Henry Van Asselt
Encyclopedia
Henry Van Asselt was a Dutch
immigrant to the US, one of the first to settle the area that is now Seattle, Washington
. He was born in The Netherlands on April 11, 1817, and in 1847 was one of the first from his area to immigrate to the New World
.
He was the longest surviving original settler of King County, Washington
, dying at age 85 on Dec. 9, 1902. He married late in life, in December, 1862, to Jane, the daughter of Jacob Maples, and they had four children.
. He served a little over three years, until peace was consummated between the two countries. He then hunted on local noble estates and farmed with his parents up to 1847.
, and after a passage of forty-nine days landed in New York, on July 17, 1847. He went to New Jersey
and worked nine months for $35, then proceeded from Albany, New York
by canal to Buffalo, New York
, and thence by lakes and river to St. Louis, Missouri
where he worked five months; then to Bloomington, Iowa, where he remained until the spring of 1850, when he joined a party of eight, including James Thornton and Charles Hendricks, to cross the plains to California, paying $100 for his food and transportation.
At the fork of California and Oregon roads, they decided to go to Oregon, and arrived at Oregon City
on September 21. Near Oregon City he hired on with a farmer for two months at $75 per month, then began a new job making shingles, which he did until February, 1851, when he joined with Thornton, Hendricks and others and went to the gold mines of northern California.
They spent about five and a half weeks mining when the water gave out, so they divided their gold, giving each of them about $1,000. But supplies were costly, with flour selling at $1 per pound, and bacon $1.25, so he decided to return to the Willamette Valley
. On the way the party of five fell in with L. M. Collins, who had a claim on the Nisqually River
, Washington Territory
, and was traveling with Jacob and Samuel Maple. Collins convinced Van Asselt, Thornton, and Hendricks to join them. They spent July 4, 1851, at Oregon City, then proceeded, by the Tualatin Plains
, to St. Helens
.
While crossing the river from that point Mr. Van Asselt accidentally shot himself in the shoulder and returned to St. Helens for treatment, where he remained for thirty days, then joined his friends on the Nisqually.
, then traveling upstream until they reached the junction of the White
and Black
rivers, where they found land and staked out claims. Van Asselt's claim is now part of Boeing Field
. The site now occupied by Seattle was inhabited solely by Indians, and there were no settlers within the boundaries of what is now King County.
Returning to the Nisqually, Collins sold his claim there, and with a scow purchased at Olympia, Washington
the combined party moved their animals and effects to the new claims, where they built log cabins, becoming the first settlers in the Seattle area. They were soon followed by the settlement of the Dennys and Terrys at Alki Point, and later by Mr. Yesler, who erected a sawmill, which provided work for the settlers in logging, as well as in farming. They began supplying squared timber for the San Francisco market.
During the first session of federal court, which was held in Henry Yesler's log cookhouse on Feb. 13, 1854, Van Asselt was granted U.S. citizenship.
The Indians were curious about Van Asselt, as he still used a sling on the arm that was injured. Finding that he still carried lead in his shoulder from the bullet wound, they considered him protected from a shooting death. He was a good hunter and accurate with his shotgun, and the combination of these circumstances made the Indians superstitious about him, so they nicknamed him "Sucway" - devil, and avoided direct confrontation with him, which served him well during the ensuing Indian troubles.
In September, 1855, the Indian war broke out on White River, and after the killing of several settlers, those remaining fled to safety in Seattle. Confrontations continued in the area for two years. Van Asselt joined Company A of the First Regiment, Washington Territory Volunteers, which was formed in Seattle to fight the Indians. When the aggression settled down and Van Asselt returned to his farm in 1857 he found all buildings and fences destroyed. He went to the Willamette Valley to work for several months to earn money in order to rebuild.
In 1860, Van Asselt donated land on which he and his neighbors built a schoolhouse, the first in King County. It has been succeeded by the Van Asselt Elementary School which was built nearby in 1950. A playground is also named after him.
In 1862, he married a neighbor's daughter, Jane Maple, in a ceremony which was attended by the local Indians, who were curious. They paraded through the cabin to see the new bride and groom. The Van Asselts had four children: Mary, Jacob, Hattie, and Ella.
In 1883 Van Asselt moved to Hood River, Oregon
, and farmed for six years, then moved to Seattle and established a cabinetmaker's shop. The Henry Van Asselt residence in Seattle was built in 1890. It is no longer standing.
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
immigrant to the US, one of the first to settle the area that is now 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...
. He was born in The Netherlands on April 11, 1817, and in 1847 was one of the first from his area to immigrate to the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
.
He was the longest surviving original settler of 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....
, dying at age 85 on Dec. 9, 1902. He married late in life, in December, 1862, to Jane, the daughter of Jacob Maples, and they had four children.
Early life
At the age of 19 Van Asselt was drafted into the army, joining the Dutch Second Battalion of Yagers, and was stationed on the frontier between The Netherlands and BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. He served a little over three years, until peace was consummated between the two countries. He then hunted on local noble estates and farmed with his parents up to 1847.
The Journey West
He sailed for America on the bark Suelhyd, from AmsterdamAmsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, and after a passage of forty-nine days landed in New York, on July 17, 1847. He went to New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and worked nine months for $35, then proceeded from Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
by canal to Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, and thence by lakes and river to St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
where he worked five months; then to Bloomington, Iowa, where he remained until the spring of 1850, when he joined a party of eight, including James Thornton and Charles Hendricks, to cross the plains to California, paying $100 for his food and transportation.
At the fork of California and Oregon roads, they decided to go to Oregon, and arrived at Oregon City
Oregon City, Oregon
Oregon City was the first city in the United States west of the Rocky Mountains to be incorporated. It is the county seat of Clackamas County, Oregon...
on September 21. Near Oregon City he hired on with a farmer for two months at $75 per month, then began a new job making shingles, which he did until February, 1851, when he joined with Thornton, Hendricks and others and went to the gold mines of northern California.
They spent about five and a half weeks mining when the water gave out, so they divided their gold, giving each of them about $1,000. But supplies were costly, with flour selling at $1 per pound, and bacon $1.25, so he decided to return to 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...
. On the way the party of five fell in with L. M. Collins, who had a claim on the Nisqually River
Nisqually River
The Nisqually River is a river in west central Washington in the United States, approximately long. It drains part of the Cascade Range southwest of Tacoma, including the southern slope of Mount Rainier, and empties into the southern end of Puget Sound....
, Washington Territory
Washington Territory
The Territory of Washington was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 8, 1853, until November 11, 1889, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Washington....
, and was traveling with Jacob and Samuel Maple. Collins convinced Van Asselt, Thornton, and Hendricks to join them. They spent July 4, 1851, at Oregon City, then proceeded, by the Tualatin Plains
Tualatin Plains
The Tualatin Plains are a prairie area in central Washington County, Oregon, United States. Located around the Hillsboro and Forest Grove areas, the plains were first inhabited by the Atfalati band of the Kalapuya group of Native Americans. Euro-American settlement began in the...
, to St. Helens
St. Helens, Oregon
St. Helens is the county seat of Columbia County, Oregon. It was founded by Captain H. M. Knighton, a native of New England, in 1845 as "Plymouth". The name was changed to St. Helens in the latter part of 1850 for its view of Mount St. Helens some away in Washington. The population was 10,019 at...
.
While crossing the river from that point Mr. Van Asselt accidentally shot himself in the shoulder and returned to St. Helens for treatment, where he remained for thirty days, then joined his friends on the Nisqually.
Settlement
While staying with Collins he explored the surrounding country for a place to settle, but did not find anything satisfactory, so he decided to return to the Willamette Valley with his friends. Collins convinced him to look for farmland forty miles down the Sound, where the Indians were still numerous. Van Asselt and Samuel and Jacob Maples agreed to go with him, and on September 12, 1851, they started their journey by canoe to the Duwamish RiverDuwamish 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 :...
, then traveling upstream until they reached the junction of the White
White River (Washington)
The White River is a white, glacial river in the U.S. state of Washington. It flows about 75 miles from its source, the Emmons Glacier on Mount Rainier, to join the Puyallup River at Sumner...
and Black
Black River (Duwamish River)
The Black River, also known as the Duwamish River, was a river in King County in the U.S. state of Washington. It drained Lake Washington until 1916 when the opening of the Lake Washington Ship Canal lowered the lake, causing the Black River to dry up...
rivers, where they found land and staked out claims. Van Asselt's claim is now part of Boeing Field
Boeing Field
Boeing Field, officially King County International Airport , is a two-runway airport owned and run by King County, Washington, USA. In promotional literature, the airport is frequently referred to as KCIA, but this is not the airport identifier. The airport has some passenger service, but is mostly...
. The site now occupied by Seattle was inhabited solely by Indians, and there were no settlers within the boundaries of what is now King County.
Returning to the Nisqually, Collins sold his claim there, and with a scow purchased at 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...
the combined party moved their animals and effects to the new claims, where they built log cabins, becoming the first settlers in the Seattle area. They were soon followed by the settlement of the Dennys and Terrys at Alki Point, and later by Mr. Yesler, who erected a sawmill, which provided work for the settlers in logging, as well as in farming. They began supplying squared timber for the San Francisco market.
During the first session of federal court, which was held in Henry Yesler's log cookhouse on Feb. 13, 1854, Van Asselt was granted U.S. citizenship.
The Indians were curious about Van Asselt, as he still used a sling on the arm that was injured. Finding that he still carried lead in his shoulder from the bullet wound, they considered him protected from a shooting death. He was a good hunter and accurate with his shotgun, and the combination of these circumstances made the Indians superstitious about him, so they nicknamed him "Sucway" - devil, and avoided direct confrontation with him, which served him well during the ensuing Indian troubles.
In September, 1855, the Indian war broke out on White River, and after the killing of several settlers, those remaining fled to safety in Seattle. Confrontations continued in the area for two years. Van Asselt joined Company A of the First Regiment, Washington Territory Volunteers, which was formed in Seattle to fight the Indians. When the aggression settled down and Van Asselt returned to his farm in 1857 he found all buildings and fences destroyed. He went to the Willamette Valley to work for several months to earn money in order to rebuild.
In 1860, Van Asselt donated land on which he and his neighbors built a schoolhouse, the first in King County. It has been succeeded by the Van Asselt Elementary School which was built nearby in 1950. A playground is also named after him.
In 1862, he married a neighbor's daughter, Jane Maple, in a ceremony which was attended by the local Indians, who were curious. They paraded through the cabin to see the new bride and groom. The Van Asselts had four children: Mary, Jacob, Hattie, and Ella.
In 1883 Van Asselt moved to Hood River, Oregon
Hood River, Oregon
The city of Hood River is the seat of Hood River County, Oregon, United States. It is a port on the Columbia River, and is named for the nearby Hood River. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 5,831...
, and farmed for six years, then moved to Seattle and established a cabinetmaker's shop. The Henry Van Asselt residence in Seattle was built in 1890. It is no longer standing.
External links
- http://content.lib.washington.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/imlsmohai&CISOPTR=412&CISOBOX=1&REC=1
- http://books.google.com/books?id=wIQUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA320&lpg=PA320&dq=Henry+Van+Asselt&source=bl&ots=5EUrnowzKk&sig=cVYc2f2euwu2TVcCQue2pKWlla4&hl=en&ei=Fcr6SpnICpPTnAfX0sD8DA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CBoQ6AEwBTgK#v=onepage&q=Henry%20Van%20Asselt&f=false