U.S. Congressman, Western Pioneer. He was a school teacher and a surveyor when he moved to California in 1854 to engage in mining. He returned to Pennsylvania in 1861 and, upon the outbreak of the Civil War, enlisted in the Union Army. He served throughout the war, was promoted through the ranks to Colonel, and saw action in many battles. After the war, he settled on a farm near Nashville, Tennessee, and served as a Tennessee House of Representatives (1867 to 1869). In 1869, he was elected as a Republican to the Forty-first Congress, serving until 1871. A candidate for reelection, he served as postmaster of Nashville (1872 to 1875), director of the Tennessee, Edgefield & Kentucky Railroad, and was one of the State commissioners to the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia in 1876. In 1879, President Hayes appointed him special agent for the Interior Department of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and moved to Washington State. There, he established the first trading post at Yakima Falls in 1882, which became the town of Prosser, Washington, in 1899. He also brought irrigation to the area, giving the farmers more options for the crops they grew. By 1910, he brought electricity and the telephone to the town of Prosser. He was chairman of the Washington State Harbor Line Commission, Mayor of North Yakima, and City treasurer of Seattle until his death at age 77.
U.S. Congressman, Western Pioneer. He was a school teacher and a surveyor when he moved to California in 1854 to engage in mining. He returned to Pennsylvania in 1861 and, upon the outbreak of the Civil War, enlisted in the Union Army. He served throughout the war, was promoted through the ranks to Colonel, and saw action in many battles. After the war, he settled on a farm near Nashville, Tennessee, and served as a Tennessee House of Representatives (1867 to 1869). In 1869, he was elected as a Republican to the Forty-first Congress, serving until 1871. A candidate for reelection, he served as postmaster of Nashville (1872 to 1875), director of the Tennessee, Edgefield & Kentucky Railroad, and was one of the State commissioners to the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia in 1876. In 1879, President Hayes appointed him special agent for the Interior Department of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and moved to Washington State. There, he established the first trading post at Yakima Falls in 1882, which became the town of Prosser, Washington, in 1899. He also brought irrigation to the area, giving the farmers more options for the crops they grew. By 1910, he brought electricity and the telephone to the town of Prosser. He was chairman of the Washington State Harbor Line Commission, Mayor of North Yakima, and City treasurer of Seattle until his death at age 77.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Prosser memorials in:
Advertisement
