First Settlers

First Settlers. . , In 1867, Sam Jerisich, Peter Goldsmith, and John Farrague were fishing in Puget Sound when bad weather prompted them to seek shelter in Gig Harbor. They liked what they saw and decided to make it their home, becoming the first three white people to settle in the harbor. Also living in the harbor were the Native American people in a village at the head of the bay., Sam had been born in Kotor, Montenegro, on the Adriatic coast in 1833. Like Sam, Peter was from the "old country," probably Montenegro or Croatia. It is believed that John was from Portugal. Although all three settled in Gig Harbor, it was Sam and his family that would leave an enduring mark., As a young man, Sam was a sailor, rounding Cape Horn three times. He eventually made his way to Vancouver Island, Canada, where he met and married Anna Willits. It is believed that Anna was a member of the Penelakut tribe of Thetis Island, British Columbia., Sam brought Anna and her infant daughter, Caroline, to Gig Harbor. The Jerisich's first home was a one-room cabin made of split cedar boards on the east side of the bay. It was surrounded by dense forest choked by underbrush. Sam cut down trees to clear enough land for a garden. Anna shot bear and deer and dressed the meat for food. She also picked and dried berries., Sam caught fish using nets he and Anna made by hand. He build a smoke house and a rendering plant. He rowed the resulting dogfish oil and smoked fish to Steilacoom to sell. This was the beginning of the commercial fishing industry in Gig Harbor., The family built a larger home on the west side of the bay. Sam and Anna had eight children. Descendants of Sam and Anna continue to engage in commercial fishing from Gig Harbor., [Photo captions, top and bottom, read] , . (l.-r.) Anna Willits Jerisich, granddaughter Julia Skansie Babich, and daughter Julia Jerisich VanWaters, circa 1910, . The Jerisich Family, 1901 or 1902 , Back row: Michael, John, Sam Jr., Peter Skansie. , Front row: Katherine, Julia, Anna, Sam Sr., Melissa (Peter's wife) with daughter Julia, and Mary.