That's Teunis G. Wyers and his Farmall Tractor in the 2013 Glenwood Rodeo Parade.
I didn't know Teunis very well. In fact, I didn't know him at all until he and I started going to Camas Prairie Pioneer meetings about the same time.
I am a newcomer to Glenwood/Camas Prairie and Vicinity. I have been here a mere 50 years.
But Teunis.....well, his roots go way back. Way back to some of the first pioneers who settled here in the valley.
His grandmother was Luella Betsy Shaw. She was born here in Camas Prairie in 1881. Her parents James O and Telitha T Shaw, came from California in 1879 with friend Halsey Cole. They first settled in the Camas Prairie lake bottom where James became the post master of the Fulda Post Office. Later James and Telitha Shaw moved a couple of miles north to the area of Bird Creek and took up a homestead claim in what is now the town of Glenwood. He set up a sawmill on Bird Creek and christened his farm "Glenwood Farm". The homestead claim took in the area from the Bird Creek Road east to Mt Adams Highway, and from just south of the post office, north to Ladiges Road. The big white house, by the Bird Creek Bridge, owned by Margaret and Jerry Throop is the old Shaw home, although I think the very first home burned in 1896.
Across the road they built the Glenwood Hotel which was later cut in half. Part of it was moved to where Kay Carr now lives. Her grandparents, the Henry Hansens continued running it as a hotel. The other half was moved down by the old Grange Hall on Lakeside Road, and used as a home by Ed Snipes.
Mrs. Shaw established a post office in 1885 which put a community named Glenwood on the map.
The Shaw Homestead Claim
There is a July 1889 newspaper clipping stating:
"The picnic at Glenwood, Washington Territory, was a very pleasant affair. The declaration of Independence was read by J.O. Shaw, and the oration was delivered by Hon. W. R. Dunbar, ......There was dancing in the afternoon and evening. The attendance was good, at least three hundred being present."
Three hundred is a fair number of people for a celebration in Glenwood, even by today's standards. Notice Washington is still a territory. We became a state in November of 1889.
Teunis's great grandfather James Orlando Shaw
FROM THE MEMORIES OF ALBERT THOMPSON WHO FIRST CAME INTO CAMAS PRAIRIE THE SUMMER OF 1868 TO TEND THE STOCK OF ELISHA TANNER
When Betsy Shaw was 18 years old in 1899, she married John G. Wyers. Witnesses on the marriage certificate are Mr. and Mrs. R.M. Kreps. So now, not only does the name Teunis get scattered throughout the family, but also a Wyers/Kreps connection begins.
John was born in Holland to Teunis and Marie Heyting Wyers. They came to the White Salmon area in 1891. Marie's brother Rudolph Heyting, had already taken out a homestead in Gilmer Valley and owned land in Camas Prairie. In early days, the Gilmer-Glenwood road, up to the Summit was called Heyting Grade. Marie and Teunis established a hotel and livery stable in White Salmon.
Teunis's great grandmother Marie Heyting Wyers
John G. and Betsy Shaw Wyers, for a few years after their marriage, lived here in the Glenwood Valley. They owned property in the area where Travis and Kelly Miller now live. Their son, Teunis James Wyers was born 1901 in Camas Prairie.
John and Betsy in 1905, moved to White Salmon. Their son Teunis J. went on to school and became an attorney.
John's sister Gertrude Wyers, married Richard Kreps. His brother Teunis Jr. married Olga Lauterbach. Marie, daughter of Teunis Jr. and Olga, married Russel Kreps.
Are you confused yet?
This article is from the March 29, 1945 Goldendale Sentinel and gives a pretty good history of Teunis's grandfather John Gerbrand Wyers.
Grandmother Betsy Shaw Wyers's sister Lila, married Edwin Bartholomew. They lived for some time in Glenwood, eventually moving to Bingen. Alba Bartholomew was a son.
I found this article about Teunis's grandmother in the August 12, 1912 Oregonian. I emailed it to Teunis. I knew he was gathering information about his grandmother, and wanted to do a talk about her at the Pioneer meeting.
He sent back a reply. He had heard a story that on one of these drives, a young bull was causing problems. Grandma Betsy, roped it, tied it up and castrated it right there.
I'm guessing the bull caused no problems the rest of the day.
After one of our Pioneer Meetings, in 2016 I wrote this blog.
CAMAS PRAIRIE & VICINITY PIONEER ASSOCIATION
It was a small group that day. Twelve total.
It is now fall of 2019 and five of that group are gone. Bonnie Parsons Harris left us just before our May 2017 Pioneer meeting.
It is now fall of 2019 and five of that group are gone. Bonnie Parsons Harris left us just before our May 2017 Pioneer meeting.
Member Tillie Williams left us in January 2019.
President Joann Hutton left us in February.
Our guest and photographer was Henry Balsiger. He passed away in June.
When long time member and Pioneer Hazel Parsons lost her daughter Bonnie, her son Eddie brought her to the meetings. We lost Eddie in August.
And then we lost Teunis at the end of August 2019.
Teunis took over the job of treasurer and secretary of the Pioneer Association. He even missed Sunday football to attend the October meetings.
Teunis brought some energy and stability to the organization. I gained respect for his sense of humor and his wise advice. He was an asset and a strength to the organization and its members.
After we lost our president in February, Teunis continued the May meeting, with the question....do we want to continue the Pioneer organization?
Teunis brought some energy and stability to the organization. I gained respect for his sense of humor and his wise advice. He was an asset and a strength to the organization and its members.
After we lost our president in February, Teunis continued the May meeting, with the question....do we want to continue the Pioneer organization?
There was a consensus to continue, and I know Teunis was looking forward to giving a talk about his pioneer grandmother Betsy Shaw.
Hopefully her history and stories are saved and when Teunis's family has had time to grieve, they will share Grandma Betsy with the community.
