An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 130

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 130

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His wife was Catherine Sippel, a native of I'ennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Dorfner have seven children: George, born April 30, 1867; Rosie, June 30, 1869; Willie, February 2, 1871; Jolin, March 14, 1873; Emil, March 1, 1875;

Rudolph, March 12, 1877; one child, Otto, de- ceased, having died in infancy; and Walter, born December 19, 1874.

Mr. Dorfner is a member of the I. O. O. F., and also Tacoma Lodge, No. 89; also a Knight of Honor and a comrade of the G. A. R.

A NTON IIUTII is of the firm of Scholl & Huth, members of the Puget Sound Brewery Company. He is a native of Germany, and was born in Hesse-Darm- stadt, at Kreis-Friedberg, on the 2d day of De- cember, 1854, his parents being Philip and Gertrude ( Rudolph) IIuth. He attended school from six to fourteen years of age, and then be- gan the brewery business at Friedrichsdorff, where he remained four years. He emigrated to the United States in 1872, locating at Louis- ville, Kentucky, where he was in the City Brewery, in which he served as "first hand." In 1885 he came to the Pacific coast, and was for two years foreman at Weinhardt's Brewery, after which he was one year at the Vancouver Brewery, which he transformed into a lager brewery. In November, 1888, he came to Ta- coma to take an interest in the Puget Sound Brewery. They built the new brewery, which has a capacity of 150 barrels. Their principal market is Tacoma, but their business is spread- ing rapidly to other Sound cities.

Mr. Huth was married on May 21, 1891, to Miss Agnes Muehler, a native of Saxony.

D R. CHRISTO P. BALABANOFF is a native of Bulgaria, and was born at Tir- nova on the 15th day of December, 1858. His parents were Peter and Stanco Balabanoff. At the age of fifteen he came to America, and after a few months in New York, went to Clin- ton, New York, where he first entered the grammar schools and afterward the Hamilton College, from which he was graduated in 1885. He then entered the medical department of the New York University, where he was graduated in 1888. Immediately after graduation he went to Vienna and attended the Allgemeinen Krank- anhaus, connected with the University of Vien- na, for one and a half years. After spending a few months in the hospitals of Paris and Lon-

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don, he returned to America and began to prac- tice in Tacoma, in August, 1890, where he has since remained.

Dr. Balabanoff was married in New York, on July 15, 1890, to Miss Ella A. Moore. They have one child, named Slava Stocktridge.

Dr. Balabanoff is well known in Tacoma and the entire Northwest as an eye and ear special- ist, and in connection with his eminent brother, Dr. Ivan P. Balabanoff, enjoys a large and lucrative practice. He is a member of Lodge No. 123, 1. O. O. F.

L G. ABBOTT, a resident of Olympia, Washington, was born near Detroit, Michigan, in February, 1829, son of Sam- uel II. and Therese (Beaufait) Abbott, also na- tives of that State. At the age of eleven years young Abbot entered a printing office to learn the trade of printer, remaining three years. Then, with the death of his mother, he left home and went to Mackinac, and in the spring of 1847 went to the Lake Superior country, where he en- gaged in copper mining. In 1848 he returned to Coldwater, Branch county, Michigan, and in 1850 was married to Miss Irene Janes, a native of New York. Mr. Abbott was then engaged in farming until the spring of 1854, when, with a party of men, he started for California, mak- ing the journey with ox teams and enduring many hardships. Their cattle gave ont at Mor- mon Station, and from that place they packed their effects to Placerville.

Upon reaching the El Dorado of the West, Mr. Abbot engaged in mining at Placerville, continuing there and at Mnd Springs and Georgetown for several years. In 1857 he seut for his wife and child, who came out via the Panama ronte and joined him at Georgetown. In 1860 he quit mining, having then only bare- ly enough funds with which to move his family and effects to Olympia, Washington, where he again engaged in printing, finding employment in the office of the Washington Standard. In the fall of 1860 he pre-empted a farm seven miles south of town, improved the same and moved his family to it. Here he followed agri- cultural pursuits and at intervals was engaged in the publishing business. In partnership with John R. Watson, he bought the office of the old Pioneer & Democrat, the first paper

published in the then Territory, which they changed to the Tribune. They also bought the old Ramage wooden press, the first printing press brought to the northwest coast. This press they removed to Seattle and there started the Gazette, the pioneer paper of that city. Randall II. Hewitt subsequently bought the Watson interest in the Tribune, and the firm of Abbott & Hewitt continued three years, when Mr. Abbott sold out. Ile was also interested in publishing the Commercial Age, and, in partnership with C. B. Bagley, established the Echo, which they conducted about two years. Mr. Abbott then sold out and retired to his farın, which, by subsequent purchase, he had increased to 480 acres. He cleared 100 aeres, and devoted his whole time and attention to farming and stock-raising until 1882, when, giving the management of the ranch over into his son's hands, he came to Olympia and opened a grocery store, continuing the same until the spring of 1889.

Mrs. Abbott departed this life in 1887, leav- ing two children: Amelia T., wife of Joseph Chilberg, and William J., who is engaged in farming.

In 1889, after an absence of thirty five years, Mr. Abbott made his first visit to the scenes of his childhood, meeting brothers and sisters who seemed little less than strangers. Ile was mar- ried that antumn, at Coldwater, Michigan, to Mrs. Helen N. (Harmon) Nye, and with her re- turned to Olympia.

Upon his return to this city, Mr. Abbott en- gaged in real-estate speculations. He still owns valuable property, both improved and unim- proved, in the city and vicinity. In 1891 he bought his present residenec, it being the old homestead of the C. P. Hale donation claim, pleasantly located on the water front on the East Side.

Socially, Mr. Abbott affiliates with the F. & A. M. He served one term as County Treas- nrer.

Such is a brief sketch of one of the worthy citizens of Olympia-a man well known and highly respected for his many estimable quali- ties.

NELSON LAUBACHI, Clerk of Jeffer- son county, was born at Tiffin, Ohio, August 4, 1855, a son of Rev. Abraham and Emeline (Pollock ) Lanbach, natives of Penn-

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sylvania. The father remained on a farm to the age of twenty years, after which he learned the printer's trade in the office of the Advocate, at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and subsequently followed his trade at Charleston, West Virginia. At the latter place he also became active in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was licensed to preach. Mr. Lanbach next removed to Mount Vernon, Ohio, where he followed his trade during the week, and preached on Sun- days. In 1850, at the request of General Will- iam H. Gibson, he located at Tiffin, Ohio, where he conducted the Tiffin Whig for several years. Ile next went to Dallas, Iowa, where he was actively engaged in the teaching of Divine truths in various parts of the State. Under the influence of his preaching about 3,000 souls were added to the church. In 1871 Mr. Lan- bach was transferred by Bishop Janes to the Oregon conference, which at that time included the Territory of Washington, and was stationed at Port Townsend, where he labored hard, with inadequate support. In 1872 he removed to Portland, and, by appointment of Bishop IIar- ris, supplied the Hall Street Church. While there he also acted as publisher and business manager of the Pacific Christian Advocate. At the close of the second year, and on account of failing health, he took a superanuated relation, and returned to his home, which he had pre- viously located, at the head of Port Discovery bay. Hle there passed the closing years of his life.

J. Nelson Laubach received his education in the public and high schools of Iowa. In 1871 he removed with his parents to Port Townsend, where he spent one year on a farm, and was then employed about the sawmills in that city, first in wheeling slabs. By frequent promo- tions he was finally employed in the store, where he remained nntil 1877. Mr. Laubach was then engaged in clerking in a store at Portland, Ore- gon, for a few months, next followed the pro- duce commission business until 1880, was then connected with merchandising and the drug business at The Dalles, and in the fall of 1883 returned to Port Townsend. Hle then became manager of the Port Townsend sawmill, but three years later the mill was leased to George W. Downs, by whom Mr. Laubach was em- ployed as bookkeeper and superintendent. In 1893 he resigned his position, to enter upon the (Inties of his present office, to which he had beenelected in November 1892. Hle was one

of the few Republicans to receive a majority.

In Port Townsend, in June, 1884, onr sub- ject was united in marriage with Miss Ida May Van Husen, a native of Sacramento, and a daughter of J. II. Van IIusen, a California pioneer. Mr. Laubach has served as secretary and chairman of the Republican Central Com- mittee, and in 1890 was appointed by Governor Elisha P'. Ferry as a member of the Board of lIealth of Puget Sound. Ile owns improved and unimproved business and residence property, and is active in such enterprises as conduce to the development of Port Townsend, the Key City to Puget Sound.

L EVI CLANTON, general blacksmith and dealer in agricultural implements, Cen- terville, Klickitat county, Washington, is a native of the State of North Carolina, born November 3, 1836. Ilis parents, Isaac and Sallie (Engelfinger) Clanton, were natives of Saxony, Germany, and in their youth emigrated to America, being married after coming to this country. Levi Clanton grew to maturity at the place of his birth, and when he was of proper age he went to learn the trade of edge-tool maker at the old Lincoln factory. After he had served his term of apprenticeship he set up a shop at Long Island factory in Catawba county; after three years he went to Spartanburg, South Caro- lina, and there was in the employ of Fowler, Foster & Company, carriage manufacturers. It was during his residence here that the Civil war broke out, and he soon enlisted in the State service; going to Charleston he became a mem- ber of the Fifth South Carolina Regiment, and proceeded to Fort Moultrie, where he was sta- tioned six weeks; thence he went into Virginia and entered the regular Confederate army, after which his regimental name was changed to "Palmetto Sharpshooters." Ilis capabilities as a mechanic were soon discovered and after this he was made brigade blacksmith, serving in this capacity under General Jenkins and later under General Bratton. By special orders from from military headquarters at Richmond he was transferred to the cavalry, and served in this de- partment until the close of the war. Mr. Clanton was but 150 yards distant from General Lee at Appomattox when the famous Confederate chieftain tendered his sword to General Grant in

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token of surrender. In the capacity of black- smith his skill became known thronghont the army, and he did all the shoeing for the generals of the Confederacy.

When hostilities ceased he returned to Spar- tansburg and opened a shop which he ran until November, 1867, when he went to Clinton, An- derson county, east Tennessee. For four years he carried on a general business in his line, and at the end of this time went to Fincastle, Camp- bell county, Tennessee, where he continued two years; removing to Jacksboro he made his home there for a year and a half.

In 1882, he went to The Dalles, Oregon, and after a year there, came to Centerville, Wash- ington, where he was one of the first settlers. Besides doing a large blacksmithing business Mr. Clanton is agent for C. H. Dodd & Com- pany, Portland, dealers in farm machinery and all kinds of vehicles; for the Russell Company of Portland, dealers in traction engines, separ- ators and sawmills; for J. M. Arthur & Com- pany, manufacturer of " Old Iliekory" wagons; and for the John Poole Company, manufactur- ers of the Star wind-mill and all kinds of pumps and traction engines.

Mr. Clanton is a member of the Goldendale Baptist Church, and has been a preacher of this denomination since his ordination at Oak Grove Church, Andubon county, Tennessee, in 1875. When he came to this county he brought with him the signatures of many of the leading people in the section of the State which had been his home, testifying to his merit and ca- pabilities as a minister of the Gospel. He was united in marriage in Lincoln county, North Carolina, April 1, 1853, to Miss Pamelia Fran- ces Sanders, who was born in the county where her marriage occurred. They are the parents of a family of nine children. six of whom are living: Elizabeth, wife of W. T. Wallace; La- nora, wife of Alfred Longmier; Emma, Ed- ward, Nellie and Lee; the children who died were: Avery, Lina and John W.

F RED L. MACK, an energetic young farmer of Klickitat county, has been a resident of Washington since 1889, and since that time has given his undivided alle- giance to this progressive commonwealth. Ile was born af Brimfield, Peoria county, Illinois,

December 8. 1869, a son of Enos and Mary (Berrian) Mack. His mother died when he was but nine years of age, so he was deprived in childhood of her gentle, loving care and guid- ance. He grew to maturity amid the scenes of his birth at Brimfield, and received his ednea tion in the common schools of the village. In early life he became accustomed to the labor of the farm and was well trained in all branches of husbandry.

As above stated, Mr. Mack removed to Washington in 1889, and settled in the vicinity of Chamberlin Flat, where he was employed until April, 1892. He then acquired by pur- chase 160 acres on the Flat, situated seventeen miles from Goldendale. Ile has been devoting his energies to the cultivation of this tract, and in 1893 had a grain and hay crop of thirty acres. He has begun to stock the place with horses and cattle, and will eventually engage in this business quite extensively. There is a good dwelling-house on the place, and Mr. Mack has planted a small orchard containing a choice variety of fruits that grow well in this climate. He has made most creditable progress in his agricultural ventures, and is personally recognized as a desirable acquisition to the county in which he resides.

J OSEPH E. EATON, an honored pioneer of Clarke county, Washington, is entitled to representation in this history, having done his share in bringing to light the hidden resources of this great commonwealth, and pre- pared the way for the onward march of civiliza- tion. He is a native of this State, born Au- gust 10, 1854, three miles above Woodland in a portion of Clarke county which has since been included within the borders of Cowlitz county. His parents were Joseph and Charlotte (Crist) Eaton; the father was born in Clark county, Illinois, and the mother removed to that State from Indiana. In 1852 they crossed the plains, seeking a home on the untried shores of the Pacific coast. Arrived in Oregon Mr. Eaton took up a donation claim in 1853, and the fol- lowing year his son Joseph E. was born amidst the wild scenes and rude surroundings of the frontier. Joseph Eaton died at Vancouver, Washington, May 3, 1873; his wife survived him until April, 1881. The boyhood and youth

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of our subjeet were spent on the old donation claim of his parents. When he was sixteen years old the family were washed out by high waters, and afterward removed to the settlement in which Mr. Eaton now resides. About 1877 he purchased a traet of land on Chelachie prai- rie, on which he lived seven or eight years; he then sold out and came to the ranch which he now ocenpies; this was formerly the property of his father and brother. . He has 109 acres, thirty acres of which are cleared and devoted to the raising of hay. Mr. Eaton gives special at- tention to the raising of live stock, his finest specimens being of Holstein breed. He is very systematic in all his operations, and manages his business with excellent judgment and satis- factory results.

He was married in that part of Washington now in Cowlitz county, to Miss Alice C. Burt, a native of California, born in San Joaquin county, and a daughter of Andrew Jackson Burt. Mr. and Mrs. Eaton have had born to them a family of eight children, one of whom, Jesse Franklin. died in infancy ; those surviving are: Anna Stella, Emma, Charlotte, Joseph, Jeremiah, George and Lena.

Mr. Eaton is a member of Lewisville Lodge No. 97, I. O. O. F. Politically, he adheres to the principles of the Republican party, and zealonsly supports his views on the leading questions of the day. He has served as Clerk of his school district, and has also held the office of Constable and Road Supervisor.

E DWARD A. LORENZ was born in Prussia, Germany, at the village of Pritznalk, on April 18, 1838. His par- ents were Carl and Sophia (Lindgruhn) Lorenz; the former a miller by trade and the owner of his own mill property. Edward A. was reared and educated in his native village. After passing the common school he attended the high school one year. When about sixteen he remained at home with his father for four or five years, but · later went on a large farm as manager and overseer, which occupation he followed for four- teen years. In 1860 he went in the army, en- tering the Guards of Berlin, and remained there one year. In 1871, he emigrated to New York, but remaining only a few days started west. 1872 was spent in traveling from one place to

another stopping at none for more than a few weeks. During the course of this travel he was at Grand Rapids, Michigan; Milwaukee, Wis- consin; Iowa and St. Paul, Minnesota; finally in the early part of 1873 he went to California, locating in San Francisco until August ot that year when he went to Victoria, British Colum- bia, from which place he came to Tacoma. After a short stay he took up a claim at Orting, and spent three years planting potatoes and vegeta- bles. He soon, however, recognized the possi- bility for larger profits in the hop industry and so reared his first crop in 1877. His land pro- duced 1,500 pounds to the acre, which he marketed at six cents. The next year he got eight cents and the year following twenty-eight cents per pound. In 1883 he marketed his entire crop at sixty-three cents per pound, and realized on seven acres of land $7,000, clear of expense. He then began to buy Tacoma city property, selling it to advantage again, and re-investing his money. He afterward sold the town of Onting 160 acres of land for the Sol- diers' Home.

Mr. Lorenz was married on July 10, 1882, to Miss Ernestina Wolfmann, a native of Ger- many. She died in March, 1888, leaving one child, Annie. He was married again on Febru- ary 10, 1889, to Miss Annie Mavur, a native of Canada. She also died on December 25, 1890.

W ILLIAM SIBURG began the business of bottling beer in Tacoma in 1886, and was the first to start this line of business in that city. He removed from his old stand on Eighth and Pacific streets in 1888 to his present location, and started under the name of the Eagle Bottling Works. For the last two years he has been confining his busi- ness to bottling of soda and mineral water and sells his product to all the neighboring towns as far east as Ellensburg and Yakima.

Mr Siburg is a native of Germany, born on January 26, 1855, in the city of Brunswick, Dutchy of Brunswick. His parents were Wil- heim and Louisa (Andrecht) Siburg; the former a government officer in the service of the railroads and formerly in the Custom De- partment. William was reared and educated in his native place until fourteen years of age, when he was sent to a commercial school. At

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twenty he entered the army in the Ninety- second Regiment of Brunswick and was sta- tioned in Alsaace and in the garrison at Metz. He served actively for two years. 1880 he emi- grated to America, coming direct to New York city, where he remained one year, then going to Philadelphia and later to Atlantic City ; thence to Cincinnati, and then back to Atlantic City; thence to Brooklyn, and from there to San Antonia, Texrs. In 1884 he went to Port- land, Oregon, and after a year opened a busi- ness there which he ran for a year, when he came to Tacoma as Henry Weinhardt's agent, and later started in business for himself.

He is a member of German Sons of Hermann and was a charter member and is the oldest ex- president. He is Noble Grand of the Steuben Lodge No. 65, I. O. O. F. He is also a mem- ber of Schiller Grove, No. 1, U. A. O. D., a new lodge in Tacoma. Of the German societies, he is a member of the Plattdentsche Verein and of the Germania Society.

H UGH L. TIIOMAS, one of the active young business meu of Seattle, was born at Wellsville, Ohio, December 22, 1868, the only living child of John and Eliza- beth (Bean) Thomas, natives of New York and Pennsylvania, respectively. The paternal an- cestors of our subject were from England, and were among the Puritan settlers of New En- gland, locating at Plymouth, Massachusetts, where the family have since taken an active in- terest in the town, and are still largely repre- sented there. John Thomas, great-great-grand- father of our subject, was a surgeon in the Revolutionary army, and an intimate friend of General Washington. Other members of the family have been distinguished in matters of church and State. The maternal ancestors were of Scotch-Irish descent, and were among the pioneers of Pennsylvania. They were famed as hotel managers, one family having owned the celegrated Red Lion Hotel of Pittsburg, so well known in the early '40's. John Thomas, father of our subject, was prominently connected with railroad interests, and for many years was Gen- eral Superintendent of the Pennsylvania system west of Pittsburg. He retired from active business in August, 1891, and now resides in Cleveland, Ohio, engaged in looking after his private interests.

IIugh L. Thomas received his education in the public and high schools of Cleveland, also at the Western University, at Pittsburg. At the age of fifteen years he entered into railroal life, which he followed at Pittsburg and Cleveland until 1888, and in that year made a prospecting tour through the South and West. He arrived in Tacoma, Washington, in August of the same year, and, being reduced in finances, accepted the first position offered, which was as porter in the Tacoma Hotel, at $30 per month. A few months later Mr. Thomas secured a position with the real estate firm of Eshelman, Llewellyn & Company at Seattle, in superintending their advertising department, which amonnted to $40,000 per year, and in looking after Eastern investments. In the spring of 1892 Mr. Thomas severed the above connection to take tlie active management of the Dwamish Construction Com- pany, of which he was an incorporator and Vice- President. The company was organized to construct the lines of railroad projected by the West Side Traction Company, and they now have under construction the electric line across the tide flats, connecting Seattle with the West Side. Mr. Thomas is one of the developers of the West Side, where he resides, and owns valn- able residence property.

In Cleveland, Ohio, April 2, 1890, he was united in marriage with Miss Lucy F. Robinson, a native of that city. They have one child, John Thomas. Mr. Thomas is a member of the Knight Templars, the F. & A. M. and of the Rainier Club. He is a man of public spirit and enterprise, who, by personal effort, has sur- mounted many of the hardships of life, and attained a position or trust and responsibility.

H ENRY O. GEIGER was born at Marion, Ohio, on July 7, 1852, his parents being Daniel and Margaret (Holverstott) Gei- ger, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Ohio. At the age of fourteen years, the subject of our sketch, lett home and began to travel from one State to another, working as he went, on farms principally, finally reaching California. Ile met many hardships and some- times was compelled to resort to divers odd jobs to make a living. While in California he chopped oak wood for $1 a cord. He reached Tacoma in August, 1873. He obtained work on the railroad then building from Tenino,

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Washington. He finally took up ninety five acres of land on Boat island and spent six years improving it, but the survey was canceled and the land company seeured it. He worked at anything his hands found to do, and for almost any compensation. From 1874 to 1881 he spent most of the time east of the mountains steamboating and at work for the Government on the upper Columbia and Snake rivers. In 1881 Mr. Geiger settled in Tacoma permanently and in 1882 was elected Street Commissioner and served two years. He then began contract- ing and in 1883 got a water plant and began pile driving, being the first one in that business in Tacoma. He is a member of the firm of Geiger & Zabriskie, which has done some of the largest contracting work on Puget Sound.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 130

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