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.
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 […]
Mrs. Lulu M. Layton, 77, of Star Route, Toledo, passed away Thursday [April 3, 1952] in a Chehalis hospital following a brief illness. She was born Oct. 13, 1874 in Vermillion, S.D., and had been a resident of Toledo and Lewis County since 1889. Surviving are seven daughters, Mrs. Nora Nixon, Toledo; Mrs. Gladys Latunen,
Mrs. Lottie Lyon, 60, died at her home here early Monday morning [March 19]. She was born at Manhattan, Kans., November 10, 1873 and came to Washington in 1888, locating near Toledo with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. [Archibald] McEwen. She was married July 5, 1890 to John [Charles] Lyon whose death occurred a few
Ruthella Chaplin Lee, 95, died Wednesday, May 10 [1989], in Providence Hospital in Centralia. She was born Oct. 3, 1893, in Brownsville, Ore., and was the daughter of Ralph and Sarah [Coshow] Chaplin. Lee attended Bellingham Normal School and was a teacher in the Chehalis School District until her marriage in 1917 to Virgin R.
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 »
John Layton, 90, Lewis County’s oldest native son, died Friday [March 8, 1946] at his home on Layton Prairie, where he was born on March 3, 1853. Survivors include three children, 30 grandchildren and 33 great grandchildren. The children are Mrs. Mahala Partch, Poulsbo; Mrs. Alice Fawver, Shelton, and George W. Layton, Olympia. Funeral services
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.
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
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
Most of these are complete indices at the time of transcription, however, in some cases we list the listing when it is only a partial listing. Following Cemeteries (hosted At Lewis County, Washington Tombstone Transcription Project) Boistfort (Harris) Cemetery Butterworth’s Cemetery Doss Cemetery Dryad-Doty (Sylvan) Cemetery Dunn (Harmony) Cemetery Ethel Greenwood (Clements, LaDue, Olson) Cemetery
FREDERICK PROEBSTEL. – This pioneer of the Wallowa valley was born in Germany in 1829, and with his parents emigrated to America in 1842 and located in Missouri. In 1852 he made the crossing of the plains to Lewis County, Washington Territory, locating on Fourth Plain. Mr. Proebstel, belonging to the family of this name,
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
Mrs. Ralph J. Champ, 59, succumbed Sunday [October 2, 1955] at her home on route 1, Winlock. Mrs. Champ, born Sept. 22, 1896 in Arlington, Wash., is survived, in addition to her husband, by a daughter, Mrs. Lynne Pope, Algona; sister, Mrs. R. D. Campbell, Winlock; three brothers, Robert Wallace [Wallis], Spokane, and William and
Gilbert Balaam Burnside, 87, died Thursday,Jan. 2, 2003, at Centralia Providence Hospital, Centralia, Wash. Mr Burnside was born Aug. 11, 1916, in Haines, to James A. and Aplharette Shanklin Burnside. James had accompanied his parents John and Ann Elizabeth Naylor Burnside to Baker Valley over the Oregon Trail. His survivors are son, Donald and wife,
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
A resident of Lewis County from 1923 to 1977, Gerhardt Adolph Penner, 88, died in a Kirkland nursing home, Tuesday, January 2. He was born March 26, 1890 in Port Orchard and has been a resident of Bellevue since 1977. Mr. Penner worked as a salesman for Darigold and as a custodian for the Centralia
Erma Eileen Holten, a longtime Longview resident, died March 17, 1992 at a local nursing home. She was 83. Mrs. Holten was born Jan. 31, 1909 in Winlock to John and Agnes (Eells) Champ. She had lived in the local area since 1935, coming here from Seattle. She was a homemaker and had worked at
Lauretta Cross, of Milton-Freewater and a former resident of Wallowa County, died July 9, 2007, at Walla Walla General Hospital in Walla Walla, Wash. She was 85. Mrs. Cross was born June 19,1922, in La Grande to James Everett and Etta Rebecca Berg Rachau. The family resided on Pumpkin Ridge, outside of Elgin. They later
Graveside services were to be held at the Cowlitz Mission Cemetery this afternoon for Mrs. Catherine Morrow, 85 whose death, occurred in Portland, Wednesday [July 18, 1934]. Mass was said in St. Agatha’s Church in that city this morning. The Morrow family settled on Cowlitz Prairie in the early days. After her husband’s death, Mrs.
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
