Washington Territory. Governor (1862-1866 : Pickering)

William T. Pickering was born in Yorkshire, England in 1798. He came to America in 1821 and settled in Edwards County, IL. He served in the Illinois legislature from 1842-1852. In 1862, Abraham Lincoln offered him the choice of being part of the United States Ministry in England or the governor of the Washington Territory. Pickering became the Governor of Washington Territory in 1862. He served until 1866. Gov. Pickering sent the first message over the transcontinental telegraph line. It was received in Washington D.C. on 8 Sept. 1864. At the end of his term as governor, he returned to Illinois. William T. Pickering passed away in 1873.

From the description of Photograph of William Pickering's telegraph to Abraham Lincoln, 1864. (Washington State Library, Office of Secretary of State). WorldCat record id: 171230406

William Pickering was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1798 and graduated from Oxford University in 1820. In 1821 he moved to Illinois. He served in the Illinois legislature from 1842 to 1852 and in 1860 he was chairman of the Illinois delegation to the Republican convention, which nominated Abraham Lincoln for the presidency. Lincoln's second appointment to the governorship of Washington Territory was given to his close personal and political friend, William Pickering. Following the resignation of Gov. William Wallace, Territorial Secretary L.J.S. Turney acted as chief executive until the arrival of Pickering in June 1862. From the first, Pickering impressed the citizens of the Territory with his integrity and ability. One of his first declarations of policy was to place himself firmly against the controversial practice of granting legislative divorce. His opposition was successful and the granting of such divorces was abolished. In addition to general ability, Pickering was especially well-qualified for the post of frontier governor by reason of his training as a civil engineer. He was keenly aware of the need for better transportation facilities in Washington Territory and he worked to secure Federal assistance for roads. During his term communications were greatly improved by the completion of a transcontinental telegraph line.

In spite of the extreme frontier conditions existing in the territory, Governor Pickering had abiding faith in the future development of Washington and purchased a farm near Snoqualmie for his family. Shortly before the end of his term in 1866, he took great pleasure in arranging for a 150 foot flag pole to be cut from a Puget Sound fir and sent to the Paris Exposition of 1867 for the display of the national flag, which would "float far above the emblems and banners of any other nation." During Pickering's term, in 1864 and 1866, the first and second boatloads of "Mercer Girls," widows and orphans of the Civil War, arrived in Seattle through the efforts of Asa Mercer, to supply wives for the predominately male population of Washington Territory. After his term as governor, Pickering returned to Illinois. He died there in 1873, while planning to return to the Northwest.

From the description of Territorial Governor William Pickering papers, 1862-1866. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70976350