The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-19

this pioneer woman was really the first
Methodist in all that vast region. MIR.
Medcalf and his wife came from the state
OF Ohio and crossed tho plains by them
selves. In the spring Of 1859 Mrs. I.orin-
da scammon came here with her three
children TO join her husband, j. 8. Scam
mon. who some years before came TO the
Coast and settled on the chehaiis river,
opposite this place, They were also Meth
odists. In 1859 Rev. ]. s. McAllister came
into the neighborhood from Oregon and
with fnm Rev. N. Doan. now OF Portland,
then presiding elder of the Puget sound
district OF the oregon conference. After
looking over the field. visiting with the
people ana preaching to them, they agreed
at the earliest opportunity to supply the
new and growing district with minis
ter who could give them regular sunday
services
Rev. J. s. Douglass was accordingly APP
pointed as circuit rider for the extensive
district into which II had been made He
came In 1860 and lived among the people
as one OF them. He was young man
and single and IL is related of him that
no spent az much time IN assisting the
new settlers in clearing their land as he
did in giving aid to their spiritual vel
fare. The circuit as travelled by him
reached from oakviile. sixty miles from
the mouth OF Chehalis river, down that
stream 20 the ocean. UP the beach to the
-
20 Oystcrville. Owing 10 the exteat OF
this circuit preaching was conducted here
onN abou, once a month and sometimes
once in two months.
held at Portland and Rev. w. J. Franklin
was sent into the neld. He organised the
church into permanent society. The
nrst members we're Mrs. Martha Medcalf
and Mrs. I.orindA SeamInon, both OF
whom are nov dead. Franklin served the
circuit III 1855. when Rev, u. {. Rhodes
was appointed In that year Rev. II. X.
siding elder OF the Puget sound district.
paid an official visit 20 the district and
made an excellen; report To the confer
ence A number OF families had moved
IN Ia the few years previous and the ma.
jorisy Of them we're added 20 the roll OF
membership Rev II n Lane succeeded
Rev Rhodes He remained from iSSs 70
$50 He was a persistent worker and
succeeded In spreading the charch's In.
rucrca throughout the Western wtldx
with wonderful rapidly. Al that time
meetings were held a; the homes os the
different members or At any convenient
poins. Seeing the necessity of a central
meeting place for the large and growing
membership Rev. Lane set IN motion a
subscription naper ina, rsSatel y ne
worship,
Rev. W. 7. Chapman gas sent here IN
ISL. and the next spring he began the
work % erecting the frss church building
~ thn present church. and when the new
bviielng. tho one used. was eu.lt ;ns old
one was turned over 20 the school board
ana stands nos as an interesting land
mark ~ Tits section a. Well a. sfrvtcea-
slr place for the primary department OF
re puhIlc schools The hgilding was
nat completed ~ Rev. Chapman This
ssrA rss as Ret ssI aA Rsess sss Sae ~
in CHARGE az the clrcalt. He raised the
money and completed the new building
M vas A plain structure. The lumber was
sawaea Al al old mill near Cedsryille and
hauled % the place BY the members %
tNa oYeantEatlon Much et the work OF
huilaing the church was done by the mem
Ser~ 30 that It cost the 50 ttlers very little
actual money
The present building was erected In 1859
under the pAstorate % y. T.. Drake, who
served the church but one year. X Is
built ia the modern style Of the modest
Western churches. viii seat about SOC
ueople and Is elegantly furnished Among
the very FIRST members OF the church who
are sun living here and who will attend
the anniversary exercises are. Joseph
Mace and wife. Mrs. G y, Byies, Mrs
Richard ArlaRd and Mrs Joseph Hili
They Joined tho church In the hrst year
CT its orxsnisstien and have been active