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.