TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State
TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State
TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State
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Told<br />
<strong>by</strong> th6 Pioneers<br />
with lots <strong>of</strong> snow, but we had no illness and no scarcity <strong>of</strong> food. We<br />
had seven deer in <strong>the</strong> woodshed and bacon was cheap. We also had<br />
a few chickens.<br />
The pioneer days drew to a close. Official duties called Mr. Warren<br />
to Colville, where he was appointed deputy sheriff. After his<br />
death I went into <strong>the</strong> government school work at Tonasket, <strong>Washington</strong>.<br />
This was in 1893. This school was at <strong>the</strong> mouth <strong>of</strong> Bonaparte<br />
Creek, in <strong>the</strong> foothills just across <strong>the</strong> Columbia from <strong>the</strong> town <strong>of</strong> Tonasket.<br />
The land was donated <strong>by</strong> Chief Tonasket and named for him.<br />
He was a grand old man. Several <strong>of</strong> his grandchildren and great<br />
grandchildren were in <strong>the</strong> school and a great credit to it.<br />
We had a very good school. Many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> children had very little<br />
Indian blood; <strong>the</strong> mixed bloods were <strong>the</strong> hardest to manage, but we<br />
got along very well until <strong>the</strong> school burned in 1896. Many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pupils<br />
were sent to Carlyle and o<strong>the</strong>r Indian schools, so <strong>the</strong> school was<br />
not rebuilt and <strong>the</strong> employees were transferred to o<strong>the</strong>r government<br />
schools.<br />
'Vhat delicious doughnuts we used to make, dropping <strong>the</strong>m into<br />
boiling bear grease, our only shortening.<br />
WILLIAM O. LONG<br />
Garfield County •<br />
I have voted in 'Vashington fifty years. My family spent <strong>the</strong> first<br />
winter in 'Vashington Territory living in a log cabin with a dirt floor.<br />
Afterwards fa<strong>the</strong>r took up a claim and built a box house. Our furniture<br />
was all home-made. Our chairs were probably <strong>the</strong> only ones <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong>ir kind, having bottoms made <strong>of</strong> twisted corn husks.<br />
I helped organize <strong>the</strong> first rural telephone line in this part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
state. All <strong>the</strong> work on <strong>the</strong> line was donated except that <strong>of</strong> stringing<br />
<strong>the</strong> wire, which necessitated hiring experienced line men. The farmers<br />
and members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> company cut, hauled and erected all <strong>the</strong> poles<br />
<strong>the</strong>mselves.<br />
'Ve purchased all our supplies from Walla 'Yalla and made two<br />
trips each year to do this buying. Each trip would require five days.<br />
Our grain was hauled with six horse teams to New York Bar, a shipping<br />
point on <strong>the</strong> river. This haul was a thirty mile trip and usually<br />
took three days for <strong>the</strong> entire trip.<br />
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