The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-27

the whole bin.
NINETY TEARS OLD.
Dare1sday az Mr.. sidney .. Yord, Of
Cenfralba, an 1916 Pioneer.
Cenfraiia. April ESPECIAL Thurs
day, the z3rd inst, the ninesseth birthday
Of Mr. Sidney 9. Ford OF Centraf.a,
large party Of her old-sime friends gather
cd ~ the home OF her daughter. Mrs John
Shelton. and very enjoyable evening was
spent In whist playing. music and social
chat An elegant lunch Vas served ct 103D.
which w1s pArtaken OF by about forty
guests.
Mrs.. Ford y an old pioneer OF this state.
having creased the plains IN 1s4s. and spent
her first winter al place called Lnnton.
on the Willamette river in Oregon. which
was . Hudson Bay trading post at that
time In the spring OF is4s. together with
her husband. Judge Sidney 8. Ford and sir
children. she came down the Willamette
and Columbia rivers and up the Cowiitx
river to what was then known as the ''Old
Cowlitx landing" now the Northern Pacific
stafion Oiequa- where they landed and had
to make their own road out to French
settlement on the Cowlitz prairie. and from
there they proceeded TO what II now fami-
Harry known as Fords prairie. and on the
10th OF May. Isss. settled on a donation
Ccntraiia. where they erected log cabin.
occupying It for some time. and afterward
building q large manzon, which at that
time was considered the finest residence In
the then territory Of Washington. Mrs.
Ford resided there until about twelve years
ago. when she came to Centralia to live
with her daughter. Mrs. Shelton. Her hus-
band. Judge 8. 8. Ford. has been dead
thirty years. During his lifetime he was
q prominent figure in Republican politics
Of this state. He was elected three times
TO the territorial legislature. but sickened
and died before the third term was served.
Mrs. Ford has the proud distinction Of be-
ing the mother OF the first white girl child
born north Of the Columbia river In the
now state OF Washington. then known as
the territory of Oregon. the daughter she
now resides with in Centralia. Mrs. John
Shelton. who was born on the sth day OF
June 1877 on the old donation claim one
mile northwest OF Centralia. Mrs. Ford
lived here over a year without peeing the
face Of a white woman. suffered all the pri-
vations and hardships OF pioneer life. be-
ing here during the terrible Indian wars OF
1s55-S. at which time her husband was In
dian agent az this point over the Chehalis
tribe Of Indians. numbering at that time
about 5000 as they were greatly mixed up
with the Puyallup. White River and Kick
itat Indians: and he also superintended
tho Gray's harbor. Quiniault and Cape
Flattery Indians. He was Justice OF the
peace and county commissioner In those
days Of Lewis COUNT. when Olympia was
the county seat. ana after the division OF
the county into Thurston county, he was
chairman Of the Lewis county commits
sioners. which held their sessions at the
old county seat OF ClaQuato. When Mr..
and Mrs. Ford settled in this country there
was but one house in Olympia That was
edecfed on a donation claim taken up by
two men named Smith and Sylvester. Syl-
vester still owns property interests in
Olympia
Mrs Ford IL IN good health for the ex-
treme age OF 80 years. and her intellect is
clear and bright, and she remembers many
an interesting Incident connected with her
early pioneer life In this state. The follow
ing article was written about the burning
Of her. home about eight years ago:
THE burning Of the old Ford mansion on
Fordfs prairie last Wednesday afternoon
seems like the departure OF an old tried
and true friend. Within Its spacious halls
lies history. Erected in an early day by
Judge Sidney g. Ford, one Of the earliest
pioneers OF this country, II was scarce
completed when its lord and master, be-
loved by all who knew him, passed away
TO the better land. II was there the writer
spent many happy days Of innocent child
sembled there: children were born. reared
and died under Its shelter: II has been the
scene OF gsyety and mirth at untold diff
ferent times-sorrow and sadness at others
Its walls shook and resounded with music
and gay laughter from old and young. In
those gay times II was presided over by
his widow and its lovely mistress. Mrs.
Nancy Ford. who Is still alive and residing
at Centralia at a very advanced age. quiet
" awaiting the summons from Him who
Goeth all things we'll II will no doubt
bring back many a saddened memory 10
thu hearts Of not a few In this section OF
the country. and TO those who knew and
enjoyed IT'S hospitality in Ats paimiest
days.
Among the old pioneers who helped n
celebrate Mrs. Ford's birthday and have
been her lifelong friends were Mrs Ell
ksnah Mills. aged q years who came to
this country IN 1877: Mrs. Washington
Peck. aged 20 years. who came about
thIrty-flve years ago: ard Mrs Rorst-Mc-
Gee. who came here with her parents. Mr..
and Mrs. James Roundtree In the winter
OF issi-5s. The other invited guests were as
follows; Mr.. ara Mrs. WIN Jenkins. Mr.
and Mrs. David Shelton Mr.. and Mrs. John
shelton. Mr.. ana Mrs. Hubbard, Mr.. ana
Mrs. Ed wanch. Mr.. and Mrs Arthur
Kencke. Mrs. Colvin Stelnhorn. Mrs
Young. Mrs. Gallagher. Mrs Dole. Mrs. NJ
Dole. Mrs. Thomas Mrs. Barston, Mrs
Fouts. Mrs. Candy. Mrs. Eva McElfresh
Mrs Guile. Mrs. Twiss. Mrs. Lizzie Itch
nor. Amelia Gusner. Jessie Ford. Lizzie
Beali. May Weaver, George shrtver. Ma~-
RIO Eshom. Hazel TNriss Lilly shelton
Matte shelton. Mr.. Herman Young. Mr..
X. p. shriver. Mr.. Guy Shelton. Mr.. Henry
Ranthur. Mr.. Arson Shelton.