The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-22
EARLY PUGET SOUND.
"reminiscences of VIM. M. Kin
caid, Father of Sumner.
OVER PLAINS FROM MISSOURI
The First Passage Through Natchess
Gap-Up the Puyallup River in
Indian Canoes
Puyallup Citizen.

Puyallup Citizen
William NJ. Kiacaid, one of the pioneers
OF the Puyallup valley. was a native of
Kentucky. Possessessed of an adventur-
Gus spirit he early left the home of his boy
hood, settling in Marion county, Missouri,
in 1880. In 1850 glowing accounts of the
agricultural wealth of Oregon began to
reach him and these finally induced him to
load his personal effects into an OK wagon
and in company with q few of his neigh
bors to undertake the long and perilous
journey across the plains. He arrived in
the Puyallup valley in October. 1853 and
made up HE mind that here he had found
what he sought Winter was coming on,
however, and he continued down
the vsliey and on to SteiIacoom, where he
and his son John F., now of Summer, were
employed in telling trees and getting out
timber. Mr.. Kincaid had brought with
him quite number of oxen, and these he
employed to advantage in the heavy work
of hauling logs and square timber to the
navigable waters of the Sound, where they
were shipped to San Francisco. January
], 1854, he filed his claim to the identical
quarter section upon which his son John
+. has since laid out the town of Sumner;
his filing being numbered forty-four after
the formation of the territory of Washing
ton.
Mr. Kincaid was remarkable man in
many respects. Possessed of courage of a
high order he was yet careful to infringe
upon the rights of no ene and while he
shared the feelings of dislike with which
Western pioneers have ever regarded the
red men, he yet could be just to them and
his character in this respect won from
them that respect and friendship which
caused friendly Indian to warn his fam
lily in time TO make their escape from the
outbreak which finally eliminated in what
was known abroad as the Oregon Indian
war.
The sole responsibility for this outbreak
is placed by many upon the shoulders of
Ex-Governor Isaac l. Stevens, who was also
Indian agent at that time The Indians
freely charged that he was atreaty breaker
and that he sought to destroy all their
rights and guaranteed privileges, and a
majority of the older white residents are
inclined to the belief that but for his arbi-
trary course no outbreak would have
taken place.
Leschi, the Indian chief, smarting under
what he considered great injustice and
gross indignities, having faileo in all his
appeals, finally made an open declaration
of war and hostilities began. During the
war" which followed enormities were
committed by both sides, and no doubt the
savages were guilty Of awful cruelty. After
the cessation of hOstilities Leschi became
prisoner. and in due course of time Jury
was impaneled in regular form for the
purpose of trying him for the crime OF
murder. Mr.. Kincaid and f. Meeker.
now of Puyaliup. were both members of
that jury. Although the prosecution
failed IN proving that Leschi was
murders committed, or that he was even
in the vicinity at the time of their commits
sion, still the feeling was so strong against
the Indians among the whites that when
the jury retired for deliberation, ten an
nounced themselves as in favor of bringing
in verdict of murder in the first degree.
Mr.. Kincaid slowly shook his head. al
never agree to such verdict" Threats
and entreaties alike failed to move him. and.
although the action of Jurors Kincaid and
Meeker came near raising riot, thew held
out to the last. and the jury was dis
charged.
The frmness necessary in so excited a
state of the public mind to do even an act
appreciated at this distance. But Mr..
Kincaid could not be intimidated or moved
from that course which he considered to
be lust and right. Afterward q Jury was
got together at Olympia less scrupulous
than the former one and Leschi was con-
victed and hung. Leschi's brother, a SUBJ
chief who claimed not to have been con-
in and surrendered himself, but was traitor
ousiy butchered in Governor Stevens pri-
vate office by excited and enraged white
men.
Hoping to learn something of the char
acter of the remarkable man whose men,
DRY is now revered by all those whose priv
ilege it was to know him. trip to Summer
was made and his son. John r. Kincaid
interviewed, but Mr.. Kincaid, while will
ing enough to speak of the early days.
and the hardships which the settlers I'M
derwent, with native modesty refrained
from speaking of his fathers sterling quail
tiles, although it was plain to see that his
fathers memory was dear to this loyal
son.
1--WE started said Mr.. Kincaid. ..from
Marion county, Missouri. with few of our
neighbors in 1853, and with our or teams
slowly plodded along. Missouri was then
q new country and we Travelled sometimes
for g whole day at a time over the richest
rolling prairies out of sight of any habita-
ton Of man. This side of the Missouri
there were no permanent homes. A few
houses were seen close TO the river. but
they were deserted. having been built,
as we understood. the fall be-
fore by people who lacked the cour-
age to undertake to live through
the winter in them. Our passage across
what was then called the plains was COM
paratiyely uneventfdl Emigrant trains
passing previous 10 ours and also those
coming after us were attacked by the In
dams, but we were not nolested; perhaps
owing to our strength, for by this time our
train had received good many accessions
and when we crossed the mountains it
numbered fully 100 wagons.
"One morning. in company with some OF
the boys belonging to our band. we started
out in advance OF the wagons with the lit
tie herd of horses which were being taken
along; we had not gone far when / saw a
cloud of dust near the trail; We kept
cautiously advancing. when all of q sudden
a band of Indians rose up out OF the dust
by the roadside and beckoned US to come
ON. but we were not to be caught, and
hastily rounding up our herd scattered
back to the train at lively gait. This was
the only time we were approached by the
redskins.
After we had reached the Yakima river.
an uncle, Jas. Mccullough by name. was
taken sick and although we did what we
could for him, he died and we were forced
to make his grave among the sagebrush IN
the wilderness.
..My father was the leader and the train
was called Kincaid's train. He generally
rode ahead and selected the road. Ii was