TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State

Told
by the Pioneers
I recall the scarcity of money during the first few years on my
homestead. For weeks we would live on potatoes and sour dough
biscuits. One day a hawk chased a prairie chicken into our cabin, and
we caught the chicken and cooked it. This was the first meat we had
had for many weeks. I had ordered some berry bushes from a salesman
for later delivery. 'Vhen they were delivered in the spring, I
didn't have any money with which to pay for them. I told the sales~
man I would have to cut some fence posts and deliver them to Modovi
to get the money, which I did. I had 25 cents left over after paying
for the bushes and this money I spent for a meal.
GEORGE TAYLOR
Yakima Couny
My father built a two story log house of cottonwood trees, growing
along the river. I am sorry to say I tore it down.
This was nothing but a cattle country in early days. We raised a
garden by irrigating it from a big spring on our land. For the rest
of our provisions we drove over the Simcoe Hills, a terrible road, to
The Dalles, Oregon, twice a year. My father bought bolts of cloth to
make our clothing. Mother made my suits until I was sixteen years
of age.
CARRIE MEARS
Stevens County
In 1884 there was considerable interest taken in Washington Territory.
Much was said about the fine climate and the good soil. We
sold out and started west with five covered wagons and two buggies,
and drove seven or eight loose trotters. I drove a buggy team, a pair
of high-steppers.
A settler named John Rickey had a small store and traded with the
Colville Indians who were scattered up and down the Colville river.
We camped near his place while the men were building the road. It
was not long before log houses were up with a big fireplace in each,
and we were living in our homes in the beautiful Colville Valley. Some
of the men drove to Spokane to get the things we had shipped there,
such as dishes and stoves. All our lumber had to be hauled from Colville
and it took two days to make the trip. Boards were hauled for
flooring all five of the houses. The following winter was very severe
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