Erasmus M. Smithers
Encyclopedia
Erasmus M. Smithers was one of the European pioneers of the Pacific coast
and the founder of the city of Renton
, King County, Washington
. His wife and her first husband had settled on the land where the town is now located in 1853, fifteen miles (24 km) from what is now Seattle. At the time there were no white settlers at a point nearer than Seattle, which was then a frontier settlement.
on February 17, 1830 to a family being of English origin and which had been among the early settlers in Virginia
and North Carolina
. His father, Samuel Smithers, a farmer, was born in Virginia, and married a Miss Hale, also a member of one of the old families of that state.
He was raised Virginia and his early education was very limited in scope. At age 19 he left Virginia and set out for the west. A friend had informed him that two young ladies were about to leave for Oregon with a company, and that one of the members of the party, Green Olds, desired to secure the services of a young man to aid him during the journey across the plains.
The trip Iowa City, Iowa
to The Dalles, Oregon
took six months, and they then continued to Portland, Oregon
where Smithers found a job assisting in the construction of a mill. In April, 1853, he went to Seattle, selling timber to ships bound to San Francisco, California
. He brought with him from Portland three yoke of cattle and hauled logs to build the Fort Madison, Washington mill. When the Indian war of 1855
broke out, he volunteered for service, and continued a member of the volunteer militia until 1856.
), the widow of Henry H. Tobin. Diana and Henry had married in Lincoln, Maine in March 1851, and had been the first settlers of the Renton area in 1853, where they had built a timber mill in 1854. During the Puget Sound war with the Duwamish natives in 1855, the mill burnt down and the settlers were driven away. Soon after their wedding Erasmus and Diana moved to Tobin's 320 acres (1.3 km²) claim and claimed another neighboring 160 acre (0.6474976 km²), which were wilderness at the time (the native population had been resettled elsewhere). The Smithers built a small shack, where they lived initially and where their children, Ada (1858), Edwin M. (1862), and Fred G. (1866), were born. They built a larger house in 1875.
The old city of Renton was located on a portion of Smithers' land. He platted the town and placed the lots on the market. He also established a coal mine which he later sold. The coal seam had been discovered in Renton in 1853 or 1854 by Henry Tobin's first neighbor, Dr. R.H. Bigelow.
, his first vote having been cast in support of Isaac I. Stevens for governor of the territory. He was a member of the Washington Pioneer Society and during the American Civil War
he was initiated into the Freemasonry
, being one of the first members of St. John's Lodge of Seattle, one of the first lodges instituted in the territory.
He was on board of trustees of the South Prairie Coal Mining Company. He was appointed by Governor Edward Selig Salomon and once by Governor Elisha Peyre Ferry a trustee of University of Washington
and was elected president of the board of regents.
Pacific Coast
A country's Pacific coast is the part of its coast bordering the Pacific Ocean.-The Americas:Countries on the western side of the Americas have a Pacific coast as their western border.* Geography of Canada* Geography of Chile* Geography of Colombia...
and the founder of the city of Renton
Renton
- People :* David Renton, , a British politician* Frank Renton, British musician, conductor and broadcaster* Kris Renton, Scottish footbal player* Kristen Renton, American actress* Tim Renton, Baron Renton of Mount Harry, British politician....
, King County, Washington
King County, Washington
King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population in the 2010 census was 1,931,249. King is the most populous county in Washington, and the 14th most populous in the United States....
. His wife and her first husband had settled on the land where the town is now located in 1853, fifteen miles (24 km) from what is now Seattle. At the time there were no white settlers at a point nearer than Seattle, which was then a frontier settlement.
Early life
Smithers was born in VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
on February 17, 1830 to a family being of English origin and which had been among the early settlers in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. His father, Samuel Smithers, a farmer, was born in Virginia, and married a Miss Hale, also a member of one of the old families of that state.
He was raised Virginia and his early education was very limited in scope. At age 19 he left Virginia and set out for the west. A friend had informed him that two young ladies were about to leave for Oregon with a company, and that one of the members of the party, Green Olds, desired to secure the services of a young man to aid him during the journey across the plains.
Journey west
He paid $50 to join the company. On the May 8, 1852 the company embarked with twenty wagons drawn by ox teams. 15 miles (24.1 km) west of Omaha, Nebraska, a large band of Indians met them at a bridge and demanded a payment of one dollar a wagon before they passed on, but the settlers were able to fight them off.The trip Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
to The Dalles, Oregon
The Dalles, Oregon
The Dalles is the largest city and county seat of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The name of the city comes from the French word dalle The Dalles is the largest city and county seat of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The name of the city comes from the French word dalle The Dalles is...
took six months, and they then continued to 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...
where Smithers found a job assisting in the construction of a mill. In April, 1853, he went to Seattle, selling timber to ships bound to San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. He brought with him from Portland three yoke of cattle and hauled logs to build the Fort Madison, Washington mill. When the Indian war of 1855
Puget Sound War
The Puget Sound War was an armed conflict that took place in the Puget Sound area of the state of Washington in 1855–56, between the United States Military, local militias and members of the Native American tribes of the Nisqually, Muckleshoot, Puyallup, and Klickitat...
broke out, he volunteered for service, and continued a member of the volunteer militia until 1856.
Renton settlement
In November 1857, he married Diana B. Gilman (born 1824, Orono, MaineOrono, Maine
Orono is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. It was first settled in 1774 and named in honor of Chief Joseph Orono of the Penobscot Nation. It is home to The University of Maine. The population was 10,362 at the 2010 census.- Geography :...
), the widow of Henry H. Tobin. Diana and Henry had married in Lincoln, Maine in March 1851, and had been the first settlers of the Renton area in 1853, where they had built a timber mill in 1854. During the Puget Sound war with the Duwamish natives in 1855, the mill burnt down and the settlers were driven away. Soon after their wedding Erasmus and Diana moved to Tobin's 320 acres (1.3 km²) claim and claimed another neighboring 160 acre (0.6474976 km²), which were wilderness at the time (the native population had been resettled elsewhere). The Smithers built a small shack, where they lived initially and where their children, Ada (1858), Edwin M. (1862), and Fred G. (1866), were born. They built a larger house in 1875.
The old city of Renton was located on a portion of Smithers' land. He platted the town and placed the lots on the market. He also established a coal mine which he later sold. The coal seam had been discovered in Renton in 1853 or 1854 by Henry Tobin's first neighbor, Dr. R.H. Bigelow.
Later life
A life-long member of the Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, his first vote having been cast in support of Isaac I. Stevens for governor of the territory. He was a member of the Washington Pioneer Society and 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 was initiated into the Freemasonry
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, being one of the first members of St. John's Lodge of Seattle, one of the first lodges instituted in the territory.
He was on board of trustees of the South Prairie Coal Mining Company. He was appointed by Governor Edward Selig Salomon and once by Governor Elisha Peyre Ferry a trustee of University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
and was elected president of the board of regents.