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 <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pioneers<br />
which ripped my arm from shoulder to elbow. I was taken to Yakima<br />
to a doctor, leaving my mining interests in charge <strong>of</strong> my partner.<br />
The demonetization <strong>of</strong> silver occurred while I was convalescing in<br />
Yakima, and <strong>the</strong> mines were closed, thus ending' <strong>the</strong> Okanogan deal,<br />
and my horses were worthless. I staked those in need with free<br />
horses and sold my cattle to <strong>the</strong> butcher. Ru<strong>by</strong> mine owed my $800<br />
which I never collected. I was fortunate, however, in having found<br />
<strong>the</strong> girl who later became my wife, while convalescing at Yakima.<br />
JOHN C. CODY<br />
Ferry County<br />
• •<br />
In 1897 my fa<strong>the</strong>r followed <strong>the</strong> gold rush to Ferry county, which<br />
was opened to mineral location <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> government during <strong>the</strong> following<br />
year. The family moved to Republic in 1899, living <strong>the</strong>re for about<br />
six months, <strong>the</strong>n moved to Keller, and built a log cabin and established<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir home. Fa<strong>the</strong>r located <strong>the</strong> Cody Camp mining claims five miles<br />
east <strong>of</strong> Republic, which claims <strong>the</strong>y worked until fa<strong>the</strong>r died in 1919.<br />
'When our family first moved to Ferry county, <strong>the</strong> towns <strong>of</strong> Republic<br />
and Keller were wide-open mining camps. A few board shacks and<br />
log cabins were being built, but most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> stampeders were living in<br />
tents or camping in <strong>the</strong> open. The first stores in both towns were<br />
started <strong>by</strong> J. C. Keller in tents. All <strong>of</strong> his supplies were brought in<br />
on pack horses over Indian trails. Trips were almost impossible during<br />
wet wea<strong>the</strong>r.<br />
There are still several <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> original cabins built in "Old Town"<br />
in Republic that still stand and are in use. Dancing parties were <strong>the</strong><br />
principal amusement, most <strong>of</strong> which were held in Patsy Clark's boarding<br />
house for miners, this being <strong>the</strong> only building large enough to accommodate<br />
<strong>the</strong> crowds.<br />
CHARLES McKAY<br />
By His Dau,ghtC1', Samh Chlln:7lill<br />
San Juan County<br />
Fa<strong>the</strong>r went north from San Francisco to Amador county, California,<br />
where he mined until 1858. Hearing news <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> new Eldorado<br />
up north, he joined <strong>the</strong> stampede <strong>of</strong> gold seekers into <strong>the</strong> Puget Sound<br />
country. After spending some time on <strong>the</strong> Fraser river, British Columbia,<br />
and its tributaries, seeking gold, (mainly in <strong>the</strong> vicinity <strong>of</strong><br />
1