TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State

Told
by the Pioneers
They left New York in January, 1866, for San Francisco, where
they were transferred to the brig "Tanner" and came to Puget
Sound. These women were called the "Mercer girls" for years, even
after they were married. One of them was my music teacher at the
University and her name is attached to my diploma Sarah J. Russell.
She was a bright woman and a great help in molding the youth
of Seattle in those early da~·s. They were all fine. I must tell you
how they were received. All the men that could get new suits before
their arrival did so and others got new overalls and were on deck
when the Tanner arrived. ~Ir. Mercer thought they seemed to think
they would get a wife immediately, so he made a speech to them before
they landed, telling them that the women were all of the best and if
the men wanted them for wives they must do it in the good old way.
,Vhen thev came ashore thev were well treated and taken into homes
• •
until they were either married or got employment as milliners, dressmakers,
teachers, etc. The peolpe all felt that Mr. Mercer had been
a great help to the whole of Puget Sound.
John Pike, for whom Pike street was named, was the architect of
the building. The doric columns that have been preserved and are
now in the Sylvan theater on the campus, were designed by A. P.
Delin, and he and O. C. Shorey constructed them.
. EARLY STRUGGLES FOR EDUCATION
From an Interview ·with Edward McMahon, Head of History
Dept., University of Washington
King County
At the State University in Seattle, I lived with Griswold and Karshner
(both Seattle physicians now) at North Hall. I bought second hand
furniture in the fall and sold it in the spring. A cook stove $1.50;
table, 25 cents; and a few chairs. I brought bedding from home.
Griswold and I had detachable collars which we had laundered, washing
our shirts ourselves. Karshner had a celluloid collar which he
sewed into his coat. I entered in 1894.
I had brought two hundred and seventy-five dollars from my teaching
income when I came to the University. The second year I worked
for my board and room at Professor J. M. Taylor's, taking care of
the cow and garden and doing other chores. The last two years I was
assistant fireman at the University and with others lived in a shack
owned by Professor Edmund S. Meany, who let us have it free. We
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