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The
Odessa territory was
first settled around
1880's by cattleman who
felt the bunchgrass
covered land, with Crab
Creek running through
the center, was one of
the best rangelands in
the Northwest. One
such man George W.
Finney, later known as
the founder of Odessa,
who once homesteaded
land upon which the town
now stands.
In
1892, the Great Northern
Railroad was built
through this part of the
country, with a
sidetrack known as the
Odessa Siding. In
order to attract
settlers to Odessa and
ensure themselves of
future success, the
Great Northern Railroad
offered immigrants free
passage and the
opportunity to obtain
homesteads. By
1898, Mr. Finney,
realizing the potential
for a town, donated his
land and platted the town site.
80% of immigrants
settling in Odessa are
consisted of Germans
from Russia. Many
settlers heard of the
new land through friends
and relatives already
living in areas south of
Odessa, such as
Ritzville and
Colfax. These
German families, living
along the Black Sea and
the Volga River in
Russia as wheat farmers
for the past 100 years,
were discouraged by
increasing taxes,
government harassment,
and forced military
service.
Therefore, their decisions
to leave Russia and move
westward were easily
made. Entire
families came to the
Odessa area, bringing
with them the German
culture they strove to
retain throughout the
many years of hardships
under Russian
domination.
In
October 1902, Odessa was
incorporated with a
population of 500.
The town continued to
grow reaching
approximately 1200
people and remaining
fairly constant over the
years. These
plucky pioneers and
their descendants are to
be commended for their
thrift, industry,
simplicity, and
Christian beliefs. Their
lives revolved around
home, family, church,
"Kirche, Kinder,
and Kuche"
(Literally church,
children and kitchen).
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