PIONEER PORTRAITS

Ten Years Ago January 3, 2002

The new Walla Walla County Public Safety Building improves efficiency for the Walla Walla County Sheriff's Department and Prosecuting Attorney. Sheriff Mike Humphreys demonstrated some of the improvements to The Times publisher.

Twelve-year-old Kolby Weston, son of Tim and ZoAnn Pettichord, kept his wits about him and remembered what his mother had told him in case of a dog attack, curl up in a ball and protect your head. As Weston returned home he was attacked on Main Street by a vicious Rottweiler. Weston suffered a puncture wound requiring sutures and numerous scratches, but was rescued from more severe injuries by his grandfather, Carson Frankie.

Twenty-Five Years Ago January 1, 1987

Roberta Broom was the greeter at the Bethlehem Marketplace at the Christian Church Dec. 21.

Be eager to lend a helping hand. Often it is appreciated more than you know. What counts most in life is what we do for others.

Fifty Years Ago January 5, 1962

National Bank of Commerce raised the interest rate paid on savings accounts to 3.5 percent effective Jan. 1 following a meeting of the board of directors.

Mr. and Mrs. C.N. Eaton, Mrs. Calla Lloyd and Mrs. Anna Wise attended the 50th wedding anniversary of Mrs. And Mrs. Quinn Hamby at Richland on Monday.

Rainbow Girls and their guests enjoyed a formal dance at the grade school Friday evening. Using the theme "Crystal Mist" the room was decorated with giant icicles, colored lights and an aluminum Christmas tree. A buffet lunch followed with Mrs. Herman Gohlman in charge.

Seventy-Five Years Ago January 8, 1937

Our spring-like weather was suddenly changed these last few days to the temperature of the polar regions. The temperature dropped 35 above to 6 below in a couple of days. Six inches of snow covers the ground.

Little Barbara Cockburn has been taken to Walla Walla this week for a tonsil operation, she has been ill for some time.

A group of young people gave a dance at the K of P Hall on last Saturday evening, with about 40 in attendance. Those entertaining were Virginia Bloor, Mary Elizabeth Walker, Merle Eaton, Lee Hamby, Dean Atkinson, Maurice Ganguet, Lowell Houtchens and Corwin Porter.

One Hundred Years Ago January 5, 1912

The work of planting Walla Walla's biggest orchard has been completed and the Landon tract, as it is known, now has 620 acres of trees.

There was quite a family gathering at the W. D. Wallace home New Year's Day. There were present at the big dinner, Mrs. Mary Young of Sweet Grass, Mont.; Dan Harris and family, Will Harris and family, Mrs. Nellie Harris and children, and Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Hawks of Prescott.

Wayne Harper entertained a party of young friends last Wednesday evening. Supper was served at 7 o'clock and the remainder f the evening spent with games and music from a new Victrola.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago December 31, 1886

Mr. Lewis of Coppei and Miss Alice Addington were united in the holy bonds of matrimony at the residence of the bride's parents last Wednesday.

Mes. Abe White awoke on Christmas morning to find a bran splinter new buggy, horse and harness in her stocking.

The directors of this school district this week purchased for the use of our public schools two copies of Aggy's Anatomical Charts, the finest manikins extant. A wise investment. By the way, Waitsburg always leads in educational matters. Waitsburg was the first district in Eastern Washington to put in patent seats; was the first supplied with Webster's unabridged dictionaries, and is the first supplied with manikins.

Mr. and Mrs. P.A. Preston pleasantly entertained a small party at "drive whist" in their spacious parlors on Wednesday evening. "Drive whist" is a new game in Waitsburg.

People who made Washington History -- Chief Moses

From about 1858 to 1889 Chief Moses was one of the most prominent and influential Indian leaders in the Pacific Northwest east of the Cascade Mountains. He was from a family of famous chiefs.

As a young brave during the Indian wars of the 1850's Moses was very actively engaged in fighting the white man. He was described at this time as a very handsome man, tall and straight. He always had a leather belt around his waist, in which he carried a long knife and pistol holster, the ivory pistol knob in plain sight.

At the end of1858 when the tribes of this region were crushed and scattered by the U.S. Regulars and Territorial Volunteers Forces, Chief Moses proved himself an able chieftain. Although his people were left landless and homeless by the U.S. Government, all through the 1860s and 1870s, Moses, through patience and perseverance, was able to get a legalized reserve for his people. This was called "Chief Moses Reservation" and was situated on the west side of the Columbia and Okanogan Rivers,

Francis Marlon Streamer, former newspaperman in the Midwest, veteran of the Civil War, and finally scout for Gen. O.O. Howard during the Nez Perce War, proved to be a friend and spokesman for Chief Moses during his negotiations with the Federal Government. Streamer's papers, journals, etc. have recently come to the Washington State Historical Society and provide a wealth of material on both Chief Moses and Francis Streamer.

Moses and his people spent seven years of relative happiness on "Chief Moses Reservation." However, in May of 1896 this retreat was reopened to white settlement and Moses and his band were moved to the Colville Reservation, where they still remain. In 1889 at age 70 Chief Moses died at Nespelem, on the Colville Reservation.