An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893 CHARLES MINOT SHEAFE. - One of the representative business men of Seattle, was born in Durham, New Hampshire, January 13, 1843. His parents, James S. and Eunice (Dodge), Sheafe, were natives of the same State, where their ancestors settled at a time in the early history of New England. James S. Sheafe was connected with railroad work as early as 1843, as employee of the Boston & Maine Railroad. In 1849 he located at Waverly, New York, as agent of the New York & Erie Railroad, and in 1865 removed to Elmira, New York, as agent of the Lehigh Valley railroad, and there continued up to his death in 1891, after having devoted upwards of fifty years to railroad work. Charles M. was educated in the public schools of New York State and at the academy at Durham, New Hampshire. At the age of fourteen years he began his career in railroad work as messenger boy at Hornellsville, where his father was then located. In 1859 he became car clerk at Susquehanna, and shortly after secured a position as fireman on a locomotive running from Susquehanna to Hornellsville. After two years' experience he was made engineer and continued in that capacity for three years. He then spent one year in Colorado in mining enterprises, after which he returned to railroad work as brakeman on the Chicago & Northwestern from Boone westward. After about six weeks he was made conductor and continued in that position about three years. He was then employed as engineer on the Southern Pacific from Junction City, Kansas, south, during construction. One year later the road was reorganized as the Missouri, Kansas & Texas, and Mr. Sheafe served as conductor two years, as division superintendent four years, and as superintendent of transportation, with duties pertaining to the office of general superintendent up to August, 1881, when Jay Gould took possession of the road and the old employees were permitted to resign. On January 1, 1882, Mr. Sheafe went to New Orleans as General Superintendent of the Chicago, St. Louis and New Orleans Railroad, and discharged the duties of that office up to August, 1886, when he resigned and removed to Seattle, which city he had visited during the summer of 1885. That visit resulted in his being connected as trustee and manager with the organization of the Puget Sound Construction Company, which was incorporated with a capital of $500,000, for the purpose of building the first forty miles of the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern Railroad. Mr. Sheafe was also one of the promoters of the Bellingham Railway and Navigation Company, and has encouraged by advice and financial support many of the enterprises of development in and about the city of Seattle. In 1887 he engaged actively in the real-estate business in buying and selling outside property and improving the same for sale and investment. He was married at Jefferson, Iowa, in 1868, to Miss Anna Jones, a native of Illinois. Six children have been born of this union: Lois, now Mrs. Howard Joslyn; Harry J., Charles M.. James S., Ralph J. and Ruth. Socially Mr. Sheafe affiliates with the Knights Templar, F. & A. M. He was among the first members of the Chamber of Commerce of Seattle, and served as Trustee for two years, and is a man of recognized ability and sound judgment, particularly as applied to the interior development of a growing city. Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in January 2004 by Jeffrey L. Elmer * * * * Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.