The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-27

Rev. David Edwards Blaine. the founder
OF Methodism on Puget sound ana one
OF the earliest pioneers of Seattle, ulca
at the family residence, corner OF Firth
avenue west and Highland drive. yester-
day morning, of general debility. aged
rs years.
Mr.. Blaine came direct to Seattle from
the state OF New York. in November, isos.
as a missionary and teacher. sent to work
among the Indians. The story or Dis NE
Is In many ways the history or seaftie
and the stirring events following the last
hostile outbreak and final subjugation OF
the Indians who then populated the wood
ed shores OF Puget sound.
Mr.. Blaine had the unique distinction OF
having founded the irst church to be
erected on Puget sound.
II Is a remarkable fact that among the
six pioneer ciergymen who organized ana
began religious work on Puge, sound, not
one death had occurred until Mr. Blane's,
although all those now living are far ad-
vsnced In years They are Rev. p z. Hy-
land. Rev. Daniel Bagiey, Rev. ]. F Da-
mon Rev c. r. whitworth and Rev, r.
X. Prefontaine.
Mr.. Blaine was native of New York
state and a graduate of Hamilton coll
iege. He was received into the East Gen.
esee Methodist conference .ns August. fSiS
and was Immediately transferred 10 what
was then the Oregon conference and as
signed to missionary work on Puget
sound On receiving his appointment he
went to New York city and there was
instructed by the missionary secretary to
report to Rev. Benjamin Clos. then SUI
perintendent of missions for Puget sound
The territory had been set OF from Ore
gon by congress during the preceding
winter
Journey Into wilderness.
Puget sound was an unknown country
70 him and on inquiring where Il was
Mr.. Blaine was told that all that coun-
try lying north of the Columbia river con-
stltuted the Puget sound region.
October 5. 1883. Mr.. Blaine. accompanied
by his wife, both undaunted by the pros
pect of penetrating what was then an
unknown country. started for their new
home. The journey was made from New
York to san Francisco. crossing the
Isthmus Of Panama and from San Fran
cisco to Olympia aboard a sailing vessel.
The young couple arrived at Alk point
on the last Saturday in November. hav-
ing been seven weeks on the way from
San Francisco. They were received into
the rude cabin or settler named Russell.
who located there simultaneously with A.
A. Derns and other pioneers.
The next day being Sunday. Mr.. Blaine
embarked in large canoe which carried
the mail to the village across the hay,
and received his first Impressions OF what
was nearly half a century later destined
20 become the largest city Of the Pacific
Northwest. In biography OF Mr.. Blaine
Ia found the following paragraph:
The next day we came over to Sc
attic IN a largo canoe manned hy a crew
~ Indians. who kept time with the stroke
~ their paddles by n sfng-song refrain
peculiar TO their race. IL was raining
straight down on the smooth surface o.
I n q Ina In H.
country. and one needed some hopeful
ard0r not TO be- little depressed BY the
~ us. unusual and not altogether attrac-
tive surroundings 90 gloomy and unbroken
forests Bur the cordially with which
We were received by Mr.. A. A. Denny and
family was very cheering and ma chron-
icler % the beginning or church work on
Puget sound can neglect In mention the
unvarying Kindness and hsipfulness Of this
family.
AT this time the site 81 Seattle had