Early history of the area around 65th & Latona in east Green Lake

By Amy Duncan
February 14, 2010 at 11:27 pm

Last week we told you about a Seattle Times article, written by Russ Hanbey, which gave some insight into one of the earliest* Green Lake families, the Weedin family.

In the comments to our post, Mr. Hanbey, himself a direct descendant of the original Weedin clan, shares some more information about this fascinating family.

Robert Weedin's wife on E 73rd St, 1896. Via the Seattle Municipal Archives Photograph Collection.

Robert Weedin's wife, 1896. Via the Seattle Municipal Archives Photograph Collection. Update, February 16 2010: Robert Weedin's wife's name was Elisabeth Jane Brownfield.

Mr. Hanbey explains that brothers Robert and William Weedin arrived in Green Lake as homesteaders in or about 1873. They brought their wives, themselves two sisters. The brothers fought in the civil war and had a connection to Frank and Jesse James. Robert Weedin cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln.

The Weedin brothers homesteaded 160 acres of land in east Green Lake. Robert built his first house near NE 65th St and Latona Ave NE, and was involved in starting the first school in Green Lake, as well as the Temperance Society. One of Robert’s sons built and operated a garage at the southeast corner of 65th and Latona (301 NE 65th St, currently the location of PetDaddy).

Mr. Hanbey reports that his cousin Glenn has authored a forthcoming book, Two Grandfathers, which documents the story of the Weedin brothers. (Correction, February 16: Two Grandfathers is the current title of a forthcoming book written by Russ Hanbey, not his cousin Glenn as previously reported.)

Thank you again, Russ Hanbey, for sharing your knowledge with us!

__________

* While there were once Native American settlements north of Green Lake in Licton Springs and east of Green Lake on the shores of Union Bay, there are no records of any pre-European-contact Native American homes in what is now referred to as the Green Lake neighborhood.

mygreenlake

Thank you, Russ, for taking the time to address the concerns of the commenters above. Russ is correct, the photo of Elisabeth Jane Brownfield was not submitted by him, but was rather taken from the Seattle Municipal Archives Photograph Collection.

All perceived gender bias in the article is mine alone, and should not be attributed to Russ Hanbey, who has been incredibly generous in sharing his knowledge with the neighborhood. Thank you Russ.

Here at My Green Lake, we are dedicated to promoting all voices in the neighborhood, including the voices of diverse residents from earlier days. If any historians or genealogists out there have information that they would like to share about Green Lake's original woman homesteaders (or any topic at all), please send it our way at tips@mygreenlake.com.

In the meantime, here's a bit of local women's history: http://www.mygreenlake.com/2009/11/green-lake-i... The reminiscences of Dorothea Nordstrand are a vital part of the narrative of our neighborhood's past and I recommend that anyone interested in the history of Green Lake read her many contributions on HistoryLink: http://www.historylink.org/?keyword=Dorothea+No...
Russ Hanbey

You're inaccurate in your observation. If you're going to hold my feet to the fire, you have an obligation to make sure you know what you're talking about.

The woman pictured is actually Robert Weedin's wife (Elisabeth Jane Brownfield) and was NOT mentioned in the original article, nor was Robert Weedin. Her photo appeared as part of this blog. 'Two Grandfather's, both of whom were shot and killed (not their wives), has barely been written and you are making projections about it's content.

I believe I treated Ichibe Suehiro, the Japanese immigrant who shot my great grand father, with fairness. I did not vilify him and tried to project his role in the incident from his point of view. The same will occur with all of the potential characters in Two Grandfathers, many of who are strong and significant women.
Balance

Funny how the 'wife' was the one pictured doing the work, but wasn't worth naming in the article, and wasn't the one who is credited with homesteading? I agree with my neighbor; it's disturbing that history leaves women so invisible. I wonder if Two Grandfathers tells more of a complete family story, although by the title alone, I'm not sure? It's fun to read about the early days of Seattle though.
Russ Hanbey

Amy,
Thanks for presenting more information on the Weedin family (male AND female) in your blog. One correction - Glenn has not written a book entitled 'Two Grandfathers'. That is the current title of my DRAFT of a forthcoming book. Glenn has collected a wealth of information on Robert and WL Weedin and their families and is a great resource for my research.

Russ
Your Neighbor

Sounds like the men brought their wives to Green Lake in boxes and kept them in there while they did all kinds of wonderful and heroic deeds. Guess that's why history books leave me bored and why they seem so unreal; women are invisible and inconsequential. In reality, we're pretty interesting and influential.

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Early history of the area around 65th & Latona in east Green Lake