An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 291-292
	
	J.T. RONALD, Mayor of Seattle, was born in Caledonia, Washington county,
Missouri, April 8 1855.
	His father, Onslow G. Ronald, was a native of Virginia, and his
great-grandfather, Andrew Ronald, was one of two sons of Lord Ronald, of
Scotland. After the death of Lord Ronald, Andrew, in 1755, at the age of twelve
years, was brought to the Virginia colony. He grew up to be a distinguished
lawyer, and was counsellor for the Crown in Virginia prior to the Revolutionary
war. In boyhood Onslow G. Ronald removed with his parents to Madison county,
Missouri, and was there reared and educated, and married to Miss Amanda Carson,
a native of Virginia. They subsequently settled in Washington county, where Mr.
Ronald followed agricultural pursuits.
	J.T. Ronald was reared upon the farm, and when not engaged in farming duties
improved his time securing knowledge at the public school and seminary of his
native town. In 1873 he entered the State Normal School at Kirkville, where,
being advanced in his studies, he completed the three years' course in two
years, graduating in June, 1875. He at once started for the Pacific coast, and
landed at Sacramento on July 26, with his financial capital reduced to ten
cents. He secured the position of teacher of a small school in the valley; but,
on account of his inexperience, was considered incapable, and after one term was
retired. He then went to Plumas county and began teaching the Snake Lake Valley
school, was soon promoted to the Greenville school, and after one year was
elected principal, which, position he held three years. July 4, 1876, he
borrowed a copy of Blackstone of Judge E.T. Hogan, of Quincy, California, and
earnestly began the study of law, improving every leisure moment before and
after school and studying well into the night. Continuing his teaching and the
study of law until 1880, he was then called to take charge as principal of the
Lincoln Grammar School, at Lincoln, Placer county, and there remained for two
years, when he was admitted to the bar in the Superior Court of Placer county,
May 27, 1882.
	While pursuing his studies, Mr. Ronald had been investigating the several
points of the Pacific coast as to a place of settlement, and finally decided
upon Seattle. He packed up his household effects and removed to this city,
arriving July 26, 1882, with his wife and child and $400 in cash, deciding to
make or break with the development of this city. The population then numbered
4,600 and included fifty-three lawyers. With no experience whatever, Mr. Ronald
opened an office, His finances were exhausted before securing a case, and he
resorted to the sale of real estate to support his family. In August, 1883, he
was appointed Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, with no salary attached thereto.
Feeling, however, that this opportunity would develop his career, he applied
himself to a careful understanding of the criminal code and then began a
vigorous prosecution of the gamblers and hobos who had been running riot through
the city, and by his successful prosecution he built up a name and reputation.
In the fall, of 1884 he was the nominee of the Democratic party for the office
of Prosecuting Attorney for the district of King, Kitsap and Snohomish counties,
and was elected with a majority of 1,153 votes, in a district formerly 1,200
Republican majority. In 1886 he was re-elected with a majority of 1,793, filling
the position up to March 4, 1889, when he retired from office, having discharged
his duties with honor and distinction. In 1886 he took in as partner S.H. Piles,
Esq., a native of Kentucky, and the firm has conducted a general practice in all
the courts of the State. Their practice has been very extensive in both civil
and criminal law in King and adjoining Counties. After studiously declining
public office, Mr. Ronald listened to the solicitation of his Democratic friends
in the spring of 1892 and was nominated Mayor of Seattle, to which office he was
subsequently elected by a very flattering majority. He has been largely
interested in the development of resident property, having platted the Electric
Motor Line Addition to Seattle. He is also the owner of 800 acres of valuable
farm and timber land in King and adjoining counties, besides some valuable city
property in Seattle.
	Mr. Ronald was married in Stockton, California, February 26, 1877, to one of
his college mates, and he and his wife are the parents of three children, Norma,
Eva and Mabel.
	Socially, he affiliates with the I.O.O.F.
	
Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in September 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer
	
	
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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
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individual featured in the biographies.