Joshua Green (seaman and banker)
Encyclopedia
Joshua Green was an American
sternwheeler captain, businessman, and banker. He rose from being a seaman to being the dominant figure of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet
, then sold out his interests and became a banker. Living to the age of 105 and active in business almost to the end of his life, he became an invaluable source of information about the history of Seattle and the Puget Sound
region. According to Nard Jones
, Green was one of the city of Seattle's last fluent speakers of Chinook Jargon
, the pidgin
trade language of the Pacific Northwest
.
, Joshua came with his family to the Puget Sound of region Washington in 1886 at the age of 17. The family formed a connection with Seattle mayor Bailey Gatzert
, who helped Green begin his career. He worked as a chainman, surveying
for the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway
, then on the sternwheeler Henry Bailey
, a Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet vessel that also went up the Skagit River
.
In late 1889, using a $5,000 loan from Seattle banker Jacob Furth
, an associate of Gatzert's, Green and three fellow officers of the Henry Bailey purchased their own sternwheeler, the Fanny Lake (or Fannie Lake). Bill Speidel
describes it as "…a funny little thing… She looked like a scow
with a big box, topped by a smaller box, topped by a deluxe model outhouse."
Green's innovative business practices soon allowed him to become a fleet owner, president of what was named the La Conner Trading and Transportation Company
., owning some rather more elegant vessels, such as the sidewheeler George E. Starr
. He established Seattle's dominance of the Mosquito Fleet, relative to Olympia
or Tacoma
, which Speidel considers to be a key factor in Seattle's emerging and continued dominance of the Puget Sound region. He continued to be a master and captain, serving on several of his own company's sternwheelers.
The company survived several ship fires, as well as the Depression that followed the Panic of 1893
, then prospered greatly in the Klondike Gold Rush
, transporting miners and their gear to Alaska
. Green continued to invest his profits. In 1903 he merged his firm with Charles E. Peabody's Alaska Steamship/Puget Sound Navigation Company, soon brought the Mosquito Fleet to a new level. Ships were retrofitted to be able to carry automobiles, notably for the Seattle-Bremerton route. From 1913, the company was known as the Puget Sound Navigation Company
.
In 1925, Green purchased the distressed Peoples Savings Bank for US$
200,000, and in 1927, believing that the rise of the automobile limited the future of Puget Sound area water transport, he resigned from the Puget Sound Navigation Company to dedicate himself fully to banking. Puget Sound Navigation would continue to dominate Puget Sound transportation until it was bought out in 1951 by the state of Washington, as the centerpiece of Washington State Ferries
.
He changed the name of the bank to Peoples Bank and Trust Co, later People's National Bank of Washington. With branch banking not allowed at the time, he began or acquired several other banks as wholly owned subsidiaries. In 1949, when he passed the presidency of the bank to his son Joshua Jr., deposits stood at $128 million. By 1969, when Joshua Green turned 100, deposits had reached $400 million. In 1988, the bank was purchased by U.S. Bancorp
and renamed it U.S. Bank of Washington.
Joshua Green died at age 105 in 1975.
In 1968 Seattle named Green its "man of the century." A mountain and river in Alaska
are named after him.
The Stimson-Green House, Green's residence after 1914, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
and has city landmark status. Green made few alterations to the 1899 house, and lived there until his death, making it one of the few First Hill
mansions to survive largely intact to the present time. The house is now owned by the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation and is available for events.
The Joshua Green Building, 1425 Fourth Avenue, Seattle, has city landmark status. Still owned and managed by the Joshua Green Corporation, the 1914 building is undergoing major renovations in 2008–2009.
The Joshua Green Foundation is focused on major capital campaigns of 501 (c)(3) non-profit organizations headquartered and operating in the Seattle/King County
area, primarily private secondary and higher education, social services and the arts.
His family continues his business interests as the Joshua Green Corporation / Green Family Enterprises, operating numerous retail properties in the region and in Spokane, Washington
, as well as investing in "banking and insurance," and "diversified portfolios of managed equities." Reflecting Green's interests as a sportsman, they also own several manufacturers of fly fishing
equipment.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sternwheeler captain, businessman, and banker. He rose from being a seaman to being the dominant figure of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet
Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet
The Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet was a large number of private transportation companies running smaller passenger and freight boats on Puget Sound and nearby waterways and rivers. This large group of steamers and sternwheelers plied the waters of Puget Sound, stopping at every waterfront dock...
, then sold out his interests and became a banker. Living to the age of 105 and active in business almost to the end of his life, he became an invaluable source of information about the history of Seattle and the 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...
region. According to Nard Jones
Nard Jones
-Life:According to Jones' self-description in "Puget Sound Profiles",he was born in Seattle and graduated with honors from Whitman College, beginning his career as a campus correspondent for the Walla Walla Daily Bulletin...
, Green was one of the city of Seattle's last fluent speakers of Chinook Jargon
Chinook Jargon
Chinook Jargon originated as a pidgin trade language of the Pacific Northwest, and spread during the 19th century from the lower Columbia River, first to other areas in modern Oregon and Washington, then British Columbia and as far as Alaska, sometimes taking on characteristics of a creole language...
, the pidgin
Pidgin
A pidgin , or pidgin language, is a simplified language that develops as a means of communication between two or more groups that do not have a language in common. It is most commonly employed in situations such as trade, or where both groups speak languages different from the language of the...
trade language of the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
.
Life and career
Born in MississippiMississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, Joshua came with his family to the Puget Sound of region Washington in 1886 at the age of 17. The family formed a connection with Seattle mayor Bailey Gatzert
Bailey Gatzert
Bailey Gatzert was the eighth mayor of Seattle, Washington, serving from 1875 to 1876. He was the first Jewish mayor of Seattle, narrowly missing being the first Jewish mayor of a major American city , and has been the only Jewish mayor of Seattle to date.Gatzert was born in 1829 in Darmstadt,...
, who helped Green begin his career. He worked as a chainman, surveying
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
for the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway
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,...
, then on the sternwheeler Henry Bailey
Henry Bailey (sternwheeler)
Henry Bailey was a sternwheel steamboat that operated on Puget Sound from 1888 to 1910. The vessel was named after Henry Bailey, a steamboat captain in the 1870s who lived in Ballard, Washington.- Career:...
, a Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet vessel that also went up the Skagit River
Skagit River
The Skagit River is a river in southwestern British Columbia in Canada and northwestern Washington in the United States, approximately 150 mi long...
.
In late 1889, using a $5,000 loan from Seattle banker Jacob Furth
Jacob Furth
Jacob Furth was an Austrian Empire-born American entrepreneur and prominent Seattle banker. He played a key role in consolidating Seattle's electric power and public transportation infrastructure, and was a member of Ohaveth Sholum Congregation, Seattle's first synagogue...
, an associate of Gatzert's, Green and three fellow officers of the Henry Bailey purchased their own sternwheeler, the Fanny Lake (or Fannie Lake). Bill Speidel
Bill Speidel
William C Speidel known as Bill Speidel was a columnist for The Seattle Times and a self-made historian who wrote the books Sons of the Profits and Doc Maynard, The Man Who Invented Seattle about the people who settled and built Seattle, Washington.Speidel is also credited with being one of the...
describes it as "…a funny little thing… She looked like a scow
Scow
A scow, in the original sense, is a flat-bottomed boat with a blunt bow, often used to haul bulk freight; cf. barge. The etymology of the word is from the Dutch schouwe, meaning such a boat.-Sailing scows:...
with a big box, topped by a smaller box, topped by a deluxe model outhouse."
Green's innovative business practices soon allowed him to become a fleet owner, president of what was named the La Conner Trading and Transportation Company
La Conner Trading and Transportation Company
The La Conner Trading and Transportation Company was founded in the early 1900s by Joshua Green and others, to engage in the shipping business on Puget Sound.-Formation:...
., owning some rather more elegant vessels, such as the sidewheeler George E. Starr
George E. Starr (steamboat)
The steamboat George E. Starr operated in late 19th century as part of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet and also operated out of Victoria, B.C. Geo. E. Starr also served for a time in California and on the Columbia River.-Construction:Geo. E...
. He established Seattle's dominance of the Mosquito Fleet, relative to Olympia
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...
or 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...
, which Speidel considers to be a key factor in Seattle's emerging and continued dominance of the Puget Sound region. He continued to be a master and captain, serving on several of his own company's sternwheelers.
The company survived several ship fires, as well as the Depression that followed the Panic of 1893
Panic of 1893
The Panic of 1893 was a serious economic depression in the United States that began in 1893. Similar to the Panic of 1873, this panic was marked by the collapse of railroad overbuilding and shaky railroad financing which set off a series of bank failures...
, then prospered greatly in the Klondike Gold Rush
Klondike Gold Rush
The Klondike Gold Rush, also called the Yukon Gold Rush, the Alaska Gold Rush and the Last Great Gold Rush, was an attempt by an estimated 100,000 people to travel to the Klondike region the Yukon in north-western Canada between 1897 and 1899 in the hope of successfully prospecting for gold...
, transporting miners and their gear to Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. Green continued to invest his profits. In 1903 he merged his firm with Charles E. Peabody's Alaska Steamship/Puget Sound Navigation Company, soon brought the Mosquito Fleet to a new level. Ships were retrofitted to be able to carry automobiles, notably for the Seattle-Bremerton route. From 1913, the company was known as the Puget Sound Navigation Company
Puget Sound Navigation Company
The Puget Sound Navigation Company was founded by Joshua Green in 1913. It operated a fleet of steamboats and ferries on Puget Sound in Washington and the Georgia Strait in British Columbia...
.
In 1925, Green purchased the distressed Peoples Savings Bank for US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
200,000, and in 1927, believing that the rise of the automobile limited the future of Puget Sound area water transport, he resigned from the Puget Sound Navigation Company to dedicate himself fully to banking. Puget Sound Navigation would continue to dominate Puget Sound transportation until it was bought out in 1951 by the state of Washington, as the centerpiece of Washington State Ferries
Washington State Ferries
Washington State Ferries is a passenger and automobile ferry service owned and operated by the Washington State Department of Transportation that serves communities on Puget Sound and in the San Juan Islands. It is the most used ferry system in the world and the largest passenger and automobile...
.
He changed the name of the bank to Peoples Bank and Trust Co, later People's National Bank of Washington. With branch banking not allowed at the time, he began or acquired several other banks as wholly owned subsidiaries. In 1949, when he passed the presidency of the bank to his son Joshua Jr., deposits stood at $128 million. By 1969, when Joshua Green turned 100, deposits had reached $400 million. In 1988, the bank was purchased by U.S. Bancorp
U.S. Bancorp
U.S. Bancorp is a diversified financial services holding company, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the parent company of U.S. Bank, the fifth largest commercial bank in the United States based on $330 billion in assets. U.S. Bank ranks as the sixth largest bank in the U.S. based on...
and renamed it U.S. Bank of Washington.
Joshua Green died at age 105 in 1975.
Legacy and honors
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
are named after him.
The Stimson-Green House, Green's residence after 1914, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
and has city landmark status. Green made few alterations to the 1899 house, and lived there until his death, making it one of the few First Hill
First Hill, Seattle, Washington
First Hill is a neighborhood in Seattle, Washington, named for the hill on which it is located. The hill, in turn, is so named for being the first hill one encounters traveling east from downtown Seattle toward Lake Washington....
mansions to survive largely intact to the present time. The house is now owned by the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation and is available for events.
The Joshua Green Building, 1425 Fourth Avenue, Seattle, has city landmark status. Still owned and managed by the Joshua Green Corporation, the 1914 building is undergoing major renovations in 2008–2009.
The Joshua Green Foundation is focused on major capital campaigns of 501 (c)(3) non-profit organizations headquartered and operating in the Seattle/King County
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....
area, primarily private secondary and higher education, social services and the arts.
His family continues his business interests as the Joshua Green Corporation / Green Family Enterprises, operating numerous retail properties in the region and in Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
, as well as investing in "banking and insurance," and "diversified portfolios of managed equities." Reflecting Green's interests as a sportsman, they also own several manufacturers of fly fishing
Fly fishing
Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial 'fly' is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or 'lure' requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting...
equipment.
Further reading
- Noel V. Bourasaw, Joshua Green, Skagit sternwheelers and the birth of Puget sound ferries, Skagit River Journal of History & Folklore, 2003. Posted March 18, 2003, updated February 15, 2009
- Robert Cantwell, Nemesis Of The Black Brant, Sports IllustratedSports IllustratedSports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
, May 16, 1966. Article about Green as a hunter. - Kline, M.S, and Bayless, G.A., Ferryboats -- A Legend on Puget Sound, Bayless Publications, Bellevue, 1983 ISBN 0-914515-00-4
- Gordon Newell, The Green Years: The Development of Transportation, Trade and Finance in the Puget Sound Region from 1886 to 1969 as Recalled By Joshua Green, Seattle: Superior Publishing Company, 1969.