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 45
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 45
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 45
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 45
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was a market, he gave his entire attention to farming and has made an excellent success in this calling. He has improved the place in a very becoming manner with buildings of all kinds, fences, windmills, orchards, and so forth, and is one of the very richest farmers of Lin- coln county. Mr. Walch uses each year a combined harvester and has the most approved machinery known for farm work. He owns considerable property in addition to that men- tioned and is a wealthy man.
In 1887, Mr. Walch married Miss Anna Hamersmith, whose parents are mentioned in another portion of this work. To this union three children have been born, Conrad G., Jen- nie L., and Leonard L.
GEORGE N. LOWE is a production of the state of Washington, having been born in Walla Walla, on May 29, 1866. The father, E. T. Lowe, was born in Illinois and crosscd the plains to Walla Walla with ox teams in the early 'sixties. He followed building and contracting for years in Walla Walla and there died in 1874. The mother, Martha C. Lowe, was born in Virginia and accompanied her husband across the plains. She died at Walla Walla in 1879. Our subject being thus early left an orphan, was associated with William Bigham, a large stockman of , Oregon and Washington. His early education was ob- tained in Walla Walla and later he attended school in Spokane and an academy at Cheney. In October, 1879, he made his first trip from Walla Walla to the Big Bend country in com- pany with Mr. Bigham, who had here a large band of horses brought from Oregon. Mr. Bigham was well known in early days through- out the country as one of the largest and most successful horse raisers in the west. George N. continued in his labors, riding the range throughout the entire Big Bend country, until he was twenty-two years of age. Owing to the fact that the horses were brought from Oregon, much extra riding was needed to keep them from returning to those places. During those years, the few scattering settlers had to go to Walla Walla for mail until other post- offices were established nearer. When twen- ty-two, Mr. Lowe entered the stock business for himself and gave his entire attention to rais-
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ing horses. He had good success and soon had a good sized herd of his own. His head- quarters were on Crab creek, near where Irby station is now located. In 1891, horses so de- creased in value that there was no profit in the enterprise still he continued until 1900, when he sold his remaining herd of five hundred for seven dollars per head. Then Mr. Lowe pur- chased railroad land where Lamona is now. He secured eight hundred acres, one section of which is first class wheat land. He first built a good residence, then commodious barns and made other improvements needed and is now one of the substantial agriculturists of the sec- tion. Although Mr. Lowe commenced life as a very poor boy, he has now gained property until he is considered one of the well-to-do men of Lincoln county.
In 1889, Mr. Lowe married Miss Lue Parker. Her parents. Horace and Louisa (Johnson) Parker, were born in Pennsylvania and New York, respectively. The father walked across the plains in company with an ox train in the early 'fifties settling at The Dalles, Oregon. In 1879, lie settled where Lamona now stands. The mother came via the Isthmus to Oregon and her marriage occurred at The Dalles. Mrs. Lowe was born in Wasco county, Oregon, and is one of a family of four girls. She came to what is now Lincoln county with her parents when twelve years of age and her education was received in the public schools of Spokane. Mr. Lowe stands well in this community and is a man of integrity and real worth.
JOHN J. CORMANA came to the Big Bend country about twenty years since. pos- sessed of no worldly goods but filled with the determination to build himself a good home. He at once took a homestead about seven miles northwest from where he now resides and be- gan general farming. It was a very slow start indeed, owing to the newness of the country and the scarcity of settlers and the many things with which he had to contend. He continued in his labors with commendable application and tenacity and soon had a small farm producing well. He added by purchase from time to time until he now has an estate of over sixteen liun- dred acres of choice wheat land all in a high state of cultivation. The farm is supplied with
excellent buildings of all kinds needed, plenty of machinery, including a combined harvester, and a goodly number of horses and other stock. Mr. Cormana is today one of the wealthy men of Lincoln county. He has also gained an ex- cellent standing among the people and is a representative citizen of the Big Bend country.
John J. Cormana was born in Caldwell county, Missouri, on May 22, 1857. being the son of John and Mary A. ( McFall) Cormana, natives of Kentucky where also they were reared and married. They came to Missouri in early days and engaged in farming, later becoming wealthy in this occupation. Our sub- ject was reared and educated in Missouri and followed farming there until 1885, the year he located in the Big Bend country.
In 1887, Mr. Cormana married Miss Alice Reed, a native of Ohio. To them five chil- dren have been born, Carrie M .. Claude E., Bertha L., J. Elmer, and Charlie B. Mrs. Cormana's father was a prominent and wealthy merchant in Ohio. Mr. Cormana has one brother, William F., who is a mining man of British Columbia. Mr. Cormana owns a resi- dence in Harrington and part of the time he and his family dwell there.
OTTO C. POLSON resides three and one half miles northwest from Downs, where he owns one half section of land. It is a well im- proved farm and is handled by the owner in a very skillful manner. Mr. Polson came here with no means, but owning to his thrift and wis- dom has been prospered during all the years since 1885 so that he is now one of the wealthy men of the section.
Otto C. Polson was born in Sweden, on May 7, 1840. His father, N. P. Polson, was also a native of Sweden and a prominent man who died being aged thirty-three years. The mother, Carmine Polson, was born in Sweden. Our subject was an only child and was but five years of age when his father died. He started in the common schools of his native country. then took charge of his mother's farin until 1883. when he came to California. He remained there, engaged for wages for two years, then came to Washington and selected his present place from government land. He took a preemption and timber culture claims
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and later bought and sold land. Like the other early settlers, Mr. Polson endured many hard- ships and discouraging times, nevertheless he continued steadily in his labors and has been well rewarded by continued prosperity.
In 1867, before coming to America, Mr. Polson married Miss C. Nelson, who died in 1886. In 1887, he married Mrs. Janet Brande Sybecker, a native of Scotland. She came to Washington in 1886. She had come to the United States when a small child with her pa- rents and was educated at Salt Lake City. To Mr. and Mrs. Polson, two children have been born, Carl and Georgia.
To Mr. Polson and his first wife, two chil- dren were born, Arva, deceased, and Natalie, wife of S. P. Swenson, now residing near La- mona, Washington. To the present Mrs. Pol- son, by her former husband, were born, Gus, James, Erick, and Janet, all now residing in Washington.
Mr. Polson has always shown himself an upright man and has hosts of friends in every quarter.
FRED L. HAMERSMITH is a merchant at Lamona, Washington. In addition to doing a good business in his store, he oversees his farm of one-half section and acts as justice of the peace. He was born in Buffalo, New York. on May 7, 1866, the son of L. F. and Johannah (Libbert) Hamersmith, natives of Germany. The mother came to the United States when six months old. The father landed here when a boy and became a very prominent doctor. His primary education was received in Ger- many and his training was completed in Cin- cinnati, Ohio. He became very successful in the practice of medicine and operated in sev- eral states. In 1887, he landed in Lincoln county and thereafter led a retired life until his death, on January 10, 1900. He was de- scended from a very wealthy family of nobility, which is prominent in France. Their home be- ing in the territory which Germany wrested from France they became German subjects. Our subject's grandfather was an officer for years in the French army. Fred L. came to Iowa with his parents and there studied in the common schools until they removed to Ore- gon. In 1882, he entered the Willamette uni- versity and completed the Latin scientific
course. He then spent two years in the study of medicine under a preceptor and intended to fit himself for a professor of medicine, but at the end of two years his health broke down and he saw it was useless for liim to attempt to continue further in the university. Accord- ingly, on September 15, 1884, we find him in Lincoln county, Washington. He took land by squatter's right near the present site of La- mona and commenced to ride the range. For ten years he followed that occupation, putting his earnings for the first five years into cattle. The winter of 1889-90 was so severe that he lost the entire bunch. He continued on the range until 1893, until he was injured by a horse falling on him, so severely that he was unfitted for further riding, then he learned the blacksmith trade, then the carpenter trade, after that the jeweler trade but not liking any of them, determined to farm. Shortly after that, he opened a store in Lamona and gave his atten- tion to that and renting his land. During these years, Mr. Hamersmith has given all his spare time to scientific investigations and has written some very good essays on subjects along these lines. He is a man of first class education, care- ful and deep research, and is a great thinker. He has conducted many experiments along scientific lines and achieved results of consider- able good. Mr. Hamersmith is a substantial man and looked up to in this community.
FRANK J. GUTH is one of the leading merchants in Odessa, where he has resided since the town was started. He was born in Man- kato, Minnesota, the son of Arnold and Mary Guth, natives of Germany. They came to Min- nesota in 1856 and settled on land near where Mankato now stands. The father became very wealthy and is a prominent citizen there. Our subject was educated in the public schools and remained with his father until his majority, then he took a position with S. Larson & Com- pany in Madelia. where he remained four years. In 1899. he came to the Pacific coast and spent sometime in looking over the country. finally deciding to locate in Odessa. For one year, he was in the implement house here and in the fall of 1901, he engaged as partner with L. P. Zim- mer. the owner of the implement house. They soon added a large line of hardware and the
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next August bought out the former owners of the Odessa Hardware Company, John Shaffer and Frank Ardolf. They carry a full line of hardware, implements, and so forth and are do- ing a large business.
Mr. Guth is a member of the I. O. O. F. and is a popular man. He is possessed of ster- ling energy and has shown first class ability in building up and handling the business which he now owns. He has gained wealth in his labors and although starting with no capital whatever, he has met with the success that faithfulness and integrity merit.
OLIVER G. WILLIAMS, a worthy busi- ness man and farmer of Lincoln county, resides about three miles east from Odessa. He was born in Ohio, on March 7, 1850, the son of Joseph and Mary E. (Boyd) Williams, natives of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and Ohio re- spectively. The father moved to Ohio when a young man and later to Missouri and became an influential and well-to-do citizen. He held num- erous public offices and was a real American. his ancestors being leading Pennsylvania peo- ple, among the first settlers in the colonies. Our subject has ascertained through the investiga- tions of Mrs. J. K. Purcell, that his family dates back to Roger Williams, the famous founder of Rhode Island. Since then many of the fam- ily have been identified with the Friends sect and Joseph Williams was also a member of that de- nomination.
Our subject was educated in Ohio and Mis- souri and studied in the district schools. In 1868, he crossed the plains with teams to Salt Lake, where he did a great deal of freighiting. He also made several other trips across the plains in the course of his labors. In 1870. he returned to Missouri and there lived four years. when he again took the western fever and this time embarked for California. He was en- gaged in various occupations there and finally settled in Modoc county. It was 1893, when Mr. Williams came to Lincoln county and as his first venture here was farming, he rented land. Four years later, in company with T. J. Crowley, he bought land near Odessa and Moh- ler and there now owns two sections and farms four sections. He also has a half interest in a general merchandise establishment at Mohler. Mr. Williams has demonstrated himself to be a
man of sterling energy and good ability, hav- ing made a first class success in both his farm and business labors. It may also be stated at this time that his entire property holdings have been accumulated through his own efforts, as he started in life without any capital whatever.
In 1883, Mr. Williams married Miss Mary F. Crowley. Her parents were James and Mel- vina (Gibbins) Crowley, prominent and well- to-do people of California. To Mr. and Mrs. Williams eight children have been born, Ona, Ella, Weldon, and Francis, and four deceased.
Mr. Williams is a member of the I. O. O. F., and enjoys the best of standing in this com- munity.
LEE M. JOYNER is one of the respected men of Lincoln county and also one of its weal- thiest citizens. His magnificent estate lies about five miles east from Odessa and is one of the finest in the entire Big Bend country. It em- braces sixteen hundred acres of choice wheat land and returns annually a most handsome div- idend. The farm is provided with everything needed on a first class Washington estate and is handled in a very becoming manner by its proprietor. His residence is one of the best in the county and Mr. Joyner has shown excellent taste and skill in laying out and keeping up the estate. Lee M. Joyner was born in Louisiana, on October 25, 1861. His father, Columbus Joyner, was born in Kentucky and moved to Louisiana during the Civil War. He was a veteran of that conflict and died in the service. The mother, Susan ( Davis) Joyner, was born in Missouri and went with her husband to Louis- iana when a girl. Her father was a very wealthy and prominent planter. Our subject was educated in the public schools of Missouri and Kansas. His mother moved back to Mis- souri when he was still a young child and his boyhood days were passed in that state and Kansas until 1874. In that year, he settled on a stock ranch in Cassia county, Idaho, being oc- cupied there for four years. In 1878, he made a trip to the Black Hills in Dakota and spent one year there. Thence he journeyed to Kan- sas where he was engaged in tilling the soil for a few years. From that place he returned to southern Idaho and took up stock raising again. In 1890, he landed in Lincoln county and took government land and also bought railroad land.
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He turned his attention to raising horses and also handling some cattle for a number of years, then sold his stock interests and bought land enough to make the large estate mentioned above. Since then, he has given his entire at- tention to raising the cereals and has made a fine success in this line of endeavor. Mr. Joy- ner has won the respect of the people and is a very popular man. He and his wife have four children, Lena, Roy, Myrtle and Bernice.
Mr. Joyner is a member of the Maccabees and a progressive and public-spirited man. He has always manifested a lively interest in edu- cational matters and in the upbuilding of the country, having done much in these lines.
JESSE P. COX is numbered with the early pioneers of Lincoln county. He resides now about four miles northeast from Odessa and is occupied in general farming and stock raising. He labored through the hardships of early days with tenacity and energy which have been re- warded with an accumulation of property quite gratifying. He has four hundred and eighty acres of good land, all fenced and well improved with buildings and so forth, owns forty head of cattle, some horses, and considerable general property. Mr. Cox has gained, meanwhile, in addition to his property the good will and re- spect of all who know him.
Jesse P. Cox was born in Gentry county, Missouri, on December 27, 1854. His parents, William and Cassander (Bounds) Cox, were born in Tennessee and came to Missouri in early days. The father is a veteran of the Civil War and is now a prominent and wealthy man. The mother died when our subject was a child. At the age of nine, Jesse rode a horse and drove cattle from Missouri to the Willamette valley, being in company with his father and two uncles. Settlement was made in Yamhill county and the father turned his attention to farming and milling. Our subject received his educa- tion in this vicinity but the opportunities were limited. He assisted his father with milling and farming there until 1867, when a move was made to Umatilla county. Here stock raising employed them entirely and our subject rode the range for many years. During this time the Piute Indians made a raid through Oregon and Mr. Cox was forced to leave his farm for a
time as also were many other settlers. The savages destroyed property and life in a reck- less manner customary to them, but on the farm of Mr. Cox, they met their first resistance. They succeeded in doing much damage to prop- erty but no life was lost here. Finally the out- break was quelled. Our subject was occupied later in handling stock in Idaho, then in the government employ as teamster. In 1873, he moved to Idalio county and engaged in farm- ing. Four years later, he returned to U'ma- tilla county, handling lumber for a while in Pendleton. Then he bought a ranch on Birch creek, near Pilot Rock, where he made his home until 1888. In that year, he sold all his prop- erty in Umatilla county and invested in stock which he brought to his present location. The second winter they were there, that of 1889-90, he lost half of his stock through inclement weather. It was a year long to be remembered by Mr. Cox as the snow lay two and one-half feet deep on the level and the thermometer ranged in the neighborhood of thirty degrees below zero much of the time and he was forced to ride ten miles each day to feed his stock. He passed through all the hardships successfully and has been prospered until the present time. Mr. Cox is certainly to be classed with the real builders of this country.
In 1877, Mr. Cox married Miss Sarah Beasley, who was born in Schuyler county, Mis- souri, and came to Oregon with her parents when a child. She is well educated, having graduated from the Pendleton high school and takes great interest in current literature. Her parents, William and Catherine ( Prunner ) Beasley, were born in Illinois and Indiana, re- spectively. They crossed the plains to Western Oregon in 1865, where they now dwell, being worthy people.
To Mr. and Mrs. Cox the following chil- dren have been born, Mrs. Ora Colyar, Ivan K., Jessie C. C., Perry W., Elvan E., and Lula L.
CHARLES V. DRAZAN' lives at Odessa. He is one of the wealthiest land owners in south- ern Lincoln county and is a man of ability and integrity. He was born in Bohemia, on Octo- ber 18. 1873. His parents were John and An- nie ( Kovasik) Drazan, natives of Bohemia. The common schools of his native country fur-
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nished our subject his educational training and following that period of his life, he began to work for wages. In 1893, he came to America and hired out on a farm in Minnesota. Two years later, he went to St. Paul, taking a posi- tion as interpreter for the St. Paul and Duluth lines, having learned the English language thoroughly, during the time that he had then lived in this country. He won the confidence of his employers and was steadily advanced to a responsible position. Later, he entered the em- ploy of the Northern Pacific land company in the capacity of interpreter. In 1898, he came west to Ritzville and soon thereafter, he jour- neyed to Odessa, where there were no business buildings. He immediately entered the real estate business, being appointed resident agent for the Northern Pacific land company. He did a fine business for years and soon had accu- mulated over two thousand acres of good wheat land. Later, however, part of this was sold and he now owns the balance which is well improved with farm buildings, fences, and so forth and is productive of excellent returns in crops. Mr. Drazan started in the United States without any capital and has accumulated his present holding by his ability and labors. He has also won the confidence of the people and stands well.
In 1899, Mr. Drazan married Miss Mary B., daughter of Joseph and Mary (Bartce) Chalupsky. The parents came to Minnesota in very early days, the father settling there in the times when the Indians were hostile on every hand. He had many engagements with them but overcame all and became a very prominent man. Mrs. Drazan was born in Lesueur coun- ty, Minnesota. To Mr. and Mrs. Drazan two children have been born, Walter E. and Mar,- ghery E.
JACOB P. WEBER, of the firm of Weber Brothers, is one of the leading business men of Odessa. The firm carries a large stock of hard- ware and implements and does an extensive business throughout the country surrounding.
Jacob P. Weber, was born in Bonhomme county, South Dakota, on April 18, 1875, the son of Philip and Mary ( Barreth) Weber. The father was born in Russia of German ancestry and came to South Dakota in 1874. He was one of the pioneer settlers of that section and became a wealthy and prominent farmer. He
is now deceased. The mother of our subject was also born in Southern Russia and came with her people to this country in 1874. Our subject studied in the common schools of South Da- kota, then worked on his father's farm until he was twenty-two years of age. In 1897, he rent- ed a farm in South Dakota and worked the same for two years, then he came to where Odessa now stands and located a homestead eight miles south. Later, he bought other land and continued farming until 1901, when he came into Odessa and bought a furniture store of John Reimann and also bought the harness stock of Charles L. Shaw. He operated the two for some time, then sold the furniture es- tablishment and put in a large line of hard- ware and implements. In May, 1903, he took four of his brothers in partnership with him, they being William, Leo P., Christian and John. The firm does a large business and is one of the leading establishments in this portion of the county. Mr. Weber owns eighty acres of land and a good residence in Odessa in addition to his mercantile business. The firm occupies two large store buildings besides their warehouses.
In 1897, Mr. Weber married Miss Tressa, daughter of Michael and Minnie (Sees) Patcer, natives of Russia and now dwelling in South Dakota. Mrs. Weber was born in Russia of German ancestors. To this couple two chil- dren have been born, Martha M. and Mary M. Mr. Weber is a councilman of Odessa and a member of the A. O. U. W. He and his wife belong to the German Congregational church and are highly respected people.
FIELDON LOGSDON is one of the old- est settlers in the vicinity of Odessa. In fact, there was but one other settler in this part of Lincoln county when Mr. Logsdon came here in 1889. He gave his attention to general farm- ing until 1900, when he bought out the Odessa Hardware and Mercantile Company. He en- tered into partnership with L. P. Zimmer and F. J. Guth. They opened a very extensive hard- ware store and carry a full line of implements. Their store is provided with all conveniences, and the firm is doing a large business being well known in this portion of the county.
Fieldon Logsdon was born in Columbia county, Washington, on December 10, 1867,
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being the son of Joseph H. and Martha (Fu- qua) Logsdon, natives of Kentucky. The fa- ther crossed the plains in 1863 with teams and located on a farm in Columbia county, where Starbuck now stands. Later he moved to Walla Walla county and there owned a ranch, which lie sold in 1888. He has now retired from busi- ness, spending the golden years of his life in the enjoyment of the returns his labor has pro- vided. The mother of our subject crossed the plains with her husband and was his constant companion until her death in the spring of 1887.
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