"Early Pioneer Dies Yesterday"

Mrs. Miriam Hazzard, whose two sons, Russell Hazzard and Colonel O. P. M. Hazzard now of Presidio, Calif., were with General Fred Funston on his perilous trip which resulted in the capture of General Aguinaldo, during the war in the Philippines, died yesterday morning, October 3, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. George L. Twiss, on east Market street. Mrs. Hazzard, who was 86 years of age, was born in Indiana December 23, 1842, her maiden name being Miriam Spurgeon. She was married to William Hazzard during the Civil war, December 29, 1861. Mr. Hazzard serving in the Union army during that memorable conflict. The family arrived in Lewis county April 24, 1882, locating at Claquato, three miles west of Chehalis. Mr. Hazzard died there December 1, 1920. Mr. and Mrs. Hazzard had five children, three of whom are still living, Colonel O.P.M. Hazzard of the Presidio, San Francisco; William C. Hazzard of Buhl, Ida.; and Mrs. Minnie Hazzard Twiss of Chehalis. There are three grandchildren, Walter H. Twiss of this city and two granddaughters who reside in Oakland, Calif.

Mrs. Hazzard was made a charter member of the Eastern Star lodge in 1882 at Littleyork, Ind., and was also one of the few remaining charter members of the Chehalis Eastern Star lodge. In 1927 she received a medal of honor from the membership of the local lodge; also a life membership in the order in recognition of her long and continued devotion to the tenets of that historic organization. Mrs. Hazzard was also a charter member of the Rebekah lodge, having joined it soon after Mr. Hazzard's discharge from service in the Civil war, after he ws injured in the battle of Perryville, Ky.

When not visiting her sons, Wm. C. Hazzard and Colonel Hazzard, Mrs. Hazzard made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Twiss, since Mr. Hazzard's death about nine years ago.

Early in her teens Mrs. Hazzard united with the Presbyterian church and during her long life had been a devoted, faithful, Christian woman. During the Civil war she was noted for her bravery and patriotism, soliciting and distributing supplies for the soldiers, riding over the country on horseback and enduring many of the hardships and privations of that critical period in our nation's history. She was possessed of a happy, kindly dispositon and during her almost fifty years residence in Lewis county made a host of lifelong friends, because of this fact.

The body was removed to the Fissel Funeral Home pending funeral arrangements.


Source: The Chehalis Bee-Nugget, 4 Oct 1929, page 7.

Transcribed by Diana Smith. She has no further information on this individual.

Editor's Note: William and Mirim Hazzard are buried at Claquato Cemetery.