Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 20

Author:
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Spokane, Wash. : Western History
Number of Pages: 992

USA > Washington > Chelan County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 20
USA > Washington > Ferry County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 20
USA > Washington > Okanogan County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 20
USA > Washington > Stevens County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 20

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).

Three miles from Newport, in the south- eastern part of the county, Mr. B. L. Gordon, of Spokane, in the summer of 1903, established a private fish hatchery in the headwaters of the Little Spokane river for the purpose of breed- ing trout. At present this is the only fish hatch- ery of any importance in the county.

October 1, 1903, Stevens county contained the following postoffices, thirteen of them being money order offices: Addy, Alyea, Arzina, Bissell, Bluecreek, Bossburg, Boundary, Calis- pell, Camden, Cadonią, Chewelah, Clayton, Col- ville, Daisy, Deertrail, Dunn, Echo, Frontier, Gifford, Gray, Harvey, Hunters, Ione, Kettle Falls, Locke, Loonlake, Marble, Maud, Meyers Falls, Newport, Northport, Oren. Penwith, Rice, Rockport, Ryan, Scotia, Springdale, Tumtum, Usk, Valley, Waterloo, Cusick, Dal- kena. Evans, Lenora, Wellpinit, forty-nine all told.

In the extreme southwestern portion of Stevens, and due north from Lincoln county, .lies the Spokane Indian reservation. On the south it is bounded by the Spokane river, on the west by the Columbia, while its eastern boundary is formed by Chamokane Creek. Its area is about 328 square miles. There are no towns within its limits, the Indian agency being headquarters for all business connected with the tribe to which it is, at present, dedicated. The population is indefinite as the Indians come and go at nearly all seasons of the year.

At one period the whole of the Colville Valley was included in the vast Colville reser-

IIO

HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

vation, now forming much of the territory of Ferry and Okanogan counties. This is a fact not generally known. But along in the 70's General Grant, then president, issued a procla- mation. By the terms of this document all the country lying in the northeastern portion of the Territory of Washington, touching the bound- ary of Idaho on the east, for a width of nearly one hundred miles, and extending in length nearly two hundred miles westward, should be included in the Colville Indian reservation. It is in accordance with this fact that it is deemed best to treat the Colville Indian reservation in this descriptive chapter of Stevens county, for at that period all of what is now the Colville reservation was within the county of Stevens, prior to the severance of Okanogan and Ferry counties.

During the administration of President Grant it was considered in the extreme east, and what was then the middle west, that the best use to which this portion of the earth's sur- face could be put was to cut it up into Indian reservations. Various military men and the heads of geological surveys had issued scientific pronunciamentos to the effect that the "Great American Desert" comprised nearly all the ter- ritory between California and the Missouri river. Settlers had, however, located on widely separated tracts ; had tested the qualities of the "desert:" had spied out the land and pro- nounced it good despite the military men and scientists. Among these some had established the outposts of civilization in the Colville valley .. on the "reservation." So vigorously did they protest at the expansion idea of President Grant that he soon changed the plan and fixed the Columbia river as the southern and eastern boundaries of the Colville reservation. That threw the territory of modern Stevens county out of it.

The north half of the Colville reservation was opened to agricultural settlement October 10, 1900. Considerable excitement had been anticipated which did not eventuate. There

was not the "rush" that attended the opening of Oklahoma or even that of the Nez Perce Reservation in Idaho. Conditions were dis- tinctly different. For a number of years this territory had been open to mining settlement, and, consequently, it was impossible to herd homesteaders off the promised land as they were barred out of Oklahoma. Since the reser- vation was open to mining development the right of any one to enter freely and pursue his avocations remained unquestioned. Towns had sprung up and a large population had taken full possession prior to the government's edict opening the reservation. Homeseekers under the guise of prospectors had chosen their loca- tions, pitched their tents, erected cabins and made other improvements. The greater num- ber who had contemplated filing had already done so. For weeks and even months home- steaders had been selecting their lands, many camping beside them the night previous to the opening. Practically the best of feeling pre- vailed. At noon they simply stepped across the section line and established their claims. But the event, though a quiet one, devoid of any sensationalism, was another landmark in the fuller development of Washington, and the ter- ritory once comprised in Stevens county. Along with the great mineral resources the agricultural and timber wealth were now to be developed. An era of railway construction was to follow which, although still incipient, is destined to produce great results, and wild and idle regions made to blossom as the rose.

A Spokesman-Review correspondent, writ- ing of this incident from Grand Forks, B. C., under date of October 10, 1900, says :

"The opening of the north half of the Col- ville reservation today for homestead purposes was characterized by many ludicrous and ex- citing incidents. Information received would indicate that there are an average of five claim- ants for each location. The United States Land Office will be fully occupied for months in adjusting disputes respecting ownership.

III

HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

For instance, no less than six individuals, in- cluding Frank Law, of Grand Forks, and O. B. Nelson, H. Donough, B. Price and H. N. Genin, of Nelson, simultaneously located one hundred and sixty acres comprising the north addition of the townsite of Nelson. The land lies between the town and the international boundary. There is a perfect forest of stakes and each claimant before nightfall had erected a shack. The same condition of affairs practi- cally prevails south through the Kettle River, Curlew, and San Poil valleys to Republic.

"J. A. Coryell and Fred Wallaston, of Grand Forks, who have been engaged on the railway survey for the Clarence J. McCuaig syndicate, returned here tonight and report that every available foot of the land in the bottoms or on bench lands had been located. Mr. Cor- yell estimated tht the locations along this route will exceed five hundred, while the territory will not permit of over one hundred and twen- ty-eight valid locations. Mr. Coryell reached a point twelve miles south of the boundary (B. C.) line. He states that camping parties were strung along a few acres apart for the entire distance. At noon rival claimants began stak- ing their homesteads in close proximity, with the result that farm after farm dovetails into its neighbor. Fortunately no ill feeling was dis- played and the entire proceedings were note- worthy for the absence of gun play. The bench lands seemed to attract as much attention as bottom lands or timbered flats. Homesteaders showed especial partiality for the west side of Curlew Lake, and in the vicinity of Curlew townsite each location has seven or eight claim- ants. Helphry Brothers, merchants of Cur- lew, are among those who located land near the townsite. They have an eight-cornered contest on their hands.

"Shacks and other buildings sprang up within three hours as if by magic. Many of the homesteaders hail from Idaho and eastern Washington, and are accompanied by their families. Several women secured choice lands.

Miss Reeves, a young and prepossessing lady, abandoned her "hello" duties at Grand Forks' telephone office yesterday to join in the stam- pede. She was fortunate enough to secure one hundred and sixty acres of bottom land two miles west of Curlew. Half a dozen men were camped on the same ground before her arrival, but they chivalrously capitulated and moved elsewhere, possibly only to become involved in contests with their masculine neighbors."

A Colville correspondent wrote as follows : "The opening of the reservation today cre- ated little public attention or interest. People intent on settlement have been going in for sev- eral weeks, not waiting at the border. No offi- cial signal gave notice of the time the proclama- tion took effect. It was simply 12 o'clock noon. Bossburg and Marcus were the principal points of entrance. The ferries were busy all night. Major Anderson, the agent, has been along the border the past few days making observations. The general rule observed was that a settler was not obliged to stay off the land, but could camp anywhere on the reservation in sight of the land he coveted, instead of at the border, and move on the land at once on the opening. At Northport much annoyance was expressed on account of the land not being surveyed. Only township lines are run out to the extreme east end."

The Spokesman - Review correspondent from Republic said :

"The city hall bell rang today at 12 o'clock noon announcing the opening of the north half of the Colville reservation to agricultural set- tlers. Within a few minutes thereafter there were filings made with the United States Com- missioner O. S. Stocker. From that time until nine o'clock tonight (October 10) stragglers came in until the number reached twenty-five. There will be probably a larger number tomor- row as none was filed by those living at any considerable distance from Republic, or by per- sons who are not old time residents. The fil- ings were made upon lands near Curlew Lake,

II2

HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

San Poil lake and along the streams feeding those lakes. There are no difficulties over lands so far as known here. Several persons filed on a ranch that has been cultivated for sev- eral years by a man named Murrier, but there has been no trouble over it yet. There were two or three races made to catch the commis- sioner's office first. Miss Elizabeth E. Bee- croft, well known in Spokane, where she once taught school, made the ride from a point on Curlew lake to Republic, nine miles, in fifty-nine minutes. Four miles of the road was over Klondike mountain."

On the same date (October 10) a Kettle Falls correspondent wired :

"It is exceedingly quiet here today, nowith- standing the fact that the reservation was opened at noon, nearly all those intending to go in having gone before and settled on or near their prospective homesteads."

A Marcus correspondent said :

"Agent A. M. Anderson, in charge of the Indians on the Colville reservation, and Clair Hunt arrived here this morning from an ex- tended trip through the reserve. The Indian agent discovered in a number of instances that settlers were attempting to encroach upon al- lotments and ordered the tresspassers off. Mr. Hunt said: 'There are "sooners" all over the reserve, and there was a great rush to make filings. Contests are numerous, in instances three or four men claiming the same land and all at work building houses on it.'"

The interest taken by our Canadian friends across the border is manifested by the follow- ing from Grand Forks, B. C., under date Octo- ber IIth:

"Half a score or more of disappointed and disgusted homeseekers passed through here to- day on their way from Colville reservation. They came from various points along the upper

Columbia river. Several of them were accon1- panied by their families. Theirs was a hard luck story. In nearly every instance they had located on lands claimed by other individuals, and rather than await the outcome of intermin- able legal proceedings they concluded to aban- don their holdings. Others less fortunate ar- rived too late. Comparatively few of the home- steaders hastened to the land office to record their filings. The majority contented them- selves with erecting shacks on their holdings, feeling confident that such an evidence of good faith would more than counterbalance priority of registration. A number of settlers located on St. Peter's Flat, south of Curlew, only to discover today that their lands had already been patented as placer claims."

On October 10th and IIth filings were made on homesteads in the Colville reserva- tion at the different land offices as follows : Waterville, III homesteads and eight soldiers' applications ; Republic, 40; Spokane, 37.

The free homestead law which was then ap- plied to the north half of the Colville Indian reservation has certainly made that region an attractive field for the bona fide homeseeker. The uncertainty of Indian titles there had been a rather strong incentive for white people to remain away from that region. But since it has been made clear what constitutes a "real Indian" for homestead purposes, it appears that a new and vast acreage of the reservation that had been held under Indian claims by white men and half breeds, claiming by marital ties is actually open to homestead entry. There is quite a large area lying east of the Kettle river that has not been prospected with a view to settlement by the people coming into the coun- try. It is now easily accessible, supplied with plenty of water and timber, and comprises the finest land and stock range in the country.

23.

mine south view

KING GOLD AND COPPER MINES.

ES CI

FRUIT EXHIBIT AT THE STEVENS COUNTY FAIR. COLVILLE, SEPTEMBER, 1903.

RUINS OF THE OLD JESUIT MISSION. Near Kettle Falls. Erected in 1858, replacing a former Church built in 1846.

CHAPTER IV.

MINES AND QUARRIES.

Due justice to the subject of which this chapter treats could not be done without a brief introduction concerning the geology of Stevens county. Although the Old Dominion mine, carrying gold, silver and lead, was the original mineral property opened in what is now the state of Washington, it is to her marble, ser- pentine, jasper and quartzite developments that the county owes her prominence. As has been previously stated the country rock is granite, quartzite, marble, limestone and metamorphic rock in general. The marbles show stratifica- tion in but few places, the metamorphism hav- ing been great enough in most instances to de- stroy all traces of it. In places the sedimentary deposits are steeply inclined, having been much disturbed. In certain localities the marbles are found in contact with the granites. In the great part of the district fossils, if they ever did exist, have been destroyed. They are found in extremely limited quantities near Valley- Brook where the Washington Brick, Lime and Manufacturing Company are quarrying the limestone that occurs there and using it for the manufacture of lime. These fossils have been poorly preserved, and as yet it has not been pos- sible to do much with them. They have the appearance of being Palaeozoic corals.

The same limestone and marble deposits are found to the north of Stevens county in British Columbia and in some places they con- tain a few poorly preserved fossils which are thought to be of the Carboniferous age. It is quite likely that the Stevens county marbles and limestones are of the same age as those in British Columbia. Should the latter prove to be Carboniferous the Stevens county fossils are probably the same.

In the southern part of the marble area it occurs low down either in valleys or low foot- hills. To the north it is found at a much greater altitude. Igneous and metamorphic rocks, such as granite, slate and quartzite are found in the highest part of the mountain ranges. In the foot-hills which border the Col- ville Valley, from Valley-Brook to the north- ern end is found more or less marble and lime- stone. Indications, show that the marbles and limestones of Stevens county are the remnants of what was at one period a much larger de- posit covering the country to the west as far as the Cascade Mountains. This area must have been under water at the time these deposits were forming, and these sediments accum- ulated, following which there was an elevation and the sedimentary rocks were folded more or less and in places, badly broken. At the time this elevation took place the igneous rocks were forced up into those of sedimentary depo- sition, the sedimentary rocks more or less metamorphosed and thrown into anticlines and sinclines. At about this period erosion began to cut down this area and has succeeded in re- moving a large part of the limestone from it and especially from the highest parts where erosion would naturally be the greatest. The evidence of folding is not very great, and such evidence has been found in but a few instances. There is, however, plenty of evidence that there has been very marked disturbances and in many places the strata are tilted and steeply inclined. In the northern part of Stevens county there are marked indications that this part of Washi- ington was covered with glaciers. In places large masses of rock, which are unlike the rock on which they rest, are found, while in others

114

HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

the country rock plainly shows the effects of ice in the polished surface and striations which are found.

In the matter of building and ornamental stone of various kinds Stevens ranks second to no county in the state. Granite, marble, jaspar, serpentine and limestone comprise the principal material in this line. The quarry industry, yet in its infancy, has made rapid strides during the past few years and a large amount of money has been expended in developing this portion of the county's resources. The deposits of marble found in various sections are enormous and the prospect for their being extensively quarried is flattering.

Concerning the history of the marble in- dustry in this county Mr. John B. Slater, while editor of the Stevens County Reveille, wrote the following under date of July 30, 1903 :

In view of the interest being taken in the develop- ment of this industry it is interesting to know some- thing of the history of marble in its native state. As early as 1804, when the famous explorers Lewis and Clarke traversed the wilds of the Pacific slope, then inhabited by Indian tribes, General Clarke reported the fact that a fine quality of marble abounded along the region traversed by the Columbia river. According to his reports the point traversed by the Columbia river, where he noted the fact that marble existed, was cer- tainly somewhere within the boundaries of Stevens county, and as he traveled over a vast range of country examining critically the geological formation, nowhere else did he find anything in the form or shape of marble worth mentioning. Soon after Fort Colville, which is located three miles north of this city, was garrisoned, in 1839, by two companies of California volunteers under the command of Major Curtis, who was, before his enlistment, chief of police of San Francisco, Lieutenant Whing, first lieutenant quartermaster in his company, died at his own hands March 22, 1862.

This was the first death of an officer reported at the post since its establishment, and the garrison being small it created a profound sensation among the few who afforded the only military protection to this vast section of country. It was suggested by the soldiers that it was proper that his grave be marked by some suitable monument and the discussion of this matter brought forth the opinion and the skill of an ex- perienced marble cutter, who was a private in Lieuten- ant Whing's company, and he straightway, acting upon the encouragement of his comrades, explored the region immediately surrounding the fort for suitable stone

from which to prepare a tablet upon which to inscribe the historical event. About three miles southeast of the fort he discovered a ledge of marble which appeared to be of suitable quality for the work he had in charge, and it was from this ledge that the beautiful slab was finished and lettered with the name of the soldier and the date of his death, and laid over the grave, a stone monument erected as a memorial to Lieutenant Whing.

This is supposd to be the first marble tombstone erected in the eastern part of the state of Washington, and it is a fact worthy of commemoration that this first monument was carved out of Washington marble. When the military authority caused the remains of the soldier to be taken from the burying ground at the old garrison, some twelve years ago, and removed to the Presidio at San Francisco for final interment, the stone over the grave was discarded and soon afterwards picked up and used by a rancher as a base in an open fireplace built of stone. For a number of years this historical relic stood the test of fire until it was dis- covered by J. W. Douglas a few days ago and he being impressed with its origin, secured it as a memento to be held by his company commemorative of the first product of the kind in the state. This stone was about twenty-eight inches wide by three and a half feet in length, and is a beautiful blue, slightly varigated with white. The finish was effected by crude methods at the time, but the surface took a beautiful finish which re- mains upon the stone through all its varied experiences of climatic conditions, which is considered a very re- liable test of the value of the stone. It is also worth mentioning that in after years when civilization began to supplant the military, that the marble slab, which has been described, proved an index to what has grown into an industry of such vast importance. About the time the stone was discared from, the grave of Lieuten- ant Whing, Judge Samuel Douglas, of this city, traced its history and origin and forthwith located the immense ledge from which it was taken. Samples of the marble from these claims were sent to the St. Louis exposi- tion some twenty-five years ago and were reported as possessing every element of strength, susceptible of high polish and freedom from fracture that rendered it of the most desirable quality for commercial purposes.

Soon after that George J. Wardwell, one of the most widely known marble operators in the state of Vermont, and the inventor of many useful devices for working marble, visited Colville and made a most thorough investigation of these marble quarries. He pronounced it one of the finest deposits of the native material he had ever seen, but discouraged its develop- ment, because, as he stated, lack of transportation was, practically, prohibitive for working it with the ex- pectation of any profit. Mr. Douglas took fresh cour- age from the statement of Mr. Wardwell, and after rail- road facilities had been established in the county, he associated himself with his brother, J. W. Douglas, a well-known attorney of Spokane, and a number of eastern parties, and organized the Standard Marble-

II5

HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

Onyx Company. This company acquired title to sur- rounding land until now it has a holding of nearly 800 acres in one body at this place. They have also ac- quired some marble properties at Chewelah, in this county, and have expended considerable capital and energy in their development. During the present season, and within the last two months, the Standard Marble- Onyx Company has placed upon the quarries a large plant of machinery for quarrying the marble and as soon as developments will justify they will put in the neces- sary machinery and mills for working and polishing the marble upon the grounds. Within the next year this company, according to its present plans, will have eight or ten quarries opened. Within their holdings may be found thirty different varieties and colors of marble ; and these for fineness of texture, beauty of finish and resistance of pressure, will equal if not suppass the product of any quarries in the United States. It is claimed that this wide range of colors to select from renders it possible to meet exery demand of the trade without having to divide honors with any other concern to furnish a quality of marble that cannot be produced here.

Mr. Charles Lyman, who represents the largest man- ufacturers of marble machinery in the State of Vermont, was recently here from Rutland, and spent two months examining the various deposits of marble in this section. His object in making a searching investigation of the marbles of this county was to determine the advisability of looking to this county for a market for his machinery. After going personally over the ground Mr. Lyman states that the marbles of Washington are in texture, far ahead of anything he has ever seen east or west, and especially are they remarkable for solidity. The deposits stand vertical with a tendency pitching east- ward, trending north and south, which is an evidence of permanance. The great width of the deposits are in remarkable contrast to the variety and narrow ledges of the material to be found in most places in the east. Here a ledge of marble of an identical color may be found without a change for a width of from 100 feet when another ledge of equal width of another distinct color may be immediately adjoining ; and these changes may occur over a wide surface of country.

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.

Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 20

Author: Publication date: 1904 Publisher: Spokane, Wash. : Western History Number of Pages: 992

Author:
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Spokane, Wash. : Western History
Number of Pages: 992