Person:Mary Long (152)

The following is from an unidentified Washington newspaper article in 1932. about Luemma Tarbet

"After a residence of 18 years here, father sold the mill and 369 acres of prime wheat land. Again, and for the fourth time, he moved to Garfield County, locating on a large stock farm, 18 miles from Poneroy. It was here that the romance of my life began. John Tarbet, whom I had known for some years and to whom I had become much attached, asked me to become his wife. We were married in 1887 and moved at once to a ranch near Ilia on the Snake River. Here we lived for five years when we decided to secure a home near Newport Washington. This is now in Pend Oreille county. This section was then a part of Stevens and was wild and beautifully picturesque. Our ranch was located at the headwaters of the Little Spokane River, which long has been noted as a fishing resort. Scattered here and there were a number of primitive log houses occupied by early settlers. However, we were just like a large family and spent almost every Sunday during the summer season in getting together for fishing trips to Albani Falls or to Diamond Lake, four miles distant, for boating and bathing. These picnic excursions were happy times. Indeed, I look upon this perioid as one of the happiest times of my busy life. The Great Northern Railraod was constructed through this section the summer of our arrival. My husband supplied the construction gang with beef, butter and milk as long as they were in the vacinity. For 18 years my husband was in the general merchandise business on our place. There was also a sawmill on the place operated by C. Wheeler. Several years later he sold the mill to the King Sash and Door Company of Spokane. We had eight children. Eugene, the oldest, died two years ago at Newport. Lelah, now Mrs Cliff Amsbaugh, resides in Newport. Her husband is deputy County Sheriff. Freda is the wife of Sheriff Ben Fox. Peggy Sparks, another daughter, also resides at Newport. Inez, now Mrs Lickly, resides at Ione, where her husbband is forman of a sawmill. My son Wilbur lives at Cottonwood, Idaho, where he has been manager of a wheat elevator for a number of years. My youngest son, Lester, was a bookkeeper for the ACM Lumber Comapny for 11 years. He is now running a loggers and lumbermen's information bureau in Missoula. Edwin, another son, lives on the home place, where he raises some live stock, hay, grain, and has a fine garden. Fishing and hunting for all kinds of game in their season are always at a premium at the ranch. In short, it is a delightful place in which to reside. We have the distinction of having built the first substantial frame house in that section. My husband died in 1919. After his death, I continued at home engaged in the multitudeous occupatiions of farm life and had come to beleive that my services were indespensable. However, a little less than six years ago I consented to come to Spokane. Now after a period of almost six years I have begun to feel much at home. I have found my life in Spokane pleasant. In addition to my children, I have 19 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Thus it will be seen that, following Rosevelt's advice, I have done my share in adding to the populatiion of the Pacific Northwest. It has been a wonderful experience to have been permitted to witness and to have had a part in the development of this great coountry. My life has been in many respects an ardous one. I have suffered many hardships, experienced many reverses and endured trials without number. I am quite content to round out the remaining days of my life in this country and am happy beyond expression that my children are reasonably well provided for. In these days of unrest and uncertainty, it is a mighty fine thing to have a job and to be virtually assured that the next day's needs are in the offing."