Edward Warbass

Edward Warbass's life impacted many communities on the West coast, especially San Juan Island

Quick Facts

Significance:

American Camp Sutler and Founder of Friday Harbor, WA

Place of Birth:

Hamburg, NJ, USA

Date of Birth:

February 15, 1825

Place of Death:

Friday Harbor, WA

Date of Death:

December 24, 1906

Place of Burial:

Friday Harbor, WA

Edward Warbass was one of the most prominent community leaders on San Juan Island during and after The Pig War. Prior to the Pig War, Warbass played a prominent role in settling the west. He moved to San Francisco as part of trhe California Gold Rush and became an early merchant in Astoria, Oregon. Warbass's widespread commercial activities took him all over the Pacific Northwest, where he made real estate deals and sold goods to the residents of boom town

During The Pig War (1859) and Joint Occupation of San Juan Island (1860-1872) Warbass served asthe first sutler, a merchant appointed by the army to sell supplies and other necessary goods to soldiers in the field, at American Camp. During the Pig War, Warbass operated a farm near San Juan Town, the initial population center of the island located near Old Town Lagoon and engaged in various agricultural projects such as introducing California Mountain Quail and seeding oyster beds on the island. After the resolution of the Pig War, Warbass successfully petitioned to make the San Juan Islands into their own county, independent of Whatcom County which had previously held jurisdiction. He also spearheaded the push to relocate the town population from disreputable San Juan Town to Friday Harbor where he claimed land on behalf of the local government. From 1873-1876, Warbass’ was the only resident of Friday Harbor, where he served as county auditor in the small shack that was the county’s first courthouse and municipal building.