Aged Pioneer Passes
In the death of Luther J. Davis in Chehalis last week Lewis county and the state of Washington lost the last of a family of prominent early pioneers, a family which had much to do with the development of this section of Northwest, prominent in legislative halls in territorial days. He was 76 and was born in Ft. Wayne, Ind., whence his farmer migrated from Vermont. His parents, with six children, crossed the plains in an ox team with a wagon train, the elder Davis being the captain.
After six months' travel they landed in the district where is now situated Portland. After a stay of a few days there they went to the Cowlitz prairie country, and shortly moved to Claquato, three miles west of Chehalis, where they made the family home.
The first church built in this section was built there by the elder Davis, and it is now preserved as a landmark around which there is much early history.
Early settlers of this district remember the history of the Davis family, its assistance in developing the country, and many anecdotes concerning the deceased, who had a wide acquaintance and a fund of pioneer humor.
Source: Centralia Daily Chronicle, Monday, 11 Nov 1918, page 4.
Transcribed by Diana Smith. She has no further information on this individual.