Luke McRedmond's obituary - May 1898

Luke McREDMOND is DEAD

One of the best known of Puget Sound Pioneers

Prominent for years in Public Affairs and Politics - to California in 1850 - Thence to Puget Sound - ____ Home at the Town of Redmond

Luke McRedmond, who was one of the best-known of the early pioneers of the Sound Country, died yesterday at Providence Hospital after a short illness from a complication of diseases. For many years he had been a prominent citizen of King County, widely and favorably known as a man of sterling qualities, firm principles and broad ideas. His death will be a loss not only to the friends who knew and loved him, but in the whole community in which he lived and moved. He is the third of the early pioneers who have passed away in the past few days. 

Mr. McREDMOND is survived by two daughters and a son. His wife died two years ago.

Luke McREDMOND was born eighty years ago in Knockhill, County Kings, Ireland. He emigrated to America when yet a young man and in 1849, at the time of the discovery of gold in California, was living in Memphis, Tennessee, working at the government Navy yard near that city. In 18_ _ (looks like 1850) , he journeyed around the Horn to California where he settled. One year later he again set sail, this time for Puget Sound. He settled at Port Madison, Kitsap County. During his life he held the offices of sheriff, auditor, and county commissioner of that county. In 18_ _, he removed to Seattle where he lived until 1871, where he took up a farm on the site of what is now the town of Redmond, on the line of the Seattle & International Railroad which he founded. He was also well known as one of the discoverers of the black diamond coal mines.

He was a broad and public spirited man and in his earlier life was closely identified with the more prominent movements of the political affairs of his community and state, adhering all his life to the principles of the Democratic party. He was a member of the convention which nominated Gen. Isaac Stevens, to be the first delegate to represent the territory of Washington in the Congress of the United States. He himself was the chosen candidate of his party for the office of sheriff of King County in 1874 and was defeated by only a small number of votes. He was at one time a frequent contributor to the several papers in the county, and showed by his writings a broad and well-informed mind and a firm grasp of every subject on which he wrote. 

Many who had never met Mr. McREDMOND had heard of him by being attracted to the cozy farm along the tracks of the Seattle & International Road, just on the outskirts of Redmond. It was not an elaborate and pretentious place, but it's quiet home likeness, it's air of restful comfort and rustic beauty set in the shade of a typical old time country orchard, held for the eyes of a passerby a charm that never failed to entrance. Old neighbors pointed to it with pride, and the hurrying tourist never failed to ask the owner's name, and write the scene down in their memory as a bright spot in their travels.