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 67
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 67
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 67
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 67
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participated in three charges at Vicksburg. He also had the pleasure of seeing Pemberton's surrender to General Grant. In 1863, Mr. Smith re-enlisted and his regiment was con- solidated with the Eleventh Missouri. He par- ticipated in the battle of Nashville, then went to New Orleans and was in the battles of Mo- bile, Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely. Thence he was transferred to Montgomery, Alabama, and on the way heard of Lee's surrender and Lincoln's death. At Memphis on January 15, 1866, he was mustered out as senior prin- cipal musician of the regiment. Following that, Mr. Smith went to farming in Illinois, then went to Nebraska where he took up a soldier's homestead in 1873. He was appointed postmaster at Hanson by President Hayes. In 1883, Mr. Smith came to Sprague and took up a pre-emption and since that time he has been engaged in farming and wheat buying. At the présent time, he rents his fine large es- tate of fifteen hundred acres and gives his per- sonal attention to buying wheat in Sprague. His farm is well improved with a fine two-story modern residence and all barns and buildings necessary. He has considerable stock and also plenty of machinery.
While in Illinois in 1866, Mr. Smith mar- ried Miss Mary Graham, who died in 1868. Later, he married Miss Louisa Dunn, who died in 1902. By his first wife, Mr. Smith had one child, Mrs. Hattie Fish, who lives in Sprague. To the second marriage the following children have been born, Mrs. Cary Kirkland, of Lon- don, England; Jay, in California; Mrs. Cora Dodson, of Harrington; Joseph; Bennie ; Eliz- abeth; Minie; and Mrs. Sadie Dunn, of Lin- coln county.
Mr. Smith is past commander of the G. A. R., at Sprague and also a member of the Masonic order. He was the first president in the Lincoln County Pioneer Association. Mr. Smith is a very popular citizen and has well earned his present standing by reason of his long continued career of uprightness and probity.
In the portrait of Mr. Smith, which appears in another portion of this work, the reader will note a star on the breast. That star was presented by Colonel Buchanan, about May 22, 1863, at Vicksburg, for meritorious service and bravery shown by Mr. Smith, then in the army.
JACOB SMITH
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
FRANK PANEK is a prosperous and pro- gressive farmer living about three miles west from Edwall. He was born in Bohemia in August, 1863, the son of John and Frances (Trogan) Panek, natives of Bohemia. The father was a brick layer. In 1878, he came with his family to Colfax county, Nebraska, where he and his wife live at the present time. They were the parents of six children, our subject being the second. Frank received his educa- tion in the old country and was fourteen when his father came to Colfax county. He worked on the farm in Nebraska until September, 1883 in which year he came to Sprague. He soon went to work on the Northern Pacific railroad and for nine years was in the employ of that company. He first held the position of fireman and later was locomotive engineer. After leav- ing that company, he handled an engine for the roller mills in Sprague until he went to work for the Great Northern railroad as engineer. After that he went to Nebraska and spent three years with his parents. Next we see him in Fremont county, Idaho, handling an irrigated farm, which occupied him until 1901. Finally he selected. the place where he now resides, having previously. in 1883, bought one half section of railroad land.
On November 7, 1897, Mr. Panek married Mary Ledvina, a native of Greenbay, Wiscon- sin. Her parents, Joseph A. and Antoine M. ( Wesley) Ledvina, are now living in Nebraska. They were the parents of six children. Mrs. Panek has one child by her former marriage. Lucy. To . .. and Mrs. Panek three chil- dren have been born, Victor O., Raymond V. and Olga A. The last two mentioned are de- ceased. Mr. Panek is a member of the Odd Fellows, the M. W. A. and the Locomotive Brotherhood. He is very much impressed with the resources and riches of the Big Bend coun- try and feels well satisfied that he is dwelling in one of the richest sections of the United States.
OSCAR H. FRITSCH was born in Wal- denburg, Germany, on February 28, 1857, the son of Joseph and Pauline ( Kohler) Fritsch. natives of Germany and now deceased. He was educated in his native country and then spent three and one half years in a general store. In 1875, he came to the United States landing in
Milwaukee. For seven months he was working in a hotel then went to Red Wing, Minnesota, where he learned the miller's trade. He fol- lowed that in Minnesota for five years then went to Denver, Colorado and continued in his trade. Later, he returned to Minnesota. then went to San Francisco. In 1881, we find him at Walla Walla, Washington, and from that point he journeyed to Spokane finally taking up a homestead where he now lives, about three miles southwest from Edwall. After taking the homestead he spent some time working on the railroad and soon began operations on his land and to that he has added until he now owns three fourths of a section. It is all choice wheat land and all fenced. He has a modern nine- room house, large barns, plenty of outbuildings, windmill, orchard and all equipments needed on a first class farm. Mr. Fritsch is one of the substantial men of this section and has gained his property entirely through his own labors. He stands well in the community and has al- ways taken a keen interest both in politics and educational affairs.
In 1888. Mr. Fritsch married Miss Bertha Rux, a native of Minnesota. Her parents are living with Mr. Fritsch at the present time. To this marriage four children have been born. Cora, Charles, Emma and Nora, aged fifteen. thirteen, twelve and six, respectively.
Mr. Fritsch is a member of the Maccabees and is one of the stirring and progressive citi- zens of Lincoln county. Comparing it with various other sections where lic Has lived, Mr. Fritsch is thoroughly convinced that the Big Bend country is one of the choice farming re- gions to be found in the United States.
CHARLES A. MIELKE, who resides about three miles southwest from Edwall, is one of the industrious and progressive farmers of the Big Bend country. He has labored here with a display of energy and wisdom for a good many years and is now one of the well to do and leading farmers.
Charles A. Mielke was born in . Prussia. Germany, on September 17. 1868, the son of Michael and Caroline ( Hellatz) Mielke, na- tives of Germany. They came to the United States in 1873 and now reside in Lincoln coun- ty, being pioneers of this section. Our subject came with his parents to the United States and
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
settlement was made on the Mississippi river, in Iowa; then they journeyed to Indiana and two years later, came west to Wabasha county, Minnesota, where land was bought and they turned their attention to farming. About 1883 our subject landed in Lincoln county with his parents. He remained at home assisting them in the farm work until twenty-five years of age, then began to do for himself. He has given his attention to general farming and stock raising since that time and has won excellent success in these labors.
In 1898, Mr. Mielke married Miss Martha Itzenhauser, a native of Germany. Her father John Izenhauser, now lives about a mile south- west from Edwall. She came to this country with her parents when fifteen years of age, it being then 1885. , Her education was com- pleted at Warsaw, Illinois, and in Iowa. In 1890, she came west to Seattle and two years later, went to Tacoma, thence to San Francisco and finally back to Tacoma, where she was mar- ried in 1898. To Mr. and Mrs. Mielke, two children have been born, Marie and Helen, aged four and one, respectively. Mr. Mielke is the owner of a quarter section of fine wheat land, well improved with barn, windmill, orchard and so forth. He is a member of the Maccabees and M. W. A. and is a man of influence and good standing.
JOHN H. LOGAN resides about three miles east from Edwall, where he owns eight hundred acres of wheat land. He was born in Geauga county, Ohio, on June 17, 1838, the son of Robert and Rachel ( Marbel) Logan, na- tives of New York. Our subject was called to mourn the death of his father when he was a. lad of eight years and immediately thereafter he went to Lake county, Illinois. Two years later, we find him in McHenry, Wisconsin, and two years after that, he went to Allamakee county, Iowa, where he farmed for several years. We next see him on the homestead in Harlan county, Nebraska, where he labored for eight years, finally leaving the country on account of the ravages of the grasshoppers. It was August. 1881, when he landed in Walla Walla, having crossed the plains with teams. The next year he came to Lincoln county and located near where he now lives.
At Lansing, Iowa, in 1860, Mr. Logan mar-
ried Miss Harriett Depew, a native of Ohio. Her father had come across the plains in late life and took a homestead where our subject now resides. At his death, he willed the land to Mr. Logan. Since coming to this country, Mr. Logan has been occupied in stock raising and general farming, giving his attention large- ly to raising wheat. He has made a good suc- cess and is one of the wealthy men of the coun- ty. To Mr. and Mrs. Logan the following chil- dren have been horn, George B., Otis R., Fred- rick E .. Adelbert, all living near home. and Lilly and Dora. The following are deceased, Milton L., Josephine Janett, and Cary. On January 16, 1900, Mrs. Logan was called away by death. Since then Mr. Logan has been dwelling with his sons on the home estate, which is well improved with buildings, fences, windmill and so forth. In all his travels, Mr. Logan says that he has never found a country that is better than the Big Bend section and is well satisfied to make this his home during the remainder of his pilgrimage.
ANDREW STARK lives one and three- fourth miles northwest of Waukon, where he owns three hundred and twenty acres of choice wheat land and is devoting himself to its culti- vation. He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on January 11, 1862, the son of John and Mar- garet (Adamson) Stark, also natives of Scot- land. The father followed plastering and min- ing and came to the United States in 1871, settling in Lincoln county where he died. The mother died while enroute to Lincoln county. The children of the family are four girls and five boys. Our subject's early life was spent in Scotland, where he attended school until eleven years of age; then came a journey to England, where he learned the plasterer's trade and also mining, following the former five years and the latter seven years in England. When twenty-three years of age he came to Calgary, Alberta, and spent two years at his trade. On January 5, 1887, he came to Tyler, Spokane county and the following March bought a farm of eighty acres, where he now resides. He has added by purchase and is one of the prosperous and well-to-do men of the county. In addition to farming, he has done considerable plastering since coming here, hav- ing labored in various parts of the country.
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
At Spokane, on July 3. 1900. Mr. Stark married Mrs. Nettie S. Dial, a native of Kan- sas. She came here with her former husband in 1890. By that marriage, she had three chil- dren, Cecil R .. Elmer R. and Earl L. To Mr. and Mrs. Stark, two children have been born. John F. and Alma D. Mrs. Stark's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Tutcher, reside in Kansas.
Mr. Stark has always taken a very lively interest in educational matters and also in politi- cal affairs. He is a progressive and public minded man, known as a thoroughly upright and substantial citizen. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, while he and his wife belong to the Presbyterian church. Mr. Stark has his farm well improved with fine seven-room residence, barns, windmill, fences and all ac- coutrements necessary for the operation of the estate. Mrs. Stark owns, in her own right. one fourth section of land in addition to the estate above mentioned.
JAMES E. VEST is descended from the same family as Senator Vest of Missouri. Their ancestors came to the colonies before the Revo- lution and they have always been stirring Amer- ican people. He was born in Madison county. Indiana, on April 6, 1838, being the son of James and Phoebe (Corwin) Vest, natives of Alabama and Ohio, respectively. The father was one of the old circuit riders, whose labors accomplished so much on the then frontier of the United States. He rode in Ohio, Illi- nois and Indiana. The mother was a cousin of Thomas Corwin and was married in Ohio. Our. subject was one of ten children and re- ceived a good education, beginning his studies in the public school house and completing the same in McKendree college. Afterwards, he engaged in teaching until the Civil War broke out, then on the first call. in 1861, he enlisted in Company D. Twenty-second Illinois Volim- teers, and was detailed on special service, being appointed in the adjutant general's office. His first action was in service at Belmont, Mis- souri. Then he was at Farmington. Stone river. and at the surrender of Island No. 10. He continued in the adjutant general's office until the latter part of the summer of 1864. when he was discharged, his term of service being ex- pired. After the war, he taught school in Illi-
nois and farmed at Greenville until 1885. In that year, he came to Sprague and then took a homestead where he now lives, about four miles south from Waukon. Mr. Vest always takes an active part in politics and in 1890, was elected county assessor. Ile ran away ahead of his ticket and at the end of his term was chosen his own successor.
In Boone county, Illinois, in 1862, Mr. Vest married Miss Katherine Abbott, a native of Ohio but raised in Illinois. To this union the following children have been born : Carrie, wife of James Helm, a missionary at Fort Simcoe ; Minnie, wife of E. J. Kelly, in Spokane : Edwin. cleceased : Martha and Mary, twins ; and Mabel. Martha is married to Wilson Monk at Tyler. Mary is married to Willis Wood of Spokane.
Mr. Vest owns four hundred acres of fine wheat land all in a high state of cultivation and well improved. He contemplates adding a quarter section more. He is a member of the G. A. R. and he and his wife belong to the Methodist church. Mr. Vest is one of the wealthy and popular men of Lincoln county, having gained this position by virtue of his wisdom and labors which were always accom- panied by uprightness and integrity.
Mr. Vest came to Lincoln county practically without means and his entire estate has been gained by the careful labors and wise manage- ment of himself and wife. They are both estimable people and have many friends.
W. L. WALKER is the efficient postmaster at Waukon, and he also operates a general store and a large grain warehouse. He is well and favorably known in the community and has done very much to forward the interests of this section of the country, especially along educa- tional lines.
W. L. Walker was born in Venanga county, Pennsylvania, in 1860 the son of Elliot and Diadima (Crawford ) Walker, natives of New York and Pennsylvania, respectively. The fa- ther was a large stockman and an active partici- pant in politics. He fought in the Civil War and was bugler in the Army of the Potomac under General McCellan. The mother was a descendant of the historic character. Colonel Crawford, who was burned at the stake by the Indians in colonial days, having been betrayed by Simon Gerty. The mother is now living in
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
South Dakota, having gone there in 1878. The father died in Forest county, Pennsylvania, in 1870. They were the parents of ten children, George G., Martha, Gideon, Robert B., Frank, Clementine, Samuel, W. L., Walter B., and Forest. Our subject's school days were spent in Forest county, Pennsylvania, and when fif- teen he came west to Chicago. Later, he went to Escanaba, Michigan, thence two years later, to Dakota. He took land in that state and about 1886, sold the same. Then he went to the Black Hills and engaged in mining. From there he journeyed to Helena, Montana, and was occu- pied in the sampling works for a time. It was 1889 when he came to Spokane, arriving in that city just after the big fire. He immediately took up paper hanging and painting and con- tinued in that business until July, 1894. On August 12th of that year, Mr. Walker located at what is now Waukon, secured a postoffice and has been the dispenser of the mails since. He established a general merchandise store and soon thereafter, commenced to purchase grain. He operated the first farmers platform in this section of the country, and now handles about seventy-five thousand bushels of wheat annui- ally. In addition to this business he has an elegant six-room dwelling in Waukon and also a half section of land near by. Mr. Walker carries a very complete stock of merchandise and is a stirring and progressive man.
In 1890, Mr. Walker married Miss Louine Ridgeway, a native of Missouri, in Spokane. Her parents were natives, respectively, of New York and Missouri. The father fought in the Civil War and Mrs. Walker is now in posses- sion of a letter he wrote to his mother from the battle field of Pittsburg Landing. To this marriage three children have been born, Effie M., aged twelve, and Hazel D. and Helen J., twins, aged ten. Mr. Walker is a member of Masonic lodge and the K. P. He has always taken a great interest in educational matters, also has succeeded in establishing a rural free delivery route out from Waukon.
OWEN J. REDDY is one of the younger business men of the Big Bend country who have won abundant success through meritorious ef- forts. He is occupied at the present time in buying grain and handling real estate in Edwall.
In this business he has amassed considerable property and has shown progressiveness and business ability. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on June 7, 1875, the son of Michael and Alice (Gollagher) Reddy, natives of Ireland and England, respectively, and now deceased. The parents were married in England and came to the United States many years ago. Our subject's early life was spent in Cleveland, Ohio, where also he gained a liberal business educa- tion. When twenty-two, he came to Spokane and entered the employ of the Northern Pa- cific railroad and continued with them between three and four years. After that, he came to . Edwall and engaged in grain buying and the real estate business, which he has followed steadily since. Mr. Reddy has a nice five room residence and considerable other property. Re- garding the Big Bend country, he laconically remarks, "I would prefer being in the Big Bend broke, than rich in the east."
In 1900, Mr. Reddy married Miss Lottie M., daughter of Jacob Lumpp of Edwall, the wedding occurring in Spokane. Mr. Reddy has always taken an active interest in political mat- ters as also in local affairs and the general up- building of the country. He is a member of the Maccabees and a progressive and stirring man.
B. J. DESPAIN, who dwells adjacent to Edwall, was born in Cloverdale, Lane county, Oregon, on July 6, 1862, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Hardesty) Despain, natives of Illi- nois. The father came to Oregon in the fifties and engaged in sheep raising in the Western part of the state. He died many years since. The mother is still living at Prosser, Washing- ton. Our subject spent his early life in Oregon and there received his educational training. When twelve, his father having died before that time, he went with the family overland to Ari- zona and drove cattle all the way. For four years, he remained there working at various occupations then came back with a band of horses to Dayton, Washington. He lived in Whetstone hollow near Dayton, on a farm for four years after which he moved to Asotin county and filed on a pre-emption. Sometime was spent there then he made a trip to the terri- tory now embraced in Lincoln county. In the same year, he took a homestead where he now
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
lives. To this he has added by purchase until he now has three hundred and seventy- five acres of choice wheat land. The same is in a high state of cultivation and supplied with with plenty of good buildings and other im- provements. Mr. Despain has labored faith- fully since coming here and although he has had to endure many hardships in the earlier days he has now won a success that places him among the wealthy people of Lincoln county. His entire holdings have been gained through his own wisdom and labors.
On January 1, 1890, in Lincoln county, Mr. Despain married Miss Mattie Service, a native of California. To them four children have been born; Della aged thirteen: Elmer aged ten ; Vernie aged eight ; and Bessie three. Mrs. Despain's parents came to Washington in 1879. In addition to farming. Mr. Despain has raised a great deal of stock and handles considerable at the present time. He has traveled a good deal and believes the Big Bend country one of the choicest sections of the entire west. Mr. Despain has three sisters, Mrs. Jacob Lumpp, Mrs. Edith Lile, and Mrs. Dora Justus.
Fraternally, Mr. Despain is affiliated with the Maccabees.
JACOB LUMPP is one of the oldest set- tlers of the territory now embraced in Lincoln county. He was here long before the county was organized and since those early days has labored faithfully and continuously, both for the building up of the country and to make him- self a good home. His labors have met with a deserving success and he is a respected and in- fluential man in the community, the owner of a large amount of property and one whose la- bors have done much to make his country pros- perous and progressive.
Jacob Lumpp was born in Shelby county, Illinois, on June 25, 1851. His father, Jacob Lumpp, was born in Germany and died when our subject was seven years old. He had come to the United States when twenty-five years of age. The mother, Charlotte (Freyburger ) Lumpp, was also a native of Germany and came to the United States when nine years old. She is now deceased. Our subject was the third of the family of six children and spent his early life in Illinois. His education was gained in the primitive log cabin school houses of the
times and he labored on his father's farm un- til twenty-one, then came to Salmon City, Idaho, it being 1872. He operated a pack train for two seasons, then went to Silver City, where he did packing and teaming until 1875, in which year he came to Walla Walla, Washington, and wintered. The spring found him again in Silver City and he devoted himself to team- ing, packing and so forth until he went to Cor- nucopia, Nevada. There he was occupied in much the same lines of work and visited vari- ous other camps in the territory. He went overland to Arizona and did packing there for two years. From Greenwood in that terri- tory, he came on horseback to Walla Walla, it being a long and dangerous trip across the Ari- zona desert with Redskins to contend with. From Walla Walla he explored the country in every direction and finally after working on a ranch for two years, he filed on a quarter sec- tion of railroad land near Dayton. He sold before proving up and came to where Edwall now stands, taking up a homestead and timber culture claim. He at once began stock raising, dairying and general farming and has since conducted the same together with marked suc- cess. Mr. Lumpp has purchased much land since then and now has a very large and finely improved estate. In the fall of 1892 his house burned down and he has erected in its place a fine modern eight-room residence, one of the finest in the country.
At Dayton, on April 18, 1880. Mr. Lumpp married Miss Addie M., daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth ( Hardesty) Despain, natives of Illi- nois and pioneers to Oregon in very early days. The father died several years since but the mother is still living at Prosser, Washington. Mrs. Lumpp was born and reared in Linn coun- ty, Oregon, and has been on the frontier all her life. She made one remarkable trip when nine years old, that from Oregon to Arizona with a band of cattle, and returned on horse- back, crossing the desert and being without water two nights and one day. She is one of a family of five children. Mr. and Mrs. Lumpp have three children : Lottie May, wife of O. J. Reddy, a grain buyer at Edwall; William J., who died on December 23. 1891, and Dora Bell, aged fifteen, attending school.
Mr. Lumpp is a specimen of what man can do in this western country. Coming here with- out means he has become one of the heavy prop-
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
erty owners in the county. Mrs. Lumpp is a member of the Methodist church. He has al- ways been an active worker in all educational lines and greatly interested in political mat- ters as a progressive and enterprising citizen.
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