(Image courtesy of Washington State Archives)

It’s time to kick off the May edition of Archives Treasures with a selection belonging to one of Seattle’s famous pioneers – David Thomas Denny. He was the first member of the Denny Party (led by his older brother Arthur) to arrive in 1851 in what would become Seattle. He staked a claim to the future site of Seattle Center and in 1853 married fellow pioneer Louisa Boren.

Denny had a diverse and up-and down career in Seattle. He was a community leader, capitalist, streetcar operator and developer until he lost his fortune in the Panic of 1893. Denny died in 1903 and was buried in the family plot in today’s Evergreen-Washelli Cemetery. You can learn more about David Denny here.

The powder horn and bullet pouch in the photo above belonged to Denny. He carried them across the Plains in 1851 and used it in the battle of Seattle on June 26, 1856. Denny’s powder horn is the first of our three Archives Treasures this month. The State Archives acquired Denny’s powder horn and several other historic Washington memorabilia from a collector several years ago.