An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 134

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 134

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

the great commercial center of the Northwest. He has always been an uncompromising Repub- lican, active in politics, and a strong believer in protection and of the free coinage of silver.

Colonel Ewing was married in San Francisco, in 1872, to Miss Clara C. Darrington, a native of Canada. He still maintains his elegant home on Vernon Heights, Oakland, California, where all his social interests are centered. He is a member of all the prominent social clubs of San Francisco, and was one of the organizers, and is still an active member of the Country Club.

D ANIEL WISSINGER, a prominent citi- zen of Tacoma, Washington, who since his residence in the metropolis has made many warm friends, is a native of Springfield, Ohio, where he was born June 9, 1842. His parents, Daniel and Elizabeth (Conklin) Wissin- ger, were natives of Martinsville, Virginia, and Vermont, respectively, and belonged to well- known and honored families.

The subject of this sketch was reared until ten years of age in his native city, when in 1852 his parents removed to Wisconsin, settling in La Crosse, remaining there six months, at the end of which time they went to La Crescent, Minnesota, where they resided four years. In 1857 they returned to their old home at Spring- field, Ohio, where the parents ever afterward resided.

Thus the subject of this sketch was mostly reared and educated in his native city, enjoying in addition to his school advantages the refining influences of a cultured home, learning from the precepts and example of his parents those enduring qualities of industry and economy which have contributed to his success in life. He served an apprenticeship in Springfield to the machinist's trade, and also learned carpen- try from his father, who was a master workman.

On the outbreak of the war, although not yet eighteen years of age, he hastened with all the enthusiasm of patriotism to offer his services to his country, enlisting on April 17, 1861, for three months, in Company E of the Sixteenth Ohio Regiment, which was organized at Camp Chase. He accompanied his regiment to Graf- ton, West Virginia, and experienced his first engagement at Laurel Hill, afterward taking part in the battle of Carrick's Ford, where Gen-

eral Garnett was killed. From there he re- turned with his company to Springfield, Ohio, where at the expiration of their term of service they were discharged. He thereupon again en- listed, this time in Company F, of the Fifty- fourth Ohio Regiment, which rendezvoused at Camp Dennison. From there the regiment proceeded to Paducah, Kentucky, and thence up the Tennessee river, with Colonel A. J. Smith in command. Ilis regiment's first en- gagement was at Shiloh, where they were stationed two weeks before the battle took place. On the 4th of April his regiment and the Fifty- fifth Illinois were reconnoitering, when they marched directly under the rebel troops, who could have captured thiem. After the battle of Shiloh his regiment went to Corinth, but Mr. Wissinger did not accompany his command, as he was removed to a hospital because of sick- ness just after the battle mentioned. He was later removed to the hospital in Covington, Kentucky, and subsequently returned home on a thirty days' furlough.

Hle rejoined his regiment at Memphis, and was stationed with his command in a garrison at one of the forts. Thence his regiment pro- ceeded to Louisville and Indianapolis, where Mr. Wissinger joined the First Indiana Heavy Artillery. From there he accompanied his regiment to Memphis and Vicksburg, which had just surrendered, thence to Baton Rouge and New Orleans. From there he accompanied his regiment to Matagorda bay, Texas, where the troops fought an engagement and then re- turned to New Orleans. He was with his regi- ment at the siege of Fort Gaines and Fort Morgan, at the month of Mobile bay. At the siege of Mobile Mr. Wissinger was wounded and lost the use of his right eye by the burst- ing of a shell. He, however, bandaged his eye and remained with his company. His regiment returned to Fort Gaines, where it lay until re- lieved by the United States Regulars, when it returned to New Orleans, where it was mustered out of service, November 8, 1865.

Mr. Wissinger remained in the Crescent City and secured employment as foreman in the rail- road car shops, and from there was transferred to the same position in the shops of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad at Mobile. After remaining two years in the latter city, he returned to Springfield, Ohio, and resumed the carpenter business, at which he worked, off and on, until 1887, when he came to Tacoma. On arriving

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in the latter city he engaged in carpentering, which he followed two months, and then en- gaged in the restaurant business, which he has followed continuously and successfully ever since. He has pursued the latter occupation in several locations in the city, but finally removed, November 1, 1892, to his first place of business, which is in many respects the most favorable, and which will in all probability prove to be his permanent stand. Ilis natural energy, thorough business experience and insight into details, has rendered him successful from the first in his new occupation, and his guests receive the best of care, with an abundance of wholesome food, well prepared and neatly served. To show that his efforts are appreciated, it is but necessary to point at his pecuniary success, which is unquali- fied and ever increasing.

October 10, 1867, Mr. Wissinger was married in Springfield, Ohio, to Mary Walker, a lady of intelligence and worth, and a native of Clarke county, that State, who has proved a helpmeet in every sense of the word, sharing her hus- band's hardships and success, and contributing materially to his prosperity.

Politically, Mr. Wissinger is a Republican, and takes an active interest in the issues of his party. Fraternally, he is a member of the F. & A. M., State Lodge, No. 68. A faithful soldier and good citizen, he is a person of whom a com- munity may be proud, as his influence is ever sure to be thrown in the scale of justice and morality.

J OHN R. JACOBUS is one of the prosper- ous farmers of Lewis county, Washington, having been a resident of this place since 1879. As one of the representative men of his district, we make mention of him as follows:

John R. Jacobus was born in Knox county, Indiana, in 1835, and in the Hoosier State spent his boyhood days. In 1853 he was among the emigrants who came overland to the west coast. He spent ten years at Placerville, California, after which he came to Washington. He lived in Kitsap county abont four years, in Mason county six years, in Island county six years, and since 1879 has been a resident of Lewis county.

Mr. Jacobus married Miss Ida J. Bariekman, who was born in Knox county, Indiana, in 1876.

When she was five years old she was taken by her parents to Wabash county, Illinois, and four years later moved with them to Milam county, Texas, remaining at the latter place two years. Their next move was to Lewis county, Wash- ington. Here she met and married Mr. Jaco- bus. Their only child is Robert P.

C HRISTIAN REITZIG, who has been a resident of Lewis county, Washington, since 1868, belongs to that class of thrifty people who have emigrated to this country from Germany.

Mr. Reitzig was born in Germany in 1837, and lived in his native land until he was twen- ty-six years of age. He then emigrated to America with the hope of improving his tem- poral condition, and in this country he has met with that success which is always the result of honest industry. Landing in New York city, he remained there one year, after which he went to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he spent two years. We next find him in Kansas, where he was employed in railroad work. From there he worked his way westward, was in California some time, and finally landed in Lewis county, Washington, in 1868, where he has since re- sided. Mr. Reitzig is unmarried.

W ILLIAN PUMPHREY has been a resi- dent of Lewis county, Washington, for many years, and has witnessed the many changes which have taken place here during the past four decades.

Mr. Pomphrey was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, in 1830, and in his native State remained until he was eighteen years old. He then came west as far as Council Bluffs, and in 1852 came on to the Pacific coast, landing in Portland, Oregon, October 18, of that year. From there he came to Lewis connty, Washing- ton, and here he has since lived, having ex- perienced the hardships and privations of pio- neer life, and now being in comfortable circum- stances.

Mr. Pumphrey's wife was, before her mar- riage, Miss Lizzie Faul. She was born in Illi- nois in 1853, from there moved with her parents

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to Kansas, and subsequently to Washington Territory, first settling in Lewis county, and afterward in Cowlitz county. She and Mr. Pumphrey were married in 1878. They have seven children: Mary F., Charles W., Wilford A., Grover E., Maud A., Eugene and Ida A.

Mr. Pumphrey is engaged in farming and in the general merchandise business, and has also been Postmaster of Olequa for twenty years. From 1855 till 1857 he was Auditor of Lewis county, and from 1857 until 1859 he served as County Sheriff. Few of the early pioneers of Lewis county were more prominently identified with its interests than he, and few, if any, are more highly respected to-day than William Pumphrey.

E LKANAH MILLS has been a resident of Lewis county, Washington, since 1851.

He was born in Pulaski county, Ken- tucky, in 1818, and spent the first seventeen years of his life in the Blue Grass State. Im- bued with the spirit of emigration at an early age, he emigrated in 1834 to Jackson county, Missouri. In 1847 he continued his way west- ward, and in due time landed in the Willamette valley, where he remained until 1851. That year he took up his abode in Lewis county, Washington, and has since continued his resi- denee here.

Mr. Mills married Luvina V. Wisdom, a native of Howard county, Missouri, born in 1818. She came West with her husband, and is still the sharer of his joys and sorrows. They have seven children: Mary J., George W., Will- iam P., Joseph M., Samnel F., Nancy E. and Susana M.

A L. WATSON, one of the representative citizens of the county of Cowlitz, Wash- ington, and the present incumbent of the Sheriff's office, is a native of Ohio. The following sketch of his life is appropriate in this work:

A. L. Watson was born in Madison county, Ohio, November 7, 1860, third in the family of five children of Levi and Mary A. (Kilgore) Watson, the former a native of Ohio, the latter

of Illinois. Levi Watson was a brick manu- faeturer. Ile removed with his family from Ohio to Cumberland county, Illinois, when the subject of our sketch was six years old, and a year later the family home was established in Clark county, that State, where he was reared and edueated. His first work was in connec- tion with his father in the brick-making busi- ness. Subsequently he learned the trade of carpenter of W. G. Wood, at Westfield, Clark county.

In 1887 Mr. Watson located at Freeport, Cowlitz county, Washington, where he engaged in milling and contracting. While thus em- ployed he built the Kelso public school, and many private residences throughout the county. He has always taken an active interest in public affairs, and in politics has been a stanch Repub- lican. In September, 1892, he was chosen by the Republican convention of Cowlitz county as the nominee of the party for the office of Sheriff, and the following November was elected to the office, the duties of which he has since efficiently performed.

July 20, 1886, Mr. Watson married Miss Aggie Gross. Their only child is Garnet M.

Mr. Watson is a member of Cowlitz Lodge, No. 66, I. O. O. F., in which he has passed the chairs, and has represented that body in the Grand Lodge of this jurisdiction. He is also a member of the Rebekah degree.

D AVID COTTONOIR has for a number of years been engaged in farming on the Cowlitz river. He is a native of Lewis county, Washington, born in the year 1839, and is a fair representative of the successful farmers of his district.

Mr. Cottonoir married Delia Inwas. Her mother, Louisa Inwas, was the first white settler on the Cowlitz river. They have a family of three children: Mary F., Louisa E, and Julia.

AMES LAMA, another one of the enter- prising farmers of Lewis ceunty, Wash- ington, has been identified with the inter- ests of this county for about twenty-five years. Of his life we present the following brief sketch :

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James Lama was born in England in 1830, and when twenty years of age emigrated to America, landing in San Francisco, June 5, 1850. He was engaged in mining in Califor- nia until 1867, when he went to Fort Madison, and about three months later took up his abode in Lewis county. Ilere he has since lived, de. voting his time and energies to agricultural pursnits.

Mr. Lama was married in 1870 to Miss Mar- tha Garnett, who was born near the Wabash river, in Indiana, where she was reared and ed- neated. Coming West, she spent about two years in Monterey, California, from there went to Lowering Valley, and in 1870 eame to Lewis county, Washington. They have three children, Leonard, Riley and Ellen, all in Lewis county.

S IMON PLOMANDO, a native of Van- conver, British Columbia, has been a res- ident of Washington nearly all his life, having removed here from Vancouver with his parents when he was six years old. His parents settled in Cowlitz county, where he was reared and where he lived for twenty-eight years. For the past sixteen years he has lived in Lewis county, on the banks of the Cowlitz river.

Mr. Plomando is married and has a nice fan- ily. Mrs. Plomando is also a native of Vancon- ver, at the time of her birth her father being in the employ of the Hudson's Bay Company. When she was abont five years old she came with her parents to Lewis county, where she has since resided. Her maiden name was Mary Feron. Mr. and Mrs. Plomando have four children, Daniel, Leon, Simon and Mary.

D ANIEL K. ABRAMS, a prominent citi- zen of Ridgefield and one of the large land-owners of Clarke county, has been identified with the development of the resources of the Pacific coast since 1851. Descending from the old colonists of New England he in- herited those traits that are invaluable to the pioneer and belongs especially to the men and women who have gone before to make way for the rapid strides of civilization that has placed the United States Republic at the head of the nations of the earth.

Ile was born in Belknap county, New Hampshire, June 1, 1829, a son of John and Nancy (Robins) Abrams, also natives of New Hampshire. The father was a farmer and mill- wright by trade, and to these callings the son was reared; he remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority, and then he said farewell to his home and friends and set sail for the l'acific coast, coming via Cape Horn. Landing at Portland, Oregon, he em- barked soon thereafter in the sawmill business, which he continued two years. His next oc- cupation was farming, which he carried on near Albina until 1871.

The year last mentioned is the date of Mr. Abrams' coming to Ridgefield; here, in part- nership with E. A. Knox, he owns 3,000 acres of land; 100 acres are in a high state of culti- vation; they also own a fine orehard of twenty acres, set to prunes, which yields good returns, netting in 1893 $1,000; in addition to this real estate these gentlemen own property in Port- land which is increasing in value. They are both men of wide experience and well fitted for the management of so large an estate.

Mr. Abrams was united in marriage in New Ilampshire in 1854, the wife of his choice being Mary M. Chapman, also a native of New Hampshire. Of this union two children were born-Mary E. and John C. The mother died of diphtheria in Angust, 1863, and the son was stricken with the same disease two weeks later; Mary E. lived to the age of eighteen years, when she passed to the future life, May 22, 1880.

G M. DuVALL, an enterprising citizen of Goldendale, is a product of the progress- ive spirit of the age, and has done his share in carrying forward the movement which goes to form a high civilization. Following is a brief outline of his career: He is a native of the State of Missouri, born November 19, 1852. His parents, John and Christiana (Powell) Du Vall, were natives of Missonri and Iowa, respectively. In 1853 they crossed the plains with their two children, and located in Port- land, Oregon; there our subject received his education, and at the age of twenty began the study of photography; he has since devoted himself to the art, and has a studio in the

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business center of the city of Goldendale where he is prepared to do the most artistic work; he has been established in this place three years, and in that time has gained an enviable repu- tation.

Seeking an investment for the means he had accumulated, Mr. Duvall purchased a tract of 160 acres, forty-five of which are under culti . vation. In March, 1892, he became connected with Henry D. Young in the furniture and undertaking business; they formed a partner- ship, the firm name being Young & Du Vall Company, and have established a large trade, being regarded as one of the most substantial cororpations of the county.

In politics Mr. Du Vall adheres with great zeal to the principles of the Republican party. Ile has served as clerk of the City Council, and was elected Justice of the Peace in 1890; he was re-elected in 1893, his administration being characterized as just and honorable to a high degree. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and belongs to the encampment at Walla Walla.

He was united in marriage at The Dalles, Oregon, in 1875, to Miss Sarah J. Worsley, a natives of New Jersey. They are the parents of three children: Claudia M., Clinton C. and a daughter deceased.

J HOMAS CHRISTOPHIER is a native of Norway, and was born at Arundal on the 25th day of June, 1833, his parents being Christopher Charlson and Ann Helena (Brunyelson) Christopher. Ilis father was a seafaring man in his younger days.

When Thomas was ten years old he went to sea as a cabin boy and followed a seafaring life for nine years, making in his vovage many ports in Europe and America. He came west on the ship Rockland (Captain Taylor), sailing from New York to San Francisco in 1852. He left the ship and went to the "Rough and Ready" mines, Nevada county, California. He followed mining with precarious luck until 1858, when he was attracted farther north by the Fraser river excitement. The party started on horseback, destined for the head waters of the Thompson river, but they fell in with hostile Indians and were prevented from reach- ing that point. They turned back, and our

subject located in Steilacoom, where he worked for Mr. Meeker in the butchering business. In the spring of 1863 he took up a homestead, building himself a log cabin, which stands there to day in close proximity to his present hand- some home. He has about 300 acres in his present home, and began raising hops in 1886 on about eighteen acres, which he at present has under cultivation of that product.

Mr. Christopher was married on the 16th of February, 1873, to Mrs. Mary Wold, a native of Norway. They have two children-Elnora and Anna Helena. Mrs. Christopher had one son, named Oscar, by a former marriage.

Mr. Christopher is a Republican politically. He is well known throughout the State and represents what is possible to all men of what- ever nationality, who bring with them to our shores energy and persistent push. He is the owner of one of the finest places in King county, Washington, and is respected by all the community in which he lives. The station and post office also bear his name, Christo- pher.

C IIARLES L. PIERCE, a member of the firm of Pierce Bros. & Co., which is men- tioned elsewhere in this volume, is one of the most enterprising citizens of Goldendale, Washington. He was born at West Derby, Vermont, December 12, 1851. When he was three years old the family removed to Water- loo, Jefferson county, Wisconsin, where they re- mained two years, going thence to Salem, Rich- ardson county, Nebraska, and were among the pio- neers of that State. There, in the wild surround- ings of the frontier, our subject grew to manhood; when he arrived at the proper age he began to learn the trade of a harness-maker, and became a journeyman, although he did not long follow this avocation. IIe then entered the cabinet shop of his father, and became thoroughly familiar with all the details of the business. It was in 1878 that he determined to seek his fortune be- yond the Rocky mountains; he came to Oregon, and stopping at Albany secured a position in the harness shop of Rupert & DeBrill. After- ward he went to work in the planing mill of his brother, E. E. Pierce, and was employed there with some interruption until 1888. He then went to Goldendale, Washington, and se-

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cured a position in the lumber-mill of his bro- ther, D. W. Pierce. Having gained a wide ex- perience in the business, he formed a partner- ship with David Beckett in the spring of 1889, and they built a planing-mill and sash and door factory at Goldendale; they did a large bnsi- ness for eighteen months when D. W. Pierce & Son purchased the interest of Mr. Beckett, and the firm became known as Pierce Bros. & Co. Mr. Pierce gives his personal attention to the operation of the mill, and superintends the busi- ness with entire satisfaction to the other men- bers of the firm.

At Salem, Nebraska, December 15, 1873, he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Duryea, a native of Tioga county, Pennsylvania: she died in January, 1886, leaving a family or four children: Charles Myron, Arthur, Mabel and Harlan. Mr. Pierce was married a second time in 1887, this union having been with Miss Helen Kibbey, a native of Polk county, Ore- gon, and a daughter of M. W. Kibbey, one of the settlers of 1852; they have had three chil- dren: Lester, De Los and Gladys.

Mr. Pierce is a member of Goldendale Lodge No. 31, F. and A. M. In politics he is a staunch Republican, and frequently attends the county conventions of his party. In the cam- paign preceding the election of James A. Gar- field to the presidency he was a member of the county central committee of Kliciktat county, and did most efficient service.

H ON. HERBERT SHERMAN HUSON, Mayor of the city of Tacoma, and one of the representative men of the State of Washington, is a native of Wisconsin, born near Montello, in Marquette county, May, 29, 1853. His parents, John T. and Snsan (Rathbun) Huson, were natives of New York State, and Rutland, Vermont, respectively. The Hluson family was an old one, of western New York, its progenitors having settled near Buffalo about the time of the Revolution. The mother of the subject of this sketch removed, with her parents, from the State of her birth to that of New York, where she met and mar- ried Mr. IInson. Her ancestors came from Eng- land, in the Mayflower, to Massachusetts, and were among the founders of New England. The father of Mr. Hluson, of this notice, was a

wheelright by occupation, who went with his family to Wisconsin, in 1843, settling in Keno- sha, where he engaged in his business. He later moved to Montello, whence, about 1856, he went to La Crosse valley, and began farm- ion. In 1868 he removed to Missouri, and in 1889, to the far west of Washington, settling at South Bend. He lost his devoted wife at Pratt, Kansas, her death being greatly mourned by all who knew her and appreciated her many estimable Christian virtues.

The subject of this sketch was reared to the age of sixteen in La Crosse valley, Wisconsin, and there began his education. This instruc- tion was continued at lowa college, in Grin- nell, where he graduated in the classical eonrse in 1877. He taught sehool a year at Brecken- ridge, Missouri, and afterward accepted a posi- tion in the office of the Central Law Journal, at St. Louis.

Leaving this position, he began a career in railroading and railroad building, in which he attained prominence and achieved success. He commenced as a worker in an engineering party on the Kansas Pacific railway, in 1879. In the following year he went with the Denver and Rio Grande railway, then being built in Colo- rado, and, in 1881, became Assistant Chief En- gineer of the Denver & Rio Grande Western, with headquarters at Salt Lake City. In 1882, he was Locating Engineer on the Canadian Pacfic railway, in which capacity he conducted the first survey of the Kicking-Horse Pass. He came to Portland, Oregon, in 1883, and soon afterward secured employment with the North- ern Pacific Railway, in the position of Assistant Engineer, in charge of the line from Paseo to the summit of the mountains. On the resigua- tion of Engineer Bogue, in December, 1886, he was made Assistant Principal Engineer of the west end of the Northern Pacific, in which capacity he completed the Cascade Division, in- cluding the switch-back and tunnel. He plan- ned and constructed all the branch lines in Idaho and Washington, and also the Bitter Root Valley road, in the Missoula valley. These operations required his time and attention until March 1, 1891, his headquarters during that time being at Tacoma. On the last date men- tioned, he resigned his position with the rail- road company, and, laying aside its arduous duties, spent a year in travel. On his return he was nominated, in the spring of 1892, by the Republican city convention, to the office of

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 134

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