HON. JOHN McGLYNN. – This influential resident and proprietor of the well-known hotel that bears his name in La Conner, Washington, and whose portrait appears in this history, is a man fitted by nature with qualities that insure success, and which are held in especial esteem among men. With manners suave, a disposition to accommodate, and generous promptings towards his fellows, he greets the stranger, the customer of the friend in a manner indicating the kindness of his own feelings, and which seldom fails to leave with the recipient a desire to do a favor. This is a happy faculty and gives it possessor a respect and friendship among men that is bounded only by the extent of his acquaintance.
Mr. McGlynn is a native of the province of Connaught, Ireland, and first saw the light of day May 10, 1845, and is the son of Patrick and Catherine Juckein McGlynn. When he was some seven years of age he came with his parents from that unhappy island to the United States, and located at Hamilton, Ohio, and three years later moved to Carroll county, Indiana, where he was educated and employed on his father’s farm until 1872. In that year he concluded to come West, and selected Washington Territory as his future home. Shortly after his arrival he was appointed in this territory as Indian agent for the Lumni Reservation, a position which he held for five years. He was then appointed to the same position on the Swinomish Reservation, and held the position until his removal by the Cleveland administration, being in politics a strong and consistent Republican, and therefore objectionable as an “offensive partisan.”
In 1878 he built his present hotel building, the McGlynn Hotel, which he has managed on strictly temperance principles. His success is proof positive that a temperance hotel when properly managed can be successful on the Pacific coast. In the fall of 1879 he was elected to the territorial council for two years. While there Mr. McGlynn distinguished himself as a leading debater, and was ever foremost in the advocacy of all measures having for their object the honor and welfare of the territory; and particularly was he faithful and vigilant in all legislation affecting the interest of his constituents. This was justly recognized by a magnificent banquet and the presentation of a gold watch by his constituents on his return from his legislative duties. Mr. McGlynn introduced the bill to segregate Skagit from Whatcom county, and carried it through the council; but it was not until the next legislature that the measure, somewhat amended and modified, and introduced by another member, was passed by both houses.
He now holds the position of Indian agent of Neah Bay Indian Reserve, having been appointed to the position by President Harrison in July, 1889. He has been identified from the first with the public school system of Washington, and has filled the position of school director at La Conner for many years.
In personal appearance he is tall and slender, and, as the portrait indicates, a fine-looking gentleman. He is always in earnest, and is straightforward in whatever he undertakes. He was united in marriage December 25, 1875, at Tulalip to Miss Elizabeth M. Bemm, a native of Canada. They have a family of five children.