Most of the people who lived there were 'Homesteaders' who took advantage of the 'Homestead Act' and received their 160 acres of 'free' land.
A large part of Eastern Oregon was populated in this manner in the late 1800s to the early 1900s.
A lot of these Homesteaders built their lives around these communities with small towns springing up around them.
Unfortunately the requirements of having to build a living structure and farm the land proved to be very difficult due to lack of water in these areas along with the simple fact a lot of the people Homesteaded as they didn't have anything else. Their existence was hardscrabble at best with something like 3 out of five not making it and abandoning the land.
Most of what I found were typical rural type items - old tools, rigging buckles, household items etc. Sometimes clothing buttons and personal items but nothing of value and ZERO coins from the era.
Some of these homesteaders held on through the 30's however by the early 40's they were mostly all gone as WW2 drew people into the military or on to the cities for jobs.
The history of Homesteading in Eastern Oregon is well documented with a lot of books and writings on it. It was a very vibrant time actually and in a large way 'shaped' what Eastern Oregon became.
