Good Old Days

Thomas Kendall of St. John submitted this photo of the R.Q. Teague family with their harvest teams and crew.

The photo dates back to 1899 or 1900.

Mr. and Mrs. Teague are standing next to the side of the barn at the left while older daughter Edith holds the white horse carrying her younger sisters.

The farm is located on the Seivers Road about five miles east of Lind.

Sherman Scott Smart followed the Teague family on the ranch.

His son, Orville, took over the operation and his son, Roger and family are now on the ranch.

Two of the Teague boys in the photo here, Ernest and Sherman, were uncles of Thomas Kendall.

They were married to sisters of Kendall’s dad.

One of the last members of the Teague family in the Lind area was Kendall Teague, who was given his mother’s maiden name as a first name.

According to Roger Smart, harvest on the ranch at one time involved two combines with 33 horses each.

During the summers, the teams were pastured in the Hooper area.

125 years ago

December 3, 1886

In fulfillment of the promise made by Supt. Rowe some two months ago, the O.R.& N. has, during the past week, built stock yards at this point. They are located on the flat north of town and will greatly facilitate the shipment of livestock from this city.

Scott Harris of the Cracker bakery, ever alert and desirous of meeting the wants of his patrons, has supplied himself with the necessary apparatus and commenced the manufacture of candy. Having tested the product we can attest it is toothsome.

In the interest of humanity, safety and decency, the common council has awarded the contract for the construction of a new city jail to be built in the rear of the engine house. The structure will be 24 x14 feet with a 10-foot ceiling, divided into two cells.

A “triplexicon entertainment,” consisting of magic lantern views of the Yellowstone National Park, was given in City hall Tuesday evning.

100 years ago

December 1, 1911

The names of women will appear on the ballot next Tuesday for the first time in St. John. At a caucus last week, the following ticket was chosen: Councilmen, G.W. Du Bois, Mrs. J.I. Baker, Mrs. G. Case; Treasurer, Harry Terhune.

The 10 prisoners confined in the county jail treated themselves to a goose dinner for Thanksgiving. The inmates scraped together $8 which they spent on a 15-pound goose and the fixins.

Lloyd Baldwin, an employee of the Palouse brewery, was nearly suffocated in that city’s jail last Friday. He was arrested for boisterous conduct following a prolonged spree and it is believed that he set fire to his mattress.

When a skater fell in front of him at the Armory skating rink Tuesday evening, L.R. Squibb took a fall that resulted in a broken ankle. Two bones were broken. The injured man was taken to the home of L.E. Cornelius in an automobile and is resting as comfortable as possible given the circumstances.

75 years ago

November 27, 1936

Colfax High School debaters, under the able supervision of Coach Harry Starbird, have won two of three state and county debate series, by defeating Ewan and Pullman last Friday evening. They were defeated by Johnson here Saturday evening.

November apportionment of state and county funds has been made by W.E. Lagers, deputy county superintendent, who authorized distribution of $16,138 in state money and $2,170 in county funds for a total of $18,308.

Before Reese Bailey is returned to Spokane for trial as an accomplice in the Rosalia bank robbery and murder of Bert Lemley, town marshal, he will be indicted in Ohio on a charge of shooting at a federal officer.

50 years ago

November 30, 1961

Whitman County is threatened with the loss of nearly 50 percent of its representation in Olympia by a proposal to consolidate the 9th and 10th legislative districts. An initiative proposed by the League of Women Voters would join the 9th, embracing all of Whitman County, with the 10th, comprised of Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties. It would nearly double the number of persons now being represented by Sen. Marshall Neill and Reps. Elmer C. Huntley and Robert Goldsworthy.

The second burglary in three days hit Oakesdale Thanksgiving night when thieves made off with about $235 in merchandise from the Oakesdale Grange Supply. Entry was gained by hurling a rock through the window of a restroom at the rear of the building. The culprit then reached inside and unhooked the window. Included in the stolen property were two watches left at the store for repairs. A safe containing cash was not touched. Three days earlier burglars broke into the grade and high schools, taking $100 in cash and doing some $400 damage to teachers’ desks.

25 years ago

November 27, 1986

A move by Bank of Whitman to acquire the Endicott branch of Rainier Bank has been canceled because of an interpretation of rules by the FDIC. The decision means Endicott will continue to be a two-bank town with Rainier and Bank of Whitman operating separately.

A collection of 60 celebrity dolls is on display at the Lamont Bank of St. John and can be viewed from the sidewalk through the window or from the lobby. The dolls have been collected over about 10 years by Margie Robertson of St. John. Her collection includes such celebrities as Clark Gable, John F. Kennedy and Liberace.

10 years ago

November 29, 2001

To the surprise of everyone, wildlife officials have found steelhead spawning in Almota and Wawawai creeks. The discovery is the result of a survey in the first year of a two-year survey of creeks in southeastern Washington.

Rosalia and St. John area landowners may be approached by representatives of PG & E Gas Transmission in order for the company to acquire right-of-way, either by purchase or condemnation, for expansion of their natural gas pipeline system.