USA > Washington > Asotin County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 49
USA > Washington > Columbia County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 49
USA > Washington > Garfield County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 49
USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 49
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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
FRATERNAL ORDERS
The fraternal orders are duly represented in Pomeroy. The Masons are rep- resented by the Evening Star Lodge, No. 30, which received a dispensation in 1879. In 1886, a Royal Arch Chapter was duly established.
The Harmony Lodge, No. 16, of the Odd Fellows was granted a dispensation March 29, 1879, and was organized in the May following.
The Fairview Camp, No. 119, of the Woodmen of the World, dates its be- ginnings to July 5, 1892. There is also an auxiliary, the Women of Woodcraft, organized soon after the beginning of Fairview Camp.
The Knights of Pythias have a strong organization at Pomeroy, known as Garfield Lodge No. 25. It unites with the Masons and Odd Fellows in the ownership of Union Lodge Hall, a commodious and attractive building, the joint ownership of which is an interesting feature of the fraternity life of Pom- eroy.
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There is also a lodge of Rebekahs, known as Faith Rebekah Lodge, organized on May 25, 1888.
The Modern Woodmen and the Foresters of America have organizations in Pomeroy.
The Women's Christian Temperance Union organization was effected on June 18, 1884. It has been to this day a powerful influence for good, not alone in the line of temperance, but in many directions of community betterment. A free reading room is maintained, a most worthy agency for good.
Perhaps the most unique and practically efficient organization in the whole City of Pomeroy is the Women's Civic Club. This was organized under the leadership of Mrs. Frank Cardwell, as a specific means of public betterment. The installation of drinking fountains, cluster lights, clean-up days and instru- mentalities, and park improvements, are to be attributed to this admirable organ- ization.
Worthy of special respect is the post of the Grand Army of the Republic. It is known as McDowell Post, G. A. R.
The post was mustered in by Captain Smith of Vancouver on April 23, 1885, with the following list of officers and high privates :
S. G. Cosgrove, P. C .; B. B. Day, S. V. C .; J. W. Hardin, J. V. C .; J. S. Waldrup, surgcon; Henry C. Thompson, chaplain; D. C. Gardner, Q. M .; James Palmer, O. D .; Charles Lakin, O. G .; J. M. Sawyer, adjutant; Frank Elliott, S. M .; W. C. Potter, Q. M. S .; David Riley, L. M. Hoffeditz, Frank Geiger, W. G. S. Ginger, Cyrus D. Burt, J. P. Finch, B. Talmage. Only one of the charter members, Henry C. Thompson, now resides in Garfield County.
The charter was signed by Department Commander A. Morrow of Vancouver.
The post looks with pride to the monument erected on the courthouse square at a cost of $930. This monument was placed in 1904. Money was raised by a large list of donors, both comrades and their loyal friends, contributing. It was unveiled on the 4th day of July, 1904, in the presence of a large concourse of people from all over Garfield County, besides a number from adjoining counties.
FARMERS' UNION
Garfield County being exclusively a farming community, the Farmers' Union is naturally a powerful organization. In its officers and membership are found many of the most influential farmers of the county, and in view of the fact that our story has necessarily dealt largely with the chief town of the county, it seems just to end this portion of the chapter with a more extended view of the Farmers' Union than we have given to the fraternal orders of the city. We therefore again take advantage of the courtesy of the East Washingtonian by including here an article prepared for its special number by C. W. Cotton.
"Pomeroy Local, No. 10: This local was organized May 4, 1907, by H. D. Cox of Prescott, Wash., with fifteen charter members and the following officers : Chris Brockman, president; H. C. Thompson, vice president ; William J. Schmidt, secretary-treasurer ; Peter Herke, chaplain; John W. Oliver, conductor; Frank Rach, doorkeeper.
"The present membership numbers 130 and are collectively worth about two million dollars.
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"The present officers are: James Oliver, president ; William Gammon, vice president ; William J. Schmidt, secretary-treasurer; J. W. Ball, chaplain; R. W. G. Mast, conductor; Henry Miller, doorkeeper; and Peter McClung, W. A. DeBow and D. B. Williams, executive board.
"As its work shows, No. 10 is one of the successful locals, its officers efficient and up-to-date-its secretary ranking with the best in the state. Its members own about 200 shares ($10 each) in the Tri-State Terminal Warehouse Com- pany.
"The Pomeroy local organized a warehouse company in June, 1908, with thirty-two stockholders, capital stock, $6,350, divided into 127 shares of $50 each. All the stock was sold by June, 1909, and will have paid for itself in dividends during the first six years of its existence.
"This company built a warehouse, 50x450 feet, with a capacity of 200,000 bushels. This warehouse has stored the grain of the members and corrected many abuses of the grain storage business of Pomeroy, materially reduced the price of handling sacks, coal, posts, etc., and in a general way has been a benefit to every farmer in Garfield County.
"The Pomeroy Farmers' Union Warehouse Company's first officers were: William Gammon, president; James Oliver, vice president ; William J. Schmidt, secretary ; D. B. Williams, treasurer ; Ed Lubkins, manager. Trustees: William Gammon, D. B. Williams, James Oliver, William J. Schmidt and J. M. Robinson. The present officers are: William Gammon, president ; W. J. Schmidt, vice presi- dent ; W. A. DeBow, secretary and manager, and D. B. Williams, treasurer.
"Mayview Local, No. 4: This local, the fourth to be given a charter in the State of Washington, was organized by Mr. Cox on May 13, 1907, with twenty- three charter members and the following officers: W. A. DeBow, president ; T. E. Theth, vice president; C. W. Cotton, secretary-treasurer ; J. D. Lyon, chaplain; Arthur Ruark, conductor; and Ed Taylor, doorkeeper. Several of these have been continuously re-elected.
"The membership has increased to sixty, though a number have moved away and death has taken five of our brothers-Ed and Bert Leachman, Eph Hess, Charley Ruark and Roy Wade.
"The present officers are: T. E. Tueth, president; A. L. Shelton, vice presi- dent ; C. W. Cotton, secretary-treasurer; C. E. Watson, chaplain; J. F. Dyche, conductor; and Ed Taylor, doorkeeper. Executive board: J. H. Lambie, C. H. Bishop, E. R. Schneckloth, C. W. Cotton and T. E. Tueth.
"The Mayview local has always taken an active part in union work and for two years furnished one of the five members of the state board.
"In January, 1910, it appealed to the O. R. & N. Co. to build a downtown depot in Pomeroy, without success. Later the appeal was sent to the state rail- road commission. An investigation was promised which resulted in the present centrally located depot.
"In 1911 it successfully conducted a trial against the Mayview Tramway Company before the State Public Service Commission.
"In January, 1914, the United States Department of Justice was induced to begin an investigation of the alleged grain bag trust on the Pacific Coast. If this investigation has been thorough it will be some time before grain bags will sell again at 'two for a quarter.'
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"It favored the establishment of the paper, Pacific Farmers' Union, bought ten shares of stock, and for quite a while held the highest per cent of subscribers among its members. It was among the first to advocate a national union paper.
"The Mayview local owns about 100 shares in the Tri-State Terminal Ware- house Company and some of its members have profitably shipped their grain there.
"Ever since its organization it has bought grain bags, fuel, fence posts, etc., at a material reduction, and has contracted with the Tri-State Terminal Company for 93,000 grain bags for this year at a price believed to be the best ever given to the farmers of Garfield County.
"Central Local, No. 145: This local was organized by the writer, assisted by T. E. Tueth, January 7, 1911, with fifteen charter members and the following officers : S. Bratcher, president ; J. H. Morris, vice president ; C. T. Castle, secre- tary-treasurer ; John Daisley, chaplain; J. E. Tueth, conductor ; and J. W. Bly, doorkeeper. Other members: W. H. Keith, J. A. Brown, J. S. Tucker, Dennis Porter, W. B. Brown, Henry Lynn, Frank Lynn, Hattie Bratcher, and Harriet E. Bly. This local has kept up its membership and J. E. Tueth is now secretary- treasurer."
THE PRESS OF GARFIELD COUNTY
We have already given a view of the earliest newspapers of what is now Gar- field County, founded prior to county division. For the sake of clearness we here name them again, with the date of each :
The Washington Independent was founded April 12, 1880, by F. W. D. Mays ; the Pataha Spirit in January, 1881, by G. C. W. Hammond; and the Pomeroy Republican had its first number March 4, 1882, founded by E. T. Wilson. The Republican was practically continued by the East Washingtonian, to which we have frequently referred and which has the distinction of longer continuance under one management than any other paper in Old Walla Walla County, with the exception of the Columbia Chronicle under R. E. Peabody.
Peter McClung, the present proprietor of the Washingtonian, after having been for several years an employee, became joint owner with E. M. Pomeroy in 1889, and in 1893 he became sole proprietor. In 1915 a corporation was formed of Peter McClung and Ray McClung. As a unique feature of this incorporation, and for the sake of creating something like a community paper, a hundred stock- holders, the leading men of the town, have small shares in the enterprise. In this, as in its excellent news service and the force and cogency of its editorials, the Washingtonian ranks very high among weekly papers.
Mr. McClung tells us that many attempts at founding newspapers were made during the early history of the county. There were some eight or ten news- paper funerals during those early days. Most of them departed sine dic. Two, the Pataha Farmer and the Garfield County Standard, were absorbed by the Washingtonian.
The files of the Republican of 1882 tempt to larger extracts than we have space for. In the advertising columns we find the following lawyers' cards : A. T. Heavilon, Frank H. Brown, J. H. Lister, J. B. Lister.
R. P. Steen calls attention to the Pomeroy Planing Mill. The doctors are represented by J. C. Andrews and J. H. Kennedy. B. B. Day advertises the
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Pomeroy Flour Mill. That mill was owned by J. H. Abbott, the pioneer stage line manager of Walla Walla. The mill was subsequently burned. Mr. Day also had the first store, sold to Brady and Rush. The St. George Hotel appears, managed by Harry St. George, still a leader in the affairs of Pomeroy. The sawmill of Jay Lynch at Iron Springs appears in the columns. We find also saw mills owned by E. G. Teale and E. Stephens and shingle mill by G. W. Bear on Pataha Flat. Mention is made of the ferry of J. J. Kanawyer across Snake River at Asotin. In the issue of March 18, 1882, is a somewhat vehement dis- cussion of the "Garfield County county-seat contest," with the Walla Walla Union. It appears that the Union had spoken with some contempt of the fuss and of the criticism of Judge Wingard for his technical decision. It avers that the expense was only $65.15. The tone of the article roused the ire of the Repub- lican and it declares that it had cost $4,607.10, besides interest. In the same number is the school report, from which it appears that there were 1,198 pupils in twenty-five districts. That was at the time when Asotin was part of the county.
On July 15, 1882, we find an item to the effect that William Stephens had sold lot 1, block 8, to Doctor Kuykendall and R. E. Butler for $1,000.
In the number of November 11, 1882, is a very interesting item to the effect that Captain Lewis of Asotin had a limekiln two miles below the mouth of Grande Ronde River, and that he had stored there 250 barrels of lime. He an- ticipated getting out 1,200 barrels the next year. The statement is made that there is a fine ledge of marble near the same place.
In concluding this too brief view of the interesting and important history of Garfield County we are impressed with the thought that if we were to select the especially unique feature of that history it would be found in the fact that this county, one of the small counties of the state and one of the newer ones, has had a remarkable list of men who have risen to prominence in the affairs of the state or of the country. It is quite remarkable to give even a partial list of such char- acter. Two judges of the supreme court of the state, Elmon Scott and Mack Gose, went from Pomeroy. Governor Cosgrove was for many years a citizen of the same place. The greatest individual grain dealer in the United States, it is even said now the greatest in the world, Max Houser of Portland, was born and raised at Pataha. He is now said to be six times a millionaire. Recently he has invested $250,000 in Liberty bonds, and upon his appointment by President Wil- son as grain commissioner of the North Pacific Coast, he decided to devote the entire profits of his grain business to the Red Cross. Other business men of great note, as John Davis of Seattle, Frank Williams of Toppenish, and C. G. Austin of Seattle, had their start in Garfield County. Jay Lynch, one of the leaders in early history in this county, subsequently became for many years the Federal agent at the Simcoe Reservation, where he made a great record for the wisdom and justice of his dealing with the Indians.
The members of the Legislature from Garfield have exercised an influence in general legislation far beyond the proportionate size of the county. An instance may be found in the prominent part played by Senator J. R. Stevenson in the Open River movement.
Every one in Pomeroy would think at once of Dr. G. B. Kuykendall as a char- acter entirely out of the ordinary. Besides being a "beloved physician," he has been one of the foremost investigators of history and of Indian myths and
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character, and has a high order of literary ability such as has given him a special place in the state.
.Among local features of distinctive interest and character, we may note those which we have already enumerated; the peculiar community ownership system upon which the East Washingtonian rests, and the Women's Civic Club with all its municipal betterments, not indeed unknown in other towns, for the women of all our towns play a great part in improvement, but apparently carried to a higher degree of efficiency than can be found in other places of the size of Pomeroy.
Sum it all up, and we may say that the people of Garfield County, a genuine red-blooded American community, ambitious, progressive, and enterprising, set a good example to all their neighbors.
GARFIELD COUNTY PIONEER ASSOCIATION
The Garfield County Pioneer Association was organized July 11, 1909.
First officers were as follows: Mrs. Ella A. DeBow, president. Secretary, Frank V. Messenger.
Treasurer, Mrs. Addie M. McClung.
There were in addition several vice presidents to represent different sections of the county.
Officers for the past four years : W. L. Howell, president. G. B. Kuykendall, secretary. L. F. Koenig, treasurer and financial secretary.
Vice presidents to represent different parts of the country around.
As an organization which has performed a great function in creating interest in local history and which has done much to preserve early records, the Garfield County Pioneer Association is worthy of special recognition. The association maintains a two days' session each year, and for conspicuous service in the fields upon which this history and others like it must rely, it is fitting that special men- tion be made of it in closing this chapter.
CHAPTER IV
ASOTIN COUNTY
We have described the topography and climate of this latest of the three children of Mother Walla Walla County, in the first part of this volume. We also gave some of the general facts relative to first discovery and settlement. We find, however, in case of Asotin, as of her sisters, Columbia and Garfield, that the demands of clearness and unity call for some repetition. We shall there- fore bring up once more the first comers who have already appeared, besides entering more minutely into the tale of the early days.
We have endeavored to find some distinctive features in the natural condi- tions, history, or present state of each county in the family. While the physical features and climate of the four counties are essentially the same, each has some characteristic of its own. That of Asotin is the fact of its long frontage on Snake River, extending from the southern boundary across the mouth of the Grande Ronde, the only considerable river in the entire area, facing the entrance of the Kooskooskie or Clearwater and then still providing the margin for the Snake to a point just below the entrance of the Alpowa. With this long river frontage there goes naturally a remarkably varied surface, the most of the county being an elevated plateau running northward from the Blue Mountains, and this is cut up by profound cañons alternating with nearly level plains. While this feature of the uplands is most characteristic, there is an extensive lowland in the triangle beginning with Asotin and including the great area sweeping around to, and for some miles west of, the promontory just opposite the mouth of the Clearwater on which Clarkston is located. This lowland rises by a series of benches toward the west and south to the high prairies, though separated from them by the abyss of Asotin Creek.
As might be expected from such a topography, the scenery of Asotin County is conspicuously grand and beautiful. It would doubtless be acknowledged by residents in other parts of Old Walla Walla County that there is no one view equal from a scenic standpoint to that extending from Asotin to Clarkston, unless it be that fronting the Columbia at its junction with the Snake. On a clear bright day in spring (which comes very early in this favored land) go in a launch from Clarkston to Asotin up the rushing river, look north toward that infinitely varied and curiously sculptured margin with which the vast farming plateau of Whit- man and Nez Perce counties fronts the junction of the rivers, then view that superb unfolding of rising prairie on the east with the azure Craig mountains on its edge, then turn your eyes to the frontage of Asotin prairie on the west and view the immediate foreground with that marvellously picturesque "Swallow's Nest" rock parting the two regions of high land and lowland-and you will be
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dull indeed if you are not entranced and if you do not say: "There must some- time be a race of poets and artists in such a land."
The rythmical native name of Asotin means "Eel," that fish being very com- mon about the mouth of the creek.
Like most Indian words the sound, and hence the spelling, varies. It appears frequently with two s's, that being the spelling for one of the two rival town sites, Asotin and Assotin City, which finally merged into the present city.
The Nez Perce Indians, who ought to be an authority, are said by old-timers to sound it "Shoten." It has frequently been given as "Hashoteen" or "Hasoten." or "Ashoti."
One of the mooted and interesting points in first discovery is whether it was the Asotin or the Alpowa which Lewis and Clark on their return trip from the Pacific in 1806 descended, and hence their route from this region to their ap- pointed meeting place on the Kooskooskie with the "Chopunnish" Indians with whom they had left their horses. The language of the journal of Captain Lewis indicates that, descending the plains, they went "for four miles to a ravine, where was the source of a small creek, down the hilly and rocky sides of which we pro- ceeded for eight miles to its entrance into Lewis (Snake) River, about seven and one-half miles above the mouth of the Kooskooskie." That would obviously indicate the Asotin Creek. But it is improbable that the party would have taken so laborious a route as to have struck the Asotin eight miles above its mouth. Moreover, the general route indicates the Alpowa. Perhaps conclusive in the matter, however, is the fact that the journal of Private Gass states that they kept down a creek "until we came to Lewis River, some distance below the forks of the Kooskooskie" (seeming plainly to mean the junction of the Snake and Clear- water). "After lunch," he says, "we proceeded up the south side of Lewis River about three miles," where they crossed it. Furthermore, Gass says that the next day, being on the north side of Lewis River, "at about ten o'clock we passed the forks, and kept along the north side of the Kooskooskie." In view of these records Elliott Coues, acknowledged to be the authoritative editor of the Lewis and Clark journals, decided that the word above in Lewis' journal is a slip and that below was intended and should be substituted. If we accept this version, we must admit that these first white men were not actually on the site of Asotin. However, it is clear that the region became soon familiar to the trappers. The Mckenzie division of the Hunt party in the first descent of Snake River in the winter of 1811-12 evidently passed, though we have no record of their stopping places. Later the Hudson's Bay trappers, Bonneville with his party, and others. made their way down the Grande Ronde and "Wayleway" (Wallowa) and stopped on the Asotin, to proceed thence over the Peola, Alpowa, and Pataha regions, toward Fort Walla Walla, the great emporium of the whole region. The region is historic ground. The "bar" at the mouth of the Asotin seems to have been for many years a favorite gathering spot for the Nez Percé Indians. We are informed by Mr. Edward Baumeister that the Joseph band of Nez Percés claimed the place, and that the disputed possession of it was one cause of the Nez Percé war of 1877, in which Joseph (Hallakallakeen, or Eagle Wing) played so famous a part. Mr. Baumeister states that the Indians had obviously used the point as camping ground for a long time, for at the time of his coming in 1883. the place was covered with "cache-holes" and grave-yards.
ASOTIN FROM IDAHO, LOOKING WEST
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Turning from these pre-settlement times to the era of the entrance of per- manent residents, we wish to pay our acknowledgments first of all to certain old-time citizens of the country from whom we derived information and received the courtesies which our pioneers know so well how to bestow. Without under- taking to name all to whom we are thus indebted we may especially refer to Mr. Edward Baumeister, Mr. George Sauer, Major Boggan, J. D. Swain, Doctor Fulton, Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Wormell, Mr. John Romaine, Mr. A. J. Crow, Mrs. Lilian Clemans Merchant, Mr. Kay L. Thompson of the Sentinel for use of the files of his excellent paper, and Mr. Charles S. Florence, city clerk of Asotin, for use of city records. Prof. W. J. Jerome has kindly provided information regarding the schools and churches. Mr. and Mrs. F. G. Morrison of Clarkston . are the earliest old-timers now living at that comparatively new point and gave valuable information. One of the most interesting of all the old-timers of the entire region is O. F. Canfield of Clarkston, who, though comparatively a new resident of Clarkston, has been familiar with the region since 1847, and is a storehouse of varied information about early days. For more recent history, Messrs. Foster and Westervelt of the Lewiston-Clarkston Company have pro- vided much valuable data relating to the great enterprise of their company, the greatest of its kind in this part of the state. We are indebted to Mr. J. E. Hoobler, Mr. E. E. Halsey, one of our advisory board, and G. L. Ackley, city clerk, for other more recent information about Clarkston. The "History of Southeast Washington," published in 1906 by the Western Historical Publishing Company of Spokane, contains a large amount of valuable matter and to it we make acknowledgment for various data and early statistics.
Mr. Baumeister has directed our attention to the interesting fact that when Asotin was part of Walla Walla County there was a voting precinct opposite Lewiston known as Asotin Precinct. No one lived there at that time, but the precinct was laid out to accommodate miners or packers who might be going to Idaho, but who claimed Walla Walla as their residence.
A view of the beginnings of white settlement in what is now Asotin County following the era of the trappers takes us back to historic times, when Spalding gave Red Wolf (Herminilpip) apple seeds from which trees grew, one of which can still be seen at the mouth of the Alpowa; when Colonel Craig and "Doctor" Newell ranged through the country; and when Timothy, the savior of Steptoe's defeated command, and Tema, his "klootchman," lived on the Alpowa, the "place of rest," as they called it, where this old aboriginal couple lived genuine Christian lives, a good deal better than some of the supposed superior race. Tema is said by Newton Hibbs, as quoted in the "History of Southeast Washington," to have even remembered the coming of Lewis and Clark.
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