Detwilerl
Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history
of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western
Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
LEWIS DETWILER, the earliest
pioneer settler on the Entiat river, Chelan county, is a prosperous farmer
residing near the town of Entiat. He was born in Pennsylvania, August
26, 1850, the son of Henry and Catherine (Yeakley) Detwiler, both natives
of Pennsylvania, of Dutch ancestry. They are descendants of four
prominent and distinguished generations.
Passing his boyhood's days in the Keystone
state our subject, at the age of seventeen years, removed to Wisconsin,
where for three years he was engaged in farm work. Thence he went
to Kansas, remained two years, returned to his native state, and two years
subsequently went to Wyoming, where he rode the range and engaged in teaming.
In 1880 he went to Montana, and three years from that period he went to
Douglas county, Washington, filing on one hundred and forty acres of land.
This was across the river from Entiat, and discovering that the survey
was defective, he moved across, in 1898, and purchased and conducted a
ferry, three miles below Entiat which he still owns. Our subject
has one brother, John, who lives at Seattle.
During the earlier years of his residence
in the Entiat country Mr. Detwiler had several narrow escapes from Indians,
who were quite hostile at that time. On one occasion the redskins
rushed in on him, bound him and carried him to Wenatchee, delivering him
up to the authorities. The Indians at that period strenuously objected
to the settlement of white men among them, but Mr. Detwiler defied the
tribes, and retained his property in spite of their vigorous objections.