Martin & Zelda Capehart Genealogy Website

Pierce Co., WA

Pierce County is the second most populous county in the the state of Washington. It was formed out of Thurston County by the legistlature of Oregon Territory, December 22,1852.. It was named for U. S. President Franklin Pierce. Pierce County, located in southwestern Washington state, encompases an extremly wide range of elevation, from sea level to Mt. Rainier. It is bounded by Lewis County to the south, King County to the north, the southern portion of Pudget Sound to the west and Yakima County to the east. The county's history includes the Pudget Sound region's earliest non-Indian settlement at Fort Nisqually, the growth and development of Tacoma, the state's third-lartgest city and the boom and bust of both hop-growing and coal minging. Four rivers, Puyallup, Carbon, Nisqually and White, flow through Pierce County, from the Cascade Mountains to Puget Sound.

Tha land that would become Pierce County was home to the present day Nisqually, Squaxin, Muckleshoot, Puyallup and Steilacoom tribes. The Puyallup villages were near what would later become Tacoma and the Nisqually settlements what would become southern Pierce County. Two major Indian trails were a northern route through Naches Pass between the Yakama and the Pierce County-tribes, and a southern route along the Mashel River which linked Eastern Washington tribes with Puget Sound peoples. These trade routes among the region's indigenous peoples were well established before the coming of the white settler.

The Oregon territorial Legislature established Pierce County on December 22, 1852 and designated Steilacoom as the county seat. Pierce County residents voted in 1880 to move the county seat to New Tacoma (now Tacoma).

Sumner, Pierce Co., WA

Sumner was first settled in 1853 by William Kincaid, a widower with severn children. They entered the Pudget Sound nregion through Naches Pass as part of the James Longmire wagon party. Jacob Meeker and his second wife, Nancy North Burr Meeker, were also early settlers in the Sumner area. Sumner, located in northern Pierce County, was platted by George H. Ryan in 1883 and named for the 19th century U.S. Senator, Charles Sumner. The town was incorporated in 1891.

Sumner Cemetery

Sumner Cemetery is located at 12324 Valley Ave. E., Puyallup, WA 98372. To reach the cemetery from Main Ave. in Sumner, drive west to Pacific Ave., crossing the river, then left onto Valley Ave. E. and continue less than a mile to the cemetery. It can also be accessed by the side gate on 124th Ct. E.

Map: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=77068&CScn=Sumner+Cemetery&CScntry=4&CSst=50&CScnty=2979&

In 1864 Pioneer Cemetery began on two acres of land donated by Isaac Wooley. He acted as sexton of the cemetnery until the "town" section of the cemetery was added in 1902 and it became known as Sumner Cemetery. The cemetery, owned and maintained by the city of Sunenr, WA is very well maintained and in excellent condition.

The cemetery is made up of two sections and a mausoleum. The cemetery was expanded in 1947. The two sections are across the street from each other. Hundreds of war veterans andSumner founding residents have been laid to rest here, with headstones dating back to the turn of the century.

During the Christmas holidays families can purchase wreaths for the cemetery to place on loved ones' memorials. Families may also choose to have markers pressure-washed. Every Memorial Day features a traditional ceremony and since 1943, on the Thursday before, members of the Sumner VFW Post 3070 plus other volunteeers place flags at the markers of all veterans.

Sources: http://www.interment.net/data/us/wa/pierce/sumner/index.htm; http://bonneylake-sumner.patch.com/articles/patch-picks-cool-cemeteries-ada12af4

http://www.ci.sumner.wa.us/Government/Cemetery_more.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumner,_Washingtonhttp://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=8001

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierce_County,_Washington