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 52
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 52
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 52
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 52
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Mr. Goodenough is an active Democrat and for many years has been school director and justice of the peace. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and his wife belongs to the Metho- dist church.
BENJAMIN F. BICKFORD. Six miles east from Hatton lies the beautiful home of Benjamin. F. Bickford, one of the leading farmers in that locality. Born in Quincy, Adams county, Illinois, July 1, 1844, he was the son of Caleb and Elizabeth ( Mitchell) Bickford, natives, respectively, of New Hamp- shire and Kentucky. The parents settled in Illinois in 1836, and in 1856 they removed from Adams to Hancock county, of the same state, and there remained until their deaths. They reared a family of six children, Mrs. Ellen Capron, Zachary, Mrs. Emma Berry, Sue, Mrs. Rosa Ellis and B. F., the subject of this sketch.
Mr. Bickford received a good grammar school education in his native county, remain- ing with his parents until twenty-four years of age. He then spent six years in Kansas, but returned at the expiration of that time to Illi- nois, where he remained thirteen years. After this he was a short time in Kansas City, Kan- sas, then came to Washington and in 1888 located a pre-emption. He went to Whitman county in 1892, but two years later returned to his Adams county farm and has continued to live here since. He has a first class orchard, and other modern farm improvements, and raises some stock both for his own use and for market.
In 1872 Mr. Bickford was married to Jane Fairchild, daughter of Roswell and Marie (Winfield) Fairchild, natives of New York and' early settlers in Ohio. Later in life they removed to Illinois, remained there until 1866, when they went to Kansas and there spent the remainder of their lives on a farm. They were parents of six children, Edwin, Mrs.
53
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
Lucina Manlove, deceased, Silas, Fannie and Amy, twins, and Jane.
Mr. and Mrs. Bickford have two children, Edgar F. and Birdie E., married to Charles Rice, San Juan county, Washington.
Mr. Bickford has repeatedly been a member of his local school board, and has always been a stanch Republican. He is also a prominent member of the G. A. R.
RALPH R. REYNOLDS is engaged in the livery business in the town of Hatton. He was born at Mount Vernon, Lawrence county, Missouri, on February 22, 1868, and is the son of B. W. and' Frances (Stephens) Reynolds, natives of Missouri, where they are still living on a farm. They are parents of eight children, Ralph R., Gertrude, Clarence, Oma, Loren and Loie, twins, Earl, and Archie.
Mr. Reynolds remained with his parents until arriving at his twenty-second year, during which time he gained a good common school education. He then came to Hatton and filed on a homestead ten miles west from town, which claim he continued to cultivate until 1901, when he removed to town and erected his livery barn, which is a structure eighty- four by fifty feet in dimensions, and contains thirteen complete outfits.
Mr. Reynolds was married on February 22, 1903, to Elsie Cowley, daughter of John T. and Elizabeth Cowley. The parents of Mrs. Reynolds have been parents of five children, John. Monie, Elsie, Victoria and Maggie.
Mr. Reynolds is a Democrat, and a mem- ber of the A. O. U. W. fraternity.
He is looked upon as one of the promising business men of the thriving little town of which he is a part.
EDGAR F. BICKFORD is a prosperous farmer residing six miles east from Hatton. He was born in Linn county, Kansas, October 23. 1873. the son of Benjamin F. and Jane (Fairchild) Bickford, both natives of Illinois who settled in Kansas when young. In 1874 they removed to Illinois, where they lived thir- teen years, when they came to Adams county, Washington. They are still living on a farm in this county. Besides the subject of our
sketch, they have one child, Birdie, married to C. A. Rice, living in San Juan county, Wash- ington. Mrs. Rice has two children. Our subject's father is a veteran of the Civil war and a very highly respected old gentleman.
Mr. Bickford received his early education in Schuyler county, Illinois, and came west with his parents at the age of sixteen years. Upon coming here he engaged in working on a farm for wages, in which capacity he con- tinued eight years, when he took a homestead, since which time he has been farming for him- self. He has his land' all fenced, under culti- vation and well improved with first class modern buildings. In 1903 he purchased a quarter section of land near his homestead, and rents a half-section, making a total of one sec- tion which he annually has in crop. He also has his farm well supplied with draft horses and farm implements.
Mr. Bickford is an active Republican, and a member of the F. and A. M. and of the Knights of Pythias fraternities.
HAL CRAMPTON is engaged in farming five miles east from Hatton, where he has been since 1888. He is a native of Flint, Genesee county, Michigan, born July 29, 1866, and the son of George and Marenda (Hibbard) Crampton. The father is a native of England and the mother of Michigan. They settled in Michigan at the time of their marriage, and never left the state. The father is dead, but the mother still lives at Lennon. They have always lived on a farm, and were parents of seven sons, Bert, deceased, our subject, Will- iam, Charles, Frank, Harry and John.
Mr. Crampton received a good common school education in the state of his birth and at the age of twenty-one started in life inde- pendently. He came west in 1888 and settled first in Walla Walla, Washington, but during the same year he came to his present locality, where he filed a homestead and timber culture on the farm where he now lives. He says he saw some really hard times in gaining a start here, but that he always enjoyed a plenty of the necessities of life and managed somehow to improve his land. In 1899 he purchased a half-section of railroad land, and at intervals since that time he has added to his farm until
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
he now owns. one thousand five hundred and sixty acres of farm land and one hundred and sixty acres of timber. He has eleven hundred and fifty acres under cultivation, and improved with the most modern type of farm buildings and conveniences. He maintains twenty-five head of farm horses, and an excellent orchard.
Mr. Crampton was married to Fannie Powers, daughter of Melvin and Ellen (Fisher) Powers, the former a native of New York and the latter of Pennsyl- vania. The parents of Mrs. Crampton settled in Ohio early in life, and later removed to Michigan, where the mother still lives, the father dying some years since. They were pa- rents of six children; Jennie, now Mrs. A. Jennings; Fannie, Harvey, Mrs. Amy Urch, Mrs. Lillie Hibbard and Mertie, deceased.
Mr. Crampton is an active Democrat, and a member of the Odd Fellows. He has re- peatedly held office as a member of his local school board.
Mrs. Crampton is a member of the Metli- odist Episcopal church.
SAMUEL ALLEN, farmer, lives ten miles east from Hatton. He was born in Zanesville, Ohio, September 16, 1850, the son of Josiah B. and Frances ( Herrick) Allen. The mother was a daughter of General Herrick, who fought in the Revolutionary War. The father was a native of Connecticut, and with the mother, settled at Janesville early in life, where they lived the remainder of their lives, rearing a family of ten children. The children are, Edward H., Mary, Margaret, Maggie, Lizzie, Charles, Emma, Fannie, Josiah, and Samuel.
At the age of sixteen Mr. Allen, after hav- ing received a fair common school education in his native town, went to Kansas City, and there learned the art of telegraphy. He fol- lowed this profession until arriving at his ma- jority, when he engaged in railroad work, and in 1887 he came to Adams county, Washing- ton. Here he took a homestead and timber culture, which he has continued to cultivate down to the present time. He also has pur- chased enough land to make a full section, all of which is under cultivation and improved. His farm is well supplied with live stock.
In 1872 Mr. Allen was married to Rena Moore, daughter of George W. and Melana (Boren) Moore, the mother a native of Vir- ginia and the father of Tennessee. The par- ents of Mrs. Allen settled in Illinois early in life, removed to Kansas in 1856, and in 1875 went to Indian Territory, where both died. They were parents of seven children, George M., Ezra B., Dillon, Rena, James K., and two who died in infancy.
Mr. Allen is a Republican in political be- lief. He is an enthusiastic worker in school matters, and at different periods of his resi- dence he has served on his local school board. Mrs. Allen is a member of the Christian church.
To Mr. and Mrs. Allen have been born six children, five of whom are living, George J., S. Francis, Pearl A., Charles M., and Ethel M. All are at home but S. Francis, who is at Kahlotus, Washington.
SOLOMON P. WRIGHT lives in Hatton, where he does an extensive real estate and loan business. Born in Obion county, Tennessee, April 29, 1848, he was the son of Philip A. and Elizabeth ( Lane) Wright, natives of Ken- tucky, who removed to Tennessee early in life. The mother died in that state some years since, but the father is still living there. During the Civil war. the father was about to go to war as a soldier, but his eldest son, George P., volunteered to take his place in the army.
Mr. Wright has eleven brothers and sisters, George P., Moses, Mary J., Sarah A., Susan, R. A., Rufus, D. M., J. L., Henry C. and Lucy R., twins.
He received his early education in the com- mon schools of his native state, and upon at- taining his majority he engaged in farming for himself. In 1877 he sold his farm and engaged in the saw milling and lumber business, which he followed until 1883, when he sold out and returned to farming. In 1887 he came to Ritzville, Adams county, and for two years he worked at carpentering in that town. In 1889 he took a homestead ten miles east from Hat- ton, and at different times since settling here he has added to his holdings until he now owns two and one-half sections of land, all of which is fenced, and one and three-fourths sections of which is under cultivation. He has
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
good buildings and some highly bred cattle and horses. He has harvested from his land as high as fifteen thousand bushels of wheat in a single year. In 1902 he removed to Hatton and engaged in his present business, having rented his farm.
In 1869 Mr. Wright was married to Anna F. Woody, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Woody, natives of North Carolina, and pa- rents of twelve children.
To this union have been born eight chil- dren, five of whom are living; Lillie, married to O. WV. Goodenough, of Adams county ; Nora H., with her parents ; Homer R., in Ritz- ville; Lottie J., with her parents; and Preston W., also living with his parents.
Mr. Wright is a Democrat. He is interested in educational work and for many years he was a member of his local board of school directors. Both he and Mrs. Wright have long been men- bers of the Church of Christ.
NATHAN S. WOODY, a farmer resid- ing six and one-half miles east and two miles south from Hatton, is a native of Parke coun- ty, Indiana, born March 8, 1866. He is the son of Mahlon and Susannah (Harvey) Woody, the father a native of North Carolina and the mother of Ohio. The parents lived in Indiana until 1871, when they went to Illi- nois and from that state to Missouri, where they lived ten years. Upon the death of the father the mother removed to Idaho, where she died in 1898. They were the parents of eight children.
Mr. Woody received a good common school education in Champion county, Illinois, and in Missouri, and upon attaining his ma- jority he started in life independently by en- gaging in farming. After two years he came to Washington in 1890 and farmed in Whit- man county until 1898, when he came to Adams county and filed upon his present homestead. He now has his land all fenced and well improved.
In 1888 Mr. Woody was married to Addie Billow, to which union have been born three children, W. Clyde, Leroy A. and Clifford L. Mr. Woody is a conservative Republican in politics, and socially, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity.
He is considered an intelligent and indus- trious farmer, a good citizen and a first-class neighbor.
MICHAEL J. LOGAN resides on a farm one-fourth of a mile west from Cunningham, Adams county, Washington. He is a native of Roscommon county, Ireland, born July 24, 1852, and is the son of Thomas and Bridget (Geraghty) Logan. Both were na- tives of Ireland, and the mother is still living in the county of our subject's birth, but the father is dead. The family lived on a farm in Ireland, and numbered in all nine children, seven of whom are still living, and two of whom died while young. Those living are, James, Mary, Thomas, Michael, Bartholo- mew, Francis, and Mary.
In his native county the subject of our sketch received a good common school educa- tion, and at the early age of sixteen years he started in life on his own responsibility. He worked in a store in Strokestown, Ireland, for two years, then went to England, where he farmed for eight years, then, in 1882, he came to America and settled in Colorado. Here he worked on the railroad and later in the Leadville mines, until during the following year, when he went to Umatilla, Oregon, and took a position as section foreman for the railroad at that town. He remained thus en- . gaged for ten years then came to Washing- ton and settled at Cheney. Later, however, he removed to Connell, then to Hatton, and in 1898 he took a homestead and the same year purchased an adjoining section of land where he now lives. He has all of his eight hundred acres of land fenced and under cultivation, improved with good buildings and a fine orchard, and maintains a large herd of live- stock,-both horses and cattle.
Mr. Logan was married in 1892 to Mary Kelley, a native of Iowa, which union has been blessed with two children, Mary and Francis, both of whom live with their parents.
Mr. Logan is a Democrat, and both he and Mrs. Logan are adherents to the Roman Cath- olic faith.
L'pon first coming to the Big Bend, Mr. Logan was anything but favorably impressed with the appearance of the country and ex- pected not to remain; but as he became more
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
familiar with the conditions and climate he learned to like it and now he considers it the best country in America for the farmer and stockman.
GALE SMITH is editor of the IV'ash- tucna Enterprise, a promising and newsy lit- tle sheet published at Washtucna, Washing- ton. Born in Danville, Illinois, November 13, 1876, he was the son of A. G. and Charlotte B. (Paige) Smith, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New York. The parents lived at Danville, where the father, being a newspaper man and printer, founded the first daily newspaper of that city. In 1890, he removed to Bloomington, Illinois, where he still lives, and in 1895 he retired from active business. During his life the elder Mr. Smith has held many positions of honor and trust, and has seen much activity in the field of politics.
Mr. Smith has one brother, Paul, who lives at Walla Walla.
Early in his boyhood Mr. Smith learned the printer's trade from his father. He was educated in the public schools of McLean county, Illinois, and at the age of twenty-one completed a course in a normal university of his state. Upon leaving school he established the Morning Call at Normal, Illinois, in part- nership with his brother. Later he purchased his brother's interest and afterward also pur- chased the LeRoy Press. In 1903 Mr. Smith came to Washtucna and purchased the Enter- prisc.
During November, 1903, he was ap- pointed United States commissioner and dur- ing the same year he was appointed justice of the peace, both of which positions he now occupies.
Gale Smith is a prominent Odd Fellow of his town, and an untiring worker in the rank and file of the Republican party.
CHARLES W. SMITH, who is a farmer residing five miles west and two miles south from Fletcher, is a native of Prince Edward Island, born May 28, 1869. He was the son of Alexander and Sarah ( McMillan) Smith, both also natives of Prince Edward
Island. They both remained there until 1889, when the father died and the mother came to Washington. She is now living at Kahlotus, Washington. The parents of our subject reared a family of nine children, James L., J. D., W. B., W. S., C. W., E. J., Lillian, Maggie, and A. A. Smith.
Mr. Smith was educated where he was born. In 1887 he was graduated from the Prince of Wales college, whereupon he en- gaged in the profession of school teaching, which he followed seven years, all told. He came to Washington in 1891 and located where he now lives. He owns six hundred and eighty acres of farming land, all fenced, cultivated and improved with the best of mod- ern farm buildings, orchard and a first-class water system. He also raises some live stock.
For some years after coming here Mr. Smith experienced great difficulty in making a living, owing mainly to the squirrel pest. One year he lost one hundred and ten acres of wheat and the greater portion of his garden truck and berries. However, despite all ob- stacles he persevered, and is now one of the well-to-do farmers of Adams county.
He is an active Republican in politics, and a leading citizen.
VANTROMP DONNELL is a native of Bates county, Missouri, born July 15, 1866, the son of Anzi and Tresia ( Moore) Don- nell, the father a native of Virginia and the mother of Kentucky. The parents were mar- ried in Missouri, where they lived until the father's death in 1870. The mother has been again married and is now living in Missouri. Mr. Donnell has one sister, Leona, and one half-brother, and one half-sister, Frank and Berthola Davidson.
Vantromp Donnell has a good common school education, which he acquired in the state of his birth, in Henry and Jasper coun- ties. At the age of eighteen he began life for himself by working in a smelter. He was thus engaged four years, then took up teaming. He followed this occupation three years, or until 1889, when he came to Adams county and located as a homestead his present farm. He subsequently purchased a quarter-section of land in addition to his homestead, and he has
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
all of his land in an advanced state of culti- vation and improvement. He has a fine house and barn, an excellent orchard and a herd of well-bred cattle.
On September 17, 1902, Mr. Donnell was married to Ella E. Raney, daughter of G. F. and Susan ( Williams) Raney, the father a native of Virginia and the mother of Tennes- see. The parents settled in Little Rock, Ar- kansas, afterwards removing to southern Mis- souri, where they lived seven years. Again removing, they went to Webster county, Mis- souri, where they lived nine years, after which time they established a home in Taney county, of the same state, and there the father died. The mother continued to live there until 1903, when she came to Adams county, Washington, where she still lives. Mrs. Donnell is a mem- ber of a family originally comprising eight children, six of whom, besides herself, are living, Fannie, Mary L., Belle, Epps, Emma, and May. One brother, William, is dead.
Mrs. Donnell is a member of the Rebekah fraternity and of the Methodist Episcopal church. The subject of our sketch is a mem- ber of the M. W. A., and in his political con- victions he holds aloof from either party. leav- ing himself free to vote according to the dic- tates of his conscience and for the man of his choice irrespective of the political party upon whose ticket he is a candidate.
Mr. and Mrs. Donnell have one child, Thel- ma E., born June 26, 1903.
SIMEON G. WELLER lives on a farm two and one-half miles southwest from Leone, Adams county, Washington. He was born on January 8, 1841, at Geneseo, New York, and was the son of Peter R. and Margret ( All- bright) Weller, the father a native of New Jersey and the mother of Pennsylvania. While young the parents removed to New York, set- tling in Livingstone county, where they lived the remainder of their lives. The father was of English descent, while the mother's ances- tors were from Holland. Mr. Weller, senior, was a farmer by occupation, was twice mar- ried and reared by his first marriage a family of fourteen children and five by the second. The subject was the eldest of the latter family. and his brothers and sisters are Martin, James, Emma and Thomas B.
At the age of fifteen years young Simeon Weller joined a party on its way to settle in a new section of the state of Iowa. He arrived there in 1856 and remained four years, when he went to Pikes Peak, Colorado, where he re- mained until 1863. He then went to the terri- tory of Idaho, where he was engaged in min- ing for twelve years, after which time he re- turned to the east and lived the following eleven years. In 1886 he came to Washington and the following year he filed a pre-emption on the land where he now lives. He passed through the hard times of 1893-94, suffering with the rest of the Big Bend farmers, but he is now in well-to-do circumstances, owning his place and the proceeds of a section of land which he rents. He also has a herd of well- bred cattle and some horses, hogs, and so forth.
In 1876 Mr. Weller was married to Ada Lessy, daughter of John and Angelia (Page) Lessy, the father a native of Connecticut and the mother of New York. The parents of - Mrs. Weller settled in Brown county, Wiscon- sin, and there spent the greater portion of their lives until they died.
To this union have been born two children, Charles B., of Adams county, and Alice, mar- ried to Roy Hudleson, an Adams county farmer. The latter has two children, Ruth and Sadie.
Mr. Weller is an active Democrat, but has never held office, save that of a member of his school board. In fraternity circles, he is known as a member of the F. and A. M. and of the K. of P. The family belongs to the Church of Christ.
HENRY LUCY, a farmer residing two miles north from Fletcher, is a native of Frank- lin county, Missouri, born February 28, 1857. He received a grammar school education in the state of his birth, and at the age of nine- teen he entered upon an independent career. For fourteen years he farmed in Missouri, then, in 1889. he came to Adams county and located his present farm as a homestead. He has one hundred and eighty-seven acres, be- sides which he leases a quarter-section, which he cultivates and upon which he raises some stock for market. He has his farm well im-
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
proved with first-class buildings, orchard, and so forth, and is in circumstances of ease and comfort.
Mr. Lucy is the son of Cornelius and Mar- garet (Boyle) Lucy, natives of Ireland who came to America when young, their parents having come to this country and located in the state of New York. The parents of our sub- ject settled in Missouri in 1840, where they lived thirty years, and there both died. The father was a life-long railroad man. They were the parents of seven children besides the subject of our sketch, James, Cornelius, Cath- erine, Nora, Anna, Matthew and Margaret.
In 1878 Mr. Lucy was married to Thulia Davidson, daughter of John and Ann ( Moore) Davidson, natives of Kentucky and parents of five children, Thulia, Frank, Thomas, Lee, and one who died in infancy.
Politically, Mr. Lucy is an ardent Demo- crat. He is a member of the M. B. A., and both he and Mrs. Lucy are members of the Christian church.
ELEAZER M. SEELY is the postmaster at Fletcher, Washington, where he also is pro- prietor of a thriving mercantile business. He comes of old Pennsylvania Quaker stock, a re- mote descendant of William Penn and was him- self raised in the Quaker church. He was born in Knoxville, Pennsylvania, February 18, 1834, the son of Henry and Emily (Stephens) Seely, the father a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of Connecticut. The latter was a nephew of the famous Commodore Stephens. The parents early in life settled in Knoxville, where the mother died at the age of forty-two and the father at sixty-six years. The grand- father of our subject was among the first of the pioneers to settle in the state founded by the illustrious Penn. The brothers and sisters of Mr. Seely are: Luke L., Harriett, Albert, Jiles C., and Emma.
Mr. Seely received his early education in the Deerfield Union academy in Pennsylvania, to attend which he walked one mile each day. At the age of nineteen he went to Indiana and began teaching school. He followed this oc- cupation for two years, then learned the trade of mill wright, which has furnished him a livelihood the greater part of his life since
mastering it. In 1861 he enlisted in the In- diana State Militia atid served as a private two years, when he was commissioned a lieu- tenant, which office he held until later when he removed to Illinois to engage in work at his trade. In 1865 he returned to his native state to settle the estate of his deceased father and remained there until 1869, when he returned to Pike county, Illinois. In 1888 he came to Washington and located at Ellensburg, where he engaged in contracting until 1893 when he came to Adams county. He did some con- tracting here until 1895, when he was ap- pointed postmaster, which office he has held continuously ever since, although politically he is an active Democrat. He took a home- stead in the vicinity of Fletcher soon after coming to the county, which he still retains and he also owns the building containing the postoffice, which is his home.
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