"A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of the City of
Seattle and County of King, Washington." New York and Chicago: Lewis Publishing
Co., 1903.  p. 698.
 
EDWARD J. DUHAMEL

     It is always a pleasure to see true merit suitably rewarded and to behold
the prosperity of those who eminently deserve it, as does the subject of this
review. At an early age he learned one of the great lessons of life -- that
there is no royal road to wealth, --and therefore he has toiled industriously,
winning not only affluence but also the confidence of the people with whom he
has been associated in business. Work has developed his latent resources and
brought out the strong, self-reliant force of his character. He is now
extensively engaged in contracting and building, and has erected some of the
largest and finest buildings on the Puget Sound.
     Mr. Duhamel was born in Buffalo, New York, August 25, 1830, and comes of a
family of French origin that was established in Canada at an early day. His
father, Peter Duhamel, was the first of the name to locate in the United States.
He took up his abode near Buffalo, and engaged in contracting and building. In
1854 he removed westward to Wisconsin, settling in Whitewater, Walworth county,
where he remained until 1862, when he returned to Canada. After a few years,
however, he again came to the United States and remained a resident of Chicago
until his death, which occurred in 1891. His wife bore the maiden name of
Virginia Bessett, and they became the parents of seven children, but the subject
of this review is the only one living on the Pacific coast.
     In the public schools of Wisconsin Edward J. Duhamel pursued his education.
He had natural taste and inclination for the builder's art, but his father did
not wish him to follow that pursuit, so in 1867 he entered the office of an
architect in order to master the kindred profession of planning buildings. He
readily mastered the work, was given charge of the office and remained in that
responsible position until 1875. In that year Mr. Duhamel sought a home in the
south. He went to Galveston, Texas, where he opened an office, remaining in
business in that city and in. Houston until 1887. He then removed to El Paso,
Texas, where he remained for two years, when he came to the north, locating in
Seattle, where he turned his attention to contracting and building, taking
contracts for the erection of large buildings. He erected the Squire Latimer
building and the large schoolhouse at Port Townsend, after which he went to
Tacoma, where he had the contract for the original city hall, but a change of
location and plans delayed the work, and in consequence of this he went to
Chicago in 1894, not caring to wait until the dilatory committee should adjust
affairs in Tacoma.  In Chicago he engaged in building, erecting a number of
churches, but a preference for the west caused him to return to Washington, and
upon again locating in Seattle in 1897 he secured the contract for erecting the
ten additions to St. Joseph's Hospital, at Tacoma, in connection with Mr.
Cribble. The firm of Cribble & Duhamel was formed. In 1890 Mr. Megrath became a
partner, and while Mr. Cribble is still interested in the business the firm name
is now Megrath & Duhamel. When Mr. Megrath became interested in the contracting
business, the others also became interested in his brickyards. After a year the
latter business was incorporated under the name of the Washington Brick & Tile
Company, of which Mr. Megrath is the president, while Mr. Duhamel is the
secretary and treasurer. Among the most prominent buildings which he has erected
are the Snoqualmie Falls building, at the comer of Main and Second streets, the
Hamlock building, the Smith building on Jackson street, the car barns at Fifth
and Pine streets, the power plant building of the Seattle Electric Company on
Western avenue, one of the most substantial and the first one of the kind
erected here, the schoolhouse at Green Lake, the wharf, warehouse and bunkers on
the tide flats for the Electric Company and the four-story and basement factory
for the Pacific Coast Syrup Company, the first large brick building on the tide
lands, also the two buildings for James H. Perkins on the tide flats. These are
an indication of the nature of the contracts awarded to our subject, who is
regarded as one of the most prominent, capable and successful contractors of the
city, and the volume of his business is steadily increasing. He furnishes
employment to a large force of workmen and is always just and fair in his
dealings with them.
     Mr. Duhamel was united in marriage to Miss Neddermeyer of Chicago. Socially
he is connected with the Masons and the Elks, and in politics is independent,
preferring to vote for those whom he thinks best qualified for office, without
regard to party ties. Starting upon an independent business career upon his
removal to the south, he has steadily advanced in his chosen field of labor
until he has contributed in no small degree to the improvement of the northwest,
and at the same time has advanced until he now occupies a commanding position in
business affairs.


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Submitted to the Washington Biographies Project in March 2008 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.