Person:Robert Toler (2)

part of the Early Families of Douglas Co. Washington Project [1]

4 July 1896 - John took part in the Boston Bloomer "Girls" Baseball team at Waterville. Nell Dickson (curator of the Waterville Museum for many years) wrote an article in the Oct 14, 1971 edition of the Empire Press detailing the the celebration. There was "much rivalry between the teams, especially Leavenworth, Wenatchee and Waterville ... with quite a lot of betting on the sidelines."

Leavenworth was scheduled to play Waterville. When the large crowd gathered for the July 4th celebration and the big game "a cloud of dust a stage coach drove up, bearing a sign "Boston Bloomer Girls." and it was announced that the "girls" were driving through Waterville, saw the crowd and wanted to play ball.

"after playing a little ball and clowning a lot, the cute caps and curly hair began to fall off and the crowd recognized some of our own Waterville boys. This made lots of fun, and the crowd was ready for a real ball game." [Waterville won the big game]. The original picture is held at the Douglas County Museum.

Robert J. Toler, 88, Big Bend Pioneer and retired Entiat Valley orchardist died Friday, July 28, 1967 in Wenatchee's Colonial Vista.

Born near Oquawka, Illinois 14 January 14, 1879 he came with his parents the M. M. Tolers in the spirng of 1888 by emigrant car to Ellensburg and thence by wagon train over Colockum Pass to the Waterville area. He attended Waterville Schools and later homesteaded in Dutch Henry Draw where he took his bride Lucy Ann Ricedorff on March 29, 1903. In 1913 they moved from their wheat ranch at the foot of Badger Mountain to the Entiat Valley where their orchard homes attest to a useful and fruitful life.

He is survived by his widow at home; one daughter, Mrs. Grayce Daughhetee of Wenatchee; five grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. Maude Slusser of Chelan.

Interment is to be at Entiat Cemetery [from a clipping that doesn't tell if it was from the Empire Press or the Wenatchee Daily World]

Bloomer Baseball 4 July 1896