Clemons, Charles H.

Charles H. Clemons became known as the walking history book in Montesano, WA. His father, Charles H. Clemons, Sr. came to Washington Territory in February 1877 and worked as a timber faller in the Olympia, WA area until 1882. He moved to Chehalis County (now Grays Harbor County, WA), married, and raised his family. His youngest son, Charles H. Clemons, Jr., was the first baby born in the old St. Joseph Hospital on Oct. 22, 1900. His son, Charles, graduated high school and attended agricultural college for 2.5 years. He returned to Montesno, WA, married and began his career there. He was a farmer and manager of the Satsop co-op which processed milk, made butter and dried milk. After his retirement in 1963, he was asked to be justice of the peace for the county and he inherited the job of municipal judge for the City of Montesano. In 1971 he retired as justice of the peace and five years later retired as municipal judge. Once he retired, he began his compilation of Grays Harbor County history. His research had been exhaustive: hours poring over newspapers including The Vidette, microfilm, tracking down personal histories and talking to old timers.