The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1911-05-19
SIXTH YEAR. NO. ~
4 BIG LAND DEAL.

y y.
A few weeks ago mention was made
that prospective deal was on foot
for the old Wellington ranch the prop
erty of W. II. Mcdaniel. of I.oomis,
the negotiator being II. H. Granger, of
DavenpOrt. The trade has been con-
ksumated, and this paper is at liberty
TO mention the transaction more at
length. Mr.. Granger, who has been
Eery successful in past years over in
Lincoln county purchasing large ranch
les adjacent to water supply, improv-
Ing the same and subsequently sell
Ing in small tracts at handsome
70 Oroville last January with view
bf ascertaining the chances of secur-
ng a large acreage in compact body
n the Okanogan valley. He selected
Judge the country, as the earth was
covered with snow, and the weather
oo cold for him to get around. How
ver, what he could see was sufficient
uLtTdCllNe W luuuCt MN W ItluIu
his spring He made pretty thor
hugh examination of the country sur
oundig Oroville, and decided that he
anted the Wellington ranch and en-
bred into negotiations with Mr.. Nc
Daniel for it's purchase After con-
fderable dickering price agreeable
both parties was fixed upon, the
cures being $4,000 the highest price
aid for ranch in this vicinity for a
bng time. The final settlement was
eached last week, and Mr.. Granger
now in Possession, and has already
farted Improving the property.
This deal is fortunate transaction
br this valley, for it means that a
rge tract of excellent orchard land
to be put under water and placed
high state of cultivation. Mr.
ranger does not invest with the OBJ
let of PERMITTING the land to lay idle
grow more valuable through the en-
(rprise and eXertions of adjacent land
@ners. His purpose in buying is to
ace the land in a producing state,
hd then disposing of the same in
flan lots. This means a large out
" of money and labor and when the
bject is attained a great transforma-
Dn of that particular spot in thu val
" will be noticeable. Mr., Granger is
sing no timee in making a start. He
not a man to put off until next year
HAT ought to be done this spring.
Then work of this character is to be
Dne he believts that the sooner it is
pne the better He came in with
# ew possession, and beginning is al
$7eady made along plans of campaign
MAT will end only when that portion
III the ranch to be devoted to fruit is
E1et olt to trees and under water.
Il Among the improvements under con-
>emplation is The erection of a large
*modern residence. on the high ground
8long the county road. Spring water
Rill be piped into the house from the
mountains to rhe west. Mr.. Granger
would move his family to Oroville at
6nce could he find a suitable residence
In town to rent.
# The property that Mr.. Granger has
becured consists of 800 acres, extend
Ing from and along the Okanogan rlV-
,3r westward almost to the foot of the
}mountain range, the western barrier
eouth of Oroville, and hence directly
tributary to the town. In past years
hay has been the only crop raised on
the land. 1t represents the homestead
and pre-emptiOn claims of the late
Henry Wellington, one OF the pioneers
OF the west, around whom hung
Shadow of mystery. Not mystery
growing out of any crime to which he
might have been accessory, how ever,
Tor no more honorable, or harmless,
man ever lived in the west. 1t was the
sunaccountable and never explained
mystery why a man of high education,
who had evidently at one time enjoyed
arehned surroundings and the associa-
Ntion of people ofwealth and culture
Should come into new and wild coun-
4fry with only Indians as neighbors,
and spend many years of his life al
most DIS a hermit. Mr.. Wellington was
"a graduate of one of the great col
gleges of the east. either Yale or Har-
ward. His mind was well stored with
book lore. and he was a bright Witty
fonversationalist. He sought no mans
kcompany, but was hospitable without
stint to those wLo visited his place,
5Rnd was always cheerful and ap-
&proachable on his occasional visits to
sfthe neighboring towns. He lived in
Hcabin on his place, performing all the
xhousehold duties Among his other
Virtues he was scrupulously clean in
2person. He had injured one Of his
Eeyes, and Tor years had to wear A
}sbandage over the eye, and at no time