Wagon Train Pioneer Dies
Mrs. Elizabeth Jane Eley, 92, who crossed the plains in a covered wagon to make a new home in Tacoma more than 75 years ago, died Tuesday in a local nursing home.
The widow of Elifeus (Leif) Eley, who died in 1941, she had lived at 4523 So. Pine St.
Mrs. Eley was born Wayne County, PA although the family home in Tennessee was destroyed during the Civil War.
She was married at 14 and began the long trek across the plains, over the Rockies and old Naches Pass in the Cascades to Tacoma via the Oregon Train shortly afterward.
A daughter, now Mrs Ida M. Kuhn of Olympia, was born to Mrs Eley in the Rockies of Wyoming during the trip. Both nearly died because of the altitude.
When the small, young family arrived in Tacoma there was only forest and a small post office. They homesteaded near Roy. Later her husband and a brother purchased a tug boat, which they operated for many years.
Mrs. Eley was baptised in the First Baptist Church in Tacoma shortly after it was built. A colorful, hardworking woman, she reared seven children (tow are now deceased) and worked in the fields in the pioneer area, remaining active to the end as a housewife.
Besides Mrs. Kuhn, other survivors include daughter, Mrs Violet Grandall of Spanaway: three sons, Frank of Tacoma and George and Harry of Oregon; a brother Lee Webb of Oklahoma; 25 grandchildren; 28 gr-grandchildren; and two gr-gr-granchildren. Services will be announced by Piper Funeral Home.
Mrs. Elizabeth Jane Eley, 92, who crossed the plains in a covered wagon to make a new home in Tacoma more than 75 years ago, died Tuesday in a local nursing home.
The widow of Elifeus (Leif) Eley, who died in 1941, she had lived at 4523 So. Pine St.
Mrs. Eley was born Wayne County, PA although the family home in Tennessee was destroyed during the Civil War.
She was married at 14 and began the long trek across the plains, over the Rockies and old Naches Pass in the Cascades to Tacoma via the Oregon Train shortly afterward.
A daughter, now Mrs Ida M. Kuhn of Olympia, was born to Mrs Eley in the Rockies of Wyoming during the trip. Both nearly died because of the altitude.
When the small, young family arrived in Tacoma there was only forest and a small post office. They homesteaded near Roy. Later her husband and a brother purchased a tug boat, which they operated for many years.
Mrs. Eley was baptised in the First Baptist Church in Tacoma shortly after it was built. A colorful, hardworking woman, she reared seven children (tow are now deceased) and worked in the fields in the pioneer area, remaining active to the end as a housewife.
Besides Mrs. Kuhn, other survivors include daughter, Mrs Violet Grandall of Spanaway: three sons, Frank of Tacoma and George and Harry of Oregon; a brother Lee Webb of Oklahoma; 25 grandchildren; 28 gr-grandchildren; and two gr-gr-granchildren. Services will be announced by Piper Funeral Home.
Wagon Train Pioneer Dies
Mrs. Elizabeth Jane Eley, 92, who crossed the plains in a covered wagon to make a new home in Tacoma more than 75 years ago, died Tuesday in a local nursing home.
The widow of Elifeus (Leif) Eley, who died in 1941, she had lived at 4523 So. Pine St.
Mrs. Eley was born Wayne County, PA although the family home in Tennessee was destroyed during the Civil War.
She was married at 14 and began the long trek across the plains, over the Rockies and old Naches Pass in the Cascades to Tacoma via the Oregon Train shortly afterward.
A daughter, now Mrs Ida M. Kuhn of Olympia, was born to Mrs Eley in the Rockies of Wyoming during the trip. Both nearly died because of the altitude.
When the small, young family arrived in Tacoma there was only forest and a small post office. They homesteaded near Roy. Later her husband and a brother purchased a tug boat, which they operated for many years.
Mrs. Eley was baptised in the First Baptist Church in Tacoma shortly after it was built. A colorful, hardworking woman, she reared seven children (tow are now deceased) and worked in the fields in the pioneer area, remaining active to the end as a housewife.
Besides Mrs. Kuhn, other survivors include daughter, Mrs Violet Grandall of Spanaway: three sons, Frank of Tacoma and George and Harry of Oregon; a brother Lee Webb of Oklahoma; 25 grandchildren; 28 gr-grandchildren; and two gr-gr-granchildren. Services will be announced by Piper Funeral Home.
Mrs. Elizabeth Jane Eley, 92, who crossed the plains in a covered wagon to make a new home in Tacoma more than 75 years ago, died Tuesday in a local nursing home.
The widow of Elifeus (Leif) Eley, who died in 1941, she had lived at 4523 So. Pine St.
Mrs. Eley was born Wayne County, PA although the family home in Tennessee was destroyed during the Civil War.
She was married at 14 and began the long trek across the plains, over the Rockies and old Naches Pass in the Cascades to Tacoma via the Oregon Train shortly afterward.
A daughter, now Mrs Ida M. Kuhn of Olympia, was born to Mrs Eley in the Rockies of Wyoming during the trip. Both nearly died because of the altitude.
When the small, young family arrived in Tacoma there was only forest and a small post office. They homesteaded near Roy. Later her husband and a brother purchased a tug boat, which they operated for many years.
Mrs. Eley was baptised in the First Baptist Church in Tacoma shortly after it was built. A colorful, hardworking woman, she reared seven children (tow are now deceased) and worked in the fields in the pioneer area, remaining active to the end as a housewife.
Besides Mrs. Kuhn, other survivors include daughter, Mrs Violet Grandall of Spanaway: three sons, Frank of Tacoma and George and Harry of Oregon; a brother Lee Webb of Oklahoma; 25 grandchildren; 28 gr-grandchildren; and two gr-gr-granchildren. Services will be announced by Piper Funeral Home.
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