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 86
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 86
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 86
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 86
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88
JOSEPH THORNBRUE, who died at his home near Mondovi, June 23, 1902, was one of the best known pioneers, not only of Lincoln county, but of the state of Washington, having arrived in the state in the fall of 1879. With his wife and family he crossed the plains by wagon from Osage county, Kansas, to Almota, on the Snake river, Washington, and during the spring following the fall of their arrival came to Lincoln county, settling first on Spring creek, north of where Reardan now stands. They were the first white settlers on the creek, and al- most the first in that section of the country.
JOSEPH SARASIN
GEORGE SMELCER
JOSEPH THORNBRUE
MR. AND MRS. JOHN L. TRIPP
JOHN F. CAGLE
MR. AND MRS. GEORGE E. SMITH
4
MADS PETERSON
JENS PETERSON
SQUIRE B. LANDRETH
501
HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
Mr. Thornbrue took a homestead here, upon which the family lived until November, 1892, when they purchased the present home of the family, where Mr. Thornbrue spent his declin- ing years.
Joseph Thornbrue was born December 10, 1834, in Coles county, Illinois. He received a common school education, learned the carpen- ter's trade, and at an early age removed to Bremer county, Iowa. He was the son of Asahel and Rebecca Thornbrue, both of Penn- sylvania German descent. He was married June 30, 1853, to Julia A. McCain, a native of Indiana, born March 15, 1834, who at the time of her marriage was a resident of Bremer county. Nine children blessed this union, seven of whom survive the father, as does Mrs. Thornbrue. Her parents were Delana and Micha (Choat) McCain. Her grandfathers' James McCain and Samuel Choat, saw service respectively in the Revolution and the War of 1812.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Thorn- brue removed to Jefferson county, Kansas, and from Jefferson county to Osage county, this being their final move before embarking upon their journey across the plains.
The subject of our sketch enlisted October 16, 1864, in the Fifteenth Iowa regular infan- try, and throughout his service was in the army under command of General W. T. Sherman, and with that great soldier participated in the battle of Savannah, the famous march to the sea, and the grand review at Washington, D. C., immediately after the war ; he was mustered out at Davenport, Iowa.
The children of whom Mr. and Mrs, Thorn- brue have been parents are : Elijah H .; John D. : Charles A. : Mrs. Emma Stinsman ; Mrs. Addie Young: Mrs. Anna Stanley, who died April 3. 1903: Joseph N .; and George A. Elijah H. is now in Los Angeles, California ; Charles of Creston, Mrs. Stinsman, and the two last mentioned, of Springdale, and Mrs. Young is the wife of a Methodist minister of Portland, Oregon. Mrs. Thornbrue has been grandmother of thirty-two grandchildren, twen- ty-nine of whom are living ; and great-grand- mother of one.
-
Mr. Thornbrue was a thorough pioneer, having been born and reared, and having lived his life upon the frontier. He was well used to
the trials and hardships, as well as the joys, of the pathfinder and plainsman.
He was a member of W. H. Bently post, G. A. R., of Reardan, and a lifelong and faith- ful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Thornbrue also has been a member of this church since girlhood.
The home of the family comprises one hun- dred and sixty acres of good agricultural land. well improved, well watered, and furnished with neat and modern buildings, choice or- chard, etc. It is one of the most desirable farms in the Big Bend.
JOHN L. TRIPP has just completed a magnificent livery barn, the largest in Daven- port. It was built on the site of his former barn, which had been destroyed by fire in the summer of 1903. It is a fine structure and a strictly up to date livery. Mr. Tripp is an experienced hand at the business and enjoys an excellent patronage and makes a specialty as well to buy and sell horses. He owns a large farm some five miles from town and raises a great many high grade horses.
John L. Tripp was born in Barry county, Michigan, on October 8. 1853, the son of Chester C. and Harriett (Wilkinson ) Tripp. natives of New York. They came to Michigan in 1853 and there remained until the time of their death. They were the parents of eight children, Elphina. Oscar, Adelbert. Amby, John L., Ivan, Anna, and Cortize. Our sub- ject received his educational training during the first fifteen years of his life and then as- sumed the responsibilities for himself and be- gan working on a farm. He continued this until twenty, then bought land and went to farming for himself. In 1882 he came to Washington and followed logging for a year. After that he settled in Lincoln county, taking up a homestead which he has operated since. In 1885 Mr. Tripp came to Davenport and took charge of the livery barn. Ile sold it later and built a barn for himself. Part of the time he has devoted to this in person and part of the time it has been rented, until it burned as stated above. The new barn is a very fine structure and is receiving its full share of patronage.
502
HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
In 1896 Mr. Tripp married Lyddie M. Eichelberger, the widow of Fred E. She was born in Iowa and came to Washington in 1892. By her former husband, Mrs. Tripp has three children, Leroy, Fred, and Arthur. Mr. Tripp is a stanch Democrat and active in political matters.
He is a member of the W. W. and the R. A. Mrs. Tripp is a member of the Women of Woodcraft and the R. A. She also belongs to the Presbyterian church.
Mr. and Mrs. Tripp have one child, Elphina G., born August 13, 1903.
JOHN F. CAGLE, who resides at Earl postoffice, has been postmaster there for twelve years. He is one of the pioneers of this country and has made an excellent record in his labors here since the days when settlers were scarce and the prairies were the abode of the coyotes. He was born in Benton county, Tennessee, on February 22, 1853, the son of John H. and Frances J. Cagle, natives of South and North Carolina, respectively. The father was a millwright and moved to Massac county, Illinois and there remained until his death in 1899, being then aged sixty-five. He was the oldest of a family of ten children, whose names follow, John H., Henry, William, George, Leonard. Charles M., Thomas B .. David H., Delila, Sallie, and Mary. The last three are deceased. The mother of our sub- ject is now living in Massac county aged seventy-seven. John F. is the eldest of seven children, James A., William J., Jackson, Mrs. Sarah J. Young, Mrs. Tennessee B. Aaron, and Mrs. Lizzie Warwick. Our subject was nine when the family went to Massac county and there he gained his education. Later he went back to Tennessee, then moved to Arkansas, and when twenty-one journeyed to Missouri. In Cedar county, of that state, on December 9. 1875, he married Miss Flora, the daughter of Miles and Martha ( Hardesty) McMillen, and a native of Gentry county, Missouri. The father served all through the Civil War and died in Lincoln county, on March 12, 1891. The mother died on January 4, 1902. Mrs. Cagle has the following named brothers and sisters, Mena C., Mrs. Eva Simmons, deceased. Charles E., and George A. After marriage,
Mr. Cagle removed to Arkansas again and later returned to Missouri. Mrs. Cagle had been employed in teaching school previous to her marriage in Missouri. In 1883. Mr. Cagle fitted out teams and with his wife, and three children started west accompanied by his wife's people. They intended to go to New Mexico but owing to various reasons changed their minds and journeyed to the Big Bend country instead. It was a good choice and the results show they did well. Five months were con- sumed in this trip but in due time they reached their destination and Mr. Cagle selected the place where he now lives and filed a homestead in November, 1883. Few settlers were here then and it required no small amount of deter- mination to take a family into the wilds. They were all brave, though, and went to work with a will, which has resulted in a success to be envied. Mr. Cagle has added to his lands until he now has fifteen hundred and twenty acres, five hundred of which produce wheat and the balance is used for pasture. All im- provements necessary to carry on the farm successfully and make it comfortable and attractive have been added, and Mr. Cagle intends to make this his home for life. He also has a goodly number of stock and is wealthy. Six children have been born to bless the home of Mr. Cagle, named as follows; Laura D., wife of William Hildreth. of Hillyard. Wash- ington; Luman A., attending the normal at Cheney ; Walter J. ; Annie J., and Lester. Mr. Cagle and his wife are members of the Church of Christ. During the hard times of 1893 and proximate years, Mr. Cagle spent considerable time in prospecting in Stevens county, this state, and has some very promising properties in the Cedar Canyon district. Of late years he has taken up special studies and is paying close attention now to phrenology, magnetism and hypnotism, as well as to other of the occult sciences.
MADS PETERSON is a prosperous farmer dwelling about six miles north from Al- mira. He was born in Denmark, on May 21, 1854. His father, Peter Peterson, was born in Denmark and followed carpentering and mason work all his life. He also served in the wan between Denmark and Germany from 1848 to 1850. The mother, Ellen M. (Dater) Peter-
503
HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
son, was born and raised in Denmark. Our subject was well educated in the public schools of his native land then began working for wages. At the age of twenty-one, he enliste 1 in the Danish army and served eighteen months. In 1883 he came to America and went to work in a coal mine in Pennsylvania, where he re- mained one year. The next year he came to Montana and while traveling there met a very strange looking man who had exceedingly long hair and beard. After some acquaintance with him, they went to prospecting together. For two or three years they were associated more or less together, and he learned that this man was well educated and influential and had left a fine home in New York to dwell in the wilds of Montana. He abode in the wildest spots he could find in Montana until his death, and was known throughout the state as the wild man of Montana. He used to live entirely on game that he killed and avoided all human beings.
In 1886, Mr. Paterson came to his present location and took a homestead. He has re- mained here since, one of the prosperous and in- dustrious farmers. Mr. Peterson mastered the English language and speaks, writes, and reads it well and is a well informed man. He is a brother of Jens Peterson, who is represented in the departments of illustration and biography of this work.
JENS PETERSON is one of the respected and substantial citizens of Lincoln county. His residence is on his estate abont seven miles north from Almira and the property with which he is surrounded at the present time has been amassed by his industry and thrift. He owns an estate of four hundred and eighty acres which has been brought to be one of the model farms in Washington. All conveniences and improvements that could be sought for on the. farm are provided of the best and the land is made to produce abundant crops of cereals. Mr. Peterson has not only accomplished much by his labors but has succeeded in stimulating others on the road to progress.
Jene Peterson was born in Denmark, on November 14, 1851, being the son of Peter and Ellen ( Mogenson) Peterson, natives of Den- mark. The father was a carpenter and mason by trade and served three years in the war be-
tween Germany and Denmark. They were a prominent and well to do family in their na- tive country. Jens was educated in the public schools of Denmark, then worked for wages until 1872, when he came to America. llc wrought in New York and in Boston until 1876 when he came on to San Francisco. It was 1883, when he selected his present location in Lincoln county and took a homestead, a pre- emption and a timber culture claim. He has bought and sold land since. His estate is com- posed of very fertile land, there being no waste, and is very valuable. Mr. Peterson has two brothers, Mads and John.
In 1889, Mr. Peterson married Miss Kjer- sen Lauridsen, who died in 1898. To this union one child was born, Elmer, now aged nine.
In 1899, Mr. Peterson married Miss Mar- ien, daughter of Ole and Annic M. ( Lauren- sen ) Olsen, natives of Denmark and well to do farmers. Mrs. Peterson was born in Denmark near the birthplace of our subject on May 16, 1871.
Mr. Peterson started in America with no capital and through his labors has become a wealthy man. He has mastered the English language in all its details and intricacies and is able to read and write it fluently. He has many admiring friends and is a very influential man in his community.
SQUIRE B. LANDRETH. This pioneer. plainsman, miner, prospector, Indian fighter, and lastly, farmer, was born in Ashe county, North Carolina, November 1, 1835. He was the son of Benjamin and Temperance ( Law- rence ) Landreth, both natives of North Car- olina, and both deceased. As a child Mr. Landreth was taken by his parents to Keokuk county, Iowa, where he remained until the spring of 1853 when he joined an emigrant company bound for the far west. and with it crossed the plains with an ox team direct to Portland, Oregon. From this point he went to Yreka, California, and spent some time in the newly discovered mines there. In 1855 he came to Albany. Oregon, and enlisted in the army upon the outbreak of the bloody Cayuse war, which continued through the years 1855- 1856. He was a participant in many battles with the Indians, both in eastern Oregon and
504
HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
in Yakima county, Washington encumbent upon the western Indian fighter. During his service he participated in the hanging of an Indian who had taken part in the massacre of Dr. Whitman and party at Walla Walla.
After being mustered out of service at Portland, Mr. Landreth returned to the mines in northern California, where he remained until 1859, when he came to Fairfield, Oregon, and opened a general merchandise store. In 1861 he was with the party of twenty-nine miners who discovered the famous Elk City mines. During the succeeding fourteen months he followed prospecting on the Salmon river and in the vicinity of Florence and in other placer dis- tricts. Returning again to Portland he went from there to Vancouver, Washington, and while there was married, July 4. 1864, to Lizzie E. Martin. a native of Missouri, who crossed the plains in 1862. Engaging in the butchering business in Portland, he followed that vocation for some years and then went to a farm near Olympia. He remained thus en- gaged until 1868 when he came to the Big Bend country and filed a homestead on his present home north of and near the town of Reardan. His farm is an excellent one con- sisting of one hundred and sixty acres, all now under cultivation and improved in the most modern and up-to-date style.
July 19, 1895. Mrs. Landreth died. She is survived by her husband, and five grown children : Henry, married to Lulu Galland ; William, married to Lovia Emily: Augusta, wife of W. B. Warren; Mitta, wife of Russel Shepherd, and Ella, now Mrs. C. B. Carsten.
Mr. Landreth is a charter member of the Reardan Lodge, Number 84, I. O. O. F.
OLAUS MARTINSON is to be numbered with the successful and prosperous farmers of Lincoln county. He resides about seven miles from Wilbur where his estate lies and which consists of one-half section of land mostly used for growing wheat. The place is well im- proved. being supplied with fences, buildings and so forth.
Olaus Martinson was born in Norway on November 7, 1841, coming from ' the stock which first discovered the new world. His parents were Martha and G evea (Knutson) Olson, natives of Norway. The common
schools of his native land furnished our subject his educational training and he remained in Norway until 1866, when he emigrated to Wis- consin in which state he operated as a black- smith for some time. In 1871, Mr. Martin- son bought a farm in Wisconsin and there lived for twenty-two years. It was in 1893, when he made his way to the western country where after due search and investigation he settled on the place he now occupies as mentioned above. Since then he has labored assiduously for the upbuilding of this section, giving his attention to securing for himself an actual competence. He has won the esteem and confidence of all who know him.
In 1880 MIr. Martinson married Miss Dor- othy Knutson, a native of Norway, and to them three children have been born; Albert, Tilda and Emma.
PETER N. TRAMM now resides about two miles east of Reardan on an estate of two hundred and forty acres. He is one of the younger men of the Big Bend country and has become thoroughly convinced that it is one of the best places he has ever seen to make a home. On two different occasions, Mr. Tramm went to California to invest in land and make his home there but each time he returned to Lincoln county and is now content to re- main here in the best country.
Peter N. Tramm was born about thirty miles north from Milwaukee, on August 23, 1870. His parents, Peter and Mary Tramm, were pioneers of Port Washington, Wiscon- sin, and also of Lincoln county, Washington. They are mentioned in another portion of this work. Our subject was educated in the com- mon schools of Wisconsin. When fourteen he came with his father and the balance of the family to Lincoln county. He was employed on the farm with his father and in assisting the farmers round about until he arrived at his majority. In 1898 he settled on his own farm and since that time has given his attention to its improvement. His crops are largely thie cereals and he raises some stock. His farm is well improved, with good barn, orchard. wind- mill and a tasty five-room residence. The es- tate is fine wheat land and produces abundantly.
In the fall of 1898 Mr. Tramm married Miss Gertrude Buckman, a native of Ohio.
505
HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
Her father, John Buckman, was also a native of the Buckeye State and a machinist. He came to Washington in early days and engaged in stock raising. He met his death while working on a threshing machine in this county. The mother, Margaret Buckman, died at the birth of Mrs. Tramm. Mrs. Tramm is the youngest of five children and has one sister, Mrs. Fred Garber. Mr. Tramm is a member of the Odd Fellows and his wife belongs to the Rebekahs. They both are staunch members of the Lui- theran church and are highly respected citi- zens. To them four children have been born, Harry, Thelma, Ward, and Lois.
LUTHER A. STIMSON, who owns and operates the Stimson ferry across the Columbia north from Davenport, was born in Ontario county, New York, on November 30, 1832, the son of Daniel and Harriett ( Beckwith) Stim- son. The parents were natives of New York also. At seven years of age, our subject was left an orphan and was then taken by his uncle Harrison Stimson, to Ohio with whom he dwelt for seven years and worked on the farm. He gained what schooling there was to be had in that frontier region and at the age of four- teen was apprenticed to a millwright in Kala- mazoo. He learned the trade thoroughly by the time he had arrived at manhood's estate. In 1860, Mr. Stimson journeyed west to Dick- inson county, Iowa, and at that time cast his- first vote for Abraham Lincoln for president. Thirteen years later, he went to Wyoming
where he made his home for three years. After that, he went west and settled in the southeast- ern part of Washington territory in what is now Asotin county, it being then a part of Columbia county. He wrought at his trade until he had secured sufficient capital to war- rant him building a mill for himself. The plant was located at Asotin, Washington and Mr. Stimson was very successful in this ven- ture. Later, he disposed of this property and built a flour mill at Alpowa creek, Washing- ton, which he managed successfully for six years. Then he traded this property for the Wawawai ferry property, in Whitman county, Washington. This was operated successfully until 1899, when he sold out the entire business and came to Lincoln county. He established. | Sullivan owns property in Davenport and is soon after coming here, the Stimson ferry, and
has erected all other improvements and build- ings necessary for the successful operation of a first class ferry. He does a good business and entertains travel as well.
On November 4, 1856, Mr. Stimson mar- ried Miss Betsey M. Lamb and to them the fol- lowing children have been born, Frank, El- mer, Harriett, Carrie, Ida, Mary, Effie, Luther C., and Nellie. In 1808, Mr. Stimson was called to mourn the death of his beloved wife who had borne him nine children.
In April, 1899, he contracted a second mar- riage, Mrs. Anna Thornburg then becoming his wife. Mr. Stimson's home is pleasantly located on the banks of the beautiful Columbia. It is an ideal spot. Here in the golden period of his well spent and useful life. he enjoys the present, while the reminiscent past gives him a picture of a life well lived and duties done.
BRIDGET SULLIVAN is one of the well known people of Davenport. She is a woman whose labors and business career have stamped her as possessed of ability and sound business integrity. She has overcome the hardships of life with a display of excellent fortitude and stability. Mrs. Sullivan was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, in June, 1829. being the only child of James and Mary (Torbin) Corken. natives of Ireland, where they remained until their death. When she was a child of twelve years, she journeyed from Ireland to Buffalo, New York, without companions. She made this journey for the purpose of coming to an aunt who lived in this country and with her she lived until nineteen years of age. Thence Miss Corken went to St. Joseph, Missouri, where she mar- Michael Sullivan, the nuptials occurring in 1860. They moved to Kansas and there farmed until Mr. Sullivan's death in 1884. She con- tinued to handle the farm for four years, then journeyed with her children to Davenport, Washington. For two years, she was occu- pied in keeping a hotel here, then took a home- stead, which she sold to her son. Immediately following that, she went to Yakima and re- mained there nine months, returning then to Davenport. Since then she has been living with her daughter Molley and together they are operating dressmaking parlors and a hotel. Mrs. one of the highly respected citizens. She is
506
HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
the mother of seven children, Thomas, in Mon- tana ; Molley, living with her mother; James and Michael, twins, and farmers on Bachelor Prairie: Bridget, wife of D. N. Keeney, a jeweler in Yakima ; Richard and Daniel, twins, the former in Yakima and the latter in Paha. Mrs. Sullivan is a member of the Catholic church.
WILLIAM BRINK, engaged in the livery and stock business in Davenport, Lincoln coun- ty, was born in McDonald county, Illinois, in December, 1865. His parents were Thomas and Mary R. ( Bolon) Brink, the father a na- tive of Illinois, the mother of Ohio. They first settled in Illinois and later moved to Iowa, and came to Washington in 1880, locating in Lincoln county, where they died. They were the parents of eleven children, eight of whom survive. The mother's brother, Andrew Bo- lon, was an Indian agent, and was killed by the savages near Vancouver.
Our subject received his education in Iowa, and came with his parents to Lincoln county in 1880. There being no schools there during his boyhood days he has received no other educa- tional advantages. Until he was twenty years of age he worked for his parents, and then en- gaged in the business of stage driving. In this occupation he continued nine years, and then began raising stock and farming. In 1898 Mr. Brink opened a livery stable which busi- ness he has since continued quite successfully. He has the largest establishment of this kind in the city. In early life he drove stage through- out the country, between Fort Spokane and Conconully. Wilbur and Ruby City, Davenport, and Waterville and other points throughout northern Washington. At present he has twenty head of horses.
The political affiliations of Mr. Brink are with the Republican party, and he manifests a lively interest in political issues. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Davenport Lodge, No. 44. Mr. Brink is a man well and favor- ably known throughout eastern Washington, and numbers a host of friends.
BELA O. GIBSON, one of the enterpris- ing business men of Davenport, is conducting a bakery and also operating a hotel. He was
born in Stewartsville, Missouri, on February 16, 1860, the son of O. H. P. and Mary J. (Deatley) Gibson, and are mentioned else- where in this work. Our subject was educated in the country schools of Missouri and at the age of twenty, started in life for himself. He spent one year in the sawmilling business in California, then came to Washington in 1881. He located in Cheney, where seven years were spent, after which he went to the Sound, re- maining there for two years. It was 1891, when he came to Davenport and four years thereafter, he was engaged variously, doing considerable prospecting, in the course of which he was one of the discoverers of the famous Deer Trail mines in Stevens county. In 1896, Mr. Gibson started in business for himself, opening a grocery store. For five years, he continued this successfully, then added a bak- ery and later, a hotel. He is meeting with the deserved success in his enterprises and is one of the substantial men of the city.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.