III. GARFIELD COUNTY…

III. GARFIELD COUNTY

It has been remarked by various philosophers at various times concerning various subjects that like causes produce like effects. The same causes which led to the establishment of Columbia County from the eastern two-third of the Old County of Walla Walla operated within a short time to cause a movement for another division, and that yet again to another, insomuch that Garfield and Asotin became political entities. Some petty local jealousies and selfish scheming almost always play their part in county divisions and county-seat fights. Yet it would be very superficial to attribute to these less worthy motives the main influences. The fundamental causes after all have usually been the progressive growth of population and the differentiation of industry, whereby there arises some real need of new lines and more convenient official centers.

The pressure of those conditions began to be felt in the northern and eastern parts of Old Columbia County almost as soon as it was fairly organized. It was soon discovered that the Touchet region was one natural unit and the eastern and northeastern part of the county was another; or rather two, for almost immediately the same line of reasoning led to the conclusion that the Asotin country was naturally a separate unit from that of the Pataha.

Although settlement has not been in any way uniform in these four counties and there has been some shingling over from one to another, it may be said that in a general way the movement was from west to east and northeast. While the decade of the '60s was peculiarly the foundation period of Walla Walla and Columbia, that of the '70s may be regarded as peculiarly the pioneer age of Garfield, while that of Asotin may be assigned to the latter part of the '70s and beginning of the '80s.

We find, however, that a few of the foundation builders were already in their permanent homes in Garfield County in the '60s, long prior to the formation of the county. We have already given a list of these first locations, and our main purpose in this chapter is to take up the story with county creation. For the sake of topical clearness, however, it is well to present a summary, even at the expense of a little repetition, of the first settlement of the different regions of what became the permanent Garfield County.

As authority for such precounty history we find a very valuable special number of the East Washingtonian. This is the "First Garfield County Pioneer Edition" of June 6, 1914. This issuance of so elaborate a number of the paper is a great demonstration of the enterprise of the publishers of that paper, as well as of the local ambition of the Pioneer Association of the County, an association which holds an annual two-day session and which has done much to fasten genuine historical and patriotic sentiments in the memory of the people of the county.

From this highly commendable edition of the East Washingtonian we derive the following summary of first events:

SUMMARY OF THE FIRST EVENTS: THE DAWN OF CIVILIZATION IN THIS TERRITORY

The first white persons that ever came through Garfield County were the members of the Lewis and Clark expedition. They arrived at Rigsby's Grove May 3, 1806, and camped for dinner, eating what was left of two dogs they had purchased from the Indians.

The first steamboat passed up Snake River in 1860.

Columbia Center was the first town laid off in Garfield County in 1876.

The first known murder by the whites was that of a man killed in the old Rigsby cabin Christmas morning, 1864. The man who did the killing was named Wilkins and the man killed was the owner of the house. The old cabin still stands on the Rigsby place.

The first sawmill erected in this county was put up by Henry Sharpnack, in 1874, just above Columbia Center. It was not successful.

James F. Rose was the first settler next the mountains above Pataha Prairie, 1869.

Joseph Clary built the first residence in Pomeroy after the original Sunderland log cabin. It was the residence of B. B. Day and still stands, the first house west of A Street on Main.

The first women's votes were cast at an election to fill a vacancy of justice of the peace, January 29, 1884.

The first settlers were in many instances men with Indian women. John Fogarty lived on the Rafferty place with a Nez Percé half-Indian woman. She was born at the crossing of the Touchet about where Dayton now is. Fogarty was drowned in the Clearwater. Thomas Reynolds lived a mile below Marengo, on the Tucanon, with an Indian woman who had before lived with two different white men. They had two daughters named Clydena and Agatha. After the latter the Town of Agatha, Idaho, was named. Clydena died at Marengo when about fourteen years old. Agatha married James Evans, son of Berry Evans.

Coleman, for whom Coleman Gulch was named, lived on the Tucanon, a mile above Marengo, and had a California Indian wife. James Turner lived on the Alpowa with an Indian woman. Two men named Bailey, with Indian wives, in 1859, lived on the Touchet, near Dayton.

The first minister to hold services in Garfield County was the Rev. Father Cataldo, who preached at Rafferty's and McBrearty's.

The first school on the Pataha Creek was taught by W. W. McCauley in 1873. The schoolhouse was located at Owsley's.

J. M. Pomeroy located the land where Pomeroy now stands on December 8, 1864.

The first telegraph was built by the government and ran from Dayton to Lewiston, through Pomeroy, in 1879.

The Catholics built the first church in Pomeroy, 1878. Father Papes was the first pastor.

First grain raised on Deadman was in 1878, E. T. Wilson, grower.

Newton Estes was the first settler on the Deadman, 1870.

James Bowers was the first settler on the land where Pataha now is, 1861. In 1868 Vine Favor bought the land and started the Town of Pataha in 1878.

The first Protestant minister to hold services in Garfield County was Rev. Calaway, then living in Walla Walla, a Cumberland Presbyterian.

* * * * *

It appears from this record that Parson Quinn was the first settler on the Pataha, having located there in 1860. The first house on the Pataha was built by Thomas Riley, who afterwards disposed of it to James Rafferty. One of the first settlers was William McEnery, on the lower Pataha, in 1862.

The next creek after the Pataha to receive settlers was the Deadman. This rather lugubrious name seems to have been derived from the fact that during the hard winter of '61-2, two men perished in the hollow which became known as "Deadman Hollow." They were supposed to have been miners from Orofino or Florence. The bodies were not discovered till spring, and were then suitably interred and the spot marked with a pile of rocks at a point near the old road from Walla Walla to Lewiston. That region is now one of the best farming sections in the Inland Empire. Newton Estes was the first to make a permanent location on the Deadman, and his date was 1871. Within a short time, S. T. Jones, A. E. Lee, W. L. Freeman, Frank Ping, John Lynn, and Archie McBrearty located upon the creek. One event of that stage worthy of special record was the Alpowa "Toll Road." It was built by B. B. Howard and M. Fettis, in 1872-3, and in 1873 became the property of N. A. Wheeler. For twenty-five years it was maintained by Mr. Wheeler and then deeded by him to the county for $1.00. Pataha prairie, south of the Deadman and Alpowa, was settled in the early '70s. Rev. William Calaway located there in 1870; Isaac Coatney in 1871; William Chester, 1871; D. Zemmel, 1871; Robert Storey, 1872.

From these centers of settlement, Pataha Creek, Deadman Creek and Hollow, Pataha prairie, together with the still earlier Tucanon (spoken of in connection with Columbia County), and Alpowa (the lower part of which was early historic ground as the home of Red Wolf and Timothy, the Nez Perces, associated with the Missionary Spalding), the growth proceeded during the period prior to county division, following the familiar lines from sheep and cattle and horses to agriculture.

The most constructive event was the founding of Pomeroy. This thriving city, the capital and metropolis of Garfield County, was established by J. M. Pomeroy in 1877. Mrs. Pomeroy, now Mrs. St. George, is living at the date of this publication, a woman of great vigor of mind and body, the best authority on the early days in the place of which she told the author she might be called "the Mother." Mr. Pomeroy came from Oregon to the territory in 1863, and for a few months took charge of the stage station at the present site of Dayton. There the youngest child of the family, now Mrs. Peter McClung of Pomeroy, was born. In the spring of 1864, Mr. Pomeroy moved with his family to the location of the town which became his namesake. There in the last part of the year he purchased of a transient settler, Walter Sunderland, the right to the claim on which the town now stands. For a dozen years he devoted his main attention to cattle raising and to the conducting of the stage station. The author wishes that his readers could enjoy the privilege, as he has, of hearing Mrs. St. George describe in her vivid and entertaining way the times of the stage station and the express boxes with thousands of dollars' worth of gold dust, when "road agents" were figuring on breaking in and seizing them, when horse thieves ran off their horses, and when the Vigilantes would occasionally decorate a tree with the remains of a horse thief as a suggestion for moderation in becoming attached to other men's stock. As the next best thing we are going to let Mrs. St. George tell the story in the following sketch which appeared in the pioneer number of the East Washingtonian.

"Pomeroy, Wash., April 5, 1914.--I came from Salem, Ore., where I had lived with my people for eighteen years, being four years old when my folks crossed the plains, among the early pioneers of Oregon.

"I was married at the age of fifteen years, and, for a while, lived in Salem with my husband and two small children.

"I came up the Columbia River by steamer to Wallula, took the stage for Walla Walla, with twelve other passengers, on April 6, 1864.

"At Wallula I found a great rush of travel, many on their way to the reported gold strike at Orofino, Idaho.

"I had two pairs of fine blooded pigs in a small box, two dozen fine chickens, but no baggage except a suitcase with a few things for my children. My trunks had been left at Portland and came the next day.

"My husband was coming overland with a band of fine Shorthorn cattle and about twenty head of horses. He had been driving stock for about four weeks, and I had remained with my mother for awhile, so we would arrive at Walla Walla about the same time. Arriving there with my little ones, a stranger in a strange land, with very little money, and board and lodgings at the City Hotel twenty-five dollars a week, and no letter from my husband awaiting me, I did not feel very much at home.

"But soon a man with whom Mr. Pomeroy had made arrangements for the place where we were to live until we could look about and select a piece of land for our homestead. We were to stay that summer on the ranch two miles east of Dayton, belonging to Mr. William Rexford, in a small log house with a fireplace, and there, in September, Mrs. McClung was born.

"We were as poor and hard up for money as any one that ever came to this country. In the month of July Mr. King, who at that time carried the mail, express and passengers from Walla Walla to Lewiston, made me a proposition to keep a stage stand and feed his hungry passengers every day, and very soon I was giving two dinners each day to the coming and going travelers.

"I had told Mr. King that I had nothing to work with, no stove, table or dishes; nothing to cook and I did not see how I could accommodate him. I had been helping to break some of the young heifers to milk, and made some butter to sell, having no other way to make a dollar. I sold all the butter I could spare for one dollar a pound; but soon winter would come on and then what would we do with no money, no sale for what little stock we had? Something had to be done. We had made a garden soon after we settled and by this time we had some nice vegetables, which were a great treat to the travelers coming out of the mines.

"Mr. King told me to make a list of what I needed for my house so I could feed his passengers, and, finally, after much urging, I did so. He took my list to Walla Walla, had the bill filled, put on a freight team the next day and brought me a big, nice cookstove with all the things belonging to it; lots of dishes and linen, and said I could pay him when I made the money and could spare it.

"The very next day I gave a dinner to ten passengers, and, oh, didn't they brag on that dinner. I never will forget all the nice things they said.

"I kept the stage stand there until December 10th, when we bought this place, where Pomeroy now stands, or rather the improvements on it, consisting of a large house, a log barn and corral.

"Then the daily stage service was discontinued to once a week, with this station as a night stopping place, where all that traveled the road always got their meals. Our house became the famous stopping place between Walla Walla, Wash., and Lewiston, Idaho.

"When the travel was heavy we made some money, and when the travel was light I had to work out doors milking cows, making garden and all kinds of hard work. My little children almost raised themselves, taking care of the baby, and helping me in many ways. Work, always thinking of how to make nice things to eat for the traveling public, and how to keep expenses paid.

"Walla Walla was our trading place, for everything was high at Lewiston. But if I had anything to sell I sent it to the latter place.

"There was one family living on the Pataha besides us, two or three squaw men and some bachelors living where the King boys now live, and for a little while a family was located on the Alpowa Creek. There were some Indian ranches on that creek at that time. No one lived below on the Pataha, till you came to the old 'Parson' Quinn place, eleven miles down, then farther on were two or three cattle ranches--Rice and Montgomery, Platters, and later Archey McBrearty. There was no settlement on Snake River except at Almota, no one living on the Deadman, nor anywhere over there, and no settlers between the Pataha and the mountains.

"I helped my husband to stake the roads to the mountains. There had been a road up the Benjamin Gulch, which was so badly washed out it could not be traveled. We staked a road across 'Dutch Flat' for our own use, as wood and fencing had to come from that direction.

"There was scarcely enough brush along the Pataha to make a camp fire. The Indians would burn the grass every year along Pataha, thus killing the tender willows.

"In those early days the Indians were very plentiful. I have seen as many as 100 or more pass by our place in one day, their destination being the Camas and Kouse districts, as Camas Prairie was then called. Then, later in the season, they would go to a lake at the head of the Yakima River, high up in the mountains, where the squaws would fish, and the men hunt deer, which were plentiful.

"During these camping periods, horse racing was the principal amusement; the Indians had many fine, fast horses, and the several tribes wagered many dollars and trinkets on the merits of their race stock. During this racing season many unscrupulous white men, or 'renegades,' would arrive, camping close by, winning the money of the Indians and selling them liquor.

"The Alpowa Indians were very friendly, and the squaws would work for me; I would hire them to work in the garden. They would take potatoes for their pay and pack them on their ponies. If not watched, they would steal some of the vegetables, but most of them did an honest day's work and were satisfied with what I gave them for their labor.

"Sometimes I could buy huckleberries from the Indians and dried antelope hams during the first few years we lived here. There was an old Indian called 'Squally John,' who would catch salmon on the Snake River and bring them to us. They would catch hundreds of them and dry them for the winter and would also get plenty of venison in our mountains.

"I was afraid of the Indians for a few years, but got over that feeling. It was slow work for one or two men to make a farm. Not a furrow had ever been plowed when we came, no fencing. Barbed wire was not known then, and Mr. Pomeroy had to haul feed for his team, and seed grain from the Touchet; and that, with the timber hauling from the mountains, kept him busy, which left the cows and the chores and all kinds of outdoor work for me to do with one hired man and the help of the children.

"I was a very busy woman, although I did find time to teach the children to read and write, and the first lessons were learned at home. There was a school taught at Dayton the summer of 1869, and we sent Clara and Ned there. This was a four months' term. The next year we sent Clara to the sisters at Walla Walla, then, in 1872, Bishop Wells started the St. Paul School, and Clara was one of the pupils there, until she finished her schooling and was married to Eugene T. Wilson, on Christmas Day, 1877.

"In the meantime we had opened a school at the Owsley place, and our two children attended school there, going five miles in a buggy. There were ten pupils the first year. The country was settling up everywhere by this time; many had settled on the Pataha Prairie, and Alpowa, and over in the Deadman country and along the Pataha Creek.

"When the flour mill was built, a man wanted to put in a stock of goods; then others came, and a town was laid out.

"Then there was no more frontier."

That Mrs. St. George succeeded at the stage station and in that vital and fundamental requisite of the traveler in the days of the stage, viz., good eatables, well cooked and served, was abundantly proven. A writer in the Walla Walla Union in 1894 drew a toothsome picture of the gastronomic attractions at Pomeroy and Alpowa, as follows:

"A quarter of a century or more ago there were two famous eating houses on the stage road between Walla Walla and Lewiston, houses which were the occasion of many heated arguments between those who had been over the road as to which was the better, houses at either of which the traveler, tired and sore from the lurching of the stage, was sure of a substantial meal, the memory of which, as it flitted through the brain, lingered and made the mouth water. These were the houses which the familiar, all-pervading, time-serving drummer contracted into 'Pum's' and 'Freeman's.' The former was located near what is now the center of the thriving City of Pomeroy; the latter was on the Alpowa, about half-way between 'Pum's' and Lewiston. Coming passengers dined at Pomeroy's; going took breakfast at Freeman's. Possibly stage passengers have eaten better cooked meals and sat down to more attractive tables than those found at Freeman's and Pomeroy's, but they never said so while at either place, or elsewhere. Delicious bread, fresh from the oven, that which was properly seasoned by age, sweet butter, thick cream in genuine coffee, meats done to a turn, chicken fried or stewed, vegetables in their season, fruits, pastry, each and all 'fit to set before a king,' were provided in profusion in both places. In winter huge fires in equally huge fireplaces thawed out the frozen traveler. In summer cold buttermilk cooled his heated blood and washed the alkali dust out of his throat."

As an interesting record of the early days, we find an account in the Columbia Chronicle of Dayton of the first Fourth of July celebration in the present Garfield County held in 1878 at the edge of the Blue Mountains just beyond Pataha flat. The reporter for the Chronicle declares that the celebration was a great success; a near arbor for the speaker and musicians, plenty of seats, abundant eatables, and great enthusiasm in spite of the mountain chill prevailing.

THE NEW COUNTY OF GARFIELD

Being obliged to content ourselves with these hurried glimpses at the precounty history we turn to the important stage of the creation of the new county. As the reader will recall, the County of Columbia was set up in 1875. We discover from files of the Columbia Chronicle that agitation in favor of a new county began in 1880. By that year considerable settlement had been made in the Pataha, Deadman, Alpowa and Asotin regions and a common subject of discussion was the inconvenient distance from Dayton as the county seat.

The Chronicle of October 9, 1880, thus views the situation:

"A talk with many of the leading men from various parts of the county reveals the fact that the people are in no great hurry for a division. It is generally conceded that the county is too large when the immense canyons and peculiar lay of the country are taken into consideration, but it is also conceded that the eastern portion of the county is not at the present time prepared to support a county organization. All talk of a division is, therefore, at this time, premature. The people of the western portion of the county are in favor of forming a new county when the eastern portion demands it."

One of the features of the case was the number of possible county seats which began to sprout forth as candidates for the official crown. One was laid out on Snake River at the mouth of the Alpowa, and that would be a fine site for a city, too, now the location of several hundred acres of magnificent orchard. Another was Mentor, on the Pataha, six miles above Pomeroy. It was at the foot of the "grade" on the Rafferty place and was first named Belfast. The claims of Mentor, named from the home of the President whose name was to become that of the county, are set forth thus in some correspondence from that ambitious place for the Columbia Chronicle of December 17, 1881:

"The Town of Mentor desires to have a fair chance in the contest. We stand on our own merits. We have a good townsite on the Pataha Creek; good roads running to the place. The greatest wheat growing country in the territory tributary to it. The Pataha and Lewiston survey runs to this place; the road will, no doubt, be built in time to take away next year's crop. We are very sorry we did not ask for the capital of the territory instead of the county seat, but will try that next time. This place is well known, and is as near the center of the county as it is possible to locate a town. Lumber is being hauled for buildings, and the proprietor, Mr. Rafferty, is very liberal in his donations of land for county purposes. Mentor is the place for the people. You will hear this place called Dublin, Limerick, and Ireland."

Melancholy was the fate of Mentor. A sarcastic correspondent in the Chronicle writes, under date of February 11, 1882:

"The lumber pile, which constituted the Town of Mentor, has been purchased by Mr. Scott and will be brought to Pomeroy. Like Mahomet and the mountain: If the county seat would not go to Mentor, Mentor will go to the county seat."

Besides Alpowa and Mentor, the prospective towns of Asotin, Assotin City, Columbia Center, Pataha City, and Pomeroy were all aspirants. The last named, laid out, as already noted, in 1877, soon forged to the front and became the center of an active propaganda for the removal of the county seat of Columbia or for the erection of a new county. The former proposition seems to have been at first the prevailing plan. It excited much opposition on the part of Dayton. An editorial extract from the Chronicle of October 8, 1881, indicates the turn which sentiment at Dayton was taking:

"An earnest effort is being made by the citizens of Pomeroy and vicinity to move the county seat to that town. We object. The county is large enough for two good counties, and the valley or canyon of the Tucanon throughout its greater portion affords a natural boundary. The people of this section are willing to allow the eastern portion a county organization whenever they wish it, as the division must come sooner or later. It is reported that two of our representatives in the Legislature are pledged to the removal and also to give several more townships to Walla Walla County to buy its influence. They do not propose to give the people an opportunity to vote on the question, as they fear the result, but aim to have the change made by the Legislature without consulting the wishes of the voters of the whole county. We agree with our Pomeroy correspondent that it is unjust to compel people east of the Tucanon to come here to transact business, but it would be equally unjust to compel people on this side to go to Pomeroy. The only just and equitable way out of the difficulty is to divide the county on the line indicated and allow the citizens of the new county to locate their county seat. But with the county seat of Columbia County beyond the Tucanon, nineteen-twentieths of the people of this vicinity would petition to be attached to Walla Walla County, as with the present facilities for travel it would be most convenient, to say nothing of the great advantage of joining a wealthy county with public buildings erected and paid for and a brilliant future before it. This, however, only as a last resort. We trust the Legislature will take no hasty action in this matter, but will give all parts of the county ample opportunity to be heard."

As a logical outcome of the situation the Legislature passed an act, approved by Gov. W. A. Newell, on November 29, 1881, providing for the new county. As a matter of history this act is valuable for permanent record and we insert it here:

"An Act to organize the County of Garfield:

"Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Washington; That all that portion of Columbia County situated within Washington Territory and included within the following limits, be, and the same shall be known as the County of Garfield, in honor of James A. Garfield, late President of the United States, viz.: Commencing at a point in the midchannel of Snake River on township line between ranges 39 and 40; thence on said line south to the southwest corner of township twelve (12), range forty (40); thence east on township line six (6) miles; thence south to the southwest corner of section seven (7); township eleven (11), north of range forty-one (41) east; thence east one (1) mile; thence south three (3) miles; thence east one (1) mile; thence south one (1) mile; thence east one (1) mile; thence south three (3) miles; thence east three (3) miles; thence south on township line to the Oregon line; thence due east on said line to the division line between Territories of Washington and Idaho; thence north on said dividing line to a point where it intersects the midchannel of the Snake River; thence down the midchannel of the Snake River to the point of beginning.

"Section 2. That E. Oliver, Joseph Harris and N. C. Williams are hereby appointed a board of commissioners to call a special election of county officers for said Garfield County, and to appoint the necessary judges and inspectors thereof; notice of which election shall be given and the said election conducted and returns made as is now provided by law: Provided, That the returns shall be made to the commissioners aforesaid, who shall canvass the returns and declare the result, and issue certificates to the persons elected.

"Sections 3. That the justices of the peace and constables who are now elected as such in precincts of the County of Garfield, be, and the same are hereby declared justices of the peace and constables of said County of Garfield.

"Section 4. That the county seat of the said County of Garfield is hereby located at Pataha City until the next election, which is to be held on the second Monday in January, A. D. 1882, at which time the highest number of legal votes of said county, given for any one place, may permanently locate the same.

"Section 5. The County of Garfield is hereby united to the County of Columbia for judicial purposes.

"Section 6. That all laws applicable to the County of Columbia shall be applicable to the County of Garfield.

"Section 7. That all taxes levied and assessed by the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Columbia for the year A. D. 1881, upon persons or property within the boundaries of the said County of Garfield, shall be collected and paid into the treasury of said Columbia County for the use of said County of Columbia: Provided, however, That the said County of Columbia shall pay all the just indebtedness of said Columbia County, and that when such indebtedness shall be wholly paid and discharged all moneys remaining in the treasury of said Columbia County, and all credits due and to become due said County of Columbia on the assessment roll of said year shall be divided between said counties of Columbia and Garfield according to the assessed valuation of said property of the same year. Provided further, That nothing in this act be so construed as to deprive the County of Garfield of its proportion of the tax levied for common school purposes for the above-named year.

"Section 8. The County of Columbia shall pay to the County of Garfield the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) over and above the amount provided for in this act, for its interest in the public property and improvements.

"Section 9. The County of Garfield shall be entitled to two members of the House of Representatives and one joint member of the Council with Walla Walla and Whitman counties.

"Section 10. The County of Columbia shall be entitled to one member of the Council and one representative in the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Washington.

"Section 11. All acts and parts of acts in conflict with any of the provisions of this act shall be, and the same are hereby repealed.

"Section 12. This act to take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval.

"Approved November 29, 1881."

COUNTY SEAT LOCATION

Very naturally and logically the next stage of evolution of the new county was the determination of the county seat.

In the enabling act Pataha City was designated as the official head until the next election to occur on January 9, 1882. Hence ensued an active, almost fierce, campaign between the four places to which the race finally narrowed--Pataha City, Assotin City, Pomeroy and Mentor. The rivalry between the near neighbors, Pomeroy and Pataha, became very bitter. Each accused the other of double dealing and of trading against each other in such a way that many believed that Assotin City, on the extreme southeastern verge of the county, would win the coveted honor. The result of the election, however, was to give Pomeroy a considerable plurality, though not a majority--Pomeroy, 411; Assotin City, 287; Pataha City, 259; Mentor, 82.

The county officers chosen at this first election, eight republicans and four democrats were as follows: County commissioners, J. W. Weisenfeldt, J. J. Kanawyer, and Eliel Oliver; sheriff, W. E. Wilson; auditor, Scott Rogers; probate judge, Benjamin Butler; treasurer, J. N. Perkins; assessor, H. H. Wise; surveyor, E. D. Briggs; superintendent of schools, W. H. Marks; coroner, E. A. Davidson; sheep commissioner, S. T. Jones.

The different precincts, with the vote of each for sheriff, were these: Pomeroy, 260; Pataha, 184; Tuscanon, 8; Meadow, 28; River, 90; Pleasant, 69; Columbia Center, 108; Asotin, 66; Cottonwood, 201. This gives a total of 1,014, and that number indicates the rapid growth of the region, for the entire population in 1875, only seven years earlier, was estimated at not to exceed 500.

The county seat contest thus resulted in favor of Pomeroy, but there was a curious after-clap to this which made up one of the noted law cases of the Territory.

A suit was brought, entitled "Rice vs. County Commissioners of Garfield County," to restrain the commissioners from meeting at the point, Pomeroy, which they had, after canvassing the votes, declared the duly appointed county seat. The case was tried as an equity case by Judge S. C. Wingard, Territorial judge at Walla Walla, and his decision was that the county was without any seat. The ground of this decision was purely technical, one of those decisions which delight lawyers and judges, in that it emphasizes the letter of the law, and usually is repugnant to common people, in that it disregards the plainly obvious intent of the sovereign people and seems to render them the victims and slaves of their own instruments. The point was this: The Enabling Act, though designating a Board of County Commissioners to provide for an election and canvass the votes for county officers and issue certificates to them, and though the Enabling Act had also in section 4 provided for an election of county seat, yet there was no specific power granted to the commissioners or to any one to canvass the votes for the county seat. Hence, the judge ruled, there had been no legal choice, and the county was without an official seat. The findings of the court are summarized in the following paragraphs:

1. That all that part of the act pleaded in complaint respecting the submission of the location of the county seat of Garfield County to the determination of the legal voters, that is to say, all that portion of section 4 of said act beginning with the words "at which time" to the determination of said section be, and the same is hereby declared by the court, unconstitutional and void.

2. That the said pretended election in said complaint mentioned is by the court held a nullity and set aside.

3. That said defendants are forbidden from making Pomeroy the seat of government of Garfield County.

4. That said defendants and each of them are enjoined from requiring any or all of the county officers of said Garfield County to remove their respective offices to said Pomeroy or there discharge the duties of their said respective offices.

5. That defendants and each of them are enjoined from incurring any indebtedness against said county or expending any of its funds in or about removing county officers to said Pomeroy, or in any manner attempting to make Pomeroy the seat of government of said Garfield County. That the following parts of the prayer of said complaint are refused by the court, to-wit: The court refuses to enjoin defendants from locating their offices at said Pomeroy, or from transacting there the county business of said Garfield County, or from their furnishing offices for all or any part of the county officers of said county.

The costs of this case are taxed to Garfield County.

But this evidently could not be the end of the case. The commissioners decided to meet at Pomeroy, and the county treasury was established at the store of Brady and Rush, with Mr. Rush acting as deputy treasurer. The Pataha forces started another suit to compel the board to meet at that place. This suit having been defeated, the only recourse seemed be a new act by the Legislature. This appeal resulted in separate bills by the two houses. The lower house passed a bill, without opposition, for locating the seat of government at Pomeroy, though this passed with the general understanding that there would be a vote by the people of the county. The bill by the council provided for submission to an election by the people. But the end was not yet, and the whole matter, together with several other acts of the Legislature, went to the National Congress.

On May 13, 1884, the House of Representatives passed a law to sanction the selection of Pomeroy for the county seat of Garfield County. The Senate having agreed, this case was ended and Pomeroy entered upon the peaceful exercise of her official primacy. It is rather a curious fact that every one of the other contending places, except Asotin, which became the seat of still another county, has almost reverted to farming land and Pomeroy is the only place that can be called a town in the entire county.

The first assessment of the county, in 1882, gave to real estate a valuation of $250,345; to improvements, $111,834; to personal property, $662,891; a total of $1,025,983. The taxes amounted to $26,351.74.

RECORD OF ELECTIONS

Following the initial election, voting population, and assessed valuation, already given, we may summarize the official events under the following headings:

At the general election of November, 1882, the voting precincts were: Pomeroy, Pataha City, Pleasant, River, Meadow, Tucanon, Columbia Center, Asotin, Cottonwood, Lake, Grande Ronde. The results were the following, majorities being given in each case: For delegate to Congress T. H. Brents, 103; joint councilman, J. E. Edmiston, 14; joint councilman, N. T. Caton, 146; attorney, J. K. Rutherford, 24; representative, William Clark, 57; auditor, H. B. Ferguson, 142; sheriff, W. E. Wilson, 299; treasurer, J. W. Rauch, 231; commissioner, J. D. Swain, 552; commissioner, Z. A. Baldwin, 66; commissioner, James Hull, 15; probate judge, Benjamin Butler, 226; superintendent of schools, without opposition, Mrs. T. G. Morrison; assessor, H. H. Wise, 115; surveyor, E. D. Briggs, 259; coroner, Dr. G. B. Kuykendall, 129; sheep commissioner, C. H. Seeley, 2. J. D. Swain having resigned as commissioner on account of the prospective setting apart of Asotin County, James Chisholm was appointed to fill the vacancy.

Of the above officers Messrs. Brents, Swain, Baldwin, Butler, Clark, Wise, Kuykendall, Briggs, Seeley, and Mrs. Morrison were republicans, while Messrs. Edmiston, Caton, Rutherford, Ferguson, Wilson, Rauch and Hull were democrats.

In the next election, 1884, Asotin County having in the meantime been set apart, the republicans maintained their lead, as on all normal issues they have continued to do to the present. The total vote of 1884 was 1,314, a large increase over that of two years previous, even though Asotin had become distinct. But that was the year of the short-lived woman suffrage regime, and that explains in part the increase. The result of the election was to give Armstrong, republican, for delegate, a majority over Voorhees, though the latter was chosen for the Territory. The joint councilmen, Isaac Carson and B. B. Day, republicans, received majorities in the county and the republican candidate for representative, J. N. Perkins, received a majority. Of the local officers chosen, W. E. Wilson for sheriff, J. W. Rauch for treasurer, and D. Strain for commissioner, were democrats. All the others were republicans: Benjamin Butler, probate judge; I. C. Sanford, superintendent of schools; H. H. Wise, assessor; Hayden Gearhardt, surveyor; C. O. Kneen and J. F. Martin, commissioners; Dr. G. B. Kuykendall, coroner; and C. H. Seeley, sheep commissioner.

The election of 1886 totaled 1,313 votes. The republican candidate for delegate, C. M. Bradshaw received eleven votes more than Voorhees, but the latter again had a majority in the territory. For joint councilman and joint representative, O. C. White and R. A. Case, both republicans, were chosen.

For local officers, W. N. Noffsinger, attorney; Benjamin Butler, probate judge; Gilbert Dickson, treasurer; I. N. Julian, assessor; Hayden Gearhardt, surveyor; Dr. G. W. Black, coroner; J. H. Walker, sheep commissioner, and J. S. Davis and Joseph Scott, commissioners, were all republicans. The democrats chosen were S. K. Hull for sheriff, R. H. Wills for auditor, T. Driscoll for superintendent of schools, and J. Parker for commissioner.

The election of 1888 was notable in several respects. The republicans chose every local candidate except that for prosecuting attorney, and he was chosen by only one majority. In the general shiftings of the next few years he became a republican, but to whichever party he belonged he has been honored as one of the leading citizens of the county and state. This was judge Mack F. Gose. Another eminent democrat appeared in this election as candidate for joint councilman, M. M. Godman of Dayton. He was chosen in the district but not in Garfield County.

The woman suffrage amendment had been declared unconstitutional by Judge W. G. Langford, and hence the vote for 1888 fell to 977. This was the year of the triumph of John B. Allen over Charles S. Voorhees for delegate, in the Territory as well as county.

The county officers chosen were M. F. Gose, attorney, by one majority; George W. Campbell, auditor; Gilbert Dickson, sheriff; G. D. Wilson, assessor; I. C. Sanford, treasurer; Benjamin Butler, probate judge; David Miller, J. S. Davis, and J. Fitzsimmons, commissioners; H. C. Benbow, superintendent of schools; Hayden Gearhardt, surveyor, and G. W. Black, coroner.

And now we reach the most important and interesting date in the history of the blushing young Territory of Washington, when she became a "sweet girl graduate" and stepped upon the platform to receive her diploma as a full grown state, 1889. Like all other counties, Garfield was agog with excitement over the great event and there was quite a boiling in the pot over the choice of delegates to the Constitutional convention. The enabling act provided that the territory be divided into twenty-five districts, each entitled to three delegates, of whom only two could be of one party. District number 8 embraced Adams, Garfield, Asotin, and Franklin counties. On May 7, 1889, the district convention of republicans met at Pomeroy to nominate candidates for the Constitutional convention. I. N. Muncy of Pasco was chosen chairman, and G. W. Bailey of Asotin secretary. The nominees were Elmon Scott of Garfield County and D. Buchanan of Adams. The democratic convention also met at Pomeroy and nominated W. B. Gray of Franklin County. A peculiar turn took place in this election, and the narration of it brings forward the name of one of the most respected citizens of the county and subsequently of the state, S. G. Cosgrove, afterwards Governor Of Washington. Owing to dissension in the republican ranks, Mr. Cosgrove became an independent candidate. W. A. George and F. W. D. Mays, both democrats, also became independent candidates. The upshot of the matter was that democrats threw their votes largely to Cosgrove, and, as a result, Scott, Gray and Cosgrove became delegates to the Constitutional convention.

And now that Garfield County, with her sister counties, had the new dignity of participation in state government, the elections took an added importance. The first election under statehood occurred October 1, 1889. In preparation for that event there were county conventions of both parties at Pomeroy, that of republicans on August 29th and that of democrats September 7th. To indicate the leaders of parties at that time we preserve the names of the officers of each convention and delegate chosen for the state convention. Of republicans, Dr. T. C. Frary was chairman and W. G. Victor secretary. The delegates were Jay Lynch, S. G. Cosgrove, W. G. Victor, F. G. Morrison, C. G. Austin and W. S. Oliphant. Of the democratic, Eliel Oliver was chairman and James Parker secretary. Delegates were R. E. Wills, F. W. D. Mays, W. S. Parker and J. S. Thomas.

The results of the election were:

For congressman, J. L. Wilson received a majority of 104 over T. C. Griffiths, and former Territorial Governor Elisha P. Ferry, 99 majority over Eugene Semple. That was about the average majority of republicans over democrats on the state ticket.

The republican candidate for representative to State Legislature, W. S. Oliphant, had a majority of 34 over his democratic competitor, James Parker. R. E. Wills, democrat, had a majority of 48 over the republican candidate, F. E. Williamson, for the new position of county clerk. No other county officers were chosen at that time. A vote was taken on woman suffrage in that election, and the result was adverse by 492 to 336. Prohibition carried by 442 to 415.

During the elections that followed, beginning with 1890, Garfield County, like the rest of the state, had many parties, and much political activity and (the Lord be praised for this) a deal of good political education and independent action, which resulted in great shattering of boss schemes and legislative lobbies and prepared the way for the progressive politics manifested in the adoption of initiative, referendum, and recall measures, woman suffrage, prohibition, and that general advance toward a new Americanism which had made the western states a wonder to the "effete East" and a source of consternation to political Troglodytes. Republicans, democrats, populists, prohibitionists, and socialists, marshalled their cohorts, set their platforms before the people, and named their candidates. Some people deprecate political campaigns on the ground that they "disturb business." They certainly do, but that may be their greatest commendation. It all depends on what one lives for. If accumulation of wealth is the sole aim of existence, it is unfortunate for the "well-fixed" classes to have any disturbance of business. If political growth, individual development, experience in public affairs, have place in one's scheme of life, these disturbances and popular agitations far more than recompense a state for its pecuniary dislocations. At any rate, the Pacific Coast states have had the political agitations, and it is somewhat significant that they lead the Union in general education, nor is it observable that they are greatly deficient in business advancement.

Garfield County, like the state, usually cast a large majority for republican candidates in national and state affairs. The result was commonly the same in local elections. In all, however, there was great play for independent action. The boss could never be sure of delivering the goods. In 1890, 1892 and 1894 the republicans carried the field in national and state elections. In the great breaking-up year of 1896, the populists swept the ground, with Bryan as candidate for President and James Hamilton Lewis and W. C. Jones for Congress. In 1898 a reversal took place and Wesley L. Jones and Francis Cushman forged ahead of Lewis and W. C. Jones. In the same election Garfield again set itself down against woman suffrage and also against the single tax.

The year 1900 was another great year in politics, state and nation. In Garfield County, the year was notable in that it marked a definite movement in favor of S. G. Cosgrove for governor, and also the withdrawal of a number of democrats from their former affiliations and union with the republicans, mainly on the ground of the "sound money" issue. Mack F. Gose was conspicuous in the new alignment.

The populists had dropped out of this election, but the prohibition, socialist labor, and social democrat parties were in the field. The result was a majority for the republicans on national and state issues, with the exception that the county (as also the state) did itself the credit of choosing John R. Rogers, democrat, for governor.

The republicans held the fort again in 1902. The total vote for congressmen as 936, and F. W. Cushman, W. L. Jones, and W. E. Humphrey received votes of 530, 516 and 517 respectively.

In 1904 the republicans had an overwhelming majority on the presidential and congressional tickets, giving the republican electors a plurality of 510, and Humphrey, Jones and Cushman, an average of 300 majority for Congress. But George E. Turner, democrat, passed A. E. Mead, republican, in the gubernatorial race by 166.

Passing on to the presidential year of 1908, we find a total vote in the county of 1,003, and a majority for the republican electors of 177. Miles Poindexter, republican for Congress in this district (the state having been districted since the previous election), carried the field, and S. G. Cosgrove had an overwhelming majority for governor. This eminent and well loved citizen of Garfield County realized in that year his worthy and long cherished ambition to be the chief executive of the state, and went from a sick bed to be duly inaugurated. But his activities were ended and within a few weeks he passed on, to the profound sorrow of the entire state and particularly his friends and neighbors in the home county where he had been known and deeply respected so many years.

In 1910 W. L. La Follette of Whitman County received a majority in the county, as in the district, for congressman, and M. F. Gose was called to the supreme bench of the state, a choice almost unanimous in the county, and one recognized in the state as eminently worthy.

The presidential year of 1912 gave a reversal, and the County of Garfield joined the rest of the Union in a majority for Woodrow Wilson for President, and also joined the rest of the state in selection of a democrat, Eugene Lister, for governor.

1914 saw the re-election of W. L. La Follette, republican for Congress, and W. L. Jones for senator. In the same year occurred the most peculiar apparent turn in the opinion of Garfield County on the prohibition issue. For that was the great year of the struggle over the state-wide prohibition law. It might be regarded as an east-of-the-mountain proposition, for the East Side reached the crest of the Cascades with about 28,000 majority, enough to overcome the heavy adverse vote of Seattle, and have thousands to spare. But, strange to say, Garfield County, one of the very earliest to adopt local option, and one of the most pronounced in temperance sentiment, went against the amendment, and was the only East Side county to do so. The reason simply was that having tried local option with satisfactory results, the deliberate judgment was that local option was correct in theory and practice and should be sustained. It is stated now by those familiar with conditions that since the adoption and operation of the prohibition law it has the hearty support of the county, as shown by the fact that efforts to nullify it in 1916 were overwhelmingly defeated in the county, as in the state.

In 1916, a more momentous election even than that of 1912, Garfield did not line up with the state and nation, but gave her vote to Hughes. She was with the majority on Poindexter for senator and La Follette for Congress, but gave Lister for governor a slight majority over his republican competitor, McBride.

COUNTY ELECTIONS

Turning now from national and state choices to the county officers we find the following:

In 1890, the chosen candidates were: For representative to the state legislature, James Palmer; sheriff, Gilbert Dickson; clerk, R. R. Spedden; auditor, Benjamin Butler; treasurer, R. E. Wills; attorney, W. N. Noffsinger; assessor, H. H. Wise; superintendent of schools, H. C. Benbow; surveyor, Hayden Gearhardt; coroner, G. W. Black; commissioners, John Lubling, George Stallcop, and Robert Story. All of the above were on the republican ticket except R. E. Wills.

In 1892, the following were the successful candidates: Representative, F. W. D. Mays; superior judge, J. E. Edmiston; attorney, W. E. Greene; auditor, Joseph Davidson; sheriff, Gilbert Dickson; clerk, E. W. Gibson; treasurer, H. A. Adams; assessor, R. L. Kirby; superintendent of schools, H. C. Benbow; surveyor, Hayden Gearhardt; coroner, J. R. Gose; county commissioners, C. A. Shaffer, E. B. Fletcher, and Robert Story; sheep commissioner, G. F. Jackson. The parties were much more evenly divided than in the previous election, for Messrs. Mays, Edmiston, Greene, Davidson, Adams, Gose and Fletcher were democrats, the others republicans.

In 1894, results were these: Representative, A. E. Allen; attorney, G. W. Jewett; clerk, E. W. Gibson; auditor, S. T. Sanford; sheriff, N. O. Baldwin; treasurer, H. M. Beach; superintendent of schools, E. V. Kuykendall; assessor, H. L. Wilson; surveyor, Edward Truax; coroner, G. W. Black; commissioners, George Ruarck and Chris Brockman.

That was the populistic year, for of the above, Messrs. Allen, Sanford, Beach, Wilson, Ruarck, and Brockman are all set down as P. P.'s.

In 1896, the county officers were as follows: Representative, James Parker; sheriff, N. O. Baldwin; auditor, S. T. Sanford; assessor, H. L. Wilson; clerk, A. E. Dickson; treasurer, H. M. Beach; attorney, G. W. Jewett; superintendent of schools, Emma Nelson; surveyor, Edison Griggs; commissioner, Chris Brockman; coroner, G. W. Black. That was another populistic year, for six of the successful candidates were of that faith.

In the election of 1898, the ebb of the tide of populism became visible, for of the successful aspirants, only three were P. P'.s. The chosen candidates were these: Representative, C. M. Baldwin; sheriff, S. S. Russell; clerk, A. E. Dickson; auditor, J. A. Strain; treasurer, H. Dixon; attorney, E. V. Kuykendall; assessor, J. P. Buchet; superintendent of schools, Emma Elsensohn; coroner, W. P. Williamson; commissioners, S. S. Young and August Young.

Election results of 1900 were thus: Representative, W. L. Howell; sheriff, J. A. Strain; auditor, E. M. Pomeroy; treasurer, W. H. Dixon; clerk, H. A. Adams; assessor, F. W. Messenger; superintendent of schools, Nellie Vallen; attorney, Frank Cardwell; coroner, C. G. Black; surveyor, J. M. Reid; commissioners, A. H. Malone and D. R. Lewis. In this election the populists no longer appeared, but several democrats carried away the trophies, the following being of that party, Howell, Strain, Cardwell, and Malone.

In 1902, the successful ones were: Representative, W. L. Howell; auditor, Frank Burch; sheriff, J. A. Strain; clerk, A. A. Kirby; treasurer, H. A. Adams; attorney, J. T. Ledgerwood; assessor, F. W. Messenger; superintendent of schools, Nellie Vallen; surveyor, J. E. Tupper; coroner, C. G. Black; commissioners, J. O. Miles and D. B. Williams. In that list were four democrats.

The year 1904 brought another presidential year and with republican victory there came also general success for the same party in the county votes:

For representative, W. O. Long; sheriff, W. H. Dixon; clerk, A. A. Kirby; auditor, B. F. Burch; treasurer, J. H. Schneckloth; attorney, J. T. Ledgerwood; assessor, M. N. Jeffreys; surveyor, J. E. Tupper; superintendent of schools, Violetta Smith; commissioners, E. G. Hastings, W. J. Kelly; coroner, G. W. Black. Four--auditor, treasurer, attorney, and superintendent of schools were democrats.

In 1906 the voters designated: For representative, J. O. Long; sheriff, W. H. Dixon; clerk, Harry St. George; auditor, J. P. Buchet; treasurer, J. H. Schneckloth; attorney, A. A. Kirby; assessor, M. N. Jeffreys; superintendent of schools, Violetta Smith; surveyor, I. J. Trescott.

In that election the auditor, treasurer, and superintendent of schools were democrats.

Another presidential and gubernatorial year comes in with 1908, and we find: Representative, H. C. Krouse; sheriff, F. V. Messenger; clerk, Harry St. George; auditor, J. P. Buchet; attorney, E. V. Kuykendall; treasurer, J. B. Hawkins; assessor, Daniel Kidwell; superintendent of schools, Elizabeth McCoy; commissioners, F. L. Miller, J. D. Lyon. Of these Messrs. Buchet and Hawkins were democrats.

In 1910 the successful candidates were: Representative, W. J. Kelly; sheriff, B. L. Keatts; clerk, E. E. Powell; auditor, H. St. George; treasurer, J. H. Schneckloth; attorney, A. G. Farley; assessor, Daniel Kidwell; superintendent of schools, Mrs. M. E. Liggett; commissioners, F. L. Miller and E. D. Smith. The party distribution was about as before, Messrs. Keatts, Schneckloth, and Smith being democrats and the others republicans.

The outcome in 1912 was this: Representative, C. G. Black; sheriff, J. C. McKeiman; clerk, E. E. Powell; auditor, H. St. George; attorney, A. G. Farley; superintendent of schools, Mrs. M. E. Liggett; engineer, R. W. Rigsby; assessor, A. J. Buchet; commissioners, E. D. Smith, Isaac Tewalt. All republicans except McKeiman, Rigsby, Buchet, and Smith.

In 1914, we find the following: Representative, C. G. Black; auditor, E. E. Powell; treasurer, Emma A. Noble; clerk, Harry St. George; sheriff, W. J. Schneckloth; assessor, A. J. Buchet; attorney, C. Alexander McCabe; superintendent of schools, Belva L. Ball; engineer, R. W. Rigsby; commissioners, E. L. Sanford, C. H. Rommel. The politics were essentially as before.

In 1916 we find: Representative, John T. Ledgerwood; auditor, E. E. Powell; treasurer, Olive O. Darby; clerk, H. St. George; sheriff, W. J. Schneckloth; assessor, A. J. Buchet; superintendent of schools, Belva L. Ball; engineer, M. W. Fitzsimmons; commissioner, Edward Malone. Politics were about as before.

In the foregoing list we have not included the state senators or superior judges, for the reason that they were joint with other counties. It should be stated, however, that in 1906 and 1910, J. R. Stevenson of Pomeroy filled the position of senator from the district with conspicuous ability, and that Chester F. Miller of Dayton was almost continuously the superior judge. It may also be added that the position of sheep commissioner was dropped, and that a new office, court commissioner (presumably having no connection with sheep, though possibly with shearing) was established, and in the elections of 1914 and 1916 was filled by G. W. Jewett.

GENERAL EVENTS

Turning from political events to those of more general nature we discover that the most important developments in transportation were connected with three lines of business; the construction of the branch line of railroad from Starbuck to a little beyond Pomeroy; improvements in the navigation of Snake River and Columbia River; and the development of the peculiar shute and tramway system for moving grain from the high prairies in the northern edge of the county to the Snake River steamers.

The railroad history goes back to 1883. In April of that year a delegation of Pomeroy and Pataha men, consisting of B. B. Day, C. B. Foote, John Houser, Cyrus Davis, and F. W. D. Mays, went to Walla Walla to meet Henry Villard, head of the O. R. and N. System, and received much encouragement that a road up the Pataha would be immediately considered. However, the time was not yet, and, as common in such cases, time passed on without results.

In January, 1885, Pres. Elijah Smith of the O. R. & N. Co. made the proposal to the people of the county that if they would grade and lay ties the company would complete the work and inaugurate the line. To many farmers this seemed rather a skin game, not a unusual process in railroad building.

We find some correspondence and some comments in the East Washingtonian of so much interest that we incorporate them here:

"At this period grain was stacked up on the banks of Snake River awaiting a sufficient stage of water to permit of its being hauled away by boats. With the road built it would soon be in the markets of San Francisco and Portland; the farmers of Garfield would be placed on an equal footing with those of Columbia County. Grain would be worth at least 10 cents more per bushel than it was at that time; cattle, hogs, etc., would not have to be sacrificed at cut-throat prices to pay taxes and grocery bills. With a railroad tapping the heart of Garfield County, an era of prosperity appeared likely to prevail. As conditions existed the county merchants could not take grain for store bills; they would be compelled to hold most of it until the next year before they could ship it; they must take all chances upon the price remaining at what they had paid for it. Within sixty and ninety days their goods must be paid for; wheat would not answer for that purpose; practically, the farmers had no reliable market whatever. The theory advanced was, 'Build a road and wheat will be legal tender for all debts.' Under date, New York, January 24, 1885, Mr. John Harford, of Pataha City received the following letter from E. H. Morrison:

"Dear Sir:

"Your letter received, also one from Doctor Jorgensen, stating that the Garfield County people were willing to furnish the grading in case the O. R. & N. Company would build a road from Starbuck to Pomeroy or Pataha.

"I am sorry that there should be any opposition from the Pomeroy people, as certainly a road to their town would benefit not only the people of that city, but the tributary country. In the first place it is going to be a very difficult matter to interest the company sufficiently to have them build in any event, as there are some branches which they think are of far more importance, such as the completion of the road to Moscow and the road from Colfax to the Farmington country. Therefore it behooves your people to settle all your difficulties and unite as one in doing everything to get a road to that section of the country.

"Since receiving your letters I have had an interview with Mr. Smith, president, and some of the directors, and I can tell you that they are not exuberant over building additional roads in Washington Territory or Oregon. But, I think, if in addition to the grading, which your people must agree to do, you will secure subscriptions sufficient to pay for the ties, that they will go ahead and build the road in time for the coming crop. These subscriptions must be in the form of notes, of grain notes, something that they can turn over to a contractor who will have the building of the road, and in that way relieving them of all trouble in collecting the subscriptions.

"Yours very truly,

"E. H. MORRISON."

In July, 1885, C. T. Stiles, Cyrus Davis, Charles Ward, G. A. Sable, N. C. Williams, L. P. Mulkey, F. W. D. Mays, G. A. McCanse, R. M. Smith and A. C. Short, from Pataha City and Pomeroy, were in Walla Walla. This was Saturday. Their object was to hold a conference with railroad officials, and, if possible, induce them to extend the Riparia branch to tap the rich agricultural country of the Pataha. There were over two million bushels of grain to ship from Garfield County; it was impossible for boats on the Snake River to handle such a bulk.

August 10th, H. S. Rowe, general superintendent, and Robert McCleland, chief engineer, of the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company, accompanied by Dr. Joseph Jorgensen and Frank Paine, of Walla Walla, visited Pomeroy in the interest of a railroad up the Pataha. A mass meeting was held. Mr. Rowe made the definite promise that if the right-of-way was procured, together with necessary depot grounds, the locomotive would enter Pomeroy by January 1, 1886. Here was a proposition far more reasonable than the previous one demanding that the farmers grade and tie the road; it demonstrated that the company was a trifle better "prepared" to extend its lines than it had at first made the farmer believe. Without the shadow of a doubt there had been considerable jockeying on the part of the railway magnates in the preliminary arrangements of the Pataha Creek extension.

By August 15th, the right-of-way from Starbuck to Pomeroy, with one or two minor exceptions, had been granted to Messrs. Scott, Austin, Wilson and Lynch. In reality, they had, two years subsequently, secured this right-of-way for what was then called the Starbuck & Pomeroy Road--one of the projects that had failed to materialize. These gentlemen offered to relinquish their claims provided the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company would construct the line within a specified time; this Mr. Rowe promised should be done. A committee of three, viz.: F. W. D. Mays, W. C. Potter, Dixon Davis, were named to co-operate with the above named four gentlemen, the railway men, forming a committee of the whole, to secure the right-of-way through Pomeroy and negotiate with the owners of the prospective depot grounds as to assessments and valuations of property required to locate the road. Subscriptions were solicited from property holders to defray expenses for securing right-of-way privileges. August 15th the Columbia Chronicle published the following:

"Superintendent Rowe, Hon. Joseph Jorgensen and Frank Paine of Walla Walla returned from Pomeroy Wednesday evening, having been to the Pataha country in the interests of the proposed branch railroad up that stream from Starbuck. While there a meeting of citizens was held and the depot grounds selected upon the company's land, one-half mile from Pomeroy. The people had offered $9 per ton for hauling grain to Portland, provided the road was built last season, but it was not thought likely that the company would demand more than the regular rate in such an event. It is thought that the graders on the Moscow branch will be transferred to the Pataha in October, and work on the road begun. The people of Garfield County need a road badly and we hope their efforts to obtain one will be rewarded."

The following telegram was received at Pomeroy Friday morning, October 16, 1885:

"I am instructed to commence work on the Pataha branch as soon as possible, and will commence immediately.

"H. S. ROWE."

"Portland, October 15, 1885."

January 9, 1886, construction trains were running within nine miles of Pomeroy; but track laying had ceased for some time past. Difficulty was experienced in getting railroad iron to "the front" fast enough. On the 23rd the track had reached Pomeroy; the railroad "consummation devoutly to be wished" was an accomplished fact. Here the road ceased; it was never extended to Pataha City; Pomeroy became the terminus. November 14, 1885, the East Washingtonian published the following:

"It is a fact that it was only by the 'skin of the teeth' that the people of the county have been assured of the speedy construction of a railroad in our midst. Had not the order to build been given when it was it is not likely that it would have been given for two or three years. It was really against the interests of the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company to build the Pataha road this fall. Here there was no threatened competition. It would have been much more to their interests to have built the Farmington road first, because the Northern Pacific is competing for the traffic, while here there is no opposition, and no probability of any. It was difficult to get money to build any road, and if the company had constructed the Farmington branch first, they would so far have exhausted their means that we might have had to wait for years for a road. It was a fortunate thing for our farmers that things took so favorable a turn. We have been assured that the guarantee for the right-of-way and depot grounds had much to do in bringing about this result. In fact, without this guarantee the road would not have been built, and we might have remained for a long time in the same helpless condition we have been in for years. It has cost something, and it will cost more to secure the right-of-way. A bond was given in the sum of $10,000 to secure the right-of-way and depot grounds. Had not a number of our citizens come forward and made this bond, there would not have been a stroke made on this road."

Thus that great need of transportation was met by co-operation of railroad and people. It does not seem likely that the O. R. & N. Co. would have suffered, even if they had met all the expense themselves. Pomeroy has become one of the greatest original grain shipping points in the state, which means in the world. In 1916 there were over a million bushels shipped from the warehouses at Pomeroy.

RIVER IMPROVEMENT

The improvement of the rivers has always been of special interest and importance to Garfield County. Immense quantities of grain are produced in the fertile plains of the northern part of the county. To much of that area the haul to Pomeroy is long and hard and the river is the best resource. For about half the year Snake River is navigable from Asotin to its mouth, and for nine or ten months, from Asotin to Riparia. Steamers of the O. R. & N. Co. have plied regularly for many years on this latter run, gathering up the wheat along the southern shore and conveying it to Riparia whence it went by train to seaboard. It is needless to observe that the railroad is not in business for its health or for gratuitous service and with practically monopoly conditions the freight tariffs were heavy. Hence it was clear that an "Open River" to the sea was of vital importance. Garfield County has therefore borne an active part in the systematic efforts to secure Congressional appropriations for these purposes. In the Legislative sessions of 1907 and 1909, a special effort was made for co-operation by the State of Washington with the Federal Government for improvement of Snake River, with the expectation that the Government would thereby proceed more rapidly with the Celilo Canal, the key to the Open River. Hon. J. R. Stevenson, representing Garfield County in the State Senate, performed a most valuable service in securing appropriations by the state looking to this co-operation. In the face of considerable opposition from portions of the state not directly interested, Senator Stevenson handled the situation with great skill and brought the result to pass which had a decisive bearing upon the Government. For following the successive appropriations by the Legislature the Government, convinced of the need and of the wishes of the people, proceeded to definite and continuous appropriations, culminating in the Celilo Canal in 1915, as detailed in an earlier chapter. For this happy result we are indebted largely to Senator Stevenson. In the House, Hon. W. O. Long of Garfield was equally faithful to the wishes of his constituents, though not in a committee position to exercise the same power.

But the most unique feature of transportation on the rivers is the system of running grain sacks from the highlands, 2,000 feet above sea level, to the river, seven hundred feet or less, above the sea.

In the early '80s Paine Brothers of Walla Walla undertook to run wheat down in a wooden chute and sack it below. This was found impracticable, because of the friction. In 1887 and later a tramway with wooden rails was built about opposite Wawaiwai. In 1891 a much better tramway was built known as the Mayview Tramway, owned by a joint association of farmers. After several accidents and some discouraging experiences the enterprise passed into the hands of John Worum. Both tramways are now owned by Max Houser of Portland. It was found that the chutes either for grain in bulk or in sacks were not practicable on account of friction. But the tramways, one of them using buckets and the other cars, after some losses, have proved a great success. The cost of operation is small, as the weight of the descending cars of buckets lifts the empty ones, and a vast amount of grain is lowered by them to the steamers. The tramway at Ilia handles about one hundred and fifty thousand bushels annually, and the one at Mayview about two hundred and fifty thousand.

The grain business, nearly equally divided in some years between wheat and barley, but in recent times with much more wheat, has been the leading source of income. Two large and well equipped mills, one at Pataha and one at Pomeroy, furnish constant centers of activity. Both these are owned by Houser. Mr. Fred Matthes is manager of the Pomeroy Mill, and Wm. Houser of the Pataha Mill.

THE STOCK INTERESTS

While the grain business is now foremost, Garfield County started as a stock country and even yet has important stock interests. A valuable article on the stock interests by J. O. Long appeared in the Pioneer Edition of the Washingtonian, and it is worthy of permanent preservation. We insert it here:

"Stock raising was the first remunerative industry of Garfield County, and the first settlers believed that stock raising would be the only industry that would pay them best for their labor.

Parson Quinn was one of the first settlers. In 1862 he settled on the place that Gilbert Dickson now owns, and started in the horse business. Soon after William McEnnery, Frank and Archie McBrearty and others settled along the lower Pataha and brought with them small bunches of cattle.

J. M. Pomeroy settled where the city that bears his name now stands, in 1864, and brought with him 140 head of cattle which he drove from Salem, Oregon, over the Barlow route to The Dalles, and on up the Columbia.

The Owsleys came in '68 and brought with them fifteen head of cattle and a few horses.

Mack Tatman settled on the Tatman Gulch in 1869, and launched into the cattle business. Newt. Estes, about this time, settled on the Deadman and became the largest cattle owner in what is now Garfield County. All of the early pioneers settled along the streams where they fed.

It was thought at that time that the hills you now see growing such bountiful crops of wheat and barley were fit for nothing but grazing. When we came, in 1873, they told us we couldn't raise anything on the old Pataha Flat. In '73 we found the western portion of the county well stocked with cattle and horses, but the eastern part was sparsely settled, and there were very few cattle and horses.

At this time a few sheep were ranged, but in a few years the sheep men began to come in--Charles Seeley, the Logans, Charles McCabe and, a little later, J. H. Walker, but the sheep industry did not grow to any great extent in this county. Cattle was the main industry up to '90, when it began to decline.

From 1873 to 1880 the hills began to settle rapidly, the '70s bringing such stock men as Tom Burlingame, the Buchets, Williams, Bentley, Pings, Johnny Lynn, Brown and Wellers. Some of these men acquired large herds. I have no way of knowing the number of stock when the industry was at its zenith, but we had lots of cattle to drive and ship out.

The first buyer to come to Garfield County operated on the Tucanon, near Marengo, about '76 or '77, and the price paid was fourteen to sixteen dollars for two year old steers, and about eighteen to twenty dollars for threes. They drove them East, taking one more years to make the trip.

J. M. Pomeroy was the first to bring in good stock. In the bunch of 140 head were some of the best Shorthorns, or Durhams, as they were then called, that ever came to this county. People bought and sold "Pomeroy Durhams" for forty years. Perhaps a large portion of the readers will remember the roan Shorthorns that Vannattan had on his place below town, when he sold his ranch to Campbell & Sanford in 1902. They were descendants of the Pomeroy roan Durhams. Perhaps the majority of the people living here now do not realize what a stock county this was in the '70s.

I remember in the summer of '75 or '76 Mr. William Cluster, my father and myself, then a boy, came down the Benjamin Gulch to the Pataha looking after our stock. We forded the creek about where the park is now, and a little way from the creek stood a little log cabin, and in the doorway stood Charles McCabe, then a young man. We inquired after our brands and marks, and came on down the north side of the creek, my father and Mr. Cluster riding along the road and I galloping back and forth from bluff to creek, scaring the cattle out of the grass so we could see the brands and marks. We took dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Pomeroy in the old log cabin that stood for many years afterwards in the lower part of town, and while we partook of fried trout and other good things that the pioneer wives knew so well how to prepare the men discussed the Roan Shorthorns.

To illustrate what grass we had here in those days, I will repeat what Pearl Smith once said. He wanted to make a trip across the Snake River, and he had heard so much about the Alpowa he decided to go that way. He dropped down on the creek about where Vint. Gilbert's place is now and went on down. When he returned he was asked what he thought of the Alpowa, and said, 'Those hills reach from hell to heaven, with bunch grass from top to bottom.'

Garfield County never contained very large stock owners. Newt. Estes was cattle king with something like one thousand five hundred head. J. H. Walker owned the largest band of horses, and George Gibson was the largest sheep raiser. The Owsleys at one time owned 750 cattle and a good many horses. Mack Tatman at one time had 400 or 500 head of cattle, and Tom Burlingame 350.

In 1888 Mat Dixon, Moffat Williams and Dave Dixon bought and drove to Pataha Flat 512 head of cattle. This was the first large importation of cattle to this county.

About this time, or a few years before, most of the large holders began to cut down their herds, and some quit entirely. Among them were Melton, Freeman, Estes and Tatman, and, after a few years, Rafferty and Bill Kelly practically quit.

The horse industry of the country did not take much change from cow pony or cayuse till about 1880. A 1,000 pound horse was considered a good one, and a horse that wore an eighteen inch collar was a large one. Mr. Ford, who lived on the flat, bought a large Percheron, and a year later Tucker bought a grade Clyde, and our horses began to increase in size, and it wasn't long till the 1,000 pound horse and the eighteen inch collar were things of the past. The draft horse is here and as good as any county can boast of. We now have 6,581 taxable horses.

We didn't raise many hogs till the railroad was built to Dayton. Prior to that a few put up bacon and hauled it to Lewiston. After the road reached Pomeroy people began to raise more hogs, and according to the assessor's roll we have 5,254.

The sheep industry has held its own and we now have in the county 11,657, owned principally by Charles Dodge, Weller Live Stock Co., Clayton, Palmer, and J. O. Long. Part of the Palmer herd are assessed in Asotin County. The farmers are now taking up sheep husbandry on their own farms, and we look for sheep and hogs to increase, and horses to hold their own. The cattle industry is still on the decline, as the roll shows only 5,181 head milch cows included, and a thousand or more were brought in to be fattened. As our pasture land increases in value the people will discard the cow for the ewe and mare."

THUS MUCH FOR LIVE STOCK, AND NOW FOR SCHOOLS

The schools of any American community must always be accorded a place of first importance. While our space does not permit extended details, we must make mention of the beginnings in this vital feature of the life of the county.

The first school seems to have been the Owsley School, five miles below Pomeroy, built in 1872. At that time the children of the Pomeroy family were the only ones in the future town to go to school. As other families came in the need of another school was manifest, and a new building was completed in 1879 on what subsequently became the home of Mr. Benbow. That building was paid for by private subscription, Mr. B. B. Day being the largest contributor. There were about fifty pupils in that first Pomeroy School, and from the names the first families can be noted, there being representatives of the Pomeroy, Heaton, Rew, Milan, Potter, Hull, Dyer, James, Owsley and Benjamin families. Mr. and Mrs. De Bow were the first teachers.

In 1873 the first school district on the Pataha Flat was organized by a meeting 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.

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. Benbow, 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, Charlotte Marshall, Mrs. Laura Davison, Gertrude Wilson, Dessa M. King, Jennie Dean, C. B. Lindahl, Mabel Owen, H. C. Hayes, Marie Schmidt, Brightie Considine, 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 enrollment 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, Pomeroy 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 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 tinware; 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 Jackson, 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.

"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. Kuykendall, 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 purchased 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 mustered 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 government 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 outgoing 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.

HISTORY 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 purchased 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 Company 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.

"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 H. 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 L. 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. Christopherson 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. A. 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 business 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 dissolved 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 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 conducted 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 "Watertown." 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. W. Shannon, 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. Ferguson 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 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 accumulations 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 disincorporation was submitted to vote and by nearly a unanimous decision the charter was surrendered and Pataha ceased to be an incorporation. The business 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. Kennedy, 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 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 Paddock. 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 Pomeroy, 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.

FRATERNAL ORDERS

The fraternal orders are duly represented in Pomeroy. The Masons are represented 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 beginnings 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 Pomeroy.

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 instrumentalities, and park improvements, are to be attributed to this admirable organization.

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, surgeon; 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.

"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 Company.

"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, 50 × 450 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 president; 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. Tueth, 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 president; 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 railroad 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.'

"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 Warehouse 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, secretary-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 Garfield 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 stockholders, 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 newspaper funerals during those early days. Most of them departed sine die. 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 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 discussion 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 Republican 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 anticipated 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 character. 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 Wilson 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 character 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 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 mention be made of it in closing this chapter.

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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 therefore 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 conditions, 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 Whitman and Nez Percé 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 dull indeed if you are not entranced and if you do not say: "There must sometime be a race of poets and artists in such a land."

The rythmical native name of Asotin means "Eel," that fish being very common 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 Percé 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 appointed 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 proceeded 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 Clearwater). "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.

Turning from these pre-settlement times to the era of the entrance of permanent 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 undertaking 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 provided 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.

In 1857 an Indian reservation was laid out by Perrin Whitman, a nephew of Dr. Marcus Whitman, and for a long time a resident of Lewiston. That reservation included most of Asotin, but it was not permanent. In 1863 the boundary line was moved to a point seven miles east of Lewiston, and hence Asotin became open territory. But not for several years was there any permanent resident. Sam Smith seems to have "squatted" in 1861 at a point on the Alpowa near Timothy and kept a little store and sort of stopping place for travelers for the mines. Near the same place, though strictly speaking within the present limits of Garfield County, was D. S. King. He, too, kept a stopping place for travelers. In 1861 also the ferry between Lewiston and the present Clarkston shore was put in by a union of several of the old-timers, Colonel Craig being a leader in the enterprise. This was afterwards known as Pearcy's Ferry. Several settlers were temporarily located on the flat where Clarkston now stands, Robert Bracken apparently being the first. As quoted in the History of Southeast Washington, Mr. Bracken stated that when he first located there in 1862 his nearest neighbor on the south was in the Grande Ronde Valley, 150 miles distant. His neighbors on the north were at about the same distance. There was, of course, quite a little town growing up at Lewiston right across the river. Mr. Bracken's chief business was stock raising and mining. Like most other stockmen he had been nearly broken up by the hard winter of 1861. Mr. Bracken states also that in 1862 Starr and Atwood of Portland had a little sawmill in the timber at the edge of Anatone prairie, and in the fall of 1862 they erected on what is now the site of Asotin the first frame building in the county. Lumber was hauled from that mill to the Snake River and floated to Lewiston, where it brought eighty-five dollars a thousand. An interesting item is contained in the Asotin Sentinel of June 23, 1900, referring to a visit of Henry Leland to Asotin. He was at that time connected with the Washington State Historical Society. He made the statement that he had not been there since, as a boy, he had assisted his father, Alonzo Leland, in handling lumber from a mill situated at the edge of the timber on what became the Pinkham Ranch. According to Mr. Leland the lumber was hauled to Asotin by ox teams and there put into the river to float to Lewiston. In the fall of 1862, a cabin was put up on Asotin Creek by two trappers, whose names are not recalled, but whose cabin stood until about 1881. Following the transient occupation of the Clarkston flat by Mr. Bracken came Doctor Simmons with a partner, Ben Jones, both of whom were subsequently murdered in Montana. Simmons had, however, before going, sold his location to John Greenfield, and he maintained a horse ranch there for a number of years. It was because of the horses being there in such numbers and a good many of them leaving their remains that the name "Jaw-bone Flat" became applied to the flat between Clarkston Heights and the present City of Clarkston. Some, however, affirm that that uneuphonious name was derived from the peculiar contour of the shore at that place.

The earliest permanent settler on the Asotin seems to have been Jerry Maguire. His location was on the creek about three miles above its mouth. According to Mr. Boozer, his son-in-law, now living in Asotin, the location was made in 1866. His attention was mainly given to stock raising, though he engaged also in the business of packing supplies to the mining camps. A little later Thomas Rebusco took up a place on the creek where he raised vegetables, apparently the first in the county, for which there was a great demand in the mines. Another of those earliest settlers on the Asotin was D. M. White, right at the present location of the town. Noble Henry, now living on the reservation in Idaho, took up a residence for a time, beginning in 1868, a "squaw-man." In the early '70s some addition was made, though seemingly in a somewhat sporadic and experimental manner. The man who might be styled the founder of the Town of Asotin was Theodore M. E. Schank. The Sentinel of October 9, 1885, in giving an obituary notice of Mr. Schank, says: "Mr. T. M. E. Schank was born in Christiania, Norway, and emigrated to this country in 1852, and engaged in the harness and saddlery business in New York City. About the year 1854 he, in company with others, left for South America, Mr. Schank locating at Buenaventura, U. S. of Colombia, where he engaged in business. One year after his arrival there he departed for California, where he was successfully engaged in mining for a number of years, from where he drifted to the Puget Sound country, where he engaged in business of various kinds. During the mining excitement of 1860, Mr. Schank went to Lewiston, Idaho, and opened a harness and saddlery shop and did a thriving business." According to the Sentinel Mr. Schank located in 1872 or 1873. His location was on what is now the central part of Asotin, his house still being in existence. It was not till a number of years later that he undertook to start the town, and that is another story. In 1870, Charles Lyon, T. P. Page and George B. Fancher, took claims farther up the creek. Gad Hopwood, William Hopwood, and James Hopwood, Lige Jones and David Mohler, were also among those earliest pioneers. Most of them were bachelors. Mrs. Fancher is said to have been the first white woman in the district.

Aside from rearing stock and putting up the little sawmills on the edge of the timber, there had as yet been no thought of utilizing the vast upland prairies of the major part of Asotin. As described earlier, those prairies were cut up by the swift descending tributaries of the Asotin, spreading out fan-like and dividing the highland into a series of prairies. There was a luxuriant growth of bunch-grass all over that wide expanse. The decade of the '70s had been a great time for development of wheat raising on the Walla Walla and Touchet. There had been some beginnings on the Pataha and Deadman. The idea had rather suddenly seized the minds of many men that where bunch-grass would grow so well wheat and barley would also grow. As a result of this sentiment the later '70s witnessed the greatest rush for homesteads as yet seen in the Inland Empire. Not alone south of Snake River, but into Whitman and Spokane counties and in the Big Bend country, the settlers poured in a steady stream. Having for a number of years thought of the high prairies and rolling hills which make up the larger part of Eastern Washington as suited only for pasture, the eager land hunters now suddenly became possessed of a land fever and by hundreds and thousands ran out their lines and set up their homes. It was a great time. Many suffered hardship, having to live in "dug-outs," and being scantily supplied with food and clothes. But it was just simply the great American story over again, and in that rush for land we read the very key to American life and progress, individual freedom and personal ownership of land and the instruments of wealth. There is really no way to cultivate genuine ambition and the qualities of true democracy except by the ownership of land. Where the bulk of the population are hired "hands" or day laborers, economic servitude is inevitable. Either State Socialism or personal ownership of land by the bulk of the people is what we must come to in this country. It looks very much as though we as a nation were at the deciding point. If big corporations, railroad monopolies, Weyerhaeuser timber syndicates, oil trusts, are to acquire the bulk of the land, it is either socialism or serfdom. The American people can take their choice. The rush for land is the evidence of their preference. So long as there is land distribution, as in the decade of the '70s, the American ideal is safe.

Among other regions which witnessed that land rush were the prairies of Asotin. It is safe to say that the majority of the families that located there (and the same is true of the larger part of Eastern Washington) made their locations in 1876, 1877, 1878 or 1879.

Most of the names now borne by the different sections of the Asotin lands are those of the first settler in each tract. The easternmost of the ridges is known as "Montgomery Ridge," from B. C. Montgomery, who, with Samuel and William Galloway, John Galloway, James T. Maness, and John Bushnell, was the first to locate there. Among other prominent settlers still living are George Sauer, George and William Appleford, the Stones and McMillans, W. J. Boggan, and C. A. Hollenbeck. The next ridge westward was known as "Weisenfels Ridge," from J. A. Weisenfels. On this ridge also located the Mathenys and the Flocks. One of the marked characters there was J. N. Boggan.

The largest expansion of the prairie is Anatone Flat. Various explanations are given of this fine sounding name, some rather far-fetched and fantastic, as the one that one of the earliest settlers pronounced "any town" with rather a Hibernian accent, from which his neighbors whimsically constructed the name. Mr. Baumeister understands it to be the name of the Indian wife of one of the settlers. Another gives it as the name of a pretty Indian girl who lived there in early times. Mr. A. J. Crowe gives as his opinion that Anatone is the Nez Percé word for cold or clear spring and thinks that it refers to the spring of very cold, pure water which makes its way directly through the Town of Anatone.

We will not undertake to give a complete enumeration of the early settlers on Anatone Prairie. Most of them came in 1877-8-9. Several families there locating have been represented by members prominent in the official, business, or educational life of the county. In the natural progress of events a number have transfered their homes to the Town of Asotin. Among those early residents and families we note the names of Charles Isecke (the pioneer merchant of Anatone), Pinkham, Shumaker, Woods, Robison, Sangster, McIntosh, Tuttle, Puffer, Carter, Dodson, Farrish, Perciful, Forgey, Whiton, Trescott, Welch, West, Skinner, Wormell, Romaine, and various others.

The "Ayers Ridge" was first settled by Ben Ayers. The "Meyers Ridge" was first settled by Charles Meyers.

The "Cloverland Flat" had for its first settler and builder of the first house Brad Hodges. J. D. Swain, coming in 1878, built the second cabin. Mr. Swain is now living in Asotin. He had a varied and typically pioneer career. Born in New Hampshire he went first to California, thence to Oregon, where he lived ten years on French Prairie near Salem, then settled on the Patit near Dayton in 1874, from which place he went to Cloverland in 1878. He was chosen county commissioner of Garfield County in 1882, and resigned on the movement for the erection of the new county of Asotin, and of that he became one of the first commissioners. Like several others of his vicinity he lived in three counties, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin, without changing his residence.

Among the other prominent early settlers of Cloverland Flat we find the names of Petty, Wamsley, Fine, Walter, Sergeant, Philips, Johnson, Morrow, Barkly, Trent and Heltorf.

A special point of interest is connected with D. T. Welch, for the reason of his determined effort to locate the county seat at Theon, on Anatone Prairie. He had a sightly place and saw a city in his mind's eye growing up there. The old-timers did not always realize that the chief city of any given area must inevitably seek easy and cheap transportation facilities, either navigable water or railroads. No town on the Flats could compete with one on the river.

One of the most interesting of the old-time achievements was that of William Farrish, who still lives in Asotin and who gave the author his own personal account of it. In 1878 he conveyed a portable sawmill from Asotin to the timber line just beyond Anatone. There was no graded road up the long ridge and he was compelled to push and pull the huge weight right up the rough ridge by "hitching up all the oxen and horses in the country"--as he expressed it--and propelling the mill by sheer power. It was a great task and at several places the mill came very near getting away and starting down hill. But muscle and brain and perseverance triumphed, and the mill reached its destination.

The mill was located just at a exciting time for the settlers. In 1877 the great "Joseph" war of the Nez Percés had occurred. Up to that time there had been friendly relations between the whites and Indians. The old-timers relate many interesting stories of the general good will manifested by the Indians on Anatone. Mrs. Merchant of Asotin, to whom we are indebted for one of the most interesting of our special contributions, a daughter of the Clemans family, relates how, as a little girl, she was accustomed to be on a most friendly footing with the many Indians who would pass through Anatone on their immigrations from river to berry patches and hunting grounds. When the flame of war suddenly burst forth in '77 over the ownership of Wallowa, a good many of the Asotin branch of the Nez Percés joined the hostiles. The followers of Timothy and Lawyer, true to their traditional friendship for the whites, stood steadfastly by their old policy. Although the hostile Nez Percés did not cross to the west side of the Snake River, the settlers expected them. Some abandoned their homes. The house of Jerry Maguire was transformed into a fort, and the settlers on the creek gathered there for defense. But 1877 passed, the expected savage foray did not materialize, and the settlers resumed their locations. Then in 1878 came the even more savage Bannock war. The scene of it was far distant, but the settlers again became fearful of attack by fragments of unfriendly natives roaming around in the Blue Mountains and Wallowa. It was just at that time of trepidation that Mr. Farrish dragged his mill to the timber line. It arrived opportunely. The first work for it was to cut lumber for a stockade for defense against Indian attack. The structure was laid out somewhat less than a mile west of Anatone on the land of John Carter. Fortunately it was not needed, but it has historic interest.

Another of the important settlements was Peola, on the high land between the waters of the Alpowa and the Asotin. It belongs rather to Garfield than to Asotin, but extends into both counties. It is a fertile region, of essentially the same soil, climate, and conditions as the Anatone and other flats. F. G. Morrison and John B. Dick were among the leading pioneers of that region.

ESTABLISHMENT OF ASOTIN COUNTY

Such may be said to have been the beginnings of what became Asotin County. As easily seen, it possessed a unity of its own and within a year of the setting apart of Garfield from Columbia, agitation for similar action for Asotin arose. As the reader will recall from the chapter on Garfield County, Assotin City was a candidate for county-seat of that county. Outrun by Pomeroy in that race, the next logical step was a new county. The first active movement looking to the new county concentrated at Theon. Mr. Welch, as related, had ambitions for that point both as the business and official head of the new county. As a result of a mass meeting at Theon, Jackson O'Keefe of Assotin City was delegated to visit the Territorial Legislature in the session of 1883 in the interest of a bill for the erection of a new county. There seems to have been little organized opposition. The minutes of the house show that there was some discussion over the name. Some advocated the name of Lincoln, and in fact the bill first passed in that form. The council on October 18th passed an amendment to use the name of Asotin, and two days later passed the amended bill. On October 27, 1883, the governor, W. A. Newell, signed the bill, and Asotin (spelled with one s) became the fourth of the group produced by the fission of Old Walla Walla.

We find some interesting records and comments on this notable event in the Asotin Spirit. This pioneer paper of the place, it should be noted, had been moved to Asotin from Pataha, where it had been known as the Pataha Spirit. The first number was on Friday, October 25, 1883. The publishers were J. H. Ginder & Co.

In commenting on this notable event the Spirit notes the fact that it is left to the judgment of the appointed commissioners to choose the temporary seat as between Assotin City and Asotin, and that it can be moved at the next general election by a two-thirds vote of the county. The Spirit continues: "Early Wednesday morning a crowd assembled at Mr. Schank's new store building and the flag was brought out. As the national emblem was run up the pole three hearty cheers for Asotin County went up from the hearts as well as the throats of the assembly. And now that the efforts of this people have been crowned with success, so far as division and temporary location of county seat are concerned, we should not allow ourselves to be lulled into a masterly inactivity and deceive ourselves with the idea that nothing more is to be done, for as sure as we do what we have done will be undone."

As a matter of historical reference, it is well to preserve the legislative act of the territory establishing the county:

* * * * *

An act to create and organize the County of Asotin:

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Washington: That all that portion of Garfield County situated within Washington Territory, and included within the following limits, be, and the same shall be constituted and known as the County of Asotin, viz.: Commencing at a point in the channel of Snake River on the township line between ranges forty-four (44) and forty-five (45); thence running south to the northwest corner of section thirty (30), township eleven (11) north, range forty-five (45), east of the Willamette meridian; thence west six (6) miles; south one (1) mile; west two (2) miles; south one (1) mile; west one (1) mile, to the northwest corner of section three (3), in township ten (10) north, of range forty-three (43), east of the Willamette meridian; thence south eighteen (18) miles; thence west three (3) miles; thence south to the Oregon line; thence east on said line to the midchannel of Snake River; thence down Snake River to the place of beginning.

Section 2. That J. D. Swain, John Weisenfels and William Critchfield are hereby appointed a board of commissioners, with power to appoint the remaining county officers to serve until the next general election or until their successors are elected and qualified. For which purpose the county commissioners herein appointed shall meet at the county seat of Asotin County within thirty (30) days after the approval of this act, and appoint the necessary officers for said county, and perform such other acts and things as are necessary for the complete organization of the County of Asotin.

Section 3. That the justices of the peace and constables who are now elected as such in the precincts of the County of Asotin be, and the same are hereby declared justices of the peace and constables of said County of Asotin.

Section 4. That the County of Asotin is hereby united to the County of Garfield for judicial and legislative purposes.

Section 5. That all the laws applicable to the County of Garfield shall be applicable to the County of Asotin.

Section 6. That the county seat of said County of Asotin is hereby temporarily located at Asotin, which in this connection shall mean the Town of Asotin, or Asotin City, at which place it shall remain until located permanently elsewhere in said county by a majority of qualified electors thereof, and for which a vote shall be taken at the next general election, viz.: on the Tuesday next following the first Monday in November, A. D. 1884 and the officers of election shall receive said vote and make return thereof to the commissioners, who shall canvass the same and announce the result in like manner as the result of the vote for county officers. Provided, that if there be not a majority vote in favor of such location of county seat at any one place at such election, the qualified electors of the county shall continue to vote on that question at the next and each subsequent general election until some place receives such majority, and the place securing a majority of all the votes cast shall be declared the permanent county seat of said Asotin County.

Section 7. That all the taxes levied and assessed by the board of county commissioners of the County of Garfield for the year 1883, upon personal property within the boundaries of said County of Asotin, shall be collected and paid into the treasury of said Garfield County for the use of said County of Garfield, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That the said County of Garfield shall pay all the just indebtedness of said Garfield County, and that when such indebtedness shall be wholly paid and discharged, all moneys remaining in the treasury of said Garfield County, and all credits due and to become due said County of Garfield on the assessment roll of said year, shall be divided between said counties of Garfield and Asotin according to the usual valuation of said property of said year: PROVIDED FURTHER, That nothing in this act shall be so construed as to deprive the County of Asotin of its proportion of the tax levied for common school purposes for the above named year.

Section 8. The County of Garfield shall pay to the County of Asotin the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars ($150) over and above the amount provided for in this act, for its interest in the public property and improvements.

Section 9. The auditor of Asotin County shall have access to the records of Garfield County, without cost, for the purpose of transcribing and indexing such portions of the records of property as belongs to Asotin County, and his certificate of the correctness thereof shall have the same force and effect as if made by the auditor of Garfield County. It is hereby provided, however, that nothing in this act shall permit the record books of Garfield County to be removed from the office of its auditor.

Section 10. The salaries of the county officers of Asotin County shall be as follows, viz.: Auditor four hundred dollars ($400) per annum; treasurer, three hundred dollars ($300) per annum; probate judge, one hundred and fifty dollars ($150) per annum; school superintendent, forty dollars ($40) per annum; county commissioners, four dollars ($4) per day each, while at work on their official duties; and these salaries shall be their full compensation from the county treasury, and be in lieu of all other fees from the county.

Section 11. All acts and parts of acts in conflict with the provisions of this act are hereby repealed.

Section 12. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval.

Approved October 27, 1883.

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On November 12, 1882, the commissioners appointed by the Legislature, J. D. Swain, John Weisenfels, and William Critchfield, met at Mr. Schank's store in Asotin and effected a regular organization. Mr. Weisenfels was chosen chairman, and J. E. Bushel was appointed clerk. Rather curiously there seems to have been much rivalry among the citizens of the town to provide an official meeting place and it seems to have been rather the glory than the pecuniary emoluments which stirred their desires. Probably the motives behind the contention were connected with the two rival sites, that of Assotin City above and Asotin lower down the river. Alexander Sumpter was proprietor of the former site, and he offered his store, rent free for a year, together with necessary equipment and furniture. Mr. Schank offered his house on the Asotin site, rent free fora year. D. B. Pettyjohn offered his hall on the same terms. S. T. Jones offered to provide fuel gratis. As the rivals bid against each other they increased their offers. Mr. Schank added to the rent-free house the proposition of Mr. Pettyjohn to perform the duties of treasurer for the year for the nominal salary of $300, but to return the amount to the county. W. H. Wood strengthened this offer with a similar one to perform the duties of auditor at a salary of $400, but to refund the same. With these inducements Mr. Schank's offer gained the day. The rival locations were not far apart and the town has practically come to include the two.

The first assessment for the new county, made in 1884, was as follows: Real estate, $137,676; improvements, $40,211; personal, $227,021; total, $404,908. The acreage under cultivation was given at 5,532, and the total of deeded land as 42,918. The county census of 1885 showed a total population of 1,514. In the same year the report of production showed 300,000 bushels of wheat, 100,000 bushels of barley, and 50 tons of fruit.

In interesting comparison with those figures of 1885, we may take a jump ahead at this point to 1917, and give the summary of assessments as provided for us by the courtesy of E. W. Downen, county assessor: Value of live stock, $391,618; hay and grain in warehouses and in hands of producers, $412,095. The total of personal property, $1,245,540. That represents 50 per cent of the actual value. Real estate assessment, also 50 per cent of actual value, is this: Total number of acres assessed, 238,339.33; number of acres of orchard land, 4,649.36; other tillable farm land, 83,059; value of orchard land, $1,667,510; value of other farm land, $1,172,645; value of city property, $769,965; total real estate, $3,610,120.

Almost the first question that came before the voters of the county upon its creation was the determination of the county seat. Asotin and Theon were the chief contestants, with one vote for Anatone and two for Assotin City. The promoters of Assotin City announced before election day that they would not push the candidacy of their location, preferring to throw their strength to the twin place a mile down the river. The result of the election was: Asotin, 377; Theon, 106. Asotin has held the official headship to this day, though surpassed in population by Clarkston, and in more or less of chronic unrest lest the metropolis dispossess the older town. An election for a change occurred in 1916, but resulted in no change. The precincts participating in that first election, November, 1884, were: Asotin, Cottonwood, Grande Ronde, Lake and Pleasant.

The next political question of general interest was that of prohibition. That was a question that would not and could not down, for the reason that it involved ideas of right and wrong and economic efficiency on one side, and pecuniary gain or loss on the other. A local option law, allowing a decision by precincts had been passed by the Territorial Legislature in 1886, and, as a result, nearly every precinct in the state had a line-up, the general results being to show a powerful sentiment in favor of prohibition, but not enough to give a majority of precincts. The result in Asotin precinct was 69 to 70, lost by one vote. In Cottonwood precinct it was 77 to 27, very heavily affirmative. In Grande Ronde it was 12 to 21, lost. In Pleasant it was 15 to 6, more than two to one in favor.

RESULTS OF ELECTIONS

Asotin County, like others of its group, and in fact the entire state, is normally republican. But to its great credit, be it said, the county is independent, and the boss has a very uncertain tenure. We have seen from the act organizing the county that the three commissioners named were empowered to name the county officers, to serve until the general election of 1884. In pursuance of their duties the commissioners, Messrs. Critchfield, Swain, and Weisenfels, at their first formal meeting on November 14, 1883, appointed the following county officials: J. L. Vinson, sheriff; H. Wamsley, assessor; S. S. Bennett, probate judge; Charles Goodwin, superintendent of schools; J. J. Kanawyer, treasurer; J. O'Keefe, surveyor; A. J. Allen, coroner; S. T. Jones, sheep commissioner; G. S. Rogers, auditor. By reason of the declination of Mr. O'Keefe, Mr. Allen, and Mr. Jones, M. S. Kling, J. M. Robison, and R. Tuttle, were appointed to fill the places of surveyor, coroner and sheep commissioner respectively.

Much interest was felt in the first general election of 1884, and the republicans and democrats marshalled their respective hosts in the usual convention formation. It was in that election that the territorial law providing for woman suffrage first came into play, and in that election, November 4, 1884, about 80 of the 500 votes were cast by women. The results of the election were as follows: J. M. Armstrong, republican, for Congress, 266 to 226 for C. S. Voorhees, democrat; joint councilman for the counties of Columbia, Garfield and Asotin, B. B. Day, republican, 269 to 252 for C. H. Warner, democrat; joint councilman for the counties of Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, Asotin, Whitman, Adams and Franklin counties, I. Carson, republican, 252 to 211 for S. L. Gilbreath, democrat; joint representative for Asotin and Garfield counties, J. A. Perkins, republican, 210 to 193 for M. C. Harris, democrat; joint prosecuting attorney for Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, R. F. Sturdevant, republican, without opposition; county commissioners, G. B. Wardwell, A. J. Sherrod, and H. W. Ward, the first two republicans, the last a democrat; probate judge, R. A. Case, republican; auditor, H. E. Benedict, republican; treasurer, D. J. Wann, republican; sheriff, J. L. Vinson, democrat; assessor, J. A. Weisenfels, democrat; coroner, J. J. Lewis, republican; superintendent of schools, Angie Bean, republican; surveyor, A. Schrader, republican; sheep commissioner, W. R. Tuttle, republican. Rather curiously, considering that there were as yet no churches in the county, there was a vote on taxing church property, a general question, of course. The vote was, affirmative, 158; negative, 214.

It will be seen that of the successful candidates above, the large majority were republican, though the votes were very variable.

The outcome of the election of 1886 was similar to that of 1884. C. M. Bradshaw, republican, led C. S. Voorhees, democrat, though the latter was the choice of the territory. O. C. White, republican, led W. E. Ayers, democrat, for joint councilman. R. A. Case, republican, defeated D. H. Poyneer, democrat, for the house. W. N. Noffsinger, republican, for joint attorney, lost by one vote to L. J. Dittmore, democrat.

For the county officers the choices were: A. Stiffel for sheriff; H. E. Benedict for auditor; Jackson O'Keefe for treasurer; J. L. Vinson for probate judge; J. A. Weisenfels for assessor; Mrs. S. E. Morrill for superintendent of schools; H. C. Fulton for coroner; A. Schrader for surveyor; W. R. Tuttle for sheep commissioners; M. Scully, J. D. Swain and G. B. Wardwell for commissioners. Of the above, Messrs. O'Keefe, Vinson, Weisenfels and Mrs. Morrill were democrats; the others republicans.

The election of 1888 shows a considerable diminution in the vote, due to the invalidating of the woman suffrage law. In this election John B. Allen triumphed for delegate to congress over C. S. Voorhees, and the result was the same in the territory. D. T. Welch and W. S. Oliphant, republicans, were chosen to the council and lower house of the legislature. The county candidates chosen were A. Stiffel for sheriff; H. E. Benedict for auditor; Edward Knox, G. W. Philips, and Frank Huber, for commissioners; W. N. Noffsinger for joint attorney; G. A. Rogers for probate judge; J. O'Keefe for treasurer; W. R. Tuttle for assessor; W. W. Henry for superintendent of schools; D. Carson for surveyor; Len Henry for coroner; James Fuller for sheep commissioner. The democrats carried a larger proportion of the county offices than before, Messrs. O'Keefe, Henry, Carson, Philips, and Huber being of that political persuasion.

The great year of admission to statehood, 1889, had now arrived, Asotin County was part of District No. 8, of which Adams, Garfield, and Franklin were the others. Elmon Scott, D. Buchanan, and W. B. Gray were the ones designated in Asotin County, though, as related in the history of Garfield County, S. G. Cosgrove, running as an independent, was chosen in the district instead of Buchanan.

A special election occurred on October 1, 1889, for the purpose of accepting or rejecting the Constitution, choosing state officers, and voting on location of state capital, woman suffrage and prohibition.

The results in part were these: For Congress, J. L. Wilson, republican, 172; Thomas Griffiths, democrat, 124; for governor, E. P. Ferry, republican, 171 to 125 for Eugene Semple, democrat; for joint senator, C. G. Austin, republican, and for representative, William Farrish, republican. The county clerk was the only local officer named at that election. John Dill, a republican, was chosen. The vote of the county was heavily against the Constitution, 201 to 83. Woman suffrage lost by 97 to 173. Prohibition lost by 113 to 147. Ellensburg received a majority for state capital, Olympia getting but five votes. It thus appears that on those special questions at the first election after statehood, Asotin County was on the losing side in every one.

In the campaign of 1890 the prohibitionists became an active factor and in one way or another their proposition was held before the people until in 1914 adherents of all parties joined in the state-wide law and it was passed by strong majorities. But for many years the party was small and weak.

The vote of Asotin County in 1890 was small, there being for congressman only 266. For congressman, John L. Wilson was again successful. William Farrish was again chosen representative to the state legislature. The local choices were these: James Justus for sheriff; Jackson O'Keefe for treasurer; O. Gilmore, R. R. Van Ausdale, and W. H. Smith, commissioners; D. T. Welch for clerk; William Rogers for assessor; H. E. Benedict for auditor; D. W. Savage for superintendent of schools. Of the elected, Messrs. Rogers, Benedict, Welch, Van Ausdale, Gilmore and Justus were republicans, and Messrs. Smith, Savage, and O'Keefe were democrats.

The election of 1892 was the first presidential election in which the State of Washington took part, and, of course, interest was great. It was also the year of a full state election. The strenuous times and many mooted questions and new affiliations and realignments of men and parties made the election one of momentous concern in every unit of political organization. The result in Asotin County, as in the state, showed that the republicans were still in the saddle. For President, the republicans won, 194 to 148 for the democrats, 18 for the people's party, and 16 for the prohibitionists. John L. Wilson was chosen by a scanty plurality for Congress, and John H. McGraw by a somewhat larger plurality for governor. For representative, William Farrish was chosen again by 234 to 135 for his democratic competitor.

The county candidates chosen were: G. C. Perciful, attorney; D. T. Welch for clerk; L. B. Howard for treasurer; H. E. Benedict for auditor; George Kinnear, for assessor; J. L. Wormell for sheriff; D. S. Jennings for superintendent of schools; M. S. Kling for surveyor; W. H. Smith and Robert Sangster for commissioners.

The remarkable feature of the election of 1894 was the entrance into state and national, and of course local politics, of the populist or people's party, and its sweeping, though short-lived successes. The leaders of this party in Asotin County were Peter Maguire, W. J. Boggan, B. W. Knox, G. C. Perciful, L. K. Brown, John Weisenfels, and J. B. Dick. Politics were rendered something of a chaos by this movement, and viewed in the retrospect the student of the present can recognize in that fact infinite cause for gratitude. There is nothing so essential to political education as occasional radical upheavals. The populist movement was a sign of political thought by the masses, and it was a cause of the overthrow of "regular" rule--i. e., boss rule--and the beginnings of a new democratization--and that is just about the direction whither the world of 1917, with blood and anguish, and ultimate new vision, is tending. The result of the election of 1894 in Asotin County for two congressmen in the three-cornered conflict was that Hyde and Doolittle, republicans, had 165 and 166 votes to 162 and 165 for Van Patten and Adams, populists. The democrats were badly in the rear with only 52 and 51. C. C. Gibson, a populist, was chosen to the legislature. For county offices: J. L. Wormell for sheriff; George Kinnear for assessor; D. T. Welch, auditor; J. W. King, clerk; D. S. Jennings, superintendent of schools; George Burger, surveyor; L. Woodruff, coroner; L. B. Howard, treasurer; Robert Sangster and Frank Huber, commissioners. Of those chosen, Messrs. Kinnear, Woodruff, and Huber were of the people's party. Messrs. Welch, King, Jennings, Burger, and Sangster were republicans. Mr. Wormell and Mr. Howard were democrats.

With another presidential year of 1896, there was even more intense interest. The populists were apparently stronger than ever. The democrats hardly entered the field at all. There was a marked increase in the vote of the county, reaching almost five hundred.

In the presidential contest the result was victory for the people's party by 254 to 214 for the republican. The P. P. candidates for Congress, J. H. Lewis and W. C. Jones, obtained 252 to 216 and 211 respectively for Hyde and Doolittle, republicans. For governor, John R. Rogers, P. P., led Sullivan by thirty. For joint senator, Edward Baumeister, republican, led J. C. Van Patten by ten majority. R. W. Caywood, P. P., for representative defeated D. T. Welch by nine. For county officials: G. W. Kinnear, P. P., for sheriff; J. W. King, republican, for clerk; Elmer Waldrip, republican, for auditor; W. S. Rogers, republican, treasurer; Lee Williams, P. P., attorney; H. A. Whiton, P. P., assessor; Hallie E. Robinson, P. P., superintendent of schools; George Burger, republican, surveyor; John Steele, republican, coroner; Frank Huber, P. P., and Samuel Downen, republican, commissioners.

In 1898 in Asotin, as throughout the country, populism was on the ebb tide, that is, so far as votes were concerned. It would be a great error to consider its influence declining. It had accomplished a permanent mission, the effects of which the country feels today. In the election of 1898 W. L. Jones and F. W. Cushman, republicans, restored the prestige of their party in Congress. In the Legislature of the state, J. F. Crisman, republican, was the choice of the county. Of the local officers we find: J. L. Wormell, sheriff; Elmer Waldrip, auditor; A. G. Burnett, clerk; W. S. Rogers, treasurer; M. J. Garrison, assessor; J. B. Jones, superintendent of schools; Walter Brooks, attorney; C. L. Swain, surveyor; Charles Iseke, coroner; S. C. Downen and G. W. Cummings, commissioners. Of the above all were republicans except J. L. Wormell.

The election of 1900 showed a great increase in the vote. On the presidential ticket it was 757, of which the republican electors secured 398. Cushman and Jones were re-elected. John R. Rogers, democrat, held a slight lead over his republican adversary for governor. For joint senator Edward Baumeister was again victorious, by increased majorities. J. F. Crisman was re-elected for the House. The local officers were: J. L. Wormell, for sheriff; W. G. Woodruff, for clerk; John B. Bell, auditor; C. S. Florence, treasurer; Walter Brooks, attorney; W. J. Garrison, assessor; J. B. Jones, superintendent of schools; L. K. Brown, surveyor; Charles Fairbanks, coroner; B. W. Yeoman, Alexander Robinson, commissioners. All republicans except Sheriff Wormell, Clerk Woodruff, and Surveyor Brown.

The election of 1902 being an "off" year, there was something of a recession of interest. The people's party having nearly vanished, the contest came between the G. O. P. and the populized democratic party, to the general discomfiture, however, of the latter. The republicans carried the election for congressmen and representative, and all the county offices except one commissioner, surveyor, and clerk. The successful county candidates were G. W. R. Peaslee, representative; Robert H. Richards, sheriff; W. G. Woodruff, clerk; J. B. Bell, auditor; C. S, Florence, treasurer; E. E. Halsey, attorney; R. A. Wilson, assessor; Lilian Clemans, superintendent of schools; J. Swain, surveyor; H. R. Merchant, coroner; Jackson O'Keefe, C. D. Cowan, commissioners.

The year 1904 witnessed another presidential election. It was the period of flush times. The shadows of the previous decade seemed to have been dispelled and general activity and a new rush of population, investment, rising prices, increase in land values, a spirit of speculation, railroad building, and apparent general progress characterized the period. As might be expected the tendency to sustain the party in power, especially in view of the announced and supposed progressive views of President Roosevelt, became manifested in tremendous republican majorities. A socialist ticket appeared in the county, for the first time. The vote cast, 1,066, was the largest yet known in Asotin County, and gives evidence of a marked increase in population, as well as a profound interest in results. The republican presidential electors, five in number, headed by S. G. Cosgrove, had an average majority of 525 over the democratic. W. E. Humphrey, W. L. Jones, and F. W. Cushman, for Congress, had nearly four hundred majority over the democratic candidates. A. E. Mead, republican for governor, had 528 to 469 for George Turner. For joint state senator, S. S. Russell, republican, had 603 to 375 for Frank Cardwell, democrat. H. C. Fulton, republican, was chosen representative by 563 to 440 for J. L. Wormell, democrat, and 34 for Christian Frost, socialist. For local officers the choices were: C. S. Florence, auditor; W. G. Woodruff, treasurer; R. H. Richards, sheriff; M. P. Shaughnessy, clerk; G. H. Rummens, attorney; Lilian Clemans, superintendent of schools; Frank E. Brown, assessor; Jay Swain, surveyor; H. R. Merchant, coroner; S. C. Downen and Frank Body, commissioners. All of the candidates chosen were republicans except Mr. Woodruff.

With 1908 we reach another presidential year and another republican victory. The electors for President Taft received an average majority of 290. Miles Poindexter, as a republican candidate (it seems desirable to indicate clearly in his case which particular ticket he was on each time) received a decisive majority, as the first in his long series of meteoric successes. S. G. Cosgrove had a majority of 365 over his democratic adversary, Wm. Goodyear. J. R. Stevenson of Pomeroy and E. E. Halsey of Clarkston had strong majorities for State Senate and House respectively. The local candidates chosen were: G. N. Ausman, auditor; Homer L. Post, clerk; M. P. Shaughnessey, attorney; E. H. Dammarell, treasurer; R. A. Campbell, sheriff; Mary Brannan, superintendent of schools; Jay Swain, surveyor; C. N. La Fond, assessor; J. R. Walthew, S. D. Hollister, Jr., commissioners.

The election of 1910 gives results similar to its predecessors so far as the political complexion was concerned. In this election M. F. Gose of Pomeroy, a man in whom all parties in the judicial district had confidence, and who had in the mutations of time transferred his allegiance from democratic to republican party, received the unanimous support for the non-partisan supreme judgeship. W. L. La Follette of Whitman County carried Asotin, as well as the district, for congressman. E. E. Halsey was re-elected for representative. For local places, we find J. L. Wormell for sheriff; Homer E. Post, clerk; E. H. Dammarell, treasurer; G. N. Ausman, auditor; C. N. La Fond, assessor; S. D. Steininger was chosen for superintendent of schools, but did not qualify and Mary Brannan was appointed to the place; J. C. Applewhite, attorney; Jay Swain, surveyor; H. C. Fulton and Eli Bolick, commissioners; H. R. Merchant, coroner. In this as in previous elections, it may be said that Judge Chester F. Miller of Dayton received constant support for superior judge.

Reaching the year 1912, we find ourselves again facing a great national crisis, out of which momentous history has come. We may note here some changes in precincts in the county and give them as recorded in that election: Anatone, Asotin, Bly, Clarkston, Cloverland, Grande Ronde, Grouse, Pleasant, Theon, and Vineland. The total vote in that year was 1,901, the large increase being due to the inauguration of woman suffrage. The vote for presidential electors was: Progressive, 513; republican, 579; democratic, 551; other parties, 158. For Congress, the republican candidates, Frost, Dewey, and La Follette, received majorities; M. E. Hay, republican, for governor, had 802 to 501 for Eugene Lister, democrat. For state senator, G. N. Ausman, republican, was chosen, and E. E. Halsey was again elected for representative. C. F. Miller again received the vote for superior judge. For local positions: J. L. Wormell, sheriff; L. A. Closuit, clerk; R. M. Snyder, auditor; E. R. Downen, treasurer; J. C. Applewhite, attorney; W. G. Woodruff, assessor; W. J. Jerome, superintendent of schools; J. E. Hoobler, H. C. Fulton, and Eli Bolick, commissioners. That was something of a democratic year, as Messrs. Wormell, Snyder, Applewhite, and Woodruff belonged to that party.

In the election of November 3, 1914, there was a total vote of 2,046. In that year the long contested question of prohibition came to a decision on the Initiative Law No. 3, providing for prohibition with a permit system for individual importation. In this decision, the county vote was overwhelmingly affirmative, being 1,447 to 425. W. L. Jones was chosen United States Senator by 803 to 608 for Black, democrat, and La Follette for United States representative by 818 to 567 for Drumheller, democrat. For representative to State Legislature, E. E. Halsey was again chosen. For local officers the choices: F. M. Halsey, sheriff; J. W. Stephens, clerk; Delta Krausdelt, auditor; E. R. Downen, treasurer; W. S. Woodruff, assessor; W. J. Jerome, superintendent of schools; V. S. Shelman, engineer; R. C. Stone, O. E. Bailey, commissioners. These officials were quite evenly divided as to party, the sheriff, clerk, auditor, assessor, and commissioner, Stone, being democrats, the others republicans.

Another presidential year, of still more momentous issues and dramatic surprises comes in with 1916, the year in which the whole world was reeling with the most insane war ever recorded, and of which it is evident that the United States must be the ultimate arbiter. We find in Asotin County in that election 2,506 votes. We find also some changes in voting precincts. They appear thus: Alpowa, Anatone, Asotin, Bly, Clarkston, Cloverland, Grande Ronde, Grouse, Hanson, Pleasant, South Clarkston, Theon, West Asotin, West Clarkston. The total votes of the three Clarkston precincts was 1,237, with one voter reported absent. That of the two Asotin precincts was 519, with three absent. The prohibition question again came to the fore with several measures designed to impair the law passed in 1914. On Initiative No. 24, one of those measures, the vote was 314 for to 1,572 against. It may be added that the negative vote in the state on that measure (allowing manufacture and sale of beer), as well as the others of the same character, was so overwhelming, 100,000 or more, that it was hardly worth while to count it.

The national results of the election were: For the Wilson electors, 1,136; for the Hughes electors, 1,004; for Poindexter, republican, as senator, 983 to 926 for Turner, democrat; for La Follette, republican for congressman, 1,142 to 819 for Masterson; McBride, republican for governor, 927 to 1,182 for Lister, democrat. E. V. Kuykendall, republican for joint senator, had 1,170 to 882 for Thomson, democrat. E. E. Halsey again went to the lower House of the Legislature, his fifth successive election. The local officers were: F. M. Halsey, sheriff; Homer L. Post, attorney; E. R. Downen, assessor; A. A. Alvord; superintendent of schools; P. P. Oehler, engineer; G. A. Fraser, treasurer; Lillie Ausman, auditor; J. W. Stephens, clerk; C. Shumaker, J. K. McIntosh, commissioners.

MISCELLANEOUS HAPPENINGS

Turning from the record of political events to what may be denominated the miscellaneous happenings of the county history, we may note that Asotin has had its full share. The beautiful creek that now furnishes the water for several thousand acres of the great Clarkston project, a stream of much picturesque beauty as it makes its way, swiftly indeed, but with apparent serenity and general decorum through the lower end of the town into Snake River, has taken the liberty on several occasions to gather up reinforcements from the plains through which its tributaries have worn their way, and has come sweeping down the steep declivities in torrents that threatened to tear out everything in its course. It is quite well under control now, due to the extensive impounding and distribution processes of the irrigation system, but formerly in case of sudden rain or Chinook winds, the vast amount of surface from which the water must drain through the single channel might transform it in a few hours from a bright pellucid mountain creek into a veritable river of turbid torrents. The most famous floods were those of 1887, 1894, and 1897. That of 1894 was the greatest in a general way in the Columbia and Snake and all their tributaries ever known by white men, and according to Indians has not been equaled for many years, possibly several centuries. Nearly the whole of the lower part of Asotin was covered and the road between Asotin and Clarkston was under water in numerous places. So far as destruction from the creek was concerned, however, the flood of May 20, 1897, was the most disastrous of any. This was due to a cloud burst covering most of the upper sources of the creek. Since there was but a gentle rain at Asotin there was no conception of what was impending from above, until the roaring of the torrent heralded its approach. For a distance of fifteen miles the bed of the stream was swept clean. All the bridges were carried out and many of the houses, gardens, and other property destroyed.

Mr. Baumeister points out in his beautiful yard, with its stone wall ten feet high on the creek margin, how the water rose high above the top of the wall. Considering the irresistible force of a column of water fifteen or eighteen feet high rushing down that steep descent and considering the destruction of property it seems strange indeed that there were no human lives lost. It seems to have been by a series of fortunate happenings that those in peril were in positions to save themselves. The schoolhouse in the Hopwood District was swept away, but the teacher, hearing the tumult, had led the children to the hillside just in time.

The most notable fires in the history of Asotin Town were on February 3, 1886, in which the Pioneer Hotel belonging to Mrs. Lile was destroyed, and that of March 15, 1893, in which the City Hotel, belonging to Mrs. Myers, was burned. The feature of the second fire which gave it great notoriety was that a man named Frank Sherry perished in the flames. It appeared that Charles E. Myers, the husband of the woman who conducted the hotel, but who had been separated from her, had been found not guilty of killing a man some years before as result of difficulty about his first wife. The sentiment upon the discovery of the death of Sherry became intense in the town and it was reported to officers that there was a plan for lynching Myers, who had become charged with having fired the hotel in order to punish his wife and a man of whom he was jealous. The Sentinel, in speaking of the event in its issue of March 31st, declares that the reports of purposed lynching are exaggerated and that the people of the place have no other thought than a fair trial. As a matter of fact, Myers was conveyed to Dayton. He was subsequently tried for murder. The case was remarkable in that it was appealed twice to the Supreme Court and on the first appeal was retried. The verdict of guilty was affirmed in both cases. Petitions for pardon were sent to Gov. John H. McGraw, but he declined to stop the course of judicial decision, and Myers, without at any time having confessed the crime, was executed on September 30, 1895, two and a half years after the alleged crime. The execution took place at Pomeroy, and in accordance with the barbarous and horrible law then prevailing was public, and it is stated that hundreds of men, women and children were present.

The annals of the county were marked in August, 1896, with the lynching of a half-breed, Viles, for a sexual outrage, and the same kind of punishment for a similar offense with murder was meted out to a boy named Hamilton in the same month of 1903. The old timers in discussing those events express the opinion that though lynch law is to be deplored, and though in the second case the criminal was a half-witted degenerate, yet the proof was clear in both cases (for both confessed), and the condign punishment well-merited.

Turning from the miscellaneous events to the constructive industries of the county, we may say that there has been a steady and substantial, though not rapid increase in population, production, and property valuation, year by year from the date of county organization. The original stock industry gave way to grain farming, and in that Asotin County has been, for its area, one of the most productive in the state. It is asserted that Asotin warehouses and platforms along the Snake River from which the steamboats gather up the wheat, constitute the greatest initial grain shipping point or series of points on the O. W. R. and N. R. R. system.

ORCHARDS AND GARDENS

But though the wheat and barley of the prairies constitute already a great production and will in the future constitute a still larger source of revenue, the most interesting and important industry is horticulture and fruit raising. In the area of land devoted to intensive farming under irrigation, Asotin has nearly as much as the other three counties of old Walla Walla put together. This very important productive area, which comprises the most distinctive feature of the county, centers at Clarkston. The history of this industry and this place constitutes a chapter by itself, unique in the history of the Northwest.

The Clarkston project has been practically the work of one of the most noted historic families of the United States, that of the Adams family of Boston. Charles Francis Adams the second, when president of the Union Pacific R. R., formed the conception of an irrigated tract under ideal conditions upon land which he could see had superior advantages of location, soil, and climate, that is to say the broad flat, with successive benches, on the west side of the junction of the Snake and Clearwater. That location was first called Lewiston. Then in remembrance of the historic name of Concord, Mass., dear to the New Englanders who were founding the enterprise, the name Concord was used. Objections on the part of local residents arose, and on April 6, 1900, the name of the voting precinct was changed by the county commissioners to Clarkston, as the fitting mate to Lewiston, recalling the two leaders of the first expedition of discovery. By special petition to the Federal authorities the name of Clarkston was adapted for the name of the town.

The enterprise at Clarkston was in reality, it should be observed, a second thought on the part of Mr. Adams, for his first plan was the development of what is now known as the Indian Cache Ranch, formerly known as the Adams Ranch, on the north side of the Clearwater, a short distance above Lewiston. That splendid property was the first undertaking of Mr. Adams.

The first organization of the project at Clarkston was effected in 1896 under the name of the Lewiston Water and Power Co., of which Henry Adams the Second, son of Charles Francis Adams, became the head. This company ultimately had a capital of $2,000,000. In 1900 the company acquired the property of the Lewiston Light Company which had been formed in 1899 to provide electric light and power for the City of Lewiston. In 1904 the Asotin Land and Water Company's holdings were acquired and the projects were all blended in the Lewiston-Clarkston Company, and that in turn was reorganized in 1910 as the Lewiston-Clarkston Improvement Company. Henry Adams, with members of his family, retained the majority of the stock. At the present time, the properties are segregated into two distinct divisions. The Lewiston-Clarkston Improvement Company conducts the land business, while the utility work, the light and power business, is conducted under the name of the Washington-Idaho Water, Light and Power Co. Such is a bare outline of the general plan and changes effected by reorganization of this remarkable enterprise. Entering a little more into detail, it is of interest to note that the initial incorporators of the Lewiston Water and Power Company were E. H. Libby, formerly of Yakima, C. C. Van Arsdil and Dr. J. B. Morris of Lewiston, and G. W. Bailey and Wm. Farrish of Asotin. This incorporation acquired 2,500 acres at low figures, ranging from ten to twenty-five dollars per acre, largely from the original entrymen, Edward Pearcy, E. J. Warner, Wm. Caldwell, S. Wildenthaler, Joseph Alexander, Chris Weisenberger, D. S. Dent, John Aubin, together with a tract that had been secured by the New England Mortgage Security Company. E. H. Libby became president of the company. Land secured, water was the next requisite. The Asotin Creek had already been filed on and in 1896, July 18th, water actually reached Vineland. Mr. Libby acted as manager, with intermissions, until April 7, 1911. Mr. Libby, with W. G. Clark, engineered the reorganization of the Lewiston-Clarkston Company, which in 1910 became the Lewiston-Clarkston Improvement Company. At that time Spencer Trask & Company of New York, took $600,000 bonds of the new company and acquired an interest in the common stock. H. L. Powers, now of Lewiston, became vice president and manager in 1911, with Henry Adams as president, and retained the position till 1912, when he removed to Lewiston. He continued to act as vice president of the Lewiston Land & Water Company. Robert A. Foster, who had come in 1910 as engineer, became in 1912 the vice president and general manager of the Improvement Company, and in 1914, its president.

Land and water secured, the next necessity was a bridge across Snake River. Clarkston was so logically connected with Lewiston, though in another state, that a direct connection by a bridge was vital. The City of Lewiston granted to Mr. Libby a charter for the construction of a bridge in May, 1896. It was completed and opened for traffic June 24, 1899. This was a great bridge, 1,450 feet long, lifted so high above the river as to allow steamers to pass under. The first articles of incorporation of the bridge first known as the Lewiston-Concord Bridge, were dated November 26, 1897, and the incorporators were E. H. Libby and George W. Bailey. The incorporation was practically identical with the Lewiston Water and Power Company. Being across a navigable river the plans had to be approved by the secretary of war, and a permit granted by Congress. These necessities were duly accomplished in 1898. The contract for the construction called for $110,000. In 1914 the bridge became the joint property of the two states, for $80,000.

Asotin Creek has a mean annual discharge of 39,410 acre feet. The system makes provision for a domestic and municipal consumption for 10,000 people, and irrigation supply for 6,000 acres. The main pipe line is eleven miles long, and is from thirty-two to forty-eight inches in diameter, made of wooden staves, except where it crosses Maguire Gulch, a very high pressure steel pipe, four feet in diameter is used.

The Pomeroy Reservoir has a capacity of 20,000,000 cubic feet or 460 acre feet.

The major part of what has generally been known as Clarkston-Vineland has been sold by the company and is cultivated in small tracts, beautifully laid out and developed, trees, flowers, shrubbery, and lawns, a continuous village, thus fulfilling the noble ideal of the projectors as being a model irrigation project. The company has, however, retained possession of the larger part of the magnificent Clarkston Heights and is handling that property as a unit. It is a district hard to match among the irrigated tracts of the Northwest. It has every conceivable advantage of soil, climate, scenery, water supply, and when ultimately sold will be one of the rare home lands of the world. The company still owns about one-third of the townsite of Clarkston and about five thousand acres of land, of which 927.98 acres are in apple trees in a solid body. The apple trees are divided as follows in percentages: Winesap, 40 per cent; Yellow Newtowns, 15; Spitzenberg, 15; Jonathan, 10; Rome Beauty, 10; assorted varieties, 10. The average holding on the tract is only 3-1/2 acres, making this the most densely populated irrigation district in the United States.

The electric power and light properties of the company, under another organization, as stated, constitute a system by themselves. The power plant comprises the Asotin power station, the Pomeroy power station, the Clarkston auxiliary steam plant, and the Lewiston sub station; a total of 3,200 horse power. There is also a power development on the Grande Ronde River, 2-1/2 miles above the mouth and 28-1/2 miles from Clarkston, with a minimum of 6,900 horse power, and a peack load capacity of 10,000 horse power. Through these plants the company supplies with power and light the towns of Asotin, Clarkston, Lewiston and Lapwai, having a population of about fifteen thousand.

One of the most important recent enterprises in the development of this section is the electric railway from Lewiston across the interstate bridge to Clarkston and Vineland, a total amount of four miles of street railway. This work was completed in the summer of 1916. It is owned by the Lewiston-Clarkston Transit Company. Contrary to the recent experience of some of the "Twin City" trolley enterprises, which have been seriously affected by jitney competition, this undertaking is said to be amply rewarded by financial results. There is so much transit during the fruit picking and packing season and there is so much general activity of movement to and from Lewiston, that the cars are almost constantly well filled. There was a total of 2,000,000 passenger crossings over the bridge during the year ended at this writing.

The Clarkston-Vineland region has none of the first pioneer settlers left. There are, however, a number of what may be called the second wave of immigration, prior to the inauguration of the Improvement Company. Mr. and Mrs. F. G. Morrison are said to be the earliest comers now living in the town. They came in 1878, though not to the place where they are now living. At the time of their coming the ferry was maintained by Ed Pearcy. E. J. Warner had a claim in what is now the business part of Clarkston. "Johnnie" Greenfield, an old bachelor, was then living on the "flat." He was a landscape gardener of much ability, having been employed to lay out Woodward's Gardens in San Francisco. There was a family named Pearsall living a little west of the present home of Mr. Morrison, having four sons, Jerry, Jake, William, and Ed.

We referred earlier in this chapter to O. F. Canfield. He is a man of unique interest, both by reason of keen intellect, many adventures in the wildest regions of the Pacific Coast, and his peculiarly marked pioneer traits. He came as a ten year old boy with his father, W. D. Canfield, and the family from Iowa across the plains in 1847. Being late in reaching Oregon, the father decided to accept the urgent invitation of Dr. Whitman that he remain at Waiilatpu (Mr. Canfield says that the Indians sounded that historic name more as Waiilatipsu) for the winter. They had been there but about a month when the dreadful Whitman massacre of November 29, 1847, occurred. The father of the family was shot by the Indians, but by reason of a glancing bullet was not seriously, though painfully wounded. In the general excitement he evaded observation and remaining in hiding till night managed to communicate with Mrs. Canfield and the children. Thinking from all the indications that the Indians were not going to murder the women and children, Mr. Canfield decided to try to reach Spalding's station at Lapwai where he hoped that he might find rescuers for the captives at Waiilatpu. Though bleeding from his wound, and having but scanty food or clothing in the freezing weather of winter he set out and with terrible suffering reached Lapwai. The son, now a white haired man of seventy-eight, tells us that his father would never have reached Lapwai, had not old Timothy, the Nez Percé chief of the Alpowa, succored him and carried him across the river. Being on the north side of the river he was comparatively safe and reached Lapwai. Years after, so Mr. Canfield tells us, he saw Timothy, then very old and destitute. Telling him that he was the son of the man whom he saved at that momentous time, he told the old Indian that he wanted to pay him for saving his father. But Timothy would not take anything. He said, striking his breast, that he had "hyas close tumtum." It was "halo chickamon." Finally Mr. Canfield induced the old man to accept some tobacco and an overcoat as presents, but not as pay.

Mr. Canfield told another Indian story of very different character, worthy of preservation. When Howlish Wampoo, the famous Umatilla chief, was the ruler of his tribe he had many horses, some fine racing animals. There was a great horse racer at that time named Joe Crabbe, living in Portland. Crabbe had known of Howlish Wampoo's fast horses and was anxious to get up some races and incidentally clean up some big bets. Going to Umatilla he finally engineered a big meet with the Indians. The crowning event was to be between Crabbe's champion and anything that the Indian chief could bring on. Howlish Wampoo was very crafty. He might have been a Teuton diplomat of the present. He brought out and made a great parade of a spotted horse which he said he was going to run, and then innocently put the horse in a corral very handy to the white men. Crabbe's hustlers took the horse out in the night, no Indians being in sight, and tried him. They found that he was nothing extra fast, and so they made all their plans in the light of that discovery. The next day came the great race. Everything was excitement, and betting went to a great pitch. Crabbe finally put up $1,500 on his horse and at last even his silver mounted saddle and spurs. Howlish Wampoo accepted the bets with seeming reluctance and Indian stoicism. When the horses were brought out Crabbe saw with some suspicion that the spotted Indian racer looked a little different and stepped a little different from what he did the day before. As he told Canfield in relating his experience he "felt a sort of cold chill go down his back." But it was too late to back out. Off they went, a four mile race, two miles to a stake, around it and back again. The Indian horse was evidently not the same horse. He went like a shot out of a gun and reached the goal post so much ahead that his rider turned back to run again with Crabbe's champion, and then beat him into camp. The Indians made an awful clean up on the white men's bets. Howlish Wampoo, with just a faint suspicion of an inward grin on his mahogany countenance, told Crabbe that he might have his saddle and spurs back again, and enough money to get home on.

Afterwards Crabbe made great offers to the Indian for the spotted racer, wishing to take him East or even to Europe, for he was satisfied that he could beat the world in a four mile race. But Howlish Wampoo would never sell the pet racer.

Mr. Canfield remembers the events of the Whitman massacre with intensity and narrates them with vividness. He considers the fundamental cause to have been the fear by the Indians that the whites were going to dispossess them of their lands, and that their fears in that respect were fostered by Tom Hill, a renegade Delaware Indian, who had drifted across the continent, having come considerable part of the way with the Canfields. Jo Lewis, a half-breed, who had been greatly befriended by the Whitmans, was another inciting cause. Both of them were bad men and grossly betrayed their benefactors. The fatal scourge of measles and the death of some of Whitman's patients was an occasion for the outbreak, but the fear of white occupation was, in Mr. Canfield's judgment, the real cause. He says that he knows that Tamsucky was the leader in the massacre and that it was he who buried his tomahawk in Whitman's head. There was reason to believe that Tamsucky afterwards greatly regretted his act. There were four Indian chiefs, Isticcas, Moolipool, Tinsinmitsal, and Beardy, who were steadfast friends of the whites. This assertion of Mr. Canfield is the more interesting by reason of the fact that Miles Cannon in his recent book, "Waiilatpu," asserts that Isticcas was a traitor and participated in the massacre. Mr. Canfield is confident that that is an error. Mrs. Jacobs (well known in Walla Walla, now living in Portland, an eight year old child at the time of the massacre, a member of the Osborne family, who were present at the tragedy), supports Mr. Canfield's statement, declaring that old timers asserted that if there were any Christians in the country, Isticcas was one. Mr. Cannon in his book also expresses the opinion that Mr. Rogers basely asserted to the Indians that Doctor Whitman was poisoning them, hoping thereby to save his own life. Mrs. Jacobs declares that this statement is absolutely false and that Mr. Rogers, like the rest of the victims, died like a hero and a Christian.

Doctor Whitman, according to Mr. Canfield's recollection, while one of the noblest and bravest of men, was not a "fighting man," submitting rather tamely, as he thought, to insults by the Indians. Nor was he so large and powerful a man physically as some have described him. The most valuable testimony about Whitman is found in the statement by Mr. Canfield that he heard him several times discussing the future of this region with the elder Canfield. He urged him to remain in the Walla Walla Valley, pointing out that since it had become American territory it offered greater inducements to settlement than any other part of Oregon. He thought it better than the Willamette Valley. He declared that it was the best sheep country in the world, that during the eleven winters since he came to Walla Walla there were only two in which sheep could not have grazed the year round. He proposed that Mr. Canfield locate near Waiilatpu, and the next year join with himself in an organized drive of a large band of sheep into the country and the inauguration of a permanent wool industry. He figured that they could work their wool down to The Dalles and there reach regular boat connections and from the Lower Columbia ship by sailing vessels to New York, Boston, and Europe. It was certainly a great conception and demonstrates anew the practical judgment and far vision of the martyr of Waiilatpu.

THE TOWNS OF ASOTIN COUNTY

Asotin and Clarkston are the only organized towns in Asotin County.

As stated earlier there was a double location, Assotin City and Asotin, for what has now become one town under the latter name. The former place was laid out by Alexander Sumpter in May, 1878. On July 22, 1880, the dedication was made by Mr. and Mrs. Sumpter, and at the same time a postoffice was located there. The next year Mr. Sumpter erected a warehouse. The ferry across Snake River was established by J. J. Kanawyer in October, 1881.

A flour mill was put up in 1883 by L. O. Stimson at a point about two-thirds of a mile up the creek from its mouth. That mill was run for a time by John Dill, then by Curtis and Braden, who bought out Stimson. A little later than Mr. Sumpter's location, Mr. Schank employed A. T. Beall to survey his land near the mouth of the creek for a town site. The plot of this location was filed November 10, 1881, by T. M. E. Schank, W. H. Reed, Louise D. Reed, and Alexander Reed. Various additions have been made to the original site. Mr. S. J. Sergeant tells us that when he came to Asotin in 1879, there was nothing except Schank's cabin. During the next year Mr. Schank and Mr. Reed set out in earnest to start their town. In the issue of the Sentinel of April 24, 1885, we find an advertisement that would do credit to a Spokane real estate dealer setting forth the desirability of the location for business, loans or investment. Lots are announced at from thirty to one hundred and fifty dollars, and "sure to advance."

In the Asotin Spirit, beginning October 19, 1883, succeeded by the Sentinel, June 24, 1885, we find other interesting ads, of that day. In the first number of the Spirit Pettyjohn and McAlpin advertise their general store. F. E. Scott of Theon announces that he will sell wines, whiskeys, oysters, candies, medicines, and toilet articles. The ferry of J. J. and P. Kanawyer appears and it is asserted that the road to Lewiston by that crossing is far better than any other. The Assotin Flour Mills of Curtis and Braden have good space, and they announce that they will give thirty-five pounds of flour and six pounds of bran for a bushel of wheat.

In the Sentinel of various issues in 1885, we find the advantages of the Pearcy ferry displayed. The Lile House of J. D. Lile appears. In the Sentinel of June 24, 1885, is a flaming prospectus of a "Grand Social Hop" to occur in Embree Hall on the eve of the Fourth. The floor managers were to be Wm. Critchfield, J. P. Fine, and Henry Thomason. The committee of arrangements was to consist of C. S. Morey, J. P. Fulton, Al Stiffel, and A. M. Morris. The Packwood Pearce and Warner String Band was to provide music. Tickets were to be $2.25. The Sentinel of October 9, 1885, contains the obituary of Mr. Schank who had died by suicide, hanging himself in his own house in what was supposed to be a moment of aberration through business worry. In the same number is a remarkably drawing ad., by Baumeister and Co. to the farmers. The cards of L. J. Dittmore and G. W. Bailey, lawyers, appear.

It may be very suitable to give here the successive stages in the history of the one paper which has held the field substantially all the time. Coming to Asotin from Pataha and taking with it the name of Spirit, it was published at first by J. H. Ginder and Co., to be succeeded, March 28, 1884, by D. B. Pettyjohn, editor and proprietor. October 9, 1885, the paper became the Sentinel, published by the Sentinel Publishing Co. It continued under that name for over fourteen years, and on November 4, 1899, appeared as the Asotin County Sentinel, the editors and proprietors being Elmer Waldrip and Kay L. Thompson. Mr. Thompson has been sole proprietor since 1902, and has conducted the paper with conspicuous ability, making of it one of the best weeklies in the state. It can be truly affirmed that the Sentinel has been a great factor in the development of Asotin County.

In 1887, the rival town sites had practically blended, or rather the most of Assotin City had slid down to Asotin. The time for incorporation seemed to have arrived. On May 28, 1888, a meeting of citizens was held in Baumeister's Hall, for preparing incorporation papers. These were approved by Judge W. G. Langford, territorial judge, on June 15th, and thus Asotin became an incorporation. The judge appointed D. Talbot, H. C. Fulton, W. J. Clemans, J. N. Rice, and Edward Baumeister a provisional board of trustees. The first election was held April 1, 1889, and the trustees elect were as follows: J. K. Rice, D. J. Wann, J. H. Bingham, M. B. Mitchell and James Michie.

But like some other "plans of mice and men" this went "agley." The Supreme Court of the new state made a decision in February, 1890, which invalidated such towns as had been incorporated by order of district courts.

This set aside all the proceedings of Asotin thus far. Feeling that the indications thus far were such as to justify incorporation, the citizens petitioned the county commissioners on May 29, 1890, to call an election for incorporation under the state law. An election having been set it was duly held on June 21st. Thus Asotin was duly reincorporated under state law, and the officers selected were these: Mayor, Charles Isecke; councilmen, H. E. Benedict, Edward Baumeister, N. Ausman, Richard Ruddy, and L. B. Howard; treasurer, J. O'Keefe.

Different citizens of Asotin to hold the place of chief executive of the city have been Charles Isecke, who, as stated, was the first incumbent of the office in 1890, and who held it for three years, and was again chosen in 1906 to serve for two years. Edward Baumeister was elected mayor in 1905.

J. B. Jones was the choice for mayor in 1908 and continued in 1909 and 1910.

The first council chosen on June 21, 1890, consisted, as noted, of H. E. Benedict, Edward Baumeister, N. Ausman, R. Ruddy, and L. B. Howard.

Without endeavoring to give the complete list of city officials we will pass on to 1905, and in that year we find the council composed of Kay L. Thompson, J. B. Jones, M. B. Coon, G. A. Brown and H. Critchfield. In 1906 the personnel of the council was this: E. H. Dammarrell, S. J. Sargeant, F. B. Jones, M. B. Coon, Kay L. Thompson. In 1907, Messrs. Coon, Sargeant, and Dammarrell were re-elected, and R. Graham and Ben Ayers came in as new members. In 1908, Mr. Ayers was re-elected, but the other four were new men, A. Beckman, C. Brantner, M. J. Garrison, H. C. Fulton. In 1909, all held over with the exception of Mr. Garrison, the new member elect being E. G. MacFarlane. Beginning with 1910 the mayors and councilmen have been the following:

1910--J. B. Jones, mayor. Councilmen: A. Beckman, M. J. Garrison, Ben Ayers, E. G. MacFarlane, and C. M. Brantner. Treasurer: I. N. Brazeau. Clerk: C. S. Florence.

1911--Mayor: J. R. Glover. Councilmen: Kenneth McIntosh, Jay Swain, Ben Ayers, E. G. MacFarlane, and M. J. Garrison. Treasurer: Ed Bucholz. Clerk: E. Matthes.

1912--Mayor: J. R. Glover. Councilmen: Ben Ayers, Chas. S. Florence, A. Beckman and K. McIntosh. Treasurer: Ed Bucholz. Clerk: E. Matthes.

1913--Mayor: J. R. Glover. Councilmen: Ben Ayers, K. McIntosh, A. Beckman, Chas. S. Florence and Geo. W. Bailey. Treasurer: Ed Bucholz. Clerk: E. Matthes.

1914--Mayor: J. R. Glover. Councilmen: Ben Ayers, Geo. W. Bailey, L. H. Jurgens, W. A. Forgey and A. Beckman. Treasurer: Ed Bucholz. Clerk: I. N. Brazeau.

1915--Mayor: A. A. Wormell. Councilmen: E. R. Downen, K. McIntosh, W. A. Forgey, L. H. Jurgens and Ben Ayers. Treasurer: Ed Bucholz. Clerk: C. A. Laufer.

1916--Mayor: A. A. Wormell. Councilmen: L. H. Jurgens, Ben Ayers, A. A. Alvord, K. McIntosh and E. R. Downen. Treasurer: Ed Bucholz. Clerk: Chas. S. Florence. On April 4, 1916, Wormell resigned, and on April 18, 1916, M. J. Garrison appointed mayor by council for unexpired term.

1917--Mayor: M. J. Garrison. Councilmen: L. H. Jurgens, E. R. Downen, Ben Ayers, A. A. Alvord and K. McIntosh. Treasurer: Ed Bucholz. Clerk: Chas. S. Florence.

CLARKSTON INCORPORATED

The incorporation of Clarkston has its first mention in the minutes of the county commissioners on January 7, 1901, when a petition from 71 citizens was received asking for such action. The proposition was lost by vote of 15 to 37 on August 5th. The petitioners returned to the charge on May 5, 1902, to incorporate Clarkston and Vineland as a city of the third class. This was defeated May 24th by 70 to 110. At the meeting of the commissioners on July 8, 1902, there came still another petition, asking that Clarkston be incorporated as a city of the fourth class. An election on that issue was held on August 2d, and this time incorporation won, 45 to 31. At the next meeting the commissioners rearranged the precinct, making the limits of Clarkston coterminous with the incorporation and from the remainder creating Vineland Precinct.

Following this election Clarkston was duly incorporated, and the first city government had its meeting for formal organization on August 26th. Alexander Robinson was the first mayor. L. S. Lehm was the first treasurer. The council consisted of George S. Bailey, C. S. Whitford, A. S. Burnett, V. Anderson, and S. J. Roberts. Wm. Porter was appointed clerk, Robert F. Klein marshal, and E. E. Halsey city attorney. The first regular election occurred in December, 1902. The former officers were re-elected, with the exception of Burnett and Roberts, who were succeeded by S. T. Ramsey and Mr. Halligus. Mayor Robinson died in 1903. The election of December 8, 1903, resulted in the election of F. C. Brown as mayor. The councilmen consisted of S. T. Ramsey, C. S. Whitford, A. S. Burnett, V. Anderson, and A. J. Wood. Mr. Lehm was re-elected treasurer. The appointive officers were continued.

Mr. Frank N. Brown continued to be rechosen to the position of mayor from 1903 to 1907. The mayors following were these: R. M. Yount, 1907 to 1908; D. B. Parks, 1909 to 1910; R. M. Yount, 1910 to 1913; Dr. Paul W. Johnson, 1913 to 1914; E. J. Bailey, 1914 to 1916; J. E. Hoobler, 1916 to 1917. During the period from 1903 to 1917, we find the councilmen to have been: from 1903 to 1908, J. E. Hoobler, E. R. Stevens, S. T. Smiley, C. W. Hunton, and E. J. Bailey; 1909, F. M. Hartley, J. E. Heritage, S. L. Fowler, I. W. Rucker, H. S. Jones; 1910 and 1911, J. E. Hoobler, D. H. Stephens, S. L. Fowler, I. W. Rucker, D. H. Ransom; 1912, T. W. Hartley, J. E. Hoobler, I. W. Rucker, Herman Frank; 1913, J. E. Heritage, Mr. Daege, E. J. Dewar, J. P. Goetchius, H. G. Jones, F. M. Hartley, Herman Frank; 1914, Robert Meyer, J. H. Maynard, Herman Frank, H. S. Jones, F. M. Hartley, Mr. Bundy, J. E. Heritage; 1915, F. M. Hartley, W. E. Potter, John Whistler, P. T. Lomax, F. M. Talbot, L. M. Faulkenbury, P. F. Stillings; 1916, J. H. Maynard, E. J. Price, H. S. Jones, F. M. Hartley, Mr. Bundy, P. T. Lomax, Mr. Hill--by resignation of Mr. Hartley, Lee Morris was appointed; 1917, John Getty, J. H. Clear, L. E. Morrison, I. W. Knight, M. W. Isle, W. O. Bond, C. B. Thomson. For several years past G. L. Ackley has been clerk.

Both Asotin and Clarkston have maintained commercial clubs since their early days. In Asotin the officers of the present are Edward Baumeister, president; and Charles S. Florence, secretary-treasurer.

The club at Clarkston was organized on September 11, 1899, and was first known as the Business Men's Association. Its first special aim was the gravelling of the very dusty streets. The officers of the first organization were: H. C. Whetstone, president; C. M. Evans, vice president; T. W. Enos, secretary; Alexander Robinson, treasurer. In 1908 it was reorganized, named Commercial Club, and the officers chosen were: E. H. Libby, president; R. B. Hooper, vice president; J. E. Hoobler, secretary-treasurer.

An attractive, though not large building was erected, with the expectation of using it as a library, but when the Carnegie Library was built, the former building became the property of the city, and is now used as a council room, as well as a Commercial Club meeting place. The present officers of the club are: E. J. Bailey, president; Lee Morris, vice president; Lester Hoobler, secretary-treasurer. By reason of the departure of Mr. Hoobler to join the army, the duties of secretary are now in the hands of G. L. Ackley.

The educational system of Asotin County, like that of other units of old Walla Walla, has been typically American, one of the bed rock institutions in the upbuilding of the new land. From the first the people of the county have taken pride in their schools and while not absolutely true at all times and in all places to the highest interest of their children--as none are even in the State of Washington--they have results which make a demonstration of high ideals. There has been steady advancement from the log schoolhouse day to date.

The first school in what is now Asotin County was at Anatone, then the most flourishing community in what was then the eastern part of Columbia County. It is worthy of special note that the building was erected and the school maintained by the settlers themselves without any county appropriation. Miss Angie Bean, now Mrs. Tuttle and now living on Anatone Prairie, was the teacher of that pioneer school. We are informed by Mr. John Romaine, who came to Anatone in 1878, that the school was at its best during the first dozen or so years of its existence. As has not infrequently occurred in exclusively grain regions, the large farmers have absorbed the small ones and after a certain stage has been reached population tends to decline. As a result school districts diminish. Thus it has proved at Anatone.

The first school in Asotin City dates to 1881. The first teacher was Miss Blanche Marsilliott. There seems to have been much tribulation at Asotin about building an adequate schoolhouse. Not until 1904 was there sufficient space for the steadily increasing numbers in the town. Even with the handicap of insufficient space and equipment a high standard seems to have been maintained, insomuch that the report of the State College at Pullman indicated that the graduates of the Asotin High School stand at the head in preparation for advanced work.

As giving a clear and effective general view of the present status of the schools of Asotin County, we incorporate here a few paragraphs for which we are indebted to Prof. W. J. Jerome, formerly county superintendent and now city superintendent of Asotin.

PRESENT STATUS ASOTIN COUNTY SCHOOLS

By W. J. Jerome

The county being strictly an agricultural district, except for a small portion devoted to the fruit industry, the school population is comparatively small. Nevertheless the interest in education has always been great and is steadily increasing.

The number of school census children in the county in May, 1917, was 1,777 but the number actually enrolled in the schools of the county for the year was 1,884. The fact that the number enrolled is greater than the number of census children is largely due to the fact that a large number of children come into the schools of Asotin and Clarkston from other places to take advantage of the good schools and the mild winter climate.

The county contains two fully accredited high schools, Asotin and Clarkston. Clarkston had a total enrollment during the past year of 1,005, Asotin, 317. The interest in education in each of these places is very great and each maintains a fully equipped high school not only carrying the regular old line courses but offering courses in industrial arts as well. The Asotin School was the pioneer in the county in the newer branches and is at present the best equipped school in the county for work in manual training, home economics, agriculture and science work. However Clarkston is now beginning a program of industrial education that will soon place that district in the forefront in this line of work.

There are also two other centers, Anatone and Cloverland, which have introduced these new subjects and are rapidly building up splendid little high school centers.

Perhaps the greatest change in the county has come to the one room rural schoolhouse. In many cases the simple log building has been replaced by a neat modern building, heated and ventilated by some of the new heating and ventilating systems and provided with all modern equipment.

Many of the remote rural schools employ normal graduates at good wages, provide hot lunches during the cold weather, have a library, do some work with tools and are as much abreast of the times as the schools of the towns.

In the matter of expense for public education, the question never has been how little but how much can we afford to give or how much can we give. The configuration of the county has made necessary many remote and small communities and it is astonishing how much the people in these remote communities have been willing to sacrifice to educate their children and when it has been impossible to maintain a local school on account of the small valuation or small number of pupils many families have annually moved to town for the winter months to give their children the opportunities of the schools.

The amount spent last year, 1917, for the entire county was $65,793. When it is remembered that we have not a mile of railroad in the county and no manufacturing industries whatever and that our total valuation is but little over $4,000,000, it will be plain that Asotin County shows its interests in education in a most practical way.

Every year a considerable number of young people enter higher institutions of learning, and an increasing number are coming back into the county as teachers, ranchers, etc.

Perhaps the most striking thing about the schools of the county is the great variety of physical conditions found. At Asotin and Clarkston and other points on the Snake River the climate is mild, in fact a veritable winter resort for this entire section, while up on the high flats one could imagine himself on the prairies of Iowa or the Dakotas in the winter. Some of the schools are situated on steep hillsides, some in the great pine woods, some beside the beautiful Asotin Creek. Some of the pupils ride to school on horseback, some come in autos, some in sleds through the deep snow, some cross the wide Snake River every day in row boats, some are brought in by school wagons. Some live next door and some come in from the ranch seven miles away, but the great majority walk in the good old-fashioned way.

Among the teachers responsible for the present condition of Asotin County schools should be mentioned the following: J. B. Jones, for many years superintendent of schools of Asotin, when Asotin maintained the only high school in the county. Mr. Jones served a term as county superintendent and is now a leading banker of the county. Another teacher whose work will never be forgotten is Miss Lillian Clemans, now Mrs. Lillian Clemans Merchant. Mrs. Merchant was a leading teacher in the county for many years and took a leading part in educational matters for four years as county superintendent. J. W. Graham, now superintendent of the Pullman, Wash., schools, but for several years a leading educator of the county as superintendent of the Clarkston schools. W. J. Jerome, at present superintendent of the Asotin city schools, who has been associated with these schools and with the educational interests of the county for eight years. Gus Lybecker has had charge of the Anatone schools for four years and is now beginning a fifth year as the head of a new consolidated district at that place. C. B. Thornton has been associated with the Cloverland schools as principal for several years and is now the county superintendent of schools.

No resume of the schools of the county would be complete that failed to mention the three men who for many years worked together for the Clarkston schools: Dr. P. W. Johnson, W. E. Howard, and Elmer E. Halsey. Dr. H. C. Fulton, G. W. Bailey, William Farrish, W. G. Woodruff, and Kay L. Thompson served Asotin in a similar fashion for many years, indeed some of these men put in as much as twenty years as school board members. In every district there is one or more but usually one central figure, who takes a vital interest in the welfare of the children and gives unstintedly of time and talent for the schools of the district. The author wishes that all these splendid men could be mentioned here, for to them as much as to teachers we owe our schools.

* * * * *

In treating of the other counties, we have devoted considerable space to the churches. These indispensable agencies of the higher motives and higher life have had the same general place in Asotin as in the other counties. To some extent the same men whose names we noted in Walla Walla went on into the newer fields. Early in the history of Asotin City the Baptists effected an organization and erected a church. Soon the Presbyterian, Methodist, United Brethren, and Christian denominations became also established and maintain their church work to the present day.

Clarkston also has a full quota of well sustained churches: Methodist, Christian, Presbyterian, United Brethren, Church of God, Lutheran (Norwegian), St. John's Evangelical (German), Catholic, Adventists, Baptist, and Episcopal.

The fraternal orders are also well represented in both cities. The first lodge in the county was Hope Lodge, I. O. O. F., at Anatone. The Good Templars seem to have been pioneers in lodge organization in Asotin City, dating to 1885. The first Odd Fellow lodge was known as Riverside Lodge No. 41, and was organized in 1886. Other lodges followed, and at the present date we find the following represented: I. O. O. F.; Woodmen of the World; Women of Woodcraft; Grand Army of the Republic; Sons of Veterans; Women's Relief Corps; Modern Woodmen; Rebekahs; United Artisans; Stootki Tribe of Red Men; Masonic.

In Clarkston the orders are the Knights of Pythias, Masons, Odd Fellows, Yeomen, Woodmen of the World, and Modern Woodmen.

Many more interesting and valuable details of the history and present status of this youngest of our four counties might be given here, did space allow. But we must be content to close with further reference to that indispensable aid to the historical writer, and that is the newspaper. We have already spoken of the Sentinel of Asotin and have made our acknowledgments for much valuable data derived from it. Clarkston also has a weekly paper, the Clarkston Republican. The Vinelander, however, was the first paper at that point, appearing in 1898, published by Messrs. Leach, Henshaw and Lewis. The year following C. S. Florence, now of Asotin, acquired the paper and published it for a year, changing the name to the Vineland Journal. At the opening of 1900, Messrs. Lewis and Leach, having retired from their pioneer venture, undertook another by the publication of the Clarkston Chronicle. This also was short lived, being suspended after only about five months. There was still another transient in the field of journalism, the River Press, existing from July, 1903, to April, 1904, the publisher being at first Frank Barnes, followed by B. T. Warren, and he in turn by O. U. Hawkins. Meanwhile the Republican, the only permanent newspaper at Clarkston, had been launched in January, 1901, by L. A. Woodward. After a few unimportant shiftings, by which Mr. Woodward retired and again resumed possession, the Republican in 1904 passed into the possession of Messrs. Willis, Murdock, and Garver. Mr. A. J. Garver became and still continues to be the chief owner. The managing editor at the present date is W. A. Wyatt, and the paper is now known as the Clarkston Republic.

We leave this jewel of a county, with her sister jewels, at this stage of our story, anticipating for her great advances in the developments which are certain to accrue to the world, and particularly to the Pacific Northwest in the better days which are bound to succeed the insanity and destructiveness of the present unholy war which racks the earth.

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