Horse-drawn farm equipment was used to separate the wheat from the stalk, and the stalk was used for bedding or feed. Bill Miller, the farm's owner, is pictured here. With him (on the ground) are hired hands brought in to help with the crops.
The 160-acre Miller farm is on the Forest or Bernier Donation Land Claim. Forest once had its own post office and a store owned by the Trodahls (well known at the time). It also had its own two-room school house.
Miller was married to Mary Fox Miller. The couple had one child, Mary Lou. Mary Lou married Fred Teitzel. They had two children — Fred and Arlene.
The above photo will appear in "Our Hometowns: A historic photo album of Greater Lewis County Vol. II." It is a glimpse into Lewis County's past when farming was a way of life (and logging was king.)
Farms such as the one owned by the Millers have remained in families for generations. They are the backbone of Lewis County, and a big part of its history.
Speaking of that history, the earliest white settlers in the newly-created Lewis County settled on farm land once owned by the Hudson's Bay Co., and subsequently divided into 320-acre lots for sale to prospective settlers.
The earliest settlers included E.L. Finch, William Lemon, J.H. Pierson, George Halsepple, Jackson Barton, Mariel Bernier, James Galloway, Lemuel Whittaker, James Morgan, and J.B. Blanchard and Mariel Bernier.
One of the most politically active settlers was John Robinson Jackson, who was born in Yorkshire, England, and arrived in Lewis County in 1845 by way of Oregon. The first Lewis County seat was actually his log house, located on the Highland Prairie, near Mary's Corner.
On Jan. 1, 1854, John R. Jackson's house was the site of the first federal court in the newly created Washington Territory. The Jackson House is now a museum.
In 1855, a courthouse was built at Claquato, which served as the county seat until 1873, when it was moved to Chehalis.
Lewis County was rich in natural resources, including forests, minerals, and numerous rivers and streams, and the Northern Pacific railroad was a major factor in the growth of Lewis County. Much of this historical information was taken from www.drizzle.com., a marvelous source for Lewis County historical information.
Pat Jones is The Chronicle's lifestyle editor. She may be reached by e-mail at pjones@chronline.com, or by telephoning 807-8226.
