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 70
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 70
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 70
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 70
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John R. Harding was born in Bucksport, Maine, on September 6. 1842. the son of Foster and Ann ( Robinson ) Harding. The father
was a sea captain, was born in Sedgwick, Maine, fought in the War of 1812, and died in his native state in 1882. The mother was born in Maine and there died in 1887. Her father was captain of a privateer in the War of 1812, and was twice captured by the British; how- ever, he escaped both times, once in an open boat at sea. John R. was educated in the com- mon schools, and when sixteen went to do for himself. He went to sea and served in the China trade. In 1860 he landed in San Fran- cisco, came to Portland, Oregon, in 1862, and one year later was engaged in packing to the Idaho mines. From that time until he settled in what is now Lincoln county, his life was spent in all the various experiences that are to be had in the west. Upon the discovery of gold in Montana, he settled at Coeur d'Alene and operated a ferry and trading post. He mined in. California, operated a butcher shop in Danville, that state, then walked to Portland, Oregon, arriving in May, 1862, having stopped en route to build a ferry boat at the Trinity river. At Portland he cut wood, then was employed by Johnson & Perkins, wholesale packers. In those days the Ore- gonian was a small affair, and Portland was under water that year to the door knobs, on Front street. A year later he went to John Day river, but finding the snow fourteen feet deep, he abandoned the idea of prospecting and joined a pack train to Placerville. Idaho. He paid his last eighteen dollars for a shovel, the price of which was twenty-one dollars, and went to work mining. Other things were pro- portionately high and also they had trouble with the Indians, but a company went out and took some scalps and quieted the Reds down. After that. Mr. Harding packed, and later went to Wildhorse, British Columbia. Provis- ions were high, flour being thirty-five dollars per sack. and it required great pluck to stay with the arduous work of packing and pros- pecting. En route he passed through the sec- tion where he now lives, but no white people were here then. The next winter he lost nearly all his horses and his meat was horse flesh. This was near Bonner's Ferry. In the spring he went to Walla Walla, and as clothes were scarce, he made a pair of trousers from blank- ets. But having not enough of one color, one leg was red and the other one blue. and so he came into Walla Walla. Later we see him
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in the Salmon river gold diggings, and in 1866 he was back in Lewiston. Then came a jour- ney to Montana, after which he operated sev- eral ferries in eastern Washington, and then he went to Colville. In the spring of 1872, Mr. Harding came where he now dwells, but owing to Indian outbreaks, he was forced to abandon his place several times. Finally, how- ever, he made a permanent location and since then he has labored here with display of energy and industry. The nearest doctor was one hun- dred and twenty miles distant and his supplies all had to be transported from Walla Walla. Mail was received about twice a year, and he knew little of what was going on in the out- side world. Mr. Harding has been many times at the falls in the Spokane river, when there was not even a shanty there.
By his first marriage, Mr. Harding had four children, John F., Evelyn D., Jessie F., and Alice M. All are married and living in Whitman and Lincoln counties. this state. John F. is a progressive farmer in Lincoln county.
In 1882 Mr. Harding married Miss Lenore Thompson, the wedding occurring in Sprague. Her parents, George and Drusilla. (Ware) Thompson, were natives of Missouri. The father died in Lincoln county in 1889. The mother is living here married to Aaron Miller. Three children have come to gladden the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harding, George, aged sixteen. Zella, fourteen, and Ruby, ten. Mr. Harding was one of the earliest justices of the peace in Stevens county and about the only official act he did was to perform the marriage ceremony of a half-breed woman and a white man. The fee was three sacks of potatoes. Mr. Harding remarks that he invoked the aid of a Jaynes' almanac for the operation and feels sure he had the date exact. Mr. Harding's resi- dence is a tasty seven-room cottage, which is partially constructed of logs. Some of the lum- ber was hauled from Walla Walla, and is of historic interest. Few men in this country have had a wider experience in the west than has Mr. Harding and his memory is well stored with historic incident and facts of those fron- tier experiences.
HARRY JENSEN, who lives about two miles west from Sprague, on an estate of nearly one thousand acres, is to be classed with the
rich farmers of Lincoln county. He was born in Schleswig Holstein, Germany, on May 27, 1848, the son of Peter and Ingeborg ( Peter- sen ) Jensen, natives of our subject's birthplace, where also they both died. Harry received a common school education then left Ger- many. For eight years, he was a seaman on sailing vessels from Germany, Denmark and Sweden. In 1868, he came to New York and learned the trade of mason, which he has fol- lowed in all parts of the country for thirty years. On May 9. 1882, he landed in Lincoln county and took a portion of his present place as a home. Since that time, he has given his attention to his trade and to general farming and the result is that he has a fine property at this time. When Mr. Jensen landed in this county, he was without means except plenty of grit and a good strong physique. He now has the estate mentioned above, with bands of cat- tle, plenty of horses, machinery and all im- provements that are needed on a first class estate. He has excellent buildings, besides a fine two story, nine room residence, which is one of the choice home places in this section of the county.
In April, 1873, Mr. Jensen married Miss Regina, daughter of Henry and Lucy (Von Thyton) Glashoff, natives of Hanover, where they died. The father was a general contrac- tor. Mr. Jensen has the following brothers and sisters, Hannah, Mrs. Dewell, Mrs. Mar- garet Schus, Mrs. Sophia Houson. Mrs. Jen- sen has two sisters, Anna Styre and Johanna Washmeyer. To Mr. and Mrs. Jensen, seven children have been born, Mrs. Hannah Under- wood, Roscoe, Detleff, Gus, George, Dora and Claude. Mr. Jensen is a member of the I. O. O. F. and he and his wife belong to the Con- gregational church.
JERRY ROCKHOLD, who was a dweller in the territory of Lincoln county before that political division was in existence. now resides about nine miles north from Reardan on a good estate and has been a well known character in the upbuilding and improvement of this county for about twenty-five years. In political mat- ters, he has ever been active and energetic, al- ways laboring for those measures which he be- lieves to be for the good of the community.
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Jerry Rockhold was born in Ross county, Ohio, on January 3, 1834. His father, Samuel Rockhold, was born in Pennsylvania, serving in the War of 1812 and in various Indian wars, then came to Ohio, where he remained until the day of his death. The mother, Anna (Glas- cock) Rockhold, was a native of Virginia and a pioneer to Ohio. Our subject was the second of ten children. He was well educated, finish- ing his training in the Bainbridge institute at Bainbridge, Ohio. When twenty-two years of age, he journeyed west to Lincoln county, Kan- sas, being one of the pioneers there and arriv- ing during the time when border ruffianism was filling the land with terror. At that time. farmers were always in arms, and those were days never to be forgotten. On September 2, 1861, he joined the Sixth Kansas Cavalry and participated in the battles of Mine Creek, Prairie Grove and innumerable others during the long service. He was captured at Mazzard Prairie, in August, 1864, and was sent to Tyler prison in Texas where he languished for ten months or until the war ended in 1865. After that conflict, he came back to Linn county. Kansas, and settled on a farm. His fellow citizens se- lected him by vote to be surveyor of his county and for years he served in that capacity, making an excellent record. About 1876, he resigned the position, sold his farm land and came west. He was occupied for a year in freighting in Colorado then was on the Northern railway in Utah. He finally came to his present place in 1878 and settled on a homestead in 1879. Since that time he has devoted his entire attention to his interests in this county in addition to which, he has served as surveyor in the county and was the first elected surveyor in Spokane county. His record in this capacity has been excellent and he has done much in his labors, both in public capacity and in private life to bring this country to the front.
In Ross county, Ohio, Mr. Rockhold mar- ried Miss Rebecca Ann Eperson and to them were born four children : Alberta M., deceased : Kate W., wife of W. T. Warren of Wilbur, Washington ; Edgar at Republic, Washington ; and Blanche, dwelling in Wilbur. Mrs. Rock- hold died in Spokane. On September 8. 1892. Mr. Rockhold married Mrs. Nanna Webster of Sprague. Washington. She has two children by her former marriage. Mr. Rockhold is a member of the G. A. R. at Reardan and is at
present serving as adjutant of the post. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church and are very prosperous and highly respected citizens. It is interesting to note that Mr. Rockhold was a personal friend of the famous John Brown in Kansas.
SHERMAN S. BENTLEY resides about seven miles north from Reardan, where he has rented a wlicat farm. He owns property in the town of Reardan and also owns land on the Spokane river. His attention is devoted prin- sipally to stock, raising mostly hogs, and to gen- eral farming and he is one of the prosperous men of the section.
Sherman Bentley was born in Sullivan coun- ty, Missouri, on April 10, 1865, being the son of C. W. H. and Margaret J. ( Black) Bentley, natives of Ohio. The father moved from Ohio to Indiana when young and was there married. Then he went to Missouri, in which place he turned his attention to farming. In 1862. he enlisted in Company E, Forty-second Missouri Infantry, and served throughout the entire war, doing the duties of a soldier in a faithful and brave manner. His death occurred in Lin- coln county, on July 7, 1888. Our subject re- ceived his education in the schools of Missouri and when sixteen, it being 1882, he came with his parents across the plains in a prairie schoon- er, landing in Walla Walla in the fall. They journeyed thence direct to Lincoln county and settled on a homestead. He labored at home until twenty-two and was then married, Mary E. Warren becoming his wife. Mrs. Bentley's father was James Warren, one of the earliest pioneers in the Reardan country.
To Mr. and Mrs. Bentley, the following children have been born; Lola E .. James MI .. deceased, lva M1., Cora E., Ralph S., and Ruth E.
Fraternally. Mr. Bentley is affiliated with the I. O. O. F. He has been closely identified with the interests of Lincoln county in the earl- iest days and is known as a substantial and en- terprising citizen.
ALBERT HOWARD, one of the prosper- ous and energetic agriculturists of Lincoln county, resides about nine miles north from Reardon where he has a fine estate, well im-
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proved and in a high state of cultivation. He was born in Iowa, on August 7, 1847, being the son of Nathan and Sarah ( Rickman ) How- ard, early pioneers of Iowa, in which place they remained until their death. The father died when our subject was two years of age. He re- ceived his education in his native state and there remained until October 16, 1863, at which time he enlisted in the Ninth Iowa Cavalry. From that time until February 28, 1866, he served his country in a military capacity then received an honorable discharge, after which he returned to Cedar county, Iowa, and engaged in farming. About 1878, Mr. Howard came to California, settling in Placer county. Two years later, he journeyed thence to Lane county, Oregon, and in October of the same year, returned to Cali- fornia. The ensuing five years were spent in Placer county after which he came to Lincoln county and bought a quarter section. Subse- quently, he purcased a half section which now forms the estate of his home place.
Mr. Howard has been one of the influential and leading citizens of this part of the county since arriving here and has become prosperous in this world's goods. He frequently spends winters in California and travels considerably. He is a member of the G. A. R. in Reardan and a man of excellent standing.
On June 12, 1878, in Lane county, Oregon, Mr. Howard married Miss Mary, daughter of George B. and Minerva (Ward) Benton, na- tives of Kentucky. They were pioneers of In- diana and later in Oregon, where they now re- side. The father is a veteran of the Civil War, having served during the entire time. To this marriage, the following children have been born, Clayton and Lee, living in Lincoln county ; Minnie, deceased; Williard and George, at home.
WILLIAM W. LANDRETH, who resides about eight miles north from Reardan, on one of the finest farms in the section, has the dis- tinction of being one of the earliest pioneers of the territory now embraced in the Lincoln coun- ty country. He has labored here faithfully since 1879 and has shown himself to be a man of abil- ity, dominated by wisdom and good practical judgment.
William W. Landreth was born in Port- land, Oregon, on April 17, 1867, being the son
of S. B. and Elizabeth ( Martin) Landretli, na- tives of North Carolina and Missouri, respect- ively. They came with ox teams across the plains in 1853 and located in the wilds of the Pacific coast and did an immense amount of labor, toward bringing this country under the sway of civilization. They are mentioned in this work. . Our subject was educated in the schools of Olympia, Washington, and when twenty-one, began life for himself as a farmer. As stated before, he located in Lincoln county in 1879 and later bought a quarter section where he now resides. It is improved in excellent shape with fine buildings, windmill, and so forth, and is in a high state of cultivation. He also owns one hundred and sixty acres, just north of his home place. His residence is an elegant seven-room, modern structure provided with all the conveniences and everything about his premises shows him to be a man of taste and thrift.
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On November 7, 1894, Mr. Landreth mar- ried Miss Olivia B. Emsley, a native of Shelby county, Ohio, and to them have been born three children, Thomas A., Theckla R. and an infant son unnamed.
Mr. Landreth is a charter member of the I. O. O. F. lodge organized in Reardan in 1890 and is a man of influence and excellent reputa- tion.
JOHN WESLEY BENTLEY, who dwells seven miles north from Reardan, was born in Putnam county, Missouri, on August 4, 1875. being the son of Calvin W. H. and Margaret J. Bentley, natives of Indiana. The father was a veteran of the Civil War and died several years since. He came to Washington in 1882, bring- ing his family and settling on the ranch that our subject now holds. He was a prominent and - very influential man and the G. A. R. post in Reardan was named in his honor. The mother is still living in Reardan. Our subject received his education in the district schools here and distinctly remembers that in those days the country was full of Indians. After his father's death, he remained with his mother until his marriage, then went to the ranch and purchased eighty acres.
On December 15, 1895, Mr. Bentley mar- ried Miss Jennie, daughter of Peter and Mary (Shriner) Hanson. Mrs. Bentley was born in
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Burt county, Nebraska, and came to Washing- ton in 1890. Her parents are dwelling in Spo- kane county, now. Mr. Bentley was the young- est of seven children, six boys and one girl. They are named as follows, James A., Milton S., Sherman S., Joshua Eddie, deceased, and Dorie, deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Bentley. five children have been born, whose names and ages are as follows : Edith, seven ; Minnie, deceased and aged six; Calvin, four; Bert, three; and John, one.
Mr. Bentley has always taken a keen interest in the development of the country and although born in the east, has practically resided here all his life and has been closely identified with the interests of Lincoln county since early days. He owns eighty acres of wheat land and eighty acres of timber land. His place is comfortably improved and he has the respect and esteem of all who know him. He takes a keen interest in political campaigns and in educational matters.
CHARLES GILLETT is a well known and enterprising citizen of Reardan. He dwells in the central part of the town where he owns twenty acres of fine land devoted almost exclu- sively to gardening and dairying, carrying on the former industry quite extensively. Mr. Gillett is a man who takes a keen interest in pub- lic improvements and the development of the country and is a participant in political matters and alive to all the questions of the day.
Charles Gillett was born in Ohio, on March 5. 1862, being the son of Wesley and Matilda ( Pasco) Gillett, natives of Ohio and New York, respectively. They were pioneers of the Buck- eye State, and are still dwelling there. Our sub- ject was educated in his native state and started for himself at the age of fifteen. He followed various occupations until 1888, when he came to Yakima county. Washington, and settled eleven miles from Yakima. From that place he moved to Lincoln county and bought two acres of land adjoining Reardan. That was his first home and he has increased his holdings by pur- chase as stated above. Mr. Gillett has a good residence, fine barn, buildings, windmill, and other improvements, and has a very tasty and well-kept place.
On June 3, 1888. in Newton county, Mis- souri, Mr. Gillett married Miss Mary A. Roffy,
who was born in Marion county, Ohio, on Octo- ber 12, 1867. They have one child, Ralph, aged fourteen. Mrs. Gillett spent her girlhood days in various places, being in Colorado, Tex- as, and finally locating in Missouri when six- teen. Her parents were farmers. Mr. Gillett and his wife came to Washington from Mis- souri in wagons, consuming twenty-two weeks on the road. We find in Mr. Gillett a most ard- ent worker in educational lines, and in fact, in improvements in general of every kind in the community, and he is respected as an energetic, progressive and upright man.
MARION F. MOORE, one of the eminent- ly successful farmers of Lincoln county, now retired and residing at Reardan, was born near Davenport, Iowa, October 22, 1850. His parents were George and Emma (Knapp) Moore, the father a native of Pennsylvania and a pioneer of Iowa. They were married in Illinois where the mother died in 1866. The father passed away in 1898 in Washington. In 1865 he enlisted in an Illi- nois Infantry regiment and was engaged in numerous skirmishes with the Confederates, re- ceiving an honorable discharge at the conclusion of the war.
In 1874, at the age of twenty-four years. our subject having received a fair education, left home and engaged with the Southern Pa- cific Railroad Company as a surveyor, remain- ing with that company about thirteen years, during which period he was assistant engineer. He worked in the San Bernardino tunnel and was in advance of the Southern Pacific railroad through to Texas. In 1895 he came to the state of Washington and located eight and one-half miles north of the present site of Reardan, where he has at present a section and a quarter of land. a five-room house, good buildings, wind-mill and tank. At first Mr. Moore en- gaged in stock raising, but now devotes his at- tention to grain. In 1902 he removed to Rear- dan and purchased a twelve-room house sur- rounded by five lots in one of the best portions of Rcardan.
In Lincoln county, in the fall of 1887. Mr. Moore was married to Eva D. Edwards, a na- tive of Kansas. They are the parents of two children. Eva D., fifteen years of age, and Alva
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F., eleven years old. Mrs. Moore's father was Asbury Edwards, and he was a native of Penn- sylvania.
Our subject was the second child in a family of four, two of whom are residents of Wash- ington. He has been a member of the I. O. O. F. Mr. Moore is classed as one of the progres- sive, substantial citizens of the county and a liberal supporter of all public improvements.
CHARLES E. THING, a son of one of the California Argonauts of '49, and himself a native of the state of Washington, was born in Clarke county, October 21, 1859. The father, George M. Thing, was a native of Maine and went to California via Cape Horn in 1849, and, after a short period passed in mining, he went to Oregon Territory, in 1851-2, and subsequent- ly to Clarke county. Washington. Here he en- gaged in farming and stock-raising in which he continued until 1876, when he removed to the Willamette valley and accumulated considerable wealth. He owned a number of stores, loaned money, and engaged in a variety of occupations. He was accidentally killed near Readville, in 1898. The mother, Emma C. (Bozarth) Thing, is a native of Ohio, born in 1842. She came across the plains in 1845, going direct to Oregon, near Portland, in the Willamette val- ley, and was among the earliest settlers of the territory. She was married to Mr. Thing in 1857 and became the mother of eleven children, of which our subject is the oldest.
The earlier years of Charles E. Thing were passed in Clarke county, Washington, where to a limited extent he attended school, but re- ceived the principal part of his education at the hands of his father. When he began the world for himself he became a fisherman in which oc- cupation he continued three years on the Colum- bia river. In the fall of 1878 he came to what is now Spokane county and secured a ranch upon which he worked two years. Thence he went to the Coeur d' Alene mining district, Idaho, and for one year conducted a dairy in that locality. In 1880 he located on a ranch three miles southeast of the present site of Rear- dan, containing three hundred and twenty acres. This ranch he worked until two years ago.
The first marriage of our subject took place
in 1883 when he was united to Ida Stoughton, a daughter of Oregon pioneers. To them was born one child, Hazel F., now twelve years of age. In 1897 our subject was united in mar- riage to Etta Gurnee, a native of Minnesota. She was a widow, and the mother of two boys, Sylvester, aged twenty-one, and Eldon, aged nineteen.
Aside from a number of eligible residence lots, our subject owns a ranch comprising two hundred acres of land, and a substantial four- teen-room house. Some of these rooms he rents furnished and conducts the only dray line in Reardon. Mr. Thing is an active, progressive and influential citizen of Reardan and is highly respected throughout the county.
WILLIAM SCHULZ, one of the respon- sible and influential citizens of Reardan, Lin- coln county, was born in Germany, May 26, 1861, the son of August and Caroline (Otto) Schulz. During one period of the father's life he was a mail carrier, and subsequently a sol- dier, participating in the war with Austria in 1864-6. He died at the age of forty-six. The mother is still living in Germany.
William, our subject, attended public school in Germany and then worked four years for. a farmer and for two years subsequently he was a teamster. He arrived in New York city, May I, 1885, and at once came to Stearns county, Minnesota, engaging in farming three years. In 1888 he came to Wasington, locating in Lin- coln county, where now stands the town of Reardan. For a year he continued working for others on a farm, and then he purchased one hundred and sixty acres or railroad land for six hundred dollars near the future site of Reardan. Subsequently he added one hundred and twenty acres more, and now has a fine grain farm and meadow land, besides handling on lease one- half section of school land. His residence is a modern eight-room house surrounded with ex- cellent outbuildings and a small orchard. There is, also, on the place another substantial house for tenants.
Mr. Schulz began raising wheat in 1889, and in 1895 he engaged in the business of dairy- ing. At present he has twenty head of milch cows and is the only dairyman supplying the town of Reardan.
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Our subject is the oldest of a family of six. A brother, Herman, lives three and one-half miles east of Reardan, but the rest of the chil- dren are in Germany. The father died when William was but fourteen years of age, and throughout his life he has contributed liberally to the support of the mother.
July 19, 1890, our subject was married to Bertha Tramm, a native of Wisconsin. They are the parents of four children, Mary, aged thirteen. Martha, aged twelve. Emma, aged six, and Hugo, two years old. The parents are members of the Evangelical church. Although coming to Lincoln county with but small means, Mr. Schulz has by industry and natural busi- ness ability, accumulated a competence and gained the respect of the entire community in which he resides. He manifests a patriotic in- terest in politics. Mr. Schulz is quite enthus- iastic in his praise of the Big Bend country.
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