A Pioneer's Search for an Ideal Home Phoebe Goodell Judson [Very Good] [Hardcover]

Description

union Printing. First Edition, only 500 printed. ""By Phoebe Goodell Judson who crossed the Plains in 1853 and became a resident on Puget Sound before the Organization of Washington Territory. A book of personal memoirs, published in the author's 95th year."" Written when she was in her 80s, remarkable Northwest pioneer Phoebe Judson (1831-1936), along with her husband, founded the town of Lynden (and named it) in northwest Washington, and also founded Northwest Normal School, which is now Western Washington University. Judson's father established the town of Grand Mound, Washington. The book is written from entries in the diary Phoebe kept upon leaving for the Northwest in 1853. They first lived with her parents in Grand Mound, then in Olympia, WA (where they were among its first citizens); and Whidbey Island, WA before settling in Lynden in 1871. Her husband became the town's first mayor. Judson witnessed the execution of Chief Leschi, her husband was elected to the Washington State legislature and the couple was connected with many prominent NW names, including Isaac Ebey (who was beheaded by Indians); the founders of Whitworth College; and others. The book is a fabulously interesting story, an important first-hand record of early Washington State history, and a classic account of pioneering by a woman. One of “The Washington 89” -- the 89 most important historical books about Washington state. Published in such a small quantity, It is very scarce, even more so with a dust jacket and in as good condition as this one. Hardcover, with original jacket, with frontispiece photographic illustration of Phoebe and her husband. 309 pages, plus a four-page poem at the end written for Phoebe by Katherine Moore. Very good plus condition, with a few nicks to the dust jacket at spine and corners. Formerly in the collection of Joe and William LeCompte with a gift notation and embossed stamp on the blank endpaper.