The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-26
M'GRAW'S EARLY LIFE
TESTIMONY OF MANY FRIENDS.
NeGrsv Bros. Failed Because So Many
Debtors Could Not Pay Tbem-Un-
fortunate, But Not Dishonest

1914 Fourth street, who lived in the villsgs
where John II. AcGraw spent his boy hood and
who knew him until he left for the West. Her
came IL Mrs. Julia F. Smart end she IL lady of
unusual intelligence. refinement and education.
She is a daughter OF Col J. Fostcr, who for
many years did an immense business on the
Pepobsco' river-so large. indeed, thai when he
died mis- book assets alone amounted TO between
$4,000 and $4,000. She is a granddaughter OF
BENJAMIN Brown. of vassalboro, Me-, one OF the
weaIthiest men OF the state in his time She
belongs 10 the best families OF the state and
her fathers house was the largest in Danfor.h
my fathers house" she SAID last night, was
within o short distance of the farm OF Elisha
fitzpatrick. and my first recollection OF John
NcGrsw was seeing him, little fellow, hce!ny
and working from morning until night Ills
folks were very poor, but quite respectable. /
read what Mr.. Amos Brown said about the old
boots, and know it TO be tue, because his
teacher told me about it But ii must not be
supposed that John need ever have felt any
modification. When he began TO grow up there
was no house too good or any family too well of
20 make him welcome. He was O very manly
fellow, and it 10 absolutely false that he was
fast or dsssoiute remember that he was very
fond Of horses, and when he was in business no
had one he thought lot Of That II his fast
team-the horse cost $50, think. The only ex-
travagance ever knew him TO be guilty of was
buying silk hat once. That was great extraya-
gancs In our little. old-fashioned village
When the McGrsw's failed, hundreds OF peo-
pie owed the firm for goods II Mr. MeGraw
ought to pay his creditors, ough. no: his debtors
70 pay him? ! tell You that when the failure
took place there was very genera distress. NV
husband owed John McGrax, and we had no
ready cash. There were many who had farms,
lands and produce, but no money. My husbaDd
had none, but he turned over house, barn and
lot-worth about S30o-and that Is the property
Nr. McGraw turned over % Frank Buttarf
II 10 not true that Mr.. McGraw had no title TO it,
81 READ the list OF names given in the Tacoma
Lsdgsr and see very. very few whose word can
be taken. Oh the others Robert Speed and his
wife cheated my mother out OF lot of goods,
yet my mother reared his wife from a child
John Corson, another OF them, wa. a thriftiess
fellow. who was more likely to owe
grocery bill than lend money. He
stabbed his brother Jim in the bscs Eve
times and was sent 20 jail Another one,
my father had arrested for theft and he was
twice in Jail 10 my knowledge. Another one,
who says John borrowed money of him. was
notorious usurer. who wouldn't have scrupied
70 seize old widow COW ii she owed him
dollar. One OF the women mentioned was dis
owned by her family for living with man not
her hus and
"Why did the Ledger not interview Josiah
Russell. stewart & Woodcock. the firm McGraw
worked for. or S ephen smith. or varney Put
nam, AZ true a gentleman ever lived? Why
didn't they ask Mrs Snow about McGraw? She
would have told them that he would have been
heartily welcome 70 the &i1Q
1.-The Tact is that Mctiraw Bros failed because
the system OF credit In Maine is very general
and they could not get cash in the year they
failed. know that the failure WIS not consid
cred disereditabis, and even in that staId Old
place, where gossip is prevalent and mems
misdeeds are severely criticised. nobody then
blamed Sctiraw was a married woman at
that time and tooK great Interest in the boy
whom my mother and so often watched at
worx from our window. He was a bright,
lively, manly boy ms he grew up. aud was gen
esal fayorite. When in business he was over
generous, and II he had exaeted payment for
provisions instead OF trusting his customers for
them, h. might have become a misarly, stfngy,
Cloee- fsted dealer like many q village store
keeper IN the East, ami would not have had to
bcar errosch for his debtors defaults. know
kcGraw was aa honorable boy: l cannot bo-
lave he can be- otherwise a man.
Frank A. Ponsus. WAC was In business in Sc
attic for years. has been county treasurer, and
whose exalted character needs no extolling to
anybody in this city. has voluntarily written to
the Posr INTsLLI6EscRR IS warm and unequiv-
ocdl commentator of Mr.. McGraw as any man
could ask II is as follows:
ToTHS EDITOR As Il resident OF this city for
maay years aud Que VIII, has been intimately
acquainted with Hon. John II. McGraw-Repub-
l!can Candidate for governor oi this s'ate-since
he arst came To seattle ! take Plea 'ure In t,su-
fyl3= ~ - the many good and nohis qualities
wh.ca ! know he possesses He has friends by
the hundret III Seattle who Will Join ne in tes-
,ify!ng to his many icsds Of K ndness and To
bis honorable and straighttorwar! dealings
toward all Hs has always commanded the en-
tie cont 'tlre. respect AMI crot viii of those
with whom he has become ae9uainted
Met'iav has bAen go1d friend To many
poor man, aud has always been ready and will
lag 70 assist him when called upon to do so.
He has contributed libsrally when petitions
have bean IN circulation soliciting aid Tor sny
person or charitable purpose. Mr.. NcGraw Is =
gentleman in every sense oil The word He
needs no recommendation among his thousands
o. friends in this city and throughout the entire
state of Washington. but To those who have
never Ia the pleasure to meet aud become &C
cusiated with him IL gives me great pleasure To
express my kind feeling Tor such q man a.
know him 10 be.
became personally acquainted with Mr.. No
Graw when he first arrived in seattle, about ak
teen wears sgo; knew him well during the time
he run the American Exchange hotel, which
was for only a short time Seattle had at that
time population OF isss than $500 persona
This hoiel Was considered ~ respectable as ANY
other In the city. | never knew of any gam
bling den" being Kept OF run by him, or his
hs!Ug interested In such place; think 1 would
have known OF il had 10 been true. The state
ment that be run a gambling den" or had
anything to do with such place 10 positively
false FRANK A. foNrIUa
Thomas W. Prosch was asked yesterday what
BE knew, good or bad. OF John Ill. &ctfesw. lie
replied that he had known Mr.. McGraw six
teen years. or ever since the latter came 10 the
country. At that time Mr.. Prosch was publish
ing a sfuan daily morning newspaper in Seattle.
He was not only proprietor of II, but editor.
rostoT prsssmap. collector and. in the small
business quarter, carrier. Mr.. MctiEaw Was
soln ia charge OF the American house, : second
class establishment on Mil street, the
leading hotels at the time being the Occidental
saa the New England In the pursuit Of his
business. Nj Prosoh quickly made the scquala-
tau,c 81 Mr.. Mc6saw. aud csy after day raised
Rud entered the American house He knew it
wall AVID never saw in IL anything he can now
recall that vss more out Of the way than be has
frequently seen il the Occidental snd Teeks let
hotels. under the personal management OF NJ
JOAN Colilius. or in the facons siuce is owner
shipby Mr.. Nelson Bennett. The acquaintance of
Nsssrs AeGraw aud ProscA 5000 became inf
nate and friendly, and has 80 continued from
that time 20 this They have been associated
tegviher In social and pahlie Affairs ia business
sad ia politics, and prosch ivels that ne knows
NcGraw thoroughly. and he sAss - have ever
found him honest from principle true - steel.
Yeiiable ia wor: snd deed. b NJ e. fault law.
amding, neightorsy, trustwurshy in every
rsspect ard honorable To degree no; exec,!s,i
By sny man living. Though scsloa. in his
e1GerIss Kings, McGrsw never stopped 20 any
thing lcx or dirty. tie has worn we'll those
Who know him best like him most, and IL IS i'm
possible 20 mske them believe he was differ
90 or worse man In Maine than hs has been il
Washing loa."
II & Brien, OF Mar ;in Creek, is in the city.