Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1928-10-05
ETA McNAIR

day, September 10th, was one OF
the earliest pioneers of the Island.
Coming here with her husband i'll
the fall of 1854 and has lived here
continuously ever since, kind
hearted, public spirited woman,
she was always ready and willing
to do anything she could for the
betterment OF her beloved Island.
She was born in Milan, Missouri,
July II, 1855. Her maiden name
was Marietta Gerking. She mar
RED Thomas McNair in 1873 at
Lincoln, Nebraska Being a con-
tractor and builder he was natur-
ally attracted TO the West and the
oppoI tunities it offered, and in
1877 they came TO San Francisco
the only western locality connect
ed with the Fast by rail at that
time. From there they went to
Astoria, Oregon, on the old side
wheeler "Ancon. " Here they
boarded small steamer to The
Dalles, where they took marrow
gauge railroad to Walla Walla,
where they remained four years,
In 1889 they moved to Tacoma at
that time small mill town.
Mr.. McNair was first attracted
to Vashon Island by accompanying
friends ON hunting trips to the Is
land. One of these was John Has
kell, who owned the present sight
Of Dockton and Bob Carter, who
had hunting camp near Mazani-
la. After several trips to the Is
land the McNairs decided to To-
cate here permanently, They took
a homestead near the present
town of Burton, built a small
house of shakes and in the fall OF
1854 moved over.
There was very little employ-
ment for a contractor and builder
ON the Island at that time, as most
Of the dozen homes on the Island
were made Of either logs or shakes,
the McNairs decided that he
continue his employment in Taco
ma and she hold down the home
stead alone, This she did staying
alone in her little home in the
woods all week, looking forward
to Saturday night when her hus-
hand with other men from the Is
landwould row over from Tacoma
to spend a few hours with their
families and leturn to Taco
ma Sunday night by the same
means. The place now called New
polt was for many years known
as "McNair's Landing, as it was
the nearest place he could get to
his home and carry his supplies up
the hill over IA rough trail Mrs.
McNair was the only white wo-
man living ON the Island south OF
Judd's Creek for several months
after they took their homestead,
In spite of her isolated position
aud the lack OF roads or any
means of travelling, Mis-. McNair's
happy hospitable disposition soon
gathered around her circle oil
friends and her home became the
scene Of many Of the early social
affairs of the Island. She was al
ways Interested in church work
and was one of the most tireleSs
workers for the establishment of q
church on the Island. She was q
charter memer of the FIRST Meth
odist Church at Vashon, and hei
husband with other pioneers of th'
Island donated work in building
the log church, Mrs. McNair, wa,
for years an active member of the
Ladies Aid and other organiza
tions for the upbuilding of the Is
land. She Yves very fond of child
rem and her kind of sympatheti,
way of talking over their prob
lens, attracted many young PEG
pie to her home, and they always
found there the wise counsel ol
material help they needed, Many
of them learning TO come ia hei
with their childish joys and sor
rows, still came to share the sam
with her after they had grown NJ
aud cut in the world At the tim.
of her last illness, she took grea
pleasure in looking at the picture
of her 'boys and girls will
which her room was decorated.
In thosa early days, with no doc
tor ON the Island, sickness and ac
eidents were things TO be dreade,
md it was ON these occasions tina
Mis- McNair was a capable am,
willing ncighhor to all the Island
many times following the nafrOy