Spokane County

Spokane & Stevens County 100 year History according to the digital files of THE SPOKANE TIMES written in 1912

The overall History of Eastern Washington must be included begining with The Lewis and Clark expedition, The early 1800s Missionaries as well as the Hudson Bay Fur Traders and Gold mines. Each infringed (Invaded actually) in a very peaceful manner until the Indian Nations realized they were under attack.

To date this entire Website was dedicated to the hearty souls that loaded their precious loved ones & personal treasures in a covered wagon & set out for freedom and a dream. This was possible because of the prior historical events discussed in this web page

You are witnessing an accident. While searching for Stagecoach Photos, following the suggestion of the Wells Fargo Historian, was able to find a digitalized copy of THE SPOKANE TIMES newspaper dating from 1880 on for a few years. It does not allow one to download photos so pictures must be taken of the desired photos, download them on the computer, doctor them up, resize, get them just so, and then they can then be entered into the desired web page. That is of course if the computer will co-operate. So you are gazing at a mistake, a reflection of yours truly taking a photo of a photo on the computer screen with me and numerous Leno Prestini paintings on the wall. Life is just a bowl of cherries. Now, 'ON WITH THE SHOW!'

I defy anyone to produce a likeness of the Spokane Falls any earlier than this one. I don't even spot any Indians,

This was a learned man who was instrumental in engineering a just settlement for the Coeur d Alene tribe.

Governor Isaac Stevens of the State of Washington in the 1850s, thrust before him was the duty of quelling the Indian wars. He was a courageous Governor with his namesake being Stevens County. It should be noted that previously there was also a Gov. Isaac Stevens in the State of Montana.

The old Mission built on the banks of the Coeur d’Alene River was built by the Jesuits in about 1844.

So the Missionaries scattered out hither & yon probably throughout the entire West but certainly in force in Washington, Idaho and Montana. They were pretty much home free until Lewis & Clark, John Jacob Astor and David Thompson with the Hudson Bay Co. started gallivanting all over selling a few rifles to Indians as well as a shot or two of booze.

Page one of the volume of the sourse of information of this page.

Bottom half

It was here that the beginning of the end of the wars between the Spokane and Coeur D’Alene Indians and the U.S. Army commenced. Col. Steptoe and his small regiment were set upon by a thousand warriors. But under cover of dark, they slipped away following heavy losses to fight another day. Word reached the Command at Fort Walla Walla. Word was out, "Retaliate".

A Commoritive set on a three acre plot in and by the town folks of Rosailia WA.

A running fight began at what is now Four Lakes with an estimated 5000 Indian Braves. The troops reported seeing the warriors scurring from rock to woods and back in absolute droves. But it turned into a running battle because the Indians were being cut down like flies and the Soldiers were untouched due to the long range of their new rifles. The Col. followed the tribes across the River North with intermittent pitch battle and at one time they fought on the very plot that would later become Fort George Wright. When the fight was taken out of their advesairies the Plattoon regrouped and Col. George Wright announced his losses. Killed - zero. Wounded -one superficial. Horses lost - zero. It was later reported that at the conference later with the Indian Nation Chiefs, Col. Wright reiterated the same statistics & then said. " we can do this over and over just as long as you desire" You decide. Every Tribe openly expressed total sorrow & surrendered at that time and promised to follow the requirements of the Col. who they knew spoke for the Great White Father. Col. Wright instructed them to meet him at Latah Creek at a given time and to make sure certain Chiefs a named others to be there, or else. When the designated time arrived 'They were all there, bar none.'

This was unusual and not allowed to ever occure in the future. A British Company, Hudson Bay under the leadership of David Thompson purchased this piece of land and built the Spokane House. It was run by the Whites but Native Americans were welcome. It was a refuge and the very first Settlement built in the State of Washington. Latter ledgislation was passed to prevent a foriegn nation from owning U.S. property.

An Artist scetch of David Thompson and the only known likeness of him in existance today

A Bust of Chief Spokane Garry. Borne in 1811 at the confluence of the Little Spokane and Spokane river. He was Chief of the Spokanes Tribe.

With the hostilities allayed peace seemed so natural. The tribes came to Spokane at their pleasure. They camped in peaceful vallley, at Fort George Wright or the Spokane House & later even at Manito Gardens. All was right with the world and it was good.

This page will be a condensed version of 100+ years of Eastern Washington History. Thanks to the Spokane Times and probably the Spokesman Review in addition to whom we are grateful, and the Spokane Daily Chronicle is often referred to as well. Endless hours were spent on this endless Digitalized Story written 1912.

To mention a few of the prominent players seems only appropriate.

Chief Joseph 1877. He fought valiantly but in the end he 'Would fight no more forever.'

This Agency was none to large.

Prior to acts of this nature, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, David Thomson & the Hudson Bay Co. fur traders and Missionaries of all denominations were able to traverse the West with little or no opposition from the American Indians. When the Indian Nations witnessed the destruction of their way of life is when the signs of war appeared on the horizon.

At the slightest sign or rumor of an uprising the Missionaries and those spreading out trying their hand ranching would gather up the family and scramble for safety at the nearest Fort. Apparently the Natives didn't bother the Missions all that much as they became well acquainted while attending services.

When David Thompson was hired on to the Hudson Bay Company to Explore the Northwest in 1810 he was right on the heels of the Lewis & Clark expedtion 1805 till 1808 and soon the fur trappers were showing up in numbers. Both Canada and the far northern reaches of the U.S. The Metaline area first followed closely by the Northport & Marcus area. Outposts were established and the race was on. The Indian Nations rose to the occation and soon thereafter the US Cavalry was called in to establist Fort Spokane and Fort Colville. And who should be leading the Draggons? Col. George Wright and they were prepared to do battle.

When Govenor Stevens decided the attack on Col. Steptoe must not go unanswered, he was fortunate to have at his Disposal, Col. George Wright stationed out of Fort Walla Walla. When Col.Wright set forth commanding 500 Dragoon ( Calvalry) and 200 Infantry, 800 animals plus field artillary and armed with the recently issued highly accurate rifles that Col. Steptoe had not been issued at the time of attack. Col. George Wright was detirmed and ready to fight. He pressed his Dragoon and Infantry unmercifully in order to engage his enemy arriving at his destination on May 15th 1858. As they gazed from right to left thay saw the Spokanes and the Couer D Alenes gatherin in numbers as they rode to the frey and the battle began.

Col. George Wright. He was relentless and some say unmerciful. Their reasoning was Col. Wright conducted the meeting with the Chiefs plus the additionl Braves he has invited at 9.00 AM and at 9;15 they were hanged. It was at that moment the name Latah Creek changed to Hangman Creek and remains as such to this day.

This is where the wars ceased. The Hangings were done instantly and nceremonyously in plain view of all the other Chiefs attending. The hostilities ended never to be repeated and "THEY FOUGHT NO MORE FOREVER"

The two Chiefs hanged were Qualchien and Owhi. This painting depicts the hanging of Qualchan. He was said to be very handsom and exceptional build. Also said that he and Chief Qwhi absolutly hated each other. Qualchan fought for his life and it took 6 soldiers to subdue him just to get the hangmans noose in place. His final words were obsenities at Owhi, not the white man.

A memorial stands where the Spokane house once stood. None of the existing structure remains in tact. How this was allowed to occure is beyond me.

M - R. Military Road. located by Captain John Mullen. AD 1858 - AD 1862. Crossed the Wagon here.

With the peace well behind them farms and Ranches blossomed. This farm at Hunters WA. was only a few short miles from the Spokane Tribes reservation located at Ford Wa. only about 10 miles west of Clayton by the way the crow fly's.

When Spokane was just a baby & there were more homes in downtown Spokane than there were businesses they never missed an opporuity to celebrate. The towns people were destined to work hard and play hard, they were champions at both

Bury the hatchet is as old as the hills. But bury it they did. May God Bless both the Indians and the Pale faces.