Chambers, Elizabeth Harrison, 1828-1915

Elizabeth Harrison Chambers was born Oct. 27, 1828 in Smith County, TN. After she and her older sister were orphaned, they went to live with their grandparents. They lived with them until 1838 when the sisters were separated and sent to live with different family members living in TN and MO. The sisters didn't see each other again for 32 years. Elizabeth Harrison married David J. Chambers on the 8th of April 1845. On the 28th of April 1845 she left her childhood home and relatives to accompany her husband and his family on a journey across the country to the Pacific Coast. The party included Thomas & Latitia Chambers, David's parents, and their six sons and two daughters along with James' new wife and his step-children. The memoir includes an account of the trip across the country and their arrival at The Dalles, OR on Oct. 27, 1845. They spent 3 months there and then built a boat to take them to Fort Vancouver. After arriving at Fort Vancouver, the families began to pursue their permanent homesteads. Thomas Chambers and his whole family went first to a location near Oregon City, OR. The Chambers family wasn't satisfied with this location so in 1847 they headed to the Puget Sound area. They finally settled near Tumwater, WA. Thomas and his wife, Latitia, relocated to Steilacoom, WA, at the mouth of what is now known as Chambers Creek. Although Latitia passed away in 1852, Thomas remarried in 1853. Thomas had become a pioneer, mill owner, Pierce County, WA County Commissioner and a Statesman before he passed away in 1876. David and Elizabeth built a home that was 3 miles east of Olympia, which is where they remained for the rest of their lives. During their lifetime they had acquired about 3,000 acres and the area became known as Chambers Prairie. David and Elizabeth had seven children. David J. Chambers passed away on March 4, 1896. After David passed away, Elizabeth moved to La Mesa, CA where she lived with her only daughter Mary and her husband, Arthur C. McClelland. Elizabeth Chambers passed away in August 1915 at her daughter's home and was buried in Olympia, WA.