“Although the famous Yakama chief, Kamiakin (1800-1877) was born near Starbuck, in Columbia County, and lived the largest part of his adult life in the Yakima Valley, he spent his last 17 years in the Palouse. In fact, he is one of Whitman County’s most famous residents, if not THE most famous. Washington schools, streets, parks, a butte and a creek bear his name. Sadly, the desecration of his gravesite near Rock Lake and the theft of his skull are an appalling episode in the final chapter of Kamiakin’s life.” 

So began an article in a 2019 edition of the Bunchgrass Historian, publication of the Whitman County Historical Society in Colfax. The rest of the article, the rest of the story, is a grizzly one.

In the 1870’s, fossil and relic hunters plagued the midwest seeking museum specimens to sell. In 1878, some of these rascals were in Eastern Washington and  learned that Chief Kamiakin had been buried nearby the previous year. One of these men were later quoted as having said, “the old chief’s head would look good in the Smithsonian.” 

“Shortly later, a group of Kamiakin’s relatives discovered that the chief’s grave had been desecrated and that the head and shoulders were missing. His enraged family reburied his remains in a secret location, reportedly on the other side of Rock Lake.”

“For 70 years the culprits’ identities were unknown. In 1948 a son of one of those culprits came forward with details of the crime. Under cover of darkness, the men had ……. unearthed Kamiakin’s body. One then removed the head and placed  it in a burlap sack, saying that he needed to ‘make certain measurements.’ It was never seen again, at least not by anyone willing to disclose its whereabouts.”

“In all probability, the skull of Chief Kamiakin will never be found. Meanwhile, the theft of his skull and the desecration of his grave continue to provoke justifiable outrage, particularly among Kamiakin’s descendants and among members of the Colville and Yakama Confederated Tribes.” 

How did this story make you feel? 

I’d be willing to bet that I’m not the only one who loves poking around old abandoned homesites, barns and even thrift shops looking for “treasurers.” I say that in quotes because we are looking for interesting things, not necessarily valuable things. How many of you are with me here?

Recently I found a jar just like this one. Embossed on the bottom were these words:  H.J. Heinz Co. 381. WELL! Knowing Grandma Google can find most anything, I asked her about this jar……and here’s what I learned.

“Vintage H.J. Heinz Co. glass jars, often embossed with identification numbers on the base like 305, 381, or others, are collectible condiment containers from the late 19th to mid-20th centuries. These jars typically held relish, mustard or pickles, featuring early clear glass to showcase product quality.”

That’s late 1800s to mid-1900s, so perhaps I have a very old jar! What am I going to do with it? Fill it will marbles and set it on a shelf to be admired. 

My point with this post is this: when you’re poking around old abandoned homesites, barns, thrift stores and even boxes of “old family things” in your basement or garage, don’t just toss some rather plebian items (like a pickle jar) for it just might have been held by your ancestors’ hands. 

Depending on where you live, you may or may not have been able to attend the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society’s Spring Seminar on April 4th, but here are some tips you can still use.

While EWGS furnished to registrants two 4-page handouts from American Ancestors on Researching Patriot Roots and Researching Loyalist Roots, these are/were FREE handouts from the americanancestors.com website for free. (As of March 2026 they were.)

The aim of the day was to discover the stories of our Patriot ancestors in the American Revolution….those who fought for independence, freedom and unity. We learned the remarkable stories of Loyalists …… ancestors who upheld allegiance to the Crown amid turmoil and change. These handouts, offered by American Ancestors (formerly The New England Historic Genealogical Society), will be your printed roadmap to success.

Today’s Priceless Tip:  Click to www.revolutionaryroots.AmericanAncestors.org. There you will find a long list of free handouts for researching the various aspects of research in this period of history. 

Henry was a skinny, sallow fellow who ate nothing but hot dogs.

He craved these meaty tubes morning, noon and night. He ate them with or without buns, relish, onions, beans or condiments. He ate them with scrambled eggs for breakfast. He occasionally chewed them raw from the package. 

Loving family and friends tried to convince Henry that a hot dog diet was not healthy. Henry ignored them.

Eventually, Henry’s body revolted. His arms and legs swelled like those balloon dogs. His torso became an elongated chubby tube. The chemicals in those hot dogs rotted his teeth, elevated his blood sugar and blood pressure, blurred his vision, sapped his memory, constipated him and magnified his arthritis.

In short, Henry became what he craved above all else. Henry became a hot dog.

Moral of the story: We do become what we crave, what we do and certainly what we eat. And April Fool’s to you!!

My husband’s ancestors came west from Troup County, Georgia. Imagine my delight to come upon a book of old historic postcards of that county! Arcadia Publishing, in business for decades, offers affordable small books on hundreds and places in America and offers many similar books of historic postcards from some areas.

Old historic postcards are about the only way we’ll ever get to “see” what the place was like where our ancestors lived. 

Another place to search for old postcard images is the Newberry Library in Chicago. Their historic postcard collection numbers over 500,000 with nearly 8000 of places in Washington State…. this one states A Trainload of Pears, postmarked Walla Walla.  

Ask Google for “websites for historical postcards,” and you’ll have a full day’s fun! One such site mentioned is eBay…. this one (below) you can order from the seller for $12. (It’s the Spokane Club,1915.)

Do most of your ordered packages arrive on time? Either from the US Postal Service or the UPS, I’ll bet they did. 

Bet you had no clue that the company that would become United Parcel service (UPS) began in Seattle, Washington, on August 28, 1907. Teenagers Jim Casey and Claude Ryan founded the American Messenger Company, a messenger and delivery service, with a $100 loan and two bicycles. They delivered packages and messages around Seattle, laying the groundwork for the global shipping giant UPS is today. 

By 1919, the company had expanded to Oakland, California, and changed it’s name to United Parcel Service. That same year, the brown trucks and uniforms became the company colors. The headquarters of the company today is in New York City. 

There are over 5700 UPS stations across America and Washington state boasts over 130 of them. 

Did you or an ancestor work for UPS?? Why did they choose to work for UPS?

The Diamond Point Quarantine Station across Discovery Bay from Port Townsend. was a 156-acre federal facility opened in 1893 to control infectious diseases on ships entering Puget Sound. The station featured barracks, labs, staff housing and disinfection services for vessels wishing to enter Puget Sound and an isolation hospital for passengers or crew members found to be suffering from or suspected of carrying infectious disease. The site grew from three to 27 buildings over the course of its 43 operational years. Moved eventually nearer Port Townsend, it is now the site of Miller Peninsula State Park. 

If you’d care to learn more about this episode in Washington history, click to www.historylink.org (a free website) and look for the article by Paula Becker, posted in 2007 on this subject. 

All vessels arriving from foreign ports were required to pass through quarantine. When deemed necessary, vessel were fumigated with burning pots of sulphur in order to kill fleas, rats, live and other vermin. Passengers or crew members were inspected for any symptom of infectious diseases such an influenza, cholera malaria, smallpox, yellow fever, diphtheria and leprosy. This place was not a happy place. Quoting from a 1937 book: “Port Townsend’s pest-house was situated in the dense woods about two miles west of town. Here the unfortunate patients was kept under the care of a volunteer nurse, usually an old sailor, and a doctor visited the sufferer when he could spare the time.”

In 1878, Congress had passed the National Quarantine Act which prevented vessels from carrying infectious diseases into any U.S. port. In 1888, the Diamond Point station was authorized and a total of $55,000 allocated for the construction. 

There is much more to learn about this episode, event and place in Washington history. Ask Google to help you find more information. 

The phrase “mad as a hatter” referred to the 19th century hat-makers were were poisoned by the mercury they used to treat the felt.

Christmas was not declared a national holiday until 1890.

The phrase “second string,” which today means replacement or backup, originated in the Middle Ages, when an archer carried a second string in case the one on his bow broke.

During the peak of the western cattle drives, as many as one in four cowboys was African-American.

After she was crowned, the first act of Britain’s Queen Victoria was to move her bed out of her mother’s bedroom and into a room of her own.

The first bomb dropped by the Allies on the city of Berlin during WWII claimed an unusual casualty…the only elephant in the Berlin zoo. 

During his invasion of England in 1014, King Olaf’s fleet of Viking ships managed to pull down London’s wooden Thames River bridge. Hence the children’s song about London Bridge falling down. 

The last soldier of WWII, Japan’s Lt. Hiroo Onoda, didn’t surrender until 1974. He refused to be “fooled” by allied stories about the war ending in 1945 and only gave up the fight after his old unit commander was flown to the Philippines and ordered him to lay down his arms.

And where did these wonderful bits come from? The Armchair Reader: Amazing Book of History, published in 2008, and found in a thrift store. Are they true? 

STEPHEN ATWATER, 1758-1836

REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIER

Years ago my father gave a paper bag on which was written many names and dates of ancestors. At the very top of the bag was written “6/5/05 [her birthday – 6/5/1805] Matilda Atwater – father was aid to Geo Washington.” My search began!

Research revealed that there were many Stephen Atwaters. The Atwater family was prominent in colonial Connecticut. After much research, I discovered the following, copied from his pension application 14 Nov 1832:

“Stephen Atwater, Conn, S12014. I was born in Cheshire, Connecticut, New Haven colony, on 13 May 1758. I presume the records of my birth is in Wallingford Connecticut (for Wallingford & Cheshire were then one town) but I have no record of it anywhere – I was 74 years old on the 13 May last [1832].”

Stephen was the last of 7 children born to Stephen Atwater (1720-1806) and Hannah Hotchkiss (1722-1779). There were probably 2 sisters left at home when he enlisted.

Stephen Atwater’s pension application continues:

“In August 1776 [at 18 years old] the 10^th Regiment of Connecticut Militia commanded by Cpl Benjamin Baldwin was ordered out, to go to New York – I was a member of Capt. Jesse Moss’s company, belonging to that regiment – & on the 17 August we turned out – we marched to New York [colony]– We were at New York City [Brooklyn was the northernmost area of LongIsland] when Gnl Washingtons army retreated from Long Island – I acted as one of the oarsmen in bringing the army over all night – The night was exceedingly dark & a very thick fog”

The Battle of Long Island was the first major battle to take place after the United States declared its independence on July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia. It was the largest battle of the Revolutionary War in terms of both troops deployments and combat.

The British army had nearly 20,000 soldiers and were helped by naval forces. British ships moved the East River toward Staten Island, seen on the bottom left of the map below. There were more than 400 transport ships, protected by 30 warships.

The Americans had about 10,000 soldiers led by General George Washington. He moved his troops to Brooklyn on Long Island, to defend New York. British troops landed and attacked the American troops on three sides.

Rather than surrender, General Washington decide to have the army cross the East River. He ordered every available boat to be taken. The oarsmen wrapped cloth around the oars so they would make as little noise as possible. The men rowed all night, back and forth. Stephen Atwater was one of these oarsmen. By morning there was still many men left on the Brooklyn side of the river. But the very thick fog in the night that Stephen mentioned continued late into the next day, so they were able to complete their mission by the time the fog lifted.

This was the closest Stephen Atwater came to being “Aid to George Washington”, but his story wasn’t over yet. He was under the command later of General Washington, among others.

↓Stephen Atwater rowed north to Manhattan (New York) across

the East River from Brooklyn on Long Island

Stephen Atwater’s pension application continues:

“After the American army was brought over to the city [New York City], our regiment remained there a few days, & were then ordered out to Harlem – there I was taken sick & was Discharged there or somewhere near there.”

“I remained sick till I was carried home. It was called a three months tour – but I think I was not out three months – but two months of more-Then April 1777 our company & regiment was ordered out again when Danbury [Connecticut] was burned “

“We moved to Fairfield[CT]– & then to Compo [CT] – I think the British embarked there. Our men & the British had a considerable battle in that neighborhood there – several of my acquaintances were killed there – Gnl Worster was killed in that battle – I saw him as a corpse – Our company had then got up & was not in that battle”

“After the British had embarked, & went off, we were discharged, & went home – I can’t say how long we were out at that time – probably 8 or 10 days – In October 1777 the same company & regiment were ordered out again – I marched to West Point. We had the same Colonel & same officers as before – The company I belonged to were out scouting the principal part of the time – At a place called Fishkill[NY] our company was divided – a part went to the north & a part went to the south –“

“Esopus [Kingston, NY] was burned at that time – This tour was called a three months tour – but I do not recollect how long we were actually out – our orders were for three months, but we did not stay out so long – Titus Moss was the ensign of our company – During this tour I lost the end of the forefinger of my right hand by a felon which I was not able have taken care of in consequence of our moving about – & my finger healed for several more weeks.”

“In 1780 I was called out again – This was a draught [draft] – Capt Amos Hotchkiss commanded the company – Willis was the Colonel – We were marched to New London & stationed on Winthrop Point. We were employed principally in building breastworks – fachines [fascines –brush and sticks used to reinforce trenches] & the like – That time I was out about two months – I was the orderly sergeant of the Company that tour –“

“I received no written discharge at any of these tours, except the first, when I did receive one – but it has been lost – at least I have looked carefully for it & can’t find it — I was out on a short tour where Genl [Benedict] Arnold attacked New Haven – which I think was in July 1779 – This was in my original company – Capt Jesse Moss – We were out 10 or 12 Days –

”I was out a number of short tours – we were obliged to keep ourselves in constant readiness – The militia was hanged [as in suspension] very much for several years –We would lay out a piece of business at night – & by next morning were called away from it – We kept ourselves ready always to go – to march at a minutes warning – for several years- I can’t tell how long I was out altogether in actual service – but making the best estimate I can, I would say it was about eighteen months but I can’t be positive about it and not less than sixteen months—

After the war I continued to reside at Cheshire til 1811 – I then removed to Granville in the state of New York – remained there till October 1824, when I moved to Oil Creek in Crawford county [PA] & in January 1829 I moved to the farm in which I now live in Troy Township, Crawford county – Pennsylvania.”

My GGG grandparents, Matilda Atwater and Horace Day, may have met in Granville, NY, since both their families lived there. However they didn’t marry until both families were in Pennsylvania. They married 2 Dec 1827 in Crawford County, PA.

I’m very proud of my Revolutionary War ancestor, Stephen Atwater! He wasn’t an “aid” (Aid-de-Camp) to George Washington as stated in the paper my father gave me, but he certainly aided General Washington, and many others in the Revolutionary War.