USA > Washington > History of Washington; the rise and progress of an American state, Vol. III > Part 8
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With the emigrants who crossed the plains in 1851 came the wife of Colonel Ebey and their two sons, Eason and Ellison. They remained at Olympia during the following winter, and in the spring of 1852, a commodious scow having been built for the purpose meantime, they con- tinued their journey down the Sound to the claim which the colonel had selected more than a year before. They were accompanied on the voyage by the Crockett family,
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THE RISE AND PROGRESS
who had been their companions on the longer journey from Missouri.
Colonel Walter Crockett was a native of Virginia and had served three terms as a member of its legislature. He had also been chosen as one of its electors, and as such had cast a vote for Andrew Jackson. He had seen service as a soldier in the war of 1812 and subsequently, for several years, had borne a colonel's commission in the State militia. In 1838 he had removed to Boone County, Missouri, where he became acquainted with Colonel Ebey, and through him, and his son Samuel B. Crockett, who had been a member of the Simmons party, he became interested in the Pacific Northwest. Another son, John Crockett, who had accompanied him from Missouri, seems to have preceded the family to Whidby Island, as his claim, which is near that taken by Col. Ebey, was located in March, while Colonel Crockett's was not taken until November.
In November of this year Thomas Coupe arrived and chose a claim on the south shore of Penn's Cove, on which he later laid out the town of Coupeville. During this year sixteen claims were taken on the island. Early in the following spring it was reported that there were a large number of emigrants in Portland who were without money, or the means of making any extended exploration before selecting their claims. On learning this, these earliest settlers on the island chartered the bark J. T. Cabot, Cap- tain Dryden master, and sent her to the Columbia to bring over as many of them as she could carry, "money or no money."* She returned some time late in April, or early in May, bringing a considerable number of families, together with their goods. Other families came over the Cowlitz
* The "Columbian," January 22d, April 2d and May 12th.
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OF AN AMERICAN STATE
trail or up the coast from California, and, by the close of 1853, the island was one of the best settled portions of the territory .*
The first claim selected in the lower Sound country, and held until the title to it was finally secured, was chosen by Henry C. Wilson, who was, for a time at least, a clerk for Lafayette Balch. He was a native of Boston, and may have come to the Sound country with Balch in the George Emery, though there is no certain evidence that he did so. He was put in charge of Balch's store after it was established at Steilacoom, early in 1851, but previous to that time, and apparently in August 1850, he had chosen a claim which is now a part of the site of Port Townsend. He did not take immediate possession of it, however, though he may have had more to do than now appears with the founding of the city.
* Those who took claims on the island during these two years, with the date of entry in each case, as shown by the land office records, are as follows:
Crockett, John, Mar. 30, 1852. Lansdale, R. H., Mar. 31, 1852. Shaw, Dan., Apr. 27, 1852. Howe, S. D., May 5, 1852. Holbrook, Richard, May 5, 1852. Ross, R. W., June 1852. Davis, Thos. S., July 1, 1852. Alexander, Jno., Aug. 1, 1852. Bailey, R. S., Sept. 1, 1852. Smith, Jacob, Oct. 10, 1852. Crockett, Walter, Nov. 1, 1852. Engle, W. B., Nov. 20, 1852. Hill, N. D., Nov. 20, 1852. Maylore, Thos., Nov. 25, 1852. Coupe, Thos., Nov. 20, 1852. Ross, Benj., Dec. 1, 1852. Hill, R. C., Feb. 10, 1852. Mounts, M. L., Apr. 17, 1853.
Maylord, Sam'l, Apr. 23, 1853. Doyle, Pat., May 1, 1853. Hastie, Thos., May 10, 1853. Maddox, R., May 6, 1853.
Welcher, B., May 1, 1853. Hutchins, Thos., July 1, 1853. Mounts, J. H., Aug. 29, 1853. Thorndyke, J. K., Sept. 1, 1853. Kellogg, J. C., Sept. 9, 1853. Crockett, J. B., Sept. 17, 1853. Smith, Jos. S., Oct. 2, 1853. Power, J. B., Oct. 17, 1853. Burston, B. P., Nov. 1, 1853. Sebers, Chas., Nov. 15, 1853. Brumm, Raphael, Nov. 20, 1853. Kurrah, Jno., Nov. 26, 1853. Welcher, D., Dec. 6, 1853.
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THE RISE AND PROGRESS
Alfred A. Plummer and Charles Bachelder came up from San Francisco with Balch in the George Emery in December 1850, and spent the winter cutting timber on the peninsula north of Steilacoom, as has been already stated. Finding it difficult, and probably unprofitable, to get their logs to deep water after they were cut, as they had no oxen of their own and there were but few in the neighborhood, they resolved to seek claims of their own in some locality where the product of their labor could be got on board ship with less difficulty, and where the land, when they had cleared it, would belong to them. They accordingly went to Port Townsend Bay, at the recommendation of Balch, as Evans says, though it is quite probable that Wilson had as much to do as Balch had in giving direction to their explorations, as they had no doubt spent more or less time at the store in Steilacoom, of which he was in charge, during the winter. They arrived at Port Townsend in April and selected adjoin- ing claims fronting on the bay. Plummer's application at the land office shows that he entered upon his claim April 24, 1851. This therefore is to be regarded as the date of the beginning of Port Townsend. Winthrop, who saw it more than two years later, speaks of "the house, the saw mill, the bluff and the beach called Port Townsend," but he was at the time so exasperated with the conduct of the drunken Clallams, with whom he was trying to negotiate a passage to Nisqually, that he doubtless did not intend to describe it accurately. At any rate it is certain that it had claims to recognition as a thriving settlement, if not as a metropoli- tan city, that he did not see, or at least did not recognize.
In November, F. W. Pettygrove and L. B. Hastings arrived, and, after examining the townsite to their satisfac- tion, returned to Oregon for their families. They did not
F. W. PETTYGROVE.
This pioneer settler at Port Townsend came to Oregon in 1842, and was a member of the debating club at Oregon City, in which the questions pertaining to the formation of the provisional government were so fully discussed. He went from Oregon to California, and returned north to Port Townsend in 1851, residing there until his death in 1887.
TID MISE AND PROGRESS
ЗОЯ ДУТТАЯ Т .ч Rachelder came up from ts dels gritsdeb set to rednem stage di mery in December eu ds didwinter one peninsula
bas sinotils) of nog9TO mort hon rardybstated. Finding
.1881 n dieob aid Litay 2 as thef oxen of their
fem in the wrighborhood, they wow - the'r own in some foc ality where the product of theo titos would be go on board ship with diffendry, and where do laud, when they had cleared 1. would balony to . They accordingly went to Port Townsend Bay, > wwwmmendation of Balch, as Evans Says, though it u grow probable that Wilson had as much 1 do xe Bakh Nad is prog direction to their explorations, as they had no dudo come omore or less time at the store in Sreilacoom, of wild h h. war in charge, during the winter. They arrived at Porta sse in April and selected adjoin-
mg claims frontu . Plummer's application at the land office shoes Awww le rotered upon his claim April 24,
1851, This the regarded as the date of the beginning of Pork T
Winthrop, who saw it more
than two yeate limt "the house, the saw mill, the
bluff and the book Townsend," but he was at the time so cxangered - ros conduct of the drunken Challams, with wh la og mi arypriate a passage Nisqually, thay lo d or ed to describe w accurately. At any um das ir had claims w pdcognition as a thing evdeme, if not as a metropoli- Lav vity, that he did not least did not recognize.
In November, F. W. Pittyprove and L. B. Hastings mivel, and, after examinmy ile wownsite to their satisfac- wil wtarood to Oregon fur ihre families. They did not
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OF AN AMERICAN STATE
come back until spring. Meanwhile Hastings purchased the pilot boat Mary Taylor, which in her time rendered service to the settlers of both Oregon and Washington which entitle her to a place in history, and early in February sailed for the Sound, having among her passengers Hastings and Pettygrove and their families, David Shelton and family, Benjamin Ross and family, Thomas Tallentire and family, and Smith Hayes. Of these Hastings, Pettygrove and Ross remained at Port Townsend, Shelton became the founder of the town which bears his name and is now the county seat of Mason County, Hayes settled in Thurston, and Tallen- tire in Pierce counties.
They arrived at Port Townsend on February 2Ist, and were welcomed by Alonzo M. Poe, A. B. Moses, B. J. Madi- son, Henry C. Wilson, most of whom were visitors and who, all together, outnumbered the permanent residents of the settlement. The families of Pettygrove, Hastings and Ross were given shelter, for the time being, in Plummer's cabin, which was fifteen by thirty feet in size, and built of logs, as all buildings were at the time. Later J. G. Clinger and family arrived, and they also were made at home for the time being under Plummer's hospitable roof.
Pettygrove and Hastings immediately selected claims adjoining those of Plummer and Bachelder, and their applications at the land office show that they entered upon them just a year to the day after Plummer had taken his. These four earliest settlers then agreed together to lay out a townsite in which each should be equally interested, and each contributed one-fourth of his claim for the purpose, though the claims of Pettygrove and Hastings, who were married, were twice as large as those of Plummer and Bachelder, who were single. The arrangement, however,
100
THE RISE AND PROGRESS
was not an inequitable one, as the claims of the two latter were more favorably located with reference to the harbor.
The four also formed a company, or perhaps a partner- ship, for business purposes, for which they were well assorted. Pettygrove had come out to Oregon earlier than the others, having arrived in 1842, via Cape Horn, with a stock of goods which he was to sell as agent for the owners. He opened a store at Oregon City, where he did a thriving business, and in time opened another at Champoeg where, as at Oregon City, he did a considerable business in grain and furs, as well as in general merchandise. He was a member of the debating society in which the provisional government was so earnestly discussed by Dr. McLoughlin, Abernethy and others, as already described. He had also been a member of the grand jury which indicted the murderers of Whit- man, and in fact during the whole period of the organization and existence of the provisional government he had borne in or toward it the part of an active and useful citizen. Together with A. Lawrence Lovejoy, who had made the long winter ride across the mountains with Whitman in 1842-3, he had selected the ground on which Portland now stands, as the site for a future city, and made the first plat of it. But they sold out early and Pettygrove went to California, where he was not successful, having lost nearly all he had made in Oregon, in real estate speculations.
Plummer, like Pettygrove, was a native of Maine though he had learned the trade of a saddler and harness maker in Boston. He had started west in the employ of the quarter- master's office in the third infantry, but left the service at El Paso, crossed Mexico to Mazatlan, and came thence by sea to San Francisco. Here he worked for a time in a hotel, and then came north with Balch.
FIRST HOUSE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.
Built at Port Townsend by A. A. Plummer in 1851. It was for a time the home of all the first settlers at Port Townsend.
LISE AND PROGRESS УТУ ЈОЈ ОБЯЗАНАІ ИІ ЗГИОН ТЕЯІН
Is atsitige fan art Is to smod ort mit & rot asw, JI with referenceto the harbor.
inpany, or perhaps a partner-
for which they were well assorted.
Oregon earlier than the others,
Cape Horn, wwh a stock of goods which boe wowi mad went for the ownlow. He opened a mare at Dres n Dity, liege he did @ lowing business, and. Champreg #ico, a* at Oregon City, he dol a table business in graus and furs, as well as in awe drendise. He was a member of the debating sócony be Agh the pravimional government was so esurely dum 4 by Dr. McLoughlin, Abernethy and others, ar already dum bed. He had also been a member of the grand jury seb indicted the murderers of Whit- man, ind mi fu dawy the whole period of the organization and winme af do prisional government he had borne in or towed ir port of an active and useful citizen. Toperhe wn A Lawtence Lovejoy, who had made the long winter fide the mountains with Whitman in 1842-1, he bal whom the ground on which Portland now stands, . wwf » future city, and made the first plat of it Bor alny . wt early and Pettygrove went to California, where Wy w not successful, having lost nearly all he had made m from, in real estate speculations.
Nummer, like Pempro-, was a native of Maine though he Irad learned the www saddler and harness maker in Boron. He had wareed we in the employ of the quarter- weaver's office in the owl mantry, but left the service at Ht Pianoy ccoszed Mexien m Mazatlan, and came thence by Mix wo San Francisco, Mas he worked for a time in a hotel, wod then came north with Ballek.
-
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OF AN AMERICAN STATE
Hastings had crossed the plains in 1847. He was a native of Vermont, but afterwards removed to Illinois, and early in life learned the trade of dyer and wool carder. He located in Portland, upon his arrival in Oregon, but soon after went to California, where he made money in merchandising. Upon his return to Portland he induced Pettygrove to join him in a trip to the Sound, where both decided to remain.
Of Bachelder but little is now remembered. He appears to have been a man of irregular habits, and it was no doubt for this reason that the partners agreed that if any of them should so far neglect his duties, by reason of intemperance, as to become objectionable to the others, they might acquire his interest at a price agreed upon. This part of the agree- ment was in time enforced against Bachelder, who never perfected his title to his claim.
In May Albert Briggs arrived. In June came Ruel W. Ross, in October Thomas W. Hammond, and in November John Harris. These and others already named were the only settlers who took claims under the donation act in the vicinity of Port Townsend .*
The first building erected, after that of Plummer, was by R. M. Caines, who built a hotel on Water Street, and in it the first newspaper in the place had its office some years later. Houses were put up as quickly as possible for the several families, who doubtless found themselves rather
* They arrived and took their claims in the following order as shown by the record in the surveyor general's office :
A. A. Plummer, Apr. 24, 1851. Albert Briggs, June 25, 1852. Ruel W. Ross, June 1852.
H. C. Wilson, Apr. 19, 1852.
F. W. Pettygrove, Apr. 24, 1852. Loren B. Hastings, Apr. 24, 1852. J. G. Clinger, May 1852.
T. M. Hammond, Oct. 4, 1852.
John Harris, Nov. 1, 1852.
Benjamin Ross, Dec. 1, 1852.
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THE RISE AND PROGRESS
uncomfortably crowded in Plummer's cabin. The first to be got ready was Wilson's and the next Clinger's.
The principal business of the time, at all points on the Sound was in cutting piles and squared timbers for the Cali- fornia market. San Francisco, at first a city of tents, had already been burned and rebuilt several times. In the rebuilding much of the timber in the immediate neighbor- hood of San Francisco Bay had been cut and used, and after the great fires of May 4th and June 22d, 1851, which swept away more than $10,000,000,* the forests of Oregon, and particularly of the Puget Sound country were called upon to provide material for another rebuilding. The long wharves which had been built of material which this region had already supplied, were also destroyed, and although a large part of Yerba Bunea Cove was now to be filled in with the debris which the repeated fires had left, new wharves were still needed, and the Sound country was called upon to furnish the material. The demand for what the settlers could most easily furnish was therefore good, and their business prospered. Pettygrove had brought with him three ox teams. Briggs also owned some cattle and a few horses. The little colony at Port Townsend was therefore well equipped for getting out piles, and squared timbers to be sawed in the mills at San Francisco when they arrived there, and the firm of Plummer, Pettygrove & Hastings did a thriving business in this line. During the summer of 1852 and the winter following they sent three cargoes to San Francisco-one by the brig James Marshall, one by the brig Wellingsly and one by the bark Amelia. They also kept a general store in which they did a profitable business.
* Bryce's California, pp. 385-389.
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OF AN AMERICAN STATE
The Puget Sound customs district was established in 1851 .* The custom house was located at Olympia, but an inspector was stationed at Port Townsend. Henry C. Wilson was given the appointment, and he was therefore the first public official, as well as the first to make a land claim, in the new city.
During this first year the Indians living in the neighbor- hood gave the settlers some annoyance, though they caused them but little anxiety. The Clallams were always more truculent than most of their neighbors. The Hudson's Bay people had trouble with them on more than one occa- sion, and it was not until Dr. McLoughlin had sent Erma- tinger to show them what the cannon of the Cadborough could do upon occasion, that its traders could do business among them with safety. Their temper had not been improved by the quality of fire water with which the cap- tains and crews of the early lumber ships had supplied them. They looked upon the arrival of white people who began to cut timber, build houses, and give other indications of an intent to remain permanently in their country, with evident displeasure, and they early served notice on them not to cultivate the ground and to cease cutting their trees. They offered no violence, however, though their conduct gradually became more annoying until the surveying steamer Active visited the harbor during the summer. Her brightly polished cannon, displayed on the upper deck, perhaps recalled to their minds their experience with Ermatinger and the Cadborough, and thereafter they gave the settlers but little annoyance.
The next new settlement in point of time was made in the Duwamish Valley, on ground which the city of Seattle has
* By the act of Congress approved February 14th of that year.
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THE RISE AND PROGRESS
already begun to invade. In the fall of 1851 Luther M. Collins, Henry Van Asselt and Jacob and Samuel Maple came to the Sound country from California. Collins had selected a claim on the Nisqually, and had been well known at the headquarters of the Puget Sound Agricultural Com- pany, before going to the gold fields. Van Asselt had crossed the plains in 1850, and spent one winter in Oregon. He then went to California in company with James Thornton, Charles Hendricks and two others who had been his travel- ing companions of the preceding year. After working five weeks in the mines their water supply gave out, and, having cleaned up about $1,000 each, they concluded to return to Oregon. On the way they fell in with the two Maples, Hill Harmon, who had chosen a claim near where Tacoma now is, and Collins, who persuaded them to look over the Sound country before locating elsewhere. They were not satisfied with the prospects in the neighborhood of Collin's claim. Van Asselt had been born and grown to manhood in Holland and, like the early Dutch settlers in New York, as described by Irving, probably thought he wanted a place where dykes were required and piles could be easily driven. Collins, in his travels about the Sound before going to Cali- fornia, had seen a fine stretch of level river bottom land, such as Van Asselt seemed to be looking for, and rather than see his friends return to the Willamette, he offered to escort them to it if they would go. A canoe, with a party of Indians to paddle it, was accordingly procured and Collins, Van Asselt and Jacob Maple, accompanied by Van Asselt's friends, Thornton and Hendricks, and a man named Balland, set off down the Sound on the morning of September 12, 1851, for Elliot Bay. On the evening of the 14th they camped on its western shore, and on the 15th entered the
EDWARD HANFORD.
One of the early settlers in King County. In the '50's he was a well-to-do farmer in Van Buren County, Iowa. He crossed the plains in 1853 with his family. His donation claim taken in 1854 is now a part of the city of Seattle.
Ekurse
SE AND PROGRESS
аЯОРИЕН ДЯДШАЯ
odt mi wimno il mi ansluta Mais alto Luther M.
Klimat an diew >81 mi anish Jacoband Samuel Maple orij to asq & won el Are not are Californiarob Collins had 91+1692 10 vtip ly, and had been well known
-- Puget Sound Agricultural Com-
, bevore o w/ fields. Van Asselt had crossed Mari beth Ad pent one winter in Oregon. He Timo www ms Callme in company with Juives Thornton, Qualex Henk-a -drvo others who had been his travel- ing compan preceding year. After working five week in th ) ; Water supply gaveout, and, having cleaned wp each, they concluded to return to Oregon Do way they fell in with the two Maples, wd chosen a claim near where Tacoma
who persuaded them to look over the Sound wy w locating elsewhere. They were not uvidod propects in the neighborhood of Collin's clary Ve had been born and grown to manhood the early Dutch settlers in New York, adrally probably thought he wanted a place where dikes . mupaired and piles could be easily driven. Colline m & os about the Sound before going to Cali- fornia, bad Ane stretch of level river bottom land, such as Van A Mi memed to be looking for, and rather ilvan see his hemodi return to the Willamette, he offered na wwcort them os wo they would go A canoe, with a party alleGor to pad die in, was droidingly procured and Collins, Ka boel and Jacob Micoin, occompanied by Van Asselt's Themenn and Hendeils, and a man named Balland, Sound on the morning of September 12, Bay On the evening of the 14th they tern whore, and on the 15th entered the
Edward. Hanford
105
OF AN AMERICAN STATE
Duwamish River, which they ascended for a distance of three or four miles, carefully examining the land along its shores as they went.
Van Asselt was pleased with it, as John C. Holgate had been when he explored it alone a year earlier, and then wrote to Edward Hanford's family in Iowa that he had found a place that would admirably suit them and him for a future home. All the party were pleased with it, in fact, and Van Asselt and Maple determined to make their claims there. Collins also determined to locate there if he could dispose of his place on the Nisqually, and this he arranged to do, on the way home, selling it to Balland for $510. He then took for his claim the very ground which Holgate had selected for himself and his sister's family, the Hanfords, though when he saw it he did not know that the donation act had become a law, and there was no land office then established at which he could make application for it, or take other measures to secure it. It is the ground on which George- town, the principal suburb of Seattle, now stands. The two Maples took the claims next adjoining above this, and Van Asselt's adjoined theirs again on the south. Thornton and Hendricks did not take claims at this place; the former subsequently settled at Port Townsend, while the latter returned to Iowa.
The peculiar formation of this valley, in which these first arrivals had now determined to make their homes, deserves a mention here. It lies parallel with the Sound, is something more than thirty miles long, and with a sharp bend toward the west near its southern end, extends from the head of Elliot Bay at Seattle to the head of Commence- ment Bay at Tacoma, and is from two to five miles wide. Well toward its southern end White River enters it from the
106
THE RISE AND PROGRESS
east, flows northward until it unites with the Black, and is then called the Duwamish until it falls into the Sound. The Puyallup flows through its southern end into Commence- ment Bay. The Puyallup and the White rivers are united by a channel called the Stuck, some six or eight miles in length, through which the waters of both rivers, in ages past, have flowed sometimes in one direction and sometimes in the other, giving to each river upon occasion two outlets.
This valley was evidently once a part of the Sound, and the highland west of it was an island, like Vashon, which lies near it. The valley has been filled up in the slow proc- ess of ages by the detritus which these rivers have brought down from the mountains and uplands, and its soil is as deep as the waters were that once filled the space it now occupies .*
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