The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-06-22
Early Day "reminiscences.

SaS~u AZ VIC iduudOlc OilUIS Vi cecuI-
ing from the few remaining pioneers Of
Mason County their recollections OF
early history for preservation, and the
following is from the pen of Edward
Miller. The JOURNAL will publish
these letters as they are handed in, and
hopes that every pioneer in the county
will read them carefully, correct any
errors they may find, to make up an
authentic history:
SIN reply TO your inquiries in regard
to my recollections of incidents OF
early times in this region, will state
that | first en- tered this vicinity about
the first of June, 1858. forty-seven
years ago, aud shortly after settled on
the farm l now occupy. There was
then sawmill in course of construc-
ton at the mouth of Gosnell Greek,
the promoters of that enterprise being
Wesley B. Gosnell, w. w. Miller and
III. T. Simmons. III. A. Goldsborough
was holding the present location of
the Shelton Sawmill as millsite.
David Shelton was then living with his
family in a temporary Camp near the
spring which now supplies the Town
of Shelton with water. This was then
part of Thurston County and the
first election was held at Gosnell's
mill. David Shelton was chosen to
represent this section In the first
territorial legislature which convened
at Olympia about Feb. 1st, 1854 and
which set off this part of the county
into County called Sawamish,
(Which name it retained for several
years until renamed in honor of Charles
III. Mason, the first secretary of the
territory. The first session of the
County Commissioners was held at
the house of III. A. Goldsborough. in
what is now Shelton, and the members
agreed to serve without making any
charge, the object being to keep down
taxation. John B. Forbes was the
first sheriff and J. L. Morrow the first
auditor of the County. The first
board was composed of Lee Hancock,
A. NJ. Collins and w. B. Gosnell.
When the Indian war broke out in
the fall of 1855 the country was fairly
prosperous, but the people we're panic
stricken and hurried to put their
families in places of safety. A stock
ade was erected at Collins point, op-
posile Arcadia and several families,
viz: those of David Shelton, John T,
Scott, J. L. and William NJ. Morrow
and think, Franklin Kennedy and
NJ. T. Simmons took refuge there.
was at work at the Port Gamble
Sawmill at the time cf the outbreak,
but l left and came up the Sound in
| January, 1856. Was In Seattle few
DAYS after the attack made on it by
| Indians. There was stockade which
as near as my recollection serves COM
menced at about the foot of Columbia
street and ran up TO First and then
along First and South Second streets
to the water edge The U. S. Sloop
of War Decatur was lying in the har-
Dor and many of the women and chill
dren took refuge on her. / went from
Seattle to Olympia on small schoon-
er. the Eclipse, and there we're no pas
senger steamers on Puget Sound waters
in those days
Icame down TO Skookum bay and
found things in tie shape | hase des-
eribed and went back to Olympia
Governor Isaac /. Stevens vas ener
geticaily preparing to attack the In
dams in their refuge toward the
noun t3lDS dDu l. CuiictCu Az ehc "AS
on train which was to keep up the
supplies to the men in the field.
was In camp in Puyalluy valley whet
the Indian Chief Tonasket was killed
by picket guard of the regulars wht
were encamped little toathe South o
4 present Town OF Sumner. remained
hat a few weeks in the service, as i
appeared to me that the U. S. treas
| ury and not the Indians, strung holds
| was the objective point and dollar'
were more desirable than scalps, so
returned to nay work at the sawmill-
i II was a great many years before tn'
i farming interests of the country re
Lowered from the depression caused .,
that little war;
\ The above will serve to revive tns
memories OF other pioneers OF MasoI
County and get the record started, ane
| later on / may have something furtne'
4 = odd EDWARD MILLER.