The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-02-19

Death of David Shelton.

Shelton, and one of the last of the OLE
line of pioneers of Puget Sound,-
came almost as shock upon this PEG
pie. For week prior it was known
that David She1ton's course of life hat
nearly run, and at 3 o'clock Mon day
morning, Feb. 18th, he peacefully
passed away, the tired machinery
lapsing to rest without jar or tremor
all his children, except one daughter
Joycie, being present at his bedside
He had rounded out his allotted period
OF life, having lived four score and
four years and five months, and his
work was ''we11-done.''
Mt. Moriah Lodge, No. IL r. & A.
M, of which he was valued member,
took charge of the funeral arrange
ments. It was also his desire to be
buried alongside his wife and son
Frank, in the Olympia cemetery,
which was faithfully carried out,
Brief services were held by the local
Masonic Lodge at the late residence
of the deceased at 1880 Wednesday,
and large procession followed the
remains to the steamer City of Shell
ton. AS many as possible were taken
aboard for Olympia which was reach
ed at 2 O'CLOCK. Olympia Lodge No. 1,
the oldest lodge in the state, in which
David Shelton held membership for %
years, there took charge of the SER
vices. Hearse, carriages and two
electric cars were provided for the
trip to the cemetery, where the Shell
ton party was joined by a large num-
Der of Olympians, many of them old
settlers and friends of the Skeletons.
Hon. T. M. Reed, Sr. conducted the
impressive Masonic service, assisted
by choir of Shelton voices. The in
torment being concluded, the party re-
turned to Shelton on the evening
boat. The weather was fairly good
although the air was chilly.
He was the father of eleven children,
six of whom are now living: Lewis D.
W. of Seattle; John S. w. of Shelton;
Till, of Orting; Mary E. Cyphert, and
James B. of Shelton. and Joyce Mon
son, of Oakland, California. All the
children were with their father during
his last hours, except his daughter
Joyc Gle, who did not receive the tele-
graphic message, until too late to
reach Shelton.
Dayid Shelton was the eldest of
fourteen children, of whom thirteen
lived to be grown. Those now living
are Mrs. Stanley and VIM. Shelton, of
Mendocino Co.; Mart Shelton, of
Shasta; Rice Shelton and James Shell
ton, OF Los Angeles, CAL; Eliza Bailey,
Missouri; Cynthia Glaze, Polk Co.
Oregon; Elijah and Till Shelton, of
Shelton, whose ages range from 90 to
80 years.
On April 18th, 1887, Mrs. Frances
Shelton died at the age of 20 years,
the grim Reaper just thwarting the
intentions of the children and descend
ants of David and Frances Shelton, of
celebrating the golden anniversary of
their wedding.
David Shelton was of the sturdy,
honest character, positive in his views,
aggressive in the right as he saw. it;
generous to fault and Of rather too
confding a nature for his own berfeft.
His life has always been temperate
and he stopped the use of tobacco
thirty years ago. His strong co1lsti-
tuition has enabled him to be upon the
street at all times, to take personal
interest in all that was going on
Since election day in November he has
been confined to the house and lately
to his room, only taking his bed about
two weeks ago. For some time past
an abscess has been growing upon his
neck, and this with congestive chil1s
and general debility, proved too much
to combat. He was formerly believ.
er in spiritua1ism, and of. late years a
student of theosophy, although a great
believer in the influences of practical
religion, as evidenced by his property
gifts to the various church organiza
tons.
David Shelton and his son, Lewis
Shelton, were made Masons in Noun,
Moriah Lodge No. II, then located al
Oakland, in 1864, the year following
its organization. The membership
was small and difficult to get together
for meetings in those days and Davit
Shelton transferred his membership
to Olympia by card, afterwards re.
turning to Mt. Moriah Lodge, when i
was removed to Shelton, on the open
ing up of the new town.
In this connection the fnnily desire
to express their thanks to the people
of Shelton for their overwhelming
kindness during the illness and funer
al of David Shelton. We feel tha
more is due from the people of Shelter
and that when the children removt
the remains of David and Franci.
Shelton and son Frank to the Masoni,
Cemetery of Shelton,-they will unite
in furnishing a Monument that will
be pleasing memento to the Fathe,
of Shelton and credit to the geuer
osity of its people.