Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1916-03-03
CHILDREN OF PUGET SOUND
COUNTRY'S FIRST SETTLER
GATHER AT PUYALLUP


"Probably one of the most talked
Of social affairs of the Puyallup val
ley and one Of the most interesting
from a historical standpoint is the
celebration of the ADD wedding ami
versary of Mr.. and Mrs. Francis
Marion Simmons and the 18th birth
day of Mr.. Simmons, commemorated
at the home of the couple in Puy-
allup.
1.-THE celebration, which is an an
nual event, connects the present with
the founding of the first American
settlement on Puget Sound in 1845
at Olympia by Colonel Michael T..
Simmons, father of Mr.. Simmons.
Many pioneers who took part in the
first struggle to establish colonies on
the Sound were the guests of Mr.. and
Mrs. Simmons, and the old days of
"A and AS were lived over again.
Settled First at Vancouver.
'At the age of 8 Mr.. Simmons
crossed the plains with his father and
mother in one of the prairie schoon-
ers of that time, and landed at Van
couver, which was then the only set
tlemen in the state. Two years later
Colonel Simmons and his family
struggled through the wilderness Of
Southern Washington, and with a
small band of ~other Industrious pio,
neers took up homesteads in Thurs
ton. Colonel Simmons settled en- the
land which is now the location of the
capital of the state.
''In the Indian wars of 1856
Francis Simmons was one of the few
boys who we're appointed to care for
and protect the women in the log
fort at Arcadia. In that brief strug-
gle of two years. when many of the
white settlers of the Sound were mas
sacred, Mr.. Simmons, who was only
10 years of age, shouldered q heavy
musket and fought beside his father.
He was with Colonel Eddy when that
noted man was captured and killed
by the Indians. and narrowly escaped
the same fate by creeping of into the
night with the aid of some friendly
Indians.
HE married Miss Helen q. Lewis.
daughter Of one of the first pioneers
Of Oregon, in 1873. and in 1882 came
to Puyallup and took an active part
in the settlement of the Puyallup val
ley. The young bride was but 16
years of age, but she shouldered the
responsibility of wife and companion
with marked cheerfulness and aid
ed her husband in making q home.
Probably no other white couple
in the valley have as many friends
among the Indians as Mr.. and Mrs.
Simmons. In his boyhood Mr.. Sim
mons associated with the redmen
much of the time. and his friendli-
ness to them won him a permanent
place in their hearts. Mr.. and Mrs.
Simmons both speak the Indian lam
guage accurately, and the knowledge
served them handily in the early
days.
"Mr. Simmons is known as the
champion hop dryer of the Puyallup
valley. and for more than 26 years
he followed this occupation in one
hophouse in the valley. He dried
hops for Ezra Meeker when that pio-
neer first came to the valley. He saw
the rise and fall of the industry and
he can tell of many men who made
and lost thousands of dollars by spec
ulation in that product.
Family Reunion Sunday.
"A general family reunion was
held at the home Sunday, and guests
were invited from all parts of the
country. A big dinner was served,
after which the pioneers told stories
of the good old days of IA Those
invited were: Mr.. and Mrs. D. M.
Holmes of Worcester, Mass. G. W..
Simmons of San Francisco, Mr.. and
Mrs. M. T. Simmons of Ellensburg,
Mr.. and Mrs. George Milton Savage
of Seattle, Mr.. and Mrs. A. L. Clark
of Tacoma, Mr.. and Mrs. c. c. SIM
mons of Olympia, Mrs. John Combs
and daughters of Chehalis, Mr.. and
Mrs. John Bannon of Vader, Profess
sor and Mrs. r. E. Burnett of Dryad
and Mr.. and Mrs. c. M. Simmons of
Puyallup."
Mr.. and Mrs. G. c. Simmons live at
Mud Bay and Mr.. Simmons has the
distinction Of being the first white