"Early History of Thurston County, Washington; Together with Biographies and Reminiscences of those Identified with Pioneer Days." Compiled and Edited by Mrs. George E. (Georgiana) Blankenship. Published in Olympia, Washington, 1914. p. 226. DR. NATHANIEL OSTRANDER "He was ever strong for the right," are the words that come most readily to the compiler's pencil when an attempt was made to draw a pen picture of that veteran war horse in the medical profession, Dr. Nathaniel Ostrander. For many years, while living on his homestead on the Cowlitz River, he was the only doctor to minister to the distress of the people for many miles. His daughters can still remember their father hurrying out, sometimes in the dead of night saddling his faithful nag, filling his saddle bags with drugs, medicines, and frequently, surgical instruments, and starting on a trip of perhaps twenty or even fifty miles, in response to a summons for medical aid. Many of the men and women today living in Cowlitz County, with head white with the hoar of age, were ushered into this world by the genial doctor, whose proud boast it was that no mother died while under his care when professional stall was possible to save the lives of her and her baby. Brusk, sometimes gruff in his manners, all who best knew this grand old man, knew his heart was of pure gold, his moral life beyond reproach and his family relations loving and pure, a staunch friend loyal to his political and fraternal affiliations. Dr Ostrander's memory is still fondly cherished by his former friends and he is mourned by his daughters to this late day. A native of New York, Nathaniel Ostrander grew to manhood in that state, received his medical education, and in 1836 was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Jane Yatis, of Lexington, Kentucky. After marriage, the Ostranders lived in Saline County, Missouri, but in 1852 decided to join an ox train and came West, as many from their neighborhood were contemplating such a move. The emigrants suffered even more than the custom hardships and terrors attendant upon the trip at that period. Weeks before the train arrived at The Dalles, black measles broke out among the emigrants and many deaths ensued. The services of the Doctor were in constant demand, and for two or three weeks there was but little rest or sleep for him. When Snake River was reached, in Idaho, one of the Ostrander children, Susan Charlotte, died, and was buried in a lonely grave beside this river. Here, too, Mrs. Ostrander gave birth to a girl baby. At the time of the baby's arrival the mother and her four daughters were deathly sick with the measles and for a time the outcome looked very doubtful. Arriving at The Dalles, the Ostrander family took boats for the voyage down the Columbia to Portland. Here a short stop was made, but the children were still weak from the experiences on the plains, and malaria was so prevalent, that Dr. Ostrander decided to go on up to the Cowlitz country and take up a homestead. The Doctor and his brave wife at once set to work to carve a home from the wilderness and succeeded so well that within a few years their homestead became the finest and most valuable in that section. Owing to a native, force of character and natural ability, Dr. Ostrander soon became a leader in every enterprise among the pioneers. He was the first Probate Judge of Cowlitz County, having been appointed by Governor I. I. Stevens, soon after the organization of Washington Territory. Always a loyal Democrat, he was elected to the Territorial Legislature for several terms. Dr. Ostrander was a prominent member of the Odd Fellows, and took a keen interest in this fraternal organization to the day of his death. The town and river of Ostrander, in Cowlitz County, are named in honor of the Doctor. In 1872 the Ostranders decided to remove to Tumwater. Here the doctor opened a drug store in connection with the practice of his profession, and here the family lived for the ensuing fifteen years, the children in the meantime, growing up and receiving their education in the schools of that place. In 1887 the family selected Olympia as their home, and the Doctor built the large house on the block bounded by Franklin and Adams, Eighth and Ninth streets, which became the Ostrander home the remaining days of Doctor and Mrs. Ostrander. Mrs. Ostrander was the first to go, passing from this life on February 22, 1899, after a well spent life of 68 years. A faithful wife, loving mother, consistent and ardent Christian and true friend, all who knew her realized that a good woman was gone with her passing. Dr. "Nat," as he was lovingly called by his familiars, joined his wife in the better land on February 7, 1902. Ten daughters and one son were born to Dr. and Mrs. Ostrander: Priscilla Catherine, now Mrs. Montague, of Forest Grove Oregon, but whose first, husband was James Redpath, and whose son is Dr. N. J. Redpath of Olympia; Mary Anne, now Mrs. Thomas Roe, of Forest Grove, Oregon; Susan Charlotte, the little girl who died and was buried on the plains; Sarah Teresa, widow of Charles Catlin, a pioneer of Cowlitz County, and whom the town of Catlin is named after Mrs. Catlin now makes her home in Portland, Oregon. Margaret Jane now Mrs. M. 0'Conner, of Olympia; Maria Evelyn, who later became Mrs. W. W. Work of Olympia, but who died in 1888; Isabella May, afterwards Mrs. E. B. Eastman, of Olympia; John Yantis, who became an Alaska capitalist, but who died in Olympia in the Spring of 1914; Florence Eliza, afterwards Mrs. Walter Crosby, of Olympia; Fannie Lee. afterwards Mrs. C. M. Moore, now of Oakland, California, and Minnie Augusta, who died in infancy. ******************* Submitted to the Washington Bios. Project in May 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.