William McLane (Washington politician)

William McLane (1819–1906) was an Olympia, Washington pioneer and member of the Washington Territorial Legislature. He was from Butler County, Pennsylvania.[1] He and Martha McLeod McLane pioneered a 307-or-320-acre (124 or 129 ha) homestead on Mud Bay. Place names such as McLane Creek are named for him, as is McLane Elementary School in the Olympia School District, on a hill above and east of Mud Bay, and the McLane Grange in Delphi Valley, to whom he donated land.[2][3]

McLane originally left Pennsylvania in 1852 and made his way to Washington Territory by ox-drawn wagon. He returned east to marry in 1854 then returned to Washington by sea via the Isthmus of Panama. Once there, he homesteaded at Bush Prairie (founded by pioneer George Bush, now in Tumwater), and later moved to the Mud Bay homestead.[4]^: 617

McLane died in Thurston County in 1906 after living in his home for over 50 years.[1][3]