USA > Washington > Lincoln County > An illustrated history of the Big Bend country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington, pt 1 > Part 14
USA > Washington > Adams County > An illustrated history of the Big Bend country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington, pt 1 > Part 14
USA > Washington > Douglas County > An illustrated history of the Big Bend country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington, pt 1 > Part 14
USA > Washington > Franklin County > An illustrated history of the Big Bend country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington, pt 1 > Part 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88
country at that carly period is intensely inter- esting. Only a few hardy pioneers had pie- ceded him and for miles and miles he pushed on without encountering a white man. Major Worts states that the number of wild fowl then in the country was astonishing, and de- clares that he dare not make a true statement of the facts, desiring to retain his excellent rep- utation for veracity. April 21, 1879. Mr. Worts camped at the spring, now in the heart of the city of Davenport. He did not at this time become a citizen of the town, or of Lincoln county, but a few years later he came back, made a permanent location and operated a saw mill in the northern part of the county.
The year 1880 witnessed the establishment of a United States government military post within the boundaries of what a few years later became Lincoln county. The condition of the country at this period may be described as wild. There were a few settlers along Crab creek in the southern part of the county and active pre- parations for the building of the Northern Pacific Railway had induced a few people to come to what is now Sprague. The inhabitants of the eastern upper portion of Lincoln county could, probably, be counted on one's fingers. The site for Fort Spokane, or Post Spokane. as it was first called, was selected in Septem- ber, 1880, by General O. O. Howard, depart- ment commander, and Lieutenant Colonel Mer- riam, of the Second U. S. Infantry. These officers selected the site on the beautiful bench just above the Spokane river, only a short dis- tance from where that river flows into the Col- umbia. It was one of the prettiest among the frontier posts and was selected because it was in easy striking distance of the Colville Indian Agency, just across the river. To this newly selected post were brought five companies of the Second Infantry and one troop of the Sec- ond Cavalry under command of Lieutenant Colonel Merriam. These troops were brought from the foot of Lake Chelan, where they had been for some time exerting a wholesome in-
74
HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
fluence upon the Chelan Indians. Shortly after the establishment of Fort Spokane Lieutenant Colonel Merriam was removed to Fort Colville. in Stevens county, and Major Smith became commander-in-chief during his absence. No permanent improvements were made at the new fort until 1882. when Fort Colville was aban- doned and Lieutenant Colonel Merriam again assumed command, remaining until the comple- tion of the fort in 1885. With his return the erection of buildings was begun and the place became known as Fort Spokane. The fort was constructed on elaborate principles. The gov- ernment expended thousands of dollars, install- ing handsome quarters for officers and privates, such store buildings as were necessary, a sys- tem of water works and all the accessories need- ful for a first-class military station. There were a dozen large frame buildings on the north side of the enclosure. utilized as officers' quarters. There were vast bar- racks peopled by the men in the ranks, brick guard houses, commissary buildings, stables, etc. A system of water works com- posed of a pumping station on the river and a large reservoir on the hill side south of the fort, carried water throughout the grounds.
In 1885 the buildings were completed and Lieutenant Colonel Merriam was relieved by Lieutenant Colonel Fletcher, and the Second Infantry was exchanged for three companies of the Fourth Infantry. The following year Major Kent, of the Fourth Infantry, assumed command at the fort. Other commanders in the order named have been : Lieutenant Col- onel Mears, of the Fourth Infantry, who died at the fort in 1890; Lieutenant Colonel Cook, of the Fourth; Major Carpenter, of the Fourth ; and Major McGoughlin, of the Sixteenth In- fantry.
The spot is one of the most beautiful in the state. The grounds are a net-work of sewers and water mains. There was a double system of water works in use at the fort ; one a reser- voir of pure spring water on the hill, high above
the garrison, and piped down to the quarters for the domestic use of both officers and men; the other source of supply was by means of a steam engine located at the Spokane river, forc- ing water through another set of pipes for the stables, fire and irrigating purposes.
Another prominent Lincoln county settler of 1880 was W. H. Vandine. In the autumn of that year he entered a homestead claim three miles north of what subsequently developed into the town of Davenport. Northern Lincoln county received its first settlers, outside of a few who have been mentioned heretofore, in 1880. Many came to Egypt that fall. The fol- lowing year others came, nearly all settling in Egypt and quite a colony was there in 1881. William Yarwood was one of the first settlers in central Lincoln county, taking up a home- stead near Harrington in 1880. Still, it is true that only a comparatively few hardy pioneers had settled in what later became Lincoln coun- ty prior to the building of the Northern Pa- cific railroad through the southeast corner of the county in 1880-1. With the construction of this line of road settlement began to push out rapidly over, the lands in the southern part of the county tributary to the new railroad. The first settler in the Reardan neighborhood was J. F. Rice who went there in 1881. Isaac Mul- hiem settled near Mondovi long before the formation of Lincoln county.
The winter of 1881 was one to try the "summer soldier, and the sunshine patriot." Snow fell to a great depth and for many days travel was interrupted. Most of the stock in the country perished. Mr. Barney Fitzpatrick, mentioned elsewhere, and one of the earliest settlers in the county. a number of years after- ward told of an experience he had during that severe winter. He was caught in the storm at Deep Creek Falls, and realizing that the block- ade would last for some time he struck out for home on horseback. At that time he lived a short distance west of the present townsite of Davenport. There were only a few scattered
75
HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
houses over the route traveled by him, but he managed to reach one every night. Hle was six days making the trip. The snow was soft and so deep that he had to break a path for his animal and when he succeeded in gaining his home he was completely exhausted.
In early days the United States government transported all of its army supplies in Wash- ington Territory with four and six mule teams. So frequent were the trips from one post to another that the trails they followed became established roadways for all travelers in those clays. The great, heavy army wagons would wear cuts through the prairie sod and the rains would wash these out each season, compelling the army trains to follow a new track along the old one; and these in turn would be washed out. thus continuing this plan annually until a well-defined and clearly marked trail would be developed. For many years after the use of these trails had been abandoned and even after the advent of the railroad through the Territory these government trails would be referred to in describing the topography of the country. When the settlers came and took up homesteads in the country they would designate their homes as being at such a point along "the old govern- ment trail." One of the best known of these trails in eastern Washington traversed what later became Lincoln county. It was in use during the time when army supplies were trans- ported from Walla Walla to Fort Spokane, and was used not only by military men, but also by immigrants and miners who were traveling in this direction. A favorite camping place for. these caravans was at Cottonwood Springs, the best water supply along the entire route. 1 volume of water as large around as the hub of a wagon wheel, and as cold as ice, continually pours out from Cottonwood Springs, creating quite a little stream or creek along the banks of which a small forest has grown. It was this cool water and the welcome shade that in- duced the army caravans and the immigrants
to camp here. This greatly appreciated spring is in the heart of the city of Davenport, county seat of Lincoln county.
In 1882 and 1883 Lincoln county suffered 1 from a most peculiar pest-the cricket scourge. Pioneers tell us that the cricket epoch was the most remarkable ever encountered in a new country. Myriads of large, black crickets. measuring from one to two inches long swarmed out of the earth and up through the snow, and devastated the fields for two seasons. They made their first appearance in 1882. Settlers combined their forces and dug ditches, sur- rounding their farms with pits five rods apart, and men, women and children worked day and night with brooms, sweeping the pests into pits and destroying them. The bulk of their crops destroyed, families subsisted on peas and fish throughout the season. If people could have obtained the means to escape, the country would have been depopulated. The scourge was worse during the year 1883 than the previous season. The appearance of the crickets the third year created a panic among the settlers. The peo- ple fully realized that the destruction of the crops then meant ruin. But they met the enemy with the courage of true Washingtonians-a courage which then amounted almost to fero- city. Deeper were dug the ditches, their mileage was extended, and the broom brigades fought with the desperation of people forced to fight for their lives. Just as the insects were about to conquer for the third time and the settlers were almost ready to yield in despair, a heavy rain set in, succeeded by frost and the crickets tumbled into the pits to rise therefrom no more. Great was the rejoicing when it became known that the cricket pest was completely extermin- ated.
Prior to the organization of Lincoln coun- ty, in 1883, very little was known of the coun- try then called "Western Spokane County." ex- cept by those who had actually taken up a resi- dence in the new district. There were no, rail- roads and no stage lines. Occasionally some
76
HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
party would make an extended trip on horse- back to the western country, the journey re- quired many days and numerous hardships. Returning he would give flowery descriptions of the fertility of this vast region, then contain- ing but a few scattered settlers ; hardy pioneers who had held their place in the van of the ad- vance of civilization. Such was the condition of affairs when the county was organized. At the time of the organization of Lincoln county it was quite sparcely settled. Farms and farm houses were few and far between. Few acres of the fertile soil had been mutilated by the plow. There were no luxuries; few comforts of life. The occasional road was only an in- distinct ribbon across the broad expanse of un- broken plain. as erratic in its course as the steps of a drunken sailor. Everything was in the rude, primitive condition common to west- ern pioneer life. Sprague was the only town, given some importance by being the end of a division on the Northern Pacific railroad. Harrington and Davenport were villages, the rudest, cheapest looking, most uninviting im- aginable, and Reardan, Wilbur, Almira, Ed- wall, Odessa and other now flourishing towns were not dreamed of.
Not without strong opposition did the coun- ty of Lincoln come into existence. Perhaps no other county in Washington encountered more determined antagonism than this. Judge N. T. Caton, at present a practicing attorney at Dav- enport, was the author of the bill creating Lin- coln county. At that period he was a resident of Walla Walla county and was serving in the Territorial Council. The settlers of the terri- tory proposed to be cut off from Spokane coun- ty were unanimously in favor of the bill. The only opposition was from the Northern Pacific Railway Company, yet it was nearly powerful enough to defeat the bill. The reason for the railway's opposition was this: The Northern Pacific Company had determined that Cheney should be the coming town of eastern Wash-
ington. Spokane Falls was to remain a village. Cheney was the county seat and would, un- doubtedly have remained so for many years with the old Spokane county intact. With the setting off of the western portion the railway company saw that Spokane Falls would be able to secure the county seat as it was more cen- trally located. With the building of the North- ern Pacific road and the location of headquar- ters at the little town of Sprague, which came into life with the building of the road, Spokane, Cheney and Sprague, all of which were then in Spokane county, entered upon a rivalry that at times became more interesting than friendly. Cheney had been successful over Spokane in a county seat contest ; Spokane formed an alliance with Sprague by the terms of which there was to be a new vote on the county seat question. and Lincoln county was to be organized with Sprague as the county seat. The combination worked, and a bill was passed by the legislature providing for a revote in the Spokane county seat contest. The success of the latter part of this agreement will be seen by a further perusal - of this history.
The bill as originally introduced in the Council provided for the naming of the new county Sprague, in honor of Jolin W. Sprague, at that time general superintendent and agent of the Northern Pacific Railway. It did not name Davenport as the temporary county seat, but left the location of the county seat with the voters. How the county came to be named Lin- coln instead of Sprague is told by Judge Caton, the author of the bill, and its most ardent sup- porter ; Colonel Houghton, who had been form- erly in the employment of the Northern Pacific Company looking after the company's lands, was not on friendly terms with John W. Sprague. Colonel Houghton was a member of the Territorial Legislature of 1883, and op- posed the bill for the creation of Sprague coun- ty. It appeared to Mr. Caton that much of this opposition might arise from the proposed name
77
HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
of the new county. He sought an interview with the ex-official of the Northern Pacific Rail- road Company.
"Colonel," said Mr. Caton. "it appears to me that we are making a mistake in naming this new county after a living person. One can never be sure in such a case that the name will . reflect credit upon the community. On the other hand if we name it after some one who has gone before and upon whose name there can be no stain, we run no risk of the name dis- gracing us. Now, as we are naming the other counties in the Big Bend country after noted Americans who have passed away, what do you say to changing the name of this one from Sprague to Lincoln ?"
"Just the proper thing," replied Colonel Houghton, and from that time he became a supporter of the bill.
The measure passed the Council without a dissenting vote, but in the house it was strongly opposed. I. N. Peyton in 1883 was associated with J. C. Davenport in the control of the town- site of Davenport, and through his influence the bill was amended so as to name Davenport as the temporary county seat. In this form, but not without opposition, it passed the house. It will thus be seen that the first county seat fight in Lincoln county occurred prior to the creation of the county. Judge Caton and the supporters of the Lincoln county bill in the Council did not desire to have any town named as the tem- porary county seat, wishing to leave the matter entirely in the hands of the voters, but to fail to promptly concur in the house amendment would prove fatal to the passage of the meas- ure at this session, as only a few days remained. The Council, therefore, promptly concurred, al- though much pressure was brought to defeat the bill. Mr. Caton was offered $1,000 to use his influence against concurring in the house bill.
Concerning the manner in which Davenport was named as the temporary county seat of
Lincoln county in the bill creating the county, the Sprague Herald of July 23, 1890, said :
"The bill named Sprague as the temporary county seat and also contained a provision for the permanent location of a county seat by pop- ular vote of the people. When the measure reached the house later on it was referred to the committee on counties in that branch. Colonel I. N. Peyton succeeded in having the name of Sprague struck from the bill and Davenport in- serted. The people of Cheney were opposed to the bill because the division of Spokane county, of which Cheney was at that time the county seat, meant their death knell. It was thought this change would kill the bill, for the wildest imagination never supposed a county seat would be located at a place thirty miles from a rail- way and telegraphic communication, and ap- proachable only by wagon roads which during the winter were impassable, and that, too, a place existing only in name. But the people of Sprague concluded to accept the bill as amend- ed relying on the good sense of the voters of Lincoln county to restore her birthright, in which she was not disappointed."
The substitution of Davenport for Sprague as the county seat in the Lincoln county bill came perilously near defeating the measure. November 20, N. T. Caton presented a petition to the council signed by 420 persons, objecting to Davenport being named as the capital of the county "as there are only two houses in that locality, and it is forty miles from any railroad line."
In a later number of the Herald appeared the following :
"When the bill finally came from the com- mittee on counties, through some occult influ- ence Davenport was substituted for Sprague. It was supposed at that time that Cheney, actu- ated by spite, and some of the people of Spo- kane at least, who owned property in Daven- port from motives of profit, had brought un- due influence to bear upon a member of that
78
HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
committee to make the change. When the peo- ple of Sprague had been apprised thereof they were justly indignant. A mass-meeting was hield which was attended by Senator White- house and others from Spokane who endeavor- ed to explain the change. Sprague had it in her power to kill the bill and allow the division of Spokane county to go by default, and that ques- tion was under consideration. But one of her citizens being called upon for an opinion spoke in substance as follows :
"'It is true, fellow citizens, that we have been betrayed and deceived. We have asked for bread and have been given a stone. Whether Spokane and her delegation are responsible for this I know not, but this I know, that so long as we remain in the same county with Spokane Falls so long will we be dominated by Spokane capital and Spokane influence. It is better, therefore, for us to cut loose therefrom-accept the bill, then, even in its obnoxious form, and trust to the whirligig of time to set all things right.'
"This reasoning prevailed and Spokane county was divided."
The bill for the division of Spokane county and the creation of Lincoln county passed the house November 1, 1883, by a vote of 13 to 9. as follows: Ayes-Barlow, Blackwell, Brooks, Clark, Coply, Kincaid, Kuhn, Martin, Miles, Shaw, Shoudy, Young and Mr. Speaker. Nays -Besserer, Brining, Foster, Goodell, Hun- gate, Lloyd, Ping, Stitzel, Warner, Absent, Turpin. The bill was passed amid much excite- ment. There was a large audience in the gal- leries. Jacob Stitzel made a strong speech op- posing the measure and was followed by Mr. Smallwood, who, upon invitation by the house, spoke in advocacy of the bill.
Following is the text of the measure as it finally passed :
An Act to create and organize thie County of Lincoln. Sec. I. Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Washington: That all that portion of Spokane county, Washington Territory, described as
follows : Beginning at the point in Tonwship No. 27 north, where the Colville guide meridian between ranges 39 and 40 east, Willamette meridian, intersects the Spokane river, and running thence south along said meridian line to the township line between townships numbered 20 and 21 north ; thence west along said town- ship line to its intersection with the Columbia guide meridian between ranges numbered 30 and 31, east Willamette meridian; thence south along said meridian line to the township line between townships numbered 16 and 17 north ; thence west on said township line to the range line between ranges 27 and 28 east, Willa- mette meridian; thence south on said range line to the section line between sections numbered 24 and 25 in township No. 14.north of range No. 27 east, Willamette meridian ; thence west on said section line to the mid- channel of the Columbia river; thence up said river in the middle of the channel thereof to the mouth of the Spokane river, in the middle of the channel thereof, to the place of beginning, shall be known and designated as the county of Lincoln.
Sec. 2. That John Bartol, Edward D. Willis and John McGourin are hereby appointed county commis- sioners of said county of Lincoln.
Sec. 3. The county commissioners above named are hereby authorized within twenty days after the approval of this act, and upon ten days notice, to qualify and enter upon the discharge of their duties as such commission- ers, and are hereby empowered to appoint all necessary county officers necessary to perfect the organization of said county; and the county commissioners aforesaid, sheriff, auditor and the other officers' appointed shall hold their offices until the next general election and until their successors are elected and qualified accord- ing to law.
Sec. 4. That the justices of the peace, constables, road supervisors and other precinct and school officers heretofore elected and qualified, and now acting as such, residing in that portion of Spokane county which is by the provisions of this act included in the county of Lincoln, are hereby continued as such officers in said county of Lincoln until the next general election, and until their successors are elected and qualified.
Sec. 5. That all taxes levied and assessed for the year 1883 upon the persons and property within the boundaries of Lincoln county, as herein described, shall be collected and paid to the treasurer of the county of Spokane, and shall thereafter be paid upon demand, according 10 assessment, to the treasurer of the county of Lincoln.
Sec. 6. The county auditor of Lincoln county is hereby authorized to take transcripts of all records, documents and other papers on file or of record, in the office of the county auditor of Spokane county, which may be necessary to perfect the records of said Lincoln county, and for this purpose he shall have access to the records of said Spokane county without cost.
Sec. 7. The county seat of the county of Lincoln
79
HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
is hereby located at the town of Davenport temporarily. until the same shall be permanently located by a vote of the electors of said county at the next general election. At the next general election the permanent location of th county seat of Lincoln shall be submitted to the qualified electors of said county, and the place receiving the majority of votes shall be the permanent county scat of Lincoln county.
Sec. 8. The county of Lincoln shall be attached to the county of Spokane for judicial and legislative pur- poses until otherwise provided.
Sec. 9. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its approval.
Approved November 24. 1883.
By tracing the boundaries of Lincoln coun- ty as described in the preceding act of the leg- islature it will be found to embrace the present counties of Lincoln and Douglas. It will, doubtless, prove news to a large majority of Lincoln county citizens that Lincoln county, at one time, included Douglas county, but such is the case. The bill creating Lincoln county was approved by the governor November 24, 1883, and it was four days later, or on November 28, that the Douglas county bill was approved. Of course there had been no county government organized during this time, but the Douglas county bill reads "all that part of Lincoln coun- ty, etc."
The creation of Douglas, took from terri- tory of Lincoln county, described in the act, the following. All that portion of the county bounded as follows: Beginning at a point where the Columbia guide meridian intersects the Columbia river on the northern boundary of Lincoln county, and thence running south on said Columbia guide meridian to the township line, between townships Nos. 16 and 17; thence running west on said township line to the range line between ranges 27 and 28; thence south on said range line to the section line between sec- tions 24 and 25, in township 14, north, range 27 east ; thence west on said section line to the mid-channel of the Columbia river ; thence up said channel of said river to the place of be- ginning. This left Lincoln county with bonn- daries as they are today. Nearly every year
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.