Young William 

Born near Novelty, Knox County, Missouri, William grew up on his father’s farm and went to a typical ungraded country school.   In the family, and some documents, William Ezra is referred to as W.E. or Ezra.

Leaving Home

In 1880, William Ezra left his home in Missouri chasing after four uncles who went to California nine years before he was born.  He left behind his parents and siblings.  He stayed two years in California working for his uncle.  According to my aunt she reflected what she remembered and said as she recalls it, “California didn’t suit him.”  

In early 1882, William sailed from San Francisco on the S.S. Mississippi (need to verify ship name).  The trip took nine days and he “was glad to come ashore.”   (Bagley, 1929).  He joined an aunt and uncle, Sara A. Sikes and George C. Boyce in Snoqualmie Valley.  (*Sara A is Sylvanus’s sister).  William Ezra remembers his Aunt and Uncle leaving Missouri in 1869 when he was 10 years old.  They rode off in their covered wagon pulled by oxen.  

Upon coming ashore, William made his way to Haggerty logging camp on the steamboat Nellie, where his cousin “one of the Boyce boys” was working and together they made their way to his aunt and uncle Sara and George Boyce. (Bagley, 1929)

The Washington Sikes

William married 16-year-old Janet Ada Adair in September of 1884, and they welcomed their first daughter Mary Evaline Sikes 10 months later in July 1885.  A second daughter was born 3 ½ years later in February 1889, LuLu Marguerite.  Tragically they will lose both daughters within twelve days of each other in November and December of 1889 from diphtheria. I was told by my aunts that both girls were buried on the farm and were moved to the Redmond cemetery sometime later.  Also, according to my aunts, Janet Ada was sick with diphtheria, barely surviving.

Janet and William would find themselves parents again less than 2 years later with the birth of their first son, Lionel Ezra, and then 17 years later with the birth of Kenneth Kay.  

Homestead

August 1882, William “took up a homestead” in Novelty, near what is now Carnation.  The nearest land office was in Olympia, 79 miles away.  Imagine that trip in 1882. It’s cold and rainy, short days.  No clear roads and a fair number of wild animals.  

A summary of the route:

~      Walked to Houghton on the East shores of Lake Washington.

~      Paddled across the lake in a canoe to Laurel Shade (Madison Park)

~      Reaching Olympia and filing November 15, 1882.

It’s unfortunate that we don’t know when he left or how long it took him to get there.  It would have been around 90 miles one way.  When he left to head back, I wonder how much snow there was!

Their Years

William and Janet Ada set about clearing the land to grow crops of vegetables and dairy products which made their way to the logging camps.  He continually added to his acreage, until he had 680 acres. Eventually, he sold off 500 acres and farmed 180 acres.  In 1900, “a modern house was built “which has a fine view of the valley.” *confirm date the house was built.  One reference cites the year Kenneth was born and one cites 1900)

In addition to farming, William Ezra was in the hotel and real estate business.  He owned and operated the first hotel in Redmond and ran for county commissioner with the slogan, “Vote for a practical man.”

As the city of Redmond was in its infancy, William and Janet were involved in those formative years.  In 1891, William and Janet Ada platted an addition to the now-established city of Redmond.  Two more additions were added by William and Janet Ada, one in 1906 and one in 1913.  

The Park

Janet Ada will die in July of 1930 and William will live another 5 years.  Prior to his death, he donated land for a city park in Redmond and had two conditions.  The park was to be named after his wife, Janet Ada Adair and there had to be a sidewalk built around the outer perimeter of the park.  

The park was not named after Janet Ada Adair, and it took forty-eight years for it to be brought to the attention to the City.  The City of Redmond agreed to name one of the structures in the park “The Adair House.”

Death

After the death of his wife, W.E. was living in the "big house" with his oldest son Lionel Ezra.  According to Kenneth Kay,  "arrangements were made for Edna and I and the family to move into the house with them.  This was better for all of us, especially for my father, as he was a devoted grandfather to the girls." (A Pioneer Story, Sikes, Kenneth).  

"W.E. passed away very quietly sitting in his chair at the window in the living room June 21st, 1944 at age 85." (A Pioneer Story, Sikes, Kenneth)

Evaline Ann Hunsaker 1835-1892-Pending