USA > Washington > Asotin County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 30
USA > Washington > Columbia County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 30
USA > Washington > Garfield County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 30
USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 30
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There is another institution in Walla Walla of rare interest, which while not educational is allied with that branch of social progress. We refer to the Stubblefield Home. From Mr. C. M. Rader, one of the trustees, we derive the following account of this noble institution.
STUBBLEFIELD HOME
To Joseph Loney Stubblefield and his good wife Anna, are indebted the chil- dren and widows who in the past have been, or in the future may become members of this home. In early life Mr. and Mrs. Stubblefield experienced the hardships incident to poverty. They emigrated from Missouri in the early '6os and settled about seven miles southeast of Walla Walla, where by most frugal habits and great industry they accumulated, for the early days, a considerable fortune. The wife died in 1874 without issue. She and her husband often talked of the great need of a home for caring for aged widows and orphan children and the wife said she wanted her money to be used for such purpose. She left no will, except as it was impressed in the heart of her husband.
On November 16, 1902, six months after making his will, Joseph L. Stubble- field died at the age of seventy-eight years. By the thirty-first clause of this will he left about one hundred and thirty thousand dollars, the bulk of his accumula- tions, for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a home for "fatherless or motherless and indigent children, and worthy elderly indigent widows, residents of Washington and Oregon." This fund was willed to R. M. Dorothy, E. A. Reser and Cary M. Rader, who were named as trustees to manage the fund and the home to be established. These trustees were appointed to serve for life, unless any should resign or be removed. The successors of these trustees under
the test of the will are to be afgranted by the county commissioners of Walla Walls and Umatilla counties acting jointly but by and with the consent of the two fruster remaining on the board A second wife, whom Mr Stubblefield had uply provided for, attempted to break the will by preceding in court, but the wit was tells sustained both in the Superior and Supreme courts of Wash
Numerous citizens interested themselves in an attempt to secure the location of the home near Walla Walla and raised a donation of something more than ten thousand dollars to assist in purchasing a suitable site 'The trustees purchased the present grounds consisting of forty acres about one mile southeast of the City of Walla Walla and there on November 16, tos, exactly two years after the death of Mr Stubblefield, with appropriate ceremonies, the home was formally opened with Alphonso R. Olds as superintendent and his wife Juta ( Olds as matron
The home remained under the very efficient management of these good people for eight years. On their resignation, occasioned by ill health, Luther J Campbell and wife Maggie were appointed respectively as superintendent and matron. and have since been in charge of the institution. R. M. Dorothy, in 1912, resigned as trustee and was succeeded on the board by Francis M. Stubblefield, a nephew of Joseph 1 .. Stubblefield. These are the only changes of officials connected with the institution.
The home rapidly filled after the opening and there has since rarely been a vacancy for any considerable time. The number of members in the home is usually close to twenty-five and of these most are children. There have never been more than three widows in the home at one time. The children are taught to work and soon become quite expert for children-the boys as gardeners and the girls at household duties. In 1915 a team of three girls from the home won a prize at the Walla Walla County Fair and also at the State Fair as experts in canning fruits and vegetables. The children attend school at the Berney Graded School.
The fund left by Mr. Stubblefield, by judicious handling, has about doubled and is at present mostly invested in wheat lands, which furnish sufficient income to defray all expenses.
TITE & THERCHIES OF WALES WISLES COL NTY
As elsewhere in this work we speak first of the institutions located in Walla Walla City itself, By reason of priority of settlement the institutions of all sorts growing around that point were representative of the entire region and hence belong as truly to the parts which subsequently were set aside for other countries We shall chewhere endeavor to give similar brief views of the churches of the other parts of the region covered by our story As will be obvious to the reader. the limitations of space compet us to consider the churches as a whole, important is they are in the hic of the community. without dwelling upon details, significant and ingaring as they often are Practically all the leading Christian denomina Bons have been represented in Old Walla Walla The Methodist seems to have been the poncer among the Protestant denominations, though the Catholic was Free to provide a place of worship It was in 1850 that a structure of piles
Congregational Church White Temple Baptist Church Central Christian Church Presbyterian Church
CHURCHES OF WALLA WALLA
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OLD WALLA WALLA COUNTY
driven into the ground and covered with shakes was prepared for worship by the Catholics of the little community on Mill Creek. The location was near the present lumber yard on Third Street and Poplar. In 1860 the Methodists built the first regular building on the corner of the present Fifth and Alder. That church had various vicissitudes, for it subsequently moved to Second and Alder and was used for a time as a house for the hosecart of the fire department. Later on it received a second story and became the "Blue Front," still later burned.
We give here a sketch of the early history of the Methodist Church, not with the desire to overemphasize that denomination at the expense of others, but that by reason of its pioneer nature it was peculiarly typical of the first days. We take this from a historical report prepared by J. M. Hill and E. Smith and pre- sented at the conference at Walla Walla on February 7, 1900. This report con- tains so much interlocking matter of different kinds as to give it a permanent value :
"On page seventy-four of Rev. H. K. Hines' Missionary History of the Pacific Northwest, we find that the first sermon preached west of the Rocky Moun- tains was delivered by Rev. Jason Lee at Fort Hall, on Sunday, July 27, 1834. And in a book entitled Wild Life in Oregon, on pages 176-7, we will find that the first Methodist sermon preached at or near Walla Walla was by the Rev. Gustavus Hines, on May 21, 1843, at Doctor Whitman's mission, six miles west of this city. Rev. Gustavus Hines also preached at Rev. H. H. Spalding's Lapwai mission, on Sunday, May 14, 1843.
We find that the first Methodist Episcopal Church organization that was per- fected in Walla Walla, or in that part of the country known as Eastern Oregon or Eastern Washington, was in 1859, and at that time the Walla Walla Valley was just commencing to be settled up with stock raisers and traders. The Town of Walla Walla was the principal or most important point, the United States military post being located here, and this place having become the wintering place for miners, packers and freighters from the mines north and east of this country.
The Oregon conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, having jurisdiction over the church work in this section, took up the matter of supplying it with the gospel, and at the annual conference held at Albany in August, 1859, appointed Rev. J. H. Wilber as presiding elder of this field, calling it the Walla Walla circuit, which took in most of that part of the country east of The Dalles, Oregon, comprising the Grande Ronde, Walla Walla, Snake River and Columbia River valleys as far north as the British line and east to the Rocky Mountains, and ap- pointed Rev. G. M. Berry as pastor for Walla Walla circuit.
Brother Wilber and Brother Berry at once started for their field of labor. They came to Walla Walla and commenced the work by holding meetings at different places, at the homes of some of the people and at times in the old log courthouse at the corner of Main and Fifth streets. Soon after taking up the work Brother Wilber and Brother Berry decided to organize a class at Walla Walla. and on Monday, October 11, 1859, met and organized the first class in the district ; also held their first quarterly conference. The quarterly conference was called to order by the presiding elder, Rev. J. H. Wilber, and opened with singing and prayer. The pastor, Rev. G. M. Berry, was appointed secretary of the meet- ing. The following named brothers were elected as the first board of stewards :
FILED WALLA WALLA COUNTY
SAMI 1. Witam B Koh Join Mea A B Robert and 1 P Derney A B Roberts was elected as the recording steward
In Loans, Isto, the clas decided to build a church in the Town of Walla Walla, and appointed a lonthing conmutter to undertake the work, consisting of the pastor, Rev 1, M Perry, Brother Thomas Martin and Brother John Moar At a meeting held in April, No, the committee reported that they had selected Et a church He let 6 and 7. Kinh to at the corner of Mler and Fifth treats nd that Res & M Berry had made application to the Board of County Company Stoners asking them to donate the lots to the church At a meeting held on May 21, i to the board of trustees of the church of Walla Walla was appointed. eing Brothers | P Denhey, S M Titus, Jobb Moar, Thomas Martin and WOL iam 1 Kelly and on Mars 22. 1800, lots 6 and 7 of block to of the original Town of Wall Walls were transferred to the above named trustees for the church by THE Board of Couts Commissioners of Walla Walla County
The building con uinttec-the pastor, Rev 6 M Berry, as its chairman-with the few members, at once took up the work of building the church, which was completed in the fall of 1844) It was the first church of any denomination built in Walla Walla and was built at a cost of $1,040 52, with unpaid bilis to the amount of $13102 These items are taken from the report of the auditor of accounts of the binding committee as reported at the third quarterly conference. held at Walla Walla on June 24. 1861, by Andrew Keys, auditor The pastor. Kes & M Berry, had practically been Sunday school superintendent as well as pastor ever since the organization of the class until the church was completed We fail to find any record of the dedication of this church
The Oregon annual conference of 1801 created the Walla Walla district and ppointed Rev John Fhinn as presiding elder and pastor of Walla Walla At the Oregon annual conference, held in 187, the Walla Walla district was divided into one station and four circuits, viz : Walla Walla Station, Walla Walla, Waits- burg. Grande Ronde and U'matilla circuits
In 1868, the class having become strong, and desiring a new location for their church building, the board of trustees procured lots on the corner of Poplar and Second streets, bought on May 30, 188. from W. J. and Well Arner for $25000. and deeded to the following named trustees. H. Parker, T. P. Denney. ] 1- Reser, Joseph Paul and John W McGhee The old church was moved to the new location, repaired and enlarged, and a parsonage was fitted up just cast of the church, facing on Popular Street
At the Oregon annual conference, held at Eugene. August 5 to 0. 120m), all of the membership and appointments formally denominated Walla Walla Station. Walla Walla Cirent and Dry Creek were formed as one charge and called Walla Walla Circuit, to which Rev John T Wolfe was appointed as pastor and Rev. Charles 11 Hoxie as assistant Isitor
Rev James B. Calloway was presiding elder of the district, and on September 18. 180g. called together at Walla Walla all of the official members of the new circuit and organized the first quarterly conference, electing the following board of trustees Charles Moore, '1 P Dermes, I M. Jessee. M. Emerick, Benjamin Hayward, A H Simmons, M McEverly. William Holbrook and Oliver Gal- Ither At the Oregon annual conference, held at Vancouver, on August 25. 1870.
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OLD WALLA WALLA COUNTY
Walla Walla City was again made a station, separating it from the Walla Walla Circuit, and Rev. H. C. Jenkins was appointed as pastor.
Early in the spring of 1878, under the leadership of the pastor, Rev. D. G. Strong, the class undertook the erection of a new church building. The old church was sold to Mr. J. F. Abbott for $250.00 and moved off the lots, and through the efforts of the pastor and his board of trustees, consisting of B. F. Burch, J. E. Berryman, M. Middaugh, John Berry and O. P. Lacy, together with the faithful members and friends, the new church was completed at a cost of about $10,000, receiving from the church extension society of the church a donation of $1,000 and a loan of $500. The loan in due time was paid back. After the completion of the new church, Rev. W. G. Simpson was the first pastor and Brother E. Smith was the first Sunday-school superintendent. For some reason not on record the church was not dedicated until August, 1879. The collection and services at the dedication were in charge of Bishop Haven, he being the bishop of the annual conference held at Walla Walla August 7 to 12, 1879.
It having been discovered in 1883 that the board of trustees had never been incorporated under the laws of the Territory of Washington, the quarterly con- ference directed that articles of incorporation should be prepared. B. L. and J. L. Sharpstein, attorneys, were employed to prepare incorporation papers, and on February 9, 1883, they were signed and acknowledged by the following board of trustees : Donald Ross, C. P. Headley, S. F. Henderson, J. M. Hill, H. C. Sniff, H. C. Chew, E. Smith and G. H. Randall, and filed with the territorial auditor and the auditor of Walla Walla County. At the first meeting of this board of trustees they elected the following officers: J. M. Hill, president ; Donald Ross, secretary ; C. P. Headley, treasurer.
During the summer of 1887, the class, under the leadership of the pastor, Rev. Henry Brown, with the ladies of the church and the trustees, consisting of J. H. Parker, C. P. Headley, S. F. Henderson, J. M. Hill, H. C. Sniff, H. C. Chew. G. H. Randall and E. Smith, undertook the building of a new parsonage, and with the bequest of $500 from the estate of our departed brother, E. Sherman, designated by him to be used for a new parsonage, and $596.47 raised principally by the efforts of the ladies' parsonage committee, a two-story, seven-room par- sonage was erected on the grounds of the old parsonage, facing Poplar Street, and this was turned over to the board of trustees free of debt and fairly well fur- nished.
During 1887, through the efforts of Rev. J. H. Wilber, a small church was built in the eastern part of the city and called Wilber Chapel. Brother W. J. White donated a lot for that purpose, $300 being received from the Church Exten- sion Society, part of the balance being subscriptions from friends, but the greater part being given by Rev. J. H. Wilber himself. The church cost $1,500 and was deeded to the trustees of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Walla Walla, viz .: J. H. Parker, J. M. Hill, C. P. Headley, S. F. Henderson, H. C. Sniff, H. C. Chew, G. H. Randall and E. Smith. The church was sold to the German Lutheran Society for the sum of $1,600 on September 5, 1892, returning to the board of the church extension about $400 due them in principal and interest. The dedica- tion of Wilber Chapel was by Rev. N. E. Parsons, presiding elder, assisted by Rev. J. H. Wilber and Rev. Henry Brown. During 1894 the church, under the leadership of Rev. V. C. Evers, the pastor, with the trustees, enlarged the present
VID WALLA WALLA COUNTY
church by extending it to the north face of the property increasing the seating capacity of the church with leone room to 525 jer on
Our church property at the time is free from debt and consists of
On church building and let, value $11,500 00; ene par onage and fraction of lot Salat 8200000; 101.1 513,50000
The following are the nunes of the pastors of Walla Walla and time of sers tre 1599 16 1801. Kes George M. Berry, 18 to 1803. Res John Flinn, 1863 to 12 5, Rev William Franklin ; 1805 to 1800, Res James Deardoff : 1800 to 187. Kes John 1. Rear, 19, 10 1800, Kes John T. Wolfe! 18g to 1870, Rev. CH Hove 1820 to 1872 Kes HI C. Jenkins; 1872 10 1873. Rev. J. W Miller ; 1873 to 1824. Rev S G Havermale ; 1874 to 1875, Rev. G W. Grannis : 1875 10 1876. Res. S B Purnell; 1820 to 1878, Kes. 1 6 Strong, 1828 to 1880, Res 1 6 Simpson ; 1850 to 1882, Rev G. M Irwin : 1882 to 1883, Rev A. J. Joslyn ; 1883 10 1854. Rev W C Gray : 1884 to 1885, Rev J. D Flenner , 1885 10 1886, Rev Đ G Strang : 1856 10 188g. Rev. Henry Brown; 1889 to 182, Rev. W. W Van Dusen; 182 00 18%, Res. V. C. Every; 18 to 18. Res W. C. Reuter ; 18, to 1900. Rev. Lee A Johnson
The following are the names of the presiding elders of Walla Walla district and time of service . 1820 10 1801, Kes. J. H Wilber ; 18001 to 1804. Rev. John Flinn. 1864 to 1866, Rev. Isaac Dillon ; 1866 to 1800. Rev. J. B. Calloway ; 186) to 1870, Rev. W H. Lewis; 1870 to 1874. Rev. H. K. Hines ; 1874 to 1878, Rev S G Havermale ; 18;8 to 1882, Rev. D. G. Strong; 1882 to 1885. Rev. W. S. Turner : 1885 to 1886, Rev. Levi L. Tarr; 1886 to 1888, Rev. N. E. Parsons. 1888 to 1802, Rev D. G. Strong ; 1892 to 188, Rev. T. A Towner ; 1898 to 1900, Rev M. H Marvin" .
CATHOLIC CHURCH
In 1861 the Catholics built their first permanent house near the present site of St. Vincent's Academy. Bishop Blanchet was present during that period and Father Yunger became pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. J. B. Brouillet, who first came to the Walla Walla country as a missionary to the Indians in 1847.
Connected with the Catholic Church are St Vincent's Academy and De La Salle Institute, described elsewhere, besides St. Mary's Hospital, founded in 1870 and now established in one of the most perfect buildings in the Northwest
While our limits do not permit details in regard to each of the churches of Walla Walla, we wish to incorporate a sketch of the carly Episcopal Church. for the reason that it casts such a vivid light upon the carly days as to give it a special historic value- This sketch was prepared by Edgar Johnson, one of the Whitman College class of 1917, as a research study in his history course and in the judgment of the author is worthy of a place in this volume
THE EARLY HISTORY OF ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
According to the old adage. "Well begun is half done." this church completed half its work in its earliest period. The history of all churches when finally established in a civilized community is much the same But what was the history of this church before Walla Walla became civilized?
· In article quoted the name Wilber appears a number of umes but it should be noted that the correct spelling is Wilbur
PIONEER METHODIST CHURCH, WALLA WALLA Completed January 1, 1918.
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OLD WALLA WALLA COUNTY
This is the atmosphere I have to picture; the condition of the times as it reflected on the growth of the church, and the condition of the church as it re- flected on the growth of civilization in this city.
From the historical data accompanying this review, it will seem that St. Paul's Church was first begun by services held by a traveling missionary, Bishop Morris. The church did not take on definite unity, however, until 1871, when it was placed under the care of Rev. L. H. Wells, a comparatively young missionary from the East. In September, 1871, the first services were held in the building (now gone) on Third Street, between Poplar and Alder streets. This building served as a combined courthouse, hall, church; and the basement housed Stahl's Brewery.
At the time of Bishop Wells' arrival in Walla Walla, this city boasted of one thousand inhabitants, while Eastern Washington had seven thousand settlers. At this date, it would strike us that the little city of one thousand would band itself together to protect themselves from the Indians. But fifteen years or more had passed since the last of the Indian wars, and the wealth of the mines of Idaho and Washington found its way into the city and aided in the carousals of its "short-time" owners. For the uninitiated, the center of the street, or open door- ways were the safest stops in the city. The Vigilantes ruled as a secret power behind the throne. Suspicion was fixed upon every law-abiding citizen by those who lived to break the law, as a member of this band.
The wives of several saloon-keepers were members of the church; and one wife succeeded in converting her husband. But inability or lack of desire to learn a new trade, always drove the new convert back into his old business. After efficiently illustrating back-sliding methods thrice over, this particular saloon man never appeared upon the church rolls again. He furnished, however, the material for a story which emphasizes the uncouthness of the times. He main- tained a flourishing saloon on the corner of Third and Main streets, and one evening a miner from the Florence District showed up with his nuggets and gold dust. After treating the house several times, he began searching for more amuse- ment. Finally, thinking that the mirror behind the bar might prove a worthy object at which to pelt gold nuggets, he began firing. Needless to say, he smashed it into bits and then careening up to the bar, he simply asked: "How much do I owe?" The saloon-keeper recovered several hundred dollars' worth of nuggets from the floor and after removing the board floor from the saloon succeeded in washing out $200 more from the gold dust which had been lost throughout the previous period. This became an annual event and never failed in bringing a hundred dollars or so.
In 1872 the bishop started his day school, following this in 1873 with a boarding school for girls. In this year a fire burned them out entirely and a larger building was constructed. The life of the bishop was not an easy one. He lived in his little cabin next to the church and whenever a new girl came to the boarding school, he would be forced to give up some of his furniture for the new girl. He was finally reduced to sleeping on a cot, with his overcoat for a cover- let. It was very difficult to keep the coat from falling away during the night ; and when another girl came and the couch was needed for her room, the bishop having received no new furniture, built himself a box and filled it with straw, in which he slept and in which he had no difficulty in retaining his overcoat as a com- forter.
Gold dust and nugget were the medium of exchange and the church and lead beathe had gold weighing gole Mans people carried little scales with them W neuecreases Gold da wo peprally parred i bu k kiss . bunt a fout B depth and about three pelas wide, and many people lit them Ing ale in the Hant perch in disguised evening, as the patet place to keep them from thieves ul renegade Inhans Hoe grades of gold found its way into Walla Walla Die were the Ild 0, Image and Regle trech te name I got the district I which they were none| Merchants heft on hand small round lene with trials of all three eralles in them, by while to measure the dust at the three rades were worth different amount of money
It was in this atmosphere that the church began, truly in a mi tonary dia- Yet it grew, and mainly through the spirit of co operation of the other churches in the territory At this tune there were also the Methodist, Congrega- Honal, Presbyterian and the United Brethren churches Ballop Welke recently told me of the huolness of the United Brethren munster One day while walk ng down the street, he was handled by this nulmister who was on horseback The old minister opened the conversation. "Young man, I've been watching you, and so Lave my congregation. It strikes is that you've seen any life and I'm only a country preacher If you will take care of my congregation, you may have the church and I'll go into the country, where I can do some good " Naturally the offer was accepted
In 1877 the new church was erected, and it still stands llis was built on the corner of Third and Poplar streets The lumber for it was hauled from Fouchet, where there was a mill One difficulty presented itself, however, and that was that the lumber obtainable from there was very short But the long hul from Wallla made better lumber almost prohibitive, and the church was built from lumber eut in this vicinity and planed at Touchet
Even at this date, forty years ago, Walla Walla was little more than a frontier town. The Joseph wars broke out as a result of the white man's raid on their lind A few years pressions to this the Government had sent out men to see what could be done for the Indians. The white men were open in their statements that they intended to get the Indians' lands The Joseph war was followed by the Bannock war. In the latter, Walla Walla was seriously threatened, the Indians coming up through Pendleton and striking near the foothills of this ats A very pretty tale is told regarding a l'endleton sheep man and his dog Bob The Indians murdered the herders, killed many of the sheep and went on then way. The owner stayed in Pendleton fearing to go to his flocks, and did not go near them until a week or two had elapsed When he did find them, he discovered that the dog Bob had not only gathered all his own sheep into the flesh, but had collected more stray sheep from other flocks that had become lost, than the Indians themselves had killed. Furthermore, he had only killed two small lambs for his own sustenance
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