George Washington

George Washington (August 15, 1817 – August 26, 1905) was the founder of the town of Centralia, Washington. He is remembered as a leading African American pioneer of the Pacific Northwest.

Early life Born in 1817 (Washington's birth year is in some dispute, with sources reporting the year as 1818.) They later left for Missouri. Washington became a skilled rifleman and taught himself to read. He was given full rights as a citizen, except the right to vote, after the Cochrans petitioned the state of Missouri.

Move to the Pacific Northwest Fearing he might lose his freedom after the passage of the Compromise of 1850, Washington moved the Cochrans and himself over the Oregon Trail. Arriving in the Oregon Territory in 1852, and was a divorcee. He helped raise her son, Stacey.

Anticipating the arrival of the Northern Pacific railroad in 1872, Washington had visions of a town on the southeast corner of his land. Saying that it was the center point between Kalama and Tacoma, he named his settlement the city of Centerville and filing a plat that officially created the town in 1875. His burial plot is located in Washington Lawn Cemetery, named after his family.