Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 69

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 69
USA > Washington > Ferry County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 69
USA > Washington > Okanogan County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 69
USA > Washington > Stevens County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 69

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).

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age of twenty-eight; then he came west to Colorado and afterwards mined in Nevada, Idaho, Arizona, New Mexico and California. He returned again to Arizona and in 1878 came to Stevens county. He first selected a farm near Spokane but sold that and came to his residence four miles south of Chewelah where he has remained ever since. Like his father in Canada, he took hold with his hands, staked out the wild farm, fenced it, built a cabin and began bringing it under tribute to crops. He now has two hundred acres, nearly all under cultivation, and about seventy-five cattle.

In November, 1885, Mr. Boyd married Miss Elizabeth Wade, whose parents were na- tives of Illinois, she, herself, being born in Cass county of that state in 1853. Four children have been born to this union : John, William J., Thomas, and Theodore, all with their parents. Mr. Boyd is a good, active Republican and a man of substantial quality and worth; he and his wife are members of the Congregational church.

GEORGE A. MOWATT, who resides about two miles west from Chewelah where he devotes himself to general farming and stock raising, is one of the earliest settlers of the Col- ville valley, his father being among the very first pioneers of this section. Buffalo, New York is the birthplace of our subject and June 16, 1861 is the date of that important event in his life. He is the son of Andrew and Clara (Palmer) Mowatt, natives of Scotland and Canada, respectively. The father came to America when a boy and for six years was in the employ of the Hudson's Bay Company, dur- ing which time he traveled all over the north- west. When he first came to Buffalo, it is inter- esting to note, that he bought a tract of one hundred acres, which now lies in the heart of the city, for one hundred dollars. But it is more surprising to learn that he sold the same for eighty dollars, thus manifesting a deprecia- tion of real estate. This was about 1831. The father came early to Stevens county and re- mained here until his death on February 28, 1893. The great-great-grandfather of our sub- ject was king of the Orkeney Islands. The early education of our subject was rather brief, but careful occupation has made him a well informed man since. At the tender

age of nine years he began to work on the farm for himself, continuing for three years. In 1869 he landed in the Colville valley and in 1872 took up land. He now has nearly a half section which is very productive land as his crop last year amounted to one thousand bushels of grain, one hundred and sixty tons of hay, seventy-five bushels of timothy seed as well as other productions. In addition to general farm- ing Mr. Mowatt raises considerable stock.

On May 16, 1884, Mr. Mowatt married Miss Ellen, daughter of Norbert and Betsy (McCloud) Dupuis. Mrs. Nowatt is a native of the Colville valley and was born in Chewelah, on April 22, 1870. Six children have been born to this household : Ivy, George, Myrtle, Peter, Andrew and Ralph, all at home with their par- ents. Mr. and Mrs. Mowatt are members of the Methodist church, while he belongs to the M. W. A. Politically he is allied to the Democratic party.

GEORGE F. CARROLL lives thirteen miles east from Orient, where he has a fine homestead, to the improvement and cultivation of which, together with blacksmithing, he de- votes himself. He is a man of good standing, has achieved good success in his labors and re- ceives, as he is entitled to, the esteem and respect of all who know him.

George F. Carroll was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, on January 22, 1863, the son of Pat- rick and Margaret (Irbin) Carroll, natives of the Emerald Isle. They came to America when young, locating in Columbus, Ohio, where they lived for thirteen years. Then they removed to Terre Haute, remaining in that place until their death. They were the parents of the following named boys : Thomas P., James, George, de- ceased, William, George F. and Jolin. George F. was educated in the public schools and at the age of fifteen began to learn the trade of black- smithing. Realizing the need of better forti- fication along educational lines, he studied and attended night college for five years, receiving a well-earned diploma at the end of that time. When he arrived at man's estate, he left the home roof and came west to Kansas, residing in that state three years. At that time he re- turned to Indiana, where he was married and then came west to Tacoma. Four years were spent in that city, when he was called home by

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the death of his father. He remained there for two years and then came to Spokane, arriving in that city in 1893. He wrought at his trade for a time and then went to Missoula, Montana, thence to Hamilton, later to Anaconda, finally returning to Spokane, having done blacksmith- ing all the time he was absent. In 1898, Mr. Carroll landed in Bossburg, and for four years operated a shop there. Then he took his pres- ent homestead and since then has devoted him- self as stated above. He has a good band of stock and is prospered well.

In 1886, Mr. Carroll married Miss Eliza- beth, daughter of Even and Catherine (Davis) Jones, natives of Wales. Mrs. Carroll is one of nine children. To Mr. and Mrs. Carroll, there have been born five children, William, Joseph, Charley, George, and Hanna. Mr. Carroll is a liberal independent in political matters and does his own thinking. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the K. of P.

SAMUEL STONE is one of the prosperous farmers of Stevens county located about ten miles north from Marcus, where he has a fine estate of four hundred acres, one hundred and forty of which are under cultivation. He has wrought faithfully here for more than a decade and deserves mention among the leading citi- zens of the valley.

Samuel Stone was born in Centre county, Pennsylvania, on November 5, 1849, the son of William and Elizabeth ( Bowes) Stone, natives of Pennsylvania. They were the parents of seven children. The father was manager of the Kerton iron works and upon the outbreak of the Rebellion enlisted in the Forty-fifth Penn- sylvania and was killed in the battle of Antie- tam. The mother remained on the homestead until her death. Our subject was educated in the public schools of his state and when fifteen enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Company H, and served seventeen months until the war closed. He fought in the battles of the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Spottsylvania, North Ann, Poé River, Deep Bottom and other smaller ones. He was present at the surrender of the southern troops under Lee and also participated in the grand review in Washington. He was finally mustered out on July 9, 1865, and returned to the duties of private life. In 1873, Mr. Stone

was handling an eight mule freight team into the Black Hills and followed it until 1879, when he journeyed to Texas, whence in 1890, he came to Stevens county. For two years he prospected and then selected his present estate and secured title partly by government rights and partly by purchase. Since that time he has devoted himself to general farming and stock raising and is prosperous and well to do.

In 1892, Mr. Stone married Miss Julia A. Paul. They settled on their farm and have since shown themselves to be substantial and respected citizens. To them, three children have been born, two of whom are living, as follows : Albert and Herman. Mr. and Mrs. Stone are devout members of the Catholic church and are stanch supporters of their faith. Mr. Stone is an active Republican and manifests a keen in- terest in political affairs.

WILLIAM P. DRUGAN is one of the men who have given their labors wisely to develop the Colville valley and the showing he has made is a credit to himself as well as a benefit to the community. His estate is located five miles west from Chewelah and consists of a good farm well improved and of a large marble quarry. The quarry is owned by the Washing- ington Marble Company and Mr. Drugan also also owns another quarry, and it produces some of the finest stone yet uncovered. Mr. Drugan devotes much of his time to the labors incident to the development of the quarry as well as to general mining, having some excellent marble and iron claims. His farm is located with beau- tiful suroundings and among other attractions has a fine lake known as Brown's lake.

. William P. Drugan was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, September 13, 1846, the son of William and Mary ( Mcguire) Drugan, natives of Ireland. They came to Massachusetts in 1844, and remained until their death, the father dying in 1861, and the mother in 1897. The ancestors of our subject were titled land owners in Ireland and people of prominence. Mr. Dru- gan has one sister and one brother, John and Mary. In the schools of Boston, William re- ceived his education and when thirteen, shipped on board a merchantman and for seven years labored before the mast. In 1876, he ceased this career and gave his attention to farming, set- tling in Iowa. In 1886, he went to Dakota and

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in 1889 removed to Washington. After a

county and located a pre-emption where he now year's stay in Spokane, he came on to Stevens

lives. In 1895 he bought another quarter sec- tion. In 1892 Mr. Drugan began to locate marble land and he has a very excellent show-

ing. He has made a study of the business and is quite expert in developing and preparing the products of the quarry. Mr. Drugan is a very active, enterprising citizen and in political mat-

ters is allied with the Republican party. In re- ligious persuasion, he is an adherent of the Ro- man Catholic church.

It is interesting in connection with Mr. Dru- gan's history to note that the estates owned by his grandparents were confiscated by England, and then given to British army officers. Mr. Drugan's cousins have been paying rent for it, but now will soon have title again.

PART III.

HISTORY OF FERRY COUNTY CHAPTER I.

EARLY HISTORY AND ORGANIZATION.

Ferry county, of which Republic is the capi- tal, was set off from Stevens county, the mother of so many political divisions in eastern Wash- ington, in 1899. Immediately thereafter it was organized. Its area is 2,313 square miles, its territory extending from the international boundary line, on the north, to the Columbia river on the south, and from the Columbia and Kettle rivers on the east, to Okanogan county on the west. The United States census of 1900 gave Ferry county a population of 4, 562, but the past three years have increased this number to 4,646.

But the history of the territory now com- prising Ferry county antedates its organiza- tion by a number of years. And this history centers in the county seat, Republic. Long be- fore the amputation of its territory from Stev- ens county, from the Okanogan, from Kettle Valley, from the Sans Poil, from the Columbia river, over the high mountain passes, trails con- verged and finally met at almost the identical spot where the business portion of Republic Camp now stands.

John Welty was the first white man in Re- public, and is said to have made the first min- eral location. This was the "Black Tail," and was made February 20, 1896, shortly before the opening of the north half of the reservation

to mineral entry, which was on February 21, and four years before the north half of the Col- ville Indian reservation was thrown open to homesteaders. Welty passed the winter with one O'Brien, a squatter, and when the United States government threw open the north half- even before that-he was in a position to avail himself of the earliest possibilities, which, it ap- pears he did rather precociously. February 24, G. M. Welty, of Colville, a brother of John Welty, came to the future camp and lo- cated the "Quilp," and other claims. Speaking of the dismal experiences of this winter Mr. G. M. Welty says :

"It was bitter cold; in fact we were nearly frozen to death. I was about to locate the ‘Ad- miral' property, and had it partially staked when the weather turned so cold that I was obliged to quit operations and leave. When I returned some one else had possession of the claim. On March 5 or 6 Ton Ryan put up the location notice on the Republic mine. Phil Creaser, his partner, was in Rossland at the time having some assays made. So extremely cold was the weather at this period that Ryan came perilously near freezing to death. Those of us who were here at that time had a rough experience. The thermometer registered about twenty degrees below zero for many days. The

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rest of the boys had some locations to record, so they concluded to go out. I decided to stay with the camp. At that period I was the only man remaining."

The white man's history of Ferry county dates from February 21, 1896, when the north half of the Colville Indian reservation (of which the north half of Ferry county was a part) was thrown open to mineral entry. To M. H. Joseph, of Republic, a well known writer on mining matters, we are indebted for information in regard to the early settlement of the county.

The 21st of February, the date on which the north half of the Colville Indian reserva- tion was declared open for the entry of its mineral lands, the state of Washington was destined to present to the world a new mining district which, through its peculiar mineralogi- cal conditions and rich developments, would command attention from every quarter. It is snugly situated in the northwestern part of Ferry county, amidst timber and grass-covered hills, which are divided by small valleys and winding streams, with excellent grazing and agricultural lands in every direction. No min- ing region is more favored by natural facilities for prospecting, or offers greater inducements for invesment of capital.

The day following the opening Thomas Ryan and Philip Creaser, who had prospected through the Coeur d'Alenes, British Columbia and Washington, were grub-staked by James Clark and Charles P. Robbins, to prospect in the reservation. Ryan had heard of a rich ledge on La Fleur mountain, and thither the prospectors wended their way only to learn upon reaching the locality the dishearten- ing truth that this coveted prize had already been secured by others. At Nelson they en- countered Alan Blackburn and John and George Welty, who had made some locations on Eureka creek, a small tributary of the Sans Poil river, the very day the north half of the reservation was thrown open. The Weltys were returning from Nelson to their camp with

a spring wagon loaded with prospecting sup- plies for the Black Tail mine, the first bona fide location on the creek, of which John Welty was the locator. Ryan and Creaser were striking westward to where they had heard there was placer ground, but the Weltys, knowing of some big quartz ledges near the Black Tail, in- duced the former to join them.

Ryan and Creaser camped on the night of February 26 at Tonascet's ranch, on the Sans Poil river. The surrounding country was a veritable prospector's paradise, with an abund- ance of water and timber, the finest grazing lands imaginable and game of all kinds on wing and afoot. The quartz ledges, too, were con- spicuous by their bold croppings. The day after their arrival they trailed up Granite creek, another branch of the Sans Poil river, and industriously began prospecting. The Sans Poil and Last Lode claims had been taken up, in addition to the Black Tail, and Ryan and Creaser located the Copper Bell. Iron Mask, Lone Pine and Last Chance. The Trail and Tenderfoot were taken up and the Weltys se- cured the Micawber. It was not until the 5th of March that the Republic and Jim Blaine claims were located by Ryan and Creaser, who, when setting up the discovery stake on the former, little dreamed of the magificence of the prize they were securing. A few days later Creaser returned to Rossland, taking with him samples of quartz from all of the different claims he and Ryan had located, but the highest assay value obtained was $2.06 in gold per ton. Yet, believing that where there was gold it was pos- sible to find pay shoots, Creaser returned to the camp with fresh supplies on the 22d of March and began prospecting on the Iron Mask claim. This resulted in finding nothing of higher value than $4 per ton. He drove a small open cut on the Lone Pine croppings and secured a sample that assayed $36.17 per ton.

Early in April Ryan and Creaser parted company, the former to prospect in Okanogan county, and the latter on O'Brien and Rabbit

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creeks, in the eastern part of the camp. Creaser returned in June and worked alone from that time until the following March, driving a tun- nel to crosscut the Lone Pine lode. The work developed a vein fifteen feet in width, and sam- ples from it ran as high as $72, while assays were had from the croppings running over $300 per ton. Since that over three thousand claims have been located in this district. Up to 1900 there had been about 12,500 locations recorded in Ferry county, of which a great number were amended locations. Near the latter part of October, 1896, Creaser went to Rossland and sold a one-eighth interest in the Republic and Jim Blaine caims to Dennis Clark, retain- ing a like interest himself. In the following December Dennis Clark came to the new camp and met Thomas Ryan, one of the discoverers of the Republic mine. An open cut had been dug across the croppings on this property and they immediately went to work and took up two feet of the bottom of it, gaining a depth of eight feet on the ledge with unexpected rich results.

In March, 1897, the Republic Gold Mining & Milling Company was organized, and active work was begun on the property. Charles P. Robbins, one of the grub-stakers of Ryan and Creaser, was the first president of the company and managed its affairs with economy and good judgment. In the meantime Patrick, the elder of the Clark brothers, bought the first of the 50,000 shares of treasury stock that was offered for sale. He had won his way up from a com- mon miner by natural shrewdness, business tact and good judgment. As a successful mine operator he had become famous in the Coeur d' Alenes, and British Columbia, and was the leading spirit in the affairs of the War Eagle Company, at Rossland, B. C. At the first an- nual election of the Republic Gold Mining & Milling Company he succeeded Mr. Robbins as president, and from that day dated the indus- trial growth of Republic Camp.

News of a rich strike on the Lone Pine

claim had been heralded abroad, and on April 18, 1896, there were sixty-four men in the camp. On that day a meeting of twenty-four miners assembled at a spot where the Okanogan mail trail crosses Eureka creek, and organized a mining district, named it Eureka and a num- ber of claims were recorded.

The summer of 1898 was marked by a flood of gigantic proportions and disastrous results. It occurred in the latter part of May and the early days of June. During the whole of one week the Columbia river was a raging, seeth- ing torrent ; the Kettle river was far out of its banks, and the two streams carried ruin and desolation to the surrounding country. Tribu- tary streams were similarly affected with the result, general wreckage of bridges and ferries. Stage travel was interrupted; for three days mail service was completely abolished. At Cur- lew the ferry went out and many freighting teams were delayed. The new bridge at Hall's (across the Kettle river between what is now Ferry and Stevens counties) was carried down the foaming, swollen stream. A chrashing, thunderous land-slide occurred at "Rock Cut." The cause of this untoward event, involving immense cost to a number of counties and many individuals, was recent warm rains which hast- ily melted the vast bodies of snow in the moun- tains, thus suddenly swelling the rivers and tributary streams. No serious casualties to hu- man beings were reported from this flood, but thre were a number of narrow escapes. Among those who passed through sensational experi- ences was A. W. Srong, of the Republic Bank. His story is well told in the Republic Pioneer of June 4 :

Mr. Strong was on his way, Saturday, May 28, from Marcus to Republic. The coach was filled, and among the passengers were two or three ladies. The rain fell in torrents; the roads were in bad condition, and travel was slow and disagreeable. In many places the banks had been cut away, and at times it looked as though the coach would go down into the river. Every- body felt nervous and fearful of disaster. When "Rock Cut" was reached it was found that a great slide had

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occurred. To get the coach over these treacherous and dangerous places required extraordinary skill on the part of the driver, combined with the assistance of the able-bodied passengers. Mr. Strong at times stood on the brake-block to help balance the tottering vehicle. It was'a hair's space between keeping the narrow, muddy passage and being dashed down the steep bank into the mad waters below.

At last it was found necessary to abandon the coach and start on foot. The mud was knee-deep, the rain was falling, darkness was Egyptian, and the danger of getting into deep water was continuous. It was a test of strength, patience and endurance to make headway under such frightful conditions. The men helped the women as well as they could, and all pushed forward as fast as possible. At a very late hour Grand Forks was reached. Some went to bed ; others kept close to the bar, giving thanks between drinks that they were on the earth, wet as it was. Mr. Strong was anxious to reach home. He did not propose to be "hung up" in Grand Forks; so he made arrangements to come on by private conveyance. This trip was full of adventure. Several times fresh horses had to be procured. With Mr. Strong was George Walsh, brother of P. H. Walsh. It was the brother's first trip to the west, and a sensational one it proved to be. It was a lively introduction to the land of big ledges. But he stood it manfully and Strong and he pushed on together. Their trip in a canoe across Kettle river was a hair-raising one. The boat shot from shore to shore as if fired from the mouth of a siege gun. In order to gain headway it was neces- sary, at times, to make long detours; low grounds cov- ered with water had to be crossed or avoided, and steep hills scrambled over. All day Sunday, and late in the evening was the journey continued. It was rough on the beasts as well as on the men. When within two miles of town the animals gave out and the remainder of the journey was made on foot.

"It was the most fearful ordeal I ever passed through," said Mr. Strong, in relating his experiences. "I have been thirty years in the west, and traveled from Mexico to the British possessions, and have had some lively experiences, but this last trip was the most tor- tuons and attended with more dangerous and threatening episodes than any I have ever before undertaken."

The first rumors concerning the opening of the south half of the Colville Indian reservation to mineral location proved to be without foun- dation, and like Dead Sea apples, turned to ashes at the lips. This false report came on June 8, 1898. To this expected opening a large class of people, of various pursuits and ambitions, were looking with no little anxiety. It had been stated that the official opening

would transpire at 12 o'clock, a. m., of that date. Midnight came and passed; the morning hours wore away into the russet streaks of day- light, but the official order for the ardently an- ticipated opening did not arrive. Then enthusi- astic expectancy sank to pessimistic depression. No one appeared to know of any other date when it would be legal to locate mineral claims on this promised land. Meantime the region contained two thousand or more men who had either "spotted" ground, or were seeking loca- tions. A few had settled down on quartz boulders and made no physical exertion other- wise than to change location notices daily. At times they would pause and give tongue to hoarse, but emphatic, curses of the Washing- ton authorities for not passing the bill and its numerous and varied riders.

But these harrowing scenes incident to hope delayed which maketh the heart sick, became a closed incident Thursday, June 30, 1898. On that date the south half of the Colville Indian reservation, which had been set aside for the wards of the nation during the administration of President Grant, was thrown open to mineral entry. Then ensued the stampede. The story of the rush is graphically told, with considerable local color, by the Republic Pioneer.

"The south half has been thrown open to mineral entry !"

That was the telephone message received in Re- public Thursday night. The report had reached five hundred ears within five minutes, and there was the greatest commotion possible in every quarter. Men al- ready on their feet made a bee line to awaken their part- ners who might be in bed, or rushed off to get pack and saddle horses. Livery stables and horse corrals were instantly besieged by men in an excited condition. It mattered not what cort of a caynse was offered; it was plenty good for the emergency. Those having animals out at pasture were not slow in rounding them up and hurrying them to camp. Store-keepers were called upon for outfits and some did a lively business for awhile.

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Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 69

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