In the middle of June 1916, the settlers who had come to Arbon Valley from the state of Washington held a three-day picnic in Bull Canyon, at the Summit end of the valley, and this time invited the rest of the county to join them. The American Falls Press announced and reported it, and its columns from the years before show how these "Washington people" came to be there.
A newspaper mailed to Dayton
The Dayton connection began, as far as the papers show, with one copy of the Press. On April 17, 1909, the paper ran a front-page feature on the Arbon valley, then part of Oneida County. Paul Ellis of Aberdeen mailed his copy to R. E. Smith of Dayton, a wheat town in southeastern Washington near Walla Walla. On May 22 the Press reported the result: on May 19 Smith and two other Dayton men had filed on homesteads in Section 11 of Township 12 South, Range 33 East, about eight miles south of Arbon. Smith told the paper:
We find the country better than we expected. It looks mighty good to a Washington man to find level land, and there will be a lot more people from Dayton here as soon as we get home.
The filing list on the same page names them as Isaac S. Broyles, Roy F. Payne and Ray E. Smith. That October Mrs. Mima Johnson of Dayton filed on the fourth quarter of the same section.
"Quite a settlement of Washington people"
More came in the following years, from Dayton and other parts of eastern Washington. In September 1914 five railroad cars of immigrants' goods arrived at American Falls from Endicott and Farmington, in the Palouse wheat country, with Tracy Lee, John Farrington and others bound for the Arbon country, which had been part of the new Power County since 1913. Late in March 1915 Tom Donnelly and two other Dayton men came in with two carloads of stock and farm implements; Donnelly meant to start a stock ranch, and the paper said the Donnelly brothers had many friends in the valley, many of them old acquaintances from Dayton. The Arbon correspondent wrote that there was "quite a settlement of Washington people here."
Through 1915 the valley columns kept track of them. Jack Folsom and his bride came from Dayton to make their home. The Hatley and John Bryant families were reported on their way overland from Washington with their stock and household goods, having set out late in May. A Mr. Fletcher from Dayton bought Clarence Barrett's homestead while Mrs. Fletcher stayed with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Phil Hatfield. Thomas Zimmerman of Dayton bought the S. Randall place, a full section, and in November Leslie Gosney's father and family arrived from Dayton to stay. On the ball field the South Arbon boys were known as the "Daytonites."
The group already had a picnic of its own. In July 1915 the South Arbon column reported their "annual picnic" in a canyon whose name the scan garbles, and a week later described a picnic "given by the Washington people" with more than seventy grown people, a host of children, a program, and ice cream, candy and lemonade. Whether the two notices describe one gathering is not clear.
There were losses too. In February 1916 Ben Messinger, one of the Dayton homesteaders, was found dead from gas in an Ogden rooming house, and his body was taken home to Dayton for burial; his death is one of the site's Stories.
Three days in Bull Canyon
On June 8, 1916, the Press announced on its front page that the Arbon valley settlers from Washington would hold a three-day picnic in Bull Canyon on the 15th, 16th and 17th, and that they invited "all other residents of the county." It estimated that "probably fifty families, formerly from the state of Washington, have located practically in a body, in the Arbon valley," with another settlement across the mountains at the head of Rockland Valley. "Power county has more people from Washington, it is believed, than from any other state," the paper added, and a Washington society would probably be organized at the picnic. Bull Canyon, it said, was well watered and shady, "a sheltered nook little affected by winds."
The Arbon column of June 22 reported that "the big Washington Society picnic" had "come and gone." It ran from Friday morning, June 16, to Sunday evening, a day later than announced.
The Washingtonians formerly have celebrated alone, that is those in the valley and whoever wished to attend, but this year they decided to renew old acquaintances and invited everybody from far and near. Many came over from the head of the Rockland valley, Holbrook, Sheep Creek, Cache Valley, Pauline and Crystal and other near places.
A platform was built for dancing, a program was given on Saturday afternoon, and Mrs. Lee Van Horn lent her piano for the occasion. P. W. Lee ran a stand serving hot lunches, and E. H. Davis one selling confections. There were horse races, ball games and dancing, and camping parties lined the hillsides and groves.
The committee had put up signs for those coming into the canyon from the east. The first gave a short distance to the picnic grounds; a little farther on, another said "Three Miles." At an old sawmill site, where sawdust lay piled up, a sign offered "Hay for Sale." Then came "Wrong Road," and at last "No, Here It Is," and "over the brink a few steps we were on the grounds."
The only accident came on Saturday morning, when Emmett Lee was hit over the eye while playing ball. Dr. Schlitz, "a former Washington man himself," was on the grounds and put a couple of stitches in the cut, and the injury was not serious. John Bryant's family, overland travelers of the year before, came over from Crystal, and Marshal Johnson and Mr. Zimmerman of American Falls came out on business and "to chat with old friends" from Washington at the picnic.
The papers found so far do not say whether the Washington society was formally organized, or whether the picnic was held again. The following week, the Arbon column reported that Roy K. Smith had sold his ranch to "a Mr. Zimmerman from Dayton, Washington," for $4,000. In 1924 the Press reported the burial of John Messinger, "an old timer of Dayton, Washington" (it did not say whether he was related to Ben), known to the old residents of Dayton and its neighborhood, "many of them living at present in Power county."
The article as printed
American Falls Press, June 22, 1916, page 8. Transcribed from the page scan.
ARBON ITEMS.
Charles Allard who has been attending the Idaho Technical college at Pocatello, is home for vacation.
Thelma Rust of Pocatello is here visiting during the summer months.
Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Nunnelley went over into the Lost River country on a fishing trip.
Roy Smith and Mr. Lindquist motored to Lava Hot Springs the other day on a pleasure trip.
The ball game this last Sunday between Pauline and Center went 28 to 33 in favor of the Center boys.
Dr. Schlitz of American Falls was out during the week to be on hand at the Washington picnic. Dr. Schlitz is a former Washington man himself.
Mr. and Mrs. Herman Noth are in American Falls visiting for an extended time.
Clifford Gerkins who has been residing on a relative's farm near West Fork, recently lost a valuable mare. It is believed to have been poisoned by a poison weed. Lou Reese also lost a fine horse in the same manner.
Miss Yenna Bullock is visiting relatives in Pocatello.
Wm. Allard made a business trip to Pocatello the other day.
Elgin Johnson, nephew of Mrs. Julius Abler, is visiting here.
Mr. Kowallis of Pauline has purchased a new Dodge car.
The dance held at Central Hall Saturday evening, June 17, was largely attended and a fine time was enjoyed by all until morning. Many visitors attended who had come over for the Washington picnic.
Miss Jane Cairns is visiting in Malad, Idaho.
Marshal Johnson and Mr. Zimmerman of American Falls were in Arbon on business the latter part of the week, also to chat with old friends, from Washington at the picnic.
Dan Roderick and family have moved to Malad, Idaho, [illegible]
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Gibbons are visiting with Mrs. Gibbons' parents near Albion.
The big Washington Society picnic held in Bull canyon has come and gone. Many were rtied for a few hours after the expiration of the picnic, but they all feel that they had a splendid and joyous time. Many families from Washington have moved into the Arbon valley and vicinity the past few years of which there is a large settlement. The washingtonians formerly have celebrated alone, that is those in the valley and whoever wished to attend, but this year they decided to renew old acquaintances and invited everybody from far and near. Many came over from the head of the Rockland velley, Holbrook, Sheep Creek, Cache Valley, Pauline and Crystal and other near places. It was a three-day picnic this year commencing Friday morning, June 16th and ending Sunday evening. A nice place was selected in Bull canyon for the event. A platform was erected for dancing and a nice program was rendered Saturday afternoon. Mrs. Lee Van Horn kindly loaned her piano for the occasion. P. W. Lee had a stand where hot lunches were served which was greatly appreciated by the hungry, also E. H. Davis had a stand where confections and other good things to eat and drink could be had. Horse races, ball games and dancing were the amusements for those in attendance. The hill sides and groves were lined with camping parties and everyone enjoyed themselves immensely. The committee in charge of this great event and all others should be highly praised for their good work and from the large attendance it shows the committee have worked both in advertising and also signs that those who entered Bull canyon from the east were confronted. The first sign read. "[illegible] Mile to Picnic Grounds." of course the parties thought they would soon be there but a little ways further was a sign, "Three Miles" the next "Drive On." Where a saw mill had been in operation for several months and much sawdust was piled up, was a "Hay for Sale," then came the "Wrong Road," and the last sign, "No, Here It Is," and over the brink a few steps we were on the grounds. Nothing was left undone that would make the celebration a success and visitors were greeted with cordiality. The only accident was when Emmett Lee, while playing ball Saturday morning, was hit over the eye cutting a deep gash, Dr. Schlitz who was on the ground took a couple of stitches in the wound and while quite painful the injury was not serious.
A fine social time was enjoyed by those present at the Pauline meeting house Friday evening, June 16. Refreshments were served.
The Eliason brothers recently finished the shearing of their sheep in Knox canyon.
Jack Payne moved his engine up to his sawmill and will soon commence sawing.
Joe Dawson was over to Downey a few days ago on business.
John Bryant and family came over from Crystal to attend the Washington picnic.
Hyram Powell is moving to Shelley having sold his ranch to Anderson brothers of Arbon.
Mrs. Chauncey Payne returned after an extended visit to Meridian, Utah, [illegible] She reports every thing looking fine in that part [illegible]
Bishop Kowallas and family, accompanied by W. E. Dawson and wife, motored around the valley of Arbon Sunday, taking observations of the crops and sight seeing in Mr. Kowallas Dodge car.
The ball game between the Cubs and the Pauline team was well played the score being 23 to 7 in favor of the Cubs.
Joseph Arbon has purchased the Dell Dalton house and is moving the same to his place about two miles south of the old Dalton place.
Howard Madden, our village blacksmith, is being kept busy. No time to loaf but he a hustler and a fine mechanic.
[illegible] on an extended fishing trip to Lost River country.
Mr. Turner of Arbon had the misfortune to lose one of his best horses [illegible]
E. H. Davis, our live merchant, has gone to Pocatello after another big load of merchandise for his store.
Jas. R. Bailey, our road overseer, has been out repairing the roads. They are in fine shape now.
Sources
- American Falls Press, April 17, 1909, page 1
- American Falls Press, May 22, 1909, page 1
- American Falls Press, October 16, 1909, page 3
- American Falls Press, September 17, 1914, page 1
- American Falls Press, April 1, 1915, page 1
- American Falls Press, April 29, 1915, page 4
- American Falls Press, June 3, 1915, page 4
- American Falls Press, June 17, 1915, page 1
- American Falls Press, June 24, 1915, page 8
- American Falls Press, July 8, 1915, page 2
- American Falls Press, July 15, 1915, page 1
- American Falls Press, September 16, 1915, page 2
- American Falls Press, September 30, 1915, page 5
- American Falls Press, November 11, 1915, page 5
- American Falls Press, February 10, 1916, page 1
- American Falls Press, June 8, 1916, page 1
- American Falls Press, June 22, 1916, page 8
- American Falls Press, June 29, 1916, page 6
- American Falls Press, May 22, 1924, page 5