The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-21
Eugene II. N'Conaha Dies in This
City of Peritonitis.
FIRST CHILD BORN IN SEATTLE
when Her Eyes Opened On the site
lSS2, IL Was hat . Settlement OF
Four or Five H0uses-Father
Prominent In Territorial Politics
she In survived by Her Mother.

Eugene NJ. MeConaha. the first white
child born in Seattle died yesterday MORN
ing at the residence OF her mother. MIS-
Ursula Wyckoff, i525 Second avenue. she
had been In poor health for the past eshA
or ten years, the primary cause being
severe attack of typhoid fever. Dropsy
followed. The immediate cause OF death
vas oeritonitis.
She was born in a small one and hail.
story frame house. at the corner OF Main
street and First avenue south, SEPTEMBER
IN. 1852 The New England hotel now oe-
eupies the same location. II was mem
orabls occasion to the little settlement.
and the few early settlers that are left
remember it with pleasure. The baby OF
the settlement was the pride Of all ana
the fond parents We're tie SUBJECT OF
hearty congratulations. There We're nos
more than four or five houses. all told,
when Eugene was born, said MIS-
Wyckoff yesterday. ''As l recall them.
these were occupied by the families o. W.
n. Bell. d. r. Denny. A. A. Denny ana
David Maynard. In those days We called
cur abodes 'shacks,' they were such prinl-
tive affairs
The baby as she grew UP, was the pet
OF the settlement. July IL. 1853, o. Q.
Denny was born, and the record said.
1.-THE first male child born in Seattle"
Eugenie MeConaha's mother, who sur
wives her. is still quite vigorous She Is
deeply affected by the death of her daugh-
ter. All of the old-timers say that George
n. McConaha. father OF Eugene. was one
of the most brilliant men that ever lived
in Washington. and his tragic death was
one of the greatest losses that ever befeii
the city.
Her Father 4 Brilliant Man.
Mr.. McConaha was born near Cleveland.
O., January L. $780, He was educated at
Lexington college KY. and completed his
preparations for the practice of law under
that renowned lawyer, Thomas Corwin.
He crossed the plains in 1850. arriving in
Sacramento. Cal. in November Of the
same year. In 1851 he was elected city
attorney OF Sacramento. In July. 1852.
he moved TO Seattle and made his home In
a little house at the corner Of Main street
and First avenue south.
There his daughter E,ugenie was born
September Is. 1852. Mr.. McConaha took
an active part in the discussion relative
to the division of Oregon. He represent
ed Pierce and King counties in the First
territorial legislature, which assembled a,
Olympia, February 81 1854. OF this eele-
brated body he was elected president.
There is little doubt that he would have
been sent TO congress had not his career
been suddenly cut short
Upon the adjournment of the Legislature
he started from Olympia to Seattle in a
canoe, accompanied by Capt. Rarstow and
four Indians. A squall overlook the fraii
craft near yashon island. and it was
overturned. Mcconaha, Barstow and TWO
Indians were drowned. One writer says:
The news of the calamity cast deeper
gloom over our little colony than like
disaster would today; Ii was the occasion
of Seattie's first great sorrow. The press
OF California and Washington declared
The widow Mcconaha married Louis V.
Wyekoff Il native OF Ulster county, " y.
who arrived in Seattle during the latter
par. OF 1Sa2 The marriage took place in
1859. Three years later Mr.. Wyckof was
elected sheriff of King county, a position
he held. with the exception or one wear.
until his death. Practically speaking Mr..
Wyckofy was sheriff for nineteen years.
History says that he was the most popu-
lar officer the county ever had.
Eugene McConaha was a great favorite
with her step-father. She was rs dear 10
him AS his own son. John Van Wyckoff.
In the University.
She became a pupil at the University of
Washington the first day its doors were
opened which was about 1851 She at
tended classes regularly for four years at
the end of wlieh she went to the convent
a. Steiiac0om. She studied there two years
a
what was known as The Snishers school,
In the White river valley. AT the age OF
- years she went 10 Port TOWNSEND
where she taught in The public schools two
years. Owing 10 poor health she Was COM
PEELED 10 give III educational work She
returned to Seattle and made her home
with her mother. When Judge Hall was
on the superior court bench She held a
clerical position for two years In the pro-
bate department.
Although she was In poor health during
the past eight or ten years OF her life she
did considerable work connected with the
management of her mothers estate. She
was a very able business woman. having
inherited many OF the qualifications OF her
father. She had good legal mind and
would discover The slightest fiaw In legal
documents. She was kini-hearted and
charitable.
Size leaves her mother Mrs Ursula
Wyckor one brother George Met-oriaila
and a haf-hrother. John Van WyckoH
who Is a member OF the local IRE depart
uent. 1.-The brother George vas 4 brilliant
attorney, serving as prosecuting attorney
Of the Third judicial district in the early
seventies. lie came very near losing his
hfe, being kicked on The forehead by q
horse lie ia living IN the country nsgs.
hi,t visits Seattle onee ia a while He
will be present AZ the funeral.
Creates Sensation.