John C. Hornbeck, Pioneer Steamboat Man

John C. Hornbeck, one of the pioneers in the settlement of the Puget Sound region and well known all over Western Washington, died yesterday morning at his home in Eagle Harbor, Kitsap county. Many years ago he married an Indian woman, who died shortly afterward, leaving no children. Since then Mr. Hornbeck has lived alone, none of his relatives being in this country. Mr. Hornbeck was born 70 years ago in southwestern Ohio, and at an early age went to work on an Ohio river steamboat, later becoming a steamboat engineer. When the California excitement broke out in 1849, he followed the boom in California until 1852, when he went to the Cariboo country during the gold excitement in that district. In 1854 he came to the Sound, stopping a short time at Port Gamble and then coming to Seattle, where he made his home and headquarters almost ever since. He engaged in steamboating again and built the Phantom, the second steamboat built on the Sound. He built several other small steamboats, and had a new one completed over a year ago at Eagle Harbor which has never yet been named or inspected. Mr. Hornbeck was a member of the Washington Pioneers' Association, was well known all over the Sound and thoroughly respected. He was a quiet, live-and-let-live man, who minded his own business and allowed others the same privilege.