Charles W. Slocum

Charles W. Slocum (June 19, 1835 – September 21, 1912) was an American pioneer businessman active in the Pacific Northwest.

Early life Charles Wilbur Slocum was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, on June 19, 1835. In his youth, his family moved to Providence, Rhode Island, to be with other family members. Slocum learned the trade of carpentry from his uncle, becoming a master carpenter. In 1857, Charles Slocum and his cousin William C. Hazard decided to seek their fortunes in the Western United States. They took a steamer to Panama, crossed the Isthmus, and then took the steamer "Golden Gate" north to San Francisco. By the end of 1858, the two cousins had gone further north to Vancouver, Washington Territory. Slocum got a job with the government at Fort Vancouver, doing carpentry work. Within three years, he was the superintendent at the Fort, responsible for building and maintenance. When gold was discovered at Orofino, near Lewiston, in what is now Idaho, Crawford & Slocum set up a merchandise store for the miners in 1862. They also had their store in Walla Walla, Washington Territory, to the west of Lewiston. It was more profitable to supply the miners than to do the mining themselves. In 1863, Slocum went to the Boise Valley in Idaho, where another gold strike had occurred. With the help of two army officers, he is credited with platting the city of Boise, Idaho Territory. Crawford & Slocum were among the first businesses in this city, with an additional merchandise store being opened.

From 1860 to 1869, Slocum had numerous contracts with the government to provide supplies. He was involved in short and long range shipping, utilizing ten teams of mules, thirty mules to a team, to transport goods to various parts of the Northwest, including Walla Walla, Camp Lyon, Camp Three Forks, Camp Alvord, and Salt Lake City. He received freight from San Francisco and Portland, took the freight by boat up the Columbia River to Umattila, Oregon Territory, and from there hauled by mule team to Lewiston and Boise. In 1869, Slocum sold his businesses, with the exception of the store in Vancouver, Washington Territory. He personally then focused on managing the Vancouver store, his other business interests, and his civic and social activities. The Slocums built a house in Washougal, Washington Territory, overlooking the Columbia River. This house served as a summer home in Washington. further progress despite "its large dimensions, and the substantial character of the materials and work" was reported in late June, 1877, and work was completed by the beginning of 1878. The house is described by one writer as "a beautiful house of distinctive New England style architecture with a distinctive, roof top widow's walk next to the octagonal cupola. The house’s ornate scrollwork makes this building outstanding. A fan light sits above the large, double front doors."

Charles W. Slocum died on September 21, 1912, in Vancouver, Washington. He is buried in the Old Cemetery in Vancouver, Washington.