Seattle Pioneer, Minister. Born in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, he was ordained a Methodist minister in 1842. He spent the first 10 years of his ministry traveling throughout the state of Illinois as a circuit preacher, before being assigned to the Oregon Territory in 1852. On April 20, 1852 he left Princeton, Illinois, for the Oregon Territory, which included the present day states of Washington, Idaho and parts of Wyoming and Montana. Accompanying him on his westward journey were the families of Dexter Horton, William H. Shoudy, and Thomas Mercer, all key figures that would shape the early history and development of pioneer Seattle. Arriving in Salem, Oregon on September 21, 1852, he immediately began his ministerial duties, establishing several churches throughout the Willamette Valley. In 1860 he arrived in Seattle, establishing a church in the present downtown district of Seattle. During the Civil War, he was the only clergyman stationed in Seattle, and was an outspoken critic of slavery. In 1861 he was appointed as a commissioner to the Washington Territorial University (University of Washington), responsible for the acquisition and sale of lands, building construction and establishing a university curriculum. He died in Seattle at the age of 86.
Seattle Pioneer, Minister. Born in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, he was ordained a Methodist minister in 1842. He spent the first 10 years of his ministry traveling throughout the state of Illinois as a circuit preacher, before being assigned to the Oregon Territory in 1852. On April 20, 1852 he left Princeton, Illinois, for the Oregon Territory, which included the present day states of Washington, Idaho and parts of Wyoming and Montana. Accompanying him on his westward journey were the families of Dexter Horton, William H. Shoudy, and Thomas Mercer, all key figures that would shape the early history and development of pioneer Seattle. Arriving in Salem, Oregon on September 21, 1852, he immediately began his ministerial duties, establishing several churches throughout the Willamette Valley. In 1860 he arrived in Seattle, establishing a church in the present downtown district of Seattle. During the Civil War, he was the only clergyman stationed in Seattle, and was an outspoken critic of slavery. In 1861 he was appointed as a commissioner to the Washington Territorial University (University of Washington), responsible for the acquisition and sale of lands, building construction and establishing a university curriculum. He died in Seattle at the age of 86.
Bio by: Nils M. Solsvik Jr.
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