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 33
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 33
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 33
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 33
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
Humboldt river and planted a large acreage to potatoes. Owing to various causes, he lost the entire crop and this was the means of changing his career for a time, at least. He abandoned the farm and gave attention to min- ing and freighting. He also prospected some and shortly made his way to Boise, Idaho. Here he continued the occupations he had been engaged in and also did freighting for the Central Pacific railway. Next we see him in Linn county, Oregon, where he went back to farming again. Two years later he located in what is now Gilliam county, Oregon, and took up wool growing. He operated on an extensive scale there until 1889, when he sold out and came to his present location. He purchased seven hundred and twenty acres from the rail- road company and at once went to raising stock. Later years he has sold his stock and is devot- ing himself to raising hay. He has over two hundred acres of the finest meadow, which produces red top and native grasses. Mr. Fer- guson has been well prospered in his labors and has the joy of having a good competence for the golden years of his life, which are running apace. He has won the esteem and confidence of the people and has many warm friends. He has one half-brother, Lovell R. Ferguson, who dwells in Bloomfield, Indiana; and two sisters. Mrs. Martha Davis, living at the old home in Indiana; and Mrs. Nancy Cook, at Freedonia, Kansas. He also has two nieces, Mrs. William N. Pate, at Wenatchee, and Mrs. Henry Decter, at Hartline, this county. He was raised under the influence of the Christian church but belongs to no denomination.
JOHN T. OWENS resides at Ephrata and is one of the leading citizens of that pro- gressive little city. He is engaged in handling grain for the Orondo Shipping Company of Wenatchee and out of the one hundred and thirty thousand bushels shipped from Ephrata last year, he handled sixty thousand, thus in- dicating that he is doing a very prosperous business.
John T. Owens was born in the Weise Valley, Idaho, on November 15, 1871. His parents are Edward and Amanda (Dodson) Owens, natives of Maine and Virginia. respec- tively. The father was a pioneer in Oregon and also in Douglas county, Washington. The
mother died in Moses coulee, in 1894. Our subject attended the schools in various places and completed his training in the Ellensburg high school in this state. Then he spent some- time in partnership with his father in the stock business and also was engaged in riding the range in various places. Later, he took a home- stead which he relinquished in 1896. He went to North Yakima, there purchasing a large tract of land. For two years he raised hay, then sold it and returned to Moses coulee and engaged again in business with his father, giv- ing attention to farming and fruit raising. In 1901, he sold his interests there to his father and moved to Ephrata where he erected a liv- ery stable. He operated it for some time then sold and built several dwelling houses which he rents at the present time. It was 1902, when Mr. Owens engaged with the Orondo Shipping Company and since then he has been actively interested in promoting the town of Ephrata. He is personally interested in con- siderable property here and has done much to forward the welfare of the place. Mr. Owens is a stirring business man and judging the fu- ture by the past, we feel sure that he will be one of the leading property owners of Douglas county in a short time.
Mr. Owens is one of a family of six chil- dren, the other five being named as follows: James, Edward, Mrs. Rachel Harring, Mrs. Ella Cunningham, and Mrs. Myrtle Ogle.
The marriage of our subject and Mrs. Eliz- abeth Vincent occurred on October 1, 1895, at Waterville. Mrs. Owens' parents are Wil- liam and Mary M. Howard, natives of Tennes- see and now dwelling at Rock Creek, Whitman county, Washington. The father served in the Confederate army. Mrs. Owens has two broth- ers and three sisters, Lee, George, Mrs. Kittie Helma, Mrs. Ollie Spates, and Elsie. By her former marriage, Mrs. Owens has one daugh- ter, Bessie. She is a member of the Baptist church, but her husband does not belong to any denomination. They are people of excellent standing and have many friends in this section, where they have labored enthusiastically for its upbuilding and promotion.
JOHN H. AND GEORGE D. SUTHER- LAND are among the earliest pioneers of Douglas county. When they came here, the
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
Indians had many settlements up and down the coulee and continued there for many years afterward. Undaunted by the wildness of savages and hardships, these doughty men de- termined to stay and build for themselves a comfortable and good home, which they have done. During the years since, they have ac- cumulated a fine holding of property. The wisdom of the Sutherland brothers is mani- fested very plainly in the laying out of their ranch, which is so wisely and adroitly planned. They have a fine field of alfalfa and a good large orchard of choice trees. The entire es- tate is irrigated from fine mountain streams pouring into the coulee and altogether, they have one of the most valuable and choice loca- tions to be found in the country.
John H. Sutherland was born at Salt Lake City, Utah. George D. Sutherland was born in Pottawotomie county, Kansas, on Novem- ber 15, 1859. They are the sons of Hugh and Hannah ( Sutherland) Sutherland, natives of Scotland and Pennsylvania, respectively. Both of the boys gained their education from the common schools of Kansas conducted near Onaga. They were reared on the farm and as soon as John H. had arrived at manhood's estate, he came west. For a while he lingered in Kittitas county and finally came thence to Moses coulee, selecting the site of his present stock ranch as a homestead. In 1887 George came on to join his brother and since then they have been steadily engaged in the stock busi- ness, raising cattle principally. However, of late they have had a fine stock of horses and have some of the best bred animals, both horses and cattle, to be found in the county. When location was made here, all supplies had to be brought over the mountains and across the Columbia river to Ellensburg, fifty miles away. This was no small task, not counting the labor necessary to secure the funds to buy supplies. However, there was no such word as give up in the vocabulary of these men and the result is, they have won distinction and wealth. Dur- ing the hard winter of 1889-90, owing to the shelter which they had provided for their stock and the hay that had been provided wisely. Sutherland brothers did not lose as much as the more unfortunate ones through the country.
Our subjects have six sisters named as fol- lows: Mrs. Mary E. Regar, living in Onaga, Kansas ; Mrs. Jeannette Crum, at Onaga, Kan-
sas; Mrs. Lorena Wilson at Onaga, Kansas; Mrs. Ida Godlove at Waterville; Nettie and Maude, in Spokane.
The Messrs. Sutherland are among the substantial and wealthy men and they have won many friends in this section and are counted among the leading citizens of Douglas county today.
JULIUS HELLWIG is one of the pros- perous farmers and stockmen of Douglas coun- ty and resides about eleven miles northwest from Ephrata. He was born near Marien- werder, Prussia, Germany, on March 28, 1855, the son of Christopher and Florentina (Toelk) Hellwig, natives of Prussia. The father was a soldier for many years. The public schools of his native country supplied the educational training of our subject and when sixteen years of age, he bade farewell to the Fatherland and sailed to the United States. For a time he worked in New York and then went to Boston, Massachusetts, and engaged in the sugar refinery for a year. From there he journeyed to Bloomington, Illinois, and did general work until 1876, when he returned to Germany on a visit. The next year, he came back to the United States and concluded to try the western portion. Accordingly he went to Montana, but finding it too cold, he went thence to California. Afterwards, he made his way north to Washington. He went thence to Alberta, where he engaged in the stock business for some time. He operated along the High river until 1883, then moved to North Dakota and farmed, taking up a pre- emption. Selling that, he came back to Wash- ington and in 1887 settled where. we now find him. He now has three hundred and twenty acres of land under cultivation, well improved and a fine stock of cattle and horses. Mr. Hellwig has three brothers and one sister, Karl, William, Hermann, and Mrs. Augusta Lutz.
At Cheyenne. Dakota, in 1884, Mr. Hell- wig married Miss Amelia, the daughter of Gotfred and Louisa Ponto, natives of Prussia. Mrs. Hellwig has three brothers and one sis- ter. Julius. August, Frank and Alvena Todd. To Mr. and Mrs. Hellwig, two children have been born, Lillie, on February 16, 1886, and Esther, on July 28. 1895. The former in
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
North Dakota and the latter on Sage Brush flat, Douglas county. Mr. and Mrs. Hellwig are adherents of the Lutheran church and are very worthy people.
Mr. Hellwig's brother, Karl, served in the Franco-Prussian war, being actively engaged through every battle of that conflict. The Emperor of Germany, William First, person- ally .presented him with two fine medals.
CHARLES F. WILL is at present county assessor at Waterville, which office he has ac- ceptably filled for some time. He is also en- gaged in stock raising and general farming, having a fine estate about six miles southeast from Waterville. He has labored in Douglas county with energy and wisdom for many years and has not only secured a good holding of property but also the good will and esteem of all who may have the pleasure of his ac- quaintance.
Charles F. Will was born in Vinton county, Ohio, on January 19, 1862, the son of George B. and Helen A. (French) Will, natives of Philadelphia and Connecticut, respectively. The father followed merchandising and also served in the United States army. Our sub- ject was educated in the common schools and later studied in the high school at McArthur, in his native county. At the early age of twelve he stepped out into the world to do for himself and soon went to Nodaway county, Missouri, and there lived with an uncle for four years. In 1878 he made a visit to his former home and the next year he went with his uncle to Fort Scott, Kansas, and there farmed for one year. Returning to Missouri, he worked on the farms for wages for three years, then moved to the vicinity of Kearney, Nebraska, and there farmed until the spring of 1885. Then came a journey to Washing- ton. and on December 14, 1885, he filed on a homestead where his residence is at the present time. He has improved it splendidly and has it all in a high state of cultivation. Good
buildings of every kind needed are in evidence and he has added by purchase until the estate is now four hundred acres. In addition to handling the farm, Mr. Will has also given at- tention to stock raising and has at the present time one hundred and sixty head of cattle.
When he first came here, Mr. Will worked for John W. Stephens, and while in labor about the sawmill he had the misfortune to lose his left hand. The nearest medical aid was in Spokane and thither he journeyed to get the member attended to. After his recovery, he was re- tained by the company as bookkeeper and in the spring of 1891 he was chosen deputy as- sessor of the county. Following that service, he was again on the farm, where he took the oversight of his business until 1900, when he was called by the people to the office of assessor of the county. The next term he was elected by two hundred majority, an increase of ten over his former term. He was the only Republican on the ticket who was favored with election, which demonstrated beyond a doubt his popu- larity with the people.
Mr. Will has one brother, Joseph K., and two sisters, Mrs. Henrietta K. Drake, and Mrs. Eugene Hoyt. At Kearney, Nebraska, on No- vember 4, 1884. Mr. Will married Miss Mary E., daughter of Campbell and Polly Engle, natives of Kentucky. Mrs. Will was born in Nodaway county, Missouri. on September 24, 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Will have four children : Claud C., born April 26, 1886; Frederick R., born March 23. 1888; Arthur L., born May 19, 1893: and Helen G., born March 18, 1901. Mr. Will is a member of the Maccabees and is a popular and first-class man.
Mr. Will remarks that when he first came here he had two trunks and a wife. Owing to the excellence of his helpmeet and his own energy and ability he has transformed the two trunks into a fine estate, a large holding of stock and is attended with much prosperity.
LEO L. SCHMIDT resides in Moses coulee. about sixteen miles south from Douglas postoffice. He has a very fine estate which is irrigated from a creek in the coulee and thus is made to produce abundant crops of alfalfa, red clover and timothy. In addition to this, Mr. Schmidt has a large fruit orchard which brings fine returns each year. He raises a large band of stock and is one of the prosperous men of Douglas county.
Leo L. Schmidt was born in Davenport, Iowa, on March 18, 1869, the son of August F. and Mary S. Schmidt, natives of Holstein,
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
Germany and Denmark, respectively. They came to the United States when young and settled in Iowa. Our subject received his edu- cation in the common schools and in the busi- ness college at Davenport, Iowa, and there remained until he had gained his majority. At that time, he determined to see the west and accordingly turned his face to the setting sun and traveled until convinced that Douglas county was the place to settle. He bought his present farm from Otto G. Smith, who in turn had purchased it from Mr. Ward, who settled upon it in 1883. Mr. Schmidt has about eighty acres of land planted to hay and fruit. The place is well improved, having commodious buildings, and a fine eight-room house, hand- somely painted and surrounded with trees and shrubbery. His cattle are all graded and he has some very fine specimens. Mr. Schmidt has one brother and two sisters, Otto B., Mrs. Dora Smith and Mrs. Emma Witt.
In Davenport, Iowa, on May 1, 1900, Mr. Schmidt married Miss Emma E., the daughter of Peter L. and Cacielie Peters, natives of Holstein, Germany. Mrs. Schmidt was born on March 7, 1869. She has one brother and six sisters, named as follows: John L., Mrs. Katherine Langbehn, Mrs. Sophia Wolflin, Mrs. Anna Martin, Mrs. Cacielie Enke, Mrs. Hellen Thiessen, and Bertha. To Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt two children have been born: Walter A. on February 4, 1901 ; and Zella E., on May 19, 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt were both raised under the influence of the Lutheran church and are excellent people. Their place contains several Indian burying grounds and was a rendezvous for the early inhabitants of this country.
THOMAS F. AND WILLIAM E. SHEEHAN are enterprising and prosperous stockmen, dwelling about twenty miles south- west from Waterville. They were born in Charleston, Massachusetts, on August 26, 1869. and December 18, 1871, respectively. The father. John S .. was a native of Cork. Ireland, and came to the United States in the early 'forties. He died in Douglas county on July 4, 1894. During the terrible war of the Rebellion, he enlisted in Company A, First Regiment. New Jersey Light Artillery, under Captain A. N. Parsons, and took part in the
battle of Gettysburg, besides other great strug- gles. He was a member of the G. A. R. and a prominent citizen until his death. He mar- ried Mary Brown, a native of county Limer- ick, Ireland, who also came to the United States in early days. Our subjects attended the common schools of Mono county, California, whither the family went in 1878. After a residence of four years there they moved to Nevada and did mining for eight years, being occupied in the Northern Bell mine. In 1888-9 these two enterprising young men came from Nevada to Washington and settled on a home- stead in section 26, range 22, township 23. Their labors were bestowed to improve the land in stockraising, and they have been very successful in their efforts. They now have a fine band of well-bred horses and a great many graded cattle, besides other property. Their home place is supplied with all the improve- ments necessary for the successful operation of a first-class stock ranch. When they first settled here, all supplies had to be brought from Ellensburg and they well know the hard- ships encountered in opening up a new coun- try and following a pioneer life. Our sub- jects have three sisters : Mrs. Augusta Geary, living in Redwood City, California; Mrs. Mary Usher, the widow of George Usher, now dwelling in Hillyard, Washington; and Mrs. Annie Casey, the widow of Henry Casey, dwelling in Seattle. In addition to handling their stock and ranch, Thomas Sheehan was for some time in the employ of the government in the improvement of Cabinet Rapids, on the Columbia river, while his brother worked for John W. Stevens in a sawmill on Badger mountain.
They are among the best known stockmen in the entire Big Bend country and they have many friends wherever they are known. In political matters they are both active and well informed, while in religious persuasions, they are adherents of the Roman Catholic church.
PETER J. FRIESINGER is one of the leading business men of Waterville, where he has wrought for nearly a decade in such manner that success has attended his efforts in a high degree. He is owner and operator of the drug store and has a fine trade. In addition to this,
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
Mr. Friesinger practices as a veterinary. He is a man of social qualities and has many friends in the town and surrounding country.
Peter J. Friesinger was born near Trier, Germany, on April 20, 1877. His parents, Nichols and Mary A. (Josephs) Friesinger, were also natives of Germany. They came to the United States in 1881 and are now living in Little Falls, Minnesota. Our subject at- tended the German schools in McHenry county, Illinois, and then the schools in Little Falls, Minnesota, after which he completed a good business course. During a good portion of this time he was also occupied in the drug store of M. V. Wetzel, in Little Falls, where he became very proficient in pharmacy. He con- tinued there until 1897, when a move was made to Spokane, after which he went to Stevens county, Washington. Only a short time was spent there and he came on to Waterville, hav- ing been appointed trustee of the Hobson stock of drugs in this town, the same being in litiga- tion. Judge Hanford, of the United States court, made the appointment. Later, Mr. Friesinger bought the stock and since that time has conducted the drug store, where he has done a good business. His stock is complete and well selected, being full in every line usually carried by a druggist. Mr. Friesinger has two brothers, Matthew, Hubert, and one sister, Mrs. Lizzie Klinek.
At Baldwin, Wisconsin, on January 15, 1900, Mr. Friesinger married Miss Zulla R. G., the daughter of John D. and Levina (Phellps) Wood, now dwelling in Lake City, Minnesota. Mrs. Friesinger was born in Good- hue county, Minnesota, on November 2, 1878, and she has one brother and two sisters, John D., Mrs. Zana Van Hacke, and Irene. Mr. Friesinger is a member of the Maccabees, and is chief of the fire department. He is a man of energy and is well posted in the issues of the day, ever taking a lively part in political matters and also in the general progress of the county and the town.
JAMES HOWELL is one of the best known men in Douglas county. He held the pulpit of the Presbyterian church in Coulee City and Almira for a long time and is now ministering to congregations in Paradise val-
ley and Coulee City. In connection with his ministerial work Mr. Howell has also pursued other avocations. For some time he served the people as justice of the peace and won con- fidence and esteem from all in this capacity. In 1897, he was appointed United States court commissioner by Judge Hanford and in 1901 by the same judge was reappointed. Mr. Howell has been very active in locating home- seekers and has taken more filings in his office than in all others combined in this section. He also receives a large number of final proofs, attends to contests and has done a large work in getting settlers into this country. Mr. Howell is a man of letters and has done his work well in whatever capacity he has wrought.
James Howell was born in Carmarthen, Wales, on July 18, 1848, the son of Thomas and Frances (Griffiths) Howell, both natives of Wales. The Howell family is one of the old and prominent families of that country and are able to trace their ancestrage back seven hundred years and to "Howell the Good." Our subject's father was parish guardian for many years. His mother's people were prominent in Presbyterian circles and there were a number of ministers in the family. Our subject was. thoroughly trained from his youngest days, finishing his education in the Presbyterian col- lege in Carmarthen. He served as pastor of the church in Pembrocke county for four years, and pastor at large for six years, and then in 1884 came to this country. After being a pastor in Kansas for three and one-half years Mr. Howell came on to Douglas county, arriv- ing here in October, 1887. He was all through the Big Bend country for some time before set- tling definitely at Coulee City. Since then he has been one of the leading men of the county and is a highly respected citizen. Mr. Howell and his wife brought seven thousand dollars of English cash with them to Douglas county, where most of it has been invested in land. They also own large tracts of land in Lincoln county, as well, and nearly all of their real estate holdings are in cultivation, producing abundant crops of the cereals. Mr. Howell has always been ready to assist any movement for the advancement and upbuilding of the coun- try, and has labored assiduously for the good of all. He has ministered to the people far and near both in bereavement and in joy and has the distinction of having officiated in more funerals.
JAMES HOWELL
- ميد -بحجز لة
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
and marriages in this county and adjacent terri- tory than any other minister here. He is a substantial man with staying qualities and his friends are legion.
Mr. Howell has four brothers and five sisters. His marriage occurred in Carmarthen, Wales, on April 10, 1884. Miss Mary E. Walters becoming his wife at that time. Mrs. Howell's parents are Thomas and Sarah (Nichols) Walters, prominent people in their native place. The father is a gentleman of property, being a large coal mine owner as well as having large landed estates. Mrs. Howell was born in Pembrocke county, Wales, on Oc- tober 23, 1858, and has four brothers, John W., David, William, and James. To Mr. and Mrs. Howell three children have been born; Frances S., on April 22, 1885, and now attending Whit- worth college at Tacoma; Rose A., on June 22, 1886, and died on September 14. 1896; Thomas J., on February 18, 1895. The first two are native to Kansas, but the last was born in Coulee City.
SPENCER PERRY HITE is master of the king of all trades, blacksmithing, and has the finest and best equipped shop in Douglas county. In addition to having all tools and arrangements necessary for all kinds of black- smithing, he has an extensive horseshoeing shop and a very large wagon shop. He is a thorough mechanic and a master of every de- tail in the entire business and his energy and close attention to business have won for him an excellent patronage while prosperity has at- tended his efforts.
Spencer P. Hite was born in Halifax county, Virginia, on December 21, 1863, the son of Spencer and Martha J. (Wilkens) Hite, natives of Virginia. The father was a farmer and served in the confederate army. Our sub- ject had very limited means of education, but improved them well and remained with his father until nineteen years of age. At that time he removed to Arkansas, making settlement in Jackson county. For some time he did farm- ing, then began work in a wheelwright shop at Franklin, Arkansas. Two years later, so pro- ficient had he become in this work, he opened an establishment for himself and soon thereafter had a blacksmith shop, too. He continued thus until 1890, when he sold and moved to Hardy,
Arkansas, and conducted a shop there for two years. After that, he engaged in the butcher and grocery business and also held the office of city marshal. This he conducted until March, 1892, when he sold his entire business and came to Washington. He at once opened a general blacksmith and machine shop in Waterville and has improved and enlarged the business until it has reached the dimensions mentioned above.
Mr. Hite has four brothers and four sisters living, named as follows: George B., Charles S., Ruben S., William D., Mrs. Matilda A. Whitt, Mrs. Elizabeth Wilkins, Margaret F. and Mrs. Louisana A. Sydnor, and five de- ceased : James, Stephen G. T., Rebecca J .. Bailey G., and Nannie.
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