An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 66

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 66

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During his frontier service he was engaged all along the coast, was marched from Fort Lane to Vancouver, then to The Dalles, where they spent one winter, and theu into Washington, camping at Walla Walla, where an attempt was made to treat with the Indians, but although Governor Stevens remained all one winter in camp trying to accomplish a treaty nothing

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could be done, and when he started for home he was surrounded by Indians on Russell creek, and would have undoubtedly massacred if the troops had not arrived in time to rescue him.

After Mr. McEvoy's terin of enlistment had expired he was discharged, and then went to work in the quartermaster's department, where he remained five years, thus making ten years of service for Unele Sam. He then took up a claim on Garrison creek, four miles southwest of Walla Walla, where he still lives, being one of the oldest settlers in the county, having come to Walla Walla when there were no houses in the place.

Our subject was married, March 10, 1859, to Miss Eliza Bann, a native of Ireland, who came to America in 1856, and they have a family of nine children, as follows: Patrick, now living in Portland; Charles, in Farming- ton; Sarah, Kate, John, George, David, Mary, and William.

For a man who arrived in this country with only a six-pence in his pocket, he has done well, having become a man of means and one who is respected the county over.

q : RANT COPELAND, one of the enterpris- ing and industrious young farmers of Walla Walla county, Washington, was born in Walla Walla county, March 31, 1866, and now resides ou the old homestead where he was born and where he was reared. Ile attended the common schools of the district until he was grown and then completed his ed- neation at the Whitman College of Walla Walla. He is the youngest son of eight children born to Henry S. and Mary A. (Morton) Copeland, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Illinois. They crossed the plains in 1849 to California.

Our subject was the youngest of the family and fell heir to the old home of 430 acres, 200 of which is in cultivation and the rest in pas- ture. Here he raises on an average about 6,000 bushels of grain every year. He handles some cattle and secures quite a handsome revenue from that sonree, taking great pride in his farm, which is as well regulated as any in the county. lle has a good residence and a large barn, with a place for everything and with everything in its proper place.

Our subject was married May 21, 1891 to Miss Bessie Cameron, also born in Walla Walla county, a highly accomplished and charming young lady. Her descent is Scotch, she being the danghter of Hon. Alexander Cameron. Mr. and Mrs. Copeland have one little child, Ger- trude Elinor, born March 1, 1882, a bright little one, the pride of the home. Our subject is a member of I. O. O. F., of Walla Walla Lodge, where he is a valued member. Politically he is a Republican and one of the most respected yonng citizens of the county.

J EFFERSON JENNINGS. - Brought to this State at the early age of nine years by his parents, Mr. Jennings has grown with the country and takes a deep interest in all mat- ters relating to the welfare of lris adopted State. He was born in Wapello county, Iowa, Septem- ber 17, 1856, son of Pascal and M. J. (White) Jennings, natives respectively of Ohio and Ken- tncky, who settled in Iowa, where they remained until the spring of 1865, when they crossed the plains with an ox team, their destination being Washington Territory. After a journey of six months they landed in Walla Walla county and settled on a farm near the town of that name, remaining several years. They then removed to Whitman county, where they yet reside. Of the ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Jennings, Sr., our subject is the second, and six of the family are yet living.

Jefferson Jennings received his education in the common schools of Walla Walla connty, later finishing his course of instruction at the Whitman College, of Walla Walla. At the early age of nineteen he was married, in 1875, to Miss Sarah E. Corkrum, but after nine years of happy married life his wife died, in 1884. leaving him with three little ones: Ollie, Mary, and Rosa F. In 1887 he was again married, his second wife being Mrs. Clara Buchner, a na- tive of Washington, and one child, Hansel II., is the fruit of this union.

Atter his first marriage Mr. Jennings began life for himself on a farm, but in 1885 he sold that property, removed to Walla Walla and en- gaged in the grocery business on Main street, between First and Second streets, where he has succeeded in building up a fine trade by his elose attention to business and pleasant and obliging

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manners. He carries a fine stock of groceries and does a business of from $32,000 to $40,000 per year. It is his endeavor to furnish his pa- trons with the best the market affords, at the low- est possible prices. In addition to his business he owns his comfortable residence, in Walla Walla, where he and his estimable wife dispense hospitality to their inany friends. Socialiy, he is connected with the I. O. O. F., in which order he has held all the offices in the subordinate lodge, being now Chief Patriarch of Walla Walla Encampment. He is also a member of the Woodmen of the World, which is a benevolent order, in which he carries an insurance policy for the benefit of his family in case of his death. In political matters he is a strong Republican, holding to the faith of that party upon any and all occasions. He was before the County Con- vention for the nomination for Sheriff and re- ceived a warm support, but was defeated by a few votes. For so young a man Mr. Jennings has accumulated considerable property, and all things point to his becoming one of the moneyed inen of Walla Walla. In all his business rela- tions he pursues a line of strict integrity and has won, by his honest mode of action, the re- spect and esteem of all who have dealings with him.

H ON. ALEXANDER CAMERON. one of the most respected among the pioneers of Walla Walla county. Washington, is the subject of the present sketch. He was born in Rossshire, Scotland, May 15, 1837. and lived with his parents until he was eighteen years of age, receiving a common-school educa- tion. His father, John Cameron, was a shep- herd in his native country, there married Bessie MClennan, and died in 1839. His wife lived until 1882. when she died in Illinois, where she had been abiding with her children, having reached the age of about 100 years. Ten chil- dren were born to these parents and our subject was the youngest of the family.

In 1554 Mr. Cameron crossed the sea with his family. stopping first in Canada, but that country did not suit him : therefore he went to Chicago, where he remained about six months. He went from there to Henry county, Illinois. and commenced to farm, remaining in that and in Bureau counties for four years. In 1862 he went to Iowa and worked one year in the coal

mines, and then made up his mind to go to the coast country. In 1863 lie crossed the plains with ox teams. A company of Scotchinen was organized with thirteen wagons, and it was namned the Scotch train. Mr. Cameron had no team of his own, but came with his father-in- law and assisted in driving his teams. They came to Walla Walla county and took up a homestead three miles south of town where he now lives, but has added to his farm until he has 270 acres of valuable land, which would command a high price, being so near the city. IIe is farming his land and raises on an average 3,000 bushels of grain a year.

Our subject was married in 1563, before leav- ing Iowa, in Council Bluffs, to Miss Janette Mc Rae, a young Scotch lady of education and refinement. She was the daughter of Alexander and Jane (Bain) McRae, all of them natives of Scotland. Both of the parents of Mrs. Cam- eron died in this State,-the mother in 1552, at the age of seventy-seven, and the father in 1559, at the age of eighty-four.

Mr. and Mrs. Cameron have had nine chil- dren,as follows: John A., now Assistant Warden of the Washington Penitentiary; Jane died in 1879, at the age of thirteen years; Donald; Bessie, the wife of Grant Copeland; Bell. the wife of Mordo McDonald, of Union county, Oregon; Maggie; Jessie; George; and Hattie. When Mr. Cameron arrived in Washington he liad twenty-five cents in money, and fromn that he had to build up his fortune. He now has a good farm and comfortable situation. He has never sought any politieal favors, but in August, 1892, the Republicans of the district decided that he was a suitable man to send to the Legis- lature and he was elected, even in a Democratic district. Our subject is prominently connected with the I. O. O. F. and the A. O. U. W.

P ATRICK LYONS, one of Walla Walla's leading farmers and early pioneers, was born in Ireland on the first day of Jan- uary, 1835. He is the second of eight children born to Michael and Bridget (Burke) Lyons. natives of Ireland. The father died in 1852, aged seventy years. his wife surviving him until 1855, when she died, aged seventy years. Until he attained his majority our sub- jeet remained in his native land, but at that

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time he emigrated to Australia, to endeavor to obtain a fortune in the mining regions of that country, leaving his birthplace in 1856. Dur- ing the eleven years that he remained in Ans- tralia he made some money, but misfortune finally overtook him, causing him to lose all he had accumulated, and he returned to Ireland, richer in experience, but not in pocket. After three years spent in Ireland he decided to try his fortune again, selecting America this time as his field of operation. Therefere, in 1869, he embarked for the new country, landing in New York city. Here he secured passage for San Francisco, via the Isthmus. Ile only re- mained in California a few days, as he had decided to settle in Washington Territory. In the spring of 1870 he located in Walla Walla county, and at once took up a claim of 160 aeres of land within eight miles of Walla Walla, on Mill creek, where he now has a farm of 2,000 acres of as fine land as can be found in the county, about 1,700 acres of which is in a fine state of cultivation. On this land he bas a good residence and large barn, situated on the banks of the pretty little stream that flows through his property. A good orchard and all the necessary outbuildings are also found here, while everything is in a most excellent con- dition. When he purchased his present farm he paid $30 per acre for it; now it is worth $60 per acre. Besides his farming interests he owns in Walla Walla, on Dr. Newell street, a fine residence, for which he paid $5,000. Here he resides during the winter in order to obtain educational advantages for his children. All of his large farm is under his personal snper- vision, and he raises an average of 25,000 bushels of grain annually, and also raises all the stock necessary to carry on so large a farm. It is very convenient for him to dispose of his grain, as the narrow-gauge road passes very near his place; and as its purpose is to transport the grain of his neighborhood to the large cities, Mr. Lyons is spared the trouble of hanling it himself.

Mr. Lyons was married in 1866, to Miss Frances Fahaly, a native of Ireland, with whom he became acquainted in Australia, and there married. Since their marriage Mr. Lyons has always found her a willing and efficient help- mate for him in the accumulation of the large fortune he now possesses. Eleven children have blessed their union, namely: Anna; Dalie, wife of J. P. Kent; John, Mary, Thomas, Frances,

Katie, Terasa, Joseph, Ned, and Grace, -- all at home except the married daughter, who is living in Walla Walla. Mr. Lyons has been very successful in his business ventures, al- though when he landed in California his cash capital was represented by about $1,000. Now he counts his wealth by the thousands.

J OIIN TRACY, one of the prominent and enterprising pioneers of the coast country, is a native of Ireland, having been born there April 9, 1825, son of Lawrence and Katie (Lineh) Tracy. The father was a farmer by occupation, and died in 1848. His wife sur- vived him until 1886, when her death occurred. Of the eight children born to these parents, our subject was the second child and only son of the family. He received a common-school edu- cation in his native land, but in 1849 left Ire- land and came to America, first locating in Philadelphia. He engaged in the coal mines of Pennsylvania for some months, when he en- gaged with the Pennsylvania Central Railroad. Liking railroad work, he later removed to More- land, and was employed by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.

In the month of July, 1855, our subject en- listed in the Ninth Regiment, United States Army, and started for Fort Vancouver, where he arrived the following year, just in time to assist in subduing the hostile Indians in all of the battles which took place in that and the fol- lowing year in that section of country. After a faithful service he received an honorable dis- charge at Walla Walla, Washington. So pleased was he with the country that he took up 160 acres of fine land situated on Mill creek, seven miles east of the city of Walla Walla. Since locating here he has improved and added to his acreage until he is now the possessor of 800 acres of excellent land which he farms himself, raising an average of 12,000 bushels of grain per year, in addition to large numbers of cattle and horses.

All of this prosperity has not been unshared, as since October, 1866, our subject has had a most faithful wife in the person of Eliza J. (Ilendrieks) Tracy, a native of Tennessee, who came to Washington in 1864. Eight children have been added to the family, namely: Law- rence; John, who died in 1880; Mary, wife of

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Frank Engram; Catharine; Eliza; and Ellen, --- all at home exeept one. From a careful study of our subject. Mr. Tracy believes that the only way to secure the prosperity of the country is for the American industries to be protected, and to this end he uses his political influence and easts his vote.

P S. WITT, one of the pioneers of the coast, was born in Wayne county, Indi- ana, February 21, 1845. His father, C. Witt, was a native of Tenuessee and mar- ried Frances Sweet, a native of Kentucky. Mr. Witt was a physician and surgeon, and practiced in Indiana for a number of years, but in 1858 he took his family to Oregon by way of the Isthmus and New York. After landing in Portland Mr. Witt moved to Benton county, near Corvallis, and lived there until the spring of 1859, and then moved to the Sound, near Seattle, where he bought a elaim, giving a yoke of oxen in payn.ent. This was the site of Ren- ton, and on this 160 acres the first coal was dis- covered. He lived on this place only six months, then sold and moved to California. The trip was made with oxen, and when Mr. Witt reached that State he was not as well pleased as he had been with Oregon; therefore he retraced his steps and located in Benton county, where he remained until 1864. From there he went to Marion county, remaining two years, when he came to Walla Walla county, Washington, in 1866, and settled on Russell creek, living in this pleasant locality until the time of his death, which occurred in 1870, at which time he had attained the age of sixty-eight years. His wife survived him until February, 1892, and died at the age of seventy-three years. They had a family of eight children.

The subject of this sketch was the sixth child and is one of the four yet living. He received a common-school education. He married Miss Ellen Hall, a native of Oregon, whose parents came across the plains in 1845, and were of the party that barely escaped starvation in the noted Meek cut-off, where so many perished from starvation. The first business into which our subject entered after locating in this State was mining in the Bitter Root mountains, above Lewiston, Idaho, an occupation which he fol- lowed one year. He then engaged in the pack-

ing business from Umatilla Landing to Idaho City, and had fair success both in paeking and in mining. Having saved some money, he re- turned home and moved his little family to Walla Walla county, Washington, and took up a homestead, where he now lives. Since that time he has been farming, and as fast as his means have accumulated he has added more land, until he now owns 300 acres, which he has under the best state of cultivation. Here he has erected a nice residence, at a cost of $1,600, and a very large barn, in which he can shelter cattle and take eare of his farm prod- ucts. In fact he has here everything needed on a large and well-regulated farm. The place is considered worth $20,000.

Mr. and Mrs. Witt have had four children, but that dread disease, diphtheria, invaded the pleasant home and three of the little lives were sacrificed, only Walter H. being left. Our sub- ject has been a hard-working man and has ae- cumulated a competenee which places him in comfortable circumstances, but it has all been acquired by good management and honest, hard work. Politically, he is a Republican, and is considered one of the best citizens of the county.

B REWSTER FERREL, a pioneer of the coast and one of the most respected farmers of Walla Walla county, Wash- ington, was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, August 22, 1838. His father was Edward Fer- rel, a native of Pennsylvania, who married Miss Rosela Fish, a native of Ohio. IIe removed to Iowa in 1854 and there engaged in farming, dying in 1864, at the age of sixty-four years. Mrs. Ferrel died in 1881, at the age of seventy- five years. They had a family of ten children, of whom our subject was the third child. Nine of the family are yet living.

Our subject received a common-school eduea- tion in Ohio and in Iowa, in which latter State he lived for ten years, engaged in working on a farm. In 1864 he came to Washington, cross- ing the plains with a mule team and making the trip in four months. He bought eighty acres of land where he now lives, but not having means he was obliged to move slowly before he conld really get a start. By close economy, good management and industry, he was able to pay for his eighty acres, and now owns a farm of

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1,600 acres, upon which he has a good farm house and barn with all necessary improvements. He now farms 1,000, acres, from which he gets from 12,000 to 20,000 bushels of grain every year, and he handles some horses and cattle in connection with his farming.

Our subject has been a very successful man since he made his home in Washington, but what he has accomplished has been the result of his own industry and good business manage- ment. He is much respected in the community.

Our subjeet was married in Iowa, in 1861, to Miss Caroline Batt, a native of Ohio. She has taken a great pride in assisting her husband in "getting on in the world" and cheerfully accom- panied him across the plains. They have had a family of seven children, as follows: Thomas J .; Ellen, the wife of Walter Barnett, now liv- ing in the Palouse country; Seth; David; Joseph ; Cordelia, the wife of Charles Maxson; and Min- nie. All the children are at home except the two married daughters.

D R. CHARLES S. PENFIELD, a promi- nent physician of Spokane, is a son of Dr. E. P. and Louisa (Smith) Penfield, and was born in Huron county, Ohio, in 1857, the oldest in a family of three children. His parents were both natives of Ohio, both his paternal and maternal grandfathers having emigrated from New York to Ohio at an early day, and settled in Huron county. The elder Dr. Penfield was educated at Norwalk, studied medicine at Cleveland, and in 1857 began practice at Newark. A few years later he located at Bucyrus, where he remained .until 1890, and that year joined his son at Spokane, and has since resided here. For years he has been a member of various medical societies in Ohio, and at one time was offered a professor- ship at his alma mater at Cleveland; he, how- ever, declined, pressing duties at home requiring his attention.

The subject of our sketeh received his literary education, and graduated at Oberlin, Ohio. After studying medicine under his father's instructions for a time, he entered Hahnemann Medieal College, Chicago, in 1878, and gradu- ateil in February, 1880. He at once began practice in the hospital in that eity. He was house surgeon in the hospital one year, was

associated with Professor Hawks one year, and for a year and a half practiced alone. He then spent a year in Kansas City, returned to Chicago for a short time, and from there went to Montana, where he remained seven months recruiting his health. In the spring of 1883 he located permanently in Spokane, this city then being a town of only about 1,000 inhabit- ants; and here he has sinee been engaged in the active practice of his profession. He is now president of the Spokane Homeopathie Medical Society, is a member of the State Association, and is now serving his second term as a member of the State Board of Medical Examiners. The Doctor makes a specialty of surgical cases, at the same time doing a general practice. He bas been very successful in the treatment of pulmonary diseases.

Dr. Penfield was married in December, 1880, to Miss Jennie J. Jefferson, a native of Wiscon- sin and a daughter of A. E. Jefferson. Her father was born in New York, and was one of the pioneers of Wisconsin. They have three children: Herbert, Ruth and Wilder. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. Socially, he is a member of the A. O. U. W .; politically, a Republican. He has served as County Coroner four years.

J OSIANI S. BROWN, of Spokane, Washı ington, was born in the parish of Sunbury,. in the British province of New Brunswick, and from the age of nine years was reared in Linneus, Aroostook county, Maine.

July 2, 1861, Mr. Brown enlisted as a private in the first company organized in Aroostook county-Company A, Seventh Maine Volun- teers. At the expiration of his term of enlist- ment he was honorably discharged, July 12, 1863. He then re-enlisted for three years, in the " Veterans," and after being mustered out joined the Engineer Battalion of the United States Army, and came to the Pacific coast. He participated in the Modoc war in Idaho, and for gallantry in action, Jannary 17, 1873, was specially mentioned in dispatches.

Mr. Brown has been in Washington most of the time since 1873. He came to Spokane in December, 1882, and has since been identified with the interests of this growing city. He was elected Assessor of Spokane in 1890, on the

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Republican ticket, and served one term of two years. He is a prominent member of Reno Post, No. 47, G. A. R., and is now serving as Department Commander, this department com- prising both Washington and Alaska.

W NORTON DAVIS, a prominent phy- sician of Spokane, was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1861, a son of A. J. and Lonisa A. (Norton) Davis, natives respectively of Canada and New York. They still reside in Canada, and the father is a farmer by occupa- tion.

W. N. Davis, the third in a family of four children, was educated in the high school of his native place. He afterward began the study of medicine at Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he attended two courses, passed the examination, but, on account of not having reached his twenty-first year, could not seenre a diploma. In 1881 he graduated at a homeopathic col- lege in Chicago, after which he practiced medi- cine in Beloit, Wisconsin, eighteen months. Mr. Davis next went to Canada to complete his studies, and in 1884 graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Toronto. He then practiced in Los Angeles, California, five years; thence removed to Seattle, where he was burned out; and in 1889 came to Spokane. A few weeks after locating here he suffered the loss of nearly his entire possessions in the great fire. Mr. Davis has a large and lucrative practice, which is still rapidly increasing, and he is making a specialty of chronic diseases. He does an exclusively office practice.

D R. PETER J. GERLACH, a practicing physician of Spokane, Washington, dates his birth in the year 1858, at Kingston, New York. He was the third born in a family of four children, his parents being Philip and Lucinda Gerlach. Both parents died when the Doctor was small. lle received his education at Schenectady, New York ; at Rutgers College, New Brunswick. New Jersey: and at Oberlin, Ohio, after which he began the study of medi- cine at Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated there in 1886. Immediately after his graduation he

began the practice of his profession in that city. The following year he came West and located in Spokane, and here he has since conducted a successful practice. In the great fire that swept Spokane he was burned out, and he has been burned out once since then. Notwithstanding these losses, he has made some successful in- vestments and owns considerable property. He is the proprietor of two ranches and a number of city lots.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 66

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