McCarty, J. W.

The following data is extracted from History of the Pacific Northwest, Oregon and Washington, 1889.

J.W. McCARTY. - Mr. McCarty, whose phenomenal success as a hop-grower in the Puyallup valley is well known, was born in La Porte county, Indiana, in 1833, and lived with his parents until 1852. As a young man of ambition and sterling qualities, he, in that year crossed the plains to Oregon in company with George Belshaw, now of Lane county, Oregon, and his two brothers. With his brothers he went to Puget Sound in October, 1853, assisting himself to the beginnings of a fortune by working in logging camps and in the sawmills. In 1854 he secured the claim on the Puyallup which he has since so highly improved, and which he owns at the present time.

In 1855 he was married to Miss Ruth J., daughter of William M. Kincaid, a pioneer whose biographical sketch appears in this work. The outbreak of the Indians in the October of the following, which resulted in the massacre of McAllister, Miles and Connell at Connell swamp, compelled Mr. McCarty to seek refuge at Fort Steilacoom; and, leaving his young wife there, he joined Captain John Cassen's company of rangers, with whom he served three months. He suffered the loss of his house and barn, of all his crops, and most of his stock.

After the war was over, he returned with fresh energy to his farm and began its systematic cultivation, setting out a large orchard, and of late years raising hops and hay. He has three sons and three daughters, all of whom are living on this coast. His wife died in 1881 in Seattle, whilst undergoing a surgical operation. He lives at present at Tacoma, Washington, on the rental of his farm and the incomes received from his city property at Tacoma. For the most part he makes that city his residence, but is so free from business cares that he can enjoy life wherever he cares to live.

He was married secondly, in 1883, to Miss S.A. Westbrook of Tacoma, formerly of New York, and enjoys a very happy domestic life.

Source: History of the Pacific Northwest, Oregon and Washington, 1889

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