George Washington relatives buried in Almira Cemetary

We live in a state named for George Washington. As we celebrate his birthday on February 22, George Washington’s history seems far removed from us. But is it?

George Washington was one of Augustine Washington’s nine children. George had a brother named John (1736-1787) whose great-g-g-g-grandson was Bushrod Corbin Washington (1839-1909). Bushrod and his wife Emma lived in West Virgina until 1900. Bushrod was a grain dealer.

They moved to Lincoln County in Washington state around 1910 near the town of Almira. They came with five children, James C., Nathaniel, Peachy, Janet and Hannah. They all lived the remainder of their lives in Almira and are buried in the Almira Cemetery.

Bushrod’s wife Emma Edwards Willis was the great-great-great-grandaughter of James Madison (1723-1801). This James Madison was the father of President James Madison (1751-1836) who was the fourth U.S. president and was called the “Father of the Constitution.”

A tragic side note to the story of Bushrod and Emma Washington is that three of their adult children died on 10 July 1926 by drowning in the Columbia River. Apparently, one could not swim and the other two went in to help. Treacherous currents caused all three to drown. All the members of that Washington family are buried in the Almira Cemetery.

American History is something we are told we need to study in school, and at times it seems so far away. But here it is, right at our own back door.