The First Poet of Snohomish: A Captain’s Verse and a Hotelier’s Blunder

In our last we promised to give some items in relation to the first settlement of Snohomish. Now we are so occupied with other matters that no cause near omitting it this issue; but finally at length the following which we submit to our readers.

In the summer of 1859, settlers first permanently located on this river, as well as at the mouth of the river, in the vicinity of Multilmo. E. I. Tucker and his brother settling at Snohomish City. Early locating what was afterward known as the Sinclair claim. Barnes locating a claim for E. C. Ferguson, who came down and took possession in April 1860. Snohomish City is now located on these two claims.

Tucker located his claim across the river on the bottom land... These men came here from Steilacoom. Also at the same time N. J. Frost settlers at Multilmo, and Dennis Brigham between there and the mouth of the river.

The mid 1850s brought a number of additional settlers to the Snohomish. As many as a number who went up and made the settlement of the Skyskomish River Valley. Most of these persons still remain with Alexander Davis, Chas. Short, Chas. Taylor, John Ross, John Richards, Jacob Foss, Geo. Kelsey and others settling on the Snohomish, and Salem Woods, Frank Dolan and James Long on the Skyskomish.

Tucker was an Engineer by trade, and in some time commanded one of the first, if not the first steam boat regularly running on the Snohomish, a small scow built boat, bearing a very euphonious name, expressed by the characteristic letters “F. U.” printed on its side. She had no great power, so that when coming up river against a strong current the hands were often times compelled to put out lines, or might be seen pulling her up stream by the dense vine-maple and salmon-berry brush along the bank.

We believe Geo. Greenwood for a time acted as Engineer of this primitive craft. Mr. Tucker remained in connection with the river only some two years... After breaking out of the Rebellion he raised a company of volunteers at Steilacoom, received a commission as Captain, and was in command of Fort Steilacoom for a long time.

Capt. Tucker has the honor of being the first literary celebrity of the Snohomish, as well as its first poet. Some of our old boys quote the following as a sample of his effusions when on Parnassus:

“We are the boys what's got the land, To hell the trees and clear the land.”

We feel like saying there was a great deal of truth, if not poetry in these lines.

During the time of Capt. Tucker's connection with the river he acted as Snohomish Correspondent of the paper then published at Steilacoom by Mr. Prosch now senior member of the firm publishing the Seattle Tribune.

Our friend H. D. Morgan of this place tells the following amusing story about Capt. Tucker's father, who years ago kept one of the leading log hotels of Des Moines the present capital of the state of Iowa. Mr. Tucker's father was an eminent landlord, a dignified, kind hearted gentleman, and very anxious to make his guests comfortable, and profuse in his expressions of care and regard for their welfare. With all these good qualities, he was also anxious to use high sounding language, his early education had been neglected so that he sometimes used words without fully realizing their meaning. A certain Mr. Jones a regular favorite at this hotel. Tucker had been at work making numerous improvements to his hotel; after doing this he went to Mr. Jones one day, he wound up with saying: “You see Mr. Jones will not get this condition to my hotel until I shall be able to contain more people in a more lovely manner than any other Hotel West of the Mississippi.”