The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-11-14
Friday. November IA. 1879
4 Renaissance OF EARLY TIMES.

Thursday, Nov. 18th. 1879. WAS the
twenty-eighth anniversary Of the land
ing on Puget Sound Of the founders OF
Seattle. They came from Portland
Oregon, on the schooner Exact. aud
consisted Of Messrs. W. N. Bell, c. d
Boren. A. A. Denny and John Low.
with their wives and children. and
Messrs. d. T. Denny and Chas. c.
Terry, unmarried. though the lady who
subsequently became Mrs. D. 7. Den
ny was one Of the vessels passengers.
They passed what is now Seattle and
went on TO Alki Point. where they
found half finished, unoccupied log
bou.e. The eel ooner landed them and
their effects on the beach at low tide.
and TO prevent injury by the incoming
sea all had to take hold and carry the
articles beyond high water mark.
When this WAS done. the women sat
down on log End wept bitterly. And
we'll they might. for the prospect before
them was OF the most discouraging
character. There wasn't town, saw
mill, military pest. or settlement OF
any kind. that they knew OF, north OF
Steilacoom. A couple Of weeks esrlier
Msssrs. McNstt. Buckley. l.. n. Col
Inns and one or two other pioneer citi-
zens had come down the Sound and
located up the Duwamish. aud With
their exception the Exact's passengers
we're the only white inhabitants OF
what is nov Kiug. Slobomish. Kitsap
and other northern counties. These
people had come from the Eastern
states. Thousands Of miles, for the pur
pose Of making new homes. and there
was no going back with them. They
settled themselves comfortably Is they
could for the winter. looking around
the Sound in the meantime. They con-
cluded that this was their point. and in
the early spring, prepared to move
On the Sd OF April. Messrs. Bell and
Boren, accompanied by DR.. Maynard.
who had joined the party in the mean.
time. settled on tho townsite OF what
il now Seattle. They amicably divided
the front DR.. Maynard choosing the
southern part Of town. including what
was then known - the island; Mr..
Boren taking the claim adjoining, and
Mr.. Bell going further north. A month
later, the Messrs. Denny came over A.
A. locating between Bell and Boron.
and d. T. taking the place north aud
east OF Bell. Each Of these claims was
for SEQ acres, except DR.. Msynard's.
which was for $40. A little later, Mr.
Terry came over. aud secured part Of
tho Boren claim. aud later still Mr..
Yesler. who was given u long strip Of
twenty rods in width for building here
Puget Sounds first steam sswmill
From this on. Seattle grew almost IN
oeasingly. its worst and almost only
check being caused by the Indian war
Of 1855 and 1856. OF the gentlemen
named in tho foregoing. Messrs Col
Inns, Maynard. Terry and Buckley.
have long since gone over to the
great majority" Messrs. Yesler. Bell
aud tho Dennys are worthy and re-
spected citizens OF our live and pros.
porous town. every step in the advance
Of which they have marked With pride
aud pleasure; Mr. McNa.t 10 . we'll to
do farmer on the DuwAmish /; Mr.. Low
is citizen Of Snohomish county, and
Mr.. Boren at present . miner of the
upper Skagit diagings. The local
changes Of the past twenty-eight years.
witnessed by these men are wonderful
enough. but are insigniican. in impor-
lance compared with the certain
changes OF the next twsnty-eight.
We trust the lives OF the survivors
will long be spared. mud that their
foudest snticips.ions concerning Seattle
will be realised before they are called
upon to leave It.