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

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 westward as the state
settled up. In this frontier life young
David came to maturity and on May
3Oth 1887 was married to Miss Frances
Wilson. He led an active life, hold
ing several county offices, serving
through the Black Hawk war of 1882.
and also in the Mormon troubles, tax
ing part in the capture of their fortifi-
ed town "Far West" and aiding in
driving the poligamists to their strong
hold at Salt Lake. After marriage
the young couple moved to Buchanan
county and settled near St. Joseph,
where they remained until 1847, when
Lewis Shelton died, and David Shell
ton, with his wife and two young sons,
Lewis and John, were lured by the
beckonings of promise in the golden
west, gathered t"gether their belong
lngs and on the 9th day of May
crossed the Missouri river on the way
to Oregon.
They found the journey long and
tedious, as it was accomplished wholly
by ox-teams, occupying six months,
all the time being in fear of hostile In
dians. They found the Pownee In
dians disposed to be saucy; for at the
mouth of Plum creek, they caught
couple of the emigrants and taking
their clothing and guns permitted
them to return with only hats and
boots. After this they also tried to
stampede the stock, but the immi-
grants, not suffering any such foolish
ness, determined to fight them off an ID
something of battle followed. On ac
count of their arrows not having the
range of the white mans guns, the
savages failed to do much damage,
and were driven off. After this only
two or three Indians were allowed to
come into camp at time.
Their party left Whitman station a
few days before the bloody Whitman
massacre, chronicled in Indian war
annals. On reaching the Dalles, they
passed down the Columbia nine miles
and built a large scow to bring the
families and wagons down the river,
while the cattle and horses were driven
along the shore, it being necessary to
swim the river several times to ayoid
impossible cliffs. At the Cascades all
the goods and things had to be taken
out of the scow and portage made of
about six hundred yards. The scow
was then turned loose to drift over the
Cascades and a number of Indians
were ready to catch it below the rapids.
The measles, which had been fol-
lowing the train, reached David Shell
toms family at this time, and both his
children were very sick. Hiring four
Indians with canoe, he left for Fort
Vancouver and reached that post at 3
o'clock p. m. on the 29th of Novem-
Der. So reduced were his finances,
that he had but one dollar and the
next morning when the gate of the
stockade was opened he went into the
fort and gave half OF that dollar for
syrup and the other half for flour.
There he was gladdened by the ap-
pearance of an old acquaintance of his
Joseph Caples, who on learning he
was bound for the home of Alexander
Quinn, on Sauvie's Island, in the
mouth of the Willamette river, insist
ed in taking Mr.. Shelton and his out
fit down in his canoe. This ended
their march of 5000 miles on Nov.
30th, 1S47.
He disposed of his place on Sauvie's
Island to Mr.. Gillingham, whose heirs
now occupy it, and, during the sum-
mer of 1848 moved his family to a
place upon the Columbia river, oppo-
site Vancouver, where Till. was born,
and here lived until the "gold fever"
broke out in '49. when he removed his
family to North Yamhill,a and started
for the American River goldields with
great expectations which were only
partly realized, but after remaining
until fall, he returned to his family
with considerable "dust." He then
removed to Portland, stopping there
until the summer of 1850, where he
located on donation claim in what
is now the beast of East Portland. In
the latter part of 1851 he disposed of
this place and in company with B. F.
Pettigrove, L. B. Hastings and two
other families purchased the small Is
ton schooner, Mary Taylor and came
around to Puget Sound.
Pettygrove and Hastings unloaded
at Post Townsend and became the
founders of that city, while the re-
mainder of the party sailed up the
Sound, Tallentlre leaving at Stella
COON, and David Shelton going on to
Olympia, where they landed on Feb.
29th, 1852. David Shelton and fam
lily remained thee over year, In the
hotel business, when they came up
Big Skookum bay and settled on the
present site of Shelton April 10Th. just
81 years to day prior to the death OF
Mrs. Shelton. Here donation claim
of $40 acres was taken up, Mr.. Shelton
being required to go to the land office,
then located at Oregon City, to make
his filings.
The year 1852 marked the begin
ninS of organized government on Pu-
gel Sound, by the setting out of Thur
ston county from Lewis county, David
Shelton, A. A. Denny and s, S. Fo'd,
being elected the first commissioners
On March IL, 1853 the bill creating
the territory of Washington was sign
ed and David Shelton asw elecseu as =