The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-10-20

arrived in Oregon in the IsIl 81 1874
The Hudson Bay Company employe
at oncSs advised the settlers 10 g
south and even threatened to preyen
them from locating on lands north q
the Columbia river, but the threat
and advice were alike wasted on Co
Simmons who was determined TO fin,
place for house on the salt water
Il was in December, 1874, that Col
Simmons, accompanied by George
Bush, the colored man, and several
others, first started from Fort Van
couver to explore the Puget 'Sount
country. The party ascended th,
Cowlitz river until they reached th,
point where the Tootle river joins tn;
former stream. Here Simmons recog
lsnized one OF the spots shown to hin
IN his dream beyond which he musl
not pass and he refused to go farther
returning to Fort Vancouver.
He had seen enough of the country
however, to determine him that north
land not south of the Columbia river
his home would be made and so in
July, 1845, despite the threats of Dr.
Mclaughlin, Col. Simmons, accom-
panied by James McAllister, David
Kindred, Gabriel Jones. George Bush,
Jesse Ferguson, and Sam B. Crockett
started on a second exploring expedi.
ton. This time Col. Simmons pushed
ahead and finally reached a point, now
Tumwater, at the head of Puget Sound
where all the conditions foretold in
his dream existed and here he and his
friends determined to settle.
Returning for their families and
procuring the services of old Peter
Bernier, Frenchman, who was q
guide and employe of the Hudson Bay
Company, Col. Simmons, in the fall Of
1845, returned together with the men
already named, to the place on Puget
Sound selected. From a landing on
Cowlitz river the party cut road
fifty-eight miles in length to the place
they had selected as their settlement.
Col. Simmons named the town New
Market, the name being afterward
changed to Tumwater.
George Bush, the negro, chose as his
location strip of prairie land known
as Bush's prairie. He was in constant
fear of being proclaimed a slave and
only for Col. Simmons projection
might have abandoned the settlement
he had made and worksddor others.
The Indians could not understand
the treatment accorded by the white
men to their wives. It was useless to
talk to them and finally Col. Simmons
determined to give the aborigines q
lesson they would understand. It
when he cut the mill stones for the
first grist mill. His immense build
and strength in handling the stones
which ground the grist for his own
and other colonies on the Sound wat
used, with but little effect. however
upon the Indians in an endeavor tc
show what strong men could and
should do.
For man so prominent in the early
history OF Washington, it is strange
that SO little concerning Michael T.
Simmons has ever been written. His
life was quiet one except in industry.
He was a strong American so far as
territorial rights we're concerned, and
was an anti-slavery man, although
born in slave-holding state. Anum-
Der of stories are told of the man, some
of which are undoubtedly true, but
the majority are merely fictions.
It is said, and there can hardly be a
doubt of the truth of the assertion
that superstition predominated largely
in Col. ST mmons' nature. While evel
ready to take and bear his full share
of hardship or any undertaking be
was governed largely by what be be-
lieyed to him warnings. In this way
he turned back from his first expedi-
to the Puget sound country. In the
same way he insisted upon . settle
ment at Tumwater or as he called it,
New Market, although other of his
party wanted to push on further. Il
was he said the spot shown him in hil
dream and there he would remain
even if he was left alone.
A story OF Col. Simmons IS told as
to his early dealing with the Indians
The Indians could not understand
why it was the white men did all tht
work and left their wives 10 the honses
This matter was broached to him BY
chief one day while be was building
his grist mill. Col. Simmons Wa.
b,,nx, 20 rrv;v,<y hoovxr Joada tn and FRI