Konrad Schneider is the namesake of Schneider Prairie. Although Schneider was a early settler in the Griffin area, he was not the first white settler of what became known as Schneider Prairie.
Schneider Prairie is one of several oak prairies that existed in Thurston County. Oak prairies were very important to Native Americans. They periodically burned the underbrush on these prairies to keep them open, which attracted deer that were hunted. Native Americans also harvested camas, berries, and acorns on the prairies.
Early white settlers sought these prairie areas for their land claims. Prairies were desirable since they were already cleared to a substantial extent and had relatively good soils.
Puffer and Cross
Two early white settlers filed separate donation claims for the same 160 acres of land on Schneider Prairie. Griffin School, the old Haller mink farm, the Grange Hall, the golf driving range, and the Island Market are located on this claim.
The northern boundary of the claim was about where the Prosperity Grange Hall is located, and where Sunrise Beach Road enters Steamboat Island Road. The eastern boundary was approximately where Mink Street first meets Sunrise Beach Road. The southern boundary was located on about 33rd Street. The claim had about 150 feet of frontage on Eld Inlet. The western boundary was west of the freeway overpass over Highway 101.
William W. Puffer may have been the earliest white settler on Schneider Prairie. He filed a donation land claim for this acreage on April 17, 1855. Field notes from the original survey of the Griffin area on August 4, 1855 noted Puffer’s land claim, with 10 acres under cultivation, and a house. The house was located at about the corner of Sexton Road and Steamboat Island Road. The cultivated area was west of the cabin. However, the Puffer claim was not successful.
Benjamin Franklin Cross filed a claim for the same land on August 26, 1855. Interestingly, Puffer attested on April 17, 1856, that Benjamin Cross had resided on the claim since August 24, 1854. Cross was born in New Hampshire in 1832. He was a resident of Sawamish (Mason) County at the time of filing his claim. An affidavit by Cross indicated that he was single, had arrived in Washington Territory on November 3, 1853, and had first settled on the land claim on August 26, 1854. A 1858 survey of the area noted that Cross resided in the former Puffer cabin.
The original 1855 survey of the Griffin area noted two white (Gerry or Oregon) oaks, 18 inches in diameter, to locate a section boundary line cutting across the property. These markers are called “bearing trees”. One, known as the historical Schneider Prairie Oak Tree, still stands, and currently has a diameter of 60 inches. It is located west of the old barn on Schneider Prairie. Only a stump remains of the second bearing tree.
Cross sold his donation land claim to Eli Montgomery in 1862. Previously, Montgomery acquired a donation land claim for property located on the southeast portion of Mud Bay. He also acquired 33 acres of waterfront land west of the Cross donation land claim on the dead-end portion of what is now Madrona Beach Road. Montgomery sold the Cross donation land claim, and the 33 acre parcel, to Konrad Schneider in 1866.
Schneider and Solbeck
Konrad Schneider was born in 1818 in Hessen, which is now part of Germany. His wife (Albertina) was born in Sweden in 1830. They met and were married in Burlington, Iowa, in 1852, and soon left for Puget Sound in a covered wagon.
Schneider was a stone mason and had been awarded a contract to build a lighthouse at Dungeness near Port Townsend. They arrived in Tumwater in the fall of 1852. Schneider acquired a donation land claim for land located on what is now Case Road, south of the Olympia Airport and north of Millersylvannia State Park.
Konrad and Albertina had nine children — Henry (born in 1853), August (born 1855), Catherine (born 1857), Molkina (born 1859), Frederick (born 1862), Konrad (born 1864), Matilda (born 1867), William (born 1871), and Albert (born 1874). Many of their descendants still live in Thurston County.
Konrad Schneider built the first bridge across the Deschutes River in Tumwater. He also “built or cut” a trail from McLane Crossing on the west bank of Mud Bay out to his property on what became known as Schneider Prairie. Presumably, much of this trail followed the northern portion of an old Indian trail from Black Lake to the southwest shores of Mud Bay. McLane Crossing is near the junction of MacKenzie Road and Delphi Road.
Konrad Schneider acquired additional acreage south and west of the Cross donation land claim, including a homestead of 107 acres in 1882, up what is now called Whittaker Road. The family referred to this valley as Schneider’s valley. A short poem about this land was often recited at family gatherings — “I’ll rally, rally. Everybody’s happy in Schneider’s Valley.”
August Schneider purchased property in 1878 located south of the Cross donation land claim along Eld Inlet, extending south to where the old Ellison Oyster Company was located. A few months later, August sold this property to his sister Molkina, who was married to Swan Solbeck. Swan Solbeck was enumerated as being a farmer on this property in the 1880 Territorial census. A rock quarry was operated on the Solbeck property, beginning in at least 1889. Rock was taken down to Eld Inlet where it was hauled away by barge. This quarry operation lasted for decades. Remnants of the quarry can be seen on the tall rock bluff that is located west of Highway 101, just south of the entry to the highway from the Griffin community, off what is called Old Highway 101.
The Schneider family was enumerated in the 1871 and 1873 Territorial censuses in the Griffin area. However, his sons Henry and August are enumerated separately in the 1880 Territorial census as living in the Griffin area. Konrad is listed with his son Henry. This may mean that Albertina was residing on property located on the west side of Budd Inlet, near the old lumber mill, on what is now Westbay Drive. These holdings included considerable acreage on the top of the hill to the west where the family had an orchard.
Konrad Schneider sold two acres of land to Schneider Prairie School District in 1885. This land was located about where what is now Whittaker Road meets Highway 101, south of the overpass across Highway 101. A schoolhouse was constructed at this site to accommodate an increased number of students attending school in the Griffin area. Originally, school was held in the John Olson cabin, located in what is now Holiday Valley Estates. The children of John and Elizabeth Zandell, and Thomas and Mary Kearney, attended school in the Olson cabin. The Zandells and Kearneys owned land claims on Oyster Bay, west of the Olson land claim. A larger school facility was needed when the children of Swan and Molkina Solbeck became of school age.
Konrad Schneider died in 1903. His heirs sold their interests in his Griffin-area property to his son-in-law and daughter, Swan and Molkina Solbeck. The Solbecks sold their Griffin-area holdings to Judge Arthur E. Griffin and Gabrielle Griffin in 1918.
The Schneider Prairie schoolhouse burned to the ground in the summer of 1926. Children in grades 5 through 8 attended school in the old, two-story Prosperity Grange Hall located on the site of the current Grange hall. Children in grades 1 through 4 attended school in the old Frye Cove School District schoolhouse, which was reopened. This abandoned schoolhouse was located near what now is Gravelly Beach Road, at the top of the hill, west of the Griffin fire station at the corner of Gravelly Beach Loop and Young’s Road. The Griffins essentially gave the school district a new five acre school site, where Griffin School is now located, by exchanging this property for the two acre lot where the old schoolhouse was located. Schneider Prairie School District was renamed the Griffin School District in honor of this generous act. A new, brick schoolhouse was build on the new school district property. The new facility opened in the spring of 1927.
— STEVE LUNDIN
Copyright 2008 by Steve Lundin
Steve Lundin is a long-time resident of the Griffin community located in northwest Thurston County. He received a B.A. degree from the University of Washington and a J.D. degree from the University of Washington Law School and recently retired as a senior counsel for the Washington State House of Representatives after nearly 30 years.
He is recognized as the local historian of the Griffin area and has written a number of articles on local history and a book entitled Griffin Area Schools, available from the Griffin Neighborhood Association at a cost of $10.
Lundin also wrote a comprehensive reference book on local governments in Washington State entitled The Closest Governments to the People – A Complete Reference Guide to Local Government in Washington State. The book costs $85, plus shipping and handling. It is available on the web from the Division of Governmental Studies and Services, Washington State University, or from WSU Extension.
This is part of a short series of papers on local history. The first of this series was published last month. Click here to read “Griffin Historical Sketch.”
If you have old historic photos of the Griffin area, or family stories of the old days in the Griffin area, please contact Steve Lundin at s.lundin@comcast.net. Steve is most interested in photos of the old two-story Grange Hall in the Griffin area and the old Schneider’s Prairie schoolhouse that burned to the ground in 1926.
Thanks for the note, Michael.
I am aware of three to four archaeological sites on Schneider’s Prairie, that are on the eastern end of the Prairie, which is where the old mink farm was located. However, details about these sites and the exact locations are to available to the public. The county has this information and presumably acts to preserve these areas when actions threaten them. They are kept “private” to avoid people from destroying the sites by digging for things.
Prairies were very important to Native Americans. They would burn the brush to keep the oak areas open and use them for food gathering and other purposes. As you mentioned the blue, edible Camas grew throughout this area. Native Americans, from all over the area would congregate on the prairies and harvest Camas and gather acorns and berries. Game animals would be drawn to these areas, which allowed easier harvesting.
I am aware of two major sites, not anywhere near the Prairie, that were ancient Native American burial sites. The burials consisted of placing the deceased upper class Indians in canoes and placing the canoes in trees. It is my understanding that very few Native Americans on Puget Sound actually interred people in the ground, at least before the white settlers arrived and forced changes in many practices. The few ancient burial sites in the ground were in the San Juan Islands. Other burial methods included putting the deceased into canoes, along with some of their possessions, and setting the canoe afloat on Puget Sound.
It is important to keep all of these sacred areas and archaeological sites from being despoiled. Ironically, restricting knowledge of their exact location is seen as one way to avoid desecration. We should all be thankful that these sites surround us and hope that they are left alone. They are part of our heritage that members of the Squaxin Tribe have left.
There are also a number of newer Indian cemeteries on our peninsula. These newer internment sites were used after the white settlers forced change on the Native Americans. A very prominent person was just buried at what is know as the Tobin cemetery. This is the largest of these cemeteries in our area. Hundreds of people attended this burial.
By the way, the original white settler’s cabin and homestead in our area was also located on Schneider’s Prairie. I believe that you can find more details about this in another article that is posted on the website. These valuable Native American prairies were sought by white settlers, as little clearing was necessary. The cabin was in the northwest portion of the original land claim, which would be located somewhat west of what is now Steamboat Island Road. William Puffer occupied this cabin and had five acres of land under cultivation when the original survey of the area was made in early August of 1855. For some reason, Puffer was not able to perfect his claim on this land and a few weeks after the survey a second, and successful, claim was made by Benjamin Franklin Cross. Ironically, Puffer signed a document attesting that Cross had occupied this land for several years. Cross soon sold the land to another early settler. I have not been able to find out more information about Puffer or Cross.
Steve Lundin
Every thing that was just writen above, is really weird to read. Because I used to live on the property in mention.
My family rented an old house from a man named Jerry Haller, the owner of the old Mink farm. I lived there from ages of around 5-9. I already knew the property was originaly inhabited by indians, but what I didn’t read, that you all migh tnot know, is that whole area is located on top of a native american burial ground.
Thank you very much Steven Lundin. I have always been interested in the history of that area, and especially the property of lived at.
(Oh, and the camus, the fiels it grows in there, it is the single largest wild growth of it in the entire world. Just kind of interesting)
Thanks for the comment, “Genealogy for 3”.
I don’t have any photos of Schneider, but am sure some are available. A group of Schneider descendants meet periodically. The Olympian had an article on a family picnic several years ago. Presumably you are part of that group. If not, I have contacts with a great grandson of Konrad and Albertina Schneider. Email me at s.lundin@comcast.net and I will give you the particulars.
A large number of Schneider descendants still live in the Griffin area. I know several of these people.
Do you have any stories about, or photos of, Swan and Molkina? If so, please contact me.
I have a property abstract of a portion of the old donation land claim that Konrad and Albertina purchased and can give you details if you are interested.
I am told that Konrad Schneider and his wife Albertina had a rocky relationship and lived apart for many years. He lived out on Schneider’s Prairie. She lived at the old family property near West Bay Marina on Budd Inlet. It appears that some of their children may have sided with Konrad, and others may have sided with Albertina, over this rocky relationship. Perhaps as a consequence, the descendents of these two different groups of children seemed to have grown apart and eventually were not aware of each other. Recent reunion efforts have reunited these two groups of descendents.
Hi Steve,
I love this story. Konrad & Albertina Schneider are my great great great grandparents. I am the great great granddaughter of Swan and Molkina Solbeck.
I was wondering if you had any more information or any pictures to share.
Thanks for the history.
Unfortunately, I don’t have Judge Griffin’s wife’s name. My suggestion would be to look into his great grandson’s book about Griffin. I don’t seem to be able to find my copy. Another alternative would be to check the 1900 or 1910 census. When I checked the Secretary of State’s digital archieves, I found a Gaberielle P. Griffin listed as the spouse of Arthur Griffin.
However, I would either find a copy of the Griffin biography or contact Griffin’s great grandson.
Was Gabrielle Griffin the wife of Judge Arthur E. Griffin? I ask because the City of Seattle lists Griffin’s wife’s name as Angelique in its description of Griffin House (111 Tower Place, Queen Anne neighborhood, an historic home built by Griffin in 1905 and designed by the same architect, Walter Spalding, who designed the Robert Moran House — now Rosario Resort — on Orcas Island). I’m wondering if Griffin was married twice, or if Gabrielle was perhaps a daughter.
Griffin’s great-grandson, Trenholme Griffin, is a Seattle-based attorney specializing in international commerce.