THE DALLES TIMES-MOUNTAINEER.
voted to cattle rafting, and sheep raising. For many years
animals were pastured the year round, the luxuriant
growth of natural grass being sufficient to furnish them
feed both winter and summer, but as flocks and herds in
creased it became necessary to provide artificial
feed for the winter months, and in consequence thous
ands of tons of hay are put up each year in the stock coun
try as a safeguard against severe storms and deep snows.
While wheat raising is the leading industry of the county
at present, sheep and cattle come next, and are the source
of bringing a vast amount of money into the country each
year. This year there were over 20,000 head of mutton
sheep sold in the county and some 2,000 head of beef, while
the assessment roll shows there were 6,583 cattle and 123,
529 sheep owned in the county on the 1st day of March
last.
GENERAL BUSINESS.
Among the varied resources of "Wasco county, wheat has
this' year taken the lead, there having been raised for ex
port 500,000 bushels, and about 100,000 bushels have been
retained for home consumption, and seed. The average
price realized by farmers has been 75 cents a bushel, mak
ing the crop of 1897 worth $450,000 to the producers. Be
sides this there was raised 90,000 bushels of oats and 70,
000 bushels of barley and rye, valued at about $60,000; also
15,000 tons of hay, the value of which was $150,000. No
oats, barley, rye or hay of consequence is exported, it be
ing kept for home consumption. The next industry of im
portance is sheep. The 123,529 sheep in the county yield
on an average of about nine pounds of wool per head, or
1,200,000 pounds, which at an average price of 11 cents per
pound, has brought into the county some $132,000, added to
which is $30,000 for mutton sold for export, making the
total receipts from the sheep industry $162,00j. Third in
importance is the fruit industry. There are very nearly
6,000 acres planted to orchard in the county and some 300
acres in grapes. It is impossible to give anything like an
accurate estimate of the amount of money received from
the sale of fruit any one year, it being handled by such a
great number of dealers, and shipped to so many different
points. During the season of 1897 there were 60 full car
loads of green fruit shipped from The Dalles, Hood River
and Mosier, the three principal fruit shipping points in the
county, and half that amount shipped in less than car load
lots. The greater portion of these shipments went to Chi
cago, though a numoer of car loads were shipped to New
York, while Butte, Montana, took several car loads, and
some winter apples were shipped to Texas. Besides the
fruit marketed in a green state, six car loads of dried
prunes have been shipped from The Dalles this season, and
a considerable amount of dried peaches and pears. The
vegetable parden is becoming a source of considerable im
portance among the farmers located near transportation
lines, and large quantities of vegetables, such as cabbage,
Leans, peas, tomatoes, celery, melons and egg plant, are
snipped to Portland and Sound cities each year.
The Columbia river is one of the greatest food fish pro
ducers in the world, and along its banks in Wasco county
an industry has been built up that is a source of great
wealth. The past two seasons, however, fishing has not
been profitable, the salmon run having been extremely
light. The two species of fish caught in this stream for
market are the salmon and the sturgeon. The former are
taken principally with fish wheels, while the latter are
caught on hooks sunk to the bottom of the river. There,
are three canneries in the county where salmon are pre
served one at Seufert's, three miles east of The Dalles,
one at Tumwater, twelve miles east of The Dalles, the
other in the city.
POPULATION AND VALUES.
According to the census taken by the assessor in 1895,
Wasco county had a population of 10,354, ana at the last
general election cast 3131 votes.
The property valuations, as shown by the assessment
roll for 1897 are as foiows:
Number. Total Value.
. Thus it will be seen that from July 1, 1894, to July 1,
1897, 188,207 acres of government land have been entered
by actual settlers. The fact that such an amount has been
taken during recent years is evidence that much of the re
maining vacant land is worthy of attention. Here the
home hunter may find vacant land on which to establish
a home awaiting his coming. To be sure there are few
tracts that are all tillable land, yet on a tract of 160 acres
from 20 to 100 acres may be found that are arable, while
the remainder when fenced becomes good grazing land.
Acres of tillable land, 92,492
Acres of non-tillable land; 271,095
Improvements on deeded lanu
Town and city lots
Improvements on city lots,
Improvements on land not deeded,
Miles of railroad bed, 60 6-10
Railroad rolling stock,
Miles of telegraph and telephone lines, 61
Merchandise and stock in trade,
Farming Implements, wagons and car
riages, Steamboats sail boats, stationary en
gines, etc.,
Money,
Notes and accounts
Shares of stock, . . 794
Household furniture, jewelry, etc
Horses and mules 4,529
attle 6,583
Sheep and goats, 123,529
Swine 3,107
$536,011
505,773
193,573
452,496
422,105
37,430
242,400
36,299
18,285
203,795
42,578
53,282
7,987
66,449
65,832
87,537
72,244
71,835
123,529
5,077
Gross value of all property, $3,241,517
Exemptions 228,131
Total taxable property, $3,013,386
This assessment is made on a basis of about 60 per cent,
of the actual value of all classes of property, hence the
real value of property in the county is very nearly $5,000,
000. PUBLIC LANDS.
To the homeseeker, the one looking for public lands on
which to locate, Wasco and Sherman counties offer lib
eral inducements. Although settlement of this section be
gan more than half a century ago, there still remains con
siderable government land subject to entry, that if brought
into cultivation would furnish comfortable homes for
thousands of people. Within the past few years vast
tracts of land have been entetred, yet there are thousands
of acres open to settlement that cost only the fees for mak
ing homestead entry and final proof. The records of The
Dalles United States Land Office show the amount of pub
lic land in each county subject to entry under the home
stead laws on July 1st each year.
Surveyed. Unsurveyed. Total.
1894 Wasco, 652,500 185,000 837,500
1894 Sherman, 130,550 1,900 132.450
1895 Wasco 620,880 179,060 799.960
1895 Sherman 113,495 1,900 115.395
1896 Wasco, .. 589,498 179.060 768.558
1896 Sherman, 9,834 1.900 99,734
1897 Wasco, 512,387 179.060 711.346
1897 Sherman, 68,497 1,900 70,397
EARLY HISTORY OF WASCO COUNTY.
The county of Wasco was organized by the territorial leg
islature of Oregon on January 11, 1854, and at the time
of organization contained within its boundaries nearly as
much territory as is embraced in the entire state to-day.
Oregon then reached from the Pacific ocean to the summit
of the Rocky mountains, and from the Columbia river to
California. The act creating Wasco county defined its
boundaries as follows: Commencing at the Cascades of
the Columbia river; thence running up said river to the
point where the southern snore of said river is intersected
by the southern boundary of Washington territory; thence
east along said boundary to the eastern boundary of Ore
gon territory; thence southerly along the eastern boun
dary of said territory to the southern boundary of the
same; thence west along said southern boundary to the
Cascade mountains; thence along said range of moun
tains to the place of beginning. This embraced all of what
is now termed Eastern Oregon, and the greater portion of
southern Idaho, an area of about 130,000 square miles, a
territory equal in size to the states of New York and Penn
sylvania. In this vast area there were not at that time to exceed
three hundred white citizens, most of whom were trappers
in the employ of the Hudson Bay Company and American
Fur Company. Less than half a hundred were actual set
tlers, but this little handful of patriots was composed of
sturdy pioneers who carved out of the then wilderness a
mighty empire. They were true, lawabiding citizens, who
sought county government as a protection to their, prop
erty and as a safeguard against the ravages of the lawless
element that then held sway throughout the northwest.
The administration of civil -affairs in the county estab
lished under the territorial laws was delegated to a board
of county commissioners; but no record was kept of the
transactions from the date of organization, January 11,
until April 3, 1854. That date is the earliest record of any
meeting of the county board, and is presumably the date of
the first session of Wasco county court. The records are
incomplete, with reference to who constituted the. board,
though William C. Laughlin, afterwards county judge, is
mentioned as the chairman, and Jack Crabb was sheriff,
while W. C. Moody held the office of sheriff's clerk.
The records of the first meeting of the board of county
commissioners held in The Dalles, April 3, 1854, recorded
in the first book of records of Wasco county, are as fol
lows: "Nathan Olney and M. M. Cushing were appointed
justices of the peace; Daniel Butler and George Cannon,
as constables; W. G. Bigelow, M. M. Cushing and Wm. R.
Gibson, judges of election for Dalles precinct; G. Atwell,
for justice of the peace; John Chapman, constable; James
Newman, G. A. Atwell and John Chapman, judges of elec
tion for Falls precinct. No other business coming before
the board, adjournment was taken to the fourtu Monday
in April."
From these records it appears that 43 years ago there
were only two voting precincts, three justices of the peace
and three contsables in all of Oregon between the Cascades
and Rocky mountains. They were located at The Dalles
and Falls (now Cascade Locks).
In those days resorting to courts as arbitrators in civil
actions was an infrequent occurrence, except between par
ties living convenient to the seat of government, and even
criminal matters were often settled outside the court room.
An idea of the inconvenience of dispensing justice during
the early history of Eastern Oregon may be gained from
the account given of the execution of Berry Way at Can
yon City, in 1863.
The gold mines at that place had been discovered the
year previous, and hundreds of desperate characters had
flocked thither. Way was among the number. His avarice
induced him to murder a companion named Gallagher, and
appropriate his money and horses. Gallagher's death soon
became known to the miners, and the crime of his murder
was then fastened upon Way. The deputy sheriff was the
only peace officer in that section, and Way was taken in
custody by that official. Jails were then unknown, and
miners wagers being $5.00 per day, while the deputy's per
diem was only $2.00, he could not afford to stand guard
over the prisoner or hire an assistant, so Way was tied to
a log for safe keeping. One night he escaped, but was re
captured at Boise and brought back to Canyon City. Hav
ing been put to considerable trouble in recapturing the
murderer, the deputy sheriff refused to further inconve
nience himself by bringing the prisoner to The Dalles to
be tried. It was a journey of 200 miles through an In
dian country, with savages who were no respectors of even
high officials, lurking behind every wayside hiding place.
The deputy sheriff uetermined to be put to no more trouble
by Way, and calling to his assistance a number of trusted
friends, proceded to serve in the capacity of judge, jury
and executioner, and Berry Way expiated his crime on the
gallows.
But let us return to the meeting of the board of com
missioners of Wasco county, on the fourth Monday in
April, 1854. No business came before the board, and an ad
journment was taken to Wednesday, the 26th. On this day
tne records show that William C. Laughlin acted as chair
man and J. A. Simmons as clerk. Only one day was re
quired to transact the business of the term, and the acts
of the board for this day were recorded as follows:
"Granted license to Orlando Hummason to keep a ferry
on Snake river, at a point within a distance of three miles
above or below Fort Boise, said ferry only required to be
kept in time of the immigration passing. Assessed the
tax for license at $50 per annum for the term of two
years. Rates of ferrying to be for a wagon and person
belonging thereto, $2.00; for cattle and horses, $1.00 per
head, for passengers, 50 cents;' for sheep, 25 cents per
head.
"Granted to Richard Marshall license to keep a ferry at
or near Salmon Falls, on Snake river, for the term of two
years. Tax, rates and provisions same as granted to O.
Hummason.
"Granted to C. C. Irwin license to keep a ferry on Green
river, at a point 80 miles above the boundary line between
Utah and Oregon, with the same tax, rates and provisions
as granted to O. Hummason.
Granted license to I. S. Henderson to keep a grocery at
The Dalles for six months at the rate of $50 per annum,
commencing the 1st day of April, 1854.
"Appointed place of voting at the home of Mr. Fore
sythe." These recorus give some idea of the manner of transact
ing county business in those primitive days; also from
them one can conceive the extent 01 the territory covered
by Wasco county when first established. Its jurisdiction
extended to the Utah line, 500 miles from the county seat.
The first election for county officers was held on June 6,
1854, and the resuic was recorded in the commissioner's
journal as follows:
"At a general election held at The Dalles, in Wasco
county, Oregon territory, on June 6, 1854, Ricnard A. Mar
shall, Charles . Evelyn and I. L. Henderson were duly
elected, and qualified according to law, as commissioners in
and for said county of Wasco.
"In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and
seal this 10th day of June, 1854. .
"J. A. SIMMONS, Auditor."
The records further show that on July 3d the board of
commissioners met and appointed Benjamin M. Reynolds
sheriff and O. Hummason sheriff's clerk, an office embrac
ing the duties of county clerk, recorder and deputy sheriff.
LOSS OF TERRITORY.
Thus was Wasco county, then the largest county in the
United States, organized and officered. It maintained its
vast dimensions until the territory of Idaho was establish
ed, when at least one-third the county was eliminated. Fol
lowing this loss, Baker county was cut off on September
22, 1862, and on September 27 of the same year Umatilla
county was created. Union county was set apart in Sep
tember, 1864. By the establishing of these three counties
Wasco lost all its territory east of the Blue mountains,
also that part north of the 45th degree of latitude and
-east of the John Day river. Its next loss occurred in Sep
tember, 1870, when the legislature established Grant coun
ty, embracing the territory now comprising Grant, Har
ney, Lake and Klamath counties. Again, on October 24,
1882, another county was carved out of Wasco, Crook
county, a territory of over 8,000 square miles, being cut
off from the southern part, by act of the legislature. The
last division of Wasco county was made on February 25,
1889, when by act of the legislature Sherman county was
created, and by this act Wasco lost 684 square miles of
territory, embracing some oi the best agricultural land in
the northwest.
Thus Wasco county, that once contained some 130,000
square miles, has .en divided until to-day it embraces
only about z,844 square miles, 324 square miles of which
are in Warm Springs Indian reserve. Seven counties in
Idaho and thirteeen in Oregon have been created out of its
original territor.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
A sketch of the early history of Wasco county would
be incomplete without some reference to those sturdy pio
neers by whose heroic deeds the wilderness of half a cen
tury ago was subdued. . '
The first settlement within what is now Wasco county
was probably the Catholic mission at The Dalles, but the
first homesteader of whom we have any record to estab
lish a permanent residence was a French trapper named
Joseph Levendure, who staked out a land claim on what
was afterwards known as the Logan estate, in 1846. Af
terwards he was attracted to California by the discovery of
gold, and abandoned his possessions here.
In 1847 Nathan Olney took up a donation claim on what
is known as the John Irvine farm, but he too went to Cali
fornia when the discovery of gold was made.
The next permanent settlement was made by William
C. Laughlin, in 1851. He located a claim and built a house
at Crate's point, but abandoned it the following year, and
located a donation claim on Hood river. The same year
Justice Chenoweth settled on a piece of land three miles
below The Dalles, erecting a large house, and making other
substantial improvements.
C. W. Denton, the pioneer fruit raiser of this section, put
out his first orchard on the land he still owns on Mill creek
in 1&54. That year D. Bolton located on Fifteen-Mile,
where he beagn farming on quite an extensive scale, and
is said to have been the first farmer to raise a crop of
wheat in Oregon east of the Cascade mountains.
These were the pioneer agricultralists of Wasco county,
and to them is due the credit of having developed the ag
ricultural resources of what in later years has become one
of the greatest grain producing sections of the northwest.
THE FIRST INDUSTRIES.
When the" whites first settled in this section, the entire
country was covered with a luxuriant growth of native
grasses which suggested to the husbandman Its adapta
bility to stock raising. As a result little attention was
given to other branhes of agriculture, and until 1870
Wasco county was one vast cattle range, only so much land
being cultivated as was necessary to supply home demand
with flour and hay, nothing being raised for export. From
the time of its early settlement to 1870, Wasco county was
the home of the "cowboy," but gradually cattle ranches
gave way to wheat farms, and the hills, once covered with
bunchgrass, were converted into fields of waving grain.
A PIONEER WEDDING.
In the pioneer days of the '50's weddings were of Infre
quent occurrence. In fact, Wasco county haa been estate
lished more than two and one-half years before a marriage
was solemnized within its borders. Still men were suscep
tible to the charms of women, and doubtless others would,
have fallen vitim to Cupid's wiles had the fairer sex been
more plenty. Nevertheless fair maidens were led to the
altar by brave men, and the first marriage in Wasco coun
ty of which there is any record, was celebrated on October
3, 1856. In a little volume among the county's archives
this record is found:
"Territory of Oregon, County of Wasco, ss.
"This is to certify that the undersigned, a justice of the
peace, did on the 3d day of October, 1856, join in lawful
wedlock William C. McKay and Miss M. Campbell, in the
presence of Dr. Atkins, Dr. Bates, R. R. Thompson and
many other witnesses. Oh! what a glorious time we had.
"C. W. SHANG, Justice of the Peace."