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| George Frank Jackson and William Townsend Dickinson by their Columbia Mining and Milling cabin on Cummings Creek. |
(From the Columbia Chronicle, Fall 1898)
[He] departed for
Tukanon on Tuesday morning accompanied by G.F. Jackson. Wednesday they went to
the Cummings Creek, in which Mr. Dickinson is interested with Jackson
Bros. Mr. Dickinson will be in charge of
the development work. It is the
intention of this company to sink 100 feet on their ledge from the end of their
tunnel, and by that time expect to determine the true value of the prospect. A hoisting apparatus will be put inside the
tunnel. Comfortable quarters have been
provided by the erection of a good log cabin with a fire place therein.
George Frank Jackson and William Townsend Dickinson both came to Columbia County from
Stark County, Illinois, Jackson by rail, steamer, boat, and wagon in 1878 and
Dickinson by rail in 1889. Jackson acquired land and stock, running a large
band of sheep on the Pataha at Dry Hollow Homestead. Dickinson, who had been an architect and
builder in Galva, Illinois, was injured at Pea Ridge, Arkansas, during the
Civil War and later became an assayer and mineralogist. He eventually joined
the Jacksons (Richard A., George Frank, and John Henry) in the mining venture
up Cummings Creek on the Tucannon.
Known as the Columbia Mine, the tunnel produced promising
samples of quartz, which were sent to Tacoma, Portland, and Spokane for
analysis. Water in one shaft and a
narrow ledge in another forced development of yet another tunnel.
Discouraging progress did not seem to deter investors,
according to a 1901 Columbia Chronicle letter to the editor. The promise was, “Your money shall be
carefully and judiciously spent in an effort to develop the mine.”
As it turned out, W.T. Dickinson began suffering from ill health
and was unable to continue the development of the mine. He died in 1904. A
Columbia Chronicle article in August 1903 mentions “promising” assessment work,
with “Gold from new stringers, 2 assays, $7.23; from old stringer, gold and
silver, $17.90.” More research is needed to find out why development did not
continue after Dickinson’s death.
Columbia Mining and Milling was but one of many companies
and mines in the area through the early years of the 20th
century: Bonanza, Tukanon, Big Four,
Ophire, Alice, Annie May, Shinbone, Black Diamond, and more. No information on resulting great wealth was
unearthed.
G.F. Jackson ‘s home at 308 South First Street in Dayton was
built in 1905 and has recently been renovated.
W.T. Dickinson lived at 515 South Fourth Street (Dexter house), in
Dayton. That home, built in 1872, is
currently for sale.
(Information from Jackson and Dickinson family history and
the Columbia Chronicle (1899-1904).
