Created by Brian

Robert Franklin Sturdevant

Birth

18 Nov 1841

Warren County, Pennsylvania, USA

Death

27 Jun 1922 (aged 80)

Olympia, Thurston County, Washington, USA

Burial

Masonic Memorial Park

Tumwater, Thurston County, Washington, USA Show Map GPS-Latitude: 47.0154194, Longitude: -122.8984083

Plot

Block 129, Lot W18, Grave 3N, Row 1

Memorial ID

104019912

He was the son of James W. Sturdevant and Mary Ann French.

Known as the pioneer lawyer of Dayton, WA. When he was 18months old his parents moved to Lee Co., Iowa. They remained until 1854, when they removed to Clark Co., WI. There he attended school, and in 1860 began the study of law. He Enlisted 19 Oct 1861 as a Corporal On 19 Oct 1861 mustered into CO I 14th WI Infantry being discharged for disability on 2 Apr 1863. After his discharge from service he returned to WI where he was engaged in professional study and practice till 1873, when, in company with his father and mother and wife, he came to Washington Territory. Their first home was at Olympia. The parents returned to WI the next year; and he with his family removed to Dayton. There was no lawyer in the city at that time; and he was the first attorney's sign. In 1875 Columbia county chose him as probate judge, thus making him the pioneer at the bench as well as at the bar. In 1878 he was elected prosecuting attorney on the Republican ticket, for the first judicial district of the territory. He served in that office for two years. He has also served as mayor of Dayton, and was a member of the constitutional convention of Washington Territory. Always ready to forward the interests of Dayton, he has used his means largely in making improvements. What is known as the Sturdevant block will long stand as a monument of his business spirit.

He was married on 18 Nov 1866 at Neilville, Wisconsin to Mary Jane Tousley.

They had 2 children - Eva Minerva and Edith Edna, and helped raise his brother David Marshall's son Robert Marshall Sturdevant who also became a Lawyer in WA state.

ref: An Illustrated history of the state of WA by Rev. H. K. Hines 1893; WA Death Records

Buried at Masonic Memorial Park
Row: Block 129, Lot W18, Grave 3N, Row 1