HISTORY AT A GLANCE

This story comes from the book “Long Long Ago in Skokomish Valley,” by Emma Richert, published in 1965. Some of Emma’s story is based on selections from Myron Eells’ diaries that had recently been published in the Journal.

“For many decades the residents of Middle Skokomish have voted in ‘Eells Precinct.’ None of the Eells has lived in the Valley for many years now, but may that name ever be retained in memory and honor of a truly outstanding pioneer family. I am overwhelmed by the impossibility of here in a few pages doing justice to the character, the heroic service and accomplishments, and the variety of activities, to say nothing of the hardships endured, of the man and his family.”

Myron Eells was born near Spokane in 1843. His father was missionary Cushing Eells, who had been associated with the work of Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, near Walla Walla, and who, in 1859, established Whitman College to memorialize his fellow missionaries. Myron attended Hartford Theological Seminary. His first church was at Boise, Idaho, where he met and married Sarah Crosby.

In 1874, Myron and Sarah visited his brother Edwin on the Skokomish Indian Reservation, where Edwin was serving as government Indian agent. Myron stayed on as missionary, and early in 1877 the American Missionary Association officially appointed him to that position for which he was “very thankful” to receive $400 a year. Two weeks later he was invited to be pastor at a church at The Dalles, Oregon, at $1,000 a year, but he felt honor-bound to stay with his first charge.

“For that $400 he underwent incredible hardships. The humble man likely never realized the grandeur of character that his choice reveals, and his young wife Sarah must have been equally noble as there is no hint of complaint from her. Mrs. Allie Ahl recalls Sarah telling her that one time in bringing home a boatload of groceries in a storm, the kerosene and flour got somewhat mixed. Shocked and sympathetic, Mrs. Ahl asked ‘What did you do?’ ‘We used it. It was all the flour we had for the winter,’ was Mrs. Eells’ answer.”

Myron Eells’ “preaching points” ranged from Clifton to Clallam Bay on both sides of Hood Canal, to Upper Skokomish, and various places outside the region. He even went as far as Puyallup to check on his Skokomish flock while on their annual migrations from the reservation to pick hops. In June 1892, he wrote, “The past 3½ months I have traveled 3,500 miles of which I have walked 300, having walked between here (Skokomish Valley) and Shelton 15 times.” Once on a five-day trip to visit the Clallam Bay Indians he had little more to eat than the crackers and apples he carried from home.

“The reward for all his grueling effort to serve the spiritual needs of the numerous settlements, logging camps, and Indians was the satisfaction of doing the best he could. He wrote that in one week’s itinerating the offering amounted to 95 cents (he had spent $1 for fare). At another place and time he was surprised to receive the big sum of $7!”

Besides his official duties as missionary to the Indians (which included numerous helpful services such as writing letters for them), the care of his own family (he and Sarah had five sons), his garden, his horses, etc., Myron Eells carried on much study and writing. He became an authority on the Chinook language and translated hymns and wrote choruses for the Indians. By 1803, he had finished a grammar and dictionary of the “Chinook Jargon Language, 482 pages on foolscap, 2,954 words and phrases, 4001 English words.” In 1892 he was appointed Superintendent of the Department of Ethnology for the Washington State Commission for the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

On Jan. 1, 1906, Myron Eells summarized the year 1905: I find that I have written 1,204 letters and postals, including 57 newspaper articles. Have traveled about 5,838 miles ... horseback, 2,195; afoot 296; wagon and buggy 493; rowboat 335; steamer 979; railroad 1,540,” At one time, he built one of the smallest steam crafts on the Sound, the MYRA, 23 by 5½ feet, 2 HP, strictly for his ministry on Hood Canal. This did not prove to be as practical and efficient as hoped, and in a few months the MYRA sank into a watery grave while tied to a tree on the banks of the Skokomish River.

Emma Richert concluded her narrative about Myron Eells with her personal recollections of the man. “In 1906, he visited our Middle Skokomish Sunday School possibly once a month, and we children looked forward to seeing him. Pleasant and friendly, his neat little beard also made him impressive to us. He often brought us gifts. I still cherish a heart-shaped brass pin with a Bible verse inscribed on either side.”

Myron was a trustee and avid supporter of Whitman College. Within a month of his death, on Jan. 4, 1908, Myron’s collection of more than 1,600 Native American artifacts, hundreds of historical manuscripts, and an 1,800-volume library were donated to Whitman College.

■ Jan Parker is a researcher for the Mason County Historical Museum. She can be reached at [email protected]. Membership in the Mason County Historical Society is $25 per year. For a limited time, new members will receive a free copy of the book “Shelton, the First Century Plus Ten.”