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 79
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 79
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 79
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 79
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Mr. Anderson is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and is of excellent standing in the com- munity. To our subject and his wife, five children have been born, John W., Maggie, Dewey, Floyd and George.
Mr. Anderson remarks that from the time he located here until 1897, owing to the hard- ships of opening the farm, the wet year and the panic since that, he was unable to get anything ahead until 1897 and that his property has been secured since that time. In addition to the home place, he owns one hundred and sixty acres of timber land north from Davenport.
SYLVESTER R. WESP was born on De- cember 25, 1847. in Jefferson county, New York. His father, Frederick J. Wesp, was born in Germany and came to the United States when six years of age. He was raised in New York and then came to Wisconsin and after that to Iowa in which latter place he remained until his death in 1891, being then sixty-six years of age. The mother of our subject, Mary (Davis) Wesp, was born in New York and died in Iowa in 1896 aged seventy. Syl- vester is the oldest of the family of eleven chil- dren, all living but one. He came with his par- ents to Richland county, Wisconsin, where he was educated, completing his studies in Wis- consin upon graduating from the Richland Center high school. Then the family moved to Chickasaw county, Iowa, and our subject studied some in the Bradford Academy. After
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that he spent some time in teaching in Iowa and on June 23, 1873, married Miss Mary E. Graves, a native of Stephenson county, Illinois. Her parents, Christopher and Catherine Graves, died in Chickasaw county. Iowa. Our subject served as assessor in his township for several years, being elected on the Democratic ticket. In the fall of 1880, he came to Colusa county, California, and one year later, via San Francisco and Portland, he journeyed to Walla Walla. After teach- ing some time in that vicinity, he came on to Sprague and in the fall of 1883 was one of the six men who made the first location in the Coeur d'Alene excitement. He was with Mr. Prichard in the discovery on Prichard creek and did the recording of the claims there located. For two years, he labored in the Coeur d'Alene mining districts, then came to Lincoln county and located a homestead where he now resides, three miles northeast from Harrington. Since locating here, Mr. Wesp has given attention to farming and school teaching. He now owns two hundred and forty acres of fine grain land all under cultiva- tion and supplied with a good residence, large barn, fine bearing orchard, plenty of water and other improvements. He has also sufficient stock and implements for use on the farm and is a prosperous man.
To Mr. and Mrs. Wesp five children have been born, Sidney P., who owns land adjoin- ing his father; Gertrude E., wife of Charles Cameron ; Guy, in Alaska ; Mabel, wife of Dan- iel Shriner, of New Hampton, Iowa, and now deceased and Carrie I.
JAMES E. ROBINSON is a prosperous farmer owning four hundred and eighty acres of choice agricultural land one and one-half miles west and one-half mile north of Moscow, Washington. Born January 28, 1857, at Bloomington, Indiana, he was the son of John G. and Ellen (Fink) Robinson, natives respect- ively, of Ohio and Pennsylvania. The father's ancestors came from Ireland. He came to Bloomington in 1856 and is still living there in his seventy-ninth year. He is a retired farmer. The mother died in 1891.
Mr. Robinson has two sisters: Ella, and Mrs. Lizzie Hunter, of Indiana.
Our subject received a thorough common school education and took a course in college. In the spring of 1882 he came west, stopping for a space at Cheney, Washington, and in the fall of that year filed on his present home as a homestead. He being a pioneer settler here, he found it hard to make a living on his land alone, so took work on the construction of the Northern Pacific railroad. He worked on the road in Montana until the golden spike was driven, when he returned to his Big Bend farm and began to make improvements.
On May 3, 1889, Mr. Robinson was joined in marriage to Caroline Macklenburg, a native of Germany. Her parents were Ferdinand and Mary Macklenburg, early settlers in Minne- sota and now residents of Medical Lake, Washington. Six children have blessed this union : Ellen, Ernest, Mabel, George Dewey, Everett and Bernice. Mr. Robinson is a mem- ber of the Modern Woodmen fraternity.
The first few years Mr. Robinson spent in this county he lived in a twelve-by-sixteen cabin, which later, has been supplanted by a large ten- room house with all the modern conveniences. His improvements are all in keeping with the up-to-date farm, with a large bearing fruit or- chard and an excellent water system. He has an abundance of live stock and farm machin- ery and implements to carry on his business, of which he is making a signal success.
OSCAR LEIPHAM resides on a well-im- proved farm of four hundred and eighty acres three miles east and four miles south of Day- enport. He is a native of Wyoming county, Pennsylvania, born October 31, 1864, the son of Peter Leipham, whose biography is sketched elsewhere in this volume and Phoebe Leip- ham, both of whom are now living in Daven- port.
In February, 1879, our subject with his mother and family came to Port Townsend. Washington, via San Francisco, the father. having previously located there. In the spring of 1882 they all came to the vicinity of Medical Lake, and to Lincoln county one year later. Our subject, when sixteen years of age. began working in the construction of the Northern Pacific railroad, and he also worked more or less in various sawmills. He was the eldest of
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a family of five children, and continued to work for wages for several years, though he made his home with his parents.
During the month of May, 1900, Oscar Leipham took for his wife Miss Nannie Jayne, born in the same place as was he, and daughter of Edward Jayne, who makes his home with his son-in-law.
Mr. Leipham came to his homestead with limited means indeed. He was in partnership with his father for a number of years, and to- gether they have passed through many trying experiences and hardships.
The farm of our subject is improved and cultivated according to the most modern and up-to-date methods, and he makes a success of his business, that of grain raising. Oman sta- tion on the Seattle & Lake Shore railroad is situated on his farm, and here our subject and his father conduct a warehouse for grain.
Mr. Leipham is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World fraternities.
Two children have blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Leipham, Alice H. and another child who is now an infant in arms.
ORSON TUCKER lives on his well-im- proved farm of one hundred and sixty acres three miles east and five and one-half miles south of Davenport, Washington. He was born in Yuba county, California, October 21, 1862, the son of John J. and Mary (Shockly) Tucker. The father was born at Great Bar- rington. Massachusetts, came to California in 1850. where he followed mining for a space and afterward settled in Yuba county, where he is now living a retired life at the age of sev- enty. The mother of Mr. Tucker was born in Iowa and crossed the plains with her family in the early days to California. She died in 1876.
Mr. Tucker had two sisters. Mrs. Laura Hatty and Mrs. Lucy Copenhaver, who are now deceased.
After the death of his mother Mr. Tucker was taken to rear by his aunt, and while in her charge he attended school for a number of years. As he became older he went to live with a John Hogan. He stayed with Mr. Hogan for some years, during which time he drove stage for him four years in California and with
him came to Lincoln county, Washington. They came here in 1882, and for seven years Mr. Tucker, worked in the employ of Mr. Hogan. He located his present home as a homestead and has made it his home ever since. He now owns three hundred and twenty acres of agricultural land all of which is in culti- vation and well improved. He farms his own land and in addition rents five hundred acres each year, raising grain exclusively. In 1903 he harvested 14,000 bushels of wheat. Mr. Tucker is a member of the Foresters lodge of Davenport.
CHARLES L. HOTALING is classed as one of the earliest pioneers of the Big Bend country, for in June, 1880, he settled on his homestead about six miles south from where the town of Harrington now stands. Without means and alone, he undertook the task of opening up a farm and knows well the hard- ships and arduous labors needed to accomplish such a task. He has given his attention to rais- ing grain for nearly twenty-five years in this section and has done much for the improve- ment and development of the country. He now resides about four miles north of Har- rington and has a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres. It is improved in excellent shape and provided with all buildings necessary. Mr. Hotaling is one of the well-to-do men of the country and a highly respected citizen.
Charles L. was born on July 18, 1859. in Ogle county. Illinois. His father. Major John R. Hotaling, was born in Schoharie county, New York, and came to Ogle county, Illinois, as a pioneer. There he enlisted as a captain in Company A, Second Illinois Cavalry, in the first part of the war and was afterwards pro- moted to major on General Logan's staff. He served with distinction all through the war, then returned to his farm in Illinois where he remained until his death in his sixty-ninth year. The mother of our subject was Sophia ( Wal- lerhouse) Hotaling, a native of New York. She died during the Civil war. Our subject has one sister. Mrs. Emma Mallory, and one half-brother, Jay R., an attorney in Chicago. Charles L. grew up in the town of Rochelle, Illinois, and received a good education. In the spring of 1875. he went to Beatrice, Ne- braska, and there worked for wages until the
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spring of 1878, then came via San Francisco to Albany, Oregon, and engaged with a log- ging outfit. In the spring of 1880, he came with a team to the Big Bend country and filed on a homestead as named above. Like nearly all the other pioneers, Mr. Hotaling was forced to go to the older sections of the state to raise money for the necessaries of life and he con- tinued laboring along faithfully until he has become one of the substantial men of the coun- try. In 1886, he took the contract of carrying the mail from Harrington to Hesseltine, hand- ling that in addition to his farm. In 1890, Mr. Hotaling sold his original homestead and bought a farm where he now resides. He has considerable stock in addition to his other im- provements.
At Albany, Oregon, in September, 1879. Mr. Hotaling married Miss Minnie Earl, a na- tive of California, and the daughter of Robert and Lorina (Powell) Earl. They are now both living at Earl postoffice in this county. To our subject and his wife, three children have been born, Vernie E., Eula G. and Le- roy L.
Mr. Hotaling is a member of the I. O. O. F., while he and his wife belong to the Re- bekahs and she is a member of the Presbyterian church.
OTTO TISCHNER resides on a fine farm two miles southeast of Davenport. Washington. He is a native of Saxony, Germany, born De- cember 20, 1868, the son of Julius and Fred- erika Tischner. The father served in the Fran- co-Prussian War. is a shoemaker by trade and is now living in Germany. The mother is dead. Mr. Tischner has one sister, Mrs. Paul- ine Stoke, who also lives near Davenport.
Until arriving at the age of fourteen Mr. Tischner lived on a farm in his native country. then learned the baker's trade which he fo lowed in Germany until the fall of 1892, when he came to New York city. During the same year he came to Davenport. He worked for wages for a few years and bought his present farm of two hundred and forty acres in June. 1898. He came here a poor man and had the disadvantage of the pioneer in that he found no land to homestead and was compelled to purchase his land from the railroad company. His land is all suitable to agriculture and well-
improved with a good house, barn and orchard. Besides his home place he owns three hundred and thirty acres of choice land near Rocklyn, and a one-hundred-and-twenty-acre tract of timber north of Davenport. He has a small herd of cattle and some horses, but his specialty is in the culture of grain.
Mr. Tischner has traveled a great deal, but considers Lincoln county the best spot in Amer- ica, and fully intends making it his permanent home.
On February 11, 1902, Otto Tischner took for his wife Amelia Schultz, a native of Rus- sia-Poland. She is the daughter of August and Lottie Schultz, both of whom are still liv- ing near Harrington, having come to Canada from Poland twelve years ago, and from Can- ada to Harrington in 1901. Her parents are well-to-do people, and have been parents of twelve children, of whom Mrs. Tischner is the eldest. The children were evenly divided be- tween the sexes, and are all still living.
Mr. Tischner is a member of the A. O. U. W., and both he and Mrs. Tischner are mem- bers of the German Lutheran church.
EMIL ZELLMER is another striking ex- ample of the ambitious young man coming to the country totally lacking in financial means who, by his own pluck and business capabili- ties, tills the soil and eventually works himself up to a state of prosperity and influence in his community.
Born on April 16. 1868. in the province of Posen, Germany, he was a son of August and Ernestine ( Wanke) Zellmer, both also natives of the same province. The father, now seventy years of age, who is living a life of retirement on a farm in his native country, has been a man of great prominence in the German army. He was reared on a farm but early in his career ador ed the life of the soldier and soon suc- ceed 1 in working himself up in rank until he attained to the office of commander. He was an officer during the war with Denmark, 1864; with Austria two years later, and with France in 1870-71. For his bravery and for his sav- ing of human life he was honored by the crown with the Iron Cross medal, a marked distinc- tion in the German army. After his long ser- vice Mr. Zellmer resigned his commission to
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retire to his farm where he is now living with his wife in comfort on a substantial income.
The brothers and sisters of Einil Zellmer are: Mrs. Tilla Spilker, Mrs. Minnie Schuldt, Mrs. Bertha Baum, Mrs. Ernestine Yanke, Mrs. Emma Brandt, Mrs. Helen Kruger and August.
The first fifteen years of Mr. Zellmer's life were spent on a farm, during which time he received a liberal German education. In the spring of 1883, in company with his sister Min- nie, he sailed from Hamburg, and twelve days later arrived in New York. They came on the steamer Frisia, carrying on that voyage one thousand five hundred and seventy-five pas- sengers, which later was lost in a wreck. From New York Mr. Zellmer came west to Chip- pewa county, Minnesota, where he attended school in order to master the English tongue. In 1887 he came to Spokane, where he worked at various occupations until coming to the vi- cinity of Rocklyn in 1888. As soon as he reached his majority he filed on a homestead ltere, which, by working for wages among his neighbors, he improved, and after making final proof on his claim he sold it and purchased a farm near Harrington. This he also sold, and bought his present farm in 1903. He now owns four hundred and eighty acres. most of which is agricultural land, good modern build- ings, plenty of water, stock and farm imple- ments.
On November 27, 1892, Emil Zellmer was married to Elizabeth Bargmann, a native of Holstein, Germany, both of whose parents are dead. Her brothers and sisters are: John, Mrs. Emma Greenburg, and Mrs. Maggie Ful- ler. To Mr. and Mrs. Zellmer have been born five children : Albert E., Emma E., Edward H., Frida E. and Walter A.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Zellmer are members of . the German Methodist Episcopal church.
PETER LEIPHAM, one of the early pioneers of the Big Bend country, is now living a life of ease and retirement on a small tract of land adjoining the city of Davenport. Born in Wyoming county, Pennsylvania. October 9. 1839, his early years, like those following, were spent on the frontier. His father, whose name the subject bears, was a native German, who, .
during early life, emigrated to France, and en- joyed the distinction of having served as a soldier in the ranks of the powerful army com- manded by Napoleon Bonaparte. While with his command Mr. Leipham participated in many of the bloody battles of the great general and was repeatedly wounded by gunshot and spear, from which injuries he was a sufferer for seventeen years after leaving the French army. Quitting France. he returned to his native country where he was married to Cath- arine Bayeringer, the subject's mother. Soon after his marriage Mr. Leipham and his young wife emigrated to the United States, landing at New York. from which port they pressed on into the wilderness, settling on the place where the son, with whom this sketch deals, was born, and where both the parents died. The father at death was seventy-six years of age, having been born in 1784, and the mother, who passed away two years before her hus- band, was sixty.
As has been intimated earlier in this sketch, Peter Leipham was born in a primitive log cabin erected by his pathfinder father on a bit of clearing in the wilds of the early Pennsyl- vania forest. Here his boyhood days were spent in much the same manner as were those of the ordinary pioneer's son,-helping to clear the homestead, and at possible intervals attend- ing school in the old log schoolhouse, to reach which entailed a three mile journey on foot. His family was among the first settlers in that locality. As the country became populous he embarked in the butchering business, which he followed for five years. November 19, 1863, he was married to Phoebe A. Jayne, whose parents. Aaron and Mary (Luce) Jayne, also were identified with the early history of Penn- sylvania. At about the age of eighty years they are both now living on the old Jayne homestead. neither having ever set foot outside the state nor ridden on a railroad.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Leipham come fra .-- families of eleven children. there being six girls and five boys in each family.
In 1876 Mr. Leipham brought his family to this state, settling on Whidby island, near the town of Coupeville. They came to the Big Bend and took a homestead eight miles. south- east of Cottonwood Springs, now Davenport, in 1881. The country at. that time was but a vast expanse of bunch grass prairie, and very
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PETER LEIPHAM
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
sparsely settled, there being only two houses where Davenport now stands. During his life in the Big Bend Mr. Leipham has endured the hardships and vicissitudes usual to the pioneer. He began by erecting a log cabin twelve by sixteen feet in dimensions, in which he domo- ciled his family of seven, and a small barn made of sod. For three years he was compelled to make hay of the native bunch grass; and all supplies were brought in from Sprague, the nearest point, distant twenty-five miles. Flour, at that time, cost eight dollars per barrel, bacon twenty cents per pound, and other provisions brought proportionate prices; so to the man of limited means, as was Mr. Leipham, the support of a family on the Big Bend prairie was of serious moment. However, he pros- pered well, so that now he and his eldest son, Oscar, own about fifteen hundred acres of choice farming land, well improved with good build- ings, orchard, et cetera. He also owns three hundred and twenty acres of improved land near Edwall. His present home consists of seven acres, situated as stated at the beginning of this sketch, well improved and comfortably appointed, where the aged couple is living the life of the retired farmer.
The family comprises five children, all of whom, except the youngest, were born in Penn- sylvania, and all living in the immediate vicin- ity of Davenport. Their names are: Oscar, who was married to Nancy Jayne; Ada, now the wife of James Glasgow; Mary, now Mrs. James Elliott ; Jennie, the wife of John Vank Siver, and Warren, married to Lena Slate. The family also now includes fourteen grandchil- dren.
Mr. Leipham was president of the Lincoln county fair of 1903, which fact goes to show in a measure the confidence placed in him by his fellows and the high esteem in which he is held. He is regarded as being a genial and public spirited citizen, and is a man especially interested in good schools and education.
EPHRAIM JOHNSON, a farmer resid- ing on Welch creek, four and one-half miles east of Creston, Washington, was born in Sweden, January 22, 1856. His parents were Jonas and Stena Johnson, both now dead. He has one brother, William, and one sister, Mrs. Matilda Haed, both living in Minnesota.
Ephraim Johnson came to the United States with his parents at the age of eight years and settled in Nicollet county, Minne- sota, where he grew to manhood on a farm. In the spring of 1884 he came to Washington, and spent two years engaged in farming in the Palouse country. He then came to Lin- coln county and took a homestead near Cres- ton, where he was a pioneer settler. Here he was compelled to work for wages for a space in order to get the necessary money with which to improve his claim, and eventually he ac- cumulated four hundred and eighty acres of land. This land he sold in 1902 and pur- chased his present home, which comprises three hundred and twenty acres, all of which is good grain land. A great portion of his farm lies on bottom land and can be irrigated. He has first class buildings and improvements, with a three acre orchard. He has an abundance of farm implements and stock to successfully prosecute his business.
Ephraim Johnson was married on Decem- ber 29, 1881, to Ida C. Lellengren, a native of Illinois. Her parents were August and Mary Lellengren, who come to America from Sweden, settled first in Illinois and later in Nicollet county, Minnesota .. They came to Creston in 1887, and there both died during the month of June, 1903.
To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been born six children : Delia, wife of Charles Brennan : Charles, Arthur, Myrtle, Phillip and Lloyd.
JOSEPH M. HARRIS is a farmer re- siding three miles southeast of Miles postoffice. Lincoln county, Washington. He was born July 23, 1864, in Madison county, Indiana. the son of Andrew and Margaret ( Dwiggins) Harris, both of whom are still living in the county of our subject's birth, in which both were born. Mr. Harris, senior, has spent his entire life in this county, of which he was at one time the sheriff.
The brother and sisters of Mr. Harris are : Thomas, Mrs. Maggie Shell, Mrs. Mrytle Reeder. and Mrs. Bertha Young, all of Madi- son county, Indiana.
Joseph M. Harris grew to manhood on a farm in his native county, receiving a good common school education, and in March, 1886,
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went to Columbus, Ohio, and enlisted in the regular army. His company was sent to Fort Sherman, Idaho, and soon afterward to Fort Spokane. To the latter fort the company came in July. 1886, remained there three years when it was again sent to Fort Sherman. After three months here Mr. Harris was transferred from Company B to Company G, Fourth Regu- lar Infantry, then stationed at Fort Spokane, and was honorably discharged March 28, 1891. During his term of enlistment he was engaged in many skirmishes with the Indians, of which especial mention might be made of a fight in the Kalispell valley.
Soon after leaving the army he engaged in work on a farm, and after several years he lo- cated a homestead where he still lives. He also owns a quarter section of land near his homestead. His land is for the greater part suitable to agriculture, and what is not Mr. Harris uses for pasture for a small herd of cattle which he owns. He has his farm well equipped as to buildings, with machinery and horses sufficient to successfully carry on his business.
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On August 13, 1892, occurred the mar- riage of Joseph M. Harris and Anna Bocke- muehl, the adopted daughter of Barnard and Anna Bockemuehl, and to this union have been born four children: Margaret, Bertha, Ellen and Harold.
In fraternity circles Mr. Harris is known as a member of the Woodmen of the World society.
DAVID M. CHAPEL is a farmer residing ·one and-half miles north of Rocklyn, where he settled in 1902 and engaged in farming for himself. Although a young man just starting in life Mr. Chapel is doing well and forging rapidly to the front rank of the well-to-do agri- culturists of his county. He raises principally grain, although he has a small herd of cattle and a few horses.
David M. Chapel was born on Camas Prai- rie, Idaho, March 18, 1883. He is the son of Perry H. and Eliza (Platter) Chapel, both of whom are now living on a farm between Sprague and Harrington, Lincoln county, Washington.
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