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Estella Jane Blankenship Rairdon

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Estella Jane Blankenship Rairdon

Birth	:	2 Dec 1890 Ellensburg, Kittitas County, Washington, USA
Death	:	12 Jan 1988 Wenatchee, Chelan County, Washington, USA
Burial	:	Hillsdale Cemetery, Petrolia, Lambton County, Canada
Coordinate	:	42.8820750, -82.1791510
Description	:	m: 18 Oct 1909 in King Co, WA Estella Jane Rairdon, 97, longtime Wenatchee resident, died Tuesday, Jan. 12, 1988, in Central Washington Hospital. She was born Dec. 2, 1890, at Swauk Prairie, near Ellensburg, to pioneers William and Sarah Blankenship. In 1901 they bacame one of the first families to homestead at Lake Wenatchee. She married Clifford J Rairdon Oct. 3, 1909 and they moved to Leavenworth, then to Wenatchee in 1922. They moved to Edmonds in 1953 where they lived until 1973 when they moved back to Wenatchee. Mrs. Rairdon was a member of theedmonds Untited Methodist Church, Women's Benefit Association... Read More	m: 18 Oct 1909 in King Co, WA Estella Jane Rairdon, 97, longtime Wenatchee resident, died Tuesday, Jan. 12, 1988, in Central Washington Hospital. She was born Dec. 2, 1890, at Swauk Prairie, near Ellensburg, to pioneers William and Sarah Blankenship. In 1901 they bacame one of the first families to homestead at Lake Wenatchee. She married Clifford J Rairdon Oct. 3, 1909 and they moved to Leavenworth, then to Wenatchee in 1922. They moved to Edmonds in 1953 where they lived until 1973 when they moved back to Wenatchee. Mrs. Rairdon was a member of theedmonds Untited Methodist Church, Women's Benefit Association of Wenatchee, Eagles Aerie No. 204 and the Rebekahs. Survivors include three sons, Stanley of Seattle, Howard of Lynnwood and Don of East Wenatchee; one daughter, Anita Coon of Wenatchee; 12 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband, two sons, two granddaughters, eight brothers and one sister. Arrangements are under the direction of Betts Funeral Home. From a copy of a 1976 interview with Estella Blankenship Rairdon, the last of the Blankenship children now living, we learn their family was the second permanent family to settle at Lake Wenatchee, Washington. The first settler, Oliver Bates, came in 1886 and the Blankenships in 1890. Estella recalled that in 1890 her parents, William and Sarah, and their family were living at Swauk Prairie, Kittitas Valley. In moving, they crossed the Wenatchee Mountains via Colockum Pass. Her dad rode horseback and led pack horses, swimming them across the Wenatchee River near Pehastin, then went up the Chumstick Valley and across the Chiwawa River, traveling up the north side of Lake Wenatchee. Indian trails were used by early settlers and Bill (as he was called) used them to get to his homestead. About half-way up the lake Bill came to an open meadow filled with lush wild grass and a small stream flowing through it. He found the stream came from a spring and that the meadow in the other direction ended at a bluff overlooking the lake. It was such a lovely spot he knew he had found his homestead. Unloading his horses, he hobbled them and set to work making a camp where he could live and work. He had brought food, blankets, clothes, tools and a small stove, which could be taken apart and carried on horse back. Since Bill and Sarah already had eight children. Instead of a single cabin, he built two cabins side by side. He built a stairway which joined the cabins together and gave access to the cabin attics. There were no roads and no bridges across the river so not only did Bill build the cabins, but all the furniture; tables, benches, and bed frames. The main cabin was comfortable with a stove heating one end and a fireplace at the other end where the parents slept and where a small room was partitioned off for the girls' bedroom. In those days everyone bought flour in 100 lb. sacks. From some of these, Sarah made "mattresses" which were stuffed with the sweet smelling wild grass. These were fluffed and stirred up when the beds were made and were quite comfortable and warm in the winter. The Blankenships had cattle which they swam across the river and also had some chickens. Bill was "handy" enough to build his own hay baler. The family lived on this property for nearly thirty years then lived in Leavenworth. Estella said that while Oscar (Jack) was at Stehekin, he and his brothers, Harry and Howard, built the Golden West Lodge there. They bought the Field Hotel when it was to be covered with water at the rising of the lake and used the lumber from the hotel to build the lodge. Cousins, Earl and Clyde Marlow, recalled that the Blankenships homesteaded 160 acres at Lake Wenatchee and operated it as a Fruit and vegetable farm growing fruits on the mountain side and celery and other vegetables in the valley. They told of the Blankeships visiting here at least one time after they moved to Washington and of the beautiful apples they shipped or brought back here for the relatives to enjoy. Information from John Fisher.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Estella Jane Blankenship Rairdon's memorial?
Estella Jane Blankenship Rairdon's memorial is located at: Hillsdale Cemetery, Petrolia, Lambton County, Canada.
When did Estella Jane Blankenship Rairdon death?
Estella Jane Blankenship Rairdon death on 12 Jan 1988 in Wenatchee, Chelan County, Washington, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Estella Jane Blankenship Rairdon's memorial?
Latitude: 42.8820750
Longitude: -82.1791510

Family Members:

Parent

William Floyd Blankenship

(1854 - 1929)

Sarah Ellen Marlow Blankenship

(1857 - 1947)

Spouse

Clifford John Rairdon

(1879 - 1948)

Siblings

Spencer Allen Blankenship Sr.

(1873 - 1940)

Edward Oscar “Jack” Blankenship

(1875 - 1949)

Fred Ernest Blankenship

(1880 - 1960)

Mae Marlow Blankenship Herscher

(1883 - 1971)

Henry Claude Blankenship

(1887 - 1915)

Harry Clyde Blankenship

(1887 - 1966)

Children

Clifford Floyd Rairdon

(1911 - 1962)

Herbert Rairdon

(1913 - 1913)

Stanley Huber “Stuber” Rairdon

(1914 - 1995)

Donald Allen Rairdon

(1924 - 1993)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

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Petrolia, Lambton County, Canada
Coordinate: 42.8824000, -82.1275300

2. Zion United Postill-Ossian
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Coordinate: 42.8412910, -82.2373600

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4. Wyoming Cemetery
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6. Robertson Cemetery
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Coordinate: 42.9571900, -82.2105600

7. Bunyan Baptist Cemetery
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Coordinate: 42.9335000, -82.2792200

8. Thornton-Providence Cemetery
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Coordinate: 42.8800500, -82.3028380

9. Providence Cemetery
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Coordinate: 42.8800500, -82.3029400

10. Oil Springs Cemetery
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Coordinate: 42.7879680, -82.1356770

11. Duncan Cemetery
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Coordinate: 42.8145680, -82.2812570

12. Oban - Jackson Cemetery
Mandaumin, Lambton County, Canada
Coordinate: 42.9807280, -82.2099960

13. Bear Creek Cemetery
Brigden, Lambton County, Canada
Coordinate: 42.8364500, -82.3073800

14. Irwin Cemetery
Bunyan, Lambton County, Canada
Coordinate: 42.9586500, -82.2820100

15. South Plympton Presbyterian Cemetery
Plympton, Lambton County, Canada
Coordinate: 42.9743510, -82.0729200

16. Resurrection Cemetery
Sarnia, Lambton County, Canada
Coordinate: 42.9821701, -82.3155746

17. Bradshaw United Cemetery
Bradshaw, Lambton County, Canada
Coordinate: 42.7503700, -82.2775600

18. Knox Presbyterian Cemetery
Lambton County, Canada
Coordinate: 43.0342600, -82.1624200

19. Saint John in the Wilderness Cemetery
Huron Heights, Lambton County, Canada
Coordinate: 43.0355600, -82.2381600

20. Black Creek Cemetery
Sombra, Lambton County, Canada
Coordinate: 42.7511100, -82.3110300

21. Errol Cemetery
Errol, Lambton County, Canada
Coordinate: 43.0470100, -82.1961330

22. Blackwell United Church Cemetery
Sarnia, Lambton County, Canada
Coordinate: 43.0209550, -82.3172070

23. Bethel United Church Cemetery
Plympton, Lambton County, Canada
Coordinate: 43.0537000, -82.1695860

24. Uttoxeter United Church Cemetery
Plympton, Lambton County, Canada
Coordinate: 43.0300340, -82.0488450