Columbia Center was the first town laid off in Garfield County in 1876.
The first known murder by the whites was that of a man killed in the old Rigsby cabin Christmas morning, 1864. The man who did the killing was named Wilkins and the man killed was the owner of the house. The old cabin still stands on the Rigsby place.
The first sawmill erected in this county was put up by Henry Sharpnack, in 1874, just above Columbia Center. It was not successful.
James F. Rose was the first settler next the mountains above Pataha Prairie, 1869.
Joseph Clary built the first residence in Pomeroy after the original Sunderland log cabin. It was the residence of B. B. Day and still stands, the first house west of A Street on Main.
The first women's votes were cast at an election to fill a vacancy of justice of the peace, January 29, 1884.
The first settlers were in many instances men with Indian women. John Fogarty lived on the Rafferty place with a Nez Percé half-Indian woman. She was born at the crossing of the Touchet about where Dayton now is. Fogarty was drowned in the Clearwater. Thomas Reynolds lived a mile below Marengo, on the Tucanon, with an Indian woman who had before lived with two different white men. They had two daughters named Clydena and Agatha. After the latter the Town of Agatha, Idaho, was named. Clydena died at Marengo when about fourteen years old. Agatha married James Evans, son of Berry Evans.
Coleman, for whom Coleman Gulch was named, lived on the Tucanon, a mile above Marengo, and had a California Indian wife. James Turner lived on the Alpowa with an Indian woman. Two men named Bailey, with Indian wives, in 1859, lived on the Touchet, near Dayton.
The first minister to hold services in Garfield County was the Rev. Father Cataldo, who preached at Rafferty's and McBrearty's.
The first school on the Pataha Creek was taught by W. W. McCauley in 1873. The schoolhouse was located at Owsley's.