On November 19, 1897, the City Council appoints Republican Thomas J. Humes (1847-1904) as Mayor of the City of Seattle, after 65 ballots. Humes fills the unexpired term of William D. Wood (1858-1917), who has left Seattle for the Klondike River in Canada to search for gold. Humes was elected in his own right in 1898, 1900, and 1902.
Thomas Humes was born in Indiana. He died of heart disease in Fairbanks, Alaska, on November 9, 1904.
Pursuant to the Freeholders' Charter of 1890, the mayor's term of office was two years and the mayor was ineligible for reelection until a lapse of two years. Elections were held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in March.
Sources:
Seattle City Clerk, "Mayors of the City of Seattle," (www.ci.seattle.wa.us/seattle/leg/clerk/mayors.htm); "Register of Deaths in King County, State of Washington," Washington State Digital Archives (http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/).
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