Daniel Hunt Gilman
Encyclopedia
Daniel Hunt Gilman was an American attorney and railroad builder who made his career in Seattle.
, the son of Maine legislator
Henry Gilman and his wife Mary (née Twombly) Gilman. Daniel Hunt Gilman received education at the town's high school and the East Main Conference Seminary in Bucksport.
At the age of 19 during the American Civil War
, he enlisted in one of the Maine companies of the First District of Columbia Calvary. He served as a sergeant with his regiment in General Kautz's
division of calvary, Army of the James, during the spring and summer of 1864. He was severely wounded at the Battle of Staunton River Bridge
on June 25, 1864, but returned to duty four months later as a Quartermaster Sergeant in the First Maine Calvary.
Gilman spent six years in New York City after the war. He worked in the city's mercantile houses and also engaged in real estate speculation before pursuing law. He received a degree from Columbia College of Law and entered private practice.
In 1883, Gilman relocated to Seattle. He saw opportunity in untapped coal and iron deposits in the mountains outside of the city. He assisted in the establishment of the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway
(SLS&E) in 1885. The group of investors wanted to use a connection with a transcontinental line to trade the region's goods. With the help of approximately $500,000 from his contacts in New York, construction of the line began in 1887. Gilman was actively involved in the management and operation of the railroad until June, 1887. He continued to retain interest in the enterprise afterward. The road eventually ran from downtown Seattle, around the northern shores of Lake Union
, and to the east of Lake Washington
. Portions between Ballard
and Bothell became the recreational Burke-Gilman Trail
about 100 years later. By 1889 the railroad reached as far as Snoqualmie Falls
. Gilman was an early promoter of using the falls to generate hydroelectricity
. Rail also stretched north from Seattle to Arlington
. Track was laid in Spokane
for a line heading west. However, the railroad never succeeded in crossing the Cascade Mountains as originally intended.
Along with the SLS&E, Gilman helped create the Seattle and Montana Railroad (part of the Great Northern system) and the West Street and North End Electric Railway in the city. He was also involved with various ventures connected with his railroad business. One of these was the establishment of the Seattle Coal and Iron Co. in the town of Squak. The SLS&E inevitably served the coal town. Squak was incorporated in 1892 as Gilman, and it later became the city of Issaquah.
Although he never sought public office, Gilman was chairman of the state Democratic party's central committee from 1890 to 1892. He helped to establish the The Seattle Telegraph as the newspaper of the party.
On January 9, 1888, he married Grace C. Thorndyke. He returned to New York for some time but came back to Seattle in 1906. An injury sustained in an automobile accident on August 25, 1912, shortened his life. Gilman died in Pasadena, California, on April 27, 1913.
Early life
Gilman was born in Levant, MaineLevant, Maine
Levant is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,171 at the 2000 census.-History:Originally called "Kenduskeag Plantation", the town was founded in 1802 by Maj. Moses Hodsden, who built 3 houses, a sawmill, a grist-mill, a store, and a blacksmith shop in what is now...
, the son of Maine legislator
Maine Legislature
The Maine Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maine. It is a bicameral body composed of the lower house Maine House of Representatives and the upper house Maine Senate...
Henry Gilman and his wife Mary (née Twombly) Gilman. Daniel Hunt Gilman received education at the town's high school and the East Main Conference Seminary in Bucksport.
At the age of 19 during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he enlisted in one of the Maine companies of the First District of Columbia Calvary. He served as a sergeant with his regiment in General Kautz's
August Kautz
August Valentine Kautz was a German-American soldier and Union Army cavalry officer during the American Civil War. He was the author of several army manuals on duties and customs eventually adopted by the U.S. military.-Early life and career:Born in Ispringen, Baden, Germany, Kautz immigrated with...
division of calvary, Army of the James, during the spring and summer of 1864. He was severely wounded at the Battle of Staunton River Bridge
Battle of Staunton River Bridge
The Battle of Staunton River Bridge was an engagement on June 25, 1864, between Union and Confederate forces during Wilson-Kautz Raid of the American Civil War. The battle took place around the Staunton River Bridge, over the Staunton River, in Halifax and Charlotte counties,...
on June 25, 1864, but returned to duty four months later as a Quartermaster Sergeant in the First Maine Calvary.
Gilman spent six years in New York City after the war. He worked in the city's mercantile houses and also engaged in real estate speculation before pursuing law. He received a degree from Columbia College of Law and entered private practice.
Career in Seattle
Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway
The Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway was a railroad founded in Seattle, Washington, on April 28, 1885, with three tiers of purposes: Build and run the initial line to the town of Ballard, bring immediate results and returns to investors; exploit resources east in the valleys, foothills,...
(SLS&E) in 1885. The group of investors wanted to use a connection with a transcontinental line to trade the region's goods. With the help of approximately $500,000 from his contacts in New York, construction of the line began in 1887. Gilman was actively involved in the management and operation of the railroad until June, 1887. He continued to retain interest in the enterprise afterward. The road eventually ran from downtown Seattle, around the northern shores of Lake Union
Lake Union
Lake Union is a freshwater lake entirely within the Seattle, Washington city limits.-Origins:A glacial lake, its basin was dug 12,000 years ago by the Vashon glacier, which also created Lake Washington and Seattle's Green, Bitter, and Haller Lakes.-Name:...
, and to the east of Lake Washington
Lake Washington
Lake Washington is a large freshwater lake adjacent to the city of Seattle. It is the largest lake in King County and the second largest in the state of Washington, after Lake Chelan. It is bordered by the cities of Seattle on the west, Bellevue and Kirkland on the east, Renton on the south and...
. Portions between Ballard
Ballard, Seattle
Ballard is a neighborhood located in the northwestern part of Seattle, Washington. To the north it is bounded by Crown Hill, ; to the east by Greenwood, Phinney Ridge and Fremont ; to the south by the Lake Washington Ship Canal; and to the west by Puget Sound’s Shilshole Bay. The neighborhood’s...
and Bothell became the recreational Burke-Gilman Trail
Burke-Gilman Trail
The Burke-Gilman Sammamish Trail is a rail trail in King County, Washington. The multi-use recreational trail is part of the King County Regional Trail System and occupies an abandoned Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway corridor....
about 100 years later. By 1889 the railroad reached as far as Snoqualmie Falls
Snoqualmie Falls
Snoqualmie Falls is a 268 ft waterfall on the Snoqualmie River between Snoqualmie and Fall City, Washington, USA. It is one of Washington's most popular scenic attractions, but is perhaps best known internationally for its appearance in the cult television series Twin Peaks...
. Gilman was an early promoter of using the falls to generate hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
. Rail also stretched north from Seattle to Arlington
Arlington, Washington
Arlington is a city in northern Snohomish County, Washington, United States, bordered by the city of Marysville to the south. The population was 17,926 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. Track was laid in Spokane
Spokane
Spokane is a city in the U.S. state of Washington.Spokane may also refer to:*Spokane *Spokane River*Spokane, Missouri*Spokane Valley, Washington*Spokane County, Washington*Spokane-Coeur d'Alene-Paloos War*Spokane * USS Spokane...
for a line heading west. However, the railroad never succeeded in crossing the Cascade Mountains as originally intended.
Along with the SLS&E, Gilman helped create the Seattle and Montana Railroad (part of the Great Northern system) and the West Street and North End Electric Railway in the city. He was also involved with various ventures connected with his railroad business. One of these was the establishment of the Seattle Coal and Iron Co. in the town of Squak. The SLS&E inevitably served the coal town. Squak was incorporated in 1892 as Gilman, and it later became the city of Issaquah.
Although he never sought public office, Gilman was chairman of the state Democratic party's central committee from 1890 to 1892. He helped to establish the The Seattle Telegraph as the newspaper of the party.
On January 9, 1888, he married Grace C. Thorndyke. He returned to New York for some time but came back to Seattle in 1906. An injury sustained in an automobile accident on August 25, 1912, shortened his life. Gilman died in Pasadena, California, on April 27, 1913.
External links
- Guide to the Daniel H. Gilman Papers, from the University of Washington