Martin Luther Yocom calms his honey bees with smoke at his Independence Valley homestead in 1920. Martin was born in Pennsylvania and moved to Kansas, where he married his wife, Rachel Clark Yocom. Martin and Rachel moved to Washington and settled in the Independence Valley in 1880. They had four boys — Ed, Clarence, Roy and Ernest.
Tribe Does Not Want Reservation in 1912
On June 12, 1912, The Centralia Weekly Chronicle reported the Cowlitz Tribe did not want to move onto a reservation far from their homeland.
“The Cowlitz Indians are opposed to accepting land and settling on the Quinault reservation, this decision having been practically reached at a meeting of the tribe which was concluded in Chehalis yesterday,” the newspaper wrote. “The settling on the reservation would take the Indians away from their present homes and bring them in contact with Indians with whom they had nothing in common. The general opinion was expressed that unless the government can give them land nearer their homes, a money settlement would be preferable. A committee of eight was appointed by Atwin Stockum, aged chief of the tribe, to act at any future meeting for the discussion of the reservation question. This will eliminate the necessity of again bringing the tribe together.”
‘Up the Chehalis and Down the Still Water’
125 years ago, in 1887
The Lewis County Bee’s report on the travel through the Chehalis Valley continued.
“At about twenty seven miles from Chehalis we cross over the divide and went down into the Cougar flat country,” the newspaper wrote. “This country is drained by the Still Water and its tributaries. The main valley and many of the side valleys are occupied by prosperous settlers who are slashing and clearing their farms. They feel the importance of having good roads and have them in good condition from the upper part of the valley down to Little Falls. The roads there are much better than the one on the upper Chehalis. In our journey, we thought it a very bad road yet Sam Sears ‘the ox driver,’ passed over the road with a wagon drawn by two yoke of cattle and he said that he did so with perfect ease. He is a good driver and perhaps fared better than most any one else would as the road is only brushed out and is in bad condition. Many of the Boistfort people will go that way to tread if the roads this way are not improved. It stands our business men to see that the roads leading to Chehalis are improved.”
Future Farmers Start Tour
75 years ago, in 1937
The Future Farmers of American chapter at Centralia High School started their tour of eastern Washington.
“First stop of the boys today was to be at Bonneville dam,” The Centralia Daily Chronicle wrote. “They will camp tonight at Toppenish and tomorrow will be spent in visiting farms in the Yakima valley. Tomorrow night will be spent at Ellensburg, and Wednesday morning irrigated farms in that area will be inspected.The young tourists will then visit the petrified forest near Ellensburg, and will camp at Soap Lake Wednesday night. Thursday’s schedule includes the state park at Dry falls, Grand Coulee dam and Wenatchee apple orchards, and a night camp at Cle Elum. Friday the Future Farmers will visit Snoqualmie and go through the fish hatchery there, and will then proceed to the Carnation farms at Carnation before heading for home.”
Teacher, Since 1918, Retires
50 years ago, in 1962
Mrs. Clarence (Anna Uden) Fisher retired after 34 years of teaching. Fisher estimated she taught 1,190 children.
“Mrs. Fisher began her teaching career in Glenoma in 1918, continued in Elbe, Glenoma again, and then eight years at Mineral,” The Daily Chronicle reported. “She then retired and remained away from the profession until 1942. At that time, she thought she could help during the war effort, and returned to teach first grade at Morton. She is retiring for the second time now, after 20 consecutive years of service and 34 years as a classroom teacher.”
Oakville Holds ‘Crummy’ Event
25 years ago, in 1987
The Oakville Community Association held the “Crummy Race and All-Around Good Time” celebration.
“A crummy, I was told by Oakville Town Councilor Miriam Simmons, is the vehicle used to hall loggers to and from work in the woods,” The Daily Chronicle reporter wrote. “... We asked around, and many gave the same answer, ‘It’s a vehicle which loggers rode to work in the woods.’”
Corbet Hall Demolition Begins
10 years ago, in 2002
The demolition of Corbet Hall had begun at Centralia College. The land would be used as a parking lot, and could eventually be used as a student center.
History Trio Misses Cut
Five years ago, in 2007
The history team of Abby Anderson, Marie Jenkins and Emily Weeks competed in the National History Day in Maryland after winning second in the statewide competition.
“The team was not among the 15 teams who moved to the final competition. The team was the first group from Centralia to move to the national level since 1993."
