George Anson Meigs facts for kids

George Anson Meigs (born February 4, 1816 – died March 3, 1897) was an important businessman and shipbuilder in what was then called Washington Territory. He was known for building large lumber mills and ships.

Early Life and New Beginnings

George Meigs was born in Shelburne, Vermont. He was one of many children. After finishing school, he traveled to different cities like Newark, New Jersey, Brooklyn, New York, and New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1849, he joined the Gold Rush and moved to California. There, he started a business selling lumber in San Francisco.

Building a Lumber Empire

In 1854, George Meigs bought a lumber mill from J.J. Felt. This mill was moved to Port Madison on Bainbridge Island. It was close to a Native American longhouse called Old Man House, and many Native people worked at the mill. George Meigs actually founded Port Madison.

He made the mill much bigger and better. He spent most of his time at the mill, while his partner, William H. Gawley, managed the lumber yard in San Francisco. By 1858, the mill could produce 15,000 board feet of lumber every day. It became one of the biggest lumber producers on Puget Sound. Besides the mill, Meigs also started a dairy farm on Bainbridge Island.

Family Life

In 1858, George Meigs married Mary Elizabeth Tappan in Boston. They had two children together: a daughter named Lillie Charlotte and a son named George Elroy.

Shipbuilding Innovations

Later, Meigs built the first brass and iron foundry (a place where metal is melted and shaped) in Washington Territory. He also built a shipyard. From his shipyard came the Wildwood, the first full-sized sailing ship ever built on the Pacific Coast.

Building ships from local wood like Douglas fir was tricky at first. People discovered that Douglas fir wood would last longer if it was cut in winter, dried, and treated with salt. The Wildwood, weighing 1099 tons, was the first ship built this way.

Challenges and Resilience

On February 18, 1861, a boiler exploded at Meigs's mill on Puget Sound. Five men died, and rebuilding the mill was very expensive for Meigs. In 1864, the mill burned down again, costing about $100,000. But Meigs rebuilt it once more and made it even bigger.

During the first half of 1870, the mill worked day and night. It cut and shipped over 11 million board feet of lumber. Meigs's own fleet of ships also grew to 45,000 tons, including vessels like the Northern and Tidal Wave.

Later Life and Legacy

George Meigs faced many business challenges, including tough economic times. By 1881, he could no longer overcome his financial problems. The mill complex on Bainbridge Island was sold at an auction. Meigs spent his last years living on his property at Port Madison.

He also helped build the University of Washington and served as one of its leaders, called regents, in the early 1860s.

On March 3, 1897, George Meigs went to Seattle for a legal matter. On his way back to the ship that night, he disappeared. His body was found the next morning on a freighter. A group of people investigating his death decided that Meigs had gotten lost in the dark, and his death was an accident.