USA > Washington > Thurston County > Early history of Thurston County, Washington : together with biographies and reminiscences of those identified with pioneer days > Part 17
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32
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 sur- rounding 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 Port- land, 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 West 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
WHOA MAN TEL IHUBLIC LIBRARY
LUTAR, LENOX AND
=
-
G. ROSENTHAL, THE PIONEER OYSTERMAN
197
PIONEER REMINISCENCES
toward that point. I broke ground and donated forty acres of timber land towards the enterprise.
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 fore- heads. 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 in- tense 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 leav- ing 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 hias cultus Demanimus." Translated, "See this water, your God is a very bad spirit." The only fellow pas- sengers 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.
Comparing the present condition of this country with former years, it appears more like walking into a parlor.
198
THURSTON COUNTY
JOHN HENRY WILLIAM STERNBERG
When E. S. Salomon, who had just been appointed Gov- ernor of Washington Territory, arrived in Olympia, he was accompanied by a number of men whose names have since be- come 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.
Mr. 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 in- duced 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 ani- mals 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 con- siderable number of emigrants. Mrs. Salomon and Mrs. Stern- berg 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
199
PIONEER REMINISCENCES
he settled down in Olympia and started the famous Home of the Pan Roast.
When the colonists reached Steilacoom, 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 encour- agement, 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.
Later they went to housekeeping in a cottage situated on the block bounded by Eighth and Ninth, Adams and Jeffer- son Sreets.
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 Mr. 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.
Priests Point Mission was at this time deserted by the band of Oblat priests and the Sternberg family moved from town to the Mission.
The buildings were falling into decay, all but the chapel. This Mr. Sternberg partitioned off into living rooms and the family took possession.
Mrs. Sophia Sternberg, in relating her experiences, de- scribes the life there as lonely and dreary, almost beyond en- durance. 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
200
THURSTON COUNTY
bodies were fastened in the tree tops on rude platforms, as was the savage manner of disposing of the dead.
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 ani- mals would come to the border of their clearing.
Tiring of this lonely way of living the Sternbergs re- turned to Olympia and built the house on Union Street which was the Sternberg home for many years. Here Mr. Sternberg died, on May 6, 1893.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Sternberg are : William, Minnie, Julius and Dora, born in Chicago, and Emma and Oscar, born in Olympia.
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 Mrs. L. B. Faulknor. Emma is Mrs. Albert Darling, and Oscar lives in Seeattle.
Mrs. Sophia Sternberg makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Darling.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONE.
CLANRICK CROSBY
A. S. YANTIS
PHILIP NORTHCRAFT
WILLIAM BILLINGS
DELATE TILLICUMS
JUDGE O. B. MCFADDEN
ROBERT FROST
REESE BREWER
THEODORE BROWN
MORE TILLICUMS
PR NEW YORK PUBLICLIBRARY
STAY, LENOX ANS LAEN FOUNDATIONS,
201
PIONEER REMINISCENCES
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 Merrie 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 quit 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 work- ing in this latter town that he became excited over the stories received of the big strikes made on the Frazer River. Every- one who could muster up an outfit was going to the gold fields, so the young man joined the Dave MeLaughlin party of 100 men and started on what proved to be one of the most thrilling 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.
202
THURSTON COUNTY
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. Hoffman 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 be- came 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, Mr. Frost married Miss 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. Mrs. Frost died and here were born their four children-Nell. Caroline. Florence and Anna. Florence is now Mrs. 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, in- eluding 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.
203
PIONEER REMINISCENCES
After describing the incidents of the trip, Mr. Frost relates :
"We struck the Columbia River 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 Mclaughlin 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 from the northern end. At the southern end it was an utter im- possibility 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 would 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 him- self 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
204
THURSTON COUNTY
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 six killed in the start. I do not remember their names excepting one, Jesse Rice, from Cashe Creek, California.
"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 were 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.
"He was the nearest we had to a doctor. Several of the
205
PIONEER REMINISCENCES
boys had along a box of pills. He 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 eloth 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 day we knew the Indians had broken up so far as this point was 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."
206
THURSTON COUNTY
D. R. BIGELOW
The name of D. R. Bigelow has held a prominent and honored place among Thurston Couunty 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 ar- riving 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 Terri- torial Legislature, and enjoyed the distinction of having de- livered the first Fourth of July oration ever made in Wash- ington. 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.
Mr. Bigelow died in 1905 survived by his widow and seven children.
Mrs. 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, Mrs. William White, who, with her five children, among them being Mrs. Bigelow, 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-
207
PIONEER REMINISCENCES
visions and outfitting as she deemed they would most need in their new home, proceeded to St. Joe, Missouri.
In speaking of the start along the Oregon Trail, Mrs. Bigelow said:
"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 Cross- ing the guns were put back in the wagons and the whips were almost worn out."
Although this train had many alarms, they were not mo- lested 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. Many a time they would see an ox skull set up alongside the road bearing the grewsome warning, "Be- ware 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 wagon 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, above 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 claim on Chambers Prairie.
208
THURSTON COUNTY
The first experience of Mrs. White and her daughter, upon their arrival at Tumwater, 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, Mrs. White and the young girl set out along the trail. When they came out to the prairie they 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, Mr. White was killed by the hostile Indians while 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, which 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 was the school she conducted in a small bed room in the Pack-
POURLA LIBRARY
DOLOR, LENCX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONG.
THURSTON COUNTY'S FIRST SCHOOL BUILDING
209
PIONEER REMINISCENCES
wood residence, on their claim on Nesqually 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 during the week. but every Friday evening she rode on horseback to her parents' home on Chambers Prairie. The curriculum taught was prob- ably limited to the three "Rs" and there was 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.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.