In 1871 Thomas J. Kirk arrived in Umatilla County and acquired 450 acres adjacent to Darwin A. Richards. Others who settled in the area about this time included Benjamin D. Clemons, who built a smithy in 1878 and also the first house in the townsite which Richards and Kirk platted from their lands. This was accomplished in June of 1878, at the time of the Bannock Indian War. The civic-minded T.J. Kirk, who donated property for the early churches, also provided land for a school. D.W. Jarvis was hired as superintendent in 1877, and 12 years later he suggested the name "Athena" replace "Centerville" as there were already two other Centervilles in the region. As a classical scholar, Prof. Jarvis said the rolling hills around the town were similar to those surrounding Athens, Greece, hence the new name. It was made official by the state legislature on May 16, 1889.
In 1871 Thomas J. Kirk arrived in Umatilla County and acquired 450 acres adjacent to Darwin A. Richards. Others who settled in the area about this time included Benjamin D. Clemons, who built a smithy in 1878 and also the first house in the townsite which Richards and Kirk platted from their lands. This was accomplished in June of 1878, at the time of the Bannock Indian War. The civic-minded T.J. Kirk, who donated property for the early churches, also provided land for a school. D.W. Jarvis was hired as superintendent in 1877, and 12 years later he suggested the name "Athena" replace "Centerville" as there were already two other Centervilles in the region. As a classical scholar, Prof. Jarvis said the rolling hills around the town were similar to those surrounding Athens, Greece, hence the new name. It was made official by the state legislature on May 16, 1889.
Family Members
Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
