I list this as “genealogical” information; there is little in-depth information here but it is a list of people I have come across in my research and found some tidbit of information that may be of assistance to someone.

Note also that I have listed names alphabetically, however, there is no guarantee that all people listed under a particular last name are related.  Where I have found information to link them I have included it, otherwise it may just be someone who shares the same last name.

I hope there is something of value to someone available here.  I also welcome corrections and additional information you may have.

• ASHFORD:
  • Arlie Janette –
    • Born 6/21/1913
    • Daughter of Fredrick and Mabel Ashford
    • Granddaughter of Walter and Cora Ashford
    • 1920 – Lived in Spokane WA.
    • 1930 – Lived in Toledo OR.
    • Died 5/20/2006, Juneau, AK
  • Cora Janette
    • Wife of Walter, mother of Zina, Emma, John and Mildred.
    • Born in England?
    • Married Walter in 1886
    • Maiden name was Hershey
    • Died 11/3/1933
    • 1900 census shows her to be 35 with birth date of Jan. 1865 – born in Michigan
    • 1910 census shows living in Junction, Kapowsin, Nisqually, Ohop and Silver Lake Precincts, Pierce, Washington, United States,(?), with Walter A. Ashford; son, Fred L. Ashford; daughter, Mildred M. Ashford; Son-in-law, Woodbridge S. Van Dyke; daughter, Zina (Ashford) Van Dyke.
    • 1920 census shows in Ashford, WA.  Also notes members of household as: Walter A. Ashford; Mildred M. Harmon and Nettie V. Stump.
  • Emma G.
    • Daughter of Walter and Cora
    • 1900 census shows living with family at Junction, Kapowsin, Nisqually, Ohop and Silver Lake Precincts, Pierce, Washington, United States with a DOB of July 1888
    • Another source lists her DOB as 11/1890
  • Fred Leroy
    • Son of Walter and Cora
    • 1900 census shows living at Junction, Kapowsin, Nisqually, Ohop and Silver Lake Precincts, Pierce, Washington, United States.
    • 1910 census shows living with parents in Nisqually, Pierce County, WA.
    • 1910 census – Born in Washington, estimated year, 1891
    • Another source gives DOB as 7/26/1889
    • 1920 census shows living in Spokane, WA.
    • Died in 1921 in California
    • Married Mabel M. Braden 6/21/1911 in Crook County OR.
    • Had two children: Arlie Janette Ashford, born 1913, and Thomas Frederick Ashford, born 1915.
  • Mildred M.-
    • Youngest daughter of Walter and Cora
    • Married James Beech, date unknown.
    • Died 10/15/1967
    • 1900 census shows her living with family at Junction, Kapowsin, Nisqually, Ohop and Silver Lake Precincts, Pierce, Washington, United States, DOB 11/1897.
    • 1910 census shows as living with parents in Nisqually, Pierce County, WA. with YOB of 1898
    • 1920 census lists Mildred M. Harmon as daughter of Walter and Cora Ashford, age 22
    • Married Leslie E. Harmon 08/18/1917
    • 1930 census shows married to Samuel L. Raymond with a daughter named Zina M. Raymond.  Married 9/28/1921.
  • Thomas Fredrick –
    • Born 1915
    • Son of Fredrick and Mabel Ashford
    • Grandson of Walter and Cora Ashford
  • Walter A. –
    • Immigrated to US in 1871 from birthplace in Ipswich, England.
    • Homesteaded in Nisqually Valley in 1880
    • Filed for town site 1891
    • Drove horse-drawn buggy to transport tourists to Longmire HQ on Mt. Rainier.
    • Platted Ashford in 1904
    • Married Wife, Cora Hershey, 1886
    • Washington Death Certificate lists DOB as 01/04/1855
    • Date of Death, 04/24/1934, widowed at that time.
    • Father’s name: Andrew Ashford
    • Father of Zina, Emma, Mildred and Fred.
    • 1900 census shows Walter living in Silver Lake, Pierce County, with Cora and Zina B., (age 12); Fred L., (age 11); Emma G., (age 10); and Mildred M., (age 2).
    • 1910 census shows as living in Nisqually, Pierce County, WA., with: Cora J. Ashford; son Fred L. Ashford; Daughter, Emma G. Ashford; daughter, Mildred M. Ashford; son-in-law, Woodbridge S. Van Dyke and daughter, Zina B. Van Dyke.
    • 1930 census shows living in Ashford, WA, male, age 74.  Members of household: Cora J. Ashford; Mildred M. Harmon; Wilsie Hershey and Nettie Stump.
  • Zina B. –
    • Daughter of Walter and Cora
    • Died 10/2/1951
    • Married to W. S. Van Dyke 6/16/1909, divorced in 1935
    • 1900 census shows living at Silver Lake Precincts, Pierce County, WA.  Shows DOB as 11/1887
    • 1910 census shows as living in Nisqually, Pierce County, WA with her parents and husband.  Gives estimated DOB as 1888, born in Washington.
    • At Turner Classic Movies she is mentioned in Van Dyke’s bio as an actor but she was not found in IMDB.com
    • Van Dyke divorced Zina in 1935 claiming that she had abandoned him 12 years earlier.
    • Aunt of Zina Marie Raymond
• BARTNETT:
  • Barbara Ann –
    • 1951 was a student at the new elementary school for Alder, Elbe and Ashford.  Students submitted potential names for the new school and her entry was selected–Columbia Crest.
• BEECH:
  • James C.
    • Married Mildred Ashford
    • Respected WWII pilot
• BLUM
  • Eva
    • A.K.A. Crisman
    • Lived at Copper Creek Inn in 1935
• BRADEN:
  • Mabel Mandana –
    • Born 6/29/1890 in Iowa
    • Wife of Fredrick Leroy Ashford
    • Mother of Arlie Janette and Thomas Frederick Ashford
    • Died 10/1928 in Washington.
• CANTY:
  • Hank, “Frenchie” –
    • Ran the copper Creek Inn with Roselea Triggs in the 1940’s & ’50’s
    • Collected the alphabet made of natural wood formations that has been on the side of the Inn for years.
• CHRISTOPHERSON:
  • Lee –
    • Husband of Wendy
    • Artist living in Ashford working in stone, glass and driftwood as of 2014
    • Spent 25 years in military and civilian service, being wounded in Iraq.  Retired in 2004 and became a full-time artist.
  • Wendy –
    • Wife of Lee
• CHRISTENSEN:
  •  Anne –
    • Married Otto Haynes
• CRISMAN:
  • Eva –
    • A.K.A. Eva Blum, lived at Copper Creek Inn in 1935
• ERICKSON:
  • John –
    • Worked at, “The Logs restaurant and Lodge,” 1960’s?
• ESTES:
  • William –
    • Mountain Ranger who transported officials from the Chicago, Milwaukee and Puget Sound R. R. from Longmire back to Ashford after their fact-finding tour.
• FREEMAN:
  • Phil –
    • Husband of Catharine Gallager and Co-owner of the Copper Creek Inn circa 2001
• GALLAGER:
  • Catharine –
    • With husband, Phil, bought Copper Creek Inn in 2001
    • Wife of Phil Freeman
• GARDINER:
  • Jana
    • See Johnson, Jana.
    • Received her BA at U of Cal at Santa Cruz.
    • Sister was a park ranger in the 1970’s
• GREEN:
  • Han –
    • Apparently owned and reconstructed the Ashford Mansion after Ed Mudge owned it.
    • Married to Jan.
  • Jan.-
    • Operated the Ashford Mansion as a B&B for some time after separating from Han.
    • Sold the mansion to Willard Jones.
• HAMAR:
  • Henry Glenn –
    • Husband of Arlie Ashford
    • Born 5/19/1908 in Oregon
    • Census’ show residences in Nashville, OR; Toledo, OH; Ketchikan, AK.
• HARNISH:
  • Jerry –
    • 1973 bought Alexander’s Inn and surrounding 20 acres, operated the restaurant as Alexander’s Inn but top floors were in disrepair
    • Built first waterwheel attached to the Inn
    • 1984, with wife, Bernadette, extensively remodeled property to include lodging and gift shop, replaced waterwheel, re-opened as Alexander’s Country Inn.
  • Bernadette –
    • Wife and business partner of Jerry
• HAYNES:
  • Anne –
    • Maiden name was Christensen
    • Wife of Otto Haynes
  • Arndon –
    • Son of Otto and Anne
    • Grandson of Paul
    • With father and brother, Elwin, ran the Haynes Shake Mill outside Eatonville.
  • Elwin –
    • Son of Otto and Anne
    • Grandson of Paul
    • With father and brother, Arndon, ran the Haynes Shake Mill outside of Eatonville.
  • Paul –
    • 1914 Ashford pioneer
    • Father of Otto, grandfather of Arndon and Elwin
• HENDRICKSEN:
  • HENRY –
    • Worked at “The Logs Restaurant and Lodge,” 1960’s?
  • Ray –
    • Son of Henry
• HERSHEY:
  • Cora Janette
    • Married Walter Ashford in 1886
    • See Ashford, Cora Janette
  • Wilsie –
    • 1930 census shows as a lodger in the home of Walter and Cora Ashford, in Ashford.  Gives estimated birth year as 1845, in New York.
    • Father’s birthplace, N.Y.
    • Mother’s birthplace, Connecticut
    • Lists her as a widow.
• JOHNSON:
  • Jana –
    • AKA Gradiner
    • Wife of Rick
    • With Rick, runs Ashford Creek Potter circa 2014
  • Rick –
    • Husband of Jana Gardiner Johnson
    • With Jana, runs Ashford Creek Pottery circa 2014
    • Worked as back-country ranger, firefighter and grocery store manager before turning to the arts full-time.
• JONES:
  • “Red” –
    • Owned “The Logs Resort Motel and Restaurant,” 1950’s – ’60’s
    • Early ’60’s he abandoned the place leaving employees unpaid.  Left quickly, leaving most of his personal belongings behind
  • Willard –
    • Owner of Ashford Mansion, circa. 2013,14
• KENNEDY:
  • Pat –
    • With Janet Liddle, current, (2014) owner of Deep Forest Cabins.
• LIDDLE:
  • Abram –
    • During the depression, bought the land where Deer Park Cabins, (Now Stone Creek Lodge), was built.
    • Around 1947 sold to uncle of Pat Kennedy, current owner with Janet Liddle. (2014)
  • Alan –
    • Architect.  Also uncle of Janet Liddle
    • Built Maplewild Cabin in the 1960’s
    • Build the Salal Cabin in the early 1950’s.  It was featured on the cover of Sunset Magazine in 1952.
  • Janet –
    • Granddaughter of Abram Liddle.
    • With Pat Kennedy, owner of Deep Forest Cabins, (2014)
• McRAY (McREA)
  • George –
    • Son of Jesse and Jetty
  • Jean –
    • Daughter of Jesse and Jetty
  • Jennie –
    • See Jetty
  • Jesse –
    • At age 11, carried mail on foot from Ashford t Paradise; 20 miles. Pay was $1 per day plus his dinner.  He would try to get to Paradise, then back to the Longmire kitchen by lunchtime.  His mother was enduring hard times and the free meal meant a lot to them.
    • The Big Book About Mount Rainier, Filley, lists spelling as McRea.  My research turned up Jesse McRay, born in Texas in 1891 or ’92 but living in Ashford as a child.  I suspect they are one-in-the-same.
  • Jetty –
    • Wife of Jesse McCray
• MESLER (MESSLER):
  • Alexander Sr. –
    • Arrived in Ashford in 1889 with family and homesteaded 160 acre parcel.
    • Father of Alexander Jr. and siblings
  • Alexander Jr.
    • 1912, constructed a roadhouse catering to Mt. Rainer tourists.  Ran it with his siblings.
    • 1917, killed in work related accident at Todd Shipyards in Tacoma.
  • Clara –
    • Daughter of Alexander Sr. and Mrs. Messler.
  • Belle –
    • Daughter of Alexander Sr. and Mrs. Messler.
  • Bessie –
    • During the depression, Kept the Inn running along with the other Messler women.
• MORFORD:
  • Gene –
    • Bought Pappajohn’s restaurant from Mabel Pappajohn in 1971
• MUDGE
  • Ed –
    • Bought the Ashford Mansion after Mildred Ashford died in 1964.
• PAPPAJOHN:
  • Harry –
    • Purchased 40 acres of the Messler property in 1940 for $2000 in back taxes.
    • Worked as a cook at Paradise Inn, Mt. Rainier
    • 1941, married Mabel Steinbrink.
    • 1942, Mabel moved to the former Messler Inn.  Harry lived at Paradise on Mt. Rainier may to October.
    • 1956, Mabel and Harry remodeled the Inn, opening Papajohn’s Restaurant.  Harry continued to work at Paradise, Mabel ran Pappajohn’s Restaurant.
    • Died in 1962
  • Mabel –
    • Wife of Harry Pappajohn
    • Maiden name was Streinbrink
    • See notes under “Harry” for historical items.
    • 1971,sold Inn and restaurant to Gene Morford
• PAUL:
  • Frank –
    • Artist living and working in Ashford as of 2014
    • From San Diego, was in the Navy, a scheduling analyst, a medical assistant, a dancer and a restaurant owner before settling in Ashford as an artist.
• PETERSON:
  • Anna –
    • Sent mail postmarked from Ashford
    • Daughter of Torger Peterson.
  • Torger –
    • Father of Anna Peterson.
• RAYMOND:
  • Samuel Lloyd –
    • Husband of Mildred Ashford (Harmon)
    • D.O.B. 6/23/1898, Pipestone, MN USA
    • Death 4/27/1958, Spokane, WA
    • Father of Zina Marie Raymond
  • Zina Marie –
    • Nice of Zina Ashford
    • 1940 Census shows both born in Washington and both living in California at 462 S. Crescent Dr., Beverly Hills, CA
    • Age 17 in 1940
• SCHREUDERS:
  • Virginia Leona –
    • From Ashford, married James Lacey Jr. at Dash Point 2/28/1942
• STEINBRINK (STREINBRINK?):
  • Mable –
    • See: Pappajohn, Mable.
• STUMP:
  • Nettie V.
    • 1920 census show her as sister-in-law, living with Walter and Cora Ashford, in Ashford
    • 1920 census estimated year of birth, 1876, divorced and able to read and write.
    • 1930 census shows her as a lodger with Walter and Cora Ashford, in Ashford.
    • 1930 census – estimated birth year 1880.
    • Born in Nebraska
    • As per 1930 census, father and mother were born in New York.
    • As per 1920 census, father was born in Canada.
• TRIGGS:
  • Roselea –
    • Lived and worked at the Copper Creek Inn in the late 1940’s and 1950’s.  Waited tables by day, wrote short stories for ladies magazines by night.
• VAN DYKE:
  • Woodbridge Strong “Woody” II –
    • Husband of Zina Ashford, divorced in 1935
    • 1910 census shows living with Cora and Walter Ashford and other in Nisqually, Pierce County, WA.
    • Census shows birth year estimated as 1889, in California.
    • Mother’s birthplace, Nevada
    • Famous director for MGM Studios
    • Born 3/21/1889 in San Diego.
    • Died by suicide 2/5/1943 after suffering with cancer which, as a devout Christian Scientist he had refused treatment for.
    • Had children.
    • Marine Corps. Major prior to WWII
    • Listed in 1930 census as “Widge” Van Dyke.
  • Woodbridge Strong Sr. –
    • Superior Court Judge
    • Father of W. S. Van Dyke Jr.
    • Father-in-law of Zina Ashford
    • Wife was Laura Winston, Actor.
  • Zina –
    • See Zina Ashford.
• WINSTON:
  • Laura –
    • Wife of W. S. Van Dyke SR.
    • Mother-in-law fo Zina Ashford