The Sheriff's Auction of 1878
Public auctions at the King County courthouse reveal the financial fragility and land speculation common in early Seattle.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
By virtue of two several executions issued out of the District Court for the Third Judicial District of Washington Territory, holding terms at Seattle, in and for the counties of King and Kitsap. In the civil actions—First, Wherein Charles Hansen, J. W. Ackerson and W. P. Wallace, doing business under the firm name of Hansen, Ackerson & Co., are plaintiffs, and A. C. Campbell is defendant for $93.94 gold coin, interest, and costs. Second, Wherein A. S. Miller is plaintiff and A. C. Campbell is defendant, for $57.00 gold coin, interest and costs. Now therefore, by virtue of said executions, I have levied upon the following described real property, to wit: block sixty-nine (69), containing eight lots in Maynard’s first addition in the City of Seattle, in King county, Washington Territory. I will sell all the right, title and interest of the said A. C. Campbell in the above described real property, at public auction, on Monday, February 18, 1878, at 10 A. M., in front of the court house door, at the city of Seattle, King county, Washington Territory, to the highest bidder for cash, gold coin, or so much thereof as will satisfy said judgments, interest, costs and increased costs. L. V. Wyckoff, Sheriff King County, Washington Territory.
“I will sell all the right, title and interest of the said A. C. Campbell in the above described real property, at public auction, to the highest bidder for cash, gold coin.”
In 1878, Seattle property was frequently seized and auctioned to settle debts of less than $100. This snapshot of frontier foreclosure echoes today's anxieties, where land speculation and high-cost living constantly threaten the stability of property ownership.
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