USA > Washington > History of Washington the evergreen state : from early dawn to daylight with portraits and biographies Vol. II > Part 45
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store was sold, and the firm engaged in the real-estate business. A year later Mr. England returned East, and after conducting the business alone for a short time, Mr. Paul took in as a partner Mr. T. E. Marks, and the business has since been conducted under the style of Paul & Marks.
Mr. Paul has served as City Marshal and Constable for two years, and was a member of the City Council one term. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He has unbounded faith in the future of his adopted city and is an earnest sup- porter of every measure tending to enhance its development and growth. He was married May 8th, 1877, to Miss Clara A. Cleaves, of Foxcroft, Me.
STEWART, JAMES, was born in Perthshire, Scotland, October 12th, 1840, and in 1859 emigrated to Canada. Naturally imbued with a love for adventure and a desire to see the world, he for some time led a life of almost constant change, travelling extensively in the United States, and gaining a most intimate knowl- edge of the many phases of life in different sections. Reaching Jackson, Miss., in 1861, he enlisted in the Fifth Ohio Infantry, and served three years and three months in that regiment. He afterward enlisted in Hancock's United States Volunteers, and served until the close of the war, when he was honorably dis- charged. After the war he began working at his trade of marble-cutter, engag- ing chiefly in sub-contracting, and so continued until 1874. In the latter part of that year he determined to try his fortune in the Pacific Northwest, and came to Chehalis County, Wash. In September, 1875, he bought a tract of about four hundred acres, also taking up a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres, and has since been a resident of Chehalis County, and prominently identified with its growth and development. When he came to the county it contained but about six hundred inhabitants, and he was third settler on the Wishikah River. Mr. Stewart has been an enterprising and valuable citizen, and is highly es- teemed for his many commendable qualities.
He was married July 7th, 1868, to Miss Joan B. Kellan, of Aberdeen, Scot- land. The town of Aberdeen, Wash., received its name at her suggestion. She is a daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth Kellan, and traces her genealogy back to an old distinguished family of French Huguenots. She emigrated to this coun- try with her parents in 1849, settling at Cincinnati, O., where she resided until her marriage in 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have had seven children, only three of whom are living-Alfred C., George McDonald, and Malcolm M. Mrs. Stew- art has been a frequent contributor to various important newspapers throughout the United States, and her letters concerning Aberdeen and Gray's Harbor have been no small factor in the development and rapid growth of this section.
COPLEN, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, Mayor of Latah, Wash., was born in Fulton County, Ind., December 18th, 1842, in which State he resided until the fall of 1849, when with his parents he removed to Iowa, where he remained during the winter, and in the spring of 1850 moved to Putnam County, Mo. From there in the fall of 1850 the family removed to Shelby County, Ia., and thence to Carroll County, Ia., where they were the first settlers, locating at what is now known as Coplen's Grove, on Middle Coon River, February 22d, 1852. In the spring of 1857 Mr. Coplen moved with his father to Kansas, and settled on Cottonwood,
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southwest of Emporia. From there, in the spring of 1860, he went to Colorado City, El Paso County, Col. In the fall of 1862 he returned to Iowa, and in the following spring was married to Cyrena E. Clark née Blizzard, and returned to Colorado. His first child, Lillie V. Coplen, was born January 1st, 1864. In March of the same year Mr. Coplen's father removed to Oregon, the son remain- ing in Colorado. On the 31st day of August, 1864, our subject enlisted at Colo- rado City as a private in Company G, Third Regiment, Colorado Volunteer Cav- alry. He was mustered into the service at Camp Evans by Captain Anderson, September 12th, 1864, for a period of one hundred days, and at the expiration of that time was honorably discharged at Denver, Col. On February 16th, 1865, his wife died at Colorado City. In March, 1867, Mr. Coplen moved to Wyoming ; in May, 1869, went to Nevada, and in June of the same year he settled in Walla Walla County, Wash., where he again joined his father's family. In 1872 he set- tled in what was then Stevens County, now Spokane, where he has since remained, together with all his father's family. In June, 1876, he discovered the largest " mammoth" bones on record, which were exhibited at the World's Fair at Chicago in 1893. Mr. Coplen located the present town of Latah on his old home- stead claim in the summer of 1883. October 10th, 1889, he married his second wife, Levina Bell Baldwin. Two children have blessed this union-Henry Bald- win, born August 3d, 1890, and Chester Spokane Harvy, April 19th, 1892. At the incorporation of the town of Latah in the spring of 1892, Mr. Coplen was elected Mayor, which position he continues to fill with ability and credit.
Such, in brief, are the salient points in the active career of our subject. Like so many of the pioneers of the Northwest who have been the architects of their own fortunes, his life has been one of great industry and frequent changes. Inde- pendent, self-reliant, courageous, and possessing natural business sagacity, he has achieved results which place him among the successful business men of the State. Personally he has qualities which have surrounded him with warm friends, whose loyalty he as warmly reciprocates. He is an entertaining conversationalist, and his nomadic and adventurous life has furnished him with a fund of anecdotes, which he delights in relating.
BOYLE, R. L., is an excellent type of the progressive and able young business men whose brain and brawn have done so much to develop the resources of the new State of Washington. He was born at Chariton, Lucas County, Ia., March 6th, 1858. Like that of so many of the self-made men of America, his early life was spent on the farm. At the age of twenty-one he was married to Miss Mary E. Johnson, of Chariton, and settled upon a farm of his own. In September, 1881, they moved to the Pacific Coast and settled at Astoria, Ore., where Mr. Boyle was employed as book-keeper in a salmon cannery, in which position he served four years with constant fidelity to the interests of his employers. Here death entered his household and took away his wife, leaving him without means with two small children, the younger but two months old. He continued his service in the can- nery for two years, during which time he was again married, to Miss Susan Gustaf- son, of Astoria.
Moved by a commendable ambition to better his condition, he left Astoria and settled at Aberdeen, Wash., where he embarked in the real-estate business. Be-
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ginning with very limited means, he worked hard, and at the end of two years had succeeded in accumulating several thousand dollars. Believing that a still larger field would soon open up on the harbor, Mr. Boyle, in conjunction with several others, acquired a large traet of land, and began negotiations with the Northern Pacific to build to this point and make it their ocean terminus. They were successful in these negotiations ; the new town of Ocosta was started, and Mr. Boyle removed his family here, and with characteristic energy set about to help build up the town. The spirit which he and others enkindled at this im- portant tine has made possible within the space of less than three years tlie crea- tion of a new city conspicuous for the rapidity of its substantial growth. Mr. Boyle has unlimited confidence in the future development and importance of Ocosta. He has acquired extensive property interests here, and owns, among other fine buildings, the Boyle Block. He also has quite extensive real-estate interests at Aberdeen and South Bend. He is a stockholder in the Ocosta Land Company and the Ocosta Mill Company, and holds the office of Secretary in bothi companies. He is an active member of the fraternal orders of Odd Fellows and United Workmen, and in politics is a zealous Democrat.
AUSTIN, R. L., the popular real-estate broker, of Ocosta, Wash., was born at North Lawrence, N. Y., April 4th, 1845. He attended the public schools, and graduated from the academy at Lawrenceville at the age of sixteen. After leav- ing school, he was clerk in a general store until February 29th, 1864, when lie enlisted in the United States Navy, serving on board the U. S. S. F. Niagara on her European cruise of 1864-65. After his discharge he engaged in the mercan- tile business at Albany, N. Y., for two years, then removed to Michigan, where he studied law for one year. He then engaged in fire underwriting, having head- quarters at Beatrice, Neb., and travelling in Iowa, Dakota, Kansas, and Nebraska from 1870-83. In the latter year, the health of his wife demanding a change of climate, he came to the Pacific Coast, and after looking about for a suitable place to settle, located on Gray's Harbor and engaged in stock-raising. In the winter of 1890 Mr. Austin became interested in the Ocosta Land Company, was elected its first President, and served until October, 1892, when the death of his father and the settling of his estate took his time so that lie declined re-election, but was elected Vice-President.
The rapid growth and development of Ocosta are largely due to the efforts of Mr. Austin. He has been prominently identified with its interests to its present stalwart growth, and no one has done. more than he to enlist in its development capital and men. Full of energy, possessed of rare business ability, and, withal, of unimpeachable integrity, he has established a reputation in the community for integrity and probity of character which is unexcelled. He is a man of hearty, genial disposition, and personally is deservedly popular. Mr. Austin was mar- ried in 1875 to Miss Amanda L. Wilcox. His father, Henry Austin, died August 11th, 1892, at North Lawrence, N. Y.
KINDRED, W. S., is a native of Oregon, having been born in Clatsop County, that State, October 21st, 1857. He received the advantages of a common-school education, and learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed until the age of
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twenty-seven. In December, 1884, he came to Pacific County and purchased the estate of his father-in-law, George H. Brown, at North Cove, consisting of nine hundred acres. Upon this property lie erected a fine residence, which has since been the home of the family. He engaged in the dairy business, which he fol- lowed with success and profit until 1890, wlien he disposed of six hundred acres of his valuable property for $42,000. As a citizen Mr. Kindred is widely known throughout the county, and is universally respected by all classes. By his upright- ness of character and other sterling qualities he has won an honorable position in business and social circles. He has always taken a deep interest in public affairs, and has never neglected an opportunity to promote by word and example any enterprise calculated to increase the growth and prosperity of his country. In 1888 he was elected one of the Commissioners for Pacific County, and discharged the duties of that office for two years with credit to himself and to the advantage of the community.
Mr. Kindred's marriage relations have been most pleasant. He was married November 24th, 1880, to Lizzie, daughter of George H. and Charlotte Brown. She was born in Pacific County August 1st, 1862. Their union has been blessed with two children-Maud Ethel, born at Astoria, Ore., September 26th, 1881, and Bessie Irene, born at Lake Point, Wash., August 23d, 1887.
B. C. Kindred, the father of W. S., was born in April, 1818, and was one of the early pioneers of Oregon, crossing the plains from Iowa in 1844. He was one of the first white men to pilot ships at the mouth of the Columbia River, follow- ing that occupation for three years and abandoning it on account of ill health. He is still living in Clatsop County, Ore., at the ripe age of seventy-five years.
BOWEN, WILLIAM J., was born in Loami, Sangamon County, Ill., July 4th, 1861. His parents were born in the same locality, liis grandparents being among the pioneers of the State. His grandfather, Zaza Bowen, moved from Westmore- land County, Va., to Sangamon County, Ill., in 1828, where lie engaged in farm -. ing and stock-raising. The country was then in a very primitive state, the prairie land being considered valuable for grazing only. Zaza Bowen had two sons and seven daughters. In 1854 Abner, the elder son, married Frances Ann, daughter of Seth Reed and Polly Cutter, who had moved from Ohio to Sangamon County, Ill., in 1829. Frances was the youngest of thirteen children. The Cutter family came from the north of England and settled in Charlestown, Mass., in 1636, and the descendants are now scattered throughout the whole country.
William J. Bowen is the youngest of four sons born to Abner and Frances Bowen, there being no daughters in the family. His early boyhood was spent on the old homestead, near Springfield, Ill., where, though a very delicate child, lie grew up a strong and healthy young man. Life on the farm was a life of labor, which began with the Bowen boys while they were quite young. The winter months only were spent in school ; but the boys were usually first in their classes.
Abner Bowen expected to send his sons to college, and brought them up with that idea ; but after the hard times following the financial crisis of 1873, he was unable to do so, and finally, in 1878, failure overtook him ; the old home was sold and the family broken up. In this status of affairs A. Z. Bowen, the next older brother, and William J., went to Lincoln, Ill., to attend Lincoln University,
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a Presbyterian institution in which their father owned scholarships. This ven- ture was due largely to A. Z. Bowen, who had an insatiable desire to obtain a broad and liberal education. Accordingly, with the motto " Where there's a will there's a way," the two brothers, relying entirely on themselves, worked their way through the best institution of the land.
From 1878-80 Mr. Bowen was in Lincoln University with his brother. This college, however, was not broad enough to satisfy the ambition of these boys, and in the summer of 1880 A. Z. tried the examinations for Harvard at Chicago, but failed. He then went to Cambridge, Mass., entered the high school, and was admitted to the Freshman Class of Harvard University in the fall of 1881.
William J. taught school during 1880-81 near Lincoln, Ill., entered the Cam- bridge High School in 1881 in order to prepare himself for Harvard University, and was graduated in 1883. During the summer of 1883 the boys visited their parents and brothers in Eastern Washington, of which Cheney was then the lead- ing town. In the fall Mr. Bowen entered Harvard, and was graduated with honors, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, in 1887. He stood near the head of his class of two hundred and thirty-six, obtained three scholarships, and was chosen a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, which is composed of the first twenty-five of each graduating class. He was also a mem- ber of the Natural History Society, the Everett Athenaeum, and the Christian Brethren. He was prominent as an athlete and one of the strongest men in the university. He held the championship in middle and heavy-weight wrestling for three years, won prizes for putting the shot, throwing the hammer, hare and hounds, long run, and sparring ; was a member of his class football team, class tug of war, and substitute on his class crew.
Expenses had been comparatively light till he entered Harvard, and were met by the labor of his hands. After entering the university, however, $500 per year as a minimum cost were not easily made by manual labor, and Mr. Bowen pre- pared himself for tutoring, both for examinations in college and for preparing young men for entering college. The price paid for tutoring was $2 per hour, and Mr. Bowen became a successful tutor. After the Freshman year he made nearly $1000 a year. In 1888 he attended the Harvard Law School, and the five years, with the summer vacations, had cost about $4000, most of which he made in the university.
After leaving college Mr. Bowen spent a year in the employ of Fredericksen & Co., of Chicago, dealers in Western lands. His business was to examine farm and mineral lands in Missouri and Alabama. In 1889 he moved to Davenport, Wash., and in 1890 to Spokane, where he was employed in the law office of Griffitts, Moore & Feighan. In the spring of 1891 he engaged in real-estate busi- ness in Spokane. Since March, 1891, he has operated largely in Wenatchee real estate, and in March, 1892, moved to Wenatchee, where he now resides. He is well known as a wide-awake business man, a liberal Christian, and a leader in any movement for the upbuilding of the community and the welfare of the peo- ple where he lives.
LATHROW, JAMES, was born in Westport, County Mayo, Ireland, in 1820, and received a common school education in his native country. When about nineteen
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years of age he went to sea, and followed a seafaring life until 1871. During this time he visited every important port on the globe, and can spend hours in narrat- ing the interesting tale of his travels, intermingling his conversation with his native Irish wit and humor. In 1859 he landed at San Francisco on the Great Republic, and quit the sea for a time. He drifted up to Whatcom in 1860, and in 1871 located on Fidalgo Island (Anacortes), where he has since resided on his original land claim. Here he has been successfully engaged in farming for over twenty years, in which occupation he has accumulated a considerable competence. Mr. Lathrow is unmarried. He is a pleasant gentleman and a keen man in busi- ness transactions, and enjoys the respect and confidence of all who know him.
REICHENBACH, COLONEL CHARLES, one of the leading merchants and business men of Tacoma, was born in Germany, May 5th, 1842, and came to this country at the age of eighteen. He settled at Newark, N. J., and worked as a clerk until the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he enlisted in Company I, First New Jersey Cavalry, and served with distinguished bravery until the close of the war. After his discharge he went to Milwaukee, Wis., and engaged in the wholesale hat and cap business, which he continued for three years. In 1869 he established a general merchandise business at Menomonie, Wis. In 1873 he disposed of this business,-and bought a stock of general merchandise at Waukesha, Wis., conduct- ing business there until 1875. In the latter year he removed to Chicago, IlI., and again engaged in the wholesale hat and cap trade. His removal to Tacoma oc- curred in the year 1884, when that town contained but four thousand inhabitants. Here he established a wholesale and retail clothing house, which has been suc- cessfully continued until the present time. Mr. Reichenbach possesses in an eminent degree those qualities which command success in commercial life. His enterprising disposition and ambitious spirit would not allow him to remain in a subordinate position longer than he deemed necessary ; thus we find him early in his career engaged in business on his own account. Besides his mercantile busi- ness, he has extensive interests in other enterprises. He was one of the organ- izers of the Washington National Bank of Tacoma, and of the Puget Sound Dressed Beef and Packing Company, and has been a leading spirit in numerous public enterprises. In political preference he is a Republican, and has held numerous positions of honor and trust. He was Colonel on the staff of Governor Ferry, of Washington. He is a member of the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce and the Commercial Club. In his personal relations Colonel Reichenbach is a man of probity and honor, and he enjoys to the full extent the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens.
DECKEBACH, F. G., banker and capitalist, of Ocosta, Wash., was born in Cin- cinnati, O., August 6th, 1864, and acquired his early education in the public schools of that city. At the age of seventeen years he began his business career as a clerk in the Second National Bank of Cincinnati, where he remained for three years. After a trip to Florida, on matters of business as well as for recrea- tion, he returned to Cincinnati, where he engaged in various financial enterprises until 1889. In that year he removed to Washington, and in November, 1890, he established the Bank of Ocosta, of which he is the entire o vner. He was one of
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the party of gentlemen who, in February, 1890, purchased one thousand acres of land on the south side of Gray's Harbor, at the junction of South Bay and the main harbor, and there founded the present thriving little city of Ocosta. No little credit is due to Mr. Deckebach for the remarkable success of this enter- prise. His influence upon both the social and commercial development of the city has been great and is constantly increasing. His efforts have ever been put forth in the cause of progress, both material and intellectual. No well-directed movement having in view the good of the city or its people has been without his active assistance, and no great enterprise has been inaugurated without his co- operation and advice. He has large interests in real estate and landed property in Ocosta and other parts of Chehalis County.
Although not yet thirty years of age, Mr. Deckebach has shown great ability in the management of large financial interests, and is considered a keen judge of financial opportunities. He possesses a certain boldness in his business methods which comes only to those who are able masters of the work they undertake and who have full confidence in their own judgment. As a thorough gentleman and a scrupulous man of business he is held in the highest respect. He is warmly attached to the home of his adoption, and has unlimited faith in its ultimate des- tiny as a great seaport city. He was married December 12th, 1888, to Miss Adalia L. Heinz.
BROWN, GEORGE H., one of the pioneers of 1849, and for more than a quarter of a century an esteemed resident of Washington Territory, was born in Philadel- phia, Pa., November 4th, 1824. His early life was passed without notable event until 1849, when the excitement caused by the discovery of gold in California attracted his attention, and he left the comforts of an Eastern home, and joining the great procession of fortune-hunters who were wending their way to the gold fields, took part for awhile in the eager search for hidden treasure. The trip across the plains-an arduous undertaking at that time-was fraught with great danger and many hardships ; but he reached California in safety, and at once engaged in mining, which he continued for several years with varying success. In 1852 he was married to Mrs. Charlotte Norrise, a resident of California. Two children were born to them-Lizzie and Albert. In 1854 Mr. Brown moved with his family to Portland, Ore., where he engaged in the butchering business, con- tinuing the same with good success for over two years. Having taken up a home- stead claim on the Pacific Coast in Southwestern Washington, he moved his family there and engaged in farming. Shortly after their settlement in Washing- ton the family met with a distressing affliction in the accidental drowning of their little son Albert, then in his tenth year. Mr. Brown soon increased his pos- sessions until he owned seven hundred and forty acres of choice land. Here he and his wife resided for the remainder of their lives, watching the settlement of the numerous claims around them, and the gradual though steady increase in the wealth and population of this beautiful Western coastland. On November 24th, 1880, their daughter Lizzie was united in marriage to W. S. Kindred, a promi- nent and able citizen of Pacific County. The peaceful life of Mr. Brown came to a close on the 5th day of July, 1883. His widow survived until June 22d, 1891, when she died at the age of sixty-six years and five months.
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In the community in which he lived for so many years Mr. Brown was much beloved for his uprightness of character, and was respected by all who knew him for his firm, just, and reliable dealings. His record is one of honor-a record of honest labor and duties conscientiously performed.
ROGERS, JAMES NEWTON, Sheriff of Stevens County, Wash., was born in 1864 in Sussex, England. His father, Henry Rogers, was a large farmer and landed proprietor in Kent, while his mother was a native of Sussex. Young Rogers was the fifth son in a family of no less than fifteen children (ten sons and five daugh- ters) born to his parents, all of whom are living. At the age of nine he was sent to a boarding-school in Kent, where he spent four years ; then to a school near London, where he remained two years more, completing his education at the age of fifteen. At the age of twenty-one he was called to superintend his uncle's farm of five hundred and fifty-five acres at Leigh Park, in Kent, where he re- mained until the death of that relative and until the settlement of his estate. He emigrated to America, arriving at Quebec May 8th, 1887, and came immediately to Spokane, Wash., where his brother, Fred, was already located. He accepted a position on a cattle ranch, remaining for a year ; prospected for land without result ; went to Idaho and became Captain of a steamer running on Lake Pend d'Oreille, remaining until the spring of 1889. He became a citizen of the United States at Sprague in 1888. He returned to Washington, and in company with his two brothers took up " squatters' rights" to one hundred and sixty acres of fine meadow land on Diamond Lake, Stevens County. This land is still unsur- veyed by the Government. There they are raising cattle. When they first set- tled there the nearest post-office was twenty-seven miles distant and only accessi- ble during the winter season on snow-shoes. In improving their claim, they dug a ditch two miles long, with an average depth of three feet, redeeming three hundred and twenty acres of hay land. Their life is one of almost sylvan ease, the abundance of fish and game supplying their table and the meadows furnishing winter feed for their cattle. In August, 1892, Mr. Rogers was appointed Sheriff of Stevens County, a position which he still holds, and which compels him to reside in Colville. He was married at Port Townsend, Wash., October 21st, 1891, to Miss Mary Catherine May, daughter of the Vicar of Leigh, near Tun- bridge, Kent, England.
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