New Book Announcement: Colville Collection, Book Two – Military Fort Colville 1859 To 1882
The second volume in this excellent collection, this book was compiled by Patrick J. Graham, local historian and former publisher of the Statesman-Examiner newspaper. Graham previously authored Colville Collections Book One in 1989. That volume was a collection of historical articles and stories about Colville and Northeast Washington and has been used extensively over the years as a primer and research tool on local history.
The latest book tells of the construction, in 1859, of Military Fort Colville on a flat stretch of land along Mill Creek. The frontier post served as a protector, avenue of communication and a verdant economic stimulus to the northeastern Washington economy.
Graham’s primary writing is taken from monthly reports that the fort’s commanding officer was required to make to his commander at Fort Vancouver, Washington Territory.
Many of the officers, who later became famous, served or visited Fort Colville. Among them was Captain Evans Miles, who was noted in the campaign against the famous Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce. And there were others: William R. Abercrombie, for whom Stevens County’s highest mountain is named. He was also an early Alaska explorer. There was George Washington Goethals, builder of the Panama Canal and William Tecumseh Sherman, the famed Union general from the Civil War.
The final chapter of the book contains the 1860 United States census for the precinct – total population 360.
The book is copiously illustrated with numerous photos, maps and illustrations
By Patrick J. Graham; 2006; 8.25 x 10.75; 169 plus 56 illustrations; Soft Cover; Indexed; ISBN:0-9705654-3-3-7; $22.95 plus $3.50 p&h, each additional book add $1.50 each. Washington residents add 7.6% tax; Purchase from The Northeast Washington Genealogical Society, c/o Colville Public Library, 195 S. Oak St., Colville, WA, 99114. Website: www.newgs.org/publications.htm