USA > Washington > Asotin County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 48
USA > Washington > Columbia County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 48
USA > Washington > Garfield County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 48
USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 48
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
In 1873 the first school district on the Pataha Flat was organized by a meet- ing of the settlers at the blacksmith shop belonging to George Gill. The first teacher was William Butler. The pupils met first in a little log cabin, but in 1874 a schoolhouse was built.
382
OLD WALLA WALLA COUNTY
Such was the inauguration of the school system of Garfield County and of Pomeroy. The first school in Pataha City was started in 1878 with twenty pupils and the first teacher was Mr. Ogleby. The limits of space forbid us to do more than touch upon the chief stages of subsequent growth. It may be said that several of the Pomeroy and Pataha teachers have attained high rank in their profession in other parts of the state, and that the school system of Pomeroy, including the high school, has made an enviable reputation for breadth and thoroughness of instruction. That condition in the chief town has had a tonic effect upon the country schools. In 1889 the first considerable school building in Pomeroy was erected at a cost of $10,000 and Mr. Brown became first principal. Mr. Yerkes followed and under his regime a high school with a three year course was established. The principals following Mr. Yerkes were : J. A. Fertig, E. V. Kuykendall, D. E. Schnebley, Walter Lingenfelter, H. C. Ben- bow, C. H. Knaff, A. Kuykendall, R. R. Grant, and in the year 1910, the position of city superintendent was created, with C. C. Ockerman as incumbent. He was followed in 1912 by E. W. Collier who still holds the place. A large addition to the school building was made in 1905, and in 1916 the present elegant and well equipped high school building was opened. Through the courtesy of Miss Belva Ball, county superintendent, we are enabled to present the following data, covering the statistics of last year both for the county and for Pomeroy.
There have been forty-five districts in the county, numbered consecutively from one to forty-four. There is also Dist. 100 in Pomeroy. Several numbers have dropped out, through reorganization. These are Nos. 2, 15, 22, 25, 27, 30, 38 and 40.
No. 11 is Pomeroy. The teaching force in this district consists at the present date of Prof. E. W. Collier, Jessie Campbell, Ella Fisk, Emma Spenger, Char- lotte Marshall, Mrs. Laura Davison, Gertrude Wilson, Dessa MI. King, Jennie Dean, C. B. Lindahl, Mabel Owen, H. C. Hayes, Marie Schmidt, Brightie Con- sidine, A. S. Kubitz, Mamie McCoy.
The total assessed valuation of the county by current report is $4,192,340. That of the school property, including grounds, buildings, and equipment, is $370,240.
The total school enrollment is 1,074, the school census is 1,339. The enroll- ment of the Pomeroy High School is 120. This is an accredited school. The school at Pataha has one year high school work. The total number of teachers in the county is fifty-five.
TOWNS OF GARFIELD COUNTY
From the foregoing glances at the history of the county we turn to that of the towns. Although, as we have seen, a number of towns were founded, having county seat ambitions and great expectations, only two were incorporated, Pom- eroy and Pataha City, and of these the latter surrendered its charter, and hence Pomeroy is the only place that maintains a corporate existence.
By the courtesy of the East Washingtonian we gather the following data about the founding of Pomeroy.
"The idea of converting his property here into a city first occurred to Mr. Pomeroy and took definite shape in 1877. At this time William C. Potter came
383
OLD WALLA WALLA COUNTY
with some money and induced Mr. Pomeroy to join him in a flouring mill enterprise to be operated by power furnished by water from the Pataha Creek. To this project Mr. Pomeroy contributed liberally and the mill was built and the town started.
"The townsite plat of Pomeroy was filed for record May 28, 1878. Those who platted the town were Joseph M. Pomeroy, Martha J. Pomeroy, Benjamin B. Day and Minnie A. Day. It is located on the east half of the south half of the southwest quarter of section 31, and the west half of the south half of the southeast quarter of section 31, in township 12 north, range 42 east.
"Additions since that time: Wilson's by E. T. Wilson and J. M. Pomeroy, June 13, 1882.
"Day's by Minnie A. Day and B. B. Day, August 12, 1882.
"Pomeroy's, by Martha J. St. George and William S. Day, September 20, 1881.
"Mulkey's, by Logan P. Mulkey and Charles J. Mulkey, November 14, 1882. "Darby's, by Walter L. Darby, August 14, 1884.
"Depot, by the Columbia Valley Land & Investment Company, April 30, 1886.
"Potter's, by William C. Potter, August 25, 1887.
"E. M. Pomeroy's, by E. M. Pomeroy, November 28, 1892.
"Crystal Spring, by S. G. Cosgrove, July 28, 1902.
"Highland, by H. C. Benbow and E. V. Kuykendall, July 9, 1902.
"Stephens', by Frank C. Stephens, March 29, 1904.
"The growth of Pomeroy continued to be particularly rapid. In March, 1879, we find the following business houses in the pretty little town: B. B. Day, general merchandise, and grist mill; Mulkey Brothers, hardware and tin- ware; Frary & Williams, drug store; G. A. Sawyer, Pomeroy Hotel; Calaway Brothers, livery stable; Scholl Brothers, brewery.
"The first meeting of the Pomeroy common council was held Wednesday, February 10, 1886. The officers named in the charter were J. M. Pomeroy, mayor ; and C. B. Foote, John Brady, W. J. Schmidt, R. A. Rew and Jay Lynch, councilmen. At the first meeting, however, R. A. Rew tendered his resignation and S. G. Cosgrove was appointed in his place. Frank E. Williamson was selected by the council as city recorder. At the second meeting February 11, Mr. Williamson tendered his resignation as clerk. The following officers were appointed by the city council at this meeting: Recorder, C. H. DeBow ; attorney. M. F. Gose; justice of the peace, W. S. Newland; marshal, G. D. Gibson.
"The initial city election held in Pomeroy was on Monday, July 12th. Officers appointed for the supervision of the election were D. C. Gardner and David Dixon, judges; W. S. Newland, inspector, and I. C. Sanford and Frank Jack- son, clerks. There were two tickets in the field, the People's ticket, with Elmon Scott for mayor; John Brady, William J. Schmidt, George Gibson, David Dixon and Dirk Zemel, for councilmen, and the Citizens' ticket with M. F. Gose for mayor, and C. A. McCabe, D. C. Gardner, S. K. Hull, Jay Lynch and R. B. Porter for councilmen. There were cast 218 votes with the following result. Mayor, Elmon Scott, seventeen majority ; councilmen John Brady, C. A. McCabe, D. C. Gardner, S. K. Hull and Jay Lynch.
384
OLD WALLA WALLA COUNTY
"In August, 1887, the leading citizens of Pomeroy filed articles with the county auditor incorporating the 'Pomeroy Improvement Company.' The object of this organization was to improve the town. The original capital stock was $15,000 with the privilege of increasing this to $25,000. Forty per cent was paid in at its inception. Following were the officers and stockholders: G. B. Kuyken- dall, president ; S. G. Crandall, vice president; W. F. Noffsinger, secretary ; T. Driscoll, treasurer; C. A. McCabe, H. C. Thompson, C. H. Seeley, trustees. The stockholders were C. A. McCabe, S. G. Crandall, M. F. Gose, F. W. D. Mays, J. M. Hunt, Charles Kinzie, W. S. Parker, F. E. Williamson, G. W. Black, J. G. Hughes, T. Driscoll, H. C. Thompson, W. N. Noffsinger, John Brady, G. B. Kuykendall, John Rehorn, Charles H. Seeley, G. L. Campbell, Elmon Scott, R. L. Rush, W. J. Schmidt, Herman H. Schlotfeldt, H. Darby, J. A. Darby, and W. L. Darby.
"The permanent organization of the Pomeroy Fire Department was effected at a meeting of citizens held July 23, 1887. A constitution and by-laws were adopted and the following officers elected: M. F. Gose, president ; J. M. Hunt, vice president ; C. H. Seeley, treasurer ; J. W. Rafferty, secretary ; John Rehorn, foreman; H. St. George, first assistant; Charles Kinzie, second assistant. The enrolled membership was over thirty. Late in that year the department pur- chased a hook and ladder truck and a hose cart.
"The first brick building in the City of Pomeroy was erected in the fall of 1887. This was the First National Bank of Pomeroy; the cost was $20,000. This was followed by the Seeley block, which, while less costly, was not inferior in point of architectural beauty to the bank building.
"The first conflagration of importance following the organization of the fire department in 1887 attacked Pomeroy Thursday morning, February 6, 1890. The fire broke out near the dividing wall between J. H. Hagy's boot and shoe shop and the dry goods store belonging to S. Kasper on Main Street.
"In October, 1890, Company H National Guard of Washington was mus- tered into service.
"There were forty-three men in line; officers were: Captain, Harry St. George; first lieutenant, Elmer R. Brady; second lieutenant, J. W. Murphy. The company was mustered on October 2d, by Captain Wise, of Goldendale.
"The greatest fire known in the history of the town occurred July 18, 1890, when the business portion of the town east of Third Street was swept away. The Garfield County Courthouse was destroyed entailing a public loss of $10,000.
"In 1898 the City of Pomeroy had a population of 1,500, and the volume of business done was estimated at one million dollars annually."
During all the time from the establishment of the city, it remained under the Territorial charter of 1886. But on May 28, 1917, an election was held for the purpose of voting upon a new charter. It had become plain that the old charter was no longer adapted to the growing city and hence the change was made by general consent. A primary election for officers for the new govern- ment was held on July 30th, and on August 27th, the election took place. As a result of this election the city government under the new charter was duly inaugurated.
With the officers of the new government it is fitting that those of the out-
385
OLD WALLA WALLA COUNTY
going be named. They were as follows: Mayor, Fred Matthes; councilmen, C. S. Black, W. A. DeBow, O. S. Williamson, D. E. Smith, and R. Hender. Clerk, Harry St. George. The officers under the new government are: Mayor, C. E. Kuykendall; councilmen, first ward, W. F. Taylor, George Engleson ; second ward, B. Y. Rainey, J. D. Lyon; third ward, J. O. Long; fourth ward, F. M. Robinson; councilman at large, H. B. Henley ; city attorney, A. G. Farley ; city treasurer, W. B. Morris; city clerk, D. A. Taylor.
I11STORY OF BUSINESS HOUSES
We find in the special number of the East Washingtonian so valuable a resume of the history of business houses of Pomeroy, including reference to Pataha, that we add it to the excerpts which we have the privilege to use.
This is by a man peculiarly qualified to write, J. J. McGrath, written in the year 1914:
"The leading general merchandise stores here twenty-seven years ago were Brady and Rush, B. Cohn & Co. and Ben Hirsch & Co. The leading grocery was Dirk Zemel; hardware, H. Darby & Sons; jewelry, McCabe & Whitcomb; shoe store, J. H. Hagy; furniture, Vassar & Sacknitz; bakery, George Eller ; harness, C. Ed Moore and W. W. Swank; drug stores, Central Drug Store and I. C. Sanford & Co.
"There were a few smaller stores, among them being Doctor Storey's second- hand store and dental parlor.
"Soon after this Ben Hirsch closed out and S. Kasper opened a store.
"On September 1, 1887. I entered the employment of E. L. Hemingway, at Ilia, who conducted a general merchandise store, and grain warehouse. Mr. Hemingway established these houses some years before the railroad was built to Pomeroy, and did a large business, people from miles around coming to Ilia to trade. Many came fifteen and eighteen miles to purchase their supplies at the Hemingway store. There are but few people living in the county that were customers of the Hemingway store in 1889.
"Two years later I became connected with the store of B. Cohn & Co., of Pomeroy. In 1892 we incorporated the Pomeroy Mercantile Company, and pur- chased the merchandise from B. Cohn & Co. The first stockholders were B. Cohn, C. H. Seeley, M. F. Gose, G. L. Campbell, P. O. Seeley, M. A. Dunham, J. A. Strain, D. B. Williams and J. J. McGrath.
"Many pioneers will remember some of the stockholders with pleasure. Some have been very successful in the financial world. In 1912 the Mercantile Com- pany purchased the stock, fixtures and real estate from the Pomeroy Mercantile Company. The stockholders of the new company are C. H. Seeley, R. E. Allen, J. F. Burr, Mrs. J. B. Warren and J. J. McGrath.
"The firm of Brady & Rush changed to R. L. Rush & Co. in 1890, F. J. Elsensohn and J. B. Brady becoming junior members. Later R. L. Rush sold his interest to his partners and took the presidency of the Pomeroy State Bank, and the firm name was changed to Brady & Elsensohn until J. B. Brady sold his interest to F. J. Elsensohn. Mr. Elsensohn continued the business under his own name until he incorporated the Fred J. Elsensohn Co. Two years later he sold the business to J. N. Cardwell & Sons, who consolidated it with their business.
Vol. 1-25
386
OLD WALLA WALLA COUNTY
"E. W. Wilson and Mrs. M. Gibson came here in November, 1879, and opened a store in the Dirk Zemel Building. A year later fire and water nearly destroyed their stock, and the remainder was sold to D. Zemel.
"Dirk Zemel's grocery store was purchased by Allen & Adams in 1890. This firm came here from Pataha City and opened a store, later purchasing the Zemel store and consolidating them. Mr. Adams is now conducting the grocery store. Mr. Allen is vice president and stockholder in the Mercantile Company.
"About twenty-two years ago, C. H. Mowrey, with A. L. Darby, purchased the hardware business of II. Darby & Sons, and formed a partnership under the name of Darby & Mowrey, which business they have successfully conducted up to the present time.
"In the jewelry business, both C. A. McCabe and 1 .. J. Whitcomb are dead. Both will be remembered by all old-timers as kind-hearted, honest men. In the last ten years two new jewelry stores have taken their place-L. T. Christopher- son and George Simenstad, owners. Both carry large and up-to-date stocks.
"J. H. Hagy sold his shoe store about ten years ago to Powell & Taylor. Later Mr. Powell sold his interest to Taylor Bros., and later D. . \. Taylor assumed management of the store and his brother opened a store at Pasco.
"Sacknitz purchased the furniture business from Vassar, and the latter moved away for a time, returning and opening a store under the name of Williamson & Vassar, and later Vassar & Son, who are now conducting the furniture and undertaking business.
"The Central Drug Store, owned and operated by Doctor Kuykendall, was purchased by his son, C. E. Kuykendall, about ten years ago. He is doing busi- ness where his father did twenty-seven years ago. The East End Drug Store was sold by I. C. Sanford & Co. to Doctor Black & Son, and later to M. A. Black. Now it is owned by Crump & Dill.
"In 1892 L. F. Koenig sold his interest in the business conducted under the name of Koenig & Bournhouser, in Pataha, and, with O. S. Williamson, opened a store here under the name of L. F. Koenig & Co. This store has been very successful and is operated today under the above name, with E. J. Williamson associated with them.
"J. N. Cardwell & Sons opened a general merchandise store here sixteen years ago, and later purchased the merchandise stock from Fred J. Elsensohn Co., and consolidated the two stores.
"In the spring of 1890, J. S. Thomas, J. S. Davis and H. M. Hathaway organized a hardware store under the name of J. S. Davis & Co. Later the business was purchased by R. E. Wills, C. P. Gammon and J. R. Stevenson, under the name of C. P. Gammon & Co., and later Wills & Stevenson. About fifteen years ago Mr. Stevenson bought Mr. Wills' interest in the business and has since conducted it very successfully.
"In 1890 C. A. Lundy and E. M. Rauch incorporated under the name of C. A. Lundy & Co., and opened a grain and real estate business. Later they dis- solved the corporation and Mr. Lundy moved to Lewiston. Mr. Rauch then opened a hardware and implement house, which business he conducts at present.
"About fifteen years ago Mr. J. P. Ford, who at one time previous had been manager for an implement house here, returned and formed a partnership with J. R. Stevenson and opened an implement house. Later he purchased his
387
OLD WALLA WALLA COUNTY
partner's interest and conducted a very successful business. He sold to Morris & Tewalt, later Mr. Morris purchased the interest of Mr. Tewalt, and became sole owner. He has since enlarged the business, adding furniture and hardware in connection with the implement business. Later he purchased the stock of the Pomeroy Implement Co.
"About twelve years ago Ward & Meyers bought the hardware business of James Hazelton, and a short time afterwards took in T. B. McKeirnan and conducted two stores. Mr. Ward sold his interest to Mr. Meyers, and later the business was purchased by R. J. McKeirnan, J. C. McKeirnan, B. L. Keatts and W. L. Meyers, and implements and hardware were added. Later R. J. McKeirnan bought Mr. Meyers' interest. W. L. Meyers then opened a new harness store.
"About fifteen years ago H. Wenning opened a bakery and grocery, and con- ducted it until two years ago, when he sold to S. L. Nicholson, who has since managed it.
"A number of pioneers in business not mentioned in the above, who sold their stores and moved away were: Foote & Hull, who were among the earliest business men ; George Eller, Hayden Gearhardt, J. D. Tyrell, DeBow, Pomeroy Hardware & Implement Co."
PATAHA CITY
From Pomeroy we turn to its one time rival, three miles up the valley. Pataha City was laid out in 1878 by Angevine J. Favor. In 1882 W. W. Rigsby added to the townsite the tract known as Rigsby's addition. A. F. Beal made the survey of the new town. It was at first called "Favorsburg" and afterwards "Water- town." One of the most important events was the sale of a water right for a flour mill from a large spring south of the town by Cassander Woolery to J. M. Bowman and George Snyder. This was subsequently acquired by John Houser and became one of the most important mill properties in the state.
The Charter of Pataha City was granted by Judge W. G. Langford on April 3, 1888. As indicating the established residents of the town the list of those petitioning for the charter possesses historical interest: J. H. Walker, A. J. Favor, G. D. Wilson, John Harford, John Houser, H. B. Ferguson, W. J. Wills, B. Steele, H. L. Caples, Thomas Cunningham, C. A. Lundy, Robert Gammon, J. S. Dennison, A. McQueen, W. B. Wetzel, A. E. Allen, T. WV. Shan- non, Elmer Sage, R. M. Smith, Peter Cook, H. C. Krouse, H. Lanning, L. F. Koenig, R. Bornhouser, Charles Ward.
The first meeting of the board of trustees of Pataha was held in Harford & Son's bank, on April 12, 1888. John Harford was mayor, and the councilmen were: John Houser, A. J. Favor, J. H. Walker and G. D. Wilson. H. B. Fer- guson was clerk of the board. H. C. Krouse was the city marshal, E. D. Briggs superintendent of streets, and E. C. Harford treasurer.
One of the bitterest contests ever held in Pataha was over the question of prohibition. There was an election under the local option law in June, 1886. In the issue of the East Washingtonian of July 3d, there is a very grave charge against the judges of election, in effect that they allowed foul play with the ballot boxes during the noon recess, as a result of which eighty-two "wet" ballots were deposited in a bunch. It was matter of common knowledge that
388
OLD WALLA WALLA COUNTY
the "drys" were in a majority in the town, and so extraordinary a result could not fail to excite suspicion. The effort in the interest of the "wets" was unavailing and the entire county finally became dry. On April 7, 1893, a great catastrophe befell the town, for on that day came a fire which destroyed the larger part of the business portion. That was in the very hardest part of the "hard times." The year 1894. was indeed a black year, worse for Garfield County than for Walla Walla and Columbia, for they, being older, had more accumula- tions to fall back on. Wheat was bringing only 25 or 30 cents a bushel, and a good part of the crop of 1893 had been destroyed by continued rain. In 1894 came the "Great Flood," railroad strikes, bank failures and general chaos in the business world. Among other banks, that of Harford & Son at Pataha closed its doors. Pataha was manifestly on the down grade as a town. It was and is a beautiful and fertile spot and is now fulfilling its mission in the world as a central point of farming production. In April 10, 1911, the question of dis- incorporation was submitted to vote and by nearly a unanimous decision the charter was surrendered and Pataha ceased to be an incorporation. The busi- ness men mainly moved to Pomeroy or elsewhere and the Houser Mill alone remained in undiminished vitality.
The churches of Garfield County and Pomeroy are entitled to a place in any historic review.
The first church organization in the county seems to have been effected in 1878, by Father Peter Paaps, of the Catholic Church on land donated by J. M. Pomeroy and C. A. McCabe. This church has been maintained to this day, and with it a parochial school, conducted at present by the Benedictine Sisters. The present pastor of the Catholic Church is Father Peter Taufen.
The first Methodist preacher in Garfield County was Rev. George W. Ken- nedy, already spoken of in the chapter on Columbia County. He first came in 1874. Then a year later came Rev. A. J. Joslyn, whose home was in Dayton. There was no church organized as yet. In 1878 Rev. C. E. Rigsby established preaching places at a number of points, the schoolhouses or private residences furnishing meeting places. Two years later Rev. D. E. George took up the work, and he is remembered as a typical pioneer preacher. The first Methodist Church in Pomeroy was built in 1884 during the pastorate of Rev. W. T. Koontz. A number of pastors followed, the last of whom was Rev. A. Monroe. During his time a parsonage was built.
The first Baptist Church was organized on June 3, 1888, by Rev. J. H. Teale, then general missionary for Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho. Rev. S. E. Stearns became the first pastor. The church building was erected in 1895, being dedicated on March 29, 1895, by Rev. A. M. Allyn. Rev. John Cashman was pastor during that period. During the pastorate of Rev. W. E. Sawyer the parsonage was erected. Rev. C. S. Treadwell was pastor from March, 1912, to April, 1914. The church has not a settled pastor at the date of this publication.
Turning to the Christian Church, we find that the first services in the name of that fellowship were conducted in 1886 by Principal Wolverton of the Dayton schools. On November 20, 1887, "Brother" J. B. Daisley organized a church of twenty-five members. Like other early congregations they held services in store buildings, schoolhouses, courthouse, or almost any available shelter. In
PICKING GRAPES, AUGERMAYLE PLACE, CLARKSTON
GRAPE-GROWING (AND GIRL-GROWING) AT CLARKSTON
389
OLD WALLA WALLA COUNTY
1889, a house of worship was erected on a lot donated by Gilbert Dickson, and this was dedicated by "Brother" N. B. Alley in that year. The present pastor is Rev. R. Tibbs Maxey.
A Seventh Day Adventist organization was effected by Elders Van Horn and Raymond as the outcome of tent meetings conducted by them on the Moses Hunt ranch on Pataha Flat in 1881. In 1902 the organization was removed to Pomeroy, and the next year a building was erected. Occasional church services and regular Sunday School sessions have been maintained, though there is no settled pastor.
The history of the Episcopal Church calls up the names of two of the great figures in the pioneer life of that church, Bishop L. H. Wells and Bishop Pad- dock. Bishop Wells held services in the old Owsley schoolhouse in 1873. At that time the only member of that church in the whole country was Clara Pom- eroy, daughter of J. M. Pomeroy, subsequently Mrs. E. T. Wilson, now living in Tacoma. It is recalled by members of the family that the girl's tuition at St. Paul's School in Walla Walla, of which she was an attendant, was paid by cattle on the range, and that Bishop Wells would go up occasionally to look over his herd, and on such occasions he would preach in the schoolhouse.
Bishop Paddock gave $500 for a building and Bishop Wells raised $1,000 more, and in 1882 a church building was erected. At the present date Rev. John Leacher is pastor.
The Congregational Church in Garfield County, was organized at. Pataha in 1890 by the coming of Rev. John Nichols, one of the "Yale Band," of which President Penrose of Whitman College was another. "The church was active and a great center of light and stimulation to intellectual and social life for some years. The Harford, Houser, Reynolds, Wills, Rigsby, McCanse, and other leading families of Pataha joined with the pastor to make the church a great force in the whole region. With the decline of Pataha and the retirement of Mr. Nichols the church activities ceased, and the Congregationalists centered their interests on the church at Pomeroy. That was organized on March 15, 1903, by Rev. D. H. Reid. The building of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was purchased. Rev. Edward Owens became the first pastor. In 1913 Rev. John M. Huggins became settled in that church, and is pastor at this date.
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.