History of Washington; the Rise and Progress of an American State Volume 5This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1911 edition. Excerpt: ... JOHN HARTE McGRAW, second governor of Washington after it became a state, was a native of Maine, having been born at Barker Plantation, in Penobscot County, October 4, 1850. A little more than two years after his birth his father was accidentally drowned, and his mother was left to provide for herself and three small children as she best could. In time she married again, and not finding life in the home of his stepfather very agreeable, the future governor, when fourteen years of age, left it and thenceforward made his own way in the world. He had attended such schools as there were at that time, during the winter months, with some regularity, but after leaving home his education was for the most part continued in the hard school of experience only. He worked at such employment as he could obtain, and finally became a clerk in a general merchandise store, of which he was made manager when only seventeen. He held that position four years, and then, in company with a brother, who was older, engaged in business on his own account. The undertaking was so far successful as to satisfy their expectations until the hard times which followed the failure of Jay Cooke and Company brought it to a disastrous close in the winter of 1875, an |
