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 49
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 49
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 49
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 49
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Until attaining his majority Mr. Laing gave the profits of all his labor to his parents, his time being given to assisting his father on the farm. At twenty-one he began working for his father at eighteen dollars per month. When twenty-five he rented the farm and managed it until 1886. On July 29, of that year he was married to Alice Mays, daughter of James and Sarah (Petty) Mays, natives of Illinois. The parents of Mrs. Laing lived the greater part of their lives in their native state, where the father died recently. The mother is now making her home with our subject. They have been par- ents of eight children, Jane, Mrs. Clara Bruce,
Amanda, Mrs. Laing, Dora, Charles M., Lucy M., and Bemis.
Upon his marriage Mr. Laing disposed of his interests in Illinois and came to Waitsburg, Washington. The following year he took a homestead in Adams county and engaged in farming and stock raising. He lived on this farm throughout the hard times of 1893-94, and with the majority of the Big Bend farmers, suffered heavy loss. In 1893 the farmers in his vicinity built a warehouse at Washtucna, and Mr. Laing was the one decided upon to as- sume its management. By the year 1897 the business of the house had grown to such an extent that Mr. Laing brought his family from the farm to live in Washtucna, that he might devote his entire time to his town business. The following year, however, he formed a part- nership with A. J. Clever and engaged in the mercantile business. This partnership con- tinued until 1901, when Mr. Clever disposed of his interest to C. T. Booth, since which time the firm has been styled Laing & Booth. It carries the largest stock of general merchandise in the town of Washtucna, and since its incep- tion the business has grown from a thirteen hundred to a fifteen thousand dollar basis. All lines of ordinary trade are to be found in the store of Laing & Booth. Mr. Laing also still owns four hundred and eighty acres of land, all of which is in cultivation and well improved. Especially is his farm well equipped with build- ings, and it contains a first-class orchard and an excellent water system. Mr. Laing also has eight lots, and one of the largest, and most strictly modern houses in Washtucna.
Mr. Laing invariably votes the Democratic ticket, although in 1894 he affiliated with the Populist party, and by it was elected a member of the state legislature. At the state capital he made a creditable record, and was in reality the father of the Usury bill, although the bill was introduced by a colleague in the house. At that time this bill was the subject of univer- sal comment over the state. He has also been justice of the peace and a member of his home city council.
Mr. Laing has been equally prominent and active in fraternity circles, being a member of the I. O. O. F. and the M. W. A. His wife is a member of the Royal Neighbors of America.
To Mr. and Mrs. Laing have been born
ISRAEL B. LAING
CHARLES T. BOOTH
THOMAS J. DOLBOW
WILLIAM L. MUSTARD
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
seven children, Orin, Mabel, Agnes, Helen, Rhea, Claud and Dale.
Israel B. Laing is one of the substantial business men of Adams county, and in a busi- ness transaction or in general conversation one would take him to be a man of finished educa- tion. The fact in the matter is, he has gone to school only twenty-four months, and then in ant ordinary rural school, so that he may truthfully be classed as a thorough self-made man.
CHARLES T. BOOTH, of the general merchandise firm of Laing & Booth of Wash- tucna, is a native of Sierra county, California, born August 8, 1858, and has lived on the Pacific coast all his life. He was the son of Thomas and Elenor (Spurr ) Booth, natives of England. When young, the parents adopted the United States as their home and settled in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, where they lived until coming to California via the isthmus, in 1856. In 1866 they returned to Pennsyl- vania where the mother died. The father later returned to California, where he had extensive mining interests, and there died in 1899. They had been parents of three children, who, be- sides our subject, were Abraham, deceased, and William D., a farmer of Colfax, Washington.
Mr. Booth received a good common school education in his native state and Pennsylvania. At the age of sixteen years he went to work as clerk in a store, and three years later engaged in the vocation of the plains cowboy. Upon attaining his majority he engaged in farming in California, and in I882 came to Palouse Junction, now Connell, Washing- ton, and entered the employ of the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company as a member of its engineering corps. He was engaged with this company for nine years, when he took a homestead which he farmed for four years. He then became interested in the Palouse Ditch Company, since which time he has been the company's superintendent and as- Sistant manager. In 1901 he purchased the interest of J. M. Clever in the general merchan- dise firm of Clever & Laing, since which time Mr. Booth has been junior member of the firm now styled Laing & Booth. Other property interests of Mr. Booth are a farm of two hun- dred and eighty acres in Adams county, fifty
acres and a home within the corporate limits of the town.
On November 25, 1884, occurred the mar- riage of Charles T. Booth and Nellie G. Cullen, daughter of Joseph and Almira (Phillips) Cul- len, the mother being a native of Illinois and the father of Michigan. The names of the brothers and sisters of Mrs. Booth are Kate D., Leslie E., Edith E., and Josie. Another child was born to the parents, but it died during infancy.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Booth has been blessed with nine children, five of whom are now living, J. M., C. H., Warren, Almira and Nellie.
Mr. Booth is a prominent and active Re- publican in politics. Upon the organization of the city of Washtucna he was chosen its mayor, was elected to succeed himself and still holds the office. He is also a member of the local school board, and is postmaster. In lodge circles he is identified with the I. O. O. F. and the M. W. A. Mrs. Booth is a member of the R. N. of A. Both he and Mrs. Booth are members of the Congregational church.
THOMAS J. DOLBOW, who is engaged in the real estate, loans and insurance business in Washtucna, was born in Griggsville, Illinois, March 31, 1862. He was the son of William an Ruth (Spence) Dolbow, the father a native of Illinois, born in the same house as was the subject of our sketch, and the mother a native of Ohio. The father died in Griggsville in 1896, and the mother in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1874. They were parents of five children, Thomas J., Jennie, Lillie, Maggie, and Fred. Mr. Dolbow's mother was of German-English descent and his father's people came originally from Germany.
At the age of ten years Thomas Dolbow began life independent of all his kindred, and at twelve he hired to a man for whom he worked nine years. At twenty-one he went to Minne- sota, where he worked as a farm hand and later as a special collector for the Singer Sewing Machine Company. He remained with this company for two years, then entered the employ of the Deering Harvesting Machinery Com- pany, with which he remained three years. He then returned to Illinois, farmed two years, after which he engaged in the hardware and
52
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
farm implements business in Minnesota. By this time he had amassed a snug fortune, but through the dishonesty of a business partner he lost twenty-seven thousand dollars and was compelled to abandon his business. He then en- gaged as an organizer of lodges of the Modern Woodmen and was thus employed two years. He came to Washington and to Washtucna in July, 1898. He engaged in the grain buying business for two years, then entered his present business. He came to the town with just five hundred and thirty-five dollars, but he is now one of the well-to-do men of Adams county. He purchased a section of land during the year of his advent into the county and two years later sold it at a profit of seven thousand dollars. He then purchased three and one-half sections of land which he now owns. He also owns two acres of city property where he lives in one of the best homes in the town, besides some property in Warrenton, Oregon.
In 1889 Mr. Dolbow was married to Nettie Emery, daughter of J. L. and Margaret (Mc- Calister) Emery, the father a native of Ohio and the mother of Scotland. Mrs. Dolbow's brothers and sisters are Lizzie, deceased, Mary, Margaret, and George, now deceased.
To Mr. and Mrs. Dolbow have been born four children, Bertha, George, Floyd and Vera.
Mr. Dolbow is a Republican, and at the hands of his party he has served his county as deputy sheriff. He is now a member of the town council. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Rebekahs, and the M. W. A. His wife also is a Rebekah, and both are members of the Congregational church.
WILLIAM L. MUSTARD, a resident of Washtucna, where he is a member of the city council and engaged in the livery, feed and sale business, being also proprietor of the Wash- tucna hotel, is a native of Dayton, Washington, born December 29. 1869.
Mr. Mustard received a common school education in Dayton, and since attaining his majority has been in business for himself. He started in his career as an employe of a flour milling company in Dayton, and in 1895, two and one-half years after engaging in that work, he came to Adams county and began farming. In 1901 he entered the field of merchandise, but two years later traded his business for land.
This he sold, soon after acquiring it, and en- gaged in his present business. His is the only business of its character in Washtucna and annually yields a neat income to its proprietor. Mr. Mustard also carries on to a limited extent the business of buying and selling stock. He owns a quarter-section of cultivated land near Pampa, Washington, six lots in Washtucna and a seven-room modern house-the finest in the town.
Mr. Mustard is the son of John and Sarah A. (Davis) Mustard, the father a native of Virginia and the mother of Iowa. The latter crossed the plains with her parents when eight years of age. The family settled at Salem, Oregon. She later removed to Eugene, Oregon, where she met and became the wife of Mr. Mustard, who had crossed the plains to Califor- nia when a youth of eighteen. Soon after their marriage the couple removed to Dayton, Wash- ington, and in 1900, they came to Adams coun- ty, where they now live. They have been par- ents of ten children ; Charles, deceased ; Bell, married to Judge M. M. Godmen, of Dayton; Henry, at Loomis, Washington; Frank, de- ceased ; William L., and George, in Washtucna ; Ella, deceased; Hattie, married to M. H. God- dard; Bessie, married to Otis Mayer, of Den- ver; and John, Jr., who lives with his parents.
In September, 1892, William L. Mustard took for his wife Minnie L. Robertson, a native of Texas. She is the daughter of George and Sarilda (Duncan) Robertson, natives of Ten- nessee, who, early in life, settled in Texas. The father is dead and the mother makes her home with the subject of our sketch. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Mustard are: Mrs. Sarah Gosney, Mrs. Lucy Pallisser, N. J. and William.
To Mr. and Mrs. Mustard have been born five children, Hazel, Byron, Luella, Georgia, deceased, and Alice.
Mr. Mustard is an active Republican. Since the incorporation of Washtucna he has been a member of its council, and he is looked upon as one of the town's leading citizens.
In fraternity circles he is identified with the I. O. O. F. and the M. W. A. His wife belongs to the R. N. of A.
OSCAR R. HOLCOMB was born in Gib- son county, Indiana, December 31, 1867, and comes of one of the oldest and most prominent
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
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families of that state. His father, Silas M. Holcomb, is also a native of Gibson county, and his father of North Carolina. The family set- tled in America about the year 1700, locating first in Virginia, and later migrating, some to the northeastern states and others to North Carolina. Some of the Holcombs have been in every war of this country, and the family is a conspicuous one in the history of the bench and bar, and in the commercial life of the north- east and south, as well as in the western section of the United States. Silas M. Holcomb was first lieutenant of Company C. Sixty-third In- diana Volunteers, during twenty months of the Civil War, at the end of which time he was dis- charged on account of being incapacitated for service by a wound received at the second battle of Bull Run. He now lives at Fort Branch, Indiana, on a farm. Our subject's mother is Mary A. (Hopkins) Holcomb, a native of Gibson county, and now a resident of Fort Branch with her husband. Her parents came to Indiana from Kentucky in an early day. Her grandfather was a native of Pennsylvania, and her grandmother of Scotland. Mrs. Hol- comb's father's granduncle, Ezekial Hopkins, was a signer of the Declaration of In-
dependence.
Mr. Holcomb was reared in Indiana, where he lived until twenty-five, being graduated in the meantime from the graded and high schools of Fort Branch. After leaving the latter in- stitution he entered the law office of his father and read law two years, then entered the Chi- cago College of Law, from which school he was graduated with honors in 1892. He began practice immediately at Evansville, Indiana, and two years later came to his present location, and the following year was appointed successor to L. Davies, resigned, in the office of prosecut- ing attorney of Adams county. At the elec- tion of 1896 he was the Democratic and Fusion candidate for the office he held, and was elected by a majority far ahead of his ticket. In March, 1898, he resigned his office to accept an appoint- ment by Governor Rogers to the office of com- missioner of arid lands, which position he filled until the following year. In 1900 he ran for the office of state land commissioner, and two years later for congress, being the nominee of the Democratic party, but was defeated at both elections. He has been a member of the Ritz- ville city council for six consecutive years.
Mr. Holcomb has two brothers; Clarence L., now prosecuting attorney of Adams county, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere in this history; and Ralston C., stenographer in the office of our subject ; and one sister, Helen L., residing with her parents, and a teacher in the school at Fort Branch.
On June 12, 1894, occurred the marriage of Mr. Holcomb to Eva Staser, a native of Evansville, Indiana, daughter of Clinton and Clarissa (Willey) Staser, both now living in Ritzville, where the father is a practicing at- torney, and superior court commissioner. A full sketch of their lives appears elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Holcomb has three brothers and the same number of sisters ; Walter, a Ritz- ville attorney; John, civil engineer with the Northern Pacific railroad, residing in Ritzville; Loy, of Ritzville : Edith, wife of O. L. Hanson, civil engineer and superintendent of Kennewick Irrigation Company, of Kennewick, Washing- ton; Eleanor and Eloise, living with their parents.
The issue of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Holcomb are six in number ; Raymond, Maw- rice, Marjorie, Leland, Gladys and Maxine.
Mr. Holcomb is a member of the Ritzville lodge, I. O. O. F., the K. O. T. M., and an aggressive member of the Democratic party.
Mr. and Mrs. Holcomb are esteemed mem- bers of society and have very many admiring friends throughout the county.
GEORGE F. CHRISTENSEN, clerk of Adams county, came to Ritzville without a dol- lar to his name, but his prepossessing appear- ance and genialty soon won him friends and standing, and soon he was given a responsible position in the store of I. W. Myers, which he hield for four years. Being an active worker in the ranks of the Democratic party of Adams county, he was made secretary of the county central committee in 1901, its president in 1902, and the same year was elected to the of- fice of county clerk. His popularity was demonstrated by the fact that in his election he ran one hundred and seventy votes ahead of his ticket.
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, February, 26, 1876, Mr. Christensen is the son of William P. and Mary (Thorson) Christensen, both na- tives of Denmark and now residents of Olivia,
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
Minnesota. The father came to the United States during the early sixties, settled at Olivia and engaged in the merchandise business in the early days of that city. He later was ap- pointed postmaster of Olivia, and was the first state senator from that district. He was in business there sixteen years when he sold out and became register of the United States land office at Redwood Falls, Minnesota, which po- sition he held three years, when he returned to Olivia, entered the real estate business and was again appointed postmaster. He has also held the office of state commissioner of public parks of Minnesota for two years. He is now devoting his entire attention to the real estate business. Mrs. Christensen came to America a few years later than her husband, whom she met and was married to in Minnesota.
The first three years of George F. Christen- sen's life were spent in the city of his birth, when the family removed to Olivia. He was given the advantage of a finished graded and high school education at Olivia and Redwood Falls, and a business course at Wilderfarm Col- lege, in Jackson county, Minnesota. He was as- sistant postmaster to his father for three years, clerk in the Commercial hotel, Grand Forks, Minnesota, then a clerk in an Olivia dry goods store for three years. In 1897 he went on a prospecting expedition to Alaska, which netted him nothing but experience, returned to Seattle, and thence to his present home, as is related earlier in this sketch.
Mr. Christensen has two brothers and one sister : Henry, in Kansas City; Willie, aged twelve, with his parents; and Selma, a high school girl living with her parents. Our sub- ject has never been married.
In fraternity circles, Mr. Christensen is identified with the Masons, Red Men and the Eastern Star ; he is also a member of the Epis- copal church. He is drum major of the Ritz- ville cornet band, and was sergeant for three years of Company H, National Guards of Min- nesota.
HON. GEORGE SINCLAIR, who may truly be called the father of Adams county, Washington, is now living a retired life in Ritzville, where he is one of the foremost men of influence and prestige. In a long career of active business and public service, he has de-
monstrated his ability and his unswerving in- tegrity, which have commended him to all good men and have so materially assisted in the building up of this country to its present pros- perous condition. One characteristic of Mr. Sinclair has always shone out brightly in his life, namely, that of caring as faithfully for the smallest item entrusted to his care as for the large interests that were as important and as wide as the state itself. That has given him the entire confidence of the people and few men have so endeared themselves to their consti- tuency as has Mr. Sinclair.
Born amid the rugged hills of Scotia, the land of historic and world wide fame, and com- ing from the strong blood, which through its sturdy specimens of the race has made itself felt in every civilized land and than which, it is conceded, there is no stronger in human veins, we could expect to see a strength and principle in Mr. Sinclair commensurate with his worthy ancestors. In this no one has been mistaken, as his career will amply substantiate.
It was on October 12, 1829, that the an- nouncement was made to George and Mar- garet (Johnson) Sinclair of the birth of a son, who is the subject of this sketch. They were both natives of Scotland, and the county of Caithness, the extreme north portion of the mainland, was their home. At Dunnet, near the sea, our subject was educated and when seventeen he laid aside his books for the invig- orating work on the farm. Here he was oc- cupied until 1852, when he entered the employ of the North British railroad as overseer of the grain department. In this capacity he contin- ued until 1865 in which year he resigned his position to come to the United States. In June, he landed in New York and soon went thence to St. Charles, Minnesota, where he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of school land and gave his attention to its cultivation. He sold out four years later and went to Lincoln county, Dakota, where he homesteaded a quar- ter section. For a decade he was an industrious laborer there and then sold out to come west. In 1880, he landed in Ritzville, since which time he has been one of the prominent men of this portion of our state. The county seat was then at Colfax, and soon Mr. Sinclair was agitating the question of a new county. . In due time Adams county was organized as the result of these efforts and Mr. Sinclair was ap-
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
pointed to the important position of county commissioner of Adams county. There was much labor to do and great wisdom needed to launch the new county right, and for five years an appreciative people kept Mr. Sinclair at the helm. Then he resigned to accept the post- mastership of Ritzville, he being the fourth incumbent. For five years he held the posi- tion to the satisfaction of all, and then on ac- count of the election of Grover Cleveland, he resigned and was straightway elected treasurer of Adams county. For two terms, four years, the limit allowed by the law, he continued in this office, and as usual, pleasing the people in every respect. In 1899, he was called to represent his county in the state legislature and in that capacity did some excellent work. He was known in the capitol as a man of power and integrity and the interests of the people were safely guarded in his hands. After that service, Mr. Sinclair was again appointed post- master of Ritzville by Mckinley. This posi- tion he resigned four years later to take a trip to his native land.
In Scotland, Mr. Sinclair married Miss Mary White, the daughter of Andrew and Mary (Marshel) White, the nuptials occurring on June 1, 1857. To this happy marriage thir- teen children were born, George, Margret, Tressa, Mary, Minnie, Andrew, Jane, Annie, William, Charles, Emma L., and two that died when infants. All are unmarried except Mar- gret, who is the wife of Henry Horn, of Ritz- ville. Most of the children are living in Adams county and are highly respected citizens.
In the fall of 1899, Mrs. Sinclair was called to lay down the burdens of life and participate in the realities of another world. She died as she had lived, a faithful and noble woman and many sincere mourners were lamenting her de- parture. Mr. Sinclair has rounded out a long life of three score years and ten and is still hale and hearty and is now enjoying the fruits of his labor in the golden years of his career, secure in the love and esteem of an appreciative people and surrounded by his children and friends.
GEORGE R. N. THOMPSON has achieved a success in the western country that may well inspire commendation and be a source of pardonable pride. He has demonstrated a
practical judgment and an ability in financial matters that have won the way to the possession of a magnificent estate, and a comfortable for- tune which insures that retirement from activ- ities of business in later years which is so ac- ceptable to all. He came to the west without a dollar and in fact in the possession of some debts as a dampner in effort. He determined to win the smiles of dame fortune and has done it by wisdom and industry, so successfully, that he has secured possessions which place him as one of the leading property owners of Adams county.
George R. N. Thompson was born in Mis- souri, an April 16, 1864, the son of George W. and Mary M. (Ball) Thompson. The father was a pioneer of Missouri and during the Civil war was one of the Home Guard. His death occurred on September 19, 1863, after having spent a good life and won many friends and the respect of those who knew him. The mother was born in Missouri and came to Starbuck, Washington, in 1891, where she still resides. George was reared in Missouri and in the com- mon schools secured his education. His youth was spent much the same as that of the ordinary lad in his country and when he arrived at manhood's estate, he had learned the common branches well and knew how to perform gen- eral work and handle a farm. With these qual- ifications, he began life for himself and la- bored for wages for a time. In 1884, he de- termined to try the west and being of an en- ergetic spirit, he at once went to California. Some time was spent in learning of that coun- try and working for wages. It was on No- vember 4, 1884, that he came to Columbia county, that being the date of his landing there. He worked for wages and so well did he take advantage of his opportunities that in two years more he was buying wheat at Relief station in that county. Then he dealt in cattle and horses and gradually got into the stock business. In 1896, he came to Adams county and purchased land and to this he has added until he has at this day twenty-five hundred and sixty acres of land. This magnificent domain is utilized both for grain raising and for stock breeding and he is a very successful man in both of these lines. The estate is located a few miles north- east from Washtucna and is one of the choice one of the country. Mr. Thompson is to be congratulated on his gatherings and it is well
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