TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State
TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State
TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Told<br />
<strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pioneers<br />
aud <strong>the</strong>y were all quilted <strong>by</strong> hand, fau shaped. I never wove any<br />
cloth. In Germany men did <strong>the</strong> weaving' and sewing. Some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
neighbors did weaving, cloth called woolsey (linsey woolsey) woven<br />
into checks, red and grey or green grey and white with colors. 'Ve<br />
dyed our own yarn. Wool from some sheep seemed better than from<br />
o<strong>the</strong>rs. vVe bought calico prints and wool alpaca. Mo<strong>the</strong>r always<br />
said, "Every woman should have a black silk dress aud every man a<br />
high silk hat." Our fireplace was part logs, <strong>the</strong> kitchen being <strong>of</strong> lumber.<br />
The rest <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> house was <strong>of</strong> logs. A long bar ran <strong>the</strong> length<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fireplace, on which we hung kettles over <strong>the</strong> fire. It was arranged<br />
so <strong>the</strong> kettles could be slid along to obtain <strong>the</strong> desired temperature.<br />
For light, we used fish oil lamps, candle wicking in <strong>the</strong><br />
tubes, with a slot in <strong>the</strong> side to push <strong>the</strong> wick up as it burned down.<br />
It would hold about one-half cup <strong>of</strong> oil. \Ve filled <strong>the</strong> candle moulds<br />
with melted tallow, filled all moulds to <strong>the</strong> top, and hung <strong>the</strong>m away<br />
to cool until needed.<br />
JAMES G. HARRIS<br />
Skamania Countv •<br />
I left England in 1883. There I was able to earn but 10 pounds,<br />
about $50.00 in American money, per year. I recall that I set sail on<br />
<strong>the</strong> Queen's birthday (Victoria), for <strong>the</strong> cannon were booming at<br />
Liverpool.<br />
I took out my first naturalization papers in Vancouver after I came<br />
to \Vashington. I could have received my papers in but two years,<br />
but instead I took <strong>the</strong> usual five.<br />
The court house used to be at <strong>the</strong> Lower Cascades (now Bonneville).<br />
There was a nice little building, just a small plain building, but good<br />
for that day, where <strong>the</strong>y kept <strong>the</strong> books. Someone stole <strong>the</strong> books one<br />
night and fetched <strong>the</strong>m to Stevenson and ever since <strong>the</strong>n Stevenson<br />
has been <strong>the</strong> couuty seat. Those first books are now lost, ei<strong>the</strong>r burned<br />
or stolen. I believe that old court house is still standing at <strong>the</strong> Lower<br />
Cascades.<br />
}lost <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> early houses were <strong>of</strong> logs.<br />
used for early furniture.<br />
•<br />
Boxes and benches were<br />
Transportation was <strong>by</strong> steamboat plenty <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m, for <strong>the</strong> railroad<br />
didn't come through on this side until 1905 when <strong>the</strong> Spokane, Portland<br />
& Seattle put through a line. At first <strong>the</strong> boats came in once a<br />
72