"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. 326.
 
ELISHA NELSON SARJENT

     When on August 28, 1914. Elisha N. Sarjent passed over the Great Divide,
there disappeared one who had been & familiar landmark in Thurston County for
the past 65 years,  one who had been identified with the development of this
section of Washington from earliest- pioneer days.
     Elisha Sarjent was gathered to his fathers after a lift rich in experiences
such as are encountered by but few, none in these later days. Coming to Puget
Sound in the winter of 1849-50 he at once identified himself with the frontier
life of the region he had selected for his future home. Mr. Sarjent lived to the
ripe old age of eighty-seven years and at the funeral his friend of many years,
Hon. Allen Wier, pronounced the following heartfelt eulogy:
     "Elisha Nelson Sarjent was born September 8, 1827, in, Fountain County,
Indiana. In 1849 he left Indiana on his way to the gold fields of California.
While crossing the plains he was lost for fourteen days before he got back to
his train. He did not remain in California long, but pushed his way north and
west and arrived at Puget Sound on a sailing vessel during the winter of
1849-50, thus identifying himself with the original and adventurous gold
seekers commonly known as '49ers.'  He helped to build the first
house in Olympia, thus his identity as one of the real argonauts of Thurston
County is established.
     "Among his experiences in the then unknown wilds of the great Northwest,
was being shipwrecked in Queen Charlotte Sound, among the Northern Indians, in
the winter of 1851-52 when he and others were captured and held among hostile
savages during a period of fifty-three days. Among his companions was John
Thornton, a respected old-time citizen and resident of Clallam County, in this
State.
     "In 1853 Mr. Sarjent went out from the Puget Sound basin across the Cascade
Mountains and met the incoming immigrant train and piloted the new comers
through the Natchez Pass into Pierce County. This was the first influx of
settlers coming by way of the Natchez Pass. Among those coming at that time were
members of the Himes family who settled in Olympia, and the family of Mrs.
Frasier, who was reported as coming into this country riding on the back of an
ox.
     "Mr. Sarjent saw valiant service in the Indian war of 1855-56, in which he
was a First Lieutenant of Volunteers.
     "He took a donation claim near Grand Mound, in Thurston County, where his
house has stood for something like sixty-five years, and where he was married
more than fifty-four years ago. His wife,, who. was Miss Lucretia Mounts, has
been by his side during these years, a faithful helpmeet through good and evil
report. Their two sons, Fred Sarjent and Asher Sarjent, with their families were
among the sorrowing mourners at the funeral.
     "Mr. Sarjent was one of the most modest of men, seldom speaking of these
trying times that tested the courage and manhood of those who had to stand guard
at block house defenses and protect the women. and children from hostile attack.
Nevertheless, his duty was always quietly performed, and with credit to himself.
No one ever heard of a dishonorable act on his part, and a significant comment
by one of his nearest neighbors was that during an intimate acquaintance of
something like sixty years, when line fences were often out of repair and stock
became frequently mixed up, nothing even remotely resembling a quarrel ever
occurred.
    "'Could anything more fully attest the sterling worth of the hardy manhood
and womanhood of our honored pioneers?
    "May their shadows never be less, and the worthy example thus shown be
followed by later comers.
    "Nelson Sarjent has gone to his reward. Like a sheaf of fully ripened grain,
he has been gathered. His example has been one of duty fully performed. His
place among the army of worthy citizens who demonstrated their right in the
front rank of worthy pioneers of this great Northwest has passed beyond
question.
          '"On Fame's eternal camping ground
               Their silent tents are spread.
           While glory guard with solemn round
               Their bivouac of the dead."

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Submitted to the Washington Bios. Project in June 2007 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.