USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > An illustrated history of Walla Walla County, state of Washington > Part 66
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After about four years Mr. Lynch sold his freighting outfit that he might confine his energies to his blacksmithing, carriage making and hardware business, and he continued to
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
do so from that date until the time of his death. December 12, 1881.
Mr. Lynch was a broad-minded, public- spirited, benevolent man. He was three times elected to a seat in the Walla Walla city coun- cil. and in 1874 was elected on the Demo- cratic ticket to represent the county in the territorial legislature. He was one of the or- ganizers of the Washington Volunteer Fire Department. the first fire company in Walla Walla. Mr. Lynch was always a devout Catholic, but was too broad a man to confine his sympathy and benevolence sto any one organization. Hle subscribed liberally to all religious sects, and no worthy cause ever solicited his aid in vain. In Port- land. Oregon, June 18. 1861, he mar- ried Miss Mary Byrne, a native of Ireland. reared and educated in the county of Roscom- 101. When eighteen she came with neighbors to Chicago, Illinois, and made her home with her brother, a business man there. In 1859 the brother died, and she came via Panama to Vancouver, Washington, where she lived with another brother until her marriage, since which she has been a resident of Walla Walla. She and her husband became parents of eight chil- dren: Edward M. and Elitia May, deceased : Sarah .\ .. wife of Hon. D. J. Crowley, of Ta- coma, counsel for the Northern Pacific Rail- way: Gertrude M .. now Mrs. A. C. Marcon- nier : Eliza Margaret, now Mrs. W. A. Fergu- son, of Walla Walla : Charles II., a bookkeeper for his brother in this city: Martin MI., a clerk in Walla Walla : and Robert E., a plumber in Walla Walla.
Since Mr. Lynch's death his widow has done all in her power to carry out his charita- ble desires, assisting every worthy cause to the full extent of her ability. She is a mem- ber of the Ladies' Relief Society, a society
incorporated under the laws of the state of Washington in March, 1885, though organ- ized in 1880. It is devoted to general charita- ble purposes, recognizing no sector creed in the furtherance of its noble work. Mrs. Lynch is one of the oldest members of the organization, and has always been a hard worker for the good of the cause.
HON. WILLIAM G. PRESTON .- It is with great pleasure that we now essay the task of outlining the life history of one whom an adventurous spirit early led to the sea, and afterwards kept on the forefront of civiliza- tion's march during the decades of a long and successful career. Our subject has always been a giant in achievement and one before whom difficulties that would overwhelm a less resolute man vanished like the dew before the rays of the morning sun.
Mr. Preston was born in Galway, Sara- tuga county, New York, on the 23d of Novem- ber. 1832, and his education was acquired in Galway academy, located in the town of his birth. When eighteen years old. he went to live with his uncle. Rev. A. W. Platt. a Pres- byterian minister, residing in Tompkins coun- ty. New York, with whom he remained until 1852. Ile then went to sea, visiting New Brunswick. New Orleans. Liverpool and other points in Great Britain and America, and re- turning to Galway, via Boston, in 1854.
That year witnessed the opening for settle- ment of the territory of Nebraska, and thither our subject went in the fall, making the jour- ney by way of Chicago and Rock Island, down the Mississippi to St. Louis, and up the Mis- souri river. there being no direct railway con- nection at that time. Locating at Bellevue.
WILLIAM G. PRESTON.
MRS. WILLIAM G. PRESTON.
PLATT A. PRESTON.
MRS. PLATT A. PRESTON.
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
he became captain of Colonel Sarpee's large ferry-boat in 1855, and when the territorial capital was moved to Omaha, and the boat sold to the Council Bluffs and Nebraska Ferry Company, he went with it to Omaha. In 1857, he removed to Steubenville, Ohio, and built the Omaha City, a double engine, side- wheel boat, designed to carry freight on the river. In 1858, leaving the ferry industry in charge of his brother, he went to Pike's Peak, Colorado, and was among the first on the site of Denver, building one of the first houses. He was engaged in mining in the Gregory mines for a couple of years but, meeting with only indifferent success, he resolved to try his fortunes in northern Idaho, then a part of the territory of Washington. He went in by the upper Snake river, crossing the stream in a wagon bed, and by old Fort Lemhi at the head of the Salmon river.
Mr. Preston's connection with the town of Waitsburg dates back to 1866. Shortly after his arrival he purchased a half interest in the Washington Flouring mills, adding also a general merchandise business. He and his brother, Platt A., bought out Mr. Wait, the original owner, and has continued in the busi- ness ever since, at times having other asso- ciates in both milling and merchandise. He is a director in the Merchant's Bank of Waits- burg, a stockholder and director in the Schwa- bacher Company's general merchandise store at Walla Walla, was prominently connected with the Puget Sound Dressed Meat Company when that was in existence, and is very largely in- terested in farming lands and in stock. While evidences of Mr. Preston's wonderful enter- prise and great executive ability are every- where manifest, they are especially to be found in the Washington Mills, which have long been the leading industry of Waitsburg,
and which have ever been so successfully man- aged as to win for their products the first place for excellence and a very enviable reputation the state over. The plant is in all respects equal to the best, and the people of the city are justly proud of it.
Notwithstanding the exacting nature of his many duties in connection with his private busi- ness, Mr. Preston has always found time to take an interest in politics, and, when called upon to perform the public duties for which his fine intellectual endowments so well quali- fied him, to attend to the same with faithful- ness and care. When in the legislature in ISSI, he was appointed chairman of the very important Ways and Means committee.
Preston was married, in 1869, to Miss Matilda Cox, a daughter of the noted Hon. Anderson Cox, and perhaps the first white child born in Idaho. Their union has been blest by the advent of three children. Bert and Dale, in the Preston Grocery Company of Walla Walla, and Charles, in the mills at Waitsburg.
As an interesting reminiscence, we may record that in 1862. Mr. Preston and his brother, while on their way to the Idaho min- ing region, crossed the Snake river above Fort Hall when the stream was swollen by melting snows, using their wagon bed as a boat. The experiment was a very dangerous one, but they managed to thus safely ferry across the camp equipments and wagons of a large train of immigrants, swimming the stock. On reach- ing Fort Lemhi, as wagons could be taken no further, they traded their cattle and wagons to some of those in the train who became dis- couraged and turned back, receiving mules in exchange. Pack saddles were made and their first experience in the most primitive form of transportation where beasts of burden are used
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
was had. One of the mules rolled down the mountain and landed in the brush hundreds of feet below, but further than that no great losses were sustained. After experiencing such hardships as only a packer knows anything about, they at length reached the Elk City mines, where the search for the key to mi- ture's vaults began.
HON. PLATT A. PRESTON .- Among the representatives of nature's nobility, who in early days made their way to the Pacific coast, is the man whose name forms the cap- tion of this article, and fortunate it is for the industrial and social life of the Walla Walla valley that it was so long favored by the pres- ence and influence of such a man. His great executive ability and capacity for managing a multiplicity of enterprises at the same time enabled him to perform tasks which would have been far beyond the power of ordinary men, while his splendid intellectual develop- ment and sterling integrity made him many times the choice of the electors for high of- fices of trust and emolument. In the per- formance of every duty, whether it would be classed as important or otherwise, he was sig- nally faithful, and his broad-minded charity and unwavering disposition to treat everyone with whom he came in contact with fairness and courtesy made him friends by the hun- dreds.
Our subject was born in Saratoga county. New York, in 1837. His father. Calvin, a physician by profession, was also a son of the Empire state, and his mother, nec Mc. Alister. was likewise born there. Mr. Preston received his education in the public schools and in Princeton Academy, and when the time ar-
rived for him to leave the parental roof and to initiate independent action, came out to Oma- ha. Nebraska, where for four years he was employed by the Council Bluffs and Omaha Ferry Company. In 1860, we find him mining in Colorado and. in 1862. in that part of Wash- ington territory now included in the state of Idaho, his business still being to hunt assidu- ously for the hidden treasure. In 1866 he became identified with the town of Waitsburg. where he turned his attention to milling. pur- chasing an interest in the plant of Mr. Wait. the city's founder. Success attended his efforts in the new town from the first. his property in- terests increased steadily and his wealth grew unceasingly. He became the owner of one of the finest residences in the city. besides much other realty within the corporate limits, and. to- gether with his brother. William G., held the title to some five thousand acres of excellent wheat land. all of which was fully utilized in the production of cereals. He and his brother owned most of their property in common and always looked carefully after each other's in- terests.
Mr. Presten was a member of the last terri- torial legislature, and so satisfactory to the constituency was his service that the electors thereof honored him by keeping him in the state senate for four years. One singular cir- cumstance connected with his public life is that though he was so prominent in many holly contested political campaigns, he seems to have made no enemies, the charm of his per- sonality being such as to disarm hostility. He was appointed penitentiary commissioner by Gov. Ferry, and at different times served as city councilman and school director, and in numerous other capacities.
In 1869. he became the husband of her who had been Miss Laura Billups, a native of
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
Iowa, and the issue of their union was four children. Mrs. Preston died in 1897.
About three or four years ago, Mr. Pres- ton bought a home on Portland Heights, Port- land, Oregon, and there his family were resid- ing at the time of his sudden demise. He died of heart decease on March 12, 1900, while traveling in Texas for the benefit of his daugh- ter's health, but though that melancholy event took place in Galveston, at the home of his youngest brother, Calvin W. Preston, his re- mains lie buried in Waitsburg cemetery. He had been a prominent Mason, having once served as Grand Master, and at the time of his funeral the members of that fraternity in Walla Walla testified their esteem and regard by chartering a special train and attending en masse. . All the papers of the state with one accord bore testimony to his exalted character, splendid abilities and great service, and the memorial tribute of love, prepared by Waits- burg Chapter, No. 9.Order of the Eastern Star, so admirably indites the regard and esteem in which the deceased was held not alone by the members of that order but by the entire com- munity that we cannot refrain from reproduc- ing it in full. It reads as follows: "Any at- tempt to express the very high esteem in which Brother Platt .\. Preston was held by the members of this chapter or the consequent sor- row because of his death can only prove futile. The official position he has held among us, while it is an intimation of our regard, fails to voice our love for him as a brother, com- panion and fellow-laborer in carrying forward the benevolent and fraternal purposes of our beloved order. He has been with us from the beginning and has shared all our labors, has borne with us our sorrows and participated in our joys and pleasures. But yesterday he was with us. and suddenly, before we can fully
realize it, he has taken his silent and final de- parture. We can only hold him in our fond remembrance, only recall the pleasant hours of social intercourse enjoyed while he was with us and hope for a happy reunion bye and bye when partings never come to sadden the heart and bedim the eye. Brother Preston was a man of many excellent qualities. He was a well poised man, one who was not spoiled by positions of honor, trust or emolument. He never forgot that he himself was human and that others were entitled to the same rights as he. This made him companionable, made him friends, and it is with no little pride we say with confidence that notwithstanding his long residence in this community, though it was one of activity in business of various kinds and in political life. yet his friends were legion. while no man called him 'enemy.' No stain ever rested upon his character. We cannot say more, for words are weak. Human speech cannot be formed to adequately express the heart's deep emotions at the loss of a trusted and beloved friend such as Brother Preston to each and every one of us. His memory is. enshrined in our hearts and while we cherish that memory, let us strive to emulate his many virtues and bow in humble submission to Him who doeth all things well.' We can only tend our heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved children and relatives, commending them to God and His promises in their great sorrow. Dear Brother, farewell!"
THOMAS COPELAND, a farmer resid- ing six miles southeast of Walla Walla, was born in the state of Oregon in 1861. He was, however, reared in Walla Walla county, whither his parents brought him in April,
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
1863. He acquired a public-school education. then went to work on the parental farm. On attaining his majority he rented a portion of his father's land and engaged in agricultural pursuits on his own account. In 1887 he bought a two-hundred-and-forty-acre tract which formed the nucleus for his present mag -. nificent ranch of twelve hundred acres. the After pursuing that industry there for three years. Mr. Harmen came to Walla Walla. arriving in October. 1873. He bought a place remaining nine hundred and sixty being ac- quired by pre-emption and purchase. He has fine. well-bred horses, cattle and hogs, and ex- . south of the city, not far from the fort. and cellent improvements. in fact everything about his premises bears eloquent testimony to his thrift and energy. On his place is a water plant costing upwards of one thousand dol- lars. and one of the finest barns in the county. His principal production, as is the case with most of the other large farmers of that sec- tion of the Inland Empire. is wheat.
In addition to his real estate holdings, Mr. Copeland has some quite valuable mining in- teresis, and he is also the owner of stock in the Warehouse & Elevator Company at Walla Walla. He has held a few local offices, among them those of road overseer and school trus- tee. Fraternally he is identified with the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, into which order he was initiated about twelve years ago. In this county. in 1889. he married Miss Min- nie llarman. a member of an old and respected pioneer family, and a native of New York state. They have three children, namely. Ralph, Clara and Martha.
CHARLES T. HARMEN. deceased. a pioneer of 1873, was born in Berlin, Germany. -April 19. 1828. He was educated in the pub- lic schools of his native land. and learned the trade vi a wagon maker there. also worked
at his handicraft as a journeyman for several years. In 1862. however, he came to New York, opened a shop of his own and started to build up a business. He was there for ser- eral years, but finally tiring of the line in which he was engaged. he removed to Iowa and turned his attention to farming.
on this he lived and farmed until, on July 17. 1892. he was called to depart this life. He had been an industrious, thrifty and frugal man. and left his family in good circumstances. Mr. Harmen was married in Volgest. Ger- many. in November. 1859. to Miss Caroline Moll. a native of that country, and their union was blest by the advent of five children. Charles and William, with their mother on the farm. George and Frank, residents of the valley. and Minnie. now Mrs. Thomas Copeland. Mr. Harmen was a member of the German Lutheran church, and his widow also belongs to that denomination.
JOSEPH MCEVOY. a farmer on the Old Dalles road. four miles southwest of Walla Walla, a pioneer of 1856, was born in county Kilkenny, Ireland, on May 26. 1832. He passed the first eighteen years of his life in his native land, receiving his educational training in a private school. but in 1850 he sailed for New York. He remained in that city five months, then enlisted in the United States army for general service. He was soon transferred to Company E. First Regiment Mounted Rifles, and sent west. He served with that branch of the army for two and a
CHARLES T. HARMEN.
MRS. CAROLINE HARMEN.
JOSEPH MCEVOY.
JOHN F. ABBOTT.
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
half years on the plains of Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming, but in 1854 was transferred to Company E, First Regiment Dragoons. Ile participated in the Rogue river war, in the Yakima war, and in 1856, while on his way to take station at Fort Walla Walla, had a hard fight with Indians on the Umatilla river, where his company was surrounded after res- cuing Governor Stevens and escort, who had been previously surrounded on Russell creek.
Some time before this. also, Mr. McEvoy was with Captain Gunnison, of the engineer corps, on a surveying expedition in Utah. He, with the remainder of the escort except eight men, was ordered to proceed further up the Survey river, where they were then working. the captain instructing them to search out a good camping place, and await his arrival a few days later. The next morning one of the men who had remained behind came into camp bringing the melancholy news that the cap- tain and the other seven men had been mas- sacred by Indians.
At the expiration of his term of service, Mr. McEvoy hired out to the quartermaster of Fort Walla Walla to herd government cattle. He was thus employed two years and for three years thereafter he was in charge of the quar- termaster's stables. He then took a homestead of eighty acres and a pre-emption of the same proportions adjoining. the land for which he had expressed a desire when he first marched into Walla Walla. He still owns and works this land, raising a variety of farm products, and exhibiting the same courage and forti- tude in his battle with opposing forces which characterized him while battling with the red men on the plain. He affiliates with the In- dian War Veterans.
Mr. McEvoy was married in Portland, Oregon, on March 10, 1859, to Miss Eliza
Benn, a native of county Limerick, Ireland, and a pioneer of the coast of 1858. They had nine children, one of whom is deceased. Of the eight living children, two daughters are residing with their husbands in this valley, two sons, Patrick A. and Charles Il. (the former of whom was the first white child born in this county, the date being March 13, 1860), are married and residing in Nevada and Farmington, Washington, respectively, and three sons and one daughter are at home with their father. Mrs. McEvoy died in Walla Walla on May 26, 1898, after a residence of forty years in the valley. She lies buried in the Valley Chapel cemetery, beside her son.
JOHN F. ABBOTT, deceased, a pioneer of 1859, belonged to that class of men whom adventurous spirits and love of nature in its wildness and variety have kept constantly in the forefront of civilization's march. He was born in New York, March 25. 1823, and there . he spent the first thirteen years of his life. He then started to make his own way in the world. and sought his fortunes in various states, final- ly settling in Wisconsin, where he had his initial experience in the stage-line business.
In 1849 Mr. Abbott crossed the plains to California, where he at once engaged in min- ing, following that occupation for two years. He subsequently came to Lafayette, Oregon, and established a stage-line between that town and Portland, and also another between Jackson- ville and Sterlingville. In 1859 he removed to Walla Walla, only to resume staging on a route extending from that town to Wallula. He also became interested in a livery business, and with Thomas & Ruckle in the hercu- lean task of establishing a stage line from
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
Walla Walla over the Blue mountains to Boise, Idaho. He busied himself in connection with this route until 1873, when he sold out his in- terests, purchased land and turned his attention to farming.
In this new calling Mr. Abbott seems to have been very successful, for at the time of his death he had large real estate holdings in the county. He was a public-spirited, pro- gressive man, ever ready to contribute liberally of his means to any deserving enterprise, and when he died on March 14, 1896, the city and county of Walla Walla sustained a great loss. Fraternally, he was a prominent Odd Fellow. While in Oregon he married Susan Creighton (nee Snyder ), a native of Ohio, the widow of N. M. Creighton, and to them were born three children, John H., a farmer; Belle, wife of Dr. Manzey, of Spokane ; and Anna, wife of Major W. Il. Miller, formerly chief quartermaster in Cuba, now stationed at Boston, Massa- chusetts.
John II. Abbott, the oklest son, whose con- nection with Walla Walla dates back to 1860, was born in Lafayette, Oregon, March 5, 1854. He received his education in the public schools of Walla Walla, in Whitman College and in the Bishop Scott's grammar school of Port- land. For many years he was his father's manager, but he has since engaged in farm- ing. becoming one of the extensive tillers of the soil of the county. . At present he is the owner of about one thousand acres in this vicinity, besides a stock ranch on Snake river and some town property. Like his father, he affiliates with the I. O. O. F. He was mar- ried in Walla Walla, March 16, 1884, to Miss Josephine V. Wiseman, a native of Idaho, and a pioneer of 1858. They have four children liv- ing, namely : Byra, Verna, Emily, and Susan, also two deceased. Annabel and Lisle.
V
DR. N. G. BLALOCK, physician and sur- geon, is a native of North Carolina, born in 1836. He received his primary education there and studied in the Tusculum College for two years. He also began the study of medicine in that state, but completed his professional training in Jefferson Medical College, from which he graduated in March, 1861. The next year he entered the army as assistant surgeon of the One Hundred and Fifteenth Illinois Volunteers, remaining with his regiment until 1863, when he was compelled to resign on account of ill health. For the ensuing twelve years he practiced medicine near Decatur, Illi- nois, but at length he decided to try his fortunes ir the west, and accordingly set out with teams to Walla Walla.
Upon his arrival Dr. Blalock at once re- sumed his practice, and he has given a share of his attention to that ever since, though he has also been quite extensively interested in farming. He was the first to raise wheat in the foot hills of the Blue mountains, produc- ing crops which would seem almost fabulous to those unfamiliar with the fertility of the soil of that region. One thousand acres in a square yielded, under his skillful husbandry. fifty-one thousand bushels of wheat. At pres- ent he is an extensive fruit-raiser, owning what is now known as the Blalock fruit farm, two miles west of Walla Walla, upon which are sixty thousand fruit trees. He also has the title to an island in the Columbia river, containing four thousand acres, which he is now developing into an immense fruit and al- falfa farm.
Despite the demands of his medical practice and the cares of his extensive real estate hold- il gs. Dr. Blalock has always found time to perform well and faithfully his duties as a citizen. He rendered efficient service in 1889
N. G. BLALOCK
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
as a member of the Constitutional convention ; for several years he was mayor of Walla Walla, and in many other ways he has taken his place as a leader in the political affairs of city, county and state. He stands high in his profession, and belongs to the United States, county and state medical associations. He was married in North Carolina, in 1858, to Miss Panthea A. Durham, who died in 1864, leaving two chil- dren, one of whom, Dr. Y. C. Blalock, still survives and is a practicing physician in Walla Walla. In 1865 the Doctor married again, the lady being Marie E. Greenfield, and by this union he has two daughters.
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