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

An Illustrated History of Spokane County, State of Washington

south of Spokane, on the O. R. «S: N. Railroad. It has been designated as the "gateway of the fertile Palouse country." It is surrounded and protected by hills covered by virgin forests and has many advantages as a home town or business location. "In 1878 Farnsworth & W'orley established a saw^mill on the present site of Rockford, and from this small beginning has grown the present thriving town. In 188S Rockford was incorporated as a town of the fourth class." The Rock creek valley, a basin about thirteen by tw^elve miles, on the south end of which the town is located, is rich and productive. The proximity of the region around Rockford to forests, hills and the Cceur d' Alene lake results in a greater rainfall than in the Palouse country, affording greater assurance of abundant crops. There are cultivated, in addition to the principal products, wheat and oats, the minor cereals, also timothy, tame grasses, clover, alfalfa antl vegetables of all sorts. Fine clay is found adjacent to the town. On Mica Peak, six miles away, is found excellent mica. Within a few miles is the Cceur d' Alene reservation, in which is found some of the richest land in Idaho and the great lake can be reached by wagon road. There is hardly a town of equal size in this or any other state that transacts more business during the year than does Rockford. The stores already located here are metropolitan in style, notably that of G. B. Hurd & Company and the Coey Mercantile Company.

As a grain market Rockford is pre-eminent, having some of the heaviest buyers in the state, and a flouring mill which has no superior in the state, making the wheat market here of the best and keeping the prices paid to farmers at the top notch. To-day Rockford is one of the most important stations on the O. R. & N. Company's lines between Spokane and C' and this supremacy it will continue to <_ ._ unless the history of the past has no bearing on the future. The population is but little, if any, short of one thousand, with every prospect of steady growth. The people of Rockford are industrious and progressive, seeking in every reasonable manner to promote the interests of their town. The rising generations are provided with liberal educational advantages, an excellent school system being sustained. An effort is made to engage only the very best teachers in the public schools. Religious privileges are not wanting. The following denominations are represented in the place : Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran, United Brethren, the first three having commodious houses of worship, and all being served by able pastors. Among the business houses are the G. B. Hurd & Company, carrying a large stock of dry-goods, clothing, hardware, tinware; D. C. Farnsworth, drugs, chemicals, patent medicines, etc. ; Mrs. M. Cogswell's racket store ; A. H. Bugbee's grocery; Miss Brockman, milliner; O. M. Reid, watchmaker and jeweler. Drs. Witter and Creighton are skillful physicians. The Coey Mercantile Company carry a large stock of dry-goods, groceries, boots and shoes. The Maucelona and \\'altman Houses are popular hotels. The towm is well served by the Rockford Enterprise, a clean, bright and newsy weekly paper.

\'alley Roller Mills, Sheldon Milling Company, proprietors. - This mill was built in 1889 and in 1897 was thoroughly overhauled and practically made a new mill. The principal business of this mill is the manufacture of flour for export. They have agencies at Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Hong Kong, China. The daily capacity of the Valley Roller mills is three hundred barrels and their brands are Fancy Patent, Klondike, White Star, Superfine and Oriental.

It is only common for travelers passing through this town to make reference to the propriety of the name. It is about thirty-five mfles south of Spokane on the O. R. & N. R. R. Starting late in 1889, it grew rap- idly and has won its way into prominence on account of its advantageous location. It is surrounded by broad acres of the most fertile aafricultural country. It has assumed prominence as a wheat market, as can be seen by the number and size of the warehouses, W. Walser, Centennial Alill. Spokane, D. T. Ham & Company. Fairfield is not on!}- beautiful in situation, but solid and substantial, with bright prospects for the future. The public school system is well established and of a high order. The place is well supplied with churches, ministered to by cultured and consecrated men. The merchants are prosperous. D. T. Ham & Company conduct an immense wheat business. The Coey Mercantile Company do a large business in general merchandise. W. H. Butler carries a complete stock of fancy groceries, and also Pierce Green, C. A. Loy & Company, hardware; Fisher Sawyer, meat market; B. H. Williams, harness ; J. L. Spath, dry-goods, clothing, etc. The tra\'elers are accommodated by G. W. Crawford, and Andrew Anderson is ever ready to supply a first-class meal. The banking business is conducted by the Coey Banking Company, and the Fairfield Standard is ever on the alert to serve the public and never fails to improve an opportunity that promises to promote the interests of Fairfield. A good authority has remarked that "a notable feature of the town of Fairfield, and one that we cannot refrain from mentioning, and which could be copied with profit by many cities and towns we know of, is that every citizen of Fairfield is ready and willing at all times to speak a good word for his town. They all 'swear by F'airfield' and never miss an opportunity to sound her praises in loud, truthful and unmistakable tones."