OBIT 1:

Twisp, July 29--Another real old timer, Pleas Rader, died here this morning leaving three grown sons and daughters and a host of friends.

A true pioneer, he came across the plains to California in 1864, then to Washington Territory in 1876 and drove the first covered wagon over the Chilliwist Trail to Methow Valley in the spring of 1888.


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OBIT 2:

Twisp, August 1--Funeral services for Pleas Rader were attended by a large number Monday afternoon at the Fraternal hall. The services were conducted by Rev. Vaugh of the Christian Church and were in charge of Ralph Kennison, undertaker. Music was furnished by Leonard Staples, Ben Filer, and Ralph Hilburn with Mrs. J. S. Allen playing the accompaniment. Pallbearers were Jim, Chet, and Ray Libby, E. H. C. Ramn, P. L. Filer and Louis Coffin. Mr. Rader leaves three sons, Clyde of Twisp, Lock of Wenatchee, and Osco of Twisp; and two daughters, Mrs. Alice Herrick of Puyallup and Mrs. Emma Pidcock of Twisp; his brother, George of Winthrop, and a number of grandchildren, nephews, and nieces.

Pleas Rader was born in Iowa in 1857 and in 1864 crossed the plains with his parents in a covered wagon. His parents settled in Napa Valley, California, where his father worked in the placer mines. In 1872 the family started for Washington Territory but when they got to the Oregon line, emigrants who had been through the Washington Territory gave them discouraging reports of the country so they went to San Benito, California. The mode of travel this time was by horse drawn wagons instead of using ox teams. The family made this trip along but after living in San Benito a year, they again started for the Washington Territory, traveling with a caravan of covered wagons.

Rader settled in Yakima country in 1877. He and a brother, W. H. Rader, worked for J. H. Conrad, deputy sheriff at that time. When Pleas was 17 years old he enlisted under Jack Splawn to help capture renegade Indians who had massacred Mr. and Mrs. Perkins. Considerable trouble was experienced getting facts to work upon and nothing was accomplished until Chief Moses was arrested and locked in jail. Then the murderers were soon tracked, two were killed when being captured and the others were hung at Union Gap, Yakima.

In 1888 the Rader family, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Rader and their son Clyde came to the Methow Valley. They traveled in company with Ranse Moore with covered wagons and horse teams. Leaving Ellensburg they traveled through Colockum Pass to Wenatchee then through Corbaley Canyon to Waterville, across to Bridgeport to the east side of the Okanogan in a point known as the East side of the Davis ranch and crossed on an Indian ferry, then through the Chilliwhist Trail to the Methow.

The Chilliwhist Trail was located to the south of the present Loop-Loop Road. One wagon had gone over the trail previously but the Raders could not pick up the trail so they hired an Indian guide to bring them to the Methow.

After eight days of steady travel they arrived and found a veritable Garden of Eden. Seven men, of whom Pleas Rader and George Rader, his brother of Winthrop, formed two of the party, had visited the valley in the spring of that year. Mason Thurlow was the only white man having a residence here. Several trappers were also here. Mrs. Rader and Mrs. Moore were the only white women in the valley during the winter of 1888.

The Raders located on what is now the Frank Thurlow ranch and lived there eight or nine years. They moved to a ranch on Thompson Creek near Twin Lakes. Upon selling their property the family moved to Mondovia, Washington, but remained there only about one year and a half. When they came back to the valley they located one mile north of Twisp and lived there for a number of years. They bought the Billie Harper ranch three and a half miles up the Twisp.

Here Mrs. Rader died in 1927, after which Mrs. Rader lived alone and carried on his work until his death July 29.