Wasco-Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Sinnott, Nicholas Byrne June 1832 - October 21, 1897 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com June 10, 2009, 8:50 pm Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company NICHOLAS BYRNE SINNOTT was born in June, 1832, near Aughfad, County Wexford, Ireland, and when seventeen years of age sought the opportunities offered in the United States. Going direct to Peoria, Illinois, he found work in a hotel and later went to St. Louis, Missouri, securing employment in the Planters Hotel, which at that time was the finest hostelry in the Mississippi states. In 1861 he returned to Peoria, where he met his brother, P. B. Sinnott, who had just returned from a trip to California. Together they started for the Pacific coast, going by way of the isthmus of Panama, and reached Portland in March, 1862. They leased the Columbia Hotel in that city for a year and then went to the Salmon River gold mines in northern Idaho, where they spent a short time. Returning through The Dalles, N. B. Sinnott at once perceived the possibilities of a first class hotel here, as there were thousands of people passing up and down the river to the gold fields of the “Inland Empire.” Then he acquired the Umatilla House, which had been the principal hotel of the new town at the head of navigation on the Columbia river since 1859 and which is still doing business under its historic name. The property belonged to H. P. Isaacs, who was one of the early settlers of Wasco county and later located in Walla Walla, Washington. Knowing that the first arrival to see the owner would be successful, “Colonel” Sinnott made a record trip to Walla Walla and outdistanced the other entrants in the race. In 1863 the house was leased by “Colonel” Sinnott and his partner, “Major” Dennis Handley, and under their wise management it became the most popular hotel in eastern Oregon. They became the owners of the property in 1865. In 1879 the old building proved inadequate and Messrs. Sinnott and Handley erected a large structure, but before it was opened the hotel was destroyed by one of the devastating fires that occurred so frequently in pioneer years. Another building was then completed and in this the business has since been conducted. “Colonel” Sinnott was one of the best known hotel men in the northwest and came in contact with many celebrities, among whom was George Francis Train, of Tacoma. This noted writer he regaled with a tale that during the season salmon were so plentiful in the Columbia that one could walk across the river on their backs. Another of the “Colonel’s” fish stories was an account of a run of salmon so large that the fish got jammed in the narrows of the Columbia four miles east of The Dalles, where the river is less than two hundred feet wide. Here the fish died from suffocation, like so many sheep. The dead fish clogged up the river until the weight of the accumulated water broke the dam and the dead fish were washed down the river and lined its banks from The Dalles to Hood River. That summer the “Colonel” said, “The farmers for thirty miles back from the river drove their hogs to the Columbia, where they fed on the dead salmon.” “Don't you know,” he said, “it took ten generations of breeding to breed out of the descendants of those hogs the pink eye, pink flesh and the salmon taste.” Another of “Colonel” Sinnott's famous fish stories took the form of rhyme. The “big fish” was a hump-back salmon, the first one known to be caught near The Dalles. A joke was played on the Colonel. The fish was hung on the front porch of the Umatilla House. A first picture was taken of the Colonel, who was not an expert in photography, standing several feet to the rear of the post, with John Mitchell, which of course made the fish look very large. A second picture was taken of the Colonel standing with John Mitchell several feet in front of the post, which made the fish look very small. Some rhyming wagster penned the following doggerel lines on the pictures: “Colonel” Sinnott went a-fishing not very long ago, And caught a fish that looked like this, —At least he told them so. He invited all his neighbors to come and take a look And sent for D. C. Herrin to have its picture took. The fame of the Colonel's fish spread throughout the town, It brought the folks from many miles around; But when the crowd had assembled, The Colonel's fish, it looked like this. The Colonel said—My! How it has dwindled! On the register of Umatilla House were the names of many army officers and other distinguished men, among whom were General Sherman and Henry Ward Beecher. During the Bannock Indian war of 1878 General O. O. Howard, who was in command, was often a guest at the Umatilla House and to him “Colonel” Sinnott suggested the feasibility of mounting guns on the river beats above Celilo. As a result of his suggestion the steamer Spokane was armored so as to patrol the river and prevented the Indians from crossing. They were obliged to retreat and the war then came to a close. N. B. Sinnott was a republican and took an active interest in state and local politics. At that time there were few republicans in the country. He attended party county and state conventions and exerted great influence during the campaigns in Wasco county but did not seek office. On June 17, 1865, N. B. Sinnott was married in San Francisco to Miss Mary Brass, who was also a native of Ireland and at the age of two years came to the United States with her father. She was endowed with fine qualities of mind and heart and theirs proved an ideal union. A beautiful woman of stately manner, Mrs. Sinnott was always tastefully and elegantly attired and each day her husband escorted her to the hotel for dinner. “Colonel” Sinnott reached the sixty-fifth milestone on life's journey, passing away October 21, 1897, at St. Vincent's Hospital in Portland, and his wife's demise occurred on November 30, 1902, when she was about sixty years of age. They were the parents of four children, Mollie, Nicholas J., Roger B. and Catherine. Catherine died at the age of seven. Mollie, a beautiful and accomplished young woman, who married Judd S. Fish, died December 13, 1903. At her death Mrs. Fish left a son named Harold and a daughter Genevieve, who became the wife of John Twohy. Roger B. Sinnott was a gifted young lawyer of Portland, Oregon, who died March 4, 1920. The funeral of “Colonel” Sinnott was held from the local Catholic church, the services conducted by the Rev. Father Hogan, of Portland. Never before in the history of The Dalles had such a large funeral procession been known. When the hearse, led by The Dalles Concert Band playing a funeral march, had already reached the cemetery before the other vehicles had crossed Mill creek bridge, by actual count over one hundred teams followed the remains. Many were forced to walk, as transportation could not be obtained for all friends of the family who wished to attend the funeral. Many prominent persons came from Portland, Salem and other cities in the state to pay their last respects to “Colonel” Sinnott. The pallbearers were selected from his old associates. They were Dr. William Shackelford, J. P. McEnerny, J. Doherty, Ex-Governor Z. F. Moody, Mayor M. T. Nolan and George Young. Two of these men are now living: Mr. McEnerny, of this city; and Mr. Nolan, a resident of Portland. A fine tribute to the memory of “Colonel” Sinnott was paid by Lulu D. Crandall, who wrote the following article, which appeared in one of the local papers on September 30, 1927: “‘Colonel’ Sinnott was a man of marked personality. He would be called a striking and handsome man among any group of men. His title was honorary, as was the custom in pioneer days. A popular man easily acquired such a title from his friends. For the same reason his partner was ‘Major’ Handley, whose death occurred six years before that of ‘Colonel’ Sinnott. His generosity was proverbial. A story is told of him and at the time of his death it appeared in public print. It was a sample of his kindness to the many who were ‘broke’ and whom he, in the goodness of his heart, helped. This is the story: ‘In the early days a Hebrew peddler arrived in The Dalles with his pack. He was exhausted from his long tramp, and failure to dispose of his goods soon left him penniless and hungry. He appealed to “Colonel” Sinnott, who took him in. When he was ready to depart he offered the “Colonel” all the money he had, about six dollars, in part payment of his account of about twenty dollars. Sinnott refused it and sent him away. A few weeks later, having been more fortunate, the peddler remitted the amount in full and the Jew passed out of the “Colonel’s” thoughts. Two days after the fire that almost wiped The Dalles out of existence in 1891, “Colonel” Sinnott received a message from New York stating. “Wait for letter,” signed “Blumenthal.” With impatience the “Colonel” waited for the arrival of the letter, which came in due time. It stated that the writer had read in the press dispatches of The Dalles fire and presumed that the hotel burned was the Umatilla House. If so, the writer desired the “Colonel” to apply to him for what money he needed and to use six figures if necessary. The letter went on to state that the writer was the Hebrew peddler whom the “Colonel” had assisted. He had worked himself up to the head of an extensive manufacturing enterprise. Sinnott replied that his hotel had not been burned and that he was not financially distressed. Mr. Blumenthal then replied that he stood ready to assist him at any time, and that he would give any sum that he might need.’ For thirty-five years Mr. Sinnott was a familiar figure on the streets of The Dalles. When he took over the Umatilla House there were less than a thousand people living in the town. There was always a large population, coming and going. The young man was quick to see that the country would soon develop and he, by his word of advice and gracious smile, helped to make the great interior into the great states of Idaho, Washington and Oregon.” Hon. Nicholas J. Sinnott, the only surviving member of this pioneer family, attended the public schools and the old Wasco Academy at The Dalles. In the latter institution he received instruction from Professor Gatch and afterward matriculated in the university of Notre Dame, Indiana, from which he was graduated in 1892 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. A brilliant student, he was class valedictorian for 1891 and 1892 and also excelled in contests requiring physical prowess. He won the all-round championship in athletic sports at Notre Dame and likewise was stroke oar of the rowing crew. After the completion of his classical course Mr. Sinnott returned to The Dalles, beginning his law studies in the office of Judge Alfred S. Bennett, one of Oregon's famous jurists, and in 1895 was admitted to the bar at Pendleton, Oregon. In his association with his brother, Roger B. Sinnott, he opened a law office in The Dalles and the partnership was continued until the father's death, at which time Roger B. Sinnott withdrew from the firm, to assist his brother-in-law, Judd S. Fish, in the management of the Umatilla House. In 1900 Nicholas J. Sinnott formed a partnership with Judge Bennett and this relationship existed until 1912, when Mr. Sinnott was elected to congress from the second district of Oregon. He served in congress until March 31, 1928, when he resigned to become judge on the United States court of claims to which position he was appointed by President Coolidge on April 18, 1928. While a member of congress he was nine years chairman of the public lands committee of the house, ranking member of the committee on irrigation and reclamation; and also a member of the “steering committee” of the house. In 1901 Mr. Sinnott married Miss Dora Purcell, a native of Pennsylvania, and they became the parents of six children: Dorothy, deceased; Margaret; Alfred, deceased; Gertrude; Nicholas B.; and Florence, who has also passed away. The home of the family is now in Washington, D. C., and the children are being educated in that city. Mr. Sinnott gives his political allegiance to the republican party and adheres to the Catholic faith. Along fraternal lines he is connected with The Dalles lodge of Elks and the local council of the Knights of Columbus. He leads a well balanced life and enjoys the sports of fishing and hunting. A devotee of the national game of Scotland, he belongs to The Dalles Golf & Country Club and in 1926 became a member of the Hole in One Club of Washington, D. C. Mr. Sinnott is an honorary member of the Kiwanis Club at The Dalles and usually spends his vacations at his old home, where he is known to his many friends as “Nick.” Throughout life he has been a student and a reader and can quote at random from the works of the great poets whose verses have endured throughout the ages. Like his father, he loves a good story and can tell one. A high-minded man, Mr. Sinnott has served his state and his country with clean hands and his achievements have brought additional luster to an honored family name. Additional Comments: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, Pages 823-826 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/wasco/bios/sinnott746gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 13.9 Kb