The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-02-09
A GOOD LIFE ENDED.
Mrs. James Biles Passes Away
Ct I Ripe Age.
4 PIONEER or PUGET SOUND.
- Csas Ovse sAs Plains n wages
\ Neither n tAs Church a. Loved
BY Nany Dssesnassss.

MIS- James Biles. mother Of Mrs. M. 9.
Drew. Of l51S FIRTH street. who was
stricken with paralysis few days ago.
died this morning ~ l:Io o'clock at her
daughters home. Mrs. F. A. Knapp. her
daughter. who lives at Portland. arrived
In time 70 be at the de&xhbe<l
Mrs. James Biies was born ii Tennessee
January IS. ISL Her maiden name was
Nancy n. Cater, ard her father a
wealthy plantation owner near Nash
vile. Tenn. On January u, 1851. she
and promising young planter. They ne
moved to Kentucky In 1856. and resided
rhere until 1855. bringing up in the mean
time family OF seven children. three
boys and four girIz.
That was during the days OF slavery
and Nj. and Mira. Biies careful IN the
thought OF xhesr children. realized the
life OF indDaence wanich was stored IN the
future awaiting their offspring. should
1lhey be allowed to remain on Southern
SOIL So they resolved to sell out and
come West
Mr. Biles. solicitations among his friends
20 come West were fruitful and IN the
early spring of 50 . party consisting Of
over $50 persons. mostly Keutuckians.
under the ieaxiexshap Of Mr.. Biles. made
up wagon train and started westward
with the Puget Sound BASIN as it was
then termed. their objective point
II was q long tedious iorney across the
prs.iraes. their prtvations were many. and
during the latter part OF the trip. frequent.
The train had been added 70 considerably
BY small emlgrant trains joining them
along the road. When Matches pass.
Cascade mountains, was reached 1t found
the hatigued travellers out of provisions.
A halt was made and runners were sent
ahead 10 Tslmwater. then a small settle
ment. to bring back supplies. They soon
returned with the necessities and the
caravan moved on again.
The party experienced many difacusties
In making their way through Matches
pass. They had expected to find good
wagon road. but instead they found moth
practicable for wagons. Here the men
folks were obliged TO cut the way and
build a road through the thick bushes
and underground.
On November = the travellers halted
on NesquaIly plains, or what - now
called Elk plains. six miles from Stella
COON. They had made the journey in
seven mouths Here they separated. and
after two weeks rest the Bileses moved
on to Woods praarie. eighteen miles from
Olympia. That vicinity then was very
thfnly settled. and the Indians were hos
tile and numerous. and In order to pro-
aect themselves the settlers crowded 20
gether as much as possible. Mr.. Bhes
went into the stock business, and he and
his wife endeavored by hard work to
treat neighbor and friend alike with their
hospitality. No one. however humble,
was ever refused food ard shelter be-
meath their roof. They would sooner
deny themselves than refuse to give aid
to a fellow being.
prsmeval surroundings, in order TO give
their children the benefit OF an educa-
ton. the Bileses moved TO Olympia,
where they lived three or four years.
Thence they removed to Tumwater, where
Mr.. Biles engaged In building a large tan
merry, which eventually developed into the
largest on the Sound. Their great iiber-
atty kept them from ever becoming rich.
MI aha 2ATSs b1tcS Wtkc botit thai dctef-
istic as great Christian workers, and
their aid In keeping up the church and
Sunday schools In that locality will never
be forgotten
Mr.. BEes died Ia February. 1858. dur
ing the fifty-first year OF their welded
life. since when Mrs. Biles has made her
home with her daughter. Mrs. NJ. s.
Drew, In this city. She was q member
Of the Methodist Protestant church. but
her feef'e health has kept her from taxi
ing an active part In church work. For
years 1t could be seen that she was grow
ing weaker and weaker. but until her re-
cent attack she has appeared as strong
and rigid as could be expected OF one
of her age. For some. time she has been
looking forward to that unseen world,
and waiting and watching for the time
when she would b. called away.
Mrs Biies has lived as perfect fsfe.
In every sense Of the word. as II is pos-
sihle for mortal 10 live IN this world. and
Eaer death VIII create a vacancy In the
community where she has lived 50 long.
The deceased leaves five grown children.
many grandchildren. and one great
granf-chfid, Miss Anita Drew, and a
large circle OF frieness to mourn her loss.
The children are Mrs NJ. s. Drew. Mrs.
F'renk Sargent, OF Seattle: Mrs Frank
Knapp. of Portland: Mr.. George B.les.
OF Fatrhavexs. and Mr.. James B!les, OF
Elura. Wash.