Thurston County WA

Thurston County WA, located in the western part of Washington State, is steeped in rich history and geographical diversity. Established on January 12, 1852, from portions of Lewis County, it was originally named after Samuel R. Thurston, the Oregon Territory‘s first delegate to Congress. The county seat is Olympia, which also serves as the state capital, highlighting the county’s central role in Washington’s political landscape. Thurston County is characterized by its varied topography, ranging from the southern reaches of Puget Sound to dense forests and the fertile Nisqually Valley. It has played a pivotal role in the state’s history, serving as a hub for trade, governance, and cultural exchange. The county’s formation and development were significantly influenced by its strategic location along the Puget Sound, facilitating maritime trade and settlement.

Biography of William Billings

WM. BILLINGS. – The name Billings at once suggests the picturesque hills and valleys of Vermont; and we find that the subject of this sketch is indeed a Green Mountain boy, having been born in Ripton in 1827. He lived upon his father’s place until 1846, and in that year went down to New Bedford and shipped before the mast. This step brought him to Washington Territory; for, in 1849, he was left at Honolulu, from whence, in the bark Mary, he came to California, the gold of the Yuba mines detaining him but a few months. Indeed, the best … Read more

Tumwater, Vancouver, Port Townsend, Washington

Tumwater, the initial point in the ‘history of the settlement of Puget Sound, was incorporated in Nov. 1869. In time it numbered more manufactories than any other town on the Sound. Vancouver and Early Settlers Vancouver was the fourth town in size in western Washington, having in 1880 about 3,000 inhabitants. It was made the county seat of Clarke County by the first legislative assembly of Washington, in March 1854, its pioneers, both English and American, long retaining their residences. Among the early settlers were James Turnbull, born in England, came to Washington in 1852, and with him William Turnbull, … Read more

Biography of A. B. Rabbeson

A.B. RABBESON. – Mr. Rabbeson, who observes that “he was born of rich but honest parents” at New York in 1824, was devoted from his youth to the most interesting and desperate adventures. Nevertheless, he was always delivered from his perils just at the right time, and lives to-day in hale age at Olympia. His boyish adventures began not many years after the death of his father in 1833. His step-father he did not like, and consequently left home. We find him out in Canada, soon at New York City with his grandparents and attending school, but within a few … Read more

Biography of Esdras N. Ouimette

Explore the remarkable life of Esdras N. Ouimette (1838-), from his roots in St. Eustache, Quebec, to becoming a cornerstone of Tacoma, Washington’s early business community. This biography highlights Ouimette’s journey westward, his transformative contributions to Tacoma’s development, including the construction of the city’s first three-story brick building, and his success in real estate. Ouimette’s story is a testament to the enduring impact one individual can have on a city’s economic and social fabric, inviting readers to uncover the details of his legacy and Tacoma’s ascent as the City of Destiny.

Biographical Sketch of Gustave Rosenthal

GUSTAVE ROSENTHAL. – This well-known merchant was born in Bavaria on the 4th of July, 1840. He continued to live in his native country until 1856. In that year he emigrated to America. The first three years of his stay he spent in Boston. Then, removing to the city of New York, he was engaged in mercantile business until 1861. In September of that year he came by the Panama route to California; and two years later he resumed his journeyings, coming to a final pause at Olympia, Washington Territory. There he soon embarked in the business of general merchandising … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hon. Melancthon Z. Goodell

HON. MELANCTHON Z. GOODELL. – The family of which this pioneer is a member has ever been prominent and influential in the Pacific Northwest since its arrival hither. Jothan W. Goodell, the father was a pioneer of Ohio; and it was at Vermilion that Melancthon was born in 1837. In 1850 the family crossed the plains, the eight children being deemed no serious hindrance. A stop-over was made at Salt Lake one winter; and it has been thought that they missed but little a great calamity from Mormon treachery. Reaching Portland in 1851, they made their first home in Polk … Read more

Biography of Theodore C. Van Epps

THEODORE C. VAN EPPS. – Mr. Van Epps, a portrait of whom is placed among the illustrations of this work, is one of the best known men in Washington’s capital city. He was born in New Scotland, eight miles west of Albany, New York, February 15, 1847, and is the son of Charles and Angelica (Vedder) Van Epps, both of whom were born in New York of Holland parentage, his mother being a cousin of ex-President Martin Van Buren. His great-grandfather was from Holland, and founded the town of Amsterdam in New York State. At the age of six Theodore … Read more

Seattle, New Tacoma and Olympia, Washington

Map of the Railroads of Eastern Washington

Seattle, the metropolis of Washington, in 1880 had 7,000 inhabitants, and property valued at something over four millions. Its manufactures comprised three ship-yards, three foundries, two breweries, one tannery, three boiler-shops, six sash and door factories, five machine-shops, six sawmills, three brick yards, three fish packing factories, one fish cannery, one barrel factory, one ice factory, one soda water factory, besides boot and shoe shops, tin shops, and other minor industries. The commerce of Seattle with the coastline of settlements was considerable; but the chief export is coal from the mines cast of Lake Washington. There were few public buildings … Read more

Biography of Conrad G. Saylor

CONRAD G. SAYLOR – Among the pioneers to the Pacific Northwest, and especially to the “classic shades” of Yamhill county, Oregon, none enjoyed a greater measure of esteem than the gentleman whose name is the title to this memoir. He was born in Martinsville, Indiana, October 6, 1818, and in that state resided until he was twenty-two years of age, when he came west to Iowa. In the latter state he learned the brickmaking and brick-laying trades, which he followed in various sections, first as employe’, then as contractor and builder. Among the numerous buildings which were constructed under his … Read more

Jorgensen, S. Cleone Mrs. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon S. Cleone Jorgensen, formerly of Enterprise, died May 1, 1983 at Olympia, Washington. She was buried at Bellevue, Washington. She is survived by one son, Lee Jorgenson, of Brush Praire, Washington; one sister, E.V. Ulrich, of Bellevue, Washington; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Source: Wallowa County Chieftain, Enterprise, Oregon, May, 1983 Contributed by: Sue Wells Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor

Biography of A. H. Chambers

A.H. CHAMBERS. – This wealthy and influential resident of Olympia is a native of Washington Territory, and a son of one of the earliest pioneers, his parents having crossed the plains to Oregon in 1844. Andsworth was born near Olympia, at Chambers Prairie, June 25, 1851. He began his career at the early age of twelve as a herder of stock, and continued in this business until nineteen years of age, acquiring thereby a knowledge of life and of practical affairs which has been of great value. At the above age, in partnership with his father, he successfully established a … Read more

Biography of Joseph Brannan

JOSEPH BRANNAN. – Mr. Brannan was born in Union county, Ohio, near Marysville, September 13,1825, is the ninth child of a family of twelve children, and the son of Joseph and Jane Huls Brannan. On his nineteenth birthday he left his father’s farm and came west to Winnebago county, Illinois, where he resided for six years and followed farming, when he went to Iowa, but soon returned to Illinois. On April 1, 1854, he started for Washington Territory, with Seattle as the objective point, to join his brother William H., who was killed by Indians in the fall of 1855 … Read more

Biography of Hon. Charles H. Mason

HON. CHARLES H. MASON. – Mr. Mason was born at Fort Washington, on the Potomac river, Maryland, in 1830. At the age of seven, with his widowed mother, he removed to Providence, Rhode Island. He graduated in 1850 with distinguished honors at Brown University, and was admitted to the bar of Rhode Island in 1851. On the election of President Pierce, he was recommended by the Rhode Island bar for the office of United States district attorney for that state. On the declination of the secretaryship of Washington Territory by Major Farquaharson, in September, 1853, Mr. Mason received the appointment … Read more

Thurston 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 Thurston County, Washington Tombstone Transcription Project) Calvary Cemetery, Tumwater P art 1 A-K P art 2 L-Z Calvary Cemetery, Tumwater Cogdil Cemetery , Bucoda Delphi (Stoney Creek) Cemetery Deschutes Cemetery , Deschutes Falls Forest Grove Cemetery, Tenino P art 1 A-L P art 2 M-Z Forest Memorial (Mt. Tabor) Cemetery , Olympia Grand Mound Cemetery , Rochester Johns Indian Cemetery , Elizan Beach Laramie Cemetery , Vail Linklater Cemetery Masonic … Read more

Sisk, Audrey Leville Swan – Obituary

Mrs. Audrey L. Sisk, daughter of a pioneer valley resident died last night at the Valley General Hospital after being hospitalized 13 days. She was born April 1, 1882 in Olympia and came here in 1898 with her father Thomas Swan who crossed Snoqualmie Pass by horse-drawn wagon. The family homesteaded the ranch in the Reecer Creek area which is now the Dunbar-Marriott ranch. She was married to Charles T. Sisk, July 17, 1901, and they moved to the Wenas District where they ranched until 1922 when they returned to the Kittitas Valley. Sisk preceded his wife in death, Feb. … Read more

McCully, Frank M. – Obituary

Death calls F. M. M’Cully, Passes away after a sinking spell yesterday morning Funeral Thursday Frank M. McCully, Deputy State Superintendent of Public Instruction, died at 5:30 o’clock yesterday morning…underwent an operation for removal of gall stones about ten days ago. The operation was successful but his condition was so enfeebled by the progress of the disease attended by kidney trouble of a similar nature that he failed to rally and rapidly became worse. Saturday and Sunday death was fought off by the injection of saline solution but on Monday he rallied perceptibly and strong hope of his ultimate recovery … Read more

Ormsby, George William – Obituary

Services for George W. Ormsby, 85, formerly of Nampa, who died Tuesday, June 10 [1986], in Olympia, Wash., will be held Friday at 1 p.m. at the Fissel Chapel of the Brown Mortuary Service, Chehalis, Wash. Burial will follow at the Claquato Cemetery, Chehalis. Mr. Ormsby was born Sept. 30, 1900, at Sams Springs, Iowa. He married Edith Roberts Oct. 8, 1924, in Mountain Home. They moved to Nampa, where he worked for the Pacific Fruit Express, retiring after 20 years service in 1945. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Railroad Engineers in Idaho. He then operated a … 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

Biography of Charles Biles

Charles Biles was born in Warren County, Tennessee, in Aug. 1809, and reared on a farm in North Carolina, removing when 19 years old to Christian County, Kentucky. In 1832 he married, and in 1835 removed to Illinois, soon returning to Hopkins County, Kentucky, where he resided until 1853, when he emigrated to Washington Territory in company with his brother James, their families, and C. B. Baker, Elijah Baker, and William Downing, and their families, being a part of the first direct immigration to the territory, via the wagon road through the Nachess pass. Mr Biles settled upon Grand Mound … Read more

Goldberg, Charles – Obituary

Charles Goldberg, proprietor of Charley’s Hamburger, a restaurant on East Fourth Avenue, died in an Olympia hospital Thursday evening [June 19, 1947]. Mr. Goldberg had resided in Olympia for fifteen years and had been in the restaurant business for many years. He was a member of the Eagles Lodge here. He is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Opal Williams, of Tonasket, and by two sons in Eastern Washington. Time of funeral service will be announced by Mills and Mills. The Olympian, Jun 20, 1947 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman