Bancroft Works Collections – Access Genealogy

Yellowstone County, Montana 1870-1888

Yellowstone County, organized out of Gallatin and Custer in 1883, comprised a part if not all of the former Crow reservation. The county town, Billings, was founded in 1882, and had a rapid growth. It contained 400 building’s in 1883, among which were a brick church of good size, a bank building, several wholesale merchandise establishments, three hotels, a commodious schoolhouse, the roundhouse and shops of the Northern Pacific railroad, at the terminus of the Yellowstone division, and three newspapers, one a daily. This phenomenal growth, seldom seen except in mining towns, might have quickly disappeared were it not that … Read more

Whitlatch Lode and other Quartz Mines

Under the first quartz-mining law of Montana, 100 feet in length constituted a claim. The second legislature changed this to 200 feet along the lode, with all the dips, spurs, and angles, and 50 feet on each side of the lode for working purposes; but 1,000 feet of ground might be taken in each direction along the lode for the same uses. Montana Scraps, 39. The person discovering a lode was entitled to one claim for the discovery and one by preemption. In September 1864 James W. Whitlatch, born in Pa, not much cultured in book-knowledge, but with great shrewdness … Read more

Washington Territorial Division, Elections, and Legislature

With the setting off of the territory of Idaho from that of Washington came the close of a long period of exciting events, and the beginning of a reign of peace and constant, gradual growth. Some slight temporary inconvenience was occasioned by the amputation from the body politic of several counties between two sessions of the legislature, when no provision could be made for the reapportionment of representatives, the legislature of 1863-4 consisting of but seven councilmen and twenty-four assemblymen. George E. Cole, democrat, was elected delegate to congress in 1863. He received some votes of union men, although repudiated … Read more

Washington Settlers from Oregon

William Craig was born in Greenbriar County, Virginia, in 1810. He entered the service of the American Fur Company in 1830, and for ten years led the life of a trapper. When the fur companies broke up, about 1810, he came to Oregon, and settled not long after at Lapwai, near Spalding’s mission, to which he rendered valuable assistance in controlling the Indians. He also was of much service to Gov. Stevens in making treaties with the Indians of eastern Washington. Stevens appointed him on his staff, with the rank of Lieutenant colonel, and he was afterward appointed Indian agent … Read more

Washington Road Builders and Early Settlers, Olympia to the Sound, 1853

Builders George Shazer B. F. Yantis William Packwood B. F. Shaw John Alexander B. Close A. W. Moore E. Sylvester James Hurd W. W. Plumb The men who worked upon the eastern end of the road were: Whitfield Kirtley Edwin Marsh Nelson Sargent Paul Ruddell Edward Miller J. W. Fouts John L. Perkins Isaac N. Brown James Alverson Nathaniel G. Stewart William Carpenter E. L. Allen A. C. Burge Thomas Dixon Ephraim Allyn James H. George Githers John Walker John H. Mills R. S. More R. Forman Ed. Crofts James Boise Robert Patterson Edward Miller Edward Wallace Lewis Wallace James … Read more

Washington Politics through Four Administrations

With the organization of the territory, the democratic party north of the Columbia had prepared to marshal its ranks and act with the democrats of Oregon wherever they could be mutually helpful in resisting what they denominated the “tyranny of the federal party.” It had not succeeded in effecting its object, when it suffered to be elected to congress Columbia Lancaster, whose politics were as nondescript as his abilities were inferior. In 1855 a more thorough party organization was perfected for the election of a delegate to succeed Lancaster. The choice of the convention fell upon J. Patton Anderson, the … Read more

Washington Pioneers and Solders in the Indian War

David Shelton, son of Lewis Shelton and Nancy Gladdin, his wife, and grandson of Roderick Shelton and Usley Willard, his wife, of Virginia, was born in Buncombe County, Virginia, Sept. 15, 1812, migrating with his parents to Missouri territory in 1819. He married Frances Willson, born in Kentucky, May 30, 1837, and removed in 1838 to the Platte Purchase, settling near St Joseph, where he lived until 1847, when he emigrated to Oregon, taking up a claim on Sauvé Island, which he sold in 1848, and went to the California gold mines, returning to Portland in 1849, where he remained … Read more

Washington Pioneers 1844 to 1852

Henry Williamson James Loomis, and Henry, James, and John none of whom finally settled north of the Columbia George Waunch David Crawford Charles Eaton Niniwon Everman Seyburn Thornton William Shaw David Parker John Hunt George W. Bush (colored) was born in 1790 in Pennsylvania, but in early removed to Missouri, and in 1844 to Oregon, finishing his long journey by going to Puget Sound. He was respected and honored by the pioneers for his generous and charitable traits and manliness of character. He resided on the prairie, which bears his name until April 5, 1863, when he suddenly died of … Read more

Washington Petitions for Land Law separate from Oregon

The most important matter to which the attention of the national legislature was called was a change in the land law, to effect which congress was memorialized to grant them a surveyor-general of their own, and a land system “separate from, and wholly disconnected with, that of Oregon territory.” To be relieved from the prohibition preventing the holders of donation certificates from selling any portion of their claims before they received a patent; their certificates to be prima facie evidence of title. Suggestions were given as to the manner of establishing a claim by witnesses before the surveyor-general. That persons … Read more

Washington Insane Asylum

The legislative assembly of 1861-2 authorized the governor and auditor to contract for the care of the insane, the contract being let to the St John lunatic asylum at Vancouver, in charge of the Sisters of Charity. A fund was set aside out of the general fund of the territory to pay for their keeping, and they were kindly cared for. A memorial was forwarded to congress, asking that an appropriation might be made to erect a building somewhere on the Sound which should serve both for a marine hospital, which was needed, and an asylum for the insane. But … Read more

Washington Indian Wars, 1855-1856

The reader of Oregon history will remember that mention is made of the massacre of the Ward train by the Snake Indians near Fort Boise in the autumn of 1854. Major Granville O. Haller, stationed at Fort Dalles, made a hasty expedition into the Snake country, intended to show the Indians that the government would not remain inactive while its citizens were subjected to these outrages. The march served no other purpose than to give this notice, for the guilty Indians had retired into their mountain fastnesses, and the season being late for re-crossing the Blue Mountains, Haller returned to … Read more

Washington Indian Wars Continue, 1856-1858

When Governor Stevens returned to his capital from the Blackfoot Country, he was to some extent deceived as to the perils which threatened the Puget Sound region. He approved of the energetic course of Mason, and advocated the vigorous prosecution of the war. But from what he had seen east of the Cascades, and from what he knew of the indolent habits of the tribes on the Sound, he was disposed to think the war was to be carried on in the Yakima and Walla Walla valleys rather than at home. In a special message delivered extemporaneously to the legislative … Read more

Washington First Legislative Assembly

The first legislative assembly was composed of nine councilmen, as follows: Clarke County, Daniel F. Bradford and William H. Tappan; Island and Jefferson County, William T. Sayward; Lewis and Pacific County, Seth Catlin and Henry Miles; Pierce and King County, Lafayette V. Balch and G. N. McConaha; Thurston, D. R. Bigelow and B. F. Yantis. H. M. Frost of Pierce County was elected chief clerk, and U. E. Hicks of Thurston County, assistant clerk. Hicks was County Clerk of Thurston. He figured a good deal in polities, served in the Indian war of 1855-6, and afterward edited one or more … Read more

Washington Counties Organized

Sawamish County, first organized March 13, 1854, had its name changed to Mason Jan. 3, 1864, in honor of Charles H. Mason, first secretary of the territory. The county officers appointed on its organization were: Commissioners, Wesley Gosnell, Charles Graham, Lee Hancock Sheriff, Finis K. Simmons Judge of Probate, Alfred Hall Auditor, V. P. Morrow Treasurer, Orrington Cushman Justice of the Peace, Aaron M. Collins Olympia Pioneer and Dem., May 27, 1854. Commissioners appointed for Whatcom County were Commissioners, William Cullen, H. C. Page, R. V. Peabody Sheriff, Ellis Barnes Auditor, A. M. Poe. Commissioners appointed for Walla Walla County … Read more

Washington Counties and their Towns

In Clallam County were Noah bay, New Dungeness, and the remains of Port Angeles. Jefferson co., besides Port Townsend, had the ports of Ludlow, Discovery, and the new mining town of Irondale. Island County had Coupeville, founded by Thomas Coupe, who settled on the south side of Penn Cove in 1853, and Coveland, on the west end of the Cove, both on Whidbey Island, and Utsalady, on the north end of Camafin Island. Kitsap County had four milling towns, Port Madison, Port Blakeley, Port Gamble, and Seabeck. Mason, besides the county seat, had but Arcadia, Kamilcbie, Skokomish, and Union City, … Read more

Washington Councilmen, 1879

The New Tacoma Herald, Oct. 30, 1879, is my authority for the following condensed biographies: President of the counsel, Francis H. Cook, born in Ohio; age 28; came to the territory in 1871; publisher of the Herald. Elliot Cline, born in Pennsylvania, age 60; immigrated in 1852; farmer by occupation; residence New Dungeness. J. H. Day, born in Virginia, age 60, immigrated in 1862, druggist, residence Walla Walla. S. G. Dudley, born in New York, age 45, immigrated in 1874, farmer, residence Seattle. R. O. Dunbar, born in Illinois, age 45, immigrated in 1846, lawyer, residence Goldendale. J. B. La … Read more

Washington Council Members, 1854

The members of the council elected to fill the places left vacant by the expiration of the short term and other causes were: Jefferson Huff and Ira Patterson from Clarke and Skamania County C. C. Terry and W. A. Strickler from Pierce and King County A. M. Poe from Island County, Clallam, Jefferson, and Whatcom County. Catlin, of the former council, was chosen president Butler P. Anderson, Chief Clerk A. J. Moses, Assistant Clerk J. L. Mitchell, Sergeant-at-Arms William Cullison, Doorkeeper The Lower House was composed of: William McCool, of Skamania, County; C. C. Stiles, Chas S. Irby, William Hendrickson, … Read more

Washington Blockhouses or Stockades erected during Indian War

There were 22 block-houses or stockades erected by the settlers during the war, as follows : at Davis’ Skookum Chuck Henness, near Mound prairie on Tenalcut prairie, at Nathan Eaton’s #1 on Chambers’ prairie #2 on Chambers’ prairie at Bush’s Goodell’s Ruddell’s Rutledge’s #1 at Tumwater #2 at Tumwater one at Dofflemeyer’s one on Whidbey Island one at Port Gamble one on the Cowlitz (Fort Arkansas) one on Mime prairie, one at Port Ludlow, one at Meigs’ Mill, #1 at the Cascades #2 at the Cascades one at Boisford prairie. Others were subsequently erected by the volunteers and troops, to … Read more

Vessels lost at Sea, Harbors or Rivers of Washington

Out of the large number of vessels which have come and gone in the thirty-four years since the Orbit sailed up to Olympia, few comparatively have been wrecked. I have mentioned the loss of the Robert Bruce by fire in Shoalwater Bay, and the brig Una on Cape Flattery, both in 1851. In 1852 the northern Indians reported the wreck of an unknown vessel on the coast of V. I., with all on board lost. In the winter of 1852-3 the brig Willimantic, Capt. Vail, was driven ashore at Eld Island, at the entrance to Gray Harbor, but she did … Read more

Vanishing Towns and Old Settlements of Washington

Of towns that once had the promise of a great future, Whatcom is one. It was named after a chief of the Nooksack, whose grave is a mile above the Bellingham Bay coal mine. For a short time during the Fraser River furore it had 10,000 people, and a fleet of vessels coming and going. The order of Douglas, turning traffic to Victoria, caused all the better portion of the buildings to be taken clown and removed thither. The single brick house erected by John Alexander remained, and was converted to the use of the county. Eldridge’s Sketch, MS., 31-2; … Read more