Map of military reconnaissance from Fort Dalles, Oregon, via Fort Wallah-Wallah, to Fort Taylor, Washington Territory (1858)
Military roads -- Washington (State) -- Maps Washington (State) -- Maps
1 map ; 54 x 90 cm. Relief shown by form lines Shows approximate location of military road constructed 1859 to 1862 Also shows farms, camps, trails, bridges, vegetation types, rapids, rock outcrops, landings, and locations of battles "Senate Ex. Doc. No. 43-47th [sic] Cong. 3d. Sess." "Lith. of J. Bien, 24 Vesey St. N.Y." Indexed in: CIS US serial set index, pt. 14, 1149 (37-3) S.exdoc. 43, map 2 Scale 1:300,000 (W 121°00--W 117°30/N 46°45--N 45°15) When Washington Territory was created out of the Oregon Territory in 1853, newly appointed Governor Isaac Stevens immediately pushed for the surveying of a route over which a transcontinental railway could be run. To this end, he asked for and got several teams of government surveyors who proceeded to begin charting passes and routes across the Washington Territory. As the best routes were eventually chosen, the survey of the specific route began in 1858. The Mullan road (named for John Mullan, the primary surveyor of the route and the man subsequently placed in charge of the road's construction), a permanent wagon road from the Mississippi River to the Puget Sound, was constructed in 1859-1860. In 1861 and 1862, an improved road was constructed and slightly rerouted. When the Northern Pacific Railroad was built approximately a quarter century later, it followed Mullan's route very closely.
Mullan, John, 1830-1909 Humphreys, A. A. (Andrew Atkinson), 1810-1883 Kolecki, Theodore Sohon, Gustave Bien, Julius, 1826-1909 United States. Office of Explorations and Surveys
University of Washington Libraries Government Publications Section
University of Washington Libraries Map Collection
This image may be freely downloaded and used. Please give credit to the University of Washington Libraries.
Removed from: Report on the construction of a military road from Fort Walla-Walla to Fort Benton Removed from: Letter of the Secretary of War, transmitting, In answer to a resolution of the Senate of the 6th instant, the report and maps of Captain John Mullan, United States Army, of his operations while engaged in the construction of a military road from Fort Walla-Walla, on the Columbia River, to Fort Benton, on the Missouri River. Washington : G.P.O., 1863. (Ex. Doc. / 37th Congress, 3d Session, Senate ; no. 43)
Map of the Strait of Juan de Fuca showing location of wrecks (1895)
Shipwrecks -- Juan de Fuca, Strait of (B.C. and Wash.) -- Maps Nautical charts -- Washington (State) -- Clallam Bay
1 map : col. ; 24 x 55 cm. Relief shown by hachures and spot heights. Depths shown by soundings and isolines Includes inset of Clallam Bay "H. Ex. 226 53 3." Color map with symbols and numbers indicating the location of shipwrecks. Numbers refer to the list of wrecks and disasters on pages 7-9 of House Ex. Doc. 226. Includes lighthouses, rocks, islands, coastal features, cities and railroads Indexed in: CIS US serial set index, pt. 14, 3323 (53-3) H.exdoc. 226, map 1 Scale ca. 1:400,000
United States. Army. Corps of Engineers. Engineer Office Downing, Alfred Symons, T. W. (Thomas William), 1849-1920
Removed from: Preliminary examination of Clallam Bay, Washington : Letter from the Secretary of War, transmitting, with letter of the Chief of Engineers, report of a preliminary examination of Clallam Bay, Washington. Washington : G.P.O., 1895. (Ex. Doc. / 53d Congress, 3d Session, House ; no. 226) Removed from: Executive documents of the House of Representatives for the third session of the fifty-third Congress, 1894-95
Northwest Coast of North America -- Strait of Juan de Fuca Washington (State) -- Clallam County -- Clallam Bay
Map of military road from Fort Walla Walla on the Columbia to Fort Benton on the Missouri (1863)
Military roads -- Northwest, Pacific -- Maps Northwest, Pacific -- Maps
1 map ; 44 x 85 cm. At head of title: War Department Prepared from field notes from 1858-1863 Shows topography in the vicinity of the route from the Missouri River to the west boundary of Idaho Territory. Includes hydrography, prairies, identified by names, the location of winter camps, battle sites, Indian trails, forts, gold mines, and springs. Shows the general location of Indian tribes "Lith. of J. Bien, 24 Vesey Street, New York." Indexed in: CIS US serial set index, pt. 14, 1149 (37-3) S.exdoc. 43, map 1 Scale 1:1,000,000 When Washington Territory was created out of the Oregon Territory in 1853, newly appointed Governor Isaac Stevens immediately pushed for the surveying of a route over which a transcontinental railway could be run. To this end, he asked for and got several teams of government surveyors who proceeded to begin charting passes and routes across the Washington Territory. As the best routes were eventually chosen, the survey of the specific route began in 1858. The Mullan road (named for John Mullan, the primary surveyor of the route and the man subsequently placed in charge of the road's construction), a permanent wagon road from the Mississippi River to the Puget Sound, was constructed in 1859-1860. In 1861 and 1862, an improved road was constructed and slightly rerouted. When the Northern Pacific Railroad was built approximately a quarter century later, it followed Mullan's route very closely.
Mullan, John, 1830-1909 Bien, Julius, 1826-1909 Freyhold, Edward United States. Office of Explorations and Surveys
Map of a part of Washington Territory : to accompany the report of the Surveyor General (1861)
Washington (State) -- Surveys -- Maps Surveys -- Washington Territory
1 map ; 56 x 71 cm. Relief shown by hachures "Sen.Ex.Doc. No.1. 37th Cong. 2nd Sess." Shows progress of the township surveys in western Washington Territory. Indicates surveys executed, under contract, and proposed. Includes Indian reservations, prairies, trail and roads, and land claims of the Puget Sound Agricultural Company. Shows topography, hydrography, and forts "Sheet no. 2" Indexed in: CIS US serial set index, pt. 14, 1120 (37-2) S.exdoc. 1, map 4 Scale not given
United States. Surveyor General Tilton, James
Removed from: Message of the President of the United States to the two houses of Congress at the commencement of the second session of the thirty-seventh Congress. Washington : G.P.O., 1861. (Ex. Doc. / 37th Congress, 2d Session, Senate ; no. 1)
Oregon--Maps Washington (State)--Maps Washington Territory Oregon--Maps Stedman, Brown & Lyon Publishers Walling, Henry F.
1 map: col., 35 x 42 cm. This map shows the borders of the Territory of Washington (1853-1889) and Oregon State (territory from 1848 to 1859). F.A. Gray, the author of this map, is the son of Ormando Willis Gray, a mapmaker in Philadelphia. Very little is known of their partnership. However, O.W. Gray, a civil engineer and topographical surveyor by training, did earlier work with the better known author of state atlases--Mr. Henry F. Walling. Gray and Walling worked together on three topographical state atlas projects: Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, both in 1871 and Ohio in 1872. In 1873, Gray authored the "Gray's Atlas of the United States with general maps of the World". It was revised annually until 1879. He also joined his son in 1875 to produce "The Natural Atlas, containing elaborate topographical maps of the United States and the Dominion of Canada." The Natural Atlas enjoyed reprinting up until 1889. Perhaps this Washington and Oregon map stemmed as a precursor to the atlas set. Most of his maps, whether with Walling or his son or on his own, were published by Stedman, Brown & Lyon.
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, WSU Libraries
[Philadelphia: O.W. (Ormando Willis) Gray & Son, 1873
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Contact Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, for copyright information 509 335-6691
United States--Oregon United States--Washington (State)
Map of Oregon, Washington and Idaho, (1860)
Oregon--Maps Washington (State)--Maps Washington Territory Idaho--Maps
1 map: col., 38 x 30 cm. This map dates from between March 4th, 1864 (when the Idaho Territory was formed) and May 26th, 1864 (when the Montana Territory was formed out of eastern Idaho). Though dated 1860 at the bottom, that was the date of original copyright of the base map. Territory/state borders were redrawn, and territory names corrected onto an older map to produce this map. You can compare this one to a version from approximately two years prior which is located here: http://kaga.wsulibs.wsu.edu/zoom/zoom.php?map=wsu7
Mitchell, S. Augustus (Samuel Augustus), 1792-1868.
Map of Oregon and Upper California, (1847)
Washington (State)--Boundaries Washington Territory Oregon Territory Oregon--Maps California--Maps Vancouver Island British Columbia
1 map: hand col., 42 x 35 cm. The Oregon Treaty of 1846 between Great Britain and the United States settled the northern border dispute of the Pacific Northwest. Under this agreement, the land--occupied jointly between the two countries since 1818--was split among them. The U.S. won the territory stretching from the Rocky Mountains in the east to the Pacific Ocean on the west, and as far north as the 49th parallel. In this map, published by S. Augustus Mitchell one year after the decision, the disputed land is hand colored in a pink wash. The 49th parallel boundary line is washed in a blue hue, as well is Vancouver Island. After 1846, Britain still held Vancouver Island, the Queen Charlotte Islands, and the mainland from 49th north to the 54'40 mark. Vancouver Island and British Columbia would later join in territorial government, but chose confederation with the Dominion of Canada over annexation to the United States in 1871.
Oregon Territory California region Vancouver Island
Map of California, Oregon, Washington, Utah and New Mexico, (1853).
California--Maps Oregon--Maps Washington (State)--Maps Washington Territory Utah--Maps Utah Territory New Mexico--Maps
1 map: col., 34 x 43 cm. Granted permission to publish S. Augustus Mitchell's maps in 1850, the publishing house of Thomas Cowperthwait & Co. published (as one of its first printings) a map of the newly formed State of California and the Oregon and Utah Territories. In this map of 1853, the Oregon Territory has been recolored (some pink but mostly yellow) and marked to show the emergence of the newly formed Territory of Washington. Note however, that Oregon's eastern border has still roams to the Rocky Mountain range.
Philadelphia : Thomas Cowperthwait & Co., 1853
California Oregon Washington (State) Utah New Mexico
Map of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana, (1877)
Oregon--Maps Washington (State)--Maps Washington Territory Idaho--Maps Montana--Maps
1 map: hand col., 38 x 30 cm. A map delineating the territories of Washington, Idaho and part of Montana and the state of Oregon. Oregon was the first to form an organized government, and was admitted into the union as the 33rd state under a law signed by President Buchanan, February 14, 1859. Montana, its population swelling with the gold rush fever, became the 41st state on November 8, 1889. Washington followed soon after, becoming the 42nd state just three days later. Idaho joined the union the following year, July 3 1890, as the 43rd state. S. Augustus Mitchell Jr.'s map does contain the California Emigrant Road, however the focus of this map is clearly the colored demarcations of the northwest territories. While the Mitchell company had been mechanically chromolithographing the decorative borders since the 1860s, this map's border is black and white. All of the color on the map itself was produced by hand. The borders of the states/territories that are the focus of this map are finalized here. The San Juan Islands are in Washington, and the Wyoming/Idaho border is correctly portrayed. Although Nevada and Wyoming are apparently shown to be part of Utah, both were in fact in existence, Nevada as a state, and Wyoming as a Territory.
Oregon Washington (State) Idaho Montana
Washington (State)--Maps Washington Territory Waite, Charles H. Bower, Robert A. Northern Pacific Railroad
1 map: col., 28 x 34 cm. One of the first successful American publishing companies to venture beyond the east coast, Rand McNally and Co. began in Chicago, 1856, under William H. Rand. Rand soon after employed printer Andrew McNally, and by 1868 the two men had become partners. Early on, the duo published mostly timetables and tickets for the Railroad companies. Rand McNally took on map publishing in 1871, and has continued in this business ever since. This map of Washington territory, 1881, highlights travel routes of the Northern Pacific Railroad, both proposed and in service. It also shows the "gold regions" to be mined and historic wagon routes, such as the wagon road to Walla Walla and Oregon's Emigrant Road. The map was printed from a method of wax engraving and electrotyping introduced to the company by engraver Charles H. Waite. Mr. Waite also showed the company how to reproduce color mechanically, rather than by hand. Both of these skills Waite gained while working for other publishers, but the methods achieved prominence at Rand McNally. Note also the map's border. The now familiar index system was new at the time--invented in the 1870s by Rand McNally's map department director, Mr. Robert A. Bower. The system has become a standard locator on maps today.
Chicago : Rand McNally and Company, 1881
Washington (State) Washington Territory
Map of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana, (1874)
Oregon--Maps Washington(State)--Maps Washington Territory Idaho--Maps Montana--Maps
1 map: col., 38 x 30 cm. This map, used at least as early as 1866 by Mitchell, shows the territorial borders of Washington (1853), Idaho (1863) and Montana (1864). It also shows the boundaries of Oregon (granted Statehood in 1859). Of note are the border oddities: the State of Nevada is not recorded, and the San Juan Islands (whose ownership was resolved in 1872) are split between Great Britain and the United States.
Land claims near Steilaguamish River : Washington Territory, (1887)
Washington (State)--Maps Washington Territory Steilaguamish River--Maps
1 map; 31 x 24 cm. The 1887 date on this map has been added in green ink- the date depicted in this map is certainly several years earlier. In 1873 the settlers there employed a civil engineer to map the area and its claims. Though approximately 50 names match between the two maps, there remain about five or six differences, leading one to assume that this map depicts the area within a few years of 1873. It can be definately identified as being after 1865 and before 1875. The area was first settled in the early 1860s, for its rich farmland and easily accessible lumber. The towns first trading post, post office, and saloon were all built on Florence Island on George Kyle's land in about 1865. In 1878 the post office moved to the north shore of the river, and Centreville changed its name to Stanwood.
Washington (State) -- Snohomish County -- Stanwood
Washington (State)--Maps Washington Territory Waite, Charles H.
1 map: col., 37 x 28 cm. One of the leading map publishing companies of the 20th century, Rand McNally and Co. began in Chicago, 1865. Under the partnership of William H. Rand and Andrew McNally (started in 1868), the company quickly grew from railroad timetable and ticket printer to publisher of fine railroad maps and atlases. Two of their most famous publications are the "Pocket Maps"--first released in 1872 and the "Business Atlas", released under one name or another from 1876 to 1991. In this map of Washington Territory, 1882, the county lines are delineated in pink. The map was most likely mechanically colored, a technique that was brought to the company by one of its earliest employees--engraver Charles H. Waite. He also brought with him the knowledge and use of wax engraving. Rand McNally was one of the first to use the method. However, contemporary publishers such as the Mitchell Company and G.W. Colton continued to use lithography--preferring its quality. Yet, wax engraving was cheaper and could be easily corrected. It also could imprint typesetting--which greatly improved the look of busy / cluttered railroad maps, and so was the preferred choice of the map department at Rand McNally.
[Chicago] : Rand McNally and Company, 1882
Washington (State)--Maps Washington Territory Oregon--Maps
1 map: col., 36 x 28 From "The People's Atlas." This map shows the defined borders of Oregon state and the Territory of Washington. Note the large county lines in the eastern half of both states. Note also that the boundary of the Washington Territory now resembles what will become the state's boundaries in 1889. This is due to the formation of a separate Idaho Territory in 1863. The People's Atlas might be connected somehow to Rand McNally and Co., which published the "New Family Atlas of the World" in 1888 under the imprint of the People's Publishing Company of Chicago.
Oregon--Maps Washington (State)--Maps Washington Territory Colton, J.H. Johnson, A.J.
1 map: col., 34 x 45 cm. This map, published by A.J. Johnson and his partner, Ward, shows the State of Oregon (entered into the Union in 1859), and Washington Territory. By 1865 the eastern border of Washington Territory had been defined, with Idaho's western border set after its official territorial status came in 1863. While Johnson is well known for purchasing the steel plates and copyrights of renowned mapmaker, J.H.Colton, some sources place 1865 as the date when Johnson stopped using the Colton templates and had begun to create his own lithographs.
Johnson, A. J. (Alvin Jewett), 1827-1884
New York: A. J. Johnson, 1865 Johnson & Ward
Washington (State)--Boundaries Oregon--Maps Rand McNally Co. Cerography Electrotyping Morse, Richard Cary Munson, Henry A.
1 map: col., 34 x 29 cm. "Population 174,768" "Area, square Miles 94,560" George F. Cram, a Union soldier who fought in Sherman's Army during the Civil War, returned home in 1867 to Evanston, Illinois to begin a map and atlas company with his uncle, Rufus Blanchard. By 1875, Cram owned his own publishing company in Chicago and soon rose to success by using a wax engraving process (similar to that perfected by the Rand McNally Company, his greatest competitor). Invented in 1834 by Richard Cary Morse and Henry A. Munson, the wax engraving process--also known as "cerography"--was not patented until 1848. This allowed for many engravers to perfect their own version of the method. Among them was the Rand McNally Co., which began printing maps in 1872, using a combination of Morse's wax process and electrotyping. Invented in Russia, 1839 by a German named Jacobi, electrotyping took wax engraving one step further by coating the surface with a substance such as graphite (electrically conductive) and then submerging it all into an electrolytic bath and copper coating. When ready, the wax was then removed and the copper plate became the template for printing. While of less quality than lithography, it also cost less. By the 1890s most American publishing houses used this wax process. Cram retired in 1921, selling out to the National Map Company. In 1928, the company returned to the Cram name and it has continued in business to this day.
Map of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana, (1866)
Oregon--Maps Washington (State)--Maps Washington Territory Idaho Territory Montana--Territory
1 map: col., 28 x 22 cm. When S. Augustus Mitchell retired around 1860, he left the business in charge of his competent son, S. Augustus Jr. His son continued with his father's high standards, and while most American publishers were switching to the cheaper process of wax engraving, Mitchell retained the use of hand engravings transferred onto lithographic stone. He also kept the tradition of hand colored washes for the maps. In this map, the border of Washington territory is hand washed in red, Oregon state in blue, and the border of Idaho in green. Note that Idaho's border now separates Washington territory into the region we recognize as its present, state shape. Idaho was granted its own territorial status in 1863, three years prior to the release of this map. This map apparently anticipates the formation of the Wyoming Territory, which was discussed under several possible names as early as 1865, but not finalized until 1868 (at which time the Idaho/Wyoming border was changed at the last minute).
Map of Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, (1860).
Oregon--Maps Washington (State)--Maps Washington Territory British Columbia--Maps
1 map: col., 37 x 30 cm. This map dates between March 2nd, 1861 (when the Dakota Territory was formed) and March 4th, 1863 (when the Idaho Territory was formed from eastern Washington and western Dakota) Nearing retirement from a thirty year long and rather successful career, S. Augustus Mitchell printed this map showcasing Oregon, the Territory of Washington, and British Columbia. Washington became a territory in 1853, arguing that distances to Willamette Valley kept them from obtaining a voice in the Oregon territorial government. As this map shows, when it split from Oregon proper the Washington territory included parts of Wyoming and Montana and all of Idaho. Territorial government for Idaho would not be approved until 1863. When Mitchell retired he left the business for his son to manage.
[Philadelphia: Mitchell, S. Augustus, 1860]
Oregon Washington (State) Washington Territory Dakotah Territory British Columbia
Map Showing Indian Tribes Near Ft. Colville, (ca. 1871).
Washington Territory--Maps, Manuscript Indians of North America--Washington Territory--Maps, Manuscript Colville Indian Reservation--Maps, Manuscript
1 ms. map: hand col., 21 x 27 cm. William Parkhurst Winans worked from 1870 to 1872 as Indian Sub-Agent for the tribes surrounding Fort Colville in Stevens County, Washington Territory. This hand drawn map delineates the area and number of the tribes for which he was hired to serve. Note the numbers written next to the tribe names. These numbers represent the population total for each of the tribes: Methow (311), Okanogan (340), San Poels (538), Spokans (725), Colvills (631), Callispels (420), Lakes (230) and Coeur d' Alenes (154). At the time this map was drawn, the total population of whites living in the Colville Valley area came to approximately less than 400, including women and children. However, Winans and other Colville locals pressed President Grant to change the reservation boundary lines installed in 1871, citing the disturbance that would surely ensue should the whites be forced from their already improved claims. Trusting the settler's testimonials, Grant unwittingly removed the Indians to desolate highlands on the opposite side of their Columbia River homelands and away from their ancestral fishery at Kettle Falls. The Department of Indian Affairs soon became aware of Winans' chicanery, and while the President did not reinstate the original reservation lands, Winans was replaced by Indian Agent John A. Simms in 1872.
Is part of William Parkhurst Winans Papers, 1815-1917 http://www.wsulibs.wsu.edu/holland/masc/finders/cg147.htm
United States--Washington (State)--Stevens County United States--Washington (State)--Colville Valley
Map of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana, (1867)
Oregon--Maps Washington (State)--Maps Washington Territory Idaho--Maps Montana--Maps Mitchell, S. Augustus Mitchell, S. Augustus Jr.
1 map: col., 36 x 29 cm. In 1831, S. Augustus Mitchell, a teacher from Connecticut, began a publishing firm in Philadelphia. By 1845, Mitchell purchased the copyright to The New Universal Atlas, the product of one of the fathers of American mapmakers--Henry Shenck Tanner. One of the first to employ the printing method of lithography, Mitchell was also one of the early users of a chromolithographed, decorative border. When Mitchell retired from the business in 1860, his son, S. Augustus, Jr. took his place. The company continued to prosper under his direction, and at its height employed over 250 workers and held 400,000 annual publications. This map further refines previous maps: of immediate note is the much more defined border between Idaho and Montana. This map seems to anticipate the formation of the Wyoming Territory. Though discussed as early as 1865, it didn't come to pass until 1868, at which time the Idaho/Wyoming border was also rewritten at the last moment.
United States--Oregon United States--Washington (State) United States--Idaho United States--Montana
Plat maps of Belmont, Hay, and Pine City, (1910) Plat book of Whitman County, Washington compiled and published from actual surveys and the County records by Anderson Map Company.
Belmont (Wash.)--Maps Hay (Wash.)--Maps Pine City (Wash.)--Maps Whitman County (Wash.) -- Maps Anderson-Edwards Flour Mill Texas Ferry Road Dodson, Z.F. Northern Pacific Railroad Belmont, August Burlington Northern Railroad
1 map: col., 41 x 31 cm. Plat maps from the Whitman County cities of Belmont, Hay, and Pine City, Washington. Belmont scale 600'=1" Hay scale 400'=1" Pine City scale 400'=1" A past director of the Northern Pacific Railroad, Mr. August Belmont, was given recognition when the town of Belmont, Washington was named after him in 1885. However, as with other Whitman County towns, other stories as to the name's origin have been suggested. Among these is the theory that Belmont means "beautiful mountain" and refers to the scenic view from there of Steptoe Butte. Another report said that there was a Belmont family that pioneered in the area. However it received its name, Belmont remained the NPRR rail terminus for only two years, when that distinction was pushed on to Lewiston, Idaho. Today it lies along the Burlington Northern line, and claims a few homes and a grain elevator. Hay, Washington's naming stories run along similar lines: apparently the siding (flag stop for the Oregon Railway & Navigation Railroad) was stocked with an abundance of much needed Hay during the blizzard of 1893. It became known as "Hay Station" and later, just Hay. The town itself did not expand greatly until the 1920s and 1930s, when many of its buildings were constructed. Pine City's beginnings was as a stage, not railroad station, of the Texas Ferry Road. The road ran from Walla Walla to Colville, and was originally an Indian road called "Texas Trail." Mr. Z.F. Dodson, an 1878 settler, platted the town in 1881. In just that first year, the town held a number of businesses, including a doctor's office, the Anderson-Edwards Four Mill, a number of general stores, a hotel, livery, blacksmith shop and a saloon. The Chicago Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad came in 1905, and the mill was moved from its original site to make room for it.
Is part of Plat Book of Whitman County Washington Compiled and Published from actual Surveys and the County Records by Anderson Map Company Seattle, Wash 1910
United States--Washington (State)--Whitman County--Belmont United States--Washington (State)--Whitman County--Hay United States--Washington (State)--Whitman County--Belmont Pine City
Plat map of Garfield, (1910) Plat book of Whitman County, Washington compiled and published from actual surveys and the County records by Anderson Map Company.
Garfield (Wash.)--Maps Whitman County (Wash.) -- Maps Northern Pacific Railroad Columbia and Palouse Railroad Tant, James B. Garfield, President James A.
1 map: col., 40 x 36 cm. Plat map from the Whitman County city of Garfield Washington. Scale 400'=1" Located eighteen miles northeast of Colfax, the town of Garfield was platted by landowner Samuel J. Tant in 1881. The plat was filed and the town incorporated in 1887, and was named by Tant after President James A. Garfield. Even before the plat was filed settlers began to build up the town. In 1883 the Giles Brothers built the first store there. One year later members constructed the Baptist Church. The Columbia and Palouse Railroad built a line in the area in 1885-86, and were soon followed by the Northern Pacific Railroad.
Plat Book of Whitman County Washington Compiled and Published from actual Surveys and the County Records by Anderson Map Company Seattle, Wash 1910
United States--Washington (State)--Whitman County--Garfield
Plat map of Farmington, (1910) Plat book of Whitman County, Washington compiled and published from actual surveys and the County records by Anderson Map Company
Farmington (Wash.)--Maps Whitman County (Wash.) -- Maps
1 map: col., 46 x 40 cm. Plat map from the Whitman County city of Farmington. Scale 400'=1" In 1886, the Oregon and Washington Railway & Navigation Co. built track running from Portland into eastern Washington. The track ended at Farmington, named after Farmington, Minnesota, the hometown of plat filer George Washington Campbell Traux. Arriving there with a few other pioneers in the early 1870s, Traux took advantage of the availability of cheap land, and had a survey done of eighty acres for town plats. The town incorporated in 1888. While stock raising was the first economy in the area, wheat growers soon took over, and sent their goods to nearby Almota to be shipped off to market. Another local trade was found in forming shakes for roofs. These hand crafted items were made from local cedar. In the early days (1870s)search parties were often formed to look for children who had gotten lost in the bunchgrass on their way to school! However, by the 1890s the area was well on its way to development and a number of businesses could be found there, including a general store, blacksmith, livery stable, meat market, hotel, hardware, drugstore, creamery, brewery, flourmill, brick factory and even a planing mill. By the 1890s the population reached over 1,000. Yet this pace would not be maintained into the next decade. The population took a steady decline following the transfer of the railroad line to Tekoa, Washington in the early 1900s. Of historical note: a number of Chinese settlers also lived in Farmington. Two full blocks on Washington Street was considered to be a Chinatown district. Also during this time period, two fires changed look of the town's business sector. The first fire came in 1897. The second, in 1906, burned down the town hall where city records were kept.
United States--Washington (State)--Whitman County--Farmington
Plat maps of Colton, Staley, and Diamond, (1910) Plat book of Whitman County, Washington compiled and published from actual surveys and the County records by Anderson Map Company
Colton (Wash.)--Maps Staley (Wash.)--Maps Diamond (Wash.)--Maps Whitman County (Wash.) -- Maps
1 map: col., 39 x 27 cm. Plat maps from the Whitman County cities of Colton, Staley and Diamond. Colton scale 400'=1" Staley scale 400'=1" Diamond scale 400'=1" The town of Colton, eleven miles south of Pullman, began as a settlement in 1879. Mr. Gregor Koshir filed the town plat in 1881 and it was incorporated the year following. There are a number of variances regarding the naming of the town. Some records say that it was named for Dr. J.A. Cole, the town's benefactor who helped obtain the post office and school in 1879 and 1889, respectively. Other reports say it was named through the joining of the names of two settlers: Cole and Worthington. Still another tale suggests that it was named by Dr. Cole, Ray Woodworth, and L.J. Wolford. These three supposedly took the "Col" of Cole and "ton" from Clinton--the son of L.J. Wolford. Early Colton had a large Catholic contingency. In 1892 the Benedictine Sisters arrived, establishing St. Andrews Convent and a school. They remained to teach until 1937, when the entire convent returned to their home base in Cottonwood, Idaho. In 1937, however, the Notre Dame Sisters arrived to continue the school. Staley, just five miles south of Pullman, was soon enveloped by the college town. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Staley (some records report that it was David Staley), purposely platted the town in the hopes that its proximity to the Northern Pacific Railroad line would ensure its success. Nine miles west of Colfax on Rebel Flat, Mr. Q. Diamond platted a town and named it after himself circa 1886. The Columbia and Palouse Railroad (later sold to Union Pacific) ran through Rebel Flat. The town school, begun in the 1890s, consolidated with Colfax by 1938 and the post office closed in 1956.
United States--Washington (State)--Whitman County--Colton United States--Washington (State)--Whitman County--Staley United States--Washington (State)--Whitman County--Diamond
Plat maps Endicott, Almota, Revere, Pandora, and Palisades, (1910) Plat book of Whitman County, Washington compiled and published from actual surveys and the County records by Anderson Map Company
Endicott (Wash.)--Maps Almota (Wash.)--Maps Revere (Wash.)--Maps Pandora (Wash.)--Maps Palisades (Wash.)--Maps Whitman County (Wash.) -- Maps
1 map: col., 41 x 34 cm. Plat maps from the Whitman County cities of Endicott, Almota, Revere, Pandora, and Palisades. Endicott and Almota scale 400'=1" Revere, Pandora, and Palisades scale 800'=1" Of the five platted towns, only Endicott and Almota grew to any significance. In 1909 the Milwaukee Road, a part of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad, held an auction in Spokane for land at five locations along their tracks. Among them was Pandora. It lay eight miles north of Oakesdale, in the Pine Creek Valley. The C.M.S.P RR also named the town of Revere--located 30 miles northwest of Colfax--after Paul Revere. Some people already lived in the area prior to the coming of the C.M.P.S., and even a school was established in 1910. Much less information is available, however, for the C.M.P.S. flag stop known as Palisade. It lay on the northeast side of Rock Lake and so at times was even called "Rock Lake Station" instead. Endicott was founded in 1882 by the Oregon Land and Improvement Co., and was named for William Endicott, Jr., a shareholder in the company. Prior to this name settlers from the confederacy called the area "Rebel Flat". A number of German-Russians settled there during the years 1882-1907, buying land communally and splitting it among them. Almota, on the north side of the Snake River almost 40 miles above Clarkston, was early on used by Nez Perce Indians as a fishing site. "Allamotin", "Almotine", and even "Alto Motin" have been given as Nez Perce names for the area, meaning "torchlight" or "moonlight fishing". Almota, soon became the trading/shipping center for all of Inland Empire, but lost some of its business when rail lines arrived in Colfax in 1883. The Oregon, Washington and Idaho Railroad and the Snake River Valley Railroad would not arrive in Almota until 1907. Today it is located near Lake Bryan, the reservoir formed from the construction of the Little Goose Dam.
United States--Washington (State)--Whitman County--Endicott United States--Washington (State)--Whitman County--Almota United States--Washington (State)--Whitman County--Revere United States--Washington (State)--Whitman County--Pandora United States--Washington (State)--Whitman County--Palisades
Plat maps of Hooper, Chambers and La Crosse, (1910) Plat book of Whitman County, Washington compiled and published from actual surveys and the County records by Anderson Map Company
Hooper (Wash.)--Maps Chambers (Wash.)--Maps La Crosse (Wash.)--Maps Whitman County (Wash.) -- Maps Shobe, Harding Oregon Railway and Navigation Co. Riparia--Washington (State) Dunlor Granite Palouse River
1 map: col, 43 x 30 cm. Plat maps from the Whitman County cities of Hooper, Chambers and La Crosse scale 400'=1" Chambers has been described as an "odd-shaped town", consisting of one to five block streets. The shortest street, Granite, ran along beside the Northern Pacific Railroad. The name Granite was at times given to the school district as well. (The school, begun on Drain Street in 1893, consolidated with Pullman in 1938). Chambers did not grow much and the post office--started in 1901--closed down just five years later. The small town of Hooper was named after early settler, Albert J. Hooper. However, he never owned land in the actual town, set up by the Oregon Railway and Navigation Co. He was honored by them because he had a good ranch nearby. The real founders of Hooper, the McGregor Brothers, came in 1888. They worked hard and eventually opened a store there in 1900 that remained in business for a long time after. Hooper lies on the east bank of the Palouse River. LaCrosse began as a post office station in 1892 and was at that time known as Dunlor. There are two stories regarding the naming of the town. The Oregon Railway & Navigation Co. built a line from Riparia to LaCrosse in 1888. One of its surveyors hailed from LaCrosse, Wisconsin and so named the town. Another story says that the town is named after its numerous cross streets. Whichever story is correct, in 1896, the Post Office name was changed to match the town. The town did not incorporate until 1917, but chose 1899 settler, Harding Shobe, as its first mayor. Shobe land is shown on the map.
United States--Washington (State)--Whitman County--Hooper United States--Washington (State)--Whitman County--Chambers United States--Washington (State)--Whitman County--La Crosse
Plat map of Union Town, (1910) Plat book of Whitman County, Washington compiled and published from actual surveys and the County records by Anderson Map Company
Union Town (Wash.)--Maps Whitman County (Wash.) -- Maps
1 map: col., 40 x 32 cm. Plat map from the Whitman County city of Farmington. Scale 400'=1" Located between Union Flat, the earliest settlement founded in Whitman County (1869), and Cow Creek (1879), Union Town was named by Jesuit missionary Fr. Joseph Cataldo for its connection between the two. The Post Office was established in 1878 and the town incorporated in 1888. Due to technicalities in the filing of the report, the town was officially incorporated in 1890.
United States--Washington (State)--Whitman County--Union Town
Plat map of Steptoe, (1910) Plat book of Whitman County, Washington compiled and published from actual surveys and the County records by Anderson Map Company
Washington--State Steptoe, Lt. Col. Edward J. Railroad Land and Improvement Co. Tennessee Flat
1 map: col., 42 x 34 cm. Plat map from the Whitman County city of Steptoe. Scale 400'=1" The area now known as the town of Steptoe was called Steptoe Station at first. This is because the town began as a siding, or flag stop, for the railroad. Records show that as early as 1875 the area had a post office. By 1890 it had a school district known by the area's main benchland--Tennessee Flat. However, with the arrival of the track running from Spokane to Colfax, the name was changed and in 1907 the Railroad Land and Improvement Co. platted the area for a proper townsite. The town was named in recognition of Lieutenant Colonel Edward J. Steptoe, who had battled with local Native Americans at a butte near Rosalia in the 1850s. The town is located about 10 miles from Colfax.
United States--Washington (State)--Whitman County--Steptoe
Plat maps of St. John, and Winona, (1910) Plat book of Whitman County, Washington compiled and published from actual surveys and the County records by Anderson Map Company.
St. John (Wash.)--Maps Winona (Wash.)--Maps Whitman County (Wash.) -- Maps Oregon Railway and Navigation Co. Union Pacific Railroad Pleasant Valley Line
1 map: col., 44 x 30 cm. Plat maps from the Whitman County cities of St. John, and Winona scale 400'=1" At Pleasant Valley Creek, eighteen miles northwest of Colfax, the Oregon Railway and Navigation Co. platted and filed the town in 1888. The railway officials named the town for an early settler--Mr. Edward T. St. John. St. John donated much of the original town land, on the provision that the square block in the center of town would always be a park. In 1888-89, the Oregon Railway Extension Co. built a line running into St. John. This line later became a part of the Washington Division of the Pleasant Valley Branch, which in time was taken over by the Union Pacific. Not much is known of the early development of Winona, except that the Washington and Idaho Railroad, a subsidiary of the Oregon Railway and Navigation Co. began the Pleasant Valley line to travel from Winona to Seltice by way of Thornton. Winona was named after one of the surveyors' home town--Winona, Minnesota. As stated above, Union Pacific bought out the O.R.& N.Co.'s line, and by 1925 wanted to end the Pleasant Valley road. However, UPRR did not receive government approval of the termination until the early 1930s.
United States--Washington (State)--Whitman County--St. John United States--Washington (State)--Whitman County--Winona
Plat maps of Thornton and Elberton, (1910) Plat book of Whitman County, Washington compiled and published from actual surveys and the County records by Anderson Map Company
Thornton (Wash.)--Maps Elberton (Wash.)--Maps Whitman County (Wash.) -- Maps Leid, John Weber Oregon & Washington Railway & Navigation Co. Washington & Idaho Railroad Oregon Railway & Navigation Co. Oregon Evaporated Company Newberry, W. Allen
1 map: col., 44 x 35 cm. Plat maps from the Whitman County cities of Thornton and Elberton. Scale 400'=1" Elberton, named after Elbert, the deceased son of plat filer Sylvester M. Wait in 1886, began as the site of a mill. Located 12 miles northeast of Colfax, the Palouse River runs directly through the town. Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections at WSU has the manuscript history of the town and one of it's earliest settlers, Mr. John Weber Leid. Sites shown on this map are discussed in Leid's manuscript, including the Oregon, Washington Railway and Navigation Depot (O.W.R.& N.) built in 1888, the post office, run by Mr. Joe McCoy, and the two room school house. The school, built in 1890, soon had an addition of two more rooms, but with the economic success that came with the railroad, the town grew so fast that a store was rented downtown for classrooms. Elberton's main economy was the saw mill, but there was also a flour mill, which is shown on this map. Another interesting business in town was the Oregon Evaporated Co. owned by W. Allen Newberry. Begun in 1902, the company owned the distinction of being the largest prune dehydrator in the world. Thornton, begun around the same time, was a stop on the "Pleasant Valley Line" of the Washington & Idaho Railroad, a subsidiary of the Oregon Railway & Navigation Co. The Pleasant Valley Line ran from Winona to Seltice--stopping in Thornton.
United States--Washington (State)--Whitman County--Thornton United States--Washington (State)--Whitman County--Elberton