USA > Washington > Douglas County > An illustrated history of the Big Bend country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington, pt 2 > Part 43
USA > Washington > Adams County > An illustrated history of the Big Bend country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington, pt 2 > Part 43
USA > Washington > Franklin County > An illustrated history of the Big Bend country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington, pt 2 > Part 43
USA > Washington > Lincoln County > An illustrated history of the Big Bend country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington, pt 2 > Part 43
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"In the fall of 1888 Rev. W. T. Koontz, then pastor at Sprague, began regular services at Ritzville. He soon organized a society of about 25 members, but the organization ex- tended far into the country, in fact nearly all of Adams county was included. The people of Rattlesnake Flat asked for preaching, and Rev. Koontz attempted to comply with their desire, but finding the labors too great that preaching point was turned over to the writer and he soon organized a class of 25 members."
In 1890 the officials and patrons of School District No. I, the Ritzville district, discovered that the country had developed so much and the number of pupils had increased to such an extent that the school building could not accommodate them all. It was decided to build a new school house which would be com- modious enough to supply the growth of the
country for a long time. To raise the money necessary for this purpose the district was bonded for the amount of $14,000, and this represents the cost of the present handsome school building.
Fire broke out in the building of Clark Long, Sunday night, September II, 1891, at about 10 o'clock, consuming the furniture store of H. Kretzer and the drug store and resi- dence of Severence & King, and Charles Well- standt's grocery store, a portion of which was occupied by L. Uhlman with clothing. Citi- zens flocked to the rescue. Means for fighting this fire were inadequate, and the flames spread until they were checked by the tearing down of an old barn. This separated the fire by several hundred feet from other buildings. There was a slight wind which did not appear to in- crease, as is usually the case during a large conflagration. There were no hook and ladder appliances or other means to fight the flames, with the exception of a small hose that was connected with a tank on an adjacent hill. Yet this slight service, undoubtedly, saved the en- tire town. The losses were estimated as fol- lows :
Kretzer's furniture stock and building, $3,000; C. Long, store and stock, $5,000; Severence & King, store, stock and household goods of J. W. King, $5,000; Charles Well- standt, store and groceries, $4,000; L. Uhlman, clothing stock, $2,500. The insurance was light, Long having $3,300, King, $1,000, Kretzer, $1,700 and Uhlman none.
In 1894 a water works system was in- stalled at a cost of $20,000. The water was supplied from drilled wells which furnished an inexhaustible supply of as pure water as is to be found in the state of Washington. It was a gravity system, affording pressure suf- ficient to throw water to the top of any build- ing in the city of Ritzville. This was aside from the pumps, which were handled by a 22-horse power gasoline engine.
During the financial depression of 1893-4,
.
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and the four succeeding years of "hard times," the history of Ritzville is simply a repetition of that of other towns throughout the entire west and northwest. Some of her most worthy and enterprising citizens were, as the term is, "forced to the wall." Conditions were, cer- tainly, discouraging, and all public and private improvements, practically, ceased. Wheat, upon which the country mainly depended, sold at from 18 to 20 cents per bushel. During this period the town government fell into a bad way, financially. February 1, 1896, according to the Ritzville Times, the outstanding indebt- edness of the town was about $5,000. Town warrants were not worth over 65 cents on the dollar. Owing to this fact the town authorities were compelled to pay from 40 to 50 per cent. more for everything it bought, and for such work as was actually necessary, than the same would have cost in cash. March 10th, of that year, by a vote of 40 to 20 the citizens of Ritz- ville decided to issue bonds for the purpose of funding this indebtedness. The Ritzville Times, of date February 8, 1896, said :
"About the close of last year it began to look as if most of the business men had determ- ined to leave Ritzville; the prospects of the town looked somewhat dubious. Now all that is changed. It is true that several good men retired from business, but other equally good men took their place, and now Ritzville is all right."
The following supplement was added by the Lincoln County Times, August 12, 1898:
"Ritzville is experiencing an old time boom. Houses are going up everywhere and the demand for quarters far exceeds the supply. This will sound a little queer to those who have been acquainted with the conditions at Ritz- ville for many years back."
October 7th, of the same year, the Ritz- ville Times became more optimistic, and said :
"Never before in the history of our county has there ever been such a demonstration of prosperity as exists at the present time. Three
years ago, when every town in the west was struggling for life, our little town maintained its dignity and only lived to enjoy the better times that were sure to come with the return of prosperity, which was inevitable. That day has come and Ritzville can boast of 25 new residences and three new brick stores."
September 1, 1899, the Times estimated the population of the town at from 1,000 to 1,200. The year 1901 witnessed an important change in the city. The rapid settlement of the sur- rounding country had produced remarkable activity in the building line. Ritzville was out- growing its kilts. New residences and busi- ness houses sprang up in all portions of the town; the building area extended in all direc- tions. The Times said :
"At no time in its history has the town been in better business shape than it is now. There is an unusual amount of business going on ; property is advancing in price; improvements are being made in every direction, and the future looks bright. Its scores of new build- ings add greatly to the appearance of the town. Evidently there will be no check to its progress in that direction for an indefinite period of time. Large, handsome new brick blocks are numerous and several more are planned for immediate construction. Probably no small town in the history of the west-unless it be of the boom order-has enjoyed a greater or more substantial growth than has Ritzville this past summer."
The town, which had for so long been without adequate fire protection, on July II, 1901, organized a volunteer fire department consisting of a hose company and an engine company. Twelve members were assigned to the hose company and six to the engine depart- ment. A chemical engine, hose cart, hose and other equipments were received, money for which was subscribed by the citizens. Fred Shepley was chosen chief and T. Heitsuman, L. C. Van Petten and Fred Greene assistants.
Ritzville won the honor of being the great-
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est wheat shipping point in the world in 1901. From August Ist, of that year, to August 10,, 1902, exactly 1,967,725 bushels of wheat were received in the Ritzville warehouses for ship- ment by the Northern Pacific railroad, and 1,990 cars of wheat and flour were billed out. The amount of freight shipped in during this period averaged 75 cars per month, divided about as follows : Merchandise, 32 cars; wood and coal, 22; lumber, 17; machinery and wagons, 4.
Although the building operations in Ritz- ville for the year 1901 were the most extensive in the town's history, up to that period, they were surpassed in 1902. The Times on Jan- uary 2, 1903, said :
"Not since the town was started has Ritz- ville expended so much money in new buildings and improvements as during the year just closed. It is a record to be proud of-one that cannot be excelled by any town of its size within the great wheat belt of eastern Wash- ington. And this was done in a year follow- ing one that nearly equalled it in building im- provements. While, during the past few years Ritzville has built scores of new business build- ings and residences, yet each one of them is occupied and there is a strong demand which cannot be supplied on account of lack of houses."
The wheat shipments of 1902 also exceeded those of 1901. The freight received into the town, which is an infallible indication of its prosperity, also went up in remarkable figures. Receipts for incoming freight at Ritzville sta- tion for the year 1902 averaged $1,000 a day.
October 27, 1903, the organization of a Chamber of Commerce was perfected. It in- cluded 64 charter members. It was devoted to the object of fostering, encouraging and de- veloping the interests of Ritzville and, incident- ally, Adams county. The first officers of the association were J. D. Bassett, president ; L. P. Bauman, vice president; D. W. Pettijohn, secretary, and Fred Thiel, treasurer.
At the present writing the churches of Ritz- ville are the First Congregational, First Meth- odist Episcopal, German Congregational, Chris- tian, Catholic, German Lutheran, Episcopal and Baptist. The dates of organization of these religious denominations are: First Con- gregational, 1882; First Methodist Episcopal, 1888; First German Lutheran, 1891; Zion Congregational (German), 1894; Catholic, 1899; Christian, 1900; Episcopal, 1901 ; Bap- tist, 1902.
The city of Ritzville is well supplied with fraternal secret societies. Ritzville Lodge, No. IOI, A. F. & A. M., was granted a charter June 12, 1895, but for a time previous to that the lodge had worked under a dispensation. Regular communications are held on the sec- ond and fourth Saturdays of each month. The Order of the Eastern Star, auxilliary to the Masonic fraternity, Zenith Chapter, No. 55, was instituted January 31, 1900, by F. J. Elenshon, of Pomeroy, Washington. There were 32 charter members. The Star meets on the first and third Mondays of each month at Masonic Temple.
Ritzville Lodge, No. 58, I. O. O. F., was in- stituted December 29, 1888, by E. G, Pendle- ton, Special Deputy Grand Master, with a large charter membership. No. 58 meets at Odd Fellows Hall every Thursday night.
Zenobia Rebekah Lodge, No. 118, I. O. O. F., was instituted September 16, 1899, with ten charter members. The lodge meets every first and third Thursdays in each month in the I. O. O. F. hall.
Prairie Green Lodge, No. 36, Knights of Pythias, was instituted in 1888 by members of the Red Cross Lodge, No. 28, of Spokane, with 30 charter members. Meetings are held Wednesday evenings at Castle Hall. Ivanhoe Co., No. 5, Uniform Rank, has a good mem- bership, and meets every fourth Wednesday evening in Castle Hall following the adjourn- ment of the subordinate lodge.
Camp No. 5595, Modern Woodmen of
-
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America, was organized in 1898, by J. C. Dore, instituting deputy, of Spokane. Meetings are held the first and third Fridays of each month in Greene's hall.
Defiance Tent No. 14, K. O. T. M., was in- stituted April 22, 1895. It has a large mem- bership, being the first tent in Washington state east of the Cascades. Meetings are held the first and third Saturdays of each month.
Ritzville Hive, No. 10, Ladies of the Maccabees, was instituted July 17, 1895, by Mrs. Eudocia Moffitt, with 15 charter members. Regular meetings are held in Castle Hall on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.
Ritzville Camp, No. 463, Woodmen of the World, was organized August 2, 1898, with 25 charter members. Meetings are held every Friday evening.
WV. B. Hazen Post, No. 36, G. A. R., was organized October 13, 1888. The present membership is quite large.
Esther Lodge, No. 940, Modern Brother- hood of America, was instituted on the 4th day of November, 1891, by N. E. Stanton, of North Yakima, deputy state organizer.
The Foresters of America was organized November 9, 1900, by Harry A. Mueller, with a good charter membership. Regular meet- ings occur the second and fourth Fridays of each month. Rathbone Post, No. 182, of the Fraternal Army of America was organized February 3, 1902, in Greene's hall with fifteen charter members. The initiation was con- ducted by G. W. Spiva, D. S. C., assisted by his wife. The F. A. of A. meets the second and fourth Mondays of each month.
Electric lights were placed in operation January 17, 1902. The plant was installed at a cost of $10,000 by C. O. Greene, who was granted by the city a twenty-year franchise. An option of purchase is held by the city, after five years. The power, house is located in the eastern part of the city. The dynamo is oper- ated by steam.
That Ritzville flour finds a ready market in Chinese, Japanese and Siberian ports will, naturally, surprise the stranger. The mills are equipped with modern machinery and steam power. The daily capacity is 400 barrels and never less than twenty men are employed. The storage capacity for wheat is 125,000 bushels, including the large steel tank which holds 52,- 000 bushels. This tank, embodying all the latest scientific ideas for the storage of wheat, is the only one west of Dakota.
The present First National Bank of Ritz- ville was organized as the Adams County Bank in April, 1891, by J. D. Bassett, U. K. Loose, of Snohomish, and Benjamin Martin. The latter carried on the active management of the bank very acceptably until his death in 1899. In 1901 the institution was converted into a National bank. At that time Mr. R. C. Ken- nedy, who had been with the Adams County Bank, as assistant cashier, for a number of years, was promoted to cashier.
The city has an excellent telephone ex- change which is connected with the long dis- tance service. The system was established in August, 1899, by the Pacific States Telephone & Telegraph Company.
The powers of the city council of Ritz- ville are quite broad; those of the mayor limited. The latter acts as the presiding officer, but has no veto power. The city council is vested with the appointive power of the of- ficials of the town, other than the treasurer. Elections are held on the first Tuesday in De- cember of each year. The mayor and two councilmen are elected for a term of two years. The succeeding election three councilmen are elected for two years, thus giving hold-over members of this body. The treasurer is elected annually. The board of health is composed of members of the city council. A health com- mittee, however, is chosen consisting of three members. A health officer, usually a physician, is also chosen who acts with the committee.
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The board has charge of all matters relating to the sanitary condition of the town.
Ritzville was platted December 22, 1880, in behalf of the Northern Pacific Railway Com- pany, by John W. Sprague, general superin- tendent and agent of the company. The rail- road was not constructed to this point at this time, but was fast being built. The townsite consisted of 30 blocks, with Railroad street, 225 feet wide, extending through the town, this broad avenue being reserved for railroad purposes. Since then additions have been platted as follows :
Northern Pacific addition, April 12, 1886, by the Northern Pacific Railway Company, by Robert Harris.
South Park addition, July 11, 1888, by Philip Ritz.
N. H. Greene's addition, December 14, 1888, by N. H. Greene.
Janssen's addition, March 27, 1889, by H. T. Janssen.
Greene & Prouty's addition, April 27, 1890, by Ritzville Land Company, by J. E. Prouty, president, and O. H. Greene, secretary.
Second Railroad addition, January 19, 1891, by Northern Pacific Railroad Company, by James B. Williams, vice president, and George H. Earl, secretary.
Greene & Prouty's second addition, April 26, 1898, by Ritzville Land Company, by J. E. Prouty, president, and O. H. Green, secretary.
T. W. Hauschild's addition, March 13, 1901, by T. W. Hauschild.
J. F. Devault's addition, suburb of Ritz- ville, August 4, 1902, by J. F. Devault.
J. D. Barnett's First addition, July 17, 1902, by J. D. Barnett.
Clodius's Suburb of Ritzville, September. 4, 1902, by C. H. Clodius.
Adams County Land Company's addition, May 15, 1903, by Adams County Land Com- pany, by O. R. Holcomb, president, and Will- iam O. Lewis, secretary.
1
CHAPTER III.
CITIES AND TOWNS-CONTINUED.
LIND.
This is one of the most thriving and enter- prising little towns in Eastern Washington. It is situated on the main line of the Northern Pacific railway, eighty-two miles southwest of the city of Spokane; and just two miles west of the geographical center of Adams county, in one of the most prominent wheat producing sections of the state.
During the early days Charles Jell was act- ing in the capacity of pumper for the railroad
company, and was located at Lind station, then hardly more than a water tank, and section house. There were, practically, no settlers any- where in the vicinity of Lind until the spring of 1886 when H. Van Marter and J. J. Merri man came. The former located about one and one-half miles from the station ; the latter about one-half mile north. The first voting precinct in Lind was established at Mr. Merriman's place in 1886, and he was inspector and his wife clerk, of the first election held there. At that period there were only ten voters in the pre-
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
cinct, viz: Mr. and Mrs. Merriman, Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Campbell, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Schneider, the present Mrs. Hugh Dunlap, Mrs. Nolan, Charles Jell and Hugh Dunlap. At that period both men and women voted in the Territory of Washington. Some of them came 38 miles to cast their votes, this fact giv- ing some idea of the size of this one voting precinct. The petition for the formation of this precinct was presented to the commissioners at their meeting May 4, 1886, and was signed by S. A. Wells, Charles Jell, William McKay, George Shaffer, G. A. Warner, John Erick- son, George Watson, W. T. Fitzpatrick, S. Davis, A. Jell, James Butler, Robert Callahan, W. C. Campbell, John Bewley, T. Schmidt and John E. Jones.
Prior to 1889 the settlers got their mail through the Ritzville postoffice. The post- master there would put the mail on the train and the postal clerk would throw it off at Lind station, and the operator would place it where the settlers could get it. Of course, this was a primitive and irregular manner of conducting the affair, but in those days it was absolutely necessary to deviate from strict construction of postal rules, and Lind station was far from being the only place in the Territory of Wash- ington where such practices prevailed. The first building on the site of Lind was erected in the autumn of 1888 by James and Dugal Neil- son. Here they kept "bachelor's hall" during the next winter, and in the spring of 1890 put up a store building. They handled groceries and rough wares for ranchers, and, later, added a small stock of lumber. Their goods at first were worth, perhaps, $600 or $700. About the same period a postoffice was established and James Neilson became postmaster. A school house was erected at Lind in 1889, and a school established with Bert Near as teacher. The initial term saw six scholars in attendance. Some time later a man named Schubert opened a second store. Eighteen months thereafter he was burned out and did not rebuild. These
two enterprises were in what is now the west- ern portion of Lind.
Lind continued to be nothing tangible until 1899, when a fresh impetus was imparted. The young town began to grow, the trend of which growth was farther eastward. J. J. Merriman became postmaster and built a 12 by 14 foot building for an office. Henry Myers erected a building and installed a saloon. J. M. Moulton put up a residence where the Bank of Lind now stands. He also built a small office and opened out in the lumber business. Several other enterprises were inaugurated and by the close of the year there was quite a little village on the site. At that period the Ritzville Times estimated the population of Lind at 100, or a trifle less. But since 1900 there has been a steady, and healthy growth.
It should be taken into consideration that Lind was started in the times of great financial depression. Consequently its growth for a number, of years was inconsequential. The year 1902 was an exceptionally favorable one for the town. It is at present the second town . in point of size in Adams county.
It was discovered that the farms adjoin- ing Lind were wonderfully rich in gold-if only it was taken out in the shape of wheat. The first shipment of this cereal was purchased by Neilson Brothers. At first all that came to this point was stored in the railroad com- pany's woodshed, although the company sub- sequently built a warehouse. But for many years the farmers living in the vicinity of Lind had their seed wheat shipped in from other counties, the yield not being sufficient to sow for the next year's crop. Now the place is one of the important grain shipping points in the country. June 7, 1890, the townsite was platted by Dugal and James Neilson. This original plat consisted of but four blocks. Yet this is the way the Centralia News described the vicinity of the town in November, 1899: "The last time we saw Lind, in 1898, the town consisted of a million acres of sage
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
brush, 400,000 jack rabbits and a long stretch of railroad track."
Writing of the town in March, 1901, the Inland Empire said :
"Three years ago (spring of 1898), the town consisted of a railroad section house, one store, three homesteaders' shacks and an unreg- istered cross between a woodshed and a 'has- been' box' car, called, through courtesy, a 'depot.' "
November 4, 1898, Dirstine Brothers opened their store in Lind.
Following is what Al. P. Haas, editor of the Lind Leader, said about his town, in March, 1901, writing in the Inland Empire :
"The town now has about 400 inhabitants and continues to grow rapidly. Daily new people are arriving and preparing to develop homes and business property. Besides a num- ber of fine residences we now have the nicest little depot betwen Spokane and North Yakima, a $1,200 church building under con- struction, a public hall of generous dimen- sions, and a two-story, five-room school house, erected and furnished at a cost of about $7,500. The business part of the town con- sists of two general merchandise houses with large stocks, two lumber yards, two grocery stores, two saloons, three real estate offices, two hotels, two restaurants, two livery stables, two blacksmith shops, two harness shops, one furniture store, one hardware store, one drug store, one meat market, one jewelry store, one lodging house, three grain warehouses, one physician's office and one newspaper."
December 6, 1901, a correspondent writing to the Ritzville Times said :
"The rapid growth of the town during the past year is the pride of all Lindites. It is a fact that about 200 'shacks,' or. temporary dwellings have gone up, and as many good, substantial residences will some day supplant them. The three brick store buildings are be- ing erected by the Bank of Lind, Kasper Broth-
ers and Henry Marter. They are the first bricks to be built here. Their cost will ap- proximate $5,000, $12,000 and $6,500, re- spectively. These edifices reflect the substantial growth of the town and they would be a credit to a city many times the size of Lind."
Concerning the incorporation of Lind the Ritzville Times said, January 31, 1902 :
"At the election held at Lind Saturday, January 25th, the question of incorporation carried almost unanimously. There were 60 votes cast-57 for, and 3 against, incorpora- tion. Dugal Neilson was elected mayor, re- ceiving 57 votes, and James Neilson was elected treasurer. The councilmen elected are J. M. Moulton, 60 votes; August Boenig, 58; S. L. Van Marter, 47; H. D. Dunlap, 52; Charles Law, 52. The scattering votes were J. J. Merriman, 9; E. B. Lincoln, 8; W. G. Offutt, 8; R. F. Simmons, 1; J. W. Hender- son, I.
The population, according to a census taken by Assessor Walton in April, 1903, was 592. Conservative citizens now claim from 600 to 800.
At present the town has three church de- nominations, German Lutheran, Methodists, and Christian. The fraternal societies repre- sented are the Odd Fellows, the Modern Wood- men of America and the ladies' auxilliary.
Lind is liberal spirited and maintains a brass band. The people enjoy concerts and in fact all manner of entertainments, and are in as close touch with the world of music, en- tertainment and literature as are much older, communities. The town is handsomely laid out, with broad, straight streets and has per- fect drainage. There is an abundance of pure water. The little city is fast taking on metro- politan ways and is certain to become an im- portant town with the gradual growth of the state.
There are a number of additions to the original townsite of Lind. December 15, 1898,
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Dugal Neilson and his brother, James, platted another townsite consisting of twelve blocks. Additions have been platted as follows :
Van Marter's addition, February 20, 1900, by Henry Van Marter.
Lippold's addition, April 3, 1901, by Frede- rick W. Lippold.
Van Marter's Second addition, June 20, 1901, by Henry M. Van Marter.
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