The Enterprise, White Salmon, WA., October 13, 1950, page 6
CHARLES NEWTON ACKLEY
Charles Newton Ackley was born March 4, 1872 on a farm
near Iowa City, in Johnson County, Iowa. He was the second son of John B.
Ackley and Sarah Ann Bowden Ackley.
His father, John Ackley, was a veteran of the War between
the States, endowed with the restless spirit that moved the pioneers westward
across the Great Plains. Young Charles Newton's boyhood therefore was spent
in various localities where the family stayed for a time until a fresh move
would place them in new surroundings among new acquaintances.
It was near the place of his birth that Charles Newton
Ackley met and wed his lifetime partner, Elsie Ann Hall, on November 16,
1896. Two years later the young couple moved to the new State of Washington,
staying for a time in Olympia. Then in 1902 they took up homestead land in
what is now the Mountain Brook community where john B. ackley and his two
other sons and his son-in-law settled at the same time.
In the raw backwoods of that day cattle trails became
roads, great trees had to be cut before a rod of ground could be plowed;
fences to keep range stock from the garden patch were built from split rails
-- all these tasks and many more called for hard hand labor.
To support a growing family it was necessary to work
away from the homestead which alone could not supply their needs from the
small acreage that could be cleared each year from the surrounding forest.
But there was much to be done in opening the great reaches of the timberland
for settlement. That became Mr. ackley's life work. As road boss, or sawmill
operator, logger or trucker, he became widely known to many as "Newt" Ackley.
He was for forty years a member of the Masonic Order. His kindly humor and
open-handed generosity will be remembered by all who knew him.
After an illness of two months Mr. Ackley passed away
on the morning of October 6, 1950 at the age of 78 years, 7 months and two
days. surviving are his widow Elsie Anna Ackley; a sister, Mrs. D.W. Plank
of White Salmon; a brother, John B. Ackley of Kerby, Oregon. Also left to
mourn his passing are four children; Claude C. Ackley, White Salmon, Mrs.
George Downs, Hubbard, Oregon; Mrs. Allen Bennett, White Salmon; Charles
O. ackley, Bingen together with sixteen grandchildren and seven
great-grandchildren.
Charles Newton Ackley was one of that band of pioneers
to open Klickitat County for civilization. May his spirit rest in peace.
The Mt. Adams Sun, Bingen, WA., October 13, 1950, page 8
CHARLES NEWTON ACKLEY
Funeral services for Charles Newton Ackley, who died
October 6 at the Hood River Hospital, were held Tuesday, October 10 at 2
p.m. at the Gardner Funeral Chapel with Rev. George George officiating.
He was born March 4, 1872 in iowa and was 78 years, 7
months, and 2 days of age at the time of his death,
"Dad" Ackley was an old time resident of this vicinity
having lived here for 49 years.
Surviving are his wife: two daughters: Mrs. May Downs
and Mrs. Al Bennett; two sons, Charles and Claude; 16 grandchildren and 7
great grandchildren.
Masonic services were given the deceased by the members
of the White Salmon Masonic Lodge.
Burial was at the Oddfellows cemetery.
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© Jeffrey L. Elmer