The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-30
THAD HANFORD DEAD.
Pioneer in Daily Journalism
Here Passes Away.
EDITOR OF THE iNTElIIcENCsR,
He Helped Pound the Daily Vita Da-
y1d Higgtns-A College Professor
and o Farmer.

Taad8euz Hxnfsrd, well known for
us&nv yez-x n Seattle. died yesterday
morning Al Provi6rnee hospital from the
effects Of injuries received ten days ago
81 a fagl from fhe Grant street bridge into
fae water. At she time Of the accident be
vzs gszg along the bridge, and in the
e&rknsSs Ens5e E1isstep and was precipi-
faae8 twelve or fifteen feet down. He
hraks hss leg IN the fail and was obliged
80 stay In the water ciinging 70 a pile for
nearly az hour. He also received severe
internal abdominal injuries which caused
bis death He passed away at 9 O'Clock in
the morning surrounded BIZ his brothers
sna friends. He was A years old.
Thzd6eus Hanford was the eldest child
OF Edward and Abbie j. Hanford, who
were among the very first settlers of Sc
attic. They came across the plains in 1853,
end after a sojourn of year or so in
Oregon they came 70 Seattle and took up
large tract OF land in the southern part of
the city, which is still known as the Han
ford donation claim" The junior brothers
were Cornelius H, Frank, Eiwood and
Clarence. all of whom survive Thaddeus
and reside in Seattle. Cornelius II. is
judge Of the United States district court
for the district OF Washington, Frank is
the senior member of the insurance firm
OF Hsnford & Beach, Elwood is the junior
member OF the firm Of Booth & Hanford.
abstractors. and Clarence is member of
the publishing and stationery house of
bowman & Hsnford. The mother also
survives her eldest son.
Thaddens was born at Winchester, Ia.
December IL. 1871. In 1852 the family
moved 70 San Francisco, where Mr.. Peter
sayther. wealthy banker, saw Thaddeus,
and taking a great fancy to him, asked
the privilege of giving him college edu-
cation. to which the family assented, and
under the patronage of this gentleman he
vas sent 10 Rochester university, New
York, and went through that institution,
being graduated therefrom with high
honors. After his graduation in 1870 he
returned 20 Seattle, and soon after ac-
cepted the chair of professor of languages
in the McMinnyiile college, at McMinnyilIe,
Or, and sfterward held similar position
in the Vacaviile, CAL, college. He then
returned to Seattle and accepted the chair
OF professor of ancient and modern
languages in the Territorial uniyer-
sity. Here he began to write for
the WEEKLY ISTELLIGESoER and was assoc
ciated with David Higgins in the founding
OF the DAILY IETELLIGEscER on June /,
1876. His editorial duties then took his
whole time and he gave up his chair in
the university. He was a forcible and
graceful writer. When dealing with liter
airy subjects he was scholarly and YER
satile and many an antagonist felt the
sting of his trenchant pen during more
stirring times. The following year he
purchased the Higgins interest in the
paper and became its sole proprietor.
For couple OF years he conducted the
paper with indifferent success, owing
principally to the fact that he devoted
large share Of the earnings of the paper to
several farming schemes which he had on
hand. rather than TO the building up of
the paper. During this time also he pur-
chased the Dispatch, owned by Beriah
Brown, and the Tribune. both daily
papers. and merged them into the
IsTELLIsEseER. In 1880 he sold the
paper to Thomas W. Prosch and
Samuel l.. Crawford, and for a short
time was out of active business. He then
went 10 Oregon, where he conducted large
farm tor a time.
Being Of very active turn of mind,
however, he soon returned TO Seattle and
again became connected with the Seattle
press. He was one of the original owners
OF the Chronicle, started by ]. NJ. Colman
and John Collins. and was the founder of
the Herald. and several other long-since
defunct newspapers. During his long resi-
dence in Seattle he acquired a great deal
of real estate in various parts of the city
and county and ct one time owned several
hundred acres in Oregon and about 600
acres near Gray's harbor in this state
During the past few years. however. his
vast estate has been gradually melting
away like snow before the sun, and at the
time OF his death he had very little of this
worlds goods
lie was a single man, never having mar
RED. His impulses were generous and his
disposition was so kindly that children
were naturally attracted to him. 1t was
no uncommon thing 10 see Thad Hartford
walking along the street leading two small
boys by the hands, with two or three
others following behind. and nothing used
90 delight him more, during his prosperous
days. than TO pick up ragged little urchin
in the street and, after giving him n bath
take him TO a clothing store and treat him
10 new suit from stockings 20 hat. Patsy
Carroll, a waif and weli-known street mr.
chin ofseyeral years ago, would have gone
10 bed hungry and cold many time but
for the generous acts of Thsd Hanford.
Early in the '70's he was admitted to the
bar. and. after his newspaper experience,
he practiced law for short time in Cen
tralis, Lewis county.
Judge Hanford is now in San Francisco.
where he went to sit on the bench in the
United States court Of appeals. The
funeral will be delayed until he arrives.
He was TO have started from San Francisco
today, but was out Of the city yesterday
and word could not be gotten to him. In
ell probability the funeral services will be
held Monday.