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 32
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 32
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 32
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 32
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
Soran C. Christensen was born in the northern part of Denmark on February 18, 1842. His parents were Christian and Keasken (Soranson) Peterson, natives of Denmark. The educational training of our subject was secured in the common schools of his native land during the first fourteen years of his life, then he devoted his entire time to the assistance of his father on the home farm until he was twenty-two years of age. At that time he joined the Danish army and served for about four years, being a member of the royal guard which is considered a great honor in that coun- try. The royal guard is quartered adjacent to the King's palace and is supposed to be the flower of the Danish army. In 1875. young Christensen determined to try his fortune in the New World, consequently hie crossed the ocean and made his way to Menard county, Illinois. He was engaged in general work there for sometime, then did contracting on drainage canals until 1889. In which year he came west and after due investigation settled in Douglas county where we now find him. Mr. Christensen is one of the pioneers of the county and is to be classed as a real builder of
Douglas county. He always takes a keen in- terest in political matters and educational af- fairs and has given of his time to serve upon the school board.
In Menard county, Illinois, on November 14, 1876, Mr. Christensen married Mary B. Peterson. She was born in Denmark on Sep- tember 8, 1854, and died in Douglas county on July 5, 1890. To this marriage the following named children were born, Christena M., in Illinois, on March 14, 1878; Sena C., in Illi- nois, on August 28, 1879, now the wife of Paul Matson; Robert P., born on June 28, 1883; Henry R., born on November 21, 1885 and Arthur C., born on May 28, 1888.
Mr. Christensen is a member of the Lutheran church and a firm supporter of the faitlı. He is a genial, upright gentleman and is now favored with a goodly competence for the latter years of his life which comes as a reward for his industry and thrift.
WILLIAM H. ELI is one of Douglas county's substantial farmers and dwells about seven miles southeast from Douglas. He has a good property and has shown marked in- dustry and thrift in his labors here for the last fifteen years. This residence entitles him to be classed with the pioneers who have made this Big Bend country the choicest region of the west ; and brought here, where once dwelt the coyote and the rattlesnake, the comforts of civilization and the happy times of pros- perity. William H. Eli has had a good portion in this excellent work and has done his share well. He is a native of Connecticut, being born in Tolland county, on October 19, 1849. His parents, George and Sarah A. (Roe) Eli, were natives of England and came to the United States in the early 'forties. The father fol- lowed mining. After spending the usual time in the common schools, while also portions of the year were used in farm work, William H. was fitted for the more responsible duties of life and in 1870, he left the parental roof. The next two years were spent in Newburg. Ohio, in work at the barber trade. Then came a period of travel over the western states, and two years later he returned again to Newburg. Two years were spent there and then three in his old home. After that, Mr. Eli went to
1
--------
1
71I
HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
Kansas and Missouri and wrought in the coal mines. He was in all the leading mines in those states and finally came to Washington. For a time he worked in the coal mines of King coun- ty then was in Yakima before the railroad was put through. After that, Mr. Eli was employed in the mines in Boise and Silver City, Idaho, and in the rush was in the Coeur, d'Alenes. Finally, in 1890, he quit the mines, and came to the Big Bend country. He selected a home- stead and pre-emption and secured title to a half section of good land. To the improve- ment and development of this he has given his attention since that time. He has gained a good amount of property and is blessed with a fine compentence for the balance of his natural life.
Mr. Eli has the following named brothers and sisters, George A., in Leavenworth; Robert A., mining in Okanogan county; John T., at Hanna, Wyoming; Mrs. Lizzie Eblen, in Missouri; and Mrs. Sarah Polister, at Hanna, Wyoming. Mr. Eli has many friends and his walk in life has been such that he merits and receives the respect and esteem of all who may have the pleasure of his acquaintance.
JAMES H. CUNNINGHAM is one of the well known men of Douglas county and has gained a host of friends since coming here. His geniality, uprightness and industry have given him a standing of the best, as well as provided a goodly competence in property. He is a native of Indiana, being born in Madison, Jefferson county, on December 31, 1862, the son of Clelland and Laura (Keyt) Cunningham. The mother dwells in Los Angeles, California. The father was captain of Company L, in the Fourth Indiana Volunteer Cavalry, and is now deceased. James attended the common schools early in life then finished his education in Han- over college. In 1883, he determined to come west and of all the alluring places, Washing- ton seemed the best and accordingly he came hither. He soon selected a homestead at the foot of Badger mountain and engaged in farm- ing. Later he went to the flat where Ephrata is now built and engaged in raising stock. He now has a choice farm three miles east from Farmer which is well improved and a con- fortable rural abode. In addition to handling
his stock, and overseeing his farm, Mr. Cun- ningham also has the contract of carrying the United States mail from Coulee City to Water- ville, a distance of forty-five miles. He also keeps a road house for the accommodation of passengers and travelers. Mr. Cunningham has displayed excellent ability in his labors and in addition to being one of the old pioneers, he is to be accredited with being one of the thrifty and successful men of means, who has accumu- lated his holding by a wise use of the re- sources of the country.
At Waterville, Washington, on December 25, 1890, occurred the marriage of Mr. Cun- ningham and Miss Ella Owens, only child of Edward and Amanda (Dodson) Owens, na- tives of Ohio and Linn county, Oregon, re- spectively. The father was a pioneer in Ore- gon as well as in Douglas county. Mrs. Cun- ningham was born in Silver City, Idaho, on June 4, 1873. To this worthy couple there have been born five children, named as fol- lows: Cleland T., on November 17, 1891 ; Ed- ward O., March 16, 1893; Margaret L., May 15, 1895; Henry J., July 31, 1896; and Will- iam K., on July 30, 1898. They were all born in Coulee City. Mr. Cunningham is a mem- ber of the A. O. U. W. and always takes a great interest in public measures and whatever is for the welfare of the country.
MARK NOBLE resides just west from Baird and has one of the choicest estates in Washington. It is said that Mr. Noble dis- plays the best skill, judging from results ob- tained, of any farmer in the country. Surely it may be said, that he has a model farm and one in which a pardonable pride can be taken.
Mark Noble was born in Darby; England, on May 9, 1852, the son of Mark and Mary (Graves) Noble, also natives of England. The father was a miner and later came to the United States with his family and made settle- ment in Ohio. Later he removed to Iowa and there remained until his death. Our subject was educated in the parochial schools of the Episcopal church in England and in 1870 came to the United States. His younger brother came with him and they stopped for a time at Letona, Ohio, and wrought in the iron and coal mines. Several years were thus spent
712
HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
in different sections of that state and Pennsyl- vania, when Mr. Noble secured a team and wagon and traveled to Centerville, Iowa. In 1873, he went to Kansas, but was eaten out by grasshoppers and returned to Iowa. Previous to this return, however, he spent some time in Colorado hunting buffalo. He opened a coal mine in Adams county, Iowa, and operated it for fourteen years. Then he purchased a farm ten miles out from Creston, Iowa, and soon thereafter a cyclone tore all the buildings to pieces. Again we find Mr. Noble in Kan- sas, after that in Iowa, and later in Missouri as manager of the Santa Fe coal mines. Finally he turned his face to the west and landed in Washington. Stopping a time in Rockford, he then came to Spokane and did various work until he located in Douglas county, where he lives now. In 1892, he brought his family here and since then he has given every effort to make his farm one of the best to be had. In the winters he would go to Roslyn to earn money in the coal mines to continue his im- provement. The first winter he lost all his horses and this was a great set back as it de- layed him more than a year. However, Mr. Noble was possessed of the grit that never gives up and he continued although the odds were all against him. The result is that today he has a section and one-half of choice wheat land, the best of improvements, plenty of cat- tle and horses and everything that makes com- fortable and valuable a first class Washing- ton ranch. He is one of the eminently suc- cessful men of the entire Big Bend country. Mr. Noble has the following brothers and sis- ters, Samuel, Thomas, Mrs. Elizabeth Maybe, Mrs. Mary A. Warr, Mrs. Rose Adams, and Mrs. Jemima Lynam.
The marriage of Mr. Noble and Miss Eliza- beth A. Barrow occurred at Red Oak, Iowa, on September 10, 1873. Mrs. Noble is the daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Barrow, natives of England, and she was born in Lan- castershire, England, on January 29, 1856. To Mr. and Mrs. Noble, the following named chil- dren have been born; Emma W., the wife of Robert G. Fraser, living in Spokane; Harriett L., wife of R. Leighton, living near by; Minnie, wife of L. McDonald, near Baird ; Mark C .: Daisy; Elizabeth A .; Jessa; Myrtle B., and George S. The last named died in Baird, in 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Noble are both
members of the Episcopalian church and are esteemed people. Mr. Noble constructed all the irrigation ditches on the large Blythe ranch.
JAMES F. POPPLE, better known as Uncle Jim Popple, resides about two miles northwest from Wilsoncreek. He was born in Allegany county, New York, on June 13, 1836, in what he describes as one of the most "God forsaken spots on the map of New York." His father, Billings Popple, was born in New Jersey, in 1810, the son of Billings Popple. The mother of our subject was Sarah Ann (McCray) Popple. She was born in New Jersey, in 1806, the daughter of Samuel Mc- Cray. James was the second of five chil- dren, named as follows: George, who died at Almira sometime. since; Lester, residing at Odessa; Alonzo, who died in Cairo, Illinois, in 1863, being a soldier in the Eighth Minne- sota Volunteer Infantry; Susan A., who died at Odessa, Lincoln county, in 1891. In speak- ing of his education, Mr. Popple says: "My education was strictly attended to. I was started to school at five years of age and con- tinued regularily for about three months of each year. My task was to learn by heart a page of something in the front of the spelling book. When I had that learned the term was out. I never knew at that time what it was and do not yet. However, I expect sometime to go back and hunt up the old speller and learn what it was." When fourteen, James was hired to a farmer living near by, for four bush- els of wheat per month. Two years later, his father died and he then began to assist his mother in the support of the family. When seven or eight years of age, Mr. Popple dis- tinctly remembers the first matches that were brought out. Previous to that, it was a very common thing for the children to run to the neighbors to get fire. At the time the first matches appeared, the first cook stoves were manufactured. When twenty years of age, Mr. Popple came to Minnesota, his oldest brother having come three years previous. Six months after he arrived his mother and the bal- ance of the family came and they located at the mouth of the Platt river in Morrison county, one hundred miles north from St. Paul. For eleven years, Mr. Popple was on the spring
--
713
HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
drives and actively engaged in the lumber woods in winter. In speaking of that country, Mr. Popple remarks "There were two seasons only, one is the mosquito and the other the winter." However, he remained there until 1888 and then journeyed west with his horses and cattle to join his brother who was in the sheep business on Crab Creek. The first winter was fine but the second winter the thermometer ranged forty degrees below zero and the stock had to be fed for one hundred and twenty days. Mr. Popple paid as high as twenty-five dollars per ton for hay and hauled it seven miles to keep the stock from starving. He took a ranch at the mouth of Sylvan lake and farmed it for two seasons then traded it for a band of seventy horses. He put these on the range in the care of his brother, who attended them until his death, in 1894. Since then, Mr. Popple has given his attention to them and now has some of the finest horses in the entire Big Bend coun- try. In addition to his home place, he leases two thousand acres south of Wilsoncreek which was devoted to pasture. Mr. Popple is well and favorably known all over this country and has many friends. He has never seen fit to discard the joys of the celibatarian for the un- certain seas of matrimony.
JOHN A. SEMRO is at the present time operating a first class hotel in Wilsoncreek. Although not classed as one of the earliest pioneers of the Big Bend country, still, Mr. Semro has manifested such energy and zeal in the building up of the country since coming that he is entitled to the rank with the leading citizens of Douglas county. He was born in West Prussia, Germany, on March I, 1855, the son of David and Henrietta ( Reston) Semro, also natives of Prussia. His education was received in his native land and there he resided until 1882, when he shipped for the United States, landing in Brooklyn. After a short service there, he came west to Milwaukee and did general work in that city for some time. Then he went to Ripon, Wisconsin, and en- gaged in farming. Two years later, he jour- neyed to Redwood county, Minnesota, and after two years in general work, he bought a farm. That was his home until 1901 when he sold and came to Washington. He first settled on
a ranchi near Wilsoncreek which he later sold. After that, he moved to Wilsoncreek and bought a hotel which he is now operating. In addition to this, he has erected a fine dwelling house and he also owns other property. He has improved the hotel until it is now a very pleas- ant and convenient stopping place and Mr. Semro has the happy faculty of making his guests comfortable and entirely at home. Mr. Semro has one brother, Julius, who also lives in Douglas.
In Green Lake county, Wisconsin, in No- vember, 1883, Mr. Semro married Miss Ida Schmidlock, who was born in Green Lake county, in 1866. To this union nine children have been born, named as follows, Sarah, Ar- thur, Agnes, Harrison, Augusta, Alice, Lenora, Grace and Ralph. Mr. Semro is a man of re- liability and integrity and has won many friends since coming here. He keeps a fine hotel and is popular with the traveling public.
YOUNG BROTHERS is the style of a mercantile house in Stratford. The members of the firm are Louis C. and Jacob T. Young. They were the promoters of Stratford and own the only general merchandise store in the place. They carry a complete stock of goods wisely selected for the needs of the people of this sec- tion and also handle implements and other goods. While they are pioneers of this county they have not been long in this line of business which now occupies them, still they have al- ready a fine patronage and are to be numbered with the leading merchants of the southern part of Douglas county.
Jacob T. Young was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, on June 4, 1861, while Louis C. Young was born in the same county on July 4. 1867. Their parents are Charles F. and Margaret (Gezell) Young, natives of Ger- many and Pennsylvania. respectively. The mother died in Iowa. The father came to the United States when young and settled as one of the pioneers of Iowa. His death occurred at Hartline. The brothers were educated in the common schools of their native county and when 1881 came, they went on to Nebraska, where they traveled about and worked on the railroads. The next year they made their way to Idaho and in 1883, they came to Washing-
714
HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
ton. They first made settlement in the Cali- fornia community, nine miles north from where Hartline now stands. In 1887, they settled in the Grand Coulee at the head of Blue Lake, in the section known as the "Park." They soon established a cattle ranch and improved the place in good shape. They stocked the lake with fish and made their place both valuable and attractive. Here they raised stock until June 19, 1902, when they sold the entire prop- erty to James H. Smith, the present owner. The following September, the Young Brothers opened a general merchandise store in Strat- ford, having previously purchased the land here and laid out a townsite. They have built up the place and are enterprising and public minded business men.
Our subjects have the following brothers and sisters, Phillip J., Charles W., Adolph H., William H., Mrs. Caroline Blumerader, Mrs. Louisa Henning, Mrs. Christian Hess, and Mrs. Kate Rudolph.
The marriage of Jacob T. Young and Miss Violet E. Shaw occurred at Waterville, in 1899 and to them two children have been born : Charles F .. at the Park, on June 22, 1900; and Merrill M., at Stratford, on March 9, 1903. Mrs. Violet Young was born in Wis- consin, in 1872. At Coulee City, in 1897, Mr. Louis C. Young married Miss Jessie McClel- lan, the daughter of William and Lucy Mc- Clellan, natives of Iowa, where also Mrs. Young was born. To this union two children have been born, Violet M., at the Park, on May 22, 1898, and Vernie E., also at the Park, June 21, 1900. The Lutheran church appeals more strongly in its tenets and doctrines to our subjects, although they do not belong to any denomination.
HENRY MITCHELL, M. D .. is well known all over Douglas county and rightly, too, for he has done a good work here and is to-day enjoying the competence which his la- bors and wisdom have provided. He owns a beautiful home in Wilsoncreek, the same being tastily furnished and surrounded with hand- some grounds. The doctor takes especial pride in some excellent fruit trees which he has raised and which are first class, while Mrs. Mit- chell has some of the finest Plymouth Rock
chickens to be found in this section of the coun- try. They are happy people and have won hosts of friends from all parts of the country.
Henry Mitchell was born in Obion county, Tennessee, on March 29, 1849, the son of Rev. William R. and Mehala ( Thompson) Mitchell, natives of North Carolina. The father was a minister of the Primitive Baptist denomina- tion. Henry was trained in the district schools of Linn and Macon counties, Missouri, whither his father had removed, and then completed a course in Kirksville Normal school. At the age of twenty-three, he began the study of medi- cine under the tuition of Dr. S. R. Cox, of New Boston, Missouri, and there continued steadily for six years, taking an extended course of reading. Then he matriculated in the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons in Keokuk, Iowa, graduating in the class of 1878. He immediately returned to New Boston, Missouri, and took up his profession. He was favored with a large practice, owing to his skill and suc- cess, but the ordeal of attending to such an ex- tensive labor wore on his health and he broke down. Being assured that he must give up his medical labors, he determined to come west and take up the stock business. Accordingly, he made his way to Washington and chose a place in Douglas county for the start. Ritzville, forty-five miles away, was his nearest post of- fice, then Coulee City was established in 1890, and finally, in 1894, an office was located at Wilsoncreek. The doctor had discarded his medicine case, but as the people became aware that a skillful physician and surgeon was in their midst he had calls from every quarter and as they came more and more, as the coun- try settled, he was obliged to respond to the suffering sick. However, the salubrious and health giving climate had wiped out his sick- ness and given him a stock of vitality sufficient to again take up the practice, and so Dr. Mit- chell could not say no. Accordingly. he was obliged to relax his grasp of the stock business and is now entirely engaged in the medical work. His success is what has won for him a marked favor among the people and Dr. Mit- chell has the confidence and esteem of all who know him. His long and careful study coupled with an adaptiblity for this line of investigation and the doctor's care to keep abreast of the progressing science of medicine together with his conscientiousness in handling every case to
715
HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
the best advantage combine to give the success which is so envied.
Dr. Mitchell has two brothers and two sis- ters, John F., Thomas C., Mrs. Nancy A. Todd, and Mrs. Mary E. Barbee. His marriage oc- cured in Linn county, Missouri, in 1879, March 18, when Miss Julia M. Stone became his bride. Her parents, Granville H. and Mary E. (Bailey) Stone, were natives of Virginia and Missouri, respectively. She was born in Linn county, Missouri, on January 27, 1861. Four children have been born to them, but all died in infancy. They adopted one son, Jo- seph Hensley Mitchell, who is now living in Leavenworth, Washington. The doctor is a member of the M. W. A., the Foresters and the Royal Neighbors. He is medical examiner for all the old line insurance companies which do business in his section and is also examiner for the fraternal societies to which he belongs.
PHILO E. SUMMERS is one of the stir- ring stockmen of Douglas county and has made a good success in this line of business. He dwells about ten miles north from Ephrata, where his headquarters are and where he has land which produces the hay necessary for his herds. He has had large experience in the stock business in various sections of the west and is a man well posted in all that pertains to this business. He is a native of the occident, being born in Benton county, Oregon, on Sep- tember 6, 1858, the son of Eli and Rhoda (King) Summers, natives of Ohio and Mis- souri, respectively. They now reside in Ore- gon, and crossed the plains in very early days with ox teams. Philo attended the common schools until fourteen then gave his attention almost exclusively to handling stock for his father until 1883. Then he went to eastern Oregon, and there engaged in the horse busi- ness for himself. For eight years he followed this line and in 1889 made a visit to Douglas county, Washington. Returning to Oregon, he disposed of his interests, and in April, 1892, he came hither to settle. He selected his pres- ent place as a homestead and at once began im- provements. During the early years of his res- idence here he was in the employ of T. S. Blythe and J. F. Beazley. After this he went to the Yakima country and for two years was
engaged with Bounds & Meyers in the stock business. Then he returned to his home in Douglas county and at once began raising stock for himself. He has now some fine graded herds as well as excellent well bred horses, among which are some of the choicest animals on the range, and Mr. Summers shows good skill in handling his business. His brand is I T on the left hip of the horses and I T on the right hip of the cattle.
Mr. Summers has two brothers, Daniel D., who dwells at Lexington, Morrow county, Ore- gon, and Otto A., living near the same place. Mr. Summers was raised under the influence of the Methodist church but does not belong to any denomination. He is interested in po- litical matters and the general progress of the county and always is found on the side of all improvements.
THOMAS J. FERGUSON lives at Eph- rata and devotes his attention to handling stock and raising hay. He is a man whose experience extends over many years of western life and who has gained a liberal fund of knowledge from actual contact with the ways and man- ners of many men in many different lines. He is to be classed as one of the pioneers of Doug- las county and is one of the real builders of this political division. His birth occurred in the vcinity of Owensburg, Greene county, Indiana, on Christmas day, 1832, and his parents are James and Elizabeth (Riddle) Ferguson, na- tives of Virginia. Like the children of other pioneers, our subject was educated in the log cabin school houses of those early communi- ties and he well remembers the rude benches and the puncheon floors. However, he made the best of his opportunities and was soon well trained in the common branches. During the portions of the year when not at school, he was laboring with his father on the farm. This continued until 1852, when, being twenty years of age, he determined to come west. His first journey was to southwestern Missouri, and after one year there, he joined a train bound for California, being in company with an elder brother. In due time they landed in Tehama county and in the vicinity of Red Bluffs, he went to farming. For a decade, he continued in this line, doing well. Then he migrated to Nevada, and there selected a location on the
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.