from FAG member Denise Gill:
HistoryLink File #2724
Sarah Yesler arrives in Seattle in July 1858.
In mid-July 1858, Sarah Burgert Yesler (1822-1887) arrives in Seattle to join
her husband Henry Yesler (1810-1892), Seattle pioneer and proprietor of the
town's first sawmill. Sarah Yesler will become a prime mover in the new town,
advocating suffrage, helping to found the library association (which evolved
into The Seattle Public Library), and joining with her husband in carrying out
his business enterprises.
The pair had been separated for seven years during which time Sarah had raised
their son, Henry George Yesler (1845?-1859) in Ohio, while Henry searched the
West for opportunities to set up his sawmill. Expecting to return from the
Northwest soon, Sarah left 12-year-old George with relatives in Ohio. The
Yeslers' son became ill and died in June 1859.
Upon her arrival in Seattle, Sarah became cook for the sawmill employees, and
actively involved herself in the Yesler business enterprises. She was in the
forefront of the suffrage movement, active in the Seattle Library Association, a
founding member of Seattle's first benevolent organization, and at the center of
life in Seattle.
The Yeslers were spiritualists who refused to join any church. They hosted
spiritualist-astrologer W. E. Cheney's sessions at their house. The
spiritualists believed in free love and Sarah formed a passionate attachment to
at least one other woman, while remaining a loyal wife to Henry.
In the 1880s, the Yeslers resisted the anti-Chinese agitation. Sarah Yesler's
Chinese cook sought refuge in her house and she protected him and refused to
turn him over to a mob of men.
In the 1880s, she helped to found the Ladies Relief Society, which in turn
founded the Seattle Children's Home, an orphanage, in 1885.
She died after several weeks of severe gastric illness, on August 28, 1887. She
was 65. Her biographers, Linda Peavy and Ursula Smith, write:
"As the news [of her death] swept across Seattle, flags in the city and its
harbor were lowered to half-mast as citizens mourned the woman who had given so
much to them. Stores and businesses closed their doors out of respect for 'the
aged lady' and hundreds poured through the doors of the Yesler mansion and into
its north parlor..." (p. 176).
Sources:
Linda Peavy and Ursula Smith, "Sarah Burgert Yesler" in Women in Waiting in the
Westward Movement (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1994), 132-178. By
Priscilla Long, January 01, 2000
HistoryLink File #2724
Sarah Yesler arrives in Seattle in July 1858.
In mid-July 1858, Sarah Burgert Yesler (1822-1887) arrives in Seattle to join
her husband Henry Yesler (1810-1892), Seattle pioneer and proprietor of the
town's first sawmill. Sarah Yesler will become a prime mover in the new town,
advocating suffrage, helping to found the library association (which evolved
into The Seattle Public Library), and joining with her husband in carrying out
his business enterprises.
The pair had been separated for seven years during which time Sarah had raised
their son, Henry George Yesler (1845?-1859) in Ohio, while Henry searched the
West for opportunities to set up his sawmill. Expecting to return from the
Northwest soon, Sarah left 12-year-old George with relatives in Ohio. The
Yeslers' son became ill and died in June 1859.
Upon her arrival in Seattle, Sarah became cook for the sawmill employees, and
actively involved herself in the Yesler business enterprises. She was in the
forefront of the suffrage movement, active in the Seattle Library Association, a
founding member of Seattle's first benevolent organization, and at the center of
life in Seattle.
The Yeslers were spiritualists who refused to join any church. They hosted
spiritualist-astrologer W. E. Cheney's sessions at their house. The
spiritualists believed in free love and Sarah formed a passionate attachment to
at least one other woman, while remaining a loyal wife to Henry.
In the 1880s, the Yeslers resisted the anti-Chinese agitation. Sarah Yesler's
Chinese cook sought refuge in her house and she protected him and refused to
turn him over to a mob of men.
In the 1880s, she helped to found the Ladies Relief Society, which in turn
founded the Seattle Children's Home, an orphanage, in 1885.
She died after several weeks of severe gastric illness, on August 28, 1887. She
was 65. Her biographers, Linda Peavy and Ursula Smith, write:
"As the news [of her death] swept across Seattle, flags in the city and its
harbor were lowered to half-mast as citizens mourned the woman who had given so
much to them. Stores and businesses closed their doors out of respect for 'the
aged lady' and hundreds poured through the doors of the Yesler mansion and into
its north parlor..." (p. 176).
Sources:
Linda Peavy and Ursula Smith, "Sarah Burgert Yesler" in Women in Waiting in the
Westward Movement (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1994), 132-178. By
Priscilla Long, January 01, 2000
from FAG member Denise Gill:
HistoryLink File #2724
Sarah Yesler arrives in Seattle in July 1858.
In mid-July 1858, Sarah Burgert Yesler (1822-1887) arrives in Seattle to join
her husband Henry Yesler (1810-1892), Seattle pioneer and proprietor of the
town's first sawmill. Sarah Yesler will become a prime mover in the new town,
advocating suffrage, helping to found the library association (which evolved
into The Seattle Public Library), and joining with her husband in carrying out
his business enterprises.
The pair had been separated for seven years during which time Sarah had raised
their son, Henry George Yesler (1845?-1859) in Ohio, while Henry searched the
West for opportunities to set up his sawmill. Expecting to return from the
Northwest soon, Sarah left 12-year-old George with relatives in Ohio. The
Yeslers' son became ill and died in June 1859.
Upon her arrival in Seattle, Sarah became cook for the sawmill employees, and
actively involved herself in the Yesler business enterprises. She was in the
forefront of the suffrage movement, active in the Seattle Library Association, a
founding member of Seattle's first benevolent organization, and at the center of
life in Seattle.
The Yeslers were spiritualists who refused to join any church. They hosted
spiritualist-astrologer W. E. Cheney's sessions at their house. The
spiritualists believed in free love and Sarah formed a passionate attachment to
at least one other woman, while remaining a loyal wife to Henry.
In the 1880s, the Yeslers resisted the anti-Chinese agitation. Sarah Yesler's
Chinese cook sought refuge in her house and she protected him and refused to
turn him over to a mob of men.
In the 1880s, she helped to found the Ladies Relief Society, which in turn
founded the Seattle Children's Home, an orphanage, in 1885.
She died after several weeks of severe gastric illness, on August 28, 1887. She
was 65. Her biographers, Linda Peavy and Ursula Smith, write:
"As the news [of her death] swept across Seattle, flags in the city and its
harbor were lowered to half-mast as citizens mourned the woman who had given so
much to them. Stores and businesses closed their doors out of respect for 'the
aged lady' and hundreds poured through the doors of the Yesler mansion and into
its north parlor..." (p. 176).
Sources:
Linda Peavy and Ursula Smith, "Sarah Burgert Yesler" in Women in Waiting in the
Westward Movement (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1994), 132-178. By
Priscilla Long, January 01, 2000
HistoryLink File #2724
Sarah Yesler arrives in Seattle in July 1858.
In mid-July 1858, Sarah Burgert Yesler (1822-1887) arrives in Seattle to join
her husband Henry Yesler (1810-1892), Seattle pioneer and proprietor of the
town's first sawmill. Sarah Yesler will become a prime mover in the new town,
advocating suffrage, helping to found the library association (which evolved
into The Seattle Public Library), and joining with her husband in carrying out
his business enterprises.
The pair had been separated for seven years during which time Sarah had raised
their son, Henry George Yesler (1845?-1859) in Ohio, while Henry searched the
West for opportunities to set up his sawmill. Expecting to return from the
Northwest soon, Sarah left 12-year-old George with relatives in Ohio. The
Yeslers' son became ill and died in June 1859.
Upon her arrival in Seattle, Sarah became cook for the sawmill employees, and
actively involved herself in the Yesler business enterprises. She was in the
forefront of the suffrage movement, active in the Seattle Library Association, a
founding member of Seattle's first benevolent organization, and at the center of
life in Seattle.
The Yeslers were spiritualists who refused to join any church. They hosted
spiritualist-astrologer W. E. Cheney's sessions at their house. The
spiritualists believed in free love and Sarah formed a passionate attachment to
at least one other woman, while remaining a loyal wife to Henry.
In the 1880s, the Yeslers resisted the anti-Chinese agitation. Sarah Yesler's
Chinese cook sought refuge in her house and she protected him and refused to
turn him over to a mob of men.
In the 1880s, she helped to found the Ladies Relief Society, which in turn
founded the Seattle Children's Home, an orphanage, in 1885.
She died after several weeks of severe gastric illness, on August 28, 1887. She
was 65. Her biographers, Linda Peavy and Ursula Smith, write:
"As the news [of her death] swept across Seattle, flags in the city and its
harbor were lowered to half-mast as citizens mourned the woman who had given so
much to them. Stores and businesses closed their doors out of respect for 'the
aged lady' and hundreds poured through the doors of the Yesler mansion and into
its north parlor..." (p. 176).
Sources:
Linda Peavy and Ursula Smith, "Sarah Burgert Yesler" in Women in Waiting in the
Westward Movement (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1994), 132-178. By
Priscilla Long, January 01, 2000
Inscription
aged 65 yrs 7 mos 10 dys-wife of H L Yesler
Gravesite Details
She married while still living in OH and they had two children who died at an early age. Mrs Yesler was a short, stout woman. She was always well dressed. She had a kind smile and bright blue eyes.
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