Told by the Pioneers - Washington Secretary of State
Told by the Pioneers - Washington Secretary of State
Told by the Pioneers - Washington Secretary of State
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<strong>Told</strong> <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Pioneers</strong><br />
Their next move was to <strong>the</strong> Puyallup valley where <strong>the</strong> land was<br />
more fertile. Here <strong>the</strong>y rented where <strong>the</strong> Fleischmann Yeast plant<br />
is llO"W located in Sumner.<br />
Mo<strong>the</strong>r died in 1884 at <strong>the</strong> ag-e <strong>of</strong> 62 and fa<strong>the</strong>r died in 1908 at <strong>the</strong><br />
age <strong>of</strong> 96 years. He was <strong>the</strong> first white Justice <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Peace in Pierce<br />
County.<br />
•<br />
Fa<strong>the</strong>r liked to tell <strong>the</strong> story <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> marriage <strong>of</strong> Ruth Kincaid and<br />
J. \V. McCarty. They had asked fa<strong>the</strong>r to perform <strong>the</strong> ceremony, so<br />
he rode eig-hteen miles on horseback to <strong>the</strong> Kincaid home. Kincaids<br />
lived east <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Puyallup river, which at that time was part <strong>of</strong> King<br />
County. Fa<strong>the</strong>r realized his authority to perform marriages was restricted<br />
to Pierce County, so he called <strong>the</strong> bride and g-room aside and<br />
told <strong>the</strong>m so. It was 25 miles to Seattle where ano<strong>the</strong>r justice <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
peace, or minister, could be found. 'rhe bride said, "I have it. We<br />
will take <strong>the</strong> boat and row across to Mr. Moore's where vou can mar-<br />
•<br />
ry us, <strong>the</strong>n we will come back here for <strong>the</strong> wedding- supper." So <strong>the</strong><br />
three <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m rowed across in <strong>the</strong> boat, and <strong>the</strong> wedding- was solemnized.<br />
Mo<strong>the</strong>r used to delight in telling- this story. After she and fa<strong>the</strong>r<br />
were married, <strong>the</strong>y had fa<strong>the</strong>r's five children, her three, and five<br />
from <strong>the</strong> second marriag-e. Once when fa<strong>the</strong>r came home, he heard<br />
quite a commotion in <strong>the</strong> back yard. He asked <strong>the</strong> cause <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> noise.<br />
Mo<strong>the</strong>r looked out and smiling-Iy replied, "It is your children and my<br />
children teasing our children."<br />
MRS. EMMA TVARNECKE<br />
Benton Countv •<br />
I first came to this territory in September, 1883, with my sister,<br />
Mrs. G. W. 'Wilgus, and her husband. There was just one white woman,<br />
Mrs. Prosser, when we came. I rode horseback into <strong>the</strong> valley,<br />
my sister and I taking turns driving <strong>the</strong> two cows which followed our<br />
prairie schooner.<br />
There were so many people crossing at \Vallula that we had a long<br />
wait. Our destination was Yakima City, as that was where we expected<br />
to get information regarding government land.<br />
Col. Prosser had just finished a house on his homestead. His family<br />
had been here only three days when we arrived. One mile west <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Prosser home, .Jim Kinney had a homestead and was building a<br />
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