The Mt. Adams Sun, Bingen, WA., February 12, 1937, page 1
MISTAKE IN NAME OF LYLE PROPERTIES CORRECTED;
MEYER DESCENDANCY UNKNOWN
Published in the issue of the Sun, January 29th, it
was reported, erringly, in a pioneer story, that certain lands in the early
history of Lyle, Washington were purchased prior to the appearance of J.O.
Lyle, by a certain Mr. Staack.
That the land was named Staack lands prior to the coming
of J.O. Lyle to that community.
The country was not known as the Staack lands until many
years after the appearance of Lyle, as Staacks purchased the property from
Lyle.
It was an oversight on the part of the writer, as the
district, was and is called the "Staack lands" for merely easy identification
and no other reason.
Sale of property in the Lyle lands was made to many people
years after the probable first settler, William Meyers.
Some of the purchasers were: Augustus Schuster,
Charles Schuster, W.P. McMillian, A.G. Cook, H.H. Gridley, Matilda B. Williamson,
J.M. Williamson, James O. Lyle, Frederick W. Viedernell, Egbert French, George
A. Liebe, and George W. Thompson.
There is no doubt that the people of lyle at that time
had a very difficult time gaining an existence.
Although life during those days was "tough going," pardon
the slang expression, they managed some how to get through.
James O. Lyle, and his wife, Martha H. Lyle, had to mortgage their
property for certain debts incurred with Meir & Franks Co., of Portland
in 1886.
Such mortgaging was constant and many of the properties
in that section underwent similar experiences.
In 1891, James O. Lyle, then a widower, sold certain
lands to James Stillman. Stillman, in turn sold to Kenneth K. Rowe, and to
Montague Balfour. Stillman, although purchaser of the land, resided in Pocantico
Hills, Westchester County, State of New York at that time.
Balfour was a resident of England, in London.
It is also noted that Joseph A. Arment, a settler in
Lyle in 1892 received a land grant from President Wm. McKinley. He received
about 80 acres of land.
Other sales at the time showed John A. Gilliam, in 1898
selling to James O. Lyle and Henrietta J. Bly, his wife.
Also in the section at the time was an H.J. Bly, probably
a close relative of the former.
It is a known fact, however, that William Meyers was
the first settler on the J.O. Lyle properties. Having passed on soon after
his land grant, little is known of his relatives, where he came from of what
nationality he possessed.
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© Jeffrey L. Elmer