With the opening of the "South Half" of the Colville Indian reservation to mineral entry in the summer of 1898, and the rush of miners into the heretofore forbidden territory, a small town made its appearance on the Sans Poil (sic) river at a point about six miles north of its confluence with the Columbia.  It was named "Keller" in honor of its pioneer merchant, J. C. KELLER.  Immediately upon the opening, Mr. KELLER, who was in the general merchandise business at Almira, a little town in Lincoln county, took a stock of goods on to the reservation and established a store at the present site of the town.  Several locations which promised to develop into rich mines had been "spotted" long before the territory was thrown open to lawful entry by white men.  At the time of the rush to the "South Half", these claims were taken up; the new town at once became the central supply point for the whole of the "South Half".

     In this new town, Mr. KELLER was not long without opposition.  Shortly afterward, F. E. WANNOCOTT and FARR Brothers established general stores, the latter firm soon selling out to George W. SPENCE, the present clerk of Ferry county.  Other enterprises soon made their appearance.  Within a few weeks, a thriving town was located on the banks of the Sans Poil river.  Although the "South Half" was not opened until June 30, we find early in August, in addition to the three general stores already mentioned, a saloon conducted by Daniel P. BAGNELL, three restaurants, a barber shop, a recorder's office, two assay offices and a blacksmith shop.  The erection of a hotel and livery stable were also contemplated at this time.  Two daily stage lines were in operation between Keller and towns on the Central Washington Railroad, through Lincoln county.  The hum of industry was heard in the new town and business affairs were prosperous.  There was a lively movement in real estate.

     But over this scene there suddenly swept a radical and alarming change.  By order of the Interior Department at Washington, D. C., United States marshals, in August, moved down upon the town.  The saloon-keeper, BAGNELL, was arrested, taken to Wilbur and his stock of liquors and cigars confiscated.  The other business men were compelled to close their stores until they had procured a trader's license.  BAGNELL's arrest was followed by the apprehension of County Attorney H. G. KIRKPATRICK, charged with the introduction of liquor upon Indian lands, because it had been upon his advice that a saloon license had been granted to BAGNELL.  KIRKPATRICK and BAGNELL were tried before Judge Hanford, of the United States circuit court.  His decision was rendered September 22nd, discharging the defendants.

     This decision was of vital importance to the town of Keller and the whole of the "South Half" of the reservation.  It practically opened that portion of the reservation to business men who, formerly had been completely barred out, or, if admitted, were compelled to deposit a $10,000 bond with the government.  Judge Hanford's ruling was made upon the plea of Attorney ROBERTSON that, by the act of congress, passed July 1, 1898, the "South Half" of the Colville reservation ceased to be Indian country.  The act provided, among other things, "that the mineral lands in the Colville reservation shall be subject to entry under the laws of the United States in relation to the entry of mineral lands."  Basing his plea upon this provision, Attorney ROBERTSON argued that as BAGNESS had fully complied with the laws relating to the mineral land locations, the seizure of his stock of liquors and his indictment, together with that of KIRKPATRICK, were illegal.  After referring to the act passed by congress which opened the country in question to mineral locations, the plea recited in brief that a large number of miners and locators immediately went upon the land, discovering and filing upon valuable mineral deposits and engaging in various mercantile pursuits.  These locations were made upon the Sans Poil river, between Republic and Wilbur, at the village known as Keller.  In that locality, William MEIDKING located and filed on a mineral claim July 2, 1898.  BAGNELL leased from MEIDKING the right to go upon the claim, which was known as the "Sweet Alice", and establish his business.  He procured from Deputy Internal Revenue Collector Paul SREOBACH, a license and commission and proceeded to open up his saloon for trade.

     The plea of Attorney ROBERTSON in conclusion said:

     "That by reason of said location, as aforesaid, the right and title of the Indians of the Colville Indian reservation to the said land and mining claim ceased, and was abolished, and they had no rights of occupancy to said land;  but that on the contrary, this affindent, as the lessee of the said MEIDKING, was entitled to the exclusive and undisturbed possession and occupancy of the same, and the same was, by act of congress, excluded from the non-intercourse laws of the United States, and the same is not Indian country.  That the said goods, merchandise and liquors were not put on the said mining claim, and the said claim was not located until after the said act of congress, and at the time the goods were seized they were not in Indian country."

     Formerly it had been necessary to give a government bond for $10,000 before any business house could open on the "South Half", and even when these conditions had been fully complied with, the agents held power to regulate the business in various ways, and at times involving the use of considerable red tape.  This restrictive condition of affairs deterred many persons from engaging in a profitable business in this locality.  The rule applied alike to large and small concerns, a barber shop being compelled to furnish the same bond as a clothing store.  Following this decision it became possible for any one to begin business on any properly located claim.  The authority of the Indian agent still applied to the acts of Indians on the reservation, but he was no longer czar of the "South Half".

     Business was at once resumed in the new town, and in November we find that there were in Killer the following commercial establishments:  Three general stores, two lodging houses, a feed stable, blacksmith shop and butcher shop.  About twenty cabins were in course of construction.  The years 1899 and 1900 were prosperous ones for Keller.  Mines were being developed which afforded employment for many men.  During these years the town reached a population of about six hundred.

     Late in 1899, a scheme was put on foot to remove the town to a site about one-half mile north of its present location.  The object of this manipulation was to secure a townsite where clear title could be had for the land.  The land upon which Keller stands has never been patented, and consequently the citizens could claim only "squatters' rights" to the ground on which they lived.  To prosecute the new scheme, the Keller Development Company was organized in which were interested A. C. LITTLE,  Seymore H. BELL,  Thurston DANIELS and others.  This company secured a patented claim to the proposed townsite and December 9, 1899, the town of Keller was platted and dedicated.  The business men of the town fell in with the plan, and decided to remove their goods and house-hold effects to the new site.  A saw mill was built by the company in the new town, the streets were graded and many other improvements made.  A number of town lots were sold to the people of the old town, and everything was in readiness for the "trek", when a disagreement arose between the new townsite company and the business men of the old town; the removal was never made.

     The only fire of a serious nature that has ever visited the town of Keller occurred August 15, 1901.  The general mercantile store of E. B. MAGUIRE, which had been purchased from George W. SPENCE only a few days before, burned to the ground, entailing a severe loss but partly covered by insurance.

     At present Keller is a town of about 350 inhabitants.  It is handsomely located on a bench, about forty feet above the Sans Poil river, and is an ideal spot for a townsite location.  Excellent wagon roads connect the town with Republic, forty-nine miles to the north, and with Wilbur, twenty-one miles to the south.  Daily stages run between Keller and Wilbur, and three times a week Columbia river steamers plying between Wenatchee and northern points stop at the landing at the mouth of the Sans Poil river.  This landing is known as Clark postoffice, and has an eating house for the accommodation of steamer passengers.  There are now in Keller two general merchandise stores owned by W. L. MURPHY and C. A. GRAY, two hotels, two butcher shops, two saloons and a saw mill.  W. L. MURPHY is the post-master.

     At Keller and in its immediate vicinity are a number of fine mining properties which have been developed to a considerable degree, and all of which have shipped ore to some extent.  The principal properties are the group owned by the Silver Creek Mining & Milling Company, of which Gold Cord and the Summit mine are the best known.  Other mines near Keller are the Manila, Iconoclast, the Byrne group, Justice, Black Crystal and properties owned by the Lorraine Copper Mining Company.

     The flattering mining prospects in this camp, and throughout the "South Half" country have interested capital in the formation of a company which proposes to build a smelter, to be located one-quarter of a mile below the town.  The name of this organization is the Keller & Indiana Consolidated Smelting Company, capitalized at $5,000,000, with the following officers:  R. L. BOYLE, of South Bend, Indiana, president;  H. A. DENTON, of Keller, vice president;  J. F. REED, of Indianapolis, secretary.  Trustees of the company are R. L. BOYLE,  H. A. DENTON,  J. F. REED,  H. HILDEBRANT of Indianapolis, and J. F. BADGER of Tacoma.  Already the company has constructed a bridge and flume from the mouth of Silver Creek, three-quarters of a mile above the town, to the proposed location of the smelter below the townsite.  It is expected that the erection of the plant will follow immediately.

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