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 54
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 54
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 54
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 54
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At the age of fourteen Mr. Dorman started in his career independently, beginning by work- ing on a farm. Prior to this time he had at- tended school in Iowa, and after leaving home he continued his education during the winters. He followed farming in Iowa until 1888, when he came to Washington and located a home- stead of one hundred and sixty acres twelve miles northwest of Ritzville. Here he lived eight years, when he sold out and located on a quarter-section of land where he now lives. Later he purchased three hundred and twenty acres, which he has fenced, placed under culti- vation and improved with good buildings, orchard and so forth.
In 1865 Mr. Dorman was married to Martha J. Knox, daughter of John and Fidelia (Jacobs) Knox, both of whom were born in Virginia. Mrs. Dorman is a member of a fam- ily of eleven children, Benjamin F., Thomas J., Martha J., Henry C., John L., Mary E., Alice A .. Addie, Louisa. Joseph and Charles. Among these are two pairs of twins, Thomas J. and Martha J., and Alice A. and Addie.
To Mr. and Mrs. Dorman have been born these children, whose names and present ad- dresses are as follows: Orpha. Spokane; Lois, married to John M. Woehr, Garfield, Wash- ington : Lotta, Spokane: Jesse, San Francisco; Alice C., with her parents ; and Orris, Spokane.
In politics Mr. Dorman is liberal in his views, being affiliated with no party. He and his family are members of the Christian church.
In 1862 Mr. Dorman enlisted in Company H. Thirty-third Iowa Infantry, and served three years as a private, first under Colonel Rice, and upon his death in battle, under Colonel Mackey. The first engagement in which our subject was involved was at Helena, Arkansas. Later, he fought in the battles of Shellmound. Mississippi, the seventeen days' fight at Selen River, Arkansas, and at the bat- tle of Jenkin's Ferry. He was repeatedly wounded, and at one time was confined two months in a hospital. Upon returning to his command he fought in Alabama, being engaged
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
in the battles of Fort Spanish and Fort Blakely, as well as many lesser fights and skirmishes. Altogether his military record was one of ac- tion and bravery,-one of which he by no means need be ashamed.
TARBLE W. MARTIN resides with his half-brother, William I. Purcell, the subject of another sketch appearing in this history. He was born in Danville, Illinois, May 20, 1833, the son of William and Cerraphina ( Weather- bee) Martin, natives of Kentucky and New York, respectively. . His parents settled in Illi- nois in an early day, and in that state the fa- ther died in 1838. The mother, after having married again, later came to Adams county, Washington, where she died in 1898.
Mr. Martin came west with an ox team to California, in 1852. He began mining at Downieville, California, the following year and continued thus engaged until 1855, when he went north to Rogue River and to Portland, Oregon. During the autumn of that year, war with the Indians broke out, whereupon our sub- ject, with a brother, volunteered to go to the front as soldiers. They served from November until May, when Mr. Martin entered the employ of the government in the Indian service. On one occasion he took a load of provisions for the Indians to Dayton, Washington, and while en- route was captured by the war-like savages and held prisoner for two days. He packed freight, after that time from Fort Simco to The Dalles until November, 1856, when he and his brother went to Texas. They remained in that state until 1860, when Mr. Martin went to Illinois where he farmed until 1883. In the year mentioned he came to Washington, stop- ping at Dayton, whence he came to Adams county. Here he filed on a half-section of land which he still owns, and in November, 1903, he went to Oklahoma, where he remained a brief space, from that territory he went to Texas, and thence to points in California, re- turning home in February of the following year.
On October 15, 1863, Tarble W. Martin was married to Mary J. Hogan, daughter of Adley and Nancy ( Hornbach) Hogan, the former a native of South Carolina and the lat- ter of Kentucky. The parents of Mrs. Martin
settled in Pike county, Illinois, about the year 1840, and there spent the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of five children.
Mr. Martin in 1860 allied himself with the Republican party and remained a Republican until 1892, when he joined the ranks of the People's Party, of which he is a member at the present time. He has repeatedly held school offices, and was elected the first assessor of Adams county, but never served owing to his refusal to qualify for the position.
WILLIAM I. PURCELL. In the year 1886 the subject of this sketch came to Adams county and located a timber culture and pre- emption. This land he improved and cultivated until 1898, when he filed a homestead on his present home one mile east and two miles south of Fletcher. He sold his original land in 1902 and purchased a half-section adjoining his homestead, making him the owner of four hun- dred and eighty acres, three hundred and fifty acres of which are now under cultivation. All of his land is fenced, well improved and con- tains a first class orchard, making it one of the most desirable farms in the county. It also is judiciously supplied with live stock.
William I. Purcell was born in Bastrop county, Texas, January II, 1855, the son of Samuel and Cerraphina (Weatherbee) Purcell, the father a native of Indiana and the mother of New York. The parents went to Texas in 1852, migrated to Baker Springs, Kansas, in 1869, and returned to Pike county, Illinois, in 1870, where the father died one year later. The mother came west with our subject in 1886 and died December 7, 1889, aged seventy-six years, seven months and twenty-one days. She was a devoted member of the Christian church, was married twice and reared a family of seven children by her first union and another of two children by her second marriage. Her first husband's name was William Martin, and his death occurred in 1838.
Mr. Purcell received his early education in a subscription school in Texas, and after going to Illinois with his parents he attended school in that state three years. At the age of six- teen he engaged in work on a farm, this being his first start for himself. He remained thus engaged five years, then worked a rented farm
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
for twelve years, at the expiration of which period he came to Adams county.
Mr. Purcell was married October 15, 1874, to Ruby A. Huffman, who is the daughter of Barney and Lucretia (Williams) Huffman, natives of Virginia. The parents of Mrs. Pur- cell removed to Indiana while young and later to Pike county, Illinois, where they lived until 1888, then came to Washington and are now living in Adams county, both more than four score years of age. They were the parents of eleven children, eight of whom are now living.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Purcell come of Amer- ican stock as far back as the family records extend.
Mr. Purcell is a member of the Democratic party, and both he and Mrs. Purcell are mem- bers of the Christian church.
WILLIAM C. GRIFFITH, farmer, post- master and townsite proprietor of the town of Griffith, Adams county, is a native of Carlton, Ontario, born January 26, 1852. He is the son of Richard and Edith (Leach) Griffith, natives of Ireland, the father of Welsh de- scent. The father came to Canada from the country of his birth when eight years old, and the mother was born during the voyage of her parents to the American continent. After their marriage the parents settled in Ontario, where the father's father lived and died, and there the subject's father died on a farm at the age of eighty and the mother at seventy years of age.
Owing to the imperfection of the school system at that time Mr. Griffith received no schooling during his youth, and at the age of thirteen years he was apprenticed for three years to a carpenter in order to learn the trade. His wage was to be twenty dollars for the first year, forty for the second, and twice forty for the third. However, because his master in- sisted on his caring for the children of the household young Griffith summarily resigned at the end of six months, entering the employ of another carpenter and completed his trade. Since that time he has worked at carpentering in many quarters of the United States, he hav- ing come to this country immediately after finishing his apprenticeship. He went to Orma, Wisconsin, in 1869, worked at his trade three
months then set out to walk to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He left home with thirteen dollars, and before reaching his destination he passed through many hardships and embarrassments. He was compelled at one time to trade a part of his clothing for food. Finally a gentleman took compassion upon him to the extent of pur- chasing him a ticket to Carroll City, Iowa, with the understanding that Mr. Griffith was to re- turn the money when he became able. This he did out of his first earnings. He worked first on' a farm in Iowa, and in 1874 lie went to Cali- fornia. When he reached that state he was penniless, but soon secured work on a hay press. He later worked in the harvest fields, and in the timber. He purchased land in California and for one winter he was engaged in getting out ties for. a railroad company. In the spring following his advent in California he purchased the stage route between Soquel and Santa Cruz, but after eleven months he sold this business, married and again engaged in farming. Later on he engaged in the lumber business in Cali- fornia and for seven years he was foreman of a large lumber yard. In 1887 he came to Wash- ington and purchased two hundred acres of land, taking at the same time a pre-emption of one hundred and sixty acres. He returned to California, where he spent the winter, but in the following spring he came to his land, erected a store and engaged in the mercantile business coupled with that of farming. He also helped institute the postoffice, of which he has since been postmaster. He has engaged more or less in the buying and selling of land and has been successful. At the time of open- ing his store, Mr. Griffith engaged in the meat business, which was of the greatest help to him during the panic of 1893 since he had a contract to furnish meat during all of that year to a construction gang on the railroad. He also deals heavily in produce. During the sum- mer of 1891 he shipped eleven thousand dozen of eggs to Spokane.
Mr. Griffith has his land well improved, his buildings being among the best in the county. He now owns nine hundred and sixty acres of land, all of which is being cultivated.
On May 19, 1878, occurred the marriage of Mr. Griffith to Anna E. Wall, a native of California, whose parents, natives of Missouri, died when she was in early girlhood. She was reared by an aunt, C. Wentz.
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
Mr. and Mrs. Griffith have been parents of six children; Jesse, deceased; Edith, married to C. E. Olson, Adams county ; Gracie C., de- ceased; George L., Bertha E. and Elmer M., the latter three of whom are living at home.
Mr. Griffith is a Republican, and at the hands of his party was elected county com- missioner in 1889, holding office four years. He is now road supervisor of his destrict. He is a member of the Old English church, though he never now attends its services.
In the fall of 1902 Mr. Griffith ran a tele- phone wire from his farm to Ritzville. This was done as an experiment, but proved so successful that in a short while many of the farms installed 'phones and connected with the wire, since which time the rural telphone has been considered almost a necessity in the Big Bend. In the institution of this line Mr. Grif- fitlı was co-operated with by a neighbor, J. A. Willis, and these two are known as the origin- ators of the barb wire telephone system, which has become so generally popular. The original barbed-wire line used by Mr. Griffith has been replaced by him with a high wire line.
In June, 1904, Mr. Griffith disposed of his store, leased his land for three years, and re- signed the postmastership, which latter has not yet, however, been accepted. This was for the purpose of giving him a much needed rest. He will spend the summers of each year. in Idaho where he owns timber interests, which require his personal supervision, for at least a portion of the time.
HENRY HINRICHS, who, in 1887, came to Adams county, Washington, and located a homestead where he now lives, one mile north of Ritzville, was born in Wittmund, Germany, January 26, 1865. His parents were Henry and Eta (Reents) Hinrichs, both natives of Germany, and he was the eldest of a family of eight children. His parents died in the old country. The father's first wife died, leaving a family of eight children, after which he mar- ried again and by his second wife reared an- other family, also eight in number. Our sub- ject was an issue of this second marriage. The year of the father's death was 1902 and of the mother's 1901.
When fourteen years of age Mr. Hinrichs left school to assist his father on the farm.
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After three years, in 1882, he came to the United States and located in Illinois where he conducted a farm for five years. He then re- moved to Washington. From time to time since coming to this county Mr. Hinrichs has added to his holdings in land until he now owns one and a quarter sections, all of which is improved and cultivated. He has good farm buildings, raises some stock and a quantity of fruit each year.
In 1890 occurred the marriage of Henry Hinrichs to Maggie Meents, daughter of Rem- mer and Teite (Wagner) Meents, natives of Germany. Mrs. Hinrichs was born in Ger- many and came to the United States in 1885, located first in Illinois and later came to Adams county where she was married. This union has been blessed with seven children, all now living, Ada, Talina, Henry, Carrie, Anna, Addie and Rina.
Mr. Hinrichs is a man of prominence in the political affairs of his county, his efforts in this line being devoted to the cause of the Re- publican party. Both he and Mrs. Hinrichs are members of the Congregational church.
JUDSON J. MERRIMAN, an extensive farmer and the postmaster at Lind, was born in Applecreek, Wayne county, Ohio, June 16, 1856. He was the son of John M. and Harriet ( Geddis) Merriman, natives of Pennsylvania. They removed to Ohio about 1814, and there lived until 1888, when they came west to Lind. Here the father died on March 18, 1903. but the mother still lives here aged seventy-seven years. The brothers and sisters of Mr. Merri- man are, Rollin G., Abner W., Mary E., Mar- tha, Walker, Dorcas, Hattie, Eddie. and Quimby, and he is the fifth.
The first twenty-two years of our subject's life were spent at home with his parents, dur- ing which time he acquired a good common school education. Then he took up farming for himself in his native county and was thus occupied until 1886, when he came to Lind, Washington. The first year here was spent in different occupations, and then he engaged in the stock business, and followed it until 1898. In that year he sold his stock interests and built the first house in Lind. In fact, he was one of the promoters of the town and was the second
MR. AND MRS. JUDSON J. MERRIMAN
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
postmaster here, his appointment being in 1898, since which time he has been the incumbent of the office. Its yearly receipts were one hundred and forty-four dollars at the time he took charge and now they run as high as thirty thousand dollars.
Mr. Merriman has four hundred and eighty acres of excellent agricultural land near Lind, all well improved and under cultivation, besides having some valuable improvements in the town.
On August 11, 1876, Mr. Merriman mar- ried Miss Charlotte Good, a native of Knox county, Ohio. She died on November 6, 1899. On February 27, 1901, Mr. Merriam con- tracted a second marriage, Miss Maggie Hig- gins becoming his bride. She is a native of Virginia and her parents were born in Pennsyl- vania and are now residing in Knox county, Oho.
Politically, Mr. Merriman is a Republican and an active party man. He has served in the conventions, county and state, and is well in- formed on the issues of the day. In fraternal affiliations, he is identified with the I. O. O. F., Lind Lodge, No. 184, and the Rebekahs, while in religious persuasions, he is a member of the Methodist church.
By way of reminiscence, it is interesting to note the trials of the pioneers and in this con- nection it will be quite in place to recount some items from Mr. Merriman's life. Upon arriv- ing in Lind, he found that the entire capital he and his wife could make up was ninety dollars. They cast about for something to do and soon had charge of the railroad boarding house. In addition to boarding the hands, they fed the passengers, the trains stopping for meals, and in six months they had cleared eight hundred dollars in cash. This amount was all invested in three year old heifers and shortly Mr. Mer- riman was operating a large dairy, receiving forty cents per pound for all the butter he could produce. He soon took his place as one of the leading men of the country and has maintained it since, having the confidence of the people. Mr. Merriman and his wife landed here on May 17, 1886, and from that time until October, of the same year, they cooked their meals on a camp fire. Their furniture was made from empty boxes and their nearest neighbor was five miles distant.
Referring to a history of the Merriman family, we find that while the colonies were young, two Merriman brothers came to cast their lot in the new world. One was lost to de- scendants, but the other, William Merriman, settled in Baltimore, and from him descended the family of Merrimans, which is now one of the large ones of the United States. Upon re- cent reunions hundreds have gathered together, all tracing their lineage back to the gentle- man mentioned. To this William Merri- man, four sons and two daughters were born, William, George, Delilah, Kesiah, is believed Nicholas, and Micaiah. It others were in the family, but the record shows only those mentioned. To William, who is designated as the second, and who is the immediate great-grandfather of our subject, eight children were born, John, Daniel, Wil- liam, known as the third, Elijah, Micaiah, Elisha, Sarah, and Elizabeth. William, the second, was born in Baltimore, in 1756 and died in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1844. He had married Elizabeth Goodin and went to Union- town, Pennsylvania, where he was widely known as a wise money maker. Later, about 1815, he took his family to Wayne county, Ohio. He was a vigorous man until his death. Elijah Merriman, the son of William the Sec- ond, and the grandfather of our subject, mar- ried Miss Mary McCoy, and they became the parents of eleven children, Mahalah, Sarah, James M., William B., John M., Thomas, Elijah Merriman, the son of William the sec- John M., the father of Judson J. Merriman, married Harriet Geddis and their children are mentioned in the earlier portion of this article. Harriet Geddis came from a strong Scotch family and her father served in the Mexican war. The Merriman family has always been one of farmers and mechanics and professional men. None have sought public life or personal preferment in politics, but they are known as stanch and substantial people of worth and in- tegrity. Our subject has followed in the lines of his ancestors and is a pioneer, having as- sisted materially in opening this part of Wash- ington. He has good repute of all and is a de- scendant of the old Merriman stock of which all may be proud, and has kept untarnished the name of his forefathers as they bequeathed it to him.
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
JACOB SCHOESSLER, a member of the Adams county board of county commissioners, and a prominent farmer residing on a tract of eleven hundred and twenty acres of land five miles northwest from Ritzville, was born March 18, 1855, at Seradow, Russia, the son of Jacob and Katherine (Benner ) Schoessler. The parents were natives of Russia. Our sub- ject came to America in 1876 in order to escape military duty in the Russian army. The fam- ily came originally from Germany with a col- ony with the understanding that the members thereof were forever to be exempt from the Russian military law, but the promise made by the Russian government was broken, hence their leaving the country. The parents both died in Russia.
Upon coming to the United States Mr. Schoessler located on a farm in Nebraska, where he remained five years. He came to Adams county for the first time in 1883, hav- ing spent the intervening time in the middle western states, Oregon and Walla Walla. Dur- ing his first trip to Adams county he merely looked over the land then returned to Walla Walla. In 1886 he came again, located his present homestead, and the following year be- gan to make it his permanent home. For a number of years he saw hard times in plenty, but by his persistent and well-directed efforts he succeeded in his business and from time to time purchased more land until he now owns a tract in extent as stated above. All of his land is well improved and well cultivated.
In the year 1874 Mr. Schoessler was mar- ried to Elizabeth Walter, daughter of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Butherus) Walter, of Ger- man lineage but of Russian birth. They came to America in 1892, remained one and one- half years then returned to Russia, where both are now living. They are parents of seven children. George. Conrad. Jacob, Christian, Elizabeth, Mary M., and Lizzie.
The brothers and sisters of Mr. Schoessler are as follows, John, Anna, Elizabeth, Lena, Katherine and Lizzie.
To Mr. and Mrs. Schoessler have been born four children: Jacob, Adams county ; Henry and Jolin, both also of the vicinity of Ritz- ville: and Katie, wife of Fred Thiel, a pros- perous Adams county farmer.
Mr. Schoessler is a Democrat and takes an active interest in party affairs. He was elected
to his present office in 1901, and lie has re- peatedly held school offices. Both he and his wite are members of the Congregational church.
Mr. Schoessler has very recently completed a fine eight-room residence in Ritzville, which is now the family home, instead of the farm, as heretofore.
JOHN F. ROSENOFF resides four miles from Ritzville, and is engaged in the business of farming. Born in Russia, of German ex- traction, August 20, 1859, he was the son of Fred and Katherine (Ochzager) Rosenoff, a sketch of whose lives is incorporated with the sketch of the life of Henry Rosenoff, brother of our subject, to be found in another section of this history.
Mr. Rosenoff remained with the family un- til after coming to Adams county with a colony containing six families. Here he located a homestead, and commenced farming. His suc- cess for a number of years was by no means encouraging owing to drought, the squirrel pest, and other causes, but by persevering and applying himself to his business he at last achieved the success of every Big Bend farmer who has put forth his best efforts to succeed. Mr. Rosenoff since taking his homestead has worked among his neighbors for a number of years on salary, but from time to time as he felt able he has added to his original holdings until he now owns one and one-half sections of land, all of which is under cultivation and im- proved in the most modern and complete style. He has excellent farm buildings, a first-class orchard and a good supply of water for all farm purposes.
On February 12, 1881, occurred the mar- riage of John F. Rosenoff to Susie Kincler, daughter of Henry and Katie (Kock) Kincler, natives of Russia. The grandparents of Mrs. Rosenoff went to Russia with a colony of Germans, the promise of the Russian authori- ties being that none of the colonists were to be held liable for military duty. However, upon the outbreak of war they were called upon to serve in the army of the Czar, where- upon they straightway sailed for America and are now, for the most part, living in Adams county, where they are considered the best of citizens.
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
To Mrs. Rosenoff's parents were born four children, George H., John, Maria K., married to H. Miller, and Mrs. Rosenoff.
John F. and Mrs. Rosenoff have three chil- dren ; Henry, a graduate from the Agricultural college at Pullman, who lives with his grand- father ; John, and Carl.
Our subject is a Republican and a mem- ber of the Congregational church.
DANIEL BUCHANAN, one of the first settlers of Adams county, was born in Glas- gow, Scotland, February 25, 1820, the son of John and Martha (Scott ) Buchanan, both also natives of Scotland. The mother was born at Rutherford Glen, February 24. 1786.
By trade, Mr. Buchanan was a calico printer, although he followed principally agri- culture after coming to the United States in 1850. His first location in this country was in the state of Wisconsin, where he remained until 1884, when he came to Seattle. He was in Seattle, however, only a brief space when he came to Adams county and purchased three sections of land and commenced farming. In 1884 he went on an extended visit to his old home in Scotland, to London, Paris, and other European cities of interest, and on his return trip he visited friends and relatives in Wis- consin and Dakota.
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