Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-04-29


The >. +. Alta treats its readers To a
few early day "reminiscences in the ar
ticie following:
Some incidents Of men who were and
are still identified with one of our most
important branches of trade-the ium-
Der interest-will be the subject Of the
presen: sketch. In conversation with
old hands We learn that as early as 1916
the Russiaris had lumber mill at Be-
dega. This was purchased prior to
December, 1873, by "A Connecticut man,
who bought the brig Sabine at that time
to carry the lumber. Harry Meiggs had
Il mill at that place afterward In 1850.
and about 1852 built mill at Mendo-
c.no at an expense of $4,000 This
proved failure and another Was built
about six miles further up the river.
This one WAS burnt down. The first
lumber mill Of which we have any re-
liable record that was built on Puget
Sound, was erected in 1851 by j. J. Felt.
who IS now in this city. II was at Ap-
pie Tree Cove, near Port Madison. This
was s.fterward sold to q. A. Melgs, VINO
moved 1t to Port Madison. Meigs is at
present numbering on the Sound. The
next mill Was erected at Port Ludlow In
ls52 by Messrs. Sayward now rancning
at Los Angeiosl a. Thorndyke NOW ia
this city. This mill was finally sod 20
Amos d Phinney. Nr. Pope, of Pope
d Talbot. located his land at Port
Gamble in 1850. Mr.. Keller, partner in
this firm, subsequently went to the
Sound, and went tlrst to Port Discovery
and next to Port Ludlow. both of which
sites he found occupied, and proceed
ing on, reached Gamble, where he To-
Gated. The firm contracted in the East
for mill. which was brought out in the
brig l.. Z. Fnster IN 1873. and landed
there by her. Mr.. Talbot came here about
tho same time and joined the firm.
Joseph A. Coolidge, at present Secretary
Of the Merchants Exchange, was with
the firm In 1862. Both Pope and Tai
tunes, and tho business is now Con-
Quoted by their sons, who are active and
enterprisipg young men. Howard X
kcnton (the former dead located at
Port Orchard in 1852. Mr.. Renton is
still in business AS partner in tho firm
OF Ren,on. Holmes d Co. with their
present mill at Port Blakely. Grennan
Il Cranney located and built mill in
the carly sos at Utsalady and it Was
finally Dough. by Pope d Talbot. A. III.
Simpson arrived here in 1850 in the
bark Birmingham and proceeded direct
TO Stockton with her, where he sold his
cargo and started in business. He sub
sequently formed partnership with
Samuel Jackson and proceeding to the
Columbia River in 1852. built mill.
A. M. Simpson is still an active man
here in tho lumber trade, and il ably
assisted by Captain Robert, his brother.
Neefus & Tichnor built n mill at Port
Oxford in 1851. N. Il. Tichnor, although
man Of large wealth, will not sit down
and cat bread in idleness. He il still
as active and CO-ahead business man
al can be found down town. Alternately,
Clarke Il Co., the former dead and the
latter now in Philadelphia. built a mill
a. Oak Point, Oregon. in 1853. Chas
Hanson arrived here in 1853, in the
steamer America, and, like all our pio-
necrs, went hard to work. He started
in early, running q little vessel named
the Julia to Redwood City. He still
owns the little craft. and has from that
small beginning become the head of the
wealthiest lumber firm here. Hanson &
Co.. and is an energetic business man
and n most popular gentleman. Like
Pope 4 Talbot. he owns quite feet of
large vessels and does large business,
both domestic and foreign. Captain
Sam Blair arrived here early, and start
ed in AS soon as no arrived. He was
captain of the schooner j. X. Whiting,
in which he made frequent trips to the
Columbia River and the Sound. He
went up little by littls, and bought ves-
sci after vessel, until, ut the present
time, he has large fleet of ships and
schooners. He deserved success and at
tanned it, and may lac live long ~ enjoy
II. We.hsfbee & Irwin were in the
lumber business hero in 1852. Mac
Pherson became partner with Wether-
bee afterward. and in 1855 had the Noyo
Mills. A MIR. Dallas started in ut Al
bion River early in tho SOS, and ran "A
mil there.
The first lumber mill in Oregon was
put up by Lot Whitcomb and Msssrs.
Meek a. Llcwellyn as sarly as 1879. 1t
was water mill, and was erected AT
Milwaukee. about six miles above the
present site of Portland. They had
inmber in San Francisco III lS!9, and
sold IL hero AT $500 u thousand. The
brig Sacramento went there for lumber
III icsD. All these men came across the
PLAINS in lsii and brought quantity
of apple trees with them. They plant
ed them and the business of apple rails
ing became so good they finally gave
up the lumber bssiness and adopted the
other. at which they made considerable
money. Meek died last year and Alew-
cllyp Is still living IN Oregon. Lot
Whitconh built the first steamer in Or
egon. which WAS named after him. She
came down here in 1854, having been
sold 70 Alternately, Clarke 4 Co. John
kentfieid. at present here, as the head
of the firm Of John ksntfeld Il Co.. ar
rived here on jnly sth, ls4.t. on the bark
Aim. He went right to work along the
wharves and subsequently had a mill in
the rcd woods. San Matco county. II.
built several vessels in early tinncs, Bell
the shipwright, At present here, being
associated with him. Mr.. kentfsld II
still hale aud hearty. doing = good bust
ness in llmbcr, in which We hope no will
long prosper. VIM. Nicely Thompson.
samuel Perkins and Mr.. Blackburn
were IN the lumber business early, and
IL We mistake not. were interested in a
mill at santa Cruz Thompson was en-
gagged at the Columbia river in 1889.
jackson aud Dean went to the Colun-
bia river in 1851 in the schooner Harriet.
They were gone year and wore gwen
up for lost. when they returned in ls52,
having been TO the Sound and other
places. Henry Mathews arrived here In
ls47. and went into business. He start
ed lumber mill at Bo.inss early in the
SOS. and did good business, he - now
living in afisuence ia Oakland with his
family. all of whom are much respected.
MAY their shadows never grow less.
In those times the big ships trading to
the Sound for lumber were the bark Ma
donna. now Legal Tender. bark Vernon.