loneerkozi.et1ion; - ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University

TYRUS HIMES.
BORN, 18i8; DIED, 1879.
BY HON. ELW000 EVANS.
Tyrus Himes, with his wife and their foàr eldest children, were of the cmigration
of 1853. They started for Monmouth, Polk county, Oregon, which had
been the destination of several acquaintances in the preceding year. Loss of
stock upon the plains had ocasioned serious delay. The supply of provisions
had become scant ere half the weary journey had been accomplished. Reaching
at length the Rocky mountains, Mr. Himes fell in with a numerous train
from Kentucky, en route to Puget Sound. Hon. James flues, now of Tumwater,
and among the most prominent and worthy of Washington's citizens, was leader
of that band. In him, Mr. Himes found a sympathizing friend, one to whom
he could recount his misfortunes, his doubts, his difficultiesyes, his necessities.
That excellent Christian and model gentleman, who never turned the deaf ear
to distress or misfortune, cheered the desponding, weary, care-worn fellow-traveler.
Cordially he invited Mr. Himes to accoMpany the party to Puget Sound,
promising to assist him through the journey. Mr. Himes was reluctant to abandon
his original plan; he felt unwilling to place himself under so great an obligation
to a stranger. But good Mr. Biles' straight-forworward, unselfish welcome
prevailed. Mr. Himes gratefully accepted the proffered assistance, and
tbenceforward journeyed toward Washington Territory. The party whom he
'joined in the Rocky mountains constituted the Pioneer emigration into the basin
of Puget Sound via the Nah-Chess Pass of the Cascade mountains. That hardy
and heroic band, Pioneers in the trne sense of the word, cut their road, cleared
their vay through the mountain-gorges as they marched onward to convert the
wilderness into the homes of civilization. After a weary, tedious voyage across
the great plains, worn out and fatigued, short of provisions, passing over a route
never travelled before by their race, the winter approaching, tltoir teams reduced
to starvationthey labored on and triumphed over, every difficulty.
He was born on the 14th bf April s8i8, at Troy, Bradford county, Pennsyl-
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