Seavy, James

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

JAMES SEAVY. - This representative gentleman of Washington is, as we have noted in the case of many of the leading citizens of that state, a native of Maine, having been born at Thomaston, of the old Pine-tree state, January 11, 1825. Receiving an ample practical education at the public school and academy of his native town, he maintained himself during his early manhood by teaching and farming.

In 1854 he undertook the labor, almost unheard of in his community, of bringing his family by sea to the Pacific coast, accomplishing the voyage around Cape Horn in the bark W.T. Sayward, and reaching San Francisco in September. In December of the same year he came up the coast, finding a location at Port Ludlow. He was book-keeper for the great mill at that place, and was also sought for public trusts, serving as county commissioner and as representative from Jefferson county. In 1860 he changed his residence to Port Townsend, a city well known to him by reason of a short stay there previously as teacher of the school. In that place he engaged in mercantile business with Hon. L.B. Hastings.

In 1862 he was appointed postmaster, the duties of that position gradually absorbing much of his attention as the years went by; and he was retained until 1879, thus filling one of the longest terms on record. In 1862 he was also appointed clerk of the district court, and with the exception of the years included in the incumbency of Judge Dennison served until 1887. In 1867 he was elected auditor of Jefferson county, and was re-elected every two years until his resignation in 1886. He was, however, nominated and placed in office in the year 1888, and serves in that capacity at the present time. He has been a thoroughgoing Republican since 1861, and receives his preferments at the hands of the Republican party. In all his public career for more than thirty years he has maintained an unsullied integrity, and has enjoyed the public confidence and goodwill.

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

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