Page 1 - SUMMER 2020 SWHS Newsletter revised (1)

South Whidbey Historical Society

Now &TheN

Summer 2020 www.SouthWhidbeyHistory.org www.facebook.com/SouthWhidbeyHistory

Profiles of four early families when WA was still a territory
South Whidbey at a time of great change

In her life, she was known Zah-toh-litsa was born During Zah-toh-litsa’s parents’ life-
by several names: Zah-toh- in 1857 into the upper time, large ships were a common sight
litsa (or Gah-toh-litsa from class of the Snohomish on Puget Sound; first ships of Spain,
some sources), Hotela, and Tribe. Her grandfather then Britain, and finally the United
the English names of Jane was Wha-cah-dub, (1789- States.
Newberry, Jane Johnson 1870), a sub-chief of the It wasn’t until 1846 that Great Britain
and Jennie. Later in life, she tribe. and the United States settled national
became known simply as Zah-toh-litsa’s father was northwest borders at the 49th parallel.
Grandma Oliver (using her Whul-tay’lahth, a brother Washington had first been part of the
second husband’s surname). of Charles Whea-kadim, Oregon Territory (established 1848),
What is known about Zah- who was father of William but came into its own as a Territory in
toh-litsa is that she was a Zah-toh-litsa aka Jane Shelton, aka Wha-cah-dub, 1853. Statehood would not come until
survivor in a day when many Johnson Oliver the last hereditary chief of 1889.
women succumbed to dis- the Snohomish Tribe who Smallpox, measles and tuberculosis
ease, overwork, and complications of was born on South Whidbey in 1869 at introduced by early trappers, explorers,
childbirth. She had six children by her what is now Sandy Point. sailors, and missionaries had already
first husband (William Johnson), and She and Shelton were cousins. It is taken a heavy toll on the Coast Salish
another six children with her second not known whether they shared lin- population by the time Zah-to-litsa was
husband (Ed Oliver). She outlived all eage from the same grandmother, as born, and westward expansion was in-
but one of her children by the time she men of status in the tribe sometimes creasingly pushing indigenous people
died in 1942. had multiple wives. off their lands.

Zah-toh-litsa’s daughter, Louisa Johnson Porter, at her home on Mutiny Bay, with children and husband Nathaniel. She is expect-
ing her eighth child of the ten she had with Nathaniel. Omer is on horseback. From the Porter family collection. Circa 1905.
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