Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-07-20

Mr.. w. o. Bush, of Bush prairie, and
he pronounced it correct. l give the
names in full and believe this is the
first time that they were ever printed !:
+ Michael Thomas
Mrs. Elizabeth Kindred
George Washington
David Crockett
Simmor. Francis Marion Dekalb
' Mcdonald
Christopher Columbus, born OH
the north bank of the Columbia
river near the WashOusal, April
10, ISL.
David
Kindred } Mrs. Talitha
John Karrck
Mrs. Martha smith
George
America afterwards the wife of
Thomas Chambers. an uncle of
A. H. Chambers, of Olympia.
McAlllster Martha. afterwards the wife of
Joseph Hunting or Bunton (the
latter IL the correct form, !
think)
John
James, born on the Washougal,
on Sept. *, lSij.
( Gabriel
Mrs. keziah Bricc
Lewis
Jones .- Morris
W
Bro-heaIs in -. and died about
10 l. years ago.
( George
Mrs. I-abclla James
William Owen
Bush ...... Joseph Talbot
Riley Bailey
Henry Sandford
Jackson January
Crockett, Samuel
Ferguson, Jesse
Making q total OF thirty .one persons
-twenty-one OF whom came across
the plains in 1874, but never went
south of the Columbia river.
1t is matter of interest in this
connection. and perhaps not generally
known, that George Bush, born in
Pennsylvania on March Is, ITS. went
to Tennessee in 17SS, and to Illinois
in 1796. and engaged in the stock
business. In 1914 he joined a trap
ping party and made trip to the Pa.
cifc Coast, travelling most of the way
on foot. The best part of two years
was spent in this expedition, and the
country was pretty well covered from
Mexico to the south OF the Columbia
river. In 1916 Mr.. Bush removed
from Illinois to Missouri with his
stock, settling in Boone county. He
built the first house in what is now
the city OF Boonville, Mo. He was
married on July 4, 1881. 1t is be-
lieved that it was this early experience
in coming to the Coast which led him
to become one Of the leading spirits in
assisting to organize the emigration Of
1874, IS it is a we'll established fact
that he freely gave great assistance to
at least twenty families who came
West that year. 1t may be confident
ly asserted that he was the wealthiest
man that came to Oregon or Wash
ington during the early pioneer days,
closing with 1859.
Passing through the fertile and
well cultivated valley Of the Nesqually,
one of the most productive regions OF
Western Washington, the first old
landmark / saw was the site of Fort
Nesqu ally, Hudson's Bay Co. post
established in 1888. The dwelling
there, now occupied by Edward Hug.
gins, who came to this identical spot
early in 1850, was built in 1851, and
is in an excellent state Of preservation.
Mr.. Huggins succeeded to the manage
ment of the Hudson's Bay Co. affairs,
about 1859, upon the retirement OF
DR.. William Fraser Tolmie, who was a
dominant force in the early days OF
Puget Sound, and greatly beloved by
all who knew him, not only because
he was a most skillful physician, but
on account OF his many admirable
traits as . man and his many acts oi
kindness towards the early settlers.
In this he was the counterpart in
large measure OF DR.. George McLough.
lin, OF Vancouver.
After most cordial greetings by Mr.
Higgins and his son, the latter, upon
learning our destination, kindly took
charge of our team and by park.like
"way which we knew not OF" drovs us
three miles to our destination, making
the distance two miles less than by
the usually travelled public roads.
While the hour was early, it only
being IL o'clock, the woods all around
the head of Sequal;tchew Lake, in the
vicinity OF the spot which had been
! we'll authenticated as the site where
Capt. Wilkes men celebrated our ma
tional birthday in 1S41-the 4th came
on Sunday that year, hence the cele
bration on the 5th-echoed with
merry voices of both sexes as the
preparations for the picnic dinner
went on. This being disposed of
amid the reunion of many old.timt
friends and acquaintances-the writer
met more than two score OF persons
whom lie had formerly known, but
had not seen before for from forty tt
fifty years-the time appointed for the
formal exercises arrived, and the large
assemblsge numbering we'll nigh two
thousand persous was called to ordel
by r. L. Mccormick, President of th'
Washington Historical Society, Presi