Latah, Washington - An Illustrated History of Spokane County, State of Washington

An Illustrated History of Spokane County, State of Washington

It would be difificult to find a more favorable town site in every respect than that of Latah, situated about forty miles southeast of Spokane on the O. R. & X. R. R. It takes its musical name from the historical stream ordinarily known as Hangman creek, on the banks of which it is built. The word Latah is from the Nez Perce language, and according to some authority, means "camping ground," or "place well supplied with food." The vicinity used to be well supplied with a root growing along the creek which was used as food by the Indians. It was a yellowish root, slightly bitter and sweet to the taste, and in appearance similar to a carrot. The camass root also grows plentifully there, and the Indians made annual trips to dig it on the way home from their fishing trips below the falls of Spokane river. Benjamin F. and Lewis Coplen built the first house in Latah. Lewis took up one hundred and si.xty acres in the fall of 1872, and Benjamin early in 1873. The town was laid out on the latter's claim in 1886.

The surface of the land around the town is quite level and undulating. It has an unfailing water supply, the l>eautiful Latah creek having its sources in the mountains of Idaho. Major R. H. Wimpy settled within two miles of Latah in the early 'seventies. The first postofiice in the southern part of the dmnty was at his house as early as 1875, called Alpha. The schoolhouse still retains the name. Latah was originally called Alpha, but was soon changed. This is fortunate, for there are many reasons why the euphonius Indian names should be retained. Mr. B. F. Coplen is recognized as the founder of Latah, and has been closely identified with its interests and progress. Among its most successful business men are E. Ham & Son. There are in the town four general merchandise stores, one boot and shoe store, one blacksmith shop, one livery and one large warehouse. The rich agricultural country wherewith it is surrounded is a guarantee of CDUtinued growth and prosperity. There are three churches in the town, Methodist Episcopal, Baptist and Christian, and also a lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

place where mammoth bones of animals were discovered in 1876, by the Coplen brothers. They were the largest known, weighing three thousand pounds each. The longest tusks were ten and fourteen feet. They were exhibited around the country for a season, and then taken to Pacific University. Oregon, and later to Chicago, where they were mounted, and they are now in Lincoln Park.