Wilson Creek history

A large part of this column deals with firsthand accounts of

history seen through the eyes of our early pioneers. The book of

memories of Wilson Creek is packed full of them. Read on.

The hard work or ranch life is recalled, but so is the fun of Saturday night grange dances. Read on.

Wilson Creek history

A large part of this column deals with firsthand accounts of history seen through the eyes of our early pioneers. The book of memories of Wilson Creek is packed full of them. Read on.

The Rev. David H. Crawford compiled and published a history of families in and surrounding Wilson Creek titled, "Family Memories of Wilson Creek Area." The book was printed in 1978, which was the 75th anniversary of the town. David's son, John Crawford, has given permission for those memories to be a part of this column.

Today we backtrack a bit and then continue with the story of Frank Graham:

At one time, Frank Graham's beef was shipped to Seattle and loaded on boats for Seward, Alaska. At this destination, Ollie Waechter, Frank's brother-in-law and owner of a shipping line, would take care of the beef from there. After going to the slaughterhouse, the meat was distributed around to butcher shops in the area.

Another very important person at the Circle Bar was the cook and housekeeper, Bertha Lundquist. No matter what the number for dinner, Bertha always managed to come up with plenty of food. She did all the bread baking, churned the butter, not to mention all the good cakes and pies every day. Then she managed to do the laundry and ironing and clean the main house every week and all the canning in summer.

Everyone worked hard in those days but, come Saturday night, it seemed they all got over their worries and pain enough to participate in one of the dances put on by the granges, usually, in one of the neighboring towns. Another great treat in those days was a family outing, pack a picnic lunch and drive to Soap Lake, a distance of about nine teen miles, and go swimming or take baths in the bath houses and so many enjoyed drinking the water for its minerals.

Frank Graham became involved in political matters now and then. At one time he was persuaded to run for commissioner, but his opponent must have talked more convincingly than he, because he failed to win the election. Frank was of the opposing party, but he was very patriotic and was one of the first to wait to shake hands with President Roosevelt when the president was helped off the train at Ephrata on his way to Grand Coulee Dam.

This was a very important and memorable occasion to everyone in the area. The great dam being completed was a dream of many years come true for many people as well as for the president.

It was a turning point in the history of the desert area and the people. I don't think Frank Graham realized the impact and change it would make in his way of living as one of the last cowboys and cattle ranch owners of the old school.

He operated his ranch until he retired in the old-fashioned but colorful and efficient way using mule power and riders on horseback. The ranch raised its own food almost entirely. At canning time, fruit was brought in from the Big 4 orchards and the Middleton Farms at Stratford. When the seasons were right a trip would be made to Yakima or Wenatchee for melons and tomatoes. These crops were raised on local farms too. 

The Grahams loved to have people come and visit and stay a week or so. Everyone was welcome. There was someone coming or going all the time. In the summers the ranch was almost like a vacation place for some and they were made very welcome. In the winter Frank didn't mind keeping on an extra man or two that was down on their luck if they put in a few hours feeding stock or doing other chores around the place. They were assured of three good meals a day and a warm place to sleep. For this, he was rewarded in his later years, as many came and thanked him for helping them.

Some unusual events unlike a cattle ranch happened, too. For instance, a man came riding in one day on a wagon pulled by a critter he called a catlow. It was a huge animal weighing about a ton. The man said it was half buffalo and half beef stock. He had come all the way from Texas driving the animal. He stayed a few days to rest himself and the catlow and then went on his way.

Then there was the man who came with a rope- making tool that was supposed to make a good grade of rope cheap, but it must have been cheap rope, because he didn't stay long. One visitor came to visit without the best intentions for when he left late one night he took Frank's best Hamley saddle. He didn't cover his tracks very well, though, and they had the saddle back in a week or two.

One thing came to the ranch one spring that was very exciting and interesting. Someone shipped some Alaskan reindeer down to see if they would stay in the new habitat long enough to settle down and increase in number. But, it met with little suc?cess.

The cowboys spent the summer rounding them up, because as soon as they were let out of the corral, they would head for Alaska. Luckily, there was someone in Wisconsin that wanted them to train for pulling a sleigh for a winter carnival. So Frank engaged an Eskimo from Alaska to come and halter-break them. The Eskimo was the only one who could get close enough to do the job.

By fall the reindeer were tame enough to be put into individually built crates and finally shipped off to Wisconsin. Some of the younger residents put their names and addresses on the crates, hoping to hear replies from someone in Wisconsin, but no replies. So, I guess they were not as interested in the story of those reindeer as we thought.

Frank Graham loved his horses and cattle. Most of the saddle stock were born and raised on the Circle Bar. There was always some young cowboy brave or crazy enough to volunteer to break them to ride. As for the workhorses and mules, they were put behind a wagon with a well-broken mate and it wasn't long till they knew what had to be done. With all his animals, he used persuasion instead of force. The men all wore spurs but never used them much.

Frank Graham was a man of vision and progress plus determination and humility. I know that if he were here today, as much as things have changed, he would be able to go right ahead and make a success of his way of living, for in those days each man progressed according to his own individual ambition and initiative to survive.

E-mail from Cheryl

Facts from the past gleaned from the Moses Lake Herald, Columbia Basin Herald and The Neppel Record by Cheryl (Driggs) Elkins:

From the Columbia Basin Herald on Friday, Oct. 29, 1948:

Veteran's councilman coming here

Al McGrath, representative of the state veterans' rehabilitation council, will spend every Tuesday in Moses Lake, he announced this week. He will hold office hours in the city hall from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., beginning Nov. 9, he said.

McGrath is a traveling representative from the council's district office in Wenatchee. He said his work will be to help veterans with claims for disability compensation, hospitalization, outpatient treatment, education, training, bonus application, insurance and any other matters.

Packing plant on Peninsula sold to Wenatchee firm

The Blue Ribbon Markets of Wenatchee has purchased the M & L Meat Co. business and packing plant on the Peninsula, it was announced last week by Dudley C. McLean, manager of the plant. It had been operated by McLean and Fred Lycan.

Ed Ernst, one of two brothers who operate the Blue Ribbon concern, will move to Moses Lake and take active charge of the plant. McLean will be associated with the firm on a part-time basis, he said.

The Blue Ribbon Firm plans to increase production of the plant four or five times and will put on a wholesale truck route to service this section of Grant County, as well as Wenatchee, McLean said.

Girl Scouts go skating

A Thursday afternoon roller skating party was enjoyed by many members from Moses Lake's four Girl Scout troops. Mel Zornes invited the entire group to skate from 4 to 6 at the Roller Drome. Troop leaders and parents also participated.

Daughter of Chief Moses dies

Mrs. Lucy Moses Owhi, daughter of Chief Moses was buried at Nesplem this week with full tribal ceremonies. She was 86 at the time of her death. Her father, Chief Moses, ruled extensive lands around present day Wenatchee and give his name to Moses Lake as well as Moses Coulee.