The History of Lewis County, Washington Pt 2 of 10: PAGES 94 - 128 Submitted by: Wes , Feb. 2003 ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgenwebarchives.org *********************************************************************** Source material: Nix, Alma and John Nix, Eds. "The History of Lewis County, WA". Chehalis, Lewis County Historical Society, 1985. The genealogies and stories of pioneers found on pages 63 to 394 of the history were scanned to Word, and saved as .txt files without Photos. Photo captions with names remain. The scanned page with photos is available from Wes upon request. We thank the Lewis County Historical Museum (lchs@lewiscountymuseum.org) for generously granting permission to post this file to the Digital Archives. Page numbers are at the bottom of each page. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Pt 2 of 10: PAGES 94 - 128 CHARLES BOYER Charles, son of Harvey and Lola Boyer, was born April 20, 1915 at Firdale, WA. At the age of five the family moved to Randle. The boys, William, Oscar, Charles, Jasper and a sister Lydia, lived there until 1924 when they moved to the homestead. There they went to school at the Cline School, about a half mile from their home. One pupil told me, "At noontime once we crawled under the floor and caught bats which we turned loose in the schoolroom." (photo): Boyer Charlie graduated from the eighth grade there and went to high school at Randle. If the boys wanted to attend evening activities at school they had to walk the six and a half miles each way without a light, which they often did. The boys spent many hours slashing brush, falling trees and grubbing stumps to clear the land until pastures and fields were cleared. After graduation he worked for the Forest Service as lookout on several peaks. He drove the first district-owned school bus over the Cline Road. The road was so narrow the bus had to take a trial run and the projecting rocks and stumps were marked and the road crew blasted them out of the way. We (Irma Huntington) were married in 1938 and spent our honeymoon at Watch Mtn. Lookout. We were blessed with three wonderful daughters; Elaine, Joanne and Karen. Some of their happiest memories were of the farm, riding on the hay wagons, feeding baby sheep and hunting for the hidden chicken nests. In those days all of the neighbors brought their wagons and helped each other hay. We lived in Bremerton during the war and after various other moves returned to Randle, where we bought a farm. We spent many days camping, hunting and fishing as a family. Charlie taught the youth group in Sunday School and one time we took 17 young people camping in the Goat Rocks. While driving a logging truck in 1962 he was injured when logs fell off of the truck on him. He spent the remainder of his life confined to a wheelchair. He continued to teach Sunday School, although it was very difficult at times. He continued to hunt and killed eight large bucks. He fished some although it is hard to find a place accessable for a wheelchair. He had two CB.s he monitered to help anyone he could and monitered different surveying crews. Known as "Hawkeye," he spent hours helping relay messages etc. The last two years of his life we spent as fire watchmen for logging companies. The last summer we were just a few miles from Mt. St. Helens where we often watched the steam and ash plumes. He passed away in 1983 from a heart attack, missed by all and serving his God and fellowman until the end. HARVEY BOYER FAMILY Harvey was born at Shelby County, Ohio, in 1880. He met and married Miss Lola Mingus in Arkansas. While there two sons, William and Oscar, were born. They left Arkansas in 1913 and moved to Firdale, Wa. where he worked as a timber faller. At Firdale two more sons were added to the family, Charles and Jasper. In 1918 they moved to Camp Davis and a daughter Lydia was born. Here he met William Burton of Randle, which resulted in the purchase of 60 acres of the old William Blankenship homestead. Later they traded for 40 adjoining acres. The family moved to Randle in 1920 where they lived until 1924 when they moved to the homestead. Before the family moved, Harvey, Oscar and a friend, Charles Gardner batched in the house and cooked in the yard. They raised the house above any previous high water mark. Later while clearing some land they sawed and split a cottonwood tree for the cookstove for Lola to use while canning. They stacked it near the old house and set fire to a nearby brush pile and went to lunch. Upon returning they found the fire had not only burned the brush but also the wood and the old house. The road was very narrow and in the winter it was impassable for cars because of mud. Along the river in places the road was caved in, and they laid poles across the area. Oscar said when you looked down over the side of the wagon you could only see the river, and he always shut his eyes when he went over it. When the road was first being constructed, Rev. John Scott told us he was working with the W.P.A. and as they were drilling and blasting the rock, a slab about nine feet long, 24" wide and 16" thick broke loose and under it they found a 6' skeleton along with the remains of a campfire. They could see faint traces of an Indian trail. Their house was washed away in the 1933 flood and for a time they stayed with their neighbors, the George Kerr family. They borrowed two tents and lived in them until their new house was built. All spare time to these early years was spent slashing brush, grubbing stumps, building fences, etc. until enough land was cleared for pasture land and hayfields for the herd of Jersey cattle and a small band of sheep. To supply the family with necessities, Harvey had to continue working as a faller. He boarded in Randle during the week, coming home on weekends. When he was ready to go back to work, one of the boys would ride double to Randle and bring the horse back. The last timber he fell was on the old Hartman place (on the present Peters Road). The timber was logged by the Peters family and dragged to the river where it was fIoated to the mills in Kelso. It is believed this was the last timber floated this way. HARRY AND LELA BRADFORD FAMILY In 1911, Harry and Lela Bradford came to Centralia from Baldwin, Michigan. Lela's parents, Conrad and Lydia Messner had come West several years before after selling their farm in Chase, Michigan. At the time the Messner's came West their Michigan neighbors, the Henry Junemans, had already settled in Lewis County with their three children, Johann, Alma and Walter. (photo): Harry W. Bradford In 1913, a daughter, Cyrelda, was born to Harry and Lela. Shortly after that Harry and Chris Althauser became partners in the Centralia Foundry located in the 100 block of South Washington in Centralia. In 1918 Harry and Lela had another daughter. Dorothy. After selling the Centralia Foundry 94 Lydia, Jasper, Charlie, Oscar, William, Harvey, Lola Boyer. Harry and Chris bought out the J.P. Symons Foundry which was located adjacent to the Eastern Mill. It subsequently became the Centralia Iron Works and specialized in pattern making and foundry work as well as repairing of large logging and mill equipment. Harry Bradford was an active member of the Rotary Club and was one of those instrumental in establishing Riverside Park. He was elected to the Centralia School Board in the middle 20's and, along with W.G. Born and George Galvin, had the foresight to establish Centralia Junior College, the first junior college in the State. It was the beginning of what is now known as Centralia Community College. Harry died in 1941. Lela Bradford was active in the PTA and was president of the then City PTA. She was active in the Ladies' Choral Society and was also a practical nurse in later years. Lela died in 1947. Cyrelda, after completing her education and the Centralia Junior College and Bellingham Normal, went to Michigan where she worked for the DuPont Company. She married Robert Horn and had three children. Dorothy married Harold Greeley and they had one daughter, Judy, born in 1940. After completing Centralia Business College, she worked as a secretary for many years in the area. Later she was employed as a secretary for Congresswoman Julia Butler Hansen. She retired in 1982 from the Washington State Senate, as the minute and journal clerk for 20 years, to pursue her hobby of rose growing: She became an accredited rose judge and consulting rosarian following the death of Harold in 1973. He had been an avid rose grower, journeyman electrician and was active in Masonic orders. Judy Greeley married Richard Hendrickson after completing her education at Centralia College and the University of Washington. Her career has been in the field of corrections and is an accomplished musician. The "Young Bradfords" were thought to be foolish, when they came to Washington in 1911 by the other family members, but for them, and for the generations following, it truly was and is the land of opportunity. There was never a regret by them or those of us following for "Coming West." JOHN BRANNAN FAMILY Alfred Brannan married Elnore Wooding in Auburn, WAin 1886. Grandpa Brannan came to Mossyrock in 1900 and bought several small farms on the east end of the Mossyrock Valley. He moved his wife and three children to Mossyrock in 1901. They said he came to Mossyrock to get away from his inlaws. Inez married Neil McMurry, Orrin married Stella Sherman, and Alpha married Orville England. When the families got together at Christmas, they had a fish pond instead of a gift exchange. They had lots of fun for everyone got to fish and you never knew what you would get from a doll, to a wet dish rag, to an old door knob, or maybe (photo): John Sherman, Becky Sherman and daughter Stella. a pretty handkerchief. Alfred and Elnore are both buried at the Klickitat cemetery. John Russel Sherman, born in Ohio in 1842, and Rebecca Seltzer, born in Ohio in 1849, were married in Kansas in 1863. They had three children, Charlie, Hiram, and Laura, when they came to Harmony. They bought a farm and built a house in 1890. At Harmony a daughter, Stella Bell, was born January 13, 1893. Grandpa Sherman was a farmer. Everyone called Grandma Sherman Aunt Becky. She loved to have company, to visit with people, and always had a full cookie jar for the children. Their son Charlie married and homesteaded in eastern Oregon, near Bend. Hiram died a young man. Laura married and they moved to Prineville, Oregon. Everyone in the family called her Aunt Doll. John and Rebecca are buried at the Dunn Cemetery at Harmony. (photo): Betty Brannan, Heather Brannan, Kim Brannan, Mike Brannan, Larry Luben, Sharlee Luben, John A. Brannan, Season Lee Luben. 95 Orrin Alfred Brannan and Stella Bell Brannan were married in 1915. Their first home was the house Grandpa Brannan built before he died. They cared for Orrin's mother till she died. Their first child, a little girl named Merl, died of pneumonia as an infant. Two more girls were born, Lorna and Carol. Ten years later they had a son, John. Lorna married Richard Anderson. They live in Mossyrock and have a blueberry farm. Carol married Ed Young. They live in Elma and Ed is an electrician. John married Betty Mullens. They live at Salkum. He farms and is road supervisor for the Mossyrock area. Dad Brannan was crippled in his later years but worked until he retired. He liked roses and had many. He had a good sense of humor and always seemed happy. Mom Brannan loved company and liked to get the family together to celebrate birthdays, holidays, or just go on a picnic. She liked her flowers, in and out of the house. Lemon pie, cinnamon rolls, fresh rolls, and a full cookie jar were her trade marks. She was known to many children as the "Cookie Grandma." She was very active in the Mossyrock Garden Club. She liked people, to visit, and to tease. Her family was one of the happiest I have ever known. Orrin and Stella are both buried at the Klickitat Cemetery. Thirty-two years ago on June 28, 1953, John A. Brannan and Elizabeth Lee (Betty) Bullens were married on a Sunday afternoon at the Salkum Community Church by Rev. Whisler. Many friends and relatives were there to help celebrate. John was born at Mossyrock on January 19, 1931, in his parent's home. Betty was born at Salkum on May II, 1935, in the home built by her folks when they were married. John and Betty's first seven years of marriage were spent on Mossyrock Hill in a little house John had bought before their marriage. Two children were born while they lived there, Alfred Michael Brannan on April 6, 1954, and Nelda Sharlee Brannan born August 26, 1955. John worked as a farmer and truck driver. In 1958 they bought a 40 acre farm at Logan Hill. They moved late in the year because John was working as a truck driver, and later became foreman at Pacific Sand and Gravel. They lived at Logan Hill 10 years, Betty being a housewife and Mike and Sharlee attending the Chehalis schools. While living at Logan Hill, a baby daughter was born August 17, 1963, dying at birth. She is buried at Mossyrock in the Doss Cemetery. In 1967 they bought 20 acres from Leo Kaiser and put in raspberries. The land was part of Betty's Grandpa Larsen's place. In 1969 they bought 90 acres from James McKinley, it was part of the old Bergan homestead. They moved from Logan Hill just before school started. Mike and Sharlee both graduated from Mossyrock High School; Mike in 1972 and Sharlee in 1973. John farmed and drove school buses for several years. Then he started to work for the County Road Department. He is now road supervisor for Mossyrock. Mike started to work part time at the Salkum Salmon Hatchery in the summer of 1971 and is still there. He bought some land (18 acres) from Lloyd Bergman in 1976 and 60 acres of Grandpa Larsen's place in 1977 from Charlie Budi. John and Mike formed a partnership in 1978. They farm 200 acres or more and raise Holstein replacement heifers. Sharlee married Larry Luben of Colorado on July 29, 1978. She was married at Takhlakh Lake in the Cis pus area with an outdoor wedding. They live in Kent, W A and have a daughter, Season Lee Luben, born October 3, 1982. Larry is a welder and she is an accountant. Mike married Kim Harper of Colorado May 16, 1981, at the Salkum Community Church. They have a daughter, Heather Lynn Brannan, born January 28, 1984. Mike works at the Salmon Hatchery and Kim is a housewife, babysitter, and an extra hand of the farm driving tractor. John and Betty have lived all their lives in Lewis County raising their family, taking them on camping trips to the beach and riding horses in the high country. They traveled many places but always came home thinking there is no better place to be. The Lord has blessed them and their life has been made very full here in Lewis County. BREMGARTNER FAMILY Joseph Bremgartner was born in 1855 in Lucerne, Switzerland, and came to the United State at an early age. (photo): Grandpa and Grandma Bremgartner, Dad, Ella, Joe. He met and later married Wilhelmine Schloterbeck. She was born in 1872 in Luxemberg, Germany. They applied for a land grant in the German settlement of St. Urban, where they built their home and farmed. He received his grant in 1893 signed by President Cleveland. They had four children: Lawrence, 1891; Joseph 1893; Ella, 1896; and Marie, 1902. He and neighbors helped build the St. Urban Catholic Church, which is the oldest original Catholic Church in Washington. Lawrence was the first baby baptized in the church. All four attended school in St. Urban and, later, married at the church. The whole family is buried in the church cemetery. Lawrence married Josephine Ruether in 1916. She was born in Ellsworth, Wisconsin, in 1897. Joseph married Dora Baron, Ella married Isador Von Rotz, and Marie married Carl Bailey. Lawrence bought land from a logging company and built their home. It was only 1/4 mile from both their parents. It is still owned by the family. Lawrence worked for Emory and Nelson Logging Company for many years. He also worked his farm. Later he took a job at the Washington Co-op. He worked in the feed mill until it shut down. They had three children: Lucille, 1917; Agnes, 1923; and Richard, 1925. He played the cornet in the local band, whose leader was Anton Ruether, Josephine's father. They played locally and raised money to build the St. Urban Grange Hall. Lawrence, Josie, and family liked to camp, fish, and dig clams. They spent a lot of time at Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, the ocean, and Hoods Canal. Mt. St. Helens was their favorite place to go. Lawrence worked in the woods with Harry Truman, so they'd visit on these trips. Lucille started school in the little one-room school where she went through the third grade. The school was then consolidated with Winlock where she graduated. She married Paul Pakar from Chehalis. His family had homesteaded in Randle. They are living on the homestead and have three children, Carolyn, Janice, and James. Agnes went all 12 years of school in Winlock. She married Henry Young, whose family homesteaded at Randle. They moved onto his grandfather's homestead and raised their family ofthree, Walter, Gretchen, and Katherine. Richard went all twelve years to school in Winlock. He served in the Navy in World War II and the Korean conflict. Richard married Colleen Yeager of Gate, Washington. They live in St. Urban. They had six children, Richard, Lawrence, Kimberly, Michelle, Cheryl, and Theodore. Lawrence died in 1970, just three days before his 79th birthday. Josephine is almost 88 and living in a mobile home next to her son. She is about the only old timer left of the old settlement of St. Urban. She has 12 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and I great-great grandchild. All except six live in Lewis County. VANCE BREWER FAMILY Father, J.L. Brewer, was born in Mississippi in 1878. Mother, Anna Dowdy Brewer, was born in Alabama in 1883. They were married in Florence, AL, in 1900. Two daughters, Maude and Beulah, were born in 1902 and 1905, respectively. (Photo): Mr. and Mrs. Brewer. In 1905, at the urging of Mother's sister, Elizabeth Brockwell, then residing in Winlock, they made the decision to come west. After five days and nights riding the train, they arrived in Winlock just as the fall rains had started. Dad found work right away so they started saving money to go back to Alabama where it did not rain so much. One of our beautiful spring seasons fol. lowed that first winter so the plan to return to 96 Alabama was forgotten and they spent the remainder of their lives in Winlock. . Six more children were born in Lewis County - Lucille, 1907; Vance, 1909; Leona, 1913; James LeRoy, 1916; Eileen, 1918; and Jerry, 1921. Dad Brewer worked in the local sawmills as blacksmith and machine maintenance and was partner in three local shingle mills. He later worked in a paper mill and aluminum plant in Longview. He passed away in 1962. Mother was a housewife, caring for eight children and her mother, who was ill much of her life. Mother passed away in 1967. Maude married Pete Anderson and they had one son, Jerry Anderson, who was wounded in World War II. Pete died in 1958. Maude and her son both passed away in 1973. Beulah married Eugene Lewis who died in 1972. Beulah passed away in 1978 after raising three children. Lucille married Frank Michlitch and lived in Tacoma. Frank died in 1966. Two girls were born to them. Leona married Al Stanley. They have two children and live in LaGrande, OR. James LeRoy, Jr. passed away in 1968. Eileen married Glenn Boreen, Winlock. Jerry married Marian Peronto, Tacoma. Jerry had two daughters by a previous marriage and Eileen had three sons by a previous marriage. I (Vance) have many memories of my early life in Winlock such as the plank streets and wooden sidewalks, many slivers in the summertime from going barefoot against mother's orders, and the creamery where the Masonic Temple stands. I spent many hours riding on the reach of farmers' wagons who brought cream to be made into butter. I would ride out into the country, then walk back to catch another ride. Buttermilk cost five cents a gallon and all the buttermilk you could drink, for free, while you were there. The summer of 1918, Mother took Jim to a specialist in Tacoma. Grandmother and Leona also went along to visit with mother's sister. While they were gone, our house on Canyon Street burned to the ground in the middle of the night. No one was sleeping upstairs and Dad got us all out with just the clothes we were wearing. I remember the firemen pulling a high-wheeled cart with a reel of firehose on it, hooking it to a fire hydrant, and managing to save the neighboring houses. Zoe Linwood and Vance Brewer were married in 1932, moved to Camas, WA, where I worked in the paper mill. We lived in Camas six years where two of our children were born - Carolyn, 1935, and James, 1938. We returned to Winlock in 1939. . In 1941, I commuted to Longview, as a millwright on the construction of the Reynold's aluminum plant, where I worked during World War II. Steve was born in 1941 and Kathy, our youngest, in 1947. My work as a construction-millwright and machines-erector went all the way from southern Oregon to the Canadian border. In 1972 I accepted a position as instructor of Machinery Maintenance at Centralia College, retiring in 1981. Carolyn married LeRoy Nelson in 1957. They have three children - Scott, DeAnne and Gregg. Jim married Susan Hester, 1970, and lives in Atlanta, GA. They have two children, Brad and Mindy. Steve married Mary Godwin and has three children - Julie, Janice and Steve. He resides in Beaverton, OR. Kathy married Paul Elam, Winlock, and they reside in Castle Rock with their three sons - Rob, Randy and Lance. Zoe and I have been married fifty-three years as of 1985. Zoe has been a wonderful mother, a marvelous wife and companion through all these years. We have been greatly blessed. In our retirement, we enjoy our children, eleven grandchildren, our friends, our church work, lodge work, and traveling. BROWER FAMILY I want our descendants in the Brower Family to know a little bit about our lives in this country. I, Douglas J. Brower, was born December 17, 1926, in a small but unique town called Napavine. My parents, Phillip and Sadie Brower, came to Lewis County from Aberdeen, Washington, in 1921. After brief moves in the county, we settled on 160 acres at the end of Deep Creek Road in Adna. Dad found a bare spot by the creek and built a modest house. We had hard but happy times. My dad was a mechanic for Davis Auto Rebuild in Chehalis. We hunted, fished, and cleared land by hand for 10 years. We lost our dad to a heart attack at age 43. Mother was left with eight children and poor living conditions. True to our era, the neighbors got together and built us a better house. Four years later we lost our mother to cancer at the young age of 38. We all moved off the homestead and went our separate ways. My brothers and sisters are: Edward Brower, Gilbert Brower, and William Brower (deceased), Phillip Brower of Forks, Washington, Margaret Wilson of Brennon, Washington, Gloria Smith and Iris Gasnor of Myrtle Point, Oregon. I joined the Navy in 1946. After 14 months, I received a Honorable Discharge for rheumatic fever. I worked as a whistle punk in the woods. I met and married a local girl in 1948. I went to work for the Kraft Cheese Co. in Chehalis, but due to the factory moving to California, I lost my job before our first son was born in 1949. When Michael was just a few weeks old I went to Seattle in search of a job. After two months, I was hired by the Seattle School District and my wife and son joined me. This was quite a move for two from a small town. While in Seattle we were blessed with four more children and spent 17 years in West Seattle. We then came back to our hometown and relocated on Newaukum Hill. After 11 years of commuting I retired from the District. My wife is the youngest of five children of William and Josephine Murry of Chenalis, Washington. Our children are Michael Douglas Brower (1949) Adna, Washington; Jeffrey J. Brower (1952) Seattle, Washington; Jerald Robert Brower (1954) U.S. Navy, Japan; Douglas Todd Brower (1956) Napavine, Washington; Mrs. (John) Cindy Willett (1957) Chehalis, Washington. We are presently enjoying our eight grandchildren, ages one month to 15 years old. PHILIP AND MARGARET BROWN On July 22, 1950 Philip Walton Brown married Margaret Gates Young. Philip was born January 10, 1898, at St. Albans, Vermont, to William G. and Nellie Howe Brown who had five sons, he being the youngest. He came to Missouri when he was about twenty-one and later settled in Portland, Oregon, coming to Chehalis in 1948. He was a piano tuner and also an accomplished pianist and organist and a hymn writer of about 250 hymns and anthems. All of his family were (photo): Philip, Margaret and Larry Brown gifted musically. He passed away November 1, 1980. Margaret Gates Young was born May 7,1910 to Frederick Lewis and Mary Gates Young. Frederick's mother, Arminda Adams Whittier married Levi L. Gates in Maine. He had been to Claquato and took up a donation land claim, married Emeline Goodell. She died in 1864 and Levi went to Maine to look for a wife. Arminda and Levi were married April 1865 and they stopped at Worcester, Massachusetts, to visit relatives of Mr. Gates and while there George Young decided to come West with them. He stayed in Portland. Shortly after Levi's return he took seriously ill and sent for Mr. Young to take care of the farm. Levi died September 1865. His widow married Mr. Young May 1867. Frederick Lewis Young was the eldest son of George Lewis and Arminda Adams Young. Fred (as he was called) was a farmer and did custom threshing as his father had done. Fred also did baling along with threshing grain. He was instantly killed in 1928 at the age of 59 while taking the machines up a steep grade in front of his birthplace on Foster Hill. Mary Gates Young was born to Nathan B. and Elsie Jane Gates August 3,1873. Her parents came from Worcester, Massachusetts. They came by boat from New York City to Panama, then overland and took a boat to San Francisco and to Monticello (Longview) Washington in 1866 settling at Claquato with his uncle, Levi Gates, Sr. Mary, prior to her marriage, worked as a clerk for William Brunswig, kept books at a foundry and later was secretary to N .B. Coffman in Coffman-Dobson Bank. Frederick and Mary Young also had a son, Gardener Gates Young, born February 17, 1912, who married Margaret Pritchard of Salt Lake City and now lives at Albany, California, having retired from government work at the university at Berkley, California. Frederick Young had a son, Lewis Wesley Young, born February 11, 1903, by a previous marriage, who also was a farmer. Margaret Gates Young worked for First National Bank of Chehalis until it closed in 1932. >From 1933 to 1945 she worked for St. John Motors, a Ford dealership. During the war, 19431945, she worked in the parts department selling auto parts as the boys were called into the armed services and there were no new cars to be sold. The dealership was sold and she obtained work at the Chevrolet dealership, Warren Bros. Chevrolet, in Chehalis as bookkeeper and later was office manager and bookkeeper. After marriage she worked part-time until December 1, 1951. Their son, Lawrence (Larry) Walton Brown was born May 6, 1952. He attended the Chehalis schools and went to Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, where he graduated as a music major. He has been teaching music since 1974 in Winston, Oregon Schools. He married a girl from the Roseburg area and they have a daughter, Laura Lane Brown, born July 9, 1981, at Roseburg, Oregon. 97 ALVIN J. AND MARY A. BROWN AND FAMILY My grandfather Alvin J. Brown was born in Brookfield, New York, August 22, 1837. His father moved his family to Prairiesburg, Iowa, in 1855. In 1861 Grandfather went West, traveling with a man who was moving to Oregon with his family. The man had two wagons, a team of two horses, two oxen, and two cows. Grandfather paid $40 to go with them. (I have this information from a letter he wrote to his brother about his trip.) He left the wagon and went to Virginia City, Nevada. He worked there and then went on to San Francisco. From there he went by boat to Oregon. I'm not sure when he returned to Iowa. When the Civil War was being fought he joined the 44th Regt. Iowa Vol. Inf. He was captured by the South and spent some time in a southern prison. Sometime after the war, he went back to New York state. He met and married Mary A. Sisson in 1867. They lived in Prairiesburg, Iowa, for ten years. During this time, they had four girls, Clara, born in 1867; Blanche, in 1869; Sarah, in 1871; and Cora, in 1873. In 1877 he took his family West; this time by a wood-burning immigrant train. They went to San Francisco. From there they went by boat to Portland, Oregon. They lived in Cottage Grove, Oregon for about a year. They came to Washington in 1878 and settled a farm on Newaukum Hill, near where the Grange Hall is now. Three more children were born there: Clarence in 1881; Eunice in 1884; and Edna in 1886. Edna died in 1890. Grandma Brown died in 1893. Grandpa Brown lived to see all his girls married and settled in different places. He died in 1910. They both are buried in the Newaukum Hill Cemetery. The Brown Road is named after them as early settlers. Aunt Blanche and her husband Henry Romerman lived on a farm near Napavine from 1898 till 1942. They then moved to Centralia. Uncle Henry died in June of that year. He was born at Naselle, Washington, and was a logger. Aunt Blanche died in 1968 at the age of 98. They had no children. She was buried in the Newaukum Hill Cemetery also. My mother, Sarah, met my father while he was working on the old courthouse in Chehalis. He was born in Ohio in 1844. He came to Washington sometime in the 1890's and took up a homestead near Littlerock, Washington. He was a plasterer and a bricklayer by trade. He was also a fairly good carpenter. They were married in 1899. First they lived on the homestead and then moved to Olympia where my brother Earl was born in 1902, and I was born in 1904. From there we moved to Everett where we lived for about six years. We moved to eastern Washington for awhile and then came to Toledo in the early 1920's. My father found work, so we stayed. My brother learned his trade from our father. My father died in 1942. Mother moved to Centralia in 1947 and died in 1950. My mother and father were buried in the Newaukum Hill Cemetery. My brother lives with his wife, Ellen, on the Sanderson Road south of Chehalis. Their son Robert (Bob) lives with his wife and their sons, Scott and Brian, south of Chehalis, also. I live in Centralia. My husband died in 1981. He had worked at Green Hill School for 24 years. He retired in 1979. He was also a World War II veteran, serving in the South Pacific during the war. Our daughter lives on Waunch Prairie with her husband Stanley West. They have three children, Tricia, Stanley, and Steve. By Mary A. Brown JOEL BROWNING FAMILY Joel Franklin Browning, born May 20, 1909 on Bunker Creek, was the 2nd son of seven children born to Samuel Franklin Browning and Alice Bunker Browning. He received his formal education in the Centralia Schools and the Forest View School on Lincoln Creek. He learned to work hard on the farm while growing up and learned to enjoy carpenter work while helping a good carpenter build their family home when he was a teen-ager. During the depression of 1930 he was glad to work for a neighborhood farmer for $1 a day and board and room. After a few years of bucking logs in the woods, he turned to carpenter work. One of his first jobs was working on the construction of the 6th Street viaduct in Centralia, which has just recently been replaced. (photo): Joel and Naomi Browning Naomi Pauline Moberg, born March 5,1916 at McCleary, WA. was the only child of Oscar Moberg and Orrel Wilson Moberg. When she was eight, the family purchased the Castle Rock Confectionery and moved to Castle Rock, WA. She had attended school for three years in McCleary so entered the fourth grade in the Castle Rock Schools and graduated as one of the Honor Students with the class of 1933. She entered Ellensburg Normal School in June of 1933 and finished the three year course in August of 1935. She taught 2 years at the Forest View School on Lincoln Creek and three years in the fifth grade at Toledo, WA. Joel and Naomi were married June 3, 1940 in the Christian Church at Castle Rock. Their first home was in Centralia but they moved frequently the first few years to be near construction work at Fort Lewis, Longview, Camp Adair, Oregon and Portland, Oregon. While in Longview their first son, Joel Wayne was born March 3, 1942 and in Portland their second son, Roy Franklin arrived September 27, 1945. When Joel's parents decided to retire, the last move was to Lincoln Creek. They milked a dozen cows, raised hay, silage and grain, raised laying hens and shipped milk and eggs. In 1950, Joel decided to sell the chickens and cows, just farm the land and return to carpenter work until his retirement in 1972. He enjoyed his hobbies of gardening, bee-keeping, woodworking and active membership in the Lincoln Creek Grange, Lewis County Beekeepers Association, and Lewis County Fire District # 12 until his death on November 4, 1984. Naomi continues with these interests and also recently was appointed Treasurer of the Lewis County Historical Society. Their boys, Wayne and Roy, attended Centralia Schools and College and played Little League and Babe Ruth baseball. Wayne enlisted in the Air Force where he met and married Cheryl Grothusen. They and their three children, Keith, Timothy, and Alicia reside in Portland where Wayne is a computer programmer with Oregon State Department of Fish and Wild Life. RICHARD AND BONNIE (MAUERMANN) BROWNING Bonnie was born in the family home on lincoln Creek on January 22, 1922 and attended the little country school of Sunnyside and then graduated from Centralia High School in 1939. Dick completed 8 years at Galvin Grade School and then finished at Centralia High School. Dick was born in Olympia, Washington on September II, 1919, but moved to the Centralia area as a young child. Bonnie and Dick were married on April 5, 1940 and lived in Springfield, Oregon where Dick worked in the sawmills until the threat of the war brought them back to Washington. They both worked at Boeing's at Seattle, Renton, and Dick worked at the assembly plant in Chehalis until the end of World War II. Dick went to work for the War Department at Fort Lewis in 1946 in the Office Repair Department and worked there for 22 years. In May of 1967 Bonnie and Dick started Browning's Typewriter Mart in a small building at 107 North Oak selling and repairing office machines. In 1969 Dick took in a partner and moved the business to 601 West Main. They enlarged the building and eventually had 13 employees. In 1983 the Browning shares were sold to their oldest son, Timothy. Tim had taught at the University of Arizona for several years. In 1984 Dick, along with his younger son and another former employee of Pacific NW Bell started on Interconnect Telephone Service, called Browning's Telephone Service in the former office supply building at 107 N. Oak St., Centralia. Bonnie and Dick have three children who all live in the Centralia area. Timothy Alan was born November 26, 1941 and now is a partner in Browning's Office Supply. He and his wife, Maryann have two boys, Alan Richard and Daniel Patrick. Michael David was born September 30, 1944 and now is in business with Dick and Allen Aho. Kathleen Kay was born November 22, 1945 and married Terry Studeman and they have four daughters, Kristine (Studeman) Coty, Teresa, Lisa and Tamara Studeman. Bonnie's parents were Harry and Pearl Mauermann and her grandmother was Amelia Waunch Mauermann. Her great-grandfather was George Waunch who was an early settler. Bonnie has one sister, Edith Webster, and one brother, Lyle Mauermann. Dick's parents were Benjamin and Stella Browning, who lived on Lincoln Creek and farmed and did mill work until 1937, when they moved to a home on Mellon Street in Centralia. Ben worked for the Lewis County Road Department until his retirement. Ben came from Harper, Kansas, around 1900 and settled on Lincoln Creek where they farmed. Ben's mother was Laura (Smith) Browning and his father was Frank Browning. They had four sons, Isaac, 98 Samuel, Joseph and Benjamin and four daughters, Dora Huber, Nora Bingham, Nellie Davies, and Jessie Arnold. Stella Williams Browning was born on Lincoln Creek in 1891. Her mother and father were George and Ada (Grimes) Williams and they had four children, Stella Browning, Mae Haeffner, Grace Reynolds and Oscar Williams. By Bonnie Browning ROY BROWNING FAMILY Roy Franklin Browning was born September 27,1945 to Joel F. and Naomi P. Browning. They lived in Portland, Oregon at the time but moved to the farm on Lincoln Creek in December of 1946. It was fun living with Grandpa Sam and Grandma Alice for a year until Dad could get a new house built for them close by. He grew up helping on the farm. There was the tansy weed to pull and need for a carpenter's helper when dad built an addition on the house, a new garage, barn and machine shed. He and his older brother, Wayne, both learned the carpenter trade. He attended Centralia Schools and graduated from High School in 1963 and Centralia College in 1970. He also attended Edison Technical School in Seattle and Bates Vocational School in Tacoma studying architectural drafting and Highline Community College studying aeronautical drafting. Margaret Elaine Foglesong was born September 22, 1946 to George Edward and Amy Ardell Durga Foglesong in Chehalis. They also lived on a farm on Lincoln Creek about six miles closer to Centralia. Margaret has two older sisters Carol Ann and Dorothy Louise, two younger brothers, George William (Bill) and Fred LeRoy, and two more sisters, Barbara Anne and Sally Jo. Margaret (Maggie) attended Centralia Schools graduating from Centralia High in 1964 and Centralia College with an Associate of Arts in Secretarial Science in 1967. Maggie learned many homemaking and farming skills while growing up on the farm both from her parents and her 4- H leader, Edith Webster, a neighbor. Roy and Maggie were married January 14, 1967 at the Mountain View Baptist Church on Belmont Avenue in Centralia. Their first home was in Galvin for the first two months then they purchased a two-story old home in Galvin and set about remodeling it until Roy was activated in the U.S. Naval Reserve in January 1968. Roy was sent to CINCP ACFL T near Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. It was while they were there that their first child, Thomas Franklin, was born on June 12, 1969. They returned to Galvin in November 1969. On March 23, 1971 they were blessed with a second child, a daughter, Amy JoAnn. On July 11, 1973, they were again blessed with a daughter, Sarah Pauline. It was evident that the house in Galvin was being outgrown so the search for property began. Property was purchased up the Independence Valley on the Wester-Backman Road and plans were drawn by Roy and the house was built by Roy and his father and the help of several friends. The family still lives there and the three children attend school in Rochester I and are very active in the sports and music programs. The entire family is very involved in the Central Bible Evangelical Free Church in Centralia, WA. where they are busy in the Awana Program. All three children play the piano and Tom plays the trumpet, Amy the flute, and Sarah the clarinet. Roy and Maggie stay busy keeping up with the three children and Roy's business, "Browning's Construction." SAM BROWNING FAMILY Samuel Franklin Browning, born January 11, 1881 in Fulton County Illinois, was the second son of eleven children born to Francis Marion and Laura Smith Browning. He came to Centralia before 1900 and all of the family came later on January 1, 1900. (photo): Sam and Alice Browning One of the jobs he found was working on the farm of John E. Bunker and Jerusha Bunker who homesteaded near the head of Bunker Creek. They had five lovely daughters. One of the daughters was Alice, born September 21, 1885. On Thanksgiving day November 26, 1903, Sam and Alice were married at the Bunker family home. They first lived in Centralia where Sam worked for a delivery company. Horses were used to pull the wagon or dray and he drove the horses. He was also a member of the fire department when they pulled their hose cart with a team of horses. In 1918 the Brownings started to operate a farm on Lincoln Creek. Ten years later they moved from their rented farm to another they purchased just two miles away. They had seven children, Veryl, Joel, Nellie, Sammy, Wesley, Julia and Joy. Sammy died at 13 months age. The others all graduated from the Forest View School which was the center of activities for the upper end of Lincoln Creek Valley. Julia and Joy were able to complete their high school education. As time passed they saw an improvement in their roads, an extension in the electric lines, and the farmers-maintained telephone lines replaced by the phone company. The Washington Co-op collected the eggs once a week and the LewisPacific Dairymen's Association was formed for the milk shippers at most farms. They retired in 1946, sold the farm to their son Joel and built a new home near the original farmhouse. On November 27, 1953, they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at the Lincoln Creek Grange Hall. Many friends and relatives attended the informal reception given by their six sons and daughters. Being in good health, they had a very enjoyable day. In the next few years they were able to travel to Oregon and California to visit in their children's homes occasionally. Sam lived until March, 1962 and Alice until July, 1972. Sam still has 2 sisters living in Centralia, Mrs. Nora Bingham, 93 and Mrs. Nellie Davies, 90. Alice has a brother, Joe Bunker, 85 living in Forks. WA. TIM A. AND MARY ANN (MARLETT) BROWNING Tim; great-great-grandson of George Waunch; was born on November 26. 1941 in Centralia. He grew up in the family home at 1502 Johnson Road, living with his parents Richard and Bonnie (Mauermann), and his siblings Michael and Kathleen. (photo): George Waunch, daughter Amelia, son George, Jr. Maryann was born on December 24, 1944 in Richland. Her parents had moved from Colorado to work on the Manhattan Project. The family soon moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico where they worked for the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratories. Maryann grew up on Los Alamos and Whiterock as the only child of Mary and Robert Marlett. Tim attended Ford's Prairie Elementary School, Washington School, Centralia High School, and Centralia College. He was an Eagle Scout, active in organized baseball, including the 1954 All Star LL Team. At Centralia College, he majored in Political Science, minored in Business, debated competitively and graduated valedictorian. In 1962 he transferred to Pacific Lutheran University, supported by a Debate Scholarship. He graduated magna cum taude in 1964 with a degree in Speech Communication and a minor in Political Science. Immediately after graduation,. Tim enrolled in Graduate School at the University of Khartoum, in The Sudan. His travel and study was supported by Rotary International's "Scholarship for International Understanding." He traveled extensively in The Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania, Egypt and Ethiopia. A Civil War and a subsequent Revolution in The Sudan forced the permanent closure of the University of Khartoum. He returned to the United States and enrolled in Graduate School at the University of New Mexico. Maryann graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1962 and enrolled in Nebraska Wesleyan University. In 1964 she transferred to the University of New Mexico. In 1966 she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Education, while Tim completed his Master's of Arts in Speech Communication. In 1967 they were married. In the fall they moved to Greenville, S.C. where Tim accepted a position on the faculty at Furman University and Maryann taught at Greer High School. In 1969 they moved to Tucson, Arizona. Tim accepted a position at the University of Arizona and Maryann secured a position at Sunnyside Jr. High. Maryann completed her Master of Education and Tim did extensive doctoral work in Educational Administration and Research Design. 99 Tim became an active professional in Speech Communication and Debate. He conceived and developed the Arizona Debate Institute, now a prestigious summer study program. In 1980 Tim hosted the National Debate Tournament. Tim's teams regularly qualified for Nationals, fourteen teams in eight years, and won most tournaments in the West, many several times. Maryann and Tim have two sons: Alan Richard and Daniel Patrick. Alan was born in 1974 and Daniel in 1983. In 1983 Tim and Maryann purchased the Browning shares in Browning's Office Supply, Inc. and returned to Washington. Maryann teaches at Capital High School in Olympia, Alan attends Centralia Jr. High and plays Little League, Daniel goes to Dell's Day Care, and Tim administers the business and is active in the community. The family resides at 1715 Ham Hill Road. By Tim Browning THE DESCENDANTS OF THE FRED BRUNNER FAMILY I, Arthur Brunner, am the oldest son of Fred G. Brunner. I was born in Odessa, Washington on September 21, 1907. Fred Brunner originally came from Wisconsin. My parents moved from Odessa, Washington to Puyallup, Washington area in 1912. In 1917 we moved to a farm a mile east of Winlock. Making a living on a farm with then five children was difficult so Dad started a plumbing and tin shop in Winlock. That had been Dad's trade since Wisconsin time. The children at that time were Aurelia, Arthur, Walter, Gertrude, and Bernhard. Three more children were added to the family while in Winlock, Lawrence, Louetta, and Louis. All graduated from Winlock High School except Louis. Louis finished his high school in Puyallup. Aurelia became a housewife, marrying Fred Winter, Arthur became an egg grader at the Washington Co-op. He married Louise Hopp. Walter followed the furnace business in Oregon. He married Esther Lange from Oregon City. Gertrude taught school in various places including Winlock and Tacoma. She married Eric Krause of Castle Rock. They settled in Tacoma, Bernhard married Elsie Cole in England during the war. He continued airplane repair when he returned to the states in Tacoma area at Fort Lewis. Lawrence married Lucille Summerfelt in Portland. He worked many years for a grocery company in Portland. Louetta followed the bookkeeping line. She married Charles Krippaachne in Puyallup. Louis went into the ministry. He married Glenna Nelson. Louis and Glenna served churches in Bremerton, Renton, Eugene and Lake Oswego. Our whole family was closely involved in the church. In 1938 we lost our dear Mother. Dad continued living on the farm a few more years before moving to Puyallup. He passed away at the age of 81. There have been a number of changes in the Winlock area during our time here. The streets were paved, the Winlock- Toledo road was paved. These were great improvements. Railway service was good. I Arthur, worked for the Washington Co-op in Winlock, Tacoma and Yakima stations. In 1951 we left the company and returned to Lewis County. We operated a general store and gas station in Vader area. Our oldest son, Donald, graduated from Yakima High School. Alice and Julia graduated from Winlock and Charles from Toledo School. All four children attended Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma area. Donald after a short teaching career went to farming in Mt. Vernon area. He passed away due to an electric accident in 1970. Alice became a nurse, most of the time at St. Johns Hospital in Longview. Julia taught school in Tacoma and Clarkston Wash. and in Pella, Iowa. Charles taught in universities in Tacoma, and Ellensburg, Wash., Las Vegas and New York City. We retired in 1972 moving to Toledo area. Presently we are living on a small farm on Jackson Highway south of Toledo. We find retirement interesting and busy, at home, at senior citizens, at garden club and church. We are happy to live in Lewis County. By Arthur Brunner DONALD AND MYRTLE (MYRT) BUNKER FAMILY 1985 Donald was born November 12, 1913, to John Wilson and Lempy Mary (Kasola) Bunker at Eagleton, Washington (Bunker Creek). Mother passed away in 1918. (photo): Don and Myrt Bunker The first two years of school were at Eagleton, Washington, then by Model T school bus to Fayette for 4 years, and then to Adna. Donald graduated from Adna with the class of 1932. Myrtle Jacobsen was born December 22, 1915, at Alpha, Washington, to Jacob Burton and Katie Ann (Phillips) Jacobsen. She attended grade school in a two-room building at Alpha and graduated from Onalaska High in 1935. We met on Bunker Creek in 1934. Don was on horseback, Myrt waS in a Model T Ford. Don lived there, Myrt was visiting friends. We were married March 14, 1936, by Rev. D.W. McQuiston in the San Juan Apartments in Chehalis. Our witnesses were his wife, Mary M. McQuiston and Anna Gordon. We lived on Bunker Creek where Don worked in the woods, firing donkey. He changed to falling timber until we moved to Snoqualamie Pass. Our daughter Janice Lempy was born December 9, 1936. She was 3 weeks old when we moved. We lived in a one-room cabin in a resort camp. Janice was the only baby there - everyone spoiled her. She was also the first grandchild on both sides of our families. Janice married Buddy L. Elder on July 19, 1955. They have two daughters, Susan Michelle born January 25, 1965, and Cindy Marie born October 22, 1968. They live on Jackson Highway, Chehalis. Bud works for Washington Natural Gas Company. Janice works for Chehalis Schools. Our next daughter Yvonne Katherine was born May 28, 1939. She married Douglas S. Koreis on July 16, 1959. Doug works for Chehalis Packing Company. Yvonne works for Rinta's Refrigeration. They have four children. Steven Douglas born June 9,1960. He married Tami Ames July 12, 1982. They live in Florida. Their second son Jeffery Scott was born April 2,1963. Their daughter Katherine Renee (Kathy) was born February 11, 1966. Third son Mark Richard was born April 22, 1968. All live in Chehalis, Washington. Our third child Donald Richard (Rich) was born April 10, 1951. He He married Jalene Ann Piper September 1, 1972. They have three children. Donald Ryan born March 17, 1974. Their second, Lance Troy was born January 6, 1976. Their daughter Lisa Mae was born July 21,1977. Rich lives with his family across the road from us on Coal Creek, Chehalis. He works for Lewis County Road Department. Jalene operates a children's day-care called "Evergreen" in their home. We are very much blessed and proud of our lovely family. Among the many places Don has worked from 1941 until July of 1950 - as a timber faller, bucker, saw filer, bullbuck (foreman) and power saw mechanic. During the second World War and resulting man-power shortage contributed to the development and use of power saws in the woods. This has been part of our livelihood for over 40 years. In 1950, after breaking an ankle playing baseball with the Adna Grange, Donald stopped working in the woods. He worked for Graham Implement Company for 9 years as a power saw mechanic. We then opened our own power saw repair shop called "B and H Supply" on Jackson Highway. We also sold lawn mowers and parts, and lapidary equipment. We sold our shop in 1969. Don went to work for Washington Department of Natural Resources. He was employed there 13 years before retiring in 1981. Among the organized groups that are of interest to us are membership in The First Christian Church of Chehalis, Adna Grange, Bunker Family Association of America, Lewis County Historical Society and other community affairs. We worked as volunteers in the Chehalis Little League (1961 and 1962) and Babe Ruth baseball program six years 1963 to 1965; Don as "Umpire in Chief," also president of Babe Ruth 3 years. Myrt served in many capacities as needed. Rich, our son, now works with the Youth Baseball program. By Don and Myrtle Bunker BURBEE FAMILY Jonathan Burbee moved from the East in 1847. He was one of the earliest pioneers of Lewis County, at the time Washington was still a territory and Lewis County stretched from the Columbia River to the tip of Alaska. Jonathan was active in civic affairs of the area. He was the first probate judge of Lewis County and also served a term as county commissioner. Jonathan had the first registered deed north of the Columbia River in Lewis County. His section of property stretched from the Cowlitz River to the mouth of the Cowlitz River where it flows into the Columbia River. His primary crop on the farm was wheat and potatoes. Jonathan was born in Vermont February 22, 1799, and lost his life January 1853 while taking a barge load of potatoes and wheat to San Francisco. "January - In 1853 Grampa Burbee started from Astoria with a vessel loaded with potatoes. The name of the ship was J.C. Demorest. Captain Collins and eight persons were on board. They left the Cowlitz River in December. Grampa Burbee chartered the vessel to carry his pota100 (photo): Jonathan Burbee toes to San Francisco. His farm was on the bank of the Cowlitz river two miles and half from the Columbia river. In the face of a severe storm they were never heard from afterward. There were six vessels lost there in that same storm." From the Diary of Presha Burbee. (photo): Ray and Gertie Burbee Jonathan had a family of six sons and two daughters. The daughters died in the East; the sons lived in the Lewis County area from Longview to Chehalis. Augustus, the eldest son of Jonathan, was a farmer in Chehalis on Burbee Hill in 1864. Part of his farm is still in the Burbee family today. Allen Burbee, the youngest son of Gus' ten children took over the farm and kept it going until it was sold in 1955. He was born and raised there. Allen had two sons, Loren and Ray. Ray still has his home on part of the original land grant on Burbee Hill. He was born December 12, 1914, and has lived there all his life. He has worked at various jobs and retired from Darigold. He and his first wife, Leona (Heidemann) Burbee, had three children: Ruby Arnett of Arizona; Clif (photo): Don and Grethe Burbee and children ford, deceased; and Donald Burbee of Chehalis. Ray is now married to Gertie (Downey) Burbee. Donald still lives on Burbee Hill close to the home place with his wife, Grethe Burbee, and his three children, Gus, Sam, and Anne. He is presently employed by Pacific Northwest Bell Telephone Co. Don's two sons, Gus and Sam, are the sixth generation of the Burbees in Lewis County from 1847 to 1985. By Don Burbee HAROLD AND SUSAN BUREN Harold V. Buren was born December 29, 1886 in Vennesburg, Sweden. He came to the United States in 1906 and to Lewis County in 1910, settling in Centralia. He worked for the Centralia Police Department and also in the woods, logging. Moving to Morton in 1918, he met Susan Lydia Collins. She was born in Baca County, Colorado in 1903 and moved to Lewis County at the age of 3 months. They were married June 22, 1921 in Tacoma, Washington and made their home in Morton in a house Harold built for them. (photo): Harold and Susan Buren In 1924 Harold embarked on a career of interior decorating, painting, and papering. Retiring in 1950 after a surgery, he began making inlaid furniture. He collected pieces of wood throughout the years and dried it in his basement workshop. He fashioned and finished the furniture with curly maple, maple burls, black walnut, Alaska cedar and yew. Susan worked as a cook for several years in Morton as well as at the old Ohanapakosh Lodge outside Packwood. She also took boarders into her home. She did some lovely things with tincraft and made many pieces to decorate her home; however, sewing was her biggest hobby. Harold and Susan had three children – a daughter, Dorothy, who died at 18 months of age, and two sons, Robert and Gordon. Harold died in 1972 at the age of85. Susan, at 81, resides in Chehalis, in the home Harold built for her in 1967, when he was 80 years old. By Cheryl A. Buren OUT OF THE PAST - INTO THE FUTURE? DONNA HENDRICKS BURNETT Four tremendous chestnut trees tower over scrub firs and brush near the Middle Fork Road between Forest and Alpha. They were planted by Irwin Balser Weybright on his homestead in 1884. For over one hundred years each generation in the area has gathered the nuts to roast in their fireplaces and enjoy the sweet delicacy of the nut meats. Standing beneath those trees on the site of the Weybright home and the Sharon Post Office was an inspiration to finish a project begun five years ago when I returned to Chehalis. With most of the reserach completed, I am writing the family history for the many progeny of our Lewis County pioneers. Jonathan Davis brought his family to settle on his Donation Land Claim on Eden Prairie near Toledo in 1851. He later moved to the Skookumchuck near Tenino, but relatives who settled at the same time, the Lay tons, still live on the adjoining claim. James Wesley Hendricks came to Lewis County from Oregon where his family settled in 1845. He married Elizabeth Davis and homesteaded south of Chehalis. Then in 1870, they with four other families - the Winstons, Doss, Millers and Berrys, became the first settlers above the Cowlitz gorge on Klickitat Prairie between Mayfield and Mossyrock. Louis and Nora Klaus took a homestead one mile toward Forest from her parents, the Weybrights, in 1885. They later bought the Ira Johnson farm at the corner of Highway 99 and the Onalaska Road. My cousin, Tom Klaus of Morton became interested in my project and spent hours with maps in the County Courthouse and questioning people he met. It was he that located the chestnut trees and discovered that on state maps the Onalaska corner is named Klaus Corner; also, that the bridge over the Newaukum near the corner is named the Louis J. Kia us Memorial Bridge. Almeda, known as Eden, Klaus married Thomas Owen Hendricks. When he decided to leave farming for contracting the building of roads in 1918, they moved to Chehalis. It was here my brothers and I grew up. I graduated from Chehalis High School in 1932, then was off for college, first Mills then W.S.U. From then on I was only intermittently in Chehalis. I married Louis S. Burnett, nephew of Morris Burnett of Chehalis. Louis was a retail jeweler in Tacoma. I became engrossed in painting, papering, decorating our home and gardening. World War II was a lonely and fearful time with both Louis and my brother Tom in the European theater. They both came home. 101 Our two children, Bambi born in 1946 and Jim born in 1949, became the center of our lives and the sources of our greatest pride and joy. My activities in Brownie and Cub Scouts and PTA led to positions on the Boards of the Tacoma Lawn and Tennis Club where the children swam and played tennis, and the Tacoma Little Theater where they studied. To these were added the Municipal League, the Health Council, and a committee establishing the Crippled Children's program for Tacoma and Pierce County. A position as statistician in the Pierce County School office led to a desire to know more about the teaching profession, so I enrolled at U.P.S. It took two years to complete all of the Education courses so I augmented that program with studies in history and English. At age 46 I began teaching in the Tacoma Public Schools. I retired eight years later and Lou and I had an eight month vacation traveling through Mexico. Retirement in Rancho Bernardo, a development in San Diego, brought new interests: Town Council, the Planning Commission, and dabbling in politics of the City and County, as well as writing for the local newspapers. The League of Women Voters and a study group of AAUW brought an awareness of national and international issues, which I continue to follow. My present project has enhanced my respect for the character and spirit of our early pioneers. Their rank independence, integrity, determination are qualities I hope the coming generations will emulate. By Donna Hendricks Burnett ELENOR BERNICE ROUNDTREE BURKE Elenor Bernice Roundtree was born 15 June 1927, Centralia, Washington. At that time, my parents, Bernice Sweany and Orville Wilson Roundtree were living in Ryderwood where Daddy worked in the woods as a faller. Later he and his brother Oliver Henry Roundtree operated a dairy farm. When times got tough in 1932, my uncle's family stayed there, but we moved into Chehalis where Daddy sold Farmers' Insurance, worked in the woods, and eventually opened Roundtree Health Food Store. (photo): Seated, Front row: Norman, Elenor. Standing, Back row: Kevin, Laura, Debra Roundtree. We lived at 1517 Washington Avenue, 1415 East Main, 1190 Market Street, and then 1469 Fourth Street. We regularly attended the Methodist Sunday School and Church. For a while we lived directly behind the church and then next door to the old parsonage. Playing in and around the church, we children knew it from basement to bell tower, becoming friends with old Mr. Kelso, custodian. I took piano lessons from Miss Eleanor Peterson who moved into that house on Market Street. My brother, Vern Orville Roundtree, and I attended Cascade School, Chehalis Junior and Senior High Schools. In the sixth grade I was chosen Harvest Festival Queen (because Mother sewed beautifully and I was the tallest girl in class). I was always active in school activities and sports. I was ASB treasurer and co-salutatorian of my Class of 1945. With blackouts and rationing behind us, it was an exciting time for our country and for me. World War II was just over and I entered the College of Puget Sound in Tacoma on a scholarship. I enjoyed my four years there, majoring in physical education, minoring in biology, French, music, and education. Also a student was my future husband, Norman James Burke, whose parents had come from eastern Canada to Tacoma. We were married in the earthquake damaged Chehalis Methodist Church, 12 June 1949. I taught school in Wapato and Stevenson before moving to Kennewick, Washington, in 1952, where I taught girls' physical education until 1977. I substituted for five years, and then retired in 1982. My husband taught one year, then worked as a carpenter in the Tri-City area. We have three children: Debra Elenor Burke born 8 March 1952, Laura Colleen Burke born 28 September 1953, and Kevin Norman Burke born 25 November 1958. They all attended school in Kennewick and graduated from Kennewick High School. Debra lives and works in Grass Valley, California, where she has daughter Stephanie born 29 May 1984. Laura lives in Grays Harbor County where her husband, Carl Hagen, drives bus. Kevin lives in Kennewick and works as carpenter on the Hanford Atomic Project. He and his wife, Linda, have a son Kyle Matthew, born 13 October 1983. Genealogy has long been my hobby. I'm trying to trace all the descendants of my pioneer greatgrandparents who came to Boistfort, Lewis County, starting in 1852. My Mother, now Bernice Blinks, has kept a diary every day beginning January 1936. She is on her tenth five-year book, and still lives on Adams Avenue, Chehalis, in good health. JANICE OLIVER BURT FAMILY Janice Adele Oliver was the third and last child born to William H. and Marion Camp Oliver. (See related story, William H. Oliver.) Born in 1929, she was raised on Rock Street in Centralia. Activities of her early life revolved around school and church affairs, visits with her Grandmother Camp on Ford's Prairie, (see story, FT. Camp), and summers on Puget Sound, as well as neighborhood activities with friends. She and her classmates entered their teenage years just as the United States entered World War II. Their lives were filled with activities to help with the war effort: collecting scrap metal, paper and rubber, rolling bandages for the Red Cross, training for and serving as aircraft spotters and helping with total blackouts. U.S. savings stamps to be put toward war bonds were bought once a week at school. Rationing of sugar, shoes, gasoline and tires made dating a bit different during those days. After graduation from Centralia High School, Janice attended Whitman College, graduating with honors with a degree in psychology and radio speech. She was a member of Alpha Phi and Phi Beta Kappa. It was at Whitman that she met her future husband, Calvin P. Burt of Emmett, Idaho. They were married in Centralia after her graduation and their first home was in Kellogg, Idaho where Calvin taught high school math. Their two sons, William D. and Thomas C. were born there in 1952 and 1955. After four years, the family moved to Montana, where Calvin ran a gold mining operation for a year. Then after two years of teaching in Klamath Falls, the family moved to Lake Oswego, where Calvin taught math for 17 years. Their sons attended local schools: Bill graduated from Lewis and Clark College and Tom from the University of Washington. Both have master's degrees, Bill in deaf education and Tom in business administration. Another generation has been added: a daughter, Rebecca, has been born to Bill and his wife Johnnie. Calvin retired from teaching in 1974 after he and a partner formed a publishing company, Plant Deck, Inc., to market decks of cards for field identification of edible and poisonous plants. He developed these after many years of teaching survival skills to schools, scouts and the military. This small business has been combined with the continued teaching of outdoor skills to occupy both Janice and Calvin nearly full time with both sharing business responsibilities. The family has been fortunate in maintaining close ties with relatives and friends in the Centralia area. HELEN ISABEL PETERS ORNING BUSH Roots Make My Home My mother, Gertrude Rebecca Smith Peters, was born 1888 on my Grandpa Teddy Smith's homestead near Adna, Washington. She went to the Adna School. The wood frame school building on the hill was new at this time. Grandpa Teddy came from England with Sam Massingham about 1880. Fred Chilvers, also from England, was already here. They all settled in same area north of Adna. They all married sisters from Toledo, Washington, daughters of Lafayette and Jessie Morgan who had recently arrived by covered wagon from Kansas. Lafayette was a Civil War veteran. My mother married Jerry Peters in 1908 in a double wedding at Adna with Pearl Murphy and Willie Wilson. Both couples lived to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary together at Adna in 1958. My mom and dad celebrated their 70th in 1978 at Adna on Grandpa Teddy's homestead. My father, Jerry Andrew Peters, was born in Harrisburg, Oregon, in 1886. His mother, Kitty Corgon Skinner, married Benjamin Franklin Peters in about 1881. He was a shoemaker. Grandma Kitty Peters was a school teacher in southwestern Washington for 30 years. One of her first schools was Claquato in 1905, earning $50.00 a month. She purchased property near Claquato, and this was her home until her death in 1933. Jerry, her son, purchased a joining property when he was 14. After his marriage he built a home where his first three children, Wilma, Helen, and Chester, were born. Chilvers Road was a muddy, clay trail. Dr. Petit traveled each year for three years to deliver Gerty and Jerry's babies, 1909-1912. When the fourth child, Harold, was born they had moved to the "hard surface," a narrow paved section of Old 99 south of Chehalis, the second piece of concrete paved road in the U.S. This was our home for six years. The older children started to school here, first to Dillenbaugh, then to Cascade in Chehalis. We walked, and Mom always cautioned us to walk down below the side of the road along the puncheon of preexisting road to stay away from the new horseless buggies whizzing by 20 miles an hour. While here we were quarantined for chicken pox, smallpox, and flu. The flu epidemic took my brother Chester's life in 1919, We also had measles and mumps, and missed half a year of school by quarantined illness. 102 Mr. and Mrs. William H. Oliver, daughter Janice Adele and her fiancé Calvin P. Burt. Jerry, by this time, was experienced in buying and selling real estate, which he continued all his life. We moved to another home on 13th Street in Chehalis in 1920. We still went to Cascade School walking a brushy, muddy trail that was Cascade Avenue to 7th Street where it was graveled. By this time Dad owned a new Ford touring car, but had to leave it near Market Street as 13th Street was too muddy to travel on. Dad was also a shingle weaver, and built his first mill two miles north of Littell, Washington, on a logging railroad near coal mines. Mom cooked for coal miners, shingle weavers, and her family. Wilma and I walked the railroad track to Briar Hill school along Mill Creek. We moved many times, selling homes and changing schools, again to Cascade, to Claquato, to West Side in Chehalis, to Rocky Prairie in Thurston County, and to Adna where Harold and I graduated from high school. I married Guido "Whitey" Orning in 1931. He was from Zenkner Valley near Centralia, the son of Helga and John Orning. These were "depression" years. We worked at any type of work we could get. Whitey did mill work when available. We tried pea and strawberry farming with no profit. After five years we bought acreage on Gish Road, "Moonshine Alley," near Onalaska, Washington. We took out stumps to build a house, hauling the lumber in by a team and sled from the county road, dug a well, built a barn, and cleared 30 acres of land. Whitey built a shingle mill here that he operated five years. Our only child, George, born in 1943, attended the Onalaska school to the 6th grade. After 20 years at Onalaska, Whitey's health caused us to move to Forks, Washington, where we lived 9 years until his death in 1964. George graduated from Forks High School, and married Lorene Lewis there in 1961. They gave me two grandchildren, Diane and Jay, and a greatgrandson, Tommy Randall. I had worked in restaurants while in Forks, and after Whitey's death I moved to Adna and continued working while building a house on Grandpa Teddy's homestead. George also built a house on the homestead, and the children attended the Adna school. Diane and Jay both graduated from Adna High School, Diane exactly 50 years after I did, and Jay 77 years after his great-granddad, Jerry Peters, went to Adna High School. Teddy Smith and Sam Massingham are recorded as early Adna School Board members. My Class of 1930 will meet at Adna for their 55th class reunion in July, 1985. My name was Orning for 40 years. In 1971 I married Forrest "Bud" Bush. He died in 1972. I am at home on the same road where I was born, and same homestead where Mom was born. I think I'll stay awhile. It seems like home. I have roots here. HEIDI AND ALAN BUSWELL My husband, Alan Buswell, and I moved to Chehalis just over a year ago. We'd both grown tired of Seattle and this seemed a good place to settle down. Alan grew up in Toledo where his folks (Don and Bernice Buswell), his brothers, their wives (Don and Judy, Carl and Sherry, Guy and Rhonda) and kids still live. My roots, too, are in Lewis County. I am a 5th generation "Washingtonian." My father's greatgrandfather (Daniel Olson) came to Lewis County around 1890, 10 years after arriving in S. Dakota from Sweden. They settled in the Ethel area where he has spent the rest of his life. He had two sons (Olaf and Albert). Olaf had 5 children - Herman, my grandfather, Mildred, Clara, Otto and Ernie. Albert also had 5, but I don't know their names. Olaf married a girl from Sweden, they were farmers. Gradually they used the farm horses to build roads for the County. They grew into a large contracting company, but went bankrupt during the depression. Herman married my grandmother (Jean Cory). He was a smart young man but not at all what Grandpa Cory, (Arthur S. Cory), had in mind as a son-in-law. Grandpa Cory could be quite a stickler when he wanted to and I wouldn't have wanted to cross him. I only saw Grandma Cory once that I remember with any clarity, when I was very young, she seemed quite regal and elegant. Anyway, after they were married, Daddy (Herman Cory Olson - who goes by Cory) was born, and Herman quit the UW law school. Then Ned came along (two years to the day after Daddy), then Marjean (who died while she was still quite young - about 3, I think, in a car wreck) and then, when Daddy Herman Cory Olson was about 9, his brother Donald was born. My mom, Esther Diane Burdick Olson - who goes by Diane, and Dad met in Spokane when they were in Jr. High School and married after they graduated. Mom got her teaching certificate from the University of Illinois where Daddy was to study for his Master's Degree in Math. Most of her work had been done at WSU while Daddy was getting his BA with Honors, also in Math. Grandpa Cory died on July 6, 1974 - I remember because it was my 13th birthday. I figured it was okay though as it was also his birthday. Two months after I was born (September 1961) Daddy started his teaching job in Kent where I grew up. My sister, Karin (age 21) is working on her degree in Speech Pathology at WSU and starts on her Master's program in September. Todd (just turned 16) is still living at home with Mom and Daddy. Alan and I are glad that we made the move to Lewis County. He's working in the area doing different small construction jobs with a local contractor and I am the office secretary for the Lewis County Economic Development Council. My life before now has been varied and full of "high thrills." After high school, I went to WWU and then to Fairhaven College. While in school, I met and married Dan D'Heilly (unwise at age 103 19). Alan and I met after my divorce at some classes we were taking in Seattle and were married on July 2, 1983. By Heidi Buswell WALLACE E. BUSWELL FAMILY Wallace Buswell, at the age of twelve, came to Washington State with his parents from Betrand, Nebraska by train. They made their home at Elma, Washington where Wallace graduated from high school in the year of 1909. After working in the post -office there for some time he headed for Fairbanks, Alaska where the gold rush was on. He worked hard panning for gold in the frozen grounds, traveling with dogs and sleds to and from their camp. It was there he met Ina Ahonen, who had come from Finland to cook for her aunt in their mining camp of 40 men. After a short courtship they were married June 2, 1915. Two daughters, Ellen and Wilma were born in Fairbanks before moving to Portland, Oregon where Wallace was employed in the shipyards during the First World War. Nelma and Anor were born in Portland. In 1920 the Buswells came by boat to Lewis County in the Cowlitz Bend area near Toledo, landing at the Mandy Landing. They purchased nearly 200 acres of uncleared land on the site which today is the family home of one of their sons, Donald. He along with his sister, Hazel, was born in this house they built. The Buswells lived on the farm raising cattle and chickens until their deaths, Wallace in 1965 and Ina in 1966. Wallace and Ina enjoyed people and had many friends. They were active in community services, school, church and lodges. Both were very much devoted to each other and their family. They had a very beautiful fifty years of married life. The Buswell children and grandchildren are: Ellen, born 1916, married Hollum Hunley and has four children: Craig, Ruthe, Sue, and Leann. Wilma, born 1917, married Ralph Olson. They have two sons; Gary and Keith. Nelma, born 1918, married Al Rhyne. Their children are: Mark, Craig, and Denise. Anor, born 1919, married Helen Gallant and in that marriage have four: Steven, Carol, Robert, and William. Donald, born 1922, married Bernice Peterson. They have four sons; Don, Carl, Guy, and Alan. Hazel, born 1925, married John Beyers. In that marriage are three: Lynne, Phillip, and Scott. There are now several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. We miss our parents very much. By Wilma Buswell Olson JAMES AND MARGARET BUTTNER J.W. Buttner was born February 28, 1903. Margaret (Bailey) Buttner was born June 28, 1897. They were married June 25, 1923, in Chehalis, Washington. They came to Ethel in 1928, where they had bought logged off land from Weyerhaeuser Timber Company. Mr. Buttner had gone to auto mechanical school in California in 1919. In 1920 he worked for the Edsion Electric Company. He also had an auto repair shop at Trout Lake, Washington. The Oyler Road was only a mud road about 1 mile long full of pot holes. The Buttners had only two neighbors at that time, Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Oyler, who were there since 1915. And the other resident was a bachelor Ted Hartzman, whose log house burned about 1943. This log house was where Mr. Hartzman was born. Mrs. Buttner taught school at Ethel School for 2 years, for a wage of $60 a month. She also taught at the Lacamas School, for the wage of $70 a month. To reach the Lacamas School she had to go round Mary's Corner. She boarded with the Herd family for the week, only coming home on weekends as the roads were so bad. A small herd of milk cows and laying hens were added to the farm for added income. A dam was built on Lacamas Creek by Jim Buttner, with a water wheel, with a 4 foot head of water that ran a dynamo, which made power for the chicken house and also furnished power for the two other homes on Oyler Road, also charged batteries for radios and autos for the public. >From then on James went into repairing radios, installing water pumps, etc. Mrs. Margaret Buttner passed away February 26, 1983. J.W. Buttner still lives on the home place on Oyler Road where he still runs a business. They had no children. CLIFFORD THEODORE BUTTS AND ANNA BALDWIN BUTTS Clifford's Story: (photo): Daniel, Jean, Richard, Anna, Naomi, Oifford Butts, 1961 I was born on Vashon Island September 12, 1915. The Butts family moved to the Bear Canyon country in 1918, when I was three years old. My family made a living logging, saw milling and farming. My earliest memory of my father is his coming home at night with a wagon load of supplies. The Bremer one-room school was closed when I finished fourth grade there. After that, we children were bussed to Morton, eight miles to the east. In 1934 I graduated from Morton High School and later attended Washington State College at Pullman, Washington. I have always enjoyed working with animals. In 1938 I rented a farm at Randle. In 1942 I purchased a farm two miles East of Morton where we still live and produced Grade A milk, first for Fort Lewis during the war, and for the Grade A market until I sold the registered Guernsey herd in 1974. I met Anna Baldwin at a Young Adult church camp in 1942. On June 7, 1943 we were married. Anna's Story: I was born at Pomeroy in Garfield County, Washington. Our family home was in the Blue Mountains south of town. After one year in a rural school we moved to town. After high school and two years at Cheney Normal School, I started teaching in rural schools in the county. This was during the Depression when few jobs were available. Lucky me! For teaching nine months I was paid $540. Later I taught at Manson on Lake Chelan and at Cle Elum, Washington. Our Story: After we were married we lived on our farm east of Morton. We raised big gardens and canned all summer, like our families before us. Our four children were Richard, born in 1944; Naomi, 1946; Daniel, 1947 and Jean, 1950. All four graduated from Morton High and went on to college. Richard drowned in 1965, after three years at Pullman preparing for a career in agricultural economics. Naomi also graduated from Washington State University. She and her husband, Howard Morrison, live on Vashon Island. He works for Boeing. Their children are David, born in 1969; Holly, 1971; Melinda, 1976; and Kristie, 1980. Daniel and his wife, Faith Wilbert Butts, have a son, James, born in 1977, and a daughter, Katie, born in 1981. They live near Seattle. Dan graduated from W.S.U. and has a Master of Business Administration from City University. He works for Marine Supply and Equipment. Jean and her husband, Donald Gischer, and their sons, Grant born in 1976 and Matthew, 1979, live in Bellingham. Jean graduated from Western Washington State University. Don works for Georgia Pacific and is a Bellingham city councilman. In 1962 there was a shortage of teachers in the grade school at Morton and a shortage of cash on the farm, so Anna went back to teaching. She taught second grade for twelve years and retired. Both Clifford and Anna were 4-H Club leaders while the children were members. Clifford was Conservation Farmer of the Year from this area in 1955. He was grange master for twelve and a half years. Anna has been grange lecturer for many years. We are active in church and community activities. We sold the registered Guernseys in 1974. Since then the polled Herefords and our tree farm keep us busy. By Clifford and Anna Butts JOHN HENRY AND MANETTA WITCOMBE BUTTS John Henry Butts was born May 15, 1875, on a farm at Curry, Murray County, Minnesota, the third birth recorded in the county. He was the youngest of eleven children. Most of his childhood was spent on the family farm near Edgerton, Minnesota. In his twenties, the family took a trip to Georgia. Returning home, they sold the farm and moved to Olds, Alberta, Canada, where they took out homesteads. On July 8, 1902, in Pipestone, Minnesota, John and Manetta Witcombe were married. She was a daughter of Isaac Witcombe who was the Methodist minister at the time that the Pipestone Methodist church building was started in 1882. He had stayed on as a baker so that his children could attend school there. The young couple lived on the farm near Olds until they sold it in 1911. Their ten chidlren were: Millard, born in 1903; Sidney, 1905; John Jr., 1907; Grace, 1909; Daisy, 1911; Robert, 1913; Clifford, 1915; Charles, 1917; Margaret, 1920; David, 1923. All lived to adulthood. John, Manetta and the first five of their children moved to Vashon Island in Washington state in 1911 after selling the farm in Canada. In the spring of 1918, they moved to a 340-acre farm, mostly timber, at Bremer, now known as Bear Canyon and Butts Road, near Morton, Lewis County, Washington. The first year John worked at a sawmill in Morton. He always preferred to work for himself, so, the following spring he bought a mill and 104 (photo): John Jr., Millard, Clifford, John Henry, Sr., Robert, Manetta, Charles, Grace, Daisy, Margaret, Sidney Butts. moved it to the Bremer Valley, the first sawmill to be set up in the Bear Canyon area. From then until about 1933, the family was in the logging and sawmill business. The first lumber cut by their sawmill was hauled to Morton, a distance of about eight miles by horse-drawn wagons, then by train to Tacoma. In 1933, when he decided to go into the chicken business, the family worked together, using home-produced lumber to build chicken houses for three thousand chickens. The three older boys worked with their father when they were logging or working in the mill. The girls and younger boys and their mother took care of the house work and farming chores. In the depression of the 30's times were hard everywhere. However, all of the children knew that they were to go to school and graduate from high school. Several decided to go on to college. They went as a family to the Morton Methodist Church. Sidney has been a member now (1985) for over 60 years. Manetta died of a heart attack Thanksgiving Day, 1937 as she was preparing dinner for the family celebration. In 1945 John sold the land at the Bremer location to different members of the family and moved to Rice, Washington on Lake Roosevelt, formed back of the Grand Coulee Dam. Because of his arthritis he preferred the drier climate. He lived there until his death, October 17,1959. . As he looked back over his life, John said that he had lived at a great time in history. He had taken the first steel plow into Georgia, and people had come from miles around to look at it. Before he died, he knew that men were planning to land on the moon. By Anna Butts BIXBY J. CALDERWOOD Born 2/26/88, Trinidad, Colorado; married Mae Gilmour, Chehalis, Washington, 5/20/22. It was the second marriage for both. His parents were Mary Hamilton and Marian Calderwood who emigrated by wagon train from Pennsylvania to Nampa, Idaho, stopping in Trinidad for his birth. The parents finally settled in Carson, Washington, where two sons and a daughter were born. Mr. Calderwood arrived in Chehalis in 1918, working as a donkey doctor, in different logging camps, before moving to Pe Ell in 1919. After his marriage, he moved his wife and children to a farm outside Pe Ell. He cleared the land and built a house and log barn. The Calderwoods maintained a good sized garden, the care of which was taken over by the children when Mr. Calderwood found work in distant logging camps. During the first years of residence, water had to be carried from the creek in buckets until a gravity water system was installed. Coal oil lamps were used for lights until electricity was added in the early 1930's. After high school, the children left for business college and the Navy. Since work nearby was scarce, Bix had to be away from home during the week. So, a move was made to the old Severinson home inn Pe Ell. Trees, shrubs, roses, and plants were brought to town from the farm. The hedge in front of the house, now over 45 years old, was started from a boxwood cutting obtained from the old Pe Ell school house. That particular boxwood grew from a cutting "snitched" by a Pe Ell school teacher from a hedge around George Washington's home in Mt. Vernon, Virginia. Mr. Calderwood is a former mayor of Pe Ell, Justice of the Peace, and former member of the Lewis County Rose Society. Mae Gilmour was born 10/19/91, Rockvale, Colorado. Her parents, Samuel Gilmour and Jean McLennon, came from Cumbernauld and Kilsythe, Scotland. They sailed from the "auld" country two weeks after marriage, settling in Burlingame, Kansas, where two sons were born. After four years there, with work scarce, Samuel Gilmour went further west, the family eventually settling in Rockvale where they lived for many years. John and Mae were born there. Mae's father died in 1896 and three years later her mother married David Evans, a native of Cardiff, Wales. From this marriage, daughter Margaret was born. Mae left Colorado for Montana to work. She married there and after the birth of her children, moved to Seattle. She worked there, for a short time prior to moving to Pe Ell, where she substituted for a friend as a "flunky" in a logging camp. Bix saw her when she got off the train and had the "bull cook" introduce them. They were married three months later, settling in Pe Ell. Mrs. Calderwood is a charter member of the Pe Ell Garden Circle, former member of the Lewis County Rose Society, Methodist Church, Study Club, Sunday School teacher, music teacher. Res: Pe Ell, Washington. Children: (A) Cecil Miller Calderwood, b. 8/1/13, d. 9/8/21. (B) Jean Carman Calderwood Hanson, Born 1/26/14. (C) Gilmour Harrison Calderwood, Born 2/28/16. Jean Carman Calderwood Hanson, b. 16/16/14; m. Elver Vivian Hanson, Chehalis, Washington, 1/13/38. She is retired Corporate Purchasing Manager / Administrative Assistant, 24 years; past Noble Grand Rebekah Lodge; leader Camp Fire Girls, Cub Scouts; manager of family farm and affairs after husband's death; member of the Castle Rock, Washington Planning Commission, 1953; currently fiction and creative writer, part time consultant to Hanson Associates and related family business ventures; Democrat; Episcopalian; organist, pianist, and certified in motel/hotel management. Her husband was farmer, timber cruiser, log buyer, and mine owner/operator until his death 1/16/51. Res: 10209 S.E. 36th Ave., Milwaukie, Oregon 97222. Children: (A) Yvonne Margaret Hanson Deligiorgis, b. 11/8/42. (B) Gary Neil Hanson, b. 12/11/44. (C) Robert Bixby Hanson, b. 5/13/46. Gilmour Harrison Calderwood, b. 2/28/16; m. Sarah Elline Horn, Lucedale, MississIppi, 12/28/41. He is retired manager Lockheed Missiles & Space Co., Vandenberg AFB, California 21 years, Satellite Launch facility; U.S. Navy, 24 years svc. 1935-1959; Apprentice seaman through Commander, USN; South Pacific, dive bombers torpedo planes; Distinguished Flying Cross; 6 air medals; electronics; member Toastmasters National Management Club; United States Volleyball Assn., Regional Director, Southwest U.S. Mexico and Hawaii USVBA; Hawaii National Official; Committee for Men's Volleyball; Pan American games; player/coach Military volleyball; member National Master's Championship team (1958); Indian "Y" Guides; Republican; FoursquaJe Church. Sarah received her Bachelor of Music Degree Mississippi Women's College; VP junior class; sec. senior class; Player's Guild Glee Club; Superlative "Most Charming"; May Queen; teacher, Public School Music; VP Officer's Wives' Club; active scouting, Brownies; church choir director; Bible Study teacher; Republican; Foursquare Church. Rs.; 2248 Glacier Lane, Santa Maria, CA 93455. Children: (A) John Gilmour Calderwood, b. 8/30/44. (B) Michael William Calderwood, b. 1/5/46. (C) Bixby James Calderwood, b. 4/1/48. (D) Susan Elline Calderwood Gustafson, b. 8/24/50. (E) Sheila Ann Calderwood, b. 6/30/52. (F) Robert Mathew Calderwood, b. 10/25/61. CALVERT FAMILY Our family settled near Winlock in the year 1921. We came by train from the farm country near Hillsboro, Oregon in late March. Clyde, then 10 years old and Owen, 16, had ridden with Dad in the box car with the livestock and all our household goods. Mama arrived the next day with me, 8 years old, Gordon, 6, Esther 3, and the baby Dorothy, not yet a year. Lola, 15 , was left with friends and neighbors in Oregon to graduate from grammar school and she joined us in May. Our two older brothers, Ralph and Glen, were away in the Navy at that time, having joined during the First World War. I believe Dad had seen the old Russel Place west of town advertised in the Oregonian and had bought it on sight. When we arrived that March day the roads were quagmires! My Mother had not seen the house and a surprise was waiting for her, some of the windows had been shot out and glass was all 105 over the floors. Wallpaper was stripped from the walls, and the cupboards had been removed! While Dad was trying to set up the wood stove we sat on the back steps in the sun to keep warm and Mama was nursing the baby with tears streaming down her face. But, finally order came out of chaos. Dad started hauling wood from the Black Diamond Lumber Mill to the townspeople with his team of horses and the boys helped him and worked at the mill part-time. Clyde and I went to Smith School at the top of the hill on Jones Road. It was a oneroom school of five grades. After the fifth grade we walked to school in town. Gordon started to Smith School the next fall but suffered from earaches so much. He had had a mastoid operation when he was four. Then, in the second grade, he became worse and had another operation in the Chehalis hospital but did not survive. He is buried in Winlock Cemetery as are our parents - Claude and Fannie Calvert who died many years later. The years went by and Lola married Glenn Campbell of Winlock. They met at the old wooden Baptist Church where we all attended. The church burned to the ground about 1933. Lola and Glenn had five boys, most of whom settled in the Castle Rock area. Owen married Violet Dingerson and they now live in Goldendale, Washington. Clyde married Nellie Nevala of Woodland. They live near Kelso and have raised their family there. I travelled to Connecticut in 1931 and met and married George Hazard, but I sorely missed the West and we now live in California. I dearly love to visit my old home town of Winlock. Esther married Adam Layman of San Francisco and she lives in Maine near one of her daughters. When Dorothy was 18 - just before graduating from high school- she developed tuberculosis and was forced to spend three years in a sanitarium. She recovered and married Felix Wallace. They have four children and live in Tacoma. There was no one at home but Dad in 1939 when our farmhouse, with all our belongings in it, burned to the ground. He got out in time after fighting the fire alone. He died the following year. Twelve years after his death Mother moved to California and married Mr. Skadsheim. She lived in California until the age of 90. By Vivian Calvert Hazard FREDERICK TRACY CAMP FAMILY James K. Lum, Frederick Camp's uncle on his mother's side, was the first member of the family to settle in the West. He took up a donation land claim on Ford's Prairie. He was a taxidermist and many of his specimen, were purchased by the Smithsonian Institute. Also an inventor, watchmaker and surveyor, he surveyed the first plat of Centralia when it was Centerville. He organized the first local Sunday school and led the singing. The first schoolhouse on Ford's Prairie was called Lum Schoolhouse, and Lum Road still exists today. James was poisoned by the arsenic he used in his taxidermy and died in 1881. The property passed to his brother Albert and then to Frederick Tracy Camp, their nephew. Frederick and Marion (Fee) Camp were in their fifties when they moved to Centralia from Pennsylvania to take over the Lum property. Frederick was of the Camp family after which Camptown Pennsylvania was named. (photo): Front row, sitting: Ronald Graves, James Camp. Middle row: Marion Mary Oliver, Helen Graves, Marion Fee Camp(Mrs. F.T.), Frederick T.Camp, Frances Graves, Dora Daubney Camp (Mrs. H.W.). Back row: Frank Graves, Charles Graves, Marion Camp Oliver (Mrs. W.H.), Lulu Camp Graves (Mrs. F.N.) William Oliver with Ellis Oliver, Hiram Camp with Barbara Camp, Bess Lawrence Camp (Mrs. J.F.) with Roger Camp, John Frederick Camp with Jack Camp in front, Newell Witherow, Susan camp Witherow (Mrs. N.), and Hoy Camp. Their daughter Marion remembers the long trip west by train in 1902, a week of sleeping in their seats and cooking on a little heating stove at the end of the car. They stayed one night in the Centralia Hotel and then walked the railroad tracks to their new home the next day. Daughter Marion reminisces; "Both the house and the farm itself needed much work, but no one ever heard either Frederick or Marion complain of the hardships of starting over. The house was moved from against the hill down nearer the road, and remodeled. Father was quite ingenious. He piped water down from the spring and we had running water when most people didn't. We didn't have electricity and my job on Sunday was to clean the lamp chimneys." The family's means of transportation was by horseback, horse and buggy, lumber wagon or on foot. They walked to town down the railroad tracks. The train from Aberdeen met the northsouth train near the house and always stopped there. If you were quick, you could get a ride into town on the train. The family bought their first car about 1916. Frederick built the barn and began farming. The farm produced potatoes, corn, beef, chickens, eggs and milk. A prune orchard was planted and there was a vegetable garden. Marion said of her father, "He could do most anything. He was a watch repairman, and an innovative farmer. He was always trying something new, such as raising celery when it hadn't been done here before. " The four oldest of the seven Camp children who came West, Susan, James, Hoy and John, were in their twenties. Sue homesteaded for a year in Whitman County before she married Newell Witherow, who taught school in Yakima. After one year they moved back to Centralia and later moved back to the farm to help out. Sue died in 1950, a few years after moving to town when the property was sold. James was a conductor for the railroad in Arizona, but came home to Centralia when he was ill, and died in 1909. Hoy worked in the lumber industry in Aberdeen and Raymond, eventually as an office manager and superintendent of operations. He was associated with the state forestry department in Olympia from 1933 until his death in 1948. John worked as an accountant in Centralia and other towns in the state. He married Bessie Lawrence in 1910 and two children, John Jr., and Roger were born in Centralia. The family moved to Vancouver in 1928 from Napavine. John founded what later became the First Federal Savings and Loan, and was president of the association at the time of his death. Hiram graduated from Centralia High School and the University of Washington with a degree in civil engineering. He returned to Centralia after graduation and lived there for a number of years, marrying Dora Daubney of Centralia in 1913. Hiram engineered the first street surfacing project in the city, supervising the brick paving on Tower Avenue. They then moved to Oklahoma, where he was associated with the petroleum industry for 33 years. Their children, James, Barbara, Margaret and Hiram, Jr., were all born in Oklahoma. He died in 1956. In 1906, Lulu Camp married Frank Graves of Centralia. Their first three children, Charles, Helen and Francis, were born in Centralia, and Ronald was born in Ellensburg. Mr. Graves was manager of North Mutual Assurance Co. for the state of Oregon, in Portland, at the time of his death in 1925. The family moved back to Centralia; all four children graduated from Centralia High School. Of the four Graves children, Charles attended Centralia Junior College and the University, and married Lucille Mattson of Centralia in 1933. Their children, Frank and Marlene, were born in Centralia. Mr. and Mrs. Graves now live in Longview. Helen Graves was trained as a registered nurse and was killed at age 21 in a tragic auto accident. She and her fiancé were returning to his home in Mineral when the car left the road. After attending Washington State University, Frances Graves married Emil Bitar in 1939. Their children, Helen and Lea, were born in Centralia. Emil was killed in action during World War II and he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Frances' Mother, Lu, moved to Lakewood with her to help with the children, and died at the age of 92. Frances later married Col. James W. Lockett, a West Point graduate. When Ronald Graves was four, he was the first person to contract polio in the state; because of his mother's encouragement, he never thought of himself as handicapped although one leg was affected. He attended the University of Washington and married Sadie Edwards in 1942. Their children were Edward, Susan, Robert, and Frances. Ronald died in 1954 in Seattle. Marion went to Ford's Prairie Grade School and walked to Centralia to the old high school at the Edison School site. Later she attended the Washington Grade School for the rest of her high school education, when the old high school Wal determined to be a fire trap. She attended Cen106 tral College of Washington and taught at the Ford's Prairie School until she married William Hugh Oliver in 1915. In those days, married women were not allowed to teach. (See related story: William and Marion (Camp) Oliver.) Frederick and Marion Camp, the parents, were life-long Presbyterians. Frederick was a member of Centralia Lodge No. 63, F&A Masons. Marion Fee Camp will be remembered as a dignified, gentle woman. She was widely read, and was active in community and church affairs. After Frederick died in 1922, she lived on the farm with her daughter and son-in-law, Sue and Newell until her death in 1941 at the age of 89. By Janice Oliver Burt CAMPBELL, JUSTICE AND BLANKENSHIP I would like to chat about things I remember concerning Lewis County. Since I left for thirty years, this will be a story of contrasts. (photo): Lyle Hugb Campbell, Helen Sephronia Justice Campbell, Barbara Eleanor Campbell. Many of my memories are about things that are no longer there. The first thing is Riffe, WA. I was born there and, since it was the only town covered by water behind Mossyrock Dam, that lake is now known as Riffe Lake, originally named Davison Lake. I remember Riffe as three grocery stores. Each had a gas pump, and one was the U.S. Post Office. My grandmother carried the mail there for eleven years and I helped her during vacations. The next thing, I guess, would be the West Side Grade School on West St. and Ohio Ave. in Chehalis. When I started, World War II was going strong. We had paper and metal drives, including awards, at school. We had an outdoor gymnasium surrounded with stacks of wood for our furnace. We had a glorious time at our annual Open House, and I remember our fourth grade teacher's thick wooden paddle. In the sixth grade, we had a special celebration for Arbor Day, 1948. Each student signed his class's paper, sealed in a bottle. Said bottle and a poplar tree were planted for each class. Five of those poplar trees are still there on Ohio Ave. The firstgraders' tree is gone, but is the bottle still there? The following year we had the "big" earthquake which destroyed that school and the high school. At least something of the last full student body still exists. Also, from the war years, are memories of rationing: no candy, fingerprinting and J.D. tags, blue cellophane-covered headlights, blackout curtains, and, another now gone, the Chehalis Boeing Plant. Mom worked there. After Boeing moved, P.U.D. took occupancy of the building. The years at R.E. Bennett, Jr. High, were pretty routine after we doubled with the high school students because of the quake. Our class was the last through West Side and the last through R.E. Bennett as a Jr. High because the new high school, W.F. West, was complete. I remember my senior year best. Things like the outing sponsored by Weyerhaeuser. We were taken to the logging area by bus and given a tour. At lunch, we had a "loggers' dinner". What a spread and did we eat. That year Centralia painted our school statue orange prior to the Thanksgiving Day football game, traditionally the hottest game of the year. Chehalis and Centralia the "Arch Enemies". Now to mention some of the new things I've seen. The completion of White Pass Highway, the construction of 1-5, Mayfield and Mossyrock Dam, and Mt. St. Helens blowing. Nationwide, I've seen the advent of integration, space flight, the assassination of President Kennedy, Watergate, the fight for Equal Rights and the "Computer Age". Within the year I will see Halley's Comet. In the name of progress, we have lost the Chehalis Bus Depot. You once could catch the stage (bus) starting at Randle in the morning going to Chehalis and return home in the evening. No bus now, either. The airport was active. We watched the Annual Air Show from our back yard. A Boeing B-29 was flown in for tours one year. Republic Air Lines landed daily before jets replaced propellers. And last, but not least, our train depot which has been converted into this Lewis County Museum. By Barbara Eleanor Campbell Currier Wilson CAPPS FAMILY Ulysses Capps, Anna Taylor, Fred, Terri Capps George, Lane, Frank, Mike, Paul, Bill, Clyde, Ruth Capps Edwards, Maude Capps Ronnebaum, Ralph, Ben, Lois Capps Miller. (photo): The Capps Family Looks like Grandpa and Grandma Capps started quite a mess! It all started back in Candler, N.C. where they met and married, and where the first 5 of their children were born. From there they came to Winlock where the next 2 were born. Then in 1909 they moved to the Doty area, where the last 6 were born, and where, by the way, there is a creek named after the family and is on the county map today. (Capps Creek). Grandma gave her children only one name. With so many they were lucky to get one! Every two years there was a new baby. Ours is a very close and loving family. Every August we have a family reunion and when we all get together it looks like a new town has sprung up! There are roughly 175 of us, counting of course uncles, aunts, cousins, their husbands, wives and children. We are now in the fourth and fifth generations. Most of us live in Washington, but some are in Alaska, Oregon and California. The Capps' are a very well remembered family. Whenever any "old timers" come back to Doty they always seem to stop at my folks house (Bill's) or Uncle Paul's place. The boys were quite the ballplayers back when, and it's said that their home was open to any and all who needed a place to stay or have a good meal. Grandma always said, "We 'uns ain't got much, but you're welcome to what we do have!" They also made their own entertainment, with homemade music and songs. The years have gone by awfully fast it seems and with them we've lost a great many of our loved ones. But then on the other side of the scale we have gained a great many new ones too! When I was in school there was at least one cousin, brother or sister in each of the twelve grades! There are still first cousins going to high school and second cousins starting grade school. Hopefully the line will continue for many generations to come! God Bless all those who have gone before us. They will never be forgotten. They were all a bunch of characters and pranksters and their funny stories and the things they did will always be our special memories!!! By Barbara Capps Justice ALMON L. CARROLL FAMILY THE LEGACY OF THE ALMON L. CARROLL FAMILY IN THE CHEHALIS AREA (photo): Bruce, Noreen, Marsba, Elwood Carroll Elwood Carroll and wife, Norene, moved from Long Beach, California to a dairy farm on McLaughlin Road in May of 1969, bringing his parents and two children. (photo): Ranch Home of Carrolls Elwood worked the farm and lived there until the spring of 1976 when he sold out and pur107 (photo): The Carrolls, Sandra, Jean, Dora and Claude, Gloria. Almon and Minnie Carroll chased a home on Huckleberry Drive in Sleepy Hollow. During this time he dedicated his life to building a new dairy on the old Klaber Ranch, which was often referred to as the "Old Hop Yard in Boistfort Valley". (photo): Ranch Home In August of 1977 the family moved to 777 Boistfort Road and started dairy farming again. Elwood was one of the first farmers to plant wheat and then he raised cannery crops before deciding to raise sileage. Elwood died in November of 1984 and Norene is presently running the farm. His daughter, Marsha, and her husband, Mike, and their two daughters, Jamie and Jessica live in Tumwater. Elwood's son, Bruce, lives in Seattle. Almon L Carroll and his wife, Minnie, moved from Long Beach, California to the Adna area dairy farm located on McLaughlin Road owned by their son, Elwood Carroll and his wife, Norene, in May of 1969. They lived there until Almon was unable to be cared for by his wife. He then spent his remaining years in a nursing home in Chehalis. He died in November of 1974. Minnie Carroll consequently spent a winter in Alaska with her family before moving to Kanab, Utah, where she spent her remaining years living with her daughter and son-in-law, Sherman and Ella Crosby. She died in November of 1981. Claude D. Carroll and his wife, Dola, moved to Boistfort Valley from Fairbanks, Alaska, to a small farm located at 678 Boistfort Road, just down from his brother Elwood's farm in January of 1977. They moved to Centralia on Cooks Hill Road in the summer of 1978, where they presently live. Daughter, Jean Richardson and her husband, Bob, moved to Centralia in June of 1977 to their present home on Cooks Hill Road. They have five sons, Daniel and Mark live in Alaska, Rob is taking engineering at Oregon State University, Todd is presently serving a mission for the L.D.S. Church in Texas, and Scott, the youngest, is still at home. Rob, Mark and Todd all graduated from Centralia High School and were deeply involved in football and wrestling. Daughter, Gloria Corey and her husband, Bill, moved to Chehalis in September of 1978 to a small home on 14th and presently live on Coal Creek Road. Bill, a son, presently lives in Arlington, Washington and another son, Rick, lives in California. A daughter, Colleen, lived in Chehalis until her death in 1982. Daughter, Sandra Parrish and her husband, Lon, lived in Centralia for three years, 1981-1984. She owned and operated the Chehalis Flower Shop during that time. It was located in downtown Chehalis on Market Street, across from St. Helen's Inn. Her three sons, Chris, Sean and Patrick all live with her in Alaska at the present time. CARTER FAMILY This is the story of the Claude Merlin and Margaret "Daisy" Carter pioneer family, their longterm business enterprise in Centralia and their descendants. (photo): Burdette Carter Family, 1957. Lo to R.: Burdette, Diana, Marie, Shari. Rear: Bruce. Claude and Daisy came to Centralia with their 3 pre-school children, Burdette M., Genevieve M. and Curtis E., in 1904. They arrived by train from Norfolk, Nebraska, where Claude had worked as a carpenter. Other family members had previously migrated to Centralia and, seeing the demand for carpenters, had encouraged the young family's move west. In 1907 Claude Carter and his cousin, Art Brunton, went into business as the Centralia Auto Livery and Garage located at Pearl and Maple Streets. As privately owned cars were scarce they developed a lively business as a car and chauffeur service. Prospective timber buyers wanting to explore remote timberlands required fearless driving on narrow, winding roads which were sometimes blocked by downed trees. It has been said Carter and Brunton carried sticks of dynamite and would blast their way through if necessary. They were known as good mechanics and developed a flourishing auto repair business. In 1925 Claude and Daisy bought property at the corner of West Main and Oak. The reinforced concrete garage which they built still stands, a well-known landmark with its gas pumps beneath the Standard Oil insignia and "CARTERS" painted across the front. The red wrecker with "CARTERS - DAY & NIGHT WE GO" boldly lettered on each side stood in readiness in front. Prior to the Chrysler dealership Carters handled the Chalmers and Maxwell cars. Later the Plymouth car and the Johnson Outboard Motor franchises were added. In spite of long hours attending the service station, coping with balky motors and sometimes irate motorists and day and night wrecker calls, an atmosphere of genial good humor generally prevailed at the garage. Many amusing incidents happened and were told and re-told for years and years. One might suspect the early-day business was as much entertainment as work. Revelling in the beauty of this vast mountainous country, the Carter family camped and fished the streams and lakes of Lewis County and enjoyed boating and fishing in Puget Sound, Steamboat Island in particular. When Burdette was only 19 Claude and Daisy and the two younger children, equipped with the latest in camping gear, left the garage in Burdette's and Slim Baxter's charge while they motored back to Nebraska. A fun feature of the service station was the big, black bulletin board painted on the face of the building conveniently close to the gas pumps. While gas tanks were filled, the motorist, reading all about the latest catches of trout - and even 108 the names of the lucky anglers, often was inspired to come in and buy some fishing tackle! After 28 years in the garage business, at the age of 60, Claude Carter died July 5, 1935, mourned by his family, relatives and many business associates and friends. Interment was at Mountain View Cemetery. Ended was the career of one of Centralia's colorful pioneer businessmen. . . a man of tremendous energy, good humor and foresight. But the business he had founded was not to die at this time. It continued on under the management of his two sons, Burdette and Curtis. All three of the Carter children had finished high school. Curtis and Ella V. Stevenson had married and gone into business in San Diego. Genevieve and Elmer Shuler had married and they too had gone to California where their son Jack was born. (During World War II Jack Shuler served in the armed forces with distinction in the Distant Early Warning Service.) Burdette had graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in,business administration and came home to join his father in the business. After Claude's passing Curtis became a partner and a Chrysler MOPAR auto parts department was installed in part of the new car show room. After World War II was ended they expanded and modernized the repair shop to accommodate more mechanics and larger vehicles. Mechanics who had gone to work at Ft. Lewis during the war returned and business prospects were bright again now that new cars were available. Some long-time associates in the business were a cousin, Cresson "Slim" Baxter, Marion Skinner, Lester and Eddie Ringel, Pete Simmons, Cora Mae Holiday and Nellie Kraft, fulltime bookkeeper and all-around public relations person who presided over many of the pranks and bantering. With the service station being open evenings and the enticement of fishing tackle and hunting gear in stock, a circle of old-timers fell into the habit of gathering around the office heater after dinner to swap yarns and tell of the "big ones that got away." Among the "regulars" who dubbed themselves "The Rinky Oinks" were Stanley Stewart, Frank "Casey" Jones, Dell Koons, Horace Kraft and Dr. Jerome Whisler. It was sometimes suspected that one of the members of this select group acted as an informer for Vance Nole's "Monday Tattler" in the Daily Chronicle. In 1938 Burdette and Marie Jones were married at Thomsen Memorial Chapel in Seattle. She was the daughter of Satus pioneers in the lower Yakima Valley, Roland E. and Rosa Jones. Three children were born to this marriage: Sharon Marie May 9, 1940; Bruce Dennis February 19, 1943; and Diana Claire May 14, 1948. Daisy Carter passed away at a local nursing home November 11, 1948, with interment at Mountain View Cemetery. She was born May 30, 1878, in Blair, Nebraska. She had been a member of the early-day Thursday Thimble Club and the Presbyterian Church. During World War I she had been a volunteer with the "Minute Women" who served hot soup to travel weary and homesick soldiers when trains stopped at the depot. She had been a cheerful person who possessed a remarkable faculty for seeing the good in eveyrone. She was survived by her 3 children, 4 grandchidlren and one great-grandchild, Junie Rae Shuler in Texas. In January, 1949 Curtis died in San Diego, mourned by his wife Ella V. at their home on South Oak, his brother Burdette and sister Genevieve Crews of Spokane, his nephew Jack Shuler in the U.S. Army, and a wide circle of friends. He was a member of the Elks Lodge and was interred at Mountain View Cemetery. Burdette continued to operate the garage for 13 years. He added the Uniflite boats and Holsclaw trailers to his stock of merchandise. He remained active in the community and church until his final illness. He was vice-president of Centralia Federal Savings & Loan Assn., past president of Rotary Club, past president of Centralia Chamber of Commerce, past president of the Lewis County Auto Dealers' Assn.; he was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church, the Masonic Lodge and the Elks. Burdette died January 20, 1962, mourned by his widow Marie, son Bruce, two daughters Sharon and Diana, sister Mrs. Chester (Genevieve) Armbruster, Spokane and nephew Jack Shuler, Vancouver, B.C. Funeral services were at St. John's Episcopal Church and interment was at Mountain View Cemetery. At Burdette's death the oldest Chrysler franchise in the Pacific Northwest was terminated. The Automobile Club of Washington paid tribute to him in these words: "At the time of his death, Mr. Carter had served the members of the Auto Club as a contract emergency road service representative for the longest time of any such representatives. "*** we want to comment on him, the man, and the appreciation we feel for the good and faithful service he performed throughout his life. *** he distinguished himself among men by adherence to the principles of faithfulness, honesty and a regard for his fellowmen, reflecting pride and love of his chosen tasks." During these years another generation of Carters was attending Centralia High. Sharon was graduated. with honors in 1958;she attended Centralia College one year and went on to earn her degree in education at Pacific Lutheran College in 1962 where she was a member of Pi Kappa Delta, a speech honorary. July 14, 1962 she and Charles Zuber were married. They signed teaching contracts with the Bellevue schools where she taught 7 years prior to the birth of their sons. Kevin was born November 18, 1969 and Brian on March I, 1973. She continues to be a substitute teacher and is now married to Stephan Hemenway from Binghamton, New York, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hemenway. He has a degree in business administration from the State University of New York at Geneseo and is employed as a regional supervisor for Conde Nast Publications. Bruce was graduated from CHS with honors in 1961 and from Centralia College in 1963 with honors. In 1965 he was graduated from the University of Washington cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He was admitted to the Stanford Law School and received his degree in law in 1968. He is a special prosecutor of Economic Crime for the Justice Department in the office of the U.S. Attorney in Seattle. In 1983 he received the legal award of the year from the Association of Federal Investigators for cracking a mortgage company's fraudulent scheme resulting in a multi-million dollar recovery for the government and a $200,000 fine against the lender for criminal conduct. Bruce and Mary Jean Quinn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Quinn of Seattle, were married January 14, 1972, in Seattle. She is a graduate of Marylhurst College and has been an English teacher and counselor at Renton High School. They have two daughters: Jennifer born December 25,1973 and Elizabeth born April 3,1975. Mary Jean is now a full-time homemaker. Diana was graduated from CHS in 1966 and from the University of Washington in 1970 with a degree in education. She taught 3 years on Bainbridge Island. She entered the Peace Corps and served a year in VISTA in Corpus Christi. In 1978 she developed her own business as "Carter's Garage - Great Gifts" representing manufacturers of quality gifts; she supplied gift shops, florists, boutiques and department stores. Diana and Andrew Gauen were married October 16, 1978 in Seattle. He is the son of Mrs. Francis Gauen and the late Mr. Francis Gauen of Collinsville, Illinois. He is a member of the law firm of Merrick, Hofstedt and Lindsey in Seattle. He holds a degree from the University of Missouri and Columbia, Missouri and a degree in law from the University of Washington. They have 2 sons: Benjamin born Sept. 9, 1981 and Nicholas born March 22, 1981. Diana sold her business in 1984 and is now a full-time homemaker. All three families enjoy boating and fishing. They frequently return to the serenity of Steamboat Island where they spent many happy hours of their childhood. By Marie Carter CHRISTENSEN-CASE I, Ellen Christine Sofia Christensen Case, was born in Denmark on June 15, 1904. When I was six months old my parents, James and Anna Christensen, came to America. My Uncle Nels Olsen, his wife Anna and daughter Poula, came with us. Coming, by way of the North Sea, was very stormy but we made it to Boston, then overland to Spokane and later on to Lewis County. We soon moved to a farm south of Chehalis. My father worked on the farm and my mother kept house for a widower and his family. Later we moved to a little house, down the lane, on the old Pope place. My happiest childhood memories were in this little home. My little sister, Olga, and I loved to pick apples in our orchard, help in the garden and bring in the cows. We also had chickens, ducks, sheep and horses. Papa sold milk to the creamery in Chehalis, worked in the woods and cleared land, some of which he later bought and built on. Papa was a gentle, fun-loving person. He loved this country and spent much time studying its history. He played the violin for his own enjoyment. It was a special treat for me to accompany him to the Forest Store, run by Mr. Greener. While they visited, I would peek into the large glass case on the counter and sniff the cheeses. On occasion, Mr. Greener would bring out his Stradivarius violin for papa to play! Mama was a wonderful cook and her Danish pastries became renowned in the neighborhood. She was a loving, industrious little homemaker, taking good care of her family. Once a month we made a shopping trip to Chehalis. I remember well the red brick streets and many of the stores, especially those with goodies, like Mr. Thompson's and the City Bakery! Christmas was special. We always had a tree, lit with real candles. My Uncle Nels Olsen and 109 family came from Napavine. The adults gathered 'round the tree singing Danish Christmas songs while we children sat on the floor eating nuts, candy and oranges. We attended both Sunday school and school at Forest. Some of my schoolmates were Edith Lungren, Mary Kaylor, Mary Fox, Edith, Berdie and Vern Bennett. My teachers were Misses Rice, Tarte, Swayne, Gray, Shanahan, Meegan and Mssrs. Turner, Balfour and Stuckrath. In 1920 I married Eugene Emery Case from Syracuse, New York, and in 1921 our first son, Edward, was born. My husband and I moved to Oregon and then to California where our other three sons, Robert, James and John were born. Olga married Joel Lampa, from Sweden, but she had poor health and passed away in 1943. Mama died in 1937 and Papa continued to farm until his death in 1957. In 1958 my husband retired from Mare Island Naval Yard and we returned to Chehalis. In 1964 my husband died. All the boys live in California except Edward and his wife, Betty, who now live next door to me. I am very proud of my boys and their families and continue to live happily in the little home, built by my father, on the Forest Napavine Road. Mr. and Mrs. Edward E. Case EDLUND-CHAMBERLAIN-NELSON FAMILY The Edlund brothers (my father, Erik "Ed", and Anton) emigrated from Sweden to Seattle in May 1890 to join brother Fred. The three brothers helped rebuild Seattle after the fire that destroyed much of the city. (photo): "Ed" Edlund and Catherine Bucher, Chris Bucher and Nellie Anderson. Upon leaving Seattle they worked in logging camps near Sedro Wooley and Clifton (now Belfair). News of homesteading in the fertile Davis Lake Valley, Morton, W A, and Big Bottom Country in Randle, WA, beckoned the three brothers, who came to Lewis County in the spring of 1891. They took up homesteads, "Ed" on the hill above Davis Lake; Fred on Kosmos Hill, and Anton above Rainey Valley, Glenoma (now Meade Hill). Their parents came from Sweden to join their sons. Reed's store, Morton's only business, was on the north side of the Tilton River, followed by Tom Hopgood's General Merchandise (later named "Old Town"). The Edlund brothers played their violins all night for Hopgood's grand opening. During the 1884 depression, Ed and Fred walked 70 miles in one day to Cosmopolis, WA where they found employment in the lumber mill there, where they worked until time came to "prove up" on their homesteads, as required by our government. From 1900-1904, the Edlund brothers contracted to carry U.S. mail by horseback from Mossyrock to Verndale (now Glenoma), a distance of 24 miles each way. With no bridge across the Cowlitz River, they forded it daily. During high water, mail was placed in an Indian canoe and taken across the river while the horse swam. With many narrow escapes from drowning, the most harrowing was when the canoe capsized and Ed was saved by hanging onto the horse's tail, pulling him to safety. At this writing, May 1985, Eddie died at age 71; Marie married Bruce Hall (Vashon Island) and raised 3 children; Victor (insurance broker, Tacoma) married Pauline Duma and begot 2 children; Leonard (deceased age 72) married Kitty Lowe and raised 5 children, Evelyn, beautician, (deceased age 59) married George Johnson and begot 2, Oscar died at age 15, an accidental death. Geneva (beautician) married Earl Smith of Eatonville and they have 2 sons. I am Alma, married to Gilbert Chamberlain of Mineral and our family history follows. After Glenoma Grade School burned, I graduated as salutatorian from Randle High in 1935. Sisters Evelyn, Geneva and I (all graduates of Moler Beauty College in Tacoma) operated beauty salons in Enumclaw and Tacoma from 1937-1946. In 1939, mother and I visited her old home and the World's Fair in New York, and the San Francisco Exposition. Gilbert Chamberlain (Mineral High valedictorian and Beutel Business College graduate) and I were married in 1940. Eventful years were 1942 and 1943 with the deaths of my father and mother, births of our sons, Terrel and Leon, and the induction of Gilbert into the U.S. Army. After V.J. and V.E. Days, and World War II was over, we bought a home in Tacoma where daughter, Lynne, was born in 1946. The year 1947 found Gilbert working for B.B. Crabb accounting in Morton where we moved after selling our home and beauty salons. Later we purchased a rooming house (Home Hotel) which we completely remodeled and added a beauty salon. Gilbert became a beautician and after selling the rooming house, we bought the former P.U.D. building uptown. This was remodeled to include 3 apartments and a modern salon, "Alma and Gilbert's Beauty Nook" which we operated for 28 years. Summers were spent on our 135-acre farm raising strawberries, vegetables and 1000 dahlias for which we won several blue ribbons. Gilbert enjoyed his dance band "Men of Note". All three of our children, graduates of Morton High, were active in chorus, band and other school functions. Son, Terrel, was married at a young age to Linda Miller. He worked several years as a "clipper" in veneer plants to support their growing family of three. Born to them were Domin, Laura and Wendy. Later he worked at Boeing's and Buffelen Door where he was a shareholder. With the market opening for cedar shingle bolts, and having lots of cedar on his homestead, my father began taking out shingle bolts and dumping them in Davis Lake. He hired many pioneers and Morton's first industry was born. Working for my father and hailing from Alleghany, N.Y. were two Randle homesteaders, John and Chris Bucher of the Bucher oil family, the great-great-grandsons of President Sutter of Switzerland. In 1905 Catherine Bucher came west to visit her brothers, met our father, and fell in love: They were married in 1906. When coal was discovered on dad's homestead in 1907, he sold his place with mineral rights to Slayden and Fletcher of Tacoma. In 1908 my parents purchased the H.C. Temple place, claimed to be the first homestead in Davis Lake Valley. This was the first home of seven children: Eddie, Marie, Victor, Leonard, Evelyn, Oscar, and Alma (me). Sister Geneva came along later when they lived at Fern Gap. Active in civic and community affairs, father is credited with being a director and charter member of the State Bank of Morton founded in 1911, school board director for 16 years between Davis Lake and Glenoma schools, pioneer legal advisor, and a participant in securing the White Pass highway. 110 Mother had a busy life raising 8 children and assigned each of us specific duties daily. Clothes were washed by hand over the "board", bread was homebaked and fruits, vegetables, and meats were home canned, about 1,000 quarts a year. Being an excellent seamstress, mother made each child three outfits to start the school year; another if we "made" the Christmas program and a special one for May Community Day, if, as honor students, our work was on display. All of the "Ed" Edlund family resides in Washington. Sons Eddie, Victor and Leonard logged curly maple and for diversion for many years, played violin, banjo, and drums in their dance band, "Melody Kings". Son, Leon, after graduating from Centralia Junior College, was inducted into the U.S. Marines. His two years of service included being a rifleman at the front lines in Viet Nam. He later graduated from Eastern Washington University at Cheney with majors in journalism and psychology. He and wife Susan (Donavan) have two children: Jackson and Lillian, both born in Arizona. Leon and Gilbert operated their HandiServices Co., remodeling homes and apartments. Terrel and Leon shared a business (Two Brothers Trading Post) in Oregon for three years after which, Leon sold out to his brother. Terrel relocated, and now operates the business in Morton, W A. Leon is presently attending graduate school at the University of Oregon to fulfill teaching requirements. Daughter Lynne' was worthy advisor of Rainbow Girls, baton twirler, cheerleader, and as honor student, the recipient of a scholarship in clothing design at the University of Washington. Summer vacations found Lynne' attending beauty college and working in our Morton salon. She married Kenneth Nelson of Packwood who was stationed in Kentucky with the U.S. Army and was later shipped to Mainz, Germany. She joined him and during their stay Gilbert and I visited them, attended wig school in Frankfurt and toured eight European countries. At this writing Ken and Lynne' reside in Onalaska with three daughters: Meleah, Keely and Araminta. Ken is a logging contractor. After renovating and selling four duplexes in Arizona, Gilbert and I are back in Morton where we've opened a mini-mall which encompasses Crafts, Lollypop Shop (children's wear), BeautiGlo Salon and Handi-Services workshop. Daughter Lynne' works with us and son Terrel's business is next door. It's grand to be back with loved ones and friends. By Alma Chamberlain ARCHIE T. CHENEY, SR. Archie T. Cheney (b 1904) and Stella Coleman (b 1909) were married July 10,1926. They have lived in Glenoma most of their lives. Archie made one trip to Alaska in 1925 and had planned to return, but he met Stella and that put a stop to his adventures. They were blessed with four children - Irene 2-21-1927; ArchieJr. Aug. 9,1928; Bob May 21, 1930 and Betty Rose Nov. 20, 1933, died March 1950. Archie worked in the logging woods, on construction, hauled ties to the tie docks in Morton and tie docks on the Falls Road, where they were loaded in box cars and hauled to Tacoma by train. He was on the last log drive down the Cowlitz River. He was paid $6.75 a day, which was big money. The place is located across from the Fish Farm or Ponds on the Falls Road at Randle. The year was 1927 or 1928. George Robertson had 3,000,000 ft. of timber cut and put into the Cowlitz to be floated down to Kelso. The logs (photo): Daniel, Louella holding Kenneth, Archie T., Edward Matheson Cheney holding Lena. jammed up in the canyon where the Mossyrock Dam is today. Archie was working on this jam. A tractor type machine pulled loose one log, which released the jam and the logs all rushed out of the canyon. Archie rode a log down as far as Mayfield, where he was able to get off on a pile of rocks and was rescued by boat, as the river was too high and dangerous to swim. When the log drive hit Kelso the river was full of log booms from other drives. The river was in flood stage and swift when it hit Kelso taking all the logs down to the Columbia; some were salvaged but most were lost. The largest fish Archie caught weighed 521bs. It was out of the Cowlitz River off the Riffe Bridge. Archie was alone and had to work his way, off the bridge down to the bank, to land it. Took several hours and lots of determination. By Archie T. Cheney, Sr. EDWARD MATHEW CHENEY >From Michigan Edward Mathew Cheney (b 1-13-1873jd 1-12-1946) and Louella Mae Thomas (b IO-II-1880jd 5-12-1936) from Kansas, were married May 28, 1898. About 1905 they lived at Hoods Canal, taking up a homestead in that area. Edward was a forest ranger in Clallam Co. He named the Louella Ranger Station after his wife. He was a shingle weaver and moved all over Lewis County following the work. In 1919 they moved to Jackson Prairie where he built two garages. From there they moved to Onalaska. In 1925 another move found them headed for Kosmos, where he started a shingle mill at the mouth of Stephen and Rainey and the Cowlitz River. Eight children were born, Walter 1902;Archie T., Sr. 1904; Joseph Daniel 1907; Lena Frances 1909; Casey 1910; Kenneth Edward 1912; Edward Mathson 1915; and Lillian 1916 married Ben Frank. By Archie Cheney, Sr. CHILCOAT AND MILLER FAMILIES 1885-1985 In 1885-1886 Joe and Alice Chilcoat left Comanche, TX, with two small children, (Ernest, three years, and Lona, about three months old), looking for greener land. Joe sold four mules to the Dallas Streetcar Department to finance the trip, and they traveled by train to the Washington Territory and by horse over a trail to the Big Bottom area, locating a homestead on the Cowlitz River. To promote a settlement, Joe and Alice donated land for a school, church and a store, which was later called Randle. Lona Chilcoat Miller lived there most of her ninety-four years. About 1905, a survey party came thru the valley. Lona met and later married Mathew Steven Miller, an engineer for the City of Portland, OR. Their children, Alice Marie and Lawrence Steven, attended school in Portland, OR, and Randle School District #214. Alice married Bill Owens, a horse packer for the Columbia National Forest, and they lived near Owens Creek on the Cline Road. Their son, Billy, also worked for the Forest Service, now named Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Alice's grandsons, Bill, Chris and David Owens, still live in Packwood. A granddaughter, Bonnie Marie, married Brad Coleman and lives in Banks, OR. Alice Owens Jessee retired from managing a duck club (a shooting club) in Orange County, CA, and now lives in Costa Mesa near son, David Jessee, a pilot for Air Cal. Another son, Jon, lives in Honolulu. He is a banking insurance adjuster. All of Alice's three sons served in the military. Bill in the Army, David in the Navy and Jon in the Marines. Alice has become a world traveler, on planes and cruise ships, but spends part of each year in Lewis County. Lona's son, Steve Miller, graduated from Randle High in 1932. He worked for the Forest Service when he was sixteen as a water boy, at $1.50 a day, then as a firefighter, for 30 cents per hour. He was a lookout on Council Bluff and Badger Mt. and was a foreman on trail cleaning and fire suppression crews. During World War II, Steve was in the Army Corps of Engineers, serving in the South Pacific, where he set up and trained sawmill companies. He returned to logging and construction until 1965. Then, with his wife, Muriel (Haskin), moved to California where he worked as a construction superintendent for a real estate investment company in Newport Beach. Muriel passed away in 1981 and was buried at Claquato. Their son, Robert, married and lives near Rochester. Steve married Martha Dixon, a retired design draftsman, illustrator, and member of the Arizo 111 na Artists' Guild, from Phoenix, AZ. They are now living southwest of Chehalis on the Shorey Rd., building a home on Newaukum Hill. Through three generations and one-hundred years, the ChiIcoats and the Millers have seen many changes in Lewis County. CHILVERS FAMILY Alfred L. Chilvers and his brother, William, adventuresome young men ages eighteen and nineteen, came to the United States from their home in England in 1880. They came to the West Coast, Claquato, Washington Territory. They settled about two miles from Claquato and about the same distance from Littell. Chilvers Road was named for A.L. Chilvers. About three years later William sold his portion of the property to his brother Alfred and moved on to Wauna, Washington, which was close to Gig Harbor. Mr. Chilvers improved his property, starting his farm and building his house on the small hill from which he could look over the farm buildings and fields to the pastureland beyond. He became a citizen of the United States in 1889, the year of Statehood. Arminta Morgan, at age 7, came with her parents, sisters and brother to Eadonia, Washington, across the river from Toledo. They traveled in one of the last covered wagon trains in 1881. Mr. Chilvers and Miss Morgan were married on July 12, 1891 and moved into the new home on the farm. The house was completed into a lovely home for the family. Five children were born to this marriage. Elizabeth (Lizzie) married to Chas. Brittain. They had a large dairy farm at Montesano. Robert, who died in infancy. George, married, had a chicken ranch at Kent. Myrtle married Raymond Smith and taught school in Grays Harbor County. Minnie Annetta (Nettie) married James Griggs and worked in the business world. About 1921 the County built the new road through the middle of the farm. The road was named Jeffries Road. This put the home on half and the farm buildings and fields across the road. The lower half was rented to neighbors and the Chilvers were semi-retired. The house burned a year or so later. They rebuilt and continued to live there until Mr. Chilver's death in 1938. About 1942 Mrs. Chilvers sold the property and moved to Chehalis where she lived the remainder of her life. Curently the youngest daughter, Nettie, is retired and lives in Everett. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren live in the area. CHINN FAMILY Kan D. Chinn was a longtime restaurant owner in Centralia. He was born August 11, 1904, in Canton Province, China, and came to the Untied States when he was fifteen years old. He worked in restaurants in Astoria, Seattle, and Olympia before coming to Centralia in March, 1928. The first restaurant in which Mr. Chinn worked was in the 500 block of North Tower. It was destroyed by fire in 1935. He then purchased the building at 529 North Tower and opened The Shanghai Restaurant. The business has now been in the family for three generations and continues to serve Cantonese style cuisine to a third generation clientele. Mr. Chinn returned to China to marry Sau Chinn. She was born in Canton Province, October 15, 1910, and came to the United States in 1957. Mrs. Chinn presentlv resides in Centralia. Mr. Chinn died in 1982 and is buried in Seattle. Their son, Yee Chinn, was born September 18, 1932, in Canton Province and came to the United States in November, 1948. He married Leah Lillian Christian, the daughter of Leo and Florence Snavely Christian of Centralia. They have one son, Wayne Chinn, who was born September 11, 1957. HELEN DETERING CHRISTEN Of German ancestry, my name is Helen Detering Christen - born August 31, 1893 in Freelandville, Indiana, to Mr. and Mrs. Henry H. Detering. I went to public school through 7th grade and to German Parochial School until confirmation in March 1907 in the German Evangelical Church. In September, 1907 our family moved to the State of Washington. The three oldest children had already gone from home, two of them to Washington. We left the train at the Chehalis depot after almost a week's travel, having spent one day in Kansas City where my brother Ed was working. Our cousin Herman Detering and our sister Anna met us in Chehalis. We spent the night at the Ben Allender Hotel. Next day we went by horse-drawn rigs to Wildwood by way of Curtis Hill. Some of us walked up that hill. We stopped at the Cairns home at the top for drinks of well-water. Driving up through the virgin timber was a thrilling experience. After a visit with Herman's family we went to Vancouver where John and wife had established their home. Our folks rented a house nearby. My sister Myrtle and I attended school there that term of 1907-08. Our father had a store building erected at Ceres on the South Bend Railroad about 11 miles from Chehalis. Herman's brother Henry was the carpenter: In the spring of 1908 we left Vancouver for Ceres, living in near-by hop shacks until our building was completed in August. The one-room school building was just across our boundary fence. Myrtle and I attended school there that term, although I had finished the 8th grade in Vancouver. The following term I went to live with John's family and finished high school in Vancouver. Having sold the store my folks moved to Chehalis in 1916. I went to summer terms of normal school and taught school for a few years. One summer I worked in the office of the Lewis County Cooperative Creamery. This led to attendance at Centralia Business College. I continued in office work until my marriage in 1924 to Fred Christen, a farmer I had met while teaching the Deep Creek School in 1916. Leasing the Walter Flanagan farm at Ethel, we lived there for five years, during which time our two daughters were born - Betty in 1926, June in 1928. In 1929 we moved nearer Chehalis. My husband worked for a meat-packing company. I worked in a real estate and insurance office until the birth of our son Fred Jr. in 1933. In 1935 John was born. We leased a farm near Toppenish and moved there in 1937. In 1938 our daughter Betty met with a fatal accident. In 1941 we moved back to Lewis County, having bought a 20-acre place on Newaukum Hill. We lived there until my husband's death in 1959. The children were away from home and on their own. Having sold the acreage I went to live with my two sisters in Chehalis for two years. I had been working for several years in the office of the Chehalis Methodist Church. I continued A working there until 1961. In the spring of that year I left Chehalis and have lived in various places since. I now live in Ellensburg near the church which I regularly attend. HELENE K. CHRISTENSEN Helen Karen Christensen, the youngest daughter of Theodore and Laura Christensen, spent most of her life in Winlock. She attended school in Winlock. (photo): Helene K. Christensen She was encouraged by her sister Mary Pumphrey to go to work for the Winlock Home Telephone Company. She worked there as an operator and later became manager of Winlock Home Phone and Winlock Farm Line, in 1938. Pacific Northwest Bell Company later took over the Winlock phones. After thirty-one years Helene retired when dial phones were installed. Helene and the telephone "girls" played a vital part in the history of Winlock. People would call to ask, "Where's the fire?" The operator could tell them, after all she is the one who told the Volunteer Fire Department and turned on the siren. The operator handled other emergencies, including floods, train wrecks, windstorms, and even war. Helene worked closely with the Army in 1941 when maneuvers were held around Winlock before the United States was involved in World War II. When the devastating earthquake of 1949 shook the West Coast, the telephone switchboard lit up with calls from anxious parents inquiring about the school. Helene called the school herself to determine the situation, then she was able to assure those who called that everything was all right. Helene is now living in Castle Rock with her nephew Ted Pumphrey and his family. As a retired telephone employee, Helene is a Telephone Pioneer as well as a Lewis County Pioneer. Bv June Pumnhrev 112 THEODORE AND LAURA CHRISTENSEN Theodore Christensen married Laura Nielsen in Denmark, and immigrated to the United States soon after their marriage. He and a friend found work in the mines of Colorado, but when he heard of land and work available around Winlock, Washington, he left the mines and went West. He worked on the railroad and at other jobs until he had enough money to send for his wife and baby, Lawrence. Theodore and Laura lived in several houses before they could get land of their own. While they were living on Buckhorn Mountain west of Winlock, their second child, Anne Marie, was born. Baby Mary Elizabeth was born in 1894, the year of Winlock's big fire, which many believed was the reason she had such flaming red hair. They moved to Olequa while Theodore was preparing a home for his family on their own 53 acre farm near Winlock. Another baby daughter was born at Olequa, and they named her Helene Karen. Around 1900 the Christensens moved to their new home, where their children grew up. Although the Christensen family worked hard, they also took time to have fun. Many dances and parties were held in their home. Sometimes they would take the train to Castle Rock and hire a wagon to take them to Silver Lake, where they camped and went fishing. Laura was an expert seamstress and dressmaker. Much of her sewing was done on the small sewing machine that she had brought from Denmark. Each summer she would take whichever of the children that was old enough to pick hops at Patterson's in Olequa. She saved the money she made for some special project for her family or her home. In addition to farming, Theodore sold insurance for Farmers' Mutual Company, which later became Mutual of Enumclaw. His territory included parts of Lewis, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum Counties. He was also Deputy County Assessor for several years. In 1927 while Theodore was putting-up hay, the team of horses he was driving spooked, and he was thrown off the loaded wagon. He died several days later, never regaining consciousness. Shortly after Theodore's death, Laura and their daughter Helene moved into a house in Winlock. She lived there and for a time in Chehalis until her death in 1933. Lawrence Christensen married Iva Leathers of Winlock in 1915. They spent most of their married life in Warrenton, Oregon, where Lawrence worked as a millwright. Their daughter, Helen is now Mrs. Preston Adkins of Portland. Anne and her first husband, Fred Paulsen, had a daughter, Blanche, who is now Mrs. Paul A. Johnson also of Portland. After the death of Fred Paulsen, Anne taught school for several years. Later she married Ambrose Yaw of Silver Creek. They lived at Silver Creek and Winlock until they moved to Portland, where Ambrose worked with his brother in the new restaurant, "Yaw's Top Notch". Theodore Yaw of Beaverton, Oregon, their son, has worked many years for the Portland Oregonian and is now a member of the board of this newspaper. Daughters Helene Christensen and Mary Christensen Pumphrey are discussed elsewhere in this book. By June Pumphrey (photo): Theodore and Laura Christensen and Family JOHN (JACK) E. CHURCH JR. AND MARJORIE PETERSON CHURCH In 1935 the government sponsored the colonization of the Matanuska Valley in Alaska. Both of our parents were colonists. Jack's parents were John and Julia Church from Wisconsin and my parents were Otto and Meryle Peterson from Minnesota. Each of our parents had 5 children at that time, and had two more after they were in Alaska. Jack was the eldest of his family and I was the "Happy Medium" in mine. As youngsters we were pioneers of Alaska and grew up there. When Jack finished school he went into the Army and then worked for the Alaska Railroad. When I finished school I was a telephone operator for the Matanuska Telephone Co. I worked a switchboard much like the one in the Lewis Co. Museum in Chehalis. We were married in 1948 and have 6 children. John III was born in 1949, George in 1951, Daniel in 1952, David in 1954, Julianna in 1957, and Judy in 1967. We lived in Palmer for 9 years and in Anchorage for 17. Jack worked on the Alaska Railroad for 29 years, starting as a section laborer and working up to Supt. of Track and General Roadmaster. In March of 1964 Alaska had a big earthquake which did a lot of damage to the railroad and many days were spent getting it ready for use again. We had very little damage to our property, but it was an experience we won't forget. Our boys graduated from East Anchorage High School, Julie from Palmer High School, and Judy from Onalaska High School in Lewis County. In 1972 Jack contracted Menier's disease, which is of the inner ear, and after two surgeries he was forced to retire. His retirement took place in 1974 and in 1975 we bought a 10 acre "ranch" near Salem, Oregon. We drove out the highway with a pickup pulling a trailer, both loaded with our belongings, and a car pulling a camper which we lived in along the way. My mother came out with us just for the trip. Our son, George, drove our pickup for us. Then George and my mother went back to Alaska. Judy was the only one of our children left at home by this time. The boys were working and Julie was married just before we left Alaska. We spent 5 years in Salem before we bought our 4 acres in Lewis County where we've lived for 5 years now. We had a driveway put in and a clearing made for a doublewide mobile home. The doublewide was in place and we started moving in when Mt. St. Helens blew her top. We had a lovely view of it from a safe distance, which we are thankful for. We finished moving by driving through ash. We would clean the air filter every trip and had to use the windshield washers a lot. We carried extra jugs of water to refill them. One trip was so dusty that we used face masks so we wouldn't breathe the ash. The road reminded us of dry snow in Alaska because it would fly up when a car passed us, making it hard to see. Lewis County is beautiful and I think we'll stay. By Marjorie Peterson Church ALBERT CLARK, FRANK BLAIR AND CLARK BLAIR FAMILIES My father, Albert Clark, was born in Sheridan, MO, April, 1882, and came, with his parents, Marion and Mary Clark, and four sisters by emigrant-train, to Spokane, W A. The train was advertised as a great train but they had to sit on (photo): Emma King Blair, 1888 113 (photo): L-R: Marin Clark, Albert Clark, Victoria Clark, Sylvia Clark Blair, Clark Blair. wooden benches. His sisters were Lucy Turley, Spokane; Mae Greenman and Kate Blair, Toledo; Cora Stevenson, Grand Coulee - all deceased. Cora was the mother of Lloyd Stevenson, Toledo. (photo): Rear: Cleo Blair Rawlinson, Lela Blair Harper. Front: Sylvia Blair, Beverly Blair Wastradowski, Clark Blair My mother, Victoria LaFleur, born 1893 at Incheleum, WA; was the daughter of Manuel and Josephine Lafleur. She had eight sisters and one brother. My parents were married in 1910 and owned an eighty-acre place near Kettle Falls; it was covered with pine trees. I was born in 1913 at Kettle Falls. My brother was born in 1911. We moved by wagon, to what was known as the Big Bend Country, in 1914; where the Grand Coulee Dam is now. My father took a homestead, there, and did wheat farming. A few years later, we moved over near Okanagan, where again he went in for wheat farming on a 320-acre farm. Those were the drought years; no rain and lots of grasshoppers. The farmers all went broke. We lived there from 1918 to 1925. We came to Toledo, November, 1925. The highway was crooked and narrow. It took us three days, traveling from daylight 'til dark. The cars only went 15 to 20 miles-per-hour. The same trip, today, can be made in eight hours. I thought this was the most beautiful country, with all the tall trees. The tree tops nearly touched each other over the highway and the ferns were so beautiful under the trees. There were lots of evergreen blackberries everywhere, which my mother made into jelly. There were many big salmon in the river. The smelt fish-runs in the spring were so plentiful you could dip a burlap-bag full in minutes. My brother, Marion, and I attended the Wayside Grade School, which had about thirty pupils, all grades. To me, at that time, it seemed like a large school, after coming from Limentiva, where there were eight children, including my brother and me. We also attended Okanagan and Brewster schools. I went to Toledo High School. I married Clark Blair of Onalaska, in 1931. We lived at Ryderwood, WA, from 1932 to 1941. Clark worked in the woods, logging. He was a heavy-equipment operator. Ryderwood was a logging town, with 600 men living and working there. It was all company housing, general store, doctor and first-aid station. There were about 125 train-car loads of logs going out each day. We spent a year in Oregon, at Estacada. We now live east of Toledo, where we have been since 1948. We have three daughters, Lela, 1933; Cleo, 1937; and Beverly, 1946. Clark worked for Weyerhaeuser Timber Company for twenty-five years, out toward Mt. St. Helens, He is now retired. Clark Blair was born at Onalaska, WA, April, 1909. He attended R.E. Bennett, Jr. High School. His parents were Frank and Emma Blair of Onalaska. He had four brothers and six sisters; Jake, Louise, Mary, Fred, Frank, Emma (all deceased), Ethel, Ruby, George and Frances. Frank died in a horse, disc accident at the age of twelve. My brother, Marion Clark, married Blanche Owen, Toledo. They had two children; Jerry, deceased, and Carol Hoyt, Napavine. Marion died in 1940. Blanche is now married to Lloyd Stevenson. They live at Toledo. By Sylvia Blair GEORGE ELMER CLARK I, George Elmer Clark born 1920, and Noma Nadean Clark born 1922, were married in 1942 at Everett, WA, while I was serving in the U.S. Coast Guard. After the war was over, we returned to Lewis County and made our home here. My brother and I worked as self-employed loggers for several years. Finally, I went to work as a rural mail carrier at Toledo, where I worked approximately twenty-two years. My wife and I were blessed with five children: George, Jr., Bruce L., Jerry L., who died on arrival, and two girls from Korea, which we adopted through Harry Holt of Creswell, OR. Lou Jean was two-years old when she arrived from Korea at the Portland, OR, airport on Halloween. Lana D. arrived at the same airport when she was eight months old. She was born in 1958. Our children all graduated from Toledo schools. George is married and lives with his wife, Phyllis, and two children in Longview, WA. He, also, has three other children. Bruce is married and lives with his wife and two children in West Seattle. He is employed by Boeing Aircraft Co. Lou Jean married but is now divorced. She lives in Winlock, WA, and works for a local chiropractor in Toledo, WA. Lana, also, lives in Winlock and works for Reliable Enterprises in Centralia, WA. My father, Harvey Franklin Clark, was born in 1880. Mother, Frances Louisa Lowe, married Dad in 1904. She was born in 1879. After their marriage, they traveled around quite a bit by horse and wagon. In those days, Dad was a blacksmith by trade, and, also, a horse trader at times. He had blacksmith shops at various places in California and Washington. They arrived in Lewis County sometime in 1922. They lived at various places on Cowlitz Prairie, Salmon Creek and Drews Prairie. Dad died, at home on Drews Prairie, in 1965. Mother passed away, at her home on Spirit Lake Highway, in 1972. They had six children that lived and three others that died shortly after birth. Mary, 1905, married and had four children, Harvey, 1907, unmarried, Elgin, 1909, unmarried, Arthur, 1912, married with seven children, Evelyn, 1914, married with one child, and George Elmer, 1920, with five children. Dad worked at several vocations during his life - blacksmith, horsetrader, logger, mill operator, pulpwood supplier for a paper company, and was a devoted family man. Dad and Mom lived in Lewis County since 1922, as did most of their children, until the last few years. Three of us reside in Lewis County at the present time. My information on the Clark family ancestors is somewhat limited but they are believed to have come from England. My grandfather, George Edwin Clark, was listed in the 1860 Jackson County, Iowa, census at the age of ten. In 1871 he was married and soon left the county, moving to Kansas in 1893. He homesteaded on the Cherokee strip in the Oklahoma Panhandle area. He had moved to Washington in 1908. He died at his home in Anacortes in 1934 at the age of 83. His wife, Ida, died in 1936. He had fourteen children, 48 grandchildren and 33 greatgrandchildren. His children are: A. W. Clark, Silver Lake, WA; Mrs. H.T. Edward, Puyallup, WA; H.F. Clark, Toledo, WA; D.A. Freeman, Binger, Oklahoma; Harley Clark, Eatonville, WA; Mrs. Bea Stellingware, Malaga, WA; John Clark, Toledo, WA; Mrs. Mae Jacobson, Puyallup, WA; Mrs. Verna Cook, Tacoma, WA; Mrs. Pearl Cooper, Ethel, WA; Mrs. Ruth Starke, Bellingham, WA; Mrs. Ellizabeth Schmitt, Mossyrock, WA; Mrs. Blanche Giblin; and Loren Clark, Anacortes, WA. By George Elmer Clark ELIAS AND ELIZA CLEVENGER Elias Clevenger was born (4-15-1890) in Virginia to Polly and Lewis Clevenger. He passed away November 21, 1956; buried in Rainey Valley Cemetery, Glenoma. Elias and Eliza Clevenger 1912 Elias had a twin brother, Eligh. Their father was a Baptist minister. Elias came west about 1910, first stopping in Montana, then Doty, and finally Kosmos. He and Eliza Katherine Clevenger (9-6-1894) were married June 19, 1912 in Tacoma. Eliza was born in Hayes, West Virginia. Her parents were Charles and Reedy Stiltner Clevenger, who came to Kosmos in 1901. Eliza went to school at Kosmos and Glenoma. Elias and Eliza had two children - George (9-51915) and Lois (6-12-1918) married John Thomas and lives in Seattle. 114 Elias worked for the Northern Pacific Railway and was a fireman for eight years in Tacoma. They moved to a farm on Anderson Road in Glenoma. Like most people in the Valley they milked cows, selling milk and cream. The separator was obtained from Harrison Christain. Clevengers exchanged farm work with Christains so they never owned a team of horses. Just one pack horse and one mule to pack into the hunting country. The deer meat was canned, and the pork they raised smoked to preserve it. They bought their first car, a Chev., about 1928 for $700. They tried their hand at raising silver and blue fox, which cost about $300 a pair. One litter, which died was all they produced. So Elias killed them and sold their pelts. They also tried raising mink which wasn't a success either. Since they didn't have a refrigerator the hamburger was put in a can and sunk in Rainey Creek. In 1930 their house burned when a gas iron caught on fire. The depression was on. Elias worked for $3 a day for Ulches of Kosmos in their sawmill to obtain lumber to build a new home. When the Second World War started, Elias and Eliza went to Tacoma where they worked in the Todd Shipyard. This was near 1943. George was in the army. The hardest winter Eliza remembers was 1922, deep snow and continuous freezing in the day. To get to the Christmas program at the Glenoma School, they walked and each packed a child to see Santa Claus. Elias was the janitor for Glenoma School from 1941-1943. The furnace was wood and they lived in the back of the gym, where the kitchen is now. The pay was $32 a month. These checks couldn't be cashed, but Fairharts Store in Morton would honor them - half in groceries and half in cash. After Elias passed away, Eliza lived for 13 years on the farm, moving to Centralia in 1967 where she and George live today. Although they never had any grandchildren of their own, Eliza has many children who call her Grandma. Her kind, gentle, and loving ways will always be remembered. By Eliza Clevenger JAMES B. CLEMENT FAMILY James B. Clement, his wife, Martha, and their two sons, James L. (1887) and Arthur A. (1891), left the state of Minnesota via train for the Northwest. They embarked at Portland, OR, and migrated via boat - landing at Cowlitz Landing near Toledo. (photo): James and Martha Clement The family purchased an original homestead from Samuel and Mary Ladue in 1895 for the price of $750 down and a $300 mortgage. This land was located at Ethel, WA. The family settled down to farming, mainly raising wheat and oats, after clearing much of the land. They raised their own beef, pork and chickens, besides having a large garden. This helped them to be self-sufficient, except for a few essentials they could not raise. Schooling for the boys was scant, usually only three months of the year. A small school, District #22, was started on the Clement acreage in 1907. This was a small log school of one room. Also available was a cemetery, which had been an original Indian cemetery, and it is still in existence. A daughter was born to them in 1895 but died in infancy. A son, Charles Cowan Clement, was born in 1897. He was severely burned while playing by a bonfire and died in 1900. Arthur, at the age of fourteen, went to work at Willapa Harbor working logs on a mill pond. Later, he worked running a steam-donkey for the old Superior Logging Company, located at Ethel,WA. James worked part-time in the woods but seemed to enjoy farming more. He married Carrie Jensen in 1910. In later years, they sold their farm (part of the original homestead which J.B. Clement had split between his two sons and himself) and moved to the thriving town of Chehalis, where he worked for Fisher Flour Mill. Later, he transferred to Napavine where he was manager of the Napavine Feed Store for years. After his retirement, he and his wife moved to Centralia on a small acreage. He died in 1959. His wife survived him by many years. There were no children. Arthur married Edna Falkner at Chehalis, WA, in 1915. She was the daughter of Aberdeen and Roseanna Falkner. She, with her family, migrated to Portland, OR, from South Dakota on the same train as the J.B. Clement family, but her family settled at Arleta, WA, later moving to Kapowsin, and finally settling in Marysville. One surviving brother Lester, still lives - from a family of 13 children. J.B. Clement died in 1933 at his son Arthur's home. Martha, his wife, was killed by a car, while standing at the edge of the road, in 1927. Arthur and Edna Clement had a family of two daughters, Elsie (Clement) Newton, 1920, living in Onalaska; and Eva (Clement) Thompson, 1922, living at Fox Island, WA. Arthur drove school bus for the Onalaska School from 1925-1929. It was quite a trip because the present Leonard Road, between Ethel and Onalaska, was not in existence. The drive consisted of driving on a plank-road around tree stumps, from home to the Kennedy Crossroad, down Highway 12 to Mary's Corner, then on Jackson Highway to the present Highway 508, and on to Onalaska. During the day, he worked as a millwright at the Carlisle Mill. He continued to work there until it closed down. He also farmed his father's place and his own. Edna Clement died, in her home, in 1963. Arthur Clement died in 1970. During the span of 90 years, since the J.B. Clement family moved to Washington, there have been many changes. Among them: progress from the use of candles to the common use of electricity; from taking a trip from Ethel, WA, to Chehalis by horse and buggy (which was an overnight trip); to the use of a car making the same trip in twenty-minutes. By Elsie Newton WILLIAM KEENUS CLEVINGER FAMILY William Keenus Clevinger, prominent pioneer of Morton in Lewis County, Washington was born November 7, 1882 at Elkhorn City, Pike County, Kentucky and died at Morton, Washington in 1957. William was married to Priscilla Adams in Pike County, Kentucky in 1901. (photo): William and Priscilla Clevinger William sought work outside the Cumberland Mountains and moved down the Big Sandy River to Greenup County, Kentucky. He then joined his father Nelson and other woodsmen in moving to southern Missouri and then onward to Grays Harbor, Washington and finally to Morton, Washington. To the union of William K. Clevinger and Priscilla T. Adams, during their residence in three states, were born the following between 1903 and 1932: Ethel Maude Clevenger was a school teacher who taught from 1925-65 at Bremer, Morton, Mineral, Randle and Bremerton. Kemper Lester Clevinger, now deceased, married Julia Compton, daughter of James Compton and Celia Tiller, Morton, Washington, in 1927. He was in the saw milling and logging business at Morton. Arnold Samuel Clevinger married Caroline Wellman of Tacoma, in 1935, and they are now retired in Tacoma. Woodrow Rex Clevinger, now deceased, was a commissioned officer, U.S. Navy, Pacific Fleet, in World War II. He was interested in preserving the past and was one of the founders of the Old Settlers Museum in Morton. Vivian Marie Clevinger married Eugene Bingaman and lives in Morton. Eugene H. Clevinger, was an outstanding athlete in track and basketball at Morton High School. He served in World War II in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He resides in Lakewood, Washington, a Tacoma suburb. William Keenus Clevinger, Jr., served in the U.S. Air Force, in West Germany. He lives in Tacoma and is an employee of the National Biscuit Company. During his active life in farming, construction work and politics, William K. Clevinger contributed much to the development of the Morton, Washington community. Owning several acres in southwestern Morton, he was one of the petitioners in 1912 to incorporate the Town of Morton. He was a charter member and officer in the Masonic Order. In political and civil service he served as Democratic precinct committeeman, school director and Lewis County Road Supervisor from 1932 to 1940. 115 ELLEN TOPORKE COLE MY CHILDHOOD IN LEWIS COUNTY Lois and Ellen Toporke As I write from my Tacoma home where my husband Don and I have lived for more than 26 years and raised our daughters, Cheryl (Cole) Bennett and Lori (Cole) King, I fondly remember my childhood in Lewis County. My earliest memory is that of being fascinated by a large long-legged bird standing in our snowcovered yard at Beaver Creek. It was a crane, my parents, Martin Toporke and Georgia (Detering) Toporke explained to me. I was three years old then. Soon we moved into the Adna School District. My sister, Lois, who is two years older than I, was a first grader. I remember Aunt Elma Detering and Grandma Nellie Detering driving in our rather long driveway to visit. A short time later we moved to the property where my mother lives now, but in a house that is no longer there. Some evenings my Daddy would hold me on his lap and sing. I felt privileged and wonderfully secure at those times. One song that brought tears to my eyes was "Mother McCree." Lois and I were delighted when Uncle Joe Toporke came to visit, or mailed a package. He took our pictures and sent us prints of them. He sent candy, balls and jacks, and once a handpainted doll cradle with mattress and pillow he had sewn. He even bought us a bicycle. Uncle Joe lived in Tacoma where he and my father and brothers John, Roman, Frank and sisters Frances, Rose and Agnes had settled in the 1890's with their parents, Frank and Margaret Toporke. When I was eleven my father, with the help of Mother, Lois and me, built a new house and sold the part of the land the existing house was on. I was proud of Daddy for being able to build a house. In February 1957 I was seventeen and a senior at Adna H.S. when the house was sold and we moved into the mobile home where, as I mentioned earlier, Mother lives. Lois graduated from Adna H.S. in 1955, attended W.S.U. one year, married and began raising her family; Gary, Gloria, Tod and Diane Cole. In June of 1957 I began working at Coffman Dobson Bank, and with my first paycheck I rented an apartment in Chehalis. In November 1957 Anna Geiszler, who was sharing my apartment and attending Centralia College, and I became members of Westminster Church. In October of 1958 Don and I were married in Westminster Presbyterian Church. My Mother's family, the Detering's, were always an important part of my life and held in high esteem. My classmates at Adna were "family" and friends. My church membership now is at Westminster in Tacoma, but I enjoy worship with the people at Westminster in Chehalis whenever I can be there. I am happy to have "roots" in Lewis County and am grateful to my parents for living there during my growing-up years. By Ellen (Toporke) Cole WALTER ROBERT COLE Walter R. and Eva May (Auer) Cole came to Lewis County in 1923 from Addie, Idaho. They bought twenty acres on Penning road near Adna, on property that is now Rose Park. The foundation of their home was used for the parks kitchen. (photo): Walter R. and Eva May Cole They were married in Seattle in April 1908. It was W.R.'s second marriage, his first being to Lucy Popham April 1898 in Butte, Montana. They had three children Leslie, William and Lucille. Eva and Walt's oldest son Earl Robert was born in San Diego in 1910, where Walt was an auto mechanic. By 1914 they had a 160 acre farm at Addie, Idaho where sons Ralph Winfred and Laurence Fredrick were born in 1919 and 1921 at Bonners Ferry. Walt was born in Pioche, Nevada March of 1873 to William George Cole Jr. and Annie Hodson Cole both were born in England near London. William's father joined the Mormon faith in 1848 and by 1862 all the family had immigrated to Utah. In the spring of 1864 William and Annie met on one of the wagon trains that he had been called to head. William was a mining engineer in Nevada and Montana. There were five children: William Henry, Louise Laura, Walt, Frank George and Harry Joaquin. He passed away in Butte, Mont. in 1899, Annie at Walt's home on Penning road in 1928. Eva Cole came from St. Bonifacius, Minn., her parents Simon and Veronika (Paul) Auer were born in Germany. Eva was born Jan. of 1878. She had eleven brothers and sisters: Annie, Tarry, Joe, Ollis, Lena, Maria, Eva, Barbara, Emma, Otto and Minnie. They had an eighty acre farm. Son Earl R. longshored in the Willapa Harbor area, where he married Charlotte Jump, they have two daughters JoAnn and Ramona. Ralph W. served in the Navy during WW II and worked 21 years for the Boeing company. He and his wife Wanda Leach of Pe Ell have no children. Larry F. married M. Denzil Kirkendoll of Toledo in 1944. He also served in the Navy through WW II and Korea, retiring after twenty years. He then worked for a natural gas co. for 18 years. Their children are Eugene Wayne of Seattle, Richard Reed of Ethel and Sheryl McKinley of Chehalis. Walt passed away in April 1956 and Eva Dec. 1966. By M.D. Cole ELEXIOUS AND ANTHONY COLEMAN FAMILIES Elexious Elsworth Coleman, d. 11-11-1912, and Elizabeth Ann Smith, d. 12-1-1912, came to Lewis County in 1891. They were buried in the Riffe Cemetery, which was moved to the Doss Cemetery in Mossyrock, W A. Charles and Lucinda Cox Elexious served in the Civil War from 18621868. They were the parents of Anthony Sampson Coleman, 1876-1915, who was born in West Virginia. In 1894, he married Ida Almira Cox, 1880-1928. Ida's parents were Charles Lewis Cox, 1855-1932, and Lucinda Virginia Cooper, 1861-1932. They were buried in the Coleman Cemetery at Glenoma, WA. Anthony and Ida came to Glenoma, from Portland, OR, in a covered wagon about 1920. Anthony and Ida Coleman had nine children - Charles, 1897; Alfred, 1900-1970; Shade, 1907-1971; Wayne, died at three-months; Rose, 1904-1928; Lillie, 1898; Edith, 1902; Stella, 1909; and Rebecca, 1912. Times were hard and, with a large family, Mr. Coleman worked at many different jobs. He carried the mail, on horseback, from Riffe to Glenoma, then called Verndale. He picked hops at Chehalis and worked the shingle-bolt drives down the Cowlitz River. He was Justice of the Peace, drove the horse-drawn, school bus to Glenoma, and worked on highway construction, with his horses. Mrs. Coleman was busy, too, as many of the school teachers boarded with them. Larry Coleman, of Glenoma, lives on the old home place now. Larry is Charles Coleman's youngest son. There are many descendants living in Lewis County, including the Hornbys, Bowens, Mays and Shorts. By Stella Cheney 116 (photo): Alvis Cox, Anthony Cox, Ida. Front: Charles, Lillie, Alfred CHRISMAN FAMILY My grandfather, Elday Lewis Chrisman, was born in Stayton, Oregon, in 1873 and in October of 1901 married Annie Duncan. In 1902 Grandfather bought 160 acres of railroad land near Mossyrock for $140. (photo): L to R: James Monroe Chrisman, Eloay Louis Chrisman. In 1907 Grandfather and Grandmother came to Mossyrock in a covered wagon from Scio, Oregon, with a four-year-old son, Niel, a Jersey cow, (photo): Annie Duncan Chrisman (photo): James Nelson Chrisman, center unknown, Leona Francis Johnson Chrisman and a team of horses, one of which had a colt when they camped at Blue Creek. Grandfather's four brothers had also purchased land near Mossyrock and moved there. Grandfather and Grandmother lived for a time in a small cabin owned by his brother James Monroe Chrisman until they could build a house. My father, James Nelson Chrisman, Lucy Chrisman Sullivan, and Elday Frances Chrisman were born in this house. In 1913 Grandfather bought 16 acres from Willie Lester who was moving to Arkansas. He owned this property until the depression when it (photo): Leona Frances Johnson Chrisman was sold. He built the log cabin on it. I think the cabin is now owned by the Banners. My grandfather helped build the Ajlune School and also the Church of the Brethren at Ajlune of which they are charter members. For several years my grandmother kept the telephone switchboard and she was secretary and treasurer of the National Farm Loan Association of that area. They farmed for many years and raised Jersey cows. They passed away at the McMillan nursing home near Chehalis and are buried near Mossyrock. My father, James Nelson Chrisman, met and married Leona Frances Johnson in December of 1934 and later moved to the Vader area. My father worked as a logger and in road construction for many years. He owned his own logging outfit and mill until he lost a leg in an accident at the mill. After three years of recovery he bought the Mobil Service Station in Winlock. He and my mother still reside on a farm near Vader. In December of 1835 I was born in the hospital in Chehalis and spent 23 years of my life in the area, attending Vader Grade School and Winlock High. I grew up next door to Joseph Arnold Stanford whom I married in 1953. We moved to Seattle in 1959 where my husband became a police officer. After 27 years there he is now a sergeant in the homicide unit. We have four children, the oldest, Joe, played football for the University of Washington and is now a fireman in Kirkland. He has two girls. Our second son lives in Bothell with his wife and three children. Our daughter Kathy is a police radio dispatcher and lives in Seattle with her husband. Our youngest son, Mike, is a Seattle Police officer also. My sister Alice Lorraine Chrisman married Clarence Hoven in June of 1959. Clarence has worked by Weyerhauser in Longview for many years. They have two daughters and a son. The oldest daughter, Kim, married Scott Archer and has twin daughters. They reside in Seattle where Scott is stationed with the Navy. Kim is secretary to a Seattle attorney. Julie and her son reside in Vader and David just graduated from Toledo High. 117 Rosemary Arlene Chrisman married Jerry Salscheider and has two sons and a daughter. They owned a farm near Vader. Their two sons, Bob and Bill, still live in the area and their daughter Kelly is in Tacoma. By Frances Faye Chrisman Sanford COLLINS FAMILY In 1902, James Russell Collins sold his farm in Boggs, WV, to his oldest daughter, Met, and her husband. He moved his wife, Malinda Susan Goff, and their eight children, by wagon, to the horse ranch of his wife's uncle, Dave Greathouse, located in Stonington, CO, approximately twenty miles from Denver. In 1903, his wife gave birth to another girl, Susan Lydia Collins, delivered by her grandmother and named after both grandmothers. I entered this world weighing only four pounds. Our family, like many others in that area, used buffalo chips as our main source of fuel for cooking and heating. However, the smell, of the burning chips, made mother quite ill and, in September of 1903, father moved us all to the state of Washington. We first settled in the town of Riffe, where my grandfather Collins lived. Since Dad could not find work, we moved on to Pe Ell, Adna, Littell and, finally, in 1911, to Chehalis, where Dad worked in the Brown's Mill (now Chehalis Brick and Tile) and Mother cooked for the mill hands. When school was out in 1911, Dad heard promise of better work up around Kosmos but, when that fell through, we, once again, loaded our wagon and moved on to Morton. We children were now 13 in number, with the girls outnumbering the boys, eleven to two. Dad loved responding to questions asked by the census taker as to our number by saying, "Well, the last time I counted, there were eleven girls and each one of them had two brothers," at which the census-taker's eyes widened at the thought of thirty-three children. Dad traded an 80-acre place he had bought, when we first landed in Riffe, to Mr. Harmon Justice for a ten-room house in Morton. Dad worked, for a while, on the road crews and, then, provided for the family by hunting, fishing, gardening and locating honey trees, which supplied us with all the sweetener for canning and baking. We all worked together, each doing his share, to contribute to the family as a whole. Mother did laundry, on a washboard, for twenty-five cents an hour. She, also, served as a midwife to many of the other families. My sister, Lavada, worked as the first telephone switchboard operator in Morton in 1914. I was the smallest, by stature and, because of a leg injury, was somewhat limited in my abilities but I learned to bake bread for the family and watched over my younger sister, Pearl. Another of my duties was to grind the coffee each morning. Our home was one of the largest in Morton, so, in 1917, we began taking in boarders. Mother was considered a wonderful cook and we always had plenty to share. Everyone helped out with the cleaning and cooking. We grew up believing no one was a stranger. In 1927, our home burned. Mother suffered a stroke in 1933. Father died in 1940, at the age of 74, and mother followed him in 1942, having lived to be 75. Although we were a large family, there was always an abundance of love, and so, I dedicate this to my family in loving memory: James and Malinda Collins (parents), Met, Maggie, Roy, Clara, Susie, Ada, Matilda, Lavada, Verna, Arvid, Flora and Pearl. By Susan Lydia (Collins) Buren (photo): The James and Malinda Collins Family JAMES AND CELINA COMPTON James and Celina Compton came to Washington, from Council, Virginia around Nov. 1907. Having relatives in Morton, Washington. They established their new home close to Celina's two brothers the Elbert and Evin Tiller families, up on the Hopkin Hill Road toward Harmony. All of the men were loggers. There were seven children born to Jim and Celina; Hazel, Julia, Ruth, William, Ellis, Edward and Virgil. Ruth had appendicitis as a child and died. Shortly after Virgil's birth Mrs. Compton passed away leaving Jim to raise six growing children and a new baby. Many ups and downs pursued Jim before he got his family raised. The Compton kids, their cousins and neighbor kids got their education in the little one room Highland Valley School House. Their beloved teacher was Mrs. Cara Wood. Several years later, Jim built a three story house, farther down in Highland Valley and the children finished their education in the Morton School. Mr. Compton having his family almost grown, took a second wife, Mattie Stinson. She was the postmistress of Riffe. Jim and Mattie lived at Riffe many years before his death. The thriving little town of Riffe lies at the bottom of Riffe Lake, due to the dam that was built at Mossyrock. Hazel the first to leave the nest, married Frederick Leyman, their children were Evelyn Leyman Benson of Seattle, Edward of Washington D.C. and James in Texas. Hazel now lives in Seattle. Julia married Kemper Clevinger, they had two children, Allen Clevenger of Chehalis and Jerene Clevinger Smart of Kent. Julia now lives on the Davis Lake Road in Morton, Washington. William married Doris Watson, an Idaho girl. Their home was built in Highland Valley overlooking the Tilton River. William and Doris raised purebred Herefords at one time they had over two hundred on their ranch. Their children were Caroll Compton La Gra and Julian Compton who married Sharon Marie Shoeler of Seattle. Both of the children have built their homes in Highland Valley. Doris is now a widow, but she is surely blessed, she is surrounded with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren all living in the valley. Ellis Compton married Mable Alice Hale of Mineral. They also raised Hereford cattle and later moved to Bear Canyon, built a home that overlooks their Christmas tree farm. They had three children Lynda Compton Naney, Louise Compton Fischer and Mary Lou Compton Thornton. The three Compton girls and husbands run the Christmas tree ranch now. Mable is also blessed with her children and grandchildren living close to her. Edward married Lily Otis, they had three children, Bruce, Kayleen married to John Keen and Byron of Morton. Edward and Lily had a big cattle ranch at Davis Lake just east of Morton. Later years they moved into Morton where Ed passed away. Lily is now retired and lives in Gig Harbor. Virgil married Lucille Taylor, they lived in Highland Valley and ran a dairy ranch for many years. They had two children William of Olympia and Rosie Compton Mick of San Francisco. By Doris Compton MARVIN AND VIOLET COMROE Marvin, Violet and six-month-old Baby Joe arrived in Winlock, Washington, on July 4,1948, to live near Violet's father and mother. Her stepbrother, Wilmor Howe and family also lived in the Winlock area. They purchased the Zwiefelhofer place across from Frank Mattson. Marvin raised chickens, milked cows, and on the side worked as a brick mason, a trade he learned while growing up in Canada. Violet's time was spent in caring for Joe, helping with egg production, and general duties. Later, she enjoyed a few years of teaching. They found much to fill their days, weeks, and months. Marvin belonged to the Lion's Club, Flying Club, and was manager of the Winlock-Toledo Toledo airport for several years. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge, Eastern Star (of which both of us were members), and the Methodist Church. Violet, in the early years, was a member of the Winlock P.T.A. and was a Cub Scout den mother, working with Audrey Yarbrough. 118 They left the farm and established a home in what is now Shadetree Court in Winlock. Marvin continued working as a mason until he was threatened with a heart attack and a stroke a few years ago. Their son, Joe, finished his schooling in Winlock and attended college for a short time. He then entered the U.S. Army, during which time he was married. They have three granddaughters to watch grow up as they grow old. HERB A. CONLEE At the age of 12, A.E. Conlee left his Oregon home and was northward bound to make his fortune. He landed at Castle Rock in 1895 where he secured employment with A.W. Crane. Arthur worked there maybe three years before striking out again. This time he stopped in Lewis County where he worked at whatever job was available. In 1904 he turned 21 and became eligible for homestead rights; he settled on a quarter-section timber claim two miles south of Morton. The Engel family came to America in the 1880's. They settled in Butte, Montana, before moving to Newaukum Hill about the turn of the century. A daughter, Annie, took up nursing after she finished high school. She may have been the first registered nurse in eastern Lewis County. She worked for Dr. Harry Feagles for a number of years. Arthur Conlee met Annie Engel, probably when both were working in the Morton area. They were married May 26, 1910. They lived on the homestead until they received the patent in 1914. They then sold the property and moved to Napavine where Arthur went to work for Emory & Nelson. They were living in that area when their only child, Herbert, was born in 1916. The Conlee family next moved to Doty when Arthur got a job with the Doty Lumber & Shingle Company. A few years later he went to work for Snow's at Littell. Then, in about 1928, he quit the woods and became a full time farmer. Early in 1929 the people of that district resolved to restore the historic Claquato Church before it was lost. A committee of seven was elected, including A.E. Conlee as secretarytreasurer. They mobilized the community and, largely with donated materials and labor, restored the church. The Conlees lived quietly at Littell until 1947 when they sold the farm and moved to Curtis. In the early '50's they moved to Pe Ell. Arthur died there December 28, 1957. Annie joined him April, 1972. While Arthur was helping the volunteers restore Claquato church, Herbert was going to school. He graduated from Chehalis, went to college two years, and then to trade school. After completing his studies, he hired on with Weyerhaeuser as a mechanic. Uncle Sam offered Herb a job in the Army during World War II. Because of his training, he wound up in the railroad battalion, serving in the North African, Italian, and Philippine campaigns. After his discharge, he married Mildred Wilkinson, an Ohio girl, whom he met while in the Army. They moved back to Pe Ell, where he continued as a mechanic with Weyerhaeuser. To their union were born four children: Martha in 1946; Arthur, 1948; Donna, 1951; and Alma, in 1953. The children are grown now. Martha, married, lives at Packwood. Art, also married, is in the Coast Guard in New Jersey. Donna works for the state in Olympia, while Alma works in Tacoma. Herb retired from Weyerhaeuser in 1979. He and Mildred still live in the house they built on Stow Creek in Pe Ell. JOSEPH AND ELIZABETH CONRAD FAMILY Descendants of Joseph and Elizabeth Conrad migrated to Lewis County, in 1880, from Maustin, WI. Joseph and Elizabeth, born and raised in New York, were married there in 1811. According to family legend, Joseph's father was active in the American Revolution and had a part in drafting our constitution. Joseph and Elizabeth's seventh child, Jesse, born 1823, began the family's westward migration, when he moved to Maustin, WI. He was a farmer, by trade, and served in the Fourth Wisconsin Light Artillery Battery of the Union Army. He married Olean Searles and they had one daughter and four sons. The daughter, Louisa, remained in Maustin while Jesse, Olean and their four sons, J. Beman, Justice, Frank and Wallace, moved west and homesteaded in the Onalaska- Toledo area in 1880. President Benjamin Harrison signed Homestead Certificate No. 2102, of the land office at Vancouver, WA, giving Frank H. Conrad 160 acres in the Burnt Ridge area near Alpha. This certificate, called a patent, was recorded by Lewis County Treasurer, John Galvin, August 7, 1893. Apparently farming was not to their liking and all, except J. Beman who remained in Toledo, moved to Centralia in 1895-97. J. Beman served as the Toledo handyman and was Town Marshal for many years. Justice Vallencourt, known as J.V., became a railroad engineer. Wallace operated a restaurant in the Depot Hotel, on "B" Street, in Centralia. Their descendants have passed on or have moved from the Centralia area. Frank Herbert Conrad married Ella May Stowell, in 1886, in Toledo. Upon moving to Centralia in 1896, he engaged in the dray business, with horse and wagon. Two sons, Ray Herbert (18) and Reid Richard (9), along with their mother, survived Frank, when he died in 1906. Ella May married T.R. Stephens in 1910. Frank operated his dray business under the name of Conrad Transfer Company. Ray Herbert Conrad married Florence Benna Walker in 1910. He operated the West End Transfer Company - General Draying in Centralia until 1918, when he and his brother, Reid Richard, formed a partnership; Hub City Transfer and Storage Company. Ray and Benna had four children: Robert, 1911-1956; Cecil 1913-1941; Dora May, 1914, living in Hawaii; and Helen, 1916, living in Alaska. Descendants of these children are removed from Lewis County. Reid Richard Conrad married Lillian Montgomery in 1917. Before marriage and for one year after, Reid was employed by Ramsey's Dairy, located on Reynolds Avenue, Centralia. Two children came from this marriage, Donna Eleanor (1918) and William Frank (1924). Donna married Lawrence R. Edinger in 1938, and both engaged in real estate selling, brokerage and education, in Centralia. Twin sons, Roy Reid and Ray Henry, produced five grandchildren and all but one are located out of Lewis County. William Frank Conrad graduated from Centralia High School in 1942, and studied one-year at Centralia Junior College. Enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps, he served for three years as a radio operator in the Pacific Theater and China. Upon returning home, he began work at Hub City Transfer and Storage Company in 1946. William married Nancy Delight Noel in 1947, and had three sons: Reid William, 1950; Marc Byrd, 1951; and Eric Jonathon, 1954. Nancy died in 1974. William and Nancy R. Maag were married in 1977. Nancy Maag resided in Seattle and had three sons, Stephen, Richard and David. Reid William Conrad graduated from Centralia High School in 1968; Centralia Jr. College in 1969; and joined the Navy, serving in Vietnam for one-year. Further schooling included Western Washington State College and Vocational Welding School in Vancouver. He worked in the welding trade for four years in Longview, and moved to maintenance work at Hub City Transfer and Storage Company, where he is now Vice-President and Director of Maintenance for operating equipment and facilities. He married Victoria Louise Necker in 1977, and they have three children, Nickolas Aaron, 1971; Jacob William, 1979; and Valerie Delight, 1981. Marc Byrd Conrad graduated from Centralia High School in 1969. He attended Centralia College and completed formal education, at CWU, Ellensburg, in 1973, as coach and teacher. He taught school in Olympia and Germany and joined the Hub City Transfer and Storage Company, in 1974. That year, he married Debbie Anderson and they have two sons, Noel Hilding, 1978, and Drew Byrd, 1982. Eric Jonathon Conrad graduated from Centralia High School in 1972. He attended Grays Harbor College, Centralia College, and was involved in a variety of occupations in Longview, Tacoma and Florida. Returning to the Centralia area, he married Sally Buzzard in 1977. He is a real estate salesman, broker, property manager and appraiser, operating over western Washington. They have one daughter, Cassie Phyllis, born 1982. Reid Richard and Ray Herbert founded Hub City Transfer and Storage Company, Centralia, in 1918. The beginning company office was located in a livery stable in the 200-block of South Tower. The next move was made to 106 E. Pine, with a warehouse located at 1014 "F" Street, Centralia. The third office move was across the street to 107 E. Pine, and a warehouse, purchased in 1920, was located at the corner of Third and "B" Streets. On October 1, 1946, these two partners sold the company and property to their sons, William Frank and Robert Walker. This partnership terminated with the death of Robert, in 1956. The office and truck scale was consolidated with the warehouse in 1960, and remained there until 1976. During that year, a new office and warehouse was constructed on a four-acre site on Reynolds Avenue. In 1980, the warehouse was doubled in size to accommodate growth and handle various projects in which the company engaged. Conrad Industries, Inc. was founded in 1955. Over the years, the companies have engaged in many different jobs, including outdoor Christmas decorating, erection and sales; flag decorating, erection and sales (the company was designated the official state flag decorator, for the Washington Territorial Centennial in 1953); house moving; power-pole preservation-treating; manufacturing and distribution of household mops; owning and servicing vending and game machines; propane gas dealership; heavy machinery hauling; and a wide variety of transporting and warehousing jobs. Conrad Industries, Inc. operates a full-service recycling center at Third and "B" Streets (the former warehouse), and is engaged in energy systems sales and distribution, worldwide. Present stockholders are William Conrad, President, and son, Marc B. Conrad, Secretary-Treasurer. 119 BETTIE WEBSTER COOK AND JAMES LEWIS COOK I was born April 21, 1945 at the Centralia General Hospital, the third and last child of Edith (Mauermann) and Russell Webster. I have an older sister, Barbara Geist and an older brother Steve Webster. We lived on a small farm on Lincoln Creek adjoining my grandparents, Pearl and Harry Mauermann. I was very close to my grandparents and learned a great deal from their knowledge. My father worked in the woods away from home much of the time, so the responsibility of running our home and farm was left to my mother, my brother, my sister and me. We moved to a larger farm on Lincoln Creek in 1951 where our responsibilities increased. I attended grade school at Galvin through the sixth grade, seventh grade at the Washington School in Centralia, eight and ninth grades at Centralia Junior High and tenth, eleventh and twelfth grades at Centralia High School. After graduating in June of 1963 I moved into Centralia and began working with the Employment Security Department in Olympia. In 1964 I began working for KELA Radio in Centralia and was also married that same year to Wayne Thomas Parkin, whose family was in the coal business at that time and Wayne is still continuing his family's dream. Wayne attended Centralia College and worked part time in the coal mine until 1968 when we moved to Bellingham to finish his education at Western Washington University and I began working at KVOS Television in Bellingham. After graduation we returned to Centralia, I resumed my job at KELA and Wayne returned to his coal business. We built a home on Lincoln Creek on the property where I was raised. After eleven years of marriage we were divorced and several years later I married Jim Cook who was also employed at KELA as the News and Sports Director. Jim was born and raised in Seattle, attending Bryant Grade School, Roosevelt High School then completing his education at the University of Washington. He also served as a Lt. in the U.S. Army from March 1969 through November 1971. He had a daughter born in July of 1970 who now resides in Seattle with her mother and stepfather. He has one brother who lives in Sacramento, California. His parents are retired and now reside in Sequim, Washington where golf has become a large part of their lifestyle. Since our backgrounds were so different, mine being rural and his being urban in nature, our relationship has been an education for both of us. We purchased a home in Centralia in 1975 where we now reside with our very spoiled German Shepherd dog and five spoiled Siamese cats. I terminated my employment at KELA in 1974 and began work at Centralia College in November of 1975. In addition to my work at the College I also assist my husband who does play-byplay broadcasting of local sports such as Little League, Babe Ruth, slow pitch baseball, high school football, basketball and baseball and college basketball. We also travel a great deal when we are not involved in a sporting event, so our lives are very active and exciting. Weare both looking forward to the day we can retire and spend much more time somewhere in the sun. INSLEY COOK FAMILY Insley Cook was born in Clayton County, TN, in 1839. It is reported that his great-grandfather served in the Revolutionary War. Insley Cook was a farmer and carpenter and, at times, he was a building contractor. He married Cynthia Pratt in 1858 at Princeton, MO. In May, 1863, he enrolled in the Missouri Militia, where he gained the rank of Corporal, Company I, 4th Missouri Regiment Provisional EMM. While on a scouting expedition, he was injured by a fall from a horse and permanently disabled from a broken leg, obtaining a pension of $72.00 a month. After he was discharged from the service, he resided in Missouri and Iowa before coming to Washington Territory in 1889. Insley Cook served as a constable of Mercer County, MO, for one term. In 1885, he and his family of six children boarded an emigrant train, at St. Joseph, MO, to come to Washington. The trip was made in two weeks. The only ventilation was the open window, with dust and smoke blowing into the car. Each family furnished its own bedding and food. The food was cooked on a stove in the coach. They arrived at the home of an aunt and prepared a home to move into near Klaber. At one time, he served as a deputy sheriff, for one term, in Chehalis. He was quoted by neighbors to be "a sober, industrious man and a good citizen." Cynthia Cook died in 1891 in Chehalis, WA, at the age of sixty-one. Insley Cook married Cynthia's sister, Sybba Pratt Good in Princeton, MO, in 1900. They returned to Lewis County to live. Insley Cook died in 1924 in Chehalis. My grandmother was Insley Cook's youngest child, Ethel Blanche Cook. She was born in 1881, probably in Missouri. She married Seldon L. Pier in Chehalis in 1899. (See family of Sidney J. Pier for remaining history of this story.) Ethel Cook Pier was a hard working woman. She was a member of the Christian Church, and later Church of Christ, and the grange. After Seldon Pier died, she married Joseph Graf in 1936 in Centralia. Joe emigrated from Germany and was a farmer in the Centralia area, where he homesteaded a section of land. I spent many summer hours at their home. Joe was killed in a truck-train accident in 1958, and Ethel died the same year. They are buried in Mt. View Cemetery. By Gladys Pier Sturdevant HARRY AND KATHERINE STUD HAL TER COOPER Harry William Cooper was born March 4, 1899 at Bremer, nine miles west of Morton, W A. Katherine Cooper was born April 30, 1902 in Tacoma, W A. We have known each other since 1911. We were neighbors since 1912.Harry started school in a log cabin which had a three month term. Then later a school was built which had one room. The teacher taught eight grades and the term was nine months. We both finished through eighth grade. Katherine went to Roger School in Tacoma until fourth grade. Then moved to Bremer and went to the same one room school as Harry. He and several Stud halter children walked one and a half miles to school in every kind of weather, snow and rain. We had to eat cold lunches, sit in wet clothes and try to warm by a wood heater. We got water from a well. Had an outdoor toilet. Then after a few years, the teacher had Katherine doing a little cooking to help the kids have a little warm food. Katherine was one of the older girls. Always had her lesson done. Had experience of cooking at home. There were five lunches to fix each morning. The children would take turns in furnishing material for soup and cocoa. Sure did taste good on those cold winter days. On June 1, 1920 Harry Cooper and Katherine Studhalter were married in Chehalis in a Methodist church, where the Lewis County Courthouse now stands. We drove a model T Ford and took most of the day to get to Chehalis. You could get your license the same day and then marry. School day sweethearts, and we'll be married 65 years June 1, 1985. Harry as a child lived on a farm at Bremer. He started working young, raising rabbits, ducks and peeled cascara bark, to buy his first gun, camera and bicycle. About 1918 he worked in a mill near Morton. Did mechanic work at a garage that was owned by St. John from Chehalis. In 1919 when his folks moved to Morton he worked for his father in his garage that he had bought and was the mechanic. Later years in 1936 he bought a gravel truck and hauled gravel on roads all around Lewis County. Later he bought a logging truck and hauled ties for six years. Then more trucks and he went into business logging with sons Harold and Jack Winslow until 1959. Harry decided to retire, so he sold his interest to his son George. Harold quit the woods in 1973 and has been Lewis County Commissioner since then. George worked as a logger until 1972 then bought the Morton Union Oil Distributorship and retired in 1983. Harry and Katherine have two sons, George Harry, born Sept. 17, 1921 and Harold Ray, born April 28, 1927. George has three children, Ed, Kathy and Timothy. Harold has three sons, David, Douglas and Keith. So we have six grandchildren. Ed has a son Clinton. Kathy has two daughters, Alicia and Erin, so we have three great-grandchildren. By Katherine Studhalter Cooper ROBERT EDGAR AND EMMA PEARL COOPER Robert Edgar Cooper and three brothers - George, Ernest and Elbert - and their father, James Addison Cooper a Civil War veteran (Confederate), came by train to Chehalis from Harrisonville, MO, in 1879, then to Harmony, WA, north of Mossyrock. Ed, as he was always called, soon traveled over the mountains following an Indian trail to forty acres he had bought from Northern Pacific Railroad at Bremer, where he built a small, split-cedar, two-room house. He married Emma Pearl Casto on December 23, 1897. She was also a pioneer who came by covered wagon, with her parents, Enoch and Barbra Casto, brother Ed, and sister, Mary, to Oregon from Kingston, MO. On the way, they stayed awhile in Oklahoma, then Kansas. While in Oregon, they had another daughter, Viola. In 1885, when she was three-years old, they moved to Lewis County, settling in Harmony, WA. Later they moved to Bremer Valley and bought land for $1.25 an acre. Enoch was a Civil War veteran. He was born July 17, 1846 and died March 5, 1922. His wife, Barbra, was born June 13, 1852 and died February 13, 1929. To earn money for winter supplies, Ed Cooper was a trapper, peeled cascara bark, worked on county roads, and repaired telephone lines. They had to drive, with team and wagon, to Chehalis. It took three days to make the trip. They had to stay with friends, one night, on the way home. The Coopers would go by horseback, over the mountain by Indian trail, to pick hops in early fall. The field and kiln were owned by John Dunn, Sr. They dried the hops and sold them. He, also, worked on shingle-bolt drives. They would wait till the Tilton River was high, then float the cedar-bolts, from the Tilton River into the Cowlitz River, to the shingle mill at Kelso. 120 On one drive, Ed was hired as a cook. That was in 1907. In later years, he bought a threshing machine. During harvest season, he would work for about six weeks, going from farm to farm, threshing wheat, oats and barley. Four men were the crew, using three wagons and teams. One team pulled a wagon with a gasoline engine, that was used to power the thresher. Another, pull the trap wagon, which had the supplies, gasoline barrels and bedding. Another, pulled the thresher and separator. On March 4, 1899, their son Harry William was born. Ed and his wife liked to fish in the Tilton and Cowlitz Rivers. Ed was one of the first farmers at Bremer to own a car, a 1916 Model T Ford Touring car. In 1919, he sold his farm and moved to Morton, where he bought a garage and service station. He ran it until about 1935 and then leased it to the Shell Oil Company and to private parties, for many years. Ed was born in 1872 and died in 1948. His wife, Pearl, was born in 1882 and died in 1944. PIUS COTTLER Pius Cottler - Born April 28, 1856, Reichenthal, Germany. Son of Franz Joseph and Gertrude (Merkel) Kittler. (photo): Pius and Mattie (Stout) Cottler Children - Heribert, Valentin, Wilhelm, Merkel, Pius. Pius Cottler came to America by working for passage aboard a cattle ship from Baden Baden, Germany in 1884. His first year in America was spent working on a farm where he learned the English language through the kind efforts of the farmer's wife. He worked his way West, settling in Morton, Washington in 1887 where he homesteaded the piece of land known as "COTTLER'S ADDITION," which contained all of the land south of Division Street, or 160 acres. Pius was so dedicated to his newly adopted country that he took out citizenship papers as soon as possible, even Americanizing his German name, changing it from Kottler to Cottler, to which the early Morton records will attest. In 1888 Pius built the trail from Morton to Harmony and he was one of the most active workers in the building of the old log schoolhouse. He served several years on the board of directors and was clerk of the district at the time of consolidation. July 6, 1893 Pius received Patent Deed to the SW Quarter, Section 2, in Township 12, Range 4E. In 1901 he met and married Mattie Clara Stout (b. February 7, 1881) daughter of Andrew and Clara Stout. He built their original home across Lake Creek at the foot of Cottler's Rock. Later Pius built a new house in town at the present location. Fire destroyed the old home across Lake Creek. Cottler's Hall at Division and Third Street was built by the pioneer and used for a skating rink and movies. In later years it was used as a school gymnasium. "Cottler's Addition" is now one of the most popular residential sections of the city. April 1918 Pius sold his homestead to Glenn C. Fisher and moved his family to Tacoma, Washington. He passed away at his Tacoma home August 15, 1930 at the age of 74. His wife Mattie died December 30, 1958 while at the home of her daughter, Hazel Lawson, in Tacoma. Children of Pius and Mattie Cottler. Herbert A., May 26, 1903, Morton, WA. Children: Donald, Edna B. (Cottler) Cook/Dhuy, March 11, 1905, Centralia, WA. Children: Edith (Cook) Smith, Colleen (Cook) Ruffer, Pauline (Cook) Molund, Gail (Cook) Dhuy /White. Ruby C. (Cottler) Rehn/Luiten, December 19, 1906, Morton, WA. Children: Richard. Hazel M. (Cottler) Lawson, July 12, 1909, Morton, WA. Children: None. Walter J., June 17, 1911, Morton, WA. Children: None. Irene G. (Cottler) Wells/Russell/Zubrod, December 17, 1912, Morton, Wa. Children: Deibert. Clifford E., October 24, 1915, Morton, Wa. Children: Danielle, Bonnie, Susan. COX FAMILY My mother, Fannie Margaret Cox Davis, was born in Grundy, VA, 26 Feb 1886. The youngest daughter of John Dawson Cox and Arminta Jane Stacy Cox. When Arminta Cox became ill, her doctor recommended a different climate, so the family came west. Leaving Virginia, 1890, mother, her parents, sister, Carrie, and her brothers, William, Alva, Robert and Clinton traveled by train to Gordon, NE, arriving in 1890. My Grandpa farmed and worked as a carpenter. Then he decided to go further west to Washington State, which he had in mind when they started west. They were outfitted and the family proceeded in a covered wagon in 1894 on the Oregon Trail. On the Sweet Water River, five of the children attended school in a tent. They stayed there until 1896, having experienced the cold Wyoming winter. They worked and waited at Big Piney, WY, joining seven emigrant wagons to cross the Rocky Mountains in July. They came to a beautiful camping place called Stump Canyon Flat, with a nice stream and good grass for horses. A large Indian camp was discovered about 3/4 mile from our camp. The group had been told the Indians would not bother the company, if they didn't bother them. The wagons were in a circle, cooking fires in the center. During the evening meal, an Indian Chief rode around the entire camp, then went back to his camp. He saluted them by waving his arm. When they left camp, one of the Indian men rode along behind the wagon train until noon, then turned and rode back. Crossing Salt River Pass was the most difficult part of the trail, progress was about two miles each day. The men had to hold the wagons to keep them from tipping over. Trees were cut and used to hold the wagons back. The family continued to Boise, ID. Grandpa Cox and his sons then came to Portland, OR. From there they traveled by boat to Toledo, WA. Grandpa was in the Randle area working as a carpenter. My mother, her mother, and her sisters came later by train to Portland and then by boat to Toledo. Grandpa Cox moved his family to the Bacon Place at Swafford. The primitive Baptist church was the church in our area. My grandfather and grandmother Cox were charter members of the Cowlitz River Church. My mother attended the Baugh School. She walked several miles to school and it seemed it was in session in the summertime. The young girls would stay with families while the husbands went to the logging camps to work. My mother stayed with a lady and the mail box was quite far away. One would ride the horse to get the mail. This activity was determined by a game of pinochle after lunch, my mother learned to be a very good player. My mother married my father, Duran Columbus Davis, 1902, at her parents' home at Swafford, WA. They made their home in the area and raised seven children - Hazel, Ruby, Opal, Ray, Leonard, Lowell and Adeline. When my mother was president of the Mossyrock Garden Club, she suggested they make little parks at the entrance and exit of Mossyrock. It was a team effort and all worked to make it the beautiful flower garden it is today. The welcome sign says, "Mossyrock, the Heart of Lewis County." My father passed away in 1967. My mother died in 1973. They are buried in the Doss Cemetery at Mossyrock, WA. The brothers and sisters were married: William Linkous Cox (21 Aug 1974 - 9 Jun 1947) m. Mary Myrtle Boyer. Giles Alva Cox (26 Feb 1877 – 9 Feb 1952) m. Cora Estella Straugh. Carrie Louise Cox (12 Mar 1879 – 14 Sep 1960) m. James P. Sexton. Robert Ezra Lee Cox (24 Aug1880 – 14 Aug 1946) m. Mildred Ford, Rena Bell Ray. Henry Clinton Cox (30 Sep 1883 – 17 Jan 1973) m. Charlotte Delila Sholes, Alta Mae Earl. There was an infant of one day, (9 Jun 1888). [Alva is the GrandPa of Wesley A. Cox, who is busy scanning and putting this book on the Internet in 2003, Father Clinton Wesley Cox, Mother Lillian Asikainen, sisters Janet Kegel and Doris Johnston Alva's GrandPa Reuben (1826-Mar24,1903) Cox went as far as NE, but then went to Little Wolf Town, Waupaca, Wisconsin where his daughter Pricy was married to Truman R. Huycke. Clinton was born in Kamiah Idaho, traveled to Chicago to Coin Electrical School, married a Finnish youngster he danced with at the Arragon Ball Room, had a couple businesses, did well thru the depression working in the Edison Power Substations, moved family to Seattle in 1948, electrician for Boeing 5 years while starting A-Advanced TV in West Seattle which he owned and operated until age 73.] CHARLES AND LUCINDA COX In West Virginia, 1855, Charles Lewis Cox was born. In Virginia, 1861, Lucinda Virginia Cooper was born. They married and had thirteen children: Ida, 1879-1928; Genetta, 1881-1887; William Alvis, 1883-1953; Alfred, 1886-1953; Stella, 1890-1966; Rosa, 1888-1953; Mary, 1893-1958; Lucy, 1895-1963; Lloyd, 1898-1975; Floyd, 1898-1962; Nora, 1900-1981; Dora, 1903; and Daisy, 1906. After years of wandering from one state to another, they landed in Morton. Dora was born there. They had a homestead in that area, but before long, her dad got the urge to move again, so to Adna they went. They lived there long enough for Dora to start school. It wasn't long until they were headed to Kennewick on a train. It was here Dora saw her first automobile. They bought ten acres of sagebrush land. Since there was irrigation water available, these ten acres were turned into a beautiful farm with poplar trees, a strawberry patch and alfalfa fields. One of the girls had died and the seven older ones were gone, leaving only five children at home. It was at this time that they moved to Medford, Oregon. Dora was in the sixth grade. She had a long way to walk to school, but was able to make two grades in one year. By this time, only Dora and her sister, Daisy, were left at home. Her father sold all the furniture, keeping only Dora's piano, which she had earned by working two summers on the neighboring farms. Everything was loaded into an old wagon. They had two cows and calves. Dora and her sister walked behind the wagon and led the cows. The calves' feet got sore the first day, so they were loaded into the wagon, too. The cows tried to keep up the first mile or two, but, before long, the girls and cows were way behind. Eighteen miles was the most they could travel in one day. It took over one month to get to Oregon City. Dora and her sister walked all the way. "I got a job in Portland doing housework for a jeweler. I had never been in such a beautiful home, and you can imagine how hard it was for me to keep all the dusting and housework done. I lasted only one month, at $10 a month," reports Dora. Dora went to work in the woolen mills in Oregon City, where she met and married a young 121 (photo): Charles and Lucinda Cox and Family man by the name of Todd, when she was sixteen years old. Her first son was born when she was eighteen. Four more children were born - Norman, 1921; Jack, 1927-1933; Betty, 1928; and Virginia, 1929. Soon they divorced. Dora's parents had moved to Glenoma. She came up to visit them and met Arthur James Hornby. He and Dora were married in 1933. To this marriage, two children were born - James Loren, 1939 and Eva, 1938. Dora has twenty-six grandchildren, twenty-eight great-grandchildren and five great-greatgrandchildren. About ten years after Art passed away, Dora married Conrad Thomas, 1906-. They live at Glenoma at the Thomas Trailer Court. By Dora Hornby Thomas COX, LOOMIS AND SNELSON Elizabeth Jane "Jennie" Cox Loomis, the daughter of Irish immigrants, was born in Vancouver, A, in 1888. She was married to Frances B. Loomis in 1911. Frank and Jenny adopted the four youngest children, of six, belonging to her brother, Thomas B. and Florence Grady Cox. The two older Children opted to keep the Cox name, although living with Jenny and Frank. Thomas and Florence Grady were married in Butte, MT, 1904, where their children were born - Francis Bernard (Barney), 1904; Charles Owen, 1906; Thomas Francis, 1908; Florence Lillian, 1911; William Edward, 1914; and James Thomas, 1916. Thomas B. died in 1917 and, just nine months later, Florence passed away, leaving the children orphans. Frank and Jenny lived in South Bend, WA, until Frank left for Alaska in the mid-twenties, leaving his family behind. In 1927, Jenny moved her family, including Barney, to Morton, WA, where two of her brothers, John and Bill Cox, had previously moved their families. John and May Cox, with their four boys Marlin, Leonard, Merle and Gene -lived close to where the Siler Mill was situated at Highland Valley. John worked in the woods. The children attended school in Morton. Bill and Cecil Cox and their four children William, Charles, Ann and Jane -lived not far from John's place. Bill worked as a millwright for Siler's Mill until its closure, then moved into town. Bill worked for a time at the Cinebar mine on the Gillispie homestead. The children attended school in Morton until the family moved in 1931. Jenny's family moved close to her brothers' homes and was hired to cook for the Siler's Mill crew until the mill closed. From here, they moved to town and lived in the area known as "Old Town" before moving to a house at the bottom of the grade-school hill. Barney, helping Jenny support his brother and sister, worked for a time at Siler's Mill and, at the Cinebar mine, after its closure. In 1930, after Florence had graduated, Jenny, Barney, Bill and Tom moved to Aberdeen, WA. Here, Jenny passed away in 1933. Florence married Bill Gillispie and lived in Morton until their divorce in 1962. In 1964, she married Billy R. Snelson, a long-time resident of the Chehalis area. He is one of four children born to William Cowell and Lisa Ann Gilmore Snelson. Bill has a sister, Becky, married to John Snaza, living in Chehalis. Another sister, Ollie, married to Melvin Sines, living in Portland, OR. And a brother, Silas, married Emma Fabry, and he passed away in 1970. Bill, now retired for many years as a log truck driver, having driven trucks for numerous logging outfits, is well known throughout Lewis County. He and Florence are now living, at their home, on Taylor Road in Centralia. CRAMER FAMILY Three daughters were born to Joseph Peter Cramer and May Richards: Gloria Ann - September 20, 1931; Rose Lorraine - August 24, 1933; and Jeanette Pauline - August 16, 1934. Joseph, a bucker for Schaffer Brothers, was born near Atkinson, Nebraska in 1888. His parents, Peter A. Cramer and Anna Miksch, came to Centralia in 1892 from a Nebraska homestead with Joseph, Mary, and Stephen. Frank was born soon after they settled in a house on Pear Street. In 1894, Peter A., employed by Northern Pacific, was killed in a railroad accident at Kalama. Four years later, Anna married Jacob Pauli, and John Peter, Edith, and Louise were born. Six of the children attended school up Salzer Valley where they lived on a farm. Peter was the son of Peter Joseph, who emigrated to Cross Plains, Wisconsin with his parents, Anton and Anna" Cramer, in 1850. He was eight years old, his brother Hubert was five, and their two sisters were teenagers when they left the Rheinland in Germany. In 1871, Anton, Hubert, Anna Miller and family arrived in Washington Territory. They came up the Chehalis River, along with the Schaffer family, and settled at Elma. Anton is buried under a street in Elma where the old cemetery used to be. Peter Joseph, wife Susanna Reis, and part of their ten children also left Nebraska, settling in Elma before 1889 and finally making Centralia their home. Hubert remained in Elma and married Louise Gebhardt Metzger. He kept the original spelling of Kramer. May Richards was the daughter of Thomas Richards, who emigrated to Pennsylvania from Cardiff, Wales in 1870 with his father Thomas, mother Catherine Rees John, three brothers, and two sisters. Thomas Sr. was foreman at a coal mine until the trouble with the "Molly McGuires." The family then had to leave town during the night. They moved to North Dakota where he served as Indian Agent at Fort Berthold and also as a representative of Burleigh County in the legislature. Thomas Jr. followed his brother Henry to Tenino where he worked in the woods. He later bought a saloon in Tenino. In 1912 he moved his wife Clara Anna Klingbeil, and daughter May to a farm up Thompson Creek where Lillie and Anna were born. Clara, the daughter of Fred Klingbeil and Anna Maurer, was born at Eureka, near Tenino, in 1890. When the Richards moved to Thompson Creek, the Paulis and Cramers lived on the neighboring farm. Gloria, Lorraine, and Jeanette Cramer attended Washington Grade School and Centralia High. All three ended up in California. Gloria married Fred Conradi and raised two girls and three boys; two were born in Centralia. Gloria is now postmaster at Stinson Beach and still uses her musical talent, which was encouraged by Mrs. Grover Troth. Lorraine married Glenn Laabs and has two daughters, one born in Longview, the other in Santa Barbara. She attended Centralia Business College while employed at the Heath Agency on West Main, and later was a stenographer at the Cowlitz Valley Bank in Kelso. Lorraine and Glenn manage the 60 apartment units he built in Santa Barbara. Jeanette married James Scott and was employed by the Bell Telephone Company in Seattle. She died of heart disease in 1972. The Cramer home on Grand Avenue in Centralia was built by Joseph Cramer on the site that was the home of his grandparents, Frank and Frances Gilg. Cable TV is now located on that property. May Cramer moved to California after the death of her husband in 1975. HARRY BENJAMIN CRAVENS Harry Benjamin Cravens M.D. moved to Pe Ell with his bride, Charlotte Bulger Hill, in 1920. Her only child, his stepson, William C. Hill went to high school and graduated in 1923. He went to Washington State College in Pullman but left to take a job with the Standard Oil Co. of California. At that time there were no trucks, hauling was done by horses. Shortly after that the Model T Ford came upon the scene bringing package trucks to haul coal oil (kerosene) and gasoline. 122 William married Ruth Jeuness Smith in 1925, and there were two daughters of this union, Jane and Barbara. Dr. and Mrs. Cravens lived in Pe Ell until their deaths. She died in 1945 and Dr. Cravens died in 1960.. He was the only practicing physician between Chehalis and South Bend for many years. His practice started before World War I in Walville and McCormick, both mill towns as was Pe Ell. He was also the mayor at one time. ALICE CRIPE I was born November 22,1918 in Wildwood, Washington on the same property on which I now live - the youngest of the ten children of Herman and Nellie Detering. I attended a one room school at Wildwood until the school closed at the end of my third year of school. My parents moved from Wildwood to the Adna area in 1929 and I graduated from High School there in 1937. While a student at Washington State College (now WSU), I married John Gaines. His death occurred near Boise, Idaho, when the small plane he was flying crashed, this was in 1955. Our only child is Xerpha Darlene Gaines. She was born in Chehalis in 1940. During World War II, John served in the Air Force. Xerpha and I were with him in Long Beach, California and St. Joseph, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas. When we were unable to be with him Xerpha and I were at Granger and Seattle, Washington where I taught Nursery School and she attended the schools. We also did this in Bellflower, CA and Kansas City, MO. At the time of John's death I was working for the Lewis County Extension Service in Chehalis. I continued there until 1957 when I went to work for the Social Security Dept. in Pocatello, Idaho. While we were living there Xerpha married. My grandson, Kern McNutt, was later born at Ellensburg, Washington. My work with Social Security was mostly as a claims representative, and required a training period in Baltimore, Maryland. From Pocatello I transferred to Eugene, Oregon; to Vancouver, Washington; and to Longview. I retired from the Longview office as a Field Representative in 1980. My transfers were made so I would be closer to Wildwood and my family. I met Allen Cripe in Longview and we were married in 1969 in Sun Valley, Idaho. Allen's interests in hiking, tennis, mountain climbing and skiing provided new challenges for me; challenges I have been meeting more or less successfully. I did climb Mt. St. Helens, and made several skiing trips to Europe and many ski areas in the United States with Allen. We have often skied at White Pass and in Oregon. Hood Meadows and Mt. Bachelor are my favorites. The "Shack" and our place at Wildwood are the hub of my activities and I feel very fortunate. It is a special place for Xerpha also. She graduated from Portland State University. In 1969, she married Patrick Borunda, and they are presently living in Portland where Xerpha works for Electro Scientific Industries and Patrick is self employed. Kern graduated from Oregon State University in 1983 and, after a trip to England, is back in Corvallis. Under Allen's direction the one hundred acres we own has become a tree farm, 40,000 Douglas Fir trees have been planted. In addition to his work in the tree farm, Allen works as a part-time instructor at Lower Columbia College in Longview, teaching physical fitness and tennis along with a special class for skiers. My stepson, Martin Cripe, attends the University of Portland. He has spent some of his vacations with us. I have mentioned the places I have lived and traveled to emphasize the beauty and joy of living in Wildwood in Lewis County. The wildflowers, including the grouse flowers, the beautiful trees, the hiking trails in the hills and the South Fork of the Chehalis River, along with my family and friends, make it a wonderful place to live. CURTIS, RALPH AND ANDERSON FAMILIES John Asberry Curtis was born in 1868 in Athens, Tennessee. He married Emily Lou Qualls in 1892 in Story, Arkansas. They moved to Chehalis, Washington, by train, in 1904. First he worked in the hop fields for the Scollard farm, which is now the Art Hamilton farm. They moved to Adna, where John got work, driving oxen, in the log camps. Emily Lou had trained under her mother, who was a physician during the Civil War. Emily Lou cared for the ill and was midwife, working with many of the pioneer doctors, Petit, Feagales, Kennicot and Sleicher. John and Emily Lou bought a small acreage, at the foot of Curtis Hill west of Adna, and built a general store. John would go to Olympia for supplies, taking three days. One, to travel to Olympia, one, to purchase and load the wagon, and the third, to return home. John and Emily Lou had five daughters and a son. Their oldest daughter was Cora C. Curtis. She graduated from Adna, eighth grade, and, since there was no high school, had to room-and-board in Chehalis to attend high school. Cora C. Curtis married Jonathan J. Ralph in 1916. Jonathan came to the Adna area from Oklahoma in 1910. He was a farmer, logger, and filed saws for Weyerhaeuser. Cora was a homemaker. Jonathan and Cora had a daughter Mary Lou Ralph, and a son, John L. Ralph. Mary Lou Ralph graduated from Adna High School in 1937 and married Arnold H. Anderson in 1938. Arnold came from North Dakota to Adna in 1926. Arnold and Mary Lou farmed mostly poultry and both were active in Adna Grange and other farm groups. They, also, were charter members of Adna PTA. While President of Adna PTA, Mary Lou promoted drivers' training and polio vaccinations for the entire school. In 1960, Mary Lou passed the Washington State Exam and became a beautician. Arnold and Mary Lou had two sons, both graduated from Adna High School and Centralia Community College. Ralph A. Anderson was born in 1940 in Chehalis. He was a timber faller for Weyerhaeuser. He enjoys hunting, fishing, building boats and cabinets, and working with the Boy Scouts. Glenn M. Anderson was born in 1946 in Chehalis, and is an accountant. He served in the Army and is in the Army Reserves. He enjoys hunting, fishing and working with 4-H and Boy Scouts. Descendants of Arnold and Mary Lou Anderson are: Ralph A. Anderson, married Janice L. Lyon, of Olympia, in 1960 - their children, Kathleen I. Anderson Graham, married John Graham and had two sons, Matthew J. Graham and Aaron J. Graham; Joyce L. Anderson Nelson married Robin Nelson; Mary L. Anderson; and Douglas A. Anderson - and Glen M. Anderson, married Jane Ann Jardine, Philadelphia, P A, in 1968 - their children, Marsha Ann Anderson; David J. Anderson; Kevin M. Anderson and Glenn M. Anderson, Jr. JOHN CADER DARRAH FAMILY John Cader Darrah, only son of Henry H. Darrah, was born in Nome, AK, 1912. He graduated from Winlock High School in 1930. He was a good athlete. The severe Depression of 1930 made college impossible, jobs were few. He and his Mother ran the South Side Dairy. Since times were hard, pleasures were simple. Young folks enjoyed swimming, dancing at grange halls, those being Cougar Flat, St. Urbans, Hope, Forest and Blue Moon Firemen's Ball. There were movies, Amos and Andy were popular on radio, and good fishing and hunting. He passed the Civil Service Examination and was employed as a substitute Post Office Clerk. Wages, 65 cents per hour and he could be called for a minimum of one hour. Connie Wall was the Post Master. (photo): John Darrah John was a member of the Volunteer Firemen. Jumb Harkins was Chief. (photo): Helen Darrah, Alice Rinehart 1943 He married Mildred Drew, 1940, bought a place on Hining Road. Her son, Stanley, was an excellent student and diligent worker, he loved baseball. World War II began and, after finishing high school, he joined the Marines, 1942. He was wounded in Iwo Jima. After the War, he graduated from the University of Washington and became an engineer for Bonneville Power. 123 (photo): Edna and John Darrah 1945 As war started, the dairy was difficult to run without hired help, a farmer could not compete with shipyard pay scales. He sold the milk route and cattle. John joined the Navy, had duty in Aleutian Islands. Had a mail-order divorce by mutual consent. After the war, there was no regular job in Winlock, so John transferred to Bellingham Post Office. He married Edna Truitt in 1944, in Seattle. After they moved to Bellingham, she worked many years for Pacific Northwest Bell. Her Grandfather, Warren Truitt, was an Oregon pioneer and the first United States District Judge of Alaska Territory. Her father was also a '98 stampeder and spent many years in Dawson and Fairbanks. John retired, 1967. While in Bellingham, he served as Master of Masonic Lodge, Cornwall 289, Scottish Rite, member of Nile Shrine, and was President of Fairhaven Lions. They moved back to Winlock in 1981, to the old farm home, which they renovated completely. No farming, but built a steel concrete bridge over Olequa, for pasture access. Winlock is now a quiet town, compared to before the war. Very little industry, logging mills gone, there are few jobs for young people. Edna and John are enjoying a happy retirement on the family home south of town. Soon to celebrate their 41st wedding anniversary. John is the last of these Darrahs. It will soon be his turn to be interred beside those Darrahs, whom fate brought together from far away. They were vigorous, active builders wherever they resided. They helped make Winlock a great home town, where callers are invariably invited to "come in and have a cup of coffee." HENRY HOWER DARRAH FAMILY Henry Hower Darrah, second of Samuel Best Darrah, was born in Lockhaven, PA, 1868. Came to Winlock with parents in 1886. A Depression, the result of a silver panic, caused many men to seek fortunes in Alaska goldrush. He went to Nome in 1898, was a miner and Deputy U.S. Marshal. He married Emilia Tyne in Nome in 1911. She was born in 1879, had immigrated to Paso Robles, CA. from Lumi Joke Laani, Finland in 1888. At the tender age of nine, she was sent with an older sister to America, "land of opportunity," never to see her parents again. Emilia worked as a domestic in a Danish home, attended public school where she learned English. Everything was strange, a hard life. As a young woman she worked as a seamstress in San Francisco and survived the earthquake of 1906. She had the opportunity to go to Alaska with three other ladies to cook in a mining camp near Nome, for Al Carey. Nome was a rough, exciting pioneer town. Romance and adventure awaited. She met and married Deputy Marshal Darrah. Adventure came when Darrah became foreman for Lomen Brothers to herd reindeer, eighty miles from Nome. The family lived in a nine-by-twelve tent in summer and the same sized log cabin in winter. The reindeer were herded by Eskimoes and sold for food in the States. Reindeer on open range similar to beef raising in Texas. Two children born in Nome, John Cader, 1912 and daughter Sidney, 1913. The family returned to Winlock, 1918, for school, and bought a farm on Hining Road, south edge of Winlock. Third child, Helen Hennrietta, born 1921, Winlock. Women washed clothes on scrub boards, farms just beginning to have electricity. Darrahs raised cows, chickens, eggs. Every morning the Olequa Valley of Winlock and surrounding country resounded to a typical loud squawking, screeching cacophony of sound made by the metal scrapers on the wooden dropping boards of the hundreds of chicken houses. It was one of the morning chores before school for most farm boys of Winlock, egg capital of the world. Most clocks were checked and set to the whistle of big Menefee Sawmill. Darrahs developed the South Side Dairy, a family business, delivered bottled Guernsey milk for 10 cents a quart, often twice daily to the same customer, as few people had refrigerators. Deliveries first on foot, then John and Sidney via bicycles, then via 1914 T model Ford. I'm sure "T" stood for temperamental. Finally via a new 1928 Chevrolet, $510.00. Dairy supported family and two hired men. Farmer phone lines had up to 20 homes per line. In use it was hard to tell static from phone receivers coming off the hook. In early 1920's Winlock had three taxi cab companies, Orrie Edwards, Perry Castater, and Marvin Clark. (photo): Helen Darrah, Henry Hower and Emilia Darrah Henry Darrah died in 1931, heart attack in Winlock. He was an active Past Master Mason, Past Patron Eastern Star, Masonic funeral. Emilia died in 1956, Past Matron Eastern Star. Eastern Star services. Sidney died in 1934 while attending Bellingham Normal School, from strep throat infection, a few years before sulpha was available. A beautiful popular girl, gifted piano musician. Helen graduated from Bellingham Normal, taught school in Vancouver, WA, became a Pan American stewardess and purser. Tragedy struck in 1947, her plane crashed on Tongas Mountain, Alaska, all aboard killed. A great loss to all who loved her. Both young ladies active in Adah Chapter, Eastern Star. SAMUEL B. DARRAH FAMILY Samuel Best Darrah, 1836-1890. Wife, Sidney Jennetta (Smith) Darrah, 1841-1916. The family arrived in Winlock 1886, from Lockhaven, PA with five children. Mrs. Darrah was a sister of Rowland Smith. They settled a mile east of Evaline, on Antrim Road. Sam was a cabinet maker, carpenter, did interior finishing on several mansion-type places from here to Seattle. He served the entire Civil War in Seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Dragoons, Company E. A sergeant, wounded, back to duty. His company made many saber charges against entrenched riflemen. Courageous horse soldiers with outstanding military records. He died of a heat attack in Winlock and had a Masonic funeral. The surviving family moved into Winlock in 1890. Sam's son, Joseph Smith Darrah, 18661923, moved back to Independence, Kansas and married Ivy Ulmer. Their children, Arthur Sam, 1894-1948, Veteran World War I, Dorothy (Shaw), 1904, presently lives in Springdale, Arkansas. Sam's daughter Maud, 1871-1938, married Grant Bise in 1893. He was an accountant and farmer. Their children were Jennetta (Byles), born 1893, graduated from Winlock High School, was a pioneer school teacher in 124 (photo): Rear: Joseph S. and Henry H. Darrah. Front: Charles Rowland, Maud, George. Samuel Best Darrah (Copper toed shoes were a boys most highly prized possession). Sidney Jennetta Darrah Ephrata, WA, now resides in Chico, CA; son Henry Bise, 1895, World War I veteran, carpenter, resides in Spokane, W A; Roscoe Bise, 1897, served in the U.S. Navy in World War I, now deceased; son Albert, 1904-1972, teacher, attorney, special investigator for the FBI, was the first Administrator of Court, Washington State. All the Bise children were born in Winlock. Sam's son, George Good Darrah, 1873-1947, bachelor, teacher, logger, donkey engineer, went to Nome goldfields for two years. Known and loved by Winlock children as "Uncle Dudley"; son Charles Rowland Darrah, 1892-1930, bachelor, bank clerk, Marine World War I, logger, excellent athlete, went to Nome goldfields one season. Sam's son Henry Hower Darrah, 1868-1931, logged with oxen, deputy sheriff, gold stampede 1898, packed over White Pass to Dawson, into Nome. He had only fair success mining. Was appointed Deputy U.S. Marshal, his territory Nome to Kotzebue. He met and knew many notorious and famous Alaska pioneers. More than once saved his life by allowing lead sled dog, Pete, to find his own way home in a blizzard. Loved dogs, considered them noble animals, would not keep one in a populated area where they had to be chained. He lived in Alaska twenty years, as a miner, reindeer foreman for Loman Brothers, who raised exotic meat for the States, similar to Texas beef range operations. He was a lawman during the roaring goldrush days. A real sourdough pioneer. He returned to Winlock in 1918 and raised his family here. LEROY JONATHAN DAVIDSON FAMILY (Bud Davidson) LeRoy's ancestors left Scotland and settled in Maryland in 1649. The families came west living successively in Nebraska; Idaho; Oregon; Washington; British Columbia, and returned to Lewis County, Washington. LeRoy's parents (James and Anna Davidson) had eight children, many of whom remained in Lewis County. Ruth married Ira (Al) Garrett, second Earl Denton; James, Jr. married Mary Howard; Lydia married George Wisner; Lester (Mike) married Mary Baker, second Arbutus Hosley, third Myrtle (Norman) Bailey; Vivian married Cecil DeWitt, second Hugh Smith, third Hugh Wells; LeRoy married Camilla Lund, second Mary Ellen Dosser (daughter of John O. Dosser and Mamie A. Kuper); Blanche married Frank Barney; Leland (Lee) married Hope Barr, second Irene (Blair) Lumbert. LeRoy "Bud" was born 22 August 1909 at Napavine. About three years later his father took up a homestead near Lavington, British Colum 125 (photo): The Davidson Family - _ Back row: Annie, Michael, John LeRoy Sr., Bud, Bonnie. Front row: Mary Pat, Mary, Nancy, Larry, Kenny. Sidney Darrah Dec. 29, 1933 bia, where Bud started to school. James Walton Davidson (Walt) moved his family back to Chehalis in 1922. Walt worked for Brown's Mill. Bud and Mike played on the mill pond in boats made of two by four boards covered with tar. Bud worked in Montana as a ranch hand. When Bud and Mary Dosser were married he was working as a truck driver in Chehalis. Bud and Mary had nine children: LeRoy Jr., Annie, Bonnie, John, Lawrence, Michael, Mary Pat, Nancy, and Kenneth. To support his family, Bud worked in several timber mills, the Tacoma Shipyard, as an automobile mechanic, and before retiring was managing the growing and harvesting of local grass seed farms. In 1946, Bud and Mary moved to forty acres on Cowlitz Prairie that belonged to Mary's grandparents. They lived with their four oldest children in a 9 by 12 tent, while building their house. They developed a dairy farm, and at one point they were hand milking thirteen cows. Times changed, Mary worked at the Chehalis Cannery and Bud went into hired out labor. Mary attended Centralia Community College and went to work for the Washington State Maple Lane Correction Facility for juveniles, near Centralia. She retired September, 1980. Bud and Mary spent many hours with their children enjoying hunting, fishing, camping, and sight seeing. LeRoy Jonathan Davidson died February, 1978, and is buried at the Mountain View Cemetery, Centralia. Mary Ellen (Dosser) Davidson, since retiring has taken trips throughout the states and enjoys hobbies of hand carving, painting, and rock hounding. She still maintains the forty acres willed to her. LeRoy Jr. died at age twelve. Annie married Rowland Randt, living in Winlock. Bonnie married Douglas Miller, living in Burien, Washington. John married Sandra Mannikko, living near Castle Rock, Washington. Lawrence (Larry) married Marlene (Hainline) Brooten, living near Bothell, Washington. Michael married Julie Shupp, living in Centralia. Mary Pat married Steven Brockman, living near Napavine. Nancy married John Durham, living near Toledo. Kenneth married Wanda Allison, living near Toledo. By John and Sandra Davidson NELLIE DAVIES AND NORA BINGHAM Francis M. and Laura V. Browning and family arrived in Centralia by railway from Harper County, Kansas on January 1st, 1900. The Browning children were Dora, Ike, Sam, Joe, Ben, Nora, Nellie, and Jessie. Laura's parents, Charles and Anna Smith, and brother, Samuel, had come out west earlier by covered wagon. The family eventually settled on Lincoln Creek in a log house which subsequently burned with all the Browning possessions. Nellie, who was born Sept. 30, 1894 and Nora, who was born Jan. 7, 1892 attended school in the earlier years on Lincoln Creek, transferring later to Centralia to finish their schooling. Nora later attended normal school. On March 16, 1914 Nellie was married to Wm. G. Davies of Bucoda. Nellie and Bill had two children; Jeanne born Feb. 3, 1915 and Robert born June 11, 1920. They lived in Centralia where "Bill" Davies worked for St. John and Titus Ford Garages in Centralia, Chehalis and Tenino. Bill and Nellie Davies built their family home in 1928 at 312 "N" Street where they resided for many years except for several years spent in Port Orford and Sutherlin, Oregon. In later years they purchased a resort at Patterson Lake near Olympia where they resided until Bill passed away in August, 1958. Nellie returned to Centralia and purchased a home at 1318 Johnson Road after the death of her husband. Nora married Billy Bingham on July 1, 1911 and from this marriage two daughters were born. Dorothy April 9, 1912 and Marjorie Nov. II, 1916. Billy and Nora lived for many years at the family home on Fords Prairie. Beginning in Galvin in 1918 and later on the Fords Prairie property they operated a business known as "The Bingham Fuel Company" selling fire wood and lumber. In the first nine years they replaced horses with motors and wagons with trucks. Eventually the business required a fleet of six Reo trucks until the year of 1946 and retirement. After retirement the Binghams purchased a home at 1224 View Avenue in Centralia and Billy passed away in 1956. Nora still lives at the family home just two blocks from Nellie and the two surviving sisters visit each other regularly. DAVIS FAMILY The first Davises came to the United States from Wales. My grandfather, Herbert Albertus Davis, came West with his family from Indiana. He married Virginia Teressa Yantis and they homesteaded property north of Centerville, called Davis Hill. My father, Lewis Archie, was their eldest son. (photo): Lynden and Eugenia (Davis) Anderson My father married Daisy McCandles. They bought property in town at 815 E Street, Centralia. My brother John and I attended the Edison School and the United Methodist Church where we were members. I graduated from Centralia High School in 1931, from Centralia Junior College in 1933, and the University of Washington in 1936. My first teaching contract was at Shelton High School where I taught biology and physical education. While attending college I met an engineering student from Walla Walla, Lynden Anderson. We were married June 25,1937. We lived in West Seattle when he worked for his family's business, Sunrise Trail Freight Company. I continued teaching in the Seattle Public School System. My husband, a reserve officer in the Army, was called for active duty in 1949. He was sent to Anchorage, Alaska. Our son John and I followed within a few months. This was the beginning of twenty six years in the military service. We have lived in ten states and Europe. We have four children. Our eldest son, John, graduated from Centralia Community College, followed by four years in the U.S. Air Force. He 126 (photo): Back row: Samuel Franklin Browning, Nellie Browning Davies, Isaac Browning, Nora Browning Bingham, Joseph Browning, Dora Browning Huber Hall, Benjamin Browning. Sitting: Laura Smith Browning, Francis Marion Browning, Jessie Browning (standing between parents), Henzell Arnold. married a Chehalis girl, Judith Reed. They have two children, Keith Ronald and Kimberly Ann. Presently John is working for the State of Washington and lives in Olympia. Our second son, Kenneth, graduated from Denver University, served two years in the Peace Corps stationed in Brazil, followed by four years in Vietnam as an employee of Aid for International Development. Presently, he finds working for the Colorado Department of Revenue quite challenging. Ken married Karen Keene who is employed by Metropolitan State College in Denver. Daughter Janis graduated from the University of Colorado and married an Air Force Academy graduate, Frank Shaw, in 1967. They have three children: Renee, Michelle, and Kenneth. Janis is employed by the Bureau of Land Management. Frank is a pilot for United Airlines. They live in Buffalo, Wyoming. Our youngest daughter, Karen, graduated from the University of Washington and received her teaching degree from Central Washington University. She is presently teaching chemistry in Aurora, Colorado. Karen married Benjamin Franklin who works as an environmental analyst for Adolph Coors Company. They have a three year old son, Matthew. . After Lynden retired from the Air Force in 1961 he accepted an engineering position at Martin-Marietta Aerospace Company in Denver. I taught in the Littleton School District for the next nine years. We are both retired today. Our hobbies are gardening, genealogy and traveling the U.S. and Canada in our motor home. Washington state has great appeal for both of us. We go "home" to visit family and friends frequently. DON DAVIS FAMILY Don Davis born February 23, 1920 at Ajlune, Washington, grew up there graduating from Mossyrock High School in 1939, played basketball and on a town team later. He likes to dance, hunt (mainly deer and elk) and fish. He belongs to the National Rifle Association. I, Joyce Rathbun met Don at my friend, Felicia Henderson's house. We girls (sophomores in high school) were getting ready to go to a dance. We married two and a half years later, March 19, 1943 at my parents' house at Castle Rock. I was clerking in a variety store there. We made our first home at Mossyrock. Don was sawing railroad ties in his uncle's mill. I was born November 24, 1924 at Yelm and went to school at Rainier, Chimacum, Boistfort, Randle and graduated from Mossyrock High School in 1942. I have sisters Gayle and Frankie and brothers Alton, Neil and Otis. I belong to the Rebekah Lodge and like to sew, knit, read, dance, and hike. My father Daniel Clinton Rathbun born August 3, 1903 in Kansas, moved to Yelm as a small boy. He married Georgia Thacker April 9, 1922. She was born March 12, 1901 in Olympia. He logged and sawed railroad ties. He died in February 1960. Don's father Thomas Cicero Davis born May 17, 1893 in Kentucky moved to Mossyrock as a small boy. He married Kathryn Dunn a school teacher, born at Harmony. She died in March 1920. He then married Margaret Brodbeck and had a son Dale. They had a restaurant and pool hall and later worked in tie mills. He died in May 1952. Don and I have a daughter and three sons. Lynda born January 26,1944, a smart strong minded pretty girl has sons Gary, Brian and Kirk Townsend, lives in Fort Worth, Texas with husband Kenneth Parker. She reupholsters furniture. David born November 8, 1945, a good story teller, well read, plays basketball and has twin boys, Christopher and Michael. He has a construction business and lives in Ketchikan, Alaska with wife Linda. Clark born May 22, 1954, likes to read, hunt, fish and practices judo, is a chiropractor in Ketchikan. He and wife Sheri (Bluhm) have boys Keith and Tyler. Bradley born July 1, 1956, plays all kinds of ball, hunts and fishes. He's a carpenter and construction worker, and lives in Centralia with his wife Sheryl (Messenger) and son Shane. We bought a trolling boat in 1945 and went commercial salmon fishing in southeastern Alaska, also off Washington, Oregon and California coasts and into Mexican waters for albacore tuna. Loading everything we could onto our thirty-eight foot boat we moved our family in March 1957 to Ketchikan, going through the inside passage. Don worked winters on a tug boat towing logs and later at the pulp mill on the log boom. Tired of the stormy winters in Alaska we moved to Centralia in 1964. Don cut cedar shake bolts several winters. The family all had their turns helping on the boat. We still spend six months a year in Alaska fishing on our forty foot fiberglass boat. DAVIS FAMILY AND RITTER FAMILY The two living grandchildren of Jonathon and Elenor Davis, pioneer settler of Eden (Layton) Prairie are Elgie George and Estella (Stella) Anderson Ritter of Tenino. They were born and raised up the Skookumchuck River Valley. Elgie and his wife Buleh are retired and living in Tenino. He operated a shingle mill most of his life. Their son, Johnny, lives in Yelm and drives a transport truck. Stella has two children: Arlee Jo Sharkey of California and Morty Anderson and wife, Betty, of Bremerton. She enjoys her family and traveling. A great-granddaughter of the pioneer Davis family, Verda Ritter Comer lives south of Chehalis on a farm. She was born October 1909 and raised up the Skookumchuck. She has been at this home for over twenty years. Her husband, Donald Comer, died in May 1974 in an auto accident. She still loves to ride horseback and care for her two pinto saddle horses. For a while she raised sheep. Her pastime is making quilts and quilting for others. Verda married Floyd Shultz in 1927, and later they were divorced. Her son Leslie owns a farm nearby and works for a large logging company. Norma Jean Wharton lives on Violet Prairie, Rochester and Lenore May Misner lives in California. Verda's mother was Lenora (Nora) Davis who married Lester Ritter from Silver Creek, Lewis County, in 1905. Their children's names are: Nerna Kiethahn Hawkins now deceased; Kenneth, Tenino; Verda Comer, Chehalis; Emma Shultz, Tenino; Lola Bowen Stancil, Rainier; Roy, Montesano and Veri, Tenino. The combined Ritter clan have over thirty children. Ted Kiethahn, Jr. has lived in Centralia most of his life. Jonathon C. and Elenor Davis, along with his sister, Rebecca Davis Prince and her six children, left Missouri by wagon train in April 1849. They arrived in Oregon in the winter of 1849-50 and stayed at Washougal.ln the spring Jonathon Davis and the Laytons went overland to Eden (Layton) Prairie. Jonathon and Elenor took out a donation land claim of 620 acres. They lived in a log house from early 1850 until they sold it to Henry Miles, a blacksmith in June 1867. J.E. Davis was county commissioner in 1853 and again between 1861-1865 for Lewis County. A twin son named William died there from severe cold in 1859. They left Layton Prairie and homesteaded up the Skookumchuck River Valley; the date filed was November 18, 1868. Jonathon was drowned in the Skookumchuck River on December 9, 1874. Elenor died in 1881. Their children were: 127 (photo): Davis and Ritter Family - Standing: Verl, Roy, Kenneth. Sitting: Emma Shultz, Verda Comer, Lola Stancil, Nerna Hawkins. sons - Wesley, Andrew, Thomas, Layfayette, and Marion; daughters - Rebecca Phillips, Susan Kennedy, Francis Hendricks, Emily Scannon and Delila Haskell. Wesley James Davis born 1860, married Emma Nettie Ticknor born 1867. Their children, who were born and raised up the Skookumchuck Valley are: Linnie Davis, Clara Le Nora Ritter born 1888, Earl Harrison born 1891, Estella Irma born 1895, Elgie George born 1899 and John Wesley. By Ivy Koher