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 51
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 51
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 51
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 51
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The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Ilansen are: Martin, living with the subject of this
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sketch; Fred. L., in Denmark; Mrs. Hansen, and Christian, in Denmark. One sister, Anna, is dead.
Mrs. Hansen's health failing some years since, her husband took her to California, but the change was of no avail. Returning to her home she died June 12, 1903, leaving one daughter, Ida M., the only issue of her mar- riage.
Mr. Hansen now owns three hundred and twenty acres of choice and well-improved grain land where he lives, and a half interest in a forty-acre tract of timber. He has a handsome nine-room modern house, good outbuildings and first-class water facilities. He makes a specialty of raising grain.
Mr. Hansen is a devoted member of the Lutheran church.
WILLIAM WACHTER, a native of Han- over, Germany, is now one of the wealthiest real estate owners of the whole Big Bend coun- try. He resides about seven miles south from Wilbur on a magnificent estate of over thirty- two hundred acres. This large body of land is in a high state of cultivation and the annual dividends are very large. Mr. Wachter has im- proved his place with buildings and fences necessary, having, also, abundance of stock, ma- chinery, and so forth. He owns a beautiful residence commensurate with the magnificent estate.
March 22, 1854 is the date of our subject's birth and his parents were Hamme and Arnke (Johnson ) Wachter, both natives of Hanover. Germany. The father died in Germany and the widow came to the United States with William when he was aged fifteen, and is now living in Illinois. The early education of our subject was gained in Germany and when he landed in the United States he started in the battle of life with no capital and has acquired his present holdings entirely as the result of his industry, his thrift. and his sagacity. In 1879. he left Illinois and settled in Kansas. For four years he was occupied contracting on the railroad and in 1883, bought a farm which he tilled until 1888. Two years after that, he came across the plains in wagons and took a part of his pres- ent estate as a homestead. The balance of his land has all been acquired by purchase.
In 1880, Mr. Wachter married Miss Jo-
hannah, daughter of Joost and Annie (Den Hartig) Den Burger. To this marriage the following children have been born, Ben H., Annie E., Willie H., Hamme W., Joseph C., Emma M., Ada L., Glen H., Bertha, and Ethel.
In addition to handling his estate, Mr. Wachter has given attention for the last ten years to steam threshing, and owns one of the best outfits in this part of the country. He has become an expert in this and is known as one of the substantial and reliable men of the country.
JOSEPH ROSMAN. Like many of the finest specimens of American citizens, the sub- ject of this review was born in a foreign coun- try. Being impressed with our great institu- tions and the magnificent opportunities of this rich country, he came hither from Austria in 1881, settling first in Iowa. For sometime he was engaged on a farm there and in 1884 went to Colorado, taking up mining and smelter work. Later, we find him in the Anaconda smelters in Montana and in the spring of 1893, he found his way to Lincoln county. Seven and one-half miles southeast from Wilbur, he bought a quarter section and turned his attention to farming for sometime. He has bought land since, until he now owns one thousand and eighty acres, eight hundred of which are into wheat, while the balance is used for pasture. The estate is well improved and provided with necessary buildings and so forth. The whole represents the personal labor, of our subject. Coming to this county without any means what- ever, he has gained these excellent holdings by reason of his energy and industry and Mr. Rosman may taken a pardonable pride in what he has carved out.
Joseph Rosman was born in Altenmarkt, Austria, on December 27, 1862, being the son of Joseph and Catherina ( Berich) Rosman, both born at Altenmarkt. Our subject was well educated in the schools of his native place and at the age of nineteen started out in life for himself as stated above.
In 1887, Mr. Rosman married Miss Cathe- rine, daughter of George and Annie ( Mulichi) Mustich. Mrs. Rosman was born and reared in the same place as our subject, while her pa-
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rents also were reared and now live there. To this marriage, five children have been born, Joseph R., Adolph F., William H., Albert M., and Mary T.
Our subject, after the deprivations endured and after having by his sagacity secured so good a competence for himself and family, feels the future years are secure. Thus in the respect of his fellow citizens, he can enjoy a repose in the golden years of his life. He is a member of the W. W. and his wife with him belongs to the Catholic church.
ANDREW J. PIERCE resides about eight miles south from Wilbur on a fine estate of eight hundred acres, which he has cleared as the result of his labors in the course of seven years. He was born in Indiana, on December 27, 1858, the son of Nehemiah and Elizabeth R. (Green) Pierce, natives of Vermont and Indiana, respectively. The father walked from Vermont to Indiana when a boy and settled in the wilds of the then new Hoosier state, clear- ing up a farm in the woods. His wife shared his pioneer labors and they are now prominent and highly respected people. Our subject was educated in the district schools of Pike county, Indiana, and after his father's death, which oc- curred when Andrew was thirteen years of age, he and his brother took charge of their mother's farm. They handled that until 1885. In that year he determined to see the great world and accordingly, journeyed until he reached Milton, Oregon, and took a homestead near. He farmed there until 1897, then came to his present loca- tion and began purchasing land. He has the fine estate above mentioned, well improved, be- sides more than half a section in Oregon. When he landed in Oregon in 1886, he had no capital whatever and it speaks well of the energy and wise industry of Mr. Pierce when we observe the large estates which he now owns. In 1885. Mr. Pierce married Miss Mary C., daughter of Robert and Narsissa ( Brenton) Stuart, natives of Indiana. The father was a veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted in Company E. Fifty-eight Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Mrs. Pierce was born in Indiana, on June 1, 1869. To this marriage the following children have been born, Robert F., deceased, Charles H ..
Cecil E., Ruth, Olive, Alice, Herbert, deceased, and Rachel.
Mr. Pierce has two brothers and one sister, Alva, Nathan, deceased. and Mrs. Ama Smith, deceased.
JAMES H. SHORT, who was born in Illi- nois on March 6, 1855, is now one of the in- dustrious and capable farmers of Lincoln coun- ty, where he has wrought for a score of years or more. He dwells about ten miles southeast from Wilbur and owns a farm of one-half sec- tion which is well improved with a fine orchard and so forth. The place is in a high state of cultivation and produces abundant returns of the cereals. The parents of our subject, Will- iam S. and Elizabeth (Garrett) Short, were natives of Illinois and the father was occupied with farming and stock raising.
James H. was educated in his native state and labored during the years of his schooling with his father on the farm. When twenty- three years of age, he went to Nebraska for a short time, then returned to Illinois. In 1879 he went to Idaho and worked on a ranch for a time, then returned to Illinois. It was 1888 when he came to his present location and took a homestead. Later he bought a quarter sec- tion of railroad land and is now handling the estate in a very becoming manner.
In 1880, Mr. Short married Miss Louisa, daughter, of James and Julia (Thompson ) Prather, natives of Illinois. Mr. Short has the following brothers and sisters, Louis, Thomas J., E. B., W. S., Rose, Mrs. Dicey McCracken, Mrs. Addie Barnard, and Katherine. Mrs. Short was born in Illinois on January 16, 1862. To Mr. and Mrs. Short six children have been born, Samuel H., Homer D., Lester L., Zeno, Flasco, and Irle L. It speaks much for the ability and energy of our subject, when we re- count the fact that he started in life with no means whatever and has gained his present holding through his industry and wisdom. He is a respected citizen and has hosts of friends. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Maccabees.
THOMAS W. McCORD, a native of Indi- ana and now one of the stanch and well-to-do farmers in Lincoln county, resides three miles
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south and two east from Wilbur. He was born on July 6, 1861, the son of Thomas H. and Jane McCord. The mother died when our sub- ject was three years of age. The father was born in Kentucky and moved to Indiana in 1833, being a pioneer of that country. In 1870, he came to Nebraska, where he labored as an agriculturist, having those qualities of worth and stability that characterize the true fron- tiersman. Thomas W. was educated in the district schools of Nebraska and worked for his father until 1881. then came to Spokane in 1882, where he remained one year. In 1883, he came to his present location, taking a home- stead and timber culture claim and has since bought land until he now has an estate of eight hundred acres. The farm is well supplied with buildings, a fine residence, first class orchard and other valuable improvements. When Mr. McCord came to this country, he was possessed of the capital of two good strong hands and a courageous heart, and his entire holdings now are the result of his industry.
Mr. McCord married Miss Gertrude Hire in 1889 and to them have been born four chil- dren. Zennie E .. Owen A .. Lela, and Iven W.
Mr. McCord has the following brothers and sisters, William H., Isaac, Joseph D., Sherman, Charles, Mrs. Delilah Morgan and Ellen.
Mrs. McCord was born in Illinois, on Jan- uary 15, 1871, the daughter of Franklin and Mary Hire. The father was born in Ohio, came to Illinois in early days, and in 1882 moved on west to Washington, where he now resides. The other children of the family besides Mrs. McCord are Oren R., William O., Fred, John W .. and Mrs. Ruby Vanslyke.
Mr. McCord has been a school director con- siderable of the time since coming to this coun- try and is an enterprising and wide awake citizen.
ALICE M. ALLEN, who resides about ten miles north from Krupp, was born in Indiana. on December 15. 1854, being the daughter of John and Mary ( Ball) Higgs, natives of Eng- land. The father came to America in the early 'forties and settled in Indiana. In 1857 he settled on a farm in Iowa where he became a wealthy and well known citizen. The mother died when our subject was eleven years of age.
Miss Alice received her education in the district schools of lowa and kept house for her father until her marriage in 1871. Two years later, she came with her husband to Oregon and set- tled on a farm. After that, in 1880, they moved to Lincoln county, settling on a piece of land northwest from Wilbur, in what is known as Corbett draw. Mrs. Allen has labored faith- fully as one of the pioneers of this country since that time and now has the pleasure of enjoying the success that she has earned. She owns three-fourths of a section of land in the wheat belt here and a fine fruit farm in Oregon, be- sides a residence and four lots in Wilbur. She has certainly been blessed with excellent pros- perity as a result of her wisdom and industry. During these long years of residence here, Mrs. Allen has gained hosts of warm friends and stands exceptionally well in this community. Her husband was William Allen and to them were born: Frank, in Wilbur; Mrs. John Markey, mentioned elsewhere in this volume; William J., and Dora Miller.
AUGUST LILENGREEN, deceased. It is very proper that a memoir of this highly respected citizen of Lincoln county be granted space in a work that purports to outline the careers of the leading men here. He was born in Sweden and while still a young man came to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Afterward he moved to Chicago, Illinois and was there when it was a very small town. From Chicago, he traveled to Michigan, then to Indiana and in 1868, he came to Minnesota and purchased a farm near St. Peter. At that time Minnesota was poorly settled and he had to undergo many hardships incident to a pioneer life. In 1886, Mr. Lilengreen came to Whitman county and the following year located in Lincoln county, setling on a farm near Creston. He continued here as one of the substantial and influential citizens until his death in 1903. His wife, Mary Dahlburg, was born in Sweden and died at Creston in 1903. She was an exemplary woman and they were both deeply mourned at their demise. Three sons and two daughters were left to mourn their departure. Albert, Frank, Ruben, Mrs. Ida Johnson and Mrs. F. Watson.
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By way of reminiscence it is interesting to note that Frank Lilengreen was one of the five who captured Harry Tracy.
The children of August Lilengreen are all highly respected citizens of Lincoln county.
ISAIAH STAMBAUGH, one of the wealthy and respected men of the Big Bend country, has the distinction of having gained his present large property interests solely by his wisdom and industry, having, in the mean- time, been called on to pass through all the try- ing hardships and dangers incident to pioneer existence, all of which he has accomplished in a becoming manner. He is today one of the citizens of Lincoln county that people look up to, having gained this esteem and confidence from his fellows by his upright walk and kind, neighborly ways.
Isaiah Stambaugh was born in Butler coun- ty, Ohio, on March 10, 1846, the son of George and Sarah (Garrison) Stambaugh. The father came from a Pennsylvania Dutch family of prominence, while the mother was of English extraction, her family being an old and in- fluential one. Our subject was taken by his parents to Schuyler county, Illinois, when two years of age. Soon thereafter, they went to McDonough county, where Isaiah received his education in the common schools. The father died when this lad was eight years of age and the widowed mother had the heavy burden of caring for a family of six children in a new country. The children were named as follows : Samuel, Jacob, Isaiah, Margaret E., Rebecca A., and George G. They were all kept together until the Rebellion broke out and then, our sub- ject being sixteen, he took charge of the farm, while his two older brothers went to fight back the forces of treason. He continued with his mother until her death in 1864, and then con- tinued on the home farm until his marriage. In 1868, Mr. Stambaugh married Miss Mary M., daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Linton) Smith, natives of Kentucky. The father was a cooper and was in Kentucky in the days of pioneer hardships. He had much trouble with the Indians together with his other trying times, but became one of the leading men of his sec- tion and reaped the rewards of his labors. Mrs.
Stambaugh was born in Kentucky, on Novem- ber 18, 1844. To Mr. and Mrs. Stambaugh, the following named children have been born : John M., a merchant at Quincy, Washington ; Mrs. Sarah M. Mckay; Mrs. Anna Elizabeth Howell; Mrs. Tiney M. Cole; Silas Otis; and Stella G.
Reverting to an earlier portion of our sub. ject's career, we notice that in 1869, Mr. Stam- baugh removed with his wife to Missouri, from Illinois. In September, 1870, they returned to Illinois. In 1882, Mr. Stambaugh turned his face westward and eventually landed in the Evergreen State. Upon investigation, he se- lected his present place, which lies about three miles southwest from Creston. He had much arduous labor to perform and many trying things to encounter. However, he overcame all and with his family weathered the many severe storms both of the hard winters and of adversity. He has a good place now and is one of the substantial men of the county.
In 1873, Mr. Stambaugh was converted and joined the United Brethren church, but since coming to Washington, he has been allied with the Methodists and is a consistent member of that denomination. He is a zealous and active worker in Sunday schools and in promoting all good enterprises.
JAMES T. JUMP, who resides three and one-half miles south from Creston, is one of the well-to-do farmers of the Big Bend coun- try. He owns an estate where he lives, part of which was secured by homestead right and part by purchase. He has manifested in his labors, during his residence here, an honesty and thrift, which have brought their sure re- ward and a gratifying competence, and he stands today one of the substantial men of this portion of Lincoln county.
James T. Jump was born in Missouri, on September 28, 1867, being the son of Joseph 11. and Margaret ( Breshears ) Jump. The father was born where St. Louis now stands and was a well-to-do and prominent farmer in Missouri. Later he came to Washington and (lied in February, 1896. The mother is a na- tive of Tennessee. Our subject received a com- mon school education in Missouri and Oregon,
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having crossed the plains in 1877. One year was spent in Idaho and in 1878, he came to Walla Walla. After that, he lived for a time in Union county, Oregon. It was 1882, when Mr. Jump came to what is now Lincoln county and took a contract to carry the mail from Dav- enport to points west. For four years he was occupied thus, and at various other labors until 1890, when he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land just north of Creston. He after- ward sold that property and spent a number of years in traveling. Finally, in 1899 he came to Lincoln county, settling where we now find him.
In 1902 Mr. Jump married Mrs. Mary Lavina Cooper. Mrs. Jump's former husband, John R. Cooper, was a native of Pennsylvania, while she was born in England. They had two children, Eleanoria Myrtle and John, the former born in Michigan and the latter in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Jump are worthy and highly re- spected people, being known as first class citi- zens.
JOHN W. SAWYER landed in Seattle from San Francisco and Portland in 1878 with only five dollars in his possession. He has now a clear title to 2,000 acres of choice agricultural land in Lincoln county, Washington, and 3,400 acres in Morrow county, Oregon. His home is nine miles southeast of Davenport. He has the very best of modern improvements, both in his house and out-of-doors. His barn, granary, et cetera, are large and conveniently appointed, he has a windmill, which places water in his house, and a cistern that supplies his stock with water. He has two farms near each other, and both are equally well improved.
Born June 12, 1856, John W. Sawyer is a native of Wyoming county, Pennsylvania. His father, who is now deceased, was John, and his mother Amy (Leipham) Sawyer, the for- mer a native of Pennsylvania, the son of an English father; and the latter of Germany. The mother now lives at Manchester, New Hampshire, and is seventy-seven years of age.
John W. Sawyer grew to manhood on a farm, and in the spring of 1878 went to San Francisco. From that city he went to Port- land, Oregon, then to Puget Sound, where he followed lumbering.
On September 16, 1879, he was married at Oak Harbor, Washington, to Julia Dixon, a native of Puget Sound. She was the daughter of Thomas and Jane Dixon.
During the autumn of 1881 Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer came to Spokane, where Mr. Sawyer followed bridge construction work in the em- ploy of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company for a space and later bought a tract of railroad land south of Medical Lake. Here he lived only a short time when he sold out, and came to Lincoln county in 1883. He soon afterward located a homestead where he still lives. He had many hardships and inconveniences to en- dure, and a hard struggle to earn money with which to make the necessary improvements on his land, but he was ever a hard-working and industrious man and now takes just pride in the success that has been attained by his efforts.
In fraternity circles Mr. Sawyer is identi- fied with the Royal Arch Chapter, the W. W., the Knights of Pythias and the A. O. U. W. societies.
Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer have reared a prom- ising family of seven children. Frederick J., the oldest, is married to Lottie Long, and lives near Moscow, Washington. The next in age is Amy E., the wife of Fred Morse, also of the vicinity of Moscow. The five remaining at home are, William, Effie M., Calvin, Clarence and Ernest L.
JOHN S. HUFFMAN started in life on a tract of land near Davenport with almost noth- ing he could call his own, and is now one of the wealthiest farmers of his county. He makes his home in Davenport. He was the son of Elijah and Amanda (Markham) Huffman, both natives of Pennsylvania, and was born in Bushnell, Illinois, the date thereof being May 26, 1859.
Mr. Huffman's father died in Illinois, and in 1867 the subject accompanied his mother to St. Joe, Missouri, and the following year to Neosho county, Kansas, where he grew to man- hood.
He was married to Ida M. Samples, No- vember 29, 1884. Mrs. Huffman was born in Macoupin county, Illinois, and was the daugh- ter of George W. and Sarah A. (Custard) Samples, both native Kentuckians, in which state the father, a veteran of the Civil war, is
JOHN W. SAWYER
JOHN S. HUFFMAN
GEORGE W. HUFFMAN
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still living. She came with her parents to Neosho county in 1869, and to Pacific county, Washington, in 1887, where the family en- gaged first in fishing, and later in the flour, feed and grain selling business. They also con- ducted the first drug store ever opened in the town of Ilwaco, the old building still standing in a class by itself in the little town.
In February, 1898, Mr. Huffman brought his family to Davenport, having purchased a tract of land there in 1890, and engaged in farming. In 1901 he combined stock raising with farming, and has made a signal success of the business. He now owns eight hundred and sixty-three acres of well cultivated and productive land four miles southeast of Daven- port, stocked with finely bred horses, cattle, and hogs. He also has a handsome home in Davenport, where he resides, a half interest in a large warehouse of which his brother, George W., owns the other half, and a city residence in Ilwaco.
An active fraternity man, he is a member of the A. F. and A. M., the W. W., the A. O. U. W., and the Maccabees.
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Huffman con- sists of six children, as follows : Charles F., born in Kansas; Newton, Raymer V., Edgar, and Astor, born in Pacific county, Washington ; and May Belle, a native of Davenport.
Mr. Huffman is one of the substantial and well-to-do business men of the county of Lincoln.
GEORGE W. HUFFMAN, a native of Akron, Summit county, Ohio, born December 2, 1855, is a farmer living four miles east of Davenport. His father and mother, Elijah and Amanda ( Markham) Huffman, were born in Pennsylvania.
At an early age the subject removed with his parents to McDonough county, Illinois, where he lived until 1867, when the family again removed to St. Joe, Missouri, and later to Neosho, Kansas. His entire youth and young manhood were spent on a farm.
August 2, 1874. in Neosho county, Kansas, Mr. Huffman was married to Sarah .A. Sprig- gle, a native of McDonough county, and daughter of Emanuel and Cathrine .A. ( Mark- 20
ham) Spriggle, both natives of Pennsylvania. The latter died in Illinois, and the former in Washington county, Kansas, whither he had removed in 1870. After the death of her father, Mrs. Huffman went to Neosho county, where she lived until her marriage.
In 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Huffman started with a mule team to cross the plains, and after a journey covering four months arrived at Boise City, Idaho, where they remained until 1883, when they drove on to Ilwaco, Pacific county, Washington, where Mr. Huffman con- ducted a hotel until the spring of 1886. They then came to Lincoln county and filed a home- stead five miles southeast of Davenport. Being in stringent financial circumstances at the time, Mr. Huffman often found it difficult to "make ends meet," but by hard work and strict econ- omy he somehow managed to do this, and before many years could count himself in com- fortable circumstances. But few settlers had located in the Big Bend at that time, Daven- port and Wilbur were towns unthought of, and all supplies for the few pioneers must needs have been freighted from Sprague. Mr. Huff- man did considerable of this freighting. con- suming two days in the round trip. As the country developed his condition improved, and has continued to improve until he now has title to sixteen hundred acres of good grain land, a cozy residence, and other good improve- ments as barns, outbuildings, et cetera. He makes a specialty of grain raising, and with his brother, John S., owns a warehouse in Davenport of twenty thousand bushels capac- ity. He has some of the finest stock and poultry to be found anywhere in the Big Bend: having taken the following first prizes at the Lincoln county fair recently : Best pair draft horses ; best pair of brood mares : White Plym- outh Rock chickens; Pekin ducks, and To- louse geese. He has thirty head of draft horses, and a drove of thoroughbred Poland China hogs.
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