USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > An illustrated history of Walla Walla County, state of Washington > Part 62
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After a residence of twenty-eight years near Weston, Mr. Ginn was compelled, on account of failing health, to abandon the hard life of a farmer and remove to Walla Walla. He purchased a beautiful home at No. 626 Whitman street, where he resided until the date of his death. April 8, 1899. Two of his sons continue to operate his large farm, which
While a resident of Minnesota Mr. Ginn was active in establishing the public-school system of that state, serving as school director and aiding in the building of school houses. While a resident of Oregon he was for a time road appraiser. In Scotland he was a mem- ber of the Orangemen, and while living in Minnesota he joined the Grange, becoming a charter member of Fairpoint Lodge some thirty-six years ago.
Mr. Ginn married, on March 19. 1857, Miss Catherine Kinnear, a native of Cornwall, Ontario. Her father, who landed in Canada May 23, 1819, was born in Ireland of Scotch extraction, and her mother in England. Mr. and Mrs. Ginn were both members of the Congregational church of Walla Walla, and Mrs. Ginn still continues to take an active in- terest in the work of that society. In the family are ten children: Robert J .. at present a merchant in Moro. Oregon; Eliza J. died December 16, 1872: Ella M., now Mrs. J. R. Morrison, of Fort Langley, B. C .: Annie S .. now wife of William Elliot, of Walla Walla : Caroline A., now Mrs. Thomas Thompson. of Pendleton, Oregon: John A., deceased: Walter T., on his father's old farm; Maggie J., wife of Alexander Brady: George A., also on the farm: Minnie .1., with her mother. Three of the children, Maggie, George and Minnie, are graduates of the Weston Normal School. The entire family are benevolently disposed people, and have assisted liberally in the building of churches wherever they have lived and in the support of all charitable in- stitutions.
As illustrative of the conditions under which many of the early pioneers began life
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in the valley we may note that when Mr. and Mrs. Ginn arrived in Weston their earthly be- longings consisted of a wagon and two horses and nineteen dollars in greenbacks, then worth about ninety per cent. of their face value. Their nearest trading point was Walla Walla, twenty miles distant, and thither they had to go for the provisions and household articles necessary for their first rude home. But such was the dauntless spirit which characterized these early pioneers that they overcame every obstacle and mastered every opposing force, though the manner of achieving their victories is often a mystery to the rising generation.
ALBERT E. REID, a pioneer of 1882, and now one of the leading business men of Wallula, is a native of Ontario, Canada, born November 1, 1847. He acquired his educa- tion in the excellent schools for which that province is noted, then engaged in railroading, an occupation which he followed until about twenty-five years old. In 1872, he removed to Washington, D. C., but failing to find con- ditions as he expected, he soon went thence to Virginia, where for about four years he fol- lowed the dairy business. On retiring from that, he revisited Canada, not to remain, how- ever, for before long we find him in Dakota, and again in railroad work. In 1882, he de- cided to try his fortune further west, so came out to Walla Walla county, took pre-emption where Wallula now is, and performed such (luties in connection with it as the law required for perfecting his title, at the same time work- ing in the employ of the N. P. R. R. Company. He remained with that company until 1894, and took a prominent part in the big railway strike, serving as chairman of the striking committee.
Since the date mentioned Mr. Reid has given his attention to the mercantile business, and now has a good establishment and an ex- cellent trade in the town of Wallula. He held the position of postmaster of the town for a time under appointment by President Cleve- land. Mr. Reid is quite extensively interested in Wallula property, a considerable portion of the site being his, so that he naturally takes an active interest in promoting in every honor- able way the welfare of his home town. He is, however, too broad-minded and public- spirited to confine his interests to merely local matters, the larger affairs of state and nation receiving a share of his attention. He is one of the representative men of the Democratic party in his part of the state, and was appointed by that party a delegate to the convention that nominated Charles S. Vorhees for congress in territorial times.
Mr. Reid was married in Wallula, Decem- ber 25, 1888, to Miss Emma S. Kuechen, a native of Burlington, Iowa, whom he met while she was visiting her uncle, Mr. C. A. Linn, in 1883. To their union have been born two children, Martha and Albert.
WILLIAM CALLAHAN, one of the lead- ing farmers in the vicinity of Pleasant View, is a native of West Virginia, born in 1867. His parents were natives of Ireland, but both came to America while young, and they were is a native of West Virginia, born in 1867. quired his education in his native state, and when nineteen set out for the west. He came as far as Colorado, stopped there a year, then came on to Bakersfield, California, where he also passed a year. Subsequently he engaged in railroad work for the Southern Pacific
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Railroad Company, by which he was employed until 1800. In that year he entered the serv- ice of the Northern Pacific Company at Cen- tralia, where he resided until 1892. He then took a trip to Montana. In 1893 he returned to this state, going first to the sound country. whence the same year he came to Walla Walla county. Locating at Pleasant View, he pur- chased a quarter section of land. homesteaded another adjoining, and began wheat raising. By industry and good management he has won for himself a comfortable home and a rank among the best farmers of his neigh- borhood.
SAMUEL J. SMITH, a farmer at Clyde, is a native of Tennessee, born August 2. 1871. He lived in his native state until ten years old. then came with his parents to the state of Washington, where he grew to manhood and received his education. The family bought land on Eureka flat in 1881 and engaged in farm- ing. and Mr. Smith remained at home assist- ing his father until the latter's death. then took full charge of the farm. He now ranks among the most extensive and successful tillers of the soil in Walla Walla county, being the owner of about three thousand acres of land. He is an industrious, enterprising and progressive young man, enjoying the respect and esteem of all his neighbors. He is, in fraternal connec- tion. a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge. No. 8. of Walla Walla. On December 4. 1898, he was married in Walla Walla to Miss Nora Ebert. a native of Illinois, who came with her parents to Eureka flat in 1895. They have one daughter. Florence E., born De- cember 10. 1899. Mrs. Smith is a member of the M. E. church of Walla Walla.
Mr. Smith's mother, Mary E. Ebert, was
born in Tennessee November 26, 1828. She resided in Knox county. that state, until 1881. then came with her husband to Eureka flat. where they took up land. On January 12. 1898, she was left a widow. Her land incluides a fine tract of eighty acres, adjoining the town of Clyde. Mrs. Smith has eight living children. William G., Oliver T .. Robert M., Samuel J .. Harvey L., John W .. Laura .A. and Victoria.
JOHN WICKERSHAM. a farmer resi- clent about ten miles east of Walla Walla, is a native of Belmont county, Ohio, born in 1831. He lived in that state until twenty-five years old. engaged in farming. then went to Iowa, where his home was until. in 1862, he came to Walla Walla. His first winter in the new country was passed on Birch creek. In the spring he moved into the city of Walla Walla, and from that time until 1866 he was employed in teaming to the mines, but he then purchased what was known as the old Bab- cock place, and again became a farmer. Be- fore long. however, he sold out and moved to Touchet. where he spent a year.
Subsequently Mr. Wickersham came to the neighborhood in which he now lives, and ac- quired land by pre-emption and purchase until he had a farm of over a thousand acres. For a number of years afterwards he was one of the most extensive wheat raisers in the coun- ty, but latterly he has operated on a somewhat smaller scale. He is a man of energy and in- tegrity, and his standing in the community in which he resides is of the highest. Ile has been quite active in the campaigns and coun- sels of the Populist party since its organiza- tion, and has served as a delegate to its state conventions. His fraternal connections are
SAMUEL J. SMITH
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with the Pioneers of the Pacific, an insurance order, of which he is an honorary member.
In Iowa, in the month of October, 1856, our subject married Christina Albertson, and of their marriage have been born ten children, namely: Isaac Newton, George M., May E., Charles C. ( deceased), Cora B., John S .. Will- iam T. (deceased), Alfred L., Mary (de- ceased ), and Rosetta ( deceased).
SAMUEL A. ASH, a pioneer of 1877, was born in Vermont on July 17, 1856. He resided in his native state continuously until twenty- one years old, receiving a common school edu- cation, but as soon as he had attained his ma- jority he came direct to Walla Walla county, located at Wallula, old town, and engaged in the business of handling sheep, taking charge at first of Mr. Charles Buck's herds. He after- wards entered the employ of Legrow & Adams, for whom he was manager for fifteen consecutive years. He invested his earnings in sheep, soon acquiring quite a large herd of his own, and though he now gives his time to other pursuits, he still owns three thousand eight hundred head. He has been interested in the saloon business in Wallula since 1891. also in a mercantile establishment in the same town since 1898.
Though without money or influential friends when he arrived in Walla Walla coun- ty, he has by industry, frugality and careful management succeeded in accumulating a mod- erate fortune. Besides his Wallula property and his stock, he is the owner of seven thousand acres in the county, mostly hay and pasture land.
Mr. Ash now is and for several years has been deputy county sheep commissioner, and while Mr. Ellingsworth was sheriff of the
county he served as deputy under that officer, in Wallula precinct. He was married June 18, 1892, to Miss Mitta Doke, a native of Wallula, daughter of one of the old pioneers of the valley. They have one adopted child.
JOHN GASTON .- The respected pioneer whose name gives caption to this brief bio- graphical review was born in county Antrim, Ireland, on December 24, 1827, and in his veins, mingled together in equal proportions, are the blood of that energetic, impulsive race and the no less energetic but more staid and serene Scot. Mr. Gaston remained in his na- tive land until eighteen years of age, receiving the advantage of the excellent public schools of Belle Mene. On July 11, 1845, however, he, with his father and all his brothers and sis- ters (his mother having died some eight years before), set sail for the new world, and after a stormy voyage lasting about two months, they at length arrived in Castle Garden, New York, whence they at once removed to Balti- more. In that historic city the family made their home for a number of years, and there, on April 23, 1853, they were deprived of pa- rental guidance entirely by the death of the father.
Mr. Gaston had been employed prior to this time as a porter in P. T. Barnum's hotel, at that time supposed to be the largest in the United States, but shortly after his father's (lemise he resolved to try his fortunes in Cali- fornia. Accordingly, he took passage on a vessel bound for the south with a view to. reaching his destination by the Nicaragua route, and on October 31, 1853, he landed in San Francisco. After a short stay, he went to the Nevada City mines, where for several years he was engaged in the effort to pene-
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trate nature's vaults, and win therefrom the hidden treasure. Later, he established a vege- table garden in that region, a venture which turned out well and continued to net him con- siderable revenue until the mines closed down.
Mr. Gaston thereupon moved to Walla Walla, with which city he has been identified ever since the date of his arrival, June 6, 1862. His first business in the new country was packing and freighting into the mines of Ida- ho, in which industry he used mule-teams. He continued to devote his energies to this. making several trips into Montana, also, for about eight years, after which he engaged in the lodging house business at No. 10 South Fourth street, where he has ever since resided. He is quite extensively interested in Walla Walla realty, being the owner not only of the house in which he lives and maintains his business, but also of several lots on Knob Hill, and of other property.
Mr. Gaston has seen a great deal of pioneer life in the west, and in him are developed fully all the best traits which characterize that hon- ored class. During his long residence in Walla Walla, his life has ever been so ordered as to secure and retain the confidence, esteem and good will of those with whom he has had business or social relations, and he is the fortunate possessor of an enviable reputation and standing in the city. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonic order, being a member of Walla Walla Lodge No. 7, and also of the Chapter.
On June 6, 1892, the marriage of our sub- ject and Mrs. Mary J. Evans was solemnized in this county. Mrs. Gaston is a native of Ireland, but has been a resident of the United States ever since her nineteenth year. Mr. Gaston was reared and has ever remained an old school Presbyterian.
SETH A. FERREL, a farmer residing about eleven and a half miles east of Walla Walla, was born in this county in 1868. He received such education as the local public schools afforded, then gave his time to the cultivation of the paternal farm until about 1888. He then purchased one hundred and twenty acres, and started farming for himself. At present he is farming and raising stock on this land, and on one thousand acres which he rents from his father for use as pasture. He has a splendid orchard of ten acres, and many other improvements, which bear testimony to his industry and thrift. He is the owner of one hundred and seventy head of cattle and horses, and besides his real estate holdings in this county has title to some very good residence property in Seattle. In fraternal affiliations, he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America. He was married in Walla Walla county, in 1888, to Miss Elysia Wickersham, daughter of one of the early pioneers of the county, and their union has been blest by the advent of three children. Clyde B., Edith Flor- ence and Harry.
WILLIAM H. CARNES. a saddle and harness maker with C. E. Nye, is one of the pioneers of Walla Walla, having lived in that city since 1880. He was born in Louisville, Kentucky. December 27. 1843. In 1853, his parents removed to Indianapolis, Indiana, where they remained for five years, then remov- ing to Danville, Indiana.
At the age of eighteen years, Mr. Carnes responded to the first call of President Lincoln for volunteers. He enlisted in Company A. Seventh Indiana Infantry, under Colonel Du- mont for the three months service, taking part
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
in the first fight at Phillippi, West Virginia, which occurred several days before the battle of Bull Run. At the expiration of his three months enlistment, he re-enlisted for three years or during the war, in the Fifty-third Indiana Infantry, under Colonel Walter Q. Gresham, late secretary of state in the cabinet of President Cleveland. Mr. Carnes served with his regiment through the entire war, being- under General Grant until after the surrender of Vicksburg, then under General Sherman through the Atlanta campaign and the famous march to the sea.
At the close of his three years, Mr. Carnes re-enlisted for three years more in the veteran service. He was with Sherman's triumphant army in the campaign from Savannah through South Carolina and North Carolina, terminat- ing in the surrender of General Joe Johnston, near Raleigh, in April, 1865. He also was with the army in its march to Washington city and took part in the grand review in the national capital. His regiment was then returned to Indianapolis, where they were mustered out. Mr. Carnes was wounded at the battle of At- lanta, being shot in the left foot during a charge, and was incapacitated for active service for about two months, but being a mounted courier, did not take a discharge. He par- ticipated in the battle of Shiloh, the siege of Corinth, battle of Hatchie river, the Vicksburg campaign and siege, the raid on Meridian, Mississippi, in the winter of 1863 and '64, and in the engagement at Jackson, Mississippi, after the Vicksburg surrender.
Upon being mustered out, he removed to. Fairbury, Illinois, where he served an appren- ticeship of three years to a harness maker. He then went to Princeton, Arkansas, and opened a grocery store in connection with a harness shop and saddlery. In the spring of
1873 he removed to San Francisco, where he followed his trade until March, 1880, removing then to Walla Walla. For two years he was employed in the harness shop of Thomas Quinn, after which he opened a shop of his own on East Main street. In 1891, his place was destroyed by fire and he lost his shop with his entire stock and tools, and he then accepted his present position with C. E. Nye.
Mr. Carnes is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Columbia Lodge, No. 8, of Walla Walla, and of Lincoln Post, No. 4, G. A. R., in which he is a past commander. He has represented his post as a delegate to the depart- ment encampment and has served as aide-de- camp on the staff of the commander in chief of the G. A. R. He was married in Danville, Indiana, November 10, 1869, to Miss Elizabeth Kempton, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio.
WALTER S. FERGUSON, a farmer, re- siding about seven miles east of Walla Walla, is a son of the west, having been born in Doug- las county, Oregon, in 1866. He came with the remainder of the family to Walla Walla coun- ty, in 1872, and his first home in this section was about three miles east of the place where he now resides. He received a good education. enjoying the advantages both of the public schools and of Whitman College, then engaged in farming as an occupation. He is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of fine land, and is engaged in raising wheat principally, though he also gives some atten- tion to other farm products. He is one of the solid and substantial citizens of the county, and though not ambitious for leadership or personal preferment, enjoys an abundant measure of the esteem and good will of his neighbors. He
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married. in this county, in 1895. Miss Jessie May Foster, a member of one of the earliest pioneer families and they have two children. Cecil W. and Bessie L. The family are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church.
ELI W. CROUP. D. D. S .- Walla Walla. like most other western cities, is supplied with a large corps of able and efficient professional men many of whom are among the choicest products of the finest colleges, universities and professional schools in the land. Prominent among them is Eli W. Croup, one of the leading dental surgeons in eastern Washington. He was born in Butler, Pennsylvania. on April 18. 1852. and in the public schools of that town he took his initial steps in the pursuit of an education. He supplemented his thorough common school training by a complete course in Witherspoon Seminary, and immediately after graduation began the study of dentistry under Dr. S. R. Diffenbaucher. Five years were given to the study and practice of dentist- ry, and at the end of this protracted appren- ticeship Dr. Croup became a partner of his former preceptor. This partnership continued until the death of Dr. Diffenbaucher, where- upon Dr. Croup purchased his partner's inter- ests and continued the business alone. His skill and assiduity brought him a very large patron- age, and the net annual earnings of his office ran up into the thousands of dollars, but failing health soon compelled him to seek a more salubrious climate.
.Accordingly. Dr. Croup placed his business in charge of an assistant and came west. arriv- ing in Walla Walla August 6. 1884. He found the conditions and prospects very favor- able, and, though he could not do so without material sacrifice, he soon decided to make this
city his permanent home. He sold his business in the east. brought his family to Walla Walla and prepared to engage in the practice of his profession here. Until 1896. he maintained an office in the Kirkman building. but the growth of his practice rendered larger and more con- venient offices necessary. so he then moved t) the Quinn building, where we now find him. The present firm. Croup Bros .. was formed in 1895. when the Doctor took his younger brother, who had also become a dentist of abili- ty. into partnership.
Dr. Croup is thoroughly devoted to his profession, and has given the assiduous efforts of many years to the mastery of everything per- taing to diseases of the mouth and teeth and to their treatment. In furtherance of this end he. in 1893. took an extended post-graduate course in Haskell's Prosthetic School of Dent- istry in Chicago.
In fraternal affiliations, the Doctor is iden- tified with the Woodmen of the World. Camp No. 96. of Walla Walla, while in religious persuasion, he and his entire family are Metho- dists, their membership being in the First Methodist Episcopal church of this city.
Dr. Croup was married on the 28th of March. 1879. to Miss Susan D. Eshingbaugh. a native of Butler. Pennsylvania, and to their union two children have been born: Estella May, who will graduate in vocal music from a musical college in Chicago in June. 1901 : and Myrtle Gail, a pupil in the public schools of Walla Walla.
ALFRED C. WELLMAN. a farmer near Clyde. is a native of Alabama, born No- vember 3. 1835. When a year old he was taken by his parents to Missouri, where his father became an extensive farmer and mer-
ALFRED C. WELLMAN
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chant. Mr. Wellman attended the public schools until he acquired a good general educa- tion. then in 1855 took charge of his father's eleven-hundred-acre farm. In 1862 the father died. The next year the family started across the plains with ox-teams to Walla Walla coun- ty, where, shortly after his arrival, Mr. Well- man took a pre-emption on Dry creek. He also engaged in mining in Idaho, and succeeded in locating some very rich claims.
In 1871 Mr. Wellman was elected county assessor of Walla Walla county, and at the ex- piration of his term he became deputy sheriff. serving for two years. He then made a trip east in the interest of a patent calculator, one of his own invention. On his return he went to Silver City. Idaho, where he mined until 1870. He then located a timber culture on Eureka flat, and became one of the pioneer ag- riculturists of that section. He now owns and farms six hundred and forty acres on Eureka flat, raising wheat.
He is an energetic and progressive man. highly esteemed in his community, and re- spected as one who may be relied upon to do as he agrees at all times. He was married in April. 1855. to Miss Helen M. Merritt. a native of Missouri, and to them have been born seven children. Charles V., Alice C., Richard H., Perey L., Mary J .. Mark A. and .AI C. In fraternal affiliations Mr. Wellman is identified with the Elks. Mrs. Wellman is a member of the Christian church, having joined the so- ciety of that faith in New London, Missouri, in 1855.
CHARLES T. SWEETSER. a farmer near Prescott, is a native of Maine, born De- cember 10. 1849. He was reared and educated in Port Huron, Michigan, to which city he
was taken by parents, when a small boy. His father followed lumbering and milling in Mich- igan, but. in 1855. he and his son, Charles T .. together came to Iowa, where they bought land, and turned their attention to the business of tilling the soil. In the fall of 1879. Mr. Sweetser came, via San Francisco, to Looking Glass valley. and embarked in the lumber in- dustry, but, the following spring. he moved to Prescott, took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, and a timber culture of one hundred and sixty more four miles north of that town and started farming. He has been engaged in that industry continuously since. with excellent success, and has a fine, well cultivated farm. His home and surround- ings bear eloquent testimony to his thrift. energy and progressiveness. He was mar- ried in Iowa, in 1874. to Miss Ella MI. Haviland. a native of Illinois, but a resident of Iowa from her twelfth year until the date of her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Sweetser are parents of three children, living : Viola, born September 8. 1875: Grace, born September 3. 1886: Pansy, born January 9. 1889: also one. Archie. deceased.
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