"Early History of Thurston County, Washington; Together with Biographies and Reminiscences of those Identified with Pioneer Days." Compiled and Edited by Mrs. George E. (Georgiana) Blankenship. Published in Olympia, Washington, 1914. p. 198. JOHN HENRY WILLIAM STERNBERG When E. S. Salomon, who had just been appointed Governor of Washington Territory, arrived in Olympia, he was accompanied by a number of men whose names have since become prominently identified with the history of the Capital city. Such men as Major J. S. Hayden, Ross G. O'Brien. Philip Hiltz, and the subject of this sketch, John H. W. Sternberg. Mr. Sternberg was a native of Germany, having been born there in 1825. When still a young man, he bade adieu to the Fatherland and came to America, settling in Chicago, where he soon acquired considerable property. He was a furrier by trade and a superior workman. Governor Salomon induced Sternberg to come to Washington with his party and establish himself in the fur trading business. With visions of wealth and rapidly acquired fortune to be gained in the West through bartering with the Indians for the furs of wild animals which were so plentiful before the march of civilization drove them to the remote parts of the mountains, Sternberg accepted Salomon's offer. Mrs. Sternberg and four children were left behind in the home in Chicago, but after Salomon had been in Olympia a couple of years, he engaged Mr. Sternberg to return to Chicago and organize a colony to emigrate to Puget Sound. Salomon realized that the vast resources of this country imperatively demanded more men and women to develop them and subdue the wilderness. As an organizer, Mr. Sternberg was very successful, and upon his return, was accompanied by a considerable number of emigrants. Mrs. Salomon and Mrs. Sternberg also came out with this party. The trip was made by rail on the second train making the transcontinental trip. When Oakland was reached the party embarked on the steamer Idaho with Capt. Doane. This was the last sea trip of this doughty old sea captain, as after that he settled down in Olympia and started the famous Home of the Pan Roast. When the colonists reached Steilacoom, the majority of them remained at the military post at that place. Governor Salomon had made arrangements for their support, until the men could locate on homesteads. In addition to this encouragement, the homeseekers were supplied with teams, faming implements and supplies, payment to be made out of the crops as the settlers were able. Mr. and Mrs. Sternberg's first experiences upon the family reaching Olympia were boarding for several weeks at the old Gallagher Hotel, and both the husband and wife were confined to their beds for several weeks with fever. Later they went to housekeeping in a cottage situated on the block bounded by Eighth and Ninth, Adams and Jefferson Streets. Mr. Sternberg now began buying furs from the Indians, making extensive voyages up and down the Sound, even going as far as Bellingham in his canoe. Mink, wolf, bear, sable and muskrat skins were bought or traded for and made up into fashionable wearing apparel by the skilled workman, although the bulk of Mr. Sternberg's stock of furs were sent by boat to Eastern markets. He once made a cape from sable skins for Mrs. Salomon that was valued, even in those days, at one thousand dollars, and would be almost priceless today. In all his dealings with the Indians, Mr. Sternberg always met with honesty, courtesy and fair dealing. Priests Point Mission was at this time deserted by the band of Oblat priests and the Sternberg family moved from town to the Mission. The buildings were falling into decay, all but the chapel. This Mr. Sternberg partitioned off into living rooms and the family took possession, Mrs. Sophia Sternberg, in relating her experiences, describes the life there as lonely and dreary, almost beyond endurance. The windows were so high in the church walls that it was impossible to look out without standing on a chair. There was no road to town, only a rough trail; no neighbors within a mile, and to add to the loneliness, an Indian cemetery was within a few feet of the church, beside the trail. The bodies were fastened in the tree tops on rude platforms, as was the savage manner of disposing of the dead. At one time, while lying sick on a platform down by the beach, which Mr. Sternberg had built for his wife, she saw a deer come almost up to her bed, and frequently the wild animals would come to the border of their clearing. Tiring of this lonely way of living the Sternbergs returned to Olympia and built the house on Union Street which was the Sternberg home for many years. Here Mr. Sternberg died, on May 6, 1893. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Sternberg are: William, Minnie, Julius and Dora, born in Chicago, and Emma and Oscar, born in Olympia. William died in the summer of 1914 in Kansas City. Minnie died in Olympia many years ago. Julius makes his home in Alaska. Dora is now Mrs. L. B. Faulknor. Emma is Mrs. Albert Darling, and Oscar lives in Seattle. Mrs. Sophia Sternberg makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Darling. ******************* Submitted to the Washington Bios. Project in June 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.