Prosser, William Farrand.  "A History of the Puget Sound Country."  New York:
Lewis Pub. Co., 1903. p. 358-360.

David E Bartruff

No history of Whatcom county would be complete without extended mention of David
E. Bartruff, for to no other man does this county owe so large a debt of
gratitude as to Mr. Bartruff. He erected the first house in the county, has been
promoter of a number of its business enterprises and public improvements, and is
now the proprietor of the Washington Hotel, a splendid hostelry which would be a
credit to a city of much greater size than the county seat. While he was
prospered in his undertakings, becoming one of the substantial citizens of this
section of the state, his labors have also proved of marked benefit to the
community, and we take pleasure in presenting his life record to our readers.

Mr. Bartruff is a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, born on the 26th of
February, 1855. His parents, John A. and Sarah (Royer) Bartruff, were also
natives of the Keystone state, and were representatives of old families whose
ancestry can be traced back through three hundred years.

John A. Bartruff was a farmer by occupation, and died in 1896, at the age of
seventy-six years. In the family were five sons and four daughters: David;
Hiram, who was the eldest and is now deceased; John, who is now forty=nine years
of age; Alfred, who has also passed away; Edward, thirty-five years of age;
Katie, the wife of J.A. McBride, of Whatcom; Sarah, the wife of Washington
Fritz, of Pennsylvania; Ida, who is also living in that state and Minnie, the
widow of George Young.

David E. Bartruff spent his boyhood days in the usual manner of farmer lads. He
attented the public schools through the winter months and in the summer seasons
assisted in the labors of the farm. At the age if sixteen he permanently left
school in order to learn the carpenters trade, which he followed for two years,
and then he determined to try his fortune in some of the western states,
believing that he would have better opportunity in the new and rapidly growing
districts of the country. He spent one year in Canton, Ohio, and the next in
Kalamazoo, Michigan, and in 1876 went to De Kalb county, Illinois, remaining for
about two years in that state. He also returned to his native state in the
centennial year, in order to visit the exposition in Philadelphia. In 1877 he
located in Clay Center, Kansas, and, as in the other states, he there followed
his trade, and also began contracting. For five years he remained in the
Sunflower state. He went to Abilene, Dickinson county, in 1878, spending three
years, during which time he was recognized as one of its leading contractors and
builders, employing on an average twenty men. In the spring of 1880 he visited
San Francisco, California, and intended to locate permanently on the coast. He
had thought to settle in Washington, but, changing his plans, he returned to
Kansas, where he remained through the succeeding year. He next went to Deming,
New Mexico, where he was in the employ of the Santa Fe Railroad Company for four
months, after which he made his way to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he did a
general contracting business for a year.

In 1883 Mr. Bartruff went to Denver, Colorado, and in August of the same year
came to the northwest, settling in Fairhaven, but while on his way here he
stopped in Seattle and purchased the lumber and other necessary materials with
which to build his first house in Whatcom county. His first work in this county
was getting out the timbers for the Knox & Musher mill in Fairhaven, after which
he began general contracting and building, and was soon known as one the leading
contractors of this portion of the state ñ a position which he has since
occupied. His patronage has been extensive, and it is said that he has paid out
greater sums in wages then any other man in the county. In 1885 he purchased a
ranch near Fort Bellingham and planted one of the finest fruit orchards in the
county. Soon it began to bear, and is today one of the finest orchards of the
northwest. In this way he has demonstrated the possibilities of the country as a
fruit-producing district, and many have since!
 profitably followed his lead in this respect. Many of the finest residences in
Whatcom and the surrounding districts stand as monuments to his enterprise and
his skill in the buildersí art, and yet his efforts have been confined to the
two lines of business already mentioned. He has made judicious investments, and
now owns considerable property in Whatcom county, all improved. In 1896 he
purchased on Dock street, between Maple and Chestnut streets, several lots on
which he erected the Washington Hotel, at first a nine-room house, but to this
he has added from time to time until the addition made in 1903 enlarged it to a
hostelry of ninty rooms, the last addition being an annex. Mr. Bartruff conducts
a splendid family and commercial hotel. He personally superintends the
purchasing of supplies, and on the table are found all the luxuries which the
market affords. The sleeping rooms, the offices, sample room and parlors are all
well ventilated, well lighted and tastefully and conveniently furnished, and the
Washington Hotel is a most creditable institution of Whatcom.

Mr. Bartruff has been twice married. On the 17th of September, 1891, he wedded
Miss Mazie E. Kolp, a daughter of Martin and Mary Kolp. She was born in
Pennsylvania, and died September 12, 1899, leaving a daughter, Ruth, who is now
nine years of age. For his second wife Mr. Bartruff chose Miss Maud Lowe, a
native of New York, the wedding being celebrated in November, 1902. Both Mr. and
Mrs. Bartruff hold membership in the Presbyterian church, and he belongs to the
Improved Order of Red Men, while politically he is a republican. Thirteen times
he has crossed the continent on business or pleasure, and thus has gained much
knowledge of his native land. He is typical western business man, alert to grasp
opportunities, quick to take advantage of possibilities, reliable, preserving
and determined. He has never taken advantage of the necessities of his
fellow-men in his business career, but has labored along lines which have
promoted his individual success and have advanced the general prosperity of the
community.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios. Project in September 2005 by Teressa Lenkey.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.