Carson Boren
Encyclopedia
Carson Dobbins Boren was an early founder of Seattle, Washington (see Denny Party
). His sister Mary Ann was married to Arthur Denny, and his sister Louisa to David Denny
. Boren was the first King County
Sheriff
. Seattle's Boren Avenue is named in his honor.
Carson Boren married Mary Ann Kays (November 6, 1830-June 21, 1905) on February 18, 1849 at Abingdon
, Knox County
, Illinois
. Their first daughter Sarah E. was born December 17, 1849 but died 17 days later and is buried in the Cherry Grove Cemetery in Knox County. A second daughter, Gertrude Livonia, (December 12, 1850-June 3, 1912) was carried as an infant on the cross-country trek in 1851 with the Denny Party.
After erecting the first home in Seattle, the couple participated in the early life of Seattle and had two more children, William Richard (October 4, 1854-January 19, 1899) and Mary Louise (May 3, 1857-January 1, 1926). However, the couple argued over Carson's constant hunting trips and giveaways, and by 1860 they separated. They were divorced by territorial
legislative act December 17, 1861. Their children were raised by the Dennys. Mary Ann went south to The Dalles, Oregon
, and established a dressmaking business. There she had another daughter, Lydia Dell Blakeney (January 18, 1869-October 6, 1921) with John William Blakeney, a divorced man; they married in November 1872, but separated about 1880 and divorced in 1884. Mary Ann and Lydia moved back to Seattle.
Mary Ann Boren apparently kept in touch with her children by Carson Boren and lived with her youngest daughter and son-in-law in what is now the International District
of Seattle. When she died in 1905, she was buried in an unmarked grave in Lake View Cemetery
, down the hill from where Carson Boren and their unmarried daughter (called Livonia as an adult) are buried in style with the Denny Clan.
Denny Party
The Denny Party is a group of white pioneers credited with founding Seattle, Washington because they settled at Alki Point on November 13, 1851.A wagon party headed by Arthur A. Denny left Cherry Grove, Illinois on April 10, 1851...
). His sister Mary Ann was married to Arthur Denny, and his sister Louisa to David Denny
David Denny
David Thomas Denny was a member of the Denny Party, who are generally collectively credited as the founders of Seattle, Washington, USA. Though he ultimately underwent bankruptcy, he was a significant contributor to the shape of the city...
. Boren was the first King County
King County, Washington
King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population in the 2010 census was 1,931,249. King is the most populous county in Washington, and the 14th most populous in the United States....
Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
. Seattle's Boren Avenue is named in his honor.
Carson Boren married Mary Ann Kays (November 6, 1830-June 21, 1905) on February 18, 1849 at Abingdon
Abingdon, Illinois
Abingdon is a city in Knox County, Illinois, 50 miles west of Peoria. It is part of the Galesburg Micropolitan Statistical Area. The city was first settled in 1828 and was incorporated in 1857. In 1894, the patent for the common spring-loaded mousetrap was given to William Hooker of Abingdon,...
, Knox County
Knox County, Illinois
Knox County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 52,919, which is a decrease of 5.2% from 55,836 in 2000...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. Their first daughter Sarah E. was born December 17, 1849 but died 17 days later and is buried in the Cherry Grove Cemetery in Knox County. A second daughter, Gertrude Livonia, (December 12, 1850-June 3, 1912) was carried as an infant on the cross-country trek in 1851 with the Denny Party.
After erecting the first home in Seattle, the couple participated in the early life of Seattle and had two more children, William Richard (October 4, 1854-January 19, 1899) and Mary Louise (May 3, 1857-January 1, 1926). However, the couple argued over Carson's constant hunting trips and giveaways, and by 1860 they separated. They were divorced by territorial
Washington Territory
The Territory of Washington was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 8, 1853, until November 11, 1889, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Washington....
legislative act December 17, 1861. Their children were raised by the Dennys. Mary Ann went south to The Dalles, Oregon
The Dalles, Oregon
The Dalles is the largest city and county seat of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The name of the city comes from the French word dalle The Dalles is the largest city and county seat of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The name of the city comes from the French word dalle The Dalles is...
, and established a dressmaking business. There she had another daughter, Lydia Dell Blakeney (January 18, 1869-October 6, 1921) with John William Blakeney, a divorced man; they married in November 1872, but separated about 1880 and divorced in 1884. Mary Ann and Lydia moved back to Seattle.
Mary Ann Boren apparently kept in touch with her children by Carson Boren and lived with her youngest daughter and son-in-law in what is now the International District
International District, Seattle, Washington
The Chinatown-International District of Seattle, Washington is an ethnic enclave neighborhood and is the center of Seattle's Asian American community. The neighborhood is multiethnic, consisting mainly of people who are of Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino ethnicity...
of Seattle. When she died in 1905, she was buried in an unmarked grave in Lake View Cemetery
Lake View Cemetery (Seattle)
Lake View Cemetery is a cemetery located on Seattle, Washington, Capitol Hill just north of Volunteer Park. It is named for its view of Lake Washington to the east. It was founded in 1873 as the Seattle Masonic Cemetery.-Notable interments:...
, down the hill from where Carson Boren and their unmarried daughter (called Livonia as an adult) are buried in style with the Denny Clan.