James Longmire was the first American to settle in Yelm.

Longmire descendant ends up close to home

Originally published Saturday, January 12, 2002

Though Peggy Blegen says she didn't inherit any strong family traditions, she does share an affinity for the Thurston County area with her pioneer predecessors, the Longmires.

James Longmire settled in Yelm in 1853, the first American to do so. He built a log cabin and became fond of exploring Mount Rainier's slopes, discovering the place now called Longmire Springs in the southwest corner of Mount Rainier National Park.

He later moved his family there, but Yelm remained the outfitting and starting point for people attempting to climb the mountain for many years, according to "Washington State Place Names," by Doug Brokenshire.

Blegen, who lives in Olympia, also had the exploring bug for a while.

Blegen said she has traveled across the United States and in several other countries, but realized that Thurston County is best place to be.

"I have to laugh sometimes and say, 'Well, I didn't get very far,' " she said. "I live about seven miles from where I was born."

Blegen's affinity for the area helps her in her role as the human resource manager for Mother Joseph Care Center, a Providence St. Peter Hospital facility, which sometimes involves recruiting people to the area.

She tells people of the county's excellent schools and low crime.

But Blegen isn't one to shy from change, even in an area she loves. She credits The Evergreen State College with shaking up the community and helping it become more progressive.

"I really like the diversity. When I grew up here, this was a pretty conservative ... area where not much was happening," she said.

Perhaps that attitude isn't surprising; Blegen admits that her predecessors weren't the conservative type, calling them a "colorful bunch."

"They weren't high society exactly. They truly did make moonshine up on the Bald Hill," she said.

Nor does the extended Longmire clan tend to be a close-knit bunch.

The family has an annual picnic at Mount Rainier in the summer, which hundreds of people attend. But most family members spend time meeting new people and figuring out how they're related, Blegen said.

Blegen, 58, said she feels more of an affinity to the land.

Her job at Mother Joseph's is one example.

"That means a lot to me that I work for Providence," she said. "I was born there; my grandkids were born there."

She and her sisters, Nancy McInnis and Donna Gates, were all born at Mother Joseph's, and all gave birth to their children there. They still live in the area, as does Blegen's mother, Erva Amsbaugh Sokolik. Her mom also boasts nine grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren who live nearby.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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