Grandfather of my husband, Dennis Brown.

Photo:
Original photo of Kelso saw mill in WA in 1908. Notation on back by David's daughter, Agnes Brown, "Saw mill where Dad worked. Was Engineer on Logging train." Thanks to Rob Sapp, his great-grandson, for enhancing photo.
-----

David Wilson Self was born in Lebanon, Russell County, VA, on February 14, 1876. He was the first child of Leonard Burchett and Ellen Margaret (Counts) Self's 12 children. Very little is known about his childhood days. David's daughter, Vivian, recalls hearing her dad talk about gathering wood for the school house stove, early each morning, where his father taught school.

David's middle name was thought to be Willard, but his WWI draft registration record shows his signature as David Wilson Self.
-----

On June 1, 1880
David, age 4, lived in Castleswood, Russell Co, VA with his family. His father was a laborer.
Household Members: All born in VA
Leonard B. Self 28 Head
Ellen Self 26 Wife
David W. Self 4 Son
Charls C. Self 3 Son
John Ruth Self 1 Son
-----

Could this be the same David and Dora who were married in 1901?
On June 23, 1900 (Federal Census)
David Self, age 31, and his wife, Dora, were renting a home in Clark, Lewis Co, WA where he was employed as a day laborer. The record indicated they were married in 1897. No children.
Household members:
David Self 31 - born in VA Dec. 1868
Dora Self 28 - VA - born in VA May 1872
-----

David married Dora Armmeldia Helton in Chehalis, Lewis Co, WA on Feb. 27, 1901. Later they moved to Oregon, and Dora's health began to fail because of a lung problem, perhaps tuberculosis. In the spring of 1908, he took her to MO, where his parents lived, so she could receive better care.

Centralia News Examiner, WA
March 13, 1908
"Pe Ell
A letter from D.W. Self informs us that he is now in Versailles, Missouri, and that both he and Mrs. Self are much improved in health." Dora died a few months later on July 6, 1908, from heart failure. After her death David returned to Lewis Co, WA and worked as an Engineer on a logging train.
-----

On April 30, 1910 (Federal Census Record)
David, age 34, lived in Dryad, Lewis Co, WA in a boarding house. He worked as an Engineer on a Logging Engine. He met Amanda (Manda) Lee Sizemore, age 23, who lived nearby with her father, Owen Sizemore, age 59, a fireman on a Donkey engine. She had a two year old daughter, Osa. Her sister, Tosba, age 18, also lived with them.
-----

Later David had to quit his job as an engineer when he was injured by a log that rolled on him.

News from the Centralia Daily Chronicle (WA) on Nov. 5, 1918:
Births in October
"Mr. and Mrs. David Self, girl"
-----

Centralia Daily Chronicle Examiner (WA)
March 8, 1915
"SIX BIRTHS IN FEBRUARY
Mr. and Mrs. David Self, girl."
-----

Centralia Daily Chronicle (WA)
Nov. 5, 1918
"Births in October
Mr. and Mrs. David Self, girl."
-----

Their daughter, Agnes, recalls an event that took place about 1915, when she was a small child. David bought the old Centralia elementary schoolhouse and relocated it on the hillside east of town. It was transported on a sled, using heavy ropes and a horse powered turnstile. She remembered the large blackboards that covered the walls of their new home. The house is still standing, at 709 East Locust Street, but it is doubtful the owners realize it was once a schoolhouse.

On September 12, 1918, David, age 42, and Manda, lived on East Locust in Centralia, WA when he registered for the WWI Draft. He worked for the Jordan Plumbing Company located on N. Pearl St. in Centralia. He stated that he was born on Feb. 14, 1876. He was described as medium height, with blue eyes and red hair. He signed his name: David Wilson Self. He didn't have to serve.

Their daughter, Virginia, was born on October 16, 1918.

On January 6/7, 1920
Dave W Self, age 41, owned a home on East Locust St. in Centralia, Lewis Co, WA on where he worked as a plumber.
Household members:
Dave W Self 41
Amanda Self 38
Ossie Self 12
Dorothy Self 9
Agnes Self 8
Bertha Self 5
Zura Self 1 (Virginia's middle name, Zeura, named in honor of David's sister. She didn't like the name and later had it changed to Rae.)
-----

Their daughter, Vivian Goldie, was born March 16, 1921.

On April 11, 1930 (Federal Census)
David and Amanda owned a home on East Locust St. in Centralia that was valued at $1600. His occupation was shown as a common laborer in Sheet Metal Works.
Household members"
David W Self 53
Manda L Self 40
Dorothy M Self 19 - sales lady in bookstore
Agnes C Self 17
Bertha M Self 14
Virginia Z Self 11
Vivian G Self 9
-----

David, good at carpentry work, later built their home near Chehalis.

In 1940 (United States Federal Census) Logan, Lewis Co, WA ,
David and Amanda lived on a farm they owned in Logan, Lewis Co, WA where David was self employed farming.
Household Members:
David Self 63 Head - farmer
Manda P Self 49 Wife
Dalton W Towner 27 Son-in-law - logging
Bertha M Towner 25 Daughter
Maurice J Rajchel 3 Granddaughter
-----

The middle name, Willard, followed him to the grave. No one, today, knows why some of the family thought this was his middle name. Perhaps it started out as a joke, perhaps by him. It is even carved on his tombstone.
Obits follow:
"DAVID WILLARD SELF
Centralia, Nov. 20, 1941
David Willard Self, 65, a resident of route 2, Chehalis, the past 11 years, died in a Centralia hospital Wednesday. He had been living in Lewis county since the turn of the century."

The Daily Chronicle
Nov. 21, 1941
"DAVID WILLARD SELF
Death came in a Centralia hospital Wednesday to David Willard Self, 65, resident of Lewis county 50 years, who had lived the last 11 years on Route 2, Chehalis. He was born in Virginia. "