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 60
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 60
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 60
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 60
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EDGAR DEWITT GILSON, sheriff of Adams county, and one of the most enterpris- ing pioneer citizens of Ritzville, was born in Middleville, Barry county, Michigan, June 26, 1858. At an early age he accompanied his par- ents to Nebraska, where the family located for a short period in Platte county. When he was eight years of age his father, William Booker Gilson, joined the swelling tide of emigration
then setting strongly toward the west, and crossed the plains. They settled near Albany, Linn county, Oregon, where those of the fam- ily remaining still reside.
The subject of this sketch came to Adams county, Washington, March 3, 1885, and has lived continuously in Ritzville, the county seat, for the past twenty years. From 1885 to 1887 he was deputy county auditor. During the year 1888 he was clerk in the general mercantile establishment of N. H. Greene & Son. In 1889 he established a real estate and insurance business which he still conducts. Commenc- ing in 1890 Mr. Gilson was alternately city marshal, police judge and justice of the peace. During the three years between 1895 and 1898 he was deputy sheriff. This was followed by his election to the offices of county clerk and clerk of the superior court. Through eight suc- cessive terms he held the office of city clerk of Ritzville. November 8,. 1904, he was elected sheriff of Adams county, Washington. Aside from these political positions Mr. Gilson is at present secretary of the Washington State Press Association, and is a delegate elect to the National Editorial Association which meets in Guthrie, Oklahoma, the present year, 1905.
The business enterprises of our subject cover a wide range. He is the sole owner of the "Gilson" brick and granite business block at the corner of Railroad avenue and C street, and is half owner of the new brick building and extensive printing plant of Gilson & Thompson. His attractive and comfortable home on Knob Hill is shared by his wife, four boys and a daughter, all the children attending the public schools of the city. He is manager and half owner of the Gilson-Thiel Oprea House.
Sheriff Gilson is editor and manager of the Adams County News, a popular weekly news- paper. Of this enterprise he assumed charge November 23, 1898. A full description of this complete plant, editorial office and well-known facilities for turning out a fine line of printing of every description will be found in the chap- ter devoted to the "Press of Adams County."
SAMUEL GLENN has a very fine estate about three miles southwest from Fletcher and in addition to handling this in a first class manner gives attention to operating a large.
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threshing outfit during the harvest seasons of the year. In all these labors, he has shown executive ability and thoroughness which have won success and placed him as one of the lead- ing men of the community.
Samuel Glenn was born in Orange county, Indiana, on March 25, 1858, being the son of Elias and Anna (Tarr) Glenn, natives of Ohio. Then they journeyed to Indiana where the family home was until they both died. The father followed blacksmithing. They were the parents of eight children: Mrs. Hattie Wood, Elisha, Mrs. Martha Starrett, Mrs. Ju- lia Widman, Mrs. Maria E. Heil, Elias, Mrs. Mary Moore, Samuel, who is our subject. Samuel began to attend the public schools of his native county when quite young and con- tinued studying until fourteen years of age. at which time he was forced to step out in the world for himself. He learned blacksmithing and followed the same for twenty-six years. Afterward, he went to Illinois spending one year and then lived seven years in Kansas. He afterward came on to Washington and on December 24, 1887, he filed on a homestead. In February, 1888, he moved on this home- stead and still resides here. That was the nucleus of his large estate. He moved the family here shortly after coming and com- menced the good work of opening up a farm. He has conducted that since and at various times he purchased more until he has now two full sections, twelve hundred acres of which are producing first class wheat. He has three very fine wells on the estate and a good or- chard, the land all under fence and comfort- able buildings.
In 1881, Mr. Glenn married Miss Alice Morgan, the daughter of David and Sarah (Deal) Morgan, natives of Indiana, who moved to Missouri in 1881, and in 1896 jour- neved thence to Washington. They are now living in Adams county. Seven children have been born to them, four of whom are living. named as follows, Alice, wife of our subiect. Millard, Luther, Arthur. To Mr. and Mrs. Glenn the following named children have been born : Samuel N., on October 19, 1882, at Keelville, Kansas; Walter, E., on December 20, 1883. at Neutral, Kansas : Iva B., on July II, 1885: Charles H., on February II, 1887. at Keelville, Kansas; Earl, on July 11. 1889. at Fletcher, Washington; Della, on December
12, 1892, at Fletcher, Washington; Hattie A.,. on August 23, 1894; Fred, on September 1,. 1897; Laura M., on July 8, 1900; Claud L., on March 26, 1902; and Theodore R., on No- vember 16, 1904. In addition to handling his. property interests in first class shape, Mr. Glenn always shows marked activity in the political campaigns, ever supporting the Republican party. He has frequently served as school di- rector and for two terms was road overseer .. He also is interested in frate: nal matters and' is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and the I. O. O. F. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church and are devout supporters of the faith.
ADOLPH ECK was born on the banks of the historic Rhine, in Germany, on January 19, 1852. He now dwells about four miles southwest from Fletcher and gives his atten- tion to general farming and stock raising. His parents, William and Christina (Ort) Eck. were natives of Germany and there remained until their death. The father followed mer- chant tailoring. They were the parents of eleven children whose names are given as fol- lows, John, William, Adelpt, Joseph, Johan, Gerhart, Theodore, Fred, Peter, Barbara and Lizzie. Our subject was placed in a private- school taught by the Catholic fathers and there studied until twelve years of age, when his father died and he was forced to go to work to assist in the support of the younger members of the family. He continued thus until 1881 when he determined to make a voyage to the new world, believing that opportunities await- ed him here better than in his native land. He located in St. Paul, Minnesota, and there la- bored until 1888 in which year he came to Eugene, Oregon. The next year, he was in Portland and before 1889 had finished its course, he landed in Adams county and took a homestead where he now lives. He has bought three fourths of a section of land in ad- dition and now has a very choice farm of six hundred and forty acres all in a high state of cultivation and excellentlv improved. He has a nice orchard and handles some stock.
In Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1886, Mr. Eck married Miss Gertie Kuntz, a native of Germany, where also her parents were born
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and died. She had six brothers and sisters. Mr. and Mrs. Eck have three children, Mary J., Margaret C., and Joseph H.
In politics, our subject is decidedly liberal. He reserves for himself the right to take up independently the questions and decide them without the restriction of party ties. He belongs to the Catholic church and has reared his family in that faith. Mr. Eck is deserv- ing of much credit for the manner in which he has labored in Adams county and in the im- provements that he has made. He has ever shown himself a man of good determination, industry, and thoroughness and has won many friends.
FRANK HAMBLEN. Adams county has a large quota of wealthy farmers and 110 class of people have done as much for the coun- ty as those who till the soil. There is no doubt that the prominence in which this political division reaches today has been gained through the progressiveness and industry of those who opened up wild prairies and barren wastes and transformed them into cultivated farms and fertile fields. Not least among this worthy class is the subject of this article who resides three miles south of Delight, where he handles an estate of over one thousand acres. Frank Hamblen was born in Sidney, Fremont coun- ty, Iowa, on July 23, 1866, being the son of Leven and Mary (Spitler), natives of Ohio and Germany, respectively. The mother came to America when six years of age and her parents settled in Illinois. In that state, she was mar- ried in 1844, and there remained until 1860, then the family moved to Fremont county, Iowa, dwelling fourteen years in that section. Next they went to Missouri. Then Mrs. Hamblin took her children to Iowa, set- tling in Monona county and continuing there for five years. In 1888 they came to Washington, locating at Endicott, Whit- man county, whence she came to Adams county. She is now seventy-six years old, well preserved and the mother of fifteen children, nine of whom are living, named as follows; Cyrus. Ann, Thomas. Leven, Sophia, Mar- garet. Frank, Grant, Sherman. The other six who are deceased are given below. Alfred, Ada, Nancy, Lulu, and two who died in in- fancy.
Frank was educated in the common schools of his native place where he resided and at the age of nineteen, began the duties of life for himself. For two years, he labored with his brothers, Sherman and Leven at stock raising in Whitman county. In 1890, he came to Adams county, locating on land where he now resides. His brothers are still working with . him and in 1902, they sold their stock and gave their entire attention to farming. The estate is well fenced and supplied with abundance of fine water and is as good as there is in the coun- ty. Mr. Hamblen is a prosperous man and re- ceives the respect of the entire community:
In 1894, occurred the marriage of Mr. Hamblen and Bertha Bowers. She is the daughter of A. and Elizabeth (Spry) Bowers, natives of Ohio. As early as 1846, they set- tled in Iowa and in 1869 changed their resi- dence to Missouri. Six years later, they went back to Illinois and in 1880 came to Nebraska. Eight years after that, they journeyed west and settled where they now reside in Adams county. The father keeps the Delight post- office and to him and his wife, seven children have been born named as follows; Marion, Levina, Sarah, Rose F., Edward, Joseph and Bertha. To Mr. and Mrs. Hamblen, four children have been born, William, Harry, Asa and Clarence.
In political matters, we find our subject an ardent supporter of the Prohibition principles, while in church relations he and his wife be- long to the Methodist denomination.
LEE F. MOORE is one of the industrious farmers of Adams county and dwells about six and one-half miles southeast from Lind. He was born in Indian Territory, on Septem- ber 3, 1881. His parents, E. B., and Viola J. (Penny) Moore, were natives of Illinois and Ohio, respectively and are mentioned else- where in this volume. After coming west, our subject settled with his parents in Garfield county, Washington, where he received his education in the public schools, attending most- ly the Blue Mountain school. Later, however, he studied some in Adams county after the . family moved hither and at the age of eighteen laid aside his books and gave his attention to assisting his father. He has now secured an
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interest in eight hundred acres of land, all in cultivation and fenced and productive of ex- cellent returns in wheat. The place is provided with good buildings and is farmed by our sub- ject.
On July 2, 1903, Mr. Moore married Miss Mary L., daughter of Jerry and Fannie L. (LeDoux) Blair, natives of Canada and Min- nesota, respectively. Mrs. Moore has one brother, Frank, who is now deceased. Mr. Blair dwells in Adams county, being numbered with the tillers of the soil here. His wife died recently. Mr. Moore is a Prohibitionist and is a good expounder of the principles which he holds in politics.
He and his wife are members of the Chris- tian church and are exemplary people. They have many friends and have started in life with bright prospects. On May 18, 1904, a daugh- ter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Moore, who died the following day.
HOWARD B. ROUSE is one of the younger men of Adams county whose thrift and industry have assisted materially in build- ing up the country from a barren waste to one of the most wealthy in the state of Washing- ton. He resides ten miles southeast from Lind and gives his attention entirely to farming. Howard B. Rouse was born in Greenwood, Nebraska, on September 21, 1875, the son of J. S. and Sarah (Scroggin) Rouse, natives of Wisconsin and Iowa, respectively. The par- ents made settlement in Nebraska in early days then moved to Pomeroy, Washington, in 1876, our subject being but one year of age. In 1890, he came to Adams county and engaged in stock raising and farming. On October 5. 1897, the father, finished his pilgrimage and was buried with becoming ceremonies in this western country that he had assisted to open and build up. The mother had died at Pom- eroy, in 1886. They were the parents of seven children, Norah, Arthur, Carrie, Homer, How- ard, Claude and Irvin.
Howard B. was educated in the district schools of Garfield and Adams counties and at the early age of sixteen, started out to do for himself. For five years he labored for wages on the farms, then took up land and later purchased a quarter section more, making
his estate now one-half section. This is all in a higli state of cultivation, fenced, provided with buildings, supplied with water and so forth and is a nice ranch. In addition to this, Mr. Rouse rents fourteen hundred acres of land, eight hundred of which he farms to wheat. He has about twenty-five head of horses, some very fine blooded stock, abund- ance of machinery for his farm and is a well to do and prosperous man.
On June 17, 1900, Mr. Rouse married Miss Maude Nolan. Her, parents, M. C. and Sarah F. (Harbert) Nolan, were natives of Texas, and there remained until 1898, when they journeyed to Adams county. Three years la- ter, March 1, 1901, the mother was called away by death, but the father still resides in this county. They were the parents of three children, Brent, Mead and Monty. To Mr. and Mrs. Rouse, one child, Leta, has been born.
In political affairs, we find our subject in- terested in and supporting the principles of the Democratic party. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Christian church and are well known as very substantial and intelligent people.
ROBERT L. WATSON has shown by his well directed and industrious labors in Adams county that he is a man possessed of ability and thrift sufficient to win an excellent success here. He resides about two miles north- west from Delight, where he owns a choice estate of wheat land.
Robert L. was born in Iroquois, Illinois, on November 30, 1871. His parents, Alex and Catherine (Baird) Watson, were natives of Scotland and came to America when children. They settled in Canada, later crossing the line into the States and in 1867, located in Illinois. In 1880, they went west to Nebraska and eight years later. came on to Washington. They lo- cated where they now live in Adams county and are well known and substantial people. They are the parents of nine children, named as follows : James, Elizabeth, Alexander, Will- iam, David, Catherine, Andrew, Mary and Robert. Our subject received his education in Illinois, Nebraska and Adams county. Mak- ing the best of his opportunities, he studied in the public schools in these various places. He
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continued with his father until twenty-four years of age and when twenty-one took a homestead where he now lives and began to improve it. He has added since by purchase until he has one section of fine wheat land, all improved, fenced and provided with good buildings, water and so forth.
In February, 1903, Mr. Watson married Miss Alice Harris. Her parents, John and Emma (George) Harris, were natives of In- diana and among the early pioneers to the Walla Walla country, being but children when they came there. The father did freighting all through this country in early days. They were in Walla Walla before the town was started. Eight children were born to this worthy couple, Mary, deceased; William, George, Eva, John, Alice, Edgar, deceased; Rosie.
Politically, Mr. Watson is an active Repub- lican. He takes pains to keep himself well in- formed on the issues of the day and is a man up-to-date and progressive. Fraternally, he is a member of the M. W. A. and the I. O. O. F.
JOHN F. IRBY, postmaster at Ritzville, Washington, was born on December 30, 1869. at Aurora, Missouri. Reared principally in Lawrence county, of that state, his education was obtained in the district schools, supple- mented by a two years' course in the Baptist college at Pierce City, Missouri. After ac- quiring his education Mr. Irby worked for two years in the employ of a hardware merchant, after which he entered the lead and zinc mines of his state where he worked as shift boss and prospect driller. Later he and his father owned the Hays City mines, which they operated with success for a number of years. In all, Mr. Irby was engaged in mining nine years, then came to Washington, an in 1898 he made his advent in Ritzville. Since coming here he has followed the business of well-drilling and has also farmed. He took a homestead upon com- ing to Adams county, but later commuted it. He now owns two and three-fourths sections of land, nine hundred and fifty acres of which he had cropped to wheat in 1904.
On March 18, 1903, John F. Irby was ap- pointed postmaster to succeed George Sinclair. Sr., and has proven to be an able and obliging official.
Mr. Irby numbers among his ancestors some of the foremost and most historic char- acters of this country. His father was Isham Irby, born in Missouri, January 12, 1842, and his parents,-grandparents of our subject- were from Virginia, being members of the old southern Irby family which settled in Virginia during the seventeenth century. It was a fam- ily of marked distinction throughout the south, and one member, J. L. M. Irby, was a United States senator from North Carolina for six years. Mr. Irby's mother was born in Tennes- see, from which state her parents also came, and was one of the old and historic Thomas family, her name being Anna ( Thomas) Irby. She was married to Isham Irby in the state of Missouri, and died in Aurora, June 27, 1895. Isham Irby now lives at Springdale, Arkansas, where he conducts a farm, and is a man of great influence and friends almost without number.
John F. Irby has four brothers and two sis- ters living: Nathan E., an Adams county farmer, near Cunningham; James W., a miner of Galena, Kansas; Spencer S., a well-driller of Ritzville; Charles T., a base ball player, of Ritzville; 'Lillie M., wife of Frank Windle, in Galena, Kansas; and Anna M., wife of Ray A. Treadwell, of Cunningham.
On August 23, 1890, at Aurora, Missouri, occurred the marriage of John F. Irby to Hes- ter E. Benward, born in Clinton, Illinois, and daughter of John M. and Elizabeth M. (Stoops) Benward. Her father was a native of New Jersey. Mrs. Irby has two brothers and the same number of sisters, whose names are: Charles F., a Ritzville drayman; Frank B., a Cunningham farmer; Nettie, wife of El- mer Lemasters, who operates a farm for Mr. Irby, near Cunningham; and Annie, wife of William Ludwick, a farmer of Beaumont, Kansas.
To Mr. and Mrs. Irby have been born four children, Edith G., John C., and Bernice E., aged respectively ten and seven years and five months: and Charles C., deceased, who was the third one born.
Mr. Irby is a member of the Modern Wood- men, and both he and Mrs. Irby are members of the Baptist church.
In politics Mr. Irby is a stanch Republican, and his name is inseparably connected with the history of his party in Adams county dur- . ing recent years. He is now chairman of the
JOHN F. IRBY
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county central committee, and has been a dele- gate to county and state conventions. He has also attended conventions of his party in Mis- souri as a delegate, and has always been an active party worker. Mr. and Mrs. Irby are prominent socially and are accorded the friend- ship and respect of a large circle of acquaint- ances.
ARTHUR V. MORGAN whose father, T. M. Morgan has been one of the prominent pioneers of Adams county, as well as a leading citizen of today, is specifically mentioned in an- other portion of this work. His mother is Rachel (Barnes) Morgan. Our subject was born in Bethel, Oregon, in November, 1881, and was with his parents in their various trav- els in evangelistic work through the different portions of the northwest. His education was received at Moscow and in Adams county, the same being obtained from the public schools. At the age of nineteen, he hegan labors in life for himself and at once secured possession of one hundred and sixty acres of land through purchase. He added as much more by home- stead and now has the entire estate all under cultivation, well fenced and provided with plenty of good water besides other improve- ments. Mr. Morgan has thrown an energy and thrift into his labors which stamp him as one of the progressive and successful young men in Adams county and presaging the fu- ture by the past, we may safely say that at no distant time, he will be one of the wealthy men of this section.
In political matters, like his father, he is an enthusiastic Prohibitionist. Fraternally, he is a member of the W. W. and in church re- lations follows in the steps of his father, being a member of the Christian church.
SIMON H. MORGAN is one of the in- dustrious agriculturists of Adams county who has won good success and is to be credited with much labor in making the country what it is today. He resides about three miles south from Delight where he gives his attention to farming and also raising some stock.
Simon H. Morgan was born in Coos coun- ty, Oregon, on March 27, 1875, the son of T.
M. and Rachel (Barnes) Morgan, who are mentioned elsewhere in this volume. The fa- ther moved to various sections of the country, in the pursuit of his calling, that of preaching the gospel, and our subject received his educa- tion where the family lived. He remained with his parents until twenty-one years of age then began life by working out on the farms adjacent and later took a homestead in Idaho. After improving it, he sold and bought one hundred and sixty acres where he now lives and in addition to this he has considerable other real estate purchased at different times.
On November 26, 1903, Mr. Morgan mar- ried Miss Minnie Camel. Her parents, Albert and Sarah (Kays) Camel, are natives of Mis- souri. In 1885, they moved to Kansas where the mother died. Two years later, the father went to California and is supposed to have died there in 1897, although no definite information has ever been obtained. Mrs. Morgan is the third of four children named as follows, Ada, William, Minnie and Mora.
Mr. Moore is a stanch Prohibitionist and works with zeal and energy in forwarding the interests of his party. He and his wife are members of the Christian church and are well known and good upright people.
GUY D. MOORE was born in Kansas on March 6, 1877, the son of E. B. and Viola J. (Penney) Moore, natives of Illinois and Ohio. respectively. They settled in Kansas in very early days, Jater moved to Dayton, Washing- ton, then to Pomeroy, and in 1890, came on to Adams county, where the father took land. He has followed farming and stock raising con- tinuously until the present time and has won a very flattering success. Our subject was one of seven children, named as follows, Myrtle, Guy, Minnie, Cora, Lee, Golda, Sharon. Guy D. was educated in the various places where the family lived and remained with his father un- til twenty-one, it being then 1898. Then he took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, three miles northwest from Delight. where he resides at the present time. In addi- tion to this, he is equally interested with his fa- ther in one thousand two hundred and eighty acres of choice wheat land all of which is un- der cultivation and well improved.
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In May, 1892, Mr. Moore married Miss Allie, daughter of William and Martha ( Bas- sett ) Hendricks, natives of Missouri. In 1889 Mr. and Mrs. Hendricks moved to Indian ter- ritory, where the father died. Later the widow moved to Washington and settled in Adams county. In 1900, she married Mr. Albert Mor- gan, and they now dwell at Lind. Mrs. Mor- gan was one of five children, as follows : Effie, Allie, Minnie, Myrtle and Otis.
In political matters, our subject is allied with the Democratic party and is a very enthu- siastic and well informed participant in the campaigns. He is a member of the M. W. A. Mr. and Mrs. Moore are members of the Christian church and are highly esteemed peo- ple of Adams county.
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