Part 28 (1/2)
By the time he was twelve or fourteen he had learned to shoot very well with the shotgun and could bring home a fine bunch of blue grouse or ”pheasants” (ruffed grouse).
Late one May evening he came into the old kitchen, laden with charming spoils from the forest, a large handful of the sweet favorite of the pioneer children, the lady's slipper or Calypso Borealis, and a bag of fat ”hooters” for the stew or pie so much relished by the settlers.
The majority of the pioneer boys were not expected to be particular as to whether they did men's work or women's work, and William was a notable example of versatility, lending a hand with helpless babies, cooking or was.h.i.+ng, the most patient and faithful of nurses, lifting many a burden from the tired house-mother.
He was a total abstainer from intoxicants and tobacco, and to the amus.e.m.e.nt of his friends said he ”could not see any sense in jumping around the room,” as he described the social dance. It surprised no one, therefore, that he should grow up straight and vigorous, able to endure many hards.h.i.+ps.
William was a very Nimrod by the time he reached his majority, a fine shot with the rifle and successful in killing large game. As he came in sight one day on the trail to our camp in the deep forest, he appeared carrying the blackest and glossiest of bear cubs slung over one shoulder. I called to him, ”Halt, if you please, and let me sketch you right there.” He obligingly consented and in a few moments bear, gun and hunter were transferred to paper. And a good theme it was; with a background of dark firs and cedars, in a ma.s.s of brightest green ferns, stood the stalwart figure, clad in vivid scarlet and black, gun on one shoulder and bear cub on the other.
William Boren was an active and useful member of the M. E. or ”White Church” in Seattle many years ago. This was the first church established in Seattle.
He removed from the settlement and lived on a ranch for a number of years.
For a time in youth he was in the mining district; while there he imposed upon himself heavy burdens, packing as much as two hundred pounds over the trail.
This was probably overexertion; also in later years, heavy lifting in a logging camp may have helped break his naturally strong const.i.tution.
Many muscular and vigorous persons do not realize the necessity for caution in exertion. I have seen strong young men balancing their weight against the ”hold” of huge stumps, by hanging across a large pole in mid-air.
During his ranch life he was waylaid, basely and cruelly attacked and beaten into insensibility by two ruffians. Most likely this caused the fatal brain trouble from which he died in January, 1899, at the home of his sister, Gertrude Boren, who through a long illness cared for him with affectionate solicitude.
”O bearded, stalwart, westmost men, A kingdom won without the guilt Of studied battle; that hath been Your blood's inheritance.
”Yea, Time, the grand old harvester, Has gathered you from wood and plain.
We call to you again, again; The rush and rumble of the car Comes back in answer. Deep and wide The wheels of progress have pa.s.sed on; The silent pioneer is gone.”
CHAPTER VI.
ARTHUR A. DENNY.
(Born June 20th, 1822, Died January 9th, 1889.)
A ponderous volume of biography could scarcely set forth the journeyings, experiences, efforts, achievements and character of this well-known pioneer of the Northwest Coast. He was one of the foremost of the steadfast leaders of the pioneers. A long, useful and worthy life he spent among men, the far-reaching influence of which cannot be estimated. When he pa.s.sed away both private citizens and public officials honored him; those who had known him far back in his youth and through the intervening years said of the eulogies p.r.o.nounced upon his life, ”Well, it is all true, and much more might be said.”
A. A. Denny was a son of John Denny and brother of David Thomas Denny; each of them exerted a great influence on the life and inst.i.tutions of the Northwest.
From sketches published in the local papers I have made these selections:
”The Dennys are a very ancient family of England, Ireland and Scotland. The present branch traces its ancestry from Ireland to America through great-grandparents, David and Margaret Denny, who settled in Berks County, Pennsylvania, previous to the revolutionary war. There Robert Denny, the grandfather of A. A.
Denny was born in 1753. In early life he removed to Frederick County, Virginia, where in 1778 he married Rachel Thomas; and about 1790 removed to and settled in Mercer County, Kentucky.
”There John Denny, father of the deceased, was born May 4, 1793, and was married August 25, 1814, to Sarah Wilson, daughter of Ba.s.sel and Ann (Scott) Wilson, who was born in the old town of Bladensburg, near Was.h.i.+ngton City, February 3, 1797. Her parents came to America in an early day.
”Their paternal and maternal grandparents served in the revolutionary war. The former belonged to Was.h.i.+ngton's command at the time of Braddock's defeat.
”John Denny was a soldier in the war of 1812, being in Col.
Richard M. Johnson's regiment of Kentucky volunteers. He was also an ensign in Capt. McFee's company, and was with Gen. Harrison at the battle of the Thames, when Proctor was defeated and the noted Tec.u.mseh killed. He was a member of the Illinois legislature in 1840 and 1841, with Lincoln, Yates, Bates and others, who afterwards became renowned in national affairs. In politics he was first a Whig and afterward a Republican. For many years he was a Justice of the Peace. He died July 28th, 1875, when 83 years of age. His first wife died March 21st, 1841, when 44 years of age.