Macaulaya
Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history
of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western
Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
ALAX MACAULAY is one of the first
settlers who still live in Okanogan county. His farm adjoins the
townsite of Oroville on the east, and lies in the forks of the Similkameen
and Okanogan rivers. Mr. Macaulay has a fine herd of cattle and has
recently sold a large number. For years he has given his time and
attention to raising stock, and is now retiring somewhat from the activities
of this life, having been prospered in his labors.
Alax Macaulay was born in Stonoway, Scotland,
in 1840, the son of Angus and Ava Macaulay, natives of Caledonia.
His early days were spent in acquiring an education, and at the age of
fourteen he shipped as cabin boy, on a sea going vessel. He worked
his way up from this position, and later was in the English navy.
He served in the war with Russia and participated in many battles on the
sea and one on the land. He was in various fights, and had his clothes
riddled with bullets, but never received a wound. After his discharge he
returned to Scotland and then bade farewell to his native place, sailing
for Quebec. He came on to Montreal, and spent the summer of 1858
on the steamboats of the St. Lawrence. In 1862, we find him in Chicago,
whence he journeyed to Michigan. He returned to Chicago and afterward
went to Canada. He traveled in various parts of the country, then
came to the Red river of the North, whence he journeyed on horseback across
the Rockies to the Kootenai country, and then on up to Fort Colville, arriving
there in the fall of 1869. In the following spring he prospected
in British Columbia, then went to Victoria, and afterwards took a trip
with John Grant up the Priest river. This journey was attended with
great hardships, on account of the shallow water, caused by beaver dams.
Later he returned to Victoria. Mr. Grant was afterward mayor of that
city. Mr. Macaulay then joined a surveying party on the Thompson
river, and also visited other places in the Northwest Territory.
He became acquainted with most of the Hudson's Bay Company's patents of
this section, then made a trip to San Juan Island. Finally he met
Mr. Utz, with whom he came to this section in 1873. Since then Mr.
Macaulay has never been farther away than Spokane or Wenatchee. The
other people living south of the British Columbia line, in the Okanogan
valley then were Okanogan Smith, John Utz, and Bob Clinton. Mr. Macaulay
was at Fort Colville after this and became well acquainted with James Monaghan,
Hugh McCoole and Chief Moses. At the time that Generals Sherman and
Miles and Chief Justice Gray went from Colville to Victoria, he accompanied
them from the Fort to the Okanogan river and became well acquainted with
these noted personages. Mr. Macaulay began raising cattle on a small
scale and also took charge of Phelps and Wadley's stock and has since collected
a fine herd for himself. Mr. Macaulay has a brother sister
living in Scotland, Angus and Christine and one brother at Killarney, Manitoba,
Kennis Macaulay. Mr. Macaulay is a true Scotchman, possessed of the
stability and determination of his race, which have enabled him to gain
his gratifying success.
BACK