Lewis County WA

Lewis County WA, located in the southwestern part of Washington State, is distinguished by its rich tapestry of landscapes ranging from the western lowlands’ fertile agricultural plains to the eastern rugged terrains of the Cascade Mountain Range. Established on December 19, 1845, it is one of the original counties of Washington Territory, formed from the northern part of the Columbia District by the Oregon Provisional Government. Its creation predates the establishment of Washington Territory itself, showcasing its historical significance. Named in honor of Meriwether Lewis, of the famed Lewis and Clark Expedition, the county’s historical roots are deeply intertwined with the early exploration and settlement of the Pacific Northwest. Throughout its history, Lewis County has evolved from a fur trading and logging hub to a diverse economy that includes agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism, reflecting the broader economic transitions of the region. The county seat, Chehalis, situated in the heart of Lewis County, serves as the administrative and cultural center, further emphasizing the county’s role as a pivotal area in Washington’s development.

Champ, William J. – Obituary

Willie J. Champ, last Thursday [August 21, 1902], of typhoid pneumonia. Father died several years ago. Willie, born 25 Sept 1881, in Winlock and soon afterwards parents moved two miles east of Winlock where family has since lived. He worked and managed farm till two years ago when Mrs. Champ married W. A. Large. Since then Willie has been attending school in Olympia, leaves mother, stepfather, two brothers and a stepsister. Funeral at home Saturday, Rev. Ludwick of Castle Rock conducted. Burial in Winlock Masonic Cemetery. The Winlock Pilot, August 29, 1902 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Layton, Marie Belle – Obituary

Marie Belle Layton, 101, Toledo, died Friday, March 23, 2007. Visitation will be from 1 to 7 p. m. Friday at Fir Lawn Funeral Chapel, Toledo, which is in charge of arrangements. Funeral will be held at 11 a. m. Saturday at Fir Lawn Funeral Chapel. [Wife of Oren Layton. Interment Lone Hill Cemetery] The Chronicle, March 26, 2007 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Champ, Cora A. Eells – Obituary

Mrs. Cora A. Champ, aged 78 years, and a resident of the Winlock community for the past sixty-four years, passed away at her home in Winlock Tuesday morning, October 13, following an illness of two weeks. She was born March 3, 1864, in Spring Valley, Minnesota, and came to WA Territory with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Darwin Eels, in 1879, settling near Toledo. She was married May 1, 1881 to John H. Champ whose parents came by covered wagon from Indiana in 1861. Mr. Champ died in 1915. They were the parents of ten children, only three of whom … Read more

Biography of Hon. John Catlin

HON. JOHN CATLIN. – Mr. Catlin is of New England and Scotch stock. His father, Seth Catlin, was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and from there emigrated with his father and an only sister to the State of Illinois, about the year 1812. His mother came with her parents from Scotland to America when but twelve years of age; and her father, James Ridpath, settled with his family in Randolph county, Illinois, in 1818. His parents were married in the year 1831, and located on a farm at Turkey Hill, St. Clair county, Illinois, where their first child, John Catlin, the … Read more

Lewis County, Washington Cemetery Records

Most of these are complete indices at the time of transcription, however, in some cases we list the listing when it is only a partial listing. Following Cemeteries (hosted At Lewis County, Washington Tombstone Transcription Project) Boistfort (Harris) Cemetery Butterworth’s Cemetery Doss Cemetery Dryad-Doty (Sylvan) Cemetery Dunn (Harmony) Cemetery Ethel Greenwood (Clements, LaDue, Olson) Cemetery Fern Hill (Chehalis, Phillips, Urquhart) Cemetery Finn Hill (Independence Valley, Finnish) Cemetery Greenwood Masonic Cemetery Klickitat Cemetery Lone Hill (Layton Prairie) Cemetery Napavine Cemetery Newaukum Hill Cemetery Owery (Wilson Pioneer) Cemetery Rainy Valley Cemetery Riffe Cemetery Roberts (Howe, Cowlitz Prairie) Cemetery St. Francis Xavier Mission … Read more

Champ, John Hagar – Obituary

John Champ, aged 53 years, died at Winlock, Monday morning [December 6] following an illness of several months. Mr. Champ was a well-known early resident of Winlock and served the town as marshal on various occasions. He had lived at Winlock about 35 years. He is survived by a wife and six children, four daughters and two sons. [My research shows six daughters and four sons survived him] Chehalis Bee Nugget, December 10, 1915 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Burnside, Gilbert Balaam Obituary

Gilbert Balaam Burnside, 87, died Thursday,Jan. 2, 2003, at Centralia Providence Hospital, Centralia, Wash. Mr Burnside was born Aug. 11, 1916, in Haines, to James A. and Aplharette Shanklin Burnside. James had accompanied his parents John and Ann Elizabeth Naylor Burnside to Baker Valley over the Oregon Trail. His survivors are son, Donald and wife, Audrey of Chehallis, son Jack and wife, Georgia of Tacoma, and sister Myrtle Burnside Music Johnson of Tacoma; numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. A great grandson Allen Phillips of Baker City and many cousins in Baker Valley. No services were held by his … Read more

Penner, Audrey Dorene Viles – Obituary

Audrey Dorene Penner, a resident of Lewis County for 70 years, died Thursday [August 24] in a Bellevue Hospital. She was 79. She was born Oct. 25, 1898, in Grove, Okla., and was raised in the Adna area. Survivors include her husband, Gerhardt at home in Bellevue; a son Clark C, Walnut Creek, Calif.; a daughter, Mrs. H. C. (Carmen) Hardebeck, Bellevue; a brother, George W. Viles, Centralia; six grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Monday at 1:30 p.m. at Sticklin Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Dennis Weaver officiating. Interment will follow at Claquato Cemetery, Chehalis. … Read more

Layton, Amanda Elizabeth McDannald – Obituary

Death came to Mrs. Amanda McDannald Layton, 76, Tuesday evening [June 29, 1943] at the house of her daughter, Mrs. Amanda Prince, on Ford’s Prairie. Also surviving are a son Roy R. Layton, Ryderwood; seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Born October 9, 1866 at Rollo, Sullivan County, Missouri, Mrs. Layton crossed the plains the following year with her parents, Daniel W. and Margaret [Wheeler] McDannald who took up a homestead at Napavine. She was married May 4, 1881 to Henry C. Layton who passed away in 1921. Since then she had made her home with Mrs. Prince. Funeral services … Read more

Champ, James William – Obituary

James William Champ, a resident of Centralia, died Friday, Sept. 17, in Centralia General Hospital at the age of 103. Champ was born Jan. 5, 1897, on Lacamas Prairie in Winlock.. He was a retired farmer and logger. He is survived by a sister, Violet Lampitt of Palo Alto, Calif., and several nieces and nephews. A graveside service was held Monday at the Winlock Cemetery with the Rev. August Banaksy officiating. Fir Lawn Funeral Chapel of Toledo was in charge of arrangements. Daily Chronicle Centralia, September 20, 1982 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Ormsby, Edith Pearl Roberts – Obituary

A resident of Kent for the past four years, Edith Pearl Ormsby, died at the Franciscan Health Care Center, Enumclaw, on Thursday, August 11 [1994]. She was 90. Born July 28, 1904 at Pine, Idaho, to Llewellyn and Cordelia (Warner) Roberts, she was reared and attended schools there. She also met her husband, George William Ormsby there and married him October 8, 1924 at Mountain Home, Idaho. They lived in Nampa, Idaho, where they had a dairy ranch. They moved to Winlock the to Chehalis, where they lived for 10 years before moving to Kent. Her husband died June 10, … Read more

Roach, Naoma Huss – Obituary

Mrs. Naoma Roach, 80, Chehalis, died Saturday at her home on 1763 Cascade Ave. She was born November 3, 1880 in Mt. Vernon, Oregon. Mrs. Roach had been a resident of Chehalis for the past 24 years and a former resident of Onalaska. She was a member of the non-denominational church. Survivors include three daughters, Mrs. Blanche Strey and Mrs. Anne Wassco, Randle, and Mrs. Catherine Roundtree, Everson, Wash.; three sons, Fred, Elk City, Idaho; Charles, Kimberly, Ore.; and Harvey Roach, Eugene, Ore.; three brothers, Ray Huss, Parker; Bird Huss, Ellensburg, and Oscar Huss of Winthrop, 15 grandchildren and 31 … Read more

Duby, William – Obituary

Baker, Oregon William Duby, former chairman of the Oregon State Highway commission died at his home in Baker last Tuesday night and funeral services were held at the Christian Church, Baker, Friday afternoon, under the auspices of the Masonic Lodge. Mr. Duby was born in East St. Louis, Illinois. In August 1861, said the Baker Democrat Herald. He went to Nebraska with his mother in 1865 and lived in the eastern part of that state until he was 22 years old. Mr. Duby was married to Mary E. Bissell in Wahoo, Saunders County, Nebraska, October 5, 1895. The young couple … Read more

Champ, Robert Allen – Obituary

Funeral services were held at Winlock, Sunday for Robert A. Champ, 75, who was found dead in his home there Wednesday [April 3, 1939]. The services were held at the Cattermole Funeral Home with interment in the Winlock Cemetery beside the grave of his wife who died many years ago. Survivors are three sons, Earl of Hoquiam; and Harrison and Henry in California, and one brother, William of Aberdeen. Mr. champ had been engaged in logging activities in Winlock for many years. He was born at Shelton, going to Winlock when only two years of age. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Layton, Henry Clay – Obituary

Another of the old pioneers of Lewis County passed away Wednesday afternoon, August 3, when Henry C. Layton died suddenly, at his home in the Hanaford Valley. Mr. Layton became violently ill while picking blackberries near a slashing burning, from the heat, and died a few hours after being taken sick. He was 64 years of age and was born in Toledo, this county, May 26, 1857. He is survived by his widow, Amanda Layton; two daughters, Mrs. Amanda Prince of Hanaford Valley and Mrs. Clara Hovies of Onalaska; one son, Roy Layton; his mother, Mrs. Sirilda Layton of Toledo; … Read more

Penner, Gerhardt Adolph – Obituary

A resident of Lewis County from 1923 to 1977, Gerhardt Adolph Penner, 88, died in a Kirkland nursing home, Tuesday, January 2. He was born March 26, 1890 in Port Orchard and has been a resident of Bellevue since 1977. Mr. Penner worked as a salesman for Darigold and as a custodian for the Centralia and Chehalis Schools. He was a member of the First Christian Church of Chehalis and was preceded in death by his wife, Audrey Dorene in August, 1978. Survivors include a son, Clark C., Walnut Creek, Calif.; a daughter, Mrs. H. C. (Carman) Hardebeck, Bellevue; a … Read more

Bieber, Olive D. Grunig Mrs. – Obituary

Medical Springs, Baker County, Oregon Olive D. Bieber, 82, of Port Angeles, Wash., a former resident of the Medical Springs-Pondosa area, died Sept. 7, 2005, at the Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle, Wash. Funeral arrangements will be announced later. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Mrs. Bieber was born on Sept. 7, 1923, at Montpelier, Idaho, to William and Daisy Grunig. She attended Union High School. She was a farmer’s wife and worked as a school bus driver, a bookkeeper for Tide Water Oil at Mossyrock, Wash., and retired after working for 25 years as a clerk at Johnson … Read more

History of Centralia, Washington

“Centralia: The First Fifty Years, 1845-1900,” authored by Herndon Smith and published by the Daily Chronicle in 1949, is an accounting of Centralia, Washington history during its formative years. This work captures the essence of the community’s early development, providing a narrative enriched by diverse anecdotes and some pictorial representations.

Morrow, Catherine Champ – Obituary

Graveside services were to be held at the Cowlitz Mission Cemetery this afternoon for Mrs. Catherine Morrow, 85 whose death, occurred in Portland, Wednesday [July 18, 1934]. Mass was said in St. Agatha’s Church in that city this morning. The Morrow family settled on Cowlitz Prairie in the early days. After her husband’s death, Mrs. Morrow moved to Portland, where she has resided many years. She is survived by the following children: Mrs. Belle Frazier, L. P. Morrow, Mrs. C. J. Kryger, Mrs. Nellie Miller and Mrs. Irene Moore, Portland; Harry Morrow, Oregon City, and M. J. Morrow, Sacramento. A … Read more

Anderson, August – Obituary

Gus Anderson, 65, one of southwest Washington’s best known hop growers, died at his home at Klaber Saturday evening [January 4, 1936]. Mr. Anderson was born in Hallsberg, Sweden, November 4, 1870. He came to the United States in 1893 as a young man and had resided in this section 26 years. For many years he was superintendent of the hop yard of the Herman Klaber Company at Klaber, rated the largest in Washington, and was a real expert in the growing and handling of that crop. Previously he worked at the hop game at Chehalis for Carl Motter 5 … Read more