Tykel, George A.; [Hubbard, Daniel J.] (1828-1890). Autograph Letter Signed by a Thurston County Pioneer George Tykel to Another Pioneer Daniel J. Hubbard, Discussing Financial and Territorial Conditions of Their Potential Co-Ownership of the Chambers Prairie near Olympia, the Latest News from the Local Society and Olympia Masonic Lodge and Mentioning the Execution of the Nisqually Chief Leschi. Masonic Hall, Olympia, W.T., 6 and 11 February 1858.

Two separate Folio leaves (ca. 32x20 cm or 12 ¾ x 7 ¾ in) and slightly smaller. 4 pp. Brown ink on blueish watermarked lined laid paper. Foldmarks, several minor tears on folds, but overall a very good letter written in a legible hand.

Interesting, content-rich original letter that provides an insight into life, farming activities and land deals executed by Washington state pioneers. Written by an Olympia resident and Freemason George Tykel, the letter is addressed to Daniel J. Hubbard - a member of the same Masonic lodge (apparently, Olympia No. 1) and a resident of Thurston County since 1852. The letter mostly discusses the conditions of their potential co-ownership of a part of the Chambers Prairie – the territory now occupied by the town of Lacey, east of Olympia. Tykel describes the size of the land lot, the price per acre and the amount of interest he is planning to charge Hubbard. The deal apparently went through but became a subject of a legal dispute. An article in the main Olympia newspaper, “Washington Standard,” informed about the public “Sheriff’s Sale” of exactly that part of the Chambers Prairie in April, 1861, “in favor of D.J. Hubbard and against George A. Tykel” (Sheriff’s Sale// The Washington Standard. 27 April 1861, p. 3). Tykel also shares local news and several mutual acquaintances, notes that he has been attending dancing school and mentions the upcoming execution of Nisqually Chief Leschi (1808-1858), who was hanged at Fort Steilacoom on February 19, 1858, after his defeat in the Yakima Wars (1855-58). Overall an important content-rich original letter by an Olympia pioneer.

George Tykel joined Olympia Lodge in 1856 and was expelled in March 1862. He was deceased by 1902 (Masonic History of the Northwest. San Francisco: The History Publishing Co., 1902, p. 375). Little Tykel Cove on the western shore of the Budd Inlet, north of modern-day Olympia Golf & Country Club, was named after him (Meany. E.S. Origin of Washington Geographic Names. Seattle, 1923, p. 320).

Daniel J. Hubbard was a resident of Thurston county since 1852 (The Washington Standard, 29 March 1889, p. 3). In 1856, he was a non-commissioned officer in the “Pioneer Company,” Central Battalion, Second Regiment, W.V.T. (Todd, R., and others. Letters of Governor Isaac I. Stevens, 1856-57// The Pacific Northwest Quarterly, vol. 31, No. 4 (Oct. 1940), p. 414). Some of his letters are now deposited in the Libraries of the University of Washington and the University of Michigan.

Excerpts from the letter (the spelling is original): 
“Saturday, Feb. 6th 1858. Bro. D.J. Hubbard, <…> I have your letter before me & will reply to your several interrogatorys in plain and concise language that cannon be mistaken nor misconstrued in relation to our land trade or purchase. The offer is still open to you for acceptance or refusal as you see propper. Neither care I a straw which you adopt. Since it’s with no motive of speculation, or anxiety to sell that I have consented to take you in, as a partner, for should I desire to sell out I could dispose of it on much better terms, but as there is more land than I have any desire to cultivate myself, and at the same time wishing to retain an interest in the whole, I have in consideration of the partiality I entertain towards you, extended that privilege to you, there being no other person under the Sun, except my own Brother, with whom I would enter into such an arrangement, of so complicated a nature <…>

Friday, Feb. 11th 1858. Sir, the Mail passed by before I got this letter completted & hastily leaving then I left this remaining on the Secretary's Desk & Mr. Ward & Jake Myers came up during my absence & tore off a portion of my sheet. <…> Jake [Walderie?] <…> has loaned to Louisson & Co. $1600.00 & they have got into difficulty with Capt. Hunt & Scranton about the steamer Constitution which is now tied up to Gidding’s wharfe & ordered sold. Frankel & Lighter stand a chance of looking five or ten thousand dollars. They had borrowed some ten or 12 thousand dollars about here. <…>

& now to the terms of our contract <…>, which are, namely, Seven hundred dollars ($700.00) to be paid on Christmas last Dec. 25th 1857 for an individual half, of my land on Chambers Prairie, with all of its present improvements, consisting of 317 87/100 acres <…>, costing you at that time nearly $2,21 cent an acre for one half interest. I paid the Land Office for 325 37/100 acres, & then donated 7 ½ acres to Church & Seminary purpose, commencing at the North west corner, of the North west quarter of section four, running sixty rods South & twenty rods East. Thomas Chambers has donated a like tract alongside in his pasture field. The house is building on the South end of my tract on that rising ground. <…>

I have since bought of U.E. Hicks his right to this summer’s crop & will hold the proceeds of the farm for this summer to my own use giving you an interest in next fall’s crop, & in the Deed I will make, will give you equal posession next September, & if you choose to come sooner & break up new ground, I have no objection & have all you raise, oats cost me 125 cents a bushel for seed. I have got Mr. Ruddel a ploughing. I intend to enclose all of that 80 acres north of the township line for the cost of which I expect you to pay be your portion, viz. one half, so that we will be ready to put in a large crop next fall. Flour is in good demand at fourteen dols. a barrel. I’m going out on the prairie in a day or two, to right up the fences that the wind has blown down & put in my crop of oats. <…>

I suppose you understand me now, viz. Seven hundred dollars for an undivided half of 317 87/100 acres of land on Chambers Prairie, for which I must charge you interest at the rate of 2 ½ per cent a month, from the 25th of December 1857 untill the money is paid. 143 dollars I have received & together with the draft of five hundred you say you have sent & the balance Ward & Hays have received in wheat from John Bernly will nearly pay it up.

Today is very blustering & snow falling. We have not had any cold weather this winter. I have been attending a dancing school, but am not a good dancer yet, Ensign is teacher & Shead is fiddler, about thirty schollars (gents), not quite so many ladies. We have had a great time here this winter confering the Degree of Knights of Constantine. Mrs. & Miss Cornelia Smith took the Degrees of Kindred & Mason’s Daughter, also Mrs. Wallace last week. There a number of strangers here in our lodge you have never seen. <…> The Ocean Mail Steamer now comes up to Mr. Brown’s wharfe. She is hourly expected in. Leshi will be hung here, in a week, the 18th. Mr. Elroy has bought a 100 acres of Mr. Hale’s Front for $3,000 dollars. Ooley Eckler was killed at Miller’s steam saw mill by a log rolling over him. His brother Jo has bought 100 acres of the Obriant Claim back of Whitworths for $700,00. <…>”