Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1910-01-13
oliver Garfield Re-Visits Sno.
Kane After Many Years
FORMER VILLAGE NOW CITY
Ola Timer Looks in VAN for
Old Friends and Landmarks

The following interview by Oliver
Canheld, one Of the oldest of thu
pioneers OF Idaho county, appeared ii
a recent issue Of the Spokesman Re
view OF Spokane and shows the great
change that has taken place in the
west in the past few years. Mr.. Can.
held is man along in years but his
memory has not failed him and his
history Of things and events of earl,
pioneer life is interesting as well as re
liable:
I'm Rip Van Winkle today" said
0. B. Garfield, patriarchal pioneer
hailing from Charleston, Idaho, at the
Pedicord yesterday. Il feel lust as
Rip must have felt when he
awoke from his sleep of 20 years
on the Catskill mountains and
looked down upon the village Of
Laughing Water, wandered through
its streets, met its unfamiliar residents
and encountered nothing but unfamil-
lar sights and strange faces.
Spokane to me is the Laughing
Water Of Rips day. This is the first
time ! have been here in 20 years, al
though have lived in this section of
the country all that time, and l am
dazed, amazed and completely undone
by the marvellous changes that have
taken place since last | walked the
streets Of Spokane in 'S9-the year Of
the big fire.
AS in a Foreign City. Lost
"When | got off the train | might
as we'll have been in some foreign city
as far as knowing where | was or
where to 60. | looked around at
these fine buildings and up and down
the streets, and l actually couldn't
believe my eyes. As walked along
| talked to myself and said:
"Where are all the old boys | used
to know, | wonder? What has be-
come of the old California house where
| used to hang out? Where is the
Spokane | used to know a generation
ago? All vanished, old Rip; all van
ished. They don't know you here
any more and you'd better turn right
around and 60 back to your ranch
your good old ranch, between the
Snake and the Salmon rivers, in the
shadows of the Seven Devils. You'd
better go back to your hounds and
your ponies. You'd batter go home.
Pioneer, IA Years Young
"Then | made up my mind |
wouldn't be homesick. | had come to
see Spokane once more and to have
good time, because | am "A years
old and not too old to indulge in
little fun once in while. So here |
am, and since | have been here have
located several of the old friends |
used to know in the old days and am
having one of the grandest times of
my life. | am so happy and feel SO
good over it all that | would like to
hire hall and talk by the hour of
The pioneer days of Spokane and of
The boys and girls | used to know,
nearly all Of whom have gone the way
If the world, | hear.
''The thought that l am one of the
ew survivors of eaaly Spokane makes
ne sad, and yet when | think that l
I'm alive to gaze upon this wonderful
'ity and am given the privilege of
making new friends and renewing my
,outh in their society, and also visit
ng with few of those | used to
now, I'm the happiest Rip Van VIM
lie in the state of Washington"
Speaks Indian Tongues
Mr.. Garfield came to Washington
nth his parents in 48, a year before
old was discovered in California.
hey came across the plains-a dis
ance of 1000 miles-and the last
,hite mans settlement east of the
,ascade mountains at that time was
It. Joseph. Mo-. Mr.. Garfield as he
rev up and after he reached man.
ood was thrown more or less in the
ociety of the red men and he speaks
be language Of several tribes.
High Respect for Reds
"Since boy, he said, Il have
we'd among the Indians and | have
My the highest respect for them,
rom the day of their so-called saw !