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 48
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 48
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 48
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 48
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WILLIAM L. MICHAELSEN is a mem- ber of the Odessa Mercantile Company. He and S. L. Barney bought a general stock of
merchandise in 1901 in Odessa and in 1903, they incorporated under the firm name of The Odessa Mercantile Company and took in two other partners, who are named elsewhere in this volume. The establishment is one of the finest in Lincoln county and does a large busi- ness. They handle all kinds of general mer- chandise and hardware, implements, and so forth, and are capable and substantial business men.
William L. Michaelsen was born in Colfax county, Nebraska, on September 27, 1871. His mother, Catherine M. ( Holman) Michaelsen. was born in Germany. She came to America with her parents when a child. She was mar- ried at Columbus, Nebraska. The father of our subject. Ludwig C. Michaelsen, was also born in Germany and came to America at the age of sixteen. He was one of the first settlers in Nebraska and became a very wealthy farmer. He held various offices of public trust until 1898, when he went to San Francisco and there operated a large fruit farm.
Our subject received a good common school education and then completed the full English course in the Schuyler high school. Immedi- ately subsequent to that, he entered a hardware store in Schuyler, Nebraska, and remained until 1894. when he matriculated in the University of Nebraska and graduated therefrom with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In 1895 Mr. Michaelsen was appointed general manager of a merchandise store at Creston, Nebraska. The next year he married and bought a ranch. For three years, he gave his attention to cultivating the soil and then sold out and came to where Odessa is now located. He took a homestead and bought other land at various times until he has now a full section. In 1901, he entered the mercantile field as stated above and since that time he has prospered exceedingly. He owns a fine residence in Odessa and a well improved farm besides his mercantile business.
The marriage of Mr. Michaelsen and Miss Lephe J. Bentley, occurred in 1895. Mrs. Michaelsen was born in Iowa and came to Nebraska when fourteen. Her parents are C. F. and Lephe A. (Ridell) Bentley, who were prominent people in Colfax county. Nebraska. where the father operated the largest farm in that portion of the state. They are now resi- dents of Washington. To Mr. and Mrs. Michaelsen, three children have been born,
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Marion R., deceased ; Lephe K., deceased ; and Helen M.
Mr. Michaelsen is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the A. O. U. W. He is a prominent man of Odessa and has the esteem and good will of all the people.
J. ALBERT TALKINGTON came to the Big Bend country without money to speak of. Having secured a homestead near where Moscow is now located, he found he had a family to support and only five dollars in cash. That amount was spent for chickens and Mr. Talkington began to work for wages at what- ever he could find to do. Being possessed of plenty of pluck and energy, he prospered in his course, improving his farm as he had oppor- tunity to do until 1893, when he raised a boun- tiful crop. He had the sickening experience of seeing the entire crop spoiled by wet weather, losing every bit of it. The next year he had another fine crop and sold it all at eighteen cents per bushel. This left him heavily in debt and the next two years were still worse. In 1897, he secured a fine crop of wheat and sold it at an excellent price. From then until the present, he has contin- ued to prosper without any setback and the result is that he is now one of the wealthy men of the county. He has a sec- tion of choice wheat land one mile east from Harrington which is improved with everything needed on a first class ranch. An abundant supply of good water is forced to all parts of the place where he needs it by windmill. Com- fortable residence, plenty of barns and other improvements combine to make the place both pleasant and valuable. Mr. Talkington has a fine quota of the latest machinery, including a combined harvester.
Albert Talkington was born in Sebastian county, Arkansas, on November 6, 1861, the son' of Joseph and Rebecca Talkington. He is the oldest of a family of six children and grew up on the old homestead in Arkansas. receiving his education from the adjacent schools. First he gave his attention to teach- ing for several years after which he followed the calling of commercial traveler for one year. Then he returned to Arkansas and took another trip, this time to Los Angeles, California. He
landed in that beautiful place on January I, 1888, and engaged in the fuel business. He was soon burned out, however, and in April of the following year he came to Lincoln county and took a homestead as named above.
On December 23. 1886. Mr. Talkington married Miss Seymour V. McMillian, a native of Texas. She had been reared in Sebastian county, Arkansas. Her parents were Wyatt A. and Lavinia V. (Little) McMillian. They are now deceased. The father was an educator all his life. To this marriage six children have been born, Brant, Pleasant P., Leonard L., Jessie F., Marshall P., and Floyd S.
Mr. Talkington is a member of the Pioneers' Association and also of the K. of P. He is a well respected man and one of the lead- ing citizens of this part of the country.
ANDREW J. SCOTT is eminently de- serving of the real title, pioneer and frontiers- man, for in three different new localities he has opened farms, two of them being in heavily wooded districts. To one who knows nothing about this arduous work, this may seen small. but to an experienced man, the opening of one wooded farm is a good life's work. However. Mr. Scott was more than ordinarily strong and active, or he never could have accomplished this stupendous labor. At the present time, he is dwelling about five miles northeast from Harrington, where he has a valuable estate, of one hundred and sixty acres, which is well im- proved and in a high state of cultivation. Since 1896 he has been retired from the activities of the farm and the land is leased each year. In addition to this property, Mr. Scott owns a block of lots in Harrington. and has a good competence for the golden years of his life.
In Sussex county, New Jersey, on Octo- ber 27, 1829, occurred the birth of Andrew J. Scott, the parents being Stephen and Sarah ( Hammond) Scott, who were born in the same place as our subject and lived to be eighty-eight years of age. Andrew J. was well educated in his native county and then began the work of the teacher which was followed for three years. When twenty-two he went to Oakland coun- ty, Michigan, and settled among the first pion- eers to invade that wooded country. He went
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to work with his native energy and determina- tion and in an incredibly short time, he had the monarchs of the forest reduced and a farm pro- ducing. Eighteen years were spent there al- together and then Mr. Scott removed to Mont- calm county, in the same state, where his neigh- bors were the deer, bear, and wolves. Here his trusty ax was again brought forth and the woods rang with the music of the chopper. He was undaunted at the task of clearing another farm and soon had the sun shining in the depths where shade had been for ages. Settlers came in and Mr. Scott was recognized as one of the leading men of the section. For four years he was justice of the peace and was a man of influence in the community. In March, 1865. Mr. Scott enlisted in Company C, Twenty- second Michigan Volunteer Infantry, but was soon transferred to the Twenty-ninth. He served in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky for seven months and then was hon- orably discharged. He is now receiving a pen- sion for his services. In March, 1886, Mr. Scott, who had always wished to be on the wave of western migration, came to the Pacific coast and sought a location in Lincoln county. He settled where we now find him and since then has given his attention to farming and stock raising until the year when he retired from this activity. His place is in Lord's valley and is one of the fertile farms there.
On Thanksgiving day, 1856, Mr. Scott led to the altar, Miss Harriett A. Sanford, who was born in Albany county, New York. Their wedding journey, which occurred the day of their marriage was from Pontiac to Fenton- ville, on the first railroad train over that road. Mrs. Scott's parents were Ervin and Sarah San- ford. Five children were born to this happy union, Edwin C., married to Letta Smith and now a preacher for the Baptist denomination in Spangle, Washington, also a pioneer in 1882 to Lincoln county and a land owner of Lord valley : Stephen E., married to Minnie Adams and farming near Harrington; William, de- ceased : Josephine, wife of William Leonard, of Stevens county, Washington ; and Egbert A., married to Elizabeth Harper of Sprague, Wash- ington. On March 17, 1903, a sad day, Mr. Scott was called to lament the death of his be- loved wife. For nearly a half century, they had traveled on the pilgrim way together and
she lacked only twenty days of being seventy years of age. Mr. Scott has been a member of the Christian church since his eighteenth year and his wife was also a member of the same denomination. He is now, however, owing to situation, affiliated with the Evangeli- cal people. Mr. Scott has the joy of reflecting on a well spent life of honest industry, while buoyed by the hope of that faith which makes faithful .- the light for the golden days of a long and useful life.
DANIEL LEONARD, a native of Ireland. born August 15, 1845, grew to manhood on a farm in his native country, came to Quebec in 1871, and soon afterward to Muskegon, Michigan, where he became an employee in a lumbering business. Coming to Puget Sound, Washington, in 1875. he engaged in the lum- bering business, and four years later he came to Spokane Falls, then a small hamlet, and filed a pre-emption on a quarter section of land on White Bluff prairie. In the spring of 1880 he sold his claim and came to his present location, took up a homestead and engaged in the stock business. His residence is five miles southeast of Peach, on Hawk creek, where he owns 1.000 acres of land, about 150 acres of which are meadow upon which he raises hay to feed his large herds of cattle and horses. He came to the country a poor man, but is now one of the wealthiest stock raisers in the vicinity. He was truly a pioneer in this part of Lincoln county, since he was the first settler on Hawk creek, and for months at a time he saw no one save perhaps a band of Indians or a straggling stock man who chanced to pass by. He first lived in a small log cabin, but now has a modern six-room cottage, and the best of im- provements on his farm. The first plow and mowing machine he brought from Colfax, and the first hay he cut was native grass and reaped with the old fashioned scythe.
Daniel Leonard has been twice married. The first time in 1885 to Mrs. Bessie B. Curtin, who died February 14, 1900. Mrs. Leonard at the time of her marriage had two sons. Joseph and Austin. The second marriage of Mr. Leonard was to Mrs. Mary T. ( Ivers) Moran, a native of Montreal, daughter of Henry and Anna (Beaubine) Ivers, which marriage oc-
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curred January 30, 1902. The first husband of Mrs. Leonard died seventeen years ago, and three years after his death Mrs. Moran went to New York City where she took a two years course in a school of nursing. She then went to Buffalo in company with her only daughter, Nellie Irene, who is now attending school at Peach. Mrs. Moran followed her profession in Buffalo until coming to Spokane in 1901, where she met and became the wife of Daniel Leonard.
FRED B. SQUIRE was born in Illinois, on June 25, 1868. His parents, Henry and Elizabeth (Guy) Squire, were prominent and well educated people and both died when our subject was four years of age. Being thus early cast out in life, he was bound to a man who kept him for ten years, then owing to the separation of him and his wife, our subject gained his freedom and came west to Kansas. He labored during the summers and went to school in the winters for four years, thus gain- ing a good fair education. It was 1886 when he came to Washington and the following year he made a tour of the Big Bend country with a team and wagon, looking carefully over the entire section. In 1889, he filed on a homestead one half mile from where Almira now stands. Like many of the old pioneers of this country, he had to leave his place and work in the harvest fields of Palouse and Walla Walla to gain fin- ances for, its improvement. He continued stead- ily at his labors until 1894 when he entered the employ of Mr. Keller, a general merchant of Almira. For six years he was a salesman of this establishment and during this time he sold his homestead and bought one hundred and sixty acres of fruit land on the Columbia river. In 1900 Mr. Squire entered the real estate business and has been more or less connected with that since. In 1902, he was nominated for county clerk, in Lincoln county, on the Demo- cratic ticket. Out of one hundred and twenty- eight votes in his home precinct, he received one hundred and fourteen. Mr. Squire has been giving his attention largely of late years to handling fruit. He has on his farm, twenty- five acres set to five varieties of winter apples , and he has made a marked success as he has now
the finest winter apple orchard in his vicinity.
He has a beautiful residence in Almira, a block of twelve lots, besides other property.
In 1890, Mr. Squire married Miss Mamie Bosworth, a native of Missouri. She came to Washington with her parents when a child and was educated and raised at Waitsburg, being a graduate of the high school. Her parents were J. W. and Matilda Bosworth, prominent pioneers of the Waitsburg country. To Mr. and Mrs. Squire, five children have been born Herman A., Oscar J., Albert, Bernice A., and Dessie F. Mr. Squire is one of the most popu- lar men of this section of the country on ac- count of his geniality and uprightness and he has hosts of friends all through the Big Bend country. He has ever labored for. the upbuild- ing and advancement of the country and has certainly done commendable work in the lines in which he has wrought.
JOHN H. ROBINSON has the distinc- tion of being one of the very first settlers in the Tipso country. His farm lies about one and three-fourths miles from Tipso and is second to none of the good places in the county.
John H. Robinson was born in Nova Scotia on April 23, 1856, being the son of James and Jane (Holton) Robinson, natives of England and Canada, respectively. The father came to Canada when a young man and took up the business of contractor. In 1883, he came to Washington, and Sprague was his home place until his death. The first fifteen years of our subject's life were spent in Halifax, where he received his education, then went to railroading. In 1882. he came to Washington and wrought on the Northern Pacific. making his headquar- ters at Sprague. When he first came to the ter- ritory, it was direct to Sprague and he squatted on a quarter section. Then he went back to railroading and as fast as he earned money. improved the ranch. He has now three hundred and sixty acres of good land, plenty of horses and cattle, abundance of machinery, fine orchard and other improvements. On the place are a number of very fine springs, which give a con- tinual flow of water for all uses.
Mr. Robinson has the following brothers and sisters, William A., Mrs. Nettie Ramsey, Mrs. Alice Wishard, deceased, Mrs. Adelaide
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
McGuire, Mrs. Mary Roon, and Mrs. Jessie Jennings.
Mr. Robinson has improved his present holdings continually by his own efforts and while he has been gaining wealth in this coun- try he has also won hosts of friends, owing to his geniality ever expressed in kindness. Mr. Robinson provided for his parents until their death and since then has never seen fit to enter the matrimonial relations. He has received the confidence of the entire community and is a man of first class standing.
JOHN ZIMMERMAN is a very promin- ent and progressive man. He has been in Lin- coln county for twenty-two years and during that time has manifested industry and sagacity and has wrought steadily, gaining a good hold- ing and improving the county; also he has so conducted himself that he has now hosts of friends. His estate lies about ten miles north- west from Almira and is one of the very best in the county. An elegant residence is the home place and other improvements of a fine character are in evidence on the farm. The es- tate is well laid out and carefully managed. In addition to this Mr. Zimmerman has a very handsome residence in Almira, which is beau- tifully set with shade trees and well laid out grounds.
Jolın Zimmerman was born in Ontario, on January 27, 1857. His parents, Henry and Mary ( Krusp) Zimmerman, were born in On- tario and Germany, respectively. The mother came to Ontario at the age of twelve years and is now living with her husband in California. The father is of German ancestry and moved to California in 1903, being now retired from active life. The world famous schools of On- tario, contributed our subject's educational training and immediately after those days, he began farming. In 1882 he journeyed west to Washington and wrought as a carpenter on Puget sound for some time .. Later, we find him in Weston. Oregon, working on a farm. Then he came to Spokane, after which he walked out to Proebstel springs, just north from Almira. Being pleased with the country, in the spring of 1883, he took a homestead ten miles north- west from Almira and also took a pre-emption
and timber culture later. He has bought and sold some since. His farm is well supplied with stock and machinery as well as other improve- ments. In addition to his farming, Mr. Zim- merman has a steam threshing outfit which he operates during the harvest season of each year. He has the following brothers, William, Dan- iel, Peter, Edward H., and Albert.
In 1887, Mr. Zimmerman married Miss Parthenia White and to them two children have been born, A. Blessing and Marguerite. Mrs. Zimmerman was born in Indiana and edu- cated in the public schools of that state. She came to Washington in 1885 and in 1889 was appointed postmistress at Lincoln, which posi- tion she held for twelve years. Her parents were David and Jane (Good) White, natives of Indiana. Mr. Zimmerman is a civil engin- eer, having mastered that art perfectly in early life. For a number of years, he was county sur- veyor of Douglas county and rendered excellent service. He takes a keen interest in political matters and is a man well informed on the ques- tions of the day.
WILLIAM WILLIAMS and his brother, Daniel, have certainly demonstrated that they are thoroughly able to win success in financial matters. They are men of energy, wisdom and ability, although their actions are tempered with due conservatism. At the present time they are in partnership, having labored together for years. Daniel was born in Pennsylvania and educated in Ohio. The have about two thousand, two hundred and eighty acres, of which nineteen hundred acres are fertile wheat land, besides about two thousand dollars worth of property in Wilbur and three thousand worth in Al- mira. On their farm they have thirty-two head of horses and abundance of every kind of farm machinery needed, with other improve- ments in proportion. All this fine holding has been gained by the management and labors of the Williams Brothers.
William Williams was born in Wales, in 1864, the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Price) Williams, natives of Wales. They came to America in 1866 and settled in Pennsyl -. vania. In 1887, they came to Lincoln county,
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
where they still reside. William was educated in the district schools of Ohio whither he was brought by his parents when a child. He fol- lowed mining in the coal regions of Illinois and Ohio for six years and in 1884, moved to Iowa where he farmed. It was 1888, that the broth- ers came to their present location and com- menced acquiring title to Lincoln county real estate. They have laid their land under tribute to crops constantly and the large income has made them among the wealthy people of this section of the county. They may well take pride in what they have achieved. They are esteemed of all the people who know them and certainly among the substantial and progres- sive men of the Big Bend country.
PETER MCKAY, who dwells seven and one-half miles northeast from Almira, is a son of the Emerald Isle. His birth was on June 10, 1860, and his parents were Michael and Mar- garet (Chambers) Mckay, natives of Ireland and prominent people. They came to America in 1856 and returned to Ireland in 1860. Our subject was educated in the public schools of his native land, learned the carpenter trade and also the art of making oat meal. He conducted his trade and the mill work for eight years, then in 1887, he came to the United States and for two years worked in Chicago. It was in 1889, when Mr. Mckay landed in Lincoln county and soon thereafter he located a pre-emption and then a homestead. He has since bought a half section which gives him an estate of six hun- dred and forty acres. The same is under culti- vation and provided with all the improvements needed on a first class farm, the buildings be- ing convenient and substantial, while his resi- dence is a comfortable home. Mr. Mckay has taken especial pains with his orchard and has fitted up his place in a tasty manner and the same is one of the best in Lincoln county.
In 1889, Mr. Mckay married Miss Ellen Wallace, a native of Ireland where she was reared and educated. Her parents were Will- iam and Margaret (Heron) Wallace, natives of Ireland and wealthy farmers. To this union. five children have been born. Margaret J., W. James, Wallace J., Alexander C., and Richard. Mr. Mckay has the following brothers and
sister, John, James, Michael, and Mrs. Cecilia Murray.
Mr. Mckay started in life without any cap- ital. He is one of the wealthy men of Lincoln county today, and has gained his entire holdings by his own labors. He has manifested skill and wisdom here in the community while his ability and uprightness have made him many friends.
HERMAN F. HARMS is a popular and respected man of Lincoln county. His estate of one section lies seven miles north from Al- mira and is made valuable and beautiful by having all kinds of improvements necessary on a first class farm and his residence is as fine as can be found in this portion of the country.
Mr. Harms has his place well provided with all sorts of machinery, plenty of horses and cat- tle, and he is a progressive and up to date farmer who enjoys life as well as makes money.
Herman F. Harms was born in Lee county, Illinois, on April 14, 1860, being the son of Anton W. and Anna ( Heckter) Harms, na- tives of Germany. He came to this country when a young lad and was married in Missouri, and in his early manhood settled on a farm in Illinois, where he was one of the prominent and wealthy men in his section. Our subject studied in the district schools, then took a course in the Sterling business college, after which he accepted a position as salesman in a depart- ment store. In 1883. we find him in Colorado exploring, then again he took a position as salesman. It was 1887 that he came to Wash- ington and after spending one year in travel- ing around settled on his present estate, in 1888. He secured land by government rights and then purchased enough to make one section.
In 1900, Mr. Harmes married Miss Lizzie Crossgrove and to them one child has been born, Eugene L. Mrs. Harms' parents, John and Rachel (Deets) Crossgrove, were natives of Ohio and Germany respectively. They were married in Ohio, in 1867, migrated to Mis- souri in 1869. and are now prominent and well- to-do farmers there. The father's parents were early pioneers to Holmes county, Ohio, and fol- lowed farming. Mrs. Harms has two brothers, Jacob F. and William L.
The brothers and sisters of our subject were
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George A., a prominent and well-to-do farmer of Illinois ; Anton W., a farmer in Illinois; Att- gusta K., an accomplished musician ; Mrs. Theresa S. Jurgens : Mrs. Helen Braner ; Mrs. Lizette Sartorious, living in Florida; Mrs. Amelia Freeze; and Mrs. Frederica Miller, both deceased.
LEWIS ANDERSON is a typical repre- sentative of the Big Bend country and of the class who have come to our shores from foreign lands to make worthy citizens of this grand re- public. He was born in Sweden, on October 24. 1853, being the son of Andrew and Lena (Christenson) Anderson, highly respected agri- culturists of their own country. After receiv- ing his educational training in his own country, our subject started for America with simply enought money to pay his fare here. He arrived in Kansas in 1869 with a pair of good strong hands and a determined resolution to work out his fortune in this favored country. He immed- iately engaged with the railroads and wrought through Kansas, Texas, Arizona and New Mexico, until 1883, when he came to the Big Bend country and worked for a while on the construction of the Northern Pacific. The fol- lowing year, 1884, he located a homestead and later took a timber culture claim, then bought a quarter section. Like other early settlers of this county, he was forced each year to go abroad and earn money to improve the premises and pay expenses but in a very short time he had the farm self sustaining and soon there after had four hundred and eighty acres producing fine crops. He has now one of the excellent farms of the country, well improved with or- chard, residence, and other buildings. Upon coming to this country, Mr. Anderson determ- ined to make himself master of the English language and he has done so and is now thor- oughly able to read and write it with ease and fluency. Mr. Anderson has two brothers, Charles A., a bishop of the Lutheran church in Sweden and a prominent and capable man, and Swan J., a leading farmer in his country.
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