The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1920-01-31
EARLIEST TREES
IN THE COUNTY
ANOTHER ARTICLE ON THF
COMING OF FRUIT TO
STEVENS COUNTY
]. A. Meyers Takes Issue With
Story of Seeds Coming to North
west in Vest Pocket

Meyers Falls, Wash, Jan. 16, 1920.
Editor of the Colville Examiner:
Will you kindly allow US space, that
we may add a line to the article
"How the Apple Came to the
Country" in the Examiner of Jan.
10.
The little romantic fiction of the
first seeds being brought to the
Columbia river in lovers vest
pocket from a banquet in London is
unhappily spoiled by the known
facts in the case.
The Hudson Bay Company having
decided to resort to agriculture as
a means of subsistence for their en-
ployees west of the Rockies, in 1928
1924 Deputy Governor (Sir) George
Simpson with Chief Factor John Nc
Loughlin selected the site of Fort
Vancouver, Washington, in Novem-
Der, 1924, as one of the places to
start permanent agricultural work.
The headquarters of the company
were moved from Astoria (Fort
George) the next April The annual
ship arrived April 8th of that year
Q825). Fruits of various kinds were
started soon after that, apples among
them
John L. Hofstetter hauled the
apple trees from Walla Walla that
John Probell planted in the spring
of 1865; they were grated fruit and
were bearing in 1862 A Frenchman
who was living with Probell under
stood grating fruit trees and in 1867
planted some apple seeds and had
enough for an orchard of some acres.
Probell's first setting was of about
sixty trees. This was at Pingston
creek near Marcus.
L. W. Meyers in the fall of 1859
bought of Philip Ritz in Walla Walla
about fifty apple trees, some pears,
two kinds of cherry, same of currants
and gooseberries, also Strawberries,
locust trees and some other shrubs.
All thrived for time, the apples
bore some fruit the season of 1873,
and were loaded with fruit buds for
the next season Of 1874; but the
winter was so warm that the trees
started to blossom, and the weather
turning to 20 degrees below zero in
March killed the trees down to the
snow line-about eight inches ex-
cept two on a north side hill, only
one of which is still living, and has
never missed giving a fair crop. The
other trees came on from the root
and many made good trees, though
some never thrived and one after
another died.
Trees were spoken of as having
been delivered by Michael Pellisier
and having been delayed and winter
ed at Lake Colville. Meyers part
were delivered at the Meyers ranch
on May 10, 1875. The trees were in
full bloom when delivered; they
grew, but as a rule were not thrifty.
This is about the time Nh. Hickey
set his orchard according to our
records and recollections. These are
the trees that were scattered along
the route; most of the people who
had ordered refusing to receive them
and they were given away. Unless
documents are produced to show
otherwise all the apple trees men,
toned should not be credited with
an earlier date than this shipment of
Michael Pellisier, which we believe
was solicited by Pellisier himself the
fall of 1874.
Joseph Roberts we believe was the
first in the country to raise grapes,
and from this shipment of Pellisier
This was on his place near Addy,
Stevens county.
One thing stands out: Probells
orchard was in bearing before Meyers
was planted, and Meyers was bear
ing before Rickey's was planted. For
years the claim has been made that
Hiram F. (Okanogan) Smith had
planted the first orchard in the north
east quarter of the state of Wash
ington. From good authority we have
it that Smiths orchard was first set
out in 1869; and from our observa-
tion and recollection of it in March
1877 it would not have been earlier.
This orchard of about thirty trees
was really set out on the ranch OF
Smiths father-in-law and who held
the ranch until his death. Smith
did not take up his permanent resi-
dence on this place until about 1874
when he sold out his store on Rock
creek and came to Osooyoos lake to
live.
This would entitle the John Pro-
baII o..oL o.d - fha o,.adff nf haiu0