William Nathan SLOSSON

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1910, Living with mother in Everett, Snohomish Co., Washington
• Occupation: 16 Feb 1914, Working in Vancouver, BC

William married Cora Lee SPARKS in 1920. Cora was born on 28 Aug 1886 in Magoffin Co., Kentucky; died on 9 Oct 1971 in Seattle, King Co., Washington; was buried in Washington Memorial Park, SeaTac, King County, Washington. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1870, Living with parents in Des Moines, Pocahontas Co., Iowa
• Census: 1880, Living with parents in LaConner, Skagit Co., Washington
• Census: 1887, Living with parents in Skagit Co., Washington

Oscar married Lillian May GATES on 13 Aug 1888. Lillian (daughter of John Burns GATES and Sarah A. TURNER) was born about 1872 in Washington. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1880, Living with parents in Mt. Vernon, Whatcom Co., Washington
• Census: 1885, Living with parents in Skagit Co., Washington
• Census: 1887, Living with parents in Skagit Co., Washington
• Census: 1910, Living in Everett, Snohomish Co., Washington

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1856, Living with parents in Elk, Clayton Co., Iowa
• Census: 1860, Living in O'Brien, Wright Co., Iowa
• Census: 1870, Living in Des Moines, Pocahontas Co., Iowa
• Census: 1880, Living in LaConner, Skagit Co., Washington
• Census: 1887, Living in Skagit Co., Washington
• Census: 1900, Living in Avon, Skagit Co., Washington

Notes:

Name:
Sheriffs of the County

The first Sheriff of Pocahontas county was Oscar Slosson, who was elected March 15, 1859. On Jan. 1, 1860, Henry Jarvis succeeded him and being re-elected in 1861, 1864 (for one year - an unexpired term) and in 1865, filled that office seven years, 1860 to 163, and 1865 to 1867. For the term commencing Jan. 1, 1864, he was not a candidate, and Abiel Stickney, who had been elected, having resigned the office March 21, 1864, Edward Hammond, by appointment of the board of supervisors on that date, performed the duties of that office until the end of that year.
It is of interest to note that Abiel Stickney was the one candidate in this county who was elected by the soldier vote. At the general election of Oct. 13, 1863, the home vote for the candidates for sheriff was as follows: John A. James, 16 votes; Abiel Stickney, 14, and John A. James was declared elected by a majority of two votes. But one month later when the four soldier votes were canvassed and all of them were in favor of Stickney, they gave him a majority of two votes and he was then declared elected.
On Jan. 1, 1868, Oscar Slosson became the successor of Henry Jarvis, and being re-elected in 1869, served four years, 868 to 1871. At the general election held in the fall of 1867, the contest for sheriff became a very spirited one and each of the candidates, Oscar Slosson and George Spragg, received 50 of the 100 votes polled in the county at that election. On drawing cuts the tie was decided in favor of Oscar Slosson.

Pioneer Period, 1855 to 1869 - Other important events

At their meeting held Jan. 2, 1865, the board agreed yo pay a bounty of $900 to each volunteer who would enter the army or navy of the United States, and the later records show hat Dennis Quigley and Thos. Quigley were recipients of this special bounty. This volunteer 'bounty' fund was raised by an assessment of four mills on the dollar during the year of 1865. A soldiers' 'relief' fund of two mills on the dollar had been raised for the benefit of those who had enlisted at the beginning of the war, namely:
A.H. Malcom
Oscar Slosson
Chas. W. Jarvis
W.S. Fegles
Henry Cooper
Henry Tilley
Hiram Evans
John Gayler
Andrew Mills

'For those true men who fought to lift
Our country's banner high in air,
Wreaths of lilies we weave and bring
Roses and star-eyed pansies fair.'

During the war, Pocahontas county furnished eleven men, which was one-third of the able-bodies residents of the county at the time. This was her full quota and there was no need of a resort to a draft.

Four of those named above, namely A.H. Malcolm, Henry Cooper, Hiram Evans and Oscar Slosson enlisted at the same time - Sept 2, 1861, at Fort Dodge - and became members of Co. A, 11th Pennsylvania Volunteers, under Capt. Franklin A. Stratton, of Fort Dodge. This company went by stage to Cedar Falls, the nearest railroad station, and in due season arrived at Dubuque where they were mustered in, September 21st, following.

Oscar married Julia TOWSLEE. Julia (daughter of Nathan TOWSLEE and Mahala TILLOTSON) was born on 19 Apr 1839 in Smithville Flats, Chenango Co., New York; died on 10 Oct 1904 in La Conner, Skagit Co., Washington; was buried in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, La Conner, Skagit Co., Washington. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Daughter of Nathan Towslee and Mahala Tillotson
• Census: 1850, Living with parents in La Grange, Lorain Co., Ohio
• Census: 1860, Living with husband in O'Brien, Wright Co., Iowa
• Census: 1870, Living with husband in Des Moines, Pocahontas Co., Iowa
• Census: 1880, Living with husband in LaConner, Skagit Co., Washington
• Census: 1887, Living with husband in Skagit Co., Washington
• Census: 1900, Living with husband in Avon, Skagit Co., Washington

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1870, Living in Bee Branch, Chariton Co., Missouri
• Census: 1880, Living in Mt. Vernon, Whatcom Co., Washington
• Census: 1885, Living in Skagit Co., Washington
• Census: 1887, Living in Skagit Co., Washington
• Census: 1900, Living in Mt. Vernon, Skagit Co., Washington

Notes:

Name:
Much that recalls times of trouble for the American Union is suggested by the life of the late John B. Gates, one of the pioneers of Skagit county and Whidby island, who died January 12, 1905, after a career full of years of activity and of good deeds. At the time of his death Mr. Gates resided on the place he had cleared of the virgin forest and that is now the home of his widow and those of his children who still surround her. Mr. Gates was a native of Missouri, born in Pike county on October 6, 1831. His father was Abel Gates, a native of Massachusetts and son of Colonel Gates of Revolutionary fame. It was in the schools of Missouri that John B. Gates gained his education, and it was there also that he imbibed the spirit of loyalty to the cause of the Southern states in their great conflict with the American Union. the year 1862 found him enlisted in the Confederate army, in which he served throughout the war, rising to a sergeancy in his company.

At the close of the conflict he returned to his native state, bringing with him a bride of South Carolina, Sarah Turner, whom he had married at hamburg in the Palmetto state in the closing days of the Lost Cause. Mr. and Mrs. Gates resided in Missouri until 1871, when they came to Washington and took up a homestead near Mount Vernon, the place now sheltering Mrs. Gates and on which she has had many unusual experiences incident to pioneer life in a new country. For five years much of Mr. Gates' time was spent on Whidby island, working for others, but during that time he cleared twenty-three acres and commenced the orchard and meadow land home which was his until death. Robert Turner, the father of Mrs. Gates, was a native of Dublin, Ireland, coming to the United States with his parents when eighteen years of age. the Turners settled in Edgefield county, South Carolina, and resided there until his death. At the outbreak of the Civil war Mr. Turner cast his fortunes with those of the Confederacy and during the engagement resulting in the fall of Fort Sumter, received a wound from the effects of which he died. Mrs. Turner, the mother of Mrs. Gates, was a native of Wales, but came to South Carolina with her parents when a child. Mrs. Gates was born in South Carolina and received her education there. She was twenty-four years of age when she married. To the union ten children were born: John, Robert, Edwin, Lamora, Adaline and Dortha, all deceased; David and Henry A., at home, and two married daughters, Mrs. Mary L. Moore and Lillian M. Slosson, having homes, respectively, near Mount Vernon and on Whidby island. the family generally are Methodists, though David has embraced the Catholic faith. John B. Gates' widow is still living on the land which her husband wrested from its native state to become one of the farm homes of the Puget sound country. She vividly remembers her early days on that ground, the woods alive with wild beasts and recalls with distinctness the circumstances under which many of her domestic animals were carried off under her very eyes by the bears. She has lived to see the wilderness of trees turned into human habitations, the wild creatures disappear, and to note the work done by herself and her husband in effecting the transformation from forest to family fireside.

John married Sarah A. TURNER about 1865. Sarah (daughter of Robert TURNER and Louisa ?) was born on 26 Nov 1838 in Edgefield Co., South Carolina; died on 27 Mar 1909 in Mount Vernon, Skagit Co., Washington; was buried in Mount Vernon Cemetery, Mount Vernon, Skagit Co., Washington. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1850, Living with parents in Edgefield, Edgefield Co., South Carolina
• Census: 1870, Living with husband in Bee Branch, Chariton Co., Missouri
• Census: 1880, Living with husband in Mt. Vernon, Whatcom Co., Washington
• Census: 1885, Living with husband in Skagit Co., Washington
• Census: 1887, Living with husband in Skagit Co., Washington
• Census: 1900, Living with husband in Mt. Vernon, Skagit Co., Washington