Some South Reardan Homesteads

Introduction

This is a collection of stories about a few of the homesteads and properties south of Reardan, Washington. Most of these places are tied to a common Mahrt heritage. Much of the information comes from family lore, old photographs, the genealogy collection left by Leah Mahrt, public records and the Internet. Most of the description of Fred Mahrt place has been adapted from stories and information in the Leah Mahrt collection. While I have endeavored to be accurate, some mistakes will be unintentionally included. The blame for any error is mine. I ask for help to fill in missing information, whether it be a missing fact or story about one of the included properties or stories about properties not included. I can be reached at Kirk.Carlson@att.net. It would be nice to fill out some of the other quarters of land.

I hope you enjoy reading these stories.

Figure 1 Map of the area showing original owner. Roads are approximately where they would have been around 1900. Places are identified with their original homesteader (even if long forgotten) and an identifier of the quarter section. All sections are part of Township 25 North Range 39 East Willamette Meridian, except for the John Plaster Purchase Quarter which is Township 24 North Range 29 East Willamette Meridian.

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Figure 2 The area as it is today. From Lincoln County 9-1-1 Road atlas.

• School Section (Section 16)
• Buckman Railroad Quarter (NE ¼ Section 17)
• John Mahrt Homestead Quarter (NE ¼ Section 20)
• Fred Mahrt Homestead Quarter (SW ¼ Section 20)
• Fred Mahrt Railroad Quarter (SE ¼ Section 20)
• Fred Mahrt Timber Culture Quarter (SW ¼ Section 20
• Rice Railroad Quarter (SW ¼ Section 21)
• Rice Homestead Quarter (NW ¼ Section 28)
• Franz Homestead Quarter (SE ¼ Section 28)
• Plaster Homestead Quarter (SW ¼ Section 28)
• Sprague Railroad Section (All of Section 29)
• Prince Homestead Quarter (NE ¼ Section 30)
• Rice Timber Culture Quarter (SE ¼ Section 30)
• The Bowen Railroad Quarter (NE ¼ of Section 33)

About the author: Kirk Carlson is a great grandchild of William and Mary Koeller and Albert and Louella Plaster. He grew up on his great great uncle Fred Mahrt’s homestead and went to school with many Mahrt, Koeller, Ensor, Wegner, and Wendlandt decendants. Much of the text was adapted from interviews by Leah Mahrt with her father William in 1978. William was a son of Fred Mahrt.