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 53
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 53
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 53
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 53
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On December 6, 1893, Mr. Reeves was mar- ried to Nina Stuart, of Wilbur, the daughter of J. L. and Alice Stuart, and to them have been born three children, as follows; Eugenia, born December 18, 1896; Ruth and Rolina, twins, born October 22, 1899.
Mr. Reeves is rated as being well-to-do fi- nancially, owning quite extensive tracts of farm property, and a large amount of city real estate. He is a man of wide acquaintance, has hosts of friends and is known by all as a good citizen.
CHARLES C. HILLS, although one of the younger men of Lincoln county, has achieved a success here that would do credit to a man of far riper years. An account of his labors will be very interesting reading to people of Lincoln county. At the present time he is engaged in the real estate business in Creston where his home is, and is doing a nice business, being a man of energy and good judgment. He also has other interests to oversee.
Charles C. Hills was born in Nebraska, on December 3, 1873. the son of James L. and Mi- nerva (Thomas) Hills, natives of New York. The father came with his family to Walla Walla county in 1882 and the following spring moved
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
to Spokane, whence he journeyed to Lincoln county. He immediately engaged in stock rais- ing and farming, continuing the same until re- cently when he sold out and moved to Daven- port where he is now living a retired life. Our subject received his education in the common schools of Lincoln county and is therefore a product of the section in which the county may take pride. Desiring a more extended education, Mr. Hills went to Spokane and completed a course in the Blair Business College. In 1893, being twenty years of age, he started in life for himself. He had nothing except what wages he had saved from his work the year previous. With this he made the first payment on a quar- ter section of land, rented two hundred acres more and in the fall sold his crop for enough to pay for his quarter section. The next year he bought horses and a half section of land, also purchased a relinquishment which he home- steaded. Then three years from the time of this second purchase, he had a whole section paid for. He has bought land in addition since un- til he now has an estate of eight hundred acres, all well improved, lying one mile west from Creston. This magnificent holding he has achieved by his own efforts in less than ten years. This stamps Mr. Hills as a man of knowledge, keen foresight, and excellent prac- tical judgment. He gives his attention to buy- ing and selling real estate in Creston and hand- ling his farm. Mr. Hills is a member of the Masonic lodge, the I. O. O. F., and the K. O. T. M. He is a popular young man, having many friends and deserving the esteem accorded to him.
HON. JOHN RAYMER. In 1890, John Raymer came to Reardan and engaged in part- nership with O. A. Menger in the hardware business, theirs being the first hardware store in the town. Four years later he purchased the interest of his partner, since which time he has been in business alone. In 1901 he built his present large brick store building. also three warehouses. and the following year added a line of furniture to his hardware business, his being the only furniture store in Reardan. He is a stockholder, director and vice-president of the Exchange Bank of Reardan, and is one of the wealthiest men of the town, a fact of which
he might well be proud, coming as he did to the county almost without a dollar.
Born in Calhoun county, Michigan, June 15, 1856, he was the son of Peter and Mercy (Bates ) Raymer, both natives of New York. They came to Michigan in an early day when the Indians were so numerous that the tilling of the land was a most hazardous occupation. Mr. Raymer has a brother and a sister still in Michigan, Charles Raymer and Mrs. Estella Telfer.
At the age of fifteen he left home to try his fortunes in the lumbering districts of Michigan. He worked here for one company seven years, the last four years in the capacity of foreman. In 1884 he came to Seattle, thence to Van- couver Island, and from there to Spokane. In December, 1885. he came to Davenport, and engaged in breaking raw sod. Later he en- gaged in lumbering north of Davenport, and in the fall of 1888 he bought a half interest in a saw-mill which he removed to Mondovi. He sold this business in 1890 when he engaged in his present occupation.
In the fall of 1900 he was elected to the House of Representatives from his county, holding the office one term, and ever since the town of Reardan was incorporated he has served on the city council. He has ever been a liberal subscriber to all enterprises and a gen- erous supporter of everything having a tend- ency to develop his town, and country. He is an active member of the I. O. O. F., of which he is a past grand.
May 4, 1892, John Raymer was married to Hattie Latham, a native of Canada, and three children, Norman, John C., and Nelson, are the issue of this marriage.
JULIUS C. JOHNSON, who is the pres- ident and moving spirit in the Almira State Bank, is a capable and prominent business man of the Big Bend country. He has demonstrated his ability as a financier and .has won for him- self a standing in this country second to none.
Julius C. Johnson was born in Germany. on September 23, 1863, the son of Christian and Mary (Carstensen) Johnson, natives of Germany. The father was a prominent and wealthy agriculturist in his country. From the common schools of his native country our sub-
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JOHN RAYMER
JULIUS C. JOHNSON
ADRIAN S. BROWN
SAMUEL C. MARS
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
ject received his early training and then com- pleted a high school course, after which, in 1882 he came to America, making settlement in San Francisco. He was engaged for some time in a commission house, then in 1883 landed in what is now Lincoln county. He took a homestead and timber culture just north of where Almira now stands and has added later by purchase until he owns one thousand acres of valuable wheat land, all of which is in a high state of cultivation. In 1892, Mr. Johnson came to Almira and took up the business of selling farm implements and wheat buying. For five years he followed this, then bought out La Follette Brothers. Under the firm name of Johnson & Stephens, he conducted this business until 1900, in addition to the grain and implement business. In 1902, Mr. Johnson organized the Almira State Bank and the building in which it does business was the first brick structure in Almira. The enterprise was started with twenty-five thousand dollars paid-up capital and five thousand dollars surplus. From the very start this banking house did a large busi- ness and has far outstripped every banking in- stitution in this part of the country of the same age. Mr. Johnson has demonstrated his ability in the various lines of business which he has conducted, and has gained for himself an ex- cellent standing among the people. He has two brothers, C. N., a farmer north of Almira, who came to this country with out subject, and Cars- ten. in Almira.
In 1893. Mr. Johnson married Miss Mable, daughter of S. C. and Hannah ( Johns) How- ard, natives of Iowa, now living at Old Mission, Washington. The father was a veteran of the Civil War. Mrs. Johnson was born in Iowa, on Dceember 15, 1873. To this marriage three children have been born. Norma, Walter, and Raymond L.
In the spring of 1904 the town of Almira was incorporated and Mr. Johnson was elected its first mayor by an almost unanimous vote.
ADRIAN S. BROWN. the efficient and energetic auditor of Lincoln county. resides at Davenport. He was born in Yamhill county. Oregon, March 24, 1868, and although a young man has had an eventful, influential and stir- ring career. His father. William H. Brown, a
native of Ohio, crossed the plains in 1865 and located at Portland. Oregon, where he re- mained two years, going thence to Yamhill county. In 1881 he went to Dayton, Washing- ton, and seven years later to Pasco, where he was clerk and auditor of Franklin county nearly four years. He was taken suddenly ill and died in the hospital at Walla Walla in September. 1894. He was a prominent Dem- ocrat throughout Oregon and Washington, and followed the business of contractor and builder for many years, being highly respected and in- fluential. During the Civil War he enlisted twice and was drafted once, after having been rejected four times owing to physical defects. While crossing the plains he participated in a number of skirmishes with the Sioux and Cheyennes. Although never an office seeker he was selected to fill a number of official posi- tions in Oregon, and these duties imposed upon him were invariably creditably executed. The mother of our subject, Harriet C. ( Davidson) Brown, a native of Ohio, went with her parents to Iowa when she was ten years of age. She witnessed the building of the first cabin on the site of the present town of Marshalltown. Iowa. In 1862 she was united in marriage to the father of our subject. and at present resides at Pasco, Washington, where she has large landed interests.
Until he was thirteen years of age our sub- ject, Adrian S. Brown, was reared in Oregon, then went to Dayton with his parents, where in 1888 he was graduated from the high school. In 1888 he went to Pasco and entered the ser- vice of the Northern Pacific Railway Company. rising to the position of chief clerk of the freight office. During the strike of 1894 he severed his connection with the company. While assisting his father in the office of audi- tor of Franklin county, the latter died. and the same fall our subject was elected to fill the vacancy, serving two years. At the expiration of the term he was nominated for county treas- urer on the citizens' ticket and. although de- feated. ran ahead of his ticket over one hundred votes. Following a few months residence in Seattle he went to Sprague, Washington, re- maining until December. 1808, working in a flour mill and buying wheat. He then came to Davenport where he accepted a position in the office of the county auditor as first deputy and clerk of the board of county commissioners.
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
In 1902 Mr. Brown was elected auditor of Lin- coln county. At the time of the organization of the irrigation board of Franklin county he was elected a member-the youngest, being at that period only twenty-three years of age.
May 24. 1891, at Pasco, Washington, Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Berta B. Flanagan, a native of Texas, and a niece of Webster Flanagan, eminent in the political history of the Lone Star State, and a grand- daughter of J. W. Flanagan, United States senator during the reconstruction period of the southern states. Her father, Robert B. Flan- agan, was a native of Texas, his parents of Virginia, and he was prominent and influential for many years in the political circles of Texas. She has one brother, James W., a native of Texas, now residing at Havana, Cuba. For two years he was traveling passenger agent for a Mexican railway company and subsequently became involved in a number of rebellions in Central America, and at one time served as a colonel in the rebel army. At present he holds the responsible position of general manager of Morgan & Company's steamship . lines, with headquarters at Havana. He was also World's Fair Commissioner, being appointed by the president of Cuba.
To Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been born three children. Robert A., Vivien H. and Ber- nardine. Our subject is a member of the K. P., and post commander: the K. T. M., and past commander ; the I. O. R. M., of which he is past sachem, and the Loyal Americans, being ex-president. He has been a staunch Democrat since his first vote, and in 1890 was secretary of the Democratic central committee of Franklin county, and chairman in 1892; a member of the state Democratic central com- mittee during the campaign of 1892; and has also served on many other important political committees. During the campaign of 1900, in Lincoln county, Mr. Brown was secretary of the Democratic county central committee.
SAMUEL C. MARS is proprietor of nearly two sections of land in Lincoln county. One half section lies about six miles north- west from Wilbur, while the balance is situ- ated in the southern portion of the county. Mr. Mars makes his home on the farm near
Wilbur and devotes his attention almost ex- clusively to general farming, handling both places. They are both well supplied with build- ings and other improvements, having stock and machinery necessary to their operation. Mr. Mars is one of the wealthy men of the county and has made his entire holdings since coming here in 1886. He has spent almost all of his life on the frontier, sometimes experiencing the most thrilling adventures, and he was one of that sturdy class who threaded their way west in spite of all hardships and adventures, bringing in the civilization on the frontier. which we now enjoy.
Samuel C. Mars was born in Boone county, Missouri, on June 5, 1848. His father, Eli Mars, was born in Virginia and came with his parents to Kentucky, when a boy. He settled in Missouri, when it was a territory and is now a wealthy farmer there. He married Miss Elimy Cowen, a native of Missouri. Our subject was educated in the schools of Boone county, then turned his attention to farming for a short time in Missouri. In 1875, he came farther west and wrought in contract work in various places. After that, he hunted buffaloes on the state land in Texas, in which occupations he was engaged for three years. He furnished vari- ous western markets with meat and hides and did a thriving business. Mr. Mars has killed as high as fifty-four buffaloes in one day. He has experienced many thrilling adventures in this occupation and probably was as familiar with the Rocky Mountain frontier as any man at that time. After leaving Texas he went to Arizona. New Mexico, and Oregon, hunting, prospecting and exploring. He decided to get out timbers for the Oregon Short Line in Idaho and was also occupied for three winters after coming to the Big Bend country in getting out timber for the government buildings at Fort Spokane. In 1886 he took a homestead where he now lives and later added a timber culture claim. His other land has been acquired by purchase. After the three winters spent in government service, he has given his entire at- tention to general farming and to the improve- ment of his place. He has a fine farm and has been prospered exceedingly in his labors. Mr. Mars has also won the respect and esteem of the people in the community and is one of the influential and prominent men. He has one brother, Barton S., living near Hesseltine.
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
In 1901 Mr. Mars married Miss Laura B., daughter of Thomas B. and Rebecca ( Resh) Engle. The father is a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted when a boy and participated in the march to the sea, with Sherman. The mother is a native of Pennsylvania and comes from Dutch ancestry. Mrs. Mars was born in Fuller county, Illinois, and went to Iowa when a child. After studying in the common schools of Dupage county, Illinois, she took a state normal school course and is a well educated lady. To this union two children have been born, Albert Donald, deceased, and Annis Re- becca.
CHARLES KOLB, secretary of the elec- tric light company of Wilbur, was born Octo- ber 8, 1866, in Fayette county, Iowa. His fa- ther. Christian Kolb, was born in Germany, and came to Chicago, Illinois, when that city was a mere hamlet of a few houses. After a few years here he removed to Fayette county, Iowa, being one of the first settlers in the county, Dubuque, eighty miles distant, being his nearest trading point. He is still living there in his seventy- fourth year. Mr. Kolb's mother, Catharine (Becher ) Kolb, also was born in Germany, and came to Chicago in early life, and was there married. She is still living at the age of sixty- eight.
Mr. Kolb is the fifth in a family of six chil- dren. Their names are: John Jacob, John N., Wilson H., Christian and Albert ; all of whom, with the exception of the subject, and Chris- tian, who lives in Spokane, are still living in Iowa.
After passing through the public schools, Mr. Kolb attended the Upper Iowa University, being later graduated from the commercial course of that school. As a young man he also learned the carpenter's trade. He worked at his trade, did contracting, and conducted a gro- cery business while in his native state, before coming west in the fall of 1895. He worked at contracting and building in Lewiston, Idaho, Asotin, Northport and Spokane, Washington. before finally settling in Wilbur in 1897. Since coming to this town he has erected some of the principal business buildings and residences of the city. In 1903 he was one of the incorpora- tors of the Wilbur Electrical Company, and for a time was its president, but is now: its secre-
tary and manager, and is one of the largest stockholders in the company. They have a one hundred horse power engine in their plant, and a dynamo of fifteen hundred light capacity.
Mr. Kolb is at the present writing vice grand, and noble grand-elect of the Wilbur lodge of Odd Fellows, and is also a member of the Fraternal Army of Loyal Americans. He is widely known and highly respected in his home city as being a good citizen and an honor- able, conscientious man.
CORNELIUS ROOKSTOOL, an early settler of Lincoln county, lives on a farm three and a half miles east of Davenport. He was born in Elkhart county, Indiana. October 2. 1850, and was a member of a family of four- teen children, four of whom are now living. His parents were Samuel and Mary ( Brown) Rookstool, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio.
Mr. Rookstool grew to manhood on a farm in his native locality, and in 1868 went to Mi- ami county, Kansas, where he was married, November 17, 1874, to Harriet A. Williams, a native of Davis county, Iowa, the daughter of James B. and Sarah ( Thomas) Williams. Mrs. Rookstool emigrated with her parents to Adams county, Illinois, then to Miami county, Kansas, in 1856.
In 1878 Mr. and Mrs. Rookstool went to California and located twenty miles south of Sacramento, where they followed farming un- til the spring of 1883. when they came with a wagon and team to Davenport, Washington. There being but few settlers here at that time, Mr. Rookstool had practically the entire coun- try from which to select a homestead. The homestead he filed on is located nine miles southeast of Davenport, but he subsequently sold this homestead and purchased three hun- dred and twenty acres where he now lives. Owing to the delicate health of his wife, he re- moved to Loonlake, Stevens county, where he remained a few years, and where he still has forty acres of land. His farm near Davenport is all fenced and well improved with orchard, good well, windmill, house, barn, outbuildings, and etc. He makes grain raising a specialty.
His secret society affiliations are confined to membership in the Loyal Americans.
Mr. and Mrs. Rookstool have had born to
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them two children; Sarah A., who died in De- cember, 1886, aged ten years; and Alvin W., born July 23, 1895.
Coming to the country as he did, practic- ally without means, Mr. Rookstool had a diffi- cult time in getting a start in the Big Bend, but at last succeeded in placing himself and family in circumstances of ease and comfort, and all that he has accomplished he owes to nothing but his own industry, integrity, and good man- agement.
EDWIN F. SCARBOROUGH, a lawyer and pioneer of Wilbur, was born July 8, 1847, in Jackson county, Iowa. His father, Captain George Scarborough, was a native of Connect- icut and a captain in the Black Hawk War. He spent a great portion of his life in the state of Illinois, in which state he was a member of the legislature. During the war mentioned he be- came intimately acquainted with Abraham Lin- coln, and afterward was a client of that famous man. He died in Illinois, in 1851, in his forty- sixth year. The mother of Mr. Scarbarough was Sarah (Wilson) Scarborough, a native of Ireland who came to the United States at the age of sixteen, and died in Nodaway county, Missouri, in 1882, being at the time seventy- two years of age. The family originally com- prised four children. They are, besides the subject : Mrs. Eliza McMillan, of Paradise Val- ley, Nevada ; Mary and Sarah Ellen, both de- ceased.
Mr. Scarborough divided his time between Galena, Illinois, and Jackson county, Iowa, un- til 1863, when he went to Nodaway county, Missouri, with his mother, and there received a finished common school education. Later he was graduated from the high school of Marys- ville, Missouri, and at once began teaching. He followed this vocation here until in 1879, when he went to Lewis, Nevada, and engaged in min- ing and at intervals teaching school. Return- ing to Missouri, he again taught school until 1882 when he came to Cheney, Washington, via San Francisco and Portland. Two years prior to coming west he began the study of the law, which he continued upon arriving at Che- ney. In the fall of 1883 he came to Lincoln county and settled on a ranch twenty miles northwest of Wilbur, in what is known as the
California settlement, and engaged in farming and teaching school. While here he was notary public and justice of the peace for his neigli- borhood, which at that time comprised very few settlers as compared with its present population. In 1895 he bought a home in Wilbur, in which he lived with his family during the school year, and in 1900 he sold his farm and removed to Wilbur where he has since made his continuous home. He was admitted to the bar in 1901, since which date he has been engaged in the practice of his profession in his home city, and has built up a flattering business. He has also been a member of the city council, and enjoys the trust and respect of his fellow townsmen. His fraternity affiliations are limited to member- ship in the K. O. T. M.
Mr. Scarborough was married, November 18, 1875, in Nodaway county, Missouri, to Nancy M. Hicks, who is a native of Schuyler county, Illinois, where she was born in
I856. With her parents she went to Red Wing, Minnesota, and from there to Nodaway county, Missouri. Her father, Eli Hicks, died in Missouri about 1887, in his seventy-sixth year, while her mother, whose maiden name was Jalah Stallard, is still living in her, eighty-eighth year, in Gentry coun- ty, Missouri. Mrs. Scarborough has three sis- ters and four brothers, three of whom are Methodist ministers.
To Mr. and Mrs. Scarborough have been born six children: Lavanchia M., wife of Charles Hill, at Hartline ; Clarence, in Daven- port : Maud, who has charge of the telephone office at Wilbur ; Ella, her assistant : Eva, and Emma. The first named was born in Missouri, the second in Nevada, and the other three in Washington.
JOHN W. MAIB, who is conducting a merchandise establishment in Creston, was born in Clay county, Missouri, on December 10, 1853. His parents were Morris and Mary C. (Hixon) Maib, both natives of Clay county, Missouri, and agriculturists. Jolin W. received his education in the public schools of Missouri and then engaged in farming near the old home place. He continued this until 1871, then moved to Kansas and gave his attention to till- ing the soil in that state for eleven years. This
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made it 1882 in which year Mr. Maib came to Portland. In the metropolis of the Webfoot state, he took up the coal and wood business and also contracted on street grading, being thus occupied until 1894 when he journeyed to Lin- coln county. Mr. Maib was impressed with the resources and excellence of this country and purchased land adjoining the town of Creston. He has bought since until he owns two hundred and forty acres of first class wheat land ad- joining the town. In 1902, in partnership with John A. French, Mr. Maib bought a sawmill at Creston. He traded his interest in it to Mr. French for land the following year. In July, 1903, Mr. Maib determined to add another chapter to his enterprises, consequently he opened a general merchandise establishment in Creston, being in partnership with H. B. Kin- ney. They have started out very nicely in the business which promises to become one of the large ones of the county. The long experience in various lines heretofore has fitted Mr. Maib to take hold of this otherwise than a novice and his excellent standing in this part of the country will draw to them a goodly share of patronage.
In 1874, Mr. Maib married Miss Amanda J., daughter of William and Malinda ( Collins) Archer, natives of Tennessee. Mrs. Maib was born in Tennessee, on November 15, 1858. To this union seven children have been born, named as follows, Charles M., Henry, Arthur, Lottie, Grace, Gertrude and Virgil.
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