The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-27
AN OLD CITIZEN DEAD.
Interesting Story of Isaiah
Waddell's Life.
HE RAN A PIONEER TIN STORE.
His Demise at McMinnville Recalls
Many Memories-A Father Among
the Odd Fellows.

Isaiah Waddell, better known az like" Wad-
dell, who died at his home ten miles from Nc
Minnville, Or, in the Willamette valley, on
Monoay ct the age of SO years, was one of the
Oldest and best known residents of Seattle
Tor many years. He came to this city in July,
1865, from Boise City, Idaho, and started little
tin store and plumber shop on Mill street, at the
head of Commercial street, where he was joined
in $50 by z. c. Miles. an old friend of his, and
at whose suggestion and advise he came to the
Sound
From the small beginning made by Mr. wad-
dell in ISIS sprang the great house OF 2. c. Miles
Co., and during all OF the intervening years
the business location OF that firm has not
changed more than a hundred yards. While
Mr.. Waddell was splendid mechanic he was
rather careless about the details OF his business
and between the time that ne opened his little
store in Seattle and the time he took Mr.. Miles
in as his partner. the business, like a cows tail,
had progressed downward
Mr.. Wadtell Yves man OF most generous i'm
pulses During the early DAYS OF journalism in
Seattle, when the Intelligencer was printed on
the old image press, now in the possession of
the Young Naturalists' Society, 5. l. Maxwell. its
founder. was compelled to depend upo2 Indians
to assist him in the mechanical, department of
the paper. This assistance was very unreliable
and for several years on weekly publication
day Mr.. waddel would close up his
one of his employees and assist Mr.. Maxwell in
working" off the edition, filing the position
of roller boy; among the most cherished of his
memories were those occasions, of which he was
never tired of telling.
The house of waddell Miles grew and pros
pered until 1885, when Mr.. waddell was over
taken by very serious illness, and for many
weeks lay at deaths door, tenderly cared for by
the Sisters of Providence hospital Not expect
ing to recover he expressed desire to dispose
of his interests in the business to his partner,
Mr.. Miles, in order, in the event Of his death, 10
prevent the business from being throw1 into
the probate court. The sale was consummated,
and the business, started in small way in 1865,
by Mr.. Waddell, has since been carried on by
his partner and friend, z. c. Miles.
Mr.. Waddell gradually recovered from his ILL.,
ness and spent the summer in Squak valley on
the farm OF George W. Tibbetts, aud occupied
his time in blowing out stumps Nh. Tibbetts
furnished the powder and Mr.. Waddeil did the
rest. Country life agreed with him, and ne
located homestead OF leo acres near the Sno-
qualnie river and bought the farm adjoining,
and after ne proved up on his homestead sold
out the two farms for $4,000 Then he travelled
extensively on the Coast, and on returning to
the Sound bought ten acres OF land near Rem
ton. intending to make that his home. Soon
after this, however, he went to Oregon and
bought large farm near McMinnville, where he
Has since resluel anu W mere. alter u month
ness, hesuecunbed to the ravages of fever.
Mr.. Waddell was born and raised in Posey
county, Ind, where he had two uneles and q
grandfather, who were Methodist ministers. As
young man he was q handsome looking fellow
and splendid workman. He was noted for his
even temper, generous impulses and largeness
of heart. Though accustomed to the use OF
liquors all his life, for many years he was a
bright and shining light in the Good Templars
order in Seattle, filing all OF the offices of that
organization. In 1878 he married Mrs. Palmer,
the widow OF an Andersonyille prisoner
who died of consumption. She had two
sons-W. G. Palmer, now of McMinnyiiie, and
F. I. Palmer, OF seattle. Shortly after the birth
OF little daugher both mother and child died.
ana Mr. Waddeu never fully recovered from the
great bereavement AS time wore on he re-
turned to his old habits and made many friends
but he was never exactly the same man. He
became absent minded and was known as the
most forgetful man in town.
A humorous story is told concerning his for
getfulness. One day he left his store to do some
work, and passing saloon, he LETT his tools out
side and went in TO get lemonade. When he
came out he could not remember whittier he
was bound. He didn't want to go back to the
store, so scratching his head, he called q small
boy and said:
sonny, here's 10 cents. Go down to waddell
& Miles tin store and ask Mr.. Niles where Mr..
Waddell is.
As it happened, the boy knew Mr.. waddell,
but he never said word. He took the coin and
arriving at the store, said
"Say. Mr.. Miles, Mr.. Waddell is up on the
corner and he gave me 10 cents 10 come here
aud ask you where he isl"
Mr.. Miles took in the situation immediately
and with an amused smile answered:
''Tell him he is up at Joe McNsught's"
The boy brought the answer back, and Mr.
Waddeli went on his way rejoicing.
Mr.. WaddeI was charter member o, Olive
Branch Lodge, No. !, L o. o. F., the application
for the dispensstion of the lodge having been
made out by Messrs. Waddell, Robert TurnbuI,
who died last Saturday, William Meydepbauer
and two or three Others in the shop of waddell
& Miles, For about twenty years he has held
the position OF wreck master.
His remains will be brought to this city for
interment and they VIII be laid beside those of
his wife and child in the Masonic cemetery.
The funeral will be under the auspices of the
Odd Fellows.