Located in the southeast corner of the Indian Summer neighborhood in Olympia WA is the site of the Andrew Jackson Chambers Homestead. Residents and the public can visit this historical marker, take a stroll on the circular walkway and enjoy a respite from a hectic day.
In April 1845, Andrew Jackson Chambers’ parents and siblings headed west from Missouri. According to Andrew, his father decided to move and travel west based on reading Lewis & Clark’s Journal. The journey took the family two years to arrive in the Puget Sound area. When they arrived in 1847, Andrew was 21 years old. The family settled to what is now known as Chambers Prairie.
Andrew and his brother Thomas took up adjoining land parcels in what is now the Indian Summer Golf and Country Club neighborhood. On Andrew’s parcel, they built a cabin.
In 1855, Andrew married Margaret White. They had ten daughters.
Soon after his marriage, the Puget Sound Indian War broke out from 1855-1856. At this time, Andrew’s homestead included a main house, a barn and a shed. During the war, he built a stockade, which provided shelter for up to 32 families at one point. Andrew volunteered to protect the homes of the settlers. The stockade was removed after the war; the barn remained until the 1900s.
Andrew lived here the rest of his life as a farmer and a rancher. He grew wheat and vegetables, and had a cattle ranch a few miles away. In April of 1908, Andrew Jackson Chambers died. His wife, Margaret died in December of 1911.
This marker is dedicated to the entire Chambers family and their role in the early development of this area. The marker was made possible by the Indian Summer Homeowners Association and the Thurston County Historical Commission.
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