ELLENSBURGH LOCALIZER

January 24, 1891

Last Wednesday evening a regular meeting of the Capital Fire company, was held at Judge ARMSTRONG's office. After the business of the meeting had been transacted, Mr. A. MIRES in a neat and appropriate speech presented Chief PRICE, in behalf of the company, a gold badge in appreciation of his services to the Fire Department. The chief replied in a few well chosen words thanking them for the courtesy and regard extended him. The badge is of solid gold with the words "E. C. PRICE Chief of Ellensburgh's Fire Department" inscribed upon it. After the meeting adjourned Chief PRICE treated the boys to an oyster supper, the bountiful repast being served at the Castle chop house. After doing ample justice to the good things before them, they all went their way homeward, each one well satisfied with himself and with one another.   Joseph McCLOUD, charged with seduction, was acquitted. The jury, after being out a short time, brought in a verdict of "not guilty." Wm. GRAHAM, better known as "Butch", was brought before Judge ARMSTRONG, last Thursday, charged with assault and battery - John LYONS being the complaining witness. He was fined $25 and costs. Paddy BURNS, the old offender, was locked up last Wednesday for picking a man's pocket. He succeeded in getting $5 from the man, and a fine of $100 from the Judge; in default of which he languishes in the county jail.   Few countries as far north as Ellensburgh can boast of plowing being done in midwinter. But such is the fact that in latitude 46 degrees north, plowing is now being done every day. It is a fact, too, that there is no ice on the ponds to speak of, and has not been this winter, and up to Jan. 22nd, there is no frost on the ground. The ice men are fearful that they will not be able to fill their ice houses this winter. When the degree of latitude is considered, it is a wonder that such moderate weather should prevail in any of the winter months, as Brother BESSERER would say, but such is our climate.

BORN:

DIED

Jan. 22, 1891, in this city, John PEARSON, aged 80 years and 4 months. The deceased is an old settler in this country. The funeral took place Friday.

THE JAMES PARSONS POST

James Parsons Post held its regular meeting last Wednesday night, at its hall. The new officers - especially the energetic Commander,
S. T. STERLING - are "warming to their work", and seem to be determined to so perfect themselves in their knowledge of it as to do away, in future, with the printed ritual. The financial standing of the Post is to be overhauled, and all sources of its revenue looked after with special care. A committee, composed of Comrades J. L. BROWN, Harry BRYANT and Edward HITCHCOCK, was appointed to decide whether or not it is advisable to "put upon the boards" a play entitled, "The Confederate Spy", or some other good drama ... The Drum Corps, a promising organization of recent development in our city, was granted the privilege of occupying the G.A.R. hall one night of the week...

TEACHER'S MEETING

The next meeting of the County Teachers' Association will be held in HENTON's hall, on the corner of 5th and Pine streets on Saturday, Jan. 24th, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. All interested in education are cordially invited to attend. The program is as follows: history of Washington, J. L. McDOWELL; Governor's Message, all present; Parnell Affair, J. L. McDOWELL; Senatorial Election, W. A. THOMAS; Balloon Car, Miss Anna SALLADAY; Biographical Sketch of Emma Abbott, Miss Jennie CRAWFORD; The Mind - Conception, J. H. MORGAN. At the last meeting J. L. McDOWELL was elected permanent president and Mrs. Lida CRISMAN vice president.

KINDERGARTEN

Miss Tray BOEHM will re-open the Kindergarden school on February 2nd, in the HAMACHER cottage, on 7th and Anderson Streets. Children from 4 to 9 years of age will be admitted at any time. For further particulars enquire of Miss BOEHM at the residence of E. J. KING.

IN MEMORIAM

Hon. John DAVIS, late Probate Judge and member-elect of the present legislature, died of enlargement of the heart. He met with the
members of the legislature, and soon after taking the oath of office asked to be indefinitely excused from serving as a member. His request was granted. He was taken home and after lingering a few weeks, though every attention was given him, he died last Saturday, about 4 o'clock, surrounded by his grief stricken family. He has filled the office of Probate Judge some six years, greatly to the satisfaction of everybody. He was a man of the strictest integrity and the very soul of honor. In the discharge of his official duties he enjoyed the confidence of everybody. His death will be regreted by all who knew him. His birth place we could not learn, but we believe he lived in Oregon some years, and also in Snohomish county, in this state, and has been a resident of this county eight or ten years. As a neighbor he was respected by all. He was a kind and affectinate husband and indulgent parent. He leaves a wife, and, we believe, five children to mourn his loss. He was in moderate circumstances. The deceased was 58 years of age. His funeral was attended by a large concourse of sorrowing friends. Truly a good man has gone. Peace to his ashes.

THE PERIOD THAT TRIED MENS SOULS

When Luxuries were Unknown - The Pioneer Settlers Fred. LUDI was the first settler on the east side of the river, in this valley. His place adjoined, on the south, the first addition of the city of Ellensburgh. But is was occupied several years before the town was laid off. Patrick LYNCH was among the first settlers on the east side of the Nanum. HACKSHAW joined him on the northeast. J. H. McEWEN settled on the Nanum. J. B. BRUSH was one of the early settlers also; and Daniel DYSART was one among the first. The SMITH Brothers were the first settlers on the same creek, above. H. M. BRYANT and George SLAYSMAN also settled on the same creek higher up, and C. C. COLEMAN above them, and was at the head of the settlement on Outepas creek. Thomas HALEY and W. H. KIESTER were among the early settlers. John OLDING was the highest upon the Nanum, at that early day; and below came B. F. WHITSON, who was preceded by Mr. HASKALL. John BLOOMQUIST was the highest settler on the Nanum and
William TAYLOR next lowest to W. A. BULL. Above the city, George SHASER and Mr. SNIDER were settlers at about three miles above the city. In 1871, 1872, and 1873, there was not a flour mill, or mill of any kind. The flour consumed here by the early settlers was mostly hauled from Umatilla, Oregon, distant some 120 or more miles. The same was true, to quite an extent, of bacon and groceries. The two supply points in these articles were The Dalles and Umatilla. The first settlers were engaged mostly in raising cattle - the Sound being the market for them. The summer and fall months were the only times that the Cascade mountains could be crossed. There were two postoffices in the valley, one at J. D. OLMSTEAD's store and one at the farm house of J. L. VAUGHN, west side. The site of Ellensburgh, along in 1873, began to form the nucleus for a town, and settlers clustered around it. A postoffice was called for about this time, but the department thought that Ellensburgh was too close to the postoffice at Pleasant Grove to require attention, there being only about two miles' space between them. The first settlers of Kittitas valley had to undergo many privations, which those of later years did not experience, and to which they are utter strangers. Coffee was 40 and 50 cents a pound; bacon 30 to 40 cents a pound; sugar 25 cents; saleratus 25 cents; and calico 25 cents a yeard. The bulk of dry goods came from The Dalles. Wool and hides were the only products that would bear shipment, and the goods were hauled as back loading, and cost from two and a half to three cents a pound for hauling them 150 miles. In a few years, however, these settlers brought in hogs and made their own bacon. The stores began to increase their stocks, and goods came down in price. But the great want of the country was a mill, and the first one built in the county was that erected by the BARKER Brothers at Yakima City. Our people took their wheat there and had it exchanged or ground. This required a haul of fifty or more miles by the traveled road This had to be endured until a year or two later, when R. N. CANADAY build a small mill some three miles above Ellensburgh on Wilson Creek. This proved a great convenience to the settlers, who were enabled to go to the mill and return with their grist the same day. When they were compelled to go to Yakima City, it took nearly a week to get their grinding and make the trip; and the road traversed a very hilly country, which made the trip a hard one both ways.

NOTICE - TIMBER CULTURE

U. S. Land Office, North Yakima, Wash., Dec. 24, 1890 Complaint having been entered at this office by Lorena E. BULL against W. J. BRUSH, H. S. BRUSH, W. B. BRUSH, C. B. BRUSH, and Mrs. Margaret E. PETERSON and Phebe E. BRUSH his wife, heirs of John B. BRUSH, deceased, for failure to comply with law as to Timber Culture Entry No. 488, dated February 3, 1885, upon the S 1/2 NW 1/4, N 1/2 SW 1/4, Section 6, township 17N, Range 20E, in Kittitas County, Washington, with a view to the cancellation of said entry; contestant alleging that John B. BRUSH has been dead over two years and his real estate was sold and his business settled by S. S. McELFRESH, the legally appointed and acting administrator of the deceased and that said administrator nor any of the heirs of the deceased (all of whom are of legal age) has made any claim upon said tract of land or attempted to comply with Timber Culture laws, and have disavowed any intention of doing so, the said parties are hereby summoned to appear at this office on the 5 day of February 1891, at 10 o'clock a.m., to respond and furnish testimony concerning said alleged failure...