Eastern Washington Genealogical Society

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Comment by Karin Naylor on September 11, 2009 at 2:43pm

Charles,
If you ever come across another copy, please let me know. I don't live near Washington so it's hard to take advantage of the libraries there.

Since you do live in Spokane I have an interesting story that took place in the 1920's. This was from a bio given to my cousin by a man who knew my grandfather Tom Barton. They lived in Chattaroy. Here is the excerpt:

"As stated earlier, Tom had a desire to become a doctor; sometimes one wonders just how doctors do become doctors. But, this how Tom did it. He adopted the title of Dr. Thomas Barton, which was not too difficult to do, and he invented Dr. Barton’s Balsam Bitters. Tom was often seen heading for the hills, carrying an axe and a burlap bag. He stripped the “blistery” bark from the trunks of small fir trees and collected small fir needles. I have often seen him coming into Chattaroy carrying these large burlap bags. He manufactured Dr. Barton’s Balsam Bitters in the kitchen of his home. Ted took me over to his house one day to see this manufacturing setup. There were blue granite kettles and sauce pans sitting all over the room, filled with brewing Dr. Barton’s Balsam Bitters. I could well understand where the word Bitters came from. Today, the E.P.A., the F.D.A., the F.B.I., the B.A.T.F. Let’s not forget O.H.S.A., and all our other watch dogs, would surely go into a fit of frenzy over such a setup. In the late twenties, Dr. Barton had a front corner room, on the second floor of the hotel on the southwest corner of the intersection of Washington and First ave., Spokane. A big sign was posted in the window on the Washington side proclaiming the merits of Dr. Barton’s Balsam Bitters."

I have tried looking at a map for this intersection to no avail. I've just been wondering if there is an old picture of this or maybe even an old bottle. Just thought you would enjoy the story and if you ever come across anything like this in your research, let me know.

Comment by Charles Hansen on September 2, 2009 at 3:47pm

I bought the last copy of Edwards book EWGS had for sale years ago. The library has a copy you can use for lookups but not check out. The library also has a copy of the History of Spokane by Durham a three volume set. I can do lookups in the Edwards book I have at home or check Durham when I get to the library.

Comment by Karin Naylor on September 1, 2009 at 2:28pm

I just joined genealogywise and found your group and this is the first time I've encountered The Eastern Washington Genealogical Society. So I'm very glad to know about you. My ancestors Barton/Gilger came to Spokane right before the Spokane fire in 1889. They eventually settled in Chattaroy and Deer Park. Is anyone familiar with Jonathan Edwards book, An Illustrated History of Spokane County? And know where I could purchase one? Also, there is a Swedish group on here that would probably love the information posted above on the Historic Swedish Records Online.

Comment by Vera Moore on August 24, 2009 at 1:27am

Thanks for the info regarding Myheritage.com!

I just wanted to throw in another useful website if you are not yet aware of it. There is a nice collection of WA vital records, census, etc that can be found at the WA State Digital Archives.

Comment by Stephanie Jones on August 20, 2009 at 2:50pm

I'm working on families who were in Lincoln, Garfield, and Columbia Counties from around the 1870s (with most leaving in the early 1900s, it appears). The surnames include DAVIS, DETILLION/DETELANTE, JONES, and HUMPHREYS.

Comment by Douglas Noblehorse on July 14, 2009 at 11:48am

I'm originally from Richland. I'm researching primarily my mother's line, the GULICKs, from Malaga/Wenatchee. Surnames also include THOMAS, BAXTER, DULL.