An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893

GENERAL WILLIAM McMICKEN, ex-surveyor-General of the Territory of Washington and
a resident of the city of Olympia, was born in Youngstown, Niagara county, New
York, January 1, 1827. His father, Charles McMicken, was a native of Scotland
and emigrated to the West Indies, where he followed civil engineering upon the
island of Tobago up to 1816, when he came to the United States and continued his
profession, he was married in New York, to Miss Helen Jordon, of English
descent, and resided in Porter until 1836, when he removed to Medina county,
Ohio, and there passed the balance of his life. William was educated in the
schools of Ohio, and with his father learned the profession of engineering, and
with an uncle the trade of cabinet-making. In 1847 he left home and went to Lake
Mills, Jefferson county, Wisconsin, and purchased an interest with E. Beatty &
Company, manufacturers of farm machinery. Through his connection with farmers,
and realizing the increased values of improved farm lands, he desired to engage
in that occupation, and selling his interest, in 1854, he removed to Dodge
county, Minnesota, purchased 640 acres of wild prairie land and began
development, making his residence chiefly at Mantorville, the county seat. He
broke up 560 acres of his farm, sowing annually about 400 acres to wheat,
continuing the farming operations very successfully until 1869, when he sold
out. In 1858 he was elected Recorder of Dodge county, and reelected in 1860.
With the breaking out of the war he aided in recruiting Company B of the Tenth
Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and was commissioned First Lieutenant, Colonel
J.H. Baker in command. Their first service was in Missouri, until the Sioux
outbreak in 1862, when the regiment was returned to Minnesota to subdue the
Sioux Indians. They were subsequently forwarded to the Department of Tennessee,
Sixteenth Army Corps. In 1863 he was on detailed service as Provost Marshal at
St. Louis, and was promoted to the rank of Captain. He served under Generals
Schofield, Rosecrans and Thomas, and after the battle of Nashville in December,
1864, the regiment was sent to the Department of the Gulf under General E.R.S.
Canby. After the capture of Mobile, they marched through Montgomery,
Jacksonville, Vicksburg, and then returning to Fort Snelling, Minnesota, they
were mustered out in September, 1865. The Captain was then appointed Assessor of
Internal Revenue of the First Congressional District of Minnesota, with
headquarters at Mantorville. He discharged the duties of that office for six
years. The hardships and privations of the war were upon the Captain, and, owing
to ill-health, in 1871 he resigned, and by the advice of his physician sought
the milder and more equable climate of Washington Territory. At Kalama he
entered the employ of the Northern Pacific Railroad, and was stationed there
during the construction of the road between the Sound and the Columbia river. In
the spring of 1873 Captain McMicken was appointed by President U.S. Grant as
United States Surveyor-General for Washington Territory, and entered at once
upon the duties of that office. He was re-appointed by President Hayes, and
later by President Arthur, serving continuously for nearly fourteen years, and
during his last term was officially the oldest incumbent of that office in the
United States. Among the more prominent surveys during his term of office was
that of the San Juan group of islands, the title to which was determined by
arbitration with Great Britain. He also surveyed the Indian reservations and
subdivided them into tracts of forty acres each, for allotment to the Indians,
forty acres being given to each man, woman and child. The special coal, timber
and stone surveys, under special acts of 1873 and 1878, were conducted under his
supervision. He also directed the surveys of the Palouse country and Big Bend of
the Columbia river in eastern Washington. According to his suggestion and
recommendation the meander line of lands bordering upon the Sound and the lands
was placed at mean high tide. After a long and unprecedented term of service,
the General retired, in 1886, and was then appointed Territorial Treasurer by
Watson C. Squire, Governor of the Territory, and in that capacity served two
years, when he retired from public service, which had been continuous for nearly
twenty-five years. General and Mrs. McMicken have three children: Herbert,
engaged in real-estate business in Seattle; Maurice, attorney in Seattle; and
Nellie, wife of Frank Dayton, hardware merchant in Portland. Mr. and Mrs.
McMicken reside on the southwest corner of Tenth and Columbia streets, in the
second oldest frame house in Olympia, the same having been erected, about 1860,
by James Tilton, the first Surveyor-General of the Territory, and having been
subsequently purchased by General McMicken. It commands a beautiful view of the
bay city and mountains, and surrounded by a well kept lawn is one of the most
attractive homes of the city. The General is a distinguished Mason, having
passed all the intermediate chairs; he is now Eminent Commander of Olympia
Commandery, No. 7; Grand High Priest of Royal Arch Masons, Jurisdiction of
Washington, and Past Deputy Grand Master of the State. He is a member of George
H. Thomas Post, No. 5, G.A.R., Past Senior Vice-Commander of the Department of
Washington, and a member of the Loyal Legion, Commandry of Oregon. For
recreation the General is devoted to his dog, gun, and rod, and for fifteen
years has been President of the Olympia Rod and Gun Club, and is one of the most
expert marksman in the State. Thus briefly is portrayed the life of one of
Washington's most distinguished citizens, - one whose reputation has been made
by years of faithful, conscientious service, and is now passing his declining
years surrounded by all the comforts of life, and in the enjoyment of the honor
and respect of a large circle of acquaintances.

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.