Sanford B. "Sam" Mayhew, of Marietta, Northwest Washington's best known weather observer, and famed also as a barbecuer of salmon for innumerable picnics in this part of the state, died at a local hospital at 10:30 p. m Wednesday. He was 62 years of age and had long been in ill health. Mr. Mayhew was congenial and made many friends. A great lover of the outdoors, Mr. Mayhew had lived about twenty-five years at Marietta, where he had a farm. He was a member of Marietta Grange No. 781, the Whatcom County Dairymen's association and Elks Lodge No. 194. Mr. Mayhew is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Helen Schultz, Miss Frances Mayhew and Miss Melba Mayhew, all of Marietta, and one sister, Mrs. P. S. Battersby, Bellingham, and a foster sister, Mrs. Addie Minturn, Bellingham. Mrs. Mayhew died in October, 1934.
Born in Machias, Maine, Mr. Mayhew came to Whatcom county when a boy. He had lived in Whatcom county fifty-six years. For many years he resided on Eldridge avenue. He came of a family of weather observers. His late father maintained a weather station on Eldridge avenue, and his brother Lewis Mayhew, who died many years ago, succeeded him. Sam Mayhew succeeded his brother as co-operative weather observer about 1900.
Mr. Mayhew was an authority on Indian lore in the Northwest. His acquaintance with the Indians extended to Alaska, along whose coasts he made a trip by canoe many years ago. Familiar with Indian methods of barbecuing salmon, Mr. Mayhew invented a process of his own and patented it. In his day he barbecued thousands of salmon, some of them at Pioneer park, Ferndale, for picnics that were attended by from 3,000 to 5,000 persons. For the last eight years Mr. Mayhew has conducted the Umbrella, a resort near his home. It is conspicuous for its approach, featuring curios collected by Mr. Mayhew along the Nooksack river and elsewhere in the vicinity of his home. The Harlow-Hollingsworth funeral home will make the funeral arrangements.
