Joshua Green

Joshua Green (October 16, 1869 – January 24, 1975 ) was an American sternwheeler captain, businessman, and banker. He rose from being a seaman to being the dominant figure of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet, then sold out his interests and became a banker. Living to the age of 105 and active in business almost to the end of his life, he became an invaluable source of information about the history of Seattle and the Puget Sound region.

Early life Born in Mississippi, Joshua Green relocated with his family to the Puget Sound region of Washington in 1886 when he was 17 years old. The family formed a connection with Seattle mayor Bailey Gatzert, who helped Green begin his career.

Career Green worked as a chainman, surveying for the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway, then on the sternwheeler Henry Bailey, a Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet vessel that also went up the Skagit River.

George E. Starr. According to Green, "this was a faithful little boat". Green's innovative business practices soon allowed him to become a fleet owner, president of what was named the La Conner Trading and Transportation Company, He established Seattle's dominance of the Mosquito Fleet, relative to Olympia or Tacoma, which Speidel considers to be a key factor in Seattle's emerging and continued dominance of the Puget Sound region.

In 1925, Green purchased the distressed Peoples Savings Bank for US$200,000, and in 1927, With branch banking not allowed at the time, he began or acquired several other banks as wholly owned subsidiaries. In 1949, when he passed the presidency of the bank to his son Joshua Jr., deposits stood at $128 million. By 1969, when Joshua Green turned 100, deposits had reached $400 million. In 1988, the bank was purchased by U.S. Bancorp and renamed U.S. Bank of Washington. from Winona, Mississippi. They had three children, Bentonia, Francis, and Joshua, Jr.

Legacy and honors In 1968 Seattle named Green its "man of the century." Green made few alterations to the 1901 house, and lived there until his death, making it one of the few First Hill mansions to survive largely intact to the present time.

The Joshua Green Building, 1425 Fourth Avenue, Seattle, has city landmark status. Still owned and managed by the Joshua Green Corporation, the 1914 building underwent major renovations in 2008–2009.

His family continues his business interests as the Joshua Green Corporation / Green Family Enterprises, operating numerous retail properties in the region and in Spokane, Washington, as well as investing in "banking and insurance," and "diversified portfolios of managed equities." Reflecting Green's interests as a sportsman,