George G. White (November, 1853-December 28, 1930) was the first silversmith in Seattle. He had a shop on Front Street, prior to the fire of 1889. The shop was destroyed in the fire, and he went to work for Mayer Brothers, a retail and wholesale jewelry store in Seattle. While employed by Mayer Brokers, he designed and smithed a captain's tea service for the heavy cruiser
John Cleaver Nixon (July 12, 1853-August 16, 1897) was born on the family farm in Cedarville, N.J. He was a member of the 100th New Jersey Rifles during the Civil War. After the war, he spent time in engineering school. He was hired by the Union Pacific to supervise the construction of the railroad spur from Sacramento to Portland, Oregon. In 1870, he supervised the construction of the United Pacific line from Tacoma to Kalama. He brought the Kicks Saloon on Front Street in 1871 and the Grotto Saloon in 1879; he also began bottling Cutter's Kentucky Bourbon. In the mid-1880s, he began buying sealing schooners. In 1895, he entered a claim against the government for the seizure of his four sealing ships in the Bering Sea; the claim was finally settled in 1926, with the money going to his daughters. Nixon was also a Knights Templar; his sponsor for membership was Dr. David Maynard.
White and Nixon married sisters. White married Julie O'Connor and Nixon married Annie O'Connor. After Nixon's death in 1897 and his wife's death in 1898, Nixon's daughters were taken in and raised by White.
Photographs from an album of the O'Conner, Halford and Nixon families. It also includes portraits of Seattle Knights Templar members.The original album belonged to either George G. White or John Cleaver Nixon, both residents of Seattle from before the fire of 1889.
Open to the public.
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Michael White received the album from Patricia Mack, the daughter of Ruth Nixon, his great aunt. The album originally belond to either George G. White, Michael White's step-grandfather, or John Cleaver Nixon, Michael White's great grandfather.
Donor Michael White, November 18, 2013.
Processed by Susan Peskura, 2014; Processing completed in 2014.
The photographs were removed from the album, which was deteriorating.
The Knights Templar is an international philanthropic chivalric order affiliated with Freemasonry; the full title of the Order is "The United Religious, Military and Masonic Orders of the Temple and of St John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes and Malta." The Order derives its name from the historical Knights Templar, but does not claim any direct lineal descent from the original Templar order.
Written on verso: Courteously yours, E. Alexander.
Written on verso: Courteously, John F. Dawson
Henry B. Elder was born in Kentucky and later moved to Grays Harbor County, Washington. He married Camille Struever on November 17, 1902. He worked for the railroad in Aberdeen and later managed a cemetery. He was active in the Knights Templar, serving in various offices, including Grand Generalissimo and Grand Commander for the State association.
Albert Lee Palmer was born in Rensselaer, N.Y. and later moved to Nebraska, where he married in 1870. He then moved to Seattle, where he practiced law and served as a judge.
Written on verso: Courteously yours, A. L. Palmer.
LeRoy Pratt was the vice president of Garretson, Woodruff & Pratt, a wholesale dry goods firm. He was later treasurer and general manager of Peoples Store and also served as secretary of the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce. When his wife, Elizabeth, died of typhoid fever in 1907 at age 38, Pratt retired from Peoples and devoted himself to investing. He was the treasurer of American Casualty Company, an insurance company formed in 1907; the company's plan was to own and operate hospitals and staff them with their own corps of doctors.
Written on verso: Fraternaly [sic] yours, LeRoy Pratt.
Written on verso: Courteously, W. V. Rinehart.
William Rinehart was born at Clark’s Hill, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. He was raised on a farm and educated at Farmer’s Institute, a Quaker school located eight miles from La Fayette, Indiana. At the age of eighteen, he crossed the plains, driving an ox team, and entered the gold mines at Downieville, California on August 25, 1854. In March, 1856, he moved to Josephine County in southern Oregon, arriving during the Rogue River Indian war; he assisted in the protection of the settlers by helping build stockades. In 1859 he left the mines and worked at the A. B. Mcllwaine general store in Sailor Diggings, now the town of Waldo. At the start of the Civil War, the regular troops were withdrawn from the different military posts in eastern Oregon, leaving the settlers unprotected. In December, 1861, Rinehart assisted in recruiting Company F, First Oregon Cavalry, at Kirbyville, Oregon, and was mustered in as its First Lieutenant, January 2, 1862. In April 23, 1862, he was made Regimental Adjutant; Captain December 22, 1863, and Major of the First Oregon Infantry, June 24, 1865, serving in the latter capacity as commandant of Fort Klamath until it was garrisoned by regular troops, August 25, 1866. After the close of his military career, he returned to the mercantile trade. In 1870, he ran for state senator, but was defeated by a close vote. He was postmaster at Canyon City from 1869 to 1874 and Indian agent at Malheur, Oregon, from 1876 to 1882. In December, 1882, he moved to Seattle where he worked in the grocery business and in real estate. He was a councilman from the First Ward in 1884-85, and in 1888 was elected a member of the territorial legislator. Before he was able to serve, the territory was admitted as a state. Under the first election for state officers, he was elected state senator. After his first term, he accepted the position of commissioner of public works.
Born in England, Halford enlisted in the United States Navy in 1869. He was serving on board U.S.S. Saginaw, when she ran aground near Midway Atoll on October 29, 1870. Halford was one of four sailors who volunteered to sail the ship's boat 1,500 miles to Honolulu for help, along with Lieutenant John G. Talbot. After great suffering and 31 days at sea, the party reached Kauai Island December 19, 1870. In attempting to land through the heavy surf, all but Halford were drowned; however, he managed to reach shore and bring help to his shipmates. Halford received the Medal of Honor for his bravery and served until 1910, when he retired. Promoted to Lieutenant on the retired list, he returned to the Navy in 1917.
The photography studio of Burnett and Slattery was a partnership formed by Frank W. Burnett and Thomas F. Slattery in 1885; the partnership seems to have lasted until 1896. Their studio was located at 448 1/2 Valencia.
Printed on verso: Elite Photographic Studio, 838 Market St, Opp Fourth, San Francisco. Medal awarded over all Competitors for the Best Photographs at the State Fair, 1879. Medal awarded over all competitors for the Best Photographs at the Mechanics' Institute Fair, 1880. Jones, Robinson & Co., Propriators.
Portrait appears to be the same young boy as item 27
Written on verso: "To Raymond"
Written on verso: This picture of Trixy was the photographer's idea, not mine. Will be seven years old. March 2, 1890.
Written on verso: Princess Margurite, age 20 months.
Ruth Nixon was the daughter of John C. Nixon and Mary Nixon. She married Robert Hilton on July 21, 1917; they had two daughters, Anne and Patricia. She divorced Hilton on June 24, 1938 and married Ralph B. Scarborough.
Same boy as in #37.