An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 59

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 59

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Mr. Day was married, in Ohio, in 1859, to Miss Frances R. Smith. As to social orders, he affiliates with the 1. O. O. F. fraternity.

UDGE H. W. EAGAN, a prominent citi- zen of Walla Walla, was born in Sumner .county, Tennessee, December 17, 1822, a son of H. H. and Sarah (Bandy) Eagan, the former born in Tennessee an 1800, and the lat- ter in Kentucky in 1803. In 1828, when our subject was six years of age, the parents moved to Marion county, Illinois, settling on a farm near Salem. Although the father was a carpen- fer by trade, he raised his family on the farm, which in course of time they made one of the

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finest places in southern Illinois. Mr. Eagan died there in 1844, aged forty-four years. Mis wife survived him until 1892, dying at the home of our subject in Walla Walla, at the good old age of eighty-nine years.

II. W. Eagan, the eldest of eight children, remained on the home farm until twenty-three years of age, receiving his edneation in the log sehoolhouse of Marion county, and also attend- ing one term in the high school of Salem. He afterward followed the carpenter's trade until 1850; was then elected Justice of the Peace, held that position four years, and then served as County Clerk of Marion county the same number of years. When a young man, Mr. Eagan became a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and later entered the min- istry. He was engaged in preaching in Illi- nois until 1867; spent the following five years in Maeon City, Missouri, and September 15, 1872, arrived in Walla Walla, Washington, where he came in search of health. Mr. Eagan continued in the ministry until 1888, having spent thirty years in hard labor and study, but he was then obliged to resign that ealling on account of failing health. Ile was then nomi- nated for Probate Judge, and elected by a large majority in both parties. He served in that position two years, and then accepted the nomi- nation by the Democratie party to the office of County Clerk, and is now filling his second term in that eapaeity, having been re-elected at the fall election of 1892.

At the opening of the late war, Judge Eagan was offered the position as Chaplain of the One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment, but owing to ill health he could not pass an examination, and was compelled to stay at home. But he was never idle during that great struggle, having assisted the poor and needy that were left be- hind. He also assisted in raising the Twenty- first Regiment, which was afterward assigned to Colonel Grant, and the One Hundred and Eleventh Illinois Regiment. He was a lover of the Union, and, had his health permitted, would have shouldered his gun and helped to save his country and flag.

The Judge was married in October, 1845, to Miss Elizabeth A. White, a native of Tennes- see, who settled in Marion county, Illinois, in 1834. They had four children, two of whom died when young. Their son, Dr. E. P. Eagan, now resides on a fruit farm near Milton, having given up the practice of medicine. The daugh-

ter, Hattie E., is the widow of Lientenant Ed- win H. Sheldon, late of the First United States Cavalry, stationed at the garrison near Walla Walla, where he died in January. 1880. They had two children: Bessie and Edwinna, the latter now deceased. Bessie and her mother now re- side with Judge Eagan. The Judge has a beautiful cottage on Alder and Sixth streets, and also owns 160 acres of land in Yakima county.

ESSE FERGUSON, of Tumwater, has the honor of being one of the oldest living pioneers of Washington, having come to the mouth of Des Chutes river, with M. Sim- mons, George Bush and J. MeCallister, before any white people were there; when not even a trail existed into the interior, they being obliged to ent a path and clear a space large enough to accommodate their camp.

The subject of this sketch was born near San- dusky, Ohio, May 6, 1824. IIis parents, Samuel and Jane (Bauser) Ferguson, were natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively, and were married in the latter State. They soon after -. ward emigrated to Quiney, Illinois, at that time on the frontier of civilization, where they re- sided until the subject of this sketeh was seven- teen years of age. They then removed to Savannah, Missouri, where they passed the re- mainder of their lives. They had twelve ehil- dren, of whom three survive: V. F., a resident of Iowa; J. F., in Oregon; and Jesse, whose name heads this sketch.

Mr. Ferguson, of this notice, accompanied his parents to Savannah, Missouri, where he re- mained three years. At the end of that time, on May 6, 1844, he started, as already noted, with M. Simmons, George Bush and J. Me- Callister for the Pacific coast. They experienced some trouble at first from the Indians, who stole their stoek, but otherwise pursued their way unmolested. They had comparatively easy traveling until reaching Fort Hall, to which point the road had been made by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1843; but from there the party were obliged to continue their way to the Dalles with wagons. They spent a short time here during the winter of 1844, and then hired a battean from the Hudson's Bay Company, in which they came down the Columbia river, passing through the place where the proud city

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

of Portland now stands; where then was no sign of habitation, a dense forest marking the scene, and continuing their way to Oregon City. at that time a straggling hamlet.

They remained here almost nine months, en- gaged in logging, lumbering and carpentering, when in the summer of 1845 they went by canoe to Astoria, Oregon, where they remained four months. They then started for northern Oregon, or what is now the State of Washing- ton, where, late in the fall of 1845, they arrived at the place now known as Tumwater, but which then, and for years afterward, bore the name of New Market. They worked during the winter at making shingles for the Hudson's Bay Com- pany, for shipment to the Sandwich islands. This company then had their headquarters at Fort Nisqually, with Dr. Tolmnie in charge. The only tools they had for making shingles were an ax and draw-knife, and they worked in the forest where Olympia now stands.

The subject of this sketeh remained in this vicinity until June, 1849, in the meantime having taken a elaim of 320 acres, situated two miles from Tumwater, on Bush prairie. It will be remembered that at about this time gold was discovered in California, and, like many others, Mr. Ferguson was seized with a desire to visit this El Dorado. Accordingly, in 1849 lie took passage on a lumber-laden vessel for the Golden State, where he arrived in due time. Owing to rains, however, he did not do any mining, and shortly afterward returned to Columbia river, making a short stop on Sophie's island, from which place he proceeded onee more to New Market, and this time found several white families settled on the present site of Olympia. He now commeneed working at making square timbers to ship to San Fran- cisco, in which occupation he was employed for two years, when, in 1851, he removed to his claim to live. He remained on his farm during the winter of that year, when the English sloop Georgiana sailed into the harbor, hailing from Sydney, Australia. On her departure Mr. Fer- guson, with twenty-five others, departed for Oncen Charlotte's island in search of gold.

The sloop reached the island without any casualty of note, but here, at the end of the voyage, the boat was driven ashore in a gale. Soon afterward the Indians rushed on board, robbed the passengers of all they had, took them prisoners, and kept them for fifty-four days, until they were rescued by the United

States Government vessel Damerescove, under Captain Balch. The rescue of the prisoners was made by ransom, the United States Govern- ment buying goods of the Hudson's Bay Com- pany, at Victoria, to the amount of $1,500 to give to the Indians. This experience cured Mr. Ferguson of the gold fever, and he has since been content to reside uninterruptedly on his farin, satisfied with his vast amount of land and stock.

During the Indian war of 1855-'56, Mr. Ferguson built a block-house on his claim, in which he continued to live during that troub- lous time in preference to seeking protection in a fort, he being one of the few who continued to remain on their land.

In 1850 Mr. Ferguson was married to Jane Rutledge, a native of Ohio, who crossed the plains with her parents, William and Mar- garette Rutledge, who settled in Thurston county in 1850. She was a faithful and affec- tionate helpmate, sharing without complaint all her husband's hardships and labors for ten years, when she died, leaving five children to his care. These are: Henry F., David S. and Samuel. all married and residing in Thurston county; Sarah J., wife of William Lee, living on part of her father's claim; and Annie, who married J. Callou, resides in Kamilche. Mr. Ferguson has never remarried, but resides with his daughter on the old homestead, which he reclaimed from a wilderness and has made to blossom as a rose.

A D. McPHERSON, one of the pioneer settlers of Klickitat county, is a typical representative of that body of men to whom is dne the present importance of this county. He has lived here about fourteen years. He was born in Nova Scotia, in 1840, a son of Donald and Mary McPherson, natives of Inverness-shire, Scotland. They moved to Nova Scotia in an early day, where they re- mained until death.

A. D. McPherson, our subject, spent his early life in his native country, receiving such educational advantages as was given the farmer boy of that day. Not being satisfied with the advantages afforded him in his native country, he emigrated to the United States. He made California his home for seven years, after which

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

he came to Klickitat county, Washington, and a year later took a homestead of 160 acres. Mr. McPherson has since added to his original pur- chase, until he now owns 240 acres of well im- proved land, located seven miles northwest of Goldendale, and in the best wheat section of the country.

In 1883, in California, our subjeet was united in marriage to Miss Joan Cameron, a daughter of Angus and Mary Cameron, natives of Scotland. They afterward located in Nova Scotia, and re- mained there until death. Mr. and Mrs. MePher- son have had four children : Horace Lamb, Harvey Grant, Mary Jane and Alfred Kirk. Socially, Mr. McPherson is a member of the Masonic order of Goldendale. He affiliates with the Republican party, takes an active interest in township and eounty affairs, and is foremost in every enterprise for the good of his community and highly respected by all who know him.

J AMES H. PAYNE, of Seattle, Washing- ton, was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, May 5, 1823, a son of Jonathan and Eliza- beth (Wright) Payne, natives, respectively, of Virginia and Kentucky. In the fall of 1823, after spending a number of years in Shelby county, Kentucky, the father moved his family to Owen county, Indiana, where he secured a farm, erected a cabinet shop, and there passed the remaining years of his life.

James II., the youngest of thirteen children, and the only survivor of the family, remained with his parents until twenty-two years of age, attending to the duties of the farm and also assisting his father in the shop. In February, 1845, he engaged as clerk in a mercantile store in Grand View, Kentucky, receiving $8 per month and board, and one year later purchased an interest in the business. In the fall of 1852, on account of failing health, he sold his inter- est in the store, and in the following spring, in connection with Benjamin Freeland and Henry Colman and their families, he decided to come to Oregon. They started March 21, 1853, the little train numbering eight wagons and 180 head of cattle and horses, and, with the usual experiences of the pioneers, they crossed the plains and mountains to The Dalles, Oregon, thence by the Barlow route to the Willamette valley, locating near Brownsville, Linn county.

Mr. Payne purchased a claim of 320 acres for $500, the only improvements being a little slab- house, 10 x 12 feet, and even this seemed large atter living in wagons so many months. Food was very expensive, and the only supply was wheat at $2.50 per bushel, which was ground for flour, cracked for mush and browned for coffee. With a sick wife and two small chil- dren, Mr. Payne struggled through the first winter, often driving ten miles to cut and draw rails to fence a little ground for the spring crops. They remained on the farm about five years, and during that time improved the house and put thirty acres of land under the plow. In the fall of 1858 our subject engaged in cab- inet work and the furniture business in Albany; in the spring of 1866 began carpentering in Salem, and in 1868 came to Seattle.

After arriving in this city Mr. Payne first followed the grocery trade for a few months. In the spring of 1869 he was one of a syndi- cate to purchase the New Castle coal mines, which they improved and operated about two years, and then sold at a great sacrifice. He was next employed on the snohomish Indian reservation about nine months, but, there being but few facilities for educating his children there, he soon returned to Seattle, where he has ever since resided. Mr. Payne followed con- traeting and building until 1889, and in that year erected his cottage home at 304 Olympic avenue, and retired from active business.

He was married at Grand View, Illinois, September 26, 1848, to Miss Mahala B. Free- land, a native of Spencer, Indiana. They have had five children, namely: Emma A., widow of James Thomas; Mary E., deceased; Julia A., now Mrs. C. H. Staddleman; Flora E., wife of W. H. Hughes; and Quinn E., deceased. The latter was a young man of great promise, but after a service of eight years as mail clerk be- tween Seattle and Whateom, his health failed from hardships and exposure, and his untimely demise ensued.

A C. BOSTWICK, M. D., was born in Lan- caster, Pennsylvania, in 1829, but his parents removed to Ohio three years later, and in the old Bnekeye State his boyhood days were passed. In 1850 he re- moved to Park county, Indiana, and attended the high school at Rockville. In 1857 he be-

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gan attending the medical department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and in 1859 removed to Kansas.

During the late war of the Rebellion Dr. Bostwick was Major Surgeon of the Ninth Kansas Cavalry, a position which he was com- pelled to resign in 1863, on account of im- paired health. He resumed the regular prac- tice of his profession and later took a special post-graduate course at Rush Medical College, Chicago. In 1873 he removed to Portland, Oregon, and two years later took up his resi- dence in Tacoma, where he has since remained in the successful practice of his profession. In the early days of his professional work here he was frequently called to remote parts of the State, his skilled services being much in demand.

Dr. Bostwick served as United States surgeon to the P'nyallup reservation in 1877; has offici- ated as a member of the Pension Examining Board; was president of the first medical so- ciety organized in the Territory; was a member of the first City Council of Tacoma, and presi- dent of the first board of trade. He has also been prominent in banking circles.

This brief review will prove adequate to show the position which Dr. Bostwick has maintained in the development of the State and city, and he stands conspicuons among those who have been identified with the march of progress and who have been conservators of the best interests of the section.

R EYNOLDS & STEWART are leading lawyers of Chehalis, Lewis county. The firm was established April 1, 1890, and is probably the ablest and best known law association in Lewis county. Their practice, which has been a lucrative and constantly in- creasing one from the start, extends not only throughout the county, but far into the adjacent counties and surrounding Territory. Messrs. Reynolds & Stewart are the legal advisers and counselors for the financial institutions of Che- halis, and also for many of the leading incor- porated enterprises of the city and county. The firm, either jointly or separately, are closely identified with a number of the growing indus- tries of Lewis county, and among them may be mentioned the Commercial State Bank of this city ; Chehalis Improvement Company ; Chehalis

Flume & Aqueduet Company, incorporated in 1889; also the Washington Mining & Develop- ing Company, incorporated December 10, 1892; and many other enterprises.

W. A. Reynolds, the junior member of the firm, was born in Indiana, July 3, 1850, a son of Ashbell S. and Emily W. (Williams) Reynolds, natives respectively of New York and Connecti- cnt. The father died in 1859, and the mother survived until 1890. At the early age of thir- teen years, our subject left the parental roof, and began the battle of life on his own account. Since that time, with no other aid than his own energy and perseverance, he has made his own way through life. He proceeded to Wilming- ton, Illinois, where he engaged at farm labor, at- tending school during the winter months. He graduated at the Rock River Seminary, at Mt. Morris, with the class of 1874. Mr. Reynolds then began teaching, served as principal of dif- ferent public schools for some time, and then entered as a student in the law office of Steel & Jones, at Chicago. He was subsequently ad- mitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Illi- nois, followed his profession in Chicago from 1881 to 1883, and in the latter year came to the l'acific coast. After remaining a few months in Portland, Oregon, he located permanently in Chehalis, Washington, since which time his name has been prominently connected with the official affairs of the city and connty.

Mr. Reynolds was married in this city, in May, 1886, to Miss Callie C. Allen, a native of Illi- nois. They have one sou, Walter A. In his po- litical relations, our subject affiliates with the Republican party. He was the choice of his party for Prosecuting Attorney in 1884, served two years, and in 1888 was re-elected to that position. He has also been a member of the City Conneil and was elected City Attorney. In that latter position he has probably done more active work in re-organizing the city and ex- tending its boundaries than any other of the city's officials. Socially, Mr. Reynolds is a mem- ber of the Masonic order, and has passed all the official chairs in the bine lodge.

David Stewart was born in Glasgow, Scot- land, Angust 19, 1848, a son of John and Eliz- abeth (Ferguson) Stewart, natives also of that country. The mother died in 1871, and the fa- ther in 1890. David, the fourth of ten children, accompanied his parents to Canada in 1859, where he received his education. In 1866 he came to the United States, remained at Brainerd

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Minnesota, from 1866 to 1874, and during that time began the study of law in the office of Hon. Judge Holland. He was admitted to the bar at Bismarck, Dakota, in 1875. He served as City Justice in that city one term, and also, on his return to Brainerd, Minnesota, was elected to the same position. In 1889 Mr. Stewart came to this city, and entered into partnership as above stated. In addition to his large practice, he also owns city property, and timber land in the adjoining county. Mr. Stewart affiliates with the Republican party, is secretary of the Chehalis Flnine & Aqueduct Company, holds the same position in the Chehalis Improvement Company, and is a stockholder in the Washing- ton Mining & Development Company.

ON. MOSES YODER, a prominent law practitioner of Chehalis, was born in Ohio, June 27, 1837, a son of Valentine and Mary (Schrock) Yoder, natives of Penn- sylvania and of Swiss origin. Their ancestors fled from Switzerland as early as 1752, to escape religious persecution. The father of our subject, a carpenter and builder by trade, removed with his family from Elkhart county, Indiana, in 1842. The mother died in September, 1884, and the father survived until 1892, dying at the age of eighty-four years.

Moses Yoder, the eldest of his parents' eleven children, passed his boyhood days on a farm, and is principally a self-educated man. At the age of twenty years he began work at the car. penter's trade with his father, which he con- tinned until 1862. In that year he enlisted for service in the late war, entering Company E, Seventy-fourth Indiana Regiment, but was dis- charged in 1863, having become disabled while serving in the Army of the Cumberland, and for which injury he now draws a small pension. Af- ter partially regaining his health, but not being physically able to follow his trade, Mr. Yoder engaged in teaching, and at the same time be- gan reading law with T. C. Wilson. He later entered a law office and studied under M. W. Strayer of Lexington, Illinois, and in 1868 was admitted to the bar at Chatsworth, that State. After practicing his profession at that place two years, Mr. Yoder removed to Ncodesha, Kansas, where he remained eleven years, and during that time held the office of Police Magistrate two

years, or until his departure for the Pacific coast in 1881. Mr. Yoder immediately located in this city, but one year later began the practice of law in Tacoma. During the following year, on account of ill health, he visited the mountain districts of southern Oregon, and in March, 1884, again took up his residence in this city. During the same year he was elected to the position of County Judge, serving in that capacity until 1886. Although having been connected with many criminal cases, Judge Yoder has a decided preference for civil practice, and is perhaps one of the best land lawyers in southwestern Wash- ington. He has indeed done much for the ad- vancement of Lewis county, having divided a tract of 240 acres near the city into lots, and sold the same on long-time payments, to encourage fruit, garden and berry culture, to which the climate is especially adapted.

Judge Yoder was married at Ashland, Ore- gon, in January, 1884, to Miss Minerva Arnett, a native of Nebraska. They have two children: Florence A. and Cisso L. Our subject was the father of four children by a former marriage, only one of whom is now living, Charles. In political matters, the Judge is an active Repub- lican, and socially, affiliates with the I. O. O F. and the A. O. U. W. He has passed all the official chairs in the latter order, and is also a prominent member of the G. A. R. at Toledo, Washington.

G M. STEADMAN, Auditor of Lewis county, Washington, was born in Ste- phenson county, Illinois, June 25, 1860, a son of Josiah and Elizabeth B. (Sloan) Stead- man, the former a native of New York and the latter of Indiana. C. M., the eldest of two children, remained in his native State until twelve years of age, and he then removed with his. parents to Clark Station, Nebraska, where he completed his education in the public schools. Mr Steadman theu learned the printer's trade, but later learned telegraphy, and for twelve years served as station agent on the Union Pacific Railway in Nebraska. In 1889 he came to Chehlais, Washington, and for twenty month ; was agent for the Northern Pacific Railroad Company in this city. He then filled the posi- tion of Deputy Auditor until 1892, and in that year was elected to principalship in the offic ?.

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Although he has never taken an active interest in politics, Mr. Steadman is a staunch Republi- can, is a gentleman of retiring disposition, never seeks public notoriety, and his entire attention is occupied with the arduous duties of his office.

April 29, 1880, he was united in marriage to Miss Kate M. Bliss, a native of Michigan. They have two children: George M. and Mand. Mr. Steadman affiliates with the A. F. & A. M., and is a member of the A. O. U. W.

G W. BABCOCK .- Among those residents of the little city of Walla Walla who may justly lay claim to being one of the pion- eers of the coast is G. W. Babcock, who was born in Providence, Rhode Island, Novem- ber 22. 1832, son of Elisha and Hannah (Van- onstrance) Babcock, natives of Massachusetts and Vermont. When our subject was bnt six years of age his parents removed to New York, where he received a good common-school educa- tion. The grandfather of our subject was a na- tive of the north of Ireland and came to America in an early day and served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, dying at the advanced age of 112 years. His son, the father of our subject, early in life was a steamboat builder, but later engaged in farming, continuing that occupation for the rest of his days. He died in New York in 1886, aged ninety-six, while his wife, who was of Holland descent, survived him abont six months, dying at the age of ninety-four. They had thirteen children, of whom our subject is the oldest. All of the family are living except one who was captured during the war, confined in Libby Prison and Andersonville and starved to death. His father obtained his release, but help came too late, as the unfortunate man died a few hours after being restored to liberty.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 59

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