Elgin pocket watch, ca. mid-late 1800s

• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: 1850
• Subjects: Civil War; Politics; 19th century; Anvil; Nome; Alaska
• Online Access: http://cdm16786.contentdm.oclc.org:80/cdm/ref/collection/imlsmohai/id/13948

This watch belonged to Watson Allen who was born in New Jersey in 1842 and served in the Union Army during the Civil War. He settled in Seattle sometime after the war and was elected the King County representative to the first Washington State legislature in 1889. During his life in Seattle, Allen accomplished the following: promoted the development of West Seattle including assisting in the construction of the cable car line in that neighborhood; constructed and operated a saw mill at Snoqualmie Falls and constructed the original wharf at Smith's Cove; donated a portion of his property to what is now on the grounds of the University of Washington; and was president of the Anvil Hydraulic Dredging Company which mined gold in Nome, Alaska. 1 Watch, Pocket; Materials: metal; Dimensions: 3.25 in.H x 2.25 in.W x .5 in.D