Incorporatin' Dayton
On November 11, 1875, Columbia County was formed when the territorial legislature carved it out of the southeastern part of a much larger Walla Walla
County. Named for the Columbia River, the county was later cut in half and its eastern part became Garfield County. Columbia County's current population is just over 4,000, making it one of the most sparsely populated counties in the state.
Permanent non-Native settlement started in 1859, near the end of the local Indian Wars, when claims were taken up along the Touchet River. One early settler was Jesse Day, who along with his wife, Elizabeth, platted the namesake town of Dayton in 1871. Dayton's original incorporation in 1877 was later found to be illegal, and the town was officially reincorporated on
November 10, 1881. The election came in the midst of a deadly smallpox
epidemic, and a week later the entire town was quarantined by Dayton's first health officer.
Like many frontier towns, Dayton suffered through fires and other calamities, but its strength as an agricultural community helped it prosper. Farming is still an important part of the local economy, but Dayton is also known for its preservation of historical homes and buildings, among which are the Columbia County Courthouse and the home of Jacob Weinhard -- nephew of Portland brewer Henry Weinhard -- who established a brewery in Dayton in the 1880s.
Veterans Day
At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, Germany surrendered, putting an end to the "war to end all war." Unfortunately, it didn't quite work out that way, but that did not prevent people around Washington from celebrating the victory on November 11, 1918 -- and even earlier by a few who jumped the gun. Next came the erection of monuments, including a controversial statue, Doughboy, which depicted an American soldier gleefully toting the helmets of slain "Huns." It was moved from an obscure corner of Seattle Center to Evergreen-Washelli cemetery on November 11, 1998.
This year we invite you to look over our essays highlighting Medal of Honor recipients from Washington and their heroic efforts in the service of our country, which you can explore by entering "Medal of Honor" on our search page. And lest we forget, HistoryLink.org maintains the complete online
honor rolls of Washington citizens who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Philippines, World War I, World War II (including merchant mariners),
Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, the Gulf War, and more recently, in Iraq and Afghanistan.
