loneerkozi.et1ion; - ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University

TYRUS HIMES. 51
and a half years of age, he returned to Lafayette. He now devoted himself 'to
farming, conducting also the shoe business in the town. His industry was rewarded
with prosperity. But he had started toward the setting sun, and no
half-way measures suited his ardent temperament. Illinois was "out West"
from Pennsylvania.; but after the "days of 'rj," California and Oregon had become
"The West." The Pacific Slope was Mr. Himes' goal. In 1852, he resolved
upon going to Oregon. To resolve, was with him but the precedent oI
to perform. On the 21st of March, 1853. we find him, accompanied by his
wife and four children, starting upon their tedious, wearisome pilgrimage across
the plains. After seven months of toil and hardship, and danger from Indians,
they arrived at Olympia, Washington Te.zritory.
He took a donation claim of a half section of land, in the timber fringing a
beautiful lake, and skirting a prairie, situated about six miles east of Olympia,
on the road to Nisqually and Steilacoom. He commenced to drain this lake,
to reduce to cultivation this huge forest, with its mighty trees, the growth of
centuries. In October, the Indian war broke out, and until March, 1857.
the families of Mr. Himes and his neighbors were obliged to leave their claims
t take shelter in blockhouses. Impoverished by the war, with the view of affording
to his children the opportunity to attend school, as also for himself to
earn something to improve his farm, when not engaged in putting in crops and
their neecessary occasional cultivation, he pursued his trade, in the town of
Olympia from 1857 until 1862. He then returned to his farm and ever afterwards
devoted himself entirely to its cultivation.
During the last forty years of his life, he was subject to attacks of rheumatism
in the stomach, from which, at times, he suffered the most intense agony. He
bore it without a murmur, heroically, patintly, submissively, through those
long weary years. Outside of the little.family circle this was unknown, even to
his nearest friends. None heard him complain. He always met them with
cordial greeting, none dreaming but that he was in as good health as his flow of
good spirits indicated. Bearing his burden, Christian hero that he was, he hobbled
through life's weary journey ever kind and genial to all. it is but truth
to say, he was always at work, never idle ; he had a good wqrd for all as he hastened
on to dispatch the several things he had to do, and then hurry back to
his bench or farm. If nothing required attention, if the routine work was fin.
ished, he would, through sheer love of being employed, ll up his time by
making work. He has been known to go out and dig up stumps, simply to be
at work. He loved labor for its sake. To remove a stump of an old forest
tree, centuries old, is truly labor, but good Father Himes never any more shrank
from such a task than he would from weeding a garden ur slashing brush, and