Watson C. Squire
Encyclopedia
Watson Carvosso Squire was a United States Senator from Washington.
, he attended the public schools, Falley Seminary (in Fulton, New York
) and Fairfield Seminary (Herkimer County, New York
). He graduated from Wesleyan University
in 1859 and was principal of the Moravia
Institute. During the Civil War
, he enlisted in Company F, Nineteenth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, in 1861; he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant, and was muster
ed out the same year.
He graduated from Cleveland Law School in 1862 and was admitted to the bar
the same year, commencing practice in Cleveland, Ohio
. He rejoined the Union Army
, soon thereafter, when the Union called for more men. Upon raising and organizing the 7th Independent Company of the Ohio Sharpshooters, Squire was commissioned a Captain in 1862. He served with the Seventh Ohio Sharpshooters until 1865. During the Civil War, Squire participated in the battles of Nashville
, Chickamauga
, Resaca
, and Missionary Ridge
. He also "served as part of General William T. Sherman's historic ... march to the sea campaign." During the latter campaign, "Squire served as judge advocate of the general courts martial. Later he was made judge advocate of the district of Tennessee," with headquarters in Nashville
. "He served on the staff of Major General Rousseau as judge advocate and also under Major General Thomas during the siege and battle of Nashville." In 1865, he was discharged with the rank of captain and was subsequently Brevet
ted major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel. Later, Squire was employed with the Remington Arms Company and purchased large holdings in the Territory of Washington in 1876.
Squire moved to Seattle in 1879, and was Governor of the Territory of Washington from 1884 to 1887. As governor, Squire confronted the difficult challenge of maintaining law and order during the Anti-Chinese riots in Seattle and Tacoma
. These riots began in 1885 and peaked on February 8, 1886. At that time, Squire declared martial law and begin a system of military rule until order was restored. "Soon after President Cleveland issued a proclamation calling for the restoration of order, and when that was ignored, Federal troops were ordered into Seattle." Squire withdrew martial law on February 22, 1886. By the end of the declaration of martial law, most of the Chinese residents already had been expelled from the Territory, put on a ship, and sent to San Francisco. Subsequently, at the request of the U.S. State Department, Governor Squire investigated the losses of property by the Chinese residents of Tacoma, Seattle, and the surrounding area.
Upon the admission of Washington as a State into the Union in 1889, Squire was elected as a Republican
to the U.S. Senate; he was reelected in 1891, and served from November 20, 1889 to March 4, 1897. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1897. While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Coast Defenses (Fifty-second and Fifty-fourth Congresses) and a member of the Committee on Transportation Routes to the Seaboard (Fifty-second Congress).
He retired from the practice of law and devoted his time to management of his properties in Seattle; he was organizer and president of the Union Trust Co. and the Squire Investment Co. He died in Seattle, aged 88; interment was in Washelli Cemetery.
Biography
Born in Cape Vincent, New YorkCape Vincent, New York
Cape Vincent, New York may refer to:* Cape Vincent , New York* Cape Vincent , New York...
, he attended the public schools, Falley Seminary (in Fulton, New York
Fulton, Oswego County, New York
Fulton is a small city in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 11,855 at the 2000 census. The city is named after Robert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat.The city of Fulton is located in the western part of the county....
) and Fairfield Seminary (Herkimer County, New York
Herkimer County, New York
Herkimer County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It was created in 1791 north of the Mohawk River out of part of Montgomery County. As of the 2010 census, the population was 64,519. It is named after General Nicholas Herkimer, who died from battle wounds in 1777 after taking part...
). He graduated from Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
in 1859 and was principal of the Moravia
Moravia, New York
Moravia, New York may refer to:*Moravia , New York*Moravia , New York...
Institute. During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he enlisted in Company F, Nineteenth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, in 1861; he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant, and was muster
Muster
Muster may refer to:* Muster , a process or event for the of accounting for members in a military unit* Muster , the rounding-up of livestock* Muster , a competitive skills event held between fire departments...
ed out the same year.
He graduated from Cleveland Law School in 1862 and was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
the same year, commencing practice in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
. He rejoined the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
, soon thereafter, when the Union called for more men. Upon raising and organizing the 7th Independent Company of the Ohio Sharpshooters, Squire was commissioned a Captain in 1862. He served with the Seventh Ohio Sharpshooters until 1865. During the Civil War, Squire participated in the battles of Nashville
Battle of Nashville
The Battle of Nashville was a two-day battle in the Franklin-Nashville Campaign that represented the end of large-scale fighting in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. It was fought at Nashville, Tennessee, on December 15–16, 1864, between the Confederate Army of Tennessee under...
, Chickamauga
Battle of Chickamauga
The Battle of Chickamauga, fought September 19–20, 1863, marked the end of a Union offensive in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia called the Chickamauga Campaign...
, Resaca
Battle of Resaca
The Battle of Resaca was part of the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. The battle was waged in both Gordon and Whitfield counties, Georgia, from May 13 - 15, 1864. It ended inconclusively with the Confederate Army retreating. The engagement was fought between the Military Division of the...
, and Missionary Ridge
Battle of Missionary Ridge
The Battle of Missionary Ridge was fought November 25, 1863, as part of the Chattanooga Campaign of the American Civil War. Following the Union victory in the Battle of Lookout Mountain on November 24, Union forces under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant assaulted Missionary Ridge and defeated the...
. He also "served as part of General William T. Sherman's historic ... march to the sea campaign." During the latter campaign, "Squire served as judge advocate of the general courts martial. Later he was made judge advocate of the district of Tennessee," with headquarters in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. "He served on the staff of Major General Rousseau as judge advocate and also under Major General Thomas during the siege and battle of Nashville." In 1865, he was discharged with the rank of captain and was subsequently Brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
ted major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel. Later, Squire was employed with the Remington Arms Company and purchased large holdings in the Territory of Washington in 1876.
Squire moved to Seattle in 1879, and was Governor of the Territory of Washington from 1884 to 1887. As governor, Squire confronted the difficult challenge of maintaining law and order during the Anti-Chinese riots in Seattle and Tacoma
Seattle riot of 1886
The Seattle riot of 1886 resulted from anti-Chinese sentiment, which was prevalent in the Western United States during the 19th century. The events culminated in March 1886 but the build-up to the violence began in late summer 1885 as a result of a concerted effort by regional Knights of Labor...
. These riots began in 1885 and peaked on February 8, 1886. At that time, Squire declared martial law and begin a system of military rule until order was restored. "Soon after President Cleveland issued a proclamation calling for the restoration of order, and when that was ignored, Federal troops were ordered into Seattle." Squire withdrew martial law on February 22, 1886. By the end of the declaration of martial law, most of the Chinese residents already had been expelled from the Territory, put on a ship, and sent to San Francisco. Subsequently, at the request of the U.S. State Department, Governor Squire investigated the losses of property by the Chinese residents of Tacoma, Seattle, and the surrounding area.
Upon the admission of Washington as a State into the Union in 1889, Squire was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the U.S. Senate; he was reelected in 1891, and served from November 20, 1889 to March 4, 1897. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1897. While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Coast Defenses (Fifty-second and Fifty-fourth Congresses) and a member of the Committee on Transportation Routes to the Seaboard (Fifty-second Congress).
He retired from the practice of law and devoted his time to management of his properties in Seattle; he was organizer and president of the Union Trust Co. and the Squire Investment Co. He died in Seattle, aged 88; interment was in Washelli Cemetery.
Further reading
Available online through the Washington State Library's Classics in Washington History collectionExternal links
- http://herkimer.nygenweb.net/ilion/RemMansion.html
- http://www.radicalacademy.com/bkexpt_pfaelzer.htm