Pioneer family.
Thorton Fleming McElroy, 1825-1885. Sara Collins McElroy, 1827-1894. Harry Bates McElroy, 1861-1928. Thorton McElroy joined the gold rush to California, journeyed overland by wagon train to Oregon City, Or., to work on the Oregon Spectator, was sent by Thomas Dryer to Olympia, Washington to establish and publish "The Columbian" in 1852, was Territorial printer (1863-1872), and was foreman of the "Pioneer and Democrat".
Family papers, including correspondence of Thornton F. McElroy (Washington Territorial official) his wife, Sara Elizabeth (Bates) McElroy, and their son, Harry Bates McElroy. Papers relate to T.F. McElroy's overland journey to California in 1849, the newspaper publishing and printing business in Oregon and Washington Territories, politics in Washington Territory, and social conditions in the Northwest during the pioneer period. 1847-1955.
Typewritten transcription of two T. F. McElroy letters to Sarah McElroy (May 8, 1849; June 8, 1849)
Open to all users
Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Donated by Mrs. Charles E. Allison, 1959-61. Additional pieces transferred approximately 1970 which had probably been given to Professor E.S. Meany by Harry B. McElroy and then given to Charles W. Smith for the library.
Thornton Fleming (T.F.) McElroy was born July 24, 1825 in West Middletown Pennsylvania and left home at age 18 to settle in Pittsfield, Illinois where he learned the printers' trade. He was married October 15, 1847 to Sarah E. Bates of Pittsfield Illinois; the couple had one child, Harry, born 1861.
In 1849 T.F. McElroy started across the country to work in the gold mines of California, though ended up in Oregon City, Oregon Territory, where he worked as a printer. McElroy did eventually go down to California where he worked in the mines for several months, returning to Oregon City in 1852. That same year, McElroy and J.W. Wiley went to Olympia (then Oregon Territory) and started the first newspaper north of the Columbia River -- The Columbian.
T.F. McElroy worked in the printing business until his death, working for several years as the public printer for the Washington Territory (1863-1870). McElroy served in several public capacities including as a representative in the Territorial Legislature from 1855-1856, as Mayor of the City of Olympia, as a member of the Olympia City Council, as Treasurer for Thurston County, and he was the first grand master of the Grand Lodge of the Masons of Washington Territory. T.F. McElroy remained in Olympia until his death in 1885.
Includes correspondence from Thomas Dryer, J.C. Ainsworth, John Nicolay, D.L. Phillips, the San Francisco Bulletin Co., Jack Myers, James Nesmith, Vestatia Gove, James Goudy, F.A. Hyde, Phillips Horton & Company.
Correspondence regarding a lawsuit involving William F. Tolmie, Charles C. Terry, Henry L. Yesler, Judge Edward Lander, and T.F. McElroy.
Includes correspondence between: William Slocum from Lydia Blacklee (1870); Reed from Charles E. Williams (1881); Mr. Hatch from John Hay (assistant and private secretary to President Lincoln and later Secretary of State under McKinley and T. Roosevelt) regarding patronage policy (1879); John M. Chapman (in Olympia) from John B. Chapman (in Washington D.C.) regarding patronage of the office of Indian Affairs and reflections on the strategic political problems of the Johnson administration (1866); Mr. Baker from F.M. Brubaker (in Olympia) regarding the Indian wars and business opportunities (1856).
Possibly platted by Edmund Sylvester approximately 1850.
William Pickering, Governor of the Territory of Washington, 1862-1866.
Includes Council Bill no. 13, Council Joint Resolution no. 5, House Bill nos. 3, 4, 30, 36, 45, 51, 90, 94, 95, 99, and 101.
Printed by T.F. McElroy
Pieces printed by T.F. McElroy which includes: Rules & Orders of the House of Representatives of the Territory of Washington (1864-1865); Report of the House Committee on the Territorial Library (1865); Report of the Joint Committee of the Legislative Assembly Relative to the Territorial University (1865); Supplemental Report of the Territorial Auditor to the Legislative Assembly (1865); Report of the Territorial Librarian (1864); and an excerpt from Local and Private Laws (1871).
Printed by T.F. McElroy.
Ann (Collins) McElroy was born in Maryland in 1789 and died in Zanesville, Ohio in 1873. The second wife of Archibald McElroy, Ann McElroy was mother to twelve children, including six of her own (Zenas, Elizabeth, Archibald, Isaac, Esther, and Thornton).
Sarah Elizabeth (Bates) McElroy was born in 1827 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and as a child moved to Pittsfield, Illinois where she met and married T.F. McElroy. Five years after her husband left for California, Sarah (“Sallie”) McElroy joined T.F. McElroy in Olympia, Washington in 1854 where their son Harry was born in 1861. Sarah McElroy died in 1894.
Includes two transcriptions of letters to "Sallie" from T.F. McElroy.
Letters from sister Helen Nicolay and son Harrie McElroy.
Story narrated to Sarah McElroy by Mrs. Katy Kautz
One volume, hand-written with loose leaves.
Includes a garden journal, a travel diary of a trip to Illinois via SF and Denver, and an account book and diary.
Harry Bates McElroy, born 1861 in Olympia, Washington, was the only child of T.F. and Sarah McElroy. Harry spent his childhood in Olympia and went to secondary school at the California Military Academy in Oakland, California. Harry McElroy married Caroline (Carrie) Williams in 1883 and had two daughters, Hilda (1887) and Elizabeth (1900). Harry McElroy died in 1928.
Letters from D.P. Ballard, George O'Kelly, H.H. and R.J. Lewis, Clarence B. Bagley, Stephen J. Chadwick, Oregon Historical Society, Edmond S. Meany, and F.H. Whitworth.
A book of carbon copied letters written by Harry McElroy 1914-1916.
Includes letters to Caroline McElroy (wife of Harry McElroy) and Elizabeth McElroy Allison (daughter of Harry and Carrie McElroy),and letters between John and Zenas McElroy (brothers of T.F. McElroy), and Elizabeth and Hilda McElroy (daughters of Harry and Caroline McElroy).
Includes cartes de visite, cabinet cards, photographic postcards, and b/w photographs. Photos of McElroy family home in Olympia, Washington. Includes photos of T.F. McElroy, Sarah McElroy, Harry McElroy, Dr. Zenas McElroy, Helen Nicolay, John Nicolay, Norton Bates, Mrs. Norton Bates, and A.J. Falkner.
Newspaper clippings, postcards, other printed materials.
"State celebrating golden jubilee"
Three issues of a weekly Seattle-area Masonic newspaper with biographical sketches and pictures of important figures in early Masonic history in Washington Territory. Thornton Fleming McElroy, the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Washington, is featured in the October 3, 1903 issue.