GARFIELD COUNTY Historic Sketches Reasons for its creation

GARFIELD COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.
REASONS FOR ITS CREATION.

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The county of Garfield occupies the extreme southeastern corner of the territory, being bounded by Snake river on the north and east, Oregon on the south, and Columbia county on the west. It is the youngest county in Washington Territory, not yet having passed the first anniversary of its creation, Its area covers nearly thirty-six townships or about 1,300 square miles, the majority of which is good agricultural and grazing land, though considerable fine timber exists in the south end of the county, where a spur of the Blue mountains juts into it over the Oregon line. Settlements were made along the route of the stage road from Walla Walla to Lewiston on the Pataha and Alpowa, as soon as the line was established, in the spring of 1862. The land in that region was used and considered good only for grazing purposes for many years, until 1870, when a few persons on Alpowa ridge and Pataha prairie raised crops of grain that soon drew many to locate farms in those fertile tracts. Settlement in other portions of the county was slow, owing to the fact that lands nearer the Columbia were not all taken yet. At the time Columbia county, including this region, was formed in 1875, there were, probably, less than 200 settlements in the section now forming Garfield county, and a total population of not more than 500 souls. No town existed and no attempt to build one had been made, other than the establishment of a post-office on the Pataha for the accommodation of those living along that stream. The next few years witnessed a great change. The Pataha prairie and Alpowa ridge filled up with settlers, the rich lands along Deadman were taken, and emigrants poured into and located upon a large proportion of the rich agricultural soil of the county, though much excellent land yet invites the immigrant to make a home upon it. Columbia Center appeared in 1876, Pomeroy, Pataha City and Assotin City in 1878, and a number of points for the shipment of grain were established along Snake river.

As the population thus increased and the valuation of taxable property became greater, the people felt more and more the injustice of having the county seat located in the extreme west end of the county, which compelled them to travel many miles to transact official business, or attend court terms at Dayton. Added to this general sentiment there was a local feeling of rivalry between Pataha and Pomeroy, that led them to desire the county seat for the commercial advantage and consequent ascendancy over its rival that the possession of that prize would bring to the town fortunate enough to secure it. The removal of the county seat from Dayton to some point on the Pataha was extensively discussed in 1880, the project impressing favorably those whose interests would be benefited thereby, while those whom such a move would injure were adverse to its consummation. The citizens of Dayton were deeply interested in keeping the seat of justice in their thriving town ; those along the Tukannon desired its location at Marengo or some other point on that stream; while the settlers still further east wanted it placed on the Pataha or some convenient locality in their end of the county. The people of Dayton began to realize that possibly a majority of voters were in favor of a removal, though as yet divided in their opinions as to the proper place to locate it, and they felt that at any time a combination might deprive them of that which had been an important factor in building up their town.
This matter apparently slumbered until a short time before the legislature met in the fall of 1881, when the people of Pataha prepared a petition, requesting the legislature to provide for the county-seat removal, or to call an election to permanently locate it. The news of this move came to the people of Dayton at the time they were shut out from the world by the scourge of small-pox that had fastened upon the town, and they at once realized the danger menacing them. To do nothing was to lose the county seat. Some of the wiser ones saw clearly that, even if the movement was temporarily defeated, it was certain to be successful in the end, and at once advocated the creation of a new county, which idea the Pataha people endorsed, and thereafter worked to accomplish that object. With but little opposition the following bill was passed and received the Governor's signature.

TO ORGANIZE THE COUNTY OF GARFIELD.

    SECTION 1. Be it enacted, etc., that all that portion of Columbia county situated within Washington Territory and included within the following limits, be and the same shall be known as the county of Garfield, in honor of James A. Garfield, late president of the United States, viz : Commencing at a point in the mid-channel of Snake river on township line between range 39 and 40; thence on said line south to the southwest corner of township twelve, range forty; thence east on township line six miles; thence south to the southwest corner of section seven, township eleven north, of range forty-one east; thence east one mile; thence south three miles; thence east one mile; thence south one mile; thence east one mile; thence south three miles; thence east three miles; thence south on township line to the Oregon line; thence due east on said line to the division line between the Territory of Washington and Idaho; thence north on said dividing line to a point where it intersects the mid-channel of Snake river; thence down the said mid-channel of Snake river to the point of beginning.
    SEC. 2. That E. Oliver, Joseph Harris and N. C. Williams are hereby appointed a board of commissioners to call a special election of county officers for said Garfield county, and to appoint the necessary judges and inspectors thereof; notice of which election shall be given, and the said election conducted and returns made as is now provided by law: Provided, That the returns shall be made to the commissioners aforesaid, who shall canvass the returns and declare the result, and issue certificates to the persons elected.
    SEC. 3. That the justices of the peace and constables who are now elected as such in the precincts of the county of Garfield, be and the same are hereby declared justices of the peace and constables of the said county of Garfield.
    SECS. 4, 5, 6. That the county seat of the said county of Garfield is hereby located at Pataha City, until the next election which is to be held on the second Monday of January, A. D. 1882, at which time the highest number of the legal votes of said county given for any one place may permanently locate the same. The county of Garfield is hereby united to the county of Columbia for judicial purposes. That all laws applicable to the county of Columbia, shall be applicable to the county of Garfield.
    SEC. 7. That all taxes levied and assessed by the board of county commissioners of the county of Columbia for the year A. D. 1881, upon persons or property within the boundaries of the said county of Garfield shall be collected and paid into the treasury of said Columbia county for the use of said county of Columbia: Provided, however, That the said county of Columbia shall pay all the just indebtedness of said Columbia county, and that when such indebtedness shall be wholly paid and discharged all moneys remaining in the treasury of said Columbia county, and all credits due and to become due, said county of Columbia on the assessment roll of said year, shall be divided between said counties of Columbia and Garfield, according to the assessed valuation of said property, of the said year: Provided further, That nothing in this Act be so construed as to deprive the county of Garfield of its proportion of the tax levied for common school purposes, for the above named year.
    SECS. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. The county of Columbia shall pay to the county of Garfield, the sum of one thousand dollars over and above the amount provided for in this Act, for its interest in the public property and in improvements. The county of Garfield shall be entitled to two members of the House of Representatives and one joint member to the Council, with Walla Walla and Whitman counties. The county of Columbia shall be entitled to one member in the Council and one representative in the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Washington. All Acts and parts of Acts in conflict with any of the provisions of this Act be and the same are hereby repealed. This Act to take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval.—Approved November 29, 1881.
The only real controversy between the two sections during the pendance of this bill was about the dividing line. The Pataha people wanted the Tukannon to form the boundary, while the people of Dayton desired the line to follow the surveyed sectional lines to the east of that stream. The settlers along Tukannon were in accord with Dayton on that point, because their farms lay on both sides of the stream, and they would consequently be in two counties, also because Dayton now had a railroad and was their shipping point, and unless the county seat could be located at Marengo they preferred to keep it at Dayton. The line adopted left the Tukannon and its people in Columbia county. The county seat was located by the Act at Pataha City until the election on the second Monday in January, 1882, gave the people an opportunity to select a permanent seat of justice. Great rivalry existed between Pataha City and Pomeroy, but three miles apart on the Pataha creek, and because of this Assotin City made an effort to secure it, hoping the divided vote along the Pataha would give them the opportunity. A new town was laid out a few miles above Pataha, and given the name of Mentor, President Garfield's home in Ohio, and was entered as a candidate for official honors, the name being its chief recommendation, and with the exception of two or three small buildings, its sole possession. The canvass was a brief one of six weeks, and gave the following result: Pomeroy 411, Assotin City 287, Pataha City 259, Mentor 82, and the board of canvassers declared Pomeroy the county seat of Garfield county.
The county officers chosen were divided between the two great parties, four Democrats and eight Republicans. Those elected were: County Commissioners, J. W. Weisenfeldt (D.), J. J. Kanawyer (E.), and Eliel Oliver (D.); Sheriff, W. E. Wilson (D.); Auditor, Scott Rogers (R.); Probate Judge, Benjamin Butler (R.); Treasurer, J. N. Perkins (R.); Assessor, H. H. Wise (R.); Surveyor, E. D. Briggs (R.); School Superintendent, W. H. Marks (R.); Coroner, E. A. Davidson (R.); Sheep Commissioner, S. T. Jones (D.). The largest vote cast was that of 1,014 for the office of sheriff, divided among the different precincts as follows : Pomeroy 260, Pataha 184, Tukannon 8, Meadow 28, River 90, Pleasant 69, Columbia Center 108, Assotin 66, Cottonwood 201.
The contest for location was by no means ended with the election. Citizens of Pataha brought suit against the county commissioners, to restrain them from meeting at Pomeroy, and to show cause why Pataha City should cease to be the county seat after the ninth of January, 1882, the case being entitled " Rice vs. County Commissioners of Garfield County." The cause was argued before Judge S. C. Wingard, in chambers, who decided, in February, that the law was defective and the election void. The decision was based on the fact that the organic act failed to give any one power to canvass the vote for county seat; though it had appointed commissioners to supervise the election and canvass the vote for county officers in one section, the other section which provided for the county seat election Avas silent on the subject of how the vote was to be counted and declared. There being no general law covering the point, consequently no one was authorized to give the authoritative result of the election, therefore no location and an adverse decision by the court. The act. having declared Pataha City the county seat "until the next election which is to be held on the second Monday of January, A. D. 1882," it was clear that after that election Pataha ceased to be the county seat; therefore the decision declared that there was no legal county seat, and that the commissioners could meet where they chose. The board decided to hold their sessions in Pomeroy. A new suit was commenced to compel the commissioners to meet in Pataha, which was decided adversely in June. In this condition the matter now stands, and Garfield has no regular county seat, though the shadow of that honor rests upon the town of Pomeroy. A settlement of the vexed question is expected of the coming legislature, either by declaring the canvass of the previous vote to have been legally made, or by providing for another election, though an opinion that it should be established half way between those towns upon land donated for such purpose, is entertained by many.

TOWNS AND LOCALITIES OF GARFIELD COUNTY.
An idea of the condition of the county can be well formed from the following history and description of its various towns and localities.

PATAHA CREEK.

In the Nez Perce language this signifies Brush creek, and the name was apparently bestowed upon it because of a fringe of willows and brush growing along its banks. Messrs. Lewis and Clarke speak of this stream, up which they passed on their return journey in May, 1806, as being the first locality for some distance where they had found a sufficiency of firewood. Its source is in a spur of the Blue mountains, from which it flows north and then westerly, traveling a distance of fifty miles, and discharges into Tukannon river, about ten miles above the confluence of the latter stream with Snake river. Owing to the character of its banks and bed, the waters on reaching the lower portion of the creek become somewhat muddy, but higher up towards the source it runs through a rocky channel pure, clear and cold, where trout are still found, though somewhat diminished in numbers since the advent of white men.
The first dwelling-house constructed on the creek was built by Thomas Riley, who soon sold it to James Rafferty, the present owner of the ranch on which it stood. Among the pioneers of the creek are James Bowers, who settled in 1861 on the site of Pataha City; Parson Quinn, who came the same year in that vicinity; J. M. Pomeroy, who took up a claim in 1864 where the town of Pomeroy now stands; Daniel McGreevy, who settled near by in the same year; and James and Walter Rigsby, who located near the site of Pataha in 1865.
This section is now one of the great wheat-producing districts of the county. In the last few years thousands of acres have been placed under cultivation, and a most thriving and prosperous agricultural region has been developed. Two towns have sprung up, Pomeroy and Pataha City, as the outgrowth of the rapid and substantial development of the lands along the Pataha.

POMEROY.

    This is the largest town in Garfield county. Though nearly two decades have passed since its was built upon, scarcely half a one has witnessed its growth as a village. December 8, 1864, J. M. Pomeroy located on Pataha creek about twenty mile above its mouth, and lived happily for many years, with no thought of a town growing up on his quiet ranch. Where he lived, about midway between Dayton and Lewiston on the traveled route, has always been a favorite stopping place. As the country back of and surrounding it began to fill with settlers, and farming increased, it naturally followed that a trade center was needed somewhere in the vicinity. It was then thought that the best water-power on the creek was to be found here, which induced W. C. Potter, in the fall of 1877, to propose to Mr. Pomeroy to erect a flouring mill, if that gentlemen would donate sufficient land and water-power. This he did, and also contributed $2,000 to complete the mill when he found that Mr. Potter had more energy than capital. Mr. Pomeroy at once laid out the town and made liberal offers of land to induce business men to locate here. B. B. Day opened a store that fall, with a large stock of goods, and Dr. T. C. Frary and F. E. Williamson embarked in the drug business. In the spring of 1878, the starting of the mill and the accession of a livery stable, blacksmith shop, hotel and brewery converted Pomeroy into a veritable village.
    The rival city of Pataha was but three miles up the stream, and competition between the two was so great that Mr. Pomeroy gave lots on Main street to any one who would locate here in business of any kind, thus waiving the profits on the sale of his land in the interest of the town at large.
When the first county election was held last January, Pomeroy received the largest vote for county seat, but through an imperfection in the law does not as yet enjoy the rights thus acquired. (See county history.) A telegraph line was built by the government in 1879, from Dayton to Lewiston and Fort Lapwai, passing through this place, and the next year one was built from Pomeroy to Colfax and Fort Coeur d'Alene, and a United States Signal Service station was established here. Pomeroy has now a population of about 400, which is steadily increasing. Its business, which is already large, increases with the development of the surrounding country, and everything wears the air of prosperity and plenty.
    The business of the town now includes one hotel, one drug store, one restaurant, two livery stables, two general merchandise stores, two grocery stores, one millinery and dressmaking establishment, two saloons, one brewery, two agricultural stores, one blacksmith shop, two saddlery shops, two cigar and confectionery stands, one barber shop, one planing mill, and one flouring mill. E. T. Wilson has charge of the express office of Wells, Fargo & Co., and is postmaster also, the office being a money-order office. A line of telegraph connects the town at Dayton with the great telegraph system of the world. A school-house, with capacity for seventy scholars, and a Catholic church, are the two public buildings of the place. A private school is taught in the Catholic church. Pomeroy also has four attorneys, and three physicians to regulate its legal and anatomical affairs. Two newspapers look after its interests and give it prominence in the outside world. The Washington Independent was established April 12, 1880, by F. W. D. Mays, and occupies the position in politics indicated by its title. The Pomeroy Republican made its appearance March 4, 1882, as an advocate of the Republican party. In June, 1882, its founder, Eugene T. Wilson, sold a half interest to F. M. McCully. Both papers are published weekly.
    Pomeroy has an altitude of about 2,150 feet above sea level, and is surrounded by rolling hills, bluffs and small valleys, the scenery not being of a varied character. Wood in the immediate vicinity of the town is scarce, but in the Blue mountains, distant a dozen miles, is an abundance of pine, fir and tamarack. Good wagon roads lead from Pomeroy into the surrounding farming district in all directions. Freight is re¬ceived from Starbuck, a station on the O. K. & N. Co.'s road, distant twenty-five miles, and from near New York Bar, a steamboat landing on Snake river sixteen miles from town. A railroad to Lewiston, passing this point, is one of the expectations of the near future.
    But one homicide has occurred in Pomeroy, the killing of Hezekiah Tatman by Jacob Elliott, on the tenth of August, 1879, for which the latter was tried and acquitted on the ground of self defense.
    The Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart was organized in 1878, under the ministrations of Father Paaps, a visiting missionary priest. In November, 1881, Father Don M. Cesari came here to reside, and in April last removed to Union-town, continuing in charge here as visiting priest. The church is 60x35 feet, was commenced in 1878, and completed enough for occupancy the following year. When fully finished it will cost $3,000. The membership is about 200, and a Sunday-school of thirty scholars is under the charge of Father Don M.Cesari. Devotional exercises are also held in the school-house by the Protestant denominations, and a Methodist minister in charge of this circuit residing in town. Last spring Bishop Paddock donated $500 for an Episcopal church and Rev. L. H. Wells raised $1,000 more by subscription in is few days. The building will soon be erected. It probably will be but a short time before the Methodists will build a house of worship, and others will probably follow in a few years.

EVENING STAR LODGE, NO. 30, A. F. & A. M., was granted a dispensation March 22, 1879, was organized April 1, 1879; and received a charter June 4, 1880. The charter members were Eliel Oliver, W. M.; Samuel G. Ellis, S. W.; James W. Hull, J. W.; J. F. Foard, T.; Amos C. Short, S.; B. F. Shonkwiler, S. D.; Imri J. Scribner, J. D.; Thomas Cunningham, S. S.; J. Lynch, J. S.; Henry Koucher, Tyler, and S. M. Gough. The lodge has thirty-five members, and meets the first and third Saturdays of each month.

HARMONY LODGE, NO. 16, I. O. O. F., was granted a dispensation March 29, 1879, and was organized May 16. The first officers were: Thomas C. Frary, N. G.; Emil Scholl, V. G.; Frank E. Williamson, S.; W. J. Schmidt, T.; Alexander Henderson, I. G. The lodge is in good financial condition, with thirty-eight members, and meets in a rented hall every Thursday evening. The present officers are : W. J. Schmidt, N. G.; E. T. Wilson, V. G.; G. A. Sawyer, B. S.; F. E. Williamson, P, S.; T. C. Frary, T.; E. Scholl, W.; J. B. Lister, C,; B. B. Day, I. G.; W. E. Wilson, L. S. N. G.; C. J. Mulkey, B. S. N. G.; T. K. Simpson, B. S. V. G.; E. M. Pomeroy, L. S. V. G.; L. C. Lee, E. S. S.; Miligan Bowman, L. S. S.; J. M. Pomeroy, P. N. G.

POMEROY LODGE, A. O. U. W., was instituted December 21, 1880, with twenty-nine members and the following officers: T. C. Frary, M. W.; B. Hirsch, F.; F.E. Williamson, O.; W. E. Wilson, Rec'd.; G. A. Parker, Rec'v.; J. B. Lister, Fin.; C.
F. Green, G.; D. C. Gardner, I. W.; L. C. Lee, O. W.

There is also a lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templar’s, which has done good work for the temperance cause.

PATAHA CITY.

    The next town in size to Pomeroy, and rivaling it in importance and business enterprise, is Pataha City. It is situated on the creek from which it derives its name, and is. but a few miles up the stream from the sister city. The town site was taken up in 1861 by James Bowers, who soon sold it to his son-in-law, J. Benjamin Norton, the first victim of the Nez Perce massacres in 1877. Mr. Norton sold his claim inl868 to A. J. Favor, popularly known as Vine Favor, who is now the proprietor of Pataha City. In June, 1878, Mr. Favor laid out a town on his claim, being moved thereto by the same reasons that had induced the foundation of Pomeroy the fall before. The rich and rapidly developing agricultural country surrounding it gave great encouragement for, and even demanded, a business center, and Pataha City was called into being to supply the demand. The same causes that founded will support and minister to the rapid growth and permanent prosperity of the place.
    The town plot was surveyed in June, 1878, by A. T. Beall, being a portion of the southwest quarter of section 34, township 12, north, range 42, east. At first it was known as Favorsburg, or Watertown, but the proprietor preferred and adopted the name of Pataha City. Arrangements had been made with J. N. Bowman and George Snyder, to build a flouring mill at this point, the work upon which was then in progress. Immediately after the town was laid out, H. L. Caples and C. T. Stiles opened a general merchandise store, this being the first business establishment in Pataha. The fine water-power at this point, the excellent roads leading into rich farming lands to the northeast and south, as well as the inviting location for a town site, soon led others to establish themselves here, and Pataha rapidly became a place of importance.
    Great rivalry has always existed between this place and Pomeroy, and neither can yet lay undisputed claim to the palm of victory. When the county was created last winter Pataha City was made the temporary county seat, pending a popular vote on the question. The January election was close, and the contest was continued in the courts, terminating in June in favor of neither party. (See county history.) Even though it should fail to secure official honors, Pataha can see no reason to be discouraged, for her location and the country at her back, assure her future prosperity. To aid the new town Mr. Favor donated to it two water-power sites, twenty acres of land and sixty-nine lots. The altitude of the place is 2,300 feet above the sea, and it is surrounded by the same hills, bluffs and valleys that have been referred to about Pomeroy. The business of Pataha is represented by two general merchandise stores, one hardware store, one tin shop, one grocery store, one hotel; one restaurant, two saloons, one brewery, one flouring mill, one boot and shoe shop, two blacksmith shops, two livery stables, one drug store, and one millinery store. The Pataha Spirit, a five-column, four-page paper, was founded in January, 1881, by G. C. W. Hammond. February 4, 1882, it was transferred to Dr. J. S. Denison and Charles Wilkins, and it supports the Republican party. One of its institutions is a public school building capable of accommodating 100 pupils; is a very handsome structure, and would be a credit to a much older and -larger village. The town is at present all built of wood, but a number of new structures are being erected, some of which are of brick. Lundy & Stiles are building a large brick store-room, which will add considerably to the favorable appearance of the place. The Pataha Flouring Mill, owned by John Houser, is the most conspicuous building on the creek, and is rapidly gaining a wide reputation for the quality of its product. Daily mails arrive by stage from Lewiston, Colfax and Dayton. Mr. C. T. Stiles is postmaster and agent for Wells, Fargo & Co. The post-office is a money-office. The telegraph line from Dayton to Lewiston passes through this place, but as it is owned by the government and no local cause calls for an office here, none has been established. They look forward with confidence to the early arrival of the iron horse, on the O. R. N. Co.'s extension to Lewiston.

COLUMBIA CENTER.
At the forks of the Pataha, near the mountains, was made, in the fall of 1876, the first attempt to build a town within the present limits of Garfield county. There were two saw-mills four miles above the forks at this time, and Bean & Blackman built one at the forks, when a town was laid out and named Columbia Center, T. G. Bean being the principal proprietor. A grist-mill was built by this enterprising firm in the summer of 1877, 26x36 feet, with one run of stone, and the same fall E. D Hastings opened a store, while a blacksmith shop was also added to the town's attractions. A post-office was established, which has been discontinued, much to the inconvenience of many people of the vicinity, who have petitioned for a new one. At present the town consists of the mill, store, school-house, and a few dwellings.

MENTOR.

This was a new town laid out three miles above Pataha, being designed as a candidate for the county seat. The name was considered as peculiarly appropriate, but there was not enough in the name alone to secure the prize, and the prosperous future predicted for it shows no sign of appearing.

MEADOW GULCH.

Eight miles north of Pataha creek is a small stream known as Meadow Gulch. It may be called intermittent, as its has running water only a portion of the year, and when running frequently sinks from sight, re-appearing a short distance below, flowing alternately above and beneath the surface of the ground. The banks of the stream are quite abrupt, leaving but a narrow strip of bottom land. The Gulch is about twenty miles in length and has been settled since 1878. It opens out into

DEADMAN HOLLOW.

This is a tributary of Snake river, and received its name from the fact that two miners perished in the snow near its head in the winter of 1861-2. These unfortunate men are supposed to have been on their way from Florence or the Oro Fino mines to Walla Walla, and to have lost their way in the drifting snow, perishing from cold, hunger and exhaustion. When found next spring, they were buried near by, and a rude pile of stones was raised to mark the spot. The mound can still be seen on the farm of James Chisholm, one mile from the Dayton and Lewiston road. Deadman Hollow is about thirty miles in length, terminating at Snake river, two miles above the northwest corner of the county. The first settler in it was Newton Estes, extensively engaged in raising horses and cattle, who came here in 1870. Soon afterwards, Samuel T. Jones, Frank Ping, John Linn, and Archie McBriety, located along the stream. In 1878, the first grain was raised by E. T. Wilson, and there followed quite a rush to obtain land on Deadman, which soon covered it with claims, many of which are being profitably cultivated. A flouring mill is projected, and will soon become one of the features of this region, followed, no doubt, by a town.

HEMINGWAY'S LANDING, OR ILLIA.

This place is situated on Snake river, two miles below Almota, which stands on the opposite side of the stream. In March, 1879, E. L. Hemingway secured a title to the bar containing about fifty acres, and erected thereon a spacious warehouse. This point being the only accessible one for teams on the south side for a distance of 20 miles. Mr. Hemingway realized its importance as a place for receiving and forwarding freight, especially as it has an excellent boat landing. In connection with his warehouse he opened a small store, which he soon found inadequate to demands of the locality. A more commodious store-building was erected and a large stock of goods laid in. Soon after his advent upon the bar he planted an orchard of peach, apricot and other fruit trees not adapted to the uplands back from the river. These have thrived beyond expectation and are now bearing fruit in great abundance. A post-offie has been established by the name of Illia, Mr. Hemingway being the postmaster, and mail arrives daily by stage from Dayton and Colfax.

THE MAYVIEW post-office four miles south of Illia, is in charge of Mrs. V. L. Cox, and was established in 1879. The county surrounding it bears the same name as the office, is a fine grain region, and Joseph Cox is the pioneer grain producer within it.

ALPOWA CREEK.

The name of this stream is a corruption of Alpaha, a Nez Perce word, meaning Spring creek. The mouth of it is called by the Indians Al-pa-wa-we. This stream flows in an easterly direction and empties into Snake river about eight miles below Lewiston, and the trail over which Lewis and Clarke passed in 1806, follows down it from near its source. The oldest evidence of civilization in this region is the orchard grown from seeds planted by Missionary Spalding at the mouth of this creek in 1837 or 1838, for a Nez Perce chief named Red Wolf. The trees are now nearly half a century old, and some of them are two feet in diameter. The Alpowa abounds in trout, and in the spring of the year great numbers of salmon come up it from Snake river to spawn. The Alpowa Indians, a branch of the Nez Perce tribe, some thirty in number, are the principal settlers at the lower end of the creek. This band has always been friendly to the whites. They have embraced the Christian religion under Presbyterian teaching, and many of them have taken the oath of allegiance and become
citizens of the United States. They live in houses, raise horses, cattle, and grain, and those of the younger generation speak English fluently, Old Timothy, the chief, many years ago bravely earned his reputation as a trustworthy friend of the whites. At one time he fitted out some volunteers with ponies to be used in fighting hostile Indians, for which he never received compensation, not even the return of the animals. But for his services in guarding the retreat of Colonel Steptoe's men in May, 1858, that whole command would probably have fallen victims to the savages.

ALPOWA post-office is situated on the stream by that name, about midway between its mouth and its source. This place is in a deep depression in the earth, surrounded by breaks and bluffs that defend it from all approach except by the single road that leads down the creek. N. A. Wheeler is the postmaster.

PEOLA post-office, about ten miles up the stream from Alpowa, was established August 2, 1880, with Miss Mary King in charge. In February, 1881, she resigned and William King was appointed to the office. The settlement in this vicinity, which is also designated as the Head of the Alpowa, began in 1875. The altitude is 3,500 feet, and the season is consequently more backward than on the lower levels. The soil is very heavy and fertile. A Christian (Campbellite) church was organized here in June, 1879, by Rev. Amos Buchanan and Rev. Jacob Hasting became pastor. The membership is twenty-seven, and a Sunday-school of eighteen scholars is sustained.
A tragic event occurred here August 23, 1878, resulting in the death of A. G. Haven by violence. He and G. W. France laid claim to a piece of land, and considerable ill feeling existed between them about the matter. On the day of the fatal encounter, France and two others went to the disputed claim, on which Haven was residing, for the purpose of sowing the land in wheat. They had made some progress with the work when Haven discovered them. He at once grasped his gun and hastened to drive them off his premises. A fight ensued. Haven was overpowered, thrown to the ground and while held in that position was shot several times by France. Mrs. Haven ran to her husband's assistance, but his assailants answered her pleading and tears with blows and curses. France is now laboring in the penitentiary, having been convicted of man-slaughter and sentenced for a term of years.

MOXWAI CREEK is a small stream six miles in length flowing into Snake river twelve miles below the mouth of the Alpowa. The bottom lands along it vary from a few rods to a quarter of a mile in width, and are all settled upon. A grain chute and a warehouse are at the mouth of the stream, also a few small dwellings.

ASSOTIN CREEK.—Properly this name should be Has-shu-tin, a Nez Perce word for Eel creek, but with the usual tendency to corrupt the pronunciation of Indian words, the settlers have made it Assotin, and thus it will probably remain. It is the largest and most rapid creek in the county. It rises in the Blue mountains and running in a general easterly direction, reaches Snake river some seven miles above Lewiston, after meandering forty miles among the hills to reach that point, and because of its volume and rapid descent furnishes a superior water-power from its source to its mouth. The banks are very steep and terraced, accessible to wagons in but few places, the whole canon of the Assotin forming a great natural barrier between the country to the south of it and the balance of the county. So inconvenient is this that it will probably be, in the future when the Assotin country becomes more thickly populated and prosperous, a cause for the creation of a new county for the benefit of its people. The only tributary of importance is the south fork, or George creek, flowing into it about three miles from its mouth, and christened from the given name of its earliest settler, George Penny. There have been a few settlers in the Assotin country for a number of years, the pioneer being Jerry McClure, and it is but recently that people have begun to take up the excellent lands of this region.

ASSOTIN CITY.

Near the junction of the creek of this name with Snake river, and on the banks of the latter but seven miles up that stream from Lewiston, lies Assotin City, a place probably destined to be of considerable importance. It is pleasantly located on a flat that gives it a beautiful site and room to increase to the proportions of a city. The town was laid out in April, 1878, by Alexander Sumpter, who became postmaster in July, 1880, when an office was established here. Sumpter & O'Keif have erected a commodious warehouse, for the convenience of shippers, as this point is the outlet for the whole Assotin country. The increase in settlement and amount of grain raised will in time render this place one of great importance as a shipping point, and make of it a busy and thriving town. The ferry here is the property of J. J. Kanawyer, and was established by him in October, 1881. It is the last crossing of Snake river in Washington Territory, and is the only connection the people of this region have with Idaho except by way of Lewiston. A flouring mill was built in 1881 by L. A. Stim-son and Frank Curtis. The mill has at present but one run of stone, though the water-power is sufficient for several more, which will be added as soon as the demand requires them.
Assotin City made a strong fight for the county seat last winter (see county history), but was overpowered by the weight of numbers. The time may come when it will be the seat of justice of a new county, composed of that vast stretch of fine agricultural lands which nature has decreed shall pay it tribute. The town now contains a flouring mill, general store, livery stable, blacksmith shop, warehouse, post-office, ferry, and a school-house, where Miss Blanche Marsilliot taught this year the first school held in this vicinity, having about twenty-five scholars.

TEN-MILE, KOWSH AND MILL GREEKS.

These streams, all small and in the summer frequently dry, run in a general north-easterly direction through deep and continuous gorges to Snake river, the first entering that stream seven miles above Assotin, and the second fourteen miles further up. Kowsh creek was so named by Nez Perces because of the abundance of bread root by that name growing along its banks. It is frequently corrupted to Cowse or Cows by the settlers, and the chances are that before many years it will be generally known as Cow creek. Mill creek is the furthest to the south, and was so named because Leland, Buchanan and Gill built a saw-mill on its banks in the winter of 1862-3, the first within the limits of Garfield county. Lumber from it found a ready market in Lewiston at $50 to $60 per thousand feet, and much of the town of Umatilla was constructed of lumber sawed here.

ANATONE.
This town, the last in Garfield county and Washington Territory to the southeast, is situated on Mill creek. Charles Isecke started in the mercantile business at this point in June, 1878, and was soon after appointed postmaster of an office established here, which he caused to be given the name of a Nez Perce. squaw called Anatone who lived in that vicinity. The location is surrounded by a broad expanse of the best quality of wheat land, and as the population and wealth of this region increases, it will become a town of considerable magnitude. Three miles north of Anatone is

THEON.
Another location that promises to become a thriving town in a few years, depending for its growth upon development of the agricultural country in which it is situated. Large quantities of excellent land all around the place are yet awaiting the appearance of a claimant, and settlers are now availing themselves of the opportunity here presented, to secure good farms from the government. Theon derives its name from its genial proprietor, Daniel Theon Welch, who opened a store here in June, 1880, and was appointed postmaster the following September. At present beside the town site proprietor, there live at Theon, David West and family. He has erected a fine gothic frame house on the corner of his ranch that lies across the street from the store and post-office. Mr. West is a native of Elgin, Kane county, Illinois, from where he moved to Iowa, and during the great struggle that shook the foundation of our government, became a member of one of Iowa's gallant regiments that met the foe on many a hard-fought field. Long after the war had closed he emigrated to California and lived for a time at Dixon in that State, until the spirit of unrest made of him one of the grand army moving to populate Washington Territory.

GRAND RONDE RIVER.
The only stream that should be dignified by the name of river is the Grand Ronde, which rises amid the lofty peaks of the Blue mountains, follows a tortuous and tumultuous course of 150 miles in a general northeasterly direction and enters Snake river a few miles above the southern line of this county, 100 miles from its source. It discharges a large volume of water, flowing with such velocity and over such a rocky channel that navigation is impracticable, though small boats have been taken up it a considerable distance. Its principal tributaries are Wallowa, Wenaha and Joseph creeks, all within the State of Oregon. The Grand Ronde was so named by the French trappers of the Hudson's Bay Company, though Irving's "Bonneville" records the name as Way-lee-way, at the time of Captain Bonneville's visit in 1834.
GRAIN CHUTES.—In the chapter on agriculture, the grain chutes of Snake river are described. Those in Garfield county are the ones at Truax's Landing and Kelly's Bar, and those owned by the Paine Brothers and Gilbreath, from all of which large quantities of grain are shipped down Snake river.

For the following regarding schools we are under obligations to F. M. McCully: A great number of the new school districts organized in Columbia during 1870 and the succeeding years were in the territory now included in Garfield county, within which, at its organization, there were twenty-eight districts and twenty-four school buildings. Since that time, there have been five new ones organized, and eight new buildings will have been erected at the close of the present year. The average length of schools is a little over four months, the longest term being nine months and the shortest three months. The highest wages paid is to males, $75; to females, $60. Lowest wages, to males, $45; to females, $25. Number of teachers in the county, 23—7 males and 16 females. Number of children of school age in the county, 1,475; enrollment in public schools, 950 (estimated). The value of school property in the county will reach $9,000.
Considering the short time since Garfield county was organized, and the recent settlement of the country, the progress of the schools may be referred to with pride. A county teachers' institute was held in May, 1882, and was largely attended. The schools in Pomeroy and Pataha City, the principal villages of the county, are creditable to the people that support them, the former town having decided recently to enlarge their building.

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