Skamania-Lewis County WA Archives Biographies.....Gray, Mrs. Virginia 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com February 10, 2011, 3:25 pm

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 873 - 874
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     MRS. VIRGINIA GRAY.  A worthy representative of one of the Columbia River 
Valley's most highly respected pioneer families is Mrs. Virginia Gray, who 
lives in an attractive home near Carson, Skamania county, Washington. She was 
born at The Dalles, Oregon, and is the eldest of the ten children born to 
Isadore and Margaret (Arquette) St. Martin. Her father was born near what is 
now Chehalis, Washington, about 1836, and was a son of Andrew St. Martin, who 
was a native of Montreal, Canada, whence he came to Oregon territory as an 
employe of the Hudson Bay Company in 1830. He was employed as a millwright by 
Dr. John McLoughlin at old Fort Vancouver and subsequently took a donation 
claim of six hundred and forty acres in Lewis county, Washington, where he 
lived for many years. He reared a large family of children, and he died in 
Olympia, Washington, about forty-nine years ago. Isadore St. Martin remained 
on his father's farm until the early '60s, when he went to The Dalles, and for 
a number of years was engaged in packing supplies to the mines at Canyon City. 
In the spring of 1873 he took up a homestead on the Wind river, six miles east 
of Stevenson, Skamania county, Washington, where he spent his remaining years, 
his death occurring March 10, 1910. His land was heavily timbered, but he 
succeeded in clearing part of it and there carried on agricultural pursuits 
for many years. He had the good business judgment to take advantage of the 
presence of valuable medicinal hot springs on his land and established a 
resort, which from a small beginning he gradually developed into one of the 
finest places of the kind in the Northwest, and which through the years has 
been visited by thousands in need of rest and recuperation. He won success in 
all his undertakings and throughout the community was regarded as one of its 
best citizens and a man well worthy of the respect which was accorded him by 
all who knew him. In 1864, at The Dalles, Oregon, Mr. St. Martin was married 
to Miss Margaret Arquette, who was born near St. Paul, Oregon, in 1843, and is 
a daughter of Amab and Margaret Arquette, the former was born in Canada, of 
French descent, and the latter in Oregon, the daughter of a Chimewa Indian 
princess. Mrs. St. Martin still lives on the home place, at the age of eighty- 
five years. To Mr. and Mrs. St. Martin were born ten children, as follows: 
Mrs. Virginia Gray; Eli and Frank, deceased; Isadore; Amos, deceased; Mrs. 
Aurelia Kelly, who lives at home and is managing St. Martin Springs; Mrs. 
Maggie Ragan, of Carson, Washington; Mrs. Kate Haines, of Portland, Oregon; 
Mrs. Olivia Davey, of Portland; and Lochinvar, of Carson.

     Virginia St. Martin was educated in a district school that was held in a 
log schoolhouse which stood near her father's homestead in Skamania county, 
one mile east of Carson, and lived at home until she married Richard Birnie, 
when she went with her husband to Goble, Oregon, where he was engaged in the 
sawmill business. To them were born three children, namely: Grace, the wife of 
Sam Sauls, of Yakima, Washington; Irene, who was the wife of W. L. Mitchell 
and died leaving two children, Orville and Essie, now living in Portland, 
Oregon; and Jessie, deceased. On June 18, 1900, Mrs. Birnie became the wife of 
Harry Gray, who was born at New Salem, Indiana, November 30, 1860, and whose 
death occurred May 25, 1926. At time of death he was employed by United States 
forest service. He was accidently killed by a blast at Darrington, Washington. 
He was formerly an engineer and worked on the Cascade Locks Canal during its 
construction. He was also a licensed steamboat engineer. To Mr. and Mrs. Gray 
was born a daughter, Maude, who is the wife of Fred Roberts. Mr. Gray was a 
member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mrs. Gray resides in a 
comfortable and nicely situated home on the highway near Carson, and here her 
esthetic taste is shown in the profusion of beautiful flowers, ornamental 
shrubbery and stately trees which surround her home. She is a woman of 
gracious manner and splendid personal qualities which have endeared her to her 
many friends throughout the community and she is held in sincere regard by all 
who know her.

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