 
 
 |
 |
|
|
2350 North 30th Street . Tacoma, WA 98403
253.627.5405
General Open Hours: 1:00 to 4:00 (Wed-Sat)
Summer Hours: 12:00 to 4:00 (Wed-Sat)
> eMail the Cabin Now!
|
|
|
|
"Talented Job Carr, first settler of Tacoma."
Caroline Kellogg, The Tacoma News Tribune. November 9, 1981.
Tacoma's first permanent settler was Job Carr, who built the first house-a log
cabin-near the beach between where Carr and McCarver Streets are now in Old
Tacoma in 1865. Job Carr had come to the Northwest to look for the most likely spot
for the location of the terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad. He was sure the
terminus would grow into a great city.
Modest, gentle Job Carr was born in New Jersey in 1813. His grandfather, Caleb Carr,
was a colonel on General Washington's personal staff and after the Revolution
Caleb Carr became the first governor of Rhode Island.
As a young man, Job Carr moved to Indiana where he met and married Rebecca
Rittman, and they became the parents of four children: Anthony, Howard, Maggie
and Marietta. Both the Carrs were members of the Quaker church. Carr did not drink,
smoke, chew tobacco or swear and his strongest expression was,
"Well, I'll be consarned!"
Like all Quakers, Job hated war but he hated slavery even more and, although 47
years old when the Civil War broke out, he enlisted in the 26th Indiana Infantry
Regiment. He was wounded but served almost three years. He then moved to Iowa
where he bought a nursery and sent for his wife. But they had become estranged
and she preferred to remain in Richmond, Indiana where she was interested in
spiritualism. She later divorced him.
When Carr read that the government had authorized construction of a railroad to the
Northwest, he sold his nursery and started west by ox team, reaching Puget Sound
in late 1864. He was 50 years old.
Job often told how he located his claim on Christmas Day. He and a friend or two
went to Gig Harbor on a fishing expedition. As they paddled along in their canoe,
they passed the gently sloping hills of Old Town and Carr raised on his feet,
exclaiming, "Eureka! Eureka!" He had found his claim.
After Carr took possession of his 168-acre claim, he began building his log cabin.
It had two rooms: living room with a large fireplace and a sleeping room. Later
additional sleeping quarters were added in the low attic under the roof. This humble
cabin sheltered many a distinguished guest.
Carr was skilled in at least five trades: millwright, machinist, painter, paper hanger
and nursery man and could always find work when he needed it. Soon, his sons, Anthony
P. Carr and Howard Carr, followed him west and also homesteaded. With Job's 168
acres and those of his two sons, the Carrs owned about 1,000 acres in Old Tacoma.
Job, enthusiastic about his location, made many trips to Portland and other places
extolling the Puget Sound site and urging people to come here and help start a city.
Howard returned to Indiana to get his sister, Marietta, and in November 1867, she
came to Puget Sound with her brother. Now began a happy period for Job's pioneer
life for three of his children were with him. Marietta was a fine housekeeper and cook
and added to Job's popularity as a host.
In addition to being the first house in Tacoma, Job Carr's modest home became the
first post office in 1869. The cabin also became the first polling place in the spring of
1869. Carr acted as judge at the first election when 16 Democratic and 13 Republican
ballots were cast.
In 1884, Job Carr secured a bride through a correspondence bureau, and he and
Miss Addie Emery of New York were married in Olympia on September 25, 1884.
He was 70 years old.
Tacoma's first settler died August 10, 1887. Numerous descendants of the Carr family
reside in and near Tacoma.
The site of the Carr log cabin is noted today in a marker that stands at the foot of Carr
Street and 31st Street. The original building was preserved and moved to Point Defiance
where it now stands near the entrance to the Five-Mile Drive and is viewed by visitors
to the park.
|
|
