settlement.html

The Mt. Adams Sun, Bingen, WA., January 29, 1937, page 1

VERY EARLY SETTLEMENT PROVEN TO HAVE BEEN MADE IN LYLE SECTION
(By George L. Willey)

Probably one of the first settlers near the town of Lyle, Washington, was William Meyers, first holder of a land grant made by President Lincoln in the year 1865, April 1st, of the present property owned by R.H. Chamberlain.
Although no definite information has been gathered as to where Myers came from, it is almost a proven fact that he was probably the first settler in that vicinity, then known as the Chambers or Staack land in Rockland, before the place assumed the name of Lyle.
Shortly after his arrival Meyers passed on, and his property obtained by grant was sold to the highest bidder at the county court house in Goldendale.
The sale was held the 22nd day of October, 1867.
Purchaser of the property was another of the earliest of pioneers of this section, August Schuster, who in turn, in 1867, the following month, sold the property to W.P. McMillen and Charles Schuster.
The Schusters, also part and workers of the first settlers in Lyle, had prominent parts in all affairs of the area at that time. Augustus Schuster was administrator of the estate of William Meyers, deceased.
It is a known fact that as early as 1854, during the time the State was a mere infant, Washington territory was receiving wagon trains every month.
The first Governor of the territory then, Isaac Stevens, knew of this great influx of settlers and immediately formed laws to aid in their protection and welfare.
It is without a doubt that many of the incoming settlers had passed thru this district, not stopping here.
The exact year William Meyers came to Lyle is not known, but it supposed to be about 1862 or 1863.
Further land grants were made of the Chamberlain property. To Charles A. Schuster on July 30, 1874, was 160 acres, during the president administration of U.S. Grant.
Charles A. Schuster in turn sold to A.G. Cook a newcomer. That was May 11th, 1874.
September of the same year, Cook sold property to H.H. Gridley.
The first reports of the coming of James O. Lyle, who evidently had been in this section previous to this, was the sale of property from J.H. Williamson.
The town of Lyle, which was named after James O. Lyle, had not been named at that time.
Recording of the time Andrew Johnson was president of the U. States, following Lincoln's assassination, show that the President made a land grant to Frederick Veidernall in July 2nd, 1866.
Frederick Viedernell sold to Egbert French, who in turn sold certain properties known as French's farm to James O. Lyle, which now is part of the Chamberlain properties there.
This sale took place on March 3rd, 1886, "after the property had been developed and buildings built thereon in previous years. Probably about 1863.
It had been published previous to this that J.O. Lyle was the first settler in Lyle. With this new discovery it is known now that several have been settlers there before the Lyles' ever thought of taking up a claim in that territory.
The property was known as the Staack lands even previous to the coming of William Meyers proves that very early settlement was made in Lyle.
Chances are that many of the settlers previous to this came up the Columbia river from Vancouver, as that town, one of the oldest in the northwest was founded in 1828, and incorporated in 1858.
More of the settlers however, came across the river from The Dalles, Oregon, one of the earliest northwest settlements. The property in its earlier days passed back and forth between various settlers through mortgage and sale because of the difficult time, no doubt, in obtaining one's assistance during those days.
It shows though, that very early settlement was made in the Lyle district...probably by the early fifties.
Any person knowing more about William Meyers, or where and who claim relation to him is urged to write the Sun. This would aid greatly in certain other questions which have great bearing on the early history of Klickitat county. This information will be greatly appreciated.