However, in 1890, at the age of seventy, Adam Matheny, an early day Indian scout, had already located on a creek that emptied into the Queets from the southeast. It now bears his name.
The first trail from Quinault ran from the Lake to Matheny Creek, then followed it to the Queets.
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Adam Matheny’s Narrative
As historian of the Hewitt-Matheny-Cooper Family Association, I made a trip to Tacoma, Washington, in the summer of 1999. While at the Tacoma Public Library, in its excellent genealogical section, I found an index card with the name Matheny, Adam. The card referred me to the Tacoma, Washington’s newspaper, The Daily Ledger for Wednesday, April 6, 1892. In 1892 the Tacoma Ledger was giving away free train rides to pioneers who would submit their recollections for publication. An ad to this effect was on the page opposite Adam’s narrative. This would appear to be the motivation for his writing. Adam no doubt received a free train ride for his efforts. We are thankful to the Ledger for offering such a prize, for we would have nothing written by Adam otherwise.
Several members of our family were with Adam in the small army under Colonel Gilliam, including his brothers Daniel B. and Isaiah C. Matheny, Aaron and Andrew Layson, Joseph Garrison and William Athey. We have tidbits of Isaiah’s memories from news articles, but nothing so complete as the following narrative of Adam’s.
Adam died in 1895 at the age of seventy-five in a settlement along the Queets River in Western Washington. For more information about Adam, read the memoirs of his sister Charlotte Matheny Kirkwood, Into the Eye of the Setting Sun.
Submitted by Don Rivara