Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-03-18

eral View Of the Sound in the Early Days
Some Of the People Who We're Here
Alki Point Was Then the Only Seattle, but
tiIllory Butler Called It "Nsw York
Improvement Of Natchez Pass-ArrivaI of
Gov. Stsvens-OIympa the Capital-The
First Case of Smalpox-A tiorse-Race for
Si,5O0 Side.
PART SECOND.
/ wish to say that these are pioneer
"reminiscences. do not consider that
persons arriving in California, Oregon
and Washington are pioneers unless
they arrived in the forties or fifties.
Arriving in Olympia, vending my
way among fallen trees and stumps, l
dismounted at Sylvester's hotel, a log
house on the corner of Second and
Main streets. At that time Olympia
was small settlement, having pop.
ulatiOn OF about $50, with an encamp-
ment of Indians on the west side OF
the bay. There were four stores, kept
by George A. Barnes; Wright, Golfer
Il Co. afterwards Parker, Golfer &
Coz; Moses Bettman and the (Brig)
" Kendall Co." Several lumber camps
were in operation in the immediate
vicinity. The brig George w. Kendall
was sailing on the route between
Olympia and San Francisco. A. B.
Cove was master "a brother-in-law of
Hon. Elwood Evans), and profitable
business in spars. shingles. piling and
square timbers was established. Later
the brig Kendall was followed by the
bark Sarah Warren, Captain Warren
Cove. A weekly mail service, horse.
back and canoe, from the Columbia
river to Olympia was first established
in 1852 by Messrs. Yantis & Rabbeson,
contractors. Edmund Sylvester was
the original town proprietor OF Olym.
pia. Local transportation on the
Sound was carried by canoes and sail
boats. The people of Olympia were
first regularly served by the sloop Sarah
Stone, Captain Thomas Slater, plying
between Olympia, Victoria, Belling-
ham bay and way landings. The Gus
tom house district was organized in
Olympia in 1851 with S. P. Moses as
Collector.
The first newspaper, The Columbian,
was issued on the 11th day OF Septem-
ber. 1852, by Messrs. Wiley & McElroy.
The French Catholics built the first
church in 1852. Then the Methodist
denomination was represented by Rev.
]. F. DeVore in Steilacoom. The
Episcopalians were represented by
Rev. DR.. Mccarthy and Bishop Scott.
The Presbyterians later by Rev. G. F.
Whitworth.
When l arrived at Olympia, May,
1853, there were but few board houses
in the place, occupied mostly by the
following named persons, G. A. Barnes
and family; Joseph Cushman, Esq,
father OF William H. Cushman OF Ia
coma, Simpson P. Moses and family,
Captain s. w. Percival, A. w. Moore,
P. NJ. ]. M. Swan, Moses Bettman,
Captain H. G. Hale and family, Milas
and Silas Galliher and families, d. r.
Bigelow, Isaac Woods, wife and broth.
ers, Richard and John Woods, w. w.
Miller, Patterson brothers, Offutt
brothers, ]. X. Hurd. C. E. Weed, A.
J. Baldwin, John Clarke, J. C. Pattsn,
c. Ethridge, A. B. and A. J. Moses,
Moses. Isaac Hawk and family,
George B. Goudy and family and
Edmund Furste. In the immediate
neigbborhood OF Olympia. located
mostly on their donation claims were
Smith Hays, Ben Gordon, Andrew
Cowan and family. Judge Gilmore
Hays family, Logan Hays and fam
lily. Thomas Prather, Captain c. Cros.
by. William Billings, A. J. Allen, @.
A. Brooks, Putnam Hays and family,
David Chambers and family, Samuel
Coulter, Andrew Chambers, Edwin
Marsh, Frank X. Ruth. Gabriel Jones,
Mr.. Bush and family, John Kindred
and family, Thomas Chambers, Sam.
uel Ward, M. 7. Simmons. Shelton
brothers and families, Nathan Eaton,
Henry Handle and family, John Ed.
gar and Thomas Linklighter. At
that time Olympia was quite
smart village, and the community in
general we're all busy and happy.
In May, 1853, Steilacoom, consisted
of few small board houses, a couple
OF stores and hotel. The hotel
building was manufactured at New
York or Boston and shipped out from
from there. The residents, so far as
my recollection serves me, we're DR..
Weber, Captain Balch, Mr.. Martin
and family, John NJ. Chapman, James
Hughes and family, Charles Prosch
and family and Philip Keach. l..
F. Thompson was running the Se-
qualitchew eawmill and Frank Clark
was then in bis employ. William
Packwood and George Schazer were
then living on the Nisqually river.
Fort Steilacoom had at that time a
company OF forty or fifty men. The
Hudson Bay company, DR.. w. F. Tol.
mie, manager, had q trading post and
station near the present site of Mr..