Lewis County WA, located in the southwestern part of Washington State, is distinguished by its rich tapestry of landscapes ranging from the western lowlands’ fertile agricultural plains to the eastern rugged terrains of the Cascade Mountain Range. Established on December 19, 1845, it is one of the original counties of Washington Territory, formed from the northern part of the Columbia District by the Oregon Provisional Government. Its creation predates the establishment of Washington Territory itself, showcasing its historical significance. Named in honor of Meriwether Lewis, of the famed Lewis and Clark Expedition, the county’s historical roots are deeply intertwined with the early exploration and settlement of the Pacific Northwest. Throughout its history, Lewis County has evolved from a fur trading and logging hub to a diverse economy that includes agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism, reflecting the broader economic transitions of the region. The county seat, Chehalis, situated in the heart of Lewis County, serves as the administrative and cultural center, further emphasizing the county’s role as a pivotal area in Washington’s development.
John Champ, aged 53 years, died at Winlock, Monday morning [December 6] following an illness of several months. Mr. Champ was a well-known early resident of Winlock and served the town as marshal on various occasions. He had lived at Winlock about 35 years. He is survived by a wife and six children, four daughters […]
Mrs. Cora A. Champ, aged 78 years, and a resident of the Winlock community for the past sixty-four years, passed away at her home in Winlock Tuesday morning, October 13, following an illness of two weeks. She was born March 3, 1864, in Spring Valley, Minnesota, and came to WA Territory with her parents, Mr.
Baker, Oregon William Duby, former chairman of the Oregon State Highway commission died at his home in Baker last Tuesday night and funeral services were held at the Christian Church, Baker, Friday afternoon, under the auspices of the Masonic Lodge. Mr. Duby was born in East St. Louis, Illinois. In August 1861, said the Baker
Requiem mass for Mrs. Nevada L. Kryger, 73, resident of the Sellwood community for 60 years, will be held at 9 a.m. Friday in St. Agatha Catholic Church. Interment will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery. Rosary will be said today at 8 p.m. in McGinnis & Wilhelm Chapel. She was a native of Lewis County,
Mrs. Francis M. Gowen, aged 56, a well-known Lewis County pioneer, died at the family home at Silver Creek, Friday, July 8 [1927]. Sophronia Thomas was born in march, 1871, at Sidney, Fremont County, Iowa, and at the age of 16 she came with her parents to Toledo, where in 1896 she was married to
Daniel E. McEwen, well-known resident of Rose Valley for the last years, who had lived in Kelso since last December passed away quietly at his home at 207 South Sixth Street west Kelso this morning at 6:45 o’clock after a two weeks illness. He was 64 years of age at the time of his death
HON. MELANCTHON Z. GOODELL. – The family of which this pioneer is a member has ever been prominent and influential in the Pacific Northwest since its arrival hither. Jothan W. Goodell, the father was a pioneer of Ohio; and it was at Vermilion that Melancthon was born in 1837. In 1850 the family crossed the
Biographical Sketch of Hon. Melancthon Z. Goodell Read More »
JAMES URQUHART. – Many are the illustrations found, as we proceed with this history, of the qualities spoken of as “taking hold with the hands and dwelling in kings’ palaces.” The pioneers of this country dwell on their own townsites and on their own lands, which are frequently of more value than the domains of
WILLIAM M. URQUHART.- This gentleman, the son of James Urquhart, whose biography is immediately preceding, was born at the family residence near Napavine, Washington Territory, on the 22d of December, 1855. He remained on the farm till he had attained his majority. He then entered his father’s tore at Napavine, where he attended strictly to
Medical Springs, Baker County, Oregon Olive D. Bieber, 82, of Port Angeles, Wash., a former resident of the Medical Springs-Pondosa area, died Sept. 7, 2005, at the Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle, Wash. Funeral arrangements will be announced later. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Mrs. Bieber was born on Sept. 7, 1923, at
Funeral services for Mrs. Estelle Elizabeth (Betty) Indermuhle, 77, of 700 S. Chestnut St., will be held in the Evenson Chapel at 2 p.m. Monday with the Rev. Silas Erickson officiating. Mrs. Indermuhle died Wednesday night [April 14, 1965] at the Community Hospital. Burial will be in the IOOF Cemetery. Betty Montgomery was born May
Indermuhle, Estelle Montgomery Thompson – Obituary Read More »
Death came to Mrs. Amanda McDannald Layton, 76, Tuesday evening [June 29, 1943] at the house of her daughter, Mrs. Amanda Prince, on Ford’s Prairie. Also surviving are a son Roy R. Layton, Ryderwood; seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Born October 9, 1866 at Rollo, Sullivan County, Missouri, Mrs. Layton crossed the plains the
Baker City, Oregon Harry Smith, 81, a 50-year resident of Morton, Wash., and a former Baker City resident, died Feb. 7, 2003, at the Centralia Providence Hospital. There was a private family service. Arrangements were under the direction of Brown Mortuary at Morton. Harry was born on March 1, 1921, at Portland to Harry and
Lora (Polly), 77, Chehalis, passed away August 1 [1958] in a local hospital. She was born in Toledo on January 28, 1881, and had been a resident of Lewis County for her entire lifetime. Surviving is a grandson, Gordon Anderson, in California; a nephew, Wallace Champ, Winlock. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the
Wallace Arnold Champ died Monday, Feb. 6, in St. Helen Hospital at the age of 82. A lifetime resident of Winlock, Champ was born there on March 17, 1901. He was preceded in death by his wife, Della, on Jan. 9 [same year]. Survivors include a son, Arnold Champ of Minneapolis, Minn.; a daughter Doris
Gus Anderson, 65, one of southwest Washington’s best known hop growers, died at his home at Klaber Saturday evening [January 4, 1936]. Mr. Anderson was born in Hallsberg, Sweden, November 4, 1870. He came to the United States in 1893 as a young man and had resided in this section 26 years. For many years
Charles Champ, 36, known among Harbor loggers as “Big Charlie,” dropped dead at the door of the cookhouse of Camp 10, Humptulips Logging Company, immediately after the evening meal at the camp yesterday. Death was ascribed to heart trouble. Champ had engaged in woods work in the Harbor country for the last 10 years, coming
HON. JOHN CATLIN. – Mr. Catlin is of New England and Scotch stock. His father, Seth Catlin, was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and from there emigrated with his father and an only sister to the State of Illinois, about the year 1812. His mother came with her parents from Scotland to America when but twelve
Alfred Champ, of this city, 45 year old native son of Lewis County, died Friday [June 8, 1933] at Riverton Hospital, where he had been some months following an illness of flu, contracted in January. He was the son of former well known pioneers. Surviving are his aged mother, Mrs. Cora Champ; two brothers, Howard
Clarence Champ, 89, of 127 S. Excelsior, retired manager of the Butte General Electric Co. office, died Wednesday [November 13, 1974] at a local hospital. Born Nov. 19, 1894, in Winlock, Wash., Mr. Champ attended Washington schools and graduated from Washington State University with a degree in electrical engineering. He later went to Schenectady, N.Y.,
