Timeline of some early settlers and descendents for Redmond & Washington - The following important events in the history of Washington affected political boundaries, record-keeping, and family movements.

1800s - At the beginning of the nineteenth century, Spain, Russia, and England all claimed what is now Washington.

1811 - John Jacob Astor (American) established a trading post at Astoria. This was the first settlement in this area.

1819 - Spain withdrew her claims.

1825 - Russia withdrew her claims.

1836 - Marcus Whitman established the second white settlement near present-day Walla Walla. Early settlement centered in the Willamette
valley.

1846 - The present boundary between the United States and Canada was established.

1848 - The Oregon Territory was created. It included what is now Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and parts of Montana and Wyoming.

1848 - Granddaughter's Martha's obituary: Mrs. Sick's grandfather, Luke McREDMOND, traveled to this country from Ireland in 1848, came to the Pacific Northwest in 1851. I have not found an entry for Luke on a passenger list for 1848. It's possible he came earlier. 

Captain Luke McREDMOND   (1818 - 1898)  born in Knockhill, County Kings, Ireland

1849 - Settlers went farther north into the Puget Sound area to obtain food and lumber that was needed in the California gold fields.

1849 -  At the time of the discovery of gold in California, Luke was living in Memphis, Tennessee, working at the government Navy yard near that city. 

1850 - The Oregon Donation Act was passed. This guaranteed land to those who settled and cultivated land in the territory before 1855. This attracted an estimated 30,000 new settlers.

1850? - "he journeyed around the Horn to California where he settled." source: Luke's Obituary. Cape Horn" was the bottom of South America. I was told it could take nine months to make this trip.

1851 - "One year later he again set sail, this time for Puget Sound. He settled at Port Madison, Kitsap County." source: Luke's Obituary.

1853 - March 2- Congress approved creation of Washington Territory from the northern part of Oregon Territory.

1853 - Seattle in 1853 was a cluster of log cabins, with a total population of 170. There were less than 4,000 white people in the entire territory. During 1853, Seattle opened its first post office, celebrated its first wedding, and acquired its first steam sawmills. Source: Port Gamble Story (1853-1953) 979.721 

Port Gamble websites and photos: http://www.ptgamble.com/pgphotos.htm  Luke McREDMOND probably worked at the Port Gamble mill which was the oldest continuously operating saw mill in North America, before closing at the end of 1995.  The town itself is a national historic landmark  district.  http://www.ptgamble.com/pgmuseum.htm

Puget Sound Genealogical Society - Port Gamble was established in 1853 as a logging town by Pope & Talbot Lumber Company. It is the home of not only North America's oldest continuously used sawmill (closed in 1995), but also Washington's oldest continuously occupied house.

1856 - Fredi Perry, Perry Publishing, author of  "Port Madison: 1854-1889" and other books about Kitsap Co., WA sent the information below: 

(Page 168 - bio section. Port Madison: 1854-1889)

Luke McRedmond came to Port Gamble in 1856, the day the battle between Indians and the US war sloop Massachusetts. Luke moved to Port Madison within weeks, remaining until 1868, serving during that time as Kitsap County Road Supervisor, Auditor, Assessor and County Commissioner. As well he worked at the mill as a carpenter and lumberman. 

Page 88: The (Port) Madison/ (Port) Blakely road was directed to be built from the Port Madison Hotel along the street on the south side of the hotel, running east to High Street, thence to Luke McREDMOND, thence on the line of his front fence until it intersected the north and south section lines, thence on said line until it intersected the road to Blakely. 

Page 5: Those abandoning King County properties for jobs at the Madison mill were Timothy Hinckley, Luke McREDMOND, Edward Hanford, Joe and Arnold Lake, George King, Charles E. Brownell, Tim Grow and E. A. Clark. (This after the Indian wars)

Luke McRedmond came to Port Gamble in 1856, the day the battle between Indians and the US war sloop Massachusetts. Luke moved to Port Madison within weeks, remaining until 1868, serving during that time as Kitsap County Road Supervisor, Auditor, Assessor and County Commissioner. As well he worked at the mill as a carpenter and lumberman. With Warren Perrigo he settled on the Sammamish Slough in 1871. 

Page 88: The (Port) Madison/ (Port) Blakely road was directed to be built from the Port Madison Hotel along the street on the south side of the hotel, running east to High Street, thence to Luke McRedmond, thence on the line of his front fence until it intersected the north and south section lines, thence on said line until it intersected the road to Blakely. 

Page 5: Those abandoning King County properties for jobs at the Madison mill were Timothy Hinckley, Luke McRedmond, Edward Hanford, Joe and Arnold Lake, George King, Charles E. Brownell, Tim Grow and E. A. Clark. (This after the Indian wars.)

Highlights of Luke McREDMOND's political life in Kitsap County only:

• 1857, ran for legislative representative for Slaughter Co., WA (now Kitsap Co.)
• 1857, member of the convention to elect General Isaac Stevens to be the first representative from Washington Territory to the U.S. Congress
• 1858, County Auditor, Kitsap County, WA
• 1858, Clerk of Courts, Kitsap County, WA
• 1859, County Assessor, Kitsap County, WA
• 1864-1867, County Commissioner, District 2, Kitsap County, WA
• 1867, Road Supervisor, District 2, Kitsap County, WA
• Clerk of Elections for Port Madison, Kitsap County, WA
• Grand Juror, Kitsap County, WA
• Road Viewer, Bainbridge Island, Kitsap County, WA

1859 or 1860 - Luke married Catharine "Kate" (BARRY) MORSE widow of his good friend, Sea Captain Richard Blair MORSE.  (The marriage year is listed as 1860 in Kate's obituary but as 1859 in another source.) Luke McRedmond was 42 years old when he married. More details on their family on www.irishgenealogy.com/mcredmond-luke-family.htm.  

1859: Coal was discovered in Issaquah. Luke McRedmond's obituary stated he was "among the discoverers of the Black Diamond Coal Mines." I haven't been able to document this yet. Maybe he was a discoverer of another coal mine? His future son-in-law, Judge William H. WHITE clients in private practice included the Black Diamond Coal Mine Company.

1859 - Oregon became a state. Washington Territory was enlarged to include the remaining Oregon territory not included in the new state.

1860 - The discovery of gold near Walla Walla attracted many prospectors.

1860 - William Michael McREDMOND, born about 1860 - died 12/04/1884 at age 24. 

1863 - John Luke McREDMOND, born about 1863 - died 10/19/1889 - age 26 

1863 - The Idaho Territory was created from lands in eastern Washington Territory. 

Pacific Coast Directory, 1867

1864 - First "Mercer Girls" arrive in Seattle from New England

1867 - Richard B. McREDMOND, born about 1867 - died 2/28/1891 - age 23 

 Pacific Coast Directory, 1867

Given Name	Surname	Location	Occupation
Luke	McRedmond	Port Madison, Kitsap, Washington Territory	Kitsap County Commissioner, 2nd District

1867 - Richard B. McREDMOND, born about 1867 - died 2/28/1891 - age 23 

1868 - In 18_ _, he removed to Seattle. The McREDMOND family had a house on First and Madison in Seattle overlooking Elliott Bay. The house probably burned down in the great Seattle fire of 1889. I'm not sure which corner their house was on, but the Federal buildings occupy two of the corners on First and Madison in the year 2000.

1869 - Emma Francis McREDMOND,  born in Seattle on February 11, 1869. Her masculine middle name, Francis, was bestowed to honor Father Francis Xavier Prefontaine (1838-1909), early and revered Catholic priest. Emma died July 24, 1932. 

1870 - The first official census of Seattle lists 1,107 people. 

1870 - Sep 9 - Luke obtained patent for 32.4 acres of land in area later to be named for him - Redmond, King, Co., WA.  Our Town REDMOND: p. 4 - "Luke McREDMOND had built a rough log cabin for the homestead on an earlier scouting mission to the area. ....It was not too long before they met their only neighbors - a group of Indians living on Lake Sammamish. 

David Barry McREDMOND, born about 1871 in Seattle.

1871 - took up a farm on the site of what is now the town of Redmond, on the line of the Railroad. He was also well known as one of the discoverers of the black diamond coal mines.

The area was then known as Squak, an Indian name of uncertain meaning. Native Americans had lived here for thousands of years. Squak Slough was later renamed the Sammamish River. Redmond was for some time known as Salmonberg, because of the abundance of dog salmon in the Sammamish River.

1870s: Roads still did not pass through Bellevue, but went around it, largely because of bogs and other wetlands.

Nov 1872  - Anna McREDMOND, born in Redmond, WA.  Dorothy recalls: "When Anna, was born, Luke went to Woodinville (by canoe)  to get Ida Woodin to help with the delivery. Then the trip to Woodinville was so long and arduous that Kate McRedmond, assisted by a Native-American woman, delivered the baby before he returned." Annie McREDMOND was the first "white child" born in Redmond. 

1879 - History of Seattle, page 372 "On August 9, 1879, Yesler's Hall was the scene of a meeting of Seattle's citizens where the subject of constructing a water course between Lakes Union and Washington for drainage purposes was discussed. This meeting was quite largely attended and was presided over by Col. Watson C. Squire, afterwards United States Senator from the state. Judge William H. WHITE explained the objects of the meeting and Hon. J. McGilvra also addressed the meeting. A committee delegated to solicit funds for this purpose was appointed at this meeting, and comprised E. M. Smithers, Dr. H. B. Bagley, Francis McNATT, David T. DENNY and Luke McREDMOND. They met with little or no encouragement and the proposition lanquished. 

1880 Census - Luke McREDMOND listed his occupation as "carpenter" in the 1880 census when he was about 62 years old.  

7/20/1881 Land Patent for 80 acres - probably what is now Redmond Town Center. 

1881 - The Northern Pacific Railway reached Spokane.

1881 - Emma McRedmond went to Seattle to be educated at Holy Names Academy, then located at Sixth Avenue and Jackson Street. She remained there four years. Prior to that, she attended school at her own and nearby farm house. (It's probable her brothers and sisters also went to school in Seattle. Emma's daughters later attended Holy Names Academy.)

Our Town REDMOND: The McRedmond's new farmhouse was east of the depot. The McREDMOND's replaced their original log cabin sometime in the 1880s, perhaps earlier. Their new white lumber house with a big front porch was the community's post office and they often took in boarders or hotel guests. It was located just south of Cleveland Street, probably near today's Cleveland Street Square.

1880 Census - Luke McREDMOND listed his occupation as "carpenter" in the 1880 census when he was about 62 years old.  

7/20/1881 Land Patent for 80 acres - possibly what is now Redmond Town Center. 

1881 - Emma McRedmond  went to Seattle to be educated at Holy Names Academy, then located at Sixth Avenue and Jackson Street. She remained there four years. Prior to that, she attended school at her own and nearby farm house. (It's probable her brothers and sisters also went to school in Seattle. Emma's daughters later attended Holy Names Academy.)

Our Town REDMOND: The McRedmond's new farmhouse was east of the depot. The McREDMOND's replaced their original log cabin sometime in the 1880s, perhaps earlier. Their new white lumber house with a big front porch was the community's post office and they often took in boarders or hotel guests. It was located just south of Cleveland Street, probably near today's Cleveland Street Square.

1880 - Census listed 11 children in the Redmond community attended school that year.  

1881 - June 28 - Redmond Post Office, originally called Melrose opened.  

Luke opened a "general store" in Redmond according to Emma's article. I recall a note that the post office was in the general store.  Our Town REDMOND stated it was in their farmhouse. Maybe it was in both at different times. 

1882 - December 11: Luke M. McRedmond was appointed postmaster of Melrose. The U. S. Post Office  changed the name to Redmond three months later on March 19, 1883. Luke M. McRedmond was the postmaster at the time of the name change. The post office was located in the Redmond Trading Company, a general store. The Seattle, Lakeshore & Eastern Railroad arrived in 1885 ??. Before that the mail was delivered on the wagon road around the north of Lake Washington. Logging and milling were the main industries of Redmond.  (article continues ...) Source: Guy Reed Ramsey, "Postmarked Washington, 1850-1960," Microfilm (Olympia: Washington State Library, February, 1966), 579-582.

1883 - Judge White championed causes he believed would enhance Washington’s future.  Of premier importance was his nomination in 1883 to go and convince the US Congress that Seattle should become the Western Terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad.  His tremendous success was an impetus to finish the Cascade branch of the Northern Pacific Railroad.

1885 - Anti-Chinese Riots in Seattle and Tacoma. William H White was U. S. Attorney for W. T. and played a major role in defending the rights of the Chinese.

1885	Federal troops are called in to restore order in Rock Springs, Wyoming, after British and Swedish miners go on a rampage against the Chinese, killing 28 and driving hundreds more out of town. This "Rock Springs Massacre" follows a similar race riot in Tacoma, Washington, where whites force more than 700 Chinese immigrants to spend the night crowded onto open wagons, then ship them to Portland, Oregon, the next day. http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/events/1880_1890.htm#1885
1886	Anti-Chinese mobs in Seattle kill five and destroy parts of the city before forcing 200 Chinese aboard ships bound for San Francisco. Leaders of the race riot vow to sweep the city clean of Chinese within the month.

The history of anti-Chinese violence in the West repeats itself in Seattle and Tacoma, where vigilantes expelled the cities' Chinese inhabitants both in 1855 and a generation later in 1885. Both cities prospered with the arrival of the Northern Pacific Railroad in the 1880's, and Seattle boomed as the jumping-off point for the Alaska gold rush of the 1890's.

1886, Justice of the Peace, Redmond, King County, WA (per signature/title found on a document)

1886, Luke helped form the People's Party in 1886

1886, Luke chaired a "Grand Rally" of over 1,000 people who supported the candidates of the People's Party in the Northwest.  

1886 -  February: unruly mobs in Seattle rioted and tried to force the Chinese (many had come to build the railroad) on to ships and out of Seattle.   Judge White ran to the docks and confronted the police who refused to control the mobs.  He managed to sound the alarm to the Volunteer Home Guard, who brought about order.  Without White’s persistence, terrible riots would have marred our State history.

1887 - April - Seattle Lake Shore & Eastern turned "first sod and drove first piles" source: Orphan Road by Kurt E. Armbruster. 

1887 - list of 19 children attending school included Dave, Emma and Annie McREDMOND. 

1887- William P. Perrigo, brother of Warren Wentworth Perrigo moved to Redmond.

1888 - The transcontinental railroads reached Washington and brought a great influx of settlers.

1888 - Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern Railroad reached Issaquah in 1888 and North Bend the next year. A journey that might have taken days could be completed in a few hours. 

Luke McREDMOND's obituary said he founded the Seattle & International Railroad. This was the name used by the re-incorporation of the line during receivership of the Seattle Lake Shore & Eastern Railway. There are a few photos of trains made up of cars and engines of all three railroad entities, S L S & E and S & I and Northern Pacific. (We are would like to obtain copies of some of these pictures especially photos of the trains at the Redmond depot in front of the Hotel Redmond.) Trains didn't reach Bellevue until 1904. 

Seattle, Washington City Directories, 1888-90

Name	Occupation	Location	County	State	Year
James McRedmond aka "James MORSE"	f (farmer)	Redmond	King County	WA	1888-90
Luke McRedmond	f (farmer)	Redmond	King County	WA	1888-90

1889 - Our Town REDMOND: (p. 60) "The Seattle Lake Shore & Eastern depot, built in 1889 was the most substantial building in town in 1890."

1889 - Feb 22 -  Enabling Act for statehood passed by Congress and approved by President Grover Cleveland on same day.

1889 - June 6 -Seattle was devastated by fire.

1889 - November 11- President Harrison issued proclamation admitting Washington Territory into the Union thus becoming the State of Washington. Seattle was the largest city and the chief supply point for the gold rush to the Yukon territory in Alaska.

1889 - John Luke McREDMOND, born about 1863 - died 10/19/1889 - age 26 

1891 - May 11 - "The original Redmond townsite was platted by Luke and Kate McRedmond on May 11, 1891. It encompassed most of what we now think of as old downtown - Leary Way, Cleveland Street and Gilman Street. At that time, Redmond Way was called Jackson Street." William E. and Janet Adair Sikes laid out an addition to the original plat on 18 Feb 1897.  It included land west of McRedmond's plat toward the Lagoon Center. source: Our Town REDMOND p. 59-60

1891 - Richard B. McREDMOND, born about 1867 - died 2/28/1891 - age 23 

1890-1891 6/28/90 is for 40 acres, 11/23/1890 is for 160 acres. Date for John's claim is after his death it could be a transcription error. 

1940 - July 4 - The Mercer Island floating bridge opened and a Bellevue-to-Seattle bus ran 26 times daily.