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TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State

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Told<br />

<strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pioneers<br />

'was on <strong>the</strong> Colville Indian reservation and was closed to white settlers,<br />

but I became quite well acquainted with <strong>the</strong> Indians and I went about<br />

my business <strong>of</strong> prospecting for gold unmolested. I was called a<br />

"sooner" which was a name given prospectors who came before <strong>the</strong><br />

reservation was thrown open for mineral locations <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> government.<br />

I am one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> five men who are living <strong>of</strong> those who came to this<br />

county in 1896 or before.<br />

•<br />

I am a member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Masonic lodge in Republic. I was born on<br />

}farch 5, 1868, in Pike County, Missouri, <strong>of</strong> vVelch parentage. I am<br />

a widower, married October 15, 1897. I have two children and ten<br />

grandchildren. My daughters are Mrs. Helen 'Valters <strong>of</strong> Republic,<br />

811d Mrs. George Payne <strong>of</strong> Chelan.<br />

I ha'-e YOted in <strong>Washington</strong> for forty-four years.<br />

'When <strong>the</strong> prospectors arrived after <strong>the</strong> reservation was opened for<br />

mining, <strong>the</strong> people, mostly men, lived in tents until <strong>the</strong>:- took to <strong>the</strong><br />

hills to locate mining claims.<br />

The first school in <strong>the</strong> present town <strong>of</strong> Republic was org'anized in<br />

"Old Town" called Eureka, which was located partly on <strong>the</strong> Republic<br />

townsite. This school was held in a tent.<br />

The first frame building in Republic was built <strong>by</strong> J olm Stack, who<br />

conduded a general store in <strong>the</strong> building. ~fr.::\1. H. Shinn was <strong>the</strong><br />

first postmaster in Republic, and <strong>the</strong> post<strong>of</strong>fice was located in a store<br />

in "Old Town." There were a number <strong>of</strong> dances held at <strong>the</strong> boarding<br />

house <strong>of</strong> Patsy Clark, which was <strong>the</strong> only building in <strong>the</strong> community<br />

suitahle for dancing. The Miners' Union sponsored most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se<br />

dancf'f'.<br />

CLASSIFIED MATERIALS<br />

The following pages are classified to give students an opportunity<br />

to read interesting' excerpts on some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> subjects that 'were vitally<br />

•<br />

lmportant in <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> our state.<br />

are on file at <strong>the</strong> <strong>Washington</strong> <strong>State</strong> Library, Olympia.<br />

The complete interviews<br />

83

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