Page 271 - PGM Compendium

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Of
M⸫W⸫ Wm. A. Fairweather: 1889-1890

Most Worshipful Brother William Allen Fairweather was born
in Bloomfield New Brunswick, Canada on May 2, 1853, son of
Peter and Elizabeth Fairweather. Our brother spent the first
sixteen years of his life in his parents' home, and then left New
Brunswick, going to Nashua, New Hampshire, in order to finish
his education. On putting aside his textbooks he became
connected with the Underhill Edge Tool Company of Nashua,
and was thus employed for a number of years. In 1873,
however, he left the old Granite state and came to the Pacific
coast by way of the Isthmus of Panama. Eventually he arrived
at San Francisco and there he took passage on the old steamer
John L. Stevens bound for Portland.

On reaching his destination he entered the employ of the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company, which had just completed
its line from Portland north to Tacoma. For a time he was
located at Kalama, but in 1875 he came to Tacoma. becoming
one of the first settlers here. The future city was yet in its infancy and gave little promise of speedy
development or rapid growth. Where are now seen fine business blocks stood forest trees, and the most
far-sighted could scarcely have dreamed of the marvelous changes which were soon to occur. He remained
at Tacoma for about four years, and in 1879 crossed the Cascade mountains and established the first store
in the new town of Ainsworth on the Snake river.

Subsequently he engaged in general merchandising at Sprague, and, thus connected with different business
enterprises, his absence from Tacoma covered ten years. In 1886 he served as Mayor of Sprague and was
elected to other local offices in that place.

When the present site of the City of Tacoma was largely covered with forest trees that stood in their
primeval strength, he became an active factor in business and political circles, and through the intervening
years he watched with interest the progress and development here, and contributed in no small degree to
the growth and improvement of this section of the state. He was elected on the Republican ticket to the
office of Clerk of Pierce County for a term of two years. In May 1899, he was appointed deputy collector
of customs for the Puget Sound district in charge of the Port of Tacoma, a position he held until August
1930.

In 1881 he was married to Miss Annie Myers. The wedding taking place in Oregon City, Oregon. The
lady was the daughter of the Hon. John Myers, who was a member of the Oregon legislature for twelve
years and served as United States marshal under President Cleveland's administration. The Fairweather
home was been blessed with four children: Eva, Allen, John, and Frances.

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