Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 72

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 72
USA > Washington > Ferry County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 72
USA > Washington > Okanogan County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 72
USA > Washington > Stevens County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 72

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Adjoining Keck's was P. Riordan's Butte saloon; then Gerald & Buggy's Vienna cafe, Hollingsworth & Mccutcheon's Imperial bak- ery, and McMillan & Maschke's Manila saloon. All these places were rapidly burned out, but being located some distance from where the fire originated much of the stock had been re- moved. The succeeding building to be blown up was the Coeur d'Alene saloon. It was hoped and expected that this would save the Republic Trading Company's building and stock. The fire kept on its course, however, and it was de- cided to dynamite the latter structure. It was shattered to fragments; the flames completed the work of destruction. There being vacant land on the south side of this edifice, here the flames were checked and the rest of the town saved.

At that period only a few of the business men of the town carried insurance. So high was the rate that it was almost prohibitive. The heaviest loser was the Republic Trading Company. They carried a $25,000 stock of goods, about one-half of which was saved in the fireproof cellars of the store. Loss on the building was $4,000, with no insurance. B. F. Keck lost $4,000 on stock and the same on the building. Fully $8,000 worth of stock from his store was saved. B. F. Harris & Company suffered a total loss of $2,500. L. H. Mason's

building, which was totally destroyed, was val- ued at $2,000. Patrick Riordan's loss was heavy-about $5,000. The Manila proprietors saved most of their stock and fixtures. This building and the one adjoining were owned by Albert Biezel, and his loss was $6,500. H. L. Percy saved considerable furniture, but his loss totaled $4,500, partly covered by insurance. George Brady's loss was $2,500, as was also that of Threlkeld Brothers, although some goods from the latter store were saved. All the papers, accounts, funds, etc., of the Republic bank were saved. This was one of the lucky firms that carried insurance. The Eureka News Company had an insurance of $3,000 to cover a loss of $5,000. S. Burnett, the jeweler, saved most of his stock. S. I. Spiggle lost heavily. He and Dr. Stone had barely time to escape, saving but little of their personal effects. Dr. Boswick and E. F. Gannon, occupying an ad- joining room, were in bed when the fire was discovered. They escaped with only a portion of their wardrobe. James T. Johnson was asleep in another room and had barely time to escape, with the loss of his wardrobe, money and many valuable books. Deputy Auditor Curry saved all of his papers. The loss of Mr. Ediams on his building was $2,500. Brown & Mitchell lost heavily. On the east side of Clark avenue D. E. Walter saved two-thirds of his stock, and carried insurance of $1,700. Reg- jovich & Kelly, of the Spokane restaurant, were losers to the amount of $300. Mr. Carter owned the furniture, worth $500. The loss of Simpson & Company was $4,000 on stock and buildings. Mrs. Fostick, of the New York, lost everything. The Dewey and Montana saloons were heavy losers. The Montana build- ing was owned by G. M. Sterling and his loss was $2,000. By reason of the dynamite explo- sions Dr. Morris lost considerable.

Fully one-half of the business portion of Republic Camp was laid in ashes, but severe as were the losses, and while it was a great blow to the town, it by no means crushed the spirit of

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HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

the people who had interests in the fire-swept districts. Cinders had not cooled nor had the smoke cleared away before the work of rebuild- ing commenced. Tents were immediately pitched and from these the stocks of goods that had been saved were sold. As fast as building materials could be procured new structures sprung up from the ashes of the old ones. Re- public Camp continued to thrive.

In October, 1899, seventy-eight citizens of Republic joined in a petition to the county com- missioners asking for a special election at which to vote on the question of incorporating Re- public Camp. Not having complied with cer- tain legal requirements this petition was denied. December 4 another petition was presented, signed by seventy-four qualified citizens, asking that Republic be incorporated as a city of the third class. The limits of the desired incorpo- ration were to enclose one and one-half square miles. Considerable delay ensued in securing favorable action on this matter. The proposed town was surveyed and the surveyor made his report, but nothing resulted. February 5 an- other petition was laid before the commissioners asking for incorporation. Following were the desired boundaries : Beginning at the original southwest corner of section 35, township 37 North, range 32 East, W. M. (which is on the ninth standard parallel), thence north 1,320 feet to the northwest corner of proposed city limits ; thence east 6,600 feet along a line paral- lel with and one-fourth mile north of said ninth standard parallel to the northeast corner of said city limits ; thence south 7,200 feet to the south- east corner of said city limits ; thence west 4,880 feet to the southwest corner of said city limits, thence north to the crossing of Granite Creek ; thence northerly along said Granite Creek to the mouth of Eureka Creek; thence northerly along said Eureka Creek to a point in said creek 600 feet south of said ninth standard parallel ; thence west about 800 feet to a point in the section line between sections two and three of township 36 N., range 32 East, W. M .; thence

north along said section line 600 feet to the point of beginning. Within this territory at the period there were about 1,800 people.

The commissioners granted the petition and May 8, 1900, was the date named for the special · election to vote on the proposition. This was followed by a prolonged and heated campaign. Three tickets, Republican, Democratic and Citi- zens, were in the field, and for the office of mayor there were four candidates, J. P. De Mattos running independent. Considerable opposition was manifested against incorpora- tion, and the balloting was close; 557 votes were cast and of these 283 were "for incorpora- tion," leaving only the slender majority of nine in favor of the proposition. As will be seen from the following record of the vote for city officers, this election was punctuated by consid- erable "scratching :"

Mayor-John Stack, Republican, 68; L. H. Mason, Democrat, 153; J. P. De Mattos, non- partisan, 100; J. J. Sullivan, Citizens, 230. Plurality for Sullivan, 77.

Treasurer-Louis H. Burnett, Republican, 142; O. S. Stocker, Democrat, 198; Fredrick O. Birney, Citizens, 164. Plurality for Stocker, 34.

City Attorney-W. C. Brown, Republican, 98; W. T. Beck, Democrat, 237; George L. Palmer, Citizens, 154. Plurality for Beck, 83.

County Clerk-George J. Hurley, Repub- lican, 252 ; L. E. Jesseph, Democrat, 90; James B. Duggan, Citizens, 163. Plurality for Hur- ley, 89.

Health Officer-Dr. C. F. Webb, Repub- lican, 213; Dr. A. S. Williams, Citizens, 261. Plurality for Williams, 48.

Of the councilmen elected the majority were on the Citizens' ticket.

The winter and spring of 1900 will be re- membered in Republic on account of a small- pox epidemic. While the disease was of a mild type, and did not result fatally in many in- stances, expenses incurred by the county footed up into the thousands of dollars; the injury to

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HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

Republic's business interests was great. Except when absolutely compelled to do so, people did not venture out upon the street ; stores were comparatively deserted and sales fell off to an alarming extent. Travel was practically sus- pended.

Early Friday morning, August 3, 1900, the old town of North Republic suffered quite a severe loss from fire; six buildings were de- stroyed-the Home lodging house, Bennett's assay office, Smithson & Phelps' carpenter shop, and three dwelling houses. The upper, or old town, was not at this time supplied with sepa- rate fire protection, and when the department arrived from the lower town, the flames had gained considerable headway. By dint of hard work the fire was confined to these buildings. and the rest of the town saved from destruction. The loss amounted to several thousand dollars, the heaviest loser being L. J. Snyder, about $2,800.

The year 1901 witnessed a reversal of the "good times" in Republic Camp which had gen- erally prevailed since the founding of the town. Business was at a low ebb, and discouragement was discernable everywhere. There were sev- eral causes which contributed to this universal stagnation. First, there was the partial failure of the Republic mill, closely followed by the complete failure of a custom mill. Then came the closing down of the Mountain Lion mill. Combined, these disheartening events were the cause of the depression. Another thing-al- most since the initial location of the camp a railroad had yearly been expected, and the fail- ure of its construction exercised a deleterious effect on the general volume of business. In July the closing down of the Republic mill, the pay-roll of which for several months had been, practically, the sustaining power of business in the camp, was a severe blow.

May 13, 1901, the Republic Mine lodging house, in which about sixty employes of the mine lived, and the bunk house, were burned to the ground. This loss was $10,000, covered by

$4,200 insurance. Nearly all of the lodgers suffered the loss of their personal effects.

During the summer of 1901 the city under- took many improvements. Among them was street grading. In August a disagreement arose between the city authorities and the local labor union which resulted in a complete tie-up of the business. The Republic Pioneer of August 17 said: "The city of Republic looks as though a Kansas cyclone had struck it. Clark avenue is a mass of boulders and lumber, but it was not wholly wind that caused it, but a dis- agreement between contractors and some of their employes which was complicated by the men being called out by the labor leaders. The cause of the misunderstanding centered in the payment of the men. Laborers were paid in city warrants, upon which they realized but 95 cents on the dollar. It was claimed by the contractors that the men were hired with the understanding that they were to be paid in war- rants. A far different view was taken of the subject by the laborers. They insisted that. according to their contracts, union men only should be employed at union wages, and this they demanded. It was refused; the strike re- sulted. A few days later the matter was ad- justed with the understanding that all who wanted cash for their labor instead of warrants could have it."

A Board of Trade, with a membership of sixty business men of Republic, was organized October II, 1901. The initial meeting was enthusiastic. Officers elected were: J. Roth- child, president; J. F. Travers, Philip Creaser and A. W. Strong, vice-presidents; R. W. Hunner, secretary; D. E. Walters, treasurer. Trustees selected were: : J. Johnson, E. J. Delbridge, John Stack, F. L. Darrow and J. W. McCann.

The general depression in the business of Republic resulting from the closing of many of the mines was somewhat overcome during the summer of 1902. Throughout those months hundreds of men were on the pay-rolls of the

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HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

two railroads racing for entry into the town, and times were good. But with the completion of these lines a period of dullness ensued. Still, during the year 1903 there was rather more activity in mining than there had been for sev- eral years past.

In April, 1903, Republic was visited by two serious fires. One broke out in the residence and hospital of Dr. Burns. The fire depart- ment promptly responded to the alarm and worked heroically, but such headway had the flames gained that it was impossible to save the building. While this fire was at its height smoke was discovered issuing from the base- ment of the Fritz & Duggan building, at the corner of Clark and Delaware avenues. To this point were then directed the efforts of the department, and the flames were only con- trolled after they had completely destroyed the corner building and wrecked the Simpson and Eureka News Company's buildings, adjoining. Following are the losses with the insurance carried :

Fritz & Duggan, $11,500, insurance $7,000; Dr. Arthur Burns, $6,200, insurance $2,000; Eureka News Company, $5,000, insurance $2,300; Mr. Simpson, $2,500, insurance $1,500; G. V. Alexander, $2,000, insurance $500; Mrs. O. T. Hegland, $1,200, insurance $600 ; different lodges, $1,500, insurance $300; sundry damages, $1,000. Total losses, $30,900, insurance $14,200.

September 15, 1903, a rural free delivery was established from Republic. The route is twenty-five and one-eighth miles in length and covers the territory in the vicinity of Curlew lake.

A very creditable showing is made by Re- public in the number and variety of its fraternal societies. Monday evening, February 20, 1899, Tenasket Lodge No. 7, Improved Order of Red Men, was instituted with the following officers : James Casey, prophet ; H. E. Stewart, sachem; Dr. P. P. Causey, senior sagamore ; Burt Cook, junior sagamore; L. H. Mason,

keeper of wampum; John Murphy, chief of records. The ceremony was conducted by B. L. Harris, deputy grand sachem of the reserva- tion of Washington. Forty-five were enrolled as members. Although this lodge gained quite a large membership in early days, it was subse- quently disorganized and- the charter surren- dered.

August 1, 1899, a lodge of Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows was organized and the fol- loying officers installed: G. J. Thompkins, N. G .; J. B. Burns, V. G .; W. P. Hofstetter, recording secretary ; Benjamin J. Bell, financial secretary ; C. A. Coulson, treasurer. A Re- bekah lodge was organized December 27, 1899, with a membership of thirty-three. The origi- nal officers were: Mrs. J. B. Burns, Noble Grand; Mrs. A. S. Soule, Vice Grand; Miss Nellie Dawson, Recording Secretary; Mrs. J. S. Mires, Financial Secretary.

Ferry Lodge, A. F. & A. M., was organized in Republic in November, 1899. The initial officers were: L. F. Hart, W. M .; J. W. Palmer, S. W .; A. S. Soule, J. W .; O. S. Stocker, secretary; S. Rothchild, treasurer ; G. A. Gorden, S. D .; J. B. Burns, J. D .; L. H. Burnett, senior steward; J. E. Riter, junior steward; J. P. De Mattos, tyler ; G. B. Stock- ing, chaplain ; J. H. May, marshal. The charter was not received until the following summer.

Republic court No. 48, Foresters of Amer- ict, was organized in August, 1900, with the following officers: E. S. Hart, D. G. C. R .; W. J. Jenkins, J. P. C. R .; J. Mckenzie, C. R .; James Whipps, S. C. R .: George Wolverton, treasurer; J. C. Cox, financial secretary ; E. J. Hanlan, recording secretary; J. Herrington, captain of guards; Charles Snyder, senior wood-ward; Tony Mack, junior wood-ward; H. Bird, senior beadie; J. F. Sandocker, junior beadie; S. A. Nixon, W. McBride, J. W. O'Connell, trustees; court physician. This order was also disorganized.

The comparatively modern order of Eagles is represented in Republic. An aerie was or-

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ganized in June, 1900, with seventy-five mem- bers. The first officers yere: J. J. Sullivan, past president ; Dr. Arthur Burns, president ; James Whipps, vice-president; John Cheney, chaplain; J. S. Richardson, conductor ; C. P. McKenney, secretary ; Will Janes, inner guard; Thomas Brennan, outer guard; Dr. A. S. Will- iams, physician; W. J. Jenkins, treasurer ; Joseph Taylor, John May and Thomas Beck, trustees.

Republic lodge, Woodmen of the World, was organized in April, 1900, with fifty-four members. Officers elected were: W. T. Beck, C. C .; O. P. Moore, past C. C .; T. F. Barrett, A. L .; G. L. Curry, clerk ; J. Hegland, banker ; W. A. Atkin, escort; John Bauer, watchman ; C. H. Baker, manager; John Ritter, David Chesney, C. H. Baker, trustees.

March 19, 1900, Calanthic Lodge, No. 118, Knights of Pythias, was organized in Republic, with the following officers: R. W. Hunner, C. C .; C. H. Baker, C. A. Clark, J. G. Duggan, W. C. Otto, P. C's .; W. T. Beck, V. C .; F. W. Bewley, P .; J. J. Sullivan, K. of R. and S .; J. G. Duggan, M. of E .; L. H. Burnett, M. of F .; W. C. Otto, M. of A .; A. C. Short, Dr. A. S. Williams, A. C. Biegle, trustees ; D. R. McLeod, I. G .; - Gugat, O. S.

March 25, 1901, a lodge of the A. O. U. W. was organized with a membership of twenty. At the succeeding meeting nearly as many more were admitted. Officers chosen were: G. L. Palmer, past master workman ; John B. Caplice, master workman; T. M. Hammond, Jr., fore- man; Patrick Mullaney, overseer; Fred Bar- ton, guide; O. J. Ogelbie, recorder; H. H. Fritz, financier ; R. D. Williams, inside watch- man; Dennis Klippinger, outside watchman; Richard H. Mulroy, James McCarty, Samuel Kerr, trustees.

A branch of the Western Labor Union was organized in Republic April 25, 1900, with a membership of twenty. The following officers were chosen: C. H. Lincoln, president ; A. Case, past president ; J. R. Carleton, vice-presi-

dent; C. E. Calhoun, treasurer; T. Valley, financial secretary; C. T. Hill, guard. This union absorbed all classes of labor with the ex- ception of the miners, who had a separate organization.

A camp of Modern Woodmen of America was organized in 1901.

August 8, 1901, there was organized in Republic a lodge of the Fraternal Army of America, with a membership of twenty. The officers elected were: Charles Kohrdt, cap- tain; W. H. Murphy, lieutenant ; A. S. Soule, adjutant ; Mrs. J. C. Robinson, chaplain ; Mrs. O'Keefe, quartermaster ; C. F. Webb, surgeon; Mrs. Louise Cook, inner picket; Miss Mary McConnell, outer picket; Mrs. A. S. Soule, Mrs. J. S. Mires and Mrs. Thompson, trustees.

The following lodges not mentioned before are in existence today with the exception of the Royal Neighbors, and have been working here successfully for several years: Women of Woodcraft, Eastern Lily Circle, No. 461, or- ganized April 5, 1902. Order Eastern Star, Ramona Chapter, No. 74, organized in August, 1902; G. A. R., Captain Belden Spencer Post, organized in 1900; Royal Neighbors of Amer- ica, organized in November, 1903.

Aside from the labor unions before men- tioned there are the Liquor Dealers' Protective Association ; Barbers, Carpenters and Joiners, and Trades Council. Labor is well organized in Republic, and is controlled by conservative and progressive men who have, as a rule, worked hand in hand with the mine owners and business men for the advancement of the com- munity.

KELLER.

With the opening of the "South Half" of the Colville Indian reservation to mineral entry in the summer of 1898, and the rush of miners into the heretofore forbidden territory, a small town made its appearance on the Sans Poil river at a point about six miles north of its con- fluence with the Columbia. It was named Kel-

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ler in honor of its pioneer merchant, J. C. Kel- ler. Immediately upon the opening Mr. Keller, who was in the general merchandise business at Almira, a little town in Lincoln county, took a stock of goods on to the reservation and es- tablished a store at the present site of the town. Several locations which promised to develop into rich mines had been "spotted" long before the territory was thrown open to lawful entry by white men. At the time of the rush to the "South Half" these claims were taken up; the new town at once became the central supply point for the whole of the "South Half."

In this new town Mr. Keller was not long without opposition. Shortly afterward F. E. Wannocott and Farr Brothers established gen- eral stores, the latter firm soon selling out to George W. Spence, the present clerk of Ferry county. Other enterprises soon made their appearance. Within a few weeks a thriving town was located on the banks of the Sans Poil river. Although the "South Half" was not opened until June 30, we find early in August, in addition to the three general stores already mentioned, a saloon conducted by Daniel P. Bagnell, three restaurants, a barber shop, a recorder's office, two assay offices and a black- smith shop. The erection of a hotel and livery stable were also contemplated at this time. Two daily stage lines were in operation between Keller and towns on the Central Washington Railroad, through Lincoln county. The hum of industry was heard in the new town and business affairs were prosperous. There was a lively movement in real estate.

But over this scene there suddenly swept a radical and alarming change. By order of the Interior Department at Washington, D. C., United States marshals, in August, moved down upon the town. The saloon-keeper, Bag- nell, was arrested, taken to Wilbur and his stock of liquors and cigars confiscated. The other business men were compelled to close their stores until they had procured a trader's license. Bagnell's arrest was followed by the apprehen-

sion of County Attorney H. G. Kirkpatrick, charged with the introduction of liquor. upon Indian lands, because it had been upon his ad- vice that a saloon license had been granted to Bagnell. Kirkpatrick and Bagnell were tried before Judge Hanford, of the United States cir- cuit court. His decision was rendered Septem- ber 22d, discharging the defendants.

This decision was of vital importance to the town of Keller and the whole of the "South Half" of the reservation. It practically opened that portion of the reservation to business men who formerly had been completely barred out, or, if admitted, were compelled to deposit a $10,000 bond with the government. Judge Hanford's ruling was made upon the plea of Attorney Robertson that, by the act of congress, passed July 1, 1898, the "South Half" of the Colville reservation ceased to be Indian country. The act provided, among other things, "that the mineral lands in the Colville reservation shall be subject to entry under the laws of the United States in relation to the entry of mineral lands." Basing his plea upon this provision. Attorney Robertson argued that as Bagnell had fully complied with the laws relating to the min- eral land locations the seizure of his stock of liquors and his indictment, together with that of Kirkpatrick, were illegal. After referring to the act passed by congress which opened the country in question to mineral locations, the plea recited in brief that a large number of miners and locators immediately went upon the land, discovering and filing upon valuable min- eral deposits and engaging in various mercan- tile pursuits. These locations were made upon the Sans Poil river, between Republic and Wil- bur, at the village known as Keller. In that locality William Meidking located and filed on a mineral claim July 2, 1898. Bagnell leased from Meidking the right to go upon the claim, which was known as the "Sweet Alice," and es- tablish his business. He procured from Deputy Internal Revenue Collector Paul Sreobach, a license and commission and proceeded to open

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up his saloon for trade. The plea of Attorney Robertson in conclusion said :

"That by reason of said location, as afore- said, the right and title of the Indians of the Colville Indian reservation to the said land and mining claim ceased, and was abolished, and they had no rights of occupancy to said land; but that on the contrary, this affident, as the lessee of the said Meidking, was entitled to the exclusive and undisturbed possession and occupancy of the same, and the same was, by act of congress, excluded from the non-inter- course laws of the United States, and the same is not Indian country. That the said goods, merchandise and liquors were not put on the said mining claim, and the said claim was not located until after the said act of congress, and at the time the goods were seized they were not in Indian country."

Formerly it had been necessary to give a government bond for $10,000 before any busi- ness house could open on the "South Half," and even when these conditions had been fully complied with the agents held power to regulate the business in various ways, and at times in- volving the use of considerable red tape. This restrictive condition of affairs deterred many persons from engaging in a profitable business in this locality. The rule applied alike to large and small concerns, a barber shop being com- pelled to furnish the same bond as a clothing store. Following this decision it became pos- sible for any one to begin business on any properly located claim. The authority of the Indian agent still applied to the acts of Indians on the reservation, but he was no longer czar of the "South Half."

Business was at once resumed in the new town, and in November we find that there were in Keller the following commercial establish- ments : three general stores, two lodging houses, a feed stable, blacksmith shop and butcher shop. About twenty cabins were in course of construc- tion. The years 1899 and 1900 were pros- perous ones for Keller. Mines were being de-

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Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 72

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