The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-12

sent, brought him face - face with the wosld at
q time when fortitude and self-reliance ara not
usually numbered among . boys CHARACTER
istica Thereafter he was compelled to7rely
equipment for the struggle before him
was not what IL should have been. His
education had been acquired during
few terms attendance at . country school,, and
1t was no more thorough than the education OF
. lively American boy Of II might reasonably
be expected to be. In spite OF all disadvantage,
however, he succeeded in maintaing hirnself,
and when he was II years old he was empsoyed
as manager Of . general merchandise store. He
continued In this position for four years. and
then embarked In similar business In cGrapa-
ny with . brother older than himself. This bus.
ness occupied his attention for the nexs few
years, although It does not appear to hass en-
crossed him en- tirely. for be was married op Go
tober II. 1874 In the winter of 1s75-76. the arm
of McGraw Brothers was numbered amons the
victims Of the business depression then prevail
ing, and John H was once more thrown alto
gesner upon his So. own resources. This re5erse
offered by his native state, and on July 16, 1876.
he arrived in San Francisco, and : five
months later, December %, 1876. he landed in
Seattle, which he had previously determined to
make his home. Mr. McGraw's situation On ar
irving at Seattle was scarcely better than It had
been when he left the house Of his stepfather
twelve year. before. He was among strangers
II not pennil ess, he was much nearer that com
dition than is reconcilabls with feelings of COM
fort He had no thought Of discoura geuent,
however. On the contrary, he turned with
eager hopefulness to the new life before him.
His first employment in Seattle was a. CLERK at
the Occidental hotel He next kept the A1aeri-
can house, small hotel located near Yesler's
wharf. His misf0rtunes had not ended, BOW
ever, for this hotel was destroyed by fire. assd he
Was again compelled to seek employnent.
the police force Of seattle--then consisting of
four men. Mr.. McGrsw's fortunes were snow
apparently at the lowest ebb He douEtless
thought as he paced his beat at midnight that
bis late was q hard one, and that he was
doomed to poverty and obscurity. In reality,
however, the tide in his fortunes had turned.
favorable current had set in. Unknowfngy
he had entered upon career which was te5givs
him position among the foremost men OF
the Pacific Northwest His abilities attracted
elected him as city marshal, and the city eoun-
Gil also chose him as chief of police. He alled
these Offices. being reelected in 1880 and 1881.
until February 1882, when he was elected sher-
III OF King county to I'LL the unexpred terra of
l. v. Wyckoff He was reelected to this po-
sition In November, 1882. and again in lSs4
During his third term occurred the anti. Chinese
agitation, with its accompanying disturbance OF
the peace. he promptly made known his i5ten-
ton TO uphold the laws and maintain the reace
OF the county at any cost. and it was owfssg to
this positive attitude, we'll - to tact and good
Judgment which he displayed, that the city was
enabled to pass through this ordeal WITHOUT
disastrous conflict between the law-abiding and
the law.defying citizens. Commendable az was
Sheriff McGraw's course during this time 81 ex-
citemenf, however, 1t detracted seriously from
his popularity for a time. He incurred the
hostility OF all who sympathized with the agita-
ton in its lawless phase, and when he was
nominated for reelection III November, 1S&5, he
was defeated, together with all the other cssndi-
dates who had been nominated for cepnty
Offices by his party. During his occupancy Of
the office OF sheriff MI. McGraw had deFoted
much of his spare time to the study OF the law,
and had been admitted to the bar. shortly
after his retirement to private life In March,
1887, he entered into partnership with Roger 8.
Greene, who had formerly been chief justice Of
Washington territory, and C. Fl. HanfOrd, at
present United States district Judge for the dis
trict OF Warrington. and began the practice OF
entered the firm, and under the namg OF
Greene. Hanford, Mcknight & McGraw e be-
came one OF the foremost legal firms OF wash
the active practice OF the law for less chan
two years. As the election Of 1883 approached
his friends insisted that he SHOULD
urged that it was necessary for him to do this
tn order that the people might have an oppor.
tuuity to show that in their calmer mOnsents
they approved his course during the anti.Chi.
nese riots, which by his former defeat they had
appeared to condemn. He consented to become
candidate for the Office and was elected by an
county was undisturbed by riots or agitation,
and nobody had the slightest criticism to rake
upon Mr.. McGraw's official course. In 1893 he
positively refused to be a candidate for re-elec.
ton, and on the expiration of his term retired
to devote himself 10 the service of the Firss Ma.
tional bank, of which institution he n al come
months before been chosen president Mr. Nc.
Graw Is one of the acknowledged leaders Of his
party in the state of Washington. He has 1een
member OF the state central COMMITTEES for
several years, and the chairmanshiD of that
body was urged upon him by Q large majority OF
the delegates to the state convention of 1890,
This position, however, he refused to accept
In the senatorial contest of 1891 he was
the central figure. He supported se,:ator
Watson c. Squire for reelection. and 10 his
faithful and intelligent work the success of
that gentleman was largely due. Mr.. Mcs9raw
was many times during the canvass urges to
become candidate for the senatorship himself,
and there is every reason to believe tha4 he
could have been elected without Difficulty Ho
was faithful in his support of Senator So.1ire,
however, and peremptoriy refused to permit
the use OF his name. So severe were Mr.: Nc
Graw's exertions during this memorable Eena.
torial contest that his health was badly shat.
tered, and he determined to go to Califoruta to
secure the rest which was necessary fer its
restoration. A few days before mis- departc. re he
was presented by his fellow Republicans OF Sc.
attic with magnificent silver service IL. &C.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS of the valuable services which
he had rendered to his party. In referring. to
this presentation tho PosT-INTELLIGENcEe' on
the following morning. February 5, 1891, saia ed
ltOriGlly:
"The presentation made to Mr.. John IT. Nc.
Graw last evening by anumber of his Rer:,bii-
can friends was heartfelt though necessarily
inadequate expression Of the honor in which he
is he'd by his fellow citizens. More par.icu-
larry an acknowledgment of his able, honorable
ana successful leadership in the recent cana.
tOriai contest, 1t was none the less q tribuse to
his worth as a man and q citizen. The present
il proper time to testify to the maIiuer in
which senator SQuire's canvass was condtscted
by Mr.. McGraw. That his generalship was xbIe.
that he was vigorous. keen aud resourceful.~ the
result OF the battle sufficiently attests More shan
this, however, he was open and honorable IL his
methods, and he comes out OF the fight witt the
respect and friendship Of all airminded hen
even OF those who were among the supporters
OF the cause which he overthrow. Mr. Mcf.raw
occupies an enviable position in the stare of
Washington. Honored and respected by men of
all parties, enthusiastically supported b.. his
Republican friends. he 10 unconsciously aypo
representative OF what Is strongest ana beSs in
American citizenship. That he may soon 4. re-
stored to heath. that he may return to tue mtats
OF his adoption strengthened and re;nvigorsted.
is the wish of thousands who arc glad to cali
themselves his friends"
MI. McGraw was one Of ths delegates Il ths
national Republican convention, being tho
unanimous choice OF King county and rece.rjns
the unanimous Endorsement of the stat 2,on.
vention.
Mr.. McGraw has more than supplied tho 54ss.
ciences of his early education. Thoues IA
makes no pretension to SCHOLARSHIP D, he IL or.
ceedingiy Well read and his literary taste i.edi~
crim mating aud correct. He is extremely --,oA.
est AID II seems Impossible for him 10 q Snrs.
ciate his personal and political success =
they should be appreciated. "Of career se,.oss.
rem OF results not much can truthfaiIy be 80
was his reply 90 Q letter asking for A eke,f.s AZ
his LIE. In spite OF his modesty, however, Ms
feliow-citizens value him at his true worth Ind
ne justly holds u position Of influence an 4 h nor