The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-22
THE TWO NOMINEES.
Sketch of the Career of Hon.
John Leary.
ONE OF THE clry.s BUILDERS.
Identified with Her rnt.,..,. s,.
Earliest strusrle.-vic.or Hugo
Smith for Treasurer.


the good will of those n whera as ST. III
owes her supremacy. In DARK DAVIS when
~ seemed as if the STRUGGLE aca.nst tho
Northern Pacific-that most uneon,l con.
test In which all the wealth aud mower
ana influence of many-millioned cor
poration was borne with CRUSHING force
against small band of rcsolute men an
isoiateo but dauntless town. John Iearv
was one OF the handful who stood at the
iront ana gave time, energy and money in
lurtnerance OF its interests. The ebb and
now OF prosperity came on Us rapidly in
Those carrier years; brief spell of adj
sancement would be followed by long
; perieus OF stagnation. Hundreds who
came gave up the fight and left. At times
the one business street of Seattle has been
row OF nall deserted stores; the residence
portion, thin and scattered, seemed like
graveyard Oh deadened hopes, auctions of
GOODS ana household effects were the only
ancldents OF weeks. but amid these trials
John Lcary was always brave and hope
iul. When mems spirits were de-
pressed, his cheering voice with that
OF few others would arouse
them to renewed endeayor, and at each
emergency he would put his hand
IN his pocket and start off some new
industry or float new enterprise. lie
had faced financial disaster in his early
life under circumstances which made re-
cupcration very difficult. and in the midst
of such wonderful possibilities as the
Puget sound country presented to his fore
sight, he could see no reason to be
daunted.
lie was born in 1886 at st. John, New
Brunswick. From 1854 until 1857 he was
extensively engaged in the manufacture
and shipping of lumber, and was also n
large dealer in general merchandise at ST.
John and in the town of Woodstock. lie
acquired comfortable independence, but
the repeal of the reciprocity treaty with
the United States worked disastrous re-
suits and he soon found the work of sew
sral years thrown away.
Mr.. Leary crossed into Maine and en-
gagged in the lumber trade IN Houlton.
The building of the Northern Pacific had
attracted considerable attention, and in
1860 he concluded to visit Seattle and
ascertain for himself whether there were
sufficient inducements for him to locate
there.
Seattle was then mere struggling vii
lage of 1000 inhabitants, offering meager
attractions of business character. Never
thcless, Mr.. Leary made up his mind that
there was future before it. In 1871 he
was admitted to the bar and the firm OF
Mcknight Il Leary was formed. This re-
lationship existed until 1873 when he en-
tered the law firm then composed of Hon.
III. G. Strive and the late ]. c. Haines,
and was partner until 1882, when he re-
tired from active practice.
When Mr.. Leary came to Seattle none
Of the important enterprises which have
made possible its present greatness had
been inaugurated. The most vital period
Of the city's history has just begun. Only
men of the keenest foresight anticipated
and prepared for a struggle, the issue of
which meant the very existence of the city
ITSELF No city so richly endowed by ma
ture ever stood in such a course of action
such need of strong, brave and sagacious
men. Mr.. Leary was among the first to
outline a course of action such as would
preserve the supremacy of Seattle, and
with characteristic energy and foresight
he threw himself into the work A
natural leader, he was soon at the
head of all that was going on.
A pioneer among pioneers, it fell to his
lot to blaze the way for what time has
proven to have been wise and well dl-
rected move When the Northern Pa
citic Railroad Company sought TO ignore
and possibly to commercially destroy Sc
attic, Mr.. Leary became leader of the reso-
lutte men who heroically undertook to
build up the city Independently of the OPP
position of this powerful corporation. 70
this end the Seattle Il Walla Walla rail-
road was built an enterprise which ut the
time served most useful purpose in re-
storing confidence in the business future
of the city. and which has ever since been
a source of large revenue to the place.
There have been few enterprises con-
nected with the development OF Seattle
which have not felt the STIMULATING IN
f,uence of Mr.. Leary's exertions. In 1872
he was principal promoter oil the opera
tion of the Talbot coal mine. From 1873
10 1850. at considerable outlay, he sent out
exploring parties along the west coast to
cane Fiattery. ard on the Skagit and
Similkimeen rivers, the Mount Baker dis
trict and several counties in Eastern Wash
ington The result of these efforts was
moot that Western Washington abounded
In coal and iron and had valuable deposits
of the precious metals.
He orranized a company for supplying
tbe citv with gas, and was Its president
mil tho works we're sold in 1873. The
coaI had tn be brought from Nanaimo, but
be nersisted, notwithstanding the general
fear that the project was altogether too
far ahead of the town.
He was also largely instrumental IN es-
tahlishing the present system OF water
supnlv. The same difficulties presented
themselves in that enterprise, and ms IN
domitable will carried along with him men
who Joined reluctantly and with much
misriyinc consented to put money into IT,
Tn 1854 together with Mr.. III. l.. Hesler.
he put up the finest buiidlng III the city ~
n cost of 500. 900. lie took an active inter
est in the establishment OF the Alaska mail
service he promoted the Chamber OF Com
merce and became its second president;
he was largely instrumental In forming
.the West Coast Improvement Company,
Seattle Warehouse and Elevator Com
,,ny Seattle. Lake Shore Il Eastern rail-
way, West Street 4 North hhu Electro
railway and Union Trunk Inc.
one of his chief enterprises, however
has been the Columbia River Il Puget
Sound Navigation Company, which he or
.anized with a capital of $4,000 and one
of whose principal results has been the
building up of ship-building industry ut
ballard from which has sprung town
l,reer than Seattle was when ne first
came. 1t owns several steamers lhcIui-
ing the Bailey Gatzert, which was entirely
built at Ballard.
In 1881 Mr.. Leary was elected mayor.
He had been the first man 10 urge the
-Ia,,t;ng of the village streets, as he had