Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1916-07-14
PIONEERS DO HONOR
TO FIRST SETTLERS
UNVEIL MONUMENT AT TUMWA.
TER TO MEMORY OF SIM.
MONS PARTY.


iscent Of events of pioneer days and
laudatory of those who established
the first United States settlement on
Puget Sound at Tumwater in Octo-
ber, 1845, the members of the Thur
ston County Pioneer & Historical So
ciety and a host of friends unveiled
monument at Tumwater Wednes-
day to the memory of Colonel Mich
ael Troutman Simmons, George Bush
and the 29 other members of the col
ony. The guests of honor of the day
were the children and grandchildren
of these first pioneers.
The affair was the annual mid
summer reunion of the local pio-
neers. in which they were Joined by
members of the Pierce county society
and by pioneers from all parts of the
state. 1t started with a program in
the grove near Tumwater at 10
O'Clock in the morning, the invoca-
tion being delivered by P. D. Moore,
81 years old, the Oldest person at the
gathering and also one of the earliest
pioneers.
General Hazard Stevens, president
of the local society, son of the first
governor of the territory, and we'll
known to every pioneer present, de-
livered the address of welcome,
which was responded to by Judge o.
G. Ellis of the state supreme court,
representing the Society Of the Sons
of the American Revolution, and
George H. Hines, q former Olympian
and secretary of the Oregon Pioneer
and Historical society. Following
these addresses, a big picnic dinner
was served, under the direction Of
Mrs. J. w. NOVEL;, the tables being
arranged to accommodate 400 per-
sons.
Governor First Speaker.
President P. M. Troy Of the Cham
Der Commerce, chairman of the ar
rangements committee for the local
society. presided at the afternoon ses-
sion, introducing Governor Lister as
the first speaker. He paid glowing
tribute to the sturdy men and wom-
en- who laid the foundations for the
great state Of Washington, and re-.
minded his hearers that, while other
states erect monuments to their
great men, they were usually in hon
or of those who had military records.
while this monument was to do hom-
age to the men and women who had
endured all sorts Of hardships in op-
ening up new country.
The history Of the Simmons expe-
dition was told by Professor Edmond
S. Meany of the University of Wash
ington, president of the State His
torical association, feature of his
address being public congratula-
ton and salute to General Stevens.
A special greeting to the descendants
of Colonel Simmons-George Wash
ington Simmons, the Oldest son,
Francis Marion Simmons and Chris
topher Columbus Simmons-was CIV
en- by w. P. Bonney, secretary of the
State Historical society. Mayor c. s.
Lee of Tumwater, who had known
Jesse Ferguson, one member of the
Simmons party, thanked the heirs
of the late Leopold F. Schmidt, who
presented the monument to the So
ciety.
The monument was then unveiled,
the big American flag being unfurled
by Mrs. Bertha Simmons Fairson,
youngest daughter Of Christopher c.
Simmons, Miss Mary Bush, grand
daughter of George Bush. and Mr..
Simmons. The monument, which 10
a huge block of roughly hewn gran
ite, 10 feet high, set on concrete
base and surrounded by heavy iron
railing, is located along the Des
Chutes river short distance from
the lower falls, where the party made
its first camp. A heavy bronze tablet
tmbedded In the race or 1t, the elIt OF
the State Historical society, bears the
names of each member Of the Sim
mons party and an appropriate in
scription.
Simmons Descendants Present.
, Quite a number of descendants Of
Colonel Simmons attended the picnic.
Among them were George Simmons,
l. of San Francisco, Cal; Christopher
c. Simmons, OF Mud Bay; Ben Sim
mons, of Seattle; Michael Simmons,
of Ellensburg; F.. Marion Simmons,
of Puyallup; Mrs. Susie Simmons
Moore, Of Okanogan; Mrs. Mary Sim
Continued on Page Eight.