When She Crossed the Plains in 1862.
When Mrs. B. J. Grubbs, whose death is reported from Walla Walla at the age of 89, crossed the plains and mountains in 1862 to the Pacific
of 24. The family passed through Walla Walla en route to the Willamette valley and later she and her husband came to Walla Walla to live.
Life in the Inland Empire was in the primitive then. In Washington territory, settlements east of the Cascade mountains were limited to Walla
Walla and the Colville valley. There was not a bridge across the Spokane, though James Monaghan operated a ferry a few miles below the falls, and Antoine Blante had a ferry a few miles above. There were no white settlements at the falls until a decade later. 
The seat of government for the vast region north of Snake river was at Pinkey City, about three miles from the present town of Colville. It was the county seat of the original Spokane county (later changed to Stevens county) and lat on one side of Mill Creek, wihile the military post of Fort Colville was on the other. 
W. P. Winans, who was in business at Pinkney City, served two terms as auditor of the original county of Spokane. These entries in his diary are a vivid reminder of conditions at that time: December 28, 1862-E. F. Smith started below with $22,000 in gold dust, accompanied by James Monaghan, Pucket and Lieutenant Hoadley. 
January 2, 1863-Conners' mule train got in with goods from Wallula, 13,000 pounds of bacon, sugar and so forth, 36 days since he started for the goods. Paid freight bill on same, $1950-15 cents per pound. 
They had militant prohibition at Pinkey City in 1862. In April, Major Curtis of the post went to the distillery in the town, "took the worm of the still out and up to the fort, knocked all the barrels of whisky in the head and ordered every one in town not to sell liquor to any one, which order was obeyed, not only because it was an order, but for self-protection." Mr. Winans added that "during the prohibition the settlers expended about the same amount of money, but it was noticeable that their families were more comfortably housed and better clothed."