Sarvant, Henry M. (Henry Mason), 1860-1940.

Surveyor and photographer Henry Mason Sarvant settled in Tacoma in 1889. He was responsible for the first extensive surveys of the Mount Rainier region and named many of the area's lakes, glaciers, and peaks. In 1897 Sarvant traveled to the Klondike region, where he worked as a surveyor and located a successful mine. Sarvant returned to the Tacoma region in 1900 and served as mayor of the Washington town Steilacoom, then as treasurer of the Northwestern Woodenware Company of Tacoma. In 1912 he moved to Yakima, where he became involved in fruit farming and horticulture.

From the description of Henry M. Sarvant photograph collection, ca. 1890s-1910 [graphic]. ca. 1890s-1910. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 52512553

Surveyor and photographer Henry Mason Sarvant was born on April 22, 1860, in the state of New York. He was raised by his mother's sister, Mrs. Mason Weld, in Cloister, New Jersey. After settling in Tacoma in 1889, he had a long and varied life, working as a civil engineer in Tacoma and serving as mayor of the Washington State town of Steilacoom.

Sarvant made many trips to Mount Rainier and was responsible for the first extensive surveys of the region. During an expedition in August, 1892, Sarvant was one of the first eleven people to reach the summit of Mount Rainier. He led P.B. Trump's party on several of the early climbs to the summit. He also worked for the Washington Geological Survey party of Mount Rainier, naming many of the lakes, glaciers, and peaks in the park. Later, a series of glaciers on the northeast slope was named after him. In 1897 Sarvant traveled to the Klondike region, where he worked as a surveyor and located a successful mine, earning enough gold to fund his later business and farming ventures.

Sarvant returned to the Tacoma region in 1900 and served as mayor of Steilacoom. For many years he was treasurer of the Northwestern Woodenware Company of Tacoma. Here he met J.W. Slayden, and in 1908 he married Slayden's sister, Carolyn Cobbler. In 1912 he moved to Yakima, where he became involved in the fruit industry, conducting experiments in horticulture and developing new strains of flowers and plants. Sarvant continued to work in his orchard until his death on March 9, 1940.

From the guide to the Henry M. Sarvant Photograph Collection, ca. 1890s-1910, (University of Washington Libraries Special Collections)