USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > An illustrated history of Walla Walla County, state of Washington > Part 70
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Returning at length to Pennsylvania, Mr. Dinges assisted his father on the old home place for three years, then resumed the pur- suit of his trade, erecting saw and grist mills in Mifflin county, for the ensuing four years. His father removed to Stevenson county, Illi- nois, and Mr. Dinges again took his abode with him, but continued to work at his handicraft. In the fall of 1876, he came to San Francisco, thence, after a residence of only a few days, to Portland, Oregon, where he met his father's cousin, Adam Brown, who had helped build the first wagon road over the Rocky mountains. The following spring he came to Walla Walla
valley, homesteaded land on the Snake river, and combined farming with carpenter work and millwrighting. He acquired quite a large tract of land in that locality, but not liking the place, he at length sold out, moved into Walla Walla, and opened a hotel on Cherry street.
He followed this business in various parts of the city about four years, but, eventually tir- ing of it, sold his interests, and purchased two. hundred acres of land on Spring Branch creek, where we now find him. He has sold small tracts from his original farm until there are now seven families living on the old home place, and until his own holdings have been reduced to twenty-four acres. On this he is raising fruit principally and some alfalfa hay. Like other pioneers, he has had his share of trouble with the Indians. He has worked in the har- vest field when it was necessary that he and his men should be heavily armed at all times and when the towns were constantly guarded for months.
Mr. Dinges was married in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, January 17, 1865, to Miss Mary E. Culbertson, a native of that state, but of English descent. They had one child, Gracie, deceased when eight years old. Mr. Dinges" first ancestor in America, Philip Dinges, came from Strasberg over three hundred years ago, and Mrs. Dinges' grandfather came from Eng- land in colonial days, and fought in the Revolu- tionary war.
SAMUEL K. LONEY, coal and wood dealer in Walla Walla, a resident of the valley since 1879, was born in the vicinity of Guelph, Ontario, on December 28, 1859. He resided in his fatherland until about eighteen years old, completing the course offered by the excellent public schools for which that province is noted,
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
and afterwards working on his father's farm. In 1879. he came to the United States, and before the year was passed he had located in Walla Walla. For a number of years after his arrival, he followed farming as a wage worker, but in 1892 he started in the wood and coal business, first as agent for the Roslyn Mining Company, and afterward on his own account. From the very first he attended to business so strictly and conscientiously as to win many friends, and his trade has continued to increase until it now requires the constant use of three teams and necessitates the employ- ment of an office man for bookkeeping and other clerical work.
Mr. Loney took up a homestead and timber culture between Mill creek and Dry creek. in ISSI. and when he had made final proof on these, he filed on a pre-emption in Umatilla county, Oregon. He afterwards sold all three of these claims and bought five hundred and thirty-seven acres on Mill creek, four miles west of Walla Walla, which he still owns and farms, raising wheat principally. Mr. Loney is a good business man, a successful farmer and an honored and esteemed member of society. He was married in Walla Walla in 1894 to Miss Sarah Ilastings, a native of Kansas, and they have had two children, Charlotte, living, and Edward. deceased. The family are members of the First Baptist church of Walla Walla.
JOHNSON BROS., consisting of Alex- ander, William C. and Samuel D. Johnson, all pioneers of the Walla Walla valley, farmers and sheep raisers, were born. the two older in Ireland. the younger. Samuel D., in New York. AAll were educated in the public schools of New York state, and all learned the trade of carriage
making. For a number of years, Alexander maintained a shop in New Hartford, New York, and William C. worked with him, but in March, 1877. the latter came out to California. A year later, he removed to Walla Walla val- ley, where he had his first experience in hand- ling sheep. He entered the employ of Henry Adams, and herded for him during the Ban- nock war, defying all danger from Indians, al- though the warriors passed so close to him that the soldiers, following their trail, came within sight of his camp. As soon as he had accumu- lated sufficient capital and experience, he en- gaged in the business on his own account, form- ing. for the purpose, a partnership with Mr. Samuel Ash.
In 1883. the other two brothers also came out to the valley. Samuel went to work on his brother's ranch, while Alexander continued to follow his trade in Waitsburg and after- wards in Walla Walla. In 1885. the present partnership was formed, and since 1891 all the brothers have given their attention to their farming and herds, to the exclusion of all other industries. They have ten thousand acres of land, six thousand sheep. fifty head of cattle and fifty horses, and they farm about one hundred acres to alfalfa hay and two hundred acres to wheat. retaining the rest for pasture. Their average annual wool clip is between five thou- sand and six thousand pounds. Thus by their thrift and energy they have acquired a com- petency, and attained a rank among the lead- ing farmers and stock raisers of their section. William C. is identified with the F. & A. M. fraternity, and Alexander with the 1. O. O. F. Alexander Johnson, the only one of the brothers who has ever been married, wedded Miss Katie M. Healey in New Hartford. New York. Oc- tober 10. 1877. They have one son, William K., who was in Company I. First Washington
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
Volunteers, and through the Philippine war. Mlr. Johnson was again married in Walla Walla. September 22, 1891, to Miss Maggie A. Lewis, a native of Kansas, and to this union one son has been born, Terry A.
Miss Ella M., only sister of the brothers, is with them on the ranch keeping house, hav- ing joined them in October, 1891, after the death of their mother at New Hartford, New York, May 15, 1891. The latter had been a resident of that city since coming to America il. 1852, and there her husband, the father of our subjects, had died on January 24, 1854.
JOHN PICARD, deceased, a pioneer of 1857, was born in Germany, February 7. 1838. He was, however, only twelve years of age when he came to America, and a part of his education was acquired herc. When seven- teen, he enlisted in the United States regular army, was sent with the remainder of his com- peny to the coast, and became a factor in quell- ing the various Indian uprisings of the early days. At the close of his term of enlistment, he was discharged at Fort Lapwai, Idaho. He then visited Walla Walla, but took a trip to Europe before permanently settling here.
Upon his return, Mr. Picard went to work as a carpenter, and for ten years thereafter he was one of the builders of the city. In 1870, however, he instituted an undertaking estab- lishment here, the first in Walla Walla, and he remained an undertaker until November 2, 1892, when he died.
Mr. Picard was for many years prominently connected with the municipal government of this city, serving as councilman for eight terms, and for two as chief of the fire depart- ment. A public-spirited man, he was always
active in promoting the interests of the city, and ever ready to contribute his full share to- ward the establishment of any worthy public or semi-public enterprise.
In Walla Walla, on January 28, 1872, hc married Miss Clara J. Conover, a native of California, whose father crossed the plains with ox-teams in 1853. They became parents of five children, Mary, wife of Frank Borst, of Walla Walla: Dora, now Mrs. Harry Debus ; Annie, wife of L. Douglass, a railway brake- man ; Stella, wife of Adrien Buys, and Thomas. Mrs. Picard still has charge of the undertaking parlors, which are situated at the corner of First and Alder streets. She is a member of the Women of Woodcraft.
THOMAS A. RUSSEL, deceased, former- ly a lawyer, later a farmer four miles southwest of Walla Walla, a pioneer of the coast of 1849, was born in Warren, Ohio, on September 26, 1831. When quite young, he was taken to the western part of the state, by his parents, who, after living for brief periods in other parts. finally settled in Williams county, where our subject acquired his primary education.
In the spring of 1849, Mr. Russel crossed the plains with a mixed team of horses and oxen, arriving in California in the fall of the same year. He engaged in mining for a time, but in 1850 returned to Ohio, making the trip in a sailing vessel via Cape Horn. Again, in 1852, he made the long and tedious journey across the plains, returning shortly to Ohio, this time via the Panama route. After his arrival he took a course of general study and a year in law at Miami University, in Ohio, but finished his legal studies under Ex-Governor Hoadley, of Ohio, then a professor in a law
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
school. He graduated with the degree of L. B. Ohio, our subject married Miss Mary C. Will- in June, 1801.
In the spring of 1863, our subject again started across the plains to California as the leapler of a train of thirty-three wagons, all drawn by horses. Five months after his ar- rival. he returned by water to Ohio, accom- panied by his father, who was also with him on the first trip. The cholera broke out among the people of the ship and many died on the journey, but Mr. Russel arrived safely, and. nothing dannted by the hardships and dangers he had undergone, the next spring crossed the plains a fourth time. The privations, uncer- tainties and dangers of this life on the plains can never be fully appreciated by people of a younger generation, but all can form some idea of the courage and endurance required for four extensive trips through an untamed wilder- ness infested with blood thirsty savages.
On again arriving in California, Mr. Rus- sel engaged in quartz mining in the Meadow Lake country, where he remained until 1868. He was admitted to the bar of California, but did not practice there. In 1808, however, he removed to Missouri, and began the pursuit of his chosen profession, though he also taught school some. and served as United States deputy marshal for a time. lle was notary public in Bowling Green, Missouri, for a period of eighteen years.
In 1880, Mr. Russel came to Walla Walla county, purchased a farm and engaged in di- versified agriculture, an industry which he followed continuously and successfully until his death. Though he never manifested any ambition for a political career since coming to this valley, he was recognized as one of the leading and representative men of the county, and highly respected by all.
In April, 1864, in the vicinity of Edgerton,
man, a native of Liverpool, Ohio, who crossed the plains with him on his last trip. Her parents and his were neighbors during pioneer days in Ohio, and he and Miss Willman were school mates and childhood friends. To their union were born ten children, but only five are still living. The family affiliated with the First Christian church of Walla Walla.
Mr. Russel's death occurred on January 5. 1901. after an illness of only four days. Ilis remains are buried in Walla Walla cemetery.
J. E. BERRYMAN, a farmer residing at Berryman postoffice, was born in England, in 1830. The first twelve years of his life were passed in his fatherland, but, at that carly age, he emigrated to Wisconsin, where he had his first experience in mining. In 1854, he joined the rush to the gold fields of California, and for five years thereafter he followed mining in the Golden state. His adventurous spirit then led him to Australia, where for two years more he continued the search for hidden treasure.
Returning to California in 1859. Mr. Berry- man remained there until 1861, when he came to Walla Walla county. He went that same summer into the mountains in Idaho, and be- fore the season was passed came to the Elk City mines, whence late in the fall he went to Florence, and to him belongs the honor of be- ing one of the party which discovered the mine there. He remainedl in that region during the years 1861 and 1862, and thereupon went back te Wisconsin on a visit. Before returning, he also took a trip to England. Coming back to America in May. 1803, he went to work in
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
the lead mines of Wisconsin, whence the fol- lowing year he removed to Montana, in which state he followed mining until 1869.
Mr. Berryman then brought his family to Walla Walla, but he was not yet ready to give up the search for nature's hidden treasure, so made trips to the Powder river country; to Butte City and to Florence. While his home was in Walla Walla, he also took contracts in building and moving houses and in constructing bridges for the county. He was the first street commissioner Walla Walla ever had and his duties in connection with that office were nat- urally very onerous.
In 1878, our subject took a homestead where he now lives, subsequently purchasing a half-section of railway land and to this he has added betimes since until his realty hokdl- ings now aggregate two and a half sections. He is extensively engaged in the production of wheat, but also raises cattle and horses. Being the first to locate in his neighborhood, he had to perform many acts which are ordinarily a part of the public duties, such as constructing roads around the hills, hunting up corner posts, etc. He and two other men bought lumber at Dayton, hauled the same to a suitable site and constructed the first schoolhouse in the place.
Mr. Berryman has never lost interest in mining, but has devoted a portion of his time and attention to it during all the years of his residence here. Ile is an energetic, progres- sive man and carries a degree of determination and zeal into whatever he undertakes sufficient to carry it to a successful issue if there is any possibility. He has long been considered one of the leading wheat producers of the state.
In England, in the year 1863. he married Mary Berryman, a native of that country, and they became parents of twelve children.
1. O. YENNEY .- Among the young men who claim this county as their birthplace and who have so ordered their lives as to reflect credit upon the community of their nativity and the institutions which have developed their powers and given direction to their energies, is the man whose career it is now our purpose to refer to brielly.
Mr. Yenney was born here in 1872, and his education was such as the local public schools afford, supplemented by a partial course in Whitman College. Upon retiring from the latter institution, he embarked in the basic in- dustry, agriculture, and to that he has devoted his energies assiduously ever since. Hle is in partnership with his brother, W. 11. Yenney, and, as related in our remarks concerning that gentleman, is interested with him in the culti- vation of about one thousand acres of land, upon which they raise wheat principally.
Mr. Yenney is a thrifty, energetic young man, possessed of all the traits of character which go to insure success and to win the con- fidence and esteem of those with whom he may be in any way connected, whether or cially or in business.
THOMAS J. SWEZE.A, deceased, a pio- neer of 1850, was born in Tennessee in 1800. Hle spent his early youth there, then came to southeastern Missouri, where he lived until, in 1859, he started across the plains to the west. He made the journey in the usual way for those days, bringing quite a herd of cattle with him. Locating in the city of Walla Walla, he spent two years there, after which he moved to the Oregon line, eight miles southeast of the city, purchased land and engaged in farming. He was there for a number of years, running his
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
five-hundred-acre farm, and raising grain and cattle, but he at length retired to Walla Walla, where he passed the remainder of his days. Ile died in that city in 1887. While in Missouri he married Miss Lucinda Swezea, and to them were born nine children, five of whom are still living.
Charles L. Swezea, one of his sons, now a farmer eight miles southeast of Walla Walla. has the distinction of being the first white male child born in Walla Walla, the date of his ad- vent into this life being July 6, 1860. He passed his early years in the public schools of the county and on his father's farm, but on attaining his majority started in life for him- self. For a while he rented land of his father, but as soon as circumstances would permit he purchased a place of his own, and to his orig- inal holding's he has kept adding until he now has three hundred and twenty acres in all. He is engaged in raising wheat and barley prin- cipally, though he also gives some attention to the other farm products. He is one of the pro- gressive and thrifty farmers of the neighbor- hood, and is well thought of as a man and citi- zen. Fraternally he is identified with the .1. O. U. W. In this county. in 1883. he mar- ried Miss Margaret A. Davis, and they became parents of four children, Bessie .A., Flinn . 1 .. deceased. Grace .A., and one daughter who died in infancy.
JOSEPHI L. MILLER, proprietor of the lodging house at 49 E. Main street, is a pioneer of October 14. 1850. He was born in New York August 10, 1823, and in that state he grew to manhood and was educated. For a number of years he followed farming, but in 1852 he removed, via the isthmus, to San Fran-
cisco and turned his attention to mining. He subsequently settled in the present Oakland, where for a time he was engaged in getting out the timber for a wharf. Between 1854 and 1858, he devoted his entire energies to mining in the Feather river and Rabbit creek countries. realizing good results. He then went into busi- ness in Victoria, British Columbia, but sold out in 1862, to go into the Caribou mines, where he followed the packing business for a couple of years.
Returning then to Vancouver island, Mr. Miller purchased beef cattle a while for the Victoria markets, but in October, 1865, he re- moved to Walla Walla, bought a farm five miles west of the town, and engagel in agriculture ' and stock raising. He took great pride in the rearing of thoroughbred cattle. more than once capturing prizes at the fairs. In 1884. he sold out and went back East on a two years' visit. Upon his return, he embarked in a car- riage and wagon business, a line which en- gaged his energies for about four years, aiter which he retired from business for a while.
In 1803. after his return from a trip to the World's Fair. Mr. Miller bought a glove factory, and engaged in that indus- try. Selling out in 1896, he turned his attention to the lodging house business. purchasing for the purpose the furniture and good will of the place in which we now find him. Mr. Miller was also a charter member of the Walla Walla Savings bank. Indeed his versatility is truly wonderful, enab- ling him to conduct successfully a great variety of different enterprises. It is equaled only by his great courage, and the Titanic energy dis- played in his earlier years.
Mr. Miller was married in Jefferson coun- ty. New York, April 19. 1883. to Emma Cheeseman, a native of Richmond, Virginia.
JOSEPH L. MILLER.
MRS. JOSEPH L. MILLER.
MARSHALL C. SEEKE.
JOHN MANION.
SAMUEL JOHNSON.
C. J. BOWERS.
MRS. C. J. BOWERS.
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
JOHN MANION. a general orchardist at the south end of Short street, Walla Walla, a pioneer of August 14, 1859, was born in Irc- land, March 14, 1828. He began his educa- tion there, but finished it in Saratoga county, New York, whither he came when fifteen years old. Removing subsequently to Livingston county, he farined there for various large land owners during a period of five years. He then moved to Morgan county, Illinois, where he farmed until 1856, but in May of that year he came to Lawrence, Kansas.
.A few days after his arrival, Mr. Manion met James Lane, and engaged with him and his troops in keeping out southern sympa- thizers, thus saving the state to the Union. When the Second Dragoons, afterwards known as the Second United States Cavalry, arrived, their entire company was captured, but Mr. Manion was soon released and engaged as a driver in the service of the quartermaster. In a very short time he was promoted to train mas- ter. a position which he held until 1861. He ac- companied Lieutenant Livingstone to Mount- ain Meadows in 1858, to bury the bones of those emigrants who had been massacred there by the Mormons in the previous year, and he had the pleasure of personally rescuing three of the children who were captured in that hor- rible affair.
In May, 1859, Gur subject arrived in Walla Walla, after marching all the way from Utah. He remained at Fort Walla Walla as wagon train master until May, 1861, when he took a homestead on the Touchet river. He was there seventeen years, but in 1878 he sold his farm and removed to his present residence. He is now the owner of three acres and four lots within the city limits, upon which he is rais- ing a great many varieties of fruit trees and vines. He takes great pride in cultivating and
producing fine fruits. During all the Indian troubles, Mr. Manion remained on his place on the Touchet river, but he had so won the confidence and esteem of the red men by his uniform fair treatment of them that he was never molested.
Mr. Manion was a member of the city council for the four years following 1886, and during that time advocated and urged that the city should buy the water system, which could then have been secured for seventy-five thou- sand dollars. He was outvoted, however, and the city had to pay two hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the same property at a later date. Had his fellow councilman, or a majority of them, possessed the foresight with which he was gifted they could have saved to the tax-payers of Walla Walla the difference between these two sums, besides the revenues which would have accrued in all these years.
Mr. Manion was married in Walla Walla, on December 24. 1859, to Mrs. Mary Bishop, who died without issue on September 13, 1888.
MARSHALL C. SEEKE, foreman in Quinn's Harness shop, Walla Walla, is a pio- neer of November 13. 1858. He was born in Jamestown, New York, July 8, 1834, but re- ceived his education in New Castle, Pennsyl- vania, where his parents moved when he was five years old.
In 1852 he came out to Iowa, and there he worked as a harness-maker for two years. In 1854, however, he set out across the plains to California, traveling with ox-teams. . After a journey of nearly six months duration he reached Sacramento, where he was engaged in mining for nearly three years, going next to The Dalles, Oregon. He worked at his handi-
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
craft there for several months, but at length came on to Walla Walla, located a homestead on Dry creek, seven miles northeast of that city. and turned his attention to farming. Ilis was the first claim located under General Harney. After two years experience in pioneer farming Mr. Seeke engaged in mining and freighting, and he was fortunate enough to discover sev- cral good mining prospects in the Boise Basin. He continued to follow mining and prospecting there and in the vicinity of Walla Walla until 1800. then entered the service of Mr. Thomas Quinn, by whom he has been employed almost constantly since. It is still his custom, how- ever. to spend a portion of each summer travel- ing with a team. Mr. Sceke is a typical pio- neer. and possesses the sturdy manhood and dauntless physical courage which life on the forefront of civilization is so well calculated to develop.
Mr. Seeke was married during the early days to Charlotte, an Indian woman, who died il: Walla Walla in 1866, leaving two daugh- ters: Alice, now wife of Robert Henderson. an ! Louise. now Mrs. . Albert Tabor. Mr. Seeke was next married in 1877. to Rachael Clough, a native of Ohio.
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SAMUEL JOHNSON .- The venerable pioneer whose name gives caption to this para- graph was born in Scioto county, Ohio. July 15. 1821. When five years old he was taken by h's parents to Tippecanoe county. Indiana. where he lived on a farm until 1831. removing then with the remainder of the family to White county in the same state. His educa- ti nal facilities were those afforded by the pio- neer lug schoolhouse, presided over by pioneer teachers, and when school was not in session
he learned seli-reliance and industry in the battle with primeval conditions.
In 1840 he removed to Caldwell county. Missouri, where his home was for the next decade. though he spent the winters of 1847 and 1848 at Ash Hollow on the Platte river in Nebraska, as an employe of the St. Louis Fur Company, for which he drove a team. It will be remembered that Nebraska was then the home and exclusive possession of the Chey- enne Indians. Mr. Johnson recalls having met Joe Meeks there in 1848. the latter being then en route to Washington, bearing dispatches telling of the Whitman massacre. It was fre- quently his good fortune, after coming to the coast. to meet this same gentleman in Portland. Oregon. Our subject also recalls that while on his return from Nebraska to his home in Missouri, he met at St. Joseph. Missouri. Gov- ernor Lane, who was then on his way to Ore- gon to assume gubernatorial charge of that territory.
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