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 88
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 88
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 88
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 88
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ELMER E. LUCAS, a successful hard- ware merchant of Davenport. Washington, is a native of Madison county, Illinois, and was born May 19, 1868. He is the son of Joseph
Lucas, a prominent Grand Army man residing in Spangle. His mother was Catherine (Altiza ) Lucas, a native of Germany who came to the United States at the age of eight years.
Upon the outbreak of the Civil War Joseph Lucas enlisted as a private in the ranks of Company G. Forty-ninth Illinois Infantry, serving with that command throughout the length of the Rebellion, and receiving an hon- orable discharge at its close. Before the close of the war, however, he had won a commission as second lieutenant of his company. As a G. A. R. man at Spangle he has served his post as its commander. Joseph and Mrs. Lucas have been parents of eight children, an equal number of boys and girls ; of the boys the sub- ject of this sketch is the eldest. The members of the family who are now living are; Elmer E. ; William P., a partner with Elmer E. in the hardware business; Albert M., of Alberta, Canada ; and Mrs. W. G. Elledge, of Spangle, Washington.
As a child Mr. Lucas went with his parents to Jefferson county, Kansas, and thence to Law- rence, where his father engaged in the hard- ware business. After remaining in Lawrence two years the father transferred his business to Wakeeney, Kansas, remaining there four years when he removed to Burlington, Kansas. In 1884 the family removed to Spangle, where the father and mother have resided ever since.
During his youth Elmer E. Lucas received a good business training from his father, and a fair grammar school education. He finished his commercial education in the Spokane Bus- iness College, from which institution he is a graduate. During five years of his residence in Spokane county he held the position of deputy assessor under different chiefs. In 1890 with his brother, William P., he succeeded O. WV. Ames in the hardware business at Spangle. Lucas Brothers continued to conduct this es- tablishment until January. 1903, when they sold out. William P. then joined his brother in Davenport, who had gone there on January I, 1902. At that date they had purchased an interest in the A. W. Turner Company in Davenport and at the close of 1903, they bought over the entire business and assumed the name of Lucas Brothers again. They have one of the largest and most complete stocks of hard- ware, stoves, tinware, farm implements, mining machinery, et cetera, in the county.
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On March 18, 1896, occurred the marriage of Elmer E. Lucas to Miss Fannie E. Almquist. a native of Indiana, who came to Rosalia. Washington, as a girl. Her parents are Charles and Hattie Almquist. Prior to her marriage Mrs. Lucas was a school teacher in Whitman county, in which vocation she was eminently successful. To Mr. and Mrs. Lucas two chil- dren have been born, by name, Ellsworth Fran- cis and Dolph William.
Mr. Lucas is a member of the A. F. and A. M. at Cheney, Washington, and of the Chapter at his home city. He is a man of marked talent in music, having organized, and for a number of years been leader of, the Spangle band, and he is now leader of the Davenport band and orchestra. At the November election, 1904, he was chosen mayor of Davenport, which is now a city of the third class. He is a gen- erous and public spirited citizen, which qualities have made him a host of friends, and both he and Mrs. Lucas are prominently identified with social affairs in their home city.
GEORGE E. SMITH, who resides about seven miles north from Wilbur, is one of the men whose life's account will contain record of events, which would warrant the saying of our president, "He is a man who has done things."
George E. Smith was born in Missouri, on January 7, 1850, the son of George F. and Mary (Pfnister) Smith, natives of Saxony, Germany. The father came from the Father- land in 1829 and made settlement in Missouri. When our subject came to the age of nine, he suffered the bereavement of the death of his father. Schools were scarce in those pioneer times and George had little opportunity to at- tend, had there been schools, as he was early obliged to learn the truth of that statement. that man shall eat his bread by the sweat of his face. The mother was a talented and learned woman, however, and she gave instruction to her son as opportunity afforded and he soon became very proficient in various branches. The habits of study then formed have always stayed with our subject and he has constantly given himself to selected reading and deep thinking. The result is that he is one of the best informed men of this section and is a close student of nature. In 1871. Mr. Smith went to Salem, Illinois, to dwell with an uncle
and there he formed the acquaintance of Will- iam J. Bryan, who is now a national figure. They attended Sunday school together and be- came well acquainted. Later, Mr. Smith re- turned to Missouri and there, in 1876, he mar- ried Miss Jennie L. Haverstick. The state of Missouri was their home for one year when they moved to the vicinity of Mitchell, Illinois, and remained until 1890, then they journeyed to Washington, and selected land in Lincoln county, where they dwell at the present time. Mr. Smith purchased his quarter section from the railroad company and has devoted himself to its improvement and cultivation since. He has a comfortable and good home, has accumu- lated considerable property and is considered one of the substantial men of the county. Mr. Smith is always an ardent and forceful worker for both good schools and other improvements which are for the good of the community, and he is a progressive and thinking man.
WILLIAM GEMMILL resides about seven miles south from Wilbur on one of the largest estate in the entire Big Bend country. It consists of fourteen hundred acres of fertile wheat land, all in a high state of cultivation and improved with everything necessary to a first class Washington farm. The residence is com- modious and beautiful, situated amid shade trees and orchards, making it an ideal rural abode. Mr. Gemmill is to be classed as one of the earliest pioneers of this part of the country and his vast possessions have been made as a result of his thrift, wisdom, and his energy. He was born in Wisconsin, on September 21, 1859, be- ing the son of William Gemmill, a native of Pennsylvania. The father later moved to In- diana and in 1850 went to California, where he engaged in mining. He returned to the middle states and located in Wisconsin in 1856 and when he settled in that state he was fifty miles from a railroad. He had been a pioneer in In- diana and California before this and was one of the rugged frontiersmen who have made this country what it is. He died in 1898, aged seventy.
Our subject was reared in Wisconsin and passed his youthful days as is common for boys on the frontier, laboring on the farm and study- ing in the district school. In 1884. he came to Washington and located on a preemption
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twelve miles west from Wilbur. Later, he sold that property and took a homestead and a tim- ber culture claim, where he is now located. The rest of his estate has been acquired by pur- chase and as every piece has fallen into his pos- session, it has been transformed from the wild sod into fertile fields productive of abundant crops. Everything about the place has an air of thrift and good taste and Mr. Gemmill is to be congratulated on the possession of such choice estates.
In 1892, Mr. Gemmill married Miss Anita Maldonado. She was born in Mazatlan, Mexico, and educated in St. Catherine's Convent at Ben- ica, California, and at St. Rose's Convent at San Francisco. She received a very liberal train- ing in languages and fine arts and is able to con- verse in French and Spanish as fluently as in English. In 1875, she came to Washington with her parents and settled in Walla Walla. Since then she has traveled a great deal but Washington has been her home place. She is a lady of high accomplishments and exceptional virtues. Her father, Francesco Maldonado, was the son of a Spanish nobleman. He was born in Spain and there received a fine classical education and was then admitted to the bar. When a young man, he came to Mexico and entered the practice of law. Later, he re- ceived a seat in the judiciary, where his erudi- tion and stanch principles made him a valued member. Then he was elected governor of Sinaloa, Mexico, which office he held until his death. His widow later married Isaiah Reve- naugh, a pioneer of California, and one of the very earliest pioneers of Walla Walla, then of the Big Bend country. He located a stock ranch on Crab creek as early as 1871. By trade, he was a blacksmith and had large ex- perience in frontier life. On account of a fierce encounter with a grizzly in California, he re- ceived the sobriquet of "Grizzly." He was a well known and substantial citizen. His death occurred in 1900, two years after his wife's demise. Mr. and Mrs. Gemmill are highly re- spected people and their home is the center of refined hospitality.
JOHN C. LEMLEY, son of William S. and Dora (Cline) Lemley, is one of the pros- perous and energetic business men of Reardan, Lincoln county. His father, William S., is a
native of Illinois, and was a pioneer during the early days of the settlement of Wisconsin, where at one period he conducted a stage line between Sheboygan and Fond du Lac. He afterward engaged in the livery business and subsequently removed to Iowa where he now resides. The mother of our subject came from Hanover. Germany, when quite young, and was married in Sheboygan. She now resides with her husband in Iowa. John C. Lemley is the second oldest child of six, four boys and two girls, three of whom are living in the vicinity of Reardan, and the others in the east. In the autumn of 1896 he was married to Alice Mc- Gowan, of Fairview, Washington. In his younger days he attended school in Iowa, which state he left in the spring of 1880 and went to Helena, Montana, where he was engaged in the butcher and various other businesses until 1882 when he came to Sprague, Washington, and op- ened a saloon, in which business he is still en- gaged, in connection with a live stock enterprise in Okanogan county, Washington. In 1893 Mr. Lemley conducted a saloon in Edwell in company with J. W. Reynolds, and was an in- portant factor in the upbuilding of that town. This business he disposed of in 1896 and en- gaged in farming. In 1898 he returned to Reardan. Mr. Lemley owns a section and a half of land, and has a good-sized band of cat- tle, a fine residence in the east part of the town of Reardan, containing five rooms, and he has also five lots on the "Hill." Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lemley, Helen, aged four, and Beatrice, aged three years.
Mr. Lemley is a member of the B. P. O. E., Lodge No. 228, Spokane, and is chief ranger of the Foresters of Reardan, of which organ- ization he was the moving spirit.
WILLIAM M. ADAMS has the distinc- tion of having gained his fortune by his labors in the Big Bend country. He came here with very limited capital and now owns property worth more than fifteen thousand dollars, in Lincoln county. His home place is situated about nine miles north from Reardan. It was taken as a homestead on February 12, 1886, and is well improved. In addition to doing gen- eral farming, Mr. Adams has followed, at vari- ous times, the bricklayer's trade, of which he became master in his younger days.
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William M. Adams was born in Saxony, Germany, February 2, 1847, being the son of Edward and Frederika Adams, both natives of Germany. The father was a cooper by trade and he and his wife remained in their native country until their death. Our subject received his educational training in the schools of his native land, during the first fourteen years of his life and then was apprenticed for four years to learn the bricklayer's trade. When eighteen. he bid farewell to the native land and turned to the New World, landing in Newark, New Jersey, where he took up work at his trade with good success. From there, he journeyed to Omaha and labored in that state for six years. Then he came on to Montana and helped to erect the Wicks smelter near Butte. After leaving Butte, Mr. Adams came to Lincoln county, settling on the place that he now owns, having bought another man's relinquishment. He immediately turned his attention to general farming and in addition thereto has done much mason work throughout the country. When in Spokane he assisted to erect some of the finest buildings and is well known as a man of great skill in his craft.
In 1868. at Newark, New Jersey, Mr. Adams married Miss Christina Kamley, and to them twelve children have been born, six of whom are living as follows; Katie. Minnie, Emma, Lizzie, William and Rose. Mr. Adams takes a keen interest in political matters and is a well informed Republican. He is a member of the Foresters and is known as a good sub- stantial citizen. Mr. Adams owns other real estate and property besides that mentioned above and is thoroughly in love with this beau- tiful country and believes that there is no place that excels it.
GEORGE A. TROY was born in the Cat- skill Mountains, New York, in 1848. His par- ents were George and Margaret ( Bolland) Troy. The mother was born in New York state and now lives in New York City. The fa- ther was born in Ireland, learned shoemaking and came to the United States where he fol- lowed his trade until his death which occurred in New York. Our subject received a good common school education in his native place and the learned the trade of the brick mason. He wrought at his trade there until he came to
Sprague where he built a brick kiln and began the manufacture of that building material. He also took up building and contracting, erecting most of the brick edifices in Sprague including the court house. He continued in this line of business until 1887; then entered the liquor business in Sprague and has been identified in that since. Recently he has added a whole- sale department and is conducting the two at the present time. He owns the buildings in which he does business on Main street in Sprague and also two other business blocks on the same street, one a frame structure and the other a handsome brick. He also owns a nice residence at the corner of Third and C streets and much other property. Mr. Troy has the following brothers and sisters, Agnes Reed, Mrs. Kate Bannon, William, John, and Ella, all residents of New York City.
Mr. Troy has made a good success in the financial world and has done excellent work in the contracting business in Sprague. He has always labored for the upbuilding and the wel- fare of the community and is an enterprising and progressive man.
OTTO AUGUST MENGER, one of the prosperous and enterprising merchants of Rear- dan, Lincoln county, was born in Lawrence, Kansas, January 8, 1864, son of Herman M. and Sophia (Epple) Menger. The father is a native of Thuringen, Germany, where he was born July 8. 1831. In 1847 he came to the Uni- ted States and located at Philadelphia. Penn- sylvania, as a baker, in which vocation he con- tinued until he removed to Lawrence, Kansas, which was in 1853. Here he conducted a bak- ery until 1867 when he entered the ministry in the German Methodist Episcopal church, and was one of the pioneer circuit riders covering territory in lowa. Kansas and Nebraska. Dur- ing the progress of the Civil war Rev. Menger was pursued by guerillas during the notorious Quantrell raid, and narrowly escaped with his life. Until 1897. when he was called from earth, he continued in the ministry, was pastor of numerous churches in three states, was wide- ly known and universally respected. He died at Parsons, Kansas, June 14. 1897. In a con- cise summary of the character of Rev. Menger it can be truthfully said that he belonged to that class of rugged pioneers in whose vocabulary
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there is no such word as fail. His wife, to whom he was united in Philadelphia, was a natives of the Province of Schwaben, Germany. born in 1832. To Rev. and Mrs. Menger were born seven children, Edward, Otto A., Louisa A., Mary S., Emma, Albert, and Agnes, all of whom are living.
The elementary education of Otto A., our subject, was obtained in Kansas, and when at the age of sixteen years he is found in the ca- pacity of a clerk in a grocery store at Cameron, Missouri. One year subsequently he was man- ager in a store in Chase, Kansas, and he then removed to Enterprise, same state, and was connected with a general store in that city six years. Coming to Davenport, Lincoln county, in 1889, he officiated as bookkeeper for Mc- Gowan Brothers, and in 1890 was manager. of a sawmill in Creston. He then opened a hard- ware store in Reardan in company with John Raymer. In March, 1891, our subject was uni- ted in marriage to Lizzie Nagle, a native of Switzerland, who came to the United States when thirteen years of age. Until 1893 Mr. Menger continued in the hardware business, when the partnership was dissolved and he en- tered the employment of John Wickham, who conducted a general merchandise store. He aft- erward purchased the property of Mr. Wick- ham and engaged in business for himself. Mr. and Mrs. Menger have four children, Oscar, Clarence, Inez and Gladys, all of whom were born in Reardan. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and W. O. W., Coming to Reardan with limited capital Mr. Menger is now one of the well-to-do and influential citizens, one of the wealthiest and best known men in Rear- dan.
THEODORE W. HAAS, although not classed as one of the oldest pioneers in Sprague is certainly one of the most energetic and pro- gressive of business men. He is handling a general merchandise establishment at the pres- ent time, having started the same in January, 1904. He is a young man of excellent ability and has made a record in the business world' and thus far a very enviable one. Presaging the future by the past, we have every reason to expect that Mr. Haas will win the abundant success in Sprague that he is entitled to be- cause of his worth and his labor.
Theodore W. Haas was born in Neenah, Wisconsin, on November 8, 1871. His father, Sebastian Haas, was born in Antwerp, Belgium, and came to America when a young lad. For fifteen years, he followed the mercantile busi- ness in Wisconsin and for fifteen, the same in Spokane. Then he retired from that channel of business and is now devoting his energies to mining and real estate business in Spokane. He is one of the early pioneers of that thriving city and is well known as a man who has accom- plished much that is beneficial to the city as well as providing a competence for himself. The mother of our subject, Mary A. (Kelley) Haas was born in Watertown, Wisconsin. Her fa- ther was a judge on the bench for many years and is now living in Spokane.
Theodore W. attended the sisters school in Spokane and later graudated from Gonzaga college, a well known educational institution of the Inland Empire. After completing his course there, he entered the employment of the Crescent Dry Goods Company, one of the larg- est establishments in the state of Washington. For seven years, he operated as salesman there, then took a position with the same company on the road, continuing in the same until he opened his present business in Sprague in January, 1904. He has a fine location and an excellent stock of goods and is favored with a fine patron- age. Mr. Haas is a member of the K. C. of Spokane, and also belongs to the Catholic church.
MICHAEL HILGERS has been success- ful in at least two lines of endeavor as will be noticed in the outline given below. At the present time, he resides eight miles west from Sprague where he owns a section of fine wheat land. His residence is a tasty five-room cottage beautifully surrounded with shade trees. The farm is supplied with everything needed as barns, windmills, fences, a fine large orchard and so forth. On the farm adjoining the home place, Mr. Hilgers also has erected good build- ings. He handles some stock and is a very pros- perous man.
Mr. Hilgers was born in Prussia, Germany .. on January 7, 1848, being the son of John and Gertrude (Gantz) Hilgers, natives of Germany. The father was an inn keeper and died in Ger- many in 1849. The mother came to America
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in 1851 and her death occurred in Maine in 1900. Our subject was brought to America when an infant and received a good common school education in Wisconsin. While very young, he wrought in the lead mines ; then was apprenticed to a blacksmith and for three years gave his attention to learning that trade. After that he followed the trade in St. Louis for three years and then returned to his home in Wis- consin and there married. In 1903, he jour- neyed to California but left that country and came to Nevada and wrought at Carson City for two years. At the end of that time he went back east and railroaded. In 1885, we find Mr. Hilgers in Spokane in the blacksmith shop of Pete Sungraft. A year later, he came to Sprague and opened a shop for himself and for five years was steadily engaged at the forge. During that time, he homesteaded his present place and made extensive improvements. He bought other land until he has the amount men- tioned above and now is retired entirely from the blacksmith business and gives attention to farming in which he has made a good success.
On August 16, 1873, occurred the marriage of Mr. Hilgers and Miss Matilda W. Sickles. The wedding took place in Wisconsin. Mrs. Hilgers' parents are Jacob and Elizabeth (Bur- ger) Sickles. They both died in Wisconsin sometime since. The father was a native of Alsace, France. To our subject and his wife five children have been born, Emma, Albert, Jessie, William and Earl V. Jessie is attending the Northwestern business college in Spokane and is very proficient in her studies.
Mr. Hilgers has a very bright and interest- ing family and his place is one of the pleasing and promising ones of this section. He and his wife belong to the Roman Catholic church and have reared their children in the faith.
THOMAS McCOY who resides in Sprague was born in county Armagh, Ireland, in April, 1838. His parents, were Owen and Bridget (McCann) McCoy. The father was born in the same county as our subject and followed farming. He was in the uprising in Ireland in 1848 and remained in his native country until his death. The mother was born in the same county as the husband and died in 1846. Thomas was favored with a good common
school education in Ireland and worked with his father until the age of seventeen; then he went to Scotland and worked two years as a coal miner. After that, he came to Scotland, then journeyed to Dunham, England, and served there twelve years in the roller mills. In 1872, he came to America sailing from Liv- erpool to New York. From New York, he went to Enpire, Michigan, and operated in the mills for some time. Mr. McCoy has two sis- ters, Mrs. Ann Welch, who came to this coun- try with our subject and later married. Her husband died and Mr. McCoy brought her to his place where she died in 1888, leaving three children whom he cared for. The other sister is Mrs. Mary Hughes, living in Ireland. The three children Mr. McCoy raised are Mary, now married to U. S. Perry, a clerk in Sprague ; Maggie, married to Anthony Dent, dwelling in the Willamette valley, Oregon, and Thomas, a printer, in San Francisco. Mr. McCoy owns two residences in Sprague besides several choice lots. He gives his attention to gardening and is a good substantial man.
He has been a life long member of the Catholic church and is a supporter of that faith at the present time.
WILLIAM H. VENT, who lives six miles north from Sprague is one of the earliest set- tlers in Lincoln county. He also has the dis- tinction of being a native son of Washington, having been born at Walla Walla on June 16, 1865. His parents, Robert and Mary E. (Sheets) Vent were pioneers of Walla Walla, and are now living with our subject. The fa- ther followed butchering. William H. received a common school education in his native place and then started in life for himself. He also engaged in stock raising and as early as 1872, came to this part of Lincoln county and en- gaged in stock raising and has followed that continuously since, although he has also done general farming. The place where he now re- sides, he purchased in 1897. When he came to this section, he had no means and now owns about one thousand acres of choice grain land which is well improved with a nice cottage of six rooms, which is situated in tasty and beau- tiful grounds, barns, outbuildings and a large band of cattle and horses with all the machinery
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necessary for handling the estate. Mr. Vent owns property at Post Falls, Idaho, in addition to what we have mentioned.
On December 2, 1894, Mr. Vent married Miss Alpha Parker, the daughter of Horace and Louisa F. (Johnson) Parker, natives of Ohio and now living near Sprague. The fa- ther was one of the earliest settlers here and has always followed stock raising. Mr. Vent has the following named brothers and sisters, Mrs. Emma Jones, Stupple, Mrs. Leona Fortune, Mrs. Nellie Busey, Mrs. May Bagley, Mrs. Lillie Mills, Mrs. Lula Busey, Mrs. Fred- erick Busey, Mrs. Allen Busey and Robert. Mrs. Vent has two sisters, Mrs. Zella Vent and Mrs. Lena Lowe.
Mr. Vent is a member of the K. P. and he and his wife belong to the Rathbone Sisters. They are wealthy and substantial people and have shown by their labors, real industry and thrift. Their standing is of the best in the community and they are typical Washington people.
MATTHEW BRISLAWN, who lives about seven miles northeast of Sprague on the old Colville road, is one of the wealthiest men of Lincoln county and every dollar has been gained by his careful industry and wise man- agement. Where he lives he has a section and one-half of first class grain land, all producing excellent crops of the cereals, one section of meadow land and pasture, one hundred and twenty-five head of fine thoroughbred cattle, forty-five head of horses and a large amount of farm machinery and everything needed on a large estate. The place has a comfortable resi- dence, supplied with plenty of good water, large barns, granaries and other buildings, sev- eral windmills and pumps and a perfect water- system, both for furnishing water to the stock and for irrigating purposes. Everything about the estate shows the thrift and taste of its owner and while Mr. Brislawn is a man capable of handling large propositions as is evidenced by what he has done, there is no detail to small in reference to the estate, for him to consider and have properly executed. He has shown himself, in the years of his residence here, a man of stability and real worth and has won the esteem, confidence and respect of all.
Matthew Brislawn was born in Montgom- ery county, Pennsylvania, on October 20, 1850, the son of James and Anastasia (Magher) Brislawn, the former born in Ireland in 1813 and the later also a native of the Emerald Isle. They were married in their native land and came to America in 1844. Settlement was made in Iowa where the mother died in 1874 and the father died four years later, while en- route to Washington. He had been a promin- ent citizen in Iowa and held public offices for many years. Our subject was reared and edu- cated in the Hawkeye state and remained on . the farm with the father until twenty-three years of age. Five years later he came to Wal- la Walla and then to Tucanon creek and the following spring moved down on the Pataha creek. In the spring of 1879, Mr. Brislawn came thence and took a homestead where he now dwells. Very few families were in the Big Bend country and twice a year they had to make pilgrimages to the towns of Colfax and Spokane for provisions. He was one of the first two men who ran a thresher in the territory which now keeps over thirty modern machines during the threshing season. Mr. Brislawn has the following brothers and sis- ters, Mrs. Ellen McGreevy, Michael J., Mrs. Elizabeth McNamara, Ferdinand and James F.
On November 25, 1873, in Iowa, Mr. Bris- lawn married Miss Mary E., daughter of John and Margaret (Hughes) Cavanaugh, natives of Ireland and Massachusetts, respectively. Mrs. Brislawn was born in Allegheny City, Pa., in 1854. The father came to this country in 1840, and died in Iowa in 1878. The mother died in 1856, while on her way to the west. Mr. and Mrs. Brislawn have been the parents of eleven children, James F., John H., Michael T., Joseph W .. Margaret C., Matthew P., Mary A., Lewis I., Anastacia C., Charlotte E. and Mark G. Mr. Brislawn belongs to the Catho- lic Knights of America, while he and his wife are members of the Roman Catholic church. It is interesting to note Mr. Brislawn's descrip- tion of his capital when he came here. He re- marks that owned two or three head of cattle and was in debt for the team of horses that brought him and his family to the new land. . From such a beginning as this, we now see a wealthy and leading citizen of Lincoln county who has arrived at this position by virtue of his own labors and real worth.
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
WALKER HUDKINS, who resides at 718 E. Indiana avenue, Spokane, Washington. is one of the Big Bend pioneers, whose labors have accomplished much good and develop- ment in that fertile region. He was born in the vicinity of Parkersburg, West Virginia, on May 7, 1849. His father, Elisha Hudkins, was born in what is now West Virginia, in 1812, and died in Illinois, in February, 1877. He had followed farming all his life. His first marriage was to Elizabeth Rymer, by whom he had four children, Mrs. Ellen Rymer, Samantha, William, and Jasper. In the home state, Mrs. Hudkins died and then later Mr. Hudkins married Miss Rachel Mearns, who was born in the territory now embraced in West Virginia, in 1820. Her father was An- drew Mearns, a farmer. About 1859, the elder Hudkins brought his family west to Hancock county, Illinois, and there followed farming until his death. His widow later made the trip to Oregon, and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Mary McCall, in Wallowa county, that state, the date being 1891. The children born to this couple are: Andrew. now in Hancock county, Illinois; Mary J. McCall, of Wallowa county, Oregon; Floyd, who is mentioned in this work elsewhere; Walker, who is the subject of this article; Margaret, dho died in Illinois when aged about twenty ; Minerva Richardson, who died in Altoona, Kansas, in 1900; Leah Brant, now living in Union county, Oregon; and Alice who died in infancy.
Our subject was but four years of age when he came with his parents to Illinois and in the Prairie State he was reared and educated. finishing his schooling by a year in Carthge College. He labored on the farm during youth and later farmed for himself in Illinois until 1885. In the fall of that year he prepared to try the west and selecting Oregon as the objective point, we find Mr. Hudkins and his family landing in Lagrande, that state, about October. He rented a farm there for two years and then came on to the Big Bend country. locating near Brents and renting a farm. It was in October, 1887, that Mr. Hudkins landed amid the sea of bunch grass in Lincoln county and from that time until the day of his removal to Spokane to school his children, he was known as one of the representative citizens and a stanch man and progressive pioneer.
After renting some time he bought a quarter section, and later took a preemption. Later he bought a half section, upon one-fourth of which stood the historic town of Brents. In 1899. Mr. Hudkins bought three eighties ad- joining his other property, it being the place where he had lived most of the time since com- ing to the county, the estate lies about two and one-half miles north from Creston. In 1903, Mr. Hudkins added another quarter and then an eighty which makes him an estate of one and one-half sections, two-thirds of which are under cultivation and producing excellent crops annually. The balance is pasture and timber. The farm is supplied with all improve- ments necessary, including a first class barn and fine orchard. In November, 1903, Mr. Hudkins purchased the residence where he now lives in Spokane and makes that the family home, the move being taken for the purpose of giving the children better school advantages. On December 30, 1879, Mr. Hudkins mar- ried Miss Emma Martin, the daughter of Spencer and Sarah (Michel) Martin, natives of West Virginia. They followed farming and the father died in his native state in 1862, while the mother died in Illinois, in 1891. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Martin are, Jane, Maria, Henry. Jesse, Tabitha, Mahala, Emma, John, and Laura. Mrs. Hudkins was educated in her native state and accompanied her mother to Illinois about 1875, and since her marriage she has been a sharer of the labors and success of her husband. They are the parents of the following named children : Olive Myrtle, born in Illinois, on December 6. 1880, and died in 1883; Lillian Pearl, born in Illinois, on December 22, 1881, and died in Illinois in 1882; Ernest Walker, born in Illi- nois, on May 12. 1883, and died August. 1884: Russell Alva./ born in Illinois, on May 16. 1885, and now with his parents : Rachel Helen. born in Lincoln county, on December 5. 1887. and now at home.
Mr. Hudkins' two half brothers and his eldest brother fought for the union in the Civil war and the eldest, William, was killed. Mr. and Mrs. Hudkins belong to the Rebeckahs. while he also belongs to the A. F. & A. M .. and the I. O. O. F., and Mrs. Hudkins is an adherent of the Methodist church. Politically. he is a Democrat, but is not especially active. He has seen and knows by experience the hard-
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
ships of the pioneer, has labored faithfully in development and forwarding the interests of the Big Bend, and he and his wife are now justly entitled to the emoluments of their
labors. They are known as estimable people and have shown a stability and tenacity that deservedly win in the race of life.
A BIT OF THE MIGHTY COLUMBIA, WALLED IN
N MANCHESTER, INDIANA
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