The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-07-31


machinery and piles of lumber told that
there was saw mill in operation by the
roadside. l was soon at Mr.. Ricketts,, the
pioneer of his neighborhood, and who by
the fruits of industry has made pleasant
and comfortable home. There you pass some
fine homes, among them are those of Messrs
Higdon and Leeper where a new frame
building standing by the roadside and not
quite finished represents the school house of
the Fatwoods district. There is no school
there this summer, but it is the intention to
finish the building in time for winter term.
| then passed on my way the farms of w.
n. Cross, S. B. Curtis, f. Harris and Others
On the evening before an accident occurred
in that neighborhood that may prove to be
discovery of great value in the way of get
ting men out of bed. Henry Dixon had re-
tired for the slumbers of the night Soon
after his wife entered the room and placed
kerosene lamp on a stand within few feet
of his head. She had just got a few steps
to one side when the lamp exploded. No
material damage was done; but Mr.. Dixon
thinks it a little inconvenient to get out of
bed quite so quick. | was soon at the home
of Mr.. Downs, where | remained over night.
This section of country is well named.
There are some fine farms there and much
good land yet to be cleared, but coarse
gravel beds crop out here and there and Sec
| of tba i l,x. +,,ra
ny journey led me around the east side of
| what is called the Peterson swale. This
swale is very large, and it is said it fur
nishes rich range for sheep and cattle.
Deer are quite plenty in this section. Mr.
Downs few days previous had caught two.
l think he said they were eating his corn
Downs is lively on foot.
| On the following day visited the schools
in districts Nos. 40 and "a. The former is
taught by j. NJ Armstrong The school is
about an average size and is being held in
dwelling house owned by Mr. Skeen. They
have no school house in the district. Mr..
Armstrong is just starting out in the pro-
fession, but is laboring with zeal and an
honesty oi purpose that must win the respect
and support of his patrons wherever he may
60 On my way from there to the other
district called at the residence of Thomas
Skcen, whom | found confined to his bed
with bruised foot. He had been hauling
logs at Rounds mill with yoke of cattle,
and his foot having accidently caught be-
tween lying log and the end of the one to
which the team was htched, was badly
mashed, though it was claimed no bones
were broken.
Miss O'Brien teaches the school in dis
trict No. "a, and is meeting with more than
ordinary success. There appears also to
be a healthy public sentiment in this neigh
borhood in matters pertaining to their
school Mr.. O'Brien the clerk, accompanied
me to the school, and found him not only
making liberal provisions for the schooling
of his own children, but alike awake to the
educational welfare of others. 1t is in this
district that John ODonnell lives, and the
writer spent a very pleasant hour under his
| uoslitapie Iooi. Wy stay III WIS hS'ohpoi'
hood was rather brief, but from what saw
! left with the impression that industry,
honesty, generosity and happy and con-
tented spirit are prominent characteristics
OF the people.
From there proceeded to Maple Grove,
where the night was passed with the family
of the Rev. f. c. Espy. In viewing many
of these farms from the road the question
naturally suggests itself to the passer by,
Chow do these people live?" A house and
barn in little opening, and this often Gov
cred with fallen timber. are all that he sees.
But these are not all. On going back on
many of them large clearings are found,
where fields of wheat and oats in luxurant
growth, and fine meadows meet the eye.
This is the case to some extent with the
place on which Mr.. Espy lives. There are
upwards of twenty acres of clearing on 1t,
about fifteen of which was covered with as
fine growth of timothy grass as has ever
been seen by the writer. This is but one OF
many similar places in that section of coun-
try Mr.. Espy seems to be one of those
men who do not allow the grass to grow I'M
der their feet; and the appearance of the
place he woras is a living proof tina. the
work of the ministry does not unfit man
for the duties of genuine pioneer, The