Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 91

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 91
USA > Washington > Ferry County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 91
USA > Washington > Okanogan County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 91
USA > Washington > Stevens County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 91

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).

interior of the building was finished through- out with the best materials afforded by the country. An octagon-shaped dome and a dor- mer window added greatly to the attractive- ness of the outside elevations of the building.

The same spring the Hotel Elliott was re- modeled and rearranged in a most convenient manner. The main building was extended to comprise 40x70 feet. When completed it was the largest building in Conconully. The build- ing formerly occupied by the county officers, owned by H. Biegle, was fitted up for a billiard room, being extended back twenty feet and connected with the saloon by an archway. The lower portion was occupied by billiard tables; the upper story was fitted up for card roooms. S. S. Collins and C. H. Ballard erected a 34x 50 foot building on Maude avenue, between Silver and LaUna streets, which was rented for business purposes. There were many other smaller and less pretentious structures erected this spring in various portions of the town site. We have dwelt rather particularly upon the subject of building improvements in Concon- ully, and for this reason: The following sum- mer, 1892, the most of them were swept away by a terrrible conflagration that practically wiped out the town of Conconully. It is only by written description that an idea of the old- time Conconully may be gained, for with the fire went up in its flames all photographic rep- resentations of the town as it was. And. al- though from its ruins sprang up a new village, a succeeding disastrous flood swept down the valley of Conconully creek, and again the town was laid in ruins. From these serious casual- ties the town has not yet recovered. The "hard times" of 1893 came upon the residents as upon the rest of the country, and the almost utter cessation of the mining industry which followed worked almost irreparable injury to the largest and prettiest town in Okanogon county.

From the Okanogan Outloook of June 12, 1891, it is learned that a meeting was held in Collins' hall, Conconully, June II, the an-

540

HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

nounced purpose of which was to organize a militia company. It was not largely attended and there were only fourteeen applicants for enlistment. A committee was appointed to so- licit members. By reference to Chapter II of Okanogan county, it will be seen that the threatened Indian trouble growing out of the Cole murder and subsequent lynching of young Stephen. had imbued the community with mili- tary ardor. One hundred and eighty stand of arms and 3.000 rounds of ammunition had been supplied by the state, and were then in the hands of the county commissioners. Under date of August 6, 1891, the following General Order No. 7 was issued from general head- quarters of the National Guard of Washing- ton, at Olympia :

The military board having considered the applica- tion of F. M. Baum and his associates at Conconully, Okanogan county, and that of Henry S. Haslett and his associates, at Tekoa, Whitman county, seeking admission into the National Guard of Washington as a volunteer company, and recommending that said petitions be granted; it is hereby ordered that the said F. M. Baum and his associates at Conconully and the said Henry S. Haslett and his associates at Tekoa, be and are hereby admiteed as volunteer companies into the National Guard of Washington, and shall be attached to the Sec- ond Infantry regiment and designated as follows:

Company at Conconully as I Company, and the company at Tekoa as K Company. General A. P. Curry will inspect and muster the company at Con- conully ; Lieutenant J. W. Stearns, A. D. C., is hereby ordered to inspect and muster the company at Tekoa : reporting their proceedings thereunder at the earliest day practicable.

L. S. Baldwin was chosen captain, but it does not appear from any records obtainable that Company I was ever successful in con- tinuing for long an organization. The company seems to have drifted along into the shadows of complete oblivion.

And what was Conconully before the fire? The place was visited in June, 1892, by the prominent mining man, J. M. Hagerty, who wrote as follows :

"Conconully is the home of Lieutenant Governor Laughton and is one of the pleasant-

est spots in the mountains. It is different from most mining camps, as here miners and pros- pectors have determined to make their homes and have brought the gentle and refining in- fluence of women and home to the camp, which has had the effect of doing away with all law- lessness. No man can conceive a prettier place. Here the valley of Salmon creeek widens out nearly a mile in extent. To the west Mineral Hill rises gradually until the peaks are lost in the clouds; to the north and south the moun- tains rise abruptly, but are covered with tim- ber which is of an evergreen verdure, while to the east lies Conconully lake, a beautiful sheet of water 1,500 feet wide and three miles long, with gently sloping banks on either side."

Between the hours of 12 and I o'clock on the morning of August 30, 1892, the fire started which all but wiped the town of Con- conully from the map. The cause of this con- flagration will never be definitely known. It originated in the new store building which had recently been erected by Wheeler Brothers, of Bridgeport, for Robert and James Hunter, at the north end of Main street. Hunter Brothers were engaged in the general merchandise busi- ness and the day previous to the fire had begun moving into their new home.

The cry of fire quickly aroused the sleep- ing inhabitants and soon the whole town was out to assist in fighting the flames. Conconully was without fire protection of any description and very little could be done to stay the pro- gress of the conflagration, although strong and willing hands worked to tear down buildings and check the course of the devastation. Nearly every night in the summer time a cool breeze springs up and sweeps down the canyon in which the town is located, from the north. This night there was a stiff wind blowing, and from the start it was seen that the town was doomed.

From Hunter Brothers' store the flames spread across the street to the large two-story store building of Moore, Ish & Co., and this, the finest building in town, was soon in flames.

541

HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

This was where Charles Hermann's store now stands. In 1892 the business part of Con- conully consisted of two solid blocks of busi- ness houses, extending to the south from where the fire started. When morning dawned these two blocks were in ashes, and not a single busi- ness house remained in the town. Only one building outside of these on the main street was burned. This was Harry Harris' blacksmith shop just across the creek.

The loss occasioned by this fire was in the neighborhood of $100,000. Some of the prin- cipal losers were Hunter Brothers, general store; Moore, Ish & Company, general store and bank; John Proebstel, feed store; Mrs. Shull, hotel; Hiram Beigle, saloon; John Mors, hotel; George Hardenberg, hotel build- ing; Mrs. S. W. Elliott, hotel furniture; Sam- uel Collins & Company, saloon and hall; W. B. Wakefield, store; Charles Hermann, store; C. F. Hane, hardware store; Harry Harris, blacksmith shop; H. W. Thompson, Outlook printing office; Thomas Dixon, livery stable. Several residences were also destroyed.

The following morning, every store having burned, the inhabitants were without food ex- cept such as remained in private houses. The neighboring towns, so soon as they learned of the great disaster, came to the aid of the stricken people. Within a few hours the town of Ruby had collected $600 and Loomis also raised a large purse. Food and supplies were also furnished, and in a short time every one was made as comfortable as possible.

At the time of this fire Conconully had 500 or 600 inhabitants. The town was well built and the stores and buildings were substantial ones. Following the fire the town was par- tially rebuilt, but the quality of the structures was not nearly so good as was that of those laid waste by the flames.

The disaster of August 30th was soon fol- lowed by a depreciation of silver and conse- quent inactivity in mining circles. Without entering upon a discussion of the currency

question or the alleged "Crime of 1873," it is useless to deny that the depression of 1893 fell heavily upon the population of Okanogan county, so largely dependent on the mining in- dustry. It is the province of history to record facts, and all the facts bear out our assertion. The camp of Conconully had sprung into ex- istence on the strength of rich silver mines in its vicinity ; its early history is that of a lively town and the center of great business activity. Says the Palmer Mountain Prospector : "With the 'depreciation of silver the camp sustained a backset ; a fire destroyed much of the business part of the town and the flood cleaning up all the fire had left, the place never recovered from the three-fold shock."

Forty-two buildings were destroyed by the flood of May 27, 1894. This is a date that will never be forgotten by the old residents of the country in the vicinity of Conconully. On that day the town was almost completely laid waste. Every one who witnessed the catastrophe will vividly remember the terrible experience of a few minutes of rushing water that transformed a spot of beauty into a dreary waste. Floods perform their work of destruction much more rapidly than flames.

The small stream coursing through the town in a southerly direction has its source high up in the midst of a chain of mountains that divides the Methow from the Okanogan valley. It flows with rapid current down a rocky, narrow canyon, or succession of can- yons most of the way, joining the Salmon river south of town. At times the canyon widens from a quarter to half a mile. In these spots are cozy homes and fruitful orchards and farms. At the point where is built the busi- ness portion of Conconully is a valley, probably a mile wide, a basin, but to the north this valley rapidly closes until the course of the creek is only a few yards in width, and it also.narrows to the south. To the east is a long, deep lake, the water almost level with the land to the west, while a hog-back to the west makes the

542

HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

continuation of the mountain ranges. In this basin is located Conconully.

For several weeks the weather had been dry and pleasant. May 26 it began raining heavily. Between the rains and melting snow the creek swelled to a raging torrent. Below town the flat was covered with a foot or two of water. With the exception of the Cheetham household the few residing in that locality had wisely sought safer and dryer quarters. Sun- day, May 27, William Shufeldt was on horseback in front of the Hotel Elliott. He had just returned from the Cheetham resi- dence where he had endeavored to induce the family to remove to a place of safety, but un- successfully.

As Mr. Shufeldt cast his eyes up the creek he witnessed a sight calculated to appall the stoutest heart. A mountain of water nearly seventy-five feet high was rushing down on the devoted town of Conconully. It was an ava- lanche of water, trees, rocks and debris, an overwhelming, irresistible mass of moving matter. The breast of this oncoming besom of destruction was a body of trees, rocks and underbrush. Fragments of rocks, weighing hundreds of pounds were borne along as feath- ers on the wind. Giant forest monarchs were wrenched up by the roots, or snapped off like pipe stems, and tossed about like reeds. End over end were these trees whirling, while the mad waters curled and dashed even over the very top of this huge moving dam.

It was the wild whirl of waters set free by the cloud-burst so dreaded in mountain coun- tries. Along the source of this stream a sur- charged cloud had encountered an obstacle and suddenly dropped down this deluge. Wher- ever it struck the mountain sides were swept clean of soil and trees. The horrible signifi- cance of this danger was immediately realized by Mr. Shufeldt. He gave the alarm, and the cry was taken up by the people, who immedi- ately rushed to the high ground. The strong assisted the weak, and none had time to save

more than was upon his or her back. The impediment of the load carried by the water held it back somewhat, but the blow was swift enough. As the canyon widens at the town- site the waters spread shallower. But even at the point where stood the business portion of the town the wall of water was over twelve feet in height. In a few brief moments-not minutes-universal havoc was wrought. The spot was changed by this cataclysm as com- pletely as though rocked into ruins by an earth- quake. Residences went down with the sweep of water as though they were so many card houses. For several feet the bed of the creek was washed to bedrock as if swept with a broom. Rocks, trees, gravel and sand were spread upon the flat where the business part of the town had stood. And this flat was gashed and torn and gullied; entire trees were strewn in fantastic disorder about the town, or where had once been a town. The course of the creek was changed. It now ran under the Hotel El- liott. This edifice withstood the blow but was sadly deformed. To the height of the second story logs and rubbish were piled against the building. The store of Moore, Ish & Company was nearly torn to pieces; the stone cellar was carried away; the heavy iron safe has never been found. The side of Beigle's saloon was crushed in. The large mirror behind the bar was forced up against the ceiling. Strange to say, although the room was full of rocks and logs this glass was uninjured. Frank Baum's neat little residence was carried off bodily and deposited in the lake several hundred yards dis- tant. Houses were carried a long ways with- out suffering material damage.

Below Conconully was one of the finest farms and orchards in the county. It was buried from sight. Today it is only a barren stretch of sand and gravel. Evidence of the force of the torrent was to be seen in mammoth trees, hundreds of which came down with the flood. Many narrow escapes were reported, and one death. Mrs. Amelia Keith, an old

543

HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

lady, followed the family to the gate, but dis- regarding protestations, returned to the house for her spectacles. While attempting to get back, and within a dozen feet of safety, the wild waters caught her. It was impossible to go to her rescue; the victim was dashed to death before the eyes of horrified spectators. The body was not discovered for several days, and only then through the instincts of a dog. Mr. Sincock awoke to find himself mixed up in a sea of logs and water. He was asleep in a cabin below town. Carried on the swirl- ing tide a long distance he escaped with only ·a sprained ankle. Mr. Spence lived far up the creek and had ample time in which to reach a place of safety. But he became dazed. In- stead of running to a bank only a few yards away he went down the street in front of the oncoming flood. Caught in the rush of waters he was carried half a mile and left in Conco- nully lake. An hour afterward he was rescued while clinging to a log.

Fortunate it was that the calamity did not fall upon the community during the night time. Had this flood enveloped the place in the shad- ows of darkness, when the first knowledge of its coming would have been the blow itself, almost the entire population would have been drowned; the Hepner disaster in Oregon would have been anticipated. Nothing was saved where the flood had full sway; a major- ity of the residents escaped with their clothes only. Aid from the surrounding country was extended to the sufferers; the neighboring towns responded liberally. In this calamity there was one heroic act of self-sacrificing valor shared by two persons. On seeing the rapid approach of the flood Mr. Shufeldt put spurs to his horse and swiftly rode back toward the Cheetham family whom he had so recently urged to seek a place of safety. The animal he rode became mired and Mr. Shufeldt pro- ceeded on foot. Gaining the house in a few words he explained the impending danger.

This time the family acted on his advice and waded through the mud to higher ground. In the house was a helpless old lady, Mrs. Davis. Cheetham carried her to the door, but found himself unable to proceed further with his bur- den. Mr. Shufeldt took the lady on his back and started for high ground. In this enter- prise he was assisted by Dr. C. P. House, and the two men staggered on together. The mud and water were deep. The nearly exhausted men reached the goal, but none too soon. The flood was not ten feet away when they gained the spot.

The property loss by this flood was esti- mated at $95,690. Such a visitation may never occur again, yet so vivid is its memory that those who passed through it seldom see the clouds cap the mountains without a nervous sensation.

In May, 1899, the Commercial Bank, of Conconully, was organized by L. L. Work. The officers then chosen were Charles Her- mann, president ; L. L. Work, cashier. Among the original stockholders were R. L. Rutter, and Dr. Thomas, of Spokane; Dr. Pogue, of Clover, and Wellington French, of Conco- nully. The capital stock was $25,000. Mr. Work is now president and William Baines cashier. It is the only state bank in Okanogan county, but its facilities are equal to those of the ordinary city bank. It makes a specialty of farm and stock loans; buys warrants and makes collections, and also procures desirable land script for those desiring it. It has also a branch bank at Twisp, the largest town in the Methow valley.

The morning of August 3, 1901, a violent thunder storm visited Conconully and vicinity. A number of trees were struck by lightning which resulted in disastrous forest fires throughout the hills. Thousands of cords of wood were burned. The county commission- ers appointed watchers of the abandoned min- ing town of Ruby to save the many fine build-

544

HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

ings, at that time there, from destruction. Other buildings in that town had been burned previously.

Sunday, June 7, 1903, was devoted to the dedication of the first church building in Con- conully, that of the Methodists. Rev. T. C. Iliff delivered the dedication address, and the serviecs were characterized by great zeal. The initial steps in the construction of this building were taken in October, 1902, when plans were received from the church extension board for an edifice to cost from $1,200 to $1,500. I was not expected that the contemplated struct- ure could be built for that sum, but $2,500 was considered an approximate figure. It had been planned to complete the building before the holidays, but it was found impossible to procure the lumber, and work was laid over until spring. Eventually the church cost, with furnishings, $3,650. All of this sum was pro- vided by the people of Conconully and vicinity. This was the first Protestant church erected in Okanogan county.

During the summer of 1903 Conconully enjoyed quite a building revival which would have been on a much larger scale had it not been for the fact that it was impossible to se- cure a sufficient quantity of lumber. Among the improvements of this summer was the new street grade across the creek from the Hotel Elliott, including the construction of a bridge, the building of a new livery stable; construc- tion of a new edifice on the corner west of Charles Hermann's store by Luke and Isaac Morris for a saloon; the construction of an addition to the jail; the erection of a saw mill; remodeling of the Record office; an addition to the residences of William Baines and G. A. Blackwell, and Dr. Goggins' residence and office building.

The fraternal orders of Conconully are rep- resented by the Woodmen of the World and · its auxiliary, Women of Woodcraft. There is a fine school house with an enrollment of

eighty scholars. The population is three ·hun- dred.

The townsite of Conconully was platted April 16, 1889, by James Lockwood, Joseph E. Taylor and R. R. Hargrove, who served as trustees selected by residents of the town. The first addition to the town, that of F. M. Baum, was made October 10, 1891. The Sal- mon Creek addition by Hiram Wellington and W. H. McDonald, was made June 5, 1892. The Hepner addition, by Andrew J. Decatur, was made July 3, 1893, and lot 38, Salmon River Mining District, was platted by the Con- conully Mining Company, by D. W. Yeargin, president, March 12, 1889.

Being the county seat all the officials, with the exception of the commissioners, have their homes here. E. K. Pendergast, for- merly of Waterville, Douglas county, is hold- ing his first term as prosecuting attorney, and his ability and integrity are recognized throughout a large section of eastern Washing- ton, where he is well and most favorably known. Sheriff D. W. Tindall and his effi- cient deputy, J. O. Burdette, are also serving their first terms, but they are doing this in a manner which meets with the approbation of all irrespective of party lines. J. M. Pitman is treasurer and Henry Carr auditor of Okano- gan county. One of the finest ranches in the state is owned by Mr. Pitman. It lies along the shores of Palmer Lake, near Loomis. The present county clerk is Eugene Wehe. Mr. Wehe also deals largely in real estate.

LOOMIS.

The pioneer merchant of the town which bears his name was J. A. Loomis. It was in 1886 that he came to the pretty valley of the Sinlahekin, at the base of Palmer Mountain, and purchased an interest in what is now known as Loomis ranch, west of the town. The authoratative and postal name is Loomis,

545

HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

although the name Loomiston has crept into certain maps, papers and pamphlets, and by some old residents in the neighborhood it is still recognized as Loomiston. Legally there is no townsite of Loomis. The land has never been patented, although there is a strong claim- ant, and the matter is in litigation in the courts. In the early 70's Loomis was the winter cattle station of the Phelps & Wadleigh Company. During the severe winter of 1879-80 they suf- fered the loss of their entire band of three thousand cattle, and shortly afterward they disposed of the ill-fated station to Henry Well- ington, an old time prospector and stockman. In 1884 Mr. Wellington sold the Loomis ranch to Guy Waring. Two years later Waring and Loomis became partners in business. It was at that time that the original trading post was established, and the point derived a "local hab- itation and a name." Their stock in trade, consisting of almost every variety of general merchandise, was freighted in from Spokane, a long, expensive and inconvenient haul, cross- ing the Columbia at "Wild Goose Bill's" ferry. This ferry consisted of a small fleet of canoes for the transportation of goods and passen- gers ; horses and cattle were compelled to swim the stream.

Thus, in 1884 was established the first bus- iness enterprise in the northern part of Okani- ogan county. There were few white men in the country north of the Columbia river at this period. Yet notwithstanding the scarcity of population the store did a flourishing business, the few customers making large individual purchases, thus swelling the volume of trade to profitable proportions. Until the mining excitement of the early 90's the business was conducted in a small building at the creek on the "Loomis ranch." Subsequently the stock of goods was removed to a larger and more substantial structure near the Northern Hotel, and there the business was continued until 1898, at which period the firm of J. A. Loomis & Company was dissolved. The unfortunate

head of the concern and chief proprietor be- came insane, necessitating his confinement in the state asylum at Medical Lake, Spokane county, where he died in the autumn of 1899. Although Mr. Loomis had been eminently suc- cessful in business throughout the greater por- tion of his career, he became insolvent in 1894. Thereafter the business was in charge of J O. Calhoun, acting as agent for the creditors.

Previous to the disastrous winter of 1879- 80, the firm of Phelps & Wadleigh ranged their large herd of cattle in the Sinlahekin valley in the basin formed by Palmer, Aeneas, Chapacca and Gold mountains. During the early 70's Hiram F. Smith, well known throughout the west as "Okanogan" Smith, with his partner, John McDonald, James Palmer, after whom the famous Palmer Mountain was named, George Runnells, better known as "Tenas George," Henry Wellington and several other adventurous spirits came up this beautiful val- ley and made the original locations on the mountains named. Of these early pioneers some have joined the great majority; others yet remain to tell of the early days and the early struggles outside, as it were, the pale of civilization.

But long before this period of which we write, and soon after the opening of the civil war, Alvin R. Thorp came overland from Mis- souri and prospected for placer leads in many sections of the northwest. Mr. Thorp now owns one of the best cultivated agricultural and fruit farms in the valley adjacent to Loo- mis. With him at one time was Mike Byrnes, a characteristic prospector of the old school. Byrnes was somewhat of a literary turn of mind and compiled a voluminous diary re- porting many of his adventures. In 1879 he made a trip from Victoria up the Stickeen and hundreds of miles east overland, only to be re- warded by sickness and disappointed hopes.

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 91

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