Background
Carson Boren was born in Nashville, Tennessee.
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Carson Boren
Edit ProfileCounty Sheriff founder of Seattle
Career
Boren was the first King County Sheriff. Seattle"s Boren Avenue is named in his honor. Although he was an important figure in the early years of Seattle, historian Junius Rochester writes that "The pioneering contributions of Carson Dobbins Boren to the founding of Alki (in future West Seattle) and Seattle began and ended within a short period of six years."
Their first daughter Sarah East. was born December 17, 1849 but died 17 days later and is buried in the Cherry Grove Cemetery in Knox County.
A second daughter, Gertrude Livonia (December 12, 1850 – June 3, 1912), was carried as an infant on the cross-country trek in 1851 with the Denny Party.
After erecting the first home in what would become downtown Seattle (the previous structures had been at Alki), the couple participated in the early life of Seattle and had two more children, William Richard (October 4, 1854 – January 19, 1899) and Mary Louise (May 3, 1857 – January 1, 1926). In 1855 they sold this property, along with a 320-acre (130 ha) claim extending uphill from the waterfront between what are now James and Marion Streets, to Edward Lander and Charles Terry.
The couple argued over Carson"s constant hunting trips and giveaways, and by 1860 they separated. Their children were raised by the Dennys.
Mary Ann went south to The Dalles, Oregon, and established a dressmaking business.
Mary Ann and Lydia moved back to Seattle.
