outside property, and a fine library, of which he is a close student. He is interested in the mining development of the region, and does an abstracting business, for which his official position gives peculiar facilities. An honorable . man and most worthy citizen, Mr. Boyle has no reason to be dissatisfied with the present, or dread a future which only promises to increase his popularity.
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BOYNTON, CHARLES HARVEY, was born in Canton, N. Y., November 13th, 1847, being a direct descendant of Jolin Boynton, who came to Massachusetts from England in 1638, and of John Boynton, who was an officer during the War of the Revolution, being Colonel of the Seventh Massachusetts Regiment of Infantry, when peace was declared. His father, Frederick Boynton, was for ten years in the regular army, participating in the Black Hawk and Seminole wars, and was Adjutant of the One Hundred and Sixth New York Infantry in the late war.
Charles H. Boynton received a common school and academical education at St. Lawrence University at Canton, and in 1862, at the age of fourteen years, enlisted in the First United States Volunteer Cavalry, serving until mustered out at Memphis, Tenn., in June, 1865. Returning to New York, he worked on the Malone Palladium until 1868, when he purchased an interest in the Chateaugay Journal. In 1869 he sold his interest in that paper, and after a year's travel in the South and West located at Neenah, Wis , where he established the Neenah Gazette, which he successfully conducted for five years.
Selling that paper in 1875, Mr. Boynton accepted a position as news editor of the Milwaukee Sentinel, being promoted to the position of managing editor, which he left in 1880 to become news and night editor of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. This position he occupied until 1884, when, with Mr. Ralph Metcalf, he purchased the Herald at Winona, Minn., soon establishing the Daily Herald and an extensive printing establishment. In 1889 Boynton & Metcalf purchased the Tacoma Daily Globe, which firm afterward became the Globe Publishing Com- pany, of which Mr. Boynton was treasurer. In 1892, the Globe being purchased by the Tacoma Ledger Company, Mr. Boynton removed to Everett, Wash., where he is connected with the Herald, the first paper in that city. He is Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce and a stockholder of the Mitchell Land Company, one of the most prosperous corporations in that young city, and also a member of the Everett Transportation Company, operating steamers on the Sound, and ex- tensively handling building materials.
Mr. Boynton has a wife, four daughters, and one son.
BRANAM, WILLIAM, a leading citizen and capitalist of Cle Elum, Wash., was born in 1854 in Kentucky. His parents were natives of that State, in whose common schools the subject of our sketch received his early education, and after- ward began life as a farmer. At the age of seventeen he removed to Jackson County, Mo., and from thence to New Mexico, where he was engaged for a short time in railroading. In 1882 he came to the then territory of Washington, locating at Snoqualmie. There he followed lumbering until 1883, when he came to Cle Elum. Here he prospected for coal, finding it in large quantities. Selling out his mining rights to the Northern Pacific Coal Company, he took up a pre- emption claim near Cle Elum, which he disposed of to the same corporation. Mr. Branam is a Democrat in politics, a member of the Independent Order Odd Fellows. He owns valuable real estate in the city of Cle Elum and also in Seattle. He takes an active interest in all that relates to the education and substantial progress of his fellow-citizens, by whom he is universally esteemed.
BRAND, G. E., a leading business man of Mt. Vernon, Wash., was born in Aurora, Dearborn County, Ind., December 13th, 1849, and was educated in the
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common schools of his native place and at the Moore's Hill College in Dearborn County. After leaving school he served for two years as clerk in the mercantile house of Chambers, Stevens & Co., at Aurora. In 1868 he migrated to San José, Cal., where he remained for four years, first as clerk in a mercantile house and afterward in business for himself as a manufacturer of and dealer in lime, cement, and building materials. In 1873 he sold out this business and embarked in the stationery trade at Nevada City, Cal., conducting the same successfully until 1890. In the latter year he came to Fairhaven, Wash., and secured franchises from the cities of New Whatcom and Fairhaven for gas works. He afterward secured a franchise for an electric-light plant at Mt. Vernon, which he built and now operates. He is largely interested in the Mt. Vernon Shingle and Lumber Company, is Secretary of the Shingle Manufacturers' Association of Washington, and also Secretary of the Skagit County Shingle Association. Mr. Brand is recognized in the community as a man of the highest integrity, and has the per- fect confidence of the business public. He is a hard worker, a man of exemplary habits, and possesses the knowledge and experience which, with his vigorous health, give promise of still greater achievements in the years to come. Frater- nally he is an Odd Fellow, being a member of three different lodges of that order. Mr. Brand was married January 1st, 1889, to Miss Julia D. G. Kinsman, of Great Falls, N. H. Two children have been born to them-one son and one daughter.
BRESEE, DARIUS, was born June 20th, 1830, at Berkshire, Chittenden County, Vt. When he was nine years old his father died, and from this early age he was obliged to provide for himself, being put out to work by an older brother until he reached the age of seventeen. At the age of eighteen he went to Burlington, Vt., to learn the trade of carpenter and builder. In 1848 he joined the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, having experienced religion at the age of fourteen. In 1851 he went to Sheboygan and Plymouth, Wis. He built the Half-Way House between Sheboygan and Fond du Lac, for Mr. A. Elle. This was the same house in which Mr. Ehle's whole family were burned about 1837. In 1853 Mr. Bresee went to La Crosse and purchased a tract of land where the city now stands. This would have brought him a fortune had he been able to keep it, but he was taken with chills and fever and compelled to abandon it. In 1854 he made a journey south to visit his oldest brother, and on his return went to Eau Claire, Wis. In 1857, in Chippewa County, he was elected Justice of the Peace, receiving all but three votes cast. In 1859 he made a visit to Richmond, Va., and was offered flattering inducements to settle in that locality, if he would not oppose slavery. He witnessed the execution of John Brown, and in the same year, 1860, he returned to Wisconsin. He took an academic course at Lawrence University, then entered the Northwestern University at Chicago, but before finishing the course he entered the Garrett Biblical Institute, from which he graduated in 1865. About this time he was married to Jennie S. Webley, and accepted the principalship of Eau Claire Wesleyan Seminary. He retained this position for two years with gratifying results, raising the seminary to a prosperous condition. He joined the Western Wisconsin Conference on probation, and dis- continued in two years. In 1868 and 1869 he studied law, and was invited to a
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partnership with one of the leading lawyers of the city, but declined and engaged in the real estate business. He served several years as a Justice of the Peace, besides holding other offices. February 28th, 1875, his only child, a son, was born. December 9th, 1877, his wife died, and his health failing, he soon after- ward gave up his business. Later on he went to New Richmond, P. Q., and preached during the winter of 1882-83. In the fall of 1883 he came to Puget Sound, and after visiting Portland, Ore., arrived at Anacortes, Wash., with his son, February 19th, 1884. Being convinced that Fidalgo (Anacortes) was the site of a great city of the future, he was invited to deliver the oration at Rosario Anacortes (Fidalgo), July 4th, 1885. Six years afterward, October 1st, 1891, this oration was republished in full by the Anacortes American. Mr. Bresee furnished the means to educate the colored minister, George M. McClelland, at Fish University, Tennessee. In 1887 he was invited to return to Eau Claire and assist in the building up of that place. He accepted the invitation, and formed a syndicate to put in manufacturing plants. They erected six extensive ones in twenty-one months. Returning to Washington, he bought a fine tract of land at Anacortes, In the mean time, he purchased two miles of deep water frontage on Burroughs Bay (Anacortes), including nearly one thousand acres of land, with fine clay beds, which will undoubtedly become very valuable. Some evil-disposed persons, moved by jealousy and covetousness, caused an eighty-acre timber claim held by Mr. Bresee to be contested, but after a litigation lasting between two and three years he won his case, receiving a deed in July, 1892. He was his own attorney in the lower and higher courts also. Mr. Bresee is now Deputy Most Worthy Chief of the World, in the Temple of Honor (of Temperance), and for over thirty years he has been a Good Templar. He has travelled over every mountain range, and from ocean to ocean upon every transcontinental railway on this continent, and on sea voyages upon the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and all, by the providence of God, without an accident. Mr. Bresee's home will be Anacortes, Wash.
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