An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 126

Author: Hines, Harvey K., 1828-1902
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1056

USA > Washington > An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 126

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HISTORY OF WASHIINGTON.

ural business, and have a well equipped dairy, keeping twenty-five cows for this purpose. They raise a large and luxuriant crop of rhu- barb, which finds a ready market in Portland and other large towns. Both are young men of excellent business qualifications, and in their snecess Clarke county has taken a forward step as an agricultural center.

Mr. Gerber is Secretary of Lake View Grange, No. 97, Patrons of Husbandry; he is Trustee of school district No. 29, and has served in this office with noticeable benefit to the cause of education. Politically he holds independent views, and casts his suffrage for men rather than for promised measures.

Archie Gilbreath McKee, who is associated with William F. Gerber in agricultural pur- snits, was born in Vernon county, Missouri, June 18, 1869, a son of Andrew MeKee, also a native of Missouri. He grew to manhood in Vernon county, and there received a good edn- cation. In 1880 he went to Bates county, just over the river from his old home, and three years later came to Washington. He first stopped in Vancouver, and thence removed to his present home on Chelachie prairie. Energetic and in- dustrions, he is an able second to Mr. Gerber in their farming operations. At an early age he was deprived of his father's care, by death, and soon assumed the responsibility of his own maintenance. His mother resides with him on the ranch.

S S. LOEB is president of the Milwaukee Brewing Company of Tacoma, incorpo- rated with a capital stock of $35,000, all paid np. The present officers of the company are S. S. Loeb, president, and A. Weinberg, secretary and treasurer. The brewery was for- merly called the United States Brewery, and was organized by D. Stegman and M. Karcsecte. The latter sold ont to Jolin Frazier, who con- tinned in the business till May, 1881, when the present firm bought out the concern, reincor- porated and formed the Milwaukee Brewing Company. The plant was a small one when they first bought it, the output being only forty- two barrels per day. The capacity has been in- creased until it is now 125 barrels per day. Their trade extends throughout the Sound country.

Mr. Loeb, the president, was born in Ligo- nier, Indiana, on the 4th of September, 1862. He was the son of Simon Loeb, who was a prominent brewer. The subject of this sketch was reared in Chicago, where he went when a child. He became concerned in the cigar busi- ness with Ruhe Bros. ( Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Chicago), and later traveled for the same firm, with whom he continued for four years. He then worked four years for Schloss, Ochs & C'o., wholesale gentlemen's furnishers. In 1889 he came to Tacoma and engaged in the whole- sale liquor business, which he continued for three years, when he closed out that business, and has since given his attention to the brewing business.

Mr. Loeb was married November 18, 1890, to Miss Blanch Moses, a native of Gallipolis, Ohio. They have one child, Sidney. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Fidelity, No. 117, and B'nai B'rith, Tacoma Lodge.

M ILLARD LEMON, City Engineer of Olympia, was born in an ox wagon, on Charlotte fork, a tributary of the Snake river, within the borders of Idaho, September 6, 1852, while his parents were en route for Oregon, and is the second in a family of seven children.

His father, William Lemon, a native of New York, removed to Michigan in boyhood, and there married Miss Bridget Patrick, also of New York. For several years he waa engaged as mail contractor, carrying mails about the States of Michigan and Illinois. He snbse- quently removed to Iowa, where he engaged in farming and mereantile business np to 1852, when he crossed the plains to Oregon. After many adventures they landed at The Dalles, and from there came down the river in batteaus to Portland, where they passed the winter, remov- ing in the spring of 1853 to the Cowlitz river, and, later. to the Cowlitz prairie, where Mr. Lemon took a donation claim and engaged in farming. During the Indian war of 1855-56, the family were confined for six months in the old fort, while Mr. Lemon was engaged in gen- eral scouting duty. After peace was declared he returned to his farm and remained there un- til 1859. Then he moved to Claquato in Lewis county, the principal town on the stage route

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

between Olympia and the Columbia river, and there engaged in farming and the stock business until 1874, when he went to Los Angeles, Cali- fornia, and purchased a ranch. Three years later he returned to Olympia, and has since been engaged in buying and selling land.

Millard Lemon attended the public schools of Claqnato and subsequently passed four years in the Willamette University at Salem, Oregon. The years 1875-'76 were spent in southern California. In Jannary, 1877, he entered De Pauw University, Greencastle, Indiana, where he graduated in 1880, having given particular attention to mathematical studies in view of civil engineering. In January, 1881, he left New York, via Panama, for Santiago, Chili, as Professor of Mathematics in the Santiago Col- lege, and continned as instructor there until December, 1883. At that time he was tendered the position of assistant engineer for contrac- tors, building State railroads to the southern frontier of Chili. After one month he was placed in charge of construction of the Angol to Traignen division, and filled that position until the road was completed in the spring of 1888. He then passed a few months in travel, visiting various copper, silver and saltpeter mines tributary to the west coast of South America; and coming northward arrived in San Francisco in October following. The next year was divided in residence at Seattle, Washington, and at Los Angeles, California, and in getting re-adjusted to American habits and ways of life. In April, 1890, he took up his residence at Olympia and entered upon the practice of his profession as civil engineer. In August, 1891, he was appointed City Engineer by the City Council, and was re-appointed in January, 1892, for one year. During his term of office he has superintended the grading of ten miles of street, at an outlay of nearly $100,000. Ile also very ably outlined the best solution of the drainage problem for the city of Olympia, and during the summer of 1892 five miles of sewer were laid under his supervision.

Mr. Lemon has extensive real-estate interests in and about Olympia, and in 1890 platted and sold Lemon Addition, located on the West Side. He resides at the corner of Fourteenth and . Franklin streets, where he owns valuable im- proved property. He is also Vice-President of the Capital City Abstract and Title Insurance Company. At present he is clearing forty acres of timber land, six miles northeast of the city,

with the intention of setting the entire tract to prunes, believing that the land of Thurston county is especially adapted to the fruit indus- try. He owns one of the best business corners in Montesano, acreage at Cosmopolis and South Aberdeen, besides the major interest in 2,000 acres, partly prairie, which is yet undeveloped, all in Chehalis county.

Mr. Lemon was married at Long Beach, Cali- fornia, November 9, 1888, to Miss Bella, daugh- ter of Dr. A. G. Cook. They have one child, Edith Bella. Mrs. Lemon was born at Corral- lis, Oregon, and her childhood was spent at Van- couver, Washington.

Our subject is favorably esteemed by the members of his profession, and is recognized as a man of public spirit and enterprise.

E MERY HARRIS, one of the substantial citizens and representative men of Clarke county, was born in the State of Michi- gan, October 6, 1838, a son of Jobn and Martha (Kinkade) Harris, the former a native of New York and the latter of New Jersey. Emery, the seventh in a family of twelve children, re- mained at his native place until 1850, when he moved to Wisconsin, and from there, in 1856, went to Osawatomie, Kansas. In 1859 Mr. Harris joined the great tide of immigration toward Pike's Peak, and from Colorado pro- ceeded to Douglas county, Oregon. In 1862 he enlisted in the service of the United States, in the First Oregon Cavalry, and served three years as a private soldier, with a creditable and honorable record. After the close of the strug- gle he went to Day county, Oregon, where he worked in a sawmill, but in 1869 came to his present location, twelve miles northeast of Van- conver, where he has made all the improvements on the place, including a fine residence. He now owns 160 acres of land, a portion of which is cleared and under cultivation, and the re- mainder is principally virgin timber land. His attention is given to general farming, and he also has a small family orchard, of his own planting.

Mr. Harris was married at Vanconver, July 4, 1867, to Miss Jane Adams, a native of New York. They have five children: Rosa H., Asa, Edd. J., Etta M., and Emery. One child, Ettie, died in April, 1877. In political matters, Mr.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

Harris is in sympathy with the Prohibition eanse, and has served many years as a member of the School Board in his distriet. Socially, he is a member of Flatwood Grange, No. 96; Patrons of Husbandry, and of Laurel Lodge, No. 13, F. & A. M., at Roseburg, Oregon.

W H. SHOUDY, of Seattle, Washington, was born in Syraense, New York, May 3, 1830, a son of Israel and Rebecca (Hemstreat) Shondy, natives also of that State. The father learned the trade of blacksmith in Albany, and continued in the same business in Syracuse, to which he added the manufacture of wagons and carriages. In 1835 he removed to Niles, Michigan; three years later began work at his trade in Rock Island, Illinois, and in 1845 engaged in farming in Lee county.

W. H. Shoudy received his education in Rock Island, and at that time schools had not been established in Lee county. He remained at home until 1852, and in that year his father fitted him ont with a wagon, team of horses and a prairie equipment. In company with Dexter Horton, Thomas Mercer, Rev. Daniel Bagley, and their families, Mr. Shondy then be- gan the long journey to Oregon. Three weeks were spent on the present site of Omaha, await- ing a steamer to ferry them across the Missouri river. With the exception of some sickness and the usual depredations from the Indians, the trip was made without partienlar incident, and they landed in Milwaukee, Oregon, on the Willamette river, six miles above Portland, after five months of laborions travel. There the party divided, but Mr. Shoudy remained in the city for a time, first working in a mill, and later conducting a small grocery store. In the spring of 1853 he went to the mines of southern Ore- gon, but in the following year took up a dona- tion claim of 160 acres of land, and engaged in farming. During the Indian trouble of 1855- '56 he was engaged to do the hanling for the volunteers, and while in that service experienced many dangers and hardships. After peace was restored he returned to his farm.

In 1859 Mr. Shoudy was married, in Jackson county, to Miss Martha F., a daughter of A. Chrisman, a pioneer of 1852. In 1862 our subject sold his farm, and then started overland for the Puget Sound country. He landed in

Olympia withont money, but through the kind- ness of friends he secured transportation to Seat- tle, and there began cterking for Dexter Horton in his general mercantile store, also built a little home on the present site of the Burke block. In 1871 he left the store and made his first trip to the scenes of his boyhood. in Illinois. After returning to this city, Mr. Shoudy began the painter's trade, also opened a store for the sale of paints, oils and wall paper, and conducted the leading business of the town in those lines for about seven years. He next successfully conducted a harness business until 1881, then moved to Ellensburg, Wasbington, for the bene- fit of his wife's health, returned to Seattle in 1882, built a handsome home in North Seattle, bnt, owing to the precarious condition of his wife's health, did not engage in business. In 1883 they sought change and rest in California,

but in spite of every precaution Mrs. Shoudy passed away in January, 1885, leaving six daughters. Since that time Mr. Shoudy has been engaged in business several times, and his latest venture was the purchase of the wooden butter-dish factory on Smith avenue, which he has sold ont and has purchased a farm at Cres- cent Harbor, Island county, Washington, where he now resides with his family. He has served two terms, in early days, as Assessor of King county, was elected by the People's party Mayor of Seattle in 1887, and served one terin. Socially he affiliates with the F. & A. M.

J ERRY S. ROGERS, Auditor of Jefferson county, and a well-known citizen of Port Townsend, was born in New Bedford, Law- rence county, Pennsylvania, February 23, 1853. His parents, Alexander W. and Sarah S. Rogers, were also natives of Lawrence county, where his father was a prominent attorney. The father died when in the prime of life, leaving a wife and five children, Jerry S. being only seven years of age. The founder of the family in America was Samuel Rogers, who emigrated from Ireland about 1750, settling in Lawrence county. He was a brave patriot and fought with the colonists in the Revolutionary war.

The subject of this sketch attended the schools in his native county until his seventeenth year, when he received a teacher's certificate, and by teaching was enabled to pursue his education in

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

the higher branches at the Poland (Ohio) Union Seminary, and at the University of Virginia. He then eontinned as an educator in the schools of Faribanlt, Minnesota, aud at Richland and Riverside, Iowa, until 1880, in which year he removed to Little Rock, Arkansas, where, after a short time in teaching, he engaged in the real- estate business. Hle was subsequently elected Justice of the Peace, the duties of which re- sponsible office he ably and impartially dis- charged for four years. In 1886 he removed to Fort Smith, Arkansas, where he entered the drug business, but sold out his interests in the spring of 1888, to come to Port Townsend. He here invested in real estate and transaeted a general land commission business, securing val- nable property, which he still retains. In 1890 he built a cottage in Dundee Place, where he now resides.

In 1886 Mr. Rogers was married, in Little Rock, Arkansas, to Miss Rose D. South, a native of Alabama.

In politics Mr. Rogers is a Democrat, ever zealous to advance the interests and principles of his party. In the fall of 1892 he was the nomince of his party to the office of County Auditor, to which he was duly elected, receiving a very large majority. Ile is closely identified with the progressive business element of the city, and is actively interested in all enterprises tending to develop the city's resources and ad- vance the general welfare of his community.

T JJOMAS PRATHER, a prominent resi- dent of Olympia, Washington, was born in Boone county, Missouri, July 2, 1832. His parents, Thomas and Mary G. (Cowan) Prather, were natives of Kentucky, their ancestors having settled in Virginia in the early history of that country. Reared upon the farm, Mr. Prather, Sr., continned in agricultural pursuits, removing to Missouri in 1832, where he passed the rest of his life. Eight children were born to this union, of whom five survive, four still living in Missouri.

Thomas, the subject of this sketch, remained at home until his eighteenth year, improving the educational advantages offered by the three months' winter school, and during the rest of the year being engaged in farm work. With the California gold excitement in the spring of

1850, he was one of a party of four to fit out a " prairie schooner," and with four yoke of oxen and two horses they erossed the plains to Cali- fornia, duly arriving at Placerville in Septem- ber. There, after selling their cattle, they en- gaged in mining in Boone's canon. Mr. Prather soon after went to Nevada county, where he passed the winter, continuing mining until the fall of 1851, when he returned to Missouri, via the Panama ronte. In the summer of 1852 he again crossed the plains with ox teams, aceom- panied by his uncle, Andrew Cowan, now living at Albany, Oregon, aged eighty years, and Judge Gilmore Hayes, who recently died at Olympia. Arriving at The Dalles, the autumn was spent in speeulating in emigrant eattle, but through the severity of the cold and winter storms they lost heavily. Mr. Prather then went to Portland and worked in a sawmill until the spring of 1853, when he proceeded to Olympia, coming by the Cowlitz river and a trail leading through the brush and timber. After passing the winter on a farm with Nathan Eton, in the spring of 1854 he took part in the first land survey in the Territory and helped divide the first six townships, in one of which Olympia is located. Thereafter for five years Mr. Prather was engaged in public surveys, both east and west of the Cascade mountains. He also helped locate the military wagon road between Fort Steilacoom and Bellingham bay, a distance of about 100 miles. He then spent about three years in the mines of British Columbia and Boise City, Idaho, and two years in charge of twelve freight teams, in freighting from I'ma- tilla Landing to Bannock and Boise City, in all having passed about twelve years in camp life. Ile next spent three years in farming and the nursery business in Thurston county, in part- nership with L. D. Durgan, and four years at Cape Flattery as superintendent of farming and in teaching the Indians, having been appointed to the position by General T. I. Mckinney, Superintendent of Indian Affairs.

After twenty-five years' residence upon the coast, in 1876 Mr. Prather took a trip East, by rail, thus gaining his first impression of steam cars, which seemed to him a marvel of mechanical skill. He visited his old home in Missouri, the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, Wash- ington, District of Columbia, and other points of historic interest, meeting President Grant, James G. Blaine. Henry Ward Beecher, and other men of prominence.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

Upon returning to Olympia, he was appointed Warden at the hospital for the insane at Fort Steilacoom, by Rufus Willard, M. D., and there he remained about three years. Hle there met Miss Agnes W. Winsor, assistant matron of the institution, to whom he was married August 26, 1879, and in the fall returned with his wife to Olympia, where he has since resided, on the corner of Fourth and Washington streets. They have had two children, (twins,) one of whom, Edith, survives.

During the Indian outbreak of 1855, Mr. Prather was among the first to volunteer in the first company raised by Judge Gilmore Hayes, and was elected Sergeant. In 1858 he was elected Sergeant-at-Arirs of the Territorial IIonse of Representatives, and was re-elected in 1860. Hle helped make the first preliminary survey of the Northern Pacific Railroad, be- tween Seattle and Priest rapids on the Columbia river. Ile has served five years as Commission- er of Thurston county, and was renominated for that office by the Republican party in con- vention at Olympia, July 30, 1892, and elected. Ile has frequently been mentioned for other local offices, but has repeatedly declined all nomination. Ile is independent and outspoken, yet withal deeply interested in the development of his adopted county, and is well known and highly esteemed by a large circle of friends and residents of the State.

J C. HORR, one of the representative busi- ness men of Olympia, Washington, was boru in Waitsfield, Washington county, Vermont, January 17, 1832.

His parents, Roswell and Caroline (Turner) Ilorr, were natives of Vermont, descended from early pioneers of the country. Roswell Horr was reared a farmer and also learned the trade of blacksmith, which occupation he followed until 1834, in his native State. Then he moved his family to Ohio and settled near Cleveland, where he continued the same industries, and closed his life in 1841, leaving a bereaved wife and eight small children, the eldest being ten years of age. By persevering industry, Mrs. Ilorr reared her family of little ones, five of whom are still living and occupying fields of usefulness, Ilon. Roswell G. Horr, of Michigan,

six years a member of Congress; Hon. Rollin A. Ilorr. State Senator of Ohio; and Charles W. Ilorr, of Wellington, Ohio, a prominent manufacturer of cheese, and President of the National Ilolstein Association, being of the number.

John C. Horr was educated in the common schools, and also attended Oberlin College, Ohio, one term; but as he left home at the age of ten years, and from that time on earned his own support, his education was obtained under dif- ficulties. Iu 1853 he was attracted to Australia by the mining excitement. Finding, however, that mining was rather unprofitable, he engaged as stage driver for Messrs. Cobb & Co., the prominent stage-line proprietors of that coun- try, between Melbourne, Geelong and the min- ing district. After one year of driving. Mr. Ilorr was appointed manager, and continued in that capacity seven years. He then bought the stage line between Ballarat and Ararat, a dis- tance of seventy miles, and carried the mail, by Government contract, until 1864, after which he was for one year engaged in mining specu- lations. In 1865 he returned to Wellington, Ohio, and, in partnership with his brother, Charles W., started the first cheese factory in the State west of Cleveland, and the largest factory in the State using the milk of 1,300 cows. Mr. HIorr superintended the factory for three years, when, owing to the severity of the climate,-severe to him after living in Ans- tralia, --- his health became much impaired and he came to the Pacific coast. First settling near Santa Cruz, California, he started a dairy of 100 cows, making butter and cheese and selling milk. In 1872 he came to Olympia, Washington, and engaged in the furniture busi- ness, which he continued till February, 1881. when he was appointed Special Agent of the Treasury by Secretary Sherman during his last days in office. Mr. Ilorr was then stationed at San Francisco, his district covering California, Oregon, Washington Territory and Alaska, but, with the incoming Cleveland administration, in 1885, he was retired. Returning to Olympia, he engaged in the hay and feed business on Fourth street, where he owns 90x250 feet, all piled and covered with buildings and wharf for business purposes. As a silent partner, he is still interested in the furniture business with J. Meacham & Company. Ile built the Horr block, corner of Fourth and Main streets, dur- ing the summer of 1884. He is prominently

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connected with the business affairs of the city, and by public spirit and enterprise is second to none in the work of development.

Politically, Mr. Horr is a Republican. In 1876 he was elected by his party to the Terri- torial Legislature, and during the same year was elected Mayor of Olympia. He was re- elected to the latter office in 1881. In Novem- ber, 1892, he was elected on the Republican ticket State Senator for the term of four years, and during the last session was Chairman of the Fishery Committee, and a member of several other important committees. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the A. O. U. W. and B. P. O. E.

Mr. Horr was married in Australia, in 1864, to Miss Elizabeth T. Upton. Their only child, Pearl, is deceased.

G EORGE S. ALLEN, Vice-President of the Olympia Door & Lumber Company, Olympia, Washington, was born in Co- lumbia Falls, Washington county, Maine, March 10, 1847, son of Joseph S. and Jerusha A. (Puffer) Allen, natives of that same locality. llis father was a ship carpenter, and in connec- tion with his trade also carried on a small farmn.

George S. remained with his parents until he was eighteen, at which time he went to Lower Falls, near Boston, and learned the trade of blacksmith. Returning to Columbia Falls, he worked at his trade until 1868. That year he came by rail to the Pacific coast. From San Francisco he proceeded to Coos bay, Oregon, whence he subsequently went to Salem, at the latter place remaining for about two years as superintendent of the blacksmith shop and carriage manfactory of Charles Bowie. Then he came to Washington Territory and was one of the pioneers of Tacoma, opening the first blacksmith shop in that city. After about one year he moved to Tumwater and engaged with William H. Horton, assisting him in the erec- tion of new work for the manufacture of his wooden water conduit, and then superintending his factory for about three years.

* L'pon his arrival in Olympia, Mr. Allen be- came a member of the co-partnership of Allen & Titus, and engaged in the manufacture of wagons, also doing general blacksmithing and machine work. About three years later Mr.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 126

Author: Hines, Harvey K., 1828-1902 Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 1056

Author: Hines, Harvey K., 1828-1902
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1056