USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > An illustrated history of Walla Walla County, state of Washington > Part 69
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All right minded men are desirous of do- ing something for the amelioration of condi- tions and the good of humanity. For this rea- son they band themselves into organizations of various kinds in the hope that by intelligent and well directed co-operation with others of like disposition with themselves they may
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
the better accomplish the end in view. Many work through the churches of the various denominations, others unite them- selves with fraternal organizations or with other benevolent societies. Our subject was naturally disposed to do his share for the betterment of humanity, and when, on Febru- ary 10, 1857. he was initiated into Olympia Lodge. No. I. I. O. O. F .. the first lodge ever instituted in the territory, the date of its in- ception being July 13. 1855, he found that the teachings of the order were such as he could heartily endorse, and saw in it an efficient force for the promotion of humanity's well being. Its fundamental principle. the fatherhood of God and brotherhood of man, and its consequent aim, a universal fraternity in the family of mankind. as well as its motto. "Friendship. Love and Truth," and its imperative mandate. to visit the sick, relieve the distressed. edu- cate the orphan, and imbue all men with a proper conception of their capabilities for good,-these made a profound impression on the mind of Mr. Swan, and he has been an ardent and active participant in the work of the fraternity ever since. That his labor has been appreciated by his brethren and co-work- ers is evinced by the fact that he has been placed in all the positions of honor and trust in the subordinate and grand bodies of the lodge and encampment. He is a past member of the Sovereign Grand Lodge, the highest body of the order, and a past lieutenant-colonel of the Patriarchs Militant.
The work of our subject in connection with the Odd Fellows' home, of which institution he was the ardent and assiduous promoter, has entitled him to the gratitude, not alone of his fraternity and the distressed therein, but to the people of Walla Walla in particular and the entire state in general. To him as the prime
and moving spirit in the establishment of the institution, the success of the same has been largely due. Of his work in this connection and of his highly valuable services as president of the first board of trustees and as the first superintendent thereof, it is unnecessary to speak here at length, as these topics are quite fully treated under the caption "Odd Fellows' Home" on other pages of this volume.
MILTON ALDRICH .- Few men in Wal- la Walla county are more widely known throughout the entire valley than is he whose name forms the caption of this brief review. and still fewer are they whose good fortune it is to enjoy such a high degree of the respect and confidence of the people. One of the earli- est settlers of the valley, having come here in 1858, he long ago secured a place of honor in the opinions of the residents of this entire sec- tion, and his subsequent life has ever been so ordered as to retain the high standing he then secured. This fact in itself would entitle him to representation in a volume of this character. but he also has the more substantial claim of having been an efficient force in the indus- trial development of the county, the history of which we have attempted to chronicle.
Our subject was born in New York state in 1830, but received his educational training in the good old state of Michigan, which was his home from the time he was six years old until he attained his majority. As soon, how- ever, as man's estate was reached his adventur- ous spirit began to assert itself, and before long we find him on his way across the contin- ent, traveling the "trail of many moons to the land of the setting sun" with horse-teams.
After arriving in California early in 1852. he worked at mining and freighting there un-
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
til the spring of 1858, when he became identi- fied with the famous Walla Walla valley. It was not a particularly safe place to live in those days, as the Indians were numerous and fre- quently hostile, but fear seemed to find no lodgment in the brain of the pioneer, and Mr. Aldrich was a typical representative of that lionored class.
Shortly after his arrival he pre-empted a quarter-section of land about seven miles northi- east of Walla Walla, but his energies were not to be long restrained within limits so narrow.
He kept adding tract after tract to his real estate holdings, expanding always in a conser- vative and safe way, but keeping pace with his increasing facilities for handling the land prof- itably, until he became the owner of a fine farm, the generous proportions of which may be real- ized when one is informed that it includes sev- enteen hundred acres. Originally Mr. Aldrich gave much attention to stock raising, but since the range has been fenced up he has confined himself pretty closely to wheat raising. Recent issues of the papers inform us that he has just sold some sixty thousand bushels of that cereal.
Notwithstanding his large business interests Mr. „Aldrich has always taken time to per- form well his duties as a good citizen, serving ten years in the thankless but important office of school director, also as road overseer and once as a member of the board of county com- missioners ; but wheatever the trusts imposed in him by the people, he has discharged the du- ties of each, whether large or small, with an eye single to the general good.
The marriage of our subject was soleni- nized in this county in 1863, when Miss Sarah Stanfield, a member of a respected pioneer fam- ily, became his wife. Their union has been blessed by the advent of three children : Dora, Frederick J., and Shelly P.
JAMES A. YEEND, a farmer residing seven miles north of Walla Walla, is a native of England, born in March, 1856. He ac- quired his education in the common and gram- mar schools of his fatherland, then, in 1870, came to America. Ile located in Walla Walla county, where he worked on his father's farm until he became of age. As soon as he had attained his majority he took a pre-emption and bought railroad land until he was the owner of two hundred and eighty acres, but he later sold a portion of this to his father. In 1883 he moved over into Whitman county, took a homestead and timber culture, and began farming there. He was a tiller of the soil in that county until 1895, then he came back to Walla Walla county, where he has since re- sided continuously. Ile now farms about four hundred acres of land, raising wheat as his principal crop.
Mr. Yeend is a thrifty, enterprising man, and a good citizen, ever ready to contribute his part toward the general progress. His standing in the community is of the highest. In fraternal connections he is a United Work- man. He was married in Idaho, in 1883, to Miss Lydia Chandler, a native of England, and they have eight children : Ernest E., Edith MI., Fred J. and Frank S., twins, Flora E., Will- iam A., Olive and Esthier A.
PATRICK MARTIN, deceased, was a native of county Galway, Ireland, born De- cember 3, 1830. Hc received his education from a private teacher at home. When about nineteen he came to California, and for a number of years he was engaged in mining there, but in 1870 he removed to Walla Walla county. He had been quite successful in min-
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
ing ventures, both in California and in Mon- tana, and he now decided to invest some of the proceeds in farm land. Accordingly he bought a quarter section six miles north of Walla Walla, and to this he added more from time to time until he became very extensively interested in agricultural lands. He engaged extensively in wheat raising, becoming one of the largest producers of that cereal in the Inland Empire, and so continuing for a great many years.
Mr. Martin was a very thrifty, enterpris- ing. energetic man, and a highly esteemed and respected citizen, and when, on February 25. 1897. he departed this life, he was mourned by a large circle of friends and neighbors. He married, in Vancouver, Washington, in 1882. Miss Anastasia S. Sinnott, a native of Milwau- kee. Wisconsin, who still lives on the place where the family first settled after coming to this county. She has the title to eighteen hundred acres of land, about thirteen hundred of which she rents to other parties, while she and her sons farm about five hundred acres themselves.
Mr. and Mrs. Martin became parents of five children, Thomas E .. John J., Nellie, Annie T. and Joseph F.
SOL. HARDMAN .- Among the early pio- neers of Walla Walla county those who came here when the territory was an untamed wilder- ness, the haunt of the savage red man, and who by their persevering efforts and indomitable energy have developed its great natural fer- tility and ushered in the light of civilization. the man whose name gives caption to this para- graph is certainly deserving of an honored place, and it is with pleasure that we accord
him representation in this volume as one of the builders of the valley.
Mr. Hardman was born in Indiana in 1844, and in the Hoosier state a few of his early years were passed. When only eight years of age, however, he accompanied the re- mainder of the family on the long, tiresome and dangerous journey across the continent. the transportation facilities being those afford- ed by the ox-team and wagon. Arriving eventually in Linn county, Oregon, he was there permitted for a few brief years to enjoy the advantages afforded by the primitive pub- lic schools there established, but perhaps his most valuable education consisted of the les- sons of industry learned in cultivating the pa- rental farm.
In May, 1859. our subject came to the site of the present city of Waitsburg, and from tl:at date until 1880 he was actively engaged in the basic industry of agriculture. He then moved into the town of Waitsburg and en- gaged in the business of handling stock. con- tinuing in the same until 1887. when he em- barked in the business in which we now find him.
Mr. Hardman has long been a factor in the public affairs of the county, and once served as deputy sheriff. He also has held the office of city marshal of Waitsburg. A pub- lic-spirited man and willing to do everything in his power for the advancement and de- velopment of the county, he has, in the half century of his residence here. frequently con- tributed to public enterprises, and the com- munity has many times experienced material benefit from his being in it.
In November, 1882, Mr. Hardman was married in Waitsburg to Miss Caroline A. Bruce, a member of a pioneer family of the county. They became parents of three chil-
SOLOMON HARDMAN.
MRS. SOLOMON HARDMAN.
NELSON. R. NORMAN.
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
dren, namely : Maggie M., Nellie M. and Aaron F. Mrs. Hardman died August 6, 1888.
NELSON R. NORMAN, whose residence in Walla Walla dates back to 1884, is a native of Denmark, born September 10, 1850. He was reared on a farm in his native land and given the advantages of the superior public schools for which that country is noted. After becoming a man, he followed farming as an occupation until 1879, when he emigrated to the United States. His first home in the new world was in Fillmore county, Minnesota, where for three years he was engaged in tilling the soil. The next two years were passed in the same occupation near Mapleton, North Dakota, in the Red River valley.
Mr. Norman then came to Walla Walla, and entered the employ of Dr. Baker, for whom he worked until 1893. In that year he opened in business at 109 E. Main street, where he is still to be found. His fraternal connections are with the Eagles and the Red Men. In 1886, he was married in Walla Walla, to Miss Kittie Nelson, a native of Germany, and they have one son, Grover Cleveland, who is an un- usually bright boy. His parents, with com- mendable generosity and wisdom, are giving him the advantage of a course of instruction in languages and music under the best teachers in Germany, and his progress thus far gives promise that he will become extraordinarily proficient in both these branches.
EMMETT EVANS, a farmer residing six miles northcast of Walla Walla, is a son of the west, having been born in Walla Walla coun-
ty, in 1864. He was educated in the public schools, then took a business course in Whit- man College, extending over a period of six full years. After leaving that institution he engaged in the grocery business, a line which he followed for four years. During the en- suing three years he was a dealer in hay and grain, but he afterwards turned his attention to farming. He is now one of the well-to-do, thrifty tillers of the soil and is engaged in pro- ducing wheat, alfalfa and barley, and in hand- ling stock.
As a man and a citizen his standing in the community is of the highest. He takes a lively interest in all public affairs, ever manifesting a willingness to contribute his share toward any enterprise which promises to advance the general welfare, and at different times serving as school director and as road overseer.
In 1894, in Walla Walla county, Mr. Evans married Miss Anna Ingraham, a native of Ripon, Wisconsin, and they have two chil- dren, Walter and Lloyd Emmett.
EUGENE BOURGEOIS, one of the thrifty and enterprising farmers of Walla Wal- la county, residing nine miles northeast of the city of Walla Walla, is a native of Paris, France, but was brought to the United States when quite young. The family located in Illi- nois, and there Mr. Bourgeois grew to man's estate and received his education. As soon as he became old enough to do for himself he en- gaged in farming, and that has been his occu- pation all the time since. In 1877 he came to this county and located a homestead where we now find him. To this he has added from time to time until his entire farm now consists of four hundred and forty acres. He, like
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
most of the other farmers in his locality, gives most of his attention to wheat raising, though he is in some measure a diversified farmer. Ilis industry and thrift, together with his many other good qualities as a man, have won for him the esteem and regard of his neighbors gen- erally. He was married, in Walla Walla county, in 1888, to Miss Isabel Lang, a na- tive of Virginia, and they have in their family three children. Charley. Frederick and Henry.
HENRY INGALLS, a farmer five miles south of Waitsburg, is a native of Ohio, born in 1826. When he was four years old he was taken by his parents to St. Clair county, Illi- nois, and thence. shortly afterwards, to Boone county, same state, where he resided for five or six years. His next move was to Pike coun- ty. in which he grew to manhood and com- pleted his education. In 1849 his ambition to see the West began to assert itself, and early that year he started across the plains with ox- teams. llis first abiding place was Oregon City, where he was for a time engaged in the business of burning brick. Subsequently he went to Clackamas county, Oregon, and took a donation land claim of six hundred and forty acres. He did not remain long. however, but soon moved to Polk county, in which the en- suing four years of his life were passed. In 1869 he came to Walla Walla county, and lo- cated on a homestead in the vicinity of Waits- burg, and began farming there. He has at different times since purchased other tracts of land, until his entire holdings have grown to seven hundred and fourteen acres, all of it rich and well adapted for producing wheat. That ce- real is, naturally, his principal product, but he also raises many hogs and cattle. Mr. Ingalls
had been an intensely active man in his younger days, and possessed a wonderful power of physical endurance, and, even now, though sey- enty-four years old, he can perform athletic feats or dance a jig with as much agility as a boy of sixteen. He is fortunate in possessing a happy, genial temperament, which makes him a universal favorite. He takes an active interest in the promotion of the general welfare, and his solicitude for the rising generation is shown by the fact that for twenty-four years he was school director. Mr. Ingalls has been thrice married. On January 1, 1849, he wedded Miss Sarah Jane Brents, who died in 1858, leaving four children: Mary N., deceased ; Roxie J .. deceased: William and Willis H. His second was with Sarah J. Roupe, who passed away in Oregon, after living with him about two and a half years. He married Mrs. Margaret E. Murphy, by whom he has two children, Otis D. and Ira L. Mrs. Ingalls also has two children by her former marriage. H. J. and Arthur C.
THOMAS LYONS, a farmer residing two miles west of Walla Walla, is a native of Ire- land, born in 1834. Ile acquired his education in the public schools of his fatherland. When he became a man he emigrated to Australia. where for the ensuing twelve years he followed mining as an occupation. Hle then returned to the land of his nativity, whence. after a short visit, he came to Walla Walla. He took a homestead where his place of residence now is, and being an energetic. industrious man. he soon acquired more land, and he has continued to increase his real estate holdings until he now- has twenty-eight hundred acres. Upon this immense tract he raises wheat as his principal crop, though he also keeps some stock.
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
Mr. Lyons is a man of integrity and ability, and his standing in the community in which he is best known is very flattering. In Australia, in 1858, he married Miss Annie Tuohy, and to their union have been born nine children, five sons and four daughters. Two of the sons are now seeking their fortunes in Alaska.
JOSHUA A. HOWARD, a farmer six miles northwest of Walla Walla, was born in Iowa in 1854. He passed the first ten years of his life there, but in 1864 accompanied his father on the long journey across the plains to Walla Walla valley. The family located on Russell creek, and tisere Mr. Howard complet- ed his public school education. After leav- ing the school room he worked on the parental homestead until eighteen years old, then rented a piece of land and started to work out the problem of existence for himself. He has been farming continuously ever since, his home at present being on Dry creek. He is a man of enterprise, and his qualities of heart and mind are such as to win for him the respect and es- teem of the community in which he resides. In religious persuasion he is a Methodist, his membership being placed in the Methodist Episcopal church of Walla Walla circuit.
Mr. Howard married. in this county, in 1877, Sarah A. Zaring, a native of Iowa, who crossed the plains in 1862. and to them were born six children, May. Jessie. Horace, Will- iam, Frank and Carroll.
W. H. YENNEY, a farmer residing four miles east of Walla Walla, was born in this county in 1869. He acquired his education in
the public schools and in Whitman College, then worked for a number of years on his fa- ther's farm, but he later purchased land and became a tiller of the soil on his own account. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of land west of the place on which he lives, but he and his brother, L. O. Yenney, farm not only their own land, but much that is rented from other parties. The brothers are in partnership, and together farm about one thousand acres, rais- ing wheat as their principal crop, but not neg- lecting anything which they can, under their circumstances, produce with profit. They are thrifty, energetic young men, and will continue to contribute a large share towards the material development and progress of the county. They enjoy the esteem and good will of their neigh- bors generally. Mr. W. H. Yenney was mar- ried in Columbia county, Washington, in 1893, to Miss Cora Edgell. a native of Illinois. They have two children, Frank E. and Philip A.
HENRY LEE, a farmer residing seven and a half miles northwest of Walla Walla, is a native of Iowa, born in 1851. He resided there until twelve years old, then crossed the plains with ox-teams to this county, spending six months on the journey. The family lo- cated on Dry creek. Mr. Lee spent the remain- ing years of his minority in the public schools of Walla Walla and on his father's farm, but as soon as he became of age he pur- chased land for himself and he has been engaged in farming ever since. At pres- ent he is the owner of a fine five-hundred- acre tract, all good farming land, and he raises about five hundred tons of alfalfa annually, besides large crops of wheat, also handling con- siderable stock.
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
Mr. Lee is a thrifty and industrious man, up-to-date in all his methods, and ever on the alert to take advantage of any opportunity that may offer. His standing in the community as a citizen and neighbor is of the highest. Our subject has been twice married. In 1875 he wedded Mary Layrd, then a resident of Whit- man county, who died in 1884, leaving one daughter, Mary. In 1885 Mr. Lee was again married, the lady being Mary Loney, and of. this union seven children have been born : Rob- ert E., Charlotte. Roy, Edith. Loney, Maggie, and Walter M.
Mr. Lee's father was a resident of this county, and one of its leading citizens from 1860 to 1886, but in the latter year he sold out his large real estate interests and went to South America. He was there a year, then went back to his old home in Indiana, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1898.
PHILIP RITZ, deceased .-. \s has been stated in other portions of this work, the man whose name gives caption to this article was prominent among those who in early days in- troduced and developed the fruit industry of the county, that industry which has since as- sumed such gigantic proportions, and has brought so many millions of dollars into the pockets of our citizens, from so many parts of the United States and the world. He held some very important positions of trust, dis- charging his duties in each instance in such a manner as to win the confidence and esteem of those with whom he came in contact and so ordering his life in public and in private as to retain the good will and regard of all.
In business our subject was a nurseryman and orchardist from 1863 to the time of his
death, which unfortunate event occurred Feb- ruary 6, 1889, at the old home place where the family reside. Mr. Ritz was, however, inter- ested in almost every line of business in vogue in the county in which he lived, farming, fruit- raising. railroad-building and general improve- ment. He served as United States marshal one term, but the service for which he will, per- haps be longest remembered is that which he performed in connection with the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. He crossed the continent three times for the purpose of in- fluencing congress to make appropriations of public lands in aid of the road, thus to hasten its construction, making one of these trips on horseback. In consideration of this great service, the people in the vicinity of the present town of Ritzville named the town after him.
WV. A. Ritz, son-in-law of our subject, also a very prominent orchardist, was born in Woodbury county, Iowa. on January 29. 1865. He received his education in the public schools and in Cornell College of Mount Vernon, Iowa, and after graduating taught school two years. He then embarked in the general merchandise business at Sargent's Bluff, Iowa, remaining in the same between the years 1886 and 1889. He then came to Walla Walla and engaged in the nursery business, following that industry for eight consecutive years, then turning his attention to fruit culture on their place of one hundred acres, eighty of which are in fruits of many varieties, situated about a mile south of town. As stated elsewhere in this volume, he has one of the finest orchards in the county, and has long been regarded as one of the best and most expert fruit raisers and handlers within its borders. He was president of the Walla Walla Fruit Fair for two years and has been elected to act in the same capacity next year. Mr. Ritz was married in Lewiston,
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SAMUEL K. LONEY.
PHILLIP RITZ.
SOLOMON DINGES.
ALEXANDER JOHNSON
WM. C. JOHNSON.
JOHN PICARD.
THOMAS A. RUSSELL.
J. E. BERRYMAN.
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
Idaho, September 15, 1897, the lady being Miss Hattie Ritz, a native of Walla Walla county. Her mother, Mrs. Philip Ritz, a pioneer of 1863, lives on the home place and continues to manage the estate. She was born in Jeffer- son county, Tennessee, in 1835, crossed the plains in 1852, was married to Philip Ritz in 1855, and moved with him to her present home in 1863.
SOLOMON DINGES, a farmer and fruit grower on Spring Branch creek, a pioneer of 1877, is a native of Center county, Pennsyl- vania, born September 26, 1835. He remained on his father's farm for the first nineteen years of his life, assisting with the work and attend- ing public schools, but in 1854 he removed to Millheim, Pennsylvania, to learn the trade of a cabinetmaker. He served an apprentice- ship of two years without pay, then traveled for four years through Illinois and Iowa, building barns and grist mills, dwelling houses, etc., do- ing all kinds of carpenter work and millwright- ing. He was working at West Union, when an entire settlement was massacred by Indians just over the line in Minnesota.
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