I list this as “genealogical” information; there is little in-depth information here but it is a list of people I have come across in my research and found some tidbit of information that may be of assistance to someone.

Note also that I have listed names alphabetically, however, there is no guarantee that all people listed under a particular last name are related.  Where I have found information to link them I have included it, otherwise it may just be someone who shares the same last name.

I hope there is something of value to someone available here.  I also welcome corrections and additional information you may have.

• ANDERSON
  • Edna:
    • in 1928 was a student at University Place School
  • Herbert:
    • in 1928 was a student at University Place School
• ALLEN
  • John:
    • In the first graduating class of the Charles Wright Academy, 6/5/1964
• ASLHIRE
  • • Was the Curtis High band leader in 1967
• ANDERSON
  • Carl E.
    • Charter member of the UP Fire Dept.
• ARMSTRONG
  • William
    • In the first graduating class of Charles Wright Academy, 6/5/1964
• BALL
  • Jim
    • Member of the Vikings basketball team.
• BARNHART
  • Otis Rae:
    • Member of the 1932 girl’s softball team, UP school.
• BEARD
  • George:
    • Involved with Curtis High and the school board.
  • Ray:
    • First principal of Curtis High School
    • Stayed until 1977 and led the transformation from the old High School to the new campus.
  • Tom:
    • Member of the Vikings Basketball team.
• BERGER
  • Dave:
    • Manager of the Curtis High basketball team.
• BERGSTROM
  • Evelyn:
    • With Ethel Bodecker, started the Pine Cone Café in the mid 1950’s.  Sold to Art and Juanita Fowler in 1958.
• BOEDECKER
  • Ethel:
    • With Evelyn Bergstrom, started the Pine Cone Café in the mid 1950’s
• BOLSTAD
  • Bud:
    • Charter member of UP Fire Dept. – Capt. circa. 1941
  • Ruth:
• BOLTON
  • John:
    • Son of William and Sarah Ann Nichols
    • Born in, and apparently remained in, England
  •  Harriet
    • :May have been daughter of William and Mary, however, Ancestry.com shows her born in England in 1855
• • Martha;
    • May have been daughter of William and Mary, however, Ancestry.com shows her born in England in 1854
  • Mary Ann:
    • Wife of William, married 1862.
    • Maiden name, Taylor
    • Born in Golcar, Yorkshire, England 1833
    • Arrived in US aboard the ship Norman Morrison in 1859
    • Died in Tacoma 4/48/1914,  some years after her husband’s death.
  • Richard:
    • Brother of William who remained in England.  In 1891 he provided an affidavit for a lawsuit to the effect that William’s first wife, Sarah, was alive as late as 1885.
  • Samuel:
    • Brother of William who remained in England.  In 1891 he provided an affidavit for a lawsuit to the effect that William’s first wife, Sarah, was alive as late as 1885.
  • William Benjamin:
    • Born 12/18/1825, Hull, Yorkshire, England
    • Father, William Bolton, born 1754, died 1854
    • Mother: Mary (Lobley) Bolton, born 1795, died 1879
    • Arrived in Oregon Territory in 1849
    • Former British sailor who’s ship, the Albion, was confiscated in 1850 by U.S. Customs.  He stayed in the area, eventually moved to land north of Steilacoom with former shipmates, William Elders and Fredrick Rapjohns.  Became an American citizen and was granted a 640 acre land claim in the area which later became University Place.
    • Received his donation land claim onn 9/26/1850, partially on the merit of his statement and the affidavit of his sister, that he had sent money for wife Sarah to join him in America but that she had fallen ill in London and died.
    • Created successful shipbuilding and repair business near what is now Sunset Beach.  The actual site was between Steilacoom and Day Island, north of Chamber Bay.  The place was known as “Bolton’s.”
    • First shipbuilder in the Oregon Territory–later Washington State.  Built three schooners of 60 tons each during his first three years there.
    • Bolton Plain, north of Chambers Creek, was named for him.
    • Lost part of his land in a lawsuit to Issac and Seraphina Pincus and Adolph and Sarah Packshur.
    • Married to Mary Ann Taylor in 1862
    • Died in University Place 1/5/1904
• BROBACK
  • Anna:
    • Wife of John
  • Art:
    • Youngest son of John and Anna.  Became a major land developer, building several homes and the current home of city hall, (circa 2013).
  • Bert:
    • Brother of Art, Son of John and Anna.
    • Homestead Park, next to city hall, is  part of 30 acres that belonged to him.
  • John:
    • Husband of Anna, father of Art and Bert.
    • He and Anna bought 20 acres on the west side of Bridgeport Way, near 37th St. where they moved with their seven children.
• BROOKS
  • Gladys:
    • Member of the 1932 girl’s softball team at UP school.
• BROWN
  • Natalie:
    • Wife of Sam
    • With Sam, was responsible for the start of the Charles Wright Academy
  • Sam:
    • Husband of Natalie
    • With Natalie, was responsible for the start of Charles Wright Academy
    • Both came from well established East Coast private schools and came west to work for the Weyerhaeuser Co.  Finding no private schools that weren’t Catholic, they sponsored a meeting, on 11/14/1956, that became the start of the movement to build Charles Wright.
• BRYANT
  • Mark:
    • Charter member of UP Fire Dept.
• BUCKNER
  • Phillip:
    • With John and Mary Lemon and Chester Higbe, bought property which became known first as Lemon Beach, then as University Place. Eventually sold out to the Lemons.
• BUSH
  • Anne:
    • Daughter of Edd and Eva.
  • Bill:
    • Son of Edward
    • UP fireman for years, chief of the dept. in the early 2000’s
    • Transformed a boat into a fireboat for the UP Fire Dept. in 1975
  • Edd:
    • Husband of Eva
    • Came to UP in the mid 1920’s, built home at 2726 Mountain View
    • Worked at the Clear Firs Mill until it burned.
  • Edward:
    • Won of Edd and Eva
    • Father of Bill
  • Eva:
    • Mother of Edward and Anne
    • Wife of Edd
• CHAMBERS
  • Thomas:
    • Arrived in US 1/7/1822 at New Orleans
    • Born in Utenards, Ireland, 11/15/1795
    • Married Letita Rebzel Delzell in 1816 – had 8 children with her.
    • Married 18 year-old Agnetta Larson in 1852 – had 4 children with her.
    • Settled in Steilacoom in 1847 and is the namesake of Chambers Creek, which separates Steilacoom from University Place.
    • 1848 – Appointed justice of the peace and Lewis county commissioner
    • Owned a saw mill in Steilacoom
    • 1854 – Elected probate judge.
    • 1850 – Opened the first three-story grist mill near the mouth of what is now Chambers Creek
    • 1855 – opened flour mill, also on Chambers Creek
    • 1859 – Was asked by neighbors to enlarge mill.
    • Died 12/28/1876
  • Thomas McLain:
    • Son of Thomas and Latitia, born 1834, died 1916
  • William McCutcheon:
    • Son of Thomas and Latitia, born 1860, died 1866
• COLGATE
  • Lily:
    • Married Richard in New York, 1897
    • Helped anyone in the community as best she could, earning her the nickname, “Grandma Colgate.”
  • Richard:
    • Married to Lily in New York, 1897
    • Came to UP in early 1900’s
    • Owned property along Sunset Drive.
    • Had 7 children
    • Worked at Clear Firs Lumber Mill until he lost a hand
    • Became custodian at UP school
• COFFMAN
  • Marion:
    • Married to Miles
  • Miles:
    • Married to Marian
    • Came to UP in 1925
    • Opened the Coffman Store and Gas Station in 1928
    • With Marion, then with Nina, ran the store until the early 1960’s
  • Nina:
    • Maiden name was Trosper
    • Married Miles after Marion died
    • Had been their housekeeper and babysitter
• COLE
  • Bonnie:
    • in 1928, was a student at UP School
• CURRAN
  • Charles:
    • Husband of Mary
    • Their apple orchard and home are now preserved by the community.  People can become stewards of individual trees to maintain and gather the fruit from them.  Their home, as of 2012-13, was being worked on as a museum and community meeting place.
  • Mary:
    • Wife of Charles
• CURTIS
  • George R.:
    • New principal of UP school, hired April, 1927
    • Led the district for 50 years, building it from one grades 1-8 school to a district including a high school in approx. 1957
    • Known as Mr. University Place
    • In the late 1950’s, bought the Narrows View Farm from John and Viva Maitland and built the Narrows View Primary school on it.
    • Died July, 2002
    • Both the Jr. High and High School are named after him
• CYR
  • Clarice:
    • Member of the 1932 girl’s softball team, UP School
• DREXLER
  • L. F.:
    • Had a home at 35th St. and Bridgeport Way, known as Ferndale Station.  “The K St., (now Martin Luther King Way), streetcar in Tacoma and Steilacoom brought groceries, lumber water, (25¢ per barrel), and other supplies on the freight run at the end of the day and dropped them at Ferndale Station for UP residents.”  “Images of America”: University Place, Arne Handeland. Arcadia Publishing. 2013
    • Came to UP in 1901
  • Margaret:
    • 1928, was a student at the UP school
• DRUM
  • Andrew Jackson:
    • Ill. Farmer who came to the area in 1884, left discouraged because of too many trees.
    • Returned in 1892, bought and cleared land until he owned a large part of what is now UP
    • Farmed and raised chickens–had 150 foot chicken coop where Cirque Dr. is now–with 3000 chickens
    • Exchanged part of his property with the school district.  Drum Intermediate school is his namesake.
  • Truman:
    • Andrew’s son.
• EHMKE
  • Fred:
    • Charter member of UP Fire Dept.
• ELDER
  • Carrie E.:
    • Wife of Ferdinand A.
  • Clifford:
    • Son of F. A. and Carrie
  • Dwight:
    • Son of F. A. and Carrie
  • Edna L.:
    • Daughter of F. A. and Carrie
    • Born about 1892
  • Ferdinand A.:
    • Appointed by Puget Sound Univ. to handle property matters.
    • Instrumental in forming the UP school district.
    • Donated 1/2 acre of property at 27th and Elwood Beach school.
    • Atty. in Tacoma in 1891 with brother Sam and Richard F. Wells. Address 1122 Pacific Av., Tacoma.
  • Roger Emerson:
    • Son of F. A. and Carrie
    • Married Mary Mabel Bradway
  • Sam:
    • Brother of F. A.
    • Named first director of school dist., 1895
    • Partner in law firm with Ferdinand and Richard R. Wells.
• ELDERS
  • British shipmate of William Bolton
  • Carpenter’s apprentice
  • Became a partner in William Bolton’s shipbuilding business