Denny Party
Encyclopedia
The Denny Party is a group of white
pioneers credited with founding Seattle, Washington
because they settled at Alki Point on November 13, 1851.
A wagon party headed by Arthur A. Denny
left Cherry Grove, Illinois
on April 10, 1851. The party included his father, stepmother, two older brothers who settled in the Willamette Valley
of Oregon
, his younger brother David Denny
, his wife, Mary Ann Boren, Mary's younger sister Louisa, and their brother Carson
. Mary Ann was Arthur Denny's wife and his stepsister. She was pregnant throughout the journey. Mary's sister Louisa Boren married David Denny in 1861). Arthur Denny is said to have been ill throughout the journey, but remained the group's leader.
On July 6, 1851, they battled Indians
at American Falls on the Snake River
, but escaped unharmed. The following day they met John Low
, and he joined the party. Late in July they reached the Burnt River
in eastern Oregon
where they encountered a man named Brock. He suggested to Denny that Puget Sound
would be a good place to create a town.
The Denny Party arrived in Portland, Oregon
on August 22, 1851. Arthur Denny was ill and Mary Ann was about to give birth so the party convalesced in Portland. On September 2, Mary gave birth to a son, Rolland H. Denny.
John Low and David Denny headed north to scout the possibilities. Along the way they were joined by Leander "Lee" Terry. In newly founded Olympia, Washington
, they met Michael Simmons
, wealthy founder of Tumwater, Washington
, who guided them to Alki as a possible site for a settlement. On September 28, 1851, Terry and Low began building a cabin with help from the local Indians, and then staked claims to the land. Low returned to Portland to alert the others, Terry looked for a frow to make redcedar shake shingles), and David Denny stayed on in the unfinished cabin. Like his brother, he was not in good health, and his situation was not improved by staying in an unroofed cabin. Then he injured his foot with an axe.
In Portland, Arthur Denny recruited Illinois
farmer William Nathaniel Bell
and his wife, and, by coincidence, Charlie Terry, Leander Terry's older brother. The Terry brothers, from Waterville, New York
, had come west as part of the California Gold Rush
, but had not liked the rough and tumble of San Francisco.
On November 5, 1851, the Denny Party left Portland on the schooner
Exact bound for Puget Sound
and the Queen Charlotte Islands
. The Exact carried a number of settlers bound for Puget Sound in addition to the Denny Party, including Daniel Bigelow
who settled in Olympia. After a difficult passage, particularly hard on the still-ill Denny, they arrived at Alki November 13, where David greeted them with the words, "I wish you hadn't come."
Denny was bitterly disappointed that Low and Lee Terry had already staked the relevant claims for Alki. However, he had no choice but to pitch in, finish the cabin and settle in for the winter. Denny convinced Bell and Boren that they needed to scout a different location. Once the worst of winter cleared, Denny and sometimes other party members went exploring as far as Commencement Bay
(now the site of Tacoma
), Port Orchard
, Smith Cove
, and up the Duwamish River
to the present site of Puyallup
, before settling on an island in the mudflats near the east shore of Elliott Bay
, now the site of Pioneer Square
.
For the next three years Alki Point and Elliott Bay sites competed as rival townsites. Charlie Terry bought out his brother and Low's Alki holdings, and lead this community. Arthur Denny settled at Elliott Bay and, along with his rival "Doc" Maynard
, led nascent Seattle. The tide
s at Alki were so strong that piers could not be built. Terry moved to the community on the east shore of Elliott Bay, which became the nucleus of the city of Seattle.
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
pioneers credited with founding Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
because they settled at Alki Point on November 13, 1851.
A wagon party headed by Arthur A. Denny
Arthur A. Denny
Arthur Armstrong Denny was present at the founding of Seattle, Washington, the acknowledged leader of the pioneer Denny Party, and later the city's wealthiest citizen and a 9-term member of the territorial legislature...
left Cherry Grove, Illinois
Cherry Grove-Shannon Township, Carroll County, Illinois
Cherry Grove-Shannon Township is one of twelve townships in Carroll County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,556.-Geography:...
on April 10, 1851. The party included his father, stepmother, two older brothers who settled in the Willamette Valley
Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, his younger brother David Denny
David Denny
David Thomas Denny was a member of the Denny Party, who are generally collectively credited as the founders of Seattle, Washington, USA. Though he ultimately underwent bankruptcy, he was a significant contributor to the shape of the city...
, his wife, Mary Ann Boren, Mary's younger sister Louisa, and their brother Carson
Carson Boren
Carson Dobbins Boren , was an early founder of Seattle, Washington . His sister Mary Ann was married to Arthur Denny, and his sister Louisa to David Denny. Boren was the first King County Sheriff...
. Mary Ann was Arthur Denny's wife and his stepsister. She was pregnant throughout the journey. Mary's sister Louisa Boren married David Denny in 1861). Arthur Denny is said to have been ill throughout the journey, but remained the group's leader.
On July 6, 1851, they battled Indians
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
at American Falls on the Snake River
Snake River
The Snake is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest in the United States. At long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean...
, but escaped unharmed. The following day they met John Low
John Low
John Low or John Lowe was a medieval Bishop of St Asaph and Bishop of Rochester, in England.Low was consecrated Bishop of St Asaph on 1 November 1433 and translated to Rochester on 22 April 1444.Low died about 21 November 1467.-References:...
, and he joined the party. Late in July they reached the Burnt River
Burnt River
Burnt River may refer to:*the Burnt River in Ontario, Canada*the community of Burnt River, Ontario*Burnt River , tributary of the Snake River in eastern Oregon, US...
in eastern Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
where they encountered a man named Brock. He suggested to Denny that Puget Sound
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
would be a good place to create a town.
The Denny Party arrived in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
on August 22, 1851. Arthur Denny was ill and Mary Ann was about to give birth so the party convalesced in Portland. On September 2, Mary gave birth to a son, Rolland H. Denny.
John Low and David Denny headed north to scout the possibilities. Along the way they were joined by Leander "Lee" Terry. In newly founded Olympia, Washington
Olympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
, they met Michael Simmons
Michael Simmons
Michael Simmons is the author of the bestselling book,The Student Success Manifesto: How to Create a Life of Passion, Purpose, and Prosperity, which has received testimonials from Mark Victor Hansen, Stephen Covey, Russell Simmons, and Paul Orfalea .Simmons, along with wife Sheena Lindahl, founded...
, wealthy founder of Tumwater, Washington
Tumwater, Washington
Tumwater is a city in Thurston County, Washington, United States. It lies near where the Deschutes River enters Budd Inlet, the southernmost point of Puget Sound. The population was 17,371 at the 2010 census...
, who guided them to Alki as a possible site for a settlement. On September 28, 1851, Terry and Low began building a cabin with help from the local Indians, and then staked claims to the land. Low returned to Portland to alert the others, Terry looked for a frow to make redcedar shake shingles), and David Denny stayed on in the unfinished cabin. Like his brother, he was not in good health, and his situation was not improved by staying in an unroofed cabin. Then he injured his foot with an axe.
In Portland, Arthur Denny recruited Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
farmer William Nathaniel Bell
William Nathaniel Bell
William Nathaniel Bell , originally from Edwardsville, Illinois and later a resident of Portland, Oregon, was a member of the Denny Party, the first group of white settlers in what is now Seattle, Washington...
and his wife, and, by coincidence, Charlie Terry, Leander Terry's older brother. The Terry brothers, from Waterville, New York
Waterville, New York
Waterville is a village in Oneida County, New York, United States. According to the 2000 census, its population was 1,721.-Geography:Waterville is located at ....
, had come west as part of the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
, but had not liked the rough and tumble of San Francisco.
On November 5, 1851, the Denny Party left Portland on the schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
Exact bound for Puget Sound
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
and the Queen Charlotte Islands
Queen Charlotte Islands
Haida Gwaii , formerly the Queen Charlotte Islands, is an archipelago on the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada. Haida Gwaii consists of two main islands: Graham Island in the north, and Moresby Island in the south, along with approximately 150 smaller islands with a total landmass of...
. The Exact carried a number of settlers bound for Puget Sound in addition to the Denny Party, including Daniel Bigelow
Daniel Bigelow
Daniel Bigelow was a pioneer lawyer and politician in Olympia, Washington.-Biography:Daniel Richardson Bigelow was born March 24, 1824, in Belleville, New York. He graduated from Union College in 1846 and attended Harvard law school from 1847 to 1849. After graduation he began practice in...
who settled in Olympia. After a difficult passage, particularly hard on the still-ill Denny, they arrived at Alki November 13, where David greeted them with the words, "I wish you hadn't come."
Denny was bitterly disappointed that Low and Lee Terry had already staked the relevant claims for Alki. However, he had no choice but to pitch in, finish the cabin and settle in for the winter. Denny convinced Bell and Boren that they needed to scout a different location. Once the worst of winter cleared, Denny and sometimes other party members went exploring as far as Commencement Bay
Commencement Bay
Commencement Bay is a bay of Puget Sound in the U.S. state of Washington. The city of Tacoma is located on the bay, with the Port of Tacoma occupying the southeastern end. A line drawn from Point Defiance in the southwest to Browns Point in the northeast serves to mark the generally accepted...
(now the site of Tacoma
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
), Port Orchard
Port Orchard, Washington
Port Orchard is a city in and the county seat of Kitsap County, Washington, United States. It is located 13 miles due west of West Seattle and connected to Seattle and Vashon Island via the Washington State Ferries run to Southworth...
, Smith Cove
Smith Cove (Washington)
Smith Cove is a body of water, the northern part of Seattle, Washington's Elliott Bay, immediately south of the area that has been known since 1894 as Interbay...
, and up the Duwamish River
Duwamish River
The Duwamish River is the name of the lower of Washington state's Green River. Its industrialized estuary is known as the Duwamish Waterway.- History :...
to the present site of Puyallup
Puyallup, Washington
Puyallup, Washington is a city in Pierce County, Washington about five miles east of Tacoma. The population was 37,022 at the 2010 Census. Named after the Puyallup Tribe of Native Americans, Puyallup means "the generous people."-History:...
, before settling on an island in the mudflats near the east shore of Elliott Bay
Elliott Bay
Elliott Bay is the body of water on which Seattle, Washington, is located. A line drawn from Alki Point in the south to West Point in the north serves to mark the generally accepted division between the bay and the open sound...
, now the site of Pioneer Square
Pioneer Square, Seattle, Washington
Pioneer Square is a neighborhood in the southwest corner of Downtown Seattle, Washington, USA. It was once the heart of the city: Seattle's founders settled there in 1852, following a brief six-month settlement at Alki Point on the far side of Elliott Bay. The early structures in the neighborhood...
.
For the next three years Alki Point and Elliott Bay sites competed as rival townsites. Charlie Terry bought out his brother and Low's Alki holdings, and lead this community. Arthur Denny settled at Elliott Bay and, along with his rival "Doc" Maynard
David Swinson Maynard
David Swinson "Doc" Maynard was an American pioneer and doctor, and one of Seattle's primary founders. He was an effective civic booster and, compared to other white settlers, a relative advocate of Native American rights...
, led nascent Seattle. The tide
Tide
Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the moon and the sun and the rotation of the Earth....
s at Alki were so strong that piers could not be built. Terry moved to the community on the east shore of Elliott Bay, which became the nucleus of the city of Seattle.