The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-08
Fifteenth Annual Reunion of the
Association.
FOUNDERS OF A GREAT EMPIRE.
Veterans Who Journeyed Across the
Horn Assemble 90 Talk Over the
Experiences of Long AgO-Typical
Members - The Officers Elected.

Nearly one hundred men and women.
pioneers of Washington, many or whom
soarrneyed from their homes in the East
across the plains TO the valley OF the
Columbia and thence to the shores or
Puget sound, are gathered in Seattle,
forming the fifteenth annual reunion OK the
Washington Pioneer Association.
Little that appears upon the record
of the business meeting held yesterday
morning and afternoon is significant OF
the true intent of the annual conciave of
the men and women who are associated
with the very first pages OF the history
OF the great Pacific Northwest. The band
Of pioneers Ii yearly growing less and
less. One OF the mournful things about
such a gathering as the present reunion
is the necessity incumbent upon the secre-
tary to record the passing away Of some
members OF the band OF early em.grants
who tourneyed to the land Of promise.
The chief Joys and pleasures OF the
pioneers OF Washington in holding their
annual gatherings is in exchanging rem!n-
ticeable yesterday that between the bust
ness sessions of the society the grizzied
veterans Of the days OF the early sos
assembled In quiet corners OF the room TO
talk over the past.
Many OF the men who sat In the G.
A. r. hall in the Hinckley building yes
,erday set foot on the shores OF Elliott
bay when the tall frs OF the forest
primeval reached TO nearly the waters
edge where now stands tall, stately and
costly blocks of brick and stone. Others
carved out homes for themselves In the
forests Of Thurston county. Others still
settled in fertile valleys on whidbyl island
and other parts Of western Washington.
All were governed by the instinct of the
race which landed at Plymouth rock on
the shores OF Massachusetts, in 162o. TO
build anew their homes In the wilderness.
Those qualities OF courage. self reliance
and sturdy industry which built up
an empire on the Atlantic char
acterized the pioneers of Washington.
They are visible on every face in the band
OF men and women who settled in the
Northwest In the sos. Many OF them have
passed through great dangers 10 life and
property: nearly all OF them saw some
Of the horrors OF the Indian wars OF 1855
and all have watched the Puget sound
country grow from a wilderness Of tall fir
and cedar trees 10 a progressive and
prosperous community.
The chief business transacted yesterday
was the election OF officers. These were
chosen by ballo, yesterday afternoon.
They are:
/ President, John J. McGilvra. OF Seattle;
secretary, Edgar Bryan. OF Seattle; treas
urer. l.. s. Rowe, OF Seattle: trustees. f. c.
Ferguson, OF Snohomish; r. Abrams. l..
8. Rowe. William Calhoun and Thomas
Prosch, OF Seattle.
Forenoon Session.
The morning session was devoted entirely
to the reading OF the minutes OF the last
session and the presentation OF the re-
ports of the president and secretary. Mr..
u. B. Ward. the secretary, reported on
the collections and disbursements OF funds
for the year past The following pioneers
have died since the last meeting:
C. NJ. Byles. OF Montesano; d. F. Byles.
OF Elmer; Eiwood Evans. OF Tacoma; Mrs.
II. l. Mercer. OF Seattle: Mrs. Mary V.
Mcdonald, of SEATTLE: W. G. Lat!mer. OF
Seattle: Mrs. Hulda A. Young. of Seattle,
Judge w P. Daugherty. OF Pierce coun-
~: William T9dd. OF Pierce county: y.
]. Ohm. o. Seattle: Mrs. G.. V. Calhoun.
Of Seattle: Luke McRedmond, OF Red
rnond: Benjamin f. Harmed, OF Olympia:
r II. Landsdale. of Olympia: Mrs. Peter
hudson, Of Tacoma, and Thomas Mercer.
Of Seattle. Some OF these were not MEM
hers OF the association, but al mad lived n
the state since 1870.
rroday's programme viii begin At II
o'clock az the grove or the association
in the Poniius fourth addition, where the
hau OF the society ia 10 be erected on
ground donated by Mrs. II. J. P0ntius.
near Lake Union. Prof f. s Meany Will
deliver the Grafton Of the day. after which
luncheon wifi be served IN pcnic fashion.
Speeches and personal "reminiscences will
follow.
Following IS a lis, Of those in attend
ance:
George F. Fry. Mrs NJ, J. pontlus.
Mrs A s. Rinehsrt Rev, u. Z. Blaine,
Mrs Catherine Blaine. +. II. Winslow.
Thomas Proseh Hiram Burnett Charles
Baker. Edgar BRYAN. John Collins. Judge
II II. Cam. II. W. Harmon. r. w. Winca-
raw. Mrs. r. W. Wln.aSaw W.
Parry Smith. n r. Wars A ". Pres
ley. l. s. Rowe, ". V. Rineharr, George
+. wh!;worth Thomas j earle Ms. KIRK
u Ward. Mrs :. J. Snow. Mrs. ". II.
Gillian. Mrs L, Wyckoff. Mrs e. z. Syl-
ves,er. Theodore Williams r = Many.
J J. McTl}vrs. Charles prosch. J. G. kel-
logg = e Coomhs z Clayscn. sr.. Mrs.
( l.. r. S1Terein. J. 8 Benson. Mrs s. u.
Isbhy Mrs. z. a Preston Mrs. Il. T..
Thora5yke. Mrs r ". L. Guy, Miss
/ Wyckote. Hans Nelson, ". Weight Mrs.
: H Earcock. Miss Susan Hancock. Mrs
~ A Dyer T. W Guy, George Wy.
>soarimau. Rev. J. =. Damon, II. r.
whitwoFtA. Mrs. I. s Rowe and Miss
/ ven!ta Rowe. all OF Seattle.
Mrs 4 Moore. Mrs. 2. Newman and
/ Mss II Craney. of Widhy island; l.. Sohns.
/ o. Vancouver: Mrs. Sohrs. OF Nanoouver:
=, D R.neha-t. Of u aatccFn: ". : Jane
=