The newest volume of history about Whidbey Island and the Northwest will likely be snapped up by descendants of the pioneers and others who yearn to learn about the past.

“Children of the Pioneers” is a compilation of stories written and collected by The Daughters of the Pioneers of Washington, Whidbey Island Chapter 6.

The Whidbey Island chapter was established in 1934 and has been dedicated to preserving local and state history ever since. Murrieal Short and Lillian Huffstetler particularly have volunteered hundreds of hours identifying, documenting and archiving historical materials in recent years.

The 146-page, wire-bound book is loaded with 25 historical tales, bountiful photographs of old Whidbey Island people and scenes, and includes two useful indexes as well as maps showing locations and early donation land claims.

The book is the culmination of many years of hard work by Chapter 6 members who adopted the project as a fund-raiser. “Many members felt they didn’t know their ancestors. Who would they write about? Where would they find this information?” said Avis Weidenbach Rector, who is from the pioneering Kellogg family.

Rector said members contacted relatives and researched information from letters and news articles. “As a result of their efforts, this special book of 25 stories and many pictures will be interesting reading for students and history buffs,” she said.

Rector wrote about her grandfather, Albert Henry Kellogg, son of Dr. John Coe Kellogg who settled on Whidbey Island in the summer of 1854.

“It was a time when cougars and bears and wolves prowled the island, and when unfriendly Indians from the north came by canoe to raid settlers’ homes,” she writes. Many of the tales, including this one, tell of settlers’ fears after Captain Ebey was killed by those northern Indians. Invariably, the local Whidbey Island Indians were described as peaceful and helpful.

The stories are laced with fascinating family anecdotes rather than dry historical facts. Rector tells of her grandfather Albert attending the University of Washington at the age of 16. College life wasn’t for him. “He said he preferred being home on the farm, that he’d rather dig potatoes,” she writes. Albert soon took over the family’s 320-acre farm on Smith Prairie.

Interesting stories can be found on every page. A few samples:

• Anne Kennedy married Christopher Columbus Kennedy in Seattle. Legendary Doc Maynard helped her honestly comply with the law saying she had to be 18 years old to marry. He had her take off her shoes and he wrote “18” inside. Then, when the preacher asked how old she was, she could honestly reply, “I’m over 18.”

• The Wallace family came to Whidbey after happening upon Colonel Ebey in Olympia. Since Ebey hadn’t moved his family here yet, the Wallaces became the first white family on the island, establishing a home at Crescent Harbor.

• The land donation deeds by Oak Harbor’s founders, Ulrich Freund, Martin Tofteson and C.W. Sumner were signed by Ulysses S. Grant, who went on to become a famous Civil War general and president. He was stationed at Fort Vancover at the time.

• When the Alexanders, Coupes and Lovejoys comprised the white population of Coupeville, there were 1,200 Indians in the area. Abram Lansdale Alexander was the first white boy born on the island, in 1852 to Frances and John Alexander.

• One of the Kellogg girls, 6-year-old Alma, was killed by a charging bull.

All the familiar pioneering names are given new life in “Children of the Pioneers.” Adams, Alexander, Barrington, Coupe, Engle, Holbrook, Kellogg, Monroe, Barrington, Libbey, Willard, Lovejoy, Troxell, Hancock and others become more than just names in a history book, but real people with real lives.

Modern day islanders can no doubt relate to some of the feelings the pioneers had so many years ago. For example, when Flora Pearson was about to step ashore in 1866 she exclaimed, “Ah! I have just one more step to take to get to Heaven!”

Readers of “Children of the Pioneers” will learn a lot more about “Heaven” than they knew before.

Buy the book

“Children of the Pioneers” is available at local book and gift shops or by calling: Avis, 675-4844; Claudia, 675-4384; or Joanne, 678-9333. By mail, send $15 plus $5 for shipping and handling to DPW, 1044 Monroe Landing Road, Oak Harbor WA 98277.

Call the above numbers for information about The Daughters of the Pioneers of Washington. A woman whose ancestors, or those of her husband, who settled in Oregon and Washington territories previous to 1871 is eligible for membership. The 1871 cutoff was picked because after that year people could take the train to the territories, ending the true pioneering days.