USA > Washington > Douglas County > An illustrated history of the Big Bend country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington, pt 2 > Part 24
USA > Washington > Adams County > An illustrated history of the Big Bend country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington, pt 2 > Part 24
USA > Washington > Franklin County > An illustrated history of the Big Bend country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington, pt 2 > Part 24
USA > Washington > Lincoln County > An illustrated history of the Big Bend country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington, pt 2 > Part 24
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Mr. and Mrs. Day are adherents of the Catholic church and are well known through- out Douglas county, having walked in a man- ner that commended them to all.
WILLIAM SCULLY. When the first settlers were beginning to locate in Douglas county they were largely without money and property. Our subject was in the same condi- tion at the time he secured a government claim ten miles northwest from Almira where he has resided since. He has a nice farm in a high state of cultivation, well improved, with sub- stantial buildings and other conveniences, and all the result of his industry and labor.
William Scully was born in New Bruns- wick, Canada, on November 27, 1848, being the son of Patrick and Jane ( Kearney) Scully, na- tives of Ireland and New Brunswick, respect- ively. The father settled in Canada when quite young. Our subject was educated in New Brunswick and there remained until 1872, being engaged in the lumber business. In the year last mentioned, he came to the United States, making settlement in Wisconsin. Lumbering occupied him for sometime and next we see him across the continent on Puget Sound. He labored in the vicinity of Hood's canal for some-
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time lumbering, then moved to Yakima. Until 1883, he was occupied there, driving logs on the river for the Northern Pacific. Then he came to Douglas county and took a preemption where he now lives. He also took a timber culture, and his is one of the valuable estates of the county. Mr. Scully also takes a keen inter- est in politics and other questions of importance and in 1898, was called by his fellow citizens to fill the important office of county commissioner, his name appearing on the Fusion ticket. Mr. Scully has two brothers, Michael and Patrick, and one sister Mrs. Margaret Daley.
In Spokane, on November 20, 1898, occurred the marriage of Mr. Scully and Miss Annie Doyle. Her parents, John and Bridget (Deveraux) Doyle, were natives of Ireland and New Brunswick, respectively. She was born in New Brunswick, on May 16, 1853 and has three sisters and three brothers, John, Patrick, Paul, Mrs. Ellen Murphy, Mrs. Catherine Nolan and Miss Margaret. Mr. and Mrs. Scully are members of the Roman Catholic church and are highly respected people. Their walk has been such in Douglas county that they have won the confidence and esteem of all who know them, and their labors have been very wisely bestowed, achieving abundant success in financial matters.
DAVID WILSON, who resides seven and one-half miles northwest from Almira, is one of the well known and popular men of Doug- las county. His labors, his wisdom, his up- rightness, and his genialty, have won for him both a brilliant success and financial favors, as well as hosts of friends from every quarter. He is to-day one of the influential and re- spected men who have made Douglas county what it is.
David Wilson was born in McDonough county, Illinois, on July 6, 1859, being the son of Albert and Elizabeth ( Burchett) Wilson, natives of Illinois and Ohio, respectively. The common schools of his native county was the place of his educational training and he re- mained in the Prairie State until twenty-three years of age. In 1882, he came to Seattle. later to Oregon, then to Walla Walla, and finally, in October, 1883. he landed in Douglas county. He at once made filing on the south- . east quarter of section 26, township 27, range
30, as a preemption. The next year, he took up a homestead and in 1887, a timber culture claim and the entire estate now is well culti- vated and productive of annual returns of ex- cellent crops. He was the first school director of the Union school established in 1886, being associated in this work with J. O'Neil, J. O'Flarity and A. L. Davis. Mrs. P. J. Young was the teacher. Mr. Wilson bought the first reaper in Douglas county and has ever been a progressive man, having his estate supplied with the best and latest machinery and also laboring for the advancement and development of the county. Mr. Wilson has three brothers and one sister, Lyman, Alonzo, James and Mrs. Lucy Nebergal.
At Cheney, Washington, on November 12, 1885, Mr. Wilson married Miss M. Alice, daughter of William and Matilda (McHargue) Montgomery, natives of Missouri. They crossed the plains to Oregon in 1865, making settlement in Linn county. 3 The father is still living, but the mother is deceased. Mrs. Wilson was born in Macon county, Missouri, on May 6, 1859 and has one brother, James, and three sisters, Mrs. Mary Bowers, Mis. Laura Martin and Mrs. Ella Herron. To this worthy couple four children have been born : Eva Inis, on March 17, 1889; Clarence R., on June 19, 1890; Irna E., on May 6, 1892; and Hazel Dell. on September 10, 1895.
Mr. Wilson is a member of the I. O. O. F. and he and his wife are adherents of the Pro- testant churches. Mr. Wilson may take the pleasure of reviewing his labors in Douglas county with the assurance that he has made a satisfactory success and that he has done well the part of the pioneer and substantial citizen and has reared here an excellent family.
JASON COVERT, one of the indus- trious and wide awake young agriculturists of Douglas county, resides seven and one-half miles northwest from Almira, where he does general farming and stock raising. He was born in Bartholomew county, Indiana, on De- cember 6, 1871. being the son of Marshall M. and Jane S. ( Mahaffey) Covert, natives of Indiana and Ohio, respectively and pioneers in Douglas county. Marshall M. is a blood relative of Jolin and Henry Covert, of San
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Joaquin county, California. The early settlers of New York colony included some from Hol- land who were members of the Covert family, and the name was originally spelled Coover. The common schools of Indiana and Sprague, Lincoln county, furnished the educational train- ing of our subject. He came here with his par- ents when fifteen and they remained in Sprague for one winter. Later, they came to Douglas county and our subject took a homestead when twenty-one years of age. This continued to be his home until June, last, when he re- moved on to one hundred and sixty acres which he had received from his father, where he has built a fine residence, large barns, and made other improvements. Mr. Covert has made a good success in raising small grain and also pays attention to handling cattle, horses and hogs, having some fine thoroughbred specimens. He has one brother, Leroy, living in this county.
At Columbus, Indiana, on January 6, 1900, Mr. Covert married Miss Lizzie B., daughter of Robert and Jemima A. (Fuel) White, na- tives of Indiana. The father is still living, but the mother is deceased. Mrs. Covert was born in Bartholomew county, Indiana, on June 26, 1880. She has one brother, three half brothers, and one half sister, named as follows, Albert C., John W., William R., Henry F. and Mrs. Cora Mobley. To Mr. and Mrs. Covert, one child has been born, Bernice, on February 7, 190I.
Mr. Covert is a member of the I. O. O. F. and he and his wife are adherents of the Baptist church. When the Washington Central Rail- road was built through Douglas and Lincoln counties, Mr. Covert was employed on it much of the time. He has shown himself a man of energy and industry, being also a patriotic and progressive citizen.
JAMES BURNETT VALENTINE is conducting a general merchandise establish- ment at Bridgeport, Washington. Perhaps no other man has ever been in Douglas county, who is more popular with the public than Mr. Valentine, who deservedly holds this position as will be found when reading an account of his life. As a business man, he is upright, pro- gressive and skillful: as a citizen he is loval, broad minded and very active in the upbuilding
of the country. In his social life he is a man who finds and retains many friends, both be- cause of his geniality and his sterling worth.
James B. Valentine was born in Montrose, Scotland, on January 26, 1868, the son of Stewart S. and Isabella (Grieve) Valentine, natives of Scotland, where they still reside. Our subject received a good common school education and then learned the blacksmith trade. In 1884, he emigrated to the United States and after a short stay in Boston, came on to Um- atilla county, Oregon, where he worked at the blacksmith's trade until 1888. In that year, Mr. Valentine came to Douglas county, locat- ing a preemption and timber culture claim about twenty miles north from Waterville. That was his home until 1897, in which year, he moved to Bridgeport and took up his pre- sent occupation. In 1892, Mr. Valentine was elected to the sheriff's office of Douglas county, his name appearing on the Populist ticket, and his majority was just twelve votes. Two years later, he was called to the same office by a regular landslide, almost everybody voting for him. It had been ascertained in the two years previous that he was a man above reproach, and he brought to bear in the fulfillment of the important duites encumbent upon him in that capacity, a wealth of wisdom, courage, and integrity that made him a terror to evil doers and a friend of every peace loving and law abiding citizen of the county. Many were the desperate characters whom he captured, among them being E. A. Henderson, Del Woods, and Bill Gibbon, a gang of horse thieves and out- laws, who had been terrorizing the country for years but found a short end under Mr. Valen- tine's term of office. Perhaps no man ever left an office in Douglas county with so many regrets from the people as did Mr. Valentine at the expiration of his second term. Untold good has resulted, from this excellent demon- stration and crooks and thieves learned to cease their operations in this section.
At Wenatchee, on October 29, 1899, Mr. Valentine married Mrs. Frances A. Scully. Her parents were W. D. and Phoebe ( Spencer) Reeder, natives of Missouri and Pennsylvania, respectively. The father is a veteran of the Civil War and belongs to the G. A. R. Mrs. Valentine was born in Davis county, Iowa, on September 30, 1864. She has four brothers and one sister, Elwood, Charles E., William,
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John C., and Mrs. Martha J. Crammer. To this union two children have been born: Isa- bella, on June 30, 1900; Etta Burnett, on August 10, 1903, both at Bridgeport. By her former marriage Mrs. Valentine has five children, John W., Edward C., Elizabeth A., Henry, and Mrs. Alta G. Mackey.
Mr. Valentine has one brother, Charles W., who lives in Morrow county, Oregon, and sev- eral brothers and sisters in the old country. He is a member of the M. W. A. and an adherent of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Valentine is making excellent success of his present business and is one of the leading men of the county in business affairs and finance as well as other- wise.
HERMAN CORNEHL is one of the very busy men of Douglas county. Possessed of energy, push and enterprise, a good physique and plenty of spirit, he has found in this west- ern country an arena for operation congenial to his. make up. At the present time he is operating a large mercantile establishment in company with Mr. Valentine, who is mentioned in another portion of this work. In 1898, he started in business at Bridgeport with a small stock of goods but the firm now carries between twelve and fifteen thousand dollars worth of goods on their shelves and in their warehouses. They are the largest merchants north of Water- ville and do an immense business.
Herman Cornell was born in Hamburg, Germany, on November 23, 1863, the son of Henry and Annie K. (Schmidt) Cornehl, na- tives of Hamburg. Educated in the schools of his native land, our subject there grew to man- hood, and in 1883. came to the United States. He soon crossed this continent to San Francisco and engaged in general work for three and one- half years, then went into business for himself in Alameda, handling coal, wood and feed. Two years later, we find him in Fresno, selling real estate. After that, Mr. Cornehl went to Oklahoma and participated in that excitement. Not being pleased with the country, he sold out and journeyed to Guthrie, then to Arkansas City, after which he made a visit to Germany. then came to the Big Bend country. He took government claims in the fall of 1890, at the head of West Foster creek, where he now owns one section of land, highly improved and
cultivated. Mr. Cornell immediately gave his attention to stock raising upon arriving here and has continued in the same until the present time, having large herds on his farm which he oversees from his home in Bridgeport. As stated before, he began business in Bridgeport in 1898, having as a partner, Mr. McLean. In 1899, Mr. McLean sold to Mr. Valentine and since then, these two enterprising men have conducted the business. They buy grain and handle agricultural implements, in addition to general merchandise. Mr. Cornell has the fol- lowing brothers and sisters, Heinrich, William, Gustavus, Hinrich, Ernest and Ferdinand.
On May 18, 1904, Mr. Cornell married Miss Pearl Galbraith. daughter of G. W. and M. T. (Weaver) Galbraith, natives of North Carolina and Texas, respectively. Mrs. Cor- nehl has the following named brothers and sisters, George R., William N., Claude, Percy, Lottie and Mandie.
Mr. Cornehl is a member of the M. W. A. and also belongs to the Lutheran church. He is active in educational matters and also is a mem- ber of the county central committee of the Re- publican party. He has so conducted himself in the business that he has won the respect and confidence of every one who knows him and stands among the leading business men of Douglas county.
CHARLES A. BELL has resided in the Big Bend country for some years. During this time, he has devoted himself to farming and stock raising and now has a large estate about five miles northeast from Mold and also owns a herd of well graded cattle. He cultivates about two hundred acres of land and expects soon to handle considerable more.
Charles A. Bell was born in Laclede county, Missouri, on September 24. 1867, being the son of William and Lavina A. (Williams) Bell, natives of North Carolina. The district schools of Dade county, Missouri furnished his edu- cational training and the early years of his life were spent on a farm. He came with his parents and the family west to Oregon in 1883 and three years later moved to the vicinity of Egypt, in Lincoln county. It was 1896, when Mr. Bell took land where he now resides and soon after gave his attention to the improve-
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ment of his place, doing general farming and stock raising. His brothers and sisters are mentioned in another portion of this work.
On December 26, 1891, in Spokane, Mr. Bell married Miss Etta A. Duncan. Her par- ents, William E. and Minerva J. (Southard) Duncan, were natives of Illinois. Mrs. Bell was born in Erath county, Texas, on April 8, 1872 and. has one brother, William, and one sister, Mrs. Martha Hart.
To this couple two children have been born, John B., in Lincoln county, on November 27, 1894, and Katie J., in Douglas county, on Sep- tember 4, 1901.
Mr. Bell is a member of the A. O. U. W.
DANIEL E. LEAHY lives at Leahy post- office and is occupied in general farming and stock raising. He is one of the oldest pioneers of Douglas county and is known as one of the most successful men within its precincts. He owns a section of good wheat land, besides one hundred head of choice, well bred cattle, and a band of horses. His estate is well improved, has fine buildings, fences, corrals and buildings with all conveniences needed on a first-class farm. These large holdings have all been gained by the efforts of Mr. Leahy since coming to Douglas county and he is known as one of the most substantial men of this part of the county.
Daniel E. Leahy was born in the Province of Quebec, Canada, on May 11, 1850, being the son of James and Catherine ( Barrett) Leahy. The father was born in Cork county, Ireland and came to the United States in 1819. The mother was a native of Canada. Our subject attended the district schools of Canada and labored on his father's farm until twenty-one years of age, then he went to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and did lumbering for two years. After that, he spent a year in Canada, a couple in New York state and after a visit home, came to Silver City, Idaho. He was engaged in mining on the Golden Chariot in Idaho, near Boise City and in other sections of the county. Mr. Leahy was head tunnelman in the Sutro tunnel, at Virginia City, Nevada, and in the Standard mine, Bodie, California, for years. In 1883, he journeyed north to Washington and camped on Douglas creek four months.
Being well impressed with the country, he took a homestead on Foster creek, where he resides now and which has been added to until he owns a large estate. . First Mr. Leahy gave his at- tention to general farming and raising horses, later he added cattle and is now handling a large bunch of them. He has one fine heifer that took second prize at the Spokane fair in 190I. Mr. Leahy was forced, like other pioneers, to travel clear to Sprague for his supplies but he continued steadily in his labors until he has seen the country develop about him to be one of the best portions of the great state of Washington.
In Spokane, on November 1, 1896, Mr. Leahy married Miss Mary O'Farrell. Her father, Jasper O'Farrell, was a native of Cal- ifornia and followed civil engineering. He as- sisted to lay out a portion of the land now occupied by San Francisco and has one street named in his honor. He married Miss Mary Christian, a native of Maine. Mrs. Leahy was born in Sonoma county, California, on Decem- ber 28, 1861 and has four brothers and one sister, John J., Louis J., Cathol, Gerald, and Lena.
To Mr. and Mrs. Leahy four children have been born : Dorotha T., on September 18, 1897; Catherine, on June 12, 1899; Cecelia G., on October 14, 1900; Mary C., on August II, 1902.
Mr. and Mrs. Leahy are members of the Roman Catholic church .
Sometime after Mr. Leahy had located in Douglas county, his brother Dennis, came from California and entered into partnership in stock raising. This continued until 1897, when by mutual consent they dissolved and each handles his own brand.
JAMES B. LEAHY was born in Quebec, Canada, on October 14. 1858, being the son of James and Catherine ( Barrett) Leahy, natives of Ireland. Our subject spent his youthful days on the farm and gained his education from the district schools. When sixteen, he started out in life for himself and went to Cornwall, Canada, where he shipped on a lake steamer that was plying between Montreal and Chicago. In 1878, young Leahy came west to Nevada and engaged in mining. Later, he went to
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Leadville and prospected for a time. Next we see him in Bodie, California, operating in the Standard gold mines where he continued seven years. Then he went to Mill City, Nevada, one year later, to Park City, Utah, thence to the Woodriver country, Idaho, and later, returned to Park City, Utah. During all this time, he was occupied in the various leading mines in the sections that he visited, becoming very ex- pert in that industry. From Utah, Mr. Leahy came to Douglas county and selected govern- ment claims where he now lives. He is giving his undivided attention to general farming and stock raising and now has a large estate and over three hundred head of fine graded cattle. He has some excellent Durham bulls and keeps nothing but first-class stock. Leahy Postoffice is located at his home, he being appointed post- master by John Wanamaker in 1891. In all the years since, Mr. Leahy has discharged the duties encumbent upon him in this capacity in a manner satisfactory to all the patrons. He has also been road supervisor and is one of the leading men of this portion of the county. Mr. Leahy has the following brothers and sisters : Daniel E., in this county; Patrick, in Butte City, Montana ; Dennis J. and Michael R., both living in this county ; Mrs. Eliza Timlin, living in Tonepah, Nevada; Mrs. Bridget Murphy, living in Canada; Mrs. Teresa Brennan and Mrs. Ella Nelson in Oakland, California ; Mrs. Mary Murphy, living in Nebraska; and Mrs. Ersella Maddin, living in Butte, Montana.
At Park City, Utah, on February 27, 1889, Mr. Leahy married Josephine A. Conners, daughter of Thomas and Maguilla (Cady) Conners, natives of New York and Ireland, re- spectively. The parents crossed the plains with ox teams in 1866 when Mrs. Leahy was an in- fant. She was born on April 30, 1866. Mrs. Leahy is a cousin of John Conners, of the United States Army who commanded the United States Volunteers in Utah during the Civil war. She has the following brothers and sisters : James, who died in Stockton, Utah; John, living in Stockton, Utah; Mrs. Mary Paxton, living in Park City, Utah; Mrs. Ella Leary at Coulee City, Washington. To Mr. and Mrs. Leahy one child has been born, Frank B., on July 27, 1895, the birthplace being at Park City, Utah.
Mr. Leahy is a member of the A. O. U. W. and an adherent of the Catholic church. When
he first settled in this country, he was obliged to haul all his supplies one hundred and twenty miles and his nearest postoffice, Barry, was twenty-five miles distant. He knows well the hardships and labors of the pioneer and has been very successful, having demonstrated him- self to be a man of ability and energy. His labors have ever shown a marked wisdom and Mr. Leahy rightfully stands one of the leading men of Douglas county.
WILLIAM F. BELL, who resides about five miles northeast from Mold, is known as one of the industrious farmers of the Big Bend country. In addition to handling his estate of one-half section, where he resides, he has for the last two years, spent a great deal of time in locating homeseekers in the country, having assisted over fifty families to select good places in Douglas county.
William F. Bell was born in Surry county, North Carolina, on December 23, 1854. His parents were William and Lavina A. (Will- iams) Bell, natives of North Carolina, and they are still living on the homestead in Douglas county. Our subject was educated in the com- mon schools of Iowa and Missouri, whither his father had moved with his family when our subject was quite young. After finishing his school days, he learned the carpenter's trade which he followed for some time. In 1883, Mr. Bell moved to Oregon, stopping in Doug- las county near Oakland and there followed his trade. It was 1886 when he came to Lin- coln county and gave attention to farming in the Egypt country. In 1890, he took up a pre- emption in Douglas county, which is his present home. He added a timber culture claim later and the whole is now in a high state of cultiva- tion. He has a farm well improved and sup- plied with all kinds of machinery and every- thing necessary for a first-class farm.
Mr. Bell has three brothers and one sister, Robert S., John D., Charles, and Mrs. Martha J. Shook.
The marriage of Mr. Bell and Miss Dora B. Hampton occurred on February 20, 1880, at Kingspoint, Missouri. Mrs. Bell's parents, Lindley H. and Phoebe J. (Richardson) Hampton, were natives of Indiana and Ohio, respectively. She was born in Lee county,
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
Iowa, on April 1, 1867 and has the following brothers and sisters, John Frank, James, Mrs. Gertrude Crumb and Mrs. Myrtle Viles.
To Mr. and Mrs. Bell, eight children have been born; Lulu M., deceased; Martha J., wife of Lee Smith ; Ida A., William L., Charles R., John F., George A., deceased, and James L. Mr. and Mrs. Bell are highly respected people.
DAVID L. HEINLEN, who resides about two miles southeast from Mold, is one of Douglas county's industrious and well known farmers. His estate consists of one-half sec- tion and is well improved with buildings, fences and all things necessary to make it a first-class grain and stock farm. Mr. Heinlen cultivates the estate in a first-class manner and has shown himself to be a number one farmer.
David L. Heinlen was born in Gratiot coun- ty, Michigan, on February 20, 1858, being the son of Emanuel and Mahala (Gale) Heinlen, natives of Ohio and of German ancestry. The father is still living, but the mother is deceased. Our subject received his education in the com- mon schools of Delaware county, Ohio and was reared on the farm. He moved to Missouri, in 1873 in company with his father and the balance of the family, making the settlement in Schuyler county, near Lancaster. In 1885, he moved to Linn county, near Brookfield. In 1891, he came to Washington, settling on a homestead in the vicinity of St. Andrews. Hav- ing proved up on the claim, he sold it after eight years and bought his present home place. During all the years spent in the various states, Mr. Heinlen has devoted himself to farming. He has three brothers and two sisters, John W., James P., Isaac S., Mrs. Mary A. West, and Mrs. Effie Bierbowers.
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