Pioneer Cemeteries located on the Fort Lewis Reservation

Pioneer Cemeteries located on the Fort Lewis Reservation

PIONEER CEMETERIES

The property that the following cemeteries are on was condemned and purchased by Pierce County and donated to the Federal Government for the site known as Camp Lewis.

Jeschke Cemetery

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King Hill Pioneer Cemetery

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The following was written in 1964 by Charles A. Throssell, edited by Harriet Baker Dodge.

King Hill Indian Cemetery

The King Hill Indian Cemetery is located on property that is now part of the Fort Lewis Reservation. It is located in the S.E. ¼ of the S.W. ¼ of Section 28 TWP 18, Range 2 East Meridian. This area is not open to the public.

The following information was written by Charles A. Throssell: "I, Charles Throssell of Roy Washington, being the son of a pioneer family, living most of my life in this vicinity, wish to inscribe the names of the pioneers and their descendants on a scroll, that the future citizens of this Great Northwest may know of the settlement of this section of Pierce County, even before it became a part of Uncle Sam in 1846.

To those who are resting in the King Hill Cemetery, let us speak of them with reverence for their courage, their high ideals and fellowship that they have bequeathed to us their descendants.

The following is a brief history of the settlement of this area. Let us turn back to the historic days of the settlement of America.

All nations rushed to settle the new land. The French settled in Quebec and other sections of Canada, only to be overpowered by the English. Men came from many different countries, singly and in groups, seeking the haven of security at the end of the rainbow, to be free from the encumbrances of the downtrodden in the thickly populated parts of the Old World.

The French people of the eastern sections of Quebec forced their way west along the Great Lakes and westward to the rich villages that abounded on all sides. For years they were seeking more freedom in the west.

One particular settlement was founded by the Hudson Bay Company. The Earl of Selkirk was sent by the Company in 1812 to establish a headquarters in the Red River Valley of Manitoba. The settlement was named "Selkirk". He beckoned for workmen of every description to come and settle in this rich valley. To many he gave employment as blacksmiths, trappers, farmers, etc. and as they were spoken of -herdsmen and steersmen, to reap the vast resources of the countryside reaching north to Hudson Bay and as far west as they dared to go.

From this valley of the Red River Company of our ancestors, some eventually settled in the Pacific Northwest. Many cam and settled in the southern part of Pierce County near the present location of the town of Roy. This area was known as the Nisqually Plain and is now part of the vast acreage of Fort Lewis.

There is an historical article written by John Flett, published in 1884 and copied in the Pierce County History by W. F. Bonney, quoted as follows: "An agreement between Duncan Fenelon, Acting Governor of the Hudson Bay Company, and a part of emigrants, to travel west to Fort Vancouver and Fort Nisqually, Oregon Territory. Twenty-three heads of families agreed to go, under conditions defined by Governor Fenlon. They left on June 4, 1841, and after a hazardous trip (fully described) arrived at Walla Walla on October 4, 1841.

Among those who came in that group were many of our forbears. To name a few: John Flett and 3 brothers whose descendants live in Tacoma, John Spence, John Tate, James Burston and Alexander Burston. The men are ancestors of many who live in Pierce County at the present time.

These Red River people came and settled near Fort Nisqually at the request of the Hudson Bay Company. One particular member of the above party, Alexander Burston, homesteaded on American Lake where the servicemen's bathing beach is now located.

I remember seeing the log cabin in 1891. My mother, Mrs. Mary L. Throssell, nee Burston, pointed out the old cabin at that time.

Most of the party ventured on to Oregon to richer, more thickly settled land, becoming United States Citizens when Oregon became a State.

John Flett ended his narrative by saying: "Out of respect and admiration may we preserve their deeds and memories for future generations, something of the same spirit which they so amply possessed and lived."

This area (in Pierce County) became a charmed land after Uncle Sam took over the Oregon Territory. Many descendants of the Red River people came back, brought their families and acquaintances. Countless families residing in this area can trace their ancestry to these early families.

Some of the soldiers who were assigned to Fort Steilacoom remained in this area when discharged and married daughters of the pioneers. People settled and homesteaded tracts of land near creeks, swamps, and where there was an abundance of grass on the prairies. Swamps were ditched to make hay land. Work was plentiful. Log cabins were built from fir logs and shingled with cedar shakes. I can remember numerous log houses that dotted the countryside. Many large barns were built to furnish storage for hay and shelter for the cattle.

I recall many of the early settlers. Being the grandson of Alexander Burston, I learned to know him and Uncle Jimmock as he was called. Others I can recall were Henry Spence, Henry Lyons, John Lyons, Phillip Byrd, S. LeGarde and William Rowland and family. They came to the Northwest to start life anew, and, meeting with old friends, homesteaded near each other and pastured their cattle on the vast prairies that are now part of the Fort Lewis Reservation.

King Hill Indian Cemetery

"In Flanders Field the poppies blow", but out on the Fort Lewis Reservation southwest of Roy, Washington, are found "lilacs" blooming all around inside the fence of the Old King Hill Indian Cemetery.

Following a winding road across a creek and then around a hill, one comes to the resting place of many of the old Red River pioneers who once lived on the prairie of what is now Fort Lewis.

The sign at the padlocked gate says "Old Indian Cemetery". Inside, oaks, maple trees, ivy and wild flowers of all kinds grow rampart among the graves.

This cemetery, at all times, was private property owned by William Gregg and heirs. It was commonly called the "Spence Cemetery". Mrs. Letitia Spence was full heir of William Gregg. She graciously consented to allow her friends and neighbors to be buried there. Mrs. Spence requested that it be called the "Pioneer Cemetery". She talked to this narrator just before she died and made the request that the cemetery be made of interest to those who may have relatives buried there.

About 1896 the plot was enclosed with a fence consisting of posts and four boards. I (Charles Throssell) have measured it and it seems to consist of one acre square. Since 1918, when the government received title, there has been a four barbed-wire fence placed exactly as the plot was fenced before.

Many of the pioneers who came from the Red River settlement in Canada in 1841 and those who homesteaded in the vicinity of Roy are buried there. Among them are the following: Phillip Byrd, William Rowland Sr., William Gregg, Magnus Burston, Thomas Throssell, Henry Spence, Henry Lyons, James Brewer, C. Cook and Isaac Bastian. Some were married before they came and others married after coming, but, in the most part, they married daughters of other pioneers."

FAMILY AND BURIAL INFORMATION

The following data was narrated in 1964

Bastian Family

There are many of this pioneer family. Records show a Land Claim for Isaac Bastian and wife, Olympia 2 P. 118 1-1-49, acres 640 sec. 9. 10, 15, 16, TWP 17 N. Range E. Roy.

Isaac Bastian Sr. was a French Canadian who settled two miles south of Roy, Washington. His wife died leaving a nine year old son, Isaac Jr.. The son later married Oriella Byrd, a decendant of Phillip Byrd. They lived for a time in Pierce County then moved to near the Quinault Indian Reservation. Later they returned to a farm near Roy. They with many of their children are also buried in King Hill. Nick Byrd had several children who are also buried there including a pair of twins who died at Birth.

Markers include the following; Silas Bastian -8 mo. 20 days- Walter Bastain aged 8 mo. 3 days (died in 1930) - Charles Bastian - born in 1887 died June 28, 1905 - Rest Chares in Quiet Sleep While friend in Sorrow Weep - Phillip Bastian born April 24, 1889 died Jan. 11, 1913 - Isaac Bastian 1849-1936 (Father) - Oriella Bastian 1859 - 1937 (Moother).

James Brewer

James Brewer was a native of Kansas. He had a son and two daughters. He married on of Phillip Byrd's daughters. He was buried in King Hill but there is no record of his family being buried there. His son Robert often helped in the upkeep of the cemetery in the 1890's. He too died soon after. James Brewer was listed on a wooden slab. J. Brewer -Native of Kansas - 1842 - 1876 Aged 34 Years

Burston Family

Alexander Burston came from Manitoba in 1841. He was a Hudson Bay migrant and settled at Fort Nisqually. In 1867 Thomas Burston, his son and Mary Throssell were married. In 1869 Hannah T. was born at Cascade Locks, Oregon. Harry was born on the Dayton homestead. In 1874 Jane Minnie was born, in 1877 Thomas Jr., in 1880 Molly May, in 1883 Richard and in 1885 Charles A.

Mary Throssell Burston died January 1917. Husband and wife lie side by side in King Hill Cemetery. Her stone reads "Her children rise up and call her blessed".

James Burston, a son of William and a grandson of Alexander, married Anna Lyons, a sister of Henry Lyons. Their children were James and Margaret who married Charles Calder. There are may Pierce County decendants.

Mangus Burston was born near American Lake in 1843 and went to Oregon with his parents while still a small boy. He was about 25 years of age when he returned to Roy and vicinity. He married Anna Byrd and lived the rest of his life in this vicinity. He died in 1909 and was buried in King Hill Cemetery beside several of his sons and daughters. He was a direct decendant of Alexander Burston and was one of the migrants who signed with the Hudson Bay Company to settle Fort Nisqually. The old homestead was located where the enlisted men's bathing beach is now located on the shores of American Lake. Their log house was still standing in 1890. His wife was a direct decendant of Phillip Byrd who had homesteaded near Roy in the early sixties. He had migrated from Manitoba where the Byrds had settled and had many relatives who still reside there. Magnus was fondly known as "Tuck" a nickname from his childhood.

Miles Burston was born in Selkirk in the Red River Valley of Manitoba about 1807. His younger brother was Alexander Burston. Miles worked for the Hudson Bay Company and traveled with a with a Battalion of men to the Hudson Bay Fort located on the Yukon River in 1841. The men were required to carry one hundred pounds of food and supplies in addition to their blankets and guns. They started in the spring, wintering at the fort and bringing their loads of furs in the next spring. He often spoke of the Eskimos and their ways. He married a French Canadian girl who died soon afterward. He came to the coast with other migrants from Manitoba and filed on a homestead in the area where King Hill Cemetery is now located. He relinquished his homestead rights to his niece, Mrs. Mary Burston Throssell and lived with the Throssell's until his death in 1901. He talked French fluently and also spoke Indian jargon and English. He played the violin as of the eighteen hundreds and played all 4 strings at once, a wierd tempo, and also sang Indian songs that reminded one of jungle music. He died in 1901 after a long life. He was always kind and considerate, good company and he could spin yarns that you could live with. He was buried in King Hill Cemetery and a small stone tells his resting place. Miles Burston born Selkirk Manitoba 1817 Died Roy, Washington 1901, A Pioneer of N.W. Canada and Alaska.

Thomas Burtston was born in 1884 and died in 1923.

William Burston, son of M & L. H. Burston, born August 12, 1877, Died February 24, 1901, All is peace then do not weep, Death is an endless sleep. We shall meet and rest in Heaven. There are five Burston children who died young and are buried in King Hill. Two surviving are Sadie Burston Johnson who was born in 1896 and is living in Tillicum and John Burston in a nursing home in Tacoma. (Remember this was narrated in 1964)

Byrd Family

Pierce County records show that Andrew F. Byrd held title to "Steilacoom Lake Oly. 2-84-8-27-71-58-34-20 N.2E.2. His son Phillip and wife Mary were grandparents of Hannah Byrd Maupin of Roy, Washington. Their son Joseph married Elizabeth. Their children were George, Hannah Byrd Maupin, John, Nick whose wife was Stella Orloff. Their children were Wilbur, Sadie, George and Tom whose wife Ruth was a daughter of Frank Radie. Their children were Gilbert, Elizabeth Byrd Stafford, Anna Byrd Brazvell of Kennewick, Martha Byrd Porter of Aberdeen (whose children are Betty, Kathleen and Gilbert), Ester Byrd Fick of Tacoma, Louise, Marguerite (Peggy) and Pete, who died in 1961.

Charles Cook

Charles Cook lived near the cemetery in the early 70's. There was ill blood at a party and several days later his body was found under a log. Was he murdered? No one talked about it. He was buried in King Hill Cemetery.

William Davis

Was a man who owned vast acreage nearby. His grave is in the southeast corner of the cemetery. He was otherwise unknown.

William Gregg

In the early 1850's came a soldier to help protect the early settlers. His name was William Gregg. He came and stayed as he was no doubt charmed by the countryside. There were vast acres for settling and all free. He decided to homestead on land that was along Muck Creek. It extended from the marsh which lies in Section 33 down to the creek, taking a choice area of creek bottomland. Later he took as a pre-emption claim some 320 acres of Section 28 lying directly north of his original home. I should say a "soldier pre-emption claim" to describe it correctly.

After deciding to locate and start life anew, he took for a wife a Nisqually Indian maid. She was known in later years affectionately as "Grandma Betsy". He built a log cabin in Hughes Lake now renamed on the Fort Lewis map as Halverson Marsh. Mr. Gregg's section of the land was close to the east line of Section 33, TWP 18 2 East. This cabin must have been built in the early 1850's as by 1896 it had fallen down to where the roof had gone. Still the door opening showed and the logs were 6 feet high. The ruins were there until about 1915, probably destroyed by fire in the interim. He had built a larger house on the site nearer the Pierce County reoa leading from Roy to Fort Nisqually. No doubt but this was the original road leading from Fort Vancouver to Fort NIsqually. He he had planted a nice orchard and cultivated many acres.

Two daughters were born to them, Letitia and Alice. Undoubtedly he had many cattle roaming the vast prairies west and south to the Nisqually River. Even as late as 1906 cattle were rounded up in late fall to feed on hay.

Mr. Gregg was an educated and he built a small log school of small dimensions and taught the neighbor children. Later Miss Anna Wellar taught the same school, about 1872, boarding with the Frank Goodwin family about two miles away..

Grandma Betsy became very learned in helping care for the farm, knowing how to cure meat, smoke hams and bacon and seeing to the crops. She was very busy to her last days. After Mr. Gregg died, the farm was taken over by the daughter, Letitia Spence.

Mr. Gregg had, no doubt, known that death follows life, and that the secret is kept a mystery from us until we approach a tide less sea. No provisions were made for a common meeting ground where we could all rest. Many of the pioneers kept their loved ones on their own premises, even in close proximity to their abodes, even close or near to the front entrance. In the early 1870's no public cemetery was nearer than the one on the north side of American Lake. It was left to Mr. Gregg to furnish a site for a small cemetery. He chose the little timbered hill located on the center of Section 28, TWP 18, 2 East. It is hidden from the main road, leading past the east side of the timbered hill. The approach to the site is from the west, where the slope rises slowly to the east. It enters a wooden area of small oaks and other shrubbery to form a very picturesque setting where silence, solitude and peace abound. All this forms a natural setting for the purpose for which it was chosen.

Here many families are resting, all were friends of the owner,. Until 1885, there was no other cemetery colse at hand. Today it is almost forgotten, the descendants are many generations removed from lying there and no one seems able to care for this sacred spot.

Hopper

Mrs. Edna F. Hopper 1896-1920, William S. Hopper 1915-1916, Hopper, Alice M. 1916-1924. These stones are found near the south fence. Edna was the first wife of Grover Hopper and was a granddaughter of Alice Spencer Speaker. Probably the latter and her husband were buried near there also. William was their infant son.

Rowland

Directly in front of the gate at King Hill Cemetery are 8 or more sunken graves lying in a row. Here lie William Rowland Sr.1827-1899, Suzette his wife, their sons Sam, Robert called Bob 1848-1894, George Rowland 1860-1899 and daughters Maria (Myra) Rowland McPherson 1850-1897, Annie Rowland Fruderer 1852-1897, Alice Rowland Lampsom Kandle 1848- , William Kandle (husband), granddaughter Delish Rowland 1884and William Kandle husband of Alice lies next to his wife in the same row. All of the family are buried there. Mr. Kandle was born on an old homestead on Muck Creek near Greendale. There are many descendants of this noble family living in Pierce County, grandchildren, great grandchildren and on the fourth and fifth generation.

Eulogy William Rowland Sr.

William Rowland, a blacksmith with the Hudson Bay Company in Selkirk, Canada, was born in 1827. His sister, Gazelle Rowland had married James Burston and they came to the coast with the Red River people in 1841. It is not known the exact date when William Rowland arrived in the west. He and his wife (maiden name Suzette) had eleven children. Their first child was born in 1848 and the last in 1871.

My first remembrance was about 1891 when William Rowland Sr., was settled in the town of Roy. He had been in the vicinity many years and had worked a small blacksmith shop, doing work for all the neighbors and folks in the countryside. It is known that he ourchased a house in Roy about 1888 or 1889.

He was a devout Christian, was a deacon in the Congregational Church at Roy for many years until his death in 1899. All of the Red River people were his friends, very good neighbors, without a flaw of ill-will, always fait in all dealings, and gave the best of friendship at all times. That was a trait of the Red River people. The family of William Rowland proved the same, carrying on the traditional life. Having known most of the family through my early days, it seemed they were friendly to everyone.

All have passed on and children, grandchildren and great grandchildren live near and in Tacoma.

Many families are descended from the original pioneers, Mr. and Mrs. William Rowland. He and his wife and two sons and four daughters are sleeping in King Hill Cemetery. These children were as follows: Robert Rowland, Born 1848 died about 1894, Annie Rowland Fruderer, 1852-1897, Maria Rowland McPherson, 1850-1897, George Rowland born 1860 died about 1899, Alice Rowland Lamson Kandle, 1858 and Deliah Rowland, 1884.

Spence Family

Mrs. Letitia Gregg Spence inherited the farm of her father and lived there most of their life. She was born on the home place and after her father died, moved from their homestead and took care of her mother who had lived on the place all her life. When Mr. Gregg died, they enlisted the aid of Dave Huggins to do the legal work attached to the transfer of the property to the legal heirs. Mr. and Mrs. Spence kept a well balanced farm and had plenty of cattle, sheep, turkeys, ducks and always maintained several horses including riding ones. They were good horsemen. At one time they owned a fine race horse. They took great pride in the care of their horse at all times. Horse racing was great sport in those early days. Mr. and Mrs. Spence were wonderful farmers. They had a fine garden along the creek bottom land. They also had an abundance of hay for thier stock. It is supposed that Mr. & Mrs. Spence are buried here, but not confirmed.

Throssell Family

Thomas Throssell - died March 25, 1902, age 67 years - He who lives well lives long - How long we live years but actions tell. Mary L. Throssell - born April 23, 1848, died January 13, 1917, age 68 years - Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Proverbs 31, 28. Ivy Throssell 1923, unmarked grave. Thomas Throssell was born in England about 1830. He came to New York and later went west to Ohio to visit relatives. He decided to go west with a wagon train herding sheep, some 5000 in the band. He walked all the way to Dalles, Oregon. Later he enlisted in the army to travel from the Dalles to Spokane. The object was to meet Governor Stevens on his way back from the Okanogan Reservation. Several tribes of Indians were on the warpath and the soldiers had many skirmishes during their travels. He later homesteaded on the Columbia River. Here he got out boat timbers and was considered a good boatman on the river.

The following is from the Tacoma News Tribune, May 2, 1956. Richard Throssell, Painter, Author Floss Harris Loutzenhiser:

Thomas Throssell, the father, like most ranchers of his day was carpenter, cabinet maker and shoemaker for his family, with the difference that he rather excelled in all three, even to the extent of opening a shop in town. A fine pair of shoes or a piece of furniture was a matter of pride to him. The sons were always allowed to use his tools and materials and young Richard became quite skillful in carving small boats, guns and swords, seeming to inherit his fathers handiness.

This seems to have been a gifted family, one sister having done some very good wood scenes and they all tried their luck at amateur music and poetry. Perhaps their varied ancestry may have had something to do with it, for in addition to the strain of French Canadian and Cree, the records of the Red River settlement show their ancestors to have come from the British Isles in 1810 - 1812. They came to Oregon in 1835.

Thomas Throssell was always a leader. He was always an honorable man, admired by all who knew him. We lived within a quarter mile of this small cemetery. He often spoke that he would like to be buried there. He came from England, via New York and Ohio across to the Dalles, Oregon. He dddied March 25, 1902. He was born on Christmas day, died and was buried on Good Friday. He had a full life. Mary L. Throssell nee Burston, was born June 1848 and married in 1867. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Burston. They had settled in Glencoe, Oregon and many of their seven children were born there. She often stayed with her married sisters and met her husband at Cascade Locks, Oregon. The family moved to Dayton, Washington and later to Roy where many of the old time friens from Oregon had settled. They lived on the family homestead from 1890 until 1907. They retired to a quiet life until her death in 1917. She was alert, enjoyed reading, good company and always on the go. She enjoyed jokes. She played the violin and concertina, knew over 65 songs offhand and sang incessantly. She is buried in King Hill Cemetery. Children born were the following: Hannah T. 1869 at Cascade Locks, Oregon, Hary on the Dayton homestead, Minnie Jane in 1874, Thomas Jr. in 1877, Mollie May in 1880, Richard in 1883 and Charles in 1885.

Ross Cemetery

Henry Smith Cemetery

Wren Cemetery

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