Morning Olympian
Saturday, February 8, 1902
pages 1 and 3

Dr. Nathaniel Ostrander died yesterday morning at half past eight o'clock at his home in this city at the advanced age of eighty four years. He was one of the most widely known pioneers of the state and one of its oldest physicians. Until recent years he has practiced his profession, preferring, however to devote his time chiefly to those who had been his patients in early days. His death was due to the gradual wearing out of a strong and vigorous constitution rather than to any specific cause.

Nathaniel Ostrander was born in Ulster county, New York, December 28, 1818.

His parents, Abel and Catherine Esterly Ostrander were natives of New York and were descended from Holland ancestry. Abel Ostrander was reared a farmer which occupation he followed until 1836 when he emigrated to St. Louis, then the mecca of the Westwardbound. He remained there until 1852 when he removed to Washington with his son and located a donation claim upon which he lived until his death.

When Nathaniel was in infancy he was left in the care of his uncle, Nathaniel, who was greatly attached to him. He remained there until the age of fourteen enjoying the privileges of the New York City school. In 1832 he rejoined his parents remaining on the farm until he started out west at the age of sixteen to join his brother John at St. Louis in whose store he clerked until he moved to Lafayette county and engaged in business two years later.

He was married in 1838 to Eliza Jane Yantis, a native of Kentucky. Mrs. Ostrander died in Olympia February 26, 1899, after a lingering stroke of paralysis.

In 1845 Dr. Ostrander removed to Cass county, Missouri, and about this time began the study of medicine, pursuing his studies as he drove the plow. In 1847 he removed to Saline county continuing his studies and attending two courses of lectures in the medical department of the St. Louis University, were he3 was graduated in 1848. He practiced medicine in Saline county for two years, and in 1850 joined the tide of western immigration and crossed the plains with as ox team to California. he passed a year at mining and int the practice of his profession at the Rough and Ready and Onion Valley camps and in the fall of 1851 returned to his family in St. Louis returning by was of the Nicaragua route. The then converted his farm property into cash and purchased a prairie outfit of wagons and oxen and started for the Pacific coast, bringing his family and his father. They arrived at their destination int the fall of '52 and located on the Cowlitz river, being among the first settlers in the valley.

Dr. Ostrander engaged in farming and in practicing medicine, as he was called upon by the settlers, clearing up tow large farms. In 1872 he sold out and moved to Tumwater where he opened a drug store.

In 1879 he sold out the store and moved to Olympia where he has resided until his death.

Dr. Ostrander has been prominently identified with the public affairs of the Northwest since first locating here.

He was appointed the first probate judge of Cowlitz county by Governor Isaac Stevens, and served in that capacity for twelve years. he also was a member of the territorial legislature for a term and also was twice elected mayor of Olympia and served on the city council a number of times.

Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ostrander eight of whom survive them. They are Mrs. P. C. Montague of Lebanon Or.; Mrs. Mary A. Roe of Forest Grove Ore.; Sarah D. Catlin of Catlin Wash.; Maggie J. O'Connor, John Y. Ostrander, Isabel Eastman, Florence E. Crosby and Fannie L. Moore all of Olympia.

Twelve grandchildren and eleven great grand children are living.