This is Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE.

                 Today should really be recognized as a very important holiday in the life of Klamath County.

                 Guess what day it was?

                 Well this day in 1882 was an extremely important day in the life of the small village known as Linkville.

                 It all began some seven years earlier when the Legislature passed a bill permitting the establishment of a county named Lake County.  The citizens of Linkville were extremely elated.  On Monday, February l, 1875 a group of local men gathered at the home of George Nurse to swear in the first county officials.  E. C. Mason, a Goose Lake Rancher, was named County Judge, Henry Fuller County Commissioner, William Roberts, County Clerk and Thomas mulholland, Sheriff.  A building was rented for the courthouse.

Now….Linkville was the County Seat for Lake County.

But…..wait a minute.   There was a little phrase tucked in the legislation that called for an official election to be held to name the county seat, but since Linkville was the only town of any consequence in the region...no one worried about that wording.

For the next 17 months Linkville was the county seat.

The official election was held on June 5, 1876.   There had been rumors of a possible revolt on the east side of the county, but since Linkville was the only town in the area, it was given little credence.

Those on the east side of the county had arranged a surprise.  A man named Bullard had agreed to donate 20 acres of his farm as a county seat if they could get the majority vote.

There were 384 votes cast.  Linkville got only 88.  Bullard’s Creek had 120.  Bullard’s Ranch had 39….the balance were spread 38 for Bonanza, 17 for Sprague River, 11 for Big Springs, another for Bullard’s Creek in Goose Lake, Goose Lake valley 5, Drew’s V alley 3, Chewaucan l and 33 blank ballots.    Linkville was up in arms…..challenged the vote, but Mason, the Goose Lake rancher was the County Judge...and he ruled the Bullard site was the new county seat. Still, the LInkville people believed that a vote in November would change the outcome.

                 Meantime Bullard’s ranch was now called Lakeview.

                 When the November ballots were counted Lakeview had 242 votes and Linkville only 181,  

                 Linkville residents vowed revenge. 

                 In 1880 they petitioned the Legislature for a new County, but it failed.

                 1881 and 1882 were busy efforts and planning by Linkville to regain the County Seat.  During July and August of 1882 petitions were circulated  asking that the Klamath Basin, Langell Valley and Sprague River valleys be split off Lake county for a new county to be called “Klamath”.

E.C. Mason, the former County Judge, was now the Representative in the Legislature for the area.   However,  he introduced a bill to create Klamath County.

The measure passed both houses and was signed by Governor Moody on this day, October 17, 1882.  The official machinery was sworn in on November 6, 1882.  They again met at the home of George Nurse, and the Governor’s appointees were sworn in.  W. S. Moore became County Judge, Stephen Stukel and Ozro T. Brown, Commissioners, Charles Putnam, Sheriff, and W. C. Hale the County Clerk.

So….that’s why I say today, this date, should be celebrated as a holiday since it was the official day that Lake County became Klamath County after a long, bitter seven years.

This is Floyd Wynne and that’s THE VIEW FROM HERE.

 Click to Listen to this "View"

 

Text Box:   This is Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE.                  Today should really be recognized as a very important holiday in the life of Klamath County.                  Guess what day it was?                  Well this day in 1882 was an extremely important day in the life of the small village known as Linkville.                  It all began some seven years earlier when the Legislature passed a bill permitting the establishment of a county named Lake County.  The citizens of Linkville were extremely elated.  On Monday, February l, 1875 a group of local men gathered at the home of George Nurse to swear in the first county officials.  E. C. Mason, a Goose Lake Rancher, was named County Judge, Henry Fuller County Commissioner, William Roberts, County Clerk and Thomas mulholland, Sheriff.  A building was rented for the courthouse. Now….Linkville was the County Seat for Lake County. But…..wait a minute.   There was a little phrase tucked in the legislation that called for an official election to be held to name the county seat, but since Linkville was the only town of any consequence in the region...no one worried about that wording. For the next 17 months Linkville was the county seat. The official election was held on June 5, 1876.   There had been rumors of a possible revolt on the east side of the county, but since Linkville was the only town in the area, it was given little credence. Those on the east side of the county had arranged a surprise.  A man named Bullard had agreed to donate 20 acres of his farm as a county seat if they could get the majority vote. There were 384 votes cast.  Linkville got only 88.  Bullard’s Creek had 120.  Bullard’s Ranch had 39….the balance were spread 38 for Bonanza, 17 for Sprague River, 11 for Big Springs, another for Bullard’s Creek in Goose Lake, Goose Lake valley 5, Drew’s V alley 3, Chewaucan l and 33 blank ballots.    Linkville was up in arms…..challenged the vote, but Mason, the Goose Lake rancher was the County Judge...and he ruled the Bullard site was the new county seat. Still, the LInkville people believed that a vote in November would change the outcome.                  Meantime Bullard’s ranch was now called Lakeview.                  When the November ballots were counted Lakeview had 242 votes and Linkville only 181,                    Linkville residents vowed revenge.                   In 1880 they petitioned the Legislature for a new County, but it failed.                  1881 and 1882 were busy efforts and planning by Linkville to regain the County Seat.  During July and August of 1882 petitions were circulated  asking that the Klamath Basin, Langell Valley and Sprague River valleys be split off Lake county for a new county to be called “Klamath”. E.C. Mason, the former County Judge, was now the Representative in the Legislature for the area.   However,  he introduced a bill to create Klamath County. The measure passed both houses and was signed by Governor Moody on this day, October 17, 1882.  The official machinery was sworn in on November 6, 1882.  They again met at the home of George Nurse, and the Governor’s appointees were sworn in.  W. S. Moore became County Judge, Stephen Stukel and Ozro T. Brown, Commissioners, Charles Putnam, Sheriff, and W. C. Hale the County Clerk. So….that’s why I say today, this date, should be celebrated as a holiday since it was the official day that Lake County became Klamath County after a long, bitter seven years. This is Floyd Wynne and that’s THE VIEW FROM HERE.    

Text Box: 10/17/06