Mukilteo, Washington - The City Of "Firsts" - Scene Of Indian Treaty - M. H (part 8 of 14)

One of the new projects, the Snohomish Manufacturing Company, failed in January, 1891, and it was sold to E. C. Ferguson, the principal creditor, for $6,000, to the loss of numerous lesser creditors. William Patterson, shoe merchant, also made an assignment, after twelve years, this being one of the very few retail failures the city had known. A unique undertaking, doomed to early failure, was the organization of a County Board of Trade. This was an ambitious attempt to unite the interests of the entire county. It started with much enthusiasm and with 200 members. The officers were: M. S. Swinnerton, Marysville, president; E. C. Ferguson, vice president; M. J. Hartnett, secretary; W. P. Kingston, Edmonds, treasurer. The executive committee consisted of L. V. Stewart, Edmonds; A. B. Palmer, Arlington; W. B. Shay, Marysville; C. B. Hysom, Fernwood; J. W. Currie, Allen; J. F. Stretch, Wallace; A. H. Eddy, Hartford; A. Robertson, Florence; H. M. Shaw, Sultan; R. Allen, H. C. Comegys and H. Spurrell, Snohomish. The purpose was "to boost the county" ; the membership fee was $2.50 and the monthly dues 50 cents. After much preliminary work a county meeting was called, W. B. Shay of Marysville being the only out-of-town member present. The failure of this project so quickly, shows how divided were the interests of the county at this time and how little the outside communities felt they had in common with Snohomish.

A second attempt was made to form a business men's association, in September, 1891, this time under the name of the Chamber of Commerce. E. C. Ferguson was president; R. J. Mooney, A. Hulburt and W. T. Elwell, vice presidents ; F. H. Lysons, secretary, and E. E. Warner, treasurer, of this organization, which functioned for some time. One great event in its history was when it dined and wined the promoters of the new town of Everett, December 12, 1891. President Ferguson was toastmaster and there were toasts by Captain McDougall, inventor of the whaleback, Governor Swineford of Alaska, Henry Hewitt and Geo. M. Kittinger of Seattle.

Final Incorporation

During 1889 and a portion of 1890, the city government functioned under the incorporation of 1888, with the trustees as the managers. Under this administration of affairs gravel was used on the streets for the first time and other improvements were made. Snohomish and a number of other cities of Washington found to their dismay that their incorporation was invalid, according to the ruling of the Supreme Court, which threw them back to the status of unorganized villages. In April, 1890, a petition was filed asking the old trustees to submit the question of incorporation to a vote at an early date. A like petition, signed by 101 citizens, was also presented to the county commissioners in May, following a mass meeting addressed by S. H. Piles and others. The petition was granted by the commissioners but the boundaries at first proposed were cut down; the Hogan, Sommers, England and Cathcart additions being omitted. W. A. Oliver, who took the required census at this time, found the population to be 2,012 and Snohomish entitled to incorporate as a city of the third class. The date of the election was set for June 26, with C. E. Paul inspector and F. G. Benson and S. M. Knapp judges. Then for the first time in its history Snohomish enjoyed all the thrills of city politics. A mass meeting was called and J. Van Bowen presided, with D. W. Craddock acting as secretary. The ballot taken for the nomination of a candidate for mayor resulted: Blackman 64, Ferguson 59, scattering 4; whereupon the Ferguson advocates left the hall. Candidates for the council were named as follows: east end, D. W. Craddock and H. Spurrell; business center, J. Burton and W. P. Bell; north end, W. M. Snyder; west end, J. S. White. C. Lawry was named for treasurer, E. K. Crosby for assessor and Doctor Limerick for health officer. Ferguson's friends showed their dissatisfaction with the caucus and carried the fight to the polls, but H. Blackman was elected first mayor of Snohomish by a vote of 218 to 164 for Ferguson. The vote favoring incorporation stood 380 to 21. The caucus ticket for the council was not entirely successful and the first council was composed of D. W. Craddock, Lot Wilbur, J. S. White, W. M. Snyder, James Burton and H. D. Morgan. At its first meeting, held July 2, 1890, the council elected J. Van Bowen, clerk; F. M. Headlee, attorney; William Brown, marshal (with whom the Council had much trouble), and A. Van Buren, street commissioner.

One of the first moves was to reorganize the fire department. This was done in August, 1890, the following officers being elected: G. W. Head, president; William Stending, vice president; William Cook, secretary; C. H. Stickels, foreman; H. Evans and John Wesley, assistants. The members were H. A. Moore, C. H. Knapp, O. C. Thornton, D. Swerdfiger, J. L. McCain, L. W. Barnes, L. W. Helsel, Frank Evans, D. O. Donnal, F. Jordan, W. Montgomery, C. E. Hewitt, W. Hodgins, and C. H. Packard. It organized as "Snohomish Engine Company No. 1", and then, very properly, petitioned the council that it might be supplied with an engine and this request was granted. During this year the city spent $85,000 on street improvements and the first planking was done on a city street. M. Stixrud came forward with a proposal to form a company, capitalized at $50,000, to give Snohomish a better water system, and the city donated twenty acres to the Sisters of Mercy as site for a Home for Boys, to which was to be added a hospital. The first city officers were elected to hold only until the next general election, and thus Snohomish enjoyed two city elections in one year. A ticket composed of E. C. Ferguson for mayor and U. Stinson, James Pease, I. Cathcart, J. Otten and H. Spurrell was the first in the field, but there were three tickets to be voted on at the election. Ferguson headed two of these tickets and was elected. The new council consisted of Stinson, Pease, Cathcart, Bakeman and Ward. In his inaugural, in January, 1891, Mayor Ferguson urged the necessity of a better water system, saying the fire engine was useless without it. He also advised speedy improvements as to streets, walks, lights and sewer and suggested that the city be divided into three wards, each to have two councilmen. This last suggestion was followed, C. E. Paul being appointed as the added member. T. E. Marks was elected clerk and A. J. Coleman, attorney at this session, but for two months the council was tied on the choice for city engineer, C. Anderson being finally elected, an expert being hired to assist him. There were three applicants for the water franchise, but the council decided in favor of municipal ownership and plans submitted by M. Stixrud, providing a pump and reservoir system combined, were adopted. The proposition was submitted and carried by 234 to 7, and in December perfected plans were adopted providing for an engine house on the west bank of the Pillchuck, near the Morgan mill, with tank on the hilltop 1,800 feet north. Plans were also forwarded for a drawbridge across the Snohomish, to cost $14,000. A "Citizens Ticket" was nominated at the mass convention held in November, 1891, and it was elected almost without opposition, the new officers being: E. C. Ferguson, mayor; J. S. White, alderman-at-large; Charles Lawry, treasurer; J. K. Knapp, assessor; and ward aldermen, W. H. Ward, C. H. Knapp, - - - - - Buck and Je Van Bowen.

Postal History

The Snohomish post office saw many changes during the period from 1888 to 1891. J. B. Noll resigned in February, 1888, and was succeeded temporarily by Deputy Sheriff James Burton. He was followed by George Deering, who moved the office to G. W. Shaw's music store on Avenue C. Deering resigned in February, 1891, and J. G. Swafford, the probate judge, was appointed, the office for the first time being granted an adequate salary, $1,300, together with allowance for clerk hire. On account of ill health Judge Swafford placed the office in charge of F. O. Coe, Mrs. James Burton and C. S. Wilson acting as assistants. Through no fault of his own, Judge Swafford's connection with the post office was a most unhappy one and he died November 13, 1891. Coe resigned and was succeeded by D. A. McBeth. Early in 1892 the office, the business of which had been increasing very rapidly, was for the first time installed in quarters purposely fitted for its use. This office was in the Hagerty Block and the rental was $200 per year.

Judge J. G. Swafford was born in Wayne County, Indiana, September 6, 1814. As a young man he removed to Iowa City, Ia., where he worked as a carpenter. He was married in 1842 to Miss Melissa T. Hurst, at Kiethsburg, Ill. He journeyed alone to California in 1850, returning to the East via the Isthmus, in 1852. He then brought his wife and son, Harvey, over the plains to Oregon City, from Towa City, the journey requiring six months. He went to Portland in 1860, to Seattle in 1876, became a resident of Lowell in 1880 and of Snohomish in 1883, where he held with honor the positions of probate judge, justice of the peace and postmaster. His wife was a helpless invalid at the time of his death, she having been stricken with paralysis some eighteen months before. Trouble hastened the judge's death and the tragedy of it appealed to the sympathies of the entire community. He was buried with full Masonic rites.

Duncan A. McBeth continued as postmaster until August 16, 1893, when he was succeeded by a democrat in the person of Edson C. Ames. He was an acceptable officia) and held the office until the next turn in the tide of national politics, his successor being A. M. Blackman, who was appointed by President McKinley and who retained the position until the administration of President Wilson in 1913.

City Bankrupt

Owing to the large expenditures Snohomish City finances were in such a bad way by January 1, 1892, that no one could be found to furnish meals for the city's prisoners except for cash in advance. The only recourse was a bond issue and this was made for $18,400, the bonds selling at 5 per cent discount. At the same time, however, the contract for the new waterworks system was let for $43,800, H. Stixrud being employed to superintend the construction. This system was completed by the following June and proved satisfactory, but this left Snohomish with 'two waterworks plants, one owned by the city and one privately owned, which made them both unprofitable and the Allen Bros. plant was finally purchased by the city.

With the great enterprises bruited for the marvel city at the mouth of the river, Snohomish was eager to secure some large industry also, and when E. H.

Levy of Utah and Doctor Griffith of Texas arrived with a proposition to erect a smelter, the town went wild with enthusiasm. A bonus of $35,000 was raised in two days and it was understood that work was to be commenced speedily at a site about two miles down the river. It was stated that millionaire miners were behind the venture. E. C. Ferguson deeded sixty acres to the new concern and it was announced that it was to start construction as soon as the bonus was paid. Articles of agreement were prepared and ready for signature, but for some reason the high contracting parties failed to appear and the project died, so far as Snohomish was concerned. The year 1892 witnessed the introduction of the long distance telephone into Snohomish, the first connection with Seattle being made over the wires of the Sunset Telephone Company on June 29. The Western Union Telegraph was granted a franchise, in February, 1892, and its wires were soon in the city.

Smallpox Scourge

The year 1892 will be remembered by all who lived in Snohomish County at that time as the year of the great smallpox scourge. The plague was brought into the county through the railroad camps where there was almost no means of enforcing quarantine. Men were near to death before it was known that they were victims of this disease and steps could neither be taken for their relief nor for the safety of others. Thus the contagion was spread throughout the county before the authorities were aware of it. The presence of three serious cases in the city in June threw the people into what amounted almost to panic. Schools were closed, public meetings were forbidden, the Salvation Army was not allowed to march on the streets and the clergy of the city united in an announcement that church services would not be held. By August, three deaths had occurred and the people were in a greatly excited state of mind, accusing the health officer of laxity in enforcing quarantine regulations. At an indignation meeting of citizens he was asked to resign and Doctor Hathaway of Everett, a member of the state board of health, was urged to come and make a thorough investigation of conditions. Serious accusations were also made against the hospital management. On August 24, a house in the Panting addition bought by the council for use as a pest house was burned to the ground allegedly by those who feared to have it located in their neighborhood. In November, one case of smallpox was reported at Silverton and six at the Great Northern Hotel at Index. Seattle threatened to quarantine against the county unless the commissioners took drastic action to stop the spread of the disease. King County finally instructed its health officers to stop all trains coming from Snohomish, at the county line after November 25, and to examine and vaccinate all men coming from railroad or mining camps. This date was set as it was thought the camps would be breaking up at about this time and the men flocking to the cities. The steamers Mikado and Cascade were ordered to cease running on the Snohomish-Everett route until the plague was abated. Everett also quarantined against Snohomish, but this was not very effective as passengers were able to reach Everett by transferring at Lowell. One death which aroused the sympathy of the entire county was that of W. B. Shay, an able young newspaperman who founded the Marysville Leader, was for a short time editor of the Republican at Snohomish and who was publishing a newspaper at Silverton when stricken by the dread disease. The scourge was not confined to Snohomish, nor to the railroad and mining camps, for Doctor Harris of Everett reported, in March, 1893, that he had attended twenty-one cases, but one of which proved fatal. An official statement, also made in March, 1893, stated that the first person stricken at Snohomish was F. H. Hoskinson, on June 4, 1892, since which time there had been an average of one new case a week. Up until August 25 there were eleven cases and four deaths. Health Officer Limerick took charge at this time and cared for twenty-two cases, of which seven died, making the total death toll, eleven. None of the patients who died had been vaccinated. The average death rate of unvaccinated persons was 48 per cent. "Lack of proper conveniences was the cause of many deaths," was the concluding statement of this report. For nearly a year the people lived in the presence of this specter of death in one of its most agonizing forms.

There were two tickets in the field at the city election of 1892, the Independents winning all but two places, those of mayor, E. C. Ferguson being reelected, and of health officer, Dr. S. B. Limerick. The first county directory, issued in January, 1893, estimated the population of Snohomish as 3,500 and stated that it was most advantageously located in the heart of the productive area, with three railroads within one-third of a mile of the business district and that the growth of Everett had proven a help, not a hindrance, to the growth of Snohomish.

Incendiary Fires Of 1893

Nevertheless the panic year of 1893 was full of disaster for Snohomish. It is noteworthy that during all the depression of this and succeeding years its financial institutions maintained themselves unfalteringly, but business was poor, men were hard-up, grew bitter, discontented and quarrelsome. One evidence of this was the large number of fires in Snohomish during 1893, the most of them being incendiary. The first of these fires was on the last day of January, during an unusually cold spell. The Great Northern saloon and a barber shop were destroyed and the Kirk furniture store and stock badly damaged. Both the fire engine and the fire hydrant were frozen and it seemed that the entire business district would be consumed before they were thawed out (the latter by placing a barrel over it and building a fire inside). This fire aroused the city to secure better fire protection and two new hose carts, with 1,000 feet of hose were ordered at a cost of $1,400. The fire company was also reorganized, J. W. Wilson reelected chief, with O. E. Crossman, first assistant and A. M. Blackman, foreman. Hose Company No. 2 was also organized in the Third Ward, the officers being W. Stevens, foreman, with W. Cook and S. McDougal assistants. E. M. Allen was elected chief of the entire department, in June. In spite of better equipment and organization the fire department was unable to save the Bakeman store, which was set on fire and badly damaged on July 10. Just two months later this store was again the victim of the incendiary, and this time it was totally destroyed, together with Rice & Gardner's meat market and the offices in the second story of the Bakeman Block. The losses were estimated as follows: Bakeman, $17,500; Rice & Gardner, $2,400; Doctor Keefe, $2,000; Doctor McCain, $1,000; L. H. Coon, $1,000; W. T. EIwell, $250; Headlee & Headlee, abstract books and law library, $4,000. The destruction of these abstract books, the first in the county, was more than a personal loss and the city was also greatly inconvenienced as Mr. Coon was the city clerk and all the municipal records, stored in his office, were burned. The council rented rooms in the White Building and Mr. Bakeman, undaunted by these two attempts to ruin him financially, bought the stock of the Snohomish 'Trading Company and continued in business. Some of the city records were recovered from the ruins and were placed on exhibition for the benefit of the curious public. In October, less than a month after the Bakeman fire, Barrett's wholesale liquor house was destroyed by flames, the property loss being $16,000. These fires not only involved serious losses, but owing to their origin caused a condition of apprehension and fear on the part of every business man. Snohomish suffered a loss when the headquarters of the Everett & Monte Cristo Railway, then under construction, were removed to Everett, and there was for some time fear that the Great Northern would not build a station in the city, on account of difficulty in securing right-ofway and grounds. Added to these discouraging local conditions was the general financial situation. County warrants were almost unsalable and J. Otten & Company adopted a suggestion made by the Eye and accepted warrants as a medium of exchange for merchandise. The Snohomish Bi-Chloride of Gold Institute began operations in March, 1893, with E. M. Allen as secretary and Dr. D. T. Richards as medical director. It was in operation for some time, but finally discontinued its work of reforming drunkards, although there was no lack of raw material in Snohomish as in other places. Sing Sing Henry was the only Chinese in Snohomish at this time and when he applied for registration under the new Geary law, it was said of him that he was "a voter, a pioneer, and well liked by all."

In city affairs, C. H. Bakeman resigned as treasurer and was succeeded by M. W. Packard, while the election of 1893 was a contest between the Populists and the Non-Partisans, the latter with Ferguson as their candidate for mayor, winning by 105 majority. Wm. Brown, the much discussed former marshal, was elected marshal at this election, receiving a majority of 164 as a vote of confidence. Ferguson, who was then paying one-eighth of the taxes of the city, was reelected in' 1894 without opposition, although by a light vote as all interest was centered upon the county seat fight which was before the board of canvassers.

This county seat contest so absorbed the interest of all during 1894 that there is not a great deal to chronicle as to other events. A storm, in January, 1894, wrecked the Cathcart Hotel Building, which was 100 feet long and insufficiently braced, but it was announced that it would be rebuilt. Part of the townsite of Snohomish was involved in a suit brought by the heirs of Royal Haskel, who declared that their father sold the land after the death ofthis wife without an order from the probate court and who tried to have the sale invalidated, in which attempt they failed. More than 100 later deeds were involved and the property was valued at $150,000.

Owing to the financial state of the city, it was unable to pay for street lighting except in warrants. These were below par and the light company charged the city $16 for the same service for which it charged others $12. The city complained of this discrimination and would not renew the contract. The company held that it could not reduce the rate, except for cash. As a result the street lights were cut off in January, until the contract was renewed. The Chamber of Commerce went through another revival season in June, 1894; Loose, Comegys, Wilbur, Vestal and Clemens being appointed on the reorganization committee, but the movement was soon lost sight of in the more important work of the "Committee of Thirteen" which had the county seat fight in charge. Public spirit was not entirely confined to this contest, however, as during the year Mr. Alexander of Kent, Washington, came forward with a proposal to establish a creamery if site and bonus were forthcoming. He offered to pay 85 cents per hundred for the cream which farmers were shipping to Seattle, where the price was but 80 cents, and the proposition was accepted by Snohomish business men, a fund being raised to move one of Ferguson's idle buildings across the river to a site which had been purchased near the Great Northern depot. The creamery began operation in May, and was soon receiving 150 gallons of milk daily. For some reason the management failed to make the business a success and it was sold to the newly formed cooperative association at Stanwood and the machinery removed to that place in May, 1895, although the removal was temporarily halted by an attachment issued in behalf of Snohomish citizens who had donated the site and building upon a contract that the plant would be operated.

Cathcart Failure

The business sensation of 1895 was the failure of the pioneer business man, Isaac Cathcart, at one time reputed to be the wealthiest man in Snohomish County. In May he executed a trust mortgage in favor of his creditors, covering all his property, to secure liabilities amounting to $50,000. His assets were given as $100,000, but during these panic times little beyond the indebtedness was realized, and Mr. Cathcart ceased to be a factor in the business affairs of the community. The influence of E. C. Ferguson was also waning and at the "Citizens" convention held in November H. C. Comegys was nominated for mayor and was elected. The city limits were reduced in July, 1895, the Panting, Ludwig, Prosper and several other suburban additions being left out, making the west bank of the Pilchuck River the eastern boundary of the city. Despite all the reverses, fires and disappointments, it was reported in September, 1895, that 'during the first week of this month more property in Snohomish was sold than in the previous two years." In fact, Snohomish showed a surprising resiliency in 1896 and despite the buffets of fate, resumed the steady, substantial growth which marked its earlier days and which has continued, making it the prosperous, progressive city which it is today. A sign of the new era in public morals was manifested when 677 citizens asked that the license of the notorious Gold Leaf Saloon be revoked. This was referred to a special committee consisting of White, Paul and Langfitt, which reported in favor of closing the saloon, but when the matter came before the full council the report was rejected. Nevertheless, the effort had a somewhat salutary effect upon conditions. Perhaps this incident had something to do with enabling E. C. Ferguson to stage a "come back" at the end of the year when he was again elected mayor. At this election the only close contest was between L. H. Coon and J. P. Smith, for city attorney. The vote was a tie which was decided by lot in favor of Smith. Smith gained fame at Skagway a few years later by his sign which read "J. P. Smith, Butcher and Lawyer."

County Seat Removai

It was in 1897 that what the Snohomish newspaper sadly called the "funeral procession" of thirty-seven wagons carried the county records to the new county seat at Everett, and with them went much of the glory and many of the hopes of Snohomish, but its will and courage were not broken and its brave and successful effort to "carry on" is told in a succeeding chapter. As offsets to the loss of the county seat there came the establishment of the large ten-block shingle mill of the Snohomish Shingle Company and the establishment of a hospital by Dr. Case of Everett, but these in turn were offset by the failure of J. T. Weber & Company, an old, established shingle mill, which did not resume operations until April, 1898, under the management of Maughlin Brothers.

Snohomish Institutions

But there were other sides of the life of Snohomish City than those which had to do with business and politics and these were the ones which had even more to do with the character of its people as shown in church and school and social gatherings.

The very first church, the Union Presbyterian, as has been told, was founded in 1876, but, as predicted by its founder, it was not to remain alone in the field. While the only church in the village up to 1883, it still had a rather precarious existence with chance services by different preachers a great part of the time. Rev. George Sneath held services in June, 1883, and following him Rev. John F. Damon was secured to preach every two weeks.

The coming of Rev. J. F. Fobes in October was an epoch in the history of the church. He was from Syracuse, New York, a young man, fond of athletics, a believer in temperance but "not a fanatic" according to the Eye. He took an active part in community affairs and it was through his efforts that a reading room was opened, in 1884. The Fobes school, between Everett and Snohomish, is named for him. The first Ladies Aid Society in Snohomish County was formed by the ladies of this church at the home of Mrs. S. Vestal, in September, 1885, and it doubtless had much to do with the preparations for the Puget Sound Presbytery which convened in Snohomish in April, 1886. Rev. George A. McKinley of Sumner was the moderator, and, from the entire Puget Sound, the attendance of ministers and elders numbered but twelve. The tenth anniversary of the founding of the church was celebrated at this time and it was appropriate that Rev. J. R. Thompson, then of Vancouver, the organizer of the Snohomish church, should be present and deliver the principal address. The pastorate of Rev. J. W. Fobes was much longer than the average, and he was still with the church in March, 1887, when T. B. Taylor, an itinerant advocate of Spiritualism, challenged him to a joint debate. His reply was the Scriptural quotation, "I am doing a great work, I cannot come down." The influence of the early press of Snohomish was always somewhat antagonistic to the orthodox churches. The Star, under the guidance of Eldridge Morse, was chiefly interested in the Free Religious Association, while the Eye inclined towards the occult and later, under the brilliant George MacDonald, was frankly atheistic. This attitude of the press, together with the indifference to moral or religious codes shown by the large drifting population attracted by the logging camps, made church work in Snohomish rather difficult and the ultimate triumph of the church influence in the community is all the more praiseworthy. The Secular Union, of which H. Blackman was president and C. H. Packard was secretary, was the revival of the old Free Religious Association, formed in 1887, and the Eye devoted a column each week to the propaganda of "Free Thought." Fobes left the Snohomish church in 1887 and it seems to have missed him, for in 1889, when it was learned that he was in Rhode Island, after returning from a European tour, the Presbyterians earnestly invited him to return to Snohomish, but he answered, by wire, that he could not do so.

Rev. George H. Freese was a popular pastor of the Presbyterian church in 1891, but Rev. J. W. Dorrance was, perhaps, the most notable pastor of the early Presbyterian church at Snohomish. He was inspired with missionary zeal, and after preaching in Snohomish on Sunday mornings, it was his wont to journey on horseback to Granite Falls, where he preached in the evening. In 1892 Rev. Dorrance issued a pamphlet containing a list of the 227 persons who had been associated with the church since its formation in 1876. Under his guidance, also, free reading rooms were established in the church parlors. He left in 1894 to take charge of the church at Auburn, but returned to Snohomish, and it was under his guidance in 1895 that the church made extensive improvements, moving, and refitting the building. He was a man of parts and took great interest in civic, political and educational affairs. He left the pulpit to establish the Dorrance Academy which was for a time the foremost educational institution in Snohomish County. The close of the century found the Presbyterians well entrenched in popular favor, with the old church, which occupied the highest ground in the city, remodeled and modernized.

Methodist Episcopal

Something of the hardships of the early ministers, of whatever denomination, is shown by the following schedule of Rev. W. H. Thompson of the Snohomish circuit. His monthly program was: Ist Sunday - Pilchuck; 2nd Sunday - Laramie school house' and Lowell; 3rd Sunday - Parker's school house, Ebey's Slough, Marysville; 4th Sunday - Fall City, Snoqualmie; 5th Sunday - Tualco, Cherry Valley; which would give the people of these last two settlements religious services about four or five times a year. All these journeys were made on foot, on horseback or by canoe. On one occasion when Reverend Thompson announced that he would preach on Saturday at Forest Grove school and on Sunday morning at Snohomish and evening at Tualco, his failure to keep his appointments the week before was explained by the statement that he was lost on the telegraph road from Seattle, was in the woods all night, reaching Lowell the next day in a state of great exhaustion.

The founding of the Methodist Church of Snohomish was due to this same Reverend W. H. Thompson, who inspired the zeal of his small congregation to the point where they secured a lot as a church site in April, 1884. Reverend Potter was the first pastor of the church, and it was under his pastorate that the new build- ing was dedicated July 26, 1885. Reverend Dennison, who was present at the dedication, wrote enthusiastically concerning the church to the Seattle Post Intelligencer, saying that the church was a perfect gem, 28 by 50 feet in size, with a Gothic, or truss roof, and a beautiful belfry, it being a copy of the Battery Street Church of Seattle. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. A. Atwood. $600 was raised at the meeting to apply on the cost, which was in the neighborhood of $1,500. The Methodist Church Extension Society gave $250 and loaned $250 additional. The church spire was 66 feet in height, and the interior was finished with cedar in diagonal sections. J. S. White was the architect and builder. There still remained quite a load of debt, as there were but twenty in the congregation. The first church bell in Snohomish County swung in the belfry of this Methodist church. It was received from Cincinnati in September, 1887, and weighed 750 pounds. This church property was sold for taxes at one time, and it was not redeemed, the members holding that church property was exempt from taxation. This became a law by vote of the people, and the congregation was not required to pay the taxes. G. R. Osborn, C. F. Teetor, and D. G. LeSourd were among the early pastors.

Catholic

The first services of the Catholic Church were held in August, 1883, in the parlors of the Alhambra Hotel, Rev. Father Causter, of Seattle, officiating. He came to establish a church, if possible, and E. C. Ferguson, at that time, donated land for a church building, While the congregation was faithful, it was too small and too poor to carry out a building project, and for a number of years, mass was celebrated at different places. Rev. Father McCauley officiated at the Atheneum Hall in 1886, and the Catholics were forced to be satisfied with occasional meetings conducted by such priests as might be able to come. Right Rev. Aegidius Junger, Bishop of Nisqually, celebrated mass at Snohomish in August, 1888, and it was under his guidance that the church was finally erected. An old skating rink was purchased and-torn down and the lumber used for the new church, which was 28 by 50 feet in size with a spire 80 feet high. P. Boyce was the architect, and H. A, Eddy, the builder. The church was dedicated in January, 1889, and was known as the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Bishop Junger officiated at the dedicatory service, assisted by Rev. Father Boulet, of Whatcom, and Rev. Father M. McCauley, the pastor. An addition to the church was built in 1892, at which time a parsonage was also erected on the highest spot in Snohomish. A tract of five acres for a cemetery was purchased by the Catholic congregation in 1895.

Free Methodist

In 1884, Rev. John Glenn, a missionary of the Free Methodist Church, arrived at Seattle from New Jersey. Among his converts was Mrs. Minnie Howell, of Snohomish, and her conversion led to occasional pastoral visits at the family home. Others were interested, and a few meetings were held. Later Rev. P. H. Griggs held meetings in the school house and in private homes, until a society of from fifteen to twenty members was formed. Among the members were Mr. and Mrs. L. Hanson, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ludwig, Mr. and Mrs. C. Paul, J. H. May, and Mrs. Minnie Howell. In 1888, Rev. R. H. Dollarhide came to Snohomish as a circuit preacher, and it was through his efforts that the church society was incorporated, an acre of land on the bank of the Pilchuck was purchased from Robert Cissna, and the building committee appointed. The next pastor was Rev. Ira F. Ward, who was also a first class carpenter, and he not only raised some $1,200 for the building, but did a large part of the work himself. The members of the building committee were L. Hanson, E. B. Northrup, J. H. May, Bernard Hanson, Charles Ludwig, and Clayton Hall. Pastors of the church succeeding Rev. Ward were as follows: Rev. B. F. Smalley, 1908-1909; L. W. Steele, 1910-1912; Rev. E. L. Porter, 1913-1915; Rev. F. W. Cathey, 1916-1917; Rev. J. F. Ashton, 1918-1920; Rev. F. L. Delong, 1920-1923; Rev. Allen Stickney, 1924; Rev. L. W. Steele, 1925- 1926.

Congregational

It was not until May, 1890, that any move was made to organize a Congregational Church. The missionary work was done by Rev. A. A. Beard of Seattle and at a meeting held in the Odd Fellows Hall in June, a church society was organized with twelve members. Rev. R. P. Mooney was the first pastor, coming in August, 1890. A choir was organized and was known as the Cecelia Club, and was first heard in concert in November, 1890. A site was secured, and lumber purchased for a church building in January, 1891, but the work proceeded slowly, and it was not until June, 1892, that the contract was let for its completion. Rev. W. C. Merritt was called to the church May 8, 1892, and it was through his efforts that money was raised to cover the naked walls which had been standing since the building fund had become exhausted. The total cost of the church was $5,500, and it was dedicated in August, 1892, Rev. T. E. Klapp, of Portland, Oregon, delivering the dedicatory sermon. The sum of $900 was raised at this time to pay the last indebtedness, and it was stated that this was a union service, the Presbyterians, Methodists, Free Methodists, as well as Congregationalists, attending.

Episcopalian

St. John's Episcopal Church was organized in June, 1890. Rev. McFair, who also officiated at Ballard, was the first rector. There was, very soon, a Ladies' Guild of eighteen members, which proved very efficient. Isaac Cathcart donated the use of the opera house and the energetic members soon had it fitted with a movable platform, chancel, altar, organ, and there was also a vested choir. In 1892, services were being conducted at the Odd Fellows Hall by Rev. Mr. Brenton of Victoria, and by September of that year, plans were made for the attractive church which still graces the city.

Baptist

The First Baptist Church was organized May 8, 1892, with thirty-two members. Rev. J. J. Pierce was the pastor, and the church officers were: clerk, Miss M. E. Bartlett; treasurer, Mrs. Isaac Cathcart; trustees, W. T. Elwell, E. K. Hemlee, H. D. Mund, C. J. Smith, and F. M. Headlee. The following winter this organization leased the Odd Fellows Hall for its Sabbath services. The inspiration for this church organization came through a visit to Snohomish by the Baptist Gospel

Car, Evangel, which was presented to the Baptist Publication Society for missionary work by Charles Colby, Colgate Hoyt, E. J. Barney, John D. Rockefeller, and John B. Prevor. These were some of the men who were interested in the new city of Everett. The new Baptist Church was dedicated in February, 1896, Rev. D. D. Proper delivering the dedicatory sermon. Two notable features of this church were that it was seated with opera chairs, and lighted by electricity.

Miscellaneous

The first church services in German at Snohomish were held by Rev. Preising, at the Methodist Church in May, 1892, and the first Norwegian services were held during that month, also, by Rev. J. S. Anderson, of Fairhaven. The first practitioner of Christian Science in Snohomish County was Mrs. Jordan, who received a diploma from the Chicago School of Christian Science in February, 1888. A notable feature of Christian life at Snohomish in 1892 was the series of Temperance meetings held by Thomas E. Murphy, a son of the great Francis Murphy. More than a thousand people signed the pledge, and donned the blue ribbon at this time. The meetings were followed by the organization of the Gospel Temperance Union, the executive committee of which consisted of C. T. Roscoe, E. C. Ferguson, U. K. Loose, and J. W. Dorrance. A Ladies Auxiliary was also formed, and this society established a reading room and was an active factor in the city for some time.

Thus, before the opening of the new century, Christian life and thought at Snohomish had grown from the struggling, discouraged, single congregation of the earliest days to a number of strong, active churches representing several of the chief creeds of the country.

Snohomish Schools

The struggle to maintain a school system was one of the hardest which confronted the early settlers. Taxes were insufficient, even if paid, and many were unable to pay them. Everyone was comparatively poor, and while this universal poverty made for democratic feeling and was much more easily borne than individual poverty in the midst of wealth, it rendered difficult the carrying out of any public enterprise. But the fathers and mothers of the '80s were just as anxious for the welfare of their children as have been any other parents at any other time, and they made even greater sacrifices for education than are made today, although they spent pennies where dollars are now expended. They are to be praised for their efforts rather than to be censured for the meagre, short-time schools which were all they were able to provide. In Snohomish, public schools were maintained during the early 80s as long as the funds held out, and these terms of from three to five months were eked out by private or "'select" schools. W. W. Pettit taught such a private school in 1881, reopening it in January, 1882, after a four weeks' vacation, new blackboards being advertised as a great inducement to pupils. Tax funds accumulated, however, and Mr. Pettit was employed to teach the public school in March, with forty-two pupils enrolled.

Mrs. H. A. Eddy was the teacher in the spring of 1883, and when the term closed in August, announcement was made that Mrs. Vina E. Clement would teach a select school at the school house, the terms being $8 for the first term of three months, payable monthly in advance. In order to assure patrons that the school would be maintained, it was arranged that the tuition should be paid to FE. C. Ferguson, who should pay the teacher at the end of each month. The "perfect attendance" roll of Mrs. Clement's school, as published in November, 1883, contains the names of Nettie, Addie and Joseph Foss; Ivie Ferguson, Edith Blackman, Rosa Brem, Lottie Conniff and Gertie Scotney. Those who were late but once and therefore entitled to honorable mention, were Sylvia Ferguson, Susie Whitfield, Nellie Morgan, Minnie Scotney and Dante Conniff.

Two-Room School Opens

By 1884, Snohomish had arrived at the dignity of a two-room school. R. O. Welts was the "principal," which meant that he taught the older children, while Alvena Watson was the primary teacher. A special tax for the erection of a new building was voted in May, 1884, the amount being $1,200 and the vote standing 26 to 11 in favor of the proposition. At this time the assessed value of District No. 1, was $125,790, and the new tax levy amounted to 11% mills. A great tangle ensued as to the location of the new building. Blackman Bros. offered 50,000 feet of lumber, if their school tax was remitted and the school house was located to suit them, and Ferguson offered four lots of his choice, in exchange for the old location. The result of this was much agitation and delay, so that it was not until January, 1885, that a contract was let to C. E. Paul, for $390, for the erection of a second small building on the same lot as the old school. The situation was further complicated by the action of the new county superintendent, Mrs. E. C. Granger. With quite a common disregard for formalities, the school board members had forgotten, or neglected, to qualify for their positions according to law. Mrs. Granger stepped in and appointed J. T. DeBoldt, W. F. Eddy and A. Hurlburt as new members of the board to succeed W. W. Pettit, Mrs. W. H. Ward and William Whitfield, and J. Hilton to succeed C. A. Missimer as clerk. The old board decided to "hold the fort," and their position was maintained by the courts in March, 1885.

During these unpleasantnesses, the schools, themselves, suffered. Etta Spencer opened a short-lived select school in July, 1884, and Mrs. Granger announced a second such school in August. In November there was a mass meeting anent the location fight and the conduct of the schools. At this time it was decided to open a three months' term in January, and from among seven applicants, J. I. Griffith was employed as principal at $60 per month, and Miss Illman as primary teacher at $45. This school was postponed until March, 1885, as there was no room for the primary pupils.

Private Schools

In August, 1885, Mrs. Granger announced that she would build a new resihigher grades. The public school went along intermittently and the difficulty of maintaining it is shown by the fact that a special election was held in August, dence, with schoolroom attached, in which she would conduct a school for the 1886, to decide whether or no to levy a tax of $500 to "keep the school going." This was voted by the close margin of 32 to 30.

W. W. Pettit opened a private school in March, 1887, the tuition for twelve weeks being fixed at $6. This school was maintained for several years and was the most successful of any of the early attempts at private education. In September, a night school was added for the special benefit of the more ambitious ainong the loggers (F. M. Headlee teaching commercial law) and the school ran continuously for many years, although in May, 1888, Mr. Pettit found it necessary to announce lower tuitions in order to increase its popularity. In 1889 Pettit also proposed the founding of an academy, the money to be raised by the sale of advance tuitions; but his project was not carried through. The Pettit School opened August 29, 1887, and offered both two and four years courses together with a business course. It advertised "patent desks" and a library of 300 volumes. In 1897, the Pettit School moved into the church building formerly occupied by the Free Methodists.

J. Van Bowen, principal, and Miss Blackman, assistant, composed the faculty of the public school in the spring of 1887, and J. W. Heffner and Miss Lyons had charge of the fall term.

New School Buildings

In the spring of 1888 the directors called a mass meeting of citizens to discuss the question of new school buildings, which were very badly needed as the city was growing rapidly. The school census showed a gain of ninety-one during the year, there being 131 males and 116 females of school age in the district, with 102 under school age, soon to need school facilities. A special election was called to vote on a $6,000 bond issue; the old property, which had become of value, to be sold. The election was held in December, 1888, the amount being raised to $9,000 and the proposition carrying by a vote of 49 to 5. In the meantime H. P. Niles, a graduate of Lebanon, Ohio, college, had been elected principal and Miss Ella Blackwood of Oakland, Calif., assistant, and the school opened in August, 1888, with 100 pupils. It was at this time that a third room was added to the school system; the intermediate department, being in charge of Miss M. Witherell, in a room in the Rosengrand building. There was some irregularity as to the first election and it was not until June, 1889, that a bond issue of $8,000 was legally carried and it was decided to erect a new building, 40 by 80 feet, with a wing of 32 by 40 feet. Bids on these plans were in the vicinity of $12,000, while the board had but little more than half that amount at its disposal; so the plans were revised, the contract being let in July, to Keppler & Schindler of Seattle, the building to be completed by October 1. The old school property was sold at public auction, in November, 1889, bringing $8,043 and the new building was ready for occupancy by December, with Professor Niles in charge. Bonds for $10,000 were voted in November, 1890, and in April, 1891, the citizens voted upon themselves a ten-mill tax for four rooms to be added to the central building. This vote stood 67 to 11 in favor of the tax, the figures being quoted to show the unanimity with which Snohomish has, as a rule, supported her schools.

Prof. Orville Moore was principal, and Miss Thrall the primary teacher in 1891, and the pay roll amounted to $650 per month for a force consisting of eight teachers and the janitor. There were 340 pupils.

Dorrance Academy

The Dorrance Academy was opened by Rev. J. W. Dorrance, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, on June 2, 1891, with four pupils, the number increasing to twenty-five by August. In December, 1892, it was removed to a new building erected for its occupancy, where it prospered so finely that a night school was added the following March and Reverend Dorrance resigned his pastorate to give the academy his entire attention. In 1894 the enrollment of this institution had reached sixty. It was later known as the Puget Sound Academy and maintained itself successfully until it was overwhelmed by the competition afforded by state institutions and the predominance of Everett as a center.

In June, 1891, the district was able to sell bonds to the amount of $15,000 for building purposes, paying, however, seven per cent interest, plus a commission of $200. The following month a special election was held at which it was voted to accept the proposition made by E. C. Ferguson for a one-acre tract, just north of the Fair Ground addition, for $1,200. Charles Ludwig offered an acre tract, free, in the west end of the city, and it was decided to build two schoolhouses. The school in the Ludwig addition opened in December, 1891, with Miss Sue Randall as teacher. The big, new building of which Snohomish was so justly proud was not opened until January, 1892. Professor Adams had been principal and he was tendered the position as head of the enlarged school system, but for some reason he failed to return and after holding the place open for some time, R. H. Van Horne, of Wainsburg College, Pennsylvania, was elected. Van Horne introduced new methods of discipline and was soon the subject of a violent newspaper controversy, but he became more popular as he became better known. Among the teachers at this time were the Misses Lochney, King, Bartlett, Parsons, Brodish, Gray, Sonsteby and Jordan. |

In addition to the public schools there was a parochial school, established in 1891, by the Sisters of Mercy, and this has flourished since that time as an adjunct of the Catholic Church of Snohomish.

Hard Times Affect Schools

The hard times of 1893 and 1894 affected the public schools seriously. Warrants were below par and it was claimed by the teachers that the directors had agreed to increase their salaries sufficiently to cover this discount. This practice was discontinued and the teachers applied some $31, the proceeds of a school entertainment, to recoup themselves for their loss. This raised a storm of criticism and a running controversy between teachers and directors which filled the columns of Snohomish papers for a number of weeks. The teachers claimed they had really earned this money by their overtime work and that it was not sufficient to cover the discount from their agreed salaries. The teachers retained the money, but some of them failed of reelection. The first instalment of books for the school library was received in February, 1894. There were 123 volumes, paid for by the receipts from entertainments given by the pupils during the preceding three years.

The pinch of poverty gripped the school system in deadly earnest in the spring of 1894. The directors submitted a proposition for the issuance of refunding bonds to the amount of $8,000, explaining that unless this was voted the school year would have to be cut to three months. They also promised a general reduction in salaries and would pay the principal but $900 per year thereafter. This statement was signed by L. F. Hart, T. F. Thompson and C. E. Hewitt. The bond issue was defeated by a vote of 201 to 74, and Professor Van Horne left the snohomish schools to accept a like position at I¢verett, while the remaining teachers were forced to work for lower salaries. "A second proposition, to increase the debt limit to $11,000, was submitted in June, 1894, the directors declaring that unless it was voted the schools must close. Faced with this alternative, the women of Snohomish aroused themselves, 150 of them voting at the special election, and the proposition carried, 360 to 110. At this time the census showed the school population of the city to be 743.

First Commencement

The first real graduating exercises of the Snohomish High School took place on June 8, 1894. Prior to that time pupils attended school until, for some reason, they decided to quit. The members of this first class were: Edward E. Creuger, Vesta E. Lord, Lennie R. Thurston, Marion E. McNaughton, Alonzo C. Brown, Agnes T. Middlestadt, Daniel Jackson, Gertrude Fenderson, Emma C. Creuger, John B. Partee and Joseph V. Bird. The exercises took place at the Congregational Church and were very properly made the great event of the season.

R. E. Friars, who had been principal of the Lowell schools, came to Snohomish as superintendent in the fall of 1894, holding the position until he went to Everett to succeed Professor Heston in 1896. The finances of the district required the sale of $15,000 refunding bonds in September, 1895. These bore six per cent interest and were sold at a premium of three per cent; a decided improvement over the sale made in 1894.

Not only the school but the entire city took a great interest in the athletic career of Walter Thornton, who had been the star of the Snohomish ball team and who continued his brilliant playing at Cornell College, Iowa, until he was engaged to play with the famous Chicago White Sox, as pitcher.

By the fall of 1896, just prior to the removal of the county seat to Everett, the Snohomish school system had grown from the little school taught in the home of Mrs. Sinclair in 1867, to an enrollment of 467 pupils, with a corps of twelve teachers, with Prof. N. E. Ransom as superintendent, the schools being housed in buildings which were as complete and modern as were those possessed by any city on the Sound.

Social Life

The social life of early Snohomish was many sided; there was that which grew out of the clean homes, the churches and the lodges; there was that which had its origin in the community as a whole and which expressed itself in public celebrations and sports, and there was that darker side which was fathered in the saloon and mothered in the brothel. It is not necessary to delve into the muck to write history, but no true history can be written which blindly ignores facts. The saloon was one of the very first institutions in Snohomish County, it was the first building in nearly every locality, for 1t was considered, and was, a necessary part of every hotel or store which hoped to be successful. The men who ran these saloons were not the dregs of the community, but its leaders and guides. They were the legislators, the county officials and the dispensers of justice. So far as Snohomish County was concerned the three departments of government, executive, legislative and judicial, were at first all in the hands of men who made a business of the sale of liquor. Gradually the real ability of these men asserted itself, character developed, and they outgrew the earlier occupation, which fell more and more into disreputable hands until it touched bottom during the days of the railroad camp and the founding of Everett. From this point there was gradual improvement in these anti-social conditions until the force of public opinion, here and throughout the nation, put the entire liquor business outside the pale of law and order. It is not then a shameful history, but something to be proud of, in that it tells the story of a moral progression, the end of which is not yet. The history of public gambling is almost identical with that of the saloon, except that it did not flourish as a commercial institution until a later date, when there were more people and more money in the county.

Soctal Relations

The social evil came with the white man and was quickly fostered by the primitive code of morals of the Indians, and the rather reckless feeling of irresponsibility on the part of some of the pioneers, most of whom were young men, freed from all restraints of home and of civilization and having both the liberty and the opportunity to follow the dictates of desire. But the early "immorality" between the two races was not all immoral in reality. Many such unions, although neither blessed by church nor sealed with the approval of law, resulted in the founding of real homes, clean affections and happy famulies. The "Wlootchman" became the wife in many instances, to the credit of both races. Considering the total absence of white women during the first years of the county's settlement, and the state of lawlessness, or rather, the absence of law which existed, one may find much to condone and not a little to praise in the man who made his shack a home by the presence ot an Indian woman and was loyal to her and provided for her and for their children with decency and self-respect. Laying aside the forms of state and church; there was just as much difference between the home and the brothel in 1866 as there is in 1926, whether the men and women concerned were red or white. Just as we find that a large per cent of the pioneers most reverenced today, dealt in liquors at some tine in their lives, so we find that many of them had Indian consorts. The first school in Snohomish County contained but few purebred whites. But just as with the liquor business, the social evil became commercialized and more and more degrading as the years passed. There were first the "squaw brothels" complained of by the first judge of Snohomish County in his first charge to the first grand jury. These were followed by the dance hall and the professional white courtesans who preved upon loggers and railroad builders. These houses flourished openly and flagrantly and were for years accepted as necessary evils. It was the good women of Snohomish County who drove them out of existence as public places of vice.

Good Women Best Influence

Perhaps the most wonderful part of the Instory of Snohomish County is the fact that amidst all this slime so many women walked, clean, pure and undefiled. It is harder to write the history of the women of a community than the history of the men. The women were not in the limelight. They did not run for office, nor make speeches, nor erect buildings nor manage business enterprises until a recent date in our civilization. Their names seldom appeared in print except as teachers or in the announcements of weddings and of deaths. Little was said about their lives. But when they died the whole beautiful story was told; not in the cold type of printed eulogy, but in the great gatherings of grief-stricken men and women of an entire countryside, coming with tears of love and sorrow to look their last upon one who had "mothered" them and nursed them and helped them over the hard places, regardless of whether the recipients of their love and kindness were good or bad, couth or uncouth, saints or sinners. The nearest earthly approach to the Divine is the heart of a good woman. Snohomish County had many such women in its earliest days and has them now, and it is the radioactivity of their hearts which has made life bearable and has given to us whatever we may have of goodness and purity and strength of character.

It is the purpose of this chapter to picture the social side of the life of Snohomish during the years from 1882 until the removal of the county seat in 1897, the story of the earlier years having been told.

Pioneer Celebrations

As in other pioneer communities, few opportunities for public celebrations were neglected, for the people were forced to amuse themselves and public holidays were welcomed as breaking the monotony of work-a-day life. When the reading of the Declaration of Independence was omitted at the celebration of the Fourth, in 1882, it was commented upon that this was the first such omission in twelve years, indicating that there had been annual celebrations of the nation's birthday since 1870, although no account of many of them is available. In the newspaper account of the day the name of the orator is not given and it is possible that this also was omitted; but there was a "salute at sunrise," a ball game with Seattle, resulting in favor of Snohomish, a three-fourths of a mile race, won by H. Plate, a 100 yard dash won by C. H. Packard over Thomas H. Selvage, much money changing hands, and fireworks - a careless match exploding half of them at once to the great terror but not to the injury of the crowd.

Fourth Of July Tragedy

A large crowd attended the celebration of 1883, from which neither the Declaration nor the oration were omitted; G. C. Fulton reading the first and Orange Jacobs, congressional delegate, delivering the second. The Pacifics, by which name the Snohomish ball team was long and honorably known, won from the White Stockings and C. H. Packard again won the 100-yard dash. The horse races were chief events of the day, Frank Fields, Thomas H. Selvage and George C. Fulton being the judges. A real tragedy marred this celebration when, in the third heat, the horse ridden by Eddie Roberts bolted the track and threw the lad, breaking many bones and injuring him so severely that he died while enroute to the hospital at Seattle on the Steamer Alki. He was a popular young man and his funeral, a few days later, was almost as largely attended as was the celebration at which he met his death. The services were held at the Atheneum Hall, the ball club, in uniform, acting as pallbearers and resolutions of sympathy and respect were published, signed by H. Jackson, president of the ball club and H. A. Moore, W.R. Booth, J. Van Bowen, A. W. Morgan and R. O. Welts, all of whom were members. A notable feature of the celebration was the first performance given by the Snohomish Dramatic Society. The dramas rendered were "Among the Breakers" and "Paddy Mike's Boy," and the proceeds, amounting to $188, went to the public schools. There were other celebrations throughout the county, one of them being on the Snoqualmie, at Maple Dale, where J. D. Barnes delivered the oration and Mrs. Barnes read the Declaration. The newly organized G. A. R. Post raised a flagpole, 115 feet high, on the Fourth of July, 1884, but except for this and the dance given by the Post, there was no celebration.

First Memorial Day

The next year was notable as witnessing the first observance of Memorial Day in Snohomish County. There was a parade in which the Grand Army and the Good Templars participated, led by the newly formed band, with H. G. York as President of the Day and S. H. Piles as orator.

Ferguson, Comegys, DeBolt, Wilbur, Cathcart, Lawry, Blackman and Pettit, a notable list of pioneers, formed the committee in charge of the celebration for 1885, but they seem not to have been very successful in their efforts for the newspaper account is scant, mentioning J. B. Metcalf, of Seattle, as the orator; that there were sports, but no ball game, and that many windows were broken when the salute was fired.

Under the auspices of the G. A. R., in 1886, the American flag was raised for the first time in Snohomish in celebration of Washington's birthday, but there seems to have been no noteworthy celebration of the Fourth in 1886, 1887 or 1888. In 1887 Memorial Day was observed with addresses by F. M. Headlee, and Rev. A. Marcellus at the Atheneum, and the graves of the three soldier dead were decorated. In 1889, S. H. Piles was again the orator, but there was no music for the ball, and the day was described as "tame." An interesting public celebration was held in April, 1889, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the first inaugural. J. R. Winn headed the committee on arrangements and the service was held in the Methodist Church, with addresses by J. C. Denny and Dr. Morris. 'There was a dance at night; the one indispensible feature of every public celebration. The Memorial Day observance in 1890 was notable in that it was the occasion for the first public appearance of the Sons of Veterans as an organization. Reverend Dilworth delivered the address. The day was also in the nature of a public holiday, made so by McMahon's circus, one of the first, if not the first circus that ever visited the county. It was accompanied by a horde of gamblers. There was a balloon ascension with a parachute leap and "Prof." Redmond, the acrobat, was killed, his neck being broken when he was caught in his fall in a cedar tree. In 1891, there is the first mention of the fire company participating in the celebration; a hose race being one of the features. George H. Megquier was the orator, there were horse races on Maple Street and sports on First Street, the girls' foot race being won by Anna Short.

The first celebration of "Columbus Day" was held on October 21, 1892, in honor of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America. There was a parade in which the school children, the G. A. R. and the Sons of Veterans took part and two flags were raised. The newspaper account tells that 'Reverend Dorrance worked hard to get his staff erected, so that a handsome banner might greet residents when they arose." There were no notable features accompanying the celebrations during the hard times of the '90s, although one of them served to

Social Amusements

Dancing was the chief amusement, no festivity was complete without it and the eaiety rose to its height at the Christmas time. The first issue of the Eye, printed in January, 1882, tells of the joys of the recent Christmas season. There was a program by the Snohomish Debating Society with a lecture by Doctor Eddy, an essay by C. A. Missimer, declamations by Royal Haskell, W. W. Pettit, D. F. Sexton and C. Haskell, singing, and the debate, as to the Sunday law, with H. A. Eddy and E. C. Ferguson as leaders. Then there was the grand raffle of an ornamental cigar box, for which Doctor Folsom and Ben Morgan tied and, best of all, the ball with music by the Creese brothers and W. H. Ward and Charles Jackson, with supper at the Exchange and the dancing lasting till daybreak. And a few nights later there was the dance at Pillchuck when the wagon wheel struck a root on the way home and Mrs. James Knapp and Wisa Haskell were thrown under the horses' feet but were not injured. There was the lecture by Doctor Eddy, in January, when the working of the wonderful new telephone was illustrated with two oyster cans and a piece of twine. And the next year, there was the first band, the Pacific Cornet Band, with Thomas Cullen as teacher, all made possible by a public subscription amounting to $223.75, $100 of which was donated by the ball team. That year, 1883, there were two skating rinks, both well patronized, and, for the first time in eight years, a regular dramatic company came to town, producing "Our Boarding House" before a crowded house.

In the summers there were excursions such as the one to Port Gamble with the home talent dramatic society which gave its play, "Among the Breakers," and the Pacific ball team, which beat the Unknowns, 34 to 11, and the music with Creese brothers, violin and cello, W. H. Ward, cornet, and Lillie Ward at the piano. Those rugged pioneers did not have such a bad time after all. And they were good hearted, too. When J. W. Shaver, who had just come to town to practice law, was taken sick, they raised a hundred dollars to send him home to San Francisco, although the poor young man died at Seattle, en route for home. That was in 1884. And again, in 1887, at the time of the fearful mine disaster at Nainaimo, the committee consisting of Comegys, Whitfield and Bell, raised $146.25 for relief in just a few hours. And when the powder set by the stove to dry at the little home of C. A. Templar, in 1890, exploded, and he died, although he saved his babe, the community came right to the relief of the widow and the two badly burned little boys with all the aid and comfort it could give. And their generosity knew no bounds when Seattle needed help so badly after the big fire in 1889.

Wranglers Society

The Wranglers Soctety was one of the uniquely named features of Snohomish''s literary life, its cognomen bespeaking someone who had known English university life. The Wranglers, first organized in 1884, was abandoned, then brought to life again in 1886, when there were three famous debates with the debaters from Tualco, two of which were won by the country folks; abandoned again and reorganized in 1889. Rev. J. W. Fobes was the originator of this club and the first question debated was as to the division of the county, this being at one of the times when the stillaguamish people wanted to be annexed to Skagit County. A declamation, "Overproduction," by S. H. Piles, was a feature of one program. Other early literary or cultural clubs were the reading circle formed in 1886, with W. W. Pettit as committee on course of study; and the Chautauqua circle, formed in 1889, and the repeated attempts to begtile the youth with free reading rooms which they would have none of, and the Woman's Book Club, organized in May, 1897.

Social Firsts

Here are some of the social "firsts." Ice cream was advertised for the first time in August, 1886, to be sold at Mrs. Jordan's, "on Saturdays and Sundays." The first whist club was formed in 1889, and was known as the "Old Folks Club." The first real circus was Sells Bros., billed for June 29, 1899, but it did not come and played two days at Seattle instead. The first phonograph, a nickel in the slot machine with tubes to put in your ears, was installed at Horton Bros. store in 1892, just a month before the Wallace drug store put in the first soda fountain. And the first "afternoon reception" to delight Snohomish ladies was given September 9, 1889, at the home of Mrs. W. M. Snyder. The first temperance billiard hall closed its doors for lack of patronage, in March, 1893, the same day that the Alcazar Theatre opened. The Music Club gave its first public concert December 6, 1894. The first golden wedding mentioned in a Snohomish paper was that of Mr. and Mrs. William McCallister, living three miles west of Snohomish, who were married January 1, 1844, and who came to Oregon in 1852. There was a fine banquet on this occasion, with a cake of fifty layers, and the two sons, three daughters and fourteen grandchildren all present. Nor should mention be omitted of other outstanding events, such as the mask ball in 1885, when Mrs. S. H. Piles took the prize for her fine impersonation of an "Irish lady," or the splendid reception tendered the excursion over the new railroad from Seattle in July, 1888; or the excursion from Skagit County, by boat, in 1887, when the LaConner Mail said of Snohomish that it was "nominally dry, but really there was free liquor as the saloons ran openly and paid no license." (This was in local option days.) The town had fine stores, two sawmills, and a brick building for a bank was contemplated. Nor should the happy surprise be forgotten when George Ohse, who had sent $150 to pay the travelling expenses of his "Heart and Hand" mail order bride, found that he had not been swindled but that his bride-to-be awaited him at Seattle, where they were married, and returned to Snohomish to live happily ever after; nor the glow of pride which Snohomish felt when its band leader, D. B. Lischer, in 1884, wrote a song, "Cradle Nest," which was accepted by publishers and became quite popular, or again, when Frank Perry received a check from "Once a Week" in payment for the copyright of his dialect poem. The Music Club whose first concert is mentioned above, was organized October 25, 1894, with the following officers: president, Mrs. U. K. Loose; vice president, Mrs. Henry; secretary, Miss Jeffries; treasurer, George Hendrie; music director, Miss Allen; executive committee, Miss Allen, Mr. Furber, Mr. Hendrie. The Woman's Book Club sent the first delegation of which there is mention from Snohomish County to the State Federation meeting at Olympia, in May, 1897, the delegates being Mrs. Ransom, Mrs. Merritt and Mrs. Pettit.

Secret Societies

Lodges and patriotic orders played a large part in the social life of the times. The lodge directory for 1882 shows three organizations with the following officers: Masons - R. C. Hill, P. G. M., William Whitfield, W. M., E. C. Ferguson, secretary; I].O. O. F. - R. M. Folsom, N. G., H. Jackson, secretary; A. O. U. W. - E. C. Ferguson, M. W., John Swett, recorder. The order T. M. T. (The Mysterious Thirteen) was organized in November, with thirteen charter members, most of whom were officers, as follows: J. Van Bowen, C. A. Missimer, H. A. Moore, C. H. Packard, Charles Creese, A. H. Eddy, J. H. Plaskett, C. C. Thornton and J. Boyer. The A. O. U. W., Forest Lodge, No. 49, was organized in 1881, although, perhaps, not chartered until January, 1882. It started with thirty-four charter members, but by 1887 the membership had dwindled to eleven. E. C. Ferguson was at the head of this lodge throughout all its early history. In November, 1885, the Knights of Labor became a sudden and powerful factor all over the Pacific Coast and a lodge was organized at Snohomish with forty-seven charter members. Membership was not confined to the ranks of labor and it soon became the prey of the politician and thus met a timely end. The Snohomish lodge was known as the Western Star, and the officers in 1886 were A. H. Eddy, M. W. and H. M. Swafford, secretary.

Lodge Halls

The Masonic hall was built in 1877, and this remained the only lodge hall until the Odd Fellows built, in 1886. Their first meeting in the new hall was held on April 10, but the dedication did not take place until some two weeks later. This was an elaborate affair, attended by the Grand Master, George D. Hill, of Seattle. There was an address by H. G. Struve and a banquet and ball, tickets to which sold at the rather extravagant price of $2.50. The building was described as "one of the finest in the territory, with a three-ply Brussels carpet." A. H. Eddy did the cabinet work and Charles Rosengrand the polishing, so the Eye stated. This hall was used in August, 1886, when the Grand Lodge of the I. O. G. T. met in Snohomish, delegates coming from all over the Territory.

Later Organizations

Morton Post, No. 10, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized with sixteen charter members, in 1884. H.G. York was the commander and leading spirit in this organization and by 1888 it had forty members. It led in the celebrations of Memorial Day and soon became a powerful political factor also.

Snohomish Lodge, No. 32, Knights of Pythias, was instituted in January, 1888, F. C. Young and a delegation of forty coming from Seattle on the steamer Monroe for the purpose. The first officers were J. Otten, P. C.; V. Hugo Smith, C. C.; G. G. England, V. C.; W. P. Bell, Prelate; C. Lawry, M. of A.; F. M. Headlee, M. of E.; A. M. Blackman, M. of F.; Herman Smith, K. of R. and S.; C. H. Bakeman, I. G. Vhere were no more new organizations until 1891, which year witnessed the formation of the Royal Arch, among the Masons, the Uniform Rank of the Knights of Pythias, the I. O. R. M., the W. R. C. and the Sons of Veterans. The

Seventeen charter members were mustered into Col. E. W. Young Camp No. 13, of the Sons of Veterans by the man whose name the camp bore, in October, 1891. These members were C. T. Roscoe, O. S. Fletcher, Gus Moran, A. H. Morgan, C. L. Blethen, Frank Jordan, M. L. Packard, Vey Stewart, Harvey Jordan, John Howell, R. S. Padden, H. M. Hudson, Otis Hudson, T. R. Thurston, Almon Buck, G. E. McDonald and E. C. Morse. The officers were C. T. Roscoe, captain ; C. L. Blethen and G. E. McDonald, lieutenants. When the organization of this Camp was first proposed, in May, 1891, the name "Phil Sheridan Camp" was chosen, but it was not chartered under that name.

Morton Corps, of the Women's Relief Corps, was first proposed in 1890, but it does not appear to have been thoroughly organized until February, 1891. Among its officers were Mrs. Josie M. Coffee, president; Mrs. Ellen H. Mudgett, treasurer; Mrs. Laura Hutchins, vice president. The I. O. R. M. was instituted in November, 1891, by a delegation from Seattle which was duly banquetted. F. H. Lysoms was the Sachem and other officers were J. A. Coleman, C. T. Roscoe, J. W. Gunn, W. B. Shay and Rev. R. J. Mooney.

There were fifty names on the charter list of the encampment degree of the I. O. O. F. when it was installed, May 4, 1892, by Grand Representative Dugan and Past Chief Patriarch Herka of Tacoma. Rose Lodge, No. 51, of the Rebekahs was instituted September 14, 1892, with 14 charter members, and Golden Rod Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star dates from March 7, 1892, there being twenty charter members. This chapter was given its number, 22, and its officers were installed, in July, and its charter date is June 13, 1892. The first officers were Mrs. A. W. Frater, Worthy Matron, and E. C. Ferguson, Worthy Patron. Other names on the first official directory were Mrs. J. B. Cole, Mrs. G. B. Deering, Mrs. J. E. Getchell, Mrs. C. H. Anderson and Mrs. A. I. Peacor.

Militia Organized

In August, 1894, twenty-eight young men of the town organized a military company at the office of City Attorney Coon, who was elected captain. The May following application was made to have this company enrolled as a member of the National Guard of Washington, the officers then being L. H. Coon, captain, C. W. Gorham and W. R. Booth, lieutenants. Prior to this, in 1893, the Sons of Veterans for some time met every night for drill in a new store building being erected by Packard. Campfires held by the G. A. R. were notable events in the calendar of Snohomish and drew the best of talent. The campfire of 1893 was addressed by Judge J. R. Winn, then living at Whatcom, and "Lawyer Piles' of Seattle. L. H. Coon brought honors to the Snohomish post when he was elected junior vice commander of the Washington G. A. R., in 1895.

Baseball Chief Sport

With all these lodge activities, both for men and women, it is apparent that those who wished had but few idle hours, nor lacked opportunity for social intercourse; but there was another great source of amusement which knew no lines of lodge or caste or sex, and this was in the field of sport. The three best liked sports of the early days were baseball, foot racing and horse racing; and of these baseball was the undoubted king. There was a baseball team long before there was a newspaper at Snohomish, but without the newspaper there is no record and baseball becomes what may be termed "prehistoric." The "Pacifics," by which name the Snohomish club was known for nearly a decade, after a brilliant career in 1877, was lost sight of during the hard times which came to Puget Sound itn 1878 and 1879. That the club was active in 1881 and 1882 is shown by the Eye's statement that the Fourth of July victory from Seattle, in 1882, was won by the lowest score in three years. This game was for a purse of $30, and the score was 20 to 10. The Pacifics were recruited, in 1882, solely from local men and in order to determine the best players there were preliminary games such as the one between the Town and Pillchuck. The "Town" team was composed of Jackson, Moore, Lawry, Deering, Packard, Elwell, Stevens, Gormand and Le Brant, while the Pillchuckers were Van Bowen, H. Gregory, C. Gregory, Foss, Plate Gifford, Morgan, Selvage and Fleener. The Pacifics defeated the Unknowns of Port Gamble, by 32 to 26, in June, and had high hopes of winning the championship at the tournament held at Olympia. A picked nine from Port Gamble and Snohomish was to go to this tournament and a game was played to decide which uniform should be worn; this also involved the glory of the club name to be used. Snohomish lost, 37 to 31, and Port Gamble was entered in the tourney; not Snohomish. This defeat was practically the end of Snohomish's ball season for 1882; but the Pacifics started, undismayed, in May, 1883, by electing H. F'. Jackson president, J. Van Bowen, secretary, and Booth and Moore, trustees. The Fourth furnished occasion for the crowning event of the baseball year and the Pacifics downed the White Stockings of Seattle. The season was very successful, the acme of glory being reached when Seattle was defeated in a double header, in August, by scores of 6-3 and 14-8. The last game was but five innings, and was called ''on account of kicks."

Claim Coast Pennant

The season of 1884 was in some respects the best Snohomish ever knew, but it ended so disastrously that baseball enthusiasm was nearly killed for a number of years. The first victory was over Seattle, on Memorial Day, the score being 21 to 11. This winning team was lined up as follows: Anderson, catcher; Jackson, third base; Fobes, center field; Van Bowen, second base; Booth, first base; Dunston, right field; Delfel, left field; Moore, shortstop; Welts, pitcher. Van Bowen and Booth each made four runs in this game. On the strength of this victory the Pacifics claimed the championship of the Northwest Pacific coast, when Seattle defeated Portland, and challenged the latter city. The hopes of the Pacifics were blasted, however, when they met defeat at the hands of Seattle, 15 to 19. The Snohomish boys blamed Mularky, the umpire, and declared that he had money bet on Seattle, but they seem to have had a good alibi without that, for their boat sank, going down the river, and they were forced to row to Mukilteo, where they caught the steamer Washington, reaching the ball field at Seattle at 4 o'clock, just as game was called, in an exhausted condition. The record of the coast games for the season of 1884 is of interest and shows that Snohomish was playing against the fastest players in the Northwest. The games were:

This may almost be considered the beginning of the Pacific League and baseball fans will see that Seattle had much the best of the argument, but that the Snohomish Pacifics made the best showing for second place. Snohomish still laid claim to the championship and was broken-hearted when it met a final crushing defeat, in September, by the score of, Seattle 31, Pacifics 7.

Snohomish Defeats Everett

There is record of but one game in 1885, when the Seattle Reds defeated the Pacifics, 14 to 10. But it was said that this "was the umpire's fault."" The Pacifics seem to have retired from the field and to have lost their cunning as ball players, for Snohomish newspapers chronicle no other games until May, 1888, when 400 spectators had the misfortune to see the Pacifics beaten by an Indian team, the score being 12 to 23. Baseball revived in 1892, and for the first time the opponent of Snohomish was the new Town of Everett. Perhaps the county seat loss was partially recompensed when Snohomish snowed Everett under by the score of 39 to 5. The lineup of these two teams was as follows:

An attempt was made to form a Northwest amateur league in 1893, with Snohomish, Seattle, Tacoma and Bellingham as members, but there is no record to show that it met with success. The team organized for the season in June, with Charles Morath as manager and treasurer, George Roll, captain, and O. Thornton, secretary. There seems to have been a lessening interest in baseball in 1894, but that year witnessed the first game of football ever played in the county, or north of Seattle, Snohomish winning over Everett by 10 to 0.

Thornton Stars With Chicago

The crowning glory came to Snohomish baseball history in 1895 when Walter Thornton, after making a phenomenal record in college baseball with Cornell College, at Mount Vernon, Iowa, was engaged to pitch for the White Sox of Chicago under the tutelage of the famous "Pop" Anson. The newspapers of Snohomish County contained reports of every game in which he played and he was the "lion" of the entire county upon his return to the coast. He made a good record, but was seriously injured by a pitched ball during one game with the Chicago team. Thornton was the second player from the Pacific Northwest to get into a major league team. The first was William Lang, who played for several seasons with Port Townsend and who was also in the Chicago team. It was said of Thornton, in July, 1895, "He is making good in Chicago. He holds both hands above his head, then swings and lets her go. He has good speed and makes a good impression. The Chicago team is much interested in his pitching."

Horse Racing

"The Indians invaded the town with their horses, raced with the Bostons and won all their money and went back to Tulalip highly elated. There were foot races, also." This is the gist of an item which appeared in the Snohomish Eye, August 23, 1882. It tells a long, rather sad story in a very few words. Next to baseball, racing was the sport of the pioneer. Many wagers were made and the losers did not expect to go home with any money or loose personal property in their possession. Foot races between known local parties were usually "on the square," but the foreign runners imported for the purpose were generally part of a swindling outfit. Some of the famous races of the early days were: The race between James H. Burton and Burt Hatch for $100, won by the former, in 1883; the great field day of August, 1884, when William Cook beat the Tulalip Indian, and the horse races, of which the tricks of "Honest John" sent the Indians home penniless. There was also the wrestling match to a draw between John Brooks, mate of the Nellie, and William Foss on this big day. It was reported that $1,200 changed hands when Thos. Bishop beat William Cook in a 100-yard dash, by eighteen inches, for a purse of $250. The biggest swindle in the history of "fake" sport in Snohomish was in March, 1889, when a young man named Cairns was induced to mortgage his farm in order to bet $3,000 on a "sure thing," the money being put up in the hands of one of the Seattle gang who promptly disappeared with the money.

Miscellaneous Sports

The Shooting Club organized in 1883, with Charles Creese president and H. A. Moore, secretary; the Pastime Park Association which provided fair grounds and race track, in 1893; the Athletic Club, organized first in 1894 and reorganized in 1895, and the Cycle Club organized the same year, were some of the other institutions which told of the love for outdoor sports. The first "female wheelist in bloomers" visited Snohomish from Everett on March 5, 1895, shocking the town worse than any earthquake it has ever experienced. Cycling became a favorite sport, however, the six-foot front wheel offering as much of peril as the modern airplane. There was much speeding and U. K. Loose and A. M. Farrah were greatly elated when they reduced the time to Everett to forty-two minutes. There was a club at Everett and in spite of county seat enmities there were joint excursions. On one of these, the trip to Seattle, "over the old telegraph road," was made in five hours, and on another run the distance from Snohomish to Sultan was covered in two hours and twenty minutes.

This sketch of the social life of Snohomish covers a number of years, but it dwells only upon a few of the more outstanding events. It tells nothing of the innumerable home gatherings, socials, dances, picnics, boat rides and lodge meetings, but it is enough to show that the city was filled with energetic, fun-loving people abounding with life and vigor, generous, often rash, but always lovable.

The Darker Side

But for the most part this social life was confined to the regular inhabitants of the city, as distinct from the floating population of loggers and railroad workers. These lived a life almost apart. Their habitat was the lower part of the city, and the "'citizens'' displayed much indifference as to what happened to them. He was a lucky logger who went to Snohomish with his wages and who returned to camp with any of them left. To be truthful, the majority did not wish to return with any money. They went to town to have a "big time" and they had it. What the saloon and the gambling table failed to get was spent at the dance hall or in the shuttered houses; or 1f the man was not a good spender the "rolling" process was resorted to, and he was forcibly separated from his cash. There were brawls and stabbing affrays and shootings, but so long as these were confined to the loggers and the various birds of prey, little was said or done about them. Occasionally there were protests when vice grew too public and crime too rampant, as in 1883, when the grand jury reported that there was open gambling, that horse racing made the streets dangerous and that houses of ill fame were located on the most public streets; or when, in 1887, "French Louie" went on the war path and chased Isaac Cathcart and his bartender through the streets. Conditions grew worse during the days of railroad construction and the place was said to be overrun with "'tin-horn" gamblers, so much so that Prosecuting Attorney Piles and the police force conducted a clean-up campaign, two of the worst offenders being Mollie Campbell, '"'the lady stud poker dealer," and her husband. By an ordinance passed in April, 1888, gaming tables were licensed, these including '"'pigeon hole tables and Jenny Lind tables." In March, 1889, at the time of the Cairns swindle, there was quite a carnival of crime. A stranger from Minneapolis was shot by an inmate of the "White House" and Packard & Sons' safe was blown and robbed of $380. The safe-breakers were caught, but their second attempt to break jail was successful. In 1891 there was serious opposition to the proposed repeal of the Sunday laws; but sentiment was not all one way, for at a meeting called to protest repeal a resolution to that effect was carried by a vote of 66 to 45 only. A fatal shooting affray occurred in October, 1895, when William Wroth, known as "Omaha Bill," proprietor of the Gold Leaf saloon, shot and almost instantly killed "Texas" Jack. Both men were intoxicated and had had some words previous to the shooting. Wroth was arrested by Officer James A. Sipprell and taken to the city lock-up, and the body of the dead man removed to the morgue, across the bridge. Coroner Rodgers of Everett was notified and an inquest held; William Whitfield, Ed Warner, Tom Cole, Fred Foss,

Tis was not the first, but it was one of the last tragedies of the underworld at Snohomish, as it created such an impression that, thereafter, the law was better enforced and steps were taken to check vice, until the city became free from the saloon and from public haunts of crime and lawlessness.

Masonic History

"For some reason unaccountable to me, I have been given the task of addressing you this evening on the subject of Masonic Progress in Snohomish County.

"Tam not going to make any apologies for lack of knowledge of the subject or inability to do a good job, for that has been threshed out ere this between myself and chief promoters of this celebration; and I have simply agreed to do the best I can to entertain you. I occupy this evening about the same relation to this blowout as the steam calliope does to the circus. However, I will get up steam, toot my whistle, and later on you will see the elephant dance to your heart's content, enjoy a good lunch, and have a fine time generally. Wauth this assurance I hope you will submit to the ordeal patiently and uncomplainingly.

"The first knowledge I have of the existence of Freemasonry in Snohomish County was in 1872 when I made the acquaintance of Morris H. Frost of Mukilteo, a member of Port Townsend Lodge No. 6, Erskine D. Kromer of Kane Lodge No. 8, Benjamin F. Stretch of St. John's Lodge No. 9, and Robert I. Hilton of Franklin Lodge No. 5; all of these lodges being in this jurisdiction. The two first named brethren have 'crossed the great divide,' Brother Stretch is in Alaska and Brother Hilton's familiar face is seen daily on the streets of Snohomish.

"No steps were taken to organize a lodge until April, 1876, when a meeting was held at Snohomish, at the residence of our late brother, Hugh Ross, at which meeting nineteen members of the order were present and took preliminary steps toward the forming of a lodge here, the first one in Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom counties.