USA > Washington > Thurston County > Early history of Thurston County, Washington : together with biographies and reminiscences of those identified with pioneer days > Part 26
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"Dr. Ostrander lived in Tumwater then, as did also the Eastman family. Mr. Rice, whose son, Elmore, afterwards achieved distinction as a violinist, was living there then. On the hill was the Barnes place-quite a pretentious place at that time.
"The school house on the hill, near the site of the present building, was a small one-room affair and to this day I re- member my first appearance there. I was in deadly fear of the teacher, who taught with the rod ever in his hand.
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Later school was held in the T. L. A. Hall, which is still stand- ing, a monument to the energy of the residents who organized the society and built the hall. This Tumwater Literary Association was a flourishing society for many years. They gathered together quite a library, and had very interesting sessions. In this hall dances were held for many years.
"School was held in the lower floor and once when some of the older boys had planned to eject the teacher, during the scuffle which followed my sister, Etta, now Mrs. Gelbach of Spokane, put all we children out of the window and then clambered after us, whither most of the school followed. School in those days never lacked for excitement. Kate Ward (Mrs. Knapp), Fannie and Florence Ostrander (Mrs. Moore and Mrs. Crosby), Fannie Crosby (Mrs. Ostrander), and many others probably remember that day as vividly as I do.
"Across the bay was an Indian village and whenever there were rumors of war we children used to terrify ourselves with imagining that these Indians would capture us. The old squaws with their baskets of olalies, or of oysters, clams or fish hanging over their backs suspended from a broad band across the forehead, were familiar sights to our youthful eyes. The site of this village has long been overgrown with small trees and underbrush.
"Many names throng my memory as I think over those days which were spent in Tumwater, but as they are probably all mentioned in other reminiscences I will omit them, but if a complete list could be compiled of all who have lived in Tumwater, many well known names would be there.
"One beautiful. solemn custom was followed in Tumwater until the early '80's. This was the tolling the age of one who had just taken leave of this life. The first stroke of the bell sent a hush of sympathy over the town, and the close, friendly life then made all well acquainted with all that was happening so the people knew who had gone to rest. Almost the last for whom the bell tolled was our mother. This custom in a small community seemed a beautiful one to me and as long as Grandfather Biles, as he was universally called, lived and was well enough to attend to outside matters, this custom and another was kept up. The other custom was the community Christmas tree held every Christmas Eve at the little church on the hill. This church, built first as a union
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church, was afterwards absorbed by the Methodist Church and as I think still of that denomination. Mr. Biles was for many years Superintendent of the Sunday School and the mainstay of the church.
"With but two or three exceptions not even a descendant of any of those pioneers live now at Tumwater.
"The old place, on which we lived only long enough for my mother to prove up after my father's death, has remained intact for thirty years, but not occupied.
"Mr. Gelbach, while in a reminiscent mood during his long illness in 1914, told many interesting things of early days and Mrs. Gelbach has transcribed the following, which will interest many pioneers :
"In April 1870 there embarked on the Steamer Ajax. clearing from San Francisco for Portland, Oregon, a group of men who became for many years identified with the for- tunes of Thurston County.
"The first in importance was Mr. Saloman, who bore an appointment from President U. S. Grant as Governor of the Territory of Washington; second Major Hayden, who came as Internal Revenue Collector .; Mr. B. B. Tuttle, a deputy Revenue Collector, and Mr. R. G. O'Brien, who served as Secretary to Major Hayden.
"Among the non-officials were Mr. Phillip Hiltz, Mr. Stuth, bringing his bride from Germany, and Mr. George Gel- bach. Mr. Gelbach started West with the intention of settling in Portland, Oregon, but was persuaded by the Olympia party to continue his journey to Puget Sound.
"Major Hayden, Mr. Tuttle and Mr. O'Brien were gifted with fine voices and formed a trio whose singing gave great pleasure to the passengers.
"On arriving at Portland many honors were paid to the new Washington Governor, in which the whole Olympia party shared. Carriages drawn by four horses were provided for a trip to Hillsborough where Mr. Scott, father of the famous Oregonian editor, and no less famous suffragist, Abigail Scott Duniway, kept an inn. A boutiful old-time feast was spread for the guests. Several days were spent in Portland waiting for the arrival of the Steamer California to take the passengers over the bar and through the Straits to Puget Sound.
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"Amongst the freight loaded in Portland was 1,000 bushels of wheat billed to Mr. Nelson Barnes for his mill at Tumwater. When approaching the bar on the outward voyage a storm threatened and the Captain ordered all passengers inside the cabins and everything was made fast for heavy seas. The order was obeyed by all except Mr. Gelbach, who preferred to take his chances outside. The decks were twice washed by huge waves, but he clung to ropes for dear life and escaped being washed overboard. When quiet waters were reached the Captain was surprised to find him still aboard, a wetter and a wiser man.
"When the little hamlet of Seattle was reached the steamer lay by to enable the inhabitants to entertain their Governor: Chief on the program was a dance, which was greatly enjoyed by the steamer's passengers.
"On the sixth day of May, 1870, when the California neared the head of Puget Sound, the little group of men stood on her deck eagerly gazing for a glimpse of their new home Governor Saloman, Major Hayden and Mr. Hiltz had served in the Civil War, but as the close of that event was but five years in the past they were still young men. The remainder of the party were in their early twenties. When the steamer rounded Doffelmeyers Point, Olympia lay revealed under the morning sun, in all the greenery and bloom of May, a beau- tiful and welcome sight, and it was well that the young and hopeful company could not read beneath this smiling welcome that Thurston County held no great fortune nor signal honor for any of its members. As they drew nearer Mr. Hiltz ex- claimed enthusiastically, 'That is the place,' and he remained true to the opinion, living in Olympia for the remainder of his life ; as did Mr. Stuth also, who probably of all the party came best equipped financially. He met business misfortune early in his Olympia career from which he never recovered. Governor Saloman made his home in Olympia till his successor was appointed and later died in San Francisco. Mr. Tuttle went to Portland, Oregon, where he died a few years ago. Major Hayden, who was joined by his family, lived in Olympia for many years, removing later to Seattle where his death occurred. Mr. O'Brien occupied the office of Clerk of the Supreme Court for a number of years, later organizing the State National Guards, in which he was deeply interested.
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After losing the command of the State Militia he went to California, where he lived until his death, which occurred recently. He is remembered as the father of the Militia.
"Mr. Gelbach cast his lot with the little village of Tum- water, where he maintained a continuous residence for 27 years. He built a flouring mill there, and conducted a success- ful business until the panic of 1893 relieved him with many others, of future business cares. He then served four years as County Treasurer. Mr. Gelbach now resides in Spokane, the only living member of the little party that so gaily steamed into Olympia Harbor 44 years ago.
"In connection with the present high cost of maintenance of the state, Mr. Gelbach recalls an incident of Territorial days which makes interesting reading now that the taxpayers are called upon to foot the enormous bills for the state's expenses.
"Governor Saloman occupied an office over George Barnes' bank, an adjoining room being used by the Secretary of State. One day when Mr. Gelbach was in the office the executive, Secretary Nick Owings and Auditor T. M. Reed entered into a discussion concerning the cost of maintaining the Territory for the ensuing year. It was the general con- census of opinion that $35,000 would be amply sufficient."
DAVID T. DREWRY
Living in peace, contentment and plenty on the magnifi. cent farm where they have made their home for the past fifty odd years, was found Mr. and Mrs. David T. Drewry when the compiler was on the quest of genuine pioneers, as surely this venerable couple could be so designated as Mr. Drewry arrived in the year 1853 and his wife probably a couple of years later, the memories of the two were a little vague and indistinct in regard to exact dates, but they both knew they came here while the entire country was all but an unbroken
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wilderness and through their youthful pluck and energy they certainly performed well their share in making at least their own holdings bloom and flourish.
Well kept fields reaching for long stretches along the county road, a fine garden spot, flowers, and thoroughly modern farm house are there today as witnesses of the thrift and industry of the couple-young and in the freshness of youth when their life was started on the farm a half century ago, and now as the shadows of life's evening approach, wait- ing with cheerfulness and serenity for the night to fall ; happy in their children, grandchildren, and with a mutual love and dependence upon each other that was very touching to witness.
D. T. Drewry came to this country as the driver of one of Col. Wm. Cock's ox teams from their old home in Missouri. where his boyhood had been spent, although the young man was a native of Kentucky but having been left an orphan at a very early age, had been adopted by an uncle living in Mis- souri. The lad was but seventeen years of age when the trip was started and although the journey was made in the regula- tion way of travl in those days-over the old Oregon trail with ox teams, Col. Cock with his family was so well equipped for the trip, his oxen were so well fed and cared for that only ninety traveling days were consumed from the time the start was made from Missouri till the Willamette valley was reached -an unusually short time in those days. They had no sick- ness, no trouble with the Indians and no particular disasters to delay them from reaching their destination.
After spending the winter in the Willamette valley, Col. Cock decided to come on to Puget Sound, and indeed, this point had been where he had originally intended reaching when he made up his mind to emigrate. All places in the West looked alike to the young David so he came along with his friends. Col. Cock opened and, for several years, was proprietor of the historic hotel known as the Pacific House and Drewry assisted him in the work about the place for several years.
When the Indian war of 1855-56 broke out Drewry was made wagon master of a train of thirty wagons chartered by the government to haul supplies from the Cowlitz landing to the Puyallup valley, where the troops were encamped. Al-
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though the young man was never in an actual engagement with the enemy his train was at one time so close to the White River battle that the men could distinctly hear the reports of the guns and shouts of the men. The teamsters corralled their wagons and waited for some time, expecting an attack, but they were not molested.
Mr. Drewry recalls being at one time a schoolmate of John Miller Murphy, with a Mr. Cornelius as their teacher.
"They don't have such teachers now," said the old man as he began musing over those vanished days, "and they don't have as good times as they used to either. In those days we were all like one big family, dancing on the slightest provo- cation, and how we did use to dance-none of your silly jigs and whirlings that the young folks seem to think is the thing now. We boys were glad to pay $5 a ticket to a dance. We took our best girls and danced quadrilles, polkas and waltzes all the afternoon and all night. Dances were dances in those, days, too, with a big supper of ham sandwiches, home-made cakes and pies and gallons of coffee thrown in at midnight.
"When I first came to Olympia the white women I can remember were Sarah Yantis, Jerusha Hays, Mrs. Scott, Char- lotte and Lucy Barnes, Mrs. Cock and her three daughters, Carrie, Annie and Roxie, and Mrs. George Barnes. There may have been a few others but my memory fails me."
Mrs. Drewry, when but a young girl of fourteen years of age, arrived in Olympia with her parents from her home in New York City. Their trip was by way of the Isthmus and they were among the passengers on the first train connecting the Atlantic and Pacific over the route of the now Panama Canal. They had the hardship of having to take their choice of walking or riding a mule over a considerable gap in the road which was considered unsafe for the little cars to cross owing to the settling of the earth under the ties.
A brother of Emaline Weed, as Mrs. Drewry was then known, Charles Weed, had preceded his family to Puget Sound and wrote back to his mother, urging her to join him in this land of golden opportunities. His advise to his mother, while good in the main. was faulty in the respect that he told her not to bother to bring any furniture or supplies with her on the long trip as everything could be procured here. Mrs.
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Weed followed her son's advise, but upon her arrival in Olympia discovered that what women and girls considered ab- solute necessaries a young man accustomed to a frontier life had grown to regard as perfectly dispensible luxuries. Bed- ding, pillows, cooking utensils and every kind of conveniences were impossible to buy. Mrs. Weed was delighted to procure a few bird's feathers from an Indian squaw which she enclosed in some articles of white clothing to make their first pillows. The first apples the family could obtain were given them by Mr. George Bush, who by that time had a fine orchard in bearing. The Bush and Drewry families in latter years be- came neighbors and firm friends, as the Weed family bought a piece of land on the Des Chutes river near the Bush place and lived there till the marriage of Emaline to young Drewery in 1858.
Soon after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Drewry bought the place on which they still live, but which was originally the Jones homestead. Here their children were born and from there were carried forth three of their children, never to re- turn, Harvey, Carrie and Frederick, their baby.
Although Carrie and Frederick were taken while still of a tender age, the death of their son, Harvey, in 1911, was a crushing blow to the parents, now growing old and dependent upon their children for love and care. He was a young man, full of life and vigor, with a wife and children to cherish and protect, when he met with an instantaneous death while work- ing in the field.
Of the remaining sons, the eldest, Almond, has a hand- some country home within a few rods from the old home and the youngest son, Edward V., with his family, lives with his parents in order to give the old couple the care and atten- tion they need and which only loving hands can give them as the wife and mother has lost the sight of her eyes and is entirely blind. Her husband and children have surrounded her with every comfort and convenience and take delight in fill- ing the remaining days with all the pleasure and happiness within their power to bestow.
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THE BUSH FAMILY
Clinging like the last withered leaf on the tree, only wait- ing for the passing breeze to waft him to join his parents and five brothers lives Lewis N. Bush, the youngest son of that hardiest argonaut of them all, George Bush and his faithful wife, Isabella James Bush.
The Bush family arrived in what is now known as Thurs- ton County as early as 1845, while this section was an un- broken wilderness and with their party consisting of about thirty people were the very first settlers north of the Co- lumbia River.
The original families consisted of the Bush family, father, mother and five sons, William O., Joseph T., Reilly B., Henry Sanford and Jackson J .; Mr. and Mrs. M. Simmons with theil four sons, Mr. and Mrs. McAllister with their son and twc daughters; David and Mrs. Talitha Kindred and their son John K .; the Jones family, consisting of father and mother and sons Lewis and Morris and daughter, Elizabeth and twc single men. Samuel Crockett and Jesse Ferguson.
When the start was made from the old home in Missouri the elder Bush had laid in a bountiful stock of supplies. enough to last him and his own family for several years of frontier life, but all his associates had not been so well equipped and even before the last and final stop was made there was a shortage of necessities among several of the emigrant families. Bush, with the generosity and kind heartedness which was his most marked characteristic, divided with the less fortunate, even to the subsequent deprivation of his own family.
Reaching Puget Sound, the families settled on what has ever since been known as Bush Prairie, and took up donation, claims of 640 acres to a family. Lewis Bush enjoys the dis tinction of being the only man living on an original donation. claim west of the mountains. In every other instance the orig inal owners of claims have parted with them. but the Bush claims has descended in an unbroken line from the father
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George Bush, to the youngest son and to a grandson, Mr John S. Bush, son of W. O. Bush.
The first winter spent on Puget Sound was one to try mens' souls, there was absolutely nothing in the way of pro- visions to be bought for love or money. It is true the Hudson Bay Company had a post on the Nesqually with Dr. Tolmie manager, but already there was a feeling of jealousy spring- ing up in the minds of the managers of the company, over the rapidly increasing number of emigrants coming to share the ranges and preempt the fertile land. The agents were forbid. den to extend aid to the settlers, so although Dr. Tolmie was inclined to feel kindly towards the newcomers, he was for. bidden to openly sell them the necessaries of life.
Clams, salmon, game and oysters were the substantials of diet eked out, with a little wheat and dried peas, which still remained of the stores. The settlers learned to eat with relish the roots of ferns which they used as green stuff. Flour there was none until the Simmons mill was finished in New- market.
The men of the new settlement went right to work build. ing cabins for shelter for their families against the winter weather, which was about to close in on them. The cabins were covered with split shakes and the floors were of pun- cheon, while the few simple articles of furniture were manu- factured from the cedar logs lying in profusion on the ground.
Mr. Bush, shortly after his arrival, set out fruit and shade trees, the seeds of which he had brought with him from his old home. Many of these trees grew and flourished and stand to this day, noble monuments to the hardy old pioneer
George Bush died in 1863 and his wife a couple of years later. After their deaths the homestead passed into the hands of his three sons, W. O., J. T., and H. S. Bush. In time W O. Bush married and became the father of the lady who is now Mrs. George Gaston and John Bush. Lewis Bush, in speaking of his earlier experiences on the old homestead, said : "Yes, those were hard times. We all had to scramble for enough to eat. There was simply nothing we could buy from any market for several years. I remember one summer day an old squaw came to our house with something to eat. which she wanted to sell. Mother tried to dicker with her but
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she only wanted clothes. Money was of no use to her. She wanted a shirt for one of her papooses. Now, we had been away from home a long time and clothing was getting scarce but mother wanted whatever it was the squaw had so badly that she stripped the shirt off of my brother Sanford's back and gave it to the siwash.
"I was born on the homestead after the folks reached Bush Prairie, so I cannot remember as well as could my brothers about the Indian war. I know we were all anxious and worried for several months and when the first scare was on and the red skins had killed McAllister and Northcraft father moved his family into the Fort at Tumwater for a while. But as time went on he was anxious to get back to his place, as were the other settlers of our neighborhood, so ther went to work and built a fort of their own on father's farm.
"Saplings probably fourteen feet long were cut from the woods and a trench dug several feet deep. In this trench was set upright the saplings in a double row clear around the enclosure. This made a high wall which was practically bullet proof. Inside this enclosure were the cabins of the settlers- each by themselves. We were comfortable enough and lived that way for several months. This fort was always knowr as Bushs' fort.
"I was a big lad, probably twelve years old, before I had my first pair of shoes. There were none to be had in all the country, so I was forced to go barefoot, not that I considered that any hardship, for I was used to it and only wanted shoes to put on style with. Well, when the first sailing vessel came into harbor at Olympia, father went on board to see what of the cargo he could buy. There was a whole box of shoes of all sizes among the articles father bought. Of course, the elders had first pick at the shoes and when I had a turn at the box there was only one pair of No. 10s left. They would have been big enough for any large man but I was only toc tickled to get them and wore the shoes with great pride on Sundays and special occasions. Those shoes lasted me for years.
"Mother made friends with Dr. Tolmie and it was through him that she got her first start in poultry and sheep. She had traded for a few hens from a French family who were con
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nected with the Hudson Bay Company, and when one of these hens showed her willingness to set, mother got a setting of turkey eggs from Dr. Tolmie. She was very successful with this hatching and by coddling those young turks soon had a nice flock. Dr. Tolmie had not been so lucky with his turkeys so he told mother he would trade her a fine ewe for every turkey she would let him have. She was glad to do so and in that way she got the first start of the large flock of sheep which was one of the greatest sources of profit in a few years. From Dr. Tolmie also we got the first start of hogs. Well, sc we lived for years, always getting ahead a little and I am glad to say, always having a little to share with our poorer neigh bors. Neither father nor mother could bear to deny anyone who applied to them for assistance."
Lewis Bush might have gone on and related how the Bushs, father and sons were always willing and ready to ex- tend a helping hand to the settlers who soon began to pour into the country. The Bush farm was the stopping place be- tween the settlements of Olympia and New Market and the Cowlitz landing and there are still men and women living who can recall being entertained at this home. Night or day the Bushs kept open house to all comers-no one was turned away without being fed and sheltered and in many cases their wagons carried substantial gifts of fruit, garden truck and grain from Mr. Bush's abundant stores.
Mr. George H. Himes relates a story about the elder Bush which is given here as being characteristic of the open handed generosity of not only himself but his six sons as well. One year there was a great scarcity of grain. The yield, owing to unfavorable conditions, was unusually small. Seattle by this time was quite a town and speculators from that place came to Mr. Bush and offered him an almost fabulous price for all his harvest. They were astounded when their offer was refused, and were very chagrined over their failure to corner the out- put of grain. They asked Mr. Bush what he intended do- ing with his surplus.
"I'll just keep my grain to let my neighbors who have had failures have enough to live on and for seeding their fields in the spring. They have no money to pay your fancy
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prices and I don't intend to see them want for anything in my power to provide them with."
With the flight of years the Bush homestead developed into a model farm under the skillful management of W. O. Bush, who took great pride in raising and preparing for ex- hibition samples of the grain and produce grown on his place. Exhibits were made at the World's fairs of Philadelphia, Chi- cago and Buffalo, which attracted general attention and won for Bush medals and diplomas from all three fairs. These exhibits were of inestimable value in advertising the resources of the Territory of Washington and besides the medals and diplomas awarded Mr. Bush personally the County of Thurs- ton and the Territory and State of Washington were also awarded medals for the best exhibit of grains made by any section of the entire United States. In the planting, selection and arranging of the specimens Mr. Bush was assisted by his young daughter, Belle, who took as great an interest and pride in the exhibit as did her father. That young girl is now Mrs. George Gaston of Olympia.
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