USA > Washington > Thurston County > Early history of Thurston County, Washington : together with biographies and reminiscences of those identified with pioneer days > Part 21
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
249
PIONEER REMINISCENCES
and the foundation for the State Capitol buildings, are among his magnificent bequests.
. When Edmond had lived in the West about four years he sent for his brother, Crowel H. Sylvester, to join him. Mrs. Edmond Sylvester was escorted by her brother-in-law in her journey from the old home to join her husband.
C. H. Sylvester, upon his arrival in the territory, located upon his claim, not far from South Bay. He was the pioneer settler in this section and was obliged to cut the trail through the dense woods to reach his claim.
The first hotel this city could boast of was run by the Sylvester Brothers, a two-room shack, cloth lined, the whole building being but 16x24 feet in size, with bunks for the ac- commodation of guests.
Edmund Sylvester was one of the owners of the brig Orbit, which came here in 1849, with a party of California gold seek- ers. Capt. W. H. Dunham. This ship was the first owned on Puget Sound, the forerunner of the vast fleet now plying these waters.
Edmund Sylvester built his home on the block now facing the postoffice building on Main Street and for many years it was considered the finest home in Washington. And when he ended this world's activities in the late '80's. his brother Crowell Sylvester, continued to live on his valuable farm till the time of his death in the early part of this century.
250
THURSTON COUNTY
GENERAL WILLIAM WINLOCK MILLER
From teaching school in a remote village in Illinois for a monthly salary of $10 to amassing a million dollar fortune, is the record of W. W. Miller, whose memory is prominent in the minds of the remaining pioneers of his day.
After receiving his education in Illinois and. with patient frugality acquiring enough money to defray his ex- penses to the Far West. the young man arrived in Olympia in 1853. his entire fortune comprising only a few hundred dollars. With the business sagacity and perspicuity which was Mr. Miller's main characteristic, he at once began to invest in Olympia property, buying and selling. loaning money to those less fortunate than himself, his speculations ever attended with signal success. Mr. Miller, however, is not only to be remem- hered as a successful business man, but also a patriot and brave soldier as well. He was one of the first to enlist in the ranks of volunteers organized for the defense of the country in the Indian war of 1855-56. rapidly rising from the ranks until he was finally made Commissary General and staff officer to Gov- ernor I. I. Stevens, and this executive was emphatic in affirm- ing that much of the success in quelling the Indian disturb- ances was due to the able and efficient men who composed his staff.
Mr. Hazard Stevens, in his "Life of Governor Stevens," gives the following high praise to General W. W. Miller, as having imparted "extraordinary efficiency to the quartermas- ters' and commissary's departments, the most difficult of all These departments, generally kept distinct, was a single depart- ment in the service. It was General Miller who collected, large- ly by impressment, organized and led out into the Indian coun- try the large ox train, which hauled out three months' supplies for the volunteers in the beginning of the campaign, without which it could not have been waged. He was distinguished by remarkable sound sense and judgment and Governor Stevens
251
PIONEER REMINISCENCES
counseled with and relied upon him more than any other. And after the close of the Indian war General Miller was Governor Stevens' closest friend in the territory."
When Governor Stevens issued his order disbanding the volunteer organization General Miller took steps to sell at public auction the animals, equipment and supplies at hand and settling the accounts. The sales of property realized $150,- 000, the articles sold generally bringing more than the original cost, and the sum realized was more than enough to defray the entire cost of the expedition. After the close of the war Gov- ernor Stevens was successful in having the territory made a separate Indian Superintendency and General W. W. Miller was appointed Superintendent General, which important posi- tion he filled with credit to himself and with satisfaction of the Governor. In polities General Miller was an unswerving Demo- erat and took an active part in the Stevens' campaign when the latter was seeking re-election as a Territorial Delegate to Congress. Among the papers preserved by Governor Stevens was a letter written him by his friend General Miller, when the Governor was in Washington, D. C., which reads: "I believe that National Democracy can verily keep possession of the territory. Your own prospects are good. Now that you have won a National fame. you will always be looked upon as the leading man in the Northwest, and you cannot be beaten at the next election."
General W. W. Miller secured as his bride Miss Mary Me- Fadden, an undisputed belle of Olympia and two handsome sons were born to them. Winlock and Pendelton. The General's death occurred in Olympia, and his son, Pendelton, in Seattle, both being interred in Masonic cemetery.
Mrs. Miller and her son. Winlock Miller, now make their home in Seattle, although Mrs. Miller has large property hold- ings still in Olympia. Several years ago Mrs. Miller presented to the city of Olympia the valuable block of land on which is now situated the Winloek Miller High School.
252
THURSTON COUNTY
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS SIMMONS
To see and talk with the first white child born north and west of the Columbia River was one of the delightful ex- periences of the compiler upon one of her quests for remi- niscences of old timers.
C. C. Simmons and his wife have their home in a cozy nook on the east shore of Mud Bay. where Mr. Simmons is the owner of valuable oyster and clam beds. Here for the past dozen years this worthy couple have lived in quiet content. Their children married and with homes of their own, frequently come to visit their father and mother, holding fast to family ties, and keeping in touch with their parents.
The coming of the Simmons family to the West has been told so often by abler historians that the present writer feels that a brief mention of these, among the very first settlers in this county, will suffice here.
Col. Michael T. Simmons, of Irish ancestry, although born in Kentucky, was among the hardy immigrants who dared to venture into the totally unknown wilderness of Puget Sound as early as 1844.
Married and with four sons. Simmons, whose indominable spirit refused to be disheartened or depressed. joined the ox train of fortune seekers, among whom were the men and women who were to lay the foundation of the magnificent develop- ment of this section of the Puget Sound country. The fam- ilies who, with Simmons, finally settled in what is now Thurs- ton County were: James McAllister and his wife, Martha. their children, George. America, who afterwards became Mrs. Thomas Chambers; Martha, afterwards the wife of Joseph Brunston, and John; David Kindred and his wife Talitha. and son, John K .; Gabriel and Mrs. Keziah B. Johns, their sons, Lewis and Morris, and daughter Elizabeth, who married Jo- seph Broshears in 1852. and the Bush family, consisting of George and Isabelle J., father and mother, William Owen, Jo- seph Talbot, Reily B., Henry Sandford and Jackson January.
The party had wintered in Vancouver while Simmons and
253
PIONEER REMINISCENCES
some of the other men had made the trip up the Cowlitz River to ascertain the value of the land, quality of timber and pros- peet for wresting a livelihood from the wilds. But in the fall of 1845 they all brought their families to the Sound. Simmons located his claim at the falls of the Deschutes River, which was then known by the Indians as "Tumchuck"-throbbing water. The Bush family took up land on the edge of the prairie, which has ever since been called by their name. Kindred's claim was just south of what is now Olympia, and the McAllis- ters were eventually located near the Nesqually River. Sim- mons laid out the town of New Market, now Tumwater, and in the fall of 1846 built the first grist mill north of the Co- iumbia. This historie mill was roughly built of logs, with its mill stones made from flat boulders found in the stream whose waters turned the rude wheel. From this coarse, unbolted flour, the first bread from home grown wheat was made, and this bread was considered a great luxury after a diet of dried peas. and boiled wheat, which had formed the staple diet before the completion of the mill.
Before coming to Puget Sound, while the Simmons were wintering on the north bank of the Columbia, near Washougal, the irrepressible Christopher Columbus was born. This history is now continued in C. C. Simmons' own words.
"Yes, I reckon I was the first white child born in this neck of the woods, and father and mother seemed to think be- cause I enjoyed this distinction I must have discovered the country, so they called me Christopher Columbus. I first saw the light of day April 10. 1845, and my birth chamber was a sheep pen with a canvas stretched over the roof to keep part of the rain from mother and me. There were eleven children in our family-the boys. George Washington, David C., Mar- ion Francis and MeDonald, were older than me and crossed the plains with father and mother. Then I came next and younger than me were: Benjamin Franklin, Charlotte, Mary, Kate. Charles Mason and dad's namesake Michael T. Of these children David and McDonald are dead, Marion lives in Puy- allup, Benjamin F. in Seattle, Charlotte is Mrs. Kuntz, of Chehalis, Mary is Mrs. Holmes, living in Massachusetts, Kate married a man named Kantwell, Charles M. lives in Puyallup and Michael in Ellensburg.
254
THURSTON COUNTY
"During the Indian war we were all forted in the Collins blockhouse where is now Arcadia, but I was not old enough to take an active part in that trouble. I have always been poor in this world's goods and am glad of it. There is the less danger of being robbed, although I have had my chances for wealth more than most.
"One time when I was working for my uncle, Dr. May- nard, who was one of the first settlers of King County, he made me a present of a deed to 160 acres of what is now West Seattle. I held on to it for a while and then found it too troublesome to care for the deed and to keep the small amount of taxes paid. so I gave it back to Uncle Maynard, much to his disgust. He thought I must have very little sense not to hang on to what he knew would be very valuable at some not far-off day.
"Father died on his farm in Lewis County a long time ago and mother lived until about 24 years ago, spending her last days in Shelton. When I was nineteen years of age I was married to Asenath Ann Kennedy, who was but four- teen, and has been my true and faithful wife for fifty years of wedded happiness. Of course, we had to elope, for her parents would not give consent till she was at least out of school. I rowed, one dark night, from the Big Skookum to Steilacoom, where Ann was attending school. picked her up at a point we had agreed on and then we made our way to Seattle.
"Even in those days a girl had to be at least eighteen before she could marry without her parents' sanction. Well. we hardly knew what to do. So when we got to Seattle we went to Uncle Maynard for advice. This good man considered a moment and then said to Ann 'Take off your shoes.' She did so and Dr. Maynard wrote the figures 18 on two slips of paper and put them in her shoes. Ann caught on as quick as lightning. A few minutes later we stood up before Rev. Daniel Bagley. who asked her age. 'Why, I'm over eighteen,' she said as bland as milk, and so we were married and have lived happily together.
"On August 25th, 1914, we celebrated our golden wed- ding at our home on Mud Bay, with all of our nine children and our grandchildren around us."
255
PIONEER REMINISCENCES
HARVEY R. WOODARD.
The account given by the pioneer son of a pioneer father of their early days on Puget Sound presents a photographic reproduction of the scenes and experiences which are now but a dream of by-gone days. Alonzo B. Woodard, senior repre- sentative of one of Thurston County's best known pioneer fam- ilies tells the following :
"Father, mother and we three boys. Theodore, Delbert and your humble servant. came to Oregon in the early fif- ties, reaching The Dalles after a ernel, hard trip, over the Ore- gon Trail.
"Father's cattle were so worn out that they every one died of starvation and exposure early in the winter. He had left them to be taken care of at The Dalles, but the winter was unexpectedly severe, there was no feed to be bought and the snow covered the ranges.
"The family came on .down to Vancouver before the ex- treme cold set in, and father tried to rent a house for us, but found that to be impossible. A piece of ground large enough to set a tent upon was rented for $10 a month, so my parents decided that where there was so much unoccupied territory -you might say all of what is now both Oregon and Wash- ington being still unsettled, this was two much of a price to pay. Accordingly, they went a few miles out of Vancouver, and father built a little one-room affair of logs in which we could store our plunder and sleep. All that winter mother cooked our meals on an open fire made from the green wood father would cut from the forest. As the snow lay twelve inches deep on the ground we all had a pretty uncomfortable time. Up to February the Columbia was frozen so solidly no boats could come up from Portland, but as Spring came on the weather moderated and the swift water formed an open channel in the river. Father fixed up some canoes, and leav- ing mother and us boys at Vancouver started for Puget Sound.
"After many perils and hardships he reached what he always referred to as God's Country and located a claim on
256
THURSTON COUNTY
South Bay. When the weather got nice and warm father sent for his family and we made the trip by water. The boat came to the landing place in connection with Fort Nesqually and there father met us with a row boat and took us to what was to be our home for some years.
"I was but a lad, and had never seen salt water before. I was filled with admiration of the beautiful picture pre- sented by South Bay with the dense forest coming down to the shores of the bay and the clear, delighful looking water. We camped that night on the beach and in the morning imag- ine my dismay when I looked out on what seemed to me but a sea of mud. Father reassured me, however, and told me that was the way of the tide-always on the ebb and flow --- and as sure as it went so surely would it come again. We lived here on South Bay for the next two or three years in peace and were beginning to feel quite prosperous. Father, with the help of us boys had cleared and planted twelve acres of land. We had a yoke of oxen, a cow and some pigs, and father had built a very comfortable home.
"In 1855, just as we began to reap the reward of our hard work and previous privations, the Indian war broke out. We had been hearing ugly rumors for some time, and one afternoon Owen Bush rode up to our place and told us about the killing of McAllister by the Indians. Father went on up to the head of the bay to learn all he could about whether there was real danger and found that all the settlers had already fled to Olympia. Hastening back home he hurried us all into a row boat and started for town. On the way he stopped and took Mrs. Knott and Mrs. Frazier in our boat.
"When we got up opposite Herbert Jeals' place, we were terrified to hear firing back of the house. Father and I were pulling the oars and Theodore was steering the boat. We struck out across the bay for the west side, expecting to see Indian war canoes take after us, in which event we knew we would soon be overhauled, for our boat was clumsy and over- loaded. When we got off the Harstein Island point one of the worst wind storms came up I have ever experienced. I have never seen the waters of Puget Sound so rough. The waves were lashed into a fury, and ran so high that our cap- size seemed imminent. Mrs. Frazier was the worst scared
257
PIONEER REMINISCENCES
woman I ever saw. She lay in the bottom of the boat moaning and crying. not knowing whether she was to meet death at the hands of the Indians or be drowned in Puget Sound. But along toward morning we reached Olympia all safe and sound. although almost exhausted. The next day father and I went back home for the rest of our things and we lived all winter in Tumwater.
"Right here I want to say that after my experiences of that year, no talk of war time prices can scare me. Father had to pay $3 a bushel for potatoes, $20 a barrel for flour, $8 a keg for syrup, and there was a tradition that butter was a dollar a pound-but about that I cannot say. The Woodards didn't see any of that luxury for many a month. Our main living was potatoes, clams, oysters; ducks and always sal- mon. Until father built his grist mill, all our flour came around the Horn and from being for months in the hold of vessels became musty and all but unfit to eat. I have seen mother lift squirming worms out of the mildewed stuff she was obliged to use in making our bread.
"After the close of the war father went back to South Union and later overhauled and rebuilt a mill on the Sequal- echen, but I spent my winters in town attending school. Among the teachers I remember in those days were Rev. Dillon and Mrs. Doyle, both fine instructors, leading their pupils along learning's path with a kind firmness that has had its effect all through my life. Father in later years bought the old Woodard home on the West Side, where he died in 1872. Mother lived over twenty years after father's death.
"When I attained my majority I spent some years in Oregon-was there during the Civil War, and while here had my greatest piece of good luck. While living in Lafayette. I met and was married to my wife-formerly Miss Wallace. Later we returned to Olympia, where for years we have led a peaceful, uneventful life. We have had two daughters and one son born to us: Elma Amelia, now Mrs. Crawford, of Tacoma and Ada Salome, the wife of Captain George S. E. Krem. Our son Van Eugene died a few years ago."
258
THURSTON COUNTY
STEPHEN D. REINHART
"You must be sure to give prominent mention to the Reinhart family. and Mrs. Reinhart's father, William Cock," was frequently told the compiler when interviewing the few living men and women whose memory carried them back to their associates of sixty-five years ago.
Stephen D. Reinhart was of German ancestry, but was himself a native of Kentucky. He was educated in the State of Indiana and there was married to Miss Sarah Cock. In 1852, when the tide of immigration was strong towards the land of the setting sun, the young Reinharts, with their baby boy, William, started for the long and dangerous trip over the old Oregon Trail. The journey was attended with the almost incredible hardships and dangers which the immi- grants were called upon to endure. The oxen became ex- hausted when the alkali country was reached, and finally Mr. Reinhart was obliged to separate the hind wheels of his wagon from the front ones, fit a rude tongue to these and with this miserable make-shift proceed on the journey to The Dalles.
Rafting his family and few worldly possessions to the Cascades, Mr. Reinhart was here fortunate enough to secure the contract for loading a sloop bound for Portland. This put the adventurer in funds again and provided a means of passage down the Columbia to Portland. From this point the Reinharts took up the line of march for the Puget Sound country. Reaching Grand Mound Prairie the young man took up a donation claim and started a little home. Prosperity had just begun to smile upon the family, when the Indian war broke out and they were obliged to abandon their claim and seek shelter in the nearest blockhouse. Mr. Reinhart has- tened to tender his services toward the defense of the country by enlisting in the rank of Washington volunteers.
After the close of the war the family removed to Olym- pia, where Mr. Reinhart engaged in mill building, he having learned the trade of millwright in his youth. He also at one
259
PIONEER REMINISCENCES
time ran a saw mill. By this time he had acquired consider- able property and built for his home the house now owned by Mrs. Tew, on the corner of Main and Fifteenth Streets. In 1862 Mrs. Reinhart's health began to fail and they went to Grande Rounde, Oregon, in the hopes of her improvement. This move not proving of benefit, they proceeded to Napa, California. Mrs. Reinhart died a few years later at Calistoga Springs, Napa County. Mr. Reinhart then brought his chil- dren back to Oregon, where he was made Indian agent at the Grande Rounde reservation. Later, about the year 1872, Mr. Reinhart went to Whateom County, where he took up a claim of 160 acres of fine agricultural land which he developed with the passing of years and with characteristic energy, into one of the most valuable farms in that region. Mr. Reinhart was a member of the Territorial Legislature for two terms, Jus- tice of the Peace several terms, and at the time of his death in 1901, was enjoying an unexpired term as State Senator.
Besides the son William, who was born in the old home in Indiana, Senator and Mrs. Reinhart were the parents of four sons and daughters born after reaching the Coast. Of these Captain Calif S. Reinhart, Clerk of the Supreme Court, until recently president of the Olympia National Bank and Captain of Co. A .. First National Guard of Washington, three times mayor of Olympia, his native city, and a sister, Mrs. Carrie Chandler, whose home is in Bellingham survive. Wil- liam at the age of 23 died while returning from a sea voyage in Callao, and was buried from the steamship Great Republic.
Mrs. Reinhart's father was the Col. William Cock, who is well remembered among Olympia pioneers. He was first Territoral Treasurer, serving in that capacity from 1854 to 1861 and for many years prominently connected with the business and social life of Olympia.
260
THURSTON COUNTY
A TRIP TO STEILACOOM
To the lover of Nature and seeker after historic spots there is no section more alluring than that traversed by the old military road between Olympia and the old town of Steila- coom, thence on a short two miles to what was formerly the location of Fort Steilacoom, but now the site of the modern Washington Hospital for Insane.
Over roads delightfully smooth the auto glides along to the top of the Nesqually hill. The road now becomes beautiful and picturesque with the fern-decked bank on the one side and the ravine with its big trees on the other. Winding and curving the road is still a safe enough one, owing to the wide turnouts at each curve. On down through the rich Nesqually bottom, over the long bridge with the river, clay white, rushing below. The ascent of the hill on the Pierce County side is gradual and easily accomplished and when the summit is reached. what a panorama is spread out. Surely in all Wash- ington there is no nobler view than this. The broad green pastures, surrounded with a fringe of tall evergreens and the blue, sparkling waters of Old Puget Sound gleaming in the distance.
A few miles on and the site of old Fort Nesqually is reached. Although but one of the original buildings remains and in the immediate neighborhood are the squalid huts, for- merly used by the employes of a powder company, this spot is full of interest to the historian.
Fort Nesqually was established in 1833 by Archibald Mc- Donald, for years a noted factor and trader of the Hudson Bay Company. For years the Indians came in large bands to this fort from their camps on Admiralty Inlet and Puget Sound, as well as from far along the Coast, with their furs and skins to barter with the Boston men. All the buildings were situated on or near the banks of Sequalachew Creek and were of logs, the principal one being fifty-five feet long.
261
PIONEER REMINISCENCES
twenty feet wide and twelve feet high. The roofs were of cedar bark held in . place by poles and the floors were of puncheon. An immense fireplace with the chimney built of sticks plastered with clay, warmed the large main room.
At one time, well within the memory of several Thurston County pioneers, Fort Steilacoom was presided over by Dr. William Fraser Tolmie, chief factor for the Hudson Bay Com- pany.
Reaching Steilacoom the beholder is enchanted with the leveliness of the view of the Sound from the town, as it stretches out wide and beautiful, with MeNeils and other smaller islands in the distance. The bell crowned stone monument, marking the site of the first Protestant Church built north of the Columbia River, and the quaint little Catholic Church, are the interesting points in this town of by-gone days. The tourist will loiter an hour in the quaint old town and then on to what was Fort Steilacoom.
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.