Rising Resolutions

The Miners and Settlers of Stehekin Valley Heard From

Stehekin, Wash., Oct. 21, 1892 – (To the Chelan Leader) – At an indignant meeting held here today the following resolutions were passed:

1.      Resolved, that a vote of thanks be presented to DeWitt C. Britt for the splendid write-up of our valley which appeared in a recent issue of the Chelan Leader, and that a cordial invitation be extended to his to come again.

2.      Resolved, that our thanks are due to the Chelan Leader for bringing to public notice the manner in which we have been used in regard to a certain county road appropriation.

3.      Resolved, that we condemn the article in the paper printed “At the Boat Landing at the Foot of the Lake,” signed “Stehekin,” as an outrage on the hospitality of the miners and settlers in this county.

4.      Resolved, that in our belief, if the aforesaid “Stehekin” stubbed his toes on pieces of quarts, it was when he was in the employ of the county, surveying county roads.

Signed, William Buzzard, C.H. Cole, D. Moran, Jim Scheuyealle, John Wilson, J.W. Horton, Robert Pershall, John W. Provance

Dr. F.E. Pershall came down from Stehekin Tuesday and started yesterday for his home in Mapleton, Iowa.

From Stehekin

A valued correspondent sends up the following items:

Bayard Wilkeson of Bridge Creek is visiting his father at Hamilton for a few days.

George L. Rowse is making one trip a week with ten horses, packing ore from the Boston mine to the head of the lake.

The steamer Stehekin took the first consignment of ore from the Isoletta claim for the Pershall brothers Sunday.

Mrs. Frank Keller is visiting with Mrs. Wilkeson at Bridge Creek during the absence of Mr. Wilkeson.

Jack Durant and Dennis O’Brien are packing in their winter’s supplies from Bridge Creek, preparing for a winter’s work on Thunder Creek, cross-cutting their ledge, and will ship out ore next summer via Lake Chelan.

Alex Conrad was over from the Sound last week inspecting his claims on Thunder Creek, and thinks he will be able to send out some ore next year, if silver should remain even at the present price.

A.T. Green, of Waterville, with his family and a party of friends, were camping at the head of the lake last week.

Billy McGregor is camping at Mineral Park, on the summit of Cascade Pass and will spend the winter trapping in that country, while Pete Robichand and Geo. Young will trap at the head of the Agnes Creek this fall and winter.

Stehekin, Wash., August 25^th

We are informed that a sawmill will be in operation at Stehekin within from 60 to 90 days. Part of the old Dompke mill machinery, of historic fame, is to be utilized, together with Thomas R. Gibson’s engine. Messers. Robert Pershall and Charles Baron are the promoters of the scheme, which ought to be and we hope will be successful and remunerative.

On Monday, Robert Pershall and wife moved back to their ranch at the head of the lake to be ready for spring work.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Pershall, who departed on Monday for their Stehekin home, will be very much missed by their legion of Chelan and Lakeside friends.

Robert Pershall was down from Stehekin the fore part of the week.

A note received from Frank F. Keller, esquire, at Stehekin details the finding and burial of the body of Hugh McKeever, which as we already had a statement of it from another source, is omitted. Our esteemed correspondent goes on to say: “I have just returned from Pershall’s camp at Horseshoe Basin. There is much less snow there now than one would naturally expect at this season of the year. I expect to go up there again next week to work in the tunnel on the Isoletta mine.”

Stehekin July 29 – Your correspondent left R.N. Pershall’s camp (on the upper Stehekin) on the 27^th, where Robert and his wife seemed to be enjoying themselves hugely. Coming down to Park Creek I met several prospectors and at the ford at Bridge Creek, Geo. L. Rowse and another gentleman on their way to do assessment work on the Boston and other claims. There were several miners and prospectors camped at Bridge Creek. Some of them were disappointed in not finding a store there, and had to make a trip to Chelan after supplies.

Bear tracks are numerous along the trail and they can occasionally be seen helping themselves to service berries, which are now getting ripe.

It was a happy surprise to meet at Stehekin C.A. Grannis, of Waterville. He has with him C.W. Ernst and family, Robert Beyers and wife, Mrs. Belle Wetzel and Cora Brown. To say they are having a big time does not half express it. The ladies supply the camp with fish. Mr. Ernst picks the barriers and attends to the baby. Mr. Beyers gets the wood and washes the dishes. Mr. Grannis does the cooking. I couldn’t swear to it, but I do think the ladies will deny having used some of his biscuits on their fish lines for sinkers.

There are many others camped here, and still others stopping at the hotel. All seem to be happy. Surly this is a great place for an outing.

F.F.K (Keller)

Letter from Stehekin

Twistp Horton and Charlie Cole are on the hunt.

Jim Scheuyeaulle is getting out timber for a new house.

M.E. Field and W.J. Jewell are in the shingle business.

Gus Anderson and M.A. Almendinger have gone over the summit to do assessment work on the Eldorado.

R.N. Pershall is building an addition to the north end of his residence. He returned from Meadow Creek a few days since, where he has been doing some assessment work. If there is much ore in the camp like the specimens he brought up with him, that camp will surely be one of the best in the state, situated as it is, right on the bank of the lake, and where the climate is such that there will be no difficulty in working all winter. Mr. Pershall has been in the mining business nearly all this season. He commenced work on the Isoletta group in May and worked in that vicinity nearly all the time until the middle of October. It is understood he has represented about seven claims in the Bridge Creek district also.

Doty and Young did considerable work on the North Fork of Bridge Creek. Dr. Gage and parties from Seattle also did work in that vicinity. But probably there has been more actual money expended in Horseshoe Basin than at any other place of the same area in the county. Capt. Chas. Johnson had men at work on the Homestake and Star for some time. A.M. Pershall had several men on the Davenport and Christie claims. Ed Christie, Lloyd Pershall and Frank Samson did work on the White Cap and Opal. Harry Adams of Portland represented the Ferguson group and employed eleven men, working three shifts of eight hours each daily. He paid $2 per day and board. Five men out of the eleven have ranches at Stehekin or Bridge Creek. Two more have claims just over the summit, and two others live at or near Chelan. So, it will be seen that nine out of the eleven live in this locality and receive something over $600 in wages – which is sufficient in proof of the checks being good. As it was reported that we were half starved, our bill of fare is given herewith, as follows: Potatoes, beans, cabbage, onions, ham, bacon, beef, bread, butter, canned corn, canned tomatoes, condensed milk, Worcester sauce, vinegar, salt, pepper, tea and coffee. Even the last four or five days, when we ran short, we had plenty of bread, potatoes, tea and coffee, etc. Mr. Adams took a great interest in the work and did all he could to make it pleasant and comfortable for his men, and paid cash for all he had done.

Frank F. Keller

Stehekin, Nov. 13, 1895

M.M. Kingman and Robert Pershall this week shipped to the smelter a ton of good looking ore from the Chub claim at Meadow Creek, in which these gentlemen are jointly interested.

Miss Hopkins, teacher of the Lakeside school, was called to Stehekin Tuesday by the serious illness of her sister, Mrs. Robert Pershall. Consequently, the school is closed until next week.

The Leader regrets very much to learn that Mrs. Robert Pershall, of Stehekin, who has been ill for a long time, has taken a change for the worse, and her life is despaired of.

Wednesday’s steamer brought the welcome news that Mrs. Robert Pershall of Stehekin is much better.

Mrs. and Miss Hopkins, of Iowa, mother and sister of Mrs. Robert Pershall, of Stehekin, arrived last week on a visit to the latter, who has been quite sick, but is now convalescent.

Robert Pershall, of Stehekin, and S.J. Gray and Mott Millard of Meadow Creek mining camp, were among the visitors in town the fore part of the week.

R.A. Pershall of Stehekin will please accept the thanks of the Leader force for some very fine mushrooms, which were send down on Wednesday’s boat last week, but unfortunately did not reach this office until Saturday evening, when they were delivered through the kindness of Mr. Bert Baker of the First Chelan Bank.

A cottonwood fruit-box factory has been started at Stehekin by Pershall brothers. Samples of their work, which, by the way, is strictly first-class, can be seen at Pershall’s store. (in Chelan)

Mrs. Hopkins and her daughter, Miss Leona, mother and sister of Mrs. Robert Pershall of Stehekin, started on Tuesday’s steamer for their home in Masedonia, Iowa. They were accompanied as far as Chelan by Mrs. Pershall, who returned to Stehekin on Wednesday’s mail steamer.

Mrs. Robert Pershall of Stehekin is visiting in Lakeside and Chelan this week.

Messers M.M. Kingman and Robert Pershall went to Meadow Creek on Monday’s boat, taking with them sufficient lumber to build a cabin on the Chubb claim.

Mr. Robert Pershall has sold the improvements on his ranch at the head of the lake to Mr. Wm. Purple, who will move there with his family.

Died, at Lakeside, Washington, on Tuesday, August 23, 1898, Mrs. Flora G. Pershall, wife of Mr. Robert N. Pershall, of childbirth. Her sudden and untimely death has cast a gloom over the entire community, for she was greatly beloved and respected by everyone. The deceased was born in Pottawatamie County, Iowa, May 7, 1867, and had been a consistent member of the M.E. Church since her 15^th year. She was the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S.H. Hopkins, of Chelan. She leaves a motherless baby boy, a heart-broken husband, her parents and three sisters to mourn her loss, all of whom were here on the sad occasion, except Mrs. Bowersox, who had accompanied her husband to Horseshoe Basin and could not be reached in time. The funeral was conducted by Mr. H.A. Graham, on Wednesday, and was largely attended by sympathizing and sorrowing friends. “Asleep in Jesus.”

The motherless babe of Mr. Robert N. Pershall is being cared for by its grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. S.H. Hopkins. It is a healthy boy and gives promise of doing well.

We are sorry to have to record the death of Florin, the infant son of Mr. Robert N. Pershall, which occurred on Friday, the 23^rd inst., just four months after the death of its mother, at the time of its birth. The funeral took place on Saturday, religious services being conducted at the M.E. Church by Mr. H.A. Graham. The immediate cause of the poor little babe’s death was congestion of the lungs, but it had never been strong. Mr. Pershall is at present working at Clagstone camp, on North Bridge Creek, and could not be reached with the sad intelligence in time to attend the funeral, and it may be weeks before he hears of his great loss. The Leader extends its heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved.

Mr. Robert Pershall came down from Stehekin Tuesday.

Messers M.S. Buchanan, Dan Devore and Robert Pershall went up to Stehekin on Monday.

Mr. Robert Pershall has taken a contract to run a tunnel on the Copper Giant mining property at Meadow Creek and went up there Monday to look after preliminaries, returning Tuesday.

Robert N. Pershall starts for Spokane today for an extended visit with friends. We are glad to observe that he has about recovered from his mining accident of to months ago.

Robert N. Pershall, who has been out to Spokane and Davenport on a visit, returned home Friday evening. While outside he expected likely he would have a finger removed from one of his hands that was so badly crushed by the recent explosion, but on consultation with leading physicians they pronounced it unnecessary and said Dr. Pierrot must thorughoughly understand his business and had done all that anyone could do for him in a medical and surgical way. Mr. Pershall is naturally very much pleased to know, not only that he doesn’t have to lose any of his fingers, but also that he will gradually regain the use of his hand.

Robert Pershall went up the lake Monday to once more engage in mining.

Robert M. Pershall returned Saturday evening from up lake points.

Robert N. Pershall is visiting for the winter at Marshfield, Oregon, on Coos Bay, and writes that he is enjoying himself very much. He did not go to Doubtful Lake as he intended when he left here.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert N. Pershall, of Stehekin, were visitors in town over Sunday, the guests of Mr. S.H. Hopkins.

Mr. and Mrs. R.N. Pershall are in Horseshoe Basin, where Mr. Pershall is doing assessment work on a number of mining claims.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert N. Pershall have moved from Stehekin to Chelan for the winter and are occupying the residence of Mr. S.H. Hopkins on the south side.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert N. Pershall and child were down from Stehekin over Thursday night last week.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert N. Pershall were down from Stehekin from Saturday until Wednesday, visiting relatives and buying supplies. Mr. Pershall has taken a contract to do some logging for Pennell and Garton in the Stehekin Valley.

In order to save the life of a dog, R.N. Pershall a few days ago performed a feat which few men would care to undertake. The dog was a blooded fox hound belonging to a pack owned by T.B. Hopper of Spokane, who visited the mountains up the Stehekin about three weeks ago. He fell over the edge of a cliff but lodged on a narrow shelf of rock 20 feet below the brink. The owner and his associates could not rescue him and abandoned him to his fate. Mr. Pershall found and rescued the dog after the animal had been in this precarious position for 15 days. He let himself down to the shelf by means of a rope, fastened the rope to the dog, and then after having climbed up himself he drew the dog to the top of the cliff.

Mr. and Mrs. R.N. Pershall and daughter were in town this week from Stehekin, as the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Al Pershall.

Mr. and Mrs. R.N. Pershall went to Stehekin on Monday’s boat and will remain there during the winter, Mr. Pershall having secured a big logging contract about five miles up the Stehekin river.

W.S. Britt went to Stehekin Monday to assist R.N. Pershall in logging operations and expects to spend the winter there.

W.S. Britt, who is associated with Robert N. Pershall in getting out logs in the Stehekin valley for Pennell and Garton, came down lake Wednesday and will return to Stehekin Tuesday.

Born, Feb 5^th, at the residence of Dr. G.N. Parrish, uplake, to Mr. and Mrs. Robert N. Pershall, another daughter.

Robert N. Pershall, together with his wife and two little daughters have returned from Stehekin to Chelan, Mr. Pershall having sold his logging contract to the Lake Chelan Box Factory Co.

R.N. Pershall has received notice from the Interior Department at Washington that his application for a tract of agricultural land in the Stehekin valley has been granted, that the land will be listed for entry as soon as the proper amount of red tape shall have been unwound, and that he will then be allowed to file on the land. The tract includes 100 acres of fine river bottom land, all of which can be irrigated. Mr. Pershall’s application, like many others for agricultural lands in the national forest, was rejected a number of times heretofore on the grounds that the land applied for is not agricultural. However, under the recent more equitable and practical policy of forest administration the land was found to be adapted to agriculture.

Robt. Pershall of Stehekin spent a few days at the foot of the lake returning Tuesday.

Bob Pershall connected with a silver tip last week. The bear got the worst of it of course.

Robt. Pershall came down from the Stehekin valley yesterday on business.

Robt. Pershall was down from Stehekin Saturday.

Rob Pershall and F. Bowen were down from Stehekin last week returning on Tuesday’s boat.

The Liberty made a special trip to Stehekin Tuesday, bringing Mrs. Robert Pershall, who is quite ill and wishes to be near a physician.

Robt. Pershall came down from Union Valley Tuesday to move his family back to Stehekin. On account of Mrs. Pershall’s health they were unable to remain in Union Valley.

R.N. Pershall came down from Stehekin Friday on business returning Saturday.

R.N. Pershall and family moved to their home in the Stehekin valley Friday.

Bob Pershall and family came down from Stehekin. He has sold his ranch to D.P. Maxwell.