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.

Biography of Hon. Amos F. Tullis

HON. AMOS F. TULLIS. – Amos F. Tullis was born January 6, 1830, at Carthage, Rush county, Indiana. Both of his parents were natives of Ohio, and, having migrated to Indiana, followed farming. At the age of five years his mother died; and five years later his father followed her to the great silent majority, leaving a family of four sons and two daughters, of whom Amos was the fourth child. He lived on the farm of his parents until 1846, when he accompanied an older sister with her husband to Iowa. He resided at Mount Pleasant, Burlington and Ottumwa … 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

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, 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

Champ, Wallace Arnold – Obituary

Wallace Arnold Champ died Monday, Feb. 6, in St. Helen Hospital at the age of 82. A lifetime resident of Winlock, Champ was born there on March 17, 1901. He was preceded in death by his wife, Della, on Jan. 9 [same year]. Survivors include a son, Arnold Champ of Minneapolis, Minn.; a daughter Doris Ojala of Winlock; a sister, Erma Holten of Longview; six grandchildren; three great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. By request off Champ, no funeral will be held. Remembrances may be donations to the Winlock Ambulance Fund. Arrangements are under the direction of Cattermole Funeral … Read more

Champ, Melissa C. McEwen – Obituary

Mrs. Wm. Champ died at her home [November 16, 1888] near Winlock Saturday morning last after a short illness. Mrs. Champ was one of the pioneers of Lewis County, coming here before the day of railroads and palace cars, or even steamboats, and has seen the development of the county from its infancy. Many a weary and discouraged immigrant has found shelter and encouragement under her hospitable roof, and many a one will cherish her memory kindly for good deeds nobly done. She leaves a large family of grandchildren and a husband to mourn her loss, who are given the … Read more

Layton, Elias Pilgrim – Obituary

Lewis County lost another of its native pioneer residents Saturday [April 12] in the death of Elias P. Layton, 79, in a Chehalis hospital. He was born May 16, 1872 at Layton Prairie and had lived there all his life. He was a farmer and during his active years had a prominent part in affairs of the community. He is survived by his wife, Maggie; one son, Ernest; three daughters, Mrs. Stella Smith, Mrs. Elva Armstrong, and Mrs. Edith Kirkendoll; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, all of Toledo. Funeral services will be held at 2 o’clock Monday afternoon at the … Read more

Smith, Harry – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Harry Smith, 81, a 50-year resident of Morton, Wash., and a former Baker City resident, died Feb. 7, 2003, at the Centralia Providence Hospital. There was a private family service. Arrangements were under the direction of Brown Mortuary at Morton. Harry was born on March 1, 1921, at Portland to Harry and Ruth Spencer Smith. He was raised at Baker City and joined the U.S. Army in September 1940. Harry saw action in the battles of Rhineland, Ardennes, Central Europe and the Aleutian Islands. He was captured and spent eight months in a prisoner of war camp … 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

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

Champ, Charles Darwin – Obituary

Charles Champ, 36, known among Harbor loggers as “Big Charlie,” dropped dead at the door of the cookhouse of Camp 10, Humptulips Logging Company, immediately after the evening meal at the camp yesterday. Death was ascribed to heart trouble. Champ had engaged in woods work in the Harbor country for the last 10 years, coming here then from Winlock. His mother and brothers and sisters reside in Winlock. A nephew lives in Hoquiam, and an uncle, Willis, resides in Aberdeen. The body is at the local Whiteside parlors pending completion of funeral arrangements. [Interment Winlock Cemetery, Lewis Co.] Aberdeen Daily … Read more

Biography of Hon. Clanrick Crosby

HON. CLANRICK CROSBY. – This gentleman, of whom an excellent portrait appears in our work, was born in East Brewster, Massachusetts, January 6 1838. He is a son of Captain Clanrick and Phoebe H. (Fessenden) Crosby. In 1849 he came with his parents via Cape Horn on board the brig Grecian, of which his father was captain and part owner. The father was a sea-faring man until his arrival in San Francisco in the above year. After a short stay there, he brought his vessel to Portland, and there selling her quit the sea. The family remained in Portland, Oregon, … Read more

A History of Winlock, Washington

This history of Winlock was written in 1951, at the request of the Winlock Community Development Association. The Community Development came into existence as a result of a 21-week study of our community, under the direction of the Bureau of Community Development of the University of Washington, with Professor Dick Poston as our weekly leader and consultant. This history was made into book form by commercial classes of the Winlock High School under the direction of Mrs. Sylvia Haapala.

Anderson, Lora Myrtle Eells – Obituary

Lora (Polly), 77, Chehalis, passed away August 1 [1958] in a local hospital. She was born in Toledo on January 28, 1881, and had been a resident of Lewis County for her entire lifetime. Surviving is a grandson, Gordon Anderson, in California; a nephew, Wallace Champ, Winlock. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the Boone Chapel with Rev. Fred T. Lucas officiating. Interment in Winlock Cemetery. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

McEwen, Lena – Obituary

A longtime resident of Centralia, Mrs. Lena M. McEwen, 82, died Wednesday at a Centralia hospital. She was born March 28, 1884 at Lawrence, Kan. Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Alta Rasmussen, Battle Ground and Mrs. Laura Timberman, Vancouver; four sons, Dan, Centralia, Wilbur and Melvin, both of Kelso and Elmer, Oakland, Calif.; a sister, Mrs. Myrtle Mooney, Portland; 11 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. Funeral services are Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Fissell-Brown Mortuary Chapel, Chehalis, with the Rev. James F. Scott officiating. Interment will follow at the Toledo Cemetery [Fir Lawn Cemetery]. Pallbearers will be Leslie Palmer, … Read more

Lyon, Lottie Anna McEwen – Obituary

Mrs. Lottie Lyon, 60, died at her home here early Monday morning [March 19]. She was born at Manhattan, Kans., November 10, 1873 and came to Washington in 1888, locating near Toledo with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. [Archibald] McEwen. She was married July 5, 1890 to John [Charles] Lyon whose death occurred a few years ago. Mrs. Lyon was a member of the Royal Neighbors and the Renewal Society. Surviving relatives are three daughters, Mrs. Esther Pierce and Miss Winnie Lyon, San Francisco and Mrs. Hattie Pierce, Vacaville, Calif.; six sons, Harry, Wendell, Ed, Fred, and John Lyon, Toledo … Read more

Roberts, Hubert Eberton – Obituary

Former Lewis County Boy Died In France. News comes from France that Gen. Pershing reports the death of Hubert E. Roberts of Warren, Ore., from meningitis [January 26, 1918]. Mr. Roberts was raised in Lewis County and has a large circle of friends here. His sister, Mrs. Gust Anderson, lives in Klaber. He was 28 years old, married and had no children. He was called on the first draft at St. Helens, Ore., and sent to Camp Lewis. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Biography of Frederick Proebstel

FREDERICK PROEBSTEL. – This pioneer of the Wallowa valley was born in Germany in 1829, and with his parents emigrated to America in 1842 and located in Missouri. In 1852 he made the crossing of the plains to Lewis County, Washington Territory, locating on Fourth Plain. Mr. Proebstel, belonging to the family of this name, a number of whose biographies are found in this volume, shared many experiences in common with others, and was one of the Indian fighters of 1855-56, and wishes to bear special testimony to the liberality of the Hudson’s Bay Company during the hard winter of … Read more

Morrow, Herman Grinsel – Obituary

H. G. Morrow, one of the best known and most highly esteemed pioneers of the county, died suddenly near his home in Cowlitz Prairie about nine o’clock Wednesday forenoon [June 7, 1905]. Mr. Morrow had been sick for some time but had gotten better and was able to be about. Yesterday forenoon Mrs. Morrow and the other members of the family started to Toledo to attend the state Grange which is in session there. They had not been gone long when Mr. Morrow entered Henriott Brothers’ store on the Cowlitz and handed his watch and a walking stick to John … Read more

Kryger, Nevada L. Morrow – Obituary

Requiem mass for Mrs. Nevada L. Kryger, 73, resident of the Sellwood community for 60 years, will be held at 9 a.m. Friday in St. Agatha Catholic Church. Interment will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery. Rosary will be said today at 8 p.m. in McGinnis & Wilhelm Chapel. She was a native of Lewis County, Washington. Survivors are her husband, Cornelius J. Kryger, whom she married 46 years ago; daughter, Mrs. Alice Katherine Jones; a grandson, and sisters, Mrs. Irene Nolton and Mrs. Nellie Miller, all of Portland. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman