The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-02-18
Paul K. Hubbs, Pioneer
And Adventurer

Paul K. Hubbs, conspicuous fip-
ure In the early history of San Juan
island. suffered stroke of apoplexy
at his home here. supposedly Thurs
day evening of last week. and died
Saturday morning without regaining
consciousness. His was strange
character and he lived strange life,
not from force of circumstances or
because of early training and environ
ment. but because he deliberately
chose to turn his lack upon the ways
of civilization and educational advan-
taRes which might have enabled him
to achieve wealth and high honors in
public life and take up his abode in
the wilderness, among the most prim-
tive of the dark skinned people of
the woods and the waters of the great
northwest. He was born Sept. 20.
1882 in eastern Tennessee, where his
father. Col. Paul K. Hubbs, was
wealthy planter and slave holder.
He was also prominent lawyer end
was for some years colonel in the
Pennsylvania militia. BE was per-
sonal friend of President jackson,
who sent him upon an important mis-
sion to France in 1884, where he re-
sided. with'his family, for number
of years. Having met with financial
reverses and being disappointed in
his ambition to secure high judicial
appointment. the elder Hubbs. at
tracted by the roseate stories of the
gold discoveries in California. joined
the vast thronR of Argonauts in search
of the Golden Fleece. leaving with
his family for San Francisco in Oc-
tober. 1849. going around the Horn"
in the sailing ship Susan g. Owen.
In the spring of 1853. ever eager for
adventure. Paul K. Jr., sailed out of
the Golden Gate and came north to
Vancouver island. Attracted by the
semi savage life of the aborigines he
cast his lot with them. For half
century he was q frequent visitor, not
always welcome though seldom mo-
Nsted. in the camps of the various
tribes from the Columbia river to
Queen Charlotte sound. He served
as scout under Major Van Brocklin
in the Yakima Indian war of 1856
and in the same year came to San
Juan island and "squatted" with q
young Indian woman. on what was for
years known as Hubbs' point. The
name was changed to Cattle point
about forty years ago. when the steam
er North Pacific. with cargo of cat
tie. was wrecked there. 1t was Mr..
Hubbs who in 1859 drafted the MEM
orial. or petition, of the twenty nine
American settlers then residing on
the island. addressed to General Har-
ney, asking for military protection
against the Indians and the aggres-
sions of representatives of the Hudson
Bay Company. 1t was in response
to this petition that Capt. Geo. e.
Pickett was sent here from Fort Bell
ingham with his company of the Ninth
Infantry.
Mr.. Hubbs was the first justice of
the peace on the island and the first
United States Court Commissioners
and served as a member of the terri
torial legislature in 1861-62. For
the past twenty years he spent most
of his time in British Columbia. en-
ployed at intervals by the Hudson
Bay Company in trading among the
Indians. He moved here last sum-
mer from Mitchell bay to end his
days, his pension from the. govern
ment affordInR him sufficient income
tc supply his simple needs. About
Christmas he received $3.50 from the
state under the provisions of bill
passed by the last legislature making
an appropriation to pay survivors Of
The Indian wars for their services.
NJ. Hubbs was twice legally mar
ried. His first wife was Miss Ross,
Of Victoria. They had one son, who
if still living. is q man past middle
age. His second wife, whom he mar
ried about fifteen years ago and who
lived with him but a short time and
secured a divorce, was Miss Erwin
Harvey. He is said to have num-
Der of nephews and nisces in San
Francisco. The funeral took place
last Sunday afternoon. Rev. j. =.
Nelson conducting the service. In
terment was in the Valley cemetery
by the side of the late Capt. e. u.
Warbass.
DIR. and Mrs. Muscott expect to
leave here bout the first of March