Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 29

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 29
USA > Washington > Ferry County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 29
USA > Washington > Okanogan County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 29
USA > Washington > Stevens County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 29

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).

Ione is a small place on the Pend d'Oreille river, twenty-six miles northeast of Colville, as the crow flies, and fifty-two miles northwest of Newport. The town was settled in 1894. It has one general store and a hotel, and adjacent are some extensive cement works and marble quarries.

Blue Creek, postoffice and station, on the Spokane Falls & Northern railway, is seventeen miles south of Colville. It has a saw mill and one store. Its exports are lumber, wood, min- ing timber and produce.

CHAPTER VII.

POLITICAL.

The political history of Stevens county is decidedly complex, and at times indefinite and confusing. This present condition arises from the fact that political records of earlier days

have been loosely kept, or not collected at all. Representatives to the legislature have been elected and not seated; while on the other hand there are instances where they have been seated

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HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

without going through the formality of an elec- tion. The county has weathered nearly all the changes in political complexion incident to other localities east and west. Changes from repub- licanism to democracy have been sharp and accentuated by the elements of surprise, and again the populists have developed strength to command for a period, the distribution of county patronage in their favor.

Isaac Ingalls Stevens was the first Terri- torial governor of Washington, appointed in 1853 by President Franklin Pierce. But up to 1860 Stevens county had never been represented in the Territorial legislature, nor was it then, although an attempt was made toward such a consummation. That year some of the settlers assembled and selected H. W. Watson as the representative from Stevens county, made up a purse for his expenses and dispatched him to Olympia. Owing to the irregularity of his election Mr. Watson was not seated, but was given the position of door-keeper in the house. An account of his subsequent murder while returning home from Olympia may be read in Chapter I. Part II, of this work. Until 1864 the territory embraced by Stevens, was known as Spokane county. In July, 1861. J. R. Bates, republic: n, was elected representative. Bates was the first man seated in the Territorial legis- lature as an accredited representative from Stevens, or rather Spokane county, jointly with Walla Walla county. In 1862 Charles H. Canfield, republican, ran for the legislature against B. F. Yantis, democrat. Canfield received 48 votes and Yantis 38, but the latter contested the election. At that period the family of Yantis resided at Olympia, and thithier he went to pass the winter with them. Canfield did not put in an appearance ; the contest went by default, and Yantis secured the seat, serving one term.

In 1863 and 1864 Isaac L. Tobey was elected representative from Stevens county, Walla Walla having been cut out of the repre- sentative district. In 1864, for some unex-

plained reason, Tobey resigned and no one was elected to fill the vacancy. In 1865 W. V. Brown was elected as representative from Stevens county, but did not take his seat, which was subsequently filled, in 1866, by J. J. H. Van Bokkelem. He was a resident of Port Townsend, coming to Colville that summer as custom house officer. When he concluded to return he decided, also, to represent Stevens county in the Territorial legislature and draw the mileage. The political pathway appears to have been an easy one in those primitive days, and strewn with roses. There is no record in the Colville archives of Van Bokkelem's elec- tion, but he seems to have made a persuasive talk to the members of the house and secured the seat. The Territorial legislative assemblies then became biennial, and the following gentle- men represented Stevens county successively : WV. P. Winans, 1867; C. H. Montgomery, 1869; WV. P. Winans, 1871. The councilmen elected from Stevens, in conjunction with other coun- ties, were: John A. Simms, 1861-2; Daniel Stewart, 1863-4; Anderson Cox, 1865-6; J. M. Vansyckle, 1867-8; H. D. O'Bryant, 1869-71.

In 1873 Mr. Favorite, of Rosalia, Spokane county, served in the legislature, representing Stevens county. In 1875 Hon. Robert H. Wempy was elected the first member from Stevens county, which then embraced Spokane. Lincoln, Douglas and Okanogan. D. F. Per- cival and L. W. Meyers were elected county commmisssioners; James N. Glover. justice of the place; John U. Hofstetter, sheriff. In 1877 Marcus Oppenheimer, republican, and Henry Wellington, democrat, were opposing candidates for the office of representative to the lower house of the Territorial legislature. Wellington won the contest but resigned. In 1878 a special election was called to fill the vacancy, and James Monaghan was nominated by the democrats; D. F. Percival by the repub- licans. The contest resulted in the election of Percival.

Nothing of great political significance oc-

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HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

curred in Stevens county during the years inter- vening between 1878 and 1889. Admission to the union as a state was, at this period, loudly and emphatically demanded by the people of Washington. July 4, 1889, the constitutional convention of the state of Washington, com- posed of 75 members, assembled at Olympia. This body continued in session fifty days and the result of its labors was the adoption of a con- stitution. S. H. Manly, republican, now a practicing physician in Republic, Ferry county. was one of the members from Stevens county. W. W. Waltman, democrat, of Colville, was selected, also, as a delegate, but his seat was declared vacant, after six days, and J. J. Travis, democrat, of Chewelah, was seated in his place. In 1890 a new apportionment was made by the state legislature, Washington having then been admitted to the union. The second senatorial district, according to this new apportionment, comprised the county of Stevens, and the following precincts in Spokane county: Twin Prairie, Five Mile Prairie, Pleasant Prairie, Chatteroy, Bridge and Peone Prairie. The county of Stevens constituted the first repre- sentative district and was entitled to one repre- sentative.

The member of the first state senate from the district composed of Stevens, and portions of Spokane counties, was H. E. Houghton, republican, a resident of Spokane Falls. The member of the first house of representatives, following the admission of the state, 1889-90. from Stevens county, was M. H. Randall. republican, of Colville. In 1891-2 James O'Neil, republican, of Chewelah, was elected state senator from the second senatorial district, comprising Stevens county and six precincts in Spokane county. At this session of the legis- lature John Metcalfe, republican, of Squire City, now Springdale, Stevens county, was the representative in the house. In 1893 Charles H. Montgomery, of Chewelah, was appointed a member of the state World's Fair commission.

The election held November 6, 1894, proved

a surprising victory for the populist party in Stevens county. The vote for representatives in congress was: Samuel C. Hyde, republican, 618; William H. Doolittle, republican, 573; N. T. Caton, democrat, 290; B. F. Heuston, dem- ocrat, 288; J. C. Van Patten, populist, 841 ; W. P. C. Adams, populist, 818.

The vote for members of the state legisla- ture was in about the same proportion. With the exception of sheriff and one commissioner the populists captured all the county offices. Republicans, democrats and populists each had nominees for every office. For county attorney Charles A. Mantz defeated L. B. Reeder, republican, and John B. Slater, democrat, by 154 plurality. Lafayette Ledgerwood was elected county clerk, and George F. Bottorff, republican, and A. V. Shepler, democrat, defeated by a plurality of 169. For auditor John S. McLean was elected over E. D. Miner, republican, and W. C. Starkey, democrat, receiving a plurality of 150. The only officers the populists lost were one commissioner and sheriff, the vote for sheriff being : J. C. Yenter, republican, 474: C. R. McMillan, democrat, 671: William Graham, populist, 640. Joseph Lavigne secured the treasurership, defeating William Campbell, republican, and Frank B. Goetter, democrat, and receiving a plurality of 191. Otis J. Smith received a plurality of 62 for superintendent of schools, defeating John A. Barry, republican, and Con M. Durland, democrat. For assessor David F. Pankey was elected over Frank Ferguson, republican, and J. F. Jarvis, democrat, with the largest plurality of any candidate, 240. James B. Thomas defeated Ralph Damp, republican, and Richard B. Thomas, democrat, for surveyor ; plurality 67. Louis J. Walford, populist, and Robert Fountain, democrat, were elected county com- missioners. James O. Gifford, populist, was elected coroner.

In the presidential election of 1896 the Mckinley electors received 433 votes to 1880 for W. J. Bryan. For governor P. C. Sullivan,

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republican received 537 votes to 1774 for John R. Rogers, democrat. The election was held November 3, 1896. Three tickets were in the field for county officers, republican, populist and union tickets, the populist ticket being generally successful, the following being the result :

County auditor-David C. Ely, republican, 440; John L. Metcalfe, populist, 962; Robert Fountain, unionist, 918; Metcalfe's plurality, 44.

Treasurer-James N. Rogers, republican, 425; S. S. Beggs, populist, 1139; C. S. Boss, unionist, 764. Begg's plurality, 375.

Attorney-E. C. Nordyke, 1062; H. G. Kirkpatrick, 1104. Kirkpatrick's plurality, 42.

Assessor-Kendrick S. Waterman, repub- lican, 406; D. F. Pankey, populist, 1124; C. A. Duffy, unionist, 794. Pankey's plurality, 330.

Sheriff-Fred S. Phillips, republican, 383; E. M. Denny, populist, 1058; Frank Habein, unionist, 913. Denny's plurality, 145.

County Clerk-Elmer D. Hall, republican, 354; Lafayette Ledgerwood, populist, 1032; William B. Dingle, unionist, 942. Ledger- wood's plurality, 90.

Superintendent of schools - Evalyn E. Church, republican, 479; Otis J. Smith, pop- ulist, 1024; John A. Barry, unionist. 835. Smith's plurality, 189.

Coroner-Thomas C. Green, republican, 434; J. A. Lung, populist, 1064; J. J. Travis, unionist, 799. Lung's plurality, 265.

Surveyor - J. B. Thomas, republican, I281: George H. Skeels, 840. Thomas' plurality, 441.

Commissioner, First District-Joseph W. Reynolds, republican, 643; Harris T. Rey- nolds, populist, 993; Fletcher Barton, unionist, 667. H. T. Reynold's plurality, 326.

Commissioner Third District-Jacob Kel- ler. republican. 443; T. E. Irish, populist,

1095; Orin Belknap, unionist, 753. Irish's plurality, 342.

In the general election of 1898 the ticket was headed by candidates for congress. Stevens county was swept by the democrats so far as the state ticket was concerned. The vote . for representatives to congress was as follows : Wesley L. Jones, republican, 740; Francis W. Cushman, republican, 697; James Hamilton Lewis, democrat, 1169; William C. Jones, democrat, 1082. For county officials the tickets in the field were two, populist and fusion; the fusion being between republicans and demo- crats. This contest was close and exciting, with the result that the offices were handed round between the two factions, as follows :

Sheriff-Elijah M. Denny, populist, 1032; James Ferguson, fusionist, 1006. Denny's plurality, 26.

County Clerk-Thomas E. Dulin, populist, 925; W. H. Jackson, fusionist, 1046. Jack- son's plurality, 12I.

Auditor-James W. Sneed, populist, 945; D. C. Ely, fusionist, 996. Plurality for Ely, 51.

Treasurer-Sydney S. Beggs, populist, 1039; Frank Habein, fusionist, 950. Pulrality for Beggs, 89.

Attorney-Merton E. Jesseph, populist, 898; H. G. Kirkpatrick, fusionist, III0. Kirk- patrick's plurality, 212.

Assessor-George Byers, populist, 926; O. T. Smith, fusionist, 1009. Smith's plural- ity 83.

Superintendent of Schools-William L. Sax, populist, 1017; J. N. Sinclair, fusionist, 951. Sax's plurality, 66.

Surveyor-C. N. Park, populist, 899; L. L. Tower, fusionist, 1031. Plurality for Tower, I32.

Coroner-Frank R. Ballard, populist, 1041 ; Leopold De Rudder, fusionist, 877. Ballard's plurality, 164.

Commissioner, First District-Henry W.

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Sparks, populist, 920; W. H. Jeffreys, fusion- ist, 961. Plurality for Jeffreys, 41.

Commissioner Second District-Charles Alban, populist, 800; George W. Reynolds, fusionist, 1124. Plurality for Reynolds, 324.

Returning to 1892, when Stevens county was republican, let us in a perfectly unbiased and non-partisan manner, trace the history of the various parties down to 1901. In 1892 the republicans were generally successful over their opponents, the democrats, although the populists had then begun to manifest consider- able strength, backed by intense enthusiasm. The financial stringency of 1893-4 awakened a general clamor throughout the United States for a reversal of things political all along the line. In common with the rest of the country this feeling was manifested in Stevens county to a certain degree, although with no more intensity than in other parts of the union. At this period the administration of Stevens county affairs was in republican hands. In the election of 1894 republicans, populists and dem- ocrats had separate tickets in the field. In the contest of the fall of 1894 the People's Party, or Populists, were eminently successful, and it may be said that the prestige then lost by republicans in the county has never been regained.

In the election of 1896 again three tickets appeared in the field. It was a national cam- paign year ; free silver was the dominant issue; every effort was made to unite the silver forces, but the populists, relying on their decisive vic- tory of two years previous, repulsed all over- tures looking toward fusion, and put a straight- out, middle-of-the-road ticket in the field. For mutual defense the democrats and free silver republicans effected a combination under the name of unionists and placed a union ticket in the field. The gold republicans had a straight ticket of their own, although perfectly aware that they were leading a forlorn hope. In this sensational election L. B. Andrews, republican

presidential elector, received in Stevens county 433 votes; the highest vote cast for a republican elector. On the democratic side N. T. Caton received 1880 votes ; a majority of 1319. The vote for Caton included democrats, populists and free silver republicans; they having com- bined on state and national issues; the same majorities ruled on other state officers. Coming to county affairs, the straight, or gold republi- can vote, ranged between 400 and 500, while the populist and union tickets were about even, say an average of 900 votes each, the advantage being slightly in favor of the populists.

Remarkable features embellished this elec- tion of 1898. Chief among them was the fusion of gold republicans, silver republicans and dem- ocrats, under the trite name of "Citizens' Ticket." Again the populists jumped into the field with a straight ticket. The number of votes cast at this election in Stevens county was about 1800, or nearly 500 votes less than had been cast two years previous in the "Bryan campaign." Candidates on each of these tickets were elected, although the advantage remained with the "Citizens' Ticket." The second remarkable feature of the campaign was . the refusal of the populist auditor to place the names of candidates of the opposing parties, "Citizens' Ticket," on the official ballot. Nat- urally this created a storm of indignant protest throughout the county, and it is frankly admitted that it did much to weaken the pop- ulist party within itself, while more firmly cementing the half-hearted union between those strange bed-fellows, republicans and demo- crats.

The fusionists who were friendly to the "Citizens' Ticket," appealed to Judge Richard- son, of the superior court, asking for an order compelling Auditor Metcalfe to place the names of their nominees on the official ballot. Judge Richardson decided against them, and, prob- ably, upon good legal grounds. Attorney Kirkpatrick, candidate for presecuting attorney

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HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

on the "Citizens' Ticket," wired for a mandate from the supreme court at Olympia compelling Auditor Metcalfe to place the rejected names on the official ballot. The mandate was issued. Acting on the advice of his attorney, Frank Graves, of Spokane, Auditor Metcalfe still refused to obey the mandate. He was subse- quently cited to appear before the supreme court to answer the charge of contempt; the case against him was dismissed. The names of the nominees of the citizens' party did not appear on the official ballots.

How then did the members of the citizens' party vote? This question brings us to the third and last remarkable feature of this sensa- tional campaign, the use of "stickers" by those who voted the "Citizens' Ticket." Although numerous mistakes were made by this bungling method of conducting a general election, it speaks well for the average voter of Stevens county that in a long list of offices to be filled so many right names were put in the right places on the ballots.

A comparison of figures for 1898 shows considerable change in the complexion of the parties of Stevens county. Frank W. Cush- man, republican candidate for congress, re- ceived 677 votes. There being no fusion between republicans and democrats aside from the county offices, this vote represents the putative strength of the republican party in the county at that period. J. Hamilton Lewis, Cushman's opponent, received 1169 votes, a majority of 472. It should be remembered that the vote of 1898 was nearly 500 less than in 1896, yet the republicans jump from 433 votes in 1896 to 697 in 1898, a gain of 61 per cent. At the same time the fusion forces drop from 1880 to 1169, a loss of 38 per cent.

The fusion of democrats and republicans lasted for one campaign only. When party lines were drawn for the momentous cam- paign of 1900, democrats and populists fused all along the line under the name of "Dem-

ocracy." Republicans put a straight ticket in the field. The vote that fall was the heaviest ever polled in Stevens county. On the republican ticket the highest vote polled for presidential electors was that given S. C. Cosgrove, 1121. N. G. Blalock, democrat, received 1612, a majority of 491. The republican gain over 1898 was 424, a gain of 60 per cent. and a gain of 159 per cent. over the vote of 1896. The democratic gain over 1898 was 443, a gain of 38 per cent. and a loss of 268 votes, compared with 1896; a loss of 14 per cent.

The election of 1898 gave rise to a number of contests. One of them was between C. A. Mantz and W. C. Gray, opposing candidates for state senator from the second senatorial district. This case was taken to the state legislature and decided in favor of Mantz. Other contests for county offices were as follows: Thomas Dulin vs. W. H. Jackson, contest for clerkship; C. N. Park vs. Louis L. Tower, contest for the office of county surveyor; J. C. Harkness vs. G. M. Welty, contest for representative; H. W. Sparks vs. W. H. Jeffry, contest for office of county com- missioner, first district; James W. Sneed vs. D. C. Ely, contest for the office of county auditor; M. E. Jesseph, vs. H. G. Kirkpatrick, contest for the office of county attorney.

The complaints filed with the various con- tests were, practically, the same in substance, and after setting up the statutory grounds for contests, went on to state that in all the precincts in Stevens county circulars containing printed language abusive of the populist party and its candidates were passed out to voters by the election boards, and circulated in the voting booths and elsewhere within fifty feet of the polls, while the election was in progress. It was also alleged that money was employed to influence voters against the populist candidates, etc.

In January, 1899, these contest cases came

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HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

up for hearing before Julge C. H. Neal. Previous to this a recount of the votes had been commenced and was under way at the time of the original hearing of the cases. Many ballots were counted which were protested by either one side or the other, and all such pro- tested ballots were filed away for future consideration. The recount gave Ferguson a majority of twelve votes over Denny, thus temporarily changing the result so far as the of- fice of sheriff was concerned. According to pre- vious stipulation introduction of evidence and arguments of counsel became necessary. This had occurred previous to the holidays, and the court had adjourned until January 3. On that date the question of counting or rejecting such ballots as had been protested was taken up and considerable evidence introduced. Arguments of counsel occupied half a day. The decision of Judge Neal, however, gave Denny a majority of seven votes over Ferguson. The other con- tests instituted by defeated populist candidates were all dismissed by consent at plaintiffs' costs.

The presidential election in Stevens county in 1900 resulted as follows: For presidential electors, republican, 1121; democratic, 1612; prohibitionist, 38; social labor, 9; social demo- crats, 29. For governor, J. M. Frink, republi- can, 987; John R. Rogers, democrat, 1743; plurality for Rogers, 756; R. E. Dunlap, prohibitionist, 29; William McCormick, social labor, 10; W. C. B. Randolph, social democrat, 23. Throughout the county the democrats swept the field as the following returns will show : Auditor-D. C. Ely, republican, 1089 : Richard Nagle, democrat, 1669; majority for Nagle, 580.

Sheriff-Frank Ferguson, republican, 1244; Christopher A. Ledgerwood, democrat, 1518. Majority for Ledgerwood, 274.

County clerk-W. H. Jackson, republican, I274; Fred Y. Wilson, 1482. Majority for Wilson, 208.

Treasurer-George W. Harvey, republican,

1083; Joseph L. Lavigne, democrat, 1668. Majority for Lavigne, 585.

Attorney-John A. Kellogg, republican, I195; J. E. Morris Bailey, democrat, 1568. Majority for Bailey, 373.

Assessor-K. S. Waterman, republican, 1187; Marshall B. Jaques, democrat, 1561. Majority for Jaques, 374.

Superintendent of schools-J. W. Smith, republican, 1016; William L. Sax, democrat, 1759. Majority for Sax, 743.

Coroner-M. R. Peck, republican, 1185; Frank R. Ballard, democrat, 1553. Majority for Ballard, 360.

Surveyor-L. L. Tower, democrat, 1688; J. B. Thomas, independent, 418. Majority for Tower, 1270.

Commissioner, second district-George W. Reynolds, republican, 1232; J. C. De Haven, democrat, 1522. Majority for De Haven, 290.

Commissioner, third district-J. T. Graves, republican, 1049; Thomas E. Irish, democrat, 1699. Majority for Irish, 650.

The election of 1902 revealed a marked change in the political complexion of the county. There was no democratic landslide such as had accentuated the election of 1900. The returns tell the story.

For representative to congress the republi- can vote ranged from 1285 to 1304: the demo- cratic vote from 1176 to 1194; the socialists from 312 to 316. There were three tickets in the field for county officers with the following results :

Sheriff-Christopher A. Ledgerwood, dem- ocrat, 1192; Frank Ferguson, republican, 1344; C. C. Anderson, socialist, 311. Fergu- son's plurality, 152.

County clerk-H. R. Crozier, democrat, 1253; F. Y. Wilson, republican, 1260; John O'Leary. Jr., socialist, 318. Wilson's plurality, 7.

Auditor-Richard Nagle, democrat. 1353; Fred L. Reinoehl, republican, 1223; John M. Smith, socialist, 285. Nagle's plurality, 130.

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HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

Treasurer-George W. Seal, democrat, 1355; J. F. Lavigne, republican, 1217; Floyd C. Smith, socialist, 298. Seal's plurality, 138.

Attorney-A. J. Fenandini, democrat, II22; H. G. Kirkpatrick, republican, 1431; J. C. Harkness, socialist, 301. Plurality for Kirkpatrick, 309.

Assessor-A. L. Knapp, democrat, 1330; Marshall B. Jaques, republican, 1194; E. A. Vanslyke, socialist, 304. Knapp's plurality, 136

Superintendent of schools-F. L. Grin- stead, democrat, 1365; James E. Pickerell, republican, 1247; W. L. Sax, socialist, I. Plurality for Grinstead, 118.

Surveyor-Clair Hunt, democrat, 1165; Valter L. Brown, republican, 1361; W. B.

Stuart, socialist, 306. Hunt's plurality, 166.

Coroner-R. D. McRea, democrat, 1320; J. J. Travis, republican, 1171 ; B. L. Brigham, socialist, 324; McRea's plurality, 149.

Commissioner, first district, Thomas R. Major, democrat, 1216; J. M. Fish, republican, 1309; H. T. Reynolds, socialist, 303. Plurality for Fish, 93.

Commissioner, third district-George H. Bobier, democrat, 1203; M. C. Kelly, republi- can, 1327; Zell Young, socialist, 307. Kelly's plurality, 124.

The republicans elected the state senator, M. E. Stansel, and the democrats captured the two representatives, Martin J. Maloney and Jerry Cooney, the latter of Springdale. Mr. Maloney resides in Colville.

CHAPTER VIII.

EDUCATIONAL.

One of the most interesting subjects in the history of any community is that relating to its educational matters, and this is especially true in the case of Stevens county. From the early days when there was not a public school in all the vast territory then known as Spokane county to the present time, when the compar- itively small territory now embraced in the boundaries of Stevens county has 107 school districts and school property valued at $71,605, and when thousands of children are daily pursuing their studies in its public schools, the educational history of Stevens county proves an interesting study.

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Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 29

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