Little Chieftain Newspaper
Contributions from Jim Reavis
Mighty Bear Slayer Is Averill’s Title
Sept. 11, 1890
George Boner informs us that Perne Averill has gained the title of “The Mighty Bear Slayer” of Joseph Creek. It is not definitely known just how many bears Perna has killed this season, but rumor says they have been numerous. Last week one was foolish enough to venture into the civilized portion of Perne’s neighborhood, and the hunters having tired of shooting the animals, simply ran it down and clubbed the poor bear to death with a sheep pelt. This is no bear story.
A huge grizzly bear has frightened the Indians out of the country about the head of the Imnaha. The animal killed one of their ponies and that satisfied the noble red men. We are now praying for that same bear to invade their valley camps.
Skeleton on snake River
December 22, 1887
Last week while Charles Vest and George Branscom were on Snake River bar they made a find that some “blood and thunder” journalist might weave into a sensational item. The find was nothing more or less than a skeleton, of a human being supposed to be a Chinaman. The skull was fractured and this fact gives rise in a likely supposition of foul play some where. The body had evidently floated down the river during high water, and been left on the bar as above stated. There were the remnants of overalls and blouse lying near the skeleton and in the pockets of the overalls were found a pocket knife and some matches. The bones were laid away and covered with rocks by the finders.
Hurt in Coasting Accident.
June 14, 1900
Leap: Ben Weathers, who had his leg hurt in a coasting accident two years ago and was sent to Portland for treatment, has returned home and is still in a very critical condition, being almost bedfast.
July 26, 1900
Mr. and Mrs. J. Haas, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Rumble, the Misses Laura and Maude Haas and lt. F. Smith returned from a trip to the mountains on the head of Sheep Creek and Imnaha last week. The men report two deer and a cougar to their credit and the ladies secured several gallons of huckleberries.
August 16, 1900
Chief Joseph must stay shere he is on the Colville reservation and every body in Wallowa County is glad of it. Now if the annual pilgrimage of the different tribes into Wallowa County can be stopped we will be twice as glad.
Prospectors See Sights.
Oct. 8, 1889
Last week, G. A. Camp, C. E. Vest and Alfred Otto spent four or five days prospecting in the mountains west of Hurricane creek. They located several claims, the rock from which has been sent off for a test. They also killed one bear and had the queer experience of seeing a butterfly flight. The butterflies began traveling from northwest to southeast last Sunday morning, and for several hours the air was heavy with them. They were black, yellow and white varieties of the “Insects”, and such a sigh as they made is not often witnessed. They were probably traveling to reach the “land of flowers.”
Registration Shows Voters of Precincts
May 10, 1900.
The registration books in the clerks office today showed the following number of voters registered in each precinct:
Joseph 135
Wallowa 231
Crouse 22
Promise 34
Paradise 90
Imnaha 53
Divide 16
Enterprise 216
Lostine 169
Trout Creek 10
Lost Prairie 59
Pine Creek 42
Park 26
Prairie Creek 62
Which makes a total of 1215. The most conservative estimate places the total registration before the book closes on May 15th at 1330.
Irrigation Possibilities.
October 8, 1889
W. A. Leslie, volunteer observer at this place (Joseph), makes the following remarks in his monthly report to the State Weather Bureau in regard to Wallowa county: There are probably 5,000 to 10,000 acres now irrigated, and nearly 100,000 acres susceptible of irrigation. Our moisture falls in snow, and reservoirs constructed at the base of mountains would catch an immense amount of water during the spring. Reservoirs could be built very cheap, as rock is abundant and lumber $7.00 per thousand.”
Town Must Clean Up
Aught 8, 1889
Our town (Joseph) marshal has posted notices to the effect that property owners must clean up their lost and the streets and aleve adjoining or have it done at their expense. He also give notice that hogs must be kept from running at large and that shooting is prohibited in the city limits. These notices in addition to the provisions of ordinance No. 17, which is published in this issue, if they are enforced as strictly as we hope they will be, will soon make Joseph a most orderly and attractive town.
Working at Walla Walla
August 8, 1889
Walla Walla Item: J. B. Olmsted, so well and favorably known in Wallowa, is engine driver for the Brewer machine. W. W. Briggs of Joseph was seen lately smiling us usual, but with little more of a paternal appearance than of your. We learn from the Wattsburg Times that Frank Ownbey of enterprise is rusticating in that place. Several other Wallowans have been board from including Charlie Galley; all “right side up with care.”
Indians and Liquor.
Sept. 25, 1890
Alder Item: Last Thursday, while on my way home from the lower valley, my attention was attracted by some drunken Indians, and the same day three of the noble red men, under the influence of liquor passed thru the Alder settlement. It is high time Uncle Sam was taking better care of his pets.
Report Attendance At Joseph School
Dec. 10, 1885
School report Joseph public school, week ending Dec. 4, 1885:
High Department
Number enrolled, 42 number belonging 42, average attendance. 29.9; cases of tardiness, 3. Pupils neither absent nor tardy; Pearl Burnett, Nellie Martin, Mabel Hall, Flora Veits, Ida Ward, Mira Stanley, Lucila Dean, Winfield Gowan; Charles Stanley, Wm. Reap, Elmer ? Olive Martin, Cora Vaughan, Thomas Winston, Dollie Ward, John Kernan, Charles Cowles, Henry Branscom, Cora Gowan, Myrta Boner, Emma Harishorn, Alice Gaily, Ray Barton, Ida Coverdale, John Fine, Milton Martin, Joseph Martin, Thad, Dean, John Bell.
F. M. McCully, Teacher.
Primary Department
Number enrolled. 36; number belonging 36; average attendance, 35.3; Cases of tardiness, 6. Pupils neither tardy nor absent; Libbie Bell, Hayes Kernan, Jessie Winston, Flemous Simmons, Clinton Simmons, Orvill Hall, Eddie Winston, Mollie Danforth, Della Jack, Issie Danforth, Milburn Veits, Frank Kernan, Clyde Pratt, Mary Simmons, John Cote, Nora Gowan, Eli Farmer, Orpha Pratt, Herman Mitchell and Mattie Branscom
Ella Bond, Teacher
Start Flour Mill.
December 22, 1887
A company has been incorporated at Enterprise for the purpose of building a flouring mill. Messrs. Church, Gardner, Aaron Wade and R. W. Bloom are the Incorporation and the capital stock of the company is fixed at $7,000.
Joseph Academy Elects.
Oct. 8, 1889
At a meeting of the stockholders of Joseph Academy, last Monday evening, the following officers and board of directors were elected for the ensuing year; E. J. Forsythe, president; Will Wurzweiler, vice president; J. D. McCully, secretary; W. A. Leslie, treasurer; and A. W. Gowan. The directors will meet tomorrow evening to make arrangements for the coming school year, of which more will be said hereafter.
Woman Rider In Peril.
Oct. 8, 1889
Last Tuesday, Miss Eva Rumble came near being seriously injured at her father’s place in the Sheep Creek country. The pony she was riding stumbled and fell and Miss Eva was thrown from the saddle, the skirt of her riding habit catching on the saddle horn. In this manner she was dragged some distance, but retaining her hold on the reins, she was able to finally stop the horse. Miss Eva escaped with a few bruises.
The band boys are rehearsing for the holidays—Enterprise item, Dec. 22, 1887.
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The Sheepherder From early days, sheep have been a vital factor in the life of Wallowa county, and apparently this will continue to be the case for years to come. This picture, on Tulley Creek near Snake River, was taken in recent times by Guy W. Huffman. The border is Guy A. Spencer.
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