1900 ❖ INDIAN TOM of the OLD RANCHO

19 Jan 1900

"Indian Tom, one of the oldest and best known Native Americans in the county, died at his home near Roche Harbor last Friday [19 January 1900] after an illness of several weeks. His wife, one son 'Johnnie,’ and 2 daughters, Mrs. Anderson and Mrs. Cepas, both of whom live near Roche Harbor, survive him. The old man persistently refused to make any will and there is likely to be something of a contest for his property consisting of quite a valuable tract of land of about 200 acres where he lived. He refused also to be taken from the big, barren old rancho where he lived and died, to the comfortable house occupied by his daughter, Mrs. Anderson, nearby. He wanted to lie where he could watch the open fire burning on the earth floor of the hut and the smoke curling up through the smoke hole in the shake roof."
Text from the San Juan Islander 25 January 1900. Verbatim.