Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1928-03-02
ISLAND PIONEER OF 1880 DIES

;.s.ei i'll Everett. Although it has
been many yeaIs since he left the
island this announcement brings a
Hood of memories to the minds OF
his many friends of those early
days OF the island, for the name OF
Charles O keefe was connected
with all the activities OH the island
! | 44G years ago. No matter what the
event, "a wedding, political meet
ing, funeral, or school or road
meeting, Mr.. O'keefe was always
lon hand to help.
He was born in Vermont in 1913.
Educated in the public schools and
after finishing school taught in
Illinois and Nebraska, In 1871 he
married Miss Sarah j Craig a
descendant Of the famous beau
champ family Of Kentucky and al
so closely related to John Quincy
/ Adams, sixth president of the U. 5.
They remained in Nebraska for a
time where he was i'll the employ
OF the Union Pacific railroad.
In 1880 he joined the tide of
Western immigration, coming to
San Francisco and then north to
Puget Sound ON the little side
wheeler, Idaho. With him was
his wife and two small daughters.
They landed at Tacoma, then "a
small sawmill town and the next
day crossed the waters Of Puget
Sound On the only boat then nun
ming between the mainland and the
island it consisted OF small sail OF
rowboat owned by Capt. solomon
Sherman. 1t was named "Old
Black Joe" and was the craft that
brought most Of the earliest set
tlers to the island.
Mr.. O'Keefe S father had pre-
ceeded him year or so earlier and
had located on a fine tract of land
! just West OF where the cemetery
now is. Charles later homestead
Cd this ranch and it was the family
home for many years.
Both Mr.. O'Keefe and his wife
at once identified themselves with
all that was progressive i'll the pio-
neer life around them and were
largely instrumental in laying the
foundation for the fine schools we
now are so proud OF here on the
island. Both he aud his wife
taught i'll the little one room log
and "shake" school houses on the
island and Mr.. O'Keefe helped
build the most OF them.
He was greatly interested in
bringing new settlers to the island
and gave much of his time to help
ing them find good locations.
OF the land he and his family
worked so hard to acquire he gave
away freely for the public good,
He donated large part Of the
land now occupied by the island
cemetery and did much toward
getting the tract cleared and iii
readiness. He gave also large
tract Of land to belp bring the
Chautauqua Assembly to Ellisport
in the early SOS and later donat-
ed 40 acres to help locate Vashon
College at the town of Burton. He
also spent much time writing ar
ticleS to the Seattle and Tacoma
papers telling of the advantages
Ito be found on the island for home.
seekers.
In 1887 the Puget Sound Maga-
zine then published by the North
crn Pacific railroad to attract set
Tiers to this region. sent repre-
sentative TO the island to get infor-
nation for a series of articles. Mr..
| O'Keele spent muh time with this
man taking him to interesting plac-
es and helping him collect material
for several fine write.ups that at
tracted many peuplc to come here
to make their home.
I All during the many years he
lived on the island he kept re-
cord Of daily happenings. Today
these make interesting reading.
But the NEST wonderful thing one
notices in looking over the record
of events of nearly fifty years ago,
is that his remarks are always
| kindly, never slur or criticism
OF any of his friends or neighbors
They were all perfect to him, or
else he smooths things over with
his kindly Irish wit
/ Although not able to visit the is.
I land for several years past he was
\ up until his last sickness interested
in hearing OF the improvements
and changes on the island and well
Z 4 l. 1