Calvin S. Barlow
Calvin Sam Barlow | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Cowlitz County, Washington |
| Died | April 5, 1920 (aged 63) Tacoma, Washington |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, politician |
| Known for | Founder of Tacoma Trading Company; member of Washington State Legislature; Tacoma City Council member; Washington Supreme Court judge |
Calvin Sam Barlow (May 13, 1856 – April 5, 1920) was a trailblazing entrepreneur and public official in Tacoma, Washington. He arrived in Tacoma in 1877, when it was merely a small settlement, and launched the city's inaugural butcher shop. After three years operating alongside his brother, they established the Tacoma Trading Company (which later became C. S. Barlow & Sons), diversifying into manufacturing and distributing construction materials. By 1903, their firm ranked among Tacoma’s largest merchants, providing nearly seventy-five percent of the lime used in local building projects. Barlow earned distinction as one of Tacoma’s leading business figures.
As an active member of the Republican Party, Barlow held a seat on the Tacoma City Council and was elected twice to the Washington State Legislature, initially in 1897 during an era when Populist candidates dominated. He played a key role in establishing the city’s taxation framework and was both a founding trustee and charter member of the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce. His public contributions extended to serving on the Washington Supreme Court bench and participating on the State Board of Visitation overseeing prisons.
Barlow was a significant civic leader in Tacoma, helping to create its first military unit and serving on the Board of Trustees for Puget Sound University. His ventures included real estate and mining investments, construction of a commercial building on Jefferson Avenue, and holding executive roles within groups such as the Washington State Historical Society, Pierce County Pioneers' Association, and Tacoma Commercial Club.
Early life and family
Born on May 13, 1856, in Cowlitz County, Calvin Barlow was the son of George and Mary Ann Barlow (née Purdy). His family traced English roots and migrated westward from Michigan through Portland, Oregon before settling in Cowlitz County. Growing up among nine siblings, including Byron Barlow—a pioneer of Tacoma—and George W. Barlow, who captained steamboats on Puget Sound and the Columbia River, Calvin contributed to farm work during his youth.
Education and first job
Barlow received his education at schools in Forest Grove, Oregon, completed one year at Pacific University, and subsequently attended Portland Business College. To support his studies financially, he spent five years fishing for salmon along the Columbia River. Upon graduating in 1877 at age 21, he relocated to Tacoma.
Butcher business
Between approximately 1877 and 1879, Barlow and his brother Byron launched Tacoma’s first butcher shop. They ran this enterprise successfully for three years before transitioning to establish the Tacoma Trading Company.
Tacoma Trading Company
The Tacoma Trading Company was founded in 1882 and incorporated a year later in 1883. Initially serving as secretary and treasurer, Barlow eventually assumed the presidency. The business evolved into a family-operated venture known as C. S. Barlow & Sons as three brothers and subsequently three sons joined operations.
By 1903, it stood among the largest suppliers of building materials in Tacoma, distributing products such as sewer pipes, coal, lime, plaster, cement, sand, and gravel. The company provided roughly seventy-five percent of the lime used in local construction projects at that time and was recognized as a prominent player within its industry.
In 1904, Barlow invested in a brickyard located on Fox Island, Washington, purchasing full ownership two years later for $2,900 (equivalent to $4,400 in 2020 dollars). This facility produced clay bricks for municipalities across Washington and Oregon but had closed during the Panic of 1893 before reopening in 1897. He further invested $30,000 ($46,000) into installing a brick dryer to facilitate continuous production throughout the year; however, by 1910–11 the brick operations ceased due to concrete gaining popularity in construction.
Barlow maintained his role as president of Tacoma Trading Company until his passing in 1920 and was widely acknowledged as a successful merchant specializing in building materials throughout his career.
Additional Roles and Contributions
Barlow played a key role in advancing Tacoma's industrial growth. In 1881, he was instrumental in establishing the city's inaugural military unit. His investments spanned real estate, mining ventures, and multiple business undertakings. Between 1888 and 1903, he held a position on the Board of Trustees at Puget Sound University. Furthermore, Barlow served as curator for both the Washington State Historical Society and the Ferry Museum. His leadership extended to the Pierce County Pioneers' Association, where he was president, solidifying his standing as a distinguished figure in Tacoma.
Political Engagement
A steadfast advocate for the Republican Party, Barlow exerted influence within party leadership circles. In 1883, he contributed to the creation of Tacoma's first precise tax framework. He was elected to Tacoma's City Council in 1884 and became a founding member and trustee of the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce in 1897. Additionally, he participated on the Washington State Board of Visitation overseeing correctional facilities.
Barlow served two terms in the Washington State Legislature, initially elected to the House in 1897 during a period marked by strong Populist presence—representing a significant Republican achievement. In 1909, he was appointed to Washington State's supreme court. He returned to the legislature in 1915 as one of nine legislators native to Washington, reflecting the state's evolving political maturity.
Affiliations
Barlow was an early participant in Tacoma's Knights of Pythias lodge and held memberships with the Maccabees, Odd Fellows, and United Artisans organizations. He was affiliated with both the Pierce County Pioneers' Association and the Seattle Commercial Club.
Together with his wife, he actively engaged with the First Methodist Episcopal Church, where he fulfilled duties as trustee and represented the congregation as a delegate at its General Conference held in Cleveland.
Family and Personal Details
On April 28, 1881, Barlow wed Hertilla M. Burr, whose family were pioneers residing nearby in Cowlitz County. The couple had eight children: George C. (b. 1882), who later worked as secretary under his father's leadership at Tacoma Trading Company; Harry L. (1885–1887); Byron T. (1888–1889); Allan (b. 1890); Russell C. (b. 1893); Douglas L. (b. 1895); Hertilla (b. 1898); and Mildred M. (b. 1901).
Calvin Barlow passed away on April 5, 1920, at his residence in Tacoma following a short illness.
External links
- 1856 births
- 1920 deaths
- 19th-century American merchants
- Washington (state) pioneers
- Members of the Washington House of Representatives
- Businesspeople from Tacoma, Washington
- Politicians from Tacoma, Washington
- American businesspeople in real estate
- American mining businesspeople
- Members of the Methodist Episcopal Church
- People from Cowlitz County, Washington
- Pacific University alumni
- People from Washington Territory
- 19th-century members of the Washington State Legislature