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 22
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 22
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 22
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 22
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Friday, December 19, 1902, an awful double murder was committed four miles southeast of Almira. Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Lewis, residing on their ranch, were brutally murdered by a party. or parties, who, at the present writing have never been apprehended. To this day the hor- rible deed is shrouded in mystery. Judge and Mrs. Lewis were an aged couple, well known in Lincoln county where they had resided for many years. They were well-to-do, so far as this world's goods are concerned, but robbery does not, conclusively, appear to have been the object of this terrible deed. Judge Lewis was found in the house, lying on the floor, face downward. The body of Mrs. Lewis was dis-
covered ont in the corral, a quarter of a mile distant, a shapeless heap covered with straw. A tenant of Judge Lewis discovered the acad bodies Sunday morning, December 21st. The day before. Saturday, the tenant had been to the place in search of some stock, but did not enter the house and did not notice the body of Mrs. Lewis which, as stated, had been covered with loose straw and refuse.
Tuesday morning the county commissioners met and offered a reward of $500 for the cap- ture of the murder, or murderers, of J. A. Lewis, and an additional reward of $500 for the slayers of Mrs. Lewis. At that time it was, singularly enough, assumed by the commission- ers that the old couple had been killed by differ- ent parties. However, Commissioner Thomp- son, who visited the premises and saw the bod- ies, arrived at the conclusion that both victims had been slain with an old, dull axe which had been found lying by the side of Judge Lewis. but which previously had always been kept out at the corral wherein was discovered the ghast- ly remains of Mrs. Lewis. It was his opinion that she was the first victim. Evidently she had made strenuous resistence. Her hands and arms were horribly cut and mangled, showing the desperation of the poor old lady's fight for life. There was not so much evidence of a prolonged struggle on the part of Judge Lewis : the top and back part of his head had been beaten in; the wounds had been inflicted, ap- parently, after he fell. The object of this brutal crime may, possibly, have been robbery as it might, also, have been revenge. The safe was open and the money gone. Judge Lewis sel- dom kept less than $500 in the safe, and at times as much as two or three thousand dollars. He frequently loaned money, dealing mainly with those whose financial stress impelled them to pay a high rate of interest, and were unable to secure funds elsewhere. It is for this that the theory of revenge rises superior to that of rob- bery as an incentive. It was suggested at the time of the tragedy that had robbery only been
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planned different weapons would, likely, have been used. Over this ghastly crime intense feel- ing was engendered throughout the entire Big Bend country. It was peculiarly cruel and cold- blooded. It is said, with every evidence of truth, that if the guilty party could have been located at the time, vengeance would have quickly followed in the form of lynching. This, however, was denied by those who possessed greater faith in the law-abiding citizens of the county.
"Judge" Lewis (he had been a justice of the peace), was a man about 76 years old, and his wife nearly the same age, had been pioneers of Lincoln county. They lived within them- selves, expended little for clothing or anything else, and had succeeded in accumulating prop- erty to a considerable amount ; they were known to be in independent circumstances. Judge Lewis distrusted banks. He never deposited money in them, but kept his surplus funds in a safe in the house. At the time the crime was committed the safe was unlocked. This fact indicated that business of some nature was then being transacted. In addition to the county rewards Dr. L. Lewis, of Wilbur, offered re- wards of $250 in each case for the capture of the perpetrators of the crime. At the present writing no apprehensions have been made and the affair remains a mystery.
But Lincoln county had not yet supped full of horrors. Closely following the Tracy trag- edy and the murder of the Lewis family, came the Thennes killing at the little town of Govan, between Wilbur and Almira. Friday evening. April 3, 1903, a masked man entered a saloon in Govan, shot and almost instantly killed C. F. Thennes, the only witness to the tragedy being one Kleeb, the bartender. The latter failed to recognize the assassin. The murderer came through the door, revolver in hand, walked up to Thennes, and with the declaration, "Now I have got you," began firing. The two men grappled and no other word was spoken on either side. Six shots were fired, three of which
took effect. Kleeb, the bartender, lost 10 time in getting out of the way, when the bullets be- gan to fly, but saw the assailant disappear out of the same door through which he had entered, after he had emptied his revolver. Thennes was still on his feet, and with the assistance of Kleeb reached the doorsteps of the hotel before he fell prostrate and expired. He never spoke after being shot except to ask for a doctor.
Thennes formerly lived in Davenport and Reardan, and was not known to have any en- emies. The motive for this crime was not rob- bery, whatever else it may have been. The most plausible supposition was that the assassin of Thennes was also connected with the mur- der of Judge and Mrs. Lewis, the latter affair having been shrouded in mystery, and that Thennes was in possession of incriminating evidence likely to lead to the arrest of the guilty party, or parties. It was reported that Thennes had said when intoxicated that he could lay his hands on the Lewis murderers.
For this crime one Cyrus Victor was ar- rested, tried and found guilty in the fall of 1903. Nothing in the evidence, however, connected him with the Lewis murders. In March, 1904, Victor was granted a new trial. At this writ- ing this is still pending.
An event in the history of Lincoln county was the good roads convention held at Daven- port, Friday and Saturday, June 19 and 20, 1903. From every part of the county repre- sentatives were present, and the attendance was flattering. Much general information concern- ing this important exploitation was dissemin- ated. The members of the convention assem- bled in the court room where they were called to order by H. J. Maskentine. H. J. Hinckley. of Edwall, was chosen temporary chairman and Lee Warren temporary secretary. N. T. Caton. Davenport, Commissioner Thompson, of Al- mira, Ex-Commissioner Crisp. of Harrington. Richard Riffe, of Mondovi and J. H. Nicholls. of Davenport, were appointed a committee on permanent organization. Saturday the follow-
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ing permanent organization was perfected : H. M. Thompson, president ; J. H. Nicholls, vice- president; T. C. Lakin, secretary; John F. Green, treasurer ; Henry Jenson, of Sprague, W. W. Finney, of Odessa, Michael Koontz, of Sprague, Peter Leipham, of Davenport, and Frank Hardin, of Larene, executive committee. Addresses were made by Prof. O. L. Waller, of the State Agricultural College, at Pullman, and Mr. Thompson, City Engineer of Spokane.
In October, 1903, articles of incorporation were filed by the Lincoln county Historical As- sociation, which held a meeting at Harrington.
The organization of the association was com- pleted with the following officers : President, N. T. Caton; vice-president, George M. Witt, Harrington; secretary, W. L. Crowell, Har- rington ; treasurer, G. E. Smith, Crab Creek ; historian, T. C. Lakin, Harrington; trustees, John F. Green, S. C. Kinch, Aaron Miller, Jacob Smith, T. C. Lakin.
A second "good roads convention" was held at Davenport Wednesday and Thursday, Feb- ruary 10 and II, 1904, and although the attendance was small considerable interest was manifested and much good was accomplished.
CHAPTER IV.
CITIES AND TOWNS.
Traversed by three railways, two of them the main lines of great transcontinental systems, Lincoln county is, as would necessarily be the natural result, well supplied with thrifty, sub- stantial cities, towns and villages. They lie along the Columbia river, the Central Wash- ington, Great Northern and Northern Pacific railways, and between these four great arteries of transportation are numerous smaller villages and settlements supplying, in a business way, the immediate necessities of their adjacent farming communities. In 1903, according to the report of the Washington State Bureau of Statistics, there were in the county 129 school districts and eleven towns maintaining graded schools. At this period the number has been increased as will be seen from the chapter de- voted to the educational interests of Lincoln county. Of the more prominent towns the lead- ing one is the capital of the county.
DAVENPORT.
It is situated in the center of a wide scope of gently rolling prairie, and it may truthfully be
said that the land surrounding it is not excelled in point of fertility by that of any other agri- cultural district in the United States. The lo- cation of Davenport is a natural point of gravi- tation from this rich section of Washington's territory. The selection of this site would seem simply dictated by good, common sense and business sagacity ; it is an ideal, eligible location. The splendid springs adjacent to the city would, in themselves, prove strong inducements to one seeking a townsite, but aside from these there are many other points equally persuasive.
Davenport lies in a circular valley of level but not low or swampy land. From the rim of this valley rise the undulating lands that sur- round it, by easy, almost imperceptible, ascent. On one side of this attractive vale low hills rise more abruptly than do those adjoining them; natural barriers against occasional winds that sweep over the prairies. The surrounding coun- try is a succession of rounded knolls, the sides of which recede in graceful curves ; the utility of which is excellent drainage. The elevation of the city proper is 2,470 feet, one of the high- est points in Lincoln county. In the spring of
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1902 the population of this city was 1,393, a gain of 393 since the government census of 1900; the present population is given by the state bureau of statistics as 1,729.
The history of the town of Davenport dates from the year 1880. Early in that year a man by the name of Harker took up his abode at the head of Cottonwood creek, on the present town- site, and surrounded by no familiar neighbors, other than the rather unsocial coyote, solitary and alone he began the life of an honest gran- ger. Where now stands the thrifty, enterpris- ing town of Davenport he was the sole inhabi- tant ; his the homestead from which was carved the townsite. But Mr. Harker soon disposed of of his slender equity in the land. The large spring near the center of the town was, at that period, surrounded by a grove of cottonwood trees. For several years the postoffice estab- lished in its vicinity was known as Cottonwood postoffice.
While Mr. Harker was the sole person re- siding where is now Davenport, there were a few settlers at a distance. "Harker's place" was located on the road leading through the Big Bend country, and there was more or less travel continually. Those were the days of the earlier immigrants and homeseekers in this portion of eastern Washington. Mr. Harker was the pre- siding official of Cottonwood Postoffice. He might also, have been termed the pioneer busi- ness man of the town, although he did not carry in stock a very complete line of goods. A few articles of general merchandise he had. however, and these he disposed of at fairly re- munerative prices to travelers and incoming settlers. But it was destined that Mr. Harker should not long remain monarch of all he sur- veyed. According to Mr. H. H. McMillan, to whom we are indebted for much of the in- formation concerning earlier Davenport, the original business house was established in July, 1881. John H. Nicholls turned the first sod and laid the foundation of the first building in
Davenport, a combination structure to be util- ized as store, dwelling, postoffice and hotel.
At this period Davenport was known as "Cottonwood Creek." But with equal proprie- ty the town might have been aptly named "Nichollsville," for were not Mr. Nicholls and his estimable wife for several years the life, the inspiration, the good genii of the place? Mr. Nicholls' store was situated on "Harker street," and he hauled his goods from Cheney and Spo- kane Falls, located on the main line of the Northern Pacific railroad, then but recently completed. Previous to this time provisions and other freight had been hauled from Colfax and Walla Walla. Mr. Nicholls was a sag- acious, energetic business man, of fine social qualities and strong character. He rapidly grew prosperous but with the advent of the Central Washington railroad he disposed of his business interests in "Cottonwood Creek' to Mr. William Finney.
The succeeding structures to follow the ini- tial edifice were a feed stable and saloon, which were. also, built by Mr. Nicholls. The latter conducted the feed stable ; the saloon was under the proprietorship of John Courtwright, who subsequently became a leading Mondovi farmer. These few business ventures rounded out prog- ress and development of "Cottonwood Creek" for the year 1881. The succeeding year of 1882 was accentuated by two events in the brief history of the "Creek." One of these was the arrival of Robert Cameron, who purchased the saloon mentioned and at once christened it "Bob's Place." The other event of the year was of greater importance, being no less than the organization, or rather, inauguration of a rival city. Mr. Nicholls' town was located on the lower ground where now stands the business portion of Davenport. In 1882 Mr. J. C. Dav- enport came to the country and planned the building of a rival town on the higher land to the south, about midway between where the Central Washington Railway station is located,
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and the Nicholls store on Harker street. Mr. Davenport and one or two associates erected five buildings-an extensive store and ware- house, a saloon, blacksmith shop and dwell- ing. To this "opposition" village was given. the name of Davenport in honor of its founder and leading spirit, but by the inhabitants of the "lower town" it was called "Over the Hill." This embryonic city, however bright its pros- pects at its inception, was short-lived. It fell a victim to the fire-fiend, two of the most prominent buildings being destroyed. They were not rebuilt. Richard Traul, owner and proprietor of the saloon, quietly withdrew to the "old town" of "Cottonwood Creek," where he took possession of the Harker house and re- habilitated it to such an extent that he was en- abled to pursue his saloon business in tranquil prosperity. But following in the wake of Mr. Traul came the name, "Davenport," and the waif from the rival city was captured and it immediately replaced that of "Cottonwood Creek." By one stroke of misfortune Daven- port lost not only its entity but its cognomen.
The year 1883 brought to Davenport-the new Davenport-A. Melzer, who at once erect- ed and became proprietor of the Cottonwood brewery. The pioneer lawyer of Davenport, J. C. Small, located the same year in a build- ing erected by him. In company with many other pioneer professional men, Mr. Small sagacious- ly conducted the development of his homestead in addition to looking after the legal interests of the community. Subsequently he formed a law partnership with C. H. Pryor, at that pe- riod superintendent of public instruction of Lincoln county, but this association was soon terminated by the death of Mr. Pryor. About the same time James' Rogers built a hotel which he successfully conducted for over two years. At this period there were many favorable in- centives to the growth of Davenport, including the creation and organization of Lincoln coun- ty in 1883-4, and the temporary location here of the county seat. \ building to be used for
court house purposes was erected and rented to the new county officials. In this enterprise a prominent part was performed by Mr. Ber- nard Fitzpatrick. To the little village of Dav- enport the year 1884 added such staunch men as Henry Keedy, Colin Campbell, J. W. John- son, Deen & Green, a general merchandise firm and a number of others. In the fall of 1884 occurred the most important and exciting event in the history of Davenport-the great and memorable county seat contest-in the course of which all the county records were removed to Sprague, in the extreme southern portion of the county. The interesting and rather spec- tacular details of this sensational event will be found in full in the first chapter of this History of Lincoln County.
June 12, 1884, the first issue of the Lincoln Leader made its appearance. From a perusal of the initial production of this journalistic venture, which existed only a few months, one gains a fair idea of the progress made by Dav- enport up to that period. J. H. Nicholls was the moving spirit of the "cross-roads village" in those days. He conducted a general mer- chandise store, a hotel, a livery stable and was postmaster. The business houses consisted of the City Hotel, Rogers & Boyce, proprietors, J. H. Nicholls, mechant, J. W. Johnson, black- smith, A. Melzer, brewery, R. J. Cameron and Dick Radcliff, saloons, White & Cameron, hardware, J. C. Small, attorney, and M. M. Hopkins, physician. North of the town was a sawmill operated by Warner. & Roe. Local items stated that Cal Simmons was about to burn a kiln of brick and C. H. Pryor had recently opened the public school.
During the earlier portion of 1885 there were in Davenport three substantial business houses. Perhaps the most important acquisi- tion to the city during this year was the Lincoln County Times, published by F. M. Gray. Two general mercantile stores were established the same year, one by Kaminsky & Son, of Cheney, and represented here by Louis Kaminsky; the
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other a branch store by the widely known firm of Ostroski, Breslauer & Co., also of Cheney, Mr. Breslauer having charge of the Davenport venture. James E. Roe, at one period inter- ested in the sawmill business near Larene, was a resident of Davenport a short time during the year 1885, and here he erected a building later known as the Boyes hotel. Quite a number of newly arrived citizens appeared upon the scene in 1886, among them being Thomas Edwards. Samuel Sullivan opened a furniture store, Dr. Whitney came, and J. A. Hoople established a harness shop. January 1. 1887. there were in Davenport three general mercantile stores, one saddle and harness shop, one drug store, one butcher shop, one law and real estate office, one lawyer, two wagon shops, two general black- smith shops, three livery and feed stables, one hotel, one contractor and builder, two agricul- tural implement agencies, two saloons, one doc- tor, one hardware store, one school house, one furniture store and one newspaper. Here, then. were nearly all the representative commercial and professional enterprises usually found in any wide-awake, progressive western town. The present gave promise of a flattering future which has been fully realized. There were many new comers during the year 1887-8 and a number of new business enterprises were es- tablished. Foremost among the upbuilders of the town was Mr. C. C. May, who came in 1879. He had at once engaged in the real es- tate business and contributed to the practical development of the young town by erecting a number of substantial buiklings. As said then by the Lincoln County Times :
A new year has never dawned upon Davenport with brighter prospects and greater promise than does the year 1888. Through every channel of indntry that per- tains to the general advancement of the town and coun- try, the outlook is most gratifying. An era of railroad building is approaching. immigration of a most sub- stantial character will certainly commence so soon as the winter subsides : mines on all sides are being opened and developed which promise to be of the greatest source of commercial benefit possible to the country.
and last but not least the farmer who confidently looks forward to the transportation of his grain by rail next season, has made extensive preparations for a largely in- creased acreage from which he expects handsome profits. Taking things altogether we are to be congratulated upon the brilliant prospects the future has in store for us, and while we thus rest complacently upon the assurance of good times, we extend an invitation to others to come and share prosperity with us, believing our town and country affords superior inducements to any one combining a little energy with enterprise to accumulate a fair proportion of world's goods.
In addition to those already mentioned there were, according to an article written by Mr. FF. H. McMillan, on December 24, 1888, the fol- lowing business houses in Davenport on that date : two hotels, Hay & Grutt, general mer- chandise; Finney, general merchandise; Os- borne, photographer; Jackson Brock, lawyer : Herrin, agent for Frank Brothers, implements : Moore & Son, harness and shoe shop; Oliver, drayman: Kruzer Brothers, butchers; Ratcliff, butcher: Turner, implement agent ; Dearling. livery stable: Tuttle, blacksmith; Markham. livery stable : Lee, sewing machine agent ; Poul- son, blacksmith; Olson, jewelry and watch- making: Robinson, notions and restaurant ; Goodsell, millinery: O'Connor, saloon: Boon, saloon: Crawford, barber; Merriam, restau- rant. At this period there were two church or- ganizations in Davenport, the M. E., the earlier of the two in its origin, and the Presbyterian.
The approach of the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern railroad to its temporary terminus within a little less than five miles of Davenport in December, 1888, appeared to be a signal for something approaching the nature of a boom. December 7th the Lincoln County Times said : "On every side one sees new buildings un- der course of construction and the sound of the carpenter's hammer extends far into the night. The new depot is among the principal buildings now in process of erection and around it centers most of the interest of our citizens. Freight from the terminus of the new railroad, but a short distance away, is landed in town daily. Strangers seeking locations in all branches of
9
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business select this town as headquarters and all acknowledge that few places in eastern Washington offer the inducements of the Big Bend. The elevator is daily storing large con- signments of grain, preparatory to shipping to other points, and freighters' teams make this city their destination instead of surrounding towns. The 'boom' has struck Davenport and will stop with us for some time."
In December of that year the residents of Davenport began to ambitiously voice the opin- ion that their municipal home was then larger than Cheney, and that within six months it would rival in size the city of Sprague. New buildings were going up daily, the real estate market was active and great was the volume of general business. January 18, 1889, the Lin- coln County Times as evidence of enterprise and municipal energy, began agitation for the removal of the territorial capital from Olympia to Davenport. Truly, this was a worthy ambi- tion if a trifle audacious. It was, however, the concensus of opinion that Davenport "had no more show than a rabbit." But Ralph Waldo Emerson had long before advised his readers to "Hitch your wagon to a star," and the editor of the Times was simply following the advice of the Sage of Concord.
During the early part of 1889 Davenport . was, certainly, a lively town. The real estate men were very active in booming the place and much money was spent in advertising. Not only did Davenport gain a local reputation as a coming town, but in the cities of the Sound, as well, was it advertised as the coming metrop- olis of Central Washington. The result was that real estate moved freely and lots were sold at profitable rates. Each day witnessed the arrival of strangers in the town who either engaged in business or sought employment. The accommo- dations were not sufficient to care for all who came. "People are arriving every day and are disappointed in not finding quarters to occupy. Any number of cottages and business houses could be rented at once," said the Times. "It
is to be regretted that the town is not prepared to give immediate accommodations to those de- siring to locate, but that deficiency will be rem- edied in the early spring. It is a most satis- factory condition of things and is conclusive proof that Davenport will be a scene of great activity so soon as the weather justifies begin- ning in earnest outdoor work."
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