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It was during the summer or fall of the same year that the second building was erected. This was a hotel and is said to have been a first-class hostelry, all things considered. About the same time Mr. Mann erected a dwelling house. One or two other residences were put up and these completed the town of Okanogan. It was not until the fall of 1884 that a postoffice was secured for the county seat. B. L. Martin was appointed postmaster. Prior to that time mail for Douglas county residents was secured by way of Spokane Falls and it was brought in quite irregularly by freighters who occasionally made trips to the Falls city for supplies. For this service settlers paid thirty-five cents a letter.
Okanogan continued to hold a place on the map until the spring of 1887, when, losing the county seat, it lost its identity as a town. B. L. Martin closed his store and he, Walter Alann and F. H. Bosworth, the only bona fide residents of the place sought other localities. With one exception all the buildings were sold to ranchers living in the vicinity, who utilized them for farm buildings. The one exception was the residence of Walter Mann which remained to mark the spot where once was Okanogan until a few years ago, when Mr. Mann moved it to Waterville and used the material in the construction of a new home. The downfall of Okanogan was entirely due to lack of water. When J. W. Adams and his associates came to western Spokane county and like Cecil Rhodes, started in to "build an empire," they neglected to ascertain if water could be procured. It was a fatal mistake. Only after the script had been placed on the land, the townsite platted and the "town" designated as the county seat was an effort made to secure water. Then to the chagrin of these boomers was it found that water was not easy to obtain. One or two holes had been dug to a depth of 60 or 80 feet but not a sign of water was discovered. Affairs looked desperate. In the summer of 1885 a last and thorough attempt was made to secure water. A well-drilling machine was brought in by Jack Lockwood and throughout the summer this was at work in Okanogan. A hole 285 feet deep was the result and no water. From that time on Okanogan was doomed. Where before settlers were pouring into the country in response to the glowing accounts of the country as advertised by Adams, Mann & Company, they now would come, gaze down into the earth 285 feet, and then leave the country. Prospective settlers who came to the vicinity of Okanogan with the expectation of finding things as advertised, were led to believe that the whole country was in the same predicament and many did not stop to investigate in other portions of the county, but immediately pulled out, and doubtless gave Douglas county considerable free advertising as the result of their trip. One of the stories these disappointed homeseekers would tell in all seriousness was to the effect that it was a customary sight to see posted on the doors of settlers' cabins, the sign: "Gone for water; will be back in a week."
The year 1884 did not witness many exciting events in Douglas county. A number of new settlers came most of whom located in the Badger Mountain country. It was during this year that the first postoffice in the county was established. It was at Platt Corbaley's house, near the foot of Badger Mountain. It was called Badger postoffice and Mr. Corbaley was postmaster. The first mail route into Douglas county was opened in 1884, Badger postoffice being the western terminus, and Brents, an office in western Lincoln county the eastern terminus.
The first death to occur in the county was that of Harvey Day, living east of Grand Coulee, June 26, 1884.
March 15, 1888, the Big Bend Empire said:
"Rev. Richard Corbaley returned from Spokane a few days ago where he had passed the winter. He made us a pleasant call Tuesday. During the conversation he informed us that
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he conducted the first religious service, preached the first funeral sermon and married the first couple in Douglas county — in 1884. Sometime in the misty future the searcher of historical reminiscences will come across this item which will contribute to the pages of Douglas county historical lore."It will be remembered that the act creating Douglas county provided for the temporary location of the county seat at Okanogan, and that at the next general election the qualified electors should decide where the permanent county capital should be located. The failure of the Okanogan crowd to make good, in the matter, of water, led to the establishment of another town in the Badger Mountain country, which should become a candidate for the county seat. This was at the November election of 1884. This town was named Nashland, in honor of Major E. D. Nash, one of the pioneers of the county. Mr. Nash during the early days was engaged in freighting goods from Spokane Falls to the Badger Mountain country. At this period he was financially embarrassed and was often compelled to borrow money with which to make the trip. Occasionally he would purchase some of the necessities of life on his own account and dispose of them to the settlers, making a fair profit on each lot. It was in the autumn of 1884 that Mr. Nash built a small building near Mr. Platt Corbaley's place (which building still stands), and established a store. Thus Mr. Nash becomes distinguished as the, pioneer merchant of the Big Bend. Here he laid the foundation for his future success as a merchant. By fair dealing and accommodations to his fellow pioneers he made, and retained, many friends.
The Badger postoffice was transferred from Mr. Corbaley's house and Mr. Nash became postmaster. This initial office of Douglas county continued to exist until April, 1890. Synchronous with the opening of Mr. Nash's store a gentleman named Huff started a blacksmith shop near Mr,. Nash's place of business. It was here that the Badger Mountain settlers decided to locate the permanent county seat. Accordingly Nashland was platted in the fall of 1884, being the first townsite platted in the county following its creation. It was laid out October 27, 1884, by Lucian B. Nash and Laura Nash, his wife. The townsite consisted of sixteen blocks. The streets were First, Second, Third and Fourth, and the avenues Jefferson, Curry, Armstrong and Corbaley. The plat was not filed for record until November 3, 1886, just before the election for the removal of the county seat. Nashland remained a townsite until February 4, 1889, when on petition of Platt Corbaley, and others, it was ordered vacated by the county commissioners.
The only contestants for the county seat at this election were Okanogan and Nashland. Data relating to this election is unobtainable. The county records are silent upon the subject. But from a number of residents of the county at the time we learn that a lively contest was waged and that Okanogan was successful by a majority of one vote only.
The very earliest pioneers of eastern Douglas county devoted their whole energies to stock growing, not believing that the soil would produce a crop. John R. Lewis, in 1884, merely in the nature of an experiment, sowed ten acres of wheat, the seed of which he had procured the preceding 3'ear from east of Davenport. Mr. Lewis' account of the harvesting of this, the first crop ever raised in Douglas county east of the Coulees, is interesting. Following the cutting of the grain he stacked it and built a corral around the stack. Into this he turned a small band of cayuses, and the threshing of the grain was accomplished by the animals treading upon it, which from time to time was thrown to the ground from the stack in small quantities. In course of time the entire crop was threshed. Then came the more difficult task of cleaning the grain. This was accomplished by utilizing the wind, the grain
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being spread out on a smooth surface, and after several weeks labor it was perfectly clean and ready for market. Mr. Lewis disposed of the yield to settlers in the Voorhees country. That was the genesis. Thereafter others tried their "prentice hands" at grain raising, at first on an exceedingly small scale, but it was demonstrated beyond a doubt that what had before been considered only a stock-raising country, would certainly produce excellent crops of grain. Subsequently the flail came into use for threshing purposes; this was followed by horse-power; threshers ; then steam ; and then came the grand achievement of the present, the combination harvester and thresher. Truly, a wonderful advance from Mr. Lewis's cayuses.
In 1885 a few more adventurers were added to the settlement in western Douglas county. Among these were Judge J. M. Snow, the Brownfield Brothers, O. Ruud, A. T. Greene, Edwin Wallberg, T. N. Ogle, and W. H. Anderson and some others. It was during the summer of this year that the first marriage ceremony in Douglas county was performed. The contracting parties were Jesse Wallace and Jessie Soper. The ceremony was performed by Elder Richard Corbaley. The year. 1885 also brought Jacob Bunger, a representative type of a prosperous German farmer. He settled near the old town of Okanogan. Mr. Bunger was instrumental in attracting a colony of German citizens, who settled near Okanogan, and formed one of the most thrifty settlements in eastern Washington Territory in the early days. Nat James and the Ernst Brothers came in 1885. There are undoubtedly others whose names should have been enrolled on the pages of early history of Douglas county. During this year the first death to occur west of the coulees was that of Thomas Jerdon, who passed away May 3d. Funeral services were held by Elder Corbaley.
There were two settlements in the Badger Mountain country in the pioneer days. One was known as "Sour Dough Flat," and the other "Thieves' Gulch." F. M. Alexander is quoted in the Douglas County Press as follows concerning these settlements:
"You have doubtless heard of 'Sour Dough Flat.' All the old timers know of it. This name was applied to the settlement around Waterville and was occasioned by the bachelor habit of making the celebrated sour dough bread. We were the 'sour doughers,' and in retaliation the settlement on the mountain toward Titchenal's was called 'Thieves' Gulch.' A. T. Greene, James Melvin, the Wilcox Brothers, Colonel Cornell, William Walters, Buzzard Brothers, Al. Pierpont, Boise Brothers, Smith, Hardis, Sanford Hundley and myself were members of the 'sour dough' fraternity. The first census taken showed seventeen single men and one single woman."On of the pleasing incidents of early days in Douglas county, a sharp contrast to the uneventful life led by the pioneers of this new country, was a Fourth of July celebration held on Badger Mountain in 1885. The exercises were held under the trees at Nash & Stephens saw mill. R. S. Steiner was orator of the day, and he delivered a very able address. There was vocal and instrumental music. One of the settlers possessed a little organ, whose strains accompanied the sweet voices of the singers. The singing of Mrs. B. L. Martin was one of the pleasing features of the days' entertainment. Following the exercises the company dined, each one having brought lunch. This was, undoubtedly, the most generally attended meeting ever held in Douglas county up to date. Although the number present was estimated at less than 100, it is said that every one living in western Douglas county was present. Two men were at work part of the day putting up hay, but a committee waited on them, and later they made their appearance on the festive scene, thus making it unanimous.
The assessment rolls of Douglas county for the year 1885, the first taken in the county,
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show that an even 239 residents were assessed. The number of acres of land in the county represented on the rolls was 8,250, and of these but 191 acres were improved. Of course the bulk of the land had not yet been patented and therefore was not assessable. The total cash value of all the land assessed was placed at $20,447.50, and the cash value of all improvements was $920.00. The aggregate cash value of all personal property was $117,332.80, making a total valuation of all property assessed of $138,700.30. The total amount of taxes for the year amounted to $3,421.57. Following is the list of all names appearing on the rolls and the amount of taxes paid by each:
J. W. Adams 0.61
Jordan estate 3.80
Benj. Akers 6.30
F. M. Alexander 6.14
W. P. Baldwin 13.50
S. Barnhart 4.22
W. E. Barber 3.45
George Bechtoed 2.04
G. M. Bowker 19.82
F. H. Bosworth 2.74
R. W. Bonwell 3.42
A. W. Borrowman 2.99
Ed Brockhausen .25
J. M. Brownfield 5.67
C. D. Bradshaw .25
Peter Brackin 2.84
Eva C. Brown .25
I. Brown 13.03
Thos. Burke & Sons 12.12
M. W. Buzzard 4.51
N. O. Carter 11.50
J. H. Christianson 4.81
Chang Syig Yuen 14.62
John Clawson 11.53
Orville Clark 7.01
Collins & Davis 4.05
Caleb Cooper 2.27
N. M. Corbaley 64.57
W. G. Corbaley 8.55
Richard Corbaley .90
A. L. Corbaley 2.78
S. A. Coyle 3 69
E. A. Cornell 4.04
W, T. Henne 9.50
J. E. Heathman 9.27
W. B. Holbert .25
J. E. Hetley 4.27
Joseph Heoshnier .25
John Huff 2.42
H. H. Huff 1.01
Smith Harding 1.67
S. Hundley 7.70
John Hardy 126.61
W. F. Hall 6.23
R. H. Hoernig 4.74
Captain John H. Jack .37
James Jump 10.69
Alice E. Jones 3.32
John Jetneck 6.00
Jamison & Leach 42.75
Frank Kaufman 3.67
Patrick Kelley 6.40
O. H. Kimball 5.64
Robert Kirby 4.75
J. H. Kincaid 5.94
George Kunever 3.54
Earnest Komer .61
F. B. Lewis .61
Lilley .48
J. W. Livers 2.37
James Lammon 7.13
Daniel E. Leahy 27.64
G. C. Alexander 3.55
L. W. Armstrong 64.61
R. M. Bacon 10.45
J. A. Banneck 18.37
H. F.Cowley .14
J. Coby 2.72
Eli Collins 11.50
W. S. Crouch 19.61
O. A. Dale 1.47
William Davis .25
B. F Dewey 5.59
Joan Delvy .61
Frank Dickey 9.50
John Dickey .14
Frank Day 8.31
Robert Dunn 107.74
L. F. Dutwiler 2.35
William Domese 3.85
R. F. Duffield 8.32
John Ennis 53.45
Ole Erlandson 1.20
J. E. Erwin 6.05
John Eddon 6.54
Robert Fresher .25
Thomas B. Fulton 17.01
Walter France .48
D. H. Ford .61
W. H. Greenburg .25
L. C. Gandy 4.52
Gillispie & Snow 3.61
J. E. Hall 3.22
W. Hadley 9.50
A. M. Horton 9.50
Walter Mann 17.30
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D. W. Martin .37
B. L. Martin 26.72
H. A. Meyers 2.74
James Melvin 4.29
H. A. Miles 4.81
Richard Miles 1.50
W. W. Mitchell 5.19
M. Miller 8.40
John F. Mohr .14
Charles W. Mohr .14
Samuel McCoy 6.17
Hugh McCool 35.63
Philip McEntee 111.02
C. H. McCollaugh 2.62
H. K. Newland 1.19
Newland, Druinheller & Co 362.10
E. D. Nash 6.28
Nash & Stephens 57.90
John O'Neil 16.96
Osborn Brothers 11.59
Stephen Olney 60.13
Edward Owens 8.58
R. B. Okner & Bro 5.67
John O'Flaherty 6.86
O'Neil & Scully 4.05
H. Patterson 6.94
George Popple 161.16
Dan Paul 71.25
L. Lyon .95
M. Lambert 5.25
Alfred Pierpont 5.93
D. R. Peeler .14
Thomas Payne 4.72
David Richards 2.72
Frank Rusho 36.26
Anthony Rusho 17.06
O. Ruud 5.90
H. A. Powell 9.05
R. R. Rounds 2.99
George R. Roberts 6.95
R. B. Roberts 1.67
S. C. Robins 2.76
Robins & Steiner 3.25
H. P. Reeyes .48
Tony F. Richardson 23.38
Richardson & Bowker 7.94
Oscar Redfield 2.70
R. S. Steiner 2.87
F. S. Steiner 4.89
Israel Sanford 5.46
Lilley Sanford 4.89
Schuster 1.32
Thomas Snyder 2.72
Snyder & Richards 3.80
J. W. Stephens .76
John Stephens 2.38
William Savage 216.13
J. H. Sutherland 15.73
E. F. Shrock 15.50
James P. Shrock 7.70
Charles A. Wilcox 9.54
G. L. Williams 149.40
M. W. Wixson 7.55
W. A. Whinrey 4.72
William B. Whitmore 20.92
W. H. White 3.69
Woolen .61
A. H. Youngk 2.15
P. J. Youngk 15.74
Charles F. Youngk 8.13
Jacob F. Youngk .38
Frank Zeigler .14
John Zimmerman 5.95
Frank Zuchlke 7.00
Michael Buckley 9.50
Charles J. Biesner 9.50
James F. Bybee 9.50
John Biesner 9.50
Mary Day 9.50
Lewis Griffith 9.50
James Day 9.50
Robert Kirby 9.50
George W. Long 9.50
Gabriel Justice 9.50
Thomas H. Marshall 9.50
Horace Parker 56.05
F. A. Powers 3.38
J. W. Shannon 8.80
Charles M. Sprague 4.88
David Soper 3.34
James Skey 2.61
John H. Smith 5.09
H. B. Thompson .54
Williain Tipler 2.85
William Tipler & Co. 6.15
Louis Titchenal 12.32
Norman Titchenal .72
D. J. Titchenal 10.37
C. G. Tibbits .54
Donald Urquhart 10 97
Urquhart Brothers 263 99
J. R. Kent 7.70
A. Wallace 2.99
J. C. Wallace 4.05
William Watters 2.56
R. J. Waters 3.94
R. P. Webb 1.48.
Edward Walburg .61
Webb & Thompson 4.81
David Wilson 11.39
A. Wilson .13
Wilson Brothers 4.28
G. C. Wilson 13.12
J. D. Wilson 6.53
L. G. Wilson 11.98
William Wilson 3.90
B. L. Martin 26.72
H. A. Meyers 2.74
James Melvin 4.29
H. A. Miles 4.81
Richard Miles 1.50
W. W. Mitchell 5.19
M. Miller 8.40
John F. Mohr .14
Charles W. Mohr .14
Samuel McCoy 6.17
Hugh McCool 35.63
Philip McEntee 111.02
C. H. McCollaugh 2.62
H. K. Newland 1.19
Newland, Druinheller & Co 362.10
E. D. Nash 6.28
Nash & Stephens 57.90
John O'Neil 16.96
Osborn Brothers 11.59
Stephen Olney 60.13
Edward Owens 8.58
R. B. Okner & Bro 5.67
John O'Flaherty 6.86
O'Neil & Scully 4.05
H. Patterson 6.94
George Popple 161.16
Dan Paul 71.25
L. Lyon .95
M. Lambert 5.25
Alfred Pierpont 5.93
D. R. Peeler .14
Thomas Payne 4.72
David Richards 2.72
Frank Rusho 36.26
Anthony Rusho 17.06
O. Ruud 5.90
H. A. Powell 9.05
R. R. Rounds 2.99
George R. Roberts 6.95
R. B. Roberts 1.67
S. C. Robins 2.76
Robins & Steiner 3.25
H. P. Reeyes .48
Tony F. Richardson 23.38
Richardson & Bowker 7.94
Oscar Redfield 2.70
R. S. Steiner 2.87
F. S. Steiner 4.89
Israel Sanford 5.46
Lilley Sanford 4.89
Schuster 1.32
Thomas Snyder 2.72
Snyder & Richards 3.80
J. W. Stephens .76
John Stephens 2.38
William Savage 216.13
J. H. Sutherland 15.73
E. F. Shrock 15.50
James P. Shrock 7.70
Charles A. Wilcox 9.54
G. L. Williams 149.40
M. W. Wixson 7.55
W. A. Whinrey 4.72
William B. Whitmore 20.92
W. H. White 3.69
Woolen .61
A. H. Youngk 2.15
P. J. Youngk 15.74
Charles F. Youngk 8.13
Jacob F. Youngk .38
Frank Zeigler .14
John Zimmerman 5.95
Frank Zuchlke 7.00
Michael Buckley 9.50
Charles J. Biesner 9.50
James F. Bybee 9.50
John Biesner 9.50
Mary Day 9.50
Lewis Griffith 9.50
James Day 9.50
Robert Kirby 9.50
George W. Long 9.50
Gabriel Justice 9.50
Thomas H. Marshall 9.50
Horace Parker 56.05
F. A. Powers 3.38
J. W. Shannon 8.80
Charles M. Sprague 4.88
David Soper 3.34
James Skey 2.61
John H. Smith 5.09
H. B. Thompson .54
Williain Tipler 2.85
William Tipler & Co. 6.15
Louis Titchenal 12.32
Norman Titchenal .72
D. J. Titchenal 10.37
C. G. Tibbits .54
Donald Urquhart 10 97
Urquhart Brothers 263 99
J. R. Kent 7.70
A. Wallace 2.99
J. C. Wallace 4.05
William Watters 2.56
R. J. Waters 3.94
R. P. Webb 1.48.
Edward Walburg .61
Webb & Thompson 4.81
David Wilson 11.39
A. Wilson .13
Wilson Brothers 4.28
G. C. Wilson 13.12
J. D. Wilson 6.53
L. G. Wilson 11.98
William Wilson 3.90
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H. N. Wilcox 7.22
John Norton 9.50
Thomas Mockler 9.50
Tony F. Richardson 9.50
Thomas F. McGowan 9.50
A. P. Cornell 9.50
J. H. Smith 9.50
Charles H. Stafford 9.50
William Scully 9.50
Frank M, Rayburn 9.50
Margaret McCann 9.50
Frank M. Wesley 9.50
Andrew Flynn 9.50
Eugene Whitney 9.50
Thomas J. Wampler 9.50
John Lynch 9.39
Greene .95
John Burgland 2.99
H. L. Burgoyne 1.20
E. Cornell 9.50
Jeff Gilmer 9.50
Joseph Hopp 9.50
Benedict Jannasson 9.50
Joseph W. Mitchel 9.50
Joseph Murray 9.50
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