Ada Runyan's parents, John Fletcher and Lydia (Huffmaster) Runyan were one of the earliest pioneers to settle in the North Fork area of the Lewis River, arriving in 1884. In fact, Lydia was the first white woman located that far up the river.
While researching, I came across a wonderful website that is actually called lewisriver.com
and they have wonderful current events listed along with historical facts, which the Runyan family is mentioned. Reading the events that happened in the area where the Carl Koschnitzki and Ada Runyan's families settled will help you better understand the living conditions during that era and the historical events leading up to today. as it is wonderful reading and you might even come across additional family members! (The BOLD PRINT under each family name has been duplicated from the website, lewisriver.com from Judy Card's wonderful and descriptive story, "Fields of Flowers and Forests of Fir" with permission from the Editor, Noel Johnson).ISAAC RUNYAN was born October 22, 1823 in East Tennessee, and died March 15, 1897 in Woodland, Washington.
Died--On March 15, 1897, Mr. Isaac Runyan aged 63 years 4 months 24 days. He was born in East Tenn. on Oct. 22, 1823. In 1834 his parents moved to Green Castle, Ind. In 1844 he was married to Miss Martha Hall. In 1849 he moved to Davis Co., Iowa. He followed farming until the fall of '62. He enlisted in the U.S. Army under Gen. Steel. On April 30, 1864 he was wounded in the battle of Saline Bottoms near Little Rock, Ark. He was sent to the hospital at Little Rock, in which place he stayed about two months. He was granted a furlough for thirty days at the expiration of which he reported at the hospital at Keokuk, Iowa. He remained at that place as nurse until the close of the rebellion. In 1866 with his family he moved to Bourbon Co., Kans. near the small village of Fort Scott. After living there for twenty-six years he moved to Clark Co., Wash., on the North Fork of the Lewis River near Etna. He had taken a homestead and had cleared quite a nice little field for an old man. In 1866 the government granted him a small pension of two dollars per month, about a year ago he got an increase of four dollars, making in all six dollars per month. In 1843 he joined the M.E. Church and has always been a devoted member and Christian Funeral services were held. For his text Romans viii:xxviiii, and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to his purpose. The deceased leaves an aged widow and six children. The youngest being thirty years old, also an aged brother who made his home with him. His remains were peaceably laid to rest in the Highland Valley Cemetery.
MARTHA LUETTA HALL was born March 06, 1825 in Buffalo, New York and died unknown.
Mrs. M. L. Runyan is 95, Woodland, Wash., Woman celebrated birthday with daughter, Woodland, Wash., March 20. Mrs. Martha Luetta Hall Runyan of Woodland celebrated her 95th birthday here on March 6, at the home of her daughter Mrs. E. C. Swart. Mrs. Runyan was born at Buffalo, N.Y. on March 6, 1825. She moved with her parents to Indiana at the age of 11 years, coming down the Ohio River on a log raft on which there was a fireplace of mud built in a cabin, where the cooking was done. She married to Isaac Runyan at Greencastle, Ind. in 1844 and 11 children were born to them, of whom five are surviving, these being J. Fletcher Runyan of Ariel, Cowlitz County, Washington, Lulu Painter of Pratt, Kans., Emma Higdon of Orchards, Clark County, Wash., Segal Runyan of Garland, Kan., and Hattie Swart of Woodland, Wash. There are 31 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. With her husband and part of the family, Mrs. Runyan arrived on Lewis River 28 years ago and here her husband died in 1898. She has made her home on Lewis River since that time, and until recently lived on the family farm 16 miles from here, now making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Swart. Mrs. Runyan has been in good health until last winter, but is not well at this time. She was well enough on her birthday, however to get outside and have her picture taken.
Isaac Runyan married Martha Luetta Hall in 1844 in Greencastle, Indiana.
Isaac and Martha had a total of 11 children:
I. John Fletcher Runyan
II. Lulu Runyan. She married Painter.
III. Emma Runyan. She married Higdon.
IV. Segal Runyan.
V. Hattie Runyan. She married Swart.
Other names are unknown at this time.
FUNERAL SERVICE AT ARIEL:
In the passing away of John Fletcher Runyan last week this community lost one of the earliest settlers. Mr. Runyan had been sick for a few months, but apparently had regained his health to the great joy of his family and friends. But recent complications showed themselves and on Friday last he was laid to rest in the family plot in Ariel cemetery.
The Rev. Pamment conducted the service and was accompanied by several Woodland friends and members of the church here.
The following is a brief history of the deceased.
John Fletcher Runyan was born April 13th, 1852 at Franklin, Lee County, Iowa. With his parents he moved to Kansas in 1866. He was married to Miss Lydia Huffmaster, Dec. 20, 1876. He moved to Washington where he settled on the North Fork of the Lewis River Dec. 1, 1884, with his family and has since made it his home. Eight children were born to them, six of which are now living: Guy Runyan of Netarts, Oregon, Ada Koschnitzky of Yamhill, Ore., Iva Paddock, Portland, Ore., Susie Carlson of Portland, Hattie Legnick of Hayes, Washington and Orva Runyan still at home.
Mr. Runyan accompanied by A.J. Birt first made the trip up the river in a canoe to homestead property. Their main interest being to hunt. For many years Mr. Runyan operated a blacksmith shop in Woodland, even after his family moved to homestead. He later did blacksmithing at his home.
UPPER LEWIS RIVER PIONEER HISTORY
FROM COUGAR TO LITTLE KALAMA ROADMrs. Runyan, a Lewis River Pioneer..
Mrs. Lydia Huffmaster Runyan of Ariel died at her home April 4, 1927 at the age of 73. She was buried at the Ariel cemetery April 16. Mrs. Runyan was born in Loami, Illinois, August 9, 1854. She married John Fletcher Runyan, December 20, 1876 at Melville, Mo. They first moved to Portland, Ore. when they came to the coast, later coming to Woodland where Mr. Runyan had a blacksmith shop. Against the advice of their friends they decided to take up a homestead on the North Fork of the Lewis River in the middle of the winter. With their little family and a few household articles they cam as far as Reno with a team and wagon coming the rest of the way by canoe, arriving December 1, 1884. The new home was a small one-room cedar cabin. It had a fire in the center of the room with a hole in the roof for an outlet for the smoke. This cabin was not strongly built and had the wolves tried to get in the family could have done little to save themselves. Mrs. Runyan told how one night they came close to the cabin and howled. She got up and threw some cedar on the fires so the crackling and popping would scare the wolves. After that they were not bothered.
Mrs. Runyan was the first white woman up this far on the Lewis River. She made friends with the Indians and they helped her in many ways besides showing her how to do things. Mrs. Runyan had to "rustle her own wood" part of the time.
The next summer a cabin was built of logs. It was an improvement over the cedar cabin but yet it was not perfect. The only means of lighting was from the fireplace, through the cracks and doorways. In the cold weather a blanket was hung to keep out some of the cold. One winter when there was a heavy snowfall the barn roof caved in on the children killing her little daughter, Clara. Even this did not crush her courageous spirits as she performed her sad duties.
During the big fire in 1902 the Runyan home escaped and this family did much to aid their less fortunate neighbors. In later years Mrs. Runyan kept somewhat of a boarding house. Everyone that stayed with her will never forget the cheery smile of "Mother" Runyan. Her grandfather, Wm. Huffmaster, was the first white settler near Lick Creek, Sangamon County, Illinois in 1819. Her father David Huffmaster was crossing the plains to California when he was accidentally shot. Pioneer blood ran in her veins for she was a true pioneer. Through all the hardships she never complained, but thought of the good times they had along with the hard.
Mr. & Mrs. Runyan had eight children, six whom survive: Guy Runyan of Netarts, Ore., Ada Koschnitzky, Susie Carlson, Iva Paddock of Portland, Ore., Hattie Legnick of Hayes and Orva Runyan of Ariel. There are also 11 grandchildren and one great-grandson. Mr. John Fletcher Runyan died about three years ago.
I. Clara Runyan
II. Guy Runyan
III. Ada Runyan. She marriedFred Koschnitzki
IV. Iva Runyan. She married Paddock.
V. Susie Runyan. She married Carlson.
VI. Hattie Runyan. She married Legnick.
VII. Orva Runyan.
VIII. Bertha Runyan