Thurston County, Washington - The whole text, 1914 (part 5 of 9)

It was while living on this homestead on the Cowlitz River that the baby who had come to the Lemon family on the plains nearly lost his life in a tragic manner. The little fellow had just begun to toddle and was playing around the door step of his father's cabin, when an immense eagle circled above his head, and was just swooping down to seize the child, when his father caught sight of the bird and shot it. The eagle's body fell into the river, but it was a narrow escape, and one of the mother's favorite tales to her children when they gathered around her knee in the gloaming.

Becoming dissatisfied wuth the place on the river, ]\Ir. Lemon went to Cowlitz Prairie and took up a donation claim of a half a section of land. Here the family was living during the time of the Indian war, seeking refuge with the other families on this prairie, in the block house on the Parsons' place. The women and children would stay in the block house and the men fare forth during the day to till the soil and gather in the crops, returning to spend the night with their families within the safety of the block house enclosure.

]Mr. ]\Iillard Lemon has in his possession to this day the gun which his father used to put over his shoulder when it Avas his turn to stand guard, and to protect himself with, while tilling the land. This was the same gun that ended the life of the eagle I have told about.

Mr. Lemon, .^enior. in after years, received the pension awarded Indian war veterans. At this time the Cowlitz Prairie was principally settled with French Canadians, servants of the Hudson Bay Company, and a class of people who cared

Claquato, the county seat of Lewis County, was selected. Here, for four j^ears, the Lemon children w^ere taught by JMiss Peebles, one of the Mercer girls, and who afterwards became Mrs. A. McLitosh, of Seattle. ^Millard Lemon gives this lady a just due of praise, by affirming that she was the best teacher he ever had, and as he is a college graduate, he must have had many and good ones, too.

While residing on Cowlitz Prairie and Claquato, Mrs. Lemon made many visits to friends in Olympia, and Millard Lemon's early recollections include chasing the coavs over what is now Capitol Park, but was then only a wilderness of fallen logs, brush and stumps. His companion in his boyhood days, and favorite chum, w^as Fred Guyot, then a lad of about nine years, and in Mr. Lemon's own words, "as fine a lad as ever lived."

In 1874, the Lemon family went to live in Los Angeles. California. But after spending several years in that place, decided to return to Washington. Olympia was selected as the place of residence this time, and here Mr. and Mrs. Lemon built the house on Eighth Street that was the family home for years, and where life ended for Mr. Lemon, in 1890. Mrs. Lemon lived on in the old home for another seven years, and then she joined her husband.

To Mr. and Mrs. Lemon were born seven children : Thomas, Millard, Frances, Marion, Alice, Edwin and Ida. ]Millard and Ida are the only ones of the family still living. Ida is now ]\Irs. Mann, and lives in the family home. A granddaughter - child of Alice - Mrs. C. Goldstein, who is now Mrs. Garrett, has lived in Olympia the past few years, formerly making her home in Seattle.

The lad, Millard, studied out of the same reader with Fred Guyot, and sat on the same bench in the little old log school house with the little girl who afterwards became Mrs. Charles Talcott, the first wife of one of Olympia 's pioneer jewelers. While a student at the State University of Oregon at Salem, ]\Iillard Lemon had as classmates, Stephen J. Chadwick, now Judge of the Supreme Court of AVashington ; C. S.

wiek, Judge of the Supreme Court, and C. S. Rienhfirt. who has been clerk of the same court since Washington l)eca!He a State, and the late Frank ]\I. McCully, Avho was Dej^uty Superintendent of Public Instruction of Washington at the time of his death, in Olympia, in ]907.

In 1876, ]\Iillard entered De Pauw University at Green Castle, Indiana, from Avhich institution he graduated in 1880, taking the degree of A. B. Afterwards he took a classical course and secured his degree of A. M. from the California State University. Following his graduation, Mr. Lemon had a varied career.

Through the suggestion of Bishop Taylor, he went to Santiago, Chile, and was one of the founders of Santiago College, W'here he was head of the boys department. ]\Ir. Lemon's stay w^th this college lasted two years.

At the expiration of this period, Mr. Lemon engaged in railroad engineering in the State of Chile, continuing in this w'ork for the following six years.

Returning to the United States in 1888, JMr. Lemon sojourned long enough at Long Beach, California, to become united in marriage to his boyhood's sw^eetheart, Marabelle Cook. The young couple then came to Olympia to visit ]\Iillard's father and mother. The business prospects of the Capitol City Avere bright, so they decided to make this city their home.

Mr. Lemon has been successful in financial affairs and is today rated as one of the most solidly successful business men, not only in Oh'mpia, but the entire State of Washington; a man who takes pride in the description, "His w^ord is as good as his bond."

I. Harris & Sons

The name of Harris, father and sons, has been so prominently identified with the commercial and social life of Olympia for the past forty-five years that a history of Thurston County would be incomplete, indeed, without a sketch of this family. Although. Mr. I. Harris located in Olympia as late as 1870, he may well be counted among the actual pioneers of the Coast, for with his bride, then a young girl of nineteen years of age, he arrived in Oregon in 1853. The voyage from their New York home was made by the way of Panama to San Francisco, then on up to Portland. The first stop was made in Salem, Oreg-on. At this place, Mr. Harris engaged in a general merchandise business, but later concluded to try his fortune in "Walla Walla. The family made the trip to the latter place by stage, from The Dalles.

Mr. Harris was one of the leading merchants in Walla Walla for the next four years, but the wanderlust was not yet satisfied, so another move was made into the wilds of Montana. Mrs. Harris, with her two small sons, Mitchel and Gus, visited relatives in the Eastern States while Mr. Harris was trying his fortune in Montana.

The climate of this section of the West not agreeing with Mr. Harris, he decided to try Puget Sound. Olympia was at that time beginning to attract attention, and the tide of emigration seemed to be setting in strong for the Northwest, so this settlement was chosen as the next field of activities. That Mr. Harris was pleased with his selection, is manifest from the fact that Olympia was his home from that elate, 1870, to the day of his death.

The first store building occupied by Mr. Harris, was in the Tilley block, corner of Third and Main Streets, and a line of general merchandise was carried, although the Indian trade was largelv catered to and a brisk business was carried

For several years the Harris family lived in a neat little home on the corner of Fourth and Washington Streets, the land now being used for business purposes, and the house long since demolished.

At that time the home of T. F. McElroy was by all odds the finest in the town, and was considered quite in the suburbs, surrounded, as it was, by the almost untouched forest. ]\Ir. Harris, in about the year 1880, became the possessor of the half block of land between Main and Washington Streets, and built the substantial house which still continues to be the family residence. The Harris boys attended the schools of Olympia, at one time, being students in the little school taught by Miss Mary O'Neal.

Later, the two elder sons. ^Mitchel and Gus. were sent to Portland, Oregon, to take special courses in German and music. Fpon the completion of their education, they assisted their father in his business, and the firm name was changed from I. Harris, to Harris & Sons.

With the exception of a short time spent in San Francisco, where he was engaged in business, INIitchel Harris has successfully carried on the business founded l)y his father forty-five years ago.

In about 1900, the second son, Gus, decided to locate in California, and is now at the head of a large dry goods establishment in Los Angeles, his partner being Felix Lightner, a native of Olympia, and son of a pioneer merchant of this place.

The youngest son, Henry, decided to devote himself to the medical profession. Consequently, after completing a course £t the Leland Stanford University, he graduated from the John Hopkins Institute.

taking special courses in medicine. Upon his return to the United States, he located in San Francisco, where he has built up a large practice. He is married and has three children.

Mitchel Harris, loyal to the home of his boyhood, with his wife and children, Sehvyn and Irene, has been twice chosen to the office of Mayor of the city by the vote of the people, and at all times has stood strong for the best interests of the community, and the development and advancement of Olympia. His family are prominent in the best society of the city, and in many ways his lot is cast in pleasant places.

The widow and mother, IMadame Harris, as she is now called, is spending her declining years in happiness and contentment, idolized by her sons and her grandchildren. Sometimes visiting Gus and his charming family in Los Angeles, for a few months in the year, coming to Oh-mpia for the hot weather months, and then back to the home of her youngest born, in San Francisco.

Pioneer Reminiscences 189 Alexander Yantis

The history of Alex Yantis and his family, while, perhaps, not more filled with adventnre and trials than that of contemporaneous pioneer settlers, is so characteristic and vivid, as related hy the sons and daughters still living, that their experiences merit a prominent place in this collection of reminiscences.

Hailing from Brownsville, Missoviri, the Yantis family, consisting of ]\Ir. and jNIrs. Yantis and nine sturdj^ sons and daughters, joined a train of ox teams for the overland trip to California. ]\Ir. Yantis was elected captain of the train and the trip was made without any direct disturbance from the Indians, the attacks of whom was the emigrants' constant dread and terror all through the long, hot, dusty journey over the old Oregon Trail. Although the trip was unavoidably tedious, as the oxen w'ere tired and footsore, still many of the remembrances of the younger ones of that tr^^inload are pleasant and full of interest. The big camp fires at night, when all gathered around telling and listening to tales of home and adventure, the novel experiences each day "would bring forth, the laying by for one day's rest each week to allow the women to w^ash the clothes and bake up a supply of bread, while the children played around the wagons and picked the many-hued flowers which grew by the side of the road. These were among the simple pleasures which made the trip endurable and almost enjoyable. The Yantis sons and daughters still tell with glee of the fun and play of the trip, whenever a family reunion is held. They were a happy family, with the family ties tender and close to this day, among the children who survive.

The nearest to a tragedy encountered was w^hen the Snake River countrj^ was reached. At a certain point in the trail the road diverged and a sign post was set up by some previous traveller indicating that by following one of the roads a nearer cut-off would be found, although through a wilder country. One family decided to take this nearer trail although earnestly remonstrated with by I\Ir. Yantis and other men of the train, whose counsel was that all should stick together. But the man was obstinate and by this time had grown careless of the danger from Indians, so persisted in following the short traiL The rest of the party proceeded on to Snake River fort, where there were a small company of soldiers to protect the emigrants. It was known that the Indians were near and acting' ugly. Indeed, the night before the fort was reached,, the emigrants of Mr. Yantis' party could see a band of the enemy dancing a war dance in a bottom of land close to the camp. Their horrid yells and vehement brandishing of their guns and bows filled the whites with terror, which was not abated wh-en an Indian buck came dashing up to Mr. Yantis' wagon and asked him to sell his little daughter, Sarah, to him. The Indian offered his horse for the child, and when refused by the parents, rode off in a rage. The night was spent in anxious watchfulness, but the Indians evidently coneluded that the party was too strong for them to risk an attack on, so left them unmolested.

When Snake River fort was reached and it was learned that the two wagons, whose drivers had taken the short cut, had not arrived, it was known that they had met with disaster. Mr. Yantis and several men of the train went back over the trail their friends should have arrived from. Before they reached the wagons they heard shots and screams. Dashing up, their worst fears were confirmed. The Indians had raided the wagons, shot and killed the man and his wife, and all the rest of the party, with the exception of two boys. One of these boys was lying on his face when the relief party came up, his body shot with a number of Indian arrows. He was not dead, however, and upon hearing Mr. Yantis' exclamations of horror over the fate of the rest of the family, called: "Is that you. Uncle Alex." The other boy was carried off by the Indians, when they stampeded, upon hearing the relief party charging up. The lad was afterwards brought back to the train by a Nez Perce Indian, another tribe than the one which had committed the massacre of the rest of the party. With a redskin's customary reticence, the deliverer refused to

Two years before the Yantis family, which is the subject of these reminiscences, decided to leave their home, a brother of Mr. Yantis, B. F. Yantis, and sister of these men, Mrs. N. Ostrander, had preceded them, coming to the Cowlitz country, and a little later Mr. Yantis coming on to 01;^Tnpia. The prospects in the undeveloped Northwest looked so good to this advance guard that they wished their brother's family to come West also and locate near them. Alex Yantis had written his brother and sister that he intended going to California that summer, ^starting at a certain time. B. F. Yantis thought nis brother would miss a golden opportunity if he failed to locate in this section of the country, so hired a man to ride horseback back along the trail his brother must come, to intercept him with a letter setting forth the advantages of Thurston County. The man rode along the trail to where it branched off and led to California. Learning from other emigrants that the ones sought for had probably not reached this intersection yet, the courier waited till the brother's train arrived.

When iMr. Yantis read his brother's message, a longing to see his kinsfolks came over him, and as all places in the West were alike to the adventurers, they decided to come on to Oregon - now Washington.

After carefully considering the tAvo trails then commonly followed by emigrant trains, the Natchez Pass, or to The Dalles and on down the Columl)ia River, jMr. Yantis decided on the Natchez Pass. With almost incredible hardship and danger, the cattle were driven through this pass, and the wagons fref[uently having to be lowered down declivities Avith ropes, but finally the train got out on the White River plains and so on to the Sound country. Soon after their arrival on Bush Prairie Mr. Yantis located on 320 acres of fine timber land on the Skookumchuck, four miles froin where Tenino now stands, the eldest son, John Yantis, residing on this homestead after the death of his father and mother.

The first home was the typical settlers' log cabin, which was built during the winter of 1854. During the building of this cabin, the Yantis family lived Avith Wm. and Phillip Northcraft, bachelors, and the nearest neighbors. Soon after moving into the new house, the entire country vv^as startled by the Indian outbreak. The stories that came pouring in of homes devastated, men and women and children killed and general havoc, filled the settlers with alarm. A tract of lana on Grand Mound Prairie was donated and there the men assembled and built a stockade, or fort, which was known as Fort Henness. This enclosure was twelve feet high, built of solid lumber and so arranged that each family could have their little house within the safe precincts. In the center of the enclosure stood the guard house, where the men who were not on picket duty would assemble to warm themselves, swap stories and gossip. At two of the corners were block houses built with special reference to defense, in the event of an attack. These houses were only a few feet square at the base with steps leading to the upper part. Here the logs were longer and the upper story extended out several feet. There were port holes through the log wall, to shoot through, and these houses were of sufficient size to hold all the people in the event of the natives rushing the stockade.

The Yantis family lived in this way for a year, IMr. Yantis and his sons g'oing forth mornings to cultivate their fields, and returning to their cabin in the enclosure at night.

While Fort Henness was never attacked by the Indians, the elder of the Yantis brothers are enabled to recall one exciting incident which occurred during their occupancy of the fort. One day an Indian woman came dashing up on her cayuse, with her face streaming with blood. She was closely pursued by an Indian buck, the latter wnld with drink. When the fort was reached, the woman threw herself from her horse and ran into one of the cabins, crawling under the bed. The Indian, who proved to be her husband, stopped when within the enclosure and I\Ir. Yantis stepped up to his pony and demanded to know what was the trouble. The Indian reached behind him, as ]\Ir. Yantis thought to get a gun. when the white man pulled him off his horse by the hair of his head. It afterward transpired that the Indian was reaching for a bottle of whiskey he had in the holster, with the intention of treating.

down he started after his wife, threatening dire acts when he should overtake her. He had not g'one far from the stockade when a shot was heard and, upon the men going out to investigate, the Indian was found lying beside the trail w^ith a bullet hole in his head. The men took a Avagon box and covered the body until the Indian agent could be notified. It was commonly reported that the band, of which the dead Indian was a member, tortured the unfortunate wnfe to death, as an example to the other squaws of the tribe never to thwart their lords. It was never known definitely who fired the shot which made at least one good Indian, but at this late day it is shrewdly suspected that the man's name could be recalled b.y the surviving inhabitants of the fort.

Before the Indian Avar Mr. Yantis had accumulated a large band of cattle, but he was obliged to sell and dispose of nearly £il the animals to support his family during these hard times.

The wheat which Mr. Yantis raised on his place was taken the mill in TumAvater, then a two days' journey over roug:h, muddy roads, from the home place on the Skookumchuek. The grain was then ground into flour, paying the miller a toll of :)ne-eighth for the milling. The farmer was alloAved to keep the bran and shorts.

With a family of fourteen children to sev\' for. a number of AA'hom were girls, it Avas an eventful day in the Yantis family when the mother had her first seAving machine, one of those little affairs Avhich are scrcAved onto the table and run by hand. The elder girls can not remember Avhen they first learned to knit. Their mother would spin the yarn and tli<' girls knit mittens and socks, Avhich they had no trouble in disposing of to the bachelors living on ranches in the vicinity. Sometimes a pair of hand-made mittens would bring a dollar, and the girls Avere enabled to add quite a little to the family finances in this Avay.

Mr. Yantis Avas a member of the legislatures of 1860-63, county commissioner several terms, and Avas justice of the peace for his neighborhood for many years, holding the latter office at the time of his death, which occurred when he Avas 72 years of age. The w^ife and mother, who had endured Avith unparalleled cheerfulness and fortitude, trials and vicissitudes

The sons and daughters of this branch of the Yantis family were : Margaret, afterwards Mrs. E. K. Sears ; Ann E., afterwards Mrs. Wm. Martin ; Mary L., afterwards Mrs. John F. Damon, of Seattle ; Sarah E., afterwards Mrs. A. Webster ; John L. ; Katherine T., afterwards Mrs. Jesse Martin ; William F. ; Alexander M. ; Sophia Belle, now Mrs. L. Willey, of Olympia; Eliza B., afterwards Mrs. S. Hanaford, of Hanaford Valley ; Martha M., afterwards Mrs. N. Gary, of Tenino ; James E. ; Virginia T., afterwards Mrs. H. A. Davis, of Centralia, and Fannie G.

The donation claim on the Skookumchuck, started in an unbroken wilderness, has become one of the finest and most valuable farms in Thurston County. It has always been owned by a Yantis, Mr. John Yantis succeeding his father as owner and manager. Here, surrounded by an interesting family of sons and daughters, in company of his wife, who has done her share towards building up the home, Mr. Yantis loves to recall once again the strenuous and exciting experiences of his boyhood days.

Pioneer Reminiscences 195 Gust Ave Rosenthal

The following sketch, by Olympia's pioneer merchant, gives so true and life-like a picture of early business conditions, that it is presented word for word as written by Mr. Rosenthal himself, in compliance with a request that he furnish some of his experiences for this volume :

I arrived in Olympia on June 19th, 1863, fifty-one j^ears ago this date ; made first acquaintance by being introduced to Governor Pickering, then chief executive of Washington Territory. At that time the trip from San Francisco to Victoria cost sixty dollars, and from Victoria to Olympia cost twenty dollars.

I commenced business on the corner of Second and Main Streets, selling general merchandise, dry goods, clothing, groceries, hardware, crockery and glassware, boots and shoes, rubber goods, farm implements, etc.

In the summer of 1869 I brought the first mowing machine, a Buckeye, to Olympia, and sold it to Thomas Rutledge; also the first water ram for Nathan Eaton, which to my knowledge was in operation of late years, on the creek, the farm now being owned by Mrs. Bushnell.

In those early days the farmers were not rich, and needed assistance. In 1866, I furnished some of them with hatchets and drawing knives with which to cut the hazel brush off their land, and by advancing supplies through the winter, they converted the sticks into barrel and keg hoops, with which I supplied the San Francisco sugar refineries for over twelve years.

In those early days land was not being so closely fenced, and farmers kept large flocks of sheep. I bought their wool after shearing time and shipped annually from forty to sixty

At that time, it was hard for settlers to reach this county. Emigrants crossing the continent had to follow the Columbia River, which landed them at or near Portland, so in 1869, I collected a subscription - about four hundred dollars. This I handed to ]Mr. James Longmire, of Yelm Prairie, and he superintended the construction of a wagon road through the Natchez Pass, over the Cascade Mountains. The first use of the road was made by Mr. Sam Coulter, bringing a band of cattle, which produced very choice beef.

Since that time various parties have discovered different kinds of minerals in the Cascade Mountains, and mineral springs have been discovered and attractive places and health resorts established, and the government of the United States has built a fine road and designated Mount Rainier and surrounding country a park, which I suggested.

In 1872, I opened up and developed the second coal mine then in Washington Territory, in Lewis County, and built a house there, in the shape of a blacksmith shop from which since grew what constitutes now the thriving city of Chehalis. From this mine I shipped the first train load of coal on the Northern Pacific Railway ever hauled over that road, to Portland, Oregon ; but as the railroad did not extend beyond Kalama, I was compelled to reload onto scows and have them towed to Portland. I also sent the first trainload of coal over the Northern Pacific Railway they ever hauled to Tacoma.

In 1873 I loaded schooners with piles to build wharves in San Francisco. In 1874 I furnished hewn spars and ship knees - paid 25 cents per inch for knees - as cargo for the ship W. H. Bessy loading then at Brown's wharf, at AVest Olympia. The ship sailed from here, around Cape Horn, to Goss & Sawyer at Bath, Maine, and the cargo proved a profitable investment for the consignees.

The treasury of the city, and likewise of the county, was of small amounts. The citizens of Olympia, in 1867, wanted a railroad to connect with the Northern Pacific Railway at Tenino, so one fine day, men, women and children gathered at Warren's Point, held a picnic and commenced the railroad

In former years, and up to and including 1868, the oysters were sold only by Indian women, carrying a basket of a quarter bushel on their backs, supported by a strap across their foreheads. They sold them at 25 cents per basket. I shipped some to Portland, San Francisco and Victoria at $1.50, which bring at present as high as $9.00 a sack, during the oyster season; hence I started the oyster business which brings an immense amount of money annually to the Sound country.

On July 3, 1866, on a trip to Portland, three days of intense heat, after a cold spring, caused the Cowlitz River to rise to its banks, and some places overflow its banks. Canoe transportation being the only means of conveyance, after leaving Pumphries a short distance, the Indian pretended to scold at other Indians, none of whom were in sight, and as we were going over some riffles, the Indian said to me, "Nanitch acook chuck mika bias cultus Demanimus." Translated, "See this water, your God is a very bad spirit." The only fellow passengers were two children, a boy and a girl, eight and ten years of age. I produced an instrument from my hip pocket and commanded him to manage his paddle correctly, or I'd send him to his "Demanimus". He then apologized, saying he meant no harshness against me, only some Siwashes in the woods, and the trip continued to Monticello without additional events.

John Henry William Sternberg

When E. S. Salomon, who had just been appointed Governor of Washington Territory, arrived in Olympia, he was accompanied by a number of men whose names have since become prominently identified with the history of the Capital city. Such men as Major J. S. Hayden, Ross G. O'Brien, Philip Hiltz, and the subject of this sketch, John H. W. Sternberg.

]\Ir. Sternberg was a native of Germany, having been born there in 1825. When still a young man, he bade adieu to the Fatherland and came to America, settling in Chicago, where he soon acquired considerable property. He was a furrier by trade and a superior workman. Governor Salomon induced Sternberg to come to Washington with his party and establish himself in the fur trading business. With visions of wealth and rapidly acquired fortune to be gained in the West through bartering with the Indians for the furs of wild animals which were so plentiful before the march of civilization drove them to the remote parts of the mountains, Sternberg accepted Salomon's offer.

Mrs. Sternberg and four children were left behind in the home in Chicago, but after Salomon had been in Olympia a couple of years, he engaged Mr. Sternberg to return to Chicago and organize a colony to emigrate to Puget Sound. Salomon realized that the vast resources of this country imperatively demanded more men and women to develop them and subdue the wilderness. As an organizer, Mr. Sternberg was very successful, and upon his return, was accompanied by a considerable number of emigrants. Mrs. Salomon and Mrs. Sternberg also came out with this party.

The trip was made by rail on the second train making the transcontinental trip. When Oakland was reached the party embarked on the steamer Idaho with Capt. Doane. This was the last sea trip of this doughty old sea captain, as after that

When the coh)nists reached Steilaeoom, the majority of them remained at the military post at that place. Governor Salomon had made arrangements for their support, until the men could locate on homesteads. In addition to this encouragement, the homeseekers were supplied with teams, farming implements and supplies, payment to be made out of the crops as the settlers were able.

Mr. and Mrs. Sternberg's first experiences upon the family reaching Olympia were boarding for several weeks at the old Gallagher Hotel, and both the husband and wife were confined to their beds for several weeks with fever.

Mr. Sternberg now began buying furs from the Indians, making extensive voyages up and down the Sound, even going as far as Bellingham in his canoe. Mink, wolf, bear, sable and muskrat skins were bought or traded for and made up into fashionable wearing apparel by the skilled workman, although the bulk of INIr. Sternberg's stock of furs were sent by boat to Eastern markets. He once made a cape from sable skins for Mrs. Salomon that was valued, even in those days, at one thousand dollars, and would be almost priceless today. In all his dealings with the Indians, ]Mr. Sternberg always met with honesty, courtesy and fair dealing.

The buildings were falling into decay, all but the chapel. This ]\Ir. Sternberg partitioned off into living rooms and the family took possession.

Mrs. Sophia Sternberg, in relating her experiences, describes the life there as lonely and dreary, almost beyond endurance. The windows were so high in the church walls that it was impossible to look out without standing on a chair. There was no road to town, only a rough trail ; no neighbors within a mile, and to add to the loneliness, an Indian cemetery was within a few feet of the church, beside the trail. The

At one time, while lying sick on a platform down by the beach, which Mr. Sternberg had built for his wife, she saw a deer come almost up to her bed, and frequently the wild animals would come to the border of their clearing.

Tiring of this lonely wa,y of living the Sternbergs returned to Olympia and built the house on Union Street which was the Sternberg home for many 3^ears. Here j\Ir. Sternberg died, on May 6, 1893.

William died in the summer of 1914 in Kansas City. Minnie died in Olympia many years ago. Julius makes his home in Alaska. Dora is now ]\Irs. L. B. Faulknor. Emma is Mrs. Albert Darling, and Oscar lives in Seeattle.

Robert Frost

Robert Frost, or Judge Frost, as his friends best know this sturdy Pioneer, sailor, artizan, Indian fighter, merchant, capitalist, judge of the police court, holding office in Thurston County, has led a varied and, at times, exciting career. Born in Tunbridge Wells, England, in the year of 1825, the subject of this sketch grew to young manhood in jMerrie England, going to school in London. Being apprenticed to learn the plasterer's trade, there was little in his early boyhood life to indicate what an eventful career lay before him.

In 1853, the desire to see the world and share in the big things of life, induced the young man to leave home and enlist as a sailor. His first seafaring experience was on a coal brig running along the English coast. Later he shipped on a fruit schooner bound for Mediterranean ports. Then on a deep sea vessel visiting both the Atlantic and Pacific ports.

San Francisco was reached on one of his voyages in 1855. He then re-shipped on the brig Susan Abigail for Portland, Oregon, crossing the Columbia bar on New Year's day, 1856. Arriving at Portland, the prospects of the new country were so alluring to him that he decided to (|uit his seafaring life and cast his fortune in the Northwest.

Mr. Frost began again working at his trade of plasterer in Portland, Oregon City and The Dalles. It was while working in this latter town that he became excited over the stories received of the big strikes made on the Frazer River. Everyone who could muster up an outfit was going to the gold fields, so the young man joined the Dave McLaughlin party of 100 men and started on what proved to be one of the most tlii-illing experiences of his life. The story of this excursion is given in Mr. Frost's own words at the end of this sketch.

Disgusted with the result of his mining experience, our hero decided to come to Olympia. The first work Mr. Frost engaged in upon his arrival here was in a printing office.

Although he kept at this for three years, the road to wealth nor fame did not lie that way, so he returned to the following' of his boyhood trade. As the town was rapidly building up and the wages paid for plasterers was good, he soon had a financial start, which later grew into a quite respectable competence.

In 1870, Mr. Frost purchased an interest in the hardware store of F. A. Hoifman and under the firm name of Hoffman & Frost continued in business for the following three years. At the end of that time Mr. Frost became sole owner of the business. The hardware store of Robert Frost was one of the prominent business places in the Capital City for upwards of 30 years. Later the owner disposed of the store and became County Treasurer. This office he held for a couple of terms and has since been elected and appointed several times to the office of Police Judge.

Mr. Frost was one of the original stockholders of the first gas works and electric plant in the city, and upon its consolidation with the Olympia Light & Power Company, he was elected Vice President. At one time Mr. Frost was a director of the First National Bank. These are only a few of the important positions of trust and honor he has held in the city. In the year 1862, INIr. Frost married Sliss Louisa Holmes, the daughter of one of Olympia 's Pioneers. The young couple built themselves the home on East Bay Avenue which has been the Frost home ever since. Here, JMrs. Frost died and here were born their four children - Nell, Caroline. Florence and Anna. Florence is now Sirs. Charles Garfield of Nome Alaska. Anna is Mrs. John Aldrich of Spokane. Caroline died at the family home a few years ago, and the remaining daughter. Miss Frost, keeps house and cares for her father in his declining years.

An account of a trip from The Dalles, Oregon, to the Frazer River, at the time of the gold excitement in 1858, including a description of an Indian fight on the trip, was written by Mr. Frost, and is now preserved in the Spokane Historical Society and the historical collection belonging to the State University of Washington. The description of the fight is given with a clearness and excellent choice of words that show the writer was possessed of a considerable literary ability.

"We struck the Columbia Kiver opposite the mouth of the Okanogan River, at which place was the old Hudson Bay fort. Here we had to get canoes and Indians to ferry us and our supplies over, and there we had to swim our horses. We lost three or four horses in the stream. I was unfortunate enough to lose my best horse. I felt then as if I had lost my best friend. I had bought the horse from an Indian at Walla Walla, perfectly wild and unbroken, but in three or four days I had him a perfect pet. He would follow me around and when I stopped would come and put his head on my shoulder for a caress. After all these years I have not, and never shall forget him.

"The old Hudson Bay trail, which we were following up the Okanogan River, was first on one side of the river and then on the other. One morning we were on the right bank, when we came to a rocky bluff which ran out to the river, so we had to make a detour to the right and go through what is now known as ^IcLaughlin Canyon, before we could get to the river again. I have not seen this canyon since, but as I remember it, it is quite narrow, with high perpendicular walls, with natural terraces or benches, only accessible froni the northern end. At the southern end it was an utter impossibility to get at any one on these benches except with a rifle.

"Now, evidently, the Indians had their runners out and were prepared for us, for they had gotten on to these benches, threw up rock breastworks, and laid for us.

"Every morning in starting out we had a head and a rear guard, generally from six to ten men in each. We woukl change about. This morning I was in the rear. The head guard had gotten well into the canyon, as well as part of the train. The object of the Indians was to get us all in the canyon. Had they succeeded, very few of us would have gotten out alive.

"As it was, an Indian on one of the benches showed himself and one of the head guard saw him and gave the alarm. Then they opened fire. As quick as possible the horses were hurried back to the river and all took what shelter they could get, and drew a bead on an Indian -whenever a chance offered. After the animals were down on the flat every available man with a gun went up to the front.

"There were several wounded. I recollect Tom Menefee. who was afterward well known to Cariboo men, having kept a road house at Williams Lake. Tom was badly wounded - shot in several places with slugs, also William R. Wright, a brother of Capt. Tom Wright, a prominent steamboat man on the Sound, and Jim Lowry from Vancouver.

"Jim was badly shot, and here occurred an instance of bravery such as is seldom equalled. Lowry and Bill Burton vrere partners, and were the first to take shelter, Indian fashion and fight. They were some 200 yards apart, sheltered by some scrub pines, but Lowry was shot down. As he fell, he called to Brunton, who deliberately left his cover, ran over to his partner and picked him up, got him on his shoulder and carried him to the rear.

"About noon we had to give way and retreat to a little hill across from the canyon, from where the men plugged long shots that afternoon and night. The rest were engaged in building cottonwood rafts and carrying the freight across the river into the open country. An Indian will never fight in the open unless he has all the advantage possible. Several of our men were busy carrying water to our men on the hill side.

"During the night we ferried everything across the river and by daylight had the horses herded together. We run them down the river a few hundred yards to a ford and got them safely across. The Indians followed us in a parallel along the mountain and gave us a parting volley, but did no damage, as the range was too long. We stayed in camp here several days attending to our wounded. Now, it is well known that the average sailor is very handy and a good all around man most anywhere. We had in our company an Irish sailor, who had been in the English navy and who had been through the Crimean war at Sebastopol.

boys had along a box of pills. lie selected one and gave each wounded man a dose, then made a clean pointed stick to probe the wounds enough to keep them open, and after washing them laid a pad of wet cloth on the wounds. The 'doctor' would go around twice or more a day and probe and wash and he, with the pills, stick, cloth and water did the whole business. They all got well, but it took Manefee the longest to get over it.

"We kept our guards out all night, and on the second da}^ we knew the Indians had broken up so far as this point Avas concerned, as we could see them in small parties working down the plain to the Chelan and Columbia Rivers. I think it was on the third day after the battle that a party of our men went up on the west side, well armed and with tools, to bury the dead. They crossed the river at the north end of the canyon, entered it, met with no resistance and came to our unfortunate dead comrades. The Indians had stripped them of everything and mutilated their bodies. They were buried the best that could be done under the circumstances."

The name of D. R. Bigelow has held a prominent and honored place among' Thurston Coniinty Pioneers since the year 1851, when he first arrived in Olympia, having, like his; contemporaries, made the trip from his boyhood's home in Wisconsin in an ox wagon.

He was a graduate of a law school and upon his arriving here hung out his shingle, meeting with such success that he soon had a considerable clientage.

When Washington Territory was set apart from Oregon, the young man was sent to Salem to codify the laws for the new Territory. Mr. Bigelow was a member of the first Territorial Legislature, and enjoyed the distinction of having delivered the first Fourth of July oration ever made in Washington. These exercises were held in the first school house in Olympia. which was built on the hill on the block of land now bounded by Fifth, Sixth, Washington and Franklin Streets. The school house was crushed down the following winter during a heavy fall of snow.

JNIrs. Bigelow 's reminiscences of her trip across the plains and her early experiences on the frontier were interesting and often thrilling.

That she came from sturdy stock is evidenced by the bravery of her mother, IMrs. William White, who, with her five children, among them being Mrs. BigeloAv, then a young girl of fourteen years of age, came across the plains to join her husband, who had come West the previous year, 1850.

Mr. White wrote back to his wife in Wisconsin that if possible she was to sell the farm and join him in Oregon. This the plucky woman prepared to do, and after disposing of all their property, buying a couple of ox teams and such pro-

Pionetetr Reminiscences .'207

"All the men started walking out of St. Joe beside their teams, with guns over their shoulders and ox whips in their hands, but before they had gone half the way to Platte Crossing the guns were put back in the wagons and the whips were almost worn out."

Although this train had many alarms, they were not molested by the Indians throughout the entire trip. Several times teams before them and those following after were set upon by the Indians and the people massacred, and the horses and oxen driven off, but their train seemed almost to be under a special protection. I\Iany a time they would see an ox skull set up alongside the road bearing the grevi'some Avarning, "Beware the Indians."

One day, Mrs. Bigelow relates, they came upon a wagon stranded in the middle of the road, the mules unhitched, and on the wagan tongue sat a man crying like a six-year-old child. Halting her wagon beside him, ]Mrs. Bigelow asked the man the cause of his woe. He did not reply at once, but a tired, tearful woman looked out from the covered wagon and whimpered: "Joe says he won't go another step without a drink of water." Mrs. White fortunately had a jug of water in her wagon, and although the liquid was almost hot, she gave Joe a drink. He seemed to pluck up courage after this wetting of his thirsty gullet, and from the companionship, and proceeded on with the train to a camping spot.

When the John Day country was reached, the White family were delighted to meet the husband and father, who, with a fresh team, had started to meet his wife and children. When they arrived at the Columbia River the women and children, with the wagons, were loaded on bateaus manned by Kanakas and floated down the river to the Upper Cascades, fibove The Dalles.

Arriving in Portland the emigrant train disbanded, the White family making their home there for the following year. Later the family came to Puget Sound, taking up a donation chiim on Chambers Prairie.

The first experience of Mrs. White and her daughter^ upon their arrival at Tiirawater, is well worth relating. When the family reached that place Mr. White told the women to take their horses and ride on ahead along the trail till they reached the home he had prepared for them on the donation claim, while he would follow at a slower pace with the oxen. Full of glad anticipation of at last enjoying a real home, IMrs. White and the young girl set out along the trail. When they came out to the prairie the,y were surrounded by a band of probably 100 Spanish cattle. The prairie at that time was covered with roving bands of these long horned animals. The horses stood still with fright and the ring of cattle crowded closer and closer around the terror-stricken women. The brutes clashed their immense horns, bellowed and pawed up the earth, always crowding nearer and nearer. When the women were almost fainting with fright, David Chambers, the owner of the cattle, hearing the disturbance, came to their assistance, calmly going among the herd and shooing the beasts away like so many tame hens.

At the beginning of the Indian war, jMr. White was killed by the hostile Indians Avhile walking behind a cart, in which were Mrs. White and her sister, Mrs. Stewart. Each woman had a little child in her arms. The Indians came out from the brush and attacked White. He gave the horse a sharp cut, wdiich started it running towards the White home. This spared the lives of the women and children. But they killed Mr. White, after a fearful struggle which he made for his life. His body was found the next morning, horribly mutilated by the Indians, who, under the leadership of Yelm Jim, had taken advantage of the fact that White was unarmed and alone with the women and the children. It was thought at the time that had Mr. White stood in a little more fear of the Indians his life would not have been sacrificed, but he could not believe that the alarming reports of their treachery and hostility to the white settlers were founded upon actual fact, so never carried a gun or other defensive weapon. The death of Mr. White was one of the tragedies of those trying times.

Mrs. Bigelow, then Miss White, was the first school teacher in Thurston County, and the first institution of learning w^as the school she conducted in a small bed room in the Pack- wood residence, on their claim on Xesqually bottom. The pupils were the children of the Packwoods, the Shasers and the McAllisters, which were all there were within travelling distance to the school.

"Teacher" boarded with the Packwoods dnrinj^ the week, but every Friday evening she rode on horseback to her parents' home on Chambers Prairie. The curriculum taught was probably limited to the three "Rs" and there vras absolutely no school room furnishing or equipment. The children sat around on benches in the room wherever they chose. For teaching this school with all its attendant hardships, the young girl received the munificent sum of $20 a month.

In 1854 Miss White was married to the young lawyer, D. R. Bigelow, the bride and groom taking their wedding journey on horseback from the White home, to what has been known as the Bigelow addition for over half a century. The young couple avoided coming through Olympia, as Mr. Bigelow had learned that a number of his young men friends had planned to give the newlj^ weds a rousing reception when they reached town. The ringleader of the .jolly gang was Jim Hurd, Bigelow 's most intimate man friend. He had procured the cannon which figures so prominently in the reminiscences of all the Pioneers of those days, and which was kept in readiness to repel Indian attacks. Jim stood on guard with this ancient cannon loaded to the danger limit, ready to give a rousing salute when Mr. Bigelow and his bride should appear. By slipping around by a trail which Bigelow had cut to his home they escaped the demonstration and the laugh was on the assembled crowd who waited till dark for the young couple to appear.

Mr. Bigelow purchased a quarter of the donation claim which he owned for many years. A donation claim was just a mile square. The other purchasers of the Caulkins claim were C. H. Hale and Miles Gallagher. The Young Bigelows' first married home was, in Mrs. Bigelow 's own words: "A two-room mansion, built of hand-split lumber with piinehe)n

No bridge was there over what is now known as the Swantowu fill, and the only way to reach the Bigelow home was by canoe or rowboat from Olympia. Later a pontoon footbridge was strung across the arm of the bay where the Olympia Theater now stands.

One evening, soon after their return to their home, Mrs. Bigelow was sitting alone in her kitchen, still nervous and afraid, when she heard a noise in the front room, and on looking around, was almost petrified with fear at the sight of a big, blanketed Indian's form which filled the doorway. It proved, however, to be Betty Edgar, a friendly squaw, married to a white man. She was looking for her halfbreed children who w^ere late getting home. Mrs. Bigelow told of another scare she had endured from the Indians. One evening was seen a large number of Indian canoes coming up the bay. Each canoe was filled with braves in war dress. The men hastily assembled for protection and the women, who were too far away to seek refuge within the block house, prepared to flee to the woods for hiding.

Mrs. Bigelow had a young baby by this time, and in her excitement she snatched a carpetbag and began stowing in it such articles as she thought would be most needed. She laughingly said, "a heterogeneous lot went into that satchel - a loaf of bread, some of the baby's things, some of my own clothing, etc." But before long the men returned with the reassuring news that the Indians were on a peaceful errand. It proved to be Pat Kanim and his braves, coming to deliver up their guns in accordance with the terms of the peace treaty made between Governor Stevens and this Indian chief.

The Bigelows have alwaj^s been prominently identified with the Methodist Church, and even when living on Chambers Prairie, Mrs. Bigelow would ride on horseback the twelve miles to Olympia to attend divine service.

Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bigelow: Tirzah, now Mrs. Eoyal; Eva, now Mrs. Bonnev; Ruth, now IMrs. Wright ; Ellis, Duncan, Ray, George and Margaret. With the exception of Ellis, who died several years ago, and ]\Irs. Bonney, who lives in Tacoma, all the children live in Olympia and immediate vicinity.

The Bigelow name has always been honored and respected and in the stirring days of his prime D. R. Bigelow was one of the prominent men of the Northwest, and the sons and daughters have been a credit to their parents.

George W. Mills

There is none more to be honored among Thurston County pioneers than Mr. George W. Slills. who for the past fifty odd years has made his home in Tnmwater, South Union, {ind later, in his declining years, in Olympia. Mr. Mills was a native of Illinois, having first seen the light of day in that State in 1833. Here he grew to young manhood, and when little more than a boy married Isabel Fleming, two years his junior. In Mr. Mills' own words. "We were but children when we started out in our married life." A few years after their marriage, ^Ir. and Mrs. Mills went to the then Territory of Missouri, but had hardly settled there before the Civil War was declared. The young man organized Company G, 11th Missouri cavalry, and was elected second lieutenant by his company. Mr. Mills was very modest about his military career, but from other sources comes the story of a dashing bravery when in active service which may Avell be a source of pride to his sons and daughters. The principal engagement he took part in was the Kirksville charge. In this battle there were many killed and- wounded, and while Mr. Mills was recounting his story of the engagement, something of the fire and spirit of his youthful days flamed in his e.yes and animated his form.

Owing to illness Mr. Mills was obliged to resign from the company before the completion of the war. Among the clearest recollections Mr. Mills was enabled to relate, was listening to one of the now historic debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglass. His word picture of the appearance of these famous characters was clearcut and vivid. Mr. Mills had a personal acquaintance with Lincoln, and loved to tell about what an "ugly, raw-boned figure of a man the rail-splitter really was," although with a certain majesty and dignity which impressed the young man even in those days.

Gkorge W. Mills And Wifk Pioneer Reminiscences 213

the cry of gold to be had for the picking up came from California, the young couple decided to go to the gold fields and gather their share. There were several children by this time, but they were all hardy and strong, and their parents full of hope and confidence. Fitting up a light spring wagon for the family to ride in and with an ox team to haul the provisions -and the very few household furnishings that were deemed absolutely necessary, the start was made for the land of promise.

When the upper crossing on the Platte River, on the old Oregon Trail, was reached, they were halted by a company of soldiers stationed there to protect the emigrants from the Indians, who were on the warpath, and had taken several trains of emigrants along the road, killing the people and burning the Avagons. As small trains of wagons rolled up they were detained by the military officers until a sufficient number should have congregated to form a strong enough company to resist an ordinary attack from the bands of Indians who roved at will over the plains. As the emigrants arrived, "Oregon, Oregon," was the cry. No one except the jMills family seemed to want to go to California. ]Mr. Mills, after consulting the officers of the company, was advised to join these Oregon-bound emigrants and go with them into that country. It was pointed out to him that all places in the West were about alike in advantages, but if, after reaching Oregon, he did not wish to remain there, he could then proceed on down to California. There seemed to be no alternative, so the young couple joined the Oregon-ward march. By this time enough emigrants had arrived at the crossing to make a train of sixty wagons and three buggies. Owing to Mr. Mills' military training and his commanding personality, he was unanimously elected captain of the train, or military director. Eegular drills were held to teach the men how to corrall the wagons and prepare to withstand an attack, should the Indians make their appearance. Five and a half weary months of travelling followed, with the usual story of bitter hardships endured with uncomplaining fortitude by these sturdy men and women. Many and harrowing were the experiences undergone, and the fear of Indian assault was ever present. This fear was founded upon several terril)h' re- minders of the possible fata of the adventurers. Two or three times the train was halted to give the men time to inter the I'emains of victims of the Indians' wanton massacre.

One day, ]\Ir. ]\[ills related, they came upon what had evidently been the scene of a battle. The remains of a burned wagon was in the road, with what had been its contents; scattered over the plain. A few feet from the side of the road was a hastily-formed mound of loose dirt and sod. Between two clods of earth, which were not closely packed down, streamed the long tresses of a woman's hair. The locks were of a beautiful brown color and of great abundance. From the size and shape of the mound it was evident that there were two forms under the earth, and the most pathetic sight of all, on top of the rude grave, curled up as though asleep, was the form of a tiny spaniel. There was no inscription or sign of any kind to tell who were here buried, but the general conjecture was that here were the remains of a husband p.nd wife, who had been murdered by the Indians, their companions only taking time to throw a little earth over their forms before fleeing for their own lives. The little dog was probably the pet of the dead, and instinctively knew that his friends were sleeping there, so had stayed by them until death came from starvation.

When Oregon was finally reached and the emigrant train disbanded, the Mills family settled in Yamhill County, where !Mr. ]\Iills went to farming. Here, the following winter, was born their son, George G. Mills.

The next spring, encouraged by letters from a former neighbor, who had come to Puget Sound the previous year, they decided to come on to this county. Packing the wife and children into a wagon drawn by a span of mules, they started for the Sound, arriving in 1865.

When they reached Tumwater and Mrs. Mills beheld the salt water before her, with the great forest on all sides, she said: "Well, Pa, this is the jumping off place. We haven't the money to go back; we can go no further, so we've just got to stay here." J^nd stay they did.

A few 3-ears later the couple bought forty acres of land at South Union, six miles from Tumwater. ^ilr. jMills said this land was only bought after earnest consideration, for they vrell knew that the country Avas developing so rapidly that if they went further back in the wilderness and took up a homestead of good soil, such as was to be had for the asking at that time, they would in the long run be better off financially, but Mrs. Mills plead: "Let's give the children a chance. We owe it to them not to get away from schooling advantages." Even then there was a fairly good rustic school at South Union, and as the children, one by one, acquired the knowledge taught there, they were sent into Olympia to get further educational advantages. Mary, George and Jesse were graduates of the Olympia Collegiate Institute.

When the land at South Union was first bought it was covered with the forest primeval. Mr. IMills' first work was to cut down big trees enough to clear a building site for his house. In course of time, and through the heart-breaking labor which the development of wild forest land calls for, the farm was gradually cleared, a good nine-room house erected, and the Mills place at South Union became one of the most vain able farms in the county.

In the year 1882 "Sir. IMills was made industrial instructor at the Indian school at Chehalis, teaching the Indian boys the 7'udiments of several trades. Mrs. Mills accompanied her husband with such of her children as were not attending school in Olympia. Among the pupils in the school was Jesse IMills, a ring-leader in all the sports, and undoubtedly nuich of the mischief, perpetrated by the dusky lads. As he was constantly associated with the Indians, and they were practically his only playmates, the youngster readily acquired ti proficient knowledge of not only in the Chinook jargon, but the Indian language as well. Consequentl3% when an Indian parent would come to enquire regarding the progress and welfare of their offspring, Jesse Avas frequently called m n'< interpreter.

a few weeks, when the Indian agent plead with JMr. IMills to take charge of the Indian school at Skykomish. This service lasted eighteen months, when Mr. Mills was relieved and Hgain took up his residence on the farm.

At the time of Mr. iMills' arrival in Turawater, that settlement was more of a town than 01.ympia, and there was only a muddy trail connecting the two towns. From where Masonic Temple now stands, in Olympia, to Tumwater Falls, there was the untouched forest, and on about the spot where the George Israel home is now built was an Indian village the inmates of which hunted big game in the immediate neighborhood.

Mr. Mills tells that many a night after his day's work in the saw mill, he and Mrs. Mills would take a lantern and flounder along the trail to Olympia, to trade out his pay checks at the Percival store. There was very little ready money in circulation and the cost of all commodities was very high, flour selling for $2 a sack of forty-nine pounds, or $50 a barrel, with sugar, butter, coffee, bacon and other necessaries in proportion. As everything was brought around the Horn in sailing vessels, these prices were probably not excessive, all things considered.

"Well, we had jolly times in those days," said Mr. Mills. "We were like one family. If one was in trouble it was the concern of all. We shared in each others' joys and sympathized in each others' sorrows.

"Ovir principal amusements were dancing in the winter and picnics in the summer. Then a dance Avas a dance. Beginning early in the evening and lasting all night, till morning brought light enough to see the trails leading to our homes. And those good old dances - Old Dan Tucker, basket quadrille. Cheater's swing, polkas, mazurkas, firemens' quadrille - where are they now? I never heard the word tango nor saw a meditation waltz in my day, but think we had just as much fun at our gatherings as they do now - maybe more.

"Of all the men with whom I was associated in a business way when I first came to the country. I can think of but five who are still living - Eobert Frost, John Murphy, Gus Rosenthal, Tom Prather and P. D. Moore."

of his younger days. In 1863 political sentiment betAveen the Whig party and the Democratic party was very decided, and party spirit very bitter. The election of a Territorial Delegate to Congress was imminent. Alvin Flanders of Vanconver - Whig - was running against Francis Clark - Democrat^ - of Tac'oma. When the news of Flanders' election reached us. Turnwater went wild. Speedily congregating, the Republicans secured a number of disused saws from the mill. By striking these with hammers and iron bars a noise horrible enough to wake the dead resulted. Tin cans and horse fiddles added their notes to the horrid din. After parading through the blocks of Tumwater streets, it was then for Olympia. Down by Crosby's mill went the jolly boys, along the trail to the bluff above Tumwater. Here was peacefully grazing the Biles' family cow. Her big brass bell was soon added to the orchestra's force.

When the noisy procession was about half way to Olympia they met two foppishly dressed young young men riding on livery horses. They were stopped and their political convictions demanded. As they did not reply, but seemed frightened at the demonstrations, they were allowed to proceed on their way after the enthusiasts had given them three rousing groans and some mighty uncomplimentary remarks as a parting.

When Olympia Avas reached the procession was SAvelled liy the faithful of that burg. As they paraded up and doAvn the streets a stop was made before every place of business as well as every dwelling house. In those days there Avas no side stepping, or hiding one's political affiliations, and every man had to stand squarely on his party's platform. Consequently it Avas pretty well knoAvn just how each and every man had voted. So as the parade passed the house of one of the faithful a stop would be called and three rousing cheers given for the Whig, but Avhen a Democrats' habitat Avas reached the inmates Avere greeted Avith three fearful groans.

When the toAvn had been properly greeted tlie Avild gang started back for Tunnvater. They stopped on the corner of AA'hat is now Fifteenth and Main Streets to inform Colonel Cock of the result of the election.

Cock had just returned from a trip east of the mountains, where he had been buying cattle. He had not alighted fi'oin his horse Avhcn the boys came wp. lie Avas a very excitabh' man.

and when it was told him that the Whigs had won out he simply went wild. Jumping from his horse in the middle of the road he threw his hat down and stamped it into the mud.

Just as his frenzy was at its height, the same couple of fops who had been met a few hours previously came riding up. One of them sprang from the horse and rushed into Cock's arms. A closer inspection showed the astonished men that the supposed dudes were I\Irs. Cock and ]\Irs. Rice Tilley. The two young women had thought it would be a lark to dress up in men's clothes and ride out to meet Mr. Cock. They took the wrong road, however, and missed him, and were returning home. Explanations and apologies were in order.

"My wife died in 1907," proceeded Mr. Mills, ''after we had lived together 54 years, and if ever a man lost a faithful, loving companion I did when she was laid away. She was a good wife and devoted mother. I miss her every day of my life and one of my few pleasures is going to her last resting place and looking at the spot I shall occupy by her side. I have finished my work and only wait the last summons. I am proud of my children, none of whom have ever caused me humiliation or shame. They are all honorable men and Avomen, respected in the community where they reside."

The children born to ]\Ir. and Mrs. Mills were : Sarah. afterM^ards Sirs. Sales, of Seattle ; Kate, Mrs. Reynolds of Olympia; James and John, still of Tumwater; Mary. I\Irs. Huntington, of The Dalles, Oregon ; Lora, afterwards Mrs. Greene of this city ; Fannie, Mrs. IMeyers, now living in Oakville ; and George and Jesse, of Olympia. Mrs. Reynolds and Mrs. Greene are no longer living.

Pioneer Reminiscences 21U

One of the most remarkable examples of the sturdy- Pioneer, is W. O. Thompson, who, at the ripe age of 90, still steps forth briskly, with eyes bright and quick and with a keen intelligence relates his experiences in crossing the Oregon Trail in 1850 and his adventures after reaching Thurston County, with a clearness and conciseness which was a delight. In "Black Lake" Thompson's own words:

"I was born in Blairsville, Pennsylvania, in 182-1, being of Scotch descent on my father's side. My mother belonged to the aristocratic family - the Culbertsons. My people were possessed of considerable of this world's means and sent me to a private school taught by a Catholic priest, who was refused orders on account of dissipated habits. One day he became angry with me, and struck me, first on one side of my head and then the other, with the result I have had impaired hearing ever since. Later I was sent to the school taught by a Scotch Presbyterian minister, who was in the habit of maintaining discipline by the use of a cat-o-nine-tails.

"Soon after this the first public, or state school, was started, presided over by a college-bred teacher, and my education progressed satisfactorily.

"When I was ten years old, I won a prize for my penmanship, much to my delight. Having reached the age of fourteen and my family having met financial reverses, I decided to run away from home and find employment on a farm.- Later I worked my way to Cincinnati, where I found work in a sash and blind factory. Here I boarded with a Mr. T. B. Mason, a musician, who urged me to allow him to train my voice so I could sing with the church choir. I had always loved music, although my sister always made fun of my voice and would not allow me to join in the music at home. Mr. Mason tested my voice and found it a baritone, so I was not allowed to sing in the choir.

"When about 24 years of age I found myself a chronic invalid, with weak lungs, dyspepsia and rheumatism. A doctor told me to try roughing it as the only possible means of restoring my health. I secured work at once as a deck hand on a Mississippi River boat and found my health began to improve.

"The next few years were full of wandering, even thought of enlisting to go to the Mexican war, but a visit to a camp of volunteers so disgusted me that I abandoned the intention.

"In 1850 I heard of a Mr. E. S. Bonsell, who was about to start West over the Oregon Trail, and wanted a driver for one of his trains, which position I secured.

' ' Our train consisted of nine wagons and we started across the prairies from Fort LeavenAvorth, on the Caw River, early in the Spring. We struggled through deep woods, waded brooks, ferried our wagons over rivers, whenever we were fortunate enough to find boats, making the cattle swim.

"We had just crossed the little Blue River and were travelling over the bluffs down into the Platte valley, when suddenly our train ran into a band of about 150 Indians, painted faces, scanty clothing, and carrying Mexican spears. I made frantic signs for them to separate and let our train pass through, which they did, but soon surrounded our little band. I at once planned for a council to be held under a big tree, close at hand, they to send their chief, and we, our leader. While arranging this I had the drivers form the wagons in a square, with the tongues ovitside. Into the square thus formed, we put the women and children.

"In the excitement, one of the wagons was left out of this square and the Indians began crowding around it. Elbowing my way through, I found that ]\Iiss Nancy Morton, a beautiful young girl of our party, was the object of great admiration on the part of the chief and his braves. The chief made signs that he wanted to buy Nancy for his wife, and that if we would not sell her he would take her by force. I walked up to the girl, placed my hand on her shoulder and made signs that she belonged to me. Telling her to follow me, we plunged into our extemporized fort. I tell you, Nancy was a badly frightened girl.

"At the council the chief told us they were friendly to the white but were out after their enemies, the Pawnees. All they wanted from us was meat. Uncle Johnnie had a l)eef killed, which in a short time they had eaten raw. I assured them that many Boston men were coming and a party had ridden upon a bluff to look back over the road. Fortunately, there was a dust arising from another train of emigrants, so they rode on, but not before another one of our cows had been killed by one of the war party.

"The plan of work which was invariably carried on by the emigrants each day was : In the early morning the sentinel on duty roused the camp, and very soon every tent and wagon is pouring forth its night tenants, and slowly kindling smokes begin to rise and float away in the morning air. The men start out to round up the cattle and soon the well-trained cattle move toward the camp. By seven o'clock, breakfast must be eaten, the wagon loaded and the teams yoked, all realizing that if they are not ready they will be obliged to fall behind into the dusty rear for the day. One man goes ahead to select a nooning place, where grass and water must be found, if possible. The teams are not unyoked at noon but simply turned loose from the wagon, and then the noon meal is eaten. At one o'clock the march is resumed till night, Avhen again everyone is busy building fires, preparing supper, pitching tents and making ready for the night. The watches begin at eight o'clock and end at four o'clock.

"I am asked if we had happy times around the camp fire at night. I answer 'no.' We were too tired and worn after the day's weary march. What we wanted was sleep.

"One day we saw a man sitting alone besides the trail. He gave the Masonic sign of distress, and ]\Ir. Bonsell at once invited him to join our party. His name was O'Hare, but we never knew the reason of his being left besides the roadside.

"Another friend I made on this trip was Wm. Sherwood, disinherited son of a rich Englishman, who had chosen a frontier life in preference to one of luxury in England. He was very musical and taught me 'The ^Mistletoe Bough,' and 'Bonnie Sweet Bessie.' At this time I had a little trouble with IMr. Bonsell and left his employ, although later, when we were all in Olympia, INIrs. Bonsell treated me like a son. I then secured a position of driver of one of Uncle Johnnie Slocum's ^vagons, a position which suited me exactly, for I was assigned to drive the wagon in which rode that charming girl INIiss Nancy Slocum, and her young cousin, Ruby Slocum.

"A gruesome sight, when we reached Fort Laramie, was an Indian grave yard. At a distance they looked like scaffolds, \vhile on the ground white buffalo skulls were arranged in a 5ircle, whether as a decoration or some mystic sign, I never knew.

''We were now in the country of the hostile Indian and we men had to keep watch with great vigilance. We were fortunate in not losing a single member of our party by death during the long journey, but we passed by many freshly-made graves, the sight of which was very depressing to our tired little band.

"Although the scenery became very beautiful. I felt as if I enjoyed a good slice of corn bread and bacon more than all the beauties around us.

"Uncle Johnnie Slocum proved to be a hard task master and one morning he most unjustly attacked me with an ox yoke. I drew a knife to defend myself. Of course, he discharged me on the spot, but sold me supplies enough to last me the rest of the trip. I paid him well for them, however.

"My supplies were piled out beside the road, and the train moved on, leaving me sitting alone beside the Oregon trail, but another party came along and picked me up the same day.

"When near Fort Hall we had our first experience with Indians stampeding our cattle. It was one of their favorite tricks to give the emigrants a big scare. They came down the hillside with painted faces, feathers flying, and uttering most terrible war whoops while pounding on their skin drums. Our cattle ran away, scattering people and baggage in all directions. Fortunately no one was hurt, but some of the wagons were broken, so we had to go back to the fort to pick up scraps of iron to mend them with.

"Mr. Landers, one of our party, now became very ill and we had to drive very slowly. Our cattle were almost starving and when we reached Salmon Falls, on Snake River, we were obliged to make the most dangerous crossing on the trip, so

"Fort Boise Avas another historic spot. It was huilt in 1834, but the only object of interest I can recall was the thousands of jack rabbits running about in every direction.

"As we descended the Blue Mountains, the view -was surpassingly grand. Before us lay the great valley of the Columbia, ninety' miles away rose the loft}^ ranges of the Cascade Mountains, wath the towering peaks of Mt. Hood, Mt Rainier and Mt. Adams, which have become so familiar to me during my sixty years of life in the Northw^est. At The Dalles I secured employment on a large rowboat, Avhich was carrying passengers to the Cascades. I made several trips up and down the Columbia River and then, having some money, decided to go on to Portland. So I joined a party of young men who were to drive their fathers' cattle to that settlement. One of the youngsters was Brad Davis' brother. On this trip 1 became so desperately ill that I was obliged to lie down by the roadside and let the rest go on.

"An Indian came riding by on a pony and I oiifered him every cent I possessed if he would sell the pony, but not till I had added every article of clothing I could spare from my person did he consent to the bargain. I rode the pony into Vancouver, and there the horse was claimed by a man, who said it had been stolen from him. By the laws of Oregon I had to give the horse up and w^as to receive one-half the cost of the animal. The man promised to pay, but to this good day is still owing me that money.

"I determined not to go into Portland dressed in my shabby clothes, so I remained in Vancouver, digging potatoes for $2 a day till I had earned forty big Mexican dollars. I then bought a suit of clothes and went on to Portland.

"The settlement of Portland in '52 was a big mud hole; no sidewalks, few w^agon roads, and often one w^ould see a wagon mired to the hub in the sticky mud. I spent two or three days working in the Abrams mill and one of the men employed there was young William Billings, afterwards for many years Sheriff of Thurston County. One day anothet' man and myself were set at work cutting down one of the biggest trees I had ever seen. It was in the middle of one ol* the main streets. I never worked harder in my life, but it took us the whole day to cut down that tree. We Avere paid oft: and discharged that first night.

"In company with ]Mr. O'Hare and Mr. Sherwood, I then started for Puget Sound. We built a flat-bottomed boat and poled down the Columbia to tlie Cowl'tz River. We stopped at 'Hard Bread's' hotel. It was run by a man who fed his customers hard tack three times a day.

"Reaching Cowlitz Landing, we abandoned our boat and tramped the remaining fifty miles to the Sound. The trail, passed near where Chehalis now stands. We were entertained by George Bush, who had squatted on a claim seven miles from Olympia in 1845. He had an abundance of farm produce and was exceedingly generous to all emigrants. We then walked to Tumwater, where an Indian agreed to paddle us to Olympia, where we arrived the winter of 1852.

"I had then completed a journey over the Oregon trail, which was about 2,000 miles, beginning at Gardiner. Kansas, and ending at Olympia, Washington. I had passed through the country now called Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, and when I reached the shores of Puget Sound, I felt this country to be the El Dorado of my dreams and I have been contented to live here ever since.

"I do not remember that there was a white woman in Olympia when I first arrived, but there were two living in Newmarket - Tumwater - Mrs. Crosby and Mrs. Simmons. It seemed a forlorn place and I never was so homesick in my life. I went back to Mr. Bush, but he laughed at me and set me to work making some sash and door frames for a new house he w^as about to build. I stayed with Mr. Bush two or three months. We sometimes rode over to Black Lake to go in swimming. Mr. Bush made me presents of several articles which could not be bought at that time - a whip saw, etc.

"I wanted to get a claim on Bush Prairie, but the good land was all taken. There w^as plenty of land to be had for the taking around Olympia, but the timber was so thick that I was afraid of it. It did not seem as if a man would live long enough to ever see a garden grow, so I heard of some good prairie land out at Black Lake. I had been much pleased with That lake, it was so picturesque and looked, to me. like the bhape of a violin nestled clown in the green; the slender place in the middle, about sixty rods wide, seemed as beautiful to me as a lady's picture.

found a prairie one-half mile long and eighty to 100 rods wide, bordered with oak trees and a little fringe of fir around the lake. A beautiful little trout stream ran across one end of the prairie and into the lake. There were smelt in ihe creek at the last of the rainy season. Salmon would come up the creek to spawn and often, when I would go down to get a bucket of water, I would knock a salmon on the head with my ax, for my dinner. There were also mountain trout in the stream and the lake was full of white suckers. The Indians would come with a sieve and take a wagon-load of suckers away at a time.

"One day I was returning from a trip to the Hudson Bay trading post, near Steilacoom. The trail crossed the Nesqually, near McAllister Creek, and some Indians were living there. They refused to ferry me across, although I asked them to do so in English, Chinook and sign languages, and oifered them fifty cents, while the usual price was but twenty-five cents, but they paid no attention to me. A young Tyee Indian was lying on the ground. I shook him by the hair of his head and commanded him to ferry me across the river, which he then did. The Indians then went up to McAllister and wanted to know if I was a military officer or big chief, that I had dared to whip their Tyee. They must have been disgusted when McAllister told them that I was onl}' a cultus Boston man.

"I cut out the trail between Bush Prairie and Black Lake and made a scow to ferry people and cattle across the lake from the Olympia trail, for the convenience of settlers who were going to Miami Prairie, Gate City and Grand Mound."

Dr. Nathaniel Ostrander

"He was ever strong for the right," are the words that come most readily to the compiler's pencil when an attempt Avas made to draw a pen picture of that veteran war horse in the medical profession. Dr. Nathaniel Ostrander.

For many years, while living on his homestead on the Cowlitz River, he was the only doctor to minister to the distress of the people for many miles. His daughters can still remember their father hurrying out, sometimes in the dead of night, saddling his faithful nag, filling his saddle bags with drugs, medicines, and frequently, surgical instruments, and starting on a trip of perhaps twenty or even fifty miles, in response to a summons for medical aid. Many of the men and women today living in Cowlitz County, with heads white with the hoar of age, were ushered into this world by the genial doctor, w^hose proud boast it was that no mother died while under his care when professional skill was possible to save the lives of her and her baby. Brusk, sometimes gruff in his manners, all who best knew this grand old man, knew his heart was of pure gold, his moral life beyond reproach and his family relations loving and pure, a staunch friend, loyal to his political and fraternal affiliations. Dr. Ostrander 's memory is still fondly cherished by his former friends and he is mourned by his daughters to this late day.

A native of New York, Nathaniel Ostrander grew to manhood in that state, received his medical education, and iu 1836 was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Jane Yantis, of Lexington, Kentucky. After marriage, the Ostranders lived in Saline County, ^Missouri, but in 1852 decided to join an ox train and came West, as man^' from their neighborhood were contemplating such a move.

The emigrants suffered even more than the customary hardships and terrors attendant upon the trip at that period. Weeks before the train arrived at The Dalles, black measles broke out among the emigrants and many deaths ensued. The services of the Doctor were in constant demand, and for two or three weeks there was but little rest or sleep for him. When Snake Kiver was reached, in Idaho, one of the Ostrander children, Susan Charlotte, died, and was buried in a lonely grave beside this river. Here, too, Mrs. Ostrander gave birth to a girl baby. At the time of the baby's arrival the mother and her four daughters were deathly sick with the measles and for a time the outcome looked very doubtful.

Arriving at The Dalles, the Ostrander family took boats for the voyage down the Columbia to Portland. Here a short stop was made, but the children were still weak from the experiences on the plains, and malaria was so prevalent, that Dr. Ostrander decided to go on up to the Cowlitz country and take up a homestead.

The Doctor and his brave wife at once set to work to carve a home from the wilderness and succeeded so well that Vv'ithin a few years their homestead became the finest and most valuable in that section. Owing to a native force of character and natural ability, Dr. Ostrander soon became a leader in every enterprise among the pioneers. He was the first Probate Judge of Cowlitz County, having been appointed by Governor I. I. Stevens, soon after the organization of Washington Territory. Always a loyal Democrat, he was elected to the Territorial Legislature for several terms. Dr. Ostrander was a prominent member of the Odd Fellows, and took a keen interest in this fraternal organization to the day of his death. The town and river of Ostrander, in Cowlitz County, are named in honor of the Doctor.

In ]872 the Ostranders decided to remove to Tumwater. Here the doctor opened a drug store in connection with the practise of his profession, and here the family lived for the ensuing fifteen years, the children in the meantime, growing up and receiving their education in the schools of that place.

In 1887 the family selected Olympia as their home, and the Doctor built the large house on the block bounded by Franklin and Adams, Eighth and Ninth streets, which became the Ostrander home the remaining days of Doctor and ]Mi's. Ostrander.

on February 22. 1899, after a well spent life of 68 years. A faithful wife, loving mother, consistent and ardent Christian and true friend, all who knew her realized that a good woman was gone with her passing.

Ten daughters and one son were born to Dr. and Mrs. Ostrander : Priscilla Catherine, now Mrs. Montague, of Forest Grove, Oregon, but whose first husband was James Redpath, and whose son is Dr. N. J. Redpath of Olympia ; J\Iary Anne, now ]Mrs. Thomas Roe, of Forest Grove, Oregon ; Susan Char- Totte, the little girl who died and was buried on the plains; Sarah Teresa, widow of Charles Catlin, a pioneer of Cowlitz County, and whom the town of Catlin is named after. Mrs. Catlin now makes her home in Portland, Oregon. iMargaret Jane, now Mrs. M. 0 'Conner, of Olympia; Maria Evelyn, who later became Mrs. W. W. Work of Olympia. but who died in 1888; Isabella May, afterwards Mrs. E. E. Eastman, of Olympia ; John Yantis, who became an Alaska capitalist, but who died in Olympia in the Spring of 1914; Florence Eliza, afterwards Mrs. Walter Crosby, of Olympia; Fannie Lee. afterwards Mrs. C. ]M. Moore, now of Oakland, California, and Minnie Augusta, who died in infancy.

Pioneer Reminiscences 229 The James Family

Samuel James and his wife, Anna Maria, with their family of eight sturdy sons and daughters, were the original settlers on Grand Mound Prairie. Of English birth, the couple came to America with their sons. Samuel, William, Thomas and John R. The first home in the land of their adoption was made in Wisconsin, Mr. and ]\Irs. James living in that state for several years, and here were born to them their daughters, Eliza and Mary, and their sons, Richard Oregon and Allen. While the children were still small and the younger ones but little more than babes, IMr. James became infected with the western fever. The home place was sold and the purchase price devoted to outfitting for the perilous journey across the plains to the new country of Oregon.

The incidents of that journey cannot be preserved in history, for the father, mother and children who were old enough to remember the experiences, are all gone, but the surviving son, John, who is still hale and clear-minded, relates that there were three yoke of cattle to each wagon and that five months were passed in steady travelling before the promised land was reached.

^Milwaukee, Oregon, was the first stopping place of the adventurers. Here Mr. James rented a farm and put in his crops. But this vicinity did not satisfy them and they de- ( i(U'(l that Puget Sound was the land of golden opportunities, so after spending a year at ]\Iilwaukee, ]\Ir. and IMrs. James decided to pull stakes and away.

The trip was made in the manner customary in those days, hiring bateaus from the Hudson Bay people, up the Willamette and Cowlitz Rivers to Cowlitz Landing. The cattle were driven along the Indian trail paralleling the I'iver. b,\- the three brothers, Samuel, William and Thomas. When the CoAvlitz Landing was reaclied. tlu' wagons were unloaded

Arriving at Grand IMound in 1852, ]\Ir. James took up a donation claim of 320 acres on the Chehalis River, built a cabin home and started to improve what afterAvards became one of the finest farms in Thurston County, The prairie land was broken up and put in grain fields. Mr. James was a very progressive pioneer and among his first work was starting a ten-acre orchard, the little trees for the planting being brought with almost incredible difficulties from Oregon. The land was rich and the farm prospered almost from the beginning. As there were no other settlers on the prairie for a while, Mr. James had the run of the fine ranges for his cattle and later a band of sheep, which he possessed. Soon after locating, he bought a small band of forty sheep from James McAllister, the Nesqually pioneer. This flock increased to a band of 500 head and was a source of considerable profit to the James family.

It was a good three days' journey from the Grand Mound ranch and return, to Tumwater, with the wagons heavily loaded with grain to be ground into flour. This town and the little settlement which had sprung up on the Sound, called Smithfield - now Olympia, was the nearest market.

Mr. John James, the only surviving son out of the stalwart band, relates some very interesting experiences of the family in the troublesome time preceding the Indian war, one of the incidents, which is here given, showing that the natives were sometimes responsive to humane treatment.