The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-19

THE SEATTLE POS
Of the leading spirits in the Ladies' Relief
Society.
He was well educated end while clerk
ing in Nevada City. Cal. he esvs lessons
in German to him who Afterwards became
Senator Sargent and minister Of the
United States to Germany. The only
blood rotation he has In this city d Julius
Kahn, Who 10 his grandnsphsw. He leaves
. younger brother. J. L 0atssrt. In Chi.
cago. and sister IN Matches. Miss Be.
sides these he has Q number Of nephews
and niscss in this country and In Geo.
many.
Three years ago the frm Was reorgan.
lied, the member disposine Of part Of
their interests T. the old employee Mr..
Gatsert then resigned the position q resi-
dent partner and manager. which he
had held for twenty years, and went 70
Europe. accompanied By his wife, for the
purpose Of regaining his health, which
had become impaired BY too close applica-
ton to business, and last October returned
to the city, very much refreshed by his
long recreation. He ct once resumed his
active connection with affairs and TO all
appearances had many years before him.
The last business meeting that hs At
tended was but short time ago. when he
was sick. but before be had been COM
PEELED 20 take to his bed. At this meeting
v~A 80 >hVrsl tha Gnh~A-
bacher building ON Yesler avenue and
Commercial street, and to organize . new
company, distinct from their other store.
to be known - the Schwabacher Bros. 4
Co. Hardware Company. It was his in.
tention that this should b the largest
Wholesale and retail hardware store on the
Pacific coast north Of San Francisco. and
sufficient money was subscribed BY Mr..
Gatzert and his associates to put their de-
sign into execution.
Mr.. Gatzert was . warm friend Of John
Leary and when the latter built the fastest
stern wheel steamer on the Pacific coast he
called her the Bailey Gatzert, - . COM
pliment 70 . friend Of over thirty years.
standing.
He was taken sick with . cold about
three weeks ago, which developed into 10
grippe, and subsequently e.ysipelas set in.
from which he had been recovering since
last Thursday, when Saturday night at 10
o'clock he had . severe attack of acute
0dema Of the lungs. a. complication OF
heart weakness which had been Q COM
paint Of long standing with him, but not
considered serious.
my acquaintance with Mr.. Gatxert,"
said 8. L. Crawford, who has known him
almost from boyhood, ''dates from the
autumn Of 1876. when the members Of the
territorial legislature made trip to Seattle
and were entertained by the city. Al.
though Seattle had at most 1900 inhabi-
tants 1t the time, Mr.. Gatzert. who was
mayor, took care that the visitors were
entertained most Hospitality. A reception
was accorded them and banquet at the
Occidental hotel, followed by . ball at the
Pavilou or Yesler's hall, on Front street.
Mr.. and Mrs. Yesier were both present
and took the heartiest interest in tho fes-
tivities. l accompanied the members a.
an officer Of the legislature and was 90
favorably impressed with the city that
came hero in the succeeding year and made
it my homo. OF course from my earliest
years had heard of and known Mr..
Gatsert BY reputs - the head OF the firm
Of Schwabacher Bros. & Co.. but my per-
sonA acquaintance with him dates from
1875
"Mr. Gatsert's characteristic, and what
chiefly distinguished him from other sue
cessful men Of this city, was his strict ap-
rlication to business and his capacity for
mastering detail. From the time that he
was first employed in Schwapacher Bros
store in Walla Walla until he resigned his
position - manager Of their establishment
in this city. the merest matter Of detail
did not escape him. He spent % many
hours in the store and was a. familiar
with all the branches of the business as
any of the employees. Mr.. Gatzert has
always been recognized rs one of the lead.
ing and most valued citizens. He was
first president of tho Chamber of Com
merce and held that Office until he re.
signed to 60 to Europe in 1880 During
my connection with the Posr-INrELLI-
sENcER extending over period of more
than thirteen years. I frequently had occa-
sion to call upon Mr.. Gatzert at all hours
Of the night to obtain his opinions upon
matters of public interest In every in
stance I was received with the greatest
cordiality. and always found him willing
to express his opinions freely upon all
matters Of public veal. There was no un.
certainty about his utterances. and on
any subject Of public interest one
always knew how Mr.. Gatzert stood.
Those were the days Of the anti-C Chinese
agitations and consequential disorders.
and throughout the whole OF those turbu-
lent times his influence was always on tho
side Of law and for the preservation of or.
der, at a time when that meant much more
than 1t does now. From the organization
of the volunteer fire department to the i'm
PRODUCTION Of the present system I was q
volunteer fireman, and recall many in.
stances OF Mr.. Gatzert's generosity. The
Schwabachers were unfortunate on several
occasions, when fire that originated on
adjoining property spread and consumed
theirs. In such cases Mr.. Gatzert never
failed to recognize the efforts of the fire.
men in substantial manner. Mr.. Gatzert
was eminently q practical man, and was
charter member Of most organizations to
aid In developing the resources of the
city. and although he was a prudent
man. project had bu. to appeal
to his business judgment or his sense of
fairness and he was certain to assist it with
his pocketbook. His wealth is difficult to
estimate as the bulk of it was no, in real
estate. but consisted Of his interest in the
Schwabacher company. bank stock and
other business enterprises. His absolute
faith in the ultimate success of Seattle as
city was another of Mr. Gatzert's pscu-
HaritIes. and he never wayered in the