The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1907-01-11
DEATH OF TWO PIONEERS
Friends for so Years---The More For
tunate One Provides Home for
His UnIueky Brother

Followed the stampede to Cariboo, B.
c., in 1860. Spent the last seventeen
years of his life with a friend of fifty
years, who sent for him when he
learned of his destitute circumstances.
This friend, Alvin r. Thorp, who had
ranch near Loomis, died three days
afterward on Dec 3lst.
There is such rich vein of human
sympathy running thru the lives OF
these two sturdy old pioneers that we
are tempted to republish the following.
clipped from last weeks Palmer Noun
tain Prospector:
"When Alvin r. Thorp breathed his
last early Monday morning, December
81, 1905, with the close of the old year
there passed away one Of the Oldest and
best known pioneers of northern Okla
hogan county,a rugged prototype of the
early settler of the west, one endowed
with many sterling virtues, man uni
versally liked and so far as known with
out single enemy. In spite of the
hardships of roughing it on the frontier
for over 80 years he reached ripe old
age, and will be long remembered by
those who have known him intimately
for many years.
Five or six weeks ago Mr.. Thorp met
with an accident on his ranch on Pal
mer mountain by which rib was frac-
tured He caught cold and suffered Sc
verely for some time. He came down
town just before Christmas to spend
the holidays, and with that Indifference
to the elements that mark the life of
those familiar with exposure, and be-
lieving themselves immune from any
evil results of the change of tempera-
ture, he carelessly exposed himself,a and
caught more cold that rapidly devel-
oped into pneumonia. Last Thursday
morning he was taken to The Dormi-
tory and DR.. Webb did all in his power
to stop the ravages of his disease, but
from the very first no hope was held
out for his recovery, and the sturdy old
again. seemed to realize that the end
was near. His friends and the men,
bers of the Eagles did all in their pow
er to make his last hours comfortable.
Alvin r. Thorp had the distinction
of being the oldest settler in Okanogan
county. He first passed through the
county in 1869, but took up home here
few years afterward. He was born in
Howard county, Missouri, December %,
1882, and hence at the time of death
was "A years and days of age. His
ancestors came from Virginia and were
early pioneers of Missouri, moving from
Kentucky to- that state. Mr.. Thorp
grew up on a farm, having few advant-
ages in those days as compared with
the opportunities of the boys in this
age.
Like all of the early arrivals in Cali
fornia, Mr.. Thorp followed mining, but
with Indifferent success. In 1858 he
Joined the stampede to Frazer River,
British Columbia, to try his fortune in
new gold field. From Frazer River
he went to Rock creek in 1869, gave up
mining and started in packing to the
camps. In 1871 he made an overland
trip to Omaca, near the Alaska boun-
dary. On his return he located for a
short time at Marcus, in Stevens coun-
ty, and then moved upon his old Log
Cabin home ranch on Sinlahekin creek,
short distance north OF the present
town of Loomis. where he engaged in
farming and stoekraising until some
three or four years ago, when he sold
his valley ranch and purchased an ex-
cellent farm on Palmer mountain. Like
many other OF the very early settlers
he married native woman, by whom
he had one son, Charles M. Thorp, both
of whom survive him. He is also sur
vived by several brothers and sisters
residing in the east.
During the past few months death
has reaped a rich harvest among the
old residents of this vicinity and the
Oldest among the pioneers of the west
who has answered the dread summons
is Michael w. Burns, who died Friday
morning, Dec. 28, at the advanced age
of 50 years. He died after an illness
OF couple of weeks at the residence of
Charles Thorp in Loomis.
Little is known of the life of Mr..
Burns, as the only man who was thor
oily acquainted with his past, friend
of fifty years, has also passed away
since Burns breathed his last. 1t is
known that he was born in the state of
Maine, Nov. %, 1921, and crossed the
plains to California during the first
gold excitement in 1S4S. He lived in
California until the Cariboo gold stam-
pede in 1850, when he followed the
drift TO those diggings, where he re-
mained until some seventeen years ago,