USA > Washington > Thurston County > Early history of Thurston County, Washington : together with biographies and reminiscences of those identified with pioneer days > Part 29
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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
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enjoyable, charming evening parties were given in private homes, delightful evening receptions were given by Colonel and Mrs. Ross, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and at New Year's and other appropriate days it was the custom to give a large ball.
S. M. Percival (also his brother, John). having attended the California Military Academy, in Oakland, Cal., and know- ing the salutary effect of military training, organized July 18, 1884, the Washington Cadets, a company of boys who were not old enough to join the Territorial Militia, and the upper floor of the old warehouse. previously mentioned, was used as an Armory and drill room. A press notice says, "To be a successful leader and instructor of boys is a natural talent which is given to very few, and recognizing this fact, and the importance of the service done the boys of the city by Captain Percival, certain of his friends conceived the idea of present- ing him some testimonial of their appreciation of his efforts." On the afternoon of September 24, 1885: "The Capitol Guard, Capt. J. C. Ten Eyck, escorted the Washington Cadets to the Public Square, where the Olympia Cornet Band and a large audience were in waiting. Gov. Watson C. Squire, who had made a special trip from Seattle to be present, attended by HIon. T. M. Reed and Major J. R. Hayden, approached the line, and with fitting remarks presented Captain Percival, on behalf of the friends of the Company, with a beautiful sword and belt."
The proficiency of the Cadets was such that the Governor said that he thought the Washington Cadets to be the best drilled company in the Territory. The same press notice says further "on all occasions when a public escort has been re- quired, the Washington Cadets have been ready and willing to turn out, and have added very much to the public parades which have taken place this summer. Especially did the Cadets show to advantage on the occasion of the Territorial Muster in this city, when they spent two days in Camp with the Militia, and by their courteous demeanor and soldierly bearing, they won the respect of the whole Camp."
On another occasion a Cadets Ball was given and the newspaper of that date records, "At this time the Cadets under command of Capt. S. M. Percival, First Lieut. Fred Smith,
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Second Lieut. Bates Cavanaugh, marched into the hall with that precision of movement which so marks their drill. Here- upon Miss Janet Moore appeared upon the stage, and with an appropriate address presented to the Cadets a banner, which the ladies of Olympia had purchased for them. The banner is four by six, a solid piece of blue silk. On each side there is painted in artistic style, the Coat of Arms of the Territory with its legend 'Al-ki'-after a little while. There is also painted upon each side the words 'Washington Cadets'. It is a beautiful banner, the finest of its kind in the Territory. The roster of the Company is as follows: Harry Cowles, Geo. Libby, Horace Percival, W. J. Foster, Harry Crosby, Wood Doane, Nathan Wolf, Charles Leighton, James Hayden. Eltney Van Epps, Bates Cavanaugh, Robt. Blankenship, Fred Smith, Frank Carroll, Willie Young, David Baker. Geo. Doane, Win- lock Miller, Arlie Van Epps, Van Woodard. Walter Smith, Dave Williams. Pendleton Miller, Henry Kuykendall, Willie Page, Oscar Craig, Geo. Buchanan, Frank Murphy."
As I have stated, in the early settlement of the Territory, the only way of traveling was by canoe or rowboat on the water, and on horseback following the "blazed" trail on land. Later the trail was widened to a road, but even then a winter trip from Puget Sound to the Columbia River was often a thrilling experience. In the summer and as many of the winter months as possible, the conveyance was the picturesque stage coach of story and theater renown-but usually for a longer or shorter period in the winter the road became so nearly impassable that the vehicle known to early settlers as a "dead axe" wagon was used. For small parties, or when the booking over-ran the seating capacity of the regular stage, an "extra" was put on. This was a miniature stage coach which accom- modated but six inside passengers and one outside with the driver-and a small "boot" not sufficient for large trunks, which either followed or preceded the "extra." An important feature of the luggage of those days was the large, well filled lunch baskets, for there was a delightful sense of uncertainty about reaching the regular stations. As no guest or member of a family ever set out upon a journey without partaking of a hot substantial breakfast, served not later than 3:30 o'clock a. m., housekeepers will appreciate what the matrons of that
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day did, in a social way, in "speeding the parting guest." The expenses of the trip were from $20 to $25-$15 for the stage ride with meals and steamer ticket extra.
In February, 1871, a party composed of Lizzie P. Ferry (Mrs. John Leary), Belle T. Evans (Mrs. Samuel Wilkeson), Fanny O. Steele (Mrs. R. G. O'Brien), Stella Galliher and myself, escorted by my father, left Olympia in an "extra" at 4 o'clock-the regular hour for the departure of the stage. My father was enroute to San Francisco, and the girls, traveling in his care, were on their way to enter the Easter term at St. Helen's Hall, which had been founded in 1869 at Port- land, Ore. The parents of these girls had welcomed the oppor- tunity of giving such superior educational advantages to their daughters, and I wish it were in my power to properly express what the establishment of St. Helen's Hall at that early day, meant to the girls of the entire Northwest. That I could pay a proper tribute to the character of Mary B. Rodney, for twenty years principal of the school. A woman descended from a titled family in England, and from Caesar Rodney, signer of the "Declaration of Independence," of rare schol- astie attainments, of cultured mind and lofty purpose, she left an ineffaceable stamp upon a generation of women.
On the first day of our journey the breakfast and dinner stations were reached without mishap; at the noon stopping place we found Mr. R. G. O'Brien, who was Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue. He was making the trip on horseback and joined our party. About the middle of the afternoon, in going over a piece of "corduroy" and "chuck holes" we suddenly came to an abrupt standstill with a broken axle. By the time a small fir tree had been felled and lashed in place, the daylight was fast waning, and we were unable to reach McDonald's, where we had intended to pass the night. We were hospitably cared for by a Frenchman named Bernier. The family spoke English very imperfectly, and doubtless were severely taxed to provide accommodation for a party of eight on short notice. Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Percival and the driver were disposed of in the attic. The Bernier family oc- cupied the floor of the living room, and the "best room" where the "Lares and Penates" of the household were carefully kept, was given to the girls. The second day on arriving at
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Pumphreys' (Olequa) we found Colonel Pardee, Chief Clerk to Colonel Ross. He also joined the party and we embarked shortly after noon in a small canoe. (I regret that I can not give the dimensions, but I have a distinct recollection that we were packed in.) Eight persons with a corresponding number of umbrellas and hand-bags, as the receptacle then used was called, five lunch baskets, besides the Indian who sat at the rear end and guided the canoe, made up the cargo and pas- senger list on the voyage. All sat "tailor fashion" and thus we "shot the rapids" on the Cowlitz River, arriving about dusk at Freeport, where we made the acquaintance of Dr. N. Ostrander and his family. We were lifted out of the canoe so wet and bedraggled, that we must have presented a forlorn appearance. (It was never possible to raise an umbrella, as it was necessary for the Indian to keep his gaze constantly fixed on the bow of the canoe.) Never shall I forget the hearty welcome given us, the kindly attention lavished on ns by Dr. Ostrander's daughters, never will the remembrance fade of the sense of peace and satisfaction produced by the cheer and comfort of that well ordered home.
After a refreshing night's sleep we left Freeport about noon on the "Wenat". which was the smallest and dirtiest sternwheel steamer I have ever seen. At Monticello we trans- ferred to the sternwheel steamer "Fanny Troupe" reaching our destination, St. Helen's Hall, at 9 o'clock on the evening of the third day from home, where we were greeted by our townswoman, Miss Lydia H. Blackler, who was a teacher of literature, languages, and higher mathematics in the school. The return trip in the latter part of June was quite a different matter, and was made in two days and one night. The con- dition of the road at that season of the year permitted staging "over the mountains" as far as "Huntingtons" (Monticello), and the big stage coach made the entire trip. The choice seats were those outside and above the driver's seat and were always the first to be booked. The effect of the light and shade in the "forest primeval" produced by the lengthening twilight and rising moon on those rides of a summer evening. which were extended to midnight, if the distance to the next half-way house demanded it, made a panorama that could
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scarcely fail to arouse a sense of the artistic, however dormant it might be.
In January, 1872, I was stricken with illness and my mother deemed it best to come to my bedside. She gave my oldest brother a vacation from school, and entrusted my baby brother to his care. A neighbor kindly came each morning to bathe and dress the baby, and the care of the child during the day devolved upon "Sam", who was perfectly competent to put him to bed. For three and one-half weeks, he was faithful to his trust, and my mother's confidence was not mis- placed. He taught the baby to walk by the original method of lying flat on his back with my father's cane extended at full length to the end of which my brother Horace clung, go- ing round and round in a circle. His boy friends, with the helpfulness which characterized pioneer life, played in the street in front of the sitting-room windows, that he might not be entirely left out of their sports. On her return he proudly delivered his charge to my mother without a "bump" or a scratch to report.
Cold had set in, and roads were nothing but frozen "hum- mocks" and deep mud holes coated with ice. However, the stage set out with several passengers. Mr. George Coggan, the U. S. mail contractor, rode a horse belonging to his wife. The horse was a beautiful glossy black creature, but hard even when the road was favorable. At the breakfast station the stage had to be abandoned and the passengers were obliged to mount the horses. My mother was first placed on one of the stage horses enveloped in a blanket which was securely pinned to protect her from the bitter cold. After a time the jarring caused by the heavy horse breaking the thin ice and plunging violently into the deep holes, became so fatiguing that she was changed to Mrs. Coggan's horse, which she rode the rest of the way. The going was so slow and laborious that it was exceedingly trying to the nerves of one who was con- sumed with anxiety. When a stretch of road was reached which appeared to be a little smoother, mother, being in the lead, attempted to go a little faster. This effort came to naught, however, for Mr. Coggan soon espied her and shouted
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at the top of his voice, "For God's sake, Mrs. Percival, do not let that horse trot on this ground, he will kill you."
The night was spent at McDonald's. Pumphrey's was reached the next day and from there she took a canoe to Monticello. From Monticello a steamer was taken to Port- land, and in this way my mother accomplished what any anxious mother would do today in six hours. My mother decided to bring me back home for a time to recruit my strength. We left Portland on the California, making month- ly or semi-monthly trips to the Sound by way of Victoria, and we were detained for five days "bar bound" at Astoria; the Captain each day running down to the Columbia River bar but owing to a storm raging outside, would be unable to cross out and would be compelled to return to Astoria. During these five days my life-long friend, Helen F. Parker. (Mrs. Herbert McMicken), ministered to me devotedly. (Captain Parker, with his family, was returning to Olympia after a few years' residence in Portland). One of the kindly duties she imposed upon herself was to bring me fresh water to drink from a spring she had found on shore. Not content with describing the beauty of the spring to me, she one day came bearing a short, broad board with a replica of the spring made with earth, twigs and ferns, the spring represented by a tiny tin cup she had bought for the purpose. Then, as now, she could find "Sermons in stones; lessons in running brooks. and good in everything."
These incidents are not cited because they were excep- tional ones, but they are what might reasonably be expected to occur on any winter trip to reach the Columbia River. Now and then, alas! some traveller did not reach his journey's end-an over-turned canoe-a plunge over a precipice-but- these accidents were rare.
The wonderful skill and dexterity exercised by the In- dians who guided and controlled the canoes in that whirling, eddying river, was almost marvelous in its way; something we shall not see again. The almost human intelligence of the stage horses-the thrill and quick response to the command of the driver, in a moment of danger-aroused a feeling in the human heart akin to respect for such noble animals.
The Portland Oregonian has lately said: "There is not much that savors of romance in the rapid life we now lead.
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"All of the fine veneering of modern civilization has failed to restore the wild beauty of the original social struc- ture of the State.
"Modern civilization and its attendant comfort and luxuries which came with the railroad, are fully appreciated, and none of us, perhaps, wish to return to the old days."
But we "old settlers" are fortunate in the possession of experiences and memories which we would not surrender, and which cannot be wrested from us. A positive knowledge of that era of brotherly love and universal inclination to help each other; and we experience a shock and sense of loss when we hear of the passing of those friends of former days.
THE SETTLEMENT OF HAWK'S PRAIRIE
Mr. George H. Himes, Secretary of the Oregon Historical Society, has contributed the following interesting reminis- eences :
"The first family to settle on what is now commonly known as Hawk's Prairie, although erroneously so, was Free- man W. Tyrrell, who, in 1851, came with his wife and six step children to take up a donation claim of 640 acres on the southeastern portion of this prairie. The names of the step children were Levi, Jonathan Davis, Mary, Rebecca Jane and William T. Prince. Two boys were born to them a few years later-Judson and Squire. The family remained on this place until late in the '60s. when it removed to the Lincoln Creek settlement. All the family are now dead except Mrs. Layton and William.
"The next settlers upon Tyrell's (Hawk's) Prairie were as follows: Elijah Tyrrell, in the edge of the timber at the ex- treme northern end of the prairie; Mr. Klady and his son William, on a place west of the Freeman W. Tyrrell place.
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bordering the eastern shore of Long Lake, a little way south of the present Union Mills; David Phillips, the grandfather of Mrs. H. B. HcElroy, of Olympia, northeast of the Klady claim; Henry Fowler, in the extreme western edge of the prairie, which would be just north of Union Mills-all taking their claims late in 1851 or in the fall of 1852. In the latter part of October, 1853, my father, Tyrus Himes, bought the improvements of Fowler for fifty dollars, settled upon that place November 9th following, and spent the last twenty-five years of his life there, and thus became the second permanent settler upon that prairie. The original claim was 320 acres, and the larger portion of it is now owned by David Fleetwood.
"Early in November, 1853, C. B. Baker bought the im- provements on the David Phillips claim, and with his family of a wife and three children-James E., John W., and Leander M .- Stayed there until the spring of 1854, when he and his family removed to Grand Mound Prairie and secured a claim on Scatter Creek, a short distance west of Rochester. The surviving members of the Baker family-John W. and Leander H .- are now residents of Portland, Oregon, the latter a suc- cessful teacher in the public schools.
"The third family to settle on Tyrell (Hawk's) Prairie was that of John W. Hawk. He came from Indiana to Oregon across the plains in 1852, first settling in Portland. His wife died in December of that year, leaving six children, all boys. as follows : Albert, Wilson, William, Frank. Samuel and Mel- vin. These children were provided with homes among other pioneer families until the summer of 1855, when Mr. Hawk was married to Mrs. Sarah Stephens Hawks, whose husband was drowned near Astoria, February 24. 1854. Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hawks removed to Olympia. and in August, 1855, moved to Tyrrell Prairie, locating on the next claim east of the Himes (now Fleetwood) place, and gathered his children together.
"Tyrus Himes was born at Troy, Bradford County, Penn- sylvania, April 14, 1818, and while living in what was then the frontier, and lacking educational advantages was a man of marked intelligence and ability and was well known among his associates as an exceedingly well posted man regarding current events, particularly respecting all phases of farm life. He became a warm friend of Owen Bush who told me in later
TYRUS HIMES
MRS. EMILINE HIMES
GEORGE H. HIMES
TAL NEW YORK PUBLICLIBRARY
NITER, LENOX AND TILBEN FOUNDATION .
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years that whatever he had accomplished in an agricultural line-and he has won several gold medals for his exhibits- he owed in a great measure to father's advise and instruc- tions.
"On May 1, 1843, Mr. Himes was married to Emiline Holeombe. She was also a native of Bradford County, Pen- slyvania, born December 28, 1821, her parents removing thither in 1796 from Connecticut. Her earliest ancestors came to Massachusetts from Devonshire, England, in 1630.
"In the spring of 1853 Mr. and Mrs. Himes with their family of four children, George H, Helen Z., Judson W. and Lestina Z., and four other persons, Joel Risdon and his son, Henry, a youth of twelve years, Charles R. Fitch and Fred- eriek Burnett, and the additional family of John Dodge, wife and five children, Robert Bruce, Francis Marion, Daniel, Samuel Ives and Desdemona, started across the plains to Oregon. The two families separated at the immigrant camp ground on the Umatilla River, the Dodge family going to Marion County, Willamette Valley, and the Himes family and the four persons mentioned went to Puget Sound, via Natchez Pass, 25 miles north of Mt. Rainier, in company with a number of other families and single men, the total number being 170- the first direct immigration to the Puget Sound basin. Late in 1853 Robert Bruce Dodge left the Willamette Valley and settled on Mima Prairie; his parents and the remainder of the family soon followed him and settled in the same locality.
"In October, 1854, Mr. Himes, associated with Joseph Benson Roberts, a well-to-do logger, established the first boot and shoe shop in Olympia-the first in the State of Wash- ington. During the winter of 1854-55, William Wright, a saddle and harness-maker, established himself in Olympia- the first in that line in Washington. Mr. Himes followed boot and shoe-making until 1866, when he retired to his farm for the remainder of his life, his death occurring on April 22, 1879. In 1884 the widow sold the farm to the present owner and removed to Elma. Chehalis County, and spent the remainder of her life, her death occurring on October 29, 1898.
"George H. Himes was born in Pennsylvania, May 18, 1844. Prior to crossing the plains from Illinois to Puget Sound in 1853, he went to school fifteen months. In Thurston Coun- ty he went to school three months a year from 1854 to 1859.
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On June 10, 1861, he began typesetting on the Washington Standard, Olympia, for Mr. John Miller Murphy, and worked in his office most of the time until March 10, 1864, when he went to Portland, the trip at that time requiring three days. On March 13th, he began setting type on the Oregonian, and remained in that office until June 3, 1865. A few weeks later he began working in a job printing office, and on October 5. 1863, went into business for himself, and carried on the job printing business until January 1, 1899, when he was asked by the Board of Directors of the Oregon Historical Society. organized on December 17. 1898, to become the assistant, or Field Secretary. In June, 1886, Mr. Himes was elected Secre- tary of the Oregon Pioneer Association, and has held that position without interruption up to the present time. The acquaintance thus gained has given him a great opportunity to gather an unusually large fund of information about the early pioneers of the Pacific Northwest, and this he has sought to improve to the best of his ability. He was married in Salem, Oregon, December 24, 1866, to Miss Anna F. Riggs. and eleven children were born to the union-nine daughters and two sons-and five daughters and one son are now living in Portland and vicinity, the others having passed away.
"The second, third and fourth children of Mr. and Mrs. Himes. are as follows: Mrs. Helen Z. Ruddell, born in Stark County, Illinois, February 6, 1848, widow of the late William H. Ruddell, a pioneer of Thurston County in 1852, and since 1879 she has lived near Elma, Chehalis County; Judson W. Himes, born in Stark County, Illinois, March 9, 1850, learned the baking business in Olympia, afterwards took a business course in Portland, later on was a cruiser of timber lands for the Northern Pacific Railway for a number of years, making his home in Elma, later on engaged in the real estate and in- surance business, has been an Odd Fellow for many years, has served as Town and School Clerk of Elma for several terms and holds that position at the present time; Mrs. Lestina Z. Eaton, born in Lafayette, Stark County, Illinois, November 26, 1852. was married to Nathan Eaton in 1872. He came across the plains in 1843, was a volunteer soldier in the Cayuse In- dian war of 1847-48; mined gold in 1849 in California, settled in Thurston County, twelve miles southeast of Olympia, built a sawmill there in 1853-the first mill in Western Washing-
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ton away from the Sound-cleared up a large farm out of a wilderness said to be the best in the county in its day, ren- rendered efficient service to the Territory in the Yakima In- dian war of 1855-56, introduced the first mowing machines in the county in 1856, established a photograph gallery at his place in 1862, sold his place to Mr. Collins in 1882 and removed to Elma the same year and died in 1883. He was the father of four children. Mrs. Eaton died at Potlatch at the home of her daughter, Mrs. George Simpson, in December, 1906."
PRIEST POINT PARK
There is not a spot of greater romantic interest in all Thurston County than beautiful Priests' Point Park, with its lovely, winding paths and driveway, its noble trees, the bab- bling spring of deliciously cold water, and never ending ebb and flow of the sapphire waters of dear Puget Sound, coming and going over the sands of the bathing beach. Chechacos often, in admiring this playground of Olympia, enquire how the park became possessed of such a picturesque name, so it was considered that a brief history of Priests' Point Park might well be included in this volume of Pioneer History.
In July of the year 1847, before the American settler had arrived on Puget Sound, or, at least, on the section of the Sound now known as Thurston County, Rev. Pascal Ricard, with a party of nine Oblat missionaries, established St. Jo- seph's Mission, on the east side of Budd's Inlet, about a mile and a half north of Edmund Sylvester's claim. At that time the Squaxon Indians were living in numbers along the shores of the Sound below the Mission and, indeed, the point of land embraced in the Mission holdings was a general gathering place for the Western Washington Indians. The woods were full of big game, unfrightened by the sound of the hunters' firearms, wild berries grew in profusion in the more sparsely forested
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spots, clams there were for the mere turning over of the sands of the beach at low tide, and along the shining length and breadth of Puget Sound there was no more prolific fishing waters than those that washed the shores in front of the Mission.
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