The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-02-16


OF Washington territory, died at his home
here at O'Clock this morning. He was 81
years and months old.
David Shslton was born in Buncombe
county. y. C, September Is. lsl2 His
father, Lewis Shelton, emigrated TO the
territory OF Missouri in 1919, and settled
in Saline county. but kept on the advance
wave of settlement, ever moving west
ward, as the state settled up. In this
frontier life young David came TO ma
turity and on February ~, 1881 was mar
ried TO Miss Frances Wilson. He led an
active life in that state, holding several
political positions, serving through the
Black Hawk war OF 1899. and also in the
Mormon war shortly after. taking part
In the capture of the Mormon fortified
town, Far West
After marriage the young couple moved
TO Buchanan county and settled near ST.
Joseph, where they remained till 1S47, when
his father dying. David Shelton gathered
up his goods, and with his wife and chill
dren, Lewis and John, crossed the Mis-
souri, river on May g. bound for Oregon.
He found the six months Journey by OK
teams as dangerous and tedious, as did
most of the emigrants of that period. but
finally reached Fort Vancouver March %.
They left Whitman station just few
DAYS before the massacre of Whitman and
its other occupants by the Indians.
The Skeletons occupied several places In
the vicinity OF Portland during the four
years following. the last OF which is now
the heart of East Portland.
In ls4s David Shelton was one OF party
which went TO the American river gold
fields In California, and returned with a
bag of dust"
In the latter part OF 1851 he disposed OF
his place, and in company with B. f. Pet
~ grove, /. b. Hastings. Thomas Fallen
tire and others, they bought the small
seventy-five-ton schooner Mary Taylor.
and came around 10 Puget sound.
The two former unloaded their families
and goods at Port Townsend. and became
the founders OF that city; Fallentire got
off at Steilacoom and the others continued
to Olympia, which was reached February
%, 1852.
There he remained about year, running
a hotel when the family moved down Big
Skookum bay, reaching the final resting
place on April Is. tust thirty-four years TO
a day before the death OF Mrs. Frances
Shelton. He fled on SO acres Of donation
for himself and wife. going 20 the land
Office. then located az Oregon City. In 1852
the Sound district was cut off from Lewis
county, and Thurston county was organ
tied, David Shelton being one OF it's first
board OF county commissioners, with 4.
A Denny and S. S. Ford.
David Shelton was a member of the first
territorial legislature. and one OF his first
acts was the severing OF Sawamish
county from Thurston. and this was after
wards changed 20 Mason county, in honor
Of the first territorial secretary
In 1855 came the indiana troubles, when
David Shelton obeyed the call for volun-
teers 10 protect the settlers. The family
was moved TO the stocksde. which occu-
pied the point Just across from Arcadia.
Il was one OF the strongest forts on The
Sound, its walls being fifteen feet high.
enclosing several acres Of ground, where
the families were kept safe from harm.
Returning 10 bis claim when the Indians
became quiet, the family started in earnest
the work OF hewiug out = home assisted
by a growing family Of boys Here he has
remained. save a trip into idaho IN 1852 on
another chase for gold.
That fall he was again elected 20 the leg
islature and has since led q fairly active
life, having served as commissioner, aud
tor probate Judge. school super ntendeut
etc, for the county, and as director or
clerk OF the school district for many
years. taking en- active Interest % the
last
Within the last decade he has witnessed
the growing Up OF a thriving young city
OF the old donation claim. and MS desire
always 20 be on the advance line OF civil
izadon has been thwaTted by It's encroach-
ment. or April = 1857 his wife died az
the age ~ 20 years. death thwarting the
desires OF his children and descendants %
celebra ting The golden anniversary Of their
wedding. She was the mother Of eleven
children. six % whom ara now living
Lewis n. w. % Seattle. John 8 A and
Mary r. Cyphert. Of Shelton TIL. Of Or
ting, and Joycie Monsor. - Oakland. Cal.
al OF whom we're a. his bedside
David Shelton was the eldest % four
teen, al hut one living . he grown Up
Two brothers, TIL, AGED 80. and Elijah. ~
we're also With him. The others are:
Elizabeth Stanley and William Shelton.