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 47
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 47
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 47
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 47
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88
Mr. Menke has the following brothers and sisters, John, George, Garhard, Dedrick and William. In political matters and local affairs, Mr. Menke has always taken a keen interest and displays good judgment and sound principles. He has many warm friends and is highly re- spected in the community.
IDA WHITESIDE. Everyone who re- sides in the northern portion of Lincoln coun- ty knew Michael Whiteside, one of the prom- inent and highly respected citizens of the Big Bend country. He came here in early days and wrought with great skill in acquiring property and in the upbuilding of the country. He suc- ceeded admirably. Owing to his geniality and accommodating ways, he was exceedingly pop- ular and had hosts of friends. His death oc- curred in 1902. The home estate is one mile south of Hesseltine, where his widow, the im- mediate subject of this article, resides. She was born in Missouri, the daughter of Josiah and Nancy ( Mahar) Spencer. The father was a native of Virginia and came to Missouri when a young man. He settled there and became a
277
HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
prominent and well to do miller. The mother of Mrs. Whiteside was born in Ohio. Her people were wealthy and influential. Mrs. Whiteside came to Oregon with her parents when a child and received her education in that state and in Washington. In 1888, she mar- ried Michael H. Whiteside, a native of Illinois. She shared with him the pioneer life in the west until his departure. During this time they ac- cumulated a large estate of sixteen, hundred acres, divided into four first class farms, each of which is supplied with all buildings, improve- ments and equipments needed. At the time of his death, his property was valued from twenty- five to thirty thousand dollars. To them were born the following children, Mrs. Mary Van- buren and Jesse Whiteside.
Mrs. Whiteside is now residing in a beau- tiful house, one mile south from Hesseltine. It is of modern architectural design, commodious, and well finished. The surroundings are pleas- ant and tasty, while a beautiful orchard, run- ning water in the yard, and other desirable things make it one of the choice rural abodes of the Big Bend.
ALEXANDER D. ROBERTS, a pioneer of 1886, lives about one-half mile north from Tipso, where he owns an excellent farm which is well supplied with everything needed both for comfort and utility. Mr. Roberts started in life amid the greatest adversity having no money and no acquaintances and was forced to make a little dugout for himself and wife and chil- dren to live in the first winter. A couple of rough boards with a flour sack stretched over the aperture served for a door and a window and it was with the utmost endeavor that he obtained the barest necessities of life. In early spring he packed his blankets from there to Spokane, a distance of one hundred and twenty miles, and had but one meal enroute. He had left five pounds of flour and three pounds of bacon for his wife and children, but he soon secured work and had plenty of provisions. From that time until the present. Mr. Roberts has labored in- cessantly and all that he now owns is the result of his wisely bestowed labors. Those days of hardship and deprivation to the frontiersman
have passed away forever in this part of the country, but they never can be too eloquently told for it is utterly impossible to explain to succeeding generations the efforts made, the ob- stables overcome, or the trying ordeals passed through.
Alexander D. Roberts was born in Missouri on February 25, 1855. His father, J. William Roberts, was born in Kentucky and went with his parents to Missouri when an infant. His fa- ther bought land in Missouri at that time at twenty-five cents per acre and became a very worthy and influential farmer. The mother of our subject, Sarah ( Walker ) Roberts, was born in Kentucky and moved to Missouri when young. Our subject was educated in the com- mon schools of Missouri, then engaged in farm- ing and in due time came to Spokane. He la- bored there and in the Palouse country until sufficient was made to land him in Lincoln county. Perhaps there is no one in this part of the county who has seen greater hardships and borne them with more excellent fortitude than Mr. Roberts and his wife. They now have everything that a first class farm can produce and are among the prominent and esteemed peo- ple here. Mr. Roberts has the following broth- ers and sisters. Joseph A., Franklin T., David C., Samuel, deceased, W. W., Mary A., de- ceased, Susie, Jennie and Carrie.
In 1881. Mr. Roberts married Miss E. Es- ther Page, a native of Nebraska. Her parents, Alfred and Elizabeth Buchannon, were early pioneers in Nebraska. To Mr. and Mrs. Rob- erts, the following named chlidren have been born : Mrs. Della M. Funk, in Spokane: Mrs. Anna B. Lewis; Mrs. Carrie Nellie Ste- venson, Mrs. Sadie E. Stevenson, Roxie L .. Eliglah L .. Enoch F., I. Pearl, Paul L., and Joseph D.
EDWARD SPANGLE is one of the en- terprising and progressive farmers of Lincoln county. His estate lies about one fourth of a mile northeast from Tipso, and is devoted to the production of the cereals. He has it well stocked with machinery and horses and every- thing necessary to a first class Washington farm and improved with good buildings, fences, and so forılı.
Edward Spangle was born in Stanton, Illi-
278
HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
.
nois, on December 13, 1863. His father, G. W. Spangle, was also born in Illinois and is a vet- eran of the Civil War. He came to Walla Walla in 1871 and the following year to a farm at Spangle, Washington, where he has resided ever since. His brother, W. M. Spangle, the uncle of our subject, was the founder of Spangle and it was named after him. The mother of Edward was Mary A. (Whittaker) Spangle, a native of Missouri. Her husband was among the prominent and early pioneers. of western Washington. Edward Spangle was educated at Spangle and remained on liis fa- ther's farm until 1887, when he came to his present location, taking a pre-emption and add- ing land since. He has devoted himself entirely to general farming since coming here and has made a success because of real worth and wise management. Mr. Spangle has one brother, John H., and two sisters, Mrs. Mary Spangle Winn, and Mrs. Bertha Engelson. The first is dwelling at Almira, while Mrs. Winn is liv- ing at Spangle. Mrs. Engelson is at Hessel- tine.
GEORGE W. PETERMAN has been post- master at Tipso since the establishment of the office in 1899 and is also a merchant there. He has a well assorted and complete stock of gen- eral merchandise and is favored with a fine pa- tronage. In addition to this, he owns farming land in the vicinity and property in various thriving towns in the Big Bend country.
Mr. Peterman was instrumental in estab- lishing the postoffice at Tipso, selecting the name for the same, it being a Chinook word which means grass.
George W. Peterman was born in Missouri. : on June 15, 1870, being the son of Edward and Annettie (Smith) Peterman, natives of Penn- sylvania and Missouri, respectively. The father, was a pioneer to Missouri and a prominent man in his community. He came to Lincoln county in 1888 and settled on a farm near Tipso, where he is residing at the present time. Our subject was educated in the common schools of Mis- souri and the Cortland academy. He was en- gaged with his father on the farm until he took a position in Keller's department store at Al- mira. After that he carried the mail from Lin- coln to Barry for one and one half years. In
1891, he took a homestead where he is now lo- cated. He was not settled long before he opened his store and secured a good patronage, which is constantly increasing owing to his up- right business methods and careful treatment of all patrons. Mr. Peterman is a man of ex- cellent business ability and has labored faith- fully for the building up of this country. He has one brother, Edward.
In 1897, Mr. Peterman married Miss Lin- nie Sanford, a native of South Dakota. She came with her parents, Tilley and Dora ( Mill- age) Sanford, to this country when she was three years of age. The father was born in In- diana of English parents, while the mother was born in Pennsylvania. They are now dwelling at Chelan. To Mr. and Mrs. Peterman one child has been born, Howard O. It speaks well for Mr. Peterman that although still a young man and starting in life with no capital what- ever, he has gained an excellent holding and has now a fine business.
JOHN KLOBUCHER was born in Aus- tria on August 7, 1852. His parents, Joseph and Anna ( Panjan) Klobucher, were also na- tives of Austria and well to do farmers. He was well educated in the public schools of his native country and went to work selling goods on the road, in which occupation he soon earned enough money to come to the United States. He landed here in 1872 and soon made his way to San Francisco where he was engaged until 1875, when he went into the mercantile busi- ness. Later he operated a restaurant. In 1880 he went back to Europe on a visit and returned the same year. In 1881. he came to Puget sound and spent sometime in looking the coun- try over. He was occupied as cook on the con- struction of the Northern Pacific through the Big Bend country. He now lives, two miles south from Lincoln postoffice, where he pur- chased land until he has a farm of six hundred acres well stocked and improved. The orchard, . buildings, and other things in evidence, mani- fest both his skill and taste as well as indicate his prosperity. Mr. Klobucher came into this country carrying his blankets on his back and on one occasion for thirty-six hours he was with- out food on that trip. Being one of the very first settlers here, he was forced to endure great
279
HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
hardships and although starting without means he is a wealthy man at the present time.
In 1884, Mr. Klobucher married Miss Louise Berghaus, who was born in Austria. Her father, Jacob Berghaus, was a skilled black- smith. Her mother was also a native of Aus- tria. To Mr. and Mrs. Klobucher, seven chil- dren have been born, Mary L., J. Edward, Frank J., A. Emma, Victor W., Rudolph C., and Marguerite. The children have all received a good education and have made excellent pro- gress in their school work. Mr. Klobucher is one of the respected and progressive men of the section and has done excellent work, both in business for himself and in building up the country.
MINOR SHAFFER is a wealthy stock- man of Lincoln county, whose residence is about . two miles west from Tipso, where with his brother, he has a fine large estate. In addition to stock raising, Mr. Shaffer does general farm- ing and is one of the progressive men of this section. He was born in Indiana, on October 24, 1857, being the son of Joseph and Emily IV. (DeCamp) Shaffer. The father was born in Ohio and was a pioneer to California. La- ter he returned to Indiana, then moved to Iowa where he died. The mother was of French extraction and a native of Indiana, where her people were pioneers. Our subject came to Washington with his parents when a child and received his education in the district schools of Walla Walla county. Later the family moved to Colfax where he finished his schooling. After that he worked on his mother's farm and also for wages until 1888, when he came to Lincoln county. Mr. Shaffer returned to Colfax and spent one year and in 1890, came to his present location. The land was unsurveyed and he took a squatter's right to the place he now owns. He immediately set to work to build a home and improve the estate and with his brother, E. W. has bought land until they have a large holding. They own a great many head of cattle and are well to do men. Mr. Shaffer has one brother. E. W. and three sisters, Nettie, Malissia, and Manda, and also two half brothers, Frank and Charles Hub. In 1882, Mr. Shaffer married Miss Alma, daughter of Hiram and May Hull, prominent and wealthy people of Whitman
county. Mrs. Shaffer was born in Michigan and came to Washington when a girl. To this marriage, six children have been born, Emmett S., Dean R., Loran R., Genevieve, Joseph and Hiram.
Mr. Shaffer, like many other prominent peo- ple in Lincoln county, started in life with no means and has gained his present possessions by reason of his sagacity and thrift.
JOSEPH G. DIXON, who lives about one mile northwest from Lincoln postoffice, was born in Tennessee, on November 10, 1868, be- ing the son of Joseph B. and Mary J. ( Galar- har) Dixon, natives of Tennessee. He was educated in the public schools of Arkansas whither the family moved when he was young. Following the training of early days, he gave himself to farming and for some time wrought for wages there. In 1887, he came to Wash- ington and was engaged in farming in different localities. It was 1891, when he took a home- stead where he now lives and went to work to build a home. He added to this land by pur- chase until he now owns three hundred and sixty acres, and has succeeded well in making a comfortable home and so shaping his property that he receives a fine annual income from it. Mr. Dixon has shown himself to be an indus- trious and progressive man and by his wisdom and labors has gained his good holdings. He has three brothers, Arthur, John G., and Will- iam M.
In 1897, Mr. Dixon married Miss Virginia Fry. Her father, George W. Fry, was born in Missouri and moved to Arkansas when a young man. Her mother, Pricilla (Dixon) Fry, was born in Arkansas. To Mr. and Mrs. Dixon, two children have been born, L. Lafayette and Lora E.
EDWIN B. CHILDS is a retired farmer of Lincoln county. He has a large estate at Hesseltine, which is rented. Mr. Childs is well known through the country as one of the carly settlers and is a man who has labored very faithfully in the development of the country and in gaining a good holding here. He was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, on July 20. 1849. The father, H. G. O. Childs, was born in New
280
HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
York in the early forties where he became in- terested in the manufacture of farm wagons. The mother, Barbara ( Harper) Childs, was born in the Shetland Islands. Her people were wealthy farmers in Wisconsin. After a good thorough education, our subject engaged in the manufacture of carriages. He followed that until 1886, the year in which he came to Lin- coln county. He settled on a pre-emption, which is now a part of his estate. He added thereto by purchase, all of which has been put under cultivation and is first class wheat land. Mr. Childs has spent considerable of his time in Spokane and other places as well as in Lincoln county. He has the following brothers ; W. O., a farmer in Hesseltine; M. L., living in Spo- kane, and W. H., a mining man of Cedar Can- yon. Mr. Childs started in life a very poor boy, and has gained his present gratifying holding, entirely by his own industry and wis- dom. He lias so conducted himself that he has won the confidence and respect of all and is one of the honored citizens of this county.
BARNETT D. DIXON is a well-to-do farmer residing one-half mile east from Downs, where he has one of the most sightly farms in Lincoln county, it being visible from the towns of Downs, Mohler, and Harrington. On July 10, 1873, Mr. Dixon was born in Lewis county, Washington, on a farm about twelve miles west from Centralia. His father was Elijah F. Dixon, a native of the state of Vermont, who removed early in life to Ohio and from that state to Jackson county, Michigan, where he was engaged in rafting lumber down the Mis- sissippi river and also as a sailor on the Great Lakes. He crossed the plains with a yoke of oxen in 1852, engaged in mining in California for a number of years and later came to Day- ton, Oregon, where he was married to Eliza- beth Goodrich, a native of Yamhill county, Oregon. The couple then removed to Lewis county, Washington, that being in 1872, and there they settled on a homestead in the heavily wooded section of the county. Here Mr. Dixon, Sr., lived the greater portion of the time until his death in his sixty-eighth year, which occurred on December 21, 1888. The mother of our subject died at Lamona, Wash- ington, in 1896, aged forty-nine years.
Barnett D. Dixon is the fourth in point of age of a family originally comprising nine children, of whom seven are still living, Curtis F., Mrs. Dora Holden, our subject, Mrs. Emily Etta Lavender, Mary Olive, Mrs. Annie Breese and Maud Alice. Those dead are Mrs. Ella Bradley and Joseph T. Dixon. All of the female members of the family were school teachers with the exception of the last named, who has just been graduated from the state normal school at Ellensburg.
Mr. Dixon grew to manhood on the farm, where he attended school and assisted his father in clearing and cultivating his home- stead. In the fall of 1893 he came to Lincoln county, where he followed the calling of the cowboy for four years and got to be an expert rider of wild horses, and when he arrived at his majority he took a homestead and engaged in farming, north of Lamona. He later sold this farm and purchased three hundred and twenty acres where he still lives, all of which is choice land and under cultivation. He has the best of modern improvements from his handsome residence down to the most minor appointment of his farm, including an excel- lent water system and one acre of orchard. He also farms two sections of land besides his place and owns all the stock and implements required in the prosecution of his extensive farming business.
On June 30, 1901, Mr. Dixon took for his wife Lela Alice Lockhart, a native of Sanders county, Nebraska, and daughter of John and Lucinda E. Lockhart.
Our subject is a member of the Harring- ton Lodge, K. of P. and enjoys a wide repu- tation for honesty and industry among his fellow citizens of the Big Bend.
J. GUS OLSON is one of the younger men who have won a brilliant success in Lincoln county. He was born in Sweden, on November 30, 1872, the son of Captain Nils G. and Alma (Bergenhime) Olson, natives of Sweden. They came to this country in 1886, settling on a farm and by careful labors and thrift became wealthy. The father spent his early days at sea and held all the offices from seaman before the mast to captain of a craft. Our subject re- ceived his early education in the public schools of Sweden, then came to California with his
BARNETT D. DIXON
J. GUS OLSON
MORRIS W. AHERN
GEORGE A. KENNEDY
WILLIAM L. MICHAELSEN
...
J. ALBERT TALKINGTON
ANDREW J. SCOTT
DANIEL LEONARD
281
HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
parents and studied further in the San Fran- cisco schools. He landed here in 1886 with his parents and later took a course in the Spokane Business College. He labored with his father on the farm for some years and in 1896 located his present place about eight miles southwest from Harrington. Later, he added land by purchase and now has six hundred and forty acres in this farm, every acre of which is fine wheat land. The place is well improved with buildings and all the ordinary machinery needed on the farm and in addition Mr. Olson has one of the latest make of combined har- vesters. He has about forty head of horses and other stock. He also owns a half interest in four hundred and eighty acres of land near Lamona, the other half interest being handled by his brother, Alvin E. Olson.
On February 15, 1903, Mr. Olson married Miss Lydia Marks, a native of Germany, who came to the United States with her parents when a young girl. Mr. Olson has one brother, Alvin E., a wealthy farmer in this vicinity, and one sister, Mrs. Elonora Griffiths, who lives near Mohler, Washington. Our subject and his father were among the early pioneers in this portion of Lincoln county and had to contend with much adversity in getting a start. He began life without a dollar of his own and is now one of the wealthy men of southern Lin- coln county, and while he has been gaining all this property, he has not forgotten to so con- duct himself that he has won the esteem of all who know him.
Mr. Olson is and always has been a Repub- lican. He is well informed in political matters and takes a keen interest therein. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the A. F. and A. M., the I. O. O. F., and the Encampment.
MORRIS W. AHERN, a farmer residing three and one-half miles southeast from Downs, Washington, was born December 10, 1876, in Sibley county, Minnesota. He is the son of Morris and Bridget ( Keefe) Ahern, both natives of Ireland. The father came to America at the age of nine years, to Adams county. Washington, in 1888, and died on August 23. 1903, aged sixty-five years. The. mother died in Adams county in 1896, being at the time in her forty-eighth year of life.
Our subject is the youngest of a family of
seven children, Mrs. Mary Bassel, Lawrence, John and Eugene, twins, and Mrs. Ethel Baker. He came with his parents to a homestead six miles north from Ritzville, in 1888, grew to manhood there and attended school. On December 28, 1898, he was married to Mary J. Griffith, a native of Canada, born near Perry Sound. Her father was Joseph F. Griffith, born near Toronto, June 2, 1855, and her mother was Mrs. Christina (Croswell) Griffith. Her brothers and sisters are Charles R., Joseph, Clara, Sophia, Naomi, Albert, Amos, and Ella. Mrs. Ahern came to Ritzville with her parents in the fall of 1889. Her father took a home- stead at what was afterwards christened Grif- fith's Corner, where he now owns five hundred and forty acres of land, but he makes his home in Manila, Washington.
The issue of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ahern are three in number, Lester Morris, Ethel May, and Mildred Rose.
Mr. Ahern took his present place as a home- stead in 1902, although he had previous to that time purchased three hundred and twenty acres. He now owns four hundred and eighty acres, for the most part good agricultural land and under cultivation. His improvements are many and up-to-date in every detail, including an excellent water system and a promising young orchard. He also has a sufficient number of livestock to enable him to successfully pro- secute his business. He owns a one-fifth inter- est in three hundred and twenty acres of farm- ing land in Adams county-his father's old homestead.
Mr. Ahern started in in 1898 with no means, and is now in easy circumstances, hav- ing made every cent of his money by careful management and hard toil.
GEORGE A. KENNEDY, cashier and general manager of the Odessa State Bank at Odessa, is one of the leading and popular busi- ness men of southern Lincoln county. He was born in Page county, Iowa, on July 26, 1873. being the son of W. K. and my B. ( Tweedy ) Kennedy. The mother was born in Keokuk, Iowa, and the father in Chicago. The family came to Ritzville. Washington. in 1886, and the father was a member of the first and second legislatures in the state of Washington. He was chosen from Adams county, being elected
282
HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
in 1889. He was also a member of the Repub- lican state central committee for ten years. He is now retired and living at Ritzville.
George A. was born and raised on a farm. studied in the public schools and the Olympia Collegiate Institute, and completed his educa- tion in the state university. On March, 1894. he went to Olympia and was installed as assist- ant state librarian under Colonel Gilbert. The colonel died in 1896 and our subject was ap- pointed state librarian to fill the vacancy. He remained there until March, 1897, then re- turned to Ritzville and was occupied as sales- man in a store until 1898. At that time he was appointed deputy postmaster at Ritzville, his father being postmaster. In the fall of 1898, he was elected auditor of Adams county. In May, 1901, Mr. Kennedy came to Odessa and took charge of the Odessa State Bank and has continued in that capacity since. Upon the in- corporation of Odessa in 1902, Mr. Kennedy was elected mayor and at the expiration of his term was re-elected and is now discharging the duties of that office.
On September 29, 1897, Mr. Kennedy mar- ried Miss Pearl S. Burnell. Her parents, Charles F. and Jennie (Tharp) Burnell, reside at Everett. The father is a tradesman. The mother's parents were among the earliest pio- neers in the state of Oregon. Mrs. Kennedy was born in Pataha. Washington, and spent her early days at Pataha and Tumwater, in which latter place she was married. To this couple two children have been born, Marcus, on August 21, 1898, and Harold, in 1901. He died on August 31, 1902. Mr. Kennedy is past grand the I. O. O. F. at Odessa, and is a member of the W. W. and the A. O. U. W. He is one of the bright, capable and substantial busi- ness men of Lincoln county. His ability and his integrity are well known to all and he is rapidly rising to be one of the leaders in the Big Bend country. His popularity is unfeigned and presaging the future by the past, there are many bright things in store for Mr. Kennedy. At this writing he is the nominee of his party for state senator from Lincoln county.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.