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

by William Denison Lyman

CHAPTER IV

ASOTIN COUNTY

We have described the topography and climate of this latest of the three children of Mother Walla Walla County, in the first part of this volume. We also gave some of the general facts relative to first discovery and settlement. We find, however, in case of Asotin, as of her sisters, Columbia and Garfield, that the demands of clearness and unity call for some repetition. We shall therefore bring up once more the first comers who have already appeared, besides entering more minutely into the tale of the early days.

We have endeavored to find some distinctive features in the natural conditions, history, or present state of each county in the family. While the physical features and climate of the four counties are essentially the same, each has some characteristic of its own. That of Asotin is the fact of its long frontage on Snake River, extending from the southern boundary across the mouth of the Grande Ronde, the only considerable river in the entire area, facing the entrance of the Kooskooskie or Clearwater and then still providing the margin for the Snake to a point just below the entrance of the Alpowa. With this long river frontage there goes naturally a remarkably varied surface, the most of the county being an elevated plateau running northward from the Blue Mountains, and this is cut up by profound cañons alternating with nearly level plains. While this feature of the uplands is most characteristic, there is an extensive lowland in the triangle beginning with Asotin and including the great area sweeping around to, and for some miles west of, the promontory just opposite the mouth of the Clearwater on which Clarkston is located. This lowland rises by a series of benches toward the west and south to the high prairies, though separated from them by the abyss of Asotin Creek.

As might be expected from such a topography, the scenery of Asotin County is conspicuously grand and beautiful. It would doubtless be acknowledged by residents in other parts of Old Walla Walla County that there is no one view equal from a scenic standpoint to that extending from Asotin to Clarkston, unless it be that fronting the Columbia at its junction with the Snake. On a clear bright day in spring (which comes very early in this favored land) go in a launch from Clarkston to Asotin up the rushing river, look north toward that infinitely varied and curiously sculptured margin with which the vast farming plateau of Whitman and Nez Percé counties fronts the junction of the rivers, then view that superb unfolding of rising prairie on the east with the azure Craig mountains on its edge, then turn your eyes to the frontage of Asotin prairie on the west and view the immediate foreground with that marvellously picturesque "Swallow's Nest" rock parting the two regions of high land and lowland—and you will be dull indeed if you are not entranced and if you do not say: "There must sometime be a race of poets and artists in such a land."

The rythmical native name of Asotin means "Eel," that fish being very common about the mouth of the creek.

Like most Indian words the sound, and hence the spelling, varies. It appears frequently with two s's, that being the spelling for one of the two rival town sites, Asotin and Assotin City, which finally merged into the present city.

The Nez Percé Indians, who ought to be an authority, are said by old-timers to sound it "Shoten." It has frequently been given as "Hashoteen" or "Hasoten" or "Ashoti."

One of the mooted and interesting points in first discovery is whether it was the Asotin or the Alpowa which Lewis and Clark on their return trip from the Pacific in 1806 descended, and hence their route from this region to their appointed meeting place on the Kooskooskie with the "Chopunnish" Indians with whom they had left their horses. The language of the journal of Captain Lewis indicates that, descending the plains, they went "for four miles to a ravine, where was the source of a small creek, down the hilly and rocky sides of which we proceeded for eight miles to its entrance into Lewis (Snake) River, about seven and one-half miles above the mouth of the Kooskooskie." That would obviously indicate the Asotin Creek. But it is improbable that the party would have taken so laborious a route as to have struck the Asotin eight miles above its mouth. Moreover, the general route indicates the Alpowa. Perhaps conclusive in the matter, however, is the fact that the journal of Private Gass states that they kept down a creek "until we came to Lewis River, some distance below the forks of the Kooskooskie" (seeming plainly to mean the junction of the Snake and Clearwater). "After lunch," he says, "we proceeded up the south side of Lewis River about three miles," where they crossed it. Furthermore, Gass says that the next day, being on the north side of Lewis River, "at about ten o'clock we passed the forks, and kept along the north side of the Kooskooskie." In view of these records Elliott Coues, acknowledged to be the authoritative editor of the Lewis and Clark journals, decided that the word above in Lewis' journal is a slip and that below was intended and should be substituted. If we accept this version, we must admit that these first white men were not actually on the site of Asotin. However, it is clear that the region became soon familiar to the trappers. The McKenzie division of the Hunt party in the first descent of Snake River in the winter of 1811-12 evidently passed, though we have no record of their stopping places. Later the Hudson's Bay trappers, Bonneville with his party, and others, made their way down the Grande Ronde and "Wayleway" (Wallowa) and stopped on the Asotin, to proceed thence over the Peola, Alpowa, and Pataha regions, toward Fort Walla Walla, the great emporium of the whole region. The region is historic ground. The "bar" at the mouth of the Asotin seems to have been for many years a favorite gathering spot for the Nez Percé Indians. We are informed by Mr. Edward Baumeister that the Joseph band of Nez Percés claimed the place, and that the disputed possession of it was one cause of the Nez Percé war of 1877, in which Joseph (Hallakallakeen, or Eagle Wing) played so famous a part. Mr. Baumeister states that the Indians had obviously used the point as camping ground for a long time, for at the time of his coming in 1883, the place was covered with "cache-holes" and grave-yards.

ASOTIN FROM IDAHO, LOOKING WEST

Turning from these pre-settlement times to the era of the entrance of permanent residents, we wish to pay our acknowledgments first of all to certain old-time citizens of the country from whom we derived information and received the courtesies which our pioneers know so well how to bestow. Without undertaking to name all to whom we are thus indebted we may especially refer to Mr. Edward Baumeister, Mr. George Sauer, Major Boggan, J. D. Swain, Doctor Fulton, Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Wormell, Mr. John Romaine, Mr. A. J. Crow, Mrs. Lilian Clemans Merchant, Mr. Kay L. Thompson of the Sentinel for use of the files of his excellent paper, and Mr. Charles S. Florence, city clerk of Asotin, for use of city records. Prof. W. J. Jerome has kindly provided information regarding the schools and churches. Mr. and Mrs. F. G. Morrison of Clarkston are the earliest old-timers now living at that comparatively new point and gave valuable information. One of the most interesting of all the old-timers of the entire region is O. F. Canfield of Clarkston, who, though comparatively a new resident of Clarkston, has been familiar with the region since 1847, and is a storehouse of varied information about early days. For more recent history, Messrs. Foster and Westervelt of the Lewiston-Clarkston Company have provided much valuable data relating to the great enterprise of their company, the greatest of its kind in this part of the state. We are indebted to Mr. J. E. Hoobler, Mr. E. E. Halsey, one of our advisory board, and G. L. Ackley, city clerk, for other more recent information about Clarkston. The "History of Southeast Washington," published in 1906 by the Western Historical Publishing Company of Spokane, contains a large amount of valuable matter and to it we make acknowledgment for various data and early statistics.

Mr. Baumeister has directed our attention to the interesting fact that when Asotin was part of Walla Walla County there was a voting precinct opposite Lewiston known as Asotin Precinct. No one lived there at that time, but the precinct was laid out to accommodate miners or packers who might be going to Idaho, but who claimed Walla Walla as their residence.

A view of the beginnings of white settlement in what is now Asotin County following the era of the trappers takes us back to historic times, when Spalding gave Red Wolf (Herminilpip) apple seeds from which trees grew, one of which can still be seen at the mouth of the Alpowa; when Colonel Craig and "Doctor" Newell ranged through the country; and when Timothy, the savior of Steptoe's defeated command, and Tema, his "klootchman," lived on the Alpowa, the "place of rest," as they called it, where this old aboriginal couple lived genuine Christian lives, a good deal better than some of the supposed superior race. Tema is said by Newton Hibbs, as quoted in the "History of Southeast Washington," to have even remembered the coming of Lewis and Clark.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ESTABLISHMENT OF ASOTIN COUNTY

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

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

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

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

An act to create and organize the County of Asotin:

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

ASOTIN COUNTY COURTHOUSE

ASOTIN HIGH SCHOOL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Approved October 27, 1883.

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

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

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

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

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

RESULTS OF ELECTIONS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

VIEW FROM LEWISTON-ASOTIN HIGHWAY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MAIN STREET, ASOTIN

VIEW OF ASOTIN, LOOKING EAST

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

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

MISCELLANEOUS HAPPENINGS

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

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

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

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

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

ORCHARDS AND GARDENS

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

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

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

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

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

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

ONE VIEW OF THE PARTIALLY COMPLETED TWENTY MILLION GALLON POMEROY GULCH RESERVOIR. A LINK IN THE PRESSURE WATER SERVICE FOR THE IRRIGATION AND DOMESTIC SUPPLY OF CLARKSTON-VINELAND

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

The major part of what has generally been known as Clarkston-Vineland has been sold by the company and is cultivated in small tracts, beautifully laid out and developed, trees, flowers, shrubbery, and lawns, a continuous village, thus fulfilling the noble ideal of the projectors as being a model irrigation project. The company has, however, retained possession of the larger part of the magnificent Clarkston Heights and is handling that property as a unit. It is a district hard to match among the irrigated tracts of the Northwest. It has every conceivable advantage of soil, climate, scenery, water supply, and when ultimately sold will be one of the rare home lands of the world. The company still owns about one-third of the townsite of Clarkston and about five thousand acres of land, of which 927.98 acres are in apple trees in a solid body. The apple trees are divided as follows in percentages: Winesap, 40 per cent; Yellow Newtowns, 15; Spitzenberg, 15; Jonathan, 10; Rome Beauty, 10; assorted varieties, 10. The average holding on the tract is only 3½ acres, making this the most densely populated irrigation district in the United States.

The electric power and light properties of the company, under another organization, as stated, constitute a system by themselves. The power plant comprises the Asotin power station, the Pomeroy power station, the Clarkston auxiliary steam plant, and the Lewiston sub station; a total of 3,200 horse power. There is also a power development on the Grande Ronde River, 2½ miles above the mouth and 28½ miles from Clarkston, with a minimum of 6,900 horse power, and a peack load capacity of 10,000 horse power. Through these plants the company supplies with power and light the towns of Asotin, Clarkston, Lewiston and Lapwai, having a population of about fifteen thousand.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE TOWNS OF ASOTIN COUNTY

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

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

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

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

MAIN STREET, LOOKING SOUTH, CLARKSTON

PUBLIC LIBRARY, CLARKSTON

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CLARKSTON INCORPORATED

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

HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING, CLARKSTON

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PRESENT STATUS ASOTIN COUNTY SCHOOLS

By W. J. Jerome

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PAROCHIAL SCHOOL, CLARKSTON

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

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

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