West Coast Gazetteer & Directory ~ Vancouver ~ Wilkeson, Washington Territory

Vancouver
Clarke County, county seat and incorporated city, is situated on the north side of the Columbia River, 17 miles from Portland by water, and 6 miles in a direct line. It is one of the oldest locations in Washington Territory, having been first settled by the Hudson Bay Co., and for a long time their principal trading post.

The site is a plateau with gradual ascending slope from the river front, and is one of the finest townsites on the Columbia. It has an excellent water front of sufficient depth for vessels of the largest class. It is regularly laid out with wide streets, and presents a prosperous and attractive appearance. The population, according to the census of 1880, was 1,722, and is now estimated to number about 2,000.

A public school is maintained, having an attendance of 186 scholars. The Holy Angels' College, under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Church, is a boarding and day school for boys, and has an attendance of about 75 scholars. The Mother House of Providence, located here, has the finest building in the city, a large, imposing, three-story brick structure. Connected with this institution is a boarding and day school for girls, having about 60 scholars, an Orphan Asylum, and Home for the Aged. The sick find excellent care at the St Joseph's Hospital.

The churches organized are the Episcopal, Methodist Episcopal, and Roman Catholic. Of secret and benevolent societies, there are lodges of Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Ancient Order United Workmen, Chosen Friends, and Good Templars. A library is maintained by the Odd Fellows, consisting of about 450 volumes.

The fire department consists of four companies, three of which have hand engines, and the other a hook and ladder truck. There is one hydrant and also six cisterns for fire use. The city is furnished with an excellent supply of water, obtained from springs four miles distant.

Two well-conducted papers are published weekly, the Vancouver Independent and Clarke County Register. Communication is maintained daily with Portland and points on the Columbia, by the steamers of the Oregon Railway and Navigation Co.

Officers, J Randolph Smith, Mayor; S. W. Brown, Matthew Brown, David Schule, David Wall, William Rank, A. S. Nicholson, P. Buckley, Councilmen J. J. Beeson, Clerk; George W. Durgin, Treasurer; E. Slocum, Assessor; Authur Haine, Recorder; Jacob Thompson, Marshal.

Beeson J J, publisher The Vancouver Independent, and insurance agent
Bier Fred TV, agent Western Union Telegraph Co, and Treasurer Clarke County
Bloomfield N H, prosecuting attorney Second Judicial District
Bloomfield & Daniels, attorneys at law
Blurock John, brick-yard
Bourke M J, liquor saloon
Brewster William H, groceries and produce
Brown Charles, recorder Clarke Co
Brown Matthew, liquor saloon
Brown S W, lumber manufacture and receiver U S Land Office
Burk Joseph, butcher
Byrne C H, tailor
Clarke County Register, Thurston Daniels publisher
Columbian Churchman, Rev. A S Nicholson publisher
Cox & Thomas, butchers
Daniels G H, stoves and tinware
Daniels Thurston, publisher
Clarke County Register
Daniels W Byron, attorney at law and notary public
Delay W H, harness and saddlery
Dennison B F, attorney at law
Denny John, justice of the peace
Dix & Dwinell proprietors I X L House
Dobbins A, dentist
Durgin G W, groceries, crockery, etc
Dupys N, wagon maker and blacksmith
Eddings John, books, stationery, etc, and postmaster
Exchange Hotel, S H Maxon manager
Fletcher Joseph M, attorney at law and notary public
Flisher G, tailor
Flore & Laws, boot and shoe makers
Francis John E, liquor saloon
Gridley & Whitney, furniture, crockery, picture frames, hardware, undertakers' goods, etc
Hazard & Co, general merchandise
Healy J P, liquor saloon
Healy P Q, druggist
Henslee M C, books, stationery, cigars, tobacco, and notions
Hidden L M, brick-yard
Holy Angels' College, Rev. L de G Schram president
Jaggy John, general merchandise
Kaiser Johanna, dry goods and groceries
Marsh Samuel, wagon maker and blacksmith
Mattson Charles W, proprietor Farmers' Stable
Maxon S D, justice of the peace
Maxon S H, manager Exchange Hotel
McCarty E, proprietor Vancouver House
McConnell G T, clerk District Court
McCormick James, shoemaker
Moore, Stevens Bros & Co, proprietors Vancouver City Flouring Mills, and wood dealers
Muckel & Huth, proprietors Vancouver Brewery
Nerton Frank, Sheriff Clarke County
Nerton & Vaughan, livery and feed stable
Newman T B. watchmaker and jeweler
Newman T B Mrs., millinery
Nicholson A S Rev, Pastor St Luke's church, and publisher Columbian Churchman
O'Keane P, liquor saloon
O'Neill T, cigars, tobacco, confectionery, fruits, etc
Padden T W, proprietor Eureka Billiard Hall
Quaglia Gottardo, merchant tailor
Robb Robert, Superintendent public schools Clarke County
Schofield Mary N Mrs., dry goods, boots, shoes, etc
Schram L de Gr Rev, Rector St James Cathedral and president Holy Angels' College
Smith H B, cigars, tobacco, fruits, candies, etc
Smith J O, livery stable
Smith J Randolph, physician, and mayor Vancouver
Sohns & Schuele, general merchandise
Sparling Frederick W, physician, and register U S Land Office
Spencer D M, Assessor Clarke County
Stevens William C, bakery and groceries, candies, etc
Steward G H, attorney at law
Thomlinson L C, barber
Thompson Jacob, cigars and tobacco
Troup W H, wood contractor
Vanatta Henry, restaurant, and cigars and tobacco
Vancouver Brewery, Muckel & Huth proprietors
Vancouver House, E McCarty proprietor
Vancouver Independent, J J Beeson publisher
Wall David, drugs, paints, oils, books, stationery, etc
Walsh John H, carpenter and builder
Western Union Telegraph Co, F W Bier agent
Wilson William R, butcher
Wintler J J, harness and saddlery
Wintler J R, general merchandise
Wolf R, boots and shoes

Waterford
Wahkiakum County is situated on the north side of the Columbia River, 5 miles south-east of Cathlamet.

Winter Bros, salmon cannery

Whatcom P O
Whatcom Co, the county seat, is located on Bellingham Bay, about 100 miles north of Seattle. In the vicinity are extensive coal mines, owned by the Bellingham Bay Coal Co.

Bennett John, nursery
Conley A, liquor saloon
Fonts W H, postmaster and general merchandise
Sevier F, hotel
Steinweg W L & Co, general merchandise

Wilkeson P O
Pierce County, is situated 32 miles south-east of New Tacoma, on the line of the Puyallup branch of the Northern Pacific Railroad.

Jones J P, general merchandise and postmaster

West Coast Gazetteer

Source: Disturnell's Business Directory and Gazetteer, of the West Coast of North America, W. C. Disturnell, Publisher, San Francisco, California, 1882