The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-05-07
HISTORICAL SKETCH
A BRIEF HISTORY OF KITTITAS
Circumstances Which Led Up to
Organization of Kittitas
County.
FACTS REGARDING EARLY FORMATION
". II. Peterson, Once County Supt and Auditor
Gives Interesting and Reliable Data
Good Reading for All.
ACTS REGARDING EARLY FORMATION

| i IlE formation OF new counties is
nearly always attended with
more or less opposition and that of Kit
titas was no exception. Since its or
ganiZation many of her Old-time resi-
dents have removed from the county,
and not few have finished their ca rth-
ly courses and laid them down to pleas
ant dreams.
Since then the progress of the county
in wealth and population has kept step
with the ever advancing army of civil
cation until today she is among the
leading counties of the state.
1t may. | think, be safely assumed
that not more than one-tenth of the
population of the county has any per-
sonal knowledge Of the events leading
up to and finally eliminating in the
formation of Kittitas county. Nor do
they know much about about her form
al organization or early history For
the information of this large class of
her citizens, as well as for the purpose
of reviving the many pleasant memories
of the still remaining pioneer popula-
ton of the county, this article has been
written.
The first act leading up to the forma-
ton of Kittitas county, was that Of the
Supreme Architect of the universe in
so fashioning the topography of the
country tributary to the Yakima river
that Kittitas valley was separated from
Yakima valley by high undulating
plateau, covered by sage brush and
bunch grass. 1t was apparent to me
when entered Kittitas valley in 1879,
that as soon as there was sufficient pop
ulation and wealth to admit, all that
part of Yakima county tributary to Kit
titas valley, would be created into
new county.
At that time Old Yakima( then known
as Yakima City was the county seat of
the county. 1t was very incOnvenient
aud expensive for the residents of Kit
titas valley to have to attend court
there as witnesses and jurors. They
thought it quite hard enough to make
their long periodical trips to The
Dalles for the purpose of dsposing of
their produce and laying in their sup
plies, without having the added incon-
veniency and time required to attend
court at so great distance from their
homes.
Some of them began to Glamour for
new county, while others were in favor
of moving the county seat to Ellens-
burg.
At the general election in the fall of
1880, George S. Taylor, the democratic
candidate for the legislature, was
elected over John A. Shoudy, who was
the republican candidate by majority
of tifty-siX. The county was republi-
can by good majority, but many re-
publicans in Yakima valley voted for
Taylor, fearing that if Shoudy were
elected, would attempt to divide the
county or remove the county seat At
the next general election, in 1882,
Taylor and Shoudy again contested for
a seat in the legislature, with the re-
result that the tables were turned, and
Shoudy was elected over Taylor by a
majority of fifty-siX. AT this election
very large percentage of the demo-
cratic voters of Kittitas valley voted
for Shoudy.
Between these two general elections
several things had TRANSFERRED that
were calculated to arouse and solidify
the taxpayers of Kittitas valley in fav'
or of county division. The small build
ing, or court house, occupied by the
county officers, with all its contents
was totally destroyed by fire and the
board of county commissioners had to
provide some place for the use of the
county officers. There was, no doubt
that large majority of the taxpayers
of the county were in favor of renting
offices. But the board then, as now,
consisting of three members, two liv-
ING in Yakima valley and one in kitti-
tas valley, in their wisdom saw fit to at
once to proceed to erect court house.
To oct them to take this action great
nraccure WAS brought to bear on them