The Oroville Weekly Gazette

WHEN CHESAW WAS ON THE MAP
A Few Leaves Out of the Past From First Issue of the Chesaw News Twenty-three Years Ago.

Joe Robinson has handed into the Gazette office the first number of the Chesaw Times dated Friday, May 25, 1900, and published by Fred J. Fine, founder of the Oroville Gazette and now a resident of Snoqualmie, Washington. Quoting from its columns at some length there is much in this old paper that will be of interest to the older residents of the north part of the county. In those days Chesaw had a bright future, or at least those who had cast their lot with the embryo city of the reservation thought so, and Mr. Fine was one of the most optimistic members of that small community. Unfortunately the residents of what was more of a mining camp than a town founded upon more substantial backing never realized their expectations and Chesaw today is smaller in point of population than it was when the News heralded its claim to public notice 23 years ago. In his salutatory Mr. Fine said:

"With this issue is presented to the people of Myers creek and Okanogan county the initial number of the Chesaw Times. In locating here we have done so with the earnest belief that this camp is going to grow. Although in its infancy the camp has proven itself one among the best free-milling propositions in the state. This, coupled with the fact that the throwing open of the reservation next fall, will open for settlement one of the best tracts of grazing and agricultural land to be found anywhere, is destined to make Chesaw a mining and commercial center. And the mission of the Times will be to let the outside world know that the camp possesses such attractions. Okanogan county, has, during the past year, made great strides toward first place as a mining county, and when that goal is reached Myers creek will be found in the van."

Among the advertisers are found the following, and among all the names probably Judge Cresson and Mr. Horning are the only ones still residents of the old camp: Traders' Headquarters, J. E. Welch, proprietor. Chesaw Restaurant, F. L. Russell, proprietor. Chesaw Meat Market, Fisher & Weisgerber, proprietors. Chesaw Trading Co., Owl saloon, W. H. Weisgerber, proprietor. Holbrook, Kean & Co. merchants. Pioneer restaurant, Horning & Clark, proprietors. Exclusive hardware store McGregor & Campbell, proprietors. Windsor Hotel, Monson & Lind, proprietors. Hopson & Hopson, attorneys T. J. Delaney, watchmaker. Stowell & Campbell, merchants. Livery and stage company, J. H. McDonald & Son proprietors. Greenwood saloon, Dunn & Millard, proprietors. Assay office. James P. Blaine, who, we believe is still living at Chesaw. Chesaw Improvement Co., A. G. Neal, secretary, J. Schroder, manager. J. F. Cresson, U. S. Commissioner, an office he still holds. Miss J. M. Maltbie, ladies' dress goods. Fred Lauer, barber. Judd & O'Herin, Loomis livery stable and Martin & Grant, Loomis, lawyers.

The first page is taken up almost entirely by descriptions of various mining properties, more or less actively worked at that time, and most of them today only a memory, and an unpleasant memory to those who furnished the sinews to do what development was done, much of that work thrown away, as it has been in other parts of the county, and if it had been properly applied might have made producing mines, for the material is in the ground around Chesaw and will be mined at a profit some day.

Item of interest: "J. M. Hagerty, the well known mining and newspaper man, returned last week from a business trip to the Sound. Mr. Hagerty paid this office a visit, and told us of bringing the now defunct Madre de Oro plant from Kettle Falls to Oroville some eight or ten years ago. At that time there was no settlement in this part of the country, and with a gang of men, he built his own road across the reservation."

The following local excerpts will be interesting reading taken from the lo-
The Chesaw Trading company takes gold dust in exchange. (At that time there was considerable placer mining on Myers creek.)
J. M. Henkins and Robert Vail were in from Molson. (Mr. Vail is now a resident of Loomis.)
J. M. Judd was in town on business from Loomis this week. (Mr. Judd is still living at Loomis.)
W. L. Clark showed the writer a good looking piece of mineral-bearing quartz Saturday, a sample of what he was taking out of Eaglesmere on Grant mountain. (Mr. Clark did not make his fortune at mining, and is now one of the most prominent orchardists in East Oroville.)
A printing plant came in last week consigned to Bolster, where the proprietor, D. C. Jenkins, intends beginning the publication of a paper. (The paper did start, the Bolster Drill, but it was short of life.)
Chesaw was preparing to hold a 4th of July celebration.
The following cases before the May, 1900, term of superior court will be of interest as affecting people in the north part of the country. Attention is called to the frequency of horse stealing: which, together with cattle stealing was the popular sport in the county in those days:

"State vs. Frank F. Wilson, horse stealing, two years in the penitentiary.
"State vs. Frank Gottfreitsen, horse stealing, two charges.
"State vs. Wm. Sykes, horse stealing two charges.
"State vs. Elmer Morias, horse stealing.
"Palmer vs. Loudon, motion for renewal of judgment.
Richter vs. Loudon, motion for renewal of judgment.

The times says "the present term of the superior court is the largest ever held in the county."