by
John A. Morehead
There are many sensational accounts of the removal of the county seat from Oysterville on Sunday morning, February 3, 1893. Each of them is more dramatic than another. The following account was written many years ago by J.A. Morehead, an eye-witness. It appeared in the Sou'wester 1975, an historical quarterly of the Pacific County Historical Society.
Having attended several meetings of pioneers and others in the north end of the county, I notice that there is an increasing tendency for some one to arise and tell how the South Benders stole the county seat from Oysterville in the early nineties. This talk usually goes over strong with the younger generation and the late comers to the county. The speaker is invariably one who was not present when this predatory excursion was pulled off...
This is a matter concerning which I have had more or less feeling, as it was totally uncalled for, and reflected no credit on the parties participating, as the courts had passed on the matter of moving the courthouse, and the officials were proceeding to carry out the orders of the court in a peaceable manner. I speak with authority, as I was one of the County Commissioners at the time...Here is what I personally know...
On a slushy Sunday in February of 1893, two steamers were seen coming up the channel from the lower bay. When they were opposite Oysterville, one was seen to turn off over the flats of that town and the other proceeded on to Sealand where upwards of fifty men clamored onto the dock.
We had been watching them, and Jim Morrison said, "They are after the courthouse, and now for some fun." He grabbed up his shotgun, and marched out on the dock with a military stride, and took up a beat from one side of the wharf to the other. When the oncoming horde saw that the wharf was guarded by an armed man, they stopped and held a consultation among themselves. Finally, three or four of the bravest ones were detailed to go forward and hold a parley with the supposed representative of the enemy. The only terms on which Jim would allow them to pass was that they take a round of drinks in his saloon before proceeding on to Oysterville!
They took a couple teams, one of which was mine. I was censured by the Oystervillians for allowing my team to engage in such unholy work, but as I was engaged in teaming between the two towns, I considered that my business, as it was agreeable with the driver to do the work and union prices were not followed that day...
Arriving at the courthouse in Oysterville, the two parties went into a huddle to talk over their method of procedure. Finally, an egotistical tailor and taxidermist named John Hudson...stepped forward and after rolling up his sleeves, so as to show his well-developed biceps, assumed an attitude and kicked in the door of the courthouse. The mob swarmed in and seemed to be more intent on satisfying their curiosity than in carrying away the contents of the offices.
The county auditor, Phil D. Barney, had not taken much interest in the proceedings until he sauntered into his office and discovered that they had broken into a private drawer in his desk and were scattering his private papers about the room. Immediately there was something doing in the Auditor's office of Pacific County. Barney grabbed up a chair leg and the execution he did with it on the head of those South Benders would have put Samson of old to shame as he spread carnage among the Philistines with the jawbone of an ass.
After quiet was partially restored, an official from South Bend posted himself at one of the doors and proposed to admit only those hand-picked individuals that suited his fancy. Yours truly was refused admission by him, but such a forcible argument was presented that he gladly deserted his post.
They took away some of the records and furniture with them, on their departure, and in due time the contents of the courthouse were removed over to South Bend by the usuall method of transportation.
To show that there was no demand at that time for nerve tonic in the booming city on the banks of the Willapa, bills were presented to the commissioners for services rendered to the county while looting its property. It is unnecessary to say that those bills were disallowed by the board without a debate, by a two to one vote.
The old Bristol and Leonard brick building was used for a temporary courthouse. After waiting for nearly a year for the businessmen in the lower part of town to secure a site as they had pledged themselves to do before the election, and the rent of the brick building having been raised, the Commissioners unwillingly were forced to select the site known as the "Old Courthouse," isolated as it was, a mile or more from the town. The Northern Land and Development Company contributed the site and $5,000 was pledged by the city for the purpose of building the courthouse, that their land in that section might be boomed...
Later on, as Raymond developed into a city, this town began to show a willingness to be considered a candidate for the county seat. This aroused the citizens of South Bend, and they got busy in a movement advocating the building of a new courthouse downtown. They then entered into a contract with the board, pledging to give $10,000 toward the building. The building was ordered built in 1910, the contract "was unfortunately lost," and the county financed the building.
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This Page Last Updated - 04/23/01 08:05:02 AM