I was born in Clark County October 17, 1858. My parents crossed the plains from Iowa in 1852, and settled in Vancouver. My Grandfather died at Grand Ronde, Idaho a victim of the terrible cholera epidemic. In 1866 we moved to the Ahtanum where my father homesteaded, and went into the cattle business. My father was a carpenter, he built the first hotel in Vancouver and the first court house. His name was William Hatton and his Grandfather was born in Hatton Gardens England. His son (sic) was the Hatton who died of cholera. When I was 14 years old I married Bayless Thorp, son of F.M. Thorp, the first settler in the Yakima Valley. Bayless was foreman for his father who was a cattleman and owned nearly all of the Moxee Valley. In the summer the cattle ranged in the Kittitas Valley and we lived there. In the winter we moved them to the Columbia where there was less snow and better winter grazing. My husband bought land later over in the Crab Creek Country and engaged in business for himself during the eight years until his death. I married Mr Hadley in 1891 and left here being away 25 years, then I came back and ran a dairy at Toppenish. I belong to the First Christian Church, my first Sunday school was the one started by Deacon Tanner and his daughter Vivian who had a Melodeon. My nationality is English. We rode horse back for amusement, we made what little clothing we had and raised our own food. We dug roots of the wild sunflower at recess while going to school, why do you suppose we did that; for the gum and was it good. My father came over from Clark County and put up some hay and built a log house, we had just nothing the men went to the Dalles once a year for supplies. Father Wilbur often came to see us. He was a wonderful man. The first winter we spent on the Ahtanum, laughed Mrs Hadley, "My sister and I slept outside in the bed of the Old Emigrant Wagon raised on four posts." Later father built a very comfortable log cabin, part of which is still standing and the old homestead is known as Hatton Gardens in memory of the Hatton Home in England. Father built the church at the mission which is still in such a remarkable state of preservation. Kimiakin's Ditch was extended and runs through the mission grounds. Father Wilbur often visited us. His Indian Boys built many reservation houses. Yakima City was one store and a blacksmith shop. Everybody rode horseback. Joe Bowzer, whose wife was an Indian had the post office in the Ahtanum. At the time of my first marriage my father-in-law F. M. Thorp was living in the Kittitas Valley and as he could see smoke from another cabin or in the Moxee, he moved. I accompanied my husband in moving the cattle and was in fact one of the hands. I remember spending 12 days in the saddle herding at night as well as by day. I don't know how we ever escaped with our lives during the Indian troubles. Blanchie Bunting or Purkins lived with us once, for years we lived in terror. When we were in the Kittitas a friendly squaw kept her knife sharpened for use in our defense. I've lain many a night with our children in the swamps. One day I left them in the house and went a short distance to pick gooseberries, it was raining and I started back. Our dog had been restless all day and I was uneasy as that was a sign of Indians. Sure enough I met Bayless coming on the run shouting "Get the children, Indians are coming. I'll get the horses. But we can't get out, we can't get over the Uptanum Mountains, we'll meet them." The rain was coming down in torrents when we grabbed the children and made for the swamps, where we spent the night. There was a flood by this time and we splashed through water a foot deep. That night a neighbor heard the Indians about midnight, she aroused the family and the two older girls 16 and 17 years old tore through the door, tearing it off the hinges. Taking the younger children the parents made for the swamp. When they returned the next day they found the Indians had been there. The older girls were missing and the parents were desperate. Later in the day they were found; having gone as far as they could into the swamp, their clothing was in rags and the girls were scratched from head to foot. Around 1874 Bayless and I were in the Palouse Country; Bayless put up a building and the Indians tore it down; one night they were burning hay and driving off stock so Bayless went to Kamiakin who was then in Palouse. Kamiakin had the leader whipped and told my husband that if he would marry his daughter he would give him $10,000. Bayless told him he already had a wife. "Indians always have two wives", the old chief answered. When my boy Willis was born men stood guard outside, when I was asked by one of the women what they should do for me in case of an attack, I told them to save the children and not to mind me. Children in those days never enjoyed their play. One day one of Bayless's sisters, whom had beautiful long hair saw Indians coming. She started running toward a field where the men were putting up hay. A bend in the rocks hid her from them until the Indians were almost upon her. Just as she made the turn and ran screaming toward her father an Indian had reached for her hair. A month before our eldest child was born we were in the Palouse Country. Snow was getting deep in some places and we set out for Waitsburg. It was a ride of three days. The first night we slept in a bachelor shack, the next day we made 40 miles and stayed with a rancher and his wife. We finished the trip the next day. When the baby and I were ready to travel, my husband appeared with an old stage coach. Along the way I washed and dressed the baby in the winter sunshine. His only protection being the blanket hanging from a willow tree. With it all we really lived and enjoyed life more than people do today.

Milford A. Thorp, the original founder of the town Thorp, Washington, where he now resides, was born in Independence, Oregon, in 1857. His father, Alvin (sic) A. Thorp, was born in Missouri, in 1820, crossed the Plains in 1844, and took up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres in Oregon. He next went to California, and was there during the first gold excitement in 1848. He now resides in Baker City, Oregon, and is eighty-three years old. The mother, Esther (Eddy) Thorp, was born in New York, and crossed the Plains to Oregon with her parents when she was a small girl. Milford was nine years old when his parents moved to Moxee valley, Washington. After four years they moved to Henry Schnebly ranch in Kittitas valley. His mother's health declining, the family returned to the old home in Oregon, where the mother died the following year, 1872. For the next five years our subject divided his time between his stock interests in Washington and the family home in Oregon. In 1879 he moved to the Kittitas valley, and for six years rode the range for different parties. In 1885 he bought James McMurray's claim, which he pre-empted and has since made his home. He platted the town of Thorp, the first post office being established in 1890. His brothers and sisters are: Mrs. Eva Butler; Emma C. (deceased); Rosa L. Hale; Ida, Andrew and Harvey (deceased), and Ezra. The three living reside in Oregon. (?) He was married in 1877 to Miss Ella Russell, who died in 1878. By this union there was one child, Winfred E., born November 25 (?), 1878. In 1880 he was married to Miss Maggie Grant, who was born in Missouri, June 18, 1864. Her parents, Benton and Elizabeth (Lindsay) Grant were also natives of Missouri, and crossed the Plains in 1866. Mrs. Thorp's brother, Walter, and sister, Jessie, are dead. She has one child, Zola Ouida Thorp, born February 3, 1887. Mr Thorp is a prominent Odd Fellow, having occupied all the official chairs. He also belongs to the Woodmen of the World. Mr Thorp is a Democrat and one of the leaders of the party in his section of the state. He is one of the most progressive and successful farmers in Washington. He wons nine hundred and eighty acres, of which two hundred acres are in tame grass and the balance in timber and grazing lands. He has fifty head of good cattle, and his farm is thoroughly equipped with all necessary implements.

Charles A. Splawn who is engaged in farming and stock raising three miles west of Thorp, Washington, was born in Missouri, September 13, 1831; is a pioneer and the son of a pioneer. His father, John Splawn, was born in Kentucky, in 1810, and was a farmer and school teacher. He was a pioneer of Missouri, and was in the Black Hawk war. He died in 1848. Mr Splawn's mother, Nancy (McHaney) Splawn, was born in Virginia, and was married when fifteen years old. She resides in Ellensburg at the ripe age of ninety. Mr Splawn was educated and lived in Missouri, working on his father's farm until he was twenty. Then he crossed the Plains to Oregon by ox team in 1851. He was at Brownsville and in the Williamette valley for a while, and went thence to the Gallice creek mines, where Indians ran him out. He ran a pack-train from Winchester, Oregon, during 1852 and 1853, and for thirty days server under Captain Martin in the war against the Rogue River Indians. Later he was at Coos Bay, Williams creek and Grave creek, mining. He struck a good property, but Indians drive him away. He ran a pack-train for a time for himself, and later for the government, and at times had fights with Indians. Then engaged in logging and cattle selling. In February, 1861, he located in Yakima county and ran cattle until 1868, when he moved to Kittitas valley and engaged in stock raising and mining, which he has since continued. His brothers, George, Mose, Williams and Andrew J. Splawn, were all born in Missouri, and live in central Washington. Mr Splawn was married at Fort Simcoe in 1863 to Dulcina H. Thorp, who was born in Missouri in 1844, and started across the Plains with her parents when she was only nine days old. She was eighteen years old when married, and died in 1869. Her parents were Fielding M. and Margaret (Bounds) Thorp. The lives of these respected pioneers will be found in the biography of L. L. Thorp. In 1873 Mr Splawn married a sister of his first wife, who was born in Oregon in1851, and was twenty-two years old at the time of the wedding. Her brothers and sisters were Mary, now dead; Adelia E. Crocket, of Northwest Territory; Julia Olive O'Hare, of Seattle; Leonard L., of North Yakima; Willis W., of Seattle; Bales B., deceased, and Milton A. Mr Splawn was the father of two children. That by the first marriage, Viola V. (Shadle) is dead; by the second marriage, Flora H. Splawn, living with her parents. She was born in Yakima county, March 14, 1875. Mr Splawn is a Democrat and has filled a number of offices with marked ability. He was appointed auditor of Yakima county, but resigned and was appointed sheriff by the county commissioners. The next term he was elected sheriff, and served two terms. He was also elected probate judge, and served two years. Later he was elected county commissioner, and served two years, and for seven years he occupied the office of justice of the peace. He is one of the leading land owners of the county, owning 1,640 acres of farm and grazing lands. He has two hundred head of cattle and forty head of horses. He is a thorough business man, of unquestioned character, and is highly respected throughout the county.

"Chairman Stump and Honorable Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Veterans Affairs;

My name is Edwin Price Ramsey, I Came from Los Angeles to attend this hearing and I thank you for the opportunity to appear before you here today. I came in the hope that I can contribute in some small way, to correcting a long standing gross injustice toward the Filipino Veterans of World War II.. In order for me to do so, it is important that you be aware of my background and activities during that war.

At the beginning of World War II, I was a 1st Lieutenant and platoon leader with the 25th Cavalry Regiment, Philippine Scouts, with whom I served through the fighting in Bataan until the surrender on April 9th, 1941. On April 8th, my squadron had been cut off from the main body of our Regiment and the rest of the USAFFE Forces by a combined infantry, tank and dive bombing attack...What was left of us were forced to withdraw through the jungle slopes of Mount Mariveles in an effort to get behind our own lines...On April 10 we learned of the surrender the day before from troops escaping from Mariveles and the squadron commander, Major James Blanning, gave those of us remaining the option of surrendering or trying to escape.

Captain Joseph R. Barker, II, my troop commander and I opted to try to escape with the objective of making our way to Australia, However; we were aware that in January, just prior to the Luzon forces withdrawing behind the main battle line in Bataan, General Mac Arthur had sent Lieut. Col. Claude Thorp, who had been Provost Marshal of Fort Stotsenberg, out of Bataan to establish resistance Forces behind enemy lines.

After escaping Bataan we made contact with Co. Thorp when passing near his headquarters on Mount Pinatubo and he convinced us to join him in building a resistance movement rather than trying for Australia. Thorp's command, which was the genesis of the USAFFE AND American led guerilla forces, was entitled the "USAFFE Luzon Guerilla Army Forces." Barker was designated by Thorp to organize and command the guerillas in central Luzon to be known as the "East Central Luzon Guerilla Area, (ECLGA)" with me as his deputy... After the capture and later execution of Thorp and Barker, I assumed command of ECLGA on February 1st, 1943 and continued organizing and in command of that force until the liberation of Luzon in early 1945. At liberation, ECLGA was composed of seven irregular divisions organized in six central Luzon provinces and the city of Manila, with more than 40,000 officers and men who were attached during liberation to the 6TH U.S. ARMY for operations...Should anyone be interested in further details of my activities, a soft cover edition of my war years autobiography , " LIEUTENANT RAMSEY'S WAR ", Published by Brassey's Inc., is still in print and available through bookstores or from the publisher..."

Col. Ramsey's Web Page

From Joan Tharp:From Bud Thorp, Toppenish, WA, 20 Nov 1988
undated, unnamed newspaper article: GUERILLA LEADER KILLED AT BILIBID- Thorp, WA, Nov. 30

Lieut. Col. Claude A, Thorp, 46, is officially listed as killed in action while a prisoner of the Japanese, his mother, Mrs. W. Dorothy (Sic) Bruton, has been informed by the war department, which said that the delay in sending her information was caused by failure of the Japanese to report his death. Members of his family believe the phrase "killed in action while a prisoner of the Japanese" may mean that he met his death during an attempted escape or a rescue attempt by members of his guerilla units while he was in Bilibid prison. Lieut. Col. Thorp was sent through American lines on Bataan in 1942 to organize Filipino guerillas. He was wounded, returned to American headquarters for treatment, and then rejoined the guerillas, becoming the leader of their forces on Luzon after the American surrender. He was captured in October, 1942, held at Ft. Stotsenberg and transferred to Bilibid in August, 1943. Three months later he was killed. Col. Thorp, as a member of Kittitas County's Volunteer Troop A. He was commissioned in the regular army after graduation from Oregon State college, and was stationed as Provost Marshall at Ft Stotsenberg when World War II began. In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife; three daughters, Caroline, Claudia, and Catherine Thorp, all of Zillah; two sisters, Mrs. Arthur Hunt and Miss Dorothy Bruton, both of Seattle.

From Joan Tharp:
Samuel was a gunner on the B-24 Liberator Bomber, "Lady Be Good". she was based at a bulldozed landing strip at Suluch, Libya, about 34 miles southeast of Benghazi. On 4 April 1943, the plane was on a bombing mission, target, Naples, Italy. completing the run, the plane started back for Suluch, in the dark, and disappeared. At the time, it was concluded that it had gone down in the Mediterranean Ocean, with all crew. In 1977, the "Lady Be Good" and the remains of all crew members, was located in the Sahara Desert. From the evidence on scene, it is assumed that they overflew Suluch, without realizing it. When they were out of fuel, they "ditched", believing they were over the Mediterranean. A 34 year mystery was finally solved. Ref: "The Retired Officer, September 1977"