Harrington News

When Odessa travelers cross over Mohler Road E. toward Sprague, they cross over an area formerly referred to as the “Four Corners,” “Unbewust corner” or “the old Liberty school.” Approaching Harrington-Tokio Road from the west, there is an old homestead to the north, encircled by trees and outbuildings. The Four Corners are located about four miles east of Mohler and about four miles south of Harrington.

For those not familiar with this specific area, continuing east past the Four Corners and going to the end of Mohler Rd. East where it meets with the Harrington-Sprague highway, turning left (north) on that highway takes the traveler to the Armstrong ranch, known to the early pioneers as one of the headquarters for the California Land and Stock Company where John F. Green resided.

Going back in time, say 1883, Harrington was a dream in a woman’s investment scheme, and there was no railroad. If there had been a town, it might have been called the cluster of Sedalia, or Minnie Falls or Lord’s Valley. But there was no town, and needed supplies might be obtained through the California Land and Stock Co. or through a small mercantile at Sassin, but in all likelihood, needing supplies meant a long trip to Sprague, 13 miles from the junction of Mohler Rd E.

Lord’s Valley, the name, has a ring of spirituality to it, and even the terrain itself gives rise to thoughts of the Garden of Eden and a special place in God’s heart. When the truth is known, Lord’s Valley was so named after James Lord, an early cattle man who grazed his stock there.

John Unbewust homesteaded the place just north of the intersection of the Four Corners, and filed his application in November 1883, the land being described as shown in his homestead patent. The accompanying photo is not the original homestead, but was their “new house” in 1903. For those who have not read detailed “Homestead Applications” before, the process was known for its complicated nature. This example shows the type of information available to descendants if anyone applies for copies of these papers. Original spellings are retained from the form.

“Final Certificate No. 2688. Homestead Application No. 3653. Land Office at Spokane Falls, Wash. Dec. 26, 1889. Sect. 10 Town. 22 Range 36 EWM. Approved Jan. 3, 1891 AJS Clerk. Division C; Patented Feb. 19, 1891. Recorded Vol. 6, pate 27. (50-16). Homestead. Land Office at Spokane Falls, Wash. Dec. 26th, 1889. Final Certificate No. 2688. Application No. 3653. It is hereby certified That, pursuant to the provisions of Section No. 2291, Revised Statutes of the United States, John Unbewust has made payment in full for the E ½ of NE and N ½ of SE of Section No. Ten (10), in Township No. 22 North of Range No. 36 East, of the Willamette, Principal Meridian Washington, containing 160 acres. Now, therefore, be it known, That on presentation of this Certificate to the Commissioner of the General Land Office, the said John Unbewust shall be entitled to a Patent for the Tract of Land above described. J.M. Adams, Register.” “Final Receiver’s Receipt, No. 2688. Application No. 3653. Homestead. Receiver’s Office, Spokane Falls, Wash., Received of John Unbewust the sum of Twelve dollars --cents, being the balance of payment required by law for the entry of E ½ NE and N ½ SE of Section 10 in Township 22 N of Range 36 EWM containing 160 acres, under Section 2291 of the Revised Statutes of the United States. Also Received Testimony Fees for 2665 Words at 22 ½ cents per hundred, $6.00. Receiver.” (Author’s note: and another 10+ pages of similar data.)

“Homestead, Pre-emption, and commutation Proof. Testimony of Claimant. Full and Specific Answers Must be given to each Question. Evasive Answers will be Fatal to the Proof. John Unbewust, claimant, being first duly sworn, testifies as follows: Question 1. What is your correct name, age and occupation? If employed by any person, state by whom. Answer: John Unbewust, aged 32 years, farmer and Blacksmith. What is your post office address? Ans. Harrington, Lincoln County, State of Wash. Are you the identical person who made homestead entry No. 3653 at the Spokane Falls land office on the end day of November, 1883, and what is the true description of the land now claimed by you? Ans. I am the identical person. It is the E ½ NE and N ½ SE sec. 10 twp. 22 N Range 36 EWM, Rolling Prairie farming land. Where did you live before settling upon this land, and what was your occupation? Ans. I lived in Sprague, Blacksmith. Are you a native born citizen of the United States, or have you declared your intention to become such? Ans. I am a native born citizen of the United States. Are you interested in any other entry or filing than the one upon which you now seek to make proof? Ans. I am not. Q. 7. Have you ever made a pre-emption filing for any other tract of land, or made any other homestead entry or filing or entry of any other kind? (Answer each question separately, describe the land, and state what disposition you made of your claim.) Ans. I did not. I never made any other Hd. entry or entry of any sort but this Hd. Q. 8. Is your present claim within the limits of an incorporated town or selected site of a city or town, or used in any way for trade and business. Ans. No it is not. Q. 9. What is the character of the land? Is it timber, mountainous, prairie, grazing, or ordinary agricultural land? State its kind and quality, and for what purpose it is most valuable. Ans. It is rolling prairie farming land. It is most valuable for farming purposes. Q. 10. Is the land valuable for coal, iron, stone, or minerals of any kind? Has any coal or other minerals been discovered thereon, or is any coal or mineral known to be contained therein? Are there any indications of coal, salines, or minerals of any kind on the land? If so describe what they are. Ans. No. No. No. There is no indications of any whatever. Q. 11. If the land is timber land, state the kind, quality, and amount of timber thereon at date of initiating your claim, the amount still standing, how much has been cut and removed, and by whom, and whether the same has been disposed of, and to whom; also whether any other person than yourself has any interest in the timber, and if so, what kind of interest. Ans. There is no timber on the land. Q. 12. If the land is used for grazing purposes, state how and by whom it is so used, and whether it is within any stock range or fence or other inclosure, and who owns or controls the range or inclosure. Ans. This land is used by myself only for farming and grazing purposes, and is not within any stock range or fence or other inclosure. Q. 13. When did you first make an actual personal settlement on this land? State what you did to make such settlement, and the character and value of the improvements you then placed upon the land. Ans. In January, 1884, I hauled lumber to build my house, laid the foundation. The snow fell heavy and I was compelled to abandon the building until March 1884.

To be continued next week.