An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 359-361
	
	
	GARDNER KELLOGG, the first chief of the fire department of Seattle, and for
twenty-five years a member of the volunteer fire department, was born in
Thomaston, Maine, in February, 1838, son of Dr. David and Sarah (Prince)
Kellogg.
	Dr. Kellogg was born, reared and educated in Massachusetts. He began the
practice of his profession in Thomaston, Maine, where he was married and where
he continued to reside until 1847. That year he emigrated to Wankegan, Illinois,
and there spent the nest of his life.
	The subject of our sketch received his education in the common schools and
academy of Waukegan. At the age of sixteen he went to Chicago, where for three
years he was employed as clerk. During that time he was a member of the Hope
Hose Fire Company, receiving his first lessons in the work of a fire department.
In 1857 he went to Memphis, Tennessee, and in 1858 to New Orleans, going from
there a year later to Boston, Massachusetts. At Boston he shipped before the
mast on the Sea Lark for San Francisco, via Cape Horn, and after a voyage of six
months and twenty-two days entered Golden Gate in January, 1860. He then shipped
on the Northwestern for the East Indies, this cruise covering about four months.
Returning to San Francisco, he went from there to Sacramento, where he was
employed as clerk in a drug store of Dr. Justin Gates. After the great flood he
again visited San Francisco. At this time he entered the drug store of Richards
& Aitken and remained until the spring of 1863. He then came to Seattle and
opened a drug store, conducting the same until 1872. That year he removed to
Snohomish county, took up and improved a farm, and remained there engaged in
agricultural pursuits until 1875. Returning to Seattle, he established a city
drug store, which he conducted until the great fire of June, 1889, when he was
burned out, sustaining a loss of $30,000. He immediately resumed business in a
tent on Second street, in which he continued one year. Then he rented a room,
and when the Pioneer building was completed removed to it. He continued in
business until 1884, when he was elected chief of the fire department, and the
drug store passed into the hands of his son, Edward C.
	Mr. Kellogg was married in Seattle, in 1865, to Miss Sarah A. Bonney, of
Iowa, daughter of Sherwood and Lydia Bonney, who started for Oregon in 1852. Mr.
Bonney died before reaching his designation and was buried on the plains. Mr.
and Mrs. Kellogg have had five children, three of whom are living: Edward C.,
Charles W. and Sarah B.
	Mr. Kellogg is a thirty-second-degree Mason and a member of the I.O.O.F., K.
of P. and A.O.U.W. He was Postmaster of Seattle from 1864 until 1872, and for
eight years served as Auditor of King county.
	As the history of the fire department of Seattle is synonymous with that of
Mr. Kellogg, we deem it fitting to attach that history hereto.
	In August, 1865, Mr. Kellogg was the active promoter and organizer of the
first hook and ladder company of Seattle. He furnished liberally of the funds to
build the first truck, had ladders made for service, and was elected first
foreman of the company. It numbered twenty-four men and was the only fire
company up to 1868, when the city purchased the old hand engine, Sacramento.
About 1870 a third-class Gould engine was purchased, and in 1872 a fourth-class
Gould steam engine. At this time there was no ordinance regulating the fire
department. The fire warden, by virtue of his office, was the head of the
department, which was at that time entirely volunteer. In 1877 another truck
company was organized, and by private subscription and a donation of $300 from
the city council a new truck was purchased, and is now in service, it having
answered every alarm since placed in commission. In 1882 two hose companies were
formed, and early in the winter of 1884 another hose company was organized. This
was the celebrated Dude hose company. The department at this time consisted of
one hand engine, two steam engines, one truck company and three hose companies.
The water supply was cisterns at various places in the city, and inclines to
salt water.
	As usual in volunteer departments, considerable friction between companies
was constantly occurring and a kind of go-as-you-please condition of things
prevailed. This state of affairs was not conducive to good service and resulted
in the passage of an ordinance creating the office of chief of the department
and providing for a board of delegates to formulate rules for the guidance of
the department. The first election for chief was held on the first Monday in
May, 1884. This election was by the department at large, creating great
excitement and a warm contest, and resulted in the election of Gardner-Kellogg,
who was annually re-elected up to 1888, when he was succeeded by Josiah Collins,
Jr.
	In August, 1884, the city contracted for water for the fire department uses
with the Spring Hill Company, and twenty hydrants were located, with an
elevation pressure of 120 feet at the lower levels in the city. In 1887 the city
purchased a steel aerial truck, with an eighty-five-foot extension steel ladder,
which was at once placed in commission.
	In 1889, on the sixth of June, the business portion of Seattle was destroyed
by fire, entailing a loss of $10,000,000. At this time the department was
severely criticized, and in part unjustly. It resulted, however, in the passage
by the city council of an ordinance creating a paid department, the chief to be
appointed by the council. Under this ordinance Mr. Kellogg was appointed chief,
and continued in that office until the fall of 1892.
	At the city election in the spring of l892 the city went overwhelmingly
Democratic, and the Jeffersonian doctrine that to the victor belongs the spoils
prevailed in every branch of the city government. And while Mr. Kellogg had the
endorsement of every insurance company doing business in the city, and
notwithstanding that 1,052 of the business houses of the city, without regard to
politics, petitioned the city council for Mr. Kellogg's retention in office as
chief, and though he was twice named by the board of fire commissioners, the
council refused to confirm his nomination, and he was succeeded by A. B. Hunt,
who was in political accord with that body.
	Mr. Kellogg then resumed his connection with the drug business.
	
	
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.