Yukon who is who

John Harte McGraw (1850 – 1910)

John McGraw was born in Penobscot County, Maine. He and his brother opened a grocery store that failed in the economic panic of 1873. He moved west and worked briefly in San Francisco before settling in Seattle. He was one of a four-man police force and then was elected city marshal. He was appointed police chief by the City Council in 1879, and then was re-elected/appointed to these positions for an additional two years. He was elected Sherriff of King County in 1882 and again in 1884. He studied law while serving as sheriff and practiced law before being re-elected as sheriff in 1888. He became the president of Seattle First National Bank. He was the campaign manager for the first U.S. senators from Washington state, and then ran successfully for governor in 1892. He guided the enactment of the land laws and the provision of a State Land Commission. He lost the 1896 election to the Fusionist Party. The new government investigated the sheriff office’s account during McGraw’s term and ruled that he owned the state $10,000. He sold his property to secure the money. McGraw was married to May L. Kelley [1852 – 1907] and they had two children.¹⁾

McGraw was among the first to join the rush when news of the Klondike strike reached Seattle.²⁾ He was successful in regaining his fortune and he then returned to Seattle where he started a real estate and insurance business. He served as the president of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce from 1905 to 1907, and died three years later of scarlet fever.³⁾ Richard E. Brooks created a bronze statue of McGraw in 1912 and it stands at McGraw Square in Seattle.⁴⁾