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 51
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 51
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 51
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 51
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THOMAS A. GERMAN is one of the sturdy and progressive citizens of Adams county who gives his attention to tilling the soil. His postoffice is Delight and he has a good farm near by. Thomas A. German was born in Lewis county, Missouri, on September 27, 1867. His parents, R. D. and M. N. (Hamilton) German, were natives of Ger- many and Missouri, respectively. The father came to America in 1841 and located in Missouri, where he remained until his death. The mother now lives at Ellensburg, Wash- ington. They are the parents of twelve chil- dren named as follows: William, deceased, Bell, E. R., L. A., Alice E., Nettie, Jolın O., R. S., C. A., B. H., Dollie, deceased, and Blanch, deceased. Our subject received his
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education from the common schools of his na- tive county and at the age of seventeen ex- changed the schoolroom for work on the farm, having to assist his mother in the sup- port of the family. For five years, he labored there then came on west to Oregon. At first he gave his attention to stock raising and gen- eral work on the railroad. After that, he spent five years in a flour mill and perfected himself in the art of the miller during this time, then he came to Adams county in 1896 and took a homestead where he now resides. He has improved the place in first class shape, having it all under cultivation, fenced, pro- vided with water, buildings, orchard and so forth. Mr. German does not handle as much land as some of the farmers but he does well what he does do and his farm is very pro- ductive.
In 1893, occurred the marriage of Mr. German and Maude Burkhart, the daughter of M. L. and M. E. Burkhart, natives of Missouri. In 1889, Mr. Burkhart came to Washington bringing his family with him and locating in. Adams county, where they now re- side. He has a very large farm and is one of the leading men of the section. Mrs. Ger- man has one sister, Rose L., and two brothers, L. G. and Archie. To Mr. and Mrs. German, four children have been born, Helen, Claude, Neva and R. D. Mr. German is an old fash- ioned Jeffersonian Democrat and well posted in matters pertaining to politics. He is now holding the office of school director and has given much attention to the improvement and betterment of educational facilities.
Fraternally, he is affiliated with the I. O. O. F. and the W. W. His wife belongs to the Rebekah lodge and they are both active and leading members of the Christian church.
ANDREW J. WILLIAMS lives about four miles south from Delight where he follows farming. He was born in Linn county, Kan- sas, on October 12, 1860, the son of W. R. and Elvira (Street) Williams, natives of Illinois. The parents came to Missouri from Illinois and then to Kansas which was their home un- til 1887. In that year they moved to Washing- ton. Our subject received his education in Linn county, Kansas, in the country schools
and at the age of nineteen started in life for himself. We first find him freighting in Colo- rado and Idaho. He assisted to develop two placer mines that were in the Coeur d' Alene country where he worked in the mines until 1888. In that year, he came to Adams county and located where we find him at the present time. He took a homestead and began devel- oping the same. The hard times then came on and it was with difficulty that he succeeded in pulling through but he did so and soon there- after began to purchase land. The first that he bought in 1898, he paid one dollar an acre for and the last that he bought in 1902, which was the same kind of land, cost him ten dol- lars an acre. He now has nine hundred and twenty acres of first class wheat land all under cultivation. The same is supplied with good water, buildings and so forth and shows a thrifty and first class farmer.
In 1889, Mr. Williams married Miss Hat- tie F., daughter of Joseph and Milenda (Tay- lor) Priestly, natives of England and Illinois, respectively. The parents were married in Kansas and dwell there at the present time. To them thirteen children were born. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are the parents of five children, Elvira M., Lula E., Bryan F., Noman J., and Charles R.
In political matters, we find our subject un- trammeled by the ties of any party, being de- cidedly liberal in his views. He and his wife are members of the Christian church.
JOSEPH H. BOWERS resides about one mile east from Delight and there owns a fine estate of four hundred and eighty acres which is all under cultivation, fenced and well im- proved. Mr. Bowers has about twenty head of stock and farms his place largely to wheat. He has made a first class success in raising this cereal and is considered one of the good men of the community. He has shown thrift and industry in his labors and is worthy to be classed as one of the upbuilders of Adams county.
Joseph H. Bowers was born in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, on November 1, 1865, the son of Amos and Elizabeth ( Spry) Bowers, na- tives of Ohio. They moved to Iowa in 1852, to Missouri in 1868, in 1874 to Illinois, to
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Nebraska in 1880, and finally journeyed to Washington, landing here in 1888. They are now dwelling in Adams county and the father keeps the postoffice at Delight. They are the parents of seven children, named as follows, Marion W., Levina J., Sarah E., Rose F., Edward T., Joseph H., and Bertha M.
Our subject has been on the frontier a good portion of his life and therefore had but little opportunity for securing an education, but he made the best of what he had. At the age of twenty-one he left his father's place and began work for himself. This was in Nebraska. For two years he operated rented land and in 1888, came thence to Washington where he took a homestead, the same being part of his present estate. Since then he has purchased enough to make the estate three fourths of a section and he has given his en- tire attention to its cultivation and improve- ment. He handles as high as six thousand bushels of wheat annually. He also owns residence property in Lind.
Mr. Bowers is still contented to dwell in single blessedness. In political matters, he is a Republican, well informed in the questions of the day and interested in everything that tends to the upbuilding and progress of his county. He is a member of the M. W. A. and also of the Methodist church.
Mr. Bowers has a sister, Mrs. Sarah E. Freestone, who dwells with him, her home- stead adjoining his place. She has resided here for fifteen years and has shown remark- able fortitude and tenacity. While holding her homestead, she was obliged to go out to work to support her two daughters, and her lot is really more to be commended than the male pioneers, for they were forced to contend with less to overcome than she has had. She has always taken an interest in advancing the country and her labors show her to be an in- dustrious and substantial lady.
OSCAR W. GOODENOUGH is a younger resident of Adams county, who has gained good success in financial lines since com- ing here. He owns a section of good wheat land about ten miles east of Hatton, three- fourths of which are producing cereals. The place is well fenced and in a high state of culti-
vation. Good buildings, fine orchard and so forth are in evidence and Mr. Goodenough is considered one of the thrifty and industrious farmers of the county.
Oscar W. Goodenough was born in Lapeer county, Michigan, on August 17, 1871, the son of William and Mehitable ( Hall) Good- enough, who are named elsewhere in this vol- ume. He obtained his education from the pub- lic schools of his native county and in 1887 came west with his parents. The father set- tled in Adams county and our subject attended school for awhile then gave his attention to farming with his father until twenty-five years of age. Before this, however, he took a home- stead and had also spent some time in teaching in this county. Then he settled on his home- stead and put a whole quarter-section in cul- tivation and in 1898 added four hundred and eighty acres more, making the section men- tioned above. Mr. Goodenough has a good stock of horses and plenty of machinery and is one of the leading farmers of the section.
On November 28, 1894, Mr. Goodenough married Miss Lillie, daughter of S. P. and Annie (Woody) Wright, natives of Tennes- see and mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Goodenough is a member of the Chris- tian church, while our subject belongs to the I. O. O. F. and the K. of P. Politically, he is a Democrat and at the present time is one of the school directors in his district. From 1891 to 1893, Mr. Goodenough had gone from his father's farm to Hatton where he engaged in the drug business but preferring the freedom of a farm life he retired from that and secured his present estate.
GEORGE E. WEBB was born in Pulaski county, Virginia, on January 31, 1876. His parents, James H. and Alice M. Webb, were natives of Virginia and there remained until their death. Nine children were born to them, named as follows, Wm. R., George E., Samuel W., Mary S., James E., John D., Ruth N., Tiler O., and Nellie J. Our subject was edu- cated in what was known as Horseshoe school in Pulaski county, Virginia, and received a thorough English training. He remained with his parents until twenty-two years of age, then learned the blacksmith trade. He wrought at that trade for sometime and in
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
1900, came to Adams county, purchasing a section of land about eight miles southeast from Lind, where he resides at the present time. The entire estate is well fenced and highly improved, being supplied with orchard and all other improvements necessary. In ad- dition to general farming, Mr. Webb raises horses. Although he has not been here so long as some of the pioneers, still he has shown himself thoroughly appreciative of the re- sources and advantages of the country and has won an excellent success.
On February 15, 1898, Mr. Webb mar- ried Miss E. Susie (Chumbley). February 15 is remembered by all as the date upon which the illfated battle ship Maine was de- stroyed in Havana harbor, but Mr. Webb re- marks that it was rather an expensive chari- vari for his wedding. Mrs. Webb is the daughter of W. A. and Mary C. (Hickman) Chumbley, natives of Virginia where they now reside. She is one of ten children, named as follows, William H., Edgar E., Susie, Fred, Bessie H., Mary C. and Maggie R., twins, James H., Clemence, and Myrtle. Her mother's father, William P. Hickman, was chaplain during the Rebellion in the confed- erate army and was killed while in the service. Mrs. Webb's father served four years in the confederate army and lost his eye by a gun shot wound. Her mother's uncle, Moses D. Hogue, was a Presbyterian minister and James Hogue Tyler, ex-governor of Virginia, was a cousin of Mrs. Webb's mother. To Mr. and Mrs. Webb, three children have been born, Evrett M., Mary I., and Nellie M.
In political matters, our subject is ham- pered by the ties of no party, being liberal in his views and an independent thinker. He is a member of the Christian Baptist church, while Mrs. Webb belongs to the Presbyterian denomination.
Mrs. Betsy Albert, the great grandmother of our subject, and now a resident of Virginia, is in her one hundred and third year. She is great-great-grandmother to six children, the three of our subject and three of John Albert of West Virginia.
JOHN H. McCHESNEY resides about one-half mile west from Delight post office, where he follows farming. He owns about
four hundred and eighty acres of first class wheat land and handles in addition to that one section owned by his sons. Mr. McChesney is a large wheat producer, raising annually from ten to twelve thousand bushels of this valuable cereal. He is a progressive man, governed by upright principles and is known as one of the substantial and respected citizens of the county.
John H. McChesney was born in Rock- bridge county, Virginia, on April 16, 1842, the son of George W. and Evelina (Moffett) McChesney, natives of Virginia, where the great-great-grandfather of our subject located about 1740. He was a patriot in the Revolu- tion. That state was the family home until 1858, when the parents journeyed west to Texas and there remained until their death. The father was captain of the state militia in Virginia until his journey west. They were the parents of seven children, namely, Robert, Han- nah, Elizabeth, James, Adam, John and Zach- aria. Their ancestors were Scotch and Irish people. Our subject was educated in Roanoke, Virginia, and in the common schools of Texas. At the age of nineteen, he enlisted in the con- federate army and served in the Trans-Missis- sippi army under General Taylor until May, 1865, when he was mustered out. He par- ticipated in the battles of Mansfield and Yellow Bile, besides various smaller engagements. Following his martial service, he went into the stock business in Texas, continuing the same there until 1875, then he turned his attention to farming. In 1880 he moved to New Mex- ico, where he followed raising stock for four years, then he returned to Texas and farmed until 1887. when he journeyed west to Wash- ington and handled stock until he took a home- stead. This he improved and sold and bought three-fourths of a section where he now resides.
On April 18, 1866, Mr. McChesney mar- ried Miss Virginia Rogers: Her parents, Jo- seph and Rachel ( Simons) Rogers, are natives of Tennessee and England, respectively and settled in Texas in early days, where they re- mained the balance of their lives. They were the parents of five children, Susan, Virginia, Thomas, John and Joseph. To Mr. and Mrs. McChesney thirteen children have been born, Evelina, Susan. Rachel, Adam. William. John, Hannah, Thomas, Elizabeth, Mary, Zachariah, Robert and Virginia.
Mr. McChesney has always been a Demo-
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crat and is a good one, well informed and ac- tive.
Fraternally, he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., while he and his wife belong to the Christian church. They are prosperous peo- ple, and through industry and wisdom have gained the generous confidence of the people.
GEORGE M. WINN is a man of much experience in traveling and is well acquainted with. frontier life. He resides at the present time about three miles south from Delight where he has three-fourths of a section, all in a high state of cultivation and provided with good buildings, fences and other improve- ments. He gives his attention largely to wheat raising and has made a real success in this line of industry.
George M. Winn was born in Charlotts- ville, West Virginia, November 13, 1854, the son of Thomas and Hannah M. ( McChesney ) Winn, natives of Virginia. Their first home after their marriage was in Virginia and in 1884, they came to Washington, settling in Pasco, where they remained until their death. They were the parents of seven children. Our subject received his education largely in the common schools of Jackson county, Texas, and wrought with his father until twenty-one years of age. Then he started out for himself, going first to New Mexico where he took charge of a large stock ranch. Three years were occupied thus and we see him then in Petaluma, Cali- fornia, where one year was spent on a fruit farm. After that he came to Washington and settled on the Snake river and remained there for seven years. Next he came to Pasco, which was his home for six years. It was 1888 when Mr. Winn took a timber culture where he resides at the present time. For some years thereafter he worked in Pasco, spending four years in the employ of the Northern Pacific. Then he returned to his claim and after that journeyed to Texas. where he remained three years. From Texas, he came again to his pres- ent place, which he has increased to four hun- dred and eighty acres and since that time has given himself to farming and stock raisino.
In 1887, Mr. Winn married Miss Lula Spann. She is the daughter of Col. J. R. and Anna Spann, natives of North and South Caro-
lina, respectively. They settled in Texas in 1850 and there spent the balance of their lives. To them were born eleven children. To Mr. and Mrs. Winn two children have been born, John R. and Hannah M. They also have one adopted child, Francis W.
Mr. Winn has always been pleased with the principles of the Democratic party and is a very active worker in that field. He has fre- quently held offices and is also actively inter- ested in educational matters. Mr. Winn is a member of the Presbyterian church and his wife belongs to the Roman Catholic denomin- ation.
HANNAH J. HARTER is certainly to be commended, for she has done a praiseworthy labor in this county. She owns an estate of one-half section, three miles south from De- light. When her husband died, she had five children to care for and a homestead of one- quarter section, only five acres of which were under cultivation. Now she has three hun- dred and twenty acres farmed to wheat, the balance well fenced and the place supplied with all machinery and stock needed. She has re- cently built a fine new residence and has made all this holding by her wisdom and hard labor here on the farm.
Hannah J. Harter was born in Keokuk county, Iowa, on January 29, 1847. Her par- ents, Aaron and Hannah (Edie) Gaskill, were natives of Ohio and settled in Iowa while it was yet a territory, and there the father re- mained until his death. They were the parents of six children, Elizabeth. Aaron. William, Charlotte, Hannah J., and Delilah. Mrs. Har- ter was educated in her native place and at the age of eighteen married James Harter, a na- tive of Franklin county, Indiana, who had come to Iowa with his parents when a boy. Mrs. Harter and her husband settled on a farm until 1877, then moved to Kansas and were glad enough one year later to come to Wash- ington and take a homestead where she resides at the present time. The following year. Mr. Harter died and left his wife and five children. The names of the children are Joseph and Jes- sie in Hatton : George, farming in this county; Alice and James living with their mother. The prospects were very dark when Mr. Harter died. For a widow to be left in a new country
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
with five children and but five acres from which to gain a living with very little other property and neighbors a long way off is something to discourage even a strong heart. But Mrs. Har- ter was not the kind to give up. She went to work and soon had the whole one hundred and sixty acres producing wheat. She bought another quarter section, erected the buildings mentioned, commenced raising stock, supplied the place with plenty of good water, and has made a first class success in every sense of the word. Joseph, her oldest son, is now married and dwelling in Hatton. Mrs. Harter is a member of the Christian church and a woman who receives the respect and good will of all who know her.
Another item which should be mentioned is that when Mr. Harter died, he left a life in- surance of two thousand dollars. This seemed as if it was a wise provision for the needy ones left behind, but an unscrupulous agent suc- ceeded in swindling this poor widow out of the entire amount. The blow was appalling, but notwithstanding all this, Mrs. Harter overcame all and has made the present holding by her skill, wisdom and careful industry. She cer- tainly deserves the competence she has gath- ered.
LEVI L. SUTTON is a farmer and prac- ticing physician residing seven and one-half miles east from Hatton. He was born in Or- leans county, New York, September 1, 1835, the son of John and Susan ( Williamson) Sut- ton, the father a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of New Jersey. The parents, after their marriage, lived first in the state of New Jersey, then removed to New York in 1834. They came to Michigan in 1847, where both died. They were parents of twelve chil- dren, Peter W., John B., Nathan, Rachel, Jane, Mary, Hannah, William, B. L., P. W., Belle and Clarissa.
Dr. Sutton received his early education in the country schools of Lapeer county, Michi- gan, and later he took a course in Romeo academy. Upon arriving at his majority he left school and engaged in teaching. Later he took up farming and practicing medicine. He followed this dual occupation a number of years, when, in 1887, he came to Adams county, Washington, direct from the east and settled
where he still lives. He was the first settler in that township, and his was the first house to be built in that vicinity. There were no roads in that section of the county at that time, and the nearest water was distant eight miles. He first took a homestead and timber culture, improved these claims, then as circumstances permitted, he purchased more land until he now owns a section where he lives, and a quar- ter section just across the road from his home. All of his land is fenced, improved and under cultivation. He has one of the largest and handsomest houses in the vicinity. It con- tains fourteen rooms and is modern through- out. Other improvements on his farm include a large barn, repair shop, tool house, etc. In addition to his own land he has a lease on three hundred and twenty acres, making a total of eleven hundred and twenty acres which he farms. He raises a great quantity of fruit each year, and his wheat crop runs as high as eighteen thousand bushels in one year.
In 1859 Dr. Sutton was married to Sarah J. Goodenough, daughter of James and Mary (Hiller) Goodenough, natives of New York, who settled in that state after their marriage, and remained there until 1834, when they re- moved to Michigan, and there spent the re- mainder of their lives. They were parents of seven children, John, Josephine, Josephus, Sarah J., Joanna, Mary M. and William.
To Dr. and Mrs. Sutton have been born four children; Elmer G., in Seattle; Ida B., married to John Hackett, of Adams county; William J., ex-principal of the normal school at Cheney, whose life is sketched elsewhere in this volume; and Byron, who lives with his parents.
Dr. Sutton is an active Democrat, at the hands of which party in Michigan he held office seven years. In fraternity circles, he is known as a member of the F. and A. M., and Mrs. Sutton is a member of the Eastern Star. Both are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
WILLIAM GOODENOUGH, who re- sides about eight miles east from Hatton and follows farming, was born in Lapeer county, Michigan, on March 28, 1842, the son of James and Mary (Hiller) Goodenough, na- tives of Vermont and New York, respectively.
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
The parents were married in New York then moved to Michigan in 1835, where they re- mained the balance of their lives, living on the farm. The paternal grandfather of our sub- ject participated in the war of 1812. The an- cestors came from prominent English families. Our subject is the youngest of the family and his brothers and sisters are named as follows, John, Josephus, Josephine, Joanna, Jane and Melvina. The public schools of Michigan con- tributed the educational training of our sub- ject and at the early age of twelve he was called to mourn the death of his father, which placed upon him more responsibility. He remained on the farm until eighteen years of age, then went to Illinois and when twenty enlisted, it being 1863, in the construction corps, which was mustered out in Chicago in 1865. After that he enlisted for the Indian service in Color- ado, Wyoming and Kansas, and did consider- able fighting against the savages. When that was ended, he turned his attention to mining in Colorado and followed the same for three years, then returned to Michigan and bought land which was his home until 1887. In that year, he came to Washington and located on his present place as a homestead, taking also a timber culture claim. He has added to this from time to time until he now has one thou- sand seven hundred and sixty acres of first class wheat land. Mr. Goodenough has an excellent farm and harvests from twenty to thirty thousand bushels of wheat annually be- sides other crops. It requires about fifty head of horses to handle this estate. The farm is supplied with a modern tasty, twelve room residence, all buildings, barns and machinery necessary and is one of the choice estates of Washington. In addition to this Mrs. Goode- nough owns in her own right eight hun- dred acres of excellent wheat land all under cultivation. The water supply for the farm is brought from a well a mile away.
In 1868, Mr. Goodenough married Mehit- able Hall of Michigan, who died in 1892, leav- ing six children, John, Oscar, Jacob, Levi, Thomas and Maude.
In 1894, Mr. Goodenough married Mrs. Ella F. Kelsey, the widow of James. Kelsey and daughter of Freeman and Hannah H. (Norman) Tucker, natives of New Jersey, where the mother lives at the present time. The father died while on a trip to California.
They were the parents of three children and Mrs. Tucker had one child by her former marriage, William, John L., Phoebe and Ella Frances. Mrs. Goodenough married Mr. Kel- sey in California, in December, 1879, and he- died in 1891, leaving two children, Miller and Madeline, the former in this county and the latter attending; school at Pullman college.
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