Many people are familiar with the McLane Fire Department, McLane Nature Trail and McLane Elementary, but not everyone knows the story of William McLane, who basically established West Olympia and helped save Olympia as the State Capital. McLane was born in Butler County, Pennsylvania, on November 3, 1819. The son of Scottish immigrants, McLane endeavored to become educated, and upon reaching his 30s, was struck by the stories of the new lands in the West, and decided to make the trip and take up a Donation Land Claim.
In 1852, McLane left St. Louis, Missouri, on the Oregon Trail, with a group of Knox Presbyterians. The group was comprised of mostly covered wagons, while McLane rode on horseback. It took over six months of hazardous travel across the plains, over mountain passes, river crossings and the arid high desert of Idaho and Oregon, eventually winding up a small village on the Willamette River named Portland.
Olympia History: William McLane
McLane then traveled north to Olympia, at the time the largest village on southern Puget Sound. Upon arrival at Bush Prairie, McLane stopped at George W. Bush’s home – one of the first Black settlers in the Pacific Northwest and one of the first Black landowners in Washington State – to request a nights lodging. When he entered the house, he found the entire family sick with small pox. He eventually stayed to help nurse the family back to health.
Olympia in 1852 was mostly comprised of several stores, Isaac Lightners general store and the Bettman store, with a collection of 10-12 houses grouped around them. Shortly after his arrival in Olympia, McLane had an opportune meeting with William W.O. Thompson, also known as “Black Lake” Thompson, who homesteaded on the shores of Black Lake in 1852, eventually living there for 48 years. Thompson took McLane to what he claimed was the finest place in the country, traveling by trail to the head of Eld’s Inlet (Mud Bay) Upon arrival, McLane took up his donation claim for the land. At the time, McLane was the only settler west of Olympia. For two years he worked his claim, building a three-room log house, and making improvements on his land.
William McLane and Martha McLeod
In 1854, McLane returns to Pennsylvania to find a bride, but he doesn’t travel via the Oregon Trail. He boards a sailing ship, and makes the trip around Cape Horn, the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of Southern Chile. When he arrived in Butler County, Pennsylvania he married Martha McLeod in 1855.
The newly wedded departed by sailing ship for Washington, but after landing in Panama, the pair were guided across the jungle Isthmus of Panama via donkey to the Pacific Ocean, where they boarded a boat for Washington. The journey was short lived, as the vessel shipwrecked on a remote island in the Pacific. Luckily, they were rescued and resumed their journey to San Francisco, where they stayed briefly before continuing home.
They did finally make it back to Olympia and McLane devoted his life to farming, logging and livestock. William and Martha had six children. He carefully managed his business affairs, which proved to bring him a substantial measure of success. He helped build some the first roads in Olympia, and provided the timber for the first West Side bridge. McLane had a keen eye for politics, and served for many years, including as President of the Territorial Assembly twice.
‘Wm. McLane Once Saved Capitol for Olympia Folk’
According to an article by Ernest B. Hall in the Daily Olympian, 1935, McLane single-handedly saved Olympia’s stature as the State Capitol. A vote was held to move the territorial capital to Vancouver. It was approved by both houses.
When the bill reached his hands, President of the Territorial Assembly McLane attempted to destroy the document, much to the outrage of the members present, and said, “There’s only one man who can stop me. He is the President of the council, and that man is me.” The bill to move the capital to Vancouver from Olympia was defeated.
McLane’s philanthropic endeavors included building one of the first schools, donating land for future schools, a fire department, the grange, which resides on the original school site, and Delphi Road. When completed, his Donation Land Claim was authorized and signed by Ulysses S Grant, President of the United States. McLane died in 1906, at the age of 87. His success as a businessman, caring for others, and his political and philanthropic contributions have allowed the McLane name to endure to this day.
