Biographical Timeline - Thomas Jameson Cresap #291 (2003 book)
by Lavinia Grace Schwarz
Cresap Bay Park is named for Thomas Jameson Cresap son of Thomas Alexander Cresap #51 (who fought with Sam Houston for Texas independence in the 1830s.
The recreation area has single and group campsites, swimming and picnic areas, and a boat ramp where the historical sign about Cresap's ferry is located.
Thomas Jameson Cresap and his Lewis River ferry
photo share 18 July 2010 by Linda Thompson
Tom Cresap operated this toll ferry on the North Fork of the Lewis River from 1902 until 1920 when the Yale Bridge was completed. The ferry was about a mile below the present location of the bridge. It ran between the Tom Cresap farm in Cowlitz County and the John Hanley Farm in Clark County. In the picture above taken in 1910 Will Hooper is on his wagon. Others from left to right are Harry Farr, Tom Cresap and Harry Hooper. The area shown in the picture is now flooded by Lake Merwin. Louise Frasier who loaned us the picture says the party above probably paid 50 cents to cross the river.
Tom Cresap operated this toll ferry on the North Fork of the Lewis River from 1902 until 1920 when the Yale Bridge was completed. The ferry was about a mile below the present location of the bridge. It ran between the Tom Cresap farm in Cowlitz County and the John Hanley Farm in Clark County. In the picture above taken in 1910 Will Hooper is on his wagon. Others from left to right are Harry Farr, Tom Cresap and Harry Hooper. The area shown in the picture is now flooded by Lake Merwin. Louise Frasier who loaned us the picture says the party above probably paid 50 cents to cross the river.
|
|
Thomas and Clara Cresap – photos shared by Linda Thompson in 2011 on ancestry.com
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/20936584/person/18029057403/gallery
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/20936584/person/18029057403/gallery
Thomas Jameson Cresap was born 13 Jan 1862/3 in Texas, the ninth and last child of Thomas Alexander Cresap #51 (who fought with Sam Houston for Texas independence in the 1830s) and his wife Zoa Bailey.Three of their children died young. Thomas the father is said to have died in 1862 and Zoa in 1863.
|
|
In 1885 Thomas J. Cresap married Clara Bray. A daughter, Zoe, was born December 20, 1889 before birth certificates were required. Zoe filed for a delayed birth certificate in 1947 wherein she swore her father, Thomas Jamison Cresap was born 13 January 1863 in Texas, and that her mother Cara Ann Bray was born 12 January 1869 also in Texas.
Their first census was 1900 with their five living daughters. Zoa, Jessie, Clara, Minnie, and Olah Belle. By 1910 Tom's sister, the widowed Penelope Anne "Neppie" Cresap Taylor was living with them. She would stay in Washington, remarry, divorce, remarry again, and be buried in Portland, Oregon.
Tom farmed and ran his ferry from 1902-1920 between the Tom Cresap farm in Cowlitz County and the John Hanley Farm in Clark County.
1920 census Mineral, Cowlitz, Washington, USA w/Clara and grandson Melbourne C.
Thompson, 11
Thompson, 11
1930 census Thomas and Clara had moved to a new place -- both the city and the state. Portland City, Multnomah, Oregon
On September 6, 1932 Thomas J. Cresap died in Portland, Oregon
He had become an Adventist in the North Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. They published his obituary in the North Pacific Union Gleaner | September 20, 1932 Periodical Issue 1932-09-20 page http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/RH/RH19321013-V109-41.pdf
Thomas and Clara lived through the days of the horse and buggy to those of the automobile. Tom did not live however to know Clara was accidentally hit by a car. (The Oregonian Thursday, Feb 29, 1940, page 8, column 6.)
He had become an Adventist in the North Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. They published his obituary in the North Pacific Union Gleaner | September 20, 1932 Periodical Issue 1932-09-20 page http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/RH/RH19321013-V109-41.pdf
Thomas and Clara lived through the days of the horse and buggy to those of the automobile. Tom did not live however to know Clara was accidentally hit by a car. (The Oregonian Thursday, Feb 29, 1940, page 8, column 6.)
|
|
Clara died in 1945 and is buried with Thomas J. in Lincoln Memorial Park, Portland, Oregon.
Tom's ferry is mentioned in histories:
Learn more about Northern Clark County (which mentions Cresap's ferry) from Legacy of Washington put out by the Secretary of State of Washington state
https://www.sos.wa.gov/legacy/cities_detail.aspx?i=36
…Transportation
Steamboats appeared on the river in 1854 and stayed for 60 years. They carried passengers and freight daily to Etna, located on the North Fork of the Lewis River at the mouth of Cedar Creek, and up the East Fork to La Center and Stoughton.
https://www.sos.wa.gov/legacy/cities_detail.aspx?i=36
…Transportation
Steamboats appeared on the river in 1854 and stayed for 60 years. They carried passengers and freight daily to Etna, located on the North Fork of the Lewis River at the mouth of Cedar Creek, and up the East Fork to La Center and Stoughton.
|
Though the steamboats encouraged travel along the river, they did not facilitate travel across the river. Since it was not practical to build bridges across the wide North Fork in the early years, other means to cross the water were found. The Mason and Cresap ferries operated as businesses and served travelers in Cowlitz and Clark County.
With availability of consistent ferries, the construction of roads was needed inland. Farmers could build roads in lieu of paying county road taxes; most took this option along with an allowance for use of any equipment such as wagons and horses. Lewisville was located near a ford on the East Fork of the Lewis River. During the winter, fording at this spot was very dangerous, prompting the settlers to stock up on basic provisions during the fall. Hall's Bridge, a wooden structure which crossed the river, was swept away in 1883. Three months later another bridge was built with a cover to protect the wooden planking. A sign on the bridge stated "$10 fine for riding or driving across the bridge faster than a walk." |
See also
A History of the Woodland Community 1850-1958 the revised 1999 edition by Judy Card available at http://lewisriver.com/jcard5.html
It includes:
…We find road problems and changes facing the pioneers in the Yale Valley as well. Those crossing the river from the Chelatchie Prairie country and settling the South Yale community, the McKays, Cresaps, Nagels, Brodies, Fraziers, Razeys, Allens, were more or less isolated from the settlers in the main Yale Valley over the hill.
They had their own school always and the Post Office was located there until after the 1902 fire. From that time on it was necessary to go down around the mountains from the Cresap place and cross Spelei near its mouth, then up to Griffith's for mail. The main Yale Valley residents who depended on crossing the river and going out through Chelatchie Prairie country for supplies and groceries also faced the hardship of using this slow route.
Needless to say it was an occasion for rejoicing when the present road site over the hill came into use. Wilson Razey was road supervisor during the time it was built, and all these old pioneers put in hours of work with grubbing hoe and shovel for which they had no pay but the satisfaction of a job well done and knowing the convenience it brought to those using it.
When the first bridge was put across the Lewis River near the present site, and ferries no longer were necessary the people felt they were indeed fortunate.
The old river for which the county is named, the Lewis, played a major part in transportation facilities in the early days. People came in canoe to points further up river and by steam boats to landings on the lower end. The greater part of supplies were brought in this way, by either coming up from Woodland or by crossing the river by ferry from various points.
Ferries were located at several points along the river. We find one up river that was run by Jacob Polley at the foot of Geddis - now flooded by the Yale Dam reservoir. This was a handmade cable ferry operated by hand.
Farther down river just above the present Yale bridge we find early pioneers crossing the river by ferry at the McKay place. Later this was replaced by another, below the present bridge at the Tom Cresap place. For years this ferry was used by bring supplies to the Yale community. The Hayes Ferry down stream, and the Forbes Ferry both did their part in the community development. We even find a basket ferry up at the old Frazier place.
A History of the Woodland Community 1850-1958 the revised 1999 edition by Judy Card available at http://lewisriver.com/jcard5.html
It includes:
…We find road problems and changes facing the pioneers in the Yale Valley as well. Those crossing the river from the Chelatchie Prairie country and settling the South Yale community, the McKays, Cresaps, Nagels, Brodies, Fraziers, Razeys, Allens, were more or less isolated from the settlers in the main Yale Valley over the hill.
They had their own school always and the Post Office was located there until after the 1902 fire. From that time on it was necessary to go down around the mountains from the Cresap place and cross Spelei near its mouth, then up to Griffith's for mail. The main Yale Valley residents who depended on crossing the river and going out through Chelatchie Prairie country for supplies and groceries also faced the hardship of using this slow route.
Needless to say it was an occasion for rejoicing when the present road site over the hill came into use. Wilson Razey was road supervisor during the time it was built, and all these old pioneers put in hours of work with grubbing hoe and shovel for which they had no pay but the satisfaction of a job well done and knowing the convenience it brought to those using it.
When the first bridge was put across the Lewis River near the present site, and ferries no longer were necessary the people felt they were indeed fortunate.
The old river for which the county is named, the Lewis, played a major part in transportation facilities in the early days. People came in canoe to points further up river and by steam boats to landings on the lower end. The greater part of supplies were brought in this way, by either coming up from Woodland or by crossing the river by ferry from various points.
Ferries were located at several points along the river. We find one up river that was run by Jacob Polley at the foot of Geddis - now flooded by the Yale Dam reservoir. This was a handmade cable ferry operated by hand.
Farther down river just above the present Yale bridge we find early pioneers crossing the river by ferry at the McKay place. Later this was replaced by another, below the present bridge at the Tom Cresap place. For years this ferry was used by bring supplies to the Yale community. The Hayes Ferry down stream, and the Forbes Ferry both did their part in the community development. We even find a basket ferry up at the old Frazier place.