Meier & Matson Family History

Meier & Matson 

Family History

Meier Family History 

Meier & Matson 

Family History 

Second Edition 2007 

by Amy Berga 

This is a work in progress. I am always looking for more information. Please make any corrections to my errors and 

omissions. Facts have been collected from many different sources and can be wrong, so please check them carefully. I 

am interested in any stories or photos you may have on any of the listed family members. My goal is to compile a 

complete family picture of these individuals, not just names and dates. 

Thank you everyone who contributed to our family history. 

For a current copy or to submit corrections and additions contact: 

Amy Berga 

4821 E. 102nd street 

Anchorage, Alaska 99507 

(907) 346-2955 

amy@bergafamily.com 

www.bergafamily.com 

1

Table of Contents 

Ancestor Tree of Leo Henry Meier ................................................................................................................3 

Ancestor Tree of Helen Isabelle "Babe" Matson............................................................................................4 

Baumgartner Family History .................................................................................................................................5 

Notes for Jacob Benjamin Baumgartner.........................................................................................................6 

Jacob Baumgartner Family Group Sheet ........................................................................................................7 

Hall Family History ...............................................................................................................................................8 

Ancestor Tree of Eslum Monroe Hall ............................................................................................................9 

Notes for Eslum Monroe Hall ......................................................................................................................10 

Eslum Family Group Sheet...........................................................................................................................11 

Huber Family History..........................................................................................................................................13 

Carl Huber Family Group Sheet...................................................................................................................14 

Lorsung Family History.......................................................................................................................................15 

Ancestor Tree of Peter Fidelius Lorsung......................................................................................................16 

Notes for Peter Fidelius Lorsung..................................................................................................................18 

Peter F. Lorsung Family Group Sheet ..........................................................................................................24 

Notes for Joseph Stephen Lorsung ...............................................................................................................26 

Joseph Lorsung Family Group Sheet............................................................................................................27 

Matson Family History ........................................................................................................................................29 

Ancestor Tree of Henry Matson ...................................................................................................................30 

Notes for Henry Matson ...............................................................................................................................31 

Henry Matson Family Group Sheet ..............................................................................................................32 

Notes for Iven Oscar Matson........................................................................................................................34 

Iven Matson Family Group Sheet.................................................................................................................35 

Meier Family History ..........................................................................................................................................36 

Notes for Charles "Carl" Peter Meier...........................................................................................................37 

Carl Peter Family Group Sheet.....................................................................................................................38 

Vanatta Family History........................................................................................................................................40 

Ancestor Tree of Mary Van Atta..................................................................................................................41 

Notes for James Van Atta.............................................................................................................................42 

James Vanatta Family Group Sheet..............................................................................................................45 

Notes for Gearshum Vanatta ........................................................................................................................47 

Gearsham Vanatta Family Group Sheet .......................................................................................................53 

2


Ancestors of Leo Henry Meier 

Carl Meier 

b: in Switzerland 

d: 

Charles "Carl" Peter Meier 

b: 04 Jan 1872 in Baden, Rothernbach, 

Germany/Switzerland 

d: 20 Oct 1938 in Battleground, Clark, 

Washington 

Leo Henry Meier 

b: 04 Nov 1929 in Camas, Clark, Washington 

d: 08 Nov 1961 in Tillamook, Oregon 

Unknown 


d: 

Joseph Stephen Lorsung 

b: 09 Sep 1862 in Millersville, Douglas, 

Minnesota 

d: 21 Jun 1931 in Marshfield, Coos County, 

Oregon 

Barbara Pauline Lorsung 

b: 15 Jan 1889 in Millerville, Doulgas, Minnesota 

d: 19 Jun 1976 in Battleground, Clark, 

Washington 

Pauline Amelia Mielke 

b: 02 Dec 1867 in Germany 

d: 17 Sep 1960 in Marshfield, Coos County, 

Oregon 

Prepared by Amy Berga 2006 

3


Ancestors of Helen Isabelle "Babe" Matson 

Mikko Kettukangas 

b: 1821 

d: 1882 

Henry Matson 

b: 09 Jul 1866 in Raahe, Finland 

d: 21 Nov 1945 in Brush Praire, Clark, 

Washington 

Iven Oscar Matson 

b: 03 Aug 1898 in Hockinson, Clark, Washington 

d: 06 Jan 1948 in Battle Ground, Clark, 

Washington 

Maria Kristina Riihijarvi 

b: 1819 

d: 1900 

Eslum Monroe Hall 

b: 26 Jul 1824 in Prebble, Ohio 

d: 15 Mar 1888 in Brush Prairie, Clark, 

Washington 

Helen Isabelle "Babe" Matson 

b: 12 Aug 1931 in Vancouver, Clark, Washington 

d: 

Clara Elmarine Hall 

b: 22 Sep 1875 in Brush Praire, Clark, 

Washington 

d: 26 Mar 1958 in Brush Praire, Clark, 

Washington 

Mary Van Atta 

b: 30 Sep 1840 in Mercer, IIlinois 

d: 21 May 1929 in Brush Prairie, Clark, 

Washington, USA 

Jacob Benjamin Baumgartner 

b: 26 Mar 1860 in Switzerland 

d: 11 Jan 1938 in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon 

Hilda Isabella "Belle" Baumgartner 

b: 09 Sep 1899 in Warrenton, Clatsop, Oregon 

d: 16 Jun 1977 in Warrenton, Clatsop, Oregon 

Carl Huber 


d: in Brazil 

Mary Barbara Huber 

b: 03 Mar 1863 in Switzerland 

d: 13 Nov 1956 in Warrenton, Clatsop, Oregon 

Anna Stienman 

b: 

d: 


4


Baumgartner 


5


Jacob Benjamin Baumgartner 

Jacob Benjamin Baumgartner was born in Switzerland, in 1860. Jacob came to America in 1880 when he was 21. 

Jacob had a daughter with Charlotte on August 1, 1885 in Chicago, Illinois. I have not found a marriage record in the 

States; and sometime after the birth of Frieda, the marriage dissolved. Jacob then married to Mary Barbara Huber, July 

28, 1887 in Chicago, Illinois. Charlotte died in 1923, I am unaware of who raised Frieda. 

Little is known of those early years in America and how he traveled further West to Washington. Mary Barbara was born 

to Carl Huber and Anna Stienman, March 10, 1864 in Switerland. She had come to America in 1884 at the age of 20. 

Both Jacob and Mary were naturalized in 1894. Jacob and Mary's children were, Lena, Eda, Henry, and Hilda Isabelle 

who was born September 9, 1899 in Warrenton, Oregon. Their first daughter, Lena, was born in Illinois. 

Jacob and Mary began a dairy farm in Olney, Oregon. Mary was a member of the Assembly of God church in Warrenton, 

Oregon. Jacob was 59 and living in Portland, Oregon with his wife in 1920. The children had married and gone; and 

Jacob farmed his own land. They continued to grow their farm and by 1930 their farm was valued at $5,000. Jacob lived 

to 78 years old, dying on January 11, 1938; Mary lived to 92, dying at her daughter, Lena Boyle's home in November 13, 

1956. Both are buried in Portland, Oregon. 

_______________________________________________________________________________________ 

Sources: 1. United States Federal Cenus 1910, 1920, 1930 2. Oregon Death Index, 1903-1998, Clatsop County 3. Oregon State Death 

Certificate f or both Mary and Jacob 4. Register of Voting Citizens for the City of Chicago, Northern District of Illinois 1892 5. Cook County, 

Chicago Marriage Index 1887 for J. Benjamin Baumgartner 

6

Family Group Sheet 

Husband: Jacob Benjamin Baumgartner 

Born: 26 Mar 1860 

Married: 28 Jul 1887 

Died: 11 Jan 1938 

Father: 

Mother: 

Other Spouses: Charlotte 

Wife: Mary Barbara Huber 

Born: 03 Mar 1863 

Died: 13 Nov 1956 

Father: Carl Huber 

Mother: Anna Stienman 

Other Spouses: 

CHILDREN 


in: Switzerland 

in: Chicago, Cook, Illinois 

in: Portland, Multnomah, Oregon 


in: Warrenton, Clatsop, Oregon 

1 Name: Lena Caroline Baumgartner 

Born: 29 Jan 1889 


F Died: 20 Mar 1968 

in: Astoria, Clatsop, Oregon 

Married: 27 Jun 1912 

in: Astoria, Clatsop, Oregon 

Spouse: Edward John Boyle 

2 Name: Henry Baumgartner 

Born: 15 Mar 1890 

Died: 02 Jul 1969 

M Married: 14 Jun 1916 

Spouse: Laura B. Warnstaff 

Married: Abt. 1928 

Spouse: Helen E. Kaiser 

3 Name: Eda Anna Baumgartner 

Born: 14 Nov 1891 

F Died: 28 May 1973 

Married: 12 Nov 1915 

Spouse: Alonzo Edward Moore 

in: 

in: Longview, Cowlitz, Washington 


in: Washington 

in: North Bend, Oregon 

in: Riverside, California 

in: Portland, Oregon 

4 Name: Hilda Isabella "Belle" Baumgartner 

Born: 09 Sep 1899 


F Died: 16 Jun 1977 


Married: 14 Dec 1918 

in: Vancouver, Clark, Washington 

Spouse: Iven Oscar Matson 

7


Hall 


8


Ancestors of Eslum Monroe Hall 

Joseph Sr. Hall 

b: 1725 in Virginia 

d: 24 Aug 1786 in Richmond, Anson, North 

Carolina 

John Hall 

b: 1765 in North Carolina 

d: 1810 in Sumner, Tennessee 

William L. Hall 

b: 1790 in North Carolina 

d: Jul 1850 in Sparta, Knox, Illinois 

Sarah Moorman 

b: 1733 

d: 

William Kirby 

b: 

d: 

Nancy Kirby 

b: Abt. 1765 

d: Abt. 1839 in Sumner, Tennessee 


b: 26 Jul 1824 in Prebble, Ohio 

d: 15 Mar 1888 in Brush Prairie, Clark, 

Washington 

Sarah 

b: 

d: 

William Munden 

b: 1716 

d: 1793 

William Munden 

b: 20 Feb 1758 in Pasquotank, North Carolina 

d: 

Susannah Munden 

b: 05 Jul 1795 in Pasquotank, North Carolina 

d: 28 Oct 1848 in Henderson, Knox, Illinois, 

USA 

Elisabeth Elliott 

b: 1732 

d: 1793 

John Cromwell 

b: 1715 in South Patapsco Hundred, Baltimore, 

Maryland 

d: 1769 in Pasquotank, North Carolina 

Ruth Cromwell 

b: 03 Aug 1760 in North Carolina 

d: in Indiana 

Comfort Robisson 

b: 01 Dec 1721 

d: 17 Dec 1777 


9



Eslum Monroe Hall was born in Preble County, Ohio, July 26, 1826 to William L. Hall and Susannah Munden. William 

Hall was a Quaker born in North Carolina in 1790. Eslum was the third generation of Halls in America. His great 

grandfather John Hall Jr. lived in North Carolina before the American Revolution. Eslum married into another long-time, 

American family; for the Vanatta's traced their family line in America to 1730 with Isaac Hull. 

Eslum married Mary Vanatta, November 2, 1856 after he had traveled west to Linn, Oregon, leaving his mother and 

father behind. Mary was born to Gearshum Vanatta and Sarah Caroline Palmer, September 30, 1840 in Henderson, 

Illinois. Mary was the fourth of twelve children. As the West was settled by those in New England, her family made the 

journey by wagon to the Oregon territory, for the couple married in there, November 2, 1856. 

By 1860, Eslum had settled in Eugene, Oregon. He worked his own land which was a very large farm, with an estimated 

value was $4,000 dollars. Eslum and Mary would have eleven children. Otto, Florence, Pheobe, Mary, Clara, Susan, 

Minerva, Mary E., Annie, Ida, Effie, and Daisy. Eslum died March 15, 1888, in Brush Prairie, Washington; he was 62. 

Mary moved in with her only son, Otto and his wife Lucy, in Portland were she remained until her death, May 21, 1929; 

she was 89. 

_______________________________________________________________________________________ 

Sources: 1. United States Federal Census 1850, 1860, 1880, 1920 2. Washington State and Territorial Censuses 1857-1892, Clark County, 

Washington 3. Family Data Collection - Individual Records Database* 4. Oregon State Archives No. 231, Hall, Essalum M & Mahala Jane 

Hall, dec & heirs at law, Linn Co. b 1824, Prebble Co., OH, Arr. Ore. 1 Nov 1852, SC 16 Feb 1853; Mahala Jane 21 Nov 1844, Knox County 

IL, she don c 12 June 1853 leaving 4 children, Isaiah S.,Lurana, francis M. and George W. Aff: Geo. hanson, James B. Sperry, Matthew 

Bryson 

*The Family Data Collection is a database created while gathering genealogical data for use in the study of human genetics and disease 

10



Husband: Eslum Monroe Hall 

Born: 26 Jul 1824 

Married: 02 Nov 1856 

Died: 15 Mar 1888 

Father: William L. Hall 

Mother: Susannah Munden 


Wife: Mary Van Atta 

Born: 30 Sep 1840 

Died: 21 May 1929 

Father: Gearshum Van Atta 

Mother: Sarah Caroline Palmer 


in: Prebble, Ohio 

in: Linn county, Oregon 

in: Brush Prairie, Clark, Washington 

in: Mercer, IIlinois 

in: Brush Prairie, Clark, Washington, USA 

CHILDREN 

1 Name: Otho Ashton Hall 

Born: 06 Dec 1857 in: Linn Co., Oregon 

M Married: 19 Jul 1880 in: Linn Co., Oregon 

Died: 05 Nov 1951 in: Drewsey, Harney, Oregon, USA 

Spouse: Rebecca Moore 

2 Name: Florence Sarah Hall 

Born: 1860 

in: Linn Co., Oregon 

F Married: 25 Dec 1877 in: Clark County, Washington 

Died: 1911 

in: Clark, Washington, USA 

Spouse: N. Richard Ward 

3 Name: Pheobe Irene Hall 

Born: 26 Nov 1861 in: Linn Co., Oregon 

F Married: 26 Jun 1883 in: Klamath Falls, Oregon 

Died: 12 May 1909 in: Harney, Oregon, USA 

Spouse: Charles C. Coop 

4 Name: Mary E. Hall 

Born: Abt. 1864 in: Clark Co., Washington 

F Married: 29 Aug 1878 in: Clark County, Washington 

Died: 

in: 

2nd Spouse: Arthur Campbell 

5 Name: Susan J. Hall 

Born: 1867 

F Married: 24 Apr 1886 

Died: 1939 

Spouse: Arthur I Campbell 

in: Clark Co., Washington 

in: 

in: Brush Prairie, Clark, Washington, USA 

11



6 Name: Minerva Elizabeth Hall 

Born: 05 Mar 1870 in: Brush Prairie, Clark, Washington 

F Married: 23 Jul 1887 in: Clark County, WA 

Died: 30 Jan 1926 in: Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, USA 

Spouse: William Alexander Pullen 

7 Name: Annie M. Hall 

Born: 1873 


F Married: 01 Oct 1893 in: Clark County, Washington 

Died: 

in: 

2nd Spouse: Aaron Hay 

8 Name: Clara Elmarine Hall 

Born: 22 Sep 1875 in: Brush Praire, Clark, Washington 

F Married: Abt. 1891 in: Clark County, Washington 

Died: 26 Mar 1958 in: Brush Praire, Clark, Washington 

Spouse: Henry Matson 

9 Name: Ida R. Hall 

Born: 1878 


F Married: 

in: 

Died: 

in: 

Spouse: 

10 Name: Daisy Viola Hall 

Born: 25 Oct 1881 in: Brush Praire, Clark, Washington 

F Married: 25 Oct 1899 in: Brush Praire, Washington 

Died: 15 Feb 1950 in: Molalla, Oregon 

Spouse: Thomas Willard Coop 

11 Name: Effie Hall 

Born: 22 Apr 1884 in: Clark County, Washington 

F Married: 03 Aug 1902 in: Clark County, Washington 

Died: 

in: Camas, Washington, USA 

Spouse: Marcus Morgan Coop 

12


Huber 


13


Husband: Carl Huber 

Born: 


Married: 

in: 

Died: 

in: Brazil 

Father: 

Mother: 


Wife: Anna Stienman 

Born: 

in: 

Died: 

in: 

Father: 

Mother: 


CHILDREN 


1 Name: Mary Barbara Huber 

Born: 03 Mar 1863 


F Died: 13 Nov 1956 


Married: 28 Jul 1887 


Spouse: Jacob Benjamin Baumgartner 

14


Lorsung 


15


Ancestors of Peter Fidelius Lorsung 

Peter J. Lorsong 

b: 28 Feb 1797 

d: 16 Feb 1860 

Cont. p. 17 

Johannes Franciscus Remarque 

b: 1692 

d: 24 Feb 1762 

Cont. p. 18 

Peter Fidelius Lorsung 

b: 10 Dec 1829 

d: 09 Jan 1908 

Johannes Remarque 

b: 21 Feb 1761 

d: 03 Nov 1841 

Joes Michael Remarque 

b: 08 Nov 1730 

d: 04 Aug 1789 

Elisabeth Arsenne 

b: 

d: 01 Sep 1747 

Paul Zip 

b: 

d: 

Cont. p. 19 

Johanna Remarque 

b: 1799 

d: 26 Mar 1877 

Katherina Zip 

b: 06 Jan 1729/30 

d: 02 Aug 1880 

Maria Barbara Hiset 

b: 

d: 

Peter Fetick 

b: 

d: 

Elizabeth Fetick 

b: 22 Aug 1770 

d: 15 Jan 1827 

Elizabeth Gras 

b: 

d: 


16


Ancestors of Peter Fidelius Lorsung 

Cont. p. 16 

Peter J. Lorsong 

b: 28 Feb 1797 

d: 16 Feb 1860 

Joseph L. Lorsong 

b: 20 Jan 1758 

d: 20 Mar 1821 

Anna Sprengler 

b: 17 May 1767 

d: 

Johannes Nikolaus Lorsong 

b: 15 Oct 1725 

d: 27 Dec 1763 

Barbara Dreistadt 

b: 04 Apr 1722 

d: 31 Dec 1781 

Clemens Lorsong 

b: 1695 

d: 30 Jun 1760 

Anna Marie Remarque 

b: 1698 

d: 19 Feb 1763 

Johannes Dreystadt 

b: 05 Nov 1676 

d: 02 Feb 1732/33 

Johanna Renner 

b: 1682 

d: 07 Jul 1745 

Casparius "Caspar" Lorsong 

b: 1669 

d: 

Marie Wilert 

b: 1673 

d: 1725 

[1] Johannes Remarque 

b: 1675 

d: 08 Jun 1713 

Marie Bourbon 

b: 02 Sep 1676 

d: 1725 

Anton Troisville Dreystadt 

b: 1669 

d: 

Margarethe Gottienin 

b: Abt. 1673 

d: 15 Apr 1715 

Johann Renner 

b: 30 Oct 1676 

d: 1693 

Margarethe Hess 

b: 07 Jul 1661 

d: 

17


Peter Fidelius Lorsung 

& Millerville, Minnesota 

“The early days of Millerville did not differ very much from the early days in any other part of West Central Minnesota. 

All found the country to be one of extreme climate change; some finding it to be intolerable and did not stay for long. 

Many who came to file homestead claims, did not remain and abandoned Minnesota. It was easy to dispose of any 

improved homestead and thereby receive up to $10 per acre for it. A log cabin, shanty or even a “sodie” which was 

merely a cave in the hillside, were considered “improved land” The excitement and urgency of the 1860’s in Minnesota 

can only be vaguely imagined. Possibilities seemed endless to these farseeing men and their families, with the 

realization that so much was free for the taking. Such families left their footprints so deep, that this fertile land is still in 

the same care of many of those families today. It was usual for immigrants to arrive in groups, sharing the same faith and 

speaking the same language. They knew that in union there was strength. This cooperation among neighbors made it 

possible to survive the rigors of the climate as well as the dangers of travel, where there were no roads and bridges, and 

the nearest market place was St. Cloud. Life on the frontier was serious every minute of every day.” (Our Founder’s 

Legacy) 

In 1858, Minnesota was made a state. Settlers began to stream in over the railroad until August of 1862, when an Indian 

outbreak made the settlers flee for their lives. The Indian scare was so widespread that for a while, the new state was 

almost abandoned. In the fall of 1862 a military post was established near Alexandria, with troops placed there. People 

began to return slowly; but it wasn’t until the end of the Civil War that settlers began to stream back into Minnesota. 

(C.M. Klein’s History of Millerville pg.1) 

The Lorsung history is traced back to the German towns of Freidrichweiler and Ludweiler, with a Parrish that is called 

Ludweiler-Warndt. Ludweiler and Freidrichweiler are both west of Saarbrucken near the French border. On the one map 

these two towns are on a line that would be west of Saarbrucken, southwest of Volkingen, and south of Saarlouis. Those 

three cities are on the Saar River and Ludweiler and Heilstaate Freidrechweiler and between the Saar River and the 

French border. This region is the Saar area of Europe, and is close to the meeting point of Germany-France-Luxembourg. 

The family's original name is spelled Lorson, and sometimes recorded as, Lorsong. In tracing the family history in 

Europe, the earliest record is Casparius "Caspar" Lorson born 1669 in Anery, France near the German border. Caspar 

married Marie Wilert. Their son was Clemens Lorson, born in 1695 in France. Clemens married Anna Marie Remarque, 

August 29, 1719 in Germany. Anna Marie was the daughter of Johannes Remarque and Marie Bourbon of the Royal 

French family. The History of Friedrichweiler has Caspar and his wife, Maria Wiliert, visiting Clemens and his wife 

Anna Maria Remarque in Friedrichweiler, their origin being Anery, France. Clemens and Anna Marie had a son named 

Johannes Nikolaus Lorsong who was born in October 1725 in Germany. Johannes Nikolaus married Barbara Dreistadt in 

1745. Their son was born, Joseph L. Lorson in 1758, Germany. Joseph L. Lorson married Anna Sprengler, in January of 

1786. Their son was Peter J. Lorson who was born February 1797 in Germany. Peter J. Lorson married Johanna 

Remarque, September 1827. Two Lorsons’ were married to Remarque women, both Clemens, who married August 29, 

1719; and did his great grandson, Peter J. Lorson. Remarque is the French spelling of this family name; the German 

spelling had been changed to Remark. Peter J. Lorson his wife Johanna Remarque left their home in Ludweiler, Germany 

in 1841, traveling to America with four children. Upon their arrival, they settled in Bastrass, Pennsylvania. Of the four 

children, only three boys can be identified; Peter Fidelius, Joseph P. and Johann, who never married. (This history has 

been compiled from information researched by Msgr Peter A. Lorsung and given to Norman and Patricia Lorsung around 

1980. Some of it comes from a few German book, 250 Years of Freidrichweiler, Germany (Published in 1975) and 

extracts from the History of the Catholic Parish Ludweiler-Warndt) 

After reaching the port, the Lorson name would be misspelled through American documents becoming Lorsung. Peter J. 

Lorsung and his wife and family settled into a German community in Bastrass, Pennsylvania. Here, the family met the 

Millers and other families that would eventually make up a new community in Minnesota. After a long illness, Peter J. 

Lorsung died, February 16, 1860 in Bastrass, Pennsylvania. He was buried in the cemetery in Bastrass, on the eve of the 

Civil War. 

18


Civil War. 

The Homestead Act was passed in 1862; giving 160 acres to heads of household, 21 years of age and older. With free 

land for the taking, many packed their families and forged into new wilderness territories to stake their claim. The 

Lorsung boys were of this group. Young men with families and egear for virgin farm land. “In early spring of 1867, 

Johann Lorsung , along with John A. Millers, traveled by wagon from Bastrass, Pennsylvania to Minnesota. Johann had 

left his widowed mother, and brothers to search for promising land; he was young, able and single. Coming to the 

wilderness of what was later, Douglas County, he filed a claim on 160 acres to the east of John A. Miller in section 14. 

Two weeks later, his brothers Joseph P. and Peter Fidelius Lorsung followed with their wives, children, mother, Johanna 

Remarque; along with the widowed mother of John A. Miller, Katherine Michelt. Both families were related by 

marriage, as Peter Fidelius Lorsung had married John A. Miller's sister, Katherine. The widow, Johanna Remarque filed a 

claim of her own for 80 acres, but lived with her son, Johann, who remained unmarried. Johann was born in 1824 and was 

the oldest of Peter J. Lorsung’s recorded sons. 

Peter Fidelius Lorsung had been born December 10, 1829 and was the second born of Peter J. Lorsung’s recorded sons. 

He married Katherine Miller in Pennsylvania in 1855 and had ten children with her. Once in Minnesota he settled his 

family in Section 14, on 160 acres. Peter later added another 40 acres which was later sold to J.C. Drexler, the new 

town's doctor and teacher. "Peter and his wife Katherine were outstanding citizens. Since he was an accomplished 

carpenter he was the leader in the construction of the church as well as all the other buildings being constructed then, he 

continued to work for the church all his life." (C.M. Klein) He divided his homestead between his sons Anthony and John, 

keeping a small acreage to himself and his crippled daughter Mary P. 

Joseph P. Lorsung had been born in 1837 and was the second born of Peter J. Lorsung’s recorded sons. He married Mary 

Debilzan in Pennsylvania and had at least six children with her. Once in Minnesota Joseph Lorsung located in Section 

23 on 160 acres. He died at the age of 47 in 1884, leaving his wife, Mary, to keep up the homestead. As her sons were 

able to maintain the farm in her older age, she moved with her two daughters into town on twenty acres and a newly 

framed home. Her daughters, Kate and Mary were dress makers and organ players in the church.” (Helen Joos Cichy) 

“During this time Constant Cichy came on foot, a German immigrant, carrying his worldly belongings on his back. He 

had sailed from Germany, a voyage that took five weeks and five days, arriving in Milwaukee. He came by river to St. 

Paul, Minnesota, and from there to St. Cloud by rail road, from there, he set out by foot to make his claim. The first 

person he met was Johann Lorsung, in October 1866. Johann was busy with the construction of his log cabin, and had no 

roof, so Constant met up with John A. Miller and spent his first night in the remote wilderness. John A Miller did not yet 

have furnishings or a floor, so he let Constant sleep on a bear hide, on the ground. John A. Miller helped Constant Cichy 

build a cabin while the fall weather was still pleasant. The cabin had one window and one door. By Christmas of that 

year, the new community would feel the bitter cold and snow drifts that piled higher than their cabins. Six months later 

another young family came from Pennsylvania, Frank Webber, his wife Mary (Flesch), and their young daughter. Frank 

was a returning soldier of the Civil War and eager to start his new life. Like all immigrants, the Webers began at once to 

construct their log cabin, since they had no home or shelter as of yet, they continued to live under the protective cover of 

their wagon. In March 25, 1867 Frank and Mary had the first white child born into Millerville naming her Susanna.” 

(Helen Joos Cichy) 

“By spring of 1867, settlers came on foot, by covered wagon drawn by oxen or mule and by the occasional horse. Horses 

did not fare well in this new, untamed wilderness. Unlike the oxen that worked hard and thrived on wild hay and turnips, 

the horse required grain and shelter. Early settlers lacked the cleared fields for grain, so the horse went hungry. The 

19


Babies were baptized, marriages preformed and sacraments distributed. On this day, the parish was founded. From this 

day forward, Father Pierz came to conduct services in the homes of Frank Weber, Peter Lorsung and the Miller’s home. 

(Source: Our Founder’s Legacy) 

One outdoor afternoon in late summer of 1866, settlers were enjoying a religious service on the spacious prairie of 

Constant Cichy and his wife Katherine. All had come by wagon and foot with food in hand enough for two days. In this 

general meeting ideas and plans for a township were exchanged freely. Plans were made to organize their town, naming 

it Millerville after the John A. Miller who was the leader of the German settlers from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 

immediately after the end of the Civil War. The first recorded meeting was held on April 17, 1878. (Source: Our 

Founder’s Legacy) 

“Eighteen months had elapsed since John A. Miller and John Lorsung came to the area which was now officially named 

Millerville. In the spring of 1868, one year after Father Pierz had founded the Parrish, all plans were made to build a log 

church. The timbers were taken from the land of John Hockert, an unmarried man. Sawed boards, nails, shingles and 

windows came from St. Cloud, by oxen team. August 14, 1868 their church was finished. The altar was a table built of 

the remnant boards, as well as laid out for the flooring. There was no money for pews, so boards supported by wood 

blocks served as pews. The faithful knelt on splintery boards giving thanks. The building of the church was a community 

event, any giving up of their valuable time of clearing land for their crops and gave instead to the labor and construction. 

On August 15 1868, with great pride, the community celebrated with Father Pierz in their completed building. Both the 

mother of Johann Lorsung, and John A. Miller donated each 20 acres to the church. This was intended to assist in the 

support of the church. The church was given the impressive name of Prairie De St. Marie O’ Chippewa by Father Pierz. 

In 1880 a belfry was added. This same bell is still calling parishioners to worship.” (Helen Joos Cichy) 

“Father Pierz was accustomed to a harsh life in Minnesota wilderness and mother surprised him. He obviously had a 

keen sense of humor when his best intentions backfired. Whether a home had a floor or not, all had a pit beneath where 

root vegetables and turnips were stored, and covered by a board. This space was covered with a trap door of hewn logs or 

boards. A heavy table set upon this door. With all these fine preparations it was considered a good home for Father Pierz 

to stop and offer the Mass for the parishioners. As usual, Father Pierz spoke to a packed house. As he turned to give the 

final blessing, the door upon which he was standing collapsed, and down went Father Pierz into the dark pit below, 

landing him on potatoes, rutabagas and cabbages. While the women wring their hands in anguish, the children cried and 

the men proceeded to rescue him from this predicament. After it was found that the Missionary was none the worse for 

his undignified experience, he apologized for having caused the owners so much damage to their home. Whereupon he 

blessed them all again and broke for lunch. The damage was soon repaired and the table set for the usual pot luck lunch 

provided by the ladies. All were hungry as many had walked many miles, and would walk many more miles for their 

return home.” (Source: Our Founder’s Legacy) 

“The harness maker was an important as the oxen in the development of any community. In 1873, Peter B. Lorsung, the 

son of Joseph P. Lorsung and Mary Debilzan Lorsung, opened his harness making business in an existing shop. It was a 

two story building, providing living accommodations above the store front below. Peter B. Lorsung purchased a business 

building from the Kotchevar family, adding a line of shoes for all the families needs along with the harness shop. Peter B. 

Lorsung married Mathilda Wedl of Elizabeth, Minnesota. He was fortunate to have the post office located in his new 

building which had been in the Kotchevar store for many ears. Peter B., as he was known by all, became the postmaster 

and held that position until the post was lost in 1907. Peter with William Glebe, manufactured cement blocks in a small 

frame building on Lorsung’s lot. With these blocks he constructed a comfortable home for their family, as well as 

provided the cement blocks to build the new public school. Peter B. Lorsung conducted his extensive business, held 

public offices, served on the school board and served his community well until his death in June 17, 1916.” (Source: Our 

20


cold. Snow continued to fall all winter into late spring. Snow melted late into planting season, leaving soggy earth. The 

humid summer brought hoards of mosquitoes and other insects which had not been known in the state. Serious infectious 

diseases broke out among the livestock and settlers. Dr. Nootnagle could no longer cope with the need and advised the 

use of whiskey and alcohol as gargle and mouthwash and to wrap a kerosene, saturated woolen rag around sour throats. He 

also advised that settlers take kerosene by the spoonfuls to guard against the dreaded diphtheria. Since whiskey was 

easier to swallow than kerosene it was more widely used and kept in five gallon jugs in every household.” 


“In 1875, the crops seemed promising and hopes for better times lay ahead, until one terrible day when locust came in 

black hoards to devour all the planted crops, laying their eggs in the soaked earth and potholes still swampy from all the 

melt off. With out the vitamin and mineral bearing vegetables, sickness and diseases continued to take their toll on 

survivors. Times were so hard that many left the state, while those left were in deep debt due to the lack of crops.” The 

winter of 1876, in the month of December, Katharine Michelt Miller, mother of John A. Miller and Katherine Lorsung, 

died. She was buried in the cemetery plot near the church, in the very land she donated. Her death marked the beginning 

of the pioneers struggle and the Lorsung’s losses. (Source: Our Founder’s Legacy) 

“It was through these trying times in March of 1877 that Johanna Remarque Lorsung, widowed mother of Johann, Peter 

F. and Joseph P. Lorsung, was stricken with what appeared to be a serious illness. The resident priest, Father Emmanuel 

Schneider, was called to administer the last rites of the church. When he arrived at the home, he did not believe that the 

patient was on her deathbed. Therefore, he returned to his parsonage without having administered the last sacraments. 

Unfortunately, Johanna died that night of the 25th, without having received the last sacraments. Although the family was 

deeply grieved about this omission, they said little, keeping their grief to themselves. In those days wakes were held in 

the homes of the deceased around the clock with the neighboring men keeping vigil through out the night and into the wee 

early morning hours. The coffee pot was kept on the back burner through the night and at midnight a hefty meal was 

served to all who were to remain. It was through these lonely hours that the old brown jug became their companion and it 

this case, turned them into tyrants. The night, after the funeral, three heavily intoxicated citizens of Millerville, 

attempted to lynch the priest. Father Schneider escaped unharmed but reported them to the authorities in Alexandria. 

The three men were summoned to appear before the Court of Justice, A.J. Ames. all three pleaded not guilty where upon 

the justice issued warrants for the arrest of these three men. On demand of the defendants, a charge of venue was ordered 

to the court of W. McAboy. On examination the court ordered each of the defendants to post bonds in the sum of $500 

each, to keep the peace and pay all court costs. The case was heard by the Honorable Knute A. Nelson. Father Schneider 

left Millerville soon after this unfortunate incident. It would be some time before another pastor was assigned to 

Millerville. Two of the would-be lynch men and their families left the state. The leader, who had considerable property 

held on for a few years, but had lost all his former prestige among his neighbors and the community in general. He too 

sold out and left the area disgraced.” 

(Source: C.M. Klein) 

“In 1877 almost no grain was harvested as the locust had come through. Nuts of every kind were gathered to feed 

livestock as well as used for human food. The salvation of the people was that the locust never attacked the meadows so 

all the available hay was made of us. Hogs were left to forage through the fields.” (Source: Our Founder’s Legacy) 

On June 2, 1880, Katherine Miller Lorsung, wife of Peter Fidelius, died. She was buried beside both her mother and 

21


Lorsung would remain in Duncan County, where his homestead is still known to this day. 

“In 1898, Anthony John Lorsung and John Lorsung, sons of Peter F. Lorsung, purchased the general merchandise store of 

Mathias Kotchevar & Ley. This was the first store in Millerville, established by Metz & Miller. In 1903 Anthony J. 

married Anna Kotchevar, granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mathias Kotchevar and bought out his brother, John P. Lorsung. 

This couple used the living quarters of the building as their home and managed a prosperous mercantile business. 

Unfortunately, Anna died in the influenza epidemic of 1919-1920, leaving her husband with five young children. Their 

oldest son studied for the priesthood and later became Monsignor A.J. Lorsung. In 1919 their son, Mathias, entered into 

partnership with his father. By 1930 Mathias “Fats” and his wife, the former Kate Koeplin bought out his father’s 

business. They changed the business into a grocery sales and refreshments cafe. After its sale to Joseph Shiele and his 

wife, the store was completely destroyed by fire.” (Source: Our Founder’s Legacy) 

In 1903 the village of Millerville needed to become incorporated to keep it’s revenue, generated by the three saloons, of 

$1500 annually in the county treasury, the city leaders, Peter B. Lorsung, President, Anthony J. Lorsung, Recorder; John 

Kuhn, Treasurer; Edward Schirber, Ludwig Markling and Jacob J. Toennes, Trustees; Dr. J.C. Drexler, Justice. “At a 

time when the area might have expected its greatest prosperity, the village of Millerville suffered reverses from which it 

could not recover. It began when the promised railway bypassed Millerville favoring Miltona and Parkers Prairie. This 

took all the business form Leaf Valley area, which had usually stopped here on their way to Brandon or Evansville. The 

farmers of Leaf Mountain, Otter Tail County, took their business to neighboring counties. In 1902, St. Ann’s Parish was 

founded in Brandon. This took some of the largest families away. In 1903, Sacred Heart Parish was founded in Urbank, 

taking more fine families with it, as well as businesses. The loss of the Post office, reflected poorly on the local village 

businesses.” (Source: Our Founder’s Legacy) 

January 9, 1908, Peter Fidelius Lorsung, founder of Millerville, died and was buried by his wife, Katherine. He was 79. 

“In 1909, the old frame school building was moved to a knoll opposite of J.P. Lorsung’s saloon on a lot purchased from 

Mrs. Mary Lorsung. With a few changes it became the first fire hall. A fire engine with hook and ladder apparatus was 

purchased. In 1909 Ludwig Markling’s store was destroyed by fire, taking with it the second story of the store, which 

housed the school principal and his family.” 


In 1921, two young friends, August Lorsung and Ferdinand Hockert went out hunting in October. As Hockert pulled out 

his gun, it discharged, hitting August Lorsung in his shoulder. His arm was saved, although it took many weeks of 

hospitalization. Ferdinand’s father, Nick, gave the Lorsungs $500 for the trouble. 

Tony Lorsung sold groceries and dry goods. Ma bought Annie's wedding dishes from him. We also traded our eggs for 

groceries too. So Aunt Emma Kotschevar would ask me every time she saw me, "Lagen die henner gut?" Implying, if they 

did, that we would buy more groceries from Tony because he was Aunt Emma's son-in-law. I was getting fed up with this 

question, so I finally answered, "Die lagen alle zwe's eier. " That was the last time she asked, so she got the message. 

Peter Lorsung had a harness shop and also sold shoes. Another Lorsung (Dicka) operated a saloon and butcher shop. Matt 

22


found, where Lorsungs traveled and established communities through out the West. To this day neighbors still call the 

original homestead in Duncan County, Washington, “the o’l Lorsung place.” And in Coos Bay, Washington, another such 

cemetery holds Joseph Steven and his descendants far from his family of Millerville, and resting in a quiet cemetery in 

Battleground, Washington lies Barbara Pauline Lorsung, next to her husband, Carl Meier. 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Source: 1. Our Founder's Legacy, by Helen Joos Cichy 2. The History of Millerville, by K.M. Klein 3. United States Federal Census, Douglas 

County, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 4. WWI Draft Registration Card for Peter Paul Lorsung 5. Minnesota Naturalization Records 

Index 1854-1957pg. 30 6. Minnesota Land Records, Alexandria, Homestead Entry 7. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s for 

Peter Lorsung, 1841 with wife Johanette Remark and 4 children. 8. Minnesota Death Index 1908-2002 9. Tombstone photos 10. Washington 

State Territory, Stevens County, 1890 11. United States Census Bureau, Millerville 

23



Husband: Peter Fidelius Lorsung 

Born: 10 Dec 1829 

Married: 1855 

Died: 09 Jan 1908 

Father: Peter J. Lorsong 

Mother: Johanna Remarque 


Wife: Katherine Miller 

Born: 1837 

Died: Dec 1880 

Father: Miller 

Mother: Katherine "Kate" Michelt 


in: Alsace-Lorraine, Germany 

in: Bastress, Pennsylvania 

in: Millerville, Douglas, Minnesota 

in: Philidelphia, Pennsylvania 


CHILDREN 

1 Name: Kate Lorsung 

Born: 1857 in: 

F Married: 

in: 

Died: 1910 in: 

Spouse: Peter Smith 

2 Name: John Sebastian Lorsung 

Born: 1859 in: St. Joseph, Minnesota 

M Married: 

in: 

Died: 1959 in: 

Spouse: Never married 

3 Name: Johannah M. Lorsung 

Born: 20 Jan 1860 in: St. Joseph, Minnesota 

F Married: 1881 in: 

Died: 07 Sep 1947 in: Humboldt, Saskatchuan, Canada 

Spouse: John Gaetz 

4 Name: Joseph Stephen Lorsung 

Born: 09 Sep 1862 in: Millersville, Douglas, Minnesota 

M Married: 07 Jan 1885 in: Millerville, Douglas, Minnesota 

Died: 21 Jun 1931 in: Marshfield, Coos County, Oregon 

Spouse: Pauline Amelia Mielke 

5 Name: Francis Lorsung 

Born: 1864 in: Millersville, Douglas, Minnesota 

F Married: 

in: 

Died: 1864 in: Millersville, Douglas, Minnesota 


24



6 Name: Sister Anne Baptista Lorsung 

Born: 20 Oct 1865 in: Millersville, Douglas, Minnesota 

Married: 

in: 

F 

Died: 17 Apr 1891 in: St. Benedicts Convent ,St. Joseph, 

Minnesota 


7 Name: Peter P. Lorsung 

Born: 05 Oct 1867 in: Millersville, Douglas, Minnesota 

M Married: 1895 in: Millerville, Douglas, Minnesota 

Died: 13 Sep 1947 in: Spokane, Spokane, Washington 

Spouse: Katherine M. Midtlestatte 

8 Name: Mary P. Lorsung 

Born: Aug 1870 in: Millersville, Douglas, Minnesota 

F Married: 

in: 

Died: 28 Oct 1923 in: 

Spouse: 

9 Name: John Peter Lorsung 

Born: 25 Jun 1872 in: Millersville, Douglas, Minnesota 

M Married: 1900 in: Millerville, Douglas, Minnesota 

Died: 08 Apr 1964 in: Millersville, Douglas, Minnesota 

Spouse: Katherine Koeplin 

10 Name: Anthony John Lorsung 

Born: 06 Aug 1878 in: Millerville, Douglas, Minnesota 

M Married: 11 Nov 1911 in: Millerville, Douglas, Minnesota 

Died: 08 Feb 1960 in: Little Falls, Stearns, Minnesota 

Spouse: Anna Maria Kotschevar 

25


Joseph Stephen Lorsung 

Joseph Stephen Lorsung was born September 9, 1862 in Millersville, Minnesota, to Peter Fidelius Lorsung and 

Katherine Miller . Joseph grew up on his parent's homestead in Millerville, Minnesota. His mother was born in 

Pennsylvania, his father immigrated to America in 1841 from Germany. The home was full, with seven children and 

Joseph's grandmother, Katherine Michelt, all under one roof. Joseph's mother would die in June of 1880, she left behind 

her husband, 50, and children: Hannah, 20, Joseph, 17, Anne, 14, Peter, 12, Mary, 9, John, 7 and baby Anton, 2. 

It was here, in his home town, that he would meet Pauline Amelia Meilke. Pauline was born in Germany, December 2, 

1867 to Albert and Rose Mielke. In 1875, Pauline came to Minnesota with her family. She married Joseph, 

January 7, 1885 and had fourteen children with him. After the birth of Barbara Pauline in January of 1899, Joseph moved 

his family west. Leaving with his brother Peter P. Lorsung and his family; the party settled first in Duncan County in 

Spokane, Washington. Peter P. Lorsung's descendants are still there to this day. Joseph decided to move his family further 

west to Stevens, Washington by 1890, were he took a job designing wells. By 1900 the family had moved again, living 

in Hillsboro, Oregon. Joseph worked as a contractor carpenter with his oldest son, Peter, who was 23. In a rented home, 

three more children were born, Birtha, Edward and William. Sadly Ludwick had died before his tenth birthday. Pauline 

would have her last child after the age of 43, making fourteen in all. 

By 1920 Joseph moved again to Marshfield, Oregon, to work as a carpenter on a school house. It was here, that they 

would settle for good. Their new neighbors would be his son, Edward Lorsung and his wife, Stella. Joseph's oldest son 

Peter never married, and lived with them all his life. Joseph died June 21, 1931 at the age of 69. 

His wife, Pauline would continue to live in their home until her death, September 17, 1960. Both are buried in 

Marshfield, Oregon in the family's plot. 

________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Sources: 1. Washington State Territory Census 1890, Stevens County, Washington 2. United States Federal Census, Stevens County 1900, 

Hillsboro 1910, Marshfield 1920, 1930 

26



Husband: Joseph Stephen Lorsung 

Born: 09 Sep 1862 

Married: 07 Jan 1885 

Died: 21 Jun 1931 

Father: Peter Fidelius Lorsung 

Mother: Katherine Miller 


Wife: Pauline Amelia Mielke 

Born: 02 Dec 1867 

Died: 17 Sep 1960 

Father: Albert Mielke 

Mother: Rosalie "Rose" 


in: Millersville, Douglas, Minnesota 


in: Marshfield, Coos County, Oregon 

in: Germany 


CHILDREN 

1 Name: Peter Paul Lorsung 

Born: 25 Apr 1887 


M Married: 

in: 

Died: 

in: 

Spouse: Katherine 

2 Name: Barbara Pauline Lorsung 

Born: 15 Jan 1889 

in: Millerville, Doulgas, Minnesota 

F Married: 19 Feb 1905 

in: Hillsboro, Washington, Oregon 

Died: 19 Jun 1976 

in: Battleground, Clark, Washington 

Spouse: Charles "Carl" Peter Meier 

3 Name: Joseph Stephen Jr. Lorsung 

Born: 06 May 1890 in: Spokane, Duncan, Washington 

M Married: 

in: 

Died: 17 Jan 1922 

in: 

Spouse: Unknown 

4 Name: Ludwick Lorsung 

Born: Apr 1891 

in: 

M Married: 

in: 

Died: Bef. 1910 

in: 

Spouse: 

5 Name: John Albert Lorsung 

Born: 10 Oct 1892 

in: Spokane, Duncan, Washington 

M Married: Bet. 1917 - 1919 in: Oregon 

Died: 24 Feb 1962 


2nd Spouse: Fay E. Leach 

27


6 Name: Mary Martha Lorsung 

Born: 19 Jul 1893 

F Married: 1920 

Died: 28 Oct 1923 

Spouse: Edward 



in: 


7 Name: Frank Safar Lorsung 

Born: 14 Aug 1897 in: Idaho 

M Married: 

in: 

Died: 

in: 

Spouse: 

8 Name: Rose Katherine Lorsung 

Born: 15 Jan 1899 

in: Washington Territory 

F Married: 14 Aug 1917 in: Washington county, Oregon 

Died: 19 Mar 1958 in: Portland, Multnomah, Oregon 

Spouse: Emil VanAcker 

9 Name: Birtha Louis Lorsung 

Born: 28 Dec 1901 in: Chewela, Stevens, Washington 

F Married: 

in: 

Died: 24 Oct 1947 


Spouse: 

10 Name: Edward Nicholas Lorsung 

Born: 06 Dec 1903 in: Portland, Multnomah, Oregon 

M Married: 13 Jul 1929 


Died: 01 Jun 1979 


Spouse: Stella Anna 

11 Name: Elizabeth Ann Lorsung 

Born: 10 Sep 1906 


F Married: 

in: 

Died: 02 Dec 1995 in: Portland, Multnomah, Oregon 

Spouse: Carl Cenci 

12 Name: William Lewis Lorsung 

Born: 08 Mar 1909 

M Married: Jun 1927 

Died: 26 Dec 1989 

Spouse: Blancherd L. 



in: Marshfiled,Coos County, Oregon 

13 Name: Francis Alice Lorsung 

Born: 21 Sep 1912 


F Married: 28 Nov 1927 in: 

Died: 

in: 

Spouse: Morris Hale 

14 Name: Arthur Jacob Lorsung 

Born: 15 Aug 1913 in: Marshfiled,Coos County, Oregon 

M Married: 

in: 

Died: 01 Jul 1914 

in: Marshfiled,Coos County, Oregon 


28


Matson 


29


Ancestors of Henry Matson 

MIkko Erikus Lukila Vanhala 

b: 1749 

d: 1783 


b: 1776 

d: 1826 

Maria Mattsdotter 

b: 1752 

d: 


b: 1821 

d: 1882 

Margareta Hytinkoski 

b: 1787 

d: 1856 


b: 09 Jul 1866 in Raahe, Finland 

d: 21 Nov 1945 in Brush Praire, Clark, 

Washington 

Maria Kristina Riihijarvi 

b: 1819 

d: 1900 


30



In search of history for Henry Matson 

31



Husband: Henry Matson 

Born: 09 Jul 1866 

Married: Abt. 1891 

Died 1: 21 Nov 1945 

Died 2: 21 Nov 1945 

Father: Mikko Kettukangas 

Mother: Maria Kristina Riihijarvi 


Wife: Clara Elmarine Hall 

Born: 22 Sep 1875 

Died: 26 Mar 1958 

Father: Eslum Monroe Hall 

Mother: Mary Van Atta 


in: Raahe, Finland 

in: Clark County, Washington 

in: Brush Praire, Clark, Washington 

in: Vancouver, Washington 



CHILDREN 

1 Name: Albert Henry Matson 

Born: 13 Apr 1893 in: Brush Praire, Clark, Washington 

M Married: 14 Nov 1918 in: Clark County, Washington 

Died: 07 Feb 1970 in: Brush Praire, Clark, Washington 

Spouse: Helena "Vivian" Lehto 

2 Name: Winfred Monroe Matson 

Born: 22 Jan 1896 in: Brush Praire, Clark, Washington 

M Married: 

in: 

Died: 22 Feb 1978 in: Brush Praire, Clark, Washington 


3 Name: Iven Oscar Matson 

Born: 03 Aug 1898 in: Hockinson, Clark, Washington 

M Married: 14 Dec 1918 in: Vancouver, Clark, Washington 

Died: 06 Jan 1948 in: Battle Ground, Clark, Washington 

Spouse: Hilda Isabella "Belle" Baumgartner 

4 Name: Alice Viola Matson 

Born: 23 May 1900 in: Brush Praire, Clark, Washington 

F Married: 1919 in: Clark county, Washington 

Died: 12 Feb 1982 in: Vancouver, Clark, Washington 

Spouse: Walter A. Tikka 

5 Name: Francis Alexander Matson 

Born: 29 Nov 1903 in: Brush Praire, Clark, Washington 

M Married: 

in: 

Died: 10 Jan 1992 in: Battle Ground, Clark, Washington 


32



6 Name: Lewis Edward "Ed" Matson 

Born: 07 Jun 1905 in: Brush Praire, Clark, Washington 

Married: 09 Jun 1935 in: Clatskanie, Oregon, Apostolic Lutheran 

M 

Church Convention 

Died: 16 Dec 1986 in: Salem, Oregon 

Spouse: Mildred Victoria Olsen 

7 Name: William Arther "Bill" Matson 

Born: 06 Apr 1907 in: Brush Praire, Clark, Washington 

M Married: Bef. 1929 in: 

Died: 24 Jan 1991 in: Longview, Cowlitz, Washington 

Spouse: Emily Estelle 

8 Name: Ida May Matson 

Born: 26 Sep 1908 in: Brush Praire, Clark, Washington 

F Married: 20 Dec 1924 in: 

Died: 04 Nov 1994 in: 

Spouse: Wilmer "Bud" Robinson 

9 Name: Clyde Alfred Matson 

Born: 12 Jul 1910 in: Battle Ground, Clark, Washington 

M Married: 04 Nov in: 

Died: 13 May 1982 in: Kelso, Cowlitz, Washington 

Spouse: Hazel Blanche Hanson 

10 Name: Reta Elmerine Matson 

Born: 15 Feb 1912 in: Brush Praire, Clark, Washington 

F Married: 16 Mar 1932 in: Stevenson, Washington 

Died: 10 May 1992 in: Vancouver, Clark, Washington 

Spouse: Alfred Elmer Farley 

11 Name: Mildred "Lillian" Matson 

Born: 13 Aug 1913 in: Brush Praire, Clark, Washington 

F 

Married: 23 Dec 1939 in: Brush Praire, Clark, Washington, Hockinson 

Apostolic Lutheran Church 

Died: 18 Dec 1993 in: Sylvan Lake, Alberta Canada 

Spouse: Phillip Nathaniel Hilman 

12 Name: Fred "Lester" Matson 

Born: 04 Dec 1915 in: Brush Praire, Clark, Washington 

M Married: 

in: 

Died: 21 Oct 1988 in: Vancouver, Clark, Washington 

Spouse: Virginia 

13 Name: Helen "Irene" Matson 

Born: 24 Jan 1918 in: Brush Praire, Clark, Washington 

F Married: 21 Dec 1935 in: Brush Praire, Clark, Washington 

Died: 09 Feb 2001 in: Goldendale, Washington 

Spouse: Raymond Edwin Hilman 

33


Iven Oscar Matson 

Iven Oscar Matson was born to Henry Matson and Clara Elmarine Hall, August 3, 1898 in Brush Praire, Washington. He 

married Hilda Isabella Baumgartner in Vancouver, Washington, December 14, 1918. He owned a dairy farm, Golden 

Rule Dairy which he operated until his barn burned, destroying his business. He raised five children with his wife, Helen, 

Ralph, Ivan, Robert, and Gladys who died before the age of 2. Iven died in his fifties of heart problems, January 6, 1948. 

Hilda died June 16, 1977. 

34



Husband: Iven Oscar Matson 

Born: 03 Aug 1898 

in: Hockinson, Clark, Washington 

Married: 14 Dec 1918 

in: Vancouver, Clark, Washington 

Died: 06 Jan 1948 

in: Battle Ground, Clark, Washington 

Father: Henry Matson 

Mother: Clara Elmarine Hall 


Wife: Hilda Isabella "Belle" Baumgartner 

Born: 09 Sep 1899 


Died: 16 Jun 1977 


Father: Jacob Benjamin Baumgartner 

Mother: Mary Barbara Huber 


CHILDREN 

1 Name: Gladys Marion Matson 

Born: 27 Apr 1922 in: Kelso, Cowlitz, Washington 

F Married: 

in: 

Died: 29 Jul 1924 in: Kelso, Cowlitz, Washington 

Spouse: 

2 Name: Ivan Earl Matson 

Born: 22 Oct 1924 in: Kelso, Cowlitz, Washington 

M Married: 19 Aug 1944 in: Battle Ground, Washington 

Died: 25 Dec 1985 in: Vancouver, Clark, Washington 

Spouse: Dorothy Alice Emery 

3 Name: Robert Allen Matson 

Born: 19 Apr 1929 in: Vancouver, Clark, Washington 

M Married: 1949 

in: California 

Died: 16 Jun 1975 in: Vancouver, Clark, Washington 

Spouse: Verla Bettencourt 

4 Name: Helen Isabelle "Babe" Matson 

Born: 12 Aug 1931 in: Vancouver, Clark, Washington 

F Married: 03 Jun 1950 in: Battle Ground, Clark, Washington 

Died: 

in: 

Spouse: Leo Henry Meier 

5 Name: Ralph Jerald Matson 

Born: 13 Feb 1935 in: Vancouver, Clark, Washington 

M Married: 02 Sep 1966 in: Vancouver, Clark County, Washington 

Died: 26 Mar 1990 in: Clark County, Washington 

Spouse: Linda Lee Heasley 

35


Meier 


36


Charles "Carl" Peter Meier 

Carl Peter Meier was born January 4, 1872 in Switzerland. At the age of 20, Carl boarded the steamship, Indiana, from 

Liverpool and left for America. July 11, 1892 the ship's manifest has Carl arriving with only 3 dollars debarking in New 

York with a friend. He was naturalized in 1900. 

Carl made his way West to Hillsboro, Oregon, where he married Barbara Pauline Lorsung on February 19, 1905. 

Barbara was the daughter of Joseph Stephen Lorsung and Pauline Amelia Mielke. She was born in Millerville, 

Minnesota on January 12, 1889. The Lorsungs had moved West about 1891; leaving behind their town and family. 

Their first child, Anna , died before her first birthday, 1907. The couple suffered another death when their second 

daughter, Katherine, died in December of 1908. Carl and Barbara moved to Northwest Oregon Territory to farm their 

own land; and, in October of 1909 their third daughter, Marie Margaret, was born. Two years later, a fourth daughter, 

Theresa was born, followed by Jacob Carl, their first son, in February 1913. Anthony, Alice and John Patrick joined the 

family; their youngest son, Leo, was born in November 1929 in Camas, Washington. Theresa remembered that her 

family loaded everything they owned in their Model T and moved to the new home, in Battleground. 

Carl worked in Battleground as a dairy farmer in 1930. Eight years later he would die at the age of 66, October 20, 

1938. His wife, Barbara, would live thirty-eight more years. She died in Battleground, June 19, 1976. She was 87. Both 

are buried in the family's plot at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery 

_______________________________________________________________________________________ 

Sources: 1. United States Federal Census,Reedville 1900, Hillsboro 1910, Battleground,1930 2. Ship's manifest for the S.S. Indiana July 11, 

1892 3. Sacred Heart Cemetery Tombstone photo 

37



Husband: Charles "Carl" Peter Meier 

Born: 04 Jan 1872 in: Baden, Rothernbach, Germany/Switzerland 

Married: 19 Feb 1905 in: Hillsboro, Washington, Oregon 

Died: 20 Oct 1938 in: Battleground, Clark, Washington 

Father: Carl Meier 

Mother: Unknown 


Wife: Barbara Pauline Lorsung 

Born: 15 Jan 1889 in: Millerville, Doulgas, Minnesota 

Died: 19 Jun 1976 in: Battleground, Clark, Washington 

Father: Joseph Stephen Lorsung 

Mother: Pauline Amelia Mielke 


CHILDREN 

1 Name: Anna B. Meier 

Born: 25 Jan 1907 in: 

F Married: 

in: 

Died: Mar 1908 

in: 


2 Name: Katharine E. Meier 

Born: 29 Aug 1908 in: 

F Married: 

in: 

Died: Dec 1908 

in: 


3 Name: Marie Margaret Meier 

Born: 07 Oct 1909 in: Hillsboro, Washington, Oregon 

F Married: 

in: 

Died: 21 Mar 1993 in: Arlington, Snohomish, Washington 

Spouse: Glenn Richard Huestis 

4 Name: Theresa Pauline Meier 

Born: 09 Nov 1911 in: Northwest, Washington, Oregon 

F Married: 

in: 

Died: 22 Mar 2005 in: Battleground, Clark, Washington 

Spouse: John Thornton O'Donell 

5 Name: Jacob Carl Meier 

Born: 24 Feb 1913 in: Northwest, Washington, Oregon 

M Married: 

in: 

Died: 12 Mar 2002 in: Vancouver, Clark, Washington 

Spouse: Luella Eaton 

38


6 Name: Albert John Meier 

Born: 16 Aug 1918 

M Married: 17 Nov 1936 

Died: 10 Aug 1989 

Spouse: Esther Lillie Swartz 



in: Battleground, Clark, Washington 

in: Payette, Payette, Idaho 

7 Name: Anthony J. Meier 

Born: 30 Jan 1921 in: Northwest Washington, Oregon 

M Married: 

in: 

Died: Sep 1981 

in: 

Spouse: 

8 Name: Alice Ruth Meier 

Born: 17 Sep 1922 in: Battleground, Clark, Washington 

F Married: 

in: 

Died: 

in: 

Spouse: John George Lehner 

9 Name: John Patrick Meier 

Born: 16 Mar 1924 in: Battleground, Clark, Washington 

M Married: 

in: 

Died: 

in: 

Spouse: 

10 Name: Leo Henry Meier 

Born: 04 Nov 1929 in: Camas, Clark, Washington 

M Married: 03 Jun 1950 in: Battle Ground, Clark, Washington 

Died: 08 Nov 1961 in: Tillamook, Oregon 

Spouse: Helen Isabelle "Babe" Matson 

39


Vanatta 


40


Ancestors of Mary Van Atta 

John Van Etten 

b: 1720 in Namanock, Sussex County, New 

Jersey 

d: 1786 in Beaver County, Pennsylvania 

James Van Atta 

b: 02 May 1771 in Namanock, Sussex County, 

New Jersey 

d: 07 Oct in North Beaver Twp., Beaver County, 

Pa. 

Gearshum Van Atta 

b: 02 Jun 1813 in Beaver, Pennsylvania 

d: 28 May 1896 in Brush Praire, Washington 

Margaret Le Fevre 

b: Abt. 1732 in Northampton County, 

Pennsylvania 

d: Abt. 1780 in Pike County, Pennsylvania 

John Hull 

b: 1753 

d: 1818 

Elizabeth Hull 

b: 1776 in Montague, Sussex County, New Jersey 

d: 03 Sep 1859 in Iowa 

Mary Van Atta 

b: 30 Sep 1840 in Mercer, IIlinois 

d: 21 May 1929 in Brush Prairie, Clark, 

Washington, USA 

Racheal Gosset 

b: 1754 

d: Unknown 

Joshua Palmer 

b: 1749 

d: 1835 

William Palmer 

b: 1774 in Virginia 

d: 25 Oct 1848 in South Carolina 

Sarah Caroline Palmer 

b: 13 Feb 1819 in Union, Indiana 

d: 07 Apr 1901 in Brush Praire, Washington 

Mary 

b: 1758 

d: Unknown 

Jane Gill 

b: 1780 

d: 25 Aug 1848 in Rock Island, Illinois 


41


James Van Atta 

AUTHOR’S NOTE: The following material on the Van Atta family (by many and various spellings) follows the ancestral line of the author 

from Jacob Jansen Van Etten but incorporates many descendants through the broad scope of each succeeding generation. The material has been 

gathered over about 25 years of research and from several hundred sources. Many of those are very reliable and well documented while at the 

other end of the scale some are of uncertain accuracy. An effort has been made to be as complete as possible. Where there are conflicts, the 

generally reliable sources have been used in most cases and more than one date in some circumstances. Question marks are used to indicate 

some uncertain data. The use of any specific spelling of the name in this material is not necessarily indicative of correctness. Many family 

members used more than one spelling for the same person, and different sources often varied in the same individual’s surname spelling. Some 

family members within the same generation used different spellings within the same family. Robert B. Van Atta 

* * * 

The Van Atta name is a derivation of the original Van Etten (from or of Etten). There are many different versions of the 

name, and in old records such as census listings, church rolls, tax lists, and such, the same person’s name frequently 

differs. A few of the versions are Vanatta, Vanata, Vannatta, Van Etta, Van Natta, Vanaten, Vanetter, Van Natten, 

Vanetan, Van Nette, and many more. 

The family originally came from the small agricultural town of Etten, eight miles southwest of the prominent city of 

Breda in Noord Brahant (North Brabant) province in Holland. That province is the most southern of 11 Dutch provinces, 

and Fleming in characteristics, presumably because Belgium was part of Netherlands until 1830, although the Dutch 

language is spoken there. Etten, about 30 miles northeast of Antwerp, Belgium, had a population in 1970 of 19,698. In 

its earlier years, Etten was the scene of much conflict between the Spanish and the Dutch, and the town was destroyed 

many times. It is on the railroad between Rosendale and Breda. In the 1920’s, its roads were of rough cobblestone, built 

in Napoleon’s time, and run for miles in straight lines shaded by linden trees. 

Johannes Marinessen Adriense and his parents, Marinus Adriense and Maria Hendricksen, are the earliest known 

ancestors of the family. Johannes was baptized March 23, 1597, at Etten. He married Wilhelimina Hoannes, and they 

were the parents of the man who was the Van Etten/Van Atta pioneer. 

Jacob Jansen Van Etten 

Jacob Jansen was born in 1632 and baptized October 22, 1634, at Etten, North Brabant, Holland. The son of Johannes 

Marinessen and Wilhelimina Hoannes Adriense, he became the progenitor of the Van Etten/Van Atta family after he 

came to America. 

In the mid-1600’s, Dutch colonization in America was at a high level of interest, a circumstance that was to lead to 

Jacob’s arrival in the colony at New Netherlands (New York). That story began with a man named Adriaen van der 

Donck, from Breda in North Brabant province. He first came to New Netherlands in 1641, and was initially involved 

with the development of a settlement colony at Yonkers. In early 1652, van der Donck was back in Holland. Prospective 

settlers for those Dutch colonies, or servants for those already established in New Netherlands, were hired or recruited in 

the mother country, generally in the area from which the colonial leader came -- in this case van der Donck from North 

Brabant. 

Van der Donck at that time was seeking farmers for his Yonkers colony in the neighborhood of Breda, his birthplace. 

Among several he recruited were Aert Pieters Tack and Jacob Jansz/Jansen from nearby Etten, according to papers dated 

May 15, 1652. The two were contracted for six years. Such contracts ranged from two to six years. Passage money in 

these cases was usually paid by the employer. In New Netherlands, bed and board were furnished in addition to wages, 

which for farmhands ranged from 100 to 150 guilders a year, depending on age and experience. 

Yonkers was just north of New Amsterdam (New York City). Jacob Jansen apparently made the crossing to America in 

the year 1652, but it is not clear whether he was at Yonkers or whether he was diverted to Esopus, first settled by the 

Dutch that year. Esopus, named for the Indian tribe in that area, was on the west bank of the Hudson River, about 75 

miles north of Yonkers. Jacob worked as a farmhand for Aert Pieters/Petersen Tack at Esopus about 1658, and was 

referred to as “head farmer of Tack”. Relations with the Indians were not good at that time, and the New Netherlands 

42


referred to as “head farmer of Tack”. Relations with the Indians were not good at that time, and the New Netherlands 

director-general, Petrus (Peter) Stuyvesant, urged an agreement which the settlers there signed, May 31, 1658, to erect a 

palisaded village and demolish their separate dwellings. 

A brief war with the Indians, known as the First Esopus War, began after soldiers and settlers senselessly shot three 

Indians in September 1659. An uneasy peace treaty was signed in July 1660. Despite the tense situation, the 

community kept growing and was named Wiltwyck by Stuyvesant in 1661. Then, in June 1663, Indians attacked the 

village, massacred a number of residents, took others as prisoners, and burned many homes. The record states that Aert 

Tack was never seen again. A second peace treaty was concluded with the Indians in May 1664, and later that year an 

important step was taken by Jacob Jansen. But before that, English forces seized New Amsterdam, September 8, 1664, 

and 17 days later Wiltwyck came under the authority of the Duke of York. The state of New Netherlands and the city of 

New Amsterdam were both renamed New York. The name Wildwyck fell into disuse, and the town was again generally 

referred to as Esopus. 

The baptism and marriage registers of the old Dutch church of Kingston, N. Y. contain the following marriage record: 

“Jacob Jansen of Etten, in Brabant, and Annetje Arians of Amsterdam, deserted wife of Aert Pietersen Tack, both 

residing here in Wiltwyck. First publication of Banns, 28 December 1664; second, 4 January 1665; third, 11 January 

1665.” Records concur that they were married January 11, 1665, the ceremony being performed by Domine Hermannus 

Blom of Wiltwyck. 

As was common in those days, Jacob assumed the name of his birthplace, and after the publishing of the banns, he was 

known as Jacob Jansen von Etten (from Etten) later, the von became Anglicized to “Van.” His wife was Annetje 

Gelvins, interpretation of old Dutch records by experts reveals. Her name was written in several ways, including Annetje 

Adriantse Gelvins and Annetje Adriantse Kam. These led genealogists to say that her father’s name, therefore, was 

Adrian and his last name Gelvins or Kam. 

The nature of a number of difficulties involving her first husband, Aert Pietersen Tack, emerges through a sequence of 

court cases beginning in 1662. There were several problems with employees over wages, and that November (1662) he 

mortgaged the grain crop to be harvested the following year. Tack apparently left before the fall of 1663, either as the 

result of the Indian raid or under cover of it. His wife harvested the grain and was enjoined by creditors from using the 

harvest (except that which the court ordered her paid for her work in harvesting). In May 1664, further evidence of Tack’s 

indebtedness, in this case, for cattle appeared. In July, the court took steps to condemn Tack’s property for his absenting 

himself, and to sell it to satisfy a list of creditors. 

In October of 1664, Jacob Jansen (Van Etten), a farmhand of Tack, sued for wages due him. The following month, Jacob 

himself was sued to collect a debt of wheat which he admitted but explained that he couldn’t pay due to being sick with 

fever. He was granted time until the Tack estate was settled, when he presumably could collect wages due him. In 

January 1665, Annetje Ariaens requested relief from her debts because her effects had been sold “on behalf of creditors 

of her absconded husband”. That same month, Jacob again requested the court that he be paid his wages from the estate 

in the amount of “388 guilders heavy money in wheat”. He was told 

he could be paid after prior preference creditors were satisfied. Jacob was still having some financial problems in 

March 1666, when he was sued for not having paid his house rent of one schepel (about ¾ of a bushel) of wheat per 

month for 13 months. As late as March 1668, when he was sued for wheat due on the purchase of a house and lot, he 

could not pay because his wife’s estate had been sold to satisfy her former husband’s creditors. 

After that, his financial situation apparently improved. In 1670, there is mention of Jacob Jansen Van Etten as a resident 

43


they moved on. 

Old records have disclosed that Jacob was a petitioner for a minister for the old church at Esopus in 1676. Jacob Jansen 

was one of those who signed a petition for control of local affairs, January 26, 1684, mentioned in Old Ulster II (257- 

262), which so angered Governor Thomas Donger that all the signers were arrested and fined. Jacob Jansen Van Etten 

took an oath of allegiance to England in 1689 in Ulster County, N. Y. by order of the governor . 

He then resided. at the town of Hurley. Jacob Jansen Van Etten died in 1690 at Hurley, survived by his widow, five sons, 

and four daughters. 

In 1718, the property of Jacob Jansen Van Etten was divided among his children by conveyance from his widow to each 

of them. About that time, the sons and their families were seeking new homes in the then sparsely settled Country along 

the Hudson River, and in the Delaware River valley, first in northwestern New Jersey and a little later on the 

Pennsylvania side. 

This concludes the history of the oldest traced Van Atta, Notes on James Vanatta are still being collected. 

44



Husband: James Van Atta 

Born: 02 May 1771 

Married: 1791 

Died: 07 Oct 

Father: John Van Etten 

Mother: Margaret Le Fevre 


Wife: Elizabeth Hull 

Born: 1776 

Died: 03 Sep 1859 

Father: John Hull 

Mother: Racheal Gosset 


CHILDREN 

1 Name: Calvin Vanatta 

Born: 14 Dec 1795 

M Married: 

Died: 

Spouse: 

2 Name: Moses Vanatta 

Born: 1797 

M Married: 

Died: 

Spouse: 

3 Name: Daniel Vanatta 

Born: Jul 1799 

M Married: 

Died: 

Spouse: 

4 Name: Benjamin Vanatta 

Born: 01 Mar 1800 

M Married: 

Died: 

Spouse: 

5 Name: Mary Vanatta 

Born: Sep 1805 

F Married: 

Died: 

Spouse: 

in: Namanock, Sussex County, New Jersey 

in: Sussex County, New Jersey 

in: North Beaver Twp., Beaver County, Pa. 

in: Montague, Sussex County, New Jersey 

in: Iowa 

in: Beaver, Pennsylvania 

in: 

in: 

in: 

in: 

in: 

in: 

in: 

in: 


in: 

in: 


in: 

in: 

45



6 Name: Samuel Vanatta 

Born: Jun 1807 

M Married: 

Died: 

Spouse: 

7 Name: James Vanatta 

Born: 07 Nov 1811 

M Married: 

Died: 

Spouse: 

8 Name: William Vanatta 

Born: 07 Nov 1811 

M Married: 

Died: 

Spouse: 

9 Name: Gearshum Van Atta 

Born: 02 Jun 1813 

M Married: 

Died: 28 May 1896 

Spouse: Sarah Caroline Palmer 


in: 

in: 


in: 

in: 


in: 

in: 


in: 

in: Brush Praire, Washington 

10 Name: Catherine Vanatta 

Born: 11 Apr 1815 

F Married: 

Died: 

Spouse: 

11 Name: Eliza Vanatta 

Born: 26 Nov 1821 

F Married: 

Died: 

Spouse: 


in: 

in: 

in: 

in: 

in: 

46


Gearshum Vanatta 

Gearshum Vanatta, who was born in Pennsylvania, June 2, 1813 and died in Clark County, Washington, May 28, 1896 

served in the Black Hawk war on the steamboat that did such effective service in this closing battle of the war where the 

power of the Black Hawk was broken and his people hopelessly defeated. The venerable lady now resides in Vancouver, 

Washington. Her memory is clear and she tells the story of the battle, as her husband told it, as follows: 

"The American army had brought the wily Black Hawk to bay on the Mississippi river. The maneuver, if effected would 

leave the broad river between him and the troops and open to him the defenseless settlements an easy prey to his 

tomahawks and scalping knives. A courier reached our boat with orders to move up the river with all possible speed, 

prepared to fight at any moment. 

The fires were kept roaring in the boats furnaces all night long; the engine was pushed to its utmost capacity. I stood at 

my gun throughout the long, dark night. Early in the morning the cracking of rifles, the rattle of muskets and the roar of the 

artillery mingled with the shouts of the soldiers and the war whoop of the Indians; old us a battle was nigh. A wild yell 

from the savages told that a critical point on the conflict was near. The sound of the battle was awful. The troops seemed 

to be falling back, we soon beheld some half a mile up the river, the stream blackened by a multitude of Indians in 

canoes, buffalo skin boats and hundreds of Indians holding onto the tails of their ponies, all making for the opposite shore. 

"Load" - was the sharp order of the officer. Bang!! went the rammer, followed by, "All ready Sir", The boat soon brought 

us within easy range of the swarming mass. Aim low, Fire; said the officer. The priming hissed, the great gun roared, a 

discharge of grape and canister sped among the floating savages. Canoes, boats, ponies and human bodies leaped into the 

air along the pathway of the murderous shot. Volley after volley from the Redman's rifles, from the shore and canoes and 

boats fell upon the steamer like deadly hail. Faster and more deadly the boats guns worked, vomiting fire and death 

among the struggling swimmers. The dead floated a moment in silence, and then sank, the living struggled; the 

inexorable engine drove among the helpless Indians, horses, frantic with fright or maddened from wounds, turned toward 

their home shore and with fierce splashing beat many to death. Grape, canister and chain shot showered from the boats 

guns crushing and mangling. Panic seized the Savages. They swam in aimless circles like inanimate drift in whirlpools. 

The slaughter was terrible. Few of the vast multitude that began that mad swim reached either shore. The last desperate 

move of the Black Hawk in the game of war was checkmated, his power was broken, his tribe almost annihilated. I saw 

him surrender, and the Black Hawk war was over." 

Mr. Huff had never his aunt before, and among the many incidents of family history which she told him was the same 

Baptist minister, Elder Clark, who baptized herself and husband, nearly three quarters of a century ago in Illinois also 

baptized the father and mother of Dr. Huff. Though warrior brave and frontiersman bold, Mr. Vanatta was a Christian 

member of the Baptist church from early manhood during all his journey through life. The Vanatta's passed through 

Grande Ronde valley in the fall of 1854, camped where "Old LaGrandi" now is. They were then three hundred miles 

from white settlements, dusty and travel worn, with wearied team, scant of provisions, two great mountain ranges to 

cross, the great and dusty and dreary was done, and the hero, who won his honors on the broad Mississippi in grassy 

Illinois, now sleeps on the banks of the Columbia River. 

Note: Told to Mr. A. E. Huff (son of Susan Palmer Huff) by Sarah Palmer Vanatta when she was nearly ninety 

years old, after Gearshum had died. Printed in the Grand Ronde, Oregon newspaper. 

The following is an Extract of a Letter from D.S. Witter, Esq., to a friend in this neighborhood, dated, Lower Yellow 

Banks, April 28, 1832. "On the 21st about midnight five Indians entered my house and I made my escape and got 

off. I had, on the day previous, buried most of my articles, & c. On the 20th., Gershom Van Atta started to go up to 

see me, for the purpose of ascertaining what I intended doing; when, about half a m ile below Edwards' river he 

was fired upon by an Indian who lay concealed in the grass; two other Indians immediately rose and ran towards 

Van Atta, but on finding the other dead, they turned their attention to him, which enabled Van Atta to make his 

escape. Black Hawk's band is at this time about 1000 warriors, most of them in a body, and determined to fight; a 

few are scattered through the country doing mischief." 

Gearshum and Sarah Palmer Van Atta, crossed the plains in 1854, coming from Sugar Grove, Illinois to Oregon 

Territory. Father bought a small farm four miles from Halsey where I was born, for which he paid $600.00. After living 

47


Gearshum and Sarah Palmer Van Atta, crossed the plains in 1854, coming from Sugar Grove, Illinois to Oregon 

Territory. Father bought a small farm four miles from Halsey where I was born, for which he paid $600.00. After living 

there nine years and making many improvements, including a new house, he sold the place for $1200.00 and together 

with Grandfather Van Atta, Eslem Hall, who in the meantime had married Aunt Mary, and Oren Clark, Father's oldest 

son, who had married Lydia Bond, moved to what was then Washington Territory. Before taking their families there they 

had gone to 'spy out the land'. Being pleased with it Father and Uncle Eslem took up homesteads and built log cabins at 

Brush Prairie. Oren settled on Salmon Creek and Grandfather bought a place of a Mr. Laken. This place was partly under 

cultivation, had a small house, a little out-building which he called a grainery and a very fine, deep well with a windlass. 

The county was very heavily timbered while Oregon where they had lived was prairie country. So it seemed very strange 

and forbidding to be able to see only in one direction, up. Mother hadn't pictured it just like that and nothing could daunt 

her spirits for long. She had six children to care for and she must see that the little log cabin was sufficient. It had three 

rooms, two rather large ones and one small one, two large fireplaces and a little chimney for the cookstove. True, they 

had lately built a new and very comfortable house on their place in Oregon, but they could do it again. 

The first thing was to cut down some of those big trees so they could not only see out but could plant a garden and have 

some flowers to beautify the place. She had saved both garden and flower seeds and had brought them with her. She must 

get busy. Thus her spirits rose to the occasion though it was 

often a struggle to keep them there. 

So trees were cut down and to see a large one fall is an unforgettable sight. The direction in which the tree should fall is 

decided and a deep cut made on that side called the lower cut and a cut higher up on the opposite side. The tree begins to 

tremble, it's top starts to wave and soon it comes down with an awful cash. The limbs are chopped off and piled for 

burning but the trees, now logs , are not so easily disposed of. They must be put in shape to be rolled together and burned 

as there were no sawmills there then. 

About every 10 or 12 feet holes were bored from the top to the center of the log and others from the side to meet them 

and a fire placed in the opening. Those fires often had to be rekindled but eventually the logs were ready for a calling 

together of the neighbors for a 'logrolling'. With the trees out of the way a place was soon cleared for a garden and we had 

a view to a range of mountains to the northeast which was very spectacular and pleasing. 

There were other first things to be thought of. Father was a Baptist minister and his father and grandfather before him, 

also his older brother, Alvin Clark, who had crossed the plains in 1852. He, too, had taken up a homestead in Brush 

Prairie but was then living on Burnt Bridge Creek and it was at his house we spent our first night in Washington 

Territory. He had persuaded Father to leave Oregon and come to Washington where he thought there were greater 

opportunities. Father had organized a Baptist church where they lived in Oregon which afterwards became the Halsey 

Baptist Church and there must be one here. So in August 1863 he and his brother Alvin organized the Salmon Creek 

Baptist Church, afterwards known as the Brush Prairie Baptist Church. It is still an active organization and is the oldest 

Baptist Church of continuous existence in the State. In 1865 the Church organized a Sunday School. It is the oldest 

Baptist Sunday School in the State. There was no church building so they cleared a small place in the dense forest a 

short distance from our house and built a little log cabin which would do for a church building till they could provide 

something better. It would also do for school for the few children that were there, two, possibly three, families only being 

there before us. The building, as I remember faced south. As you enter the men sat on the left or west side and the women 

on the right, east side, on benches facing each other. 

A long desk was fastened to the wall on each side with a long bench in front of each desk. Other shorter benches were 

placed in front of those, with a stove in the center of the room. The teacher's desk and a blackboard were at the back and 

48


One day the little schoolhouse was racked by an earthquake. It came from the north and seemed just as if a heavy animal 

had suddenly jumped onto the roof, made a leap towards the front, lighted again, and then bounded off. The children gave 

one glance at the teacher and ran for the door, she following. There was no more school that afternoon. I have often 

wondered what became of the little schoolhouse in which I spent many pleasant and profitable hours. I think it was still 

there in 1882. 

Vancouver was our only market or trading place and the only mode of travel was by wagons drawn by horses or oxen. The 

roads in winter were almost impassable with mud up to the hubs of the wheels. In some places poles were laid down to 

make a corduroy. In summer the dust was almost suffocating. It took a whole day to drive to Vancouver, to do a little 

trading and get back before dark. Fortunately, we didn't have to go often as there were not many things we absolutely had 

to buy or trade for with butter, eggs, and home-knit wool socks. Butter and eggs varied in price, but we always got 'four 

bits' in trade for a pair of socks. Those were the days when two ten-cent pieces, 'two bits', were equal to twenty-five 

cents and four ten-cent pieces 'four bits', would pass for fifty cents. Pennies were not in use in Washington Territory and I 

think the use of the five-cent piece came later. We had our sheep, their wool was carded by hand and made into rolls 

which Mother spun. Sometimes she dyed the yarn. If she wanted it dyed a mixture of white and some other color she 

wound corn husks tightly around the skein where she wanted it left white. We raised our own meat which was salted down 

or cured for future use, and the boys often killed wild ducks and occasionally a deer. If we wanted something extra we 

could get a sixty pound salmon for fifty cents. Sugar was bought by the-hundred pound sack, flour by the fifty pound sack 

which lasted a long time, as we used mostly cornbread. New clothes had to be bought occasionally, although Mother 

made some of them from sugar and flour sacks. Also a roll of cowhide was needed for shoes which Father made. They 

were not beautiful shoes but was strong and comfortable and plenty large as we had to stand on a paper with a heel 

against the bed post and have our feet measured with some added to grow on. They were also greased to keep the leather 

soft and dry as we had no rubbers then. When "squeaking shoes" became stylish an extra piece of leather was placed 

between the soles for that purpose. I never had any made to squeak but Irene, who was a grown young lady, had a squeaky 

pair. I still remember how proud and happy I was when I had my first store shoes. 

That meant a trip to Vancouver which was an unusual and exciting event. The trip itself, in spite of the mud or dust, was 

something to look forward to. There was Fourth Plain, a strip of prairie country where the horses could trot. How 

exhilarating after miles of slow walking! In summer the prairie was covered with beautiful flowers, birdie bills, 

buttercups, and many other which I so longed to stop and pick but there was no time for that. Wild strawberries grew 

there then too, and sometimes we made a special trip to get them. It was there we had our first wonderful view of Mt. 

Hood. Then there was Burnt Bridge Creek to drive through in order to wet the wagon wheels so the spokes would swell 

and prevent the tires from falling off. Then the cemetery and the Fort grounds to see, both of them so beautifully kept. 

General Howard was stationed at the Fort at that time and the country was excited and alarmed over threatening Indian 

wars of Eastern Washington and Oregon. 

Arriving in Vancouver, the horses were tied to the hitching post, the baskets of butter and eggs carried into the store and 

exchanged for necessities. Mother traded mostly at Sohns and Schvele's. She made good 

butter and sometimes packed down a large crock full for the storekeeper's own use. The store was a place of 

enchantment with its bolts of beautiful calico, red topped and copper toed shoes, glass jars of candy and other delectable 

things. I had come to select my new shoes and calico for a dress. I chose the red topped shoes and a dress from the bolt of 

yellow with a little red flower. Mother soon made the dress and I wore it to church. Looking across to the men's side I saw 

a boy with a shirt just like it. I was a bashful little girl and didn't enjoy wearing the dress any more. For a new hat we 

went to Mrs. Jaggy's. For everyday wear we used a sunbonnet or if we wanted a hat we took wheat straw, soaked it in 

warm water until it was soft, then braided it and sewed it into shape. As children we had very few toys, some marbles, 

49


the old custom and now my great-grandchildren enter into the sport of it with just as much enthusiasm as we did such a 

long time ago. 

We were a busy, happy family. We loved the outdoors, to hear the birds and the frogs sing, to watch the clouds and the 

great eagles in the sky, the nighthawks swooping down for their prey, then the coming to darkness and the myriad of stars. 

In the evening we played indoor games, told riddles, knit or shelled corn to be taken to the mill to be ground into meal 

while Father read aloud to us. The book I remember best was the "Pilgrim's Progress". We had a large library for that 

time and place and we all loved to read. A 'colporteur' sometimes came around and Father never failed to buy and the 

church soon secured a small Sunday school library. There were no electric lights or even coal oil lamps at that time but 

Father always had a pitch knot on hand which, added to the hearth-fire, made a brilliant light. When there was any 

evening gathering he always carried a pitch torch which lighted the road for everyone going his way. Mother made 

candles which we used to light us to bed. In the early morning we played with each other in seeing who could first find 

the apples which had dropped off during the night. Father had planted a large orchard, more than twenty varieties of 

apples, other fruits, berries, and pieplant as it was called then. There were wild berries too, black-berries were plentiful, 

especially any place that had been burned over. Raspberries grew around every old stump and red huckleberries were 

plentiful at first but people were careless and broke off the branches in order to pick them more easily so they were soon 

mostly gone. There were no fruit jars for canning in those days. I remember Mother's first canning was done in stone jars 

using wax for sealing. The only way to have fruit, except apples and pears, for winter use was to dry it or make it into 

preserves or jelly. Dried berries were mostly seeds so she gave that up but she did dry lots of apples and some pears, 

setting them up piece by piece in the sun. Grandmother strung hers and hung them around the kitchen stove. They 

evidently didn't know corn could be dried. That would have been a wonderful addition to their winter's diet. Wild flowers 

grew in the woods, especially the wild currants and trilliums which we called 'bethroots'. We didn't know they should not 

be picked so prodigally which they suffered from later. There was a large patch of them near the road between our house 

and Aunt Mary's. Going to Aunt Mary's or to Grandma's to spend the night was one of our greatest pleasures. Father 

would come in from work carrying a big pole to be cut into firewood (he never came empty-handed) saying, 'Well, let's 

go to Aunt Mary's and stay all night'. He'd take the baby on his shoulder, Mother would carry the carpet bag and the boys 

would take some blankets as Aunt Mary didn't have room or beds enough for so many. The boys slept in the barn and the 

girls on a big pallet on the floor. At Grandma's there was a loft reached through a hole in the ceiling by ladder in the 

chimney corner. The boys slept there. How I wished we had a loft! We didn't need one but it seemed to me a sort of fairy 

place. While we enjoyed going away to spend the night, we enjoyed still more having them come to our house. They 

didn't have any separate room for children to play in. We had a big fireplace in the kitchen where children would play 

Blindman's Bluff, Pussy wants a corner, Jacks Alive, Forfeits, or just tell stories while the grownups would gather around 

the fire in the living room or 'other room' as we called it. Bedtime came all too soon, but there was room for everyone. 

Mother had five large beds and a trundle bed, a low bed which was pulled out from under a larger one and when not in use 

could be pushed back again. It was then not visible as curtains were used around the lower part of the beds at that time. 

There was, too, the big cradle which was often used for naps in the daytime and sometimes for a bed at night. It was large 

enough for four or more to sit in and almost long enough for a grown person to lie in. It was a wonderful cradle. Father's 

workmanship, and such a help and comfort to Mother in caring for her large family of twelve children, six boys and six 

girls, though only nine at that time. A sad scene connected with the cradle I shall never forget. I still see Mother kneeling 

and bending over the cradle in an agony of grief as she watched her little daughter, Annie, four years old, breathe her last. 

Then with what unspeakable bravery she laid the little body away and took up again the burden of her household. To her 

it was not a burden. It was mother love so great that she anticipated and supplied every need both willingly and lovingly. 

I was then eleven years old. 

Other things said and done but I will mention but one. The boys were out in the woods and Cephas, being a bold, 

venturesome boy, climbed up a tree. After reaching quite a distance he lost his balance and fell. One of the boys ran for 

50


We had lived in the log cabin ten years and I was thirteen years old when Father and the boys built the new house. It was 

made of lumber and the chimneys were made of brick instead of boards and mortar as there were in the log house. There 

were four rooms downstairs and four up, the upstairs being unfinished when we move in. There were three fireplaces, 

three porches and two pantries. Father believed everything should be convenient and handy so there were six outside 

doors which, needless to say , were never locked. Sometimes 'Old Bones' would unexpectedly walk in, but he was a 

friendly old Indian and often visited white people. There were no Indian troubles in that part of the Territory. The house 

was burned after we all came away so it is no longer standing. Grandfather, too, built a new house, a large one painted 

white which I think is still there, not far from the cemetery. 

Battle Ground, a few miles north east had already been somewhat settled. It was less wooded than Brush Prairie, almost 

like a prairie country, thus making it easier to clear and cultivate. There was a post office both at Battle Ground and 

Brush Prairie, the one at Brush Prairie being kept by Mr. Rambo at first, then moved to our house. The mail was carried 

on horseback by a man named Joe Wooden. He was almost the most unforgettable character I have known. A silent, 

modest man but most kind and accommodating. He would be stopped on his route by any number of people and asked to 

bring back something, anything, a paper of needles or pins, a sack of salt, a pound of soda, nothing was too much trouble. 

The young people often sent notes to each other which should have gone through the mail. He never objected and never 

forgot anything. He always had lunch at our house, as a good many of the men from Battle Ground did, and Mother never 

charged anything. But those men were neither beggars nor tramps and would slip money into the hand of one of us 

children. We had not been in that country very many years before there was a great influx of people to that locality and 

almost all the land was settled upon. There was a community east of Battle Ground and northeast of Brush Prairie called 

Eureka settled mostly by Swedes and Finns. When the post office was established there it was kept by a man named 

Hockinson. Either to commemorate his memory or for some other reason the name of the locality was changed from 

Eureka to Hockinson. A bank was established at Battle Ground in 1871 and at Hockinson in 1884. The road from 

Hockinson to Vancouver was located on our east boundary line near enough to the house that we could see and hear 

people pass and we always enjoyed hearing 'Old Man Lieser' as he was called 'Gee Hawing' to his oxen as he passed on 

his way to or from Vancouver. 

The road from Battle Ground to Vancouver was near our west boundary line, the two roads joining about a mile farther 

on. There was a connecting road in front of our house which later was closed and one opened farther north. The increase in 

population meant wider, more varied interests. A debating society, singing school, and a Good Templer's Lodge were 

organized and spelling bees held. All of which meant a more united neighborhood. The little schoolhouse was getting too 

small. A new and larger building made of lumber was built about 1872 on the Battle Ground road west of us, dividing 

the neighborhood into two districts. The Baptist church held its services there until 1888 when the present Baptist 

Church was built. A Christian Church was organized and their services held in the little log house. Sometimes there were 

two services on Sunday with lunch in between. Everyone brought something and when the first service was over boards 

were placed on trestles outside making a large table which was soon loaded with good things which everyone enjoyed. 

After lunch a second service was held but the young people often took that occasion for a walk. 

Both the Baptist and the Christian Church believe that baptism should be administered to believers only and that only 

by immersion. There was no baptistery in the buildings, no water supply except from wells, no water pipes, no bath 

tubs, so the only place available for administering the rite of baptism was Salmon Creek. The place was very beautiful 

and the service very solemn and impressive. I have since witnessed an immersion in a baptistery but it seemed a 

travesty in comparison to one in a flowing stream out in the open with only the sky above. There was no organized church 

in any of the neighboring districts except Dublin where there was a Catholic Church. But Father often held services at 

Battle Ground and at Maple Grove. He loved to walk and always walked to all his appointments. When Mother went 

with him, as she sometimes did , she rode on gentle, old, swaybacked Fannie, while Father walked by her side, often 

51


We lived there several years before there was need of a cemetery when Gearshum Van Atta gave a plot of ground from 

his property for that purpose. The first buried there were Lillie May and Oscar, children of Mr. and Mrs. John Messinger. 

Then came the epidemic of diphtheria and three little girls aged 3, 5, and 7, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Diedterich, died 

from it and were all buried in the same grave. Our own little Annie came next and then little Martha Rambo. These 

graves are all in lots adjoining in the corner of the cemetery next to the church. Brush Praire Cemetery would later be the 

resting place of many family members. 

________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Source: 1. Gershom received a Bounty Land Warrant #72969 for 160 acres in 1855 in Oregon. He attaches a note stating that he partially lost 

his eyesight in summer 1891 2. Grand Ronde, Oregon newspaper date unknown 3. www.pegrowe.com 

52



Husband: Gearshum Van Atta 

Born: 02 Jun 1813 

Married: 

Died: 28 May 1896 

Father: James Van Atta 

Mother: Elizabeth Hull 


Wife: Sarah Caroline Palmer 

Born: 13 Feb 1819 

Died: 07 Apr 1901 

Father: William Palmer 

Mother: Jane Gill 



in: 


in: Union, Indiana 


CHILDREN 

1 Name: Elizabeth Van Atta 

Born: 15 Dec 1834 in: Rock Island, Illinois 

F Married: 09 Dec 1852 in: Sugar Grove, Me 

Died: 26 Oct 


Spouse: John Jay Clark 

2 Name: Jane Van Atta 

Born: 08 May 1836 in: Henderson, IIlinois 

F Married: 10 Sep 1854 in: Linn, Oregon 

Died: 27 Oct 1874 in: Oregon 

Spouse: William Poe 

3 Name: John Van Atta 

Born: 21 Aug 1839 in: Henderson, IIlinois 

M Married: 

in: 

Died: 03 Oct 1839 in: Henderson, IIlinois 

Spouse: 

4 Name: Mary Van Atta 

Born: 30 Sep 1840 in: Mercer, IIlinois 

F Married: 02 Nov 1856 in: Linn county, Oregon 

Died: 21 May 1929 in: Brush Prairie, Clark, Washington, USA 

Spouse: Eslum Monroe Hall 

5 Name: Eli Van Atta 

Born: 09 Dec 1843 in: Henderson, IIlinois 

M Married: 

in: 

Died: 03 Sep 1846 in: Henderson, IIlinois 

Spouse: 

53



6 Name: Benjamin Van Atta 

Born: 28 Oct 1845 in: Henderson, IIlinois 

M Married: 

in: 

Died: 31 Aug 1846 in: Henderson, IIlinois 

Spouse: 

7 Name: Eli Cyrus Van Atta 

Born: 08 Dec 1847 in: Henderson, IIlinois 

M Married: 01 Mar 1874 in: Brush Praire, Washington 

Died: 05 May 1915 in: Yamhill County, Oregon 

Spouse: Elmarine Jane Bowman 

8 Name: Susan Van Atta 

Born: 05 Jul 1850 in: Mercer, Illinois 

F Married: 

in: 

Died: 29 Aug 1850 in: Mercer, Illinois 

Spouse: 

9 Name: William Van Atta 

Born: 15 Sep 1851 in: Sugar Grove, Mercer, Illinois 

M Married: 13 Sep 1873 in: Clark County, Washington 

Died: 11 Aug in: Brush Praire, Washington 

Spouse: Louisa Matilda Groat 

10 Name: Rosetta Sarah Van Atta 

Born: 31 Mar 1856 in: Linn County, Oregon 

F Married: 14 May 1878 in: Multnomah, Oregon 

Died: 31 Oct 1934 in: Ottawa County, Oklahoma 

Spouse: Samuel 

11 Name: Phoebe Caroline Van Atta 

Born: 17 Feb 1858 in: Linn County, Oregon 

F Married: 15 Jan 1873 in: 

Died: 1937 


Spouse: Robert V. Cresap 

12 Name: Irene Rebecca Van Atta 

Born: 03 Sep 1863 in: Brush Praire, Washington 

F Married: Abt. 1882 in: Clark County, Washington 

Died: 01 Jun 

in: 

Spouse: George Nelson Usher 

54

Meier & Matson Family History

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