| 1882/12/05 |
James Alfred Wehn is born in Indianapolis, Indiana, the second-born of three sons. His father, John Christian Wehn, was of German immigrant descent. |
Born |
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| 1889/00/00 |
Wehn family moves to Seattle in the spring of 1889. The loss of the family's infant son, Herman, convinced John Wehn to accept an offer by foundry owner John M Frink (1855-1914) to come out West for a chance at a better life. |
Life |
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| 1889/06/06 |
Wehn homestead near Lake Washington at 710 29th Avenue S, survives the Great Seattle Fire. James' father, John Christian When, helps John Frink rebuild the destroyed Washington Iron Works. |
Life |
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| 1895/04/00 |
James and his brother Harvey see Angeline (Kick-is-om-lo in Lushootseed), daughter of Chief Seattle of the Suquamish tribe, walking down the street. James later remarked on it as being "what a thrill to us kids". |
Life |
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| 1896/00/00 |
While attending classes part-time at the Seattle Art League, James begins working with his father at the Washington Iron Works in Seattle, learning pattern making, castings of molds and other foundry work. |
Education |
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| 1900/00/00 |
With the help of his father and uncle, James apprentices in Chicago with the studio of, August Hubert. The seven months spent working in the studio provided first-hand instruction in how to model, mold and cast sculptures in clay, plaster and bronze. |
Education |
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| 1901/00/00 |
James moves back to the family home at 29th Avenue S and uses the small addition at the back as a studio. |
Life |
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| 1905/00/00 |
James Wehn creates his first sculptor, the casting mold for his portrait of Angeline (Kick-is-om-lo in Lushootseed) of the Suquamish tribe. |
Sculptor |
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| 1906/12/00 |
"The Seattle Girl", an illustration of Florence Haubris by James Wehn, appears on the cover of Wilhelm's magazine, The Coast. Other drawings and bas-relief sculptures of Florence are available for sale around Seattle. |
Artist |
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| 1907/00/00 |
Statue of Chief Seattle is commission for the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. The plaques and the bear heads are cast in Seattle and completed on schedule. Due to problems casting the statue, the final sculpture will be cast in New York. |
Sculptor |
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Chief of the Suquamish Seattle Statue |
Seattle |
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Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition |
| 1908/00/00 |
Despite Wehn wanting to use an East Coast foundry, the committee awarded the contract to a local firm. Unhappy with the results, Wehn goes to the foundry and dumps his plaster cast into the water. Later that afternoon, he will propose a new model. |
Sculptor |
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Chief of the Suquamish Seattle Statue |
Seattle |
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| 1909/00/00 |
The Chief Seattle Fountain and watering trough is erected in Pioneer Square for the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Expo. The three levels are intended for people, horses and dogs. The bronze bust of Chief Sealth is by James Wehn. |
Architect |
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Pioneer Building, Pergola, and Totem Pole |
Seattle |
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Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition |
| 1911/00/00 |
James Wehn travels to Indian villages to study peoples' physical characteristics. He will complete a clay figure in 1912. |
Sculptor |
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Chief of the Suquamish Seattle Statue |
Seattle |
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| 1912/11/13 |
Myrtle Loughery, Chief Sealth's great-great granddaughter, unveils a bronze sculpture of Chief Sealth raising with his right arm in greeting on Founder's Day. |
Sculptor |
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Chief of the Suquamish Seattle Statue |
Seattle |
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| 1915/07/24 |
Florence Haubris marries James Wehn. Later in the year they will buy a new bungalow home at 2214 12th Avenue W, on the west side of Queen Anne Hill. |
Groom |
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West Queen Anne Seattle |
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| 1917/04/17 |
James's wife, Florence, is brutally murdered and left in a dirt ravine off W Wheeler, not far from the Wehn house on 12th Avenue W on Queen Anne Hill. |
Widow |
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West Queen Anne Seattle |
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| 1917/04/18 |
James Wehn is taken in for questioning. The grilling from the police is pretty tough but he is glad they are so determined, giving him hope that the police will find the killer. The case remains unsolved. |
Widow |
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| 1917/05/00 |
At the advice of his doctor, James relocate his studio back to the Wehn home at 710 29th Avenue S. This will serve as his studio for the rest of his life. |
Home |
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| 1918/00/00 |
James Wehn sojourns back east to escape the city where his wife had been killed. |
Widow |
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| 1919/00/00 |
In 1919, James When is invited by University of Washington president Henry Suzzallo (1875-1933) to begin and instruct the first Department of Sculpture for the University's College of Fine Arts. |
Work |
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| 1973/10/02 |
James Wehn dies at the age of 91. |
Died |
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