Sappho, Washington
Encyclopedia
Sappho is an unincorporated community
in Clallam County, Washington, United States
. The town is located at the intersection of U.S. Route 101
and Washington Route 113, in a largely forested area, and features parks and recreational facilities.
Sappho is a former logging area. The town was founded by Martin Van Buren Lamoreux, who left St. John, Kansas
in 1889 with 8 of his 10 children, his second wife and her 3 children from a prior marriage. Arriving in Seattle
, some of the party settled on Lake Union
, but Lamoreux, thinking that land worthless, set out for the Olympic Peninsula
. Traveling by steamer from Seattle, they landed at an Indian settlement called Pysht on the Strait of Juan de Fuca
and hiked inland 20 miles through the rainforest to their claim. The town was named for the Greek poetess Sappho
, whom Lamoreux admired. The town was organized so all family members had a duty. Lamoreux was the postmaster and was called "Judge" because he had read law in his youth, and was appointed Justice of the Peace
for that district.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Clallam County, Washington, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The town is located at the intersection of U.S. Route 101
U.S. Route 101
U.S. Route 101, or U.S. Highway 101, is an important north–south U.S. highway that runs through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, on the West Coast of the United States...
and Washington Route 113, in a largely forested area, and features parks and recreational facilities.
Sappho is a former logging area. The town was founded by Martin Van Buren Lamoreux, who left St. John, Kansas
St. John, Kansas
St. John is a city in and the county seat of Stafford County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,295.-19th century:...
in 1889 with 8 of his 10 children, his second wife and her 3 children from a prior marriage. Arriving in Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, some of the party settled on Lake Union
Lake Union
Lake Union is a freshwater lake entirely within the Seattle, Washington city limits.-Origins:A glacial lake, its basin was dug 12,000 years ago by the Vashon glacier, which also created Lake Washington and Seattle's Green, Bitter, and Haller Lakes.-Name:...
, but Lamoreux, thinking that land worthless, set out for the Olympic Peninsula
Olympic Peninsula
The Olympic Peninsula is the large arm of land in western Washington state of the USA, that lies across Puget Sound from Seattle. It is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean, the north by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the east by Puget Sound. Cape Alava, the westernmost point in the contiguous...
. Traveling by steamer from Seattle, they landed at an Indian settlement called Pysht on the Strait of Juan de Fuca
Strait of Juan de Fuca
The Strait of Juan de Fuca is a large body of water about long that is the Salish Sea outlet to the Pacific Ocean...
and hiked inland 20 miles through the rainforest to their claim. The town was named for the Greek poetess Sappho
Sappho
Sappho was an Ancient Greek poet, born on the island of Lesbos. Later Greeks included her in the list of nine lyric poets. Her birth was sometime between 630 and 612 BC, and it is said that she died around 570 BC, but little is known for certain about her life...
, whom Lamoreux admired. The town was organized so all family members had a duty. Lamoreux was the postmaster and was called "Judge" because he had read law in his youth, and was appointed Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for that district.