Lyman's History of old Walla Walla County, Vol. 1 / Embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties

by William Denison Lyman

CHAPTER 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.

COURTHOUSE, POMEROY

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.

STREET SCENE IN POMEROY

WHEAT WAREHOUSE, POMEROY

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.

VIEW OF A PORTION OF THE IRRIGATED DISTRICT OF CLARKSTON, ASOTIN COUNTY

VINE COVERED COTTAGE, CLARKSTON
Showing beautiful effect which can be produced with vines, trees and flowers

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.

PICKING GRAPES, AUGERMAYLE PLACE, CLARKSTON

GRAPE-GROWING (AND GIRL-GROWING) AT CLARKSTON

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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