USA > Washington > Lincoln County > An illustrated history of the Big Bend country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington, pt 1 > Part 44
USA > Washington > Adams County > An illustrated history of the Big Bend country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington, pt 1 > Part 44
USA > Washington > Douglas County > An illustrated history of the Big Bend country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington, pt 1 > Part 44
USA > Washington > Franklin County > An illustrated history of the Big Bend country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington, pt 1 > Part 44
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On September 25, 1862, Mr. Houck mar- ried Miss Rebecca M., daughter of Samuel E. and Susannah (Jeffries) Parsons. To them have been born the following named children : Samuel J., on July 31, 1863; William P., de- ceased, his death occurring on March 1, 1866; Susannah D., on August 2, 1868; Sylvester L., on August 27, 1872; Emma L., on July 14, 1875. Mrs. Houck was born in Huntington county, Pennsylvania, and received her educa- tion in Fulton county, Illinois.
When Mr. Houck came to the Big Bend country, he had to go to Brents for mail and the nearest trading place was many miles dis- tant. The Indians were numerous and some times troublesome. Mrs. Houck was obliged to keep the blinds drawn to avoid the hideous feeling from seeing wild faces peering in at the windows. On one occasion several Ind- ians came to the house and asked for food. She was afraid to say the husband was far away, and so deceived them by telling them he was close by. They soon discovered he was absent and so were more demanding. She showed them unbaked bread and explained that it was all she had, but not to be so easily satisfied, the leader demanded food. Mrs. Houck secured a stick of wood to try and de-
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fend herself with, and just at that juncture, the husband came and the savages retired. But these days are past and they were preserved from the threatened dangers and are now pass- ing their life in the comfort of the faith that makes faithful and are blessed with many warm friends to cheer and make happy the pathway.
G. W. JAMES, a typical frontiersman, is deserving of being classed with the leading men of eastern Washington. While at the present time he is living more retired from the active labors of life, still in the years gone by, he has been engaged in some of the large en- terprises of this section and has shown him- self a man of real worth and integrity. He was born near Zanesville, Ohio, in 1836, the son of James and Grizzella (Lyle) James, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively. The father came to Ohio when a boy and in 1844, went to Illinois. The next year he came to Iowa and in 1866 crossed the plains to Cali- fornia. There he remained until his death in 1891, being then aged ninety-one years. The mother died previously in Iowa. Our subject accompanied his father across the plains but previous to that time, had gained his educa- tion in the common schools of Iowa and Illi- nois. At the time of the Rebellion, he enlisted in Company I, Sixth Iowa Volunteer Cavalry. saw much active duty, and participated in some furious Indian campaigns with General Sully for a year and one half. Before the war he had taken a trip to California and returned east then went with his father as stated above, to the Sacramento valley. There he farmed un- til 1878 when he moved to Pataha in south- western Washington, where he bought fifteen hundred acres of land. He was a prominent farmer in that section until 1890, then went to the Big Bend country. At that time he had about thirty thousand dollars worth of stock but in one of the hard winters lost nearly the whole bunch. Mr. James was among the first men in Wilbur, and built the first hotel there. He is well known throughout the coun- try and especially on account of his true gen- erosity and kindness to his fellows. During his long career, he has been instrumental in assisting many struggling men in getting good positions and has many friends here.
In 1856, Mr. James married Miss Rosina Sharp, a native of Indiana. She accompanied her husband on both trips across the plains. To them have been born the following named children, Arthur A., Grizella A., George G., Emma, Louis, William, and Ella.
It is well to note that Mr. James has been on the frontier almost all his life. He won marked distinction as an Indian fighter and there is scarcely any portion of the United States that he has not visited in person. He and his wife are now spending the golden years of their lives in quiet retirement established in the love and confidence of many friends.
WILLIAM CALLIOTT resides about three miles northwest from Lamona, where he has an estate of one-half section and is oc- cupied with agricultural pursuits. He was. born in Sainte Genevieve county, Missouri, on May 13, 1859. His parents, Jule and Emily (Simino) Calliott, were born in the same coun- ty as our subject and were prominent and wealthy people. The father died in Sainte Genevieve county, Missouri, twenty-three years ago. William was educated in the district schools of Missouri and worked on his father's. farm until he became of age. Then he rented land in his. native state and followed farming until 1888, when he journeyed west and finally secured a homestead where he now resides. He bought another quarter and transformed the two from the wild prairie to the fertile farm in the cultivation of which he has been oc- cupied since. The land is all fertile and raises wheat, and Mr. Calliott has made an excellent success in his labors. He has supplied the place with all the improvements necessary at the present time and has manifested commend- able thrift since coming here. Mr. Calliott remembers that when he first located in this section, the country was very wild and bleak. Owing to the few settlers, no markets, and many other things to contend with, he had many hardships to undergo and arduous labors to perform. However, he plodded on steadily and is now reaping the reward of his labors. He has also won the respect of all and stands exceptionally well in the community.
In 1880, Mr. Calliott married Miss Caro- line Rich, a native of Missouri. Two years
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after the nuptial feast, she was called hence by death. In 1888, Mr. Calliott contracted a second marriage, Miss Annie E. Swartz be- coming his wife on that occasion. She was born in the same place as our subject. Mrs. Cal- liott's parents are Peter and Clara (Fallert ) Swartz, natives of Missouri and well-to-do agriculturists. To Mr. and Mrs. Calliott, eight children have been born as follows, Henry, An- thony, William, John, Ruby, Elvina, Odell and Suretha.
Mr. Calliott has recently added to his es- tate by the purchase of a quarter section.
HARRISON GLASCOCK lives about four miles southwest from Downs, where he owns an estate of one thousand acres. The farm is one of the choice ones in the section and is well known over the entire county as the Bigham place. Two hundred acres of it are bottom land, under an irrigating ditch, the balance being grain and pasture land. Mr. Glascock has a residence commensurate with a large estate, beautifully situated amid shade trees and other pleasant surroundings, large barns, outbuildings, and other improvements. He has also a large orchard, and altogether his estate is beautiful, valuable, and pleasant.
Harrison Glascock was born in Yolo coun- ty, California, on January 8, 1855, being the son of George and Elizabeth ( Brook) Glas- cock, natives of Virginia. The father emi- grated to California in the early 'fifties, set- tling on a ranch in Yolo county, where he re- mained until his death in 1883. He was one of the very early settlers and became a man of prominence and wealth. The mother accom- panied her husband in his journeys. Our sub- ject was educated in the district schools of Cali- fornia until eighteen, then followed farming until he came to Lincoln county in 1883. He first settled on a ranch near where Harrington now stands, where he remained until 1894. in which year he came to his present location. Crab creek flows through the estate and furn- ishes the water for his irrigating ditch. Mr. Glascock devotes his attention mostly to rais- ing horses and cattle, having some fine thor- oughbred stock. He is one of the wealthy men of this section and has gained his holdings through his own labor and skill.
In 1888, occurred the marriage of Mr. Glascock and Frances J., daughter of J. N. Mckinney, a respected citizen of Oregon. To this union, four children have been born, Mabel, Laura, Viola, and Horace E.
LA FOLLETTE BROTHERS, who are well known throughout the Big Bend coun- try, are Millard F., John HI., and Silas D. At the present time they have rented their large estate, which lies about eight miles north from Almira, and are dwelling in the suburbs of Spokane. They have been identified with the settlement and upbuilding of Lincoln county long before it was organized and are known as prominen and substantial men. They are natives of Floyd county, Indiana and the sons of Joseph C. and America (Swank) La Follette. The parents are both natives of Floyd county and in 1883 came to Washing- ton. The father died at the age of eighty-five in 1899. The mother had died four years pre- viously. Our subjects received their educa- tional training in the district schools of Indi- ana, the same being held in the primitive log cabins of the day and they well remember the split log seats and slab floors. The school terms were about three months each year and the balance of the time they spent on their father's farm. Some of the time they worked for the neighboring farmers. They finally de- cided to emigrate to Washington and accord- ingly, in 1883. found their way to the terri- tory now embraced in Lincoln county. It was then a part of Spokane county. They made settlement as stated above, and as it was late in the season, built themselves a dugout for their home. Having never lived at a distance from a store, they were unfortunate in not securing supplies sufficient to tide them over, and, to use the localism of the day, their "grub." and especially the tobacco, became very short. Pilgrimages were made to Sprague. Cheney, and Spokane, their nearest points for supplies, and they understand well the work of the pion- eer in opening up farms from the wild prairie of Lincoln county. Although they had much hardship and had to do an immense amount of work, still there is no portion of their ex- perience so vividly impressed upon them as the first winter. Mrs. Proebstel was the only
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woman among the neighbors and the winter was decidedly gloomy and lonesome. They had provided themselves with no reading mat- ter and no mail could be gotten for months, consequently they had to whittle and repeat their fund of stories over and over to while away the time. Occasionally they would gather up the inhabitants for twenty miles in each direction and have a dance. At such times our subjects furnished the music. They were successful in their labors on their farms and now own over fifteen hundred acres of the choicest wheat land to be found in the Big Bend country. The entire estate is under cultivation and is handled now by tenants. In 1900 they moved to Medical Lake and en- gaged in the poultry business. Three years later they decided to locate in Spokane. They own five acres which are supplied with a resi- dence and all the buildings necessary to handle poultry successfully. The same lies on Latah creek, immediately southwest of Spokane. They make a specialty of Minorcas and White Leg- horns. They had one other brother, Dave, who is now deceased.
Millard La Follette is the only one of the brothers married. His wedding occurred in 1896, when Miss Mary F. McPherson became his bride. She was born in Vigo county, Indi- ana, the daughter of Thomas and Virginia (Bennett ) McPherson. She was educated in the common schools of Indiana and Washing- ton, having come hither in the fall of 1889. To Mr. and Mrs. La Follette, four children have been born, Thelma and Thula,' twins, Clara A., and Marion B. In 1903, Millard La Follette was commissioner of Lincoln coun- ty. They are all members of the Masonic order and are men of excellent standing, hav- ing always taken a keen interest in the up- building and welfare of the country, and show by their labors, thrift and energy.
SWEN P. SWENSON is one of the agri- culturists of Lincoln county who has won suc- cess by his labors here in which he may well take pride. He resides about eight miles south- west from Harrington and there owns a large estate of eleven hundred and twenty acres of choice wheat land. He is one of the leading and influential men of this section and has won
the respect and esteem of all who know him.
Swen P. Swenson was born in Sweden, on August 16, 1862, being the son of Swen P. and Elna Swenson, natives of Sweden. The father was a seafaring man and a very success- ful navigator. After the primary education of our subject in his native land, he began an ex- tended course of study in navigation. He made great headway in this art and soon went to sea. He rose rapidly from sailor before the mast to different official positions and finally to captain of the ship. For nine years he navi- gated the sea, visiting all parts of the globe. He became well known and bore the reputa- tion of being a first class navigator. Finally he decided to retire from a seafaring life, and accordingly, in 1887, he came to this country and searched out a location in Lincoln county. He took land in 1888 where he resides and has added by purchase until he owns the estate men- tioned above. He has supplied the farm with excellent buildings, plenty of machinery, horses, and so forth and has shown skill, energy and thrift in his labors and improvements. Mr. Swenson has made a remarkable success in farming and has become wealthy as a result.
In 1890, occurred the marriage of Mr. Swen- son and Miss Polson, the daughter of Otto C. Polson, who is mentioned in another portion of this work. To this union five children have been born, Henry, Gus, Carl, Nellie, and Elna.
CYRUS W. FINCH is one of the in- dustrious and prosperous farmers of Lincoln county. He resides about two miles south from Lamona, where he owns four hundred and eighty acres of choice wheat land, all in a high state of cultivation. The same is pro- vided with fine buildings and plenty of other improvements and all supplies needed on a first class wheat farm. The entire property is the result of Mr. Finch's labors since 1890, he having started in with no capital whatever. He has shown himself possessed of the qualities of the real pioneer as well as of business ability that has given him a good success.
Cyrus W. Finch was born in Winona coun- ty, Minnesota, on November 25, 1869. His father, Ruben Finch, was born in New York and served in the Sixth Wisconsin Infantry during the Rebellion. At the close of the war,
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he labored in Minnesota and settled on a farm, being one of the pioneers of that state. In 1896 he came west to Lincoln county which was his home until his death, in 1903. The mother, Mary A. (Sprague) Finch, was born in New York and accompanied her husband during his various journeys.
Our subject was educated in the district schools of Minnesota and after he had laid aside those tasks, took a position as head line- man on the Glenmont steamboat, which plied between Stillwater and Winona. After that, Mr. Finch went to Fort Assiniboine, Montana, in 1891 and took a position on the survey of the Great Northern railroad. He came west with these people until he reached Lincoln coun- ty, where, in 1892, he took a homestead, the same being part of his estate at this time. . He bought a half section more and has since de- voted himself to farming. He has a very com- fortable and beautiful home.
In 1898, Mr. Finch married Miss Lena O'Hare, who was born and reared in Minne- sota. One child, Mildred M., has been born to this union.
JOHN C. INGLE resides one mile north- east from Lamona on one of the largest es- tates of the entire state of Washington. It has been but comparatively few years, since Mr. Ingle landed at Harrington with two cayuses, one a pack and the other a riding ani- mal. He had in addition thereto one hundred and eighteen dollars in his pocket and these were all his holdings. He went to work for wages and soon thereafter took a homestead and from that time until the present has been a period of prosperity to him. Notwithstand- ing the fact that he came just before the hard times, landing here in the fall of 1890, he has not failed in any of his enterprises. Although he lost heavily through crop failures and so forth, his general progress has never been stopped. Since he put in his first crop. he began to purchase land and has continued steadily, adding to his holdings from time to time until he now has three thousand acres, every bit of which is fine wheat land. He has the estate divided into three mammoth farms, each one provided with the best of buildings and all other improvements. The places are con- nected with headquarters by telephone and he
directs the operations of his entire domain from his residence. Mr. Ingle has not only shown himself a master in the art of farming but has clearly demonstrated that lie is possessed of business ability of a very high order. The carefulness with which every detail of the es- tate is conducted, together with a patent grasp of the whole, and enterprise characterize all of Mr. Ingle's undertakings and the success- ful combination of these two qualities bring him the most unbounded success. Withal. Mr. Ingle is a genial, openhearted man, possessed of a very active and penetrating mind and guided by wisdom, which is evident to all. He is also a man of very forceful character and strong will power. An account of the details of his early life will be interesting to all and we append the same.
J. C. Ingle was born in Cleveland. Ten- nessee, on November 27, 1862. His father, Elbert C. Ingle, was born in Washington county, Tennessee, and was known as a good, substantial farmer and a veteran of the Civil War. Our subject's mother, Margaret Ingle, was born in Blakely, Tennessee. Her people were prominent and wealthy. Our subject re- ceived an initial education at Georgetown Academy in Tennessee. At the age of sixteen, he went to work for himself and not being satisfied with the training he had received, suc- ceeded in working his way through Granby University, in Missouri. This was the place of his literary training. It is evident that his mind was not filled with untenable visions, for immediately after his study at the university, we find young Ingle out on the frontier of Kan- sas. He was soon working here for wages on the farm and continued the same for two years. His wages were spent in securing a good outfit with which he began exploring western Kansas. In the course of this trip, he took a preemption and improved the same in such a manner that he shortly sold it for one thousand dollars. After selling out in Kansas, he made his way to Park City, Utah. and did teaming until 1888. in which year he journeyed to Salt Lake City and engaged in the transfer business. It was August. 1890, when he started on horseback from Salt Lake City to Lincoln county. Harrington was his ob- jective point and he made the journey without especial incident. arriving here as stated above with one hundred and eighteen dollars in cash.
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It is evident that Mr. Ingle was gaining his experience from the time he sold his preemp- tion to the time he landed in Harrington, judg- ing from the state of his capital. However, his experience was well worth the price he paid for it, for from the time he landed in the Big Bend, he began his career of success. It seems almost incredible, yet Mr. Ingle has gained 110 less than ten thousand dollars on an average each year from the time he began work for wages on a farm near Harrington, until the present time. It is a delight for any one to view the large estate and see the methods em- ployed and precision exemplified in conduct- ing it. Very few people understand the re- sponsibility incumbent upon one in charge of so large an estate, but Mr. Ingle's wisdom and
executive ability have been fully equal to the task and from the time he commenced to accum- ulate property in the Big Bend country until the present, few mistakes, if any, have occurred to mar his continued successful progress.
In 1901, occurred the marriage of Mr. Ingle and Mrs. Minnie Duvall.
Mr. Ingle's standing is of the best in the community and he has been interested in build- ing and improving this portion of Lincoln county. His example has stimulated much worthy effort and he is considered one of the influential and leading men of Lincoln county.
LEVI C. BISHOP, who dwells about six miles north from Creston, in one of the finest rural abodes of Lincoln county, has the dis- tinction of having made this and the broad estate of fourteen hundred acres which sur- sound his residence, besides much other prop- erty, by assiduous labor and skillful manipu- lation of the resources placed in his hands in this new country, commencing without any capital whatever. Mr. Bishop has forty acres on the Couer d'Alene line out of Spokane, five acres in Union Park, Spokane, and much other property. His home is pleasantly located, is supplied with running water on each floor, and shows excellent taste and judicious selection in every point. Other improvements commensur- ate are in evidence and the estate is one of the choicest in the county.
Levi C. Bishop is descended from stanch American patriots, his great grandfathers on
both sides being soldiers under General Wash- ington in the Revolution. He was born in Washington county, Virginia, on October 13, 1858, the son of Madison and Eunis (Grose) Bishop, natives of Washington and Smyth counties, respectively. in the Mother of States. The father was a veteran of the Civil War and a substantial citizen. Our subject was educated in the public schools and then engaged in farm- ing with his father until 1882. The next year he came on to Walla Walla and took work on a farm for some time. In 1884, Mr. Bishop took a timber culture claim adjoining where he lives. Later he took a pre-emption and then a homestead and has purchased land since until he has the large amount mentioned above. In addition to making the fortune that he has, Mr. Bishop has not forgotten that more priceless heritage, a good name, and his honesty, integ- rity and uniform geniality and display of up- right principles have won the highest esteem and confidence of the people.
In 1882, Mr. Bishop married Miss Sarah E. Cole, whose brothers, Andrew J .. James J., and John C., are residents in the vicinity of Creston. To Mr. and Mrs. Bishop, two chil- dren have been born, Lury M. and Mary E. We wish to note also that the grandfather of Mrs. Bishop was descended from a prominent American family of Revolutionary ancestry, as mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Bishop are the center of a large circle of admiring friends, and their worthy labors have accomplished much for the substantial upbuild- ing of the community and the forwarding of proper enterprises.
RALPH PURCELL is one of the younger men whose industry and thrift have accumu- lated good holdings in the Big Bend country. He resides about three miles northwest from Lamona on a half section of land, a portion of which he secured by homestead in 1898 and the rest by purchase. It is a well improved farm provided with buildings and other neces- saries and is handled mostly to wheat. Mr. Purcell has a young orchard situated on his place and everything about the premises shows an air of thrift that commend very favorably the owner in his labors.
Ralph Purcell was born in Lewis county, Washington, on December 1I, 1872. His
LEVI C. BISHOP
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father, Albert P., was born in Ohio and crossed the plains to Washington with ox teams in the early 'sixties. He located in Lewis county and gave his attention to farming, steadily fol- lowing that occupation on the same place until 1901, the year of his death. At that time he was ninety-one years of age and had won for himself great respect and esteem from all the old pioneers of Washington territory as well as those who knew him in later years. The mother of our subject, Susan ( Lyons) Purcell, was also born in Ohio and accompanied her husband across the plains in the early pioneer days. She still lives in Lewis county. Our subject was educated in the public schools of his native country and labored with his father on the farm until 1898, when he came to his present location and took a homestead as stated above. He has gained everything that he owns from his labors as he started with no money and has shown wisdom, integrity, and up- rightness that have won for him many friends. He is very favorably known in this community and stands well. Mr. Purcell has the follow- ing brothers, James, Benjamin, Elwood, John, Grant, and Albert. He also has one sister, Emma, a stenographer in Portland.
FRED WALCH was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, on November 20, 1858. His pa- rents, George M. and Katherine Walch, were also natives of Germany and wealthy people. The father held public office most of his life. The mother came from a very prominent fam- ily. Our subject was educated in Germany and worked for his father on the farm until he was twenty years of age. Then came the trip to America, after which Mr. Walch settled in Portland, Oregon. Being entirely without capital, he at once engaged to work for wages and continued in the same until the summer of 1886. In that year, he came to his present lo- cation about two miles north from Lamona and took a homestead and timber culture claims. He at once started to improve the farm, but owing to the fact that there was no market for farm products, he was obliged to go out and work for wages a portion of each year. He soon bought more land and now has an estate of nine hundred and sixty acres, nearly all of which is good wheat land. As soon as there
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