Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 102

Author:
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Spokane, Wash. : Western History
Number of Pages: 992

USA > Washington > Chelan County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 102
USA > Washington > Ferry County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 102
USA > Washington > Okanogan County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 102
USA > Washington > Stevens County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 102

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

in 1900 took one hundred and sixty acres, where his place now is, and also bought as much more. The farm is well improved, has good buildings, fine orchard, and is one of the valuable estates of the country.

In February, 1874, Mr. Taylor married Miss Irene M. Burdine, who was born in Fay- ette county, Indiana, in 1857. She died on May 22, 1877, leaving one child, Mabel A. Their wedding occurred in Fillmore county, Minnesota.

EMERY P. WHEELER is a well known and prominent mining man of Okanogan coun- ty. His residence is on Mineral Hill, near Conconully, and in addition to various mining properties which will be more fully mentioned hereafter, he owns a quarter section of land. well improved, in this county.

Emery P. Wheeler was born in Whiting- ham, Vermont, on January 10, 1848, the son of Ephraim and Hannah (Davidson) Wheeler, both natives of Whitingham, Vermont. The mother died in 1884, aged seventy-eight, but the father is living in his native place, aged eighty-seven. Our subject received a good commercial education and remained with his parents until 1874; then he came via New York and Panama to San Francisco, where he was engaged in a mercantile business, first as salesman, then embarked for himself at Bakers- field, in the same state. In 1884 he came to Spokane and did business for two years, then began prospecting in British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, and Washington. He was one of the first to make location on Mineral Hill and was the organizer of the Mineral Hill Mining com- pany, which owns sixteen claims on the hill, covering the main ledge which goes through the apex of the mountain. They did about two thousand feet of prospect work before deciding upon their permanent development work and now have one thousand feet done on their main tunnel. Their ledge has large assays in gold, silver and copper, silver predominating. Mr. Wheeler is manager and Dr. Jacob May, of Connecticut, and several other eastern men are interested in the property. They are pushing development work rapidly and it is supposed the mine will soon be a shipper. Mr. Wheeler is also interested in copper properties with Spokane capitalists.

610

HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

In 1873, at North Adams, Massachusetts, where Mr. Wheeler was doing some business at the time, he married Miss Jennie L. Wheeler. While of the same name he and his wife are not related by blood. Her parents, Zachariah and Caroline Wheeler, are both natives of Ver- mont. To Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler three chil- dren have been born, Maude L., Bertha M. and Arthur E. Mr. Wheeler is one of the respon- sible mining men of the country and is well and favorably known.

FRANK J. CUMMINGS, better known as "Pard," is a leading merchant at Riverside, Okanogan county. He was born on Decem- ber 13. 1852, in Aristook county, Maine, where he passed his boyhood days. When still a lad he left home and began life in the west. He crossed the plains with ox teams to Cali- fornia, then went to Montana in 1873, after which he traveled to various sections of the west and northwest. He followed the stage business in Montana for five years, then came to Yakima in the same line of business. In 1896 he first located in Okanogan county and the following year brought his family here. He is now conducting a business establishment near Riverside, at a place called Alma, and is one of the substantial and leading citizens of the community.

JOHN I. HONE is a leading farmer and merchant of the reservation portion of Okano- gan county. The postoffice of Bonaparte is in his store and his farm lies a little southwest therefrom.

John I. Hone was born on December 4. 1859. in Allegany county, Maryland, the son of John P. Hone, a native of Pennsylvania, and a prominent educator of his day. He died in Delaware, Ohio, some time since. He had married Mary E. Browning, a native of Mary- land, among whose ancestors was the noted hunter, Masech Browning, and the poet, Robert Browning. She died in Spokane, hav- ing been the mother of eight children, Charles F., Mrs. Mary Gannon, Mrs. Martha J. Wil- son. Anna C., our subject. Mrs. Josephine Long. Dennis and Rosa. After receiving his educational training our subject, at the age of eighteen, went to work on the construction of

railroads. On January 9, 1881, he married Miss Agnes C. Riley, whose father, Michael Riley, was one of the first to cross the plains in 1849. Later he went to Australia, then re- turned to San Francisco, where he died. In the fall of 1881 the wife of Mr. Hone died at Atlanta, Iowa, whither they had moved. He returned to Ohio soon after this sad event, then went to Illinois, and in 1883 came to Spokane, where he engaged in the livery business on Main avenue. He was also inter- ested in the lumber business at Chattaroy and did some freighting to Okanogan county. In 1891 Mr. Hone went to Corning, Ohio, where on November II of that year he married Miss Alice, daughter of Morgan and Mary ( Haugh- ran) Curran, natives of Ohio. Mrs. Hone, was born in Perry county, Ohio, on February 28. 1861, and her father was a discoverer of the famous oil wells and was a prominent machin- ist, being in business yet. Her mother is also still living. They were the parents of twelve children, those of whom are living are named as follows, Mrs. Hone, Peter, Charles, George, Edward and Rose. After his mar- riage, Mr. Hone returned to Spokane and took up the livery business and also operated a farm on Peone prairie. In the spring of 1900 he moved to Brewster and as soon as the reser- vation opened, took his present farm, which lies one mile southwest of Bonaparte. He also opened his store and has done first-class busi- ness in general merchandise since. Mrs. Hone is postmistress and operates the store largely, while Mr. Hone devotes himself to the farm. In addition to this property they own a fine farm on Peone prairie and a nine room dwell- ing on Nora avenue, in Spokane. Mr. Hone freights a good deal of his merchandise from various places and is a very active, industrious man. Six children have been born to them, named as follows, Mark F., Mary A., Frances H., Nora E., deceased, Rose G. and Margaret J. Mr. and Mrs. Hone are both members of the Catholic church and are good people.

PRINCE A. LANCASTER is one of the younger men of the reservation portion of Okanogan county. The real thrift, industry and progressiveness which have characterized his labors since coming here, mark him a real

6II

HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

pioneer, and the fact that he has a ranch al- most entirely under cultivation in less than three years, shows what he has accomplished.

Prince A. Lancaster was born in Schuyler county, Missouri, on June 16, 1872. His father, William S. Lancaster, was born in Liverpool, England, and came to Iowa when fourteen. In 1852 he crossed the plains to California and followed mining and freighted in California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho. He brought the first steamboat machinery from the Columbia river to the Pend d'Oreille lake and was in partnership with ex-Gover- nor Miles C. Moore. In 1862 he went to Montana, thence to Fort Benton and down the Missouri and spent the winter in Washington, D. C. After this he went to Pennsylvania and married Miss Mary McGee. They trav- eled west to Iowa and thence to Missouri and afterward to the Black Hills in South Dakota, and in 1888 they crossed the country to Rath- drum, Idaho, where the father remained until his death, on August 23, 1903, being then sev- enty-two years old. The mother is living there on the homestead now. Our subject is the fifth one of a family of ten children and ac- companied his parents in their various jour- neys after his birth, until 1892, when he started out for himself. He went to the Coeur d' Alene country and mined in Murray, Wallace and Burke, and later visited the various camps in British Columbia. At the time the reserva- tion opened he located his present place, ten miles southwest from Chesaw, and at noon of that day started on horseback to Waterville, at which place he arrived at seven o'clock the next morning. As stated, his place is prac- tically all under cultivation, well fenced and supplied with water, a large forty by fifty foot barn and a comfortable residence.

Mr. Lancaster is a member of the K. P. and the grand lodge, having passed all the degrees. He also belongs to the miner's union and is a popular and substantial young man.

GEORGE W. LOUDON is one of the prosperous and successful stockmen of Okano- gan county and has wrought here with display of wisdom and industry since 1891, having now several thousand sheep besides two valu- able ranches. One of two hundred acres lies

near Oroville and is utilized mostly for meadow purposes. The other one, of two hundred and twenty acres, lies on the Simil- kameen and is also utilized for hay. He ex- pects to improve this in excellent shape and make it his permanent home. In addition to this property mentioned Mr. Loudon owns a residence in Loomis, where he is at the present time.

George W. Loudon was born in Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, on August 12, 1855, the son of Oberlin and Eliza (Pavitt) Loudon. The mother was born in Lincolnshire, Eng- land, came with her parents to the United States when young and died in 1861. The father was born in Carlisle, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, on December 6, 1830, the sixth of a family of seventeen children. He was educated for the ministry and later retired from that and took up the machinist business. The paternal grandfather of our sub- ject, James Loudon, was also born in Carlisle, the date being March 9, 1799. He was a pub- lisher and book binder and died at the age of eighty-four. The great grandfather of our subject, Archibald Loudon, was born in Penn- syvania in 1854, served as colonel in the Revo- lution and was appointed by President Wash- ington the first postmaster of Carlisle, Penn- sylvania. He died aged eighty-six. Archibald Loudon, the great-great-grandfather of our subject, was born while his parents were cross- ing the ocean from Scotland to the American colonies, the event taking place when their ship was in the gulf stream.

Our subject has one sister, Mrs. Mary L. Hollingsworth. He grew up in Philadelphia and there was well educated. On account of his father working at the machinist trade he learned the same and wrought in the shops in Philadelphia, Pittsburg and Altoona. In 1875 he came to Carson, Nevada, whither his father had come, and there was tool sharpener for some time, then took charge of the large water works there, after which service he went to Bo- die, California. In 1883 he came to Seattle and two years later was in Ellensburg, where he did farming and stock raising. In the fall of 1891 he came to his present farm in the vi- cinity of Oroville and located land. He had a large band of cattle and the winter of 1892-3. nearly wiped them out. He sold out his cattle in 1900 and bought sheep, which stock he

612

HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

handles now. He raises the Merino and De- laine breeds and is doing well.

On April 3, 1876, Mr. Loudon married Miss Maria, daughter of Hugh and Jane Montgomery, of Scotch-Irish extraction. The father died in Ellensburg, aged eighty-eight. The mother passed away in San Francisco in her sixty-seventh year. Mrs. Loudon was born in Ireland and has three brothers, Dr. John Montgomery, a prominent physician, Charles, a wealthy hotel man, and George, a capitalist, all in San Francisco. To Mr. and Mrs. Lou- don there have been born the following chil- dren : Elizabeth, wife of F. Richter, of Kere- meos, British Columbia; Ada, wife of C. Rich- ter, in Hedley, British Columbia; George F .; May I .; Charles M .; Paul F .; Francis R .; Ruth and Lloyd. Mr. Loudon is a member of the W. W.

DANIEL G. CHILSON. Surely the re- liable prospector is a man deserving credit from every American citizen, since the vast quantities of wealth of this country have been brought to life through his efforts. Following this unique and strong character always goes the mining engineer and expert, whose forces assist to bring into circulation these vast amounts discovered by the prospector. The mining expert is also a great benefactor. When we find both these qualities combined in one man, who is promoted by an energy that never tires and directed by keen wisdom and consu- mmate skill which leads to success after success, we certainly have men deserving of especial mention in the history of the country. Such a one is the subject of this article. Mr. Chil- son is not a school made man, although he is a student. He is a thorough worker and un- derstands the science of geology, metallurgy, mineralogy, chemistry, assaying and so forth, as far as they are real and not theoretical. He is decidedly a practical man in all these lines, and in financial lines as well. The magnificent success that he has achieved, stamps him a man of great caliber and broad views.

Daniel G. Chilson was born in Burleson county, Texas, October 9, 1849, the son of Judge S. L. and Sophie M. (Jenkins) Chilson. The father was a native of Indiana, married in Missouri and moved to Texas, where he oper-

ated the Chilson hotel in Caldwell. The family later moved to Bandera county, where the fa- ther was elected county judge. He served the confederate cause through the Civil War, after which he came to California and where he has remained since. Our subject was liberally edu- cated and early developed a propensity for in- dependent, personal investigation, the prose- cution of which has given him his success in life largely. In 1868 he was favored with a companionship with Colonel K. S. Woolsey, in extended hunting tours through Arizona, and during this time he became an expert shot. In 1871 he was in California and roved about over the state. In 1873 he went to Arizona and dis- covered some lead mines at Castle Dame. He was soon shipping ore to San Francisco and continued the same until he came out a few hundred dollars in debt. Being a man of en- ergy he was not daunted and this failure simply whetted his appetite for further mining ventures. Gaining the assistance of James M. Narney, a wealthy wholesale merchant at Yuma, young Chilson was soon in the field again and discovered the Silver Nuggett, from which he cleaned up eighty-two thousand dol- lars in a very short time. Major W. W. Le- land, of New York, was the man that intro- duced him to the New York capitalists with whom he was enabled to stock the mine, in which deal he made two hundred thousand dol- lars more. His next discovery was the Mineral Creek mines, where he located a mill at the expense of ninety thousand dollars and lost the whole thing, through hostile Indians. Other reverses in mining speculations took all of what he had left, except a twenty-five thous- and dollar farm in Los Angeles county. Fol- lowing this Mr. Chilson was in various deals, both gaining and losing money, always cling- ing to the mining ventures. It may be said of him that what he made in mining he would always use to further develop some property. In 1876 he commenced assaying and in every department in the science he made thorough in- vestigations, until he is now a most skillful ex- pert. In 1876 Mr. Chilson took charge of the Young America mine, near Bossburg, and one year later located in Loomis. Since coming here he has put through several good deals, be- sides attending to a general assaying business. Mr. Chilson is entire owner of the Paymaster group of mines, located about fifteen miles west

613

HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

of Loomis, on Toat Coulee creek, and indica- tions show that there is a fortune waiting for him in this property. In 1888 he located his present farm, which joins the town of Loomis, and is a very valuable property. He has a good residence, commodious office and labora- tory near by, a thousand bearing trees and raises cattle.

On January 13, 1891, Mr. Chilson married Miss Jennie, daughter of Joseph and Sarah J. (Wilkes) Hall, mentioned elsewhere in this volume. To them one child, Daniel G., Jr., has been born. Mrs. Chilson is a well edu- cated lady and has become thoroughly inter- ested in mining assays, as is her husband, and has rendered Mr. Chilson most valuable as- sistance. Too much credit can scarcely be given to this remarkable lady for the self denial and excellent spirit manifested in her husband's business, which at times is exceedingly trying and arduous, and especially so in the hours when the clouds hang low. Mr. and Mrs. Chil- son have hosts of friends and are well re- spected in the community.

CHARLES GRANT resides six miles north from Pateros and gets his mail at Methow. He is one of the pioneer settlers of the Methow valley and has been constantly en- gaged in the good labor of improvement and development since the time of his migration to this point. When he first came here the supplies had to be drawn from Sprague and Spokane and the mail was obtained at Water- ville. He was one of twelve settlers of the lower Methow valley, at that time. Eighteen hundred eighty-eight was the year in which he took his present land by squatter's right, to which he has since obtained title through the homestead right. The land is well fenced and supplied with other improvements, including buildings, orchards and so forth. His ranch is subirrigated by seven living springs and he raises three crops of alfalfa without irrigation. Mr. Grant raises from seventy-five to one hun- dred head of cattle each year and produces all the hay and forage necessary for the same on his own ranch. He has also plenty of horses and raises a great many hogs.

Charles Grant was born in Grantown, Mur- rayshire, Scotland, on October 3. 1861. the son

of Charles and Jane ( Ross) Grant, natives of Scotland, where they remained until their death. Our subject spent the first twenty years of his life in his native land, being trained by his father in the good work of the husband- man. In educational lines he received his train- ing in the public schools. At the age of twenty he departed from his home and soon landed in Ontario, Canada, where he farmed for four years. He next went to Grant county, Oregon, remaining there and near Dayville until 1888, in which year he came to the Methow, as noted above.

Fraternally Mr. Grant is a member of the W. O. W. He is a man of good standing in the community and has never yet seen fit to forsake the joys of the celibatarian for a voy- age on the matrimonial sea.

EDWARD S. OVERACKER, who re- sides eight miles south of Kipling, is one of the leading stock men and farmers of this section. He has manifested a true pioneer spirit, in that he wended his way to this country and has opened up a good farm, while he possesses other property in the older settled sections.

Edward S. Overacker was' born in Jones county, Iowa, on October 10, 1866. His fa- ther, William Overacker, was born in Ohio and served in the Civil War, being discharged on account of disability. He married Miss Lydia Kramer, a native of Ohio, and to them were born twelve children. Those living are named as follows, Mrs. Adelia Denney, Mrs. Phœbe Wilson, Mrs. Emma Brigham, and our subject. When our sub- ject was six years of age the family came to Red Willow county, Nebraska, and in 1877 they journeyed thence by ox team to the vicinity of Genesee, Idaho, putting up the first store in that section. The father took a home- stead. It was seven miles distant from the nearest neighbor, and there he devoted his la- bors until his death, in 1884. The mother re- mained there three years longer, then passed away.

On June 21, 1890, Mr. Overacker married Miss May Arant, a native of Coos county, Oregon. Her parents, Samuel F. and Martha. came to Oregon in a very early day and later maved to Idaho. Not liking the country they

614

HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

returned to Mansfield, Oregon, where they now live. In 1897 Mr. Overacker was called to mourn the death of his beloved wife, who had borne to him two children. Louisa, born on June 6, 1894, and now living with her father; Laura, born on January 28, 1896, who died January 18, 1900. When the reservation opened Mr. Overacker was ready to come hither and located his present place, to the im- provement and cultivation of which he has since devoted himself. He has a good orchard, plenty of water and his land is of the best in this vicinity .. Fraternally Mr. Overacker is affiliated with the W. W., while in religious persuasion he belongs to the United Brethren denomination, of which church also his wife was a member. Mr. Overacker is esteemed as one of the good citizens of the country and has shown himself thrifty and in- dustrious.

SAM PATTERSON is an energetic and sagacious stockman and farmer of Okanogan county, residing about three miles north from Twisp, where he owns a valuable estate, all under ditch and especially adapted for alfalfa raising. Substantial improvements adorn the farm and Mr. Patterson is constantly adding to them and is making his place one of the best farms in the county. He feeds about fifty head of cattle each winter, has a nice orchard and is a prosperous citizen.

Sam Patterson is a native of the Evergreen state, being born at Walla Walla, on June 25, 1864, the son of Robert and Vine (Garshie) Patterson, who are now retired from active life and are dwelling in Illinois. In the schools of Walla Walla Mr. Patterson received his educational training and remained there and in the adjoining county until 1889, when he sought a place in Okanogan county, six miles west of where he now lives. Seven years were spent in opening up and developing that farm, then Mr. Patterson bought his present place and has resided there since. He produces many tons of alfalfa annually and has become skill- ful in handling that excellent crop. Mr. Pat- terson takes an interest in the upbuilding of the county, and especially in the betterment of the educational facilities and has been director of his district for six successive years.

Fraternally he is affiliated with the W. O.

WV. and the F. O. A. Mr. Patterson is also interested in the Bartley Irrigation Company, being one of the incorporators of the same. Their ditch is now built. In 1891, in Methow valley, Mr. Patterson married Miss Elsie Hartle, daughter of John and Merrilda (Clem- ens) Hartle. The father is a farmer in the Methow valley, while the mother died when Mrs. Patterson was a child. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Patterson, Albert Merrelda, J. Arthur, Joseph L., Anna V. and Earl F.

PETER L. FILER, who is one of the earliest settlers in the Methow valley, is to- day one of the prominent men of the valley and also one of its prosperous farmers and stock- men.

Peter L. Filer was born in Dallas county, Texas, on April 9, 1862, the son of Jacob and Martha (Bacies) Filer, farmers in that county. Our subject received a good education from the common schools, and remained with his par- ents until he was grown to manhood. Then came a period of ranching for himself, and in 1885 he erected a cotton gin, which he operated successfully at Mesquite, Texas, for some time. After that we see Mr. Filer on the road for an agricultural implement house, and in 1887 he came to Washington. For a short time he re- mained in Kittitas county and then sought out his present place, about five miles east from Twisp. He has one hundred and sixty acres, well improved, and largely sown to alfalfa. In addition to this Mr. Filer has another quar- ter section in the valley, which also is alfalfa land and which is well improved. He has com- fortable buildings on both places and a well assorted orchard for home use. Mr. Filer also raises stock and is one of the leading men of this section. He is a stockholder in the Okano- gan Record at Conconully, and a man who takes great interest in the welfare of the com- munity.

In Wise couty, Texas, in 1881, Mr. Filer married to Miss Emma F., daughter of Ben- jamin and Amanda (Sweet) Cole, farmers of Dallas county. One child, Ernest E., was born to this union. In 1885, at Mesquite, Texas, Mr. Filer was called to mourn the death of his wife. On July 3, 1896, Mr. Filer married Miss Bertha, daughter of M. G. and Eliza (Nickell)

615

HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

Stone, who now dwell on Bear creek, in Okanogan county. To this marriage there have been born the following children, Ora Belle, Imogene and an infant girl unnamed. Mr. Filer is a member of the W. O. W. and the Order of Washington and for eight successive years he has been clerk of his school district.

Mr. Filer was the first mail carrier from Ruby to Silver, over the Loop Loop trail. This was in the winter of 1889. After that he con- tracted to carry the daily mail from Brewster to Winthrop. He is a man of excellent prin- ciples and has won for himself hosts of friends.

WILLIAM F. RUARK is one of the en- terprising and successful mining men and far- mers of Okanogan county, and is at present residing in Pateros, where he also owns prop- erty. He was born in Platte county, Missouri, on November 10, 1854, the son of Franklin and Martha M. (Wells) Ruark. The father died when this son was two years old and the mother later married John B. Simmons and is now living in Heppner, Oregon. The public schools of his native place furnished the edu- cational training that our subject was favored with, and when he had reached man's estate he migrated to Modoc county, in northern Cali- fornia, and there engaged in blacksmithing, a trade he had learned in his younger days. Later he went to Boise and there beat his anvil to the tune of honest industry for seven years. After this he located in Heppner, Oregon, and there wrought at the forge for twelve years. After this he came on to Okanogan county and took up stock raising. In 1900 he removed from the ranch to Pateros and has resided there since. Adjoining the town Mr. Ruark has a fruit ranch of forty-nine acres, which is well set to the various kinds of fruit that do well in this latitude. Among these may be mentioned peaches, apples, prunes, plums, grapes and so forth. A portion of the land is producing good alfalfa, being under a ditch. Mr. Ruark's son is now attending to the farm and resides there. Mr. Ruark is superintendent of the Black Eagle mines and half owner. He is also inter- ested in other property and is prosperous. Po- litically Mr. Ruark has always been a Demo- crat and is active in this realm. He is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F. and has served as justice of the peace.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 102

Author: Publication date: 1904 Publisher: Spokane, Wash. : Western History Number of Pages: 992

Author:
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Spokane, Wash. : Western History
Number of Pages: 992