HENRY GANTENBEIN, JR.
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One of the earliest homesteaders in the Pasco area was Henry Gantenbein, Jr. who arrived in the 1880’s and took out a claim in what is now known as Gantenbein’s Addition to Pasco, which he platted. He irrigated some of his land by means of a pump and a water wheel out of the Columbia River. We find his name listed in early records. For example, in the minutes of the meeting of the school board at Ainsworth, W.T. for May 25th 1885 we note that he and D.D. Sylvester and W.P. Gray were named on a committee to determine the site to relocate the school building to be moved from Ainsworth to Pasco Junction. Also we note his brother’s name in the school board minutes at Pasco, W.T. November 23, 1887 showing that “R.A. Gantenbein bid $1.87 per foot to dig a well for the school.”
Abby Kidwell, president of the Franklin County Historical Society, a granddaughter of Henry Gantenbein, states that he was appointed road supervisor in 1884 by the county commissioners, J.W. Shull, D.W. Owen and C.M. McBride.
