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 52
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 52
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 52
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 52
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To Mr. and Mrs. Huffman have been born five children : Catura, wife of Charles S. Tur- ner, a farmer near Davenport : Eva, deceased ; Elijah, married to Hattie Hamilton, of Odessa, Washington; George E., and Emma .1.
He is a member of the 1. O. O. F., the . \. O. U. W., the W. W. and the K. O. T. M., all of Davenport.
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
SAMUEL R. COMER. The industry and assiduous labors manifested by the subject of this article during a long and eventful career are worthy of especial mention in the volume that has to do with the leading citizens of the Big Bend country. His life has been one of activity, in which he has invariably been guided by sound principles and unswerving integrity. Much of his time has been spent on the frontier and Mr. Comer is possessed of those sterling qualities which make the typical pioneer.
Samuel R. Comer was born in Monroe county, Kentucky, on August 12, 1834, the son of Masten and Susan ( Pinkley) Comer. The father, was a Kentuckian and labored as a farmer during his life. For thirty years he was an honored elder of the Christian church in Monroe county. The mother was born in North Carolina and was a devout and faithful christian woman. When Samuel was still young, his father died, and he was left with the extra burden of assisting his mother provide for twelve father- less children. He secured an education as best possible under those trying cir- cumstances and faithfully remained with his mother until 1861, being then twenty-seven years of age. Then came the call for men, good and true, who would carry the banner of freedom to victory against the minions of treason. Young Comer was quick to respond and enlisted in the Fifth Kentucky Cavalry. where he served his country for three years and seven months. During this time he participated in the battles of Nashville, Chickamauga, and many others. He was also with Sherman in the memorial march to the sea and ever dis- played those virtues and qualities which make the brave soldier. He was advanced from pri- vate to corporal and later to the position of regimental quartermaster. Following the war, Mr. Comer settled to industrial pursuits and in 1870 went to California. For ten years he wrought there as a farmer and miner. then came to Lincoln county in 1880. He took a homestead and timber culture claim six miles east from where Harrington now stands and made that his home until 1895. Then he re- moved to Chelan and in 1900. came thence to Creston, where he is making his home at this time.
In 1857. Mr. Comer married Miss Elizabeth
York, a native of Tennessee. Her parents were Andrew and Louisie ( McCormick) York, na- tives of North Carolina and Virginia, re- spectively. To this union three children were born, Clayton M., Arcenie B., and Samuel. In 1867, Mr. Comer was called to mourn the death of his wife. In 1868, he married a second time, Miss Amanda A. York, a sister of his former wife, becoming his bride. Their issue are, Joseph F., Bettie J., Mary E., Thomas P., Mattie S., Viola V., and Grover C.
Mr. Comer assisted to survey the land near Harrington in 1881 and he has done many labors for upbuilding and substantial improve- ment in this county, where he is now spending the golden years of his life in the quiet enjoy- ment of the competence which his skill has pro- vided.
EMARY D. GOLLAHER was with the earliest wave of immigration that came into the territory that is now occupied in Lincoln coun- ty ; but owing to the fact that he was too young to take a homestead he went elsewhere and en- gaged in labors. The vision of the fair prairies of the Big Bend was always with him, however, and the result was that in 1898, he came back to his first love and settled on a homestead, five miles south from Creston. To this he has added by purchase until he now has a fine farm of three hundred and seventy acres, all good land and well improved. He has bestowed his labors here with wisdom and his place is now one to be desired.
Emary D. Gollaher was born in Indiana, in 1860, being the son of Allen and Eunice (Daggett) Gollaher, natives of Indiana. The father was a veteran of the Civil War, jour- neyed to California in 1870, thence to Wash- ington in 1889, and on to Lincoln county, in 1894. The mother died when our subject was a mere child and he was soon called upon to meet the hardships of an adverse world. The result was that his educational advantages were scanty and he received but little training at the hands of the school teacher. Later, realiz- ing the worth of knowledge, he applied himself and is now a well read man, possessing the great advantage of having his knowledge mixed with a practical experience with the ways of the world and business, which has resulted in
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great good to him. He first came to Lincoln county in 1880, being in the company of Peter Cuddeback. He soon went to Spokane and en- gaged in labor for wages. From that point he journeyed to various localities, ever work- ing and investing, until finally in 1898, he came back to Lincoln county, as mentioned above.
In 1886, Mr. Gollaher married Miss Nettie Harsin, a native of Iowa. To this union, two children have been born, Frankie and Raymond. Mr. Gollaher has wrought with a self reliance and determination that have given him a fine success in all his ventures and today he is one of the responsible and respected citizens of the county.
DONALD F. McKAY is one of the earliest pioneers of the territory now included in Lin- coln county. 1880 is the year in which he wended his way into this then uninhabited re- gion and selected a homestead three miles south- west from where Creston now stands. He took also a timber culture claim and at once went to work improving the land. It was difficult to make a living on the land in those days, and for some time he was forced, as other settlers were, to go out to other places and earn money to buy provisions. Not to be daunted, how- ever, he continued industriously and assiduously in the work and soon began to get good returns from his land. From that time to the present he has labored as one of the thrifty farmers and has now a good estate and is prospered.
Donald F. Mckay was born in Ontario, Canada, on July 16, 1854, the son of John and Mary ( Farres) Mckay. The father was born in Scotland and there learned the trade of stone cutting. When young, he married in Scotland then came to Ontario and settled down. His family remained on a farm and he followed his trade more or less. The mother was a native of Scotland. While our subject was still an infant, he was left fatherless and soon there- after his mother died also. Thus deprived of the care and direction of parents at the time they are sorely needed, he was forced to meet the trying hardships of the world largely alone. Being without means, he had to work for a living and so had very little opportunity to at- tend schools. However, he was industrious in personal research and has stored his mind by
careful reading since. Mr. Mckay continued in Canada until 1879, then traveled a year in the west, visiting the centers of the Pacific coast. In the fall of that year he landed in Walla Walla, and the next spring came on to the Big Bend. He selected his present estate as a proper one and settled to work as stated above. He worked on the construction of the Northern Pacific, in addition to improving his farm, and his industry has been rewarded in a good hold- ing of property at this time.
In 1892, Mr. Mckay married Miss Ida R. Wonch, a resident of Medical Lake, and her death occurred in 1901. The second mar- riage of Mr. Mckay was consummated when Sarah MI. Stambough, of Creston, became his wife. They are respected people and stand well in the community, having shown qualities of worth and uprightness. They have one child, Ina Ruth.
J. HENRY HILTON. About four miles south from Creston, one comes to the estate of the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this article. It consists of four hundred and eighty acres of good land, with improvements commensurate with the place. Mr. Hilton makes his home here and of him one may say, that he has always been a pioneer, having spent most of his days on the frontier in various sec- tions. He is a man of broad experience and substantial qualities.
Henry Hilton was born in Michigan, on April 3, 1850, the son of Richard and Rachael ( Baley) Hilton, natives of New York and Michigan, respectively. The father went from his native state to Michigan in very early days and was one of the pioneers who opened the latter state for settlement. Our subject spent the first fourteen years of his life in Michigan, where he received his education from the com- mon schools. In 1864 he came to California with his parents, and immediately upon his ar- rival in the Golden State, he took up freighting. Later he did stock raising and his labors were among the first efforts of civilization in what is now Inyo county. He lived also in Los .Angeles for some time. and later took a band of horses to Nevada, where he sold them to ad- vantage. Immediately following that he made his way to Puget Sound, whence in 1877, one
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
year after his arrival, he went to Oregon. For twenty years he wrought in the Web-foot State and then, 1897, came to Lincoln county and purchased his present place. He has continued here since, identifying himself with the in- terests of this section.
In 1884, Mr. Hilton married Miss Olive A. Munson, a native of Stockton, California, and the daughter of Stephen C. and Ursula Mun- son, natives of Maine.
While in Inyo county, Mr. Hilton was deputy sheriff for two years and later he was one who caught three of the twenty-six con- victs escaping from the Carson, Nevada, peni- tentiary. While Mr. Hilton was dwelling in California in the early days, they were troubled much with Indians. On one occasion they were so bad that no one could go and bring sup- plies, and the flour was used up in the settle- ment. They ground corn in coffeemills, but finally were forced to make a fight against the savages. When the stand did come, the set- lers were infuriated with the tormenting of the savages and they fought with such determina- tion that they drove those not killed into a large lake, which quelled their outbreaks since.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hilton, four children have been born, Stella Mabel, Ethel Myra, Annie Laura, and Henry Clyde.
RAPHAEL GREENWOOD resides two miles south from Creston, where he owns eight hundred acres of the finest wheat land in this section. He is one of the leading and respected citizens of Lincoln county and has gained his excellent holding by virtue of industry and sagacity. He was born in Three Rivers, Can- ada, on July 15, 1841, the son of Alexander and Margaret J. ( De Sieve) Greenwood. The father's ancestors were among the very earliest settlers in Canada, coming from France. They participated in the earliest wars and were in the country long before the Arcadian exile. Our subject received his education in the pub- lic schools of his native land and in 1862 went thence to Illinois. There he farmed until 1893, when he migrated to Lincoln county and se- cured his present estate by purchase. Since coming here he has identified himself with the interests of the country and has always given
his aid to further all projects for building up and improving the country. He is a broad minded man, public spirited, and progressive.
In 1868, Mr. Greenwood married Miss Celina Raboin, who was born and reared in the same neighborhood as our subject. To this union there have been born the following named children, Ralph, deceased, Alexander, deceased, Joseph Frederic, deceased, Lewis Cousaque, Carrie Isabelle, Esther Leah, Phoebe Alice, Morris Ezra, Leonard, Ida May, and Elijah. Carrie and Esther have been teachers in the public schools and Lewis C. rendered to his country good and valuable service. He en- listed in Company L, First Washington Volun- teers, on June 25, 1898. After his discharge, he reenlisted in the Thirty-sixth United States Infantry at Pasig, on July 25, 1899. He was discharged on January 23, 1901, and the same day was mustered into the police force. On April 30, 1902, he was discharged from this service, and immediately entered the engineer force in Manila, serving until June 8, 1903} when he was discharged on account of sickness. He spent five and one half years in active service for the United States government in the Philip- pines, and marked bravery, wisdom, and valor were characteristic of him during this entire time. He was under the command of Generals King, Lawton, McArthur, Wheaton, and Bell. He captured many prizes during this extended service among which may be mentioned a com- mission and sword which he took from an of- ficer in the service of the natives. This com- mission was signed by Auginaldo. He was a close observer of the customs of the people and while abroad learned the native language of the Philippines, also the Spanish and became acquainted more or less with other languages spoken in that country. He visited China, Japan, and the Sandwich Islands.
Coming to the Big Bend country when the great depressions swept over the entire United States and when a winter of unexpected and unusual severity fell upon them. Mr. Green- wood had a most trying time, both for himself and for his family. However, they were all of that stanch and sturdy blood which could face and overcome difficulties and hence they sur- mounted all obstacles and endured all depriva- tions, thus winning their way to the best of success.
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
B. F. STEFFEY, who resides at Creston. was born in Washington county, Virginia, on June 18, 1863. His parents, Benjamin F. and Nancy (Snavely) Steffey, were also natives of Virginia. The father fought in the Civil War and died during service. Our subject was edu- cated in the common schools of his native state then took up saw milling. He became very pro- ficient in this industry and is master of every part of the business. In 1889, he emigrated from his native country to Creston and settled on a farm. He now has a half section of good land which has been well improved. In addi- tion to overseeing this property Mr. Steffey de- votes his attention to drilling wells, having a fine plant for this business and being very skill- ful in the work. He has drilled many wells throughout central Washington and is prepared to do any work in this line. It is very interest- ing to note that when Mr. Steffey came to this country, he had no finances ahead and his pres- ent very enviable holding has been gained en- tirely from his labors in this part of the coun- try.
In 1887, Mr. Steffey married Miss Mar- garet A., daughter of Henry and Elizabeth WVidner, natives of Virginia. Mrs. Steffey was born in Virginia in 1870. To them the follow- ing children have been born, Josephine, Will- iam Henry, Myrtle R., Nannie E., and Lily.
Mr. Steffey remarks that the real facts of the case are that when he landed here. he had but thirty dollars of capital. The first five years were those of trial and hardship. A small cabin had to suffice for a dwelling, provisions were scarce and were to be hauled a long dis- tance. Mr. Steffey cut wood and hauled it eleven miles selling at two dollars and fifty cents per cord, to get provisions to subsist on. But by long self denial and strenuous effort he he and his wife got their first start toward the competence they now enjoy.
JOHN H. ROBERTSON, an early pio- neer of the Big Bend and a blacksmith by trade. opened the first blacksmith shop in Wilbur at a time when Wilbur could hardly be called a town, and when he was compelled to bring his supplies from either Sprague or Spokane.
He was born in Andrew county, Missouri.
February 13. 1849, the second of a family of seven girls and five boys, all of whom are still living, the youngest being over thirty years of age. His parents, Holmes and Mary E. (Cole) Robertson, were both natives of In- diana and pioneers of Andrew county. Holmes Robertson served in the Missouri state militia during the Civil War, and died in 1897. in his seventy-fourth year. His wife died in 1895 in her sixty-second year.
Mr. Robertson grew to young manhood on a farm. In Feburary, 1865, he joined company G, Fifty-first Missouri Infantry, and did general duty at the prison at Alton, Illinois, until No- vember of the same year when he was mustered out and returned home. The years 1867 and 1868 he spent in the employ of the K. P. rail- road hunting buffalo in Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico, during which time the buffalo he slaughtered were legion. Returning to Andrew county, he remained but a short time when he took a position as a steamboat engineer on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, in which capac- ity he worked until the fall of 1870, when he went to Whitehall, Michigan, secured work as an apprentice in a blacksmith shop and remained until he became a thorough master of the craft. In 1887 he came to Washington stopping for a time in Sprague, and then coming on to where Wilbur is now, where he opened a shop, and has been in the business ever since. Since com- ing here he was burned out. suffering a loss of $4.000, without insurance, but soon recovered, and was again on the high way to prosperity. He is now in partnership with William Tully. has a large shop and does a business in propor- tion. Mr. Robertson is in comfortable circum- stances financially, owning a first class home, besides city property in Wilbur and Spokane. Socially, he is a member of Big Bend lodge. I. O. O. F., and is prominent in the order.
J. H. Robertson was married October 20, 1878, in Andrew county, Missouri. to Miss Nannie Hart, who was born and reared in the county of her marriage. Her parents, both of whom are now dead. were Harrison and Mar- garet A. ( Harrison) Hart, the former a native of Ohio, the latter of Missouri. Harrison Hart was a prominent man in the Missouri state mili- tia. His wife's father. Reuben Harrison, was during his time one of the most prominent at- torneys in Missouri. Mrs. Robertson was well
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educated as a girl, and for a number of terms taught school in her native county. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson have been the parents of four children, two of whom, Hart and John K., are dead. The remaining two are Bessie M., wife of \V. P. Dalton, of Rosalia, well educated, es- pecially in music ; and Myrtle A. Mrs. W. P. Dalton is an active worker in her church, takes a great interest in educational matters, at four- teen held a certificate to teach school, and is now district secretary in her church for the Woman's Home Mission.
Mrs. Robertson was an organizer and mem- ber of the first church established in Wilbur, which was the Methodist.
WILLIAM FRANKLIN SIMONS re- sides about three miles north from Creston and has the distinction of being one of the very first settlers in what is now Lincoln county. He has a very comfortable home, nice estate, good im- provements and by his thrift and business abil- ity has accumulated a good competence.
William F. Simons was born in Pennsyl- vania, on April 11, 1855. His parents, Will- iam and Eliza J. (Brown) Simons, were natives respectively, of New York and Pennsylvania and devoted their lives to agriculture. The father, moved to Pennsylvania when a young man. When our subject was fifteen years of age, the family came on to Nebraska and there he followed the occupation which he had begun in his native state. After that he began work on the farm as a laborer and in 1875 went to Iowa where he worked for two years. It was 1877 when he took a journey to California and soon learned the business of pilot and afterward worked in a sawmill. In 1879, we find Mr. Simons in Oregon and the following spring. which was 1880, he came to his present place. taking a homestead which is a portion of his farm today. He has four hundred and eighty acres in this farm and the same is well laid out and devoted to the production of the cereals. In 1890, Mr. Simons married Mary C. Spencer, who was born in Missouri, on July 18, 1866. Her, parents were Joseph and Mar- garet ( Brasshears) Jump. By her former mar- riage, Mrs. Simons has three children, Walter W., Harold, Charles F., and James J. Spencer.
To Mr. and Mrs. Simons, eight children have been born, named as follows; Minnie M., Amy B., Gilbert L., Mary N., Alva R., Elsie Ellen, Dollie, and Joseph William.
Mr. Simons is a member of the I. O. O. F. He is a man who stands exceptionally well in the community. It is interesting to note that when Mr. Simons landed here an invoice of his possessions showed him to have but five dollars in cash, a horse and a set of harness. At that time the cash was a great plenty as there was no place to spend it. But it speaks well of Mr. Simons' ability that he commenced without any capital and has come to be one of the wealthy farmers of central Washington. In early days he used to travel to Deep creek for his mail and during the summer would make pilgrimages to settled portions of the state to earn funds to buy provisions with. Continuing in this way and improving his farm between times he has made an enviable showing which has given him a good competence.
PETER W. CUDDEBACK, who is now one of the industrious and substantial farmers of the Big Bend country, was born in Illinois, on February 24, 1843. His parents were John and Sarah ( Richardson) Cuddeback, natives of New York and Ohio, respectively. The father was occupied in boating on the canal in early life, then married and came to Illinois, where he settled down to farming. Our subject re- ceived his educational training in the common schools of his native state and in 1861 came across the plains with his parents to California. For some time after arriving in the Golden State, he was occupied in training wild horses, but later turned his attention to freighting and farming. Thus he was engaged until 1879, when he came overland to Walla Walla. In the fall of that year he was in Spokane and the following year he came to what is now Lincoln county. This was in the spring of 1880. He selected land where his estate is now situated, about three miles southwest from Creston, and took it as a homestead. No settlers were in his immediate vicinity and but few were in the bounds of the present county. The came fast that year and the following and soon the signs of civilization sprang up on every hand. Mr.
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
Cuddeback labored assiduously putting forth every effort to build a home in the wilds of the west. His capital consisted of three cayuses, a wagon, and his own indomitable pluck, backed by a good stock of energy. Each year he made pilgrimages either to the Palouse country or to Walla Walla during the harvest seasons and there wrought for funds to assist in buying the supplies for the balance of the year and to inn- prove his farm. Soon he began to harvest crops from his own land and then the battle became easier, and he soon gained a comfort- able competence. In addition to building up his farm, Mr. Cuddeback has always labored faithfully for all measures which were a real benefit for the country. He has shown himself a man of progress, ever allied with the moving interests of the county and a real champion of good schools, excellent roads, and substantial government. It is of interest to note that Mr. Cuddeback hauled the lumber which was used in the construction of the first house in Davenport, the same being sawed at Silver Lake.
ROLLIN J. REEVES, who at the present time is United States commissioner residing in Wilbur, Washington, was born in Fort Madi- son, Iowa, November 25. 1846. His parents, Joseph P. and Mary A. (Chamberlin ) Reeves, natives of Ohio and New York, respectively, were early pioneers of Madison county, the mother having lived there for sixty years, dying in 1902. The father also is dead. The only member of the immediate family, other than the subject of this sketch, who is now living, is a sister, Mrs. Josephine Stewart, wife of a Los Angeles physician.
Mr. Reeves spent his boyhood in his native county, where he attended the district school until reaching the age of fourteen, when he en- tered the high school in Chicago. He was grad- uated from this school, and from the civil en- gineering department of the University of Michigan, in the class of 1868, and is now president of the alumni association of his Alma Mater for eastern Washington. After leaving college he was employed for one year as a civil engineer by the Cairo & Vincennes railroad. then with a college classmate spent a year tour- ing Europe. Returning to America in the fall
of 1870, he resumed the practice of his pro- fession. In the employ of the United States government, he surveyed the following state and territory boundary lines. In 1871, between Minnesota and Dakota: 1873, between Wash- ington and Idaho; in 1877, between Dakota and Wyoming: 1878-9 between Colorado and Utah; 1880-1-2, between Wyoming and Mon- tana. In 1883, in company with Levi Ankeny. Messrs. Dolph, Thompson, and Burrell, he es- tablished the First National Bank of Baker City, Oregon, and was made cashier of the in- stitution. In 1886 he came to Spokane and for two years was engaged in the real estate busi- ness, after which he formed a partnership with Samuel Wilson Condit, a well known western character, familiarly known by his sobriquet "Wild Goose Bill" and with him surveyed and platted the townsite of Wilbur. Since that time Mr. Reeves has been closely identified with the growth and development of the little city which it may be said with truth was founded by "Wild Goose Bill."
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