The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-12-22
Early History Of Local Interest.

AMFiAs LEU. - quay your CORE
spondent strolled into the county
auditors Office, and curiosity prompt-
ed him to call for volume I, of the rec
ords eff the county commissioners of
Thurston county. A cnrsory glance
was all that was necessary to suggest
that there is much INTEREST," G histor-
ical matter concerning the early set
Elements OF the Northwest that has
never been published, to say nothing
OF the recollections of those early DAYS
that lepose solelv in the memories Of
the pioneers.
Thurston county was created by act
OF the Oregon legislature in the win
ter OF 1852, and included the vast
basin lying west of the Cascade noun
tains and north Of. the Cowlitz divide,
extending northward to the interna-
tional boundary. The first white set
tier to locate in the Sound country
was Michael T. Simmons, aud when
the bill to create new county in the
extreme Northwest was introduced it
Was proposed to call the county Sim
mons, but the sad death of Congress
man Samuel r. Thurston the spring
before and disposition among the
people of Oregon to perpetuate his
memory suggested his name for the
new county.
Mr.. Thurston was elected member
OF congress as an opponent of the
Hudson Bay Company. While re-
turning from the Federal capital by
way OF Cape Horn he was taken sick
and died at sea April 8, 1851, between
Panama and Acapulco, off the coast
OF Central America. His remains
were buried at the latter place, but by
authority of the legislature OF Oregon
they were exhumed and brought to
Salem for a permanent interment
where marble monument was erected
to his memory. At time when his
virtues and untimely death were up
permost in the minds of the people Of
his state, the proposition to connec,
his name with the new county met
with general response, and Thurston
was accordingly adopted
The act creating the county provid
ed for the holding of an election fol
choosing county officers and designat-
ed Olympia as the temporary county
seat. The first electionsswas held in
June, 1852, when A. J. Simmons was
elected sheriff; A. M. Poe. county clerk
d. R. Baily, assessor; Edmond Sylves-
tea, coroner and A. A. Denny, S. S.
Ford. sr., and David Shelton county
commissioners. With the exception
of the commissioners, all of the county
officers elect were residents of the
village of Olympia. Mr.. Denny resided
at Seattle. Mr.. Ford was ranching in
the southern end OF the county liue,
and Mr.. Shelton resided over on the
Big Skookum, where the present city
of Shelton is now located. With the
exception of Mr.. Bigelow, all of those
who took an official part in the organ
ization of the county have passed to
the great beyond. Mr.. Bigelow still
resides on his old donation claim, only
short distance from the business
center of the city of Olympia.
The first session of the board ol
county commissioners was at the Office
of Mr.. Poe, on what is now Second
street, not far from the corner ol
Washington street. Of the commits
sioners, only Mr.. Denny and Mr.
Shelton were present. They took
their oaths of Office, appointed ID. r.
Bigelow, clerk of the board pro tenn
pore and adjourned until the next day,
in order that the county ofiicers-elcct
might prepare their official bonds;
also IN the hope that Mr.. Ford might
be present to participate in the initial
work of organizing the county. Mr..
Ford, however, was not present on the
9th and the board organized by the
selection of Mr.. Shelton as presiding
judge OF the county commissioners
court. Messrs. Shelton and Denny
drew lots for length OF terme, the law
creating the county providing that
one of the first commissioners should
hold Office for one year, one for two
years and one for three years. Mr..
Ford, being absent, the long term of
three years was conceded to him Mr..
Denny drew the one year term and
Mr.. Shelton that for two years.
One of the most important duties Of
the new board of commissioners was
that Of apportioning the county into
precincts aud school districts, Con-
sidering that the county embraced .
scope Of country approximately one
hundred and fifty miles square, with
only few small settlements, the lay
ing down Of precinct lines was Of nee
essity rather arbitrary act that could