Author Archives: Donna Phillips

Let’s Talk About: End of the Indian Wars, Part 1

by Donna Phillips


The following article, The End of the Indian Wars, was published in The Cashmere Valley Record, Vol. 30, No. 8, on 20 February 1936. I share it with you because it was of interest to Washington history buffs.

The next time you drive from Spokane to Pullman and Lewiston, take particular notice of Steptoe Butte. If you have ever driven over this road you will remember it, for it is a landmark for miles around. It was a guide post for the gold seekers at Colville and Pierce and for missionaries, stockmen and homesteaders.

The hill was named for Lt. Col. Steptoe, one of Col. George Wright’s assistants in the Indian Wars of the ‘50s. During the summer of 1856, and throughout 1857 and 1858, the Indian troubles had continued on about the same three fronts as already noted: the Seattle-Puget Sound country, the Yakima Valley, and the Palouse-Walla Walla area. Col. Wright had wintered at Vancouver and had started upstream in March. Leaving the portage around the rapids in the Columbia, from which the city of The Dalles, Ore., takes its name, guarded by a handful of men, he pushed on, heading for Walla Walla and the upper country.

It was at this portage that the Indians resumed the war on March 26, 1856. An attack was made and several whites killed and scalped. Help arrived from Vancouver under Sheridan just in time to avoid a complete massacre. Thus the first state of the ’56 campaign ended in the whites’ favor. Col. Wright then crossed Simcoe Pass to the Yakima Country. Here Wright, who clung to the idea that the Indians had been wronged, spent several months in parleying for peace.

But the governor remembered well his experiences at the hands of the Nez Perces. They had saved his life…and he well knew it. He therefore determined to place a force at Walla Walla that would insure the fair treatment of his friends.

Col. Wright, avoided going to the “aid” of the Nez Perces, and sent Col. Steptoe instead. The Governor went himself to try and make another peace, but it fared little better than the big peace council formerly held there. The two factions had too many differences…there was too much involved. As a result of this 1856 failure, Gen. Wool, commanding the regular army regiments concerned, ordered the area vacated by all except soldiers and missionaries. And, too, Fort Walla Walla was built…just where the present city stands.

Let’s Talk About: Trivia!

by Donna Phillips

 Hopefully we’re into the hottest days of summer, so tiz a good time for some genealogy and history trivia!

“In the 1800s the method of making one plank (long board cut from a log) was that a pit was dug. The tree was placed over the pit. Two men would go into the pit, and two men would be on top of the log and together they would handsaw each plank. The men down in the pit would get sawdust in their eyes and that was how the expression “it’s the pits!” originated.”  (Church of Our Lord tour guide, Victoria, BC)

In November, 1217, the 10-year-old King Henry III signed a charter giving England’s common people some legal rights for the first time. One big provision is that the concept of “royal forests,” where common folks could not hunt and poaching was a death sentence. This new rule reduced the size of these off-limits forests and restored ancient hunting rights. (History Magazine, from England, 2024)

Ever heard of Frozen Charlotte Dolls? Frozen Charlotte dolls are small, solid, porcelain or bisque dolls that were popular in the mid-1800s to early 1900s, particularly in Europe and the United States. They are named after a popular poem and song about a young woman named Charlotte who froze to death while refusing to bundle up for a winter carriage ride. The dolls were mass-produced in Germany and became a common bath toy and a relatively inexpensive children’s toy. 

Let’s Talk About: The Mayflower Society

by Donna Phillips

In 1620, a brave group of 102 men, women, and children sailed across the Atlantic on the Mayflower in search of a better life. 
In 1897, the General Society of Mayflower Descendants was established to pay homage to the Pilgrims through preservation and education.

The General Society of Mayflower Descendants is committed to research on the lineal descent of the Mayflower Pilgrims and education about the Pilgrims who traveled aboard the Mayflower in 1620. The Society provides education and understanding of why the Mayflower Pilgrims were important, how they shaped western civilization, and what their 1620 voyage means today and its impact on the world.

Think you’re eligible to join this Society? Want to know more? Visit www.themayflowersociety.org. All your questions will be answered and your interest heightened! 

The Society also offers a channel on YouTube……. several short videos will help you know more about this group and their goals. One really good vid is “Things They Left Behind,” presented by the Gov. General, Lisa Pennington. 

Let’s Talk About: The State of Lincoln?

by Donna Phillips

We in Eastern Washington were almost in the state of Lincoln. A Spokane proposal in 1907 called for a new state, Lincoln, to be created from eastern Washington, northeastern Oregon and Northern Idaho. Are we sad or glad this apparently never happened???

The good folks of Eastern Oregon were frustrated with being coupled with Portland. The citizens of north Idaho felt they had nothing in common with their capitol, Boise, or the entire southern half of the state. And many of those in Eastern Washington know themselves to be Republicans but Washington always seems to fall to the Democrats in elections due to the “Cascade Divide” of our state. 

How come this didn’t happen nor likely never will? Wikipedia gives the answer: “Multiple senators at the time objected to naming a territory after a single man, acknowledging Washington Territory (named in 1853 for George Washington) as the sole exception.” 

Put this factoid in your trivia folder for when you get invited to be a contestant on Jeopardy. 

Let’s Talk About: Butchart Gardens

by Donna Phillips

In early June, when I was house/dog sitting for my kiddos in Port Angeles, I took the Coho ferry across the Strait to Victoria and then the shuttle bus to the world famous Butchart Gardens. (Took advantage of a package offered by the Blackball Ferry; was about $100 for the ferry both ways, shuttle both ways and garden admission.) Been there? You must plan to go……. especially if you’re a fan of gardens and flowers.

Butchart Gardens covers more than 55 acres of the large estate of Jennie and Robert Butchart. It was Jennie’s genius to convert a worked-out limestone quarry into the Sunken Garden we go to see today. By the 1920s, more than 50,000 people visited each year. Today the gardens boast over 265,000 annuals of 900 varieties, 280 different roses, 40 different geraniums, 100 varieties of dahlias and 191 different tulips! As I wandered the paths, there was not a weed in sight, nor a dead leaf. The garden is super well tended. 

The information center offers the garden guide in 25 different languages! That was impressive, I thought. And a Q&A booth which told me that the Blue Poppy would likely not be happy in Spokane. 

My favorite flower, and what Butchart is famous for, is the Himalayan Blue Poppy. The gift shop sells seeds for the adventurous.

Let’s Talk About: 1917 Cooking Lessons

by Donna Phillips


EWGS member Richard Sola is, for many of us, Mr. Spokane History. His encyclopedic knowledge of everything and everybody in the 1910 period is amazing….. and just as amazing, he eagerly shares his knowledge in an animated style.

I was recently on the Southside Community Center’s tour bus with Richard to learn more about the “movers and shakers” of Spokane in 1910. Scribbled way too many notes to include here but this one tidbit might interest you. One stop that day was at the Spokane’s Women’s Club. The prominent women of Spokane (think May Arkwright Hutton) founded the club in 1907. In 1910 the current building became headquarters to address the needs of Spokane’s women by providing education, schools, child care and cooking classes. And the organization thrived! Collectively these women helped forge national policy (1910 women’s suffrage!)

In the downstairs of the club building sits a real antique. In 1917, a local business donated this stove to the club in order to teach cooking to women………. “how to cook with rationed food and food restrictions during the World War I years,” Richard quipped. . 

Let’s Talk About: Unusual Collections

by Donna Phillips

Tony Birch and his late wife, Janette, were the EWGS meeting greeters when the group met at the Central Library downtown. Cindy Hval, The Spokesman columnist, did a story on 5 June 2025 about Tony and his unusual collection of once-candy-filled-glass-toys.

A favorite gift in the late 1800s, glass containers filled with candy were a favorite for decades. In the 1950s, glass was replaced by plastic. Tony and Janette would haunt garage sales for these treasures and amassed quite a diverse collection:

Quoting from Hval’s story: “I think the trains are my favorites,” Birch said. “My father gave me my first one when I was about six,” he recalled. “The best part is after the candy is eaten, you still have a toy,” Tony shared. 
Thanks, Tony, for sharing your story!


What about YOUR ancestors’ hobbies? What did they collect? What do you collect (and treasure) that you hope one of your kiddos will want and love? 

Let’s Talk About: Clallam County Genealogical Society

by Donna Phillips

The Clallam County Genealogical Society is really looking up! I visited their huge collection in May when I was in Port Angeles house/dog sitting for my kiddos.

A good part of the reasons why interest and membership is up are these:

·         They applied and got a grant for 7 brand new computer stations and 3 laptops.

·         A generous member donated a much-needed new roof.

·         Their library is a FamilySearch affiliate; in the library you can freely use Ancestry, FindMyPast, GenealogyBank, Newspaper.com, Fold3 and American Ancestors.

·         New members are stepping up to accept Board positions.

·         The society offers regular classes and great workshops.

·         They do have a Facebook page too.

Ginny (Virginia) Majewski is once again the president but no surprise; she’s such a mover and shaker in the group that they keep reelecting her.

The coolest big news from the group is that their building (which has lots of space for the library and meeting rooms) is getting an update. Port Angeles is known for its murals on buildings and the Board received another gift to paint a mural on their building! (Used to be the State Patrol office and was a rather dull-looking squatty building.) Won’t this be fantastic! There are easily 100 reasons to visit PA and the Olympic Peninsula but for genealogists, a visit to this library is a must!

Let’s Talk About: Flower Symbolism

by Donna Phillips

Since time immemorial, flower symbolism has been used to private correspondence and expressing unspoken feelings. People became especially fascinated by flower symbolism during the Victorian Era and books explaining “flower language” were nearly as common as the Bible in Victorian homes. Here are some common meanings of flowers:

        Daisy – new beginnings

        Sunflower – adoration, loyalty

        Iris – faith, trust, wisdom, hope

        Zinnia – thoughts of absent friends

        Rose – joy, happiness, love

        Poppy – remembrance of fallen soldiers

How about our Washington lilac?

For a complete list, go to Wikipedia, “list of plants with symbolism.” 

Let’s Talk About: 4th of July Trivia

by Donna Phillips

Were you awake in your high school history class? How much do you know about the celebratory founding day of our country?? Test your memory:

1. Where was the first celebration of Independence Day held?

2. Every Independence Day, how many times does the Liberty Bell ring?

3. What was the U.S. population on July 4th, 1776?

4. The 4th of July commemorates which document?

5. What is the proper way to fold the American flag?

6. Which American president was born on July 4th?

7. Which U.S. president was the first to host a 4th of July celebration at the White House?

8. How many stars and stripes does the U.S. flag have?

9. How many men signed the Declaration of Independence?

10. What food is most commonly consumed on the 4th of July?

11. What is the name of our national anthem?

12. Who gave the Statue of Liberty to the U.S.?

1. Philadephia, 1777

2. 13 times

3. 2.5 million people

4. The Declaration of Independence

5. In a triangular shape with specific ritual and etiquette.

6. Calvin Coolidge, born on July 4, 1872

7. Thomas Jefferson in 1801.

8. 50 stars and 13 stripes (and what do they represent??) 

9. 56

10. Hot dogs!

11. The Star-Spangled Banner

12. The people of France.