Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 110

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 110
USA > Washington > Ferry County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 110
USA > Washington > Okanogan County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 110
USA > Washington > Stevens County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 110

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umbia. In the fall of 1895, he came to the res- ervation country and has followed mining and prospecting here since. He recently located a homestead of good bunch grass land, well wat- ered and expects to make his home upon it. Mr. Edwards owns the Runny Mede group of mines near his homestead and has done about one thousand dollars' worth of development work upon them. He has a well defined ledge which assays twenty-two dollars in gold. Mr. Edwards also has charge of the Poland-China mines near his home. He is a member of the miners' union of Greenwood and is a progres- sive and public spirited man.

FRANK M. WILLMARTH is the assessor of Okanogan county. During 1900, he served some as deputy in this office and in the fall of the same year was elected to this office, his name appearing on the Democratic ticket. So efficiently did he discharge his duties, that in 1902, he was elected by a large majority. His home is at Twisp where he owns one hundred and sixty acres adjoining the town but his duties call him to Conconully a good deal of the time.

Frank M. Willmarth was born in Boise, Idaho, on March 1, 1871, the son of Frank M. Willmarth. The father was born in Bullock county, Kentucky and removed to Cedar Rapids, Iowa where he married Miss Hannah Bacon. They crossed the plains in 1864 to Dillon, Montana, and five years later moved to Caldwell, Idaho where they engaged in stock raising. Then a move was made to Boise, where our subject was born. In 1881 they sold their property there and went to the Wood river district, settling at Galena. There they operated the Alturas hotel until 1889, after which they moved to Heppner, Oregon. They returned to Galena and there on August 3, 1890, the father died suddenly from heart disease. The widow returned to Heppner and there died on March 5, 1891, aged fifty-five. The father was fifty-two at the time of his demise. They were the parents of three chil- dren : John H., now at Twisp, Washington; Mary A. Ruark, at Pateros, Washington ; and our subject. Frank M. received his first edu- cational training in the old Baptist church at Boise, under Professor E. Richards and com-

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pleted the same in the high school at Boise. He was with his parents until their death, then engaged in mining in the Wood river country. After this, he did business in Heppner and in 1894, came to the Methow country and en- gaged in stock raising. In 1897, he sold out his stock and went to mining in the Slate creek district where he is largely interested at the present time.

On July 4, 1899, Mr. Willmarth married Miss Nellie, daughter of Frances M. Fulton and a native of Wise county, Texas. The father was a native of Kentucky and came across the plains with a supply train in 1859 to California, where he engaged in mining. Af- terwards, he was in the Boise Basin and there mined and raised stock until 1872 in which year he journeyed to Texas with his family, having married Miss Bell Clemens, a native of Missouri, in 1865. In 1884, they came from Texas by wagon and settled in Kittitas county, Washington. There Mr. Fulton was a promi- nent stock raiser, handling Shorthorns and thoroughbreds until July 15, 1896, the date of his death, he being then sixty-seven years of age. Mrs. Fulton still resides on the old home- stead. Mrs. Willmarth has the following brothers and sisters, Mrs. Rufus Cooke, Mrs. Mode Cooke, Estelle, Jacqueline, J. L., Francis M. and William R., all living in Kittitas county.

To Mr. and Mrs. Willmarth, two children have been born, Gladis M. and Harold F. Mrs. Willmarth is a graduate of the state nor- mal school at Ellensburg and spent consider- able time in teaching while attending the nor- mal and also since. She was born on Decem- ber 23, 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Willmarth are highly respected people and have done well since coming to this country.

HENRY B. STATON. Among the pros- perous and industrious farmers of the Methow valley, it is fitting for us to mention the gentle- man whose name stands at the head of this article. He has shown himself to be a man of skill and wisdom in his labors in this county. He dwells about five miles north from Twisp and devotes his attention largely to general farming.

Henry B. Staton was born in Carroll coun-

ty, Missouri, November 11, 1853, the son of John W. and Mary E. (Cunduff) Staton. The father is deceased. The mother still lives in Missouri. Our subject remained with his parents on the farm in Missouri until he was seventeen years of age, having gained there his education from the common schools, then went with the family to California. For eight years he followed farming and teaming in Cali- fornia, then came to Yakima county in 1878, where he engaged in farming and stock raising. For nine years he continued there and then came to the Methow valley, taking a squatter's right three miles south from where he is now located. He sold his property and located his present place as a homestead in 1895 and since that time he has remained here. The land is all fertile and tillable and is one of the valuable farms of the valley. Mr. Staton has fenced the place, erected a house, barn and outbuild- ings, planted an orchard and has made many other improvements. He owns two residences in Twisp, which he leases. In 1894, in the Methow valley, Mr. Staton married Mrs. Mattie Powers and to them two children have been born, Lorenia and Annie L.

ANTON ANDERSEN is one of the pioneer merchants of Okanogan county and was the first to establish a store in the vicinity of Brewster. The business was located at Vir- ginia City, which town adjoined the site now occupied by Brewster. And when Brewster was launched as a new born city, all the Vir- ginia City people moved to it. Mr. Andersen came with his entire stock and has now one of the largest stores of the county, carrying a good assortment of all kinds of goods needed in this section, as groceries, gents' furnishings, dry goods, hardware, boots and shoes, and so forth. His brother, C. Andersen, is in part- nership with him and they operate a large grocery in Spokane in addition to the business in Brewster. The Spokane store is one of the largest in the city and is known as the Pure Food grocery.

Anton Andersen was born in Ribe, Den- mark, on September 26, 1858, the son of An- ders C. and Anna Andersen, both natives of Denmark. There were five children in the family: Christen, in Spokane; Mrs. Maren

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Jepsen, near Spokane; Martin, of Portland; Andrea, in Brewster. Our subject received his education in the common schools of his native land and at the age of nineteen enlisted in the regular army, serving until 1881. Then he and his sister, Andrea, came to the United States, settling in Avoca, Iowa. Soon there- after, they went to Nebraska and in the spring of 1888, they came to Spokane. Our subject engaged as salesman in a grocery store and two years later started a store for himself. This was just subsequent to the big fire in Spokane. He operated the establishment successfully for two years then sold out and engaged with his brother, Christen, in the general merchandise business in Virginia City. Since the brother's family lived in Spokane, the firm bought out O. B. Nelson of that city, and, as stated, they handle a large grocery store in Spokane now. Mr. Andersen has interests in various mining properties in addition to their merchandise business and they are both prosperous men.

Fraternally, our subject is a charter mem- ber of the Imperial lodge of the I. O. O. F. in Spokane and also belongs to the Redmen and the W. W. He is a man of good business ability and has manifested both integrity and uprightness in all his dealings. The result is that he enjoys a good patronage and has hosts of warm friends.

Since the above was written the firm has established a general merchandise business in Hillyard, Washington, and our subject is giv- ing his personal attention to the management of the enterprise.

JAMES L. COLWELL is the present capable and genial incumbent of the postoffice in Twisp. He received his appointment from President Mckinley and has since conducted the office in a very satisfactory manner to all the patrons. Mr. Colwell owns the building where the office is at present and in addition to attending to the duties of that department handles a confectionery and school supply store. He also has a fine residence in town and a good farm a few miles out.

James L. Colwell was born in The Dalles, Oregon, on February 3, 1856, the son of Lafayette and Elizabeth (Hansel) Colwell, na- tives of Indiana and Illinois, respectively. The father crossed the plains with oxen in the rush

of forty-nine and settled in Oregon. He par- ticipated in the Indian wars of the fifties and remained in the Web-Foot State until his. death, which was caused by a bear, which he wounded. The bear caused injuries which re- sulted in his death in 1863. The mother is still living in Gilliam county, Oregon. Our subject received his education at The Dalles and remained there until he was nineteen. He learned the saddler's and blacksmith's trades and established himself in Lone Rock, Oregon, where he conducted a harness shop and later a blacksmith shop. He also handled a band of sheep. In 1889 Mr. Colwell located at Wenatchee and opened a blacksmith shop, it being the second building in the town. For a year and more he continued at the shop and then sold and entered a mercantile establish- ment. In due time, Mr. Colwell located in Okanogan county, taking a homestead three miles west from Twisp. He brought in forty- nine head of range horses but had the mis- fortune to lose forty-two of them the first winter. After three years had been spent on the ranch, Mr. Colwell opened a shop in Twisp and continued blacksmithing for three years when he was compelled to abandon it on ac- count of rheumatism. Then he received the appointment to the postmastership of Twisp and in this capacity he has continued since. Mr. Colwell is also interested in several mining propositions and has some promising property. He is a member of the W. O. W. and the F. O. A. and has held several of the important offices in these orders.

When twenty-one, Mr. Colwell married Miss Carrie Barton, at Lone Rock, Oregon, the date being March 1, 1877. On March 14, 1880, she died and Mr. Colwell continued single until 1885, when he married Miss Jennie M. Ingram, at Lone Rock. To this union, two children have been born, Cecile L. and Harley H. Mrs. Colwell's father is John In- gram. Her mother died when this daughter was young. Mr. and Mrs. Colwell are well esteemed and respected people and have many warm friends.

ASHBEL LIBBY lives at the mouth of Libby creek, on the Methow, twelve miles south from Twisp and his postoffice is Libby. He is one of the leading stockmen of the Methow

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valley and also does general farming. He is a man of ability and uprightness ever manifest- ing knowledge and good business judgment, which have won for him a fine holding in prop- erty interests.

Ashbel Libby was born in Cumberland county, Maine, on April 28, 1853, the son of James E., and Lucinda ( Hilton) Libby, both natives of Maine, where they lived until their death. Our subject remained with his parents until seventeen, receiving a good education from the common schools during those years. Then he went to San Francisco and engaged in teaming and driving a stage. This continued for several years, when he came to Silver City, Idaho, and operated what was known as the Sheep Ranch stage office. After this he did ranching at Jordan valley, Malheur county, Oregon, for three years. Thence in 1888, he came to the Methow and took up Libby creek ranch where he is located at the present time. He has one hundred and sixty acres of fine al- falfa land all fenced and under irrigation. Many other improvements may be mentioned together with good buildings, fine orchards, and other accessories. Mr. Libby feeds about one hundred head of cattle every winter and is a very skillful stock breeder. He is school di- rector of his district, number twenty, and has been most of the time for the past twelve years.

At Silver City, Idaho, in 1883, Mr. Libby married Miss Sarah, daughter of Lewis R. and Mary (Beal) Barrett, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively. They both died in Missouri. To our subject and his wife, four children have been born, Ralph and Rae, twins, Chester, and James.

CONBURSE J. OGDEN has labored quite extensively in bringing about the improvement and upbuilding of Okanogan county. He has devoted himself largely to general farming and stock raising since coming here, and it is to these related industries that he is bending his energies at the present time. He resides one mile south from the Methow, where he has also started a fine orchard and expects in the near future to be one of the large shippers of fruit from Okanogan county.

Conburse J. Ogden was born in Fulton county, Illinois, on June 20, 1861, the son of

Joseph and Samantha ( Babbitt ) Ogden, natives of Illinois and Indiana, respectively. The father was a miller and a farmer. When our subject was four years of age, he came with his parents to Carthage, Missouri, and there remained un- til he grew to manhood. He was well educated in the common schools and learned the trade of the miller, in addition to doing farm work. In 1887, he came west to Ellensburg and there took up the hotel business. He operated the Ellensburg and then the Horton, until 1890. In that year he removed to Centralia, Wash- ington and opened a restaurant, attending to that business for one year. The year 1891 marks the date in which he came to Okanogan county and Ruby was the place of his first settlement. He was variously engaged there for three years, when he removed to the Methow valley, one mile east from Twisp. At that place he took a homestead and improved it in a very becoming manner. After securing title to the land, he sold it in 1898 and then went to the Republic country and did road making and contracting for some time. In 1901, Mr. Ogden settled on his present piece of land of one hundred and sixty acres and since that time he has devoted himself to its cultivation and to stock raising.

At Ellensburg, Washington, in November, 1889, Mr. Ogden married Miss Elvira, daugh- ter of Emille and Malinda Galliac, and to this union six children have been born, Carl, Her- bert, Mabel, Melba, Irene, and Blanche.

JOSHUA M. RISLEY is one of the lead- ing property holders in Okanogan county and he has demonstrated that he is possessed of com- mendable ability and keen business judgment during his residence here, in that he has handled successfully the various enterprises with which he has been connected. He has a beautiful residence in the eastern portion of Twisp and also owns a large portion of the townsite, be- sides a quarter section of land adjoining the town on the south. It is well irrigated and pro- duces abundance of alfalfa and other crops. Mr. Risley also has valuable mining property, among which may be mentioned the Gold Standard and the Bonanza Chief mines, both of which only await transportation to be paying shippers. Mr. Risley devotes himself to the management of his properties and also to doing

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a general real estate and mining business. He has a good office in Twisp and transacts an- nually a large business.

Joshua M. Risley was born in Clay county, Illinois, on January 5, 1857, the son of Nat C. IV. and Rebecca E. (Smiley) Risley, both still living. When Joshua M. was ten he went with his father to Nebraska and thence to Marion county, Kansas, where he worked on the farm until he was eighteen. During these youthful years, he had been favored with a common- school training and at the budding age men- tioned left the parental roof for the wide west. He landed in Oregon in due time and was soon carpentering. Three years after that he was in Pullman, Washington, and there for three years he did contracting and carpentering. Later he went to Viola, Idaho, and started a planing mill and sash factory. Next Mr. Risley came to Douglas county, and for two years did stock raising. In August, 1888, he came to Okano- ogan county and located a squatter's right on land which he sold later for five thousand dol- lars. This sale was five years since, and he sold only the right. Then he came to the present location of Twisp and bought the townsite of Gloverville, which is now the thriving town of Twisp. Since then, Mr. Risley has been prom- inently connected with the upbuilding and growth of this town and is one of the progres- sive and public minded men of the place. Mr. Risley is a stanch Republican and is justice of the peace. He is a member of the F. O. A.

On April 8, 1879, Mr. Risley married Miss Hattie L., daughter of David Lowry, and to them three children have been born, Maud and Victorine, both deceased; Loleta, a bright girl in school. Mr. Risley and his wife deserve the esteem and confidence bestowed by the people. as they are worthy people whose labors in social and business life have been faithful and wise.

HON. M. A. SMALLEY is without doubt one of the most prominent men of Okanogan county. His acquaintance is extensive and he has made for himself, since coming to the west, a host of warm friends, who with the general public appreciate his intellect and his energetic and skillful efforts to build up and develop the mining resources of northwest Washington.

M. A. Smalley was born on October 4, 1850, on a farm in Ashland county, Ohio, the

son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Smith) Smalley, natives of the same state. In 1853. the family went to Wyandot county, Ohio, and there our subject was reared on the farm and received a common-school education. At the age of sev- enteen he taught school, and two years later went overland to Kansas, and there hunted buf- falo' during the winter of 1870-71, after which he taught school in Labette county, where the terrible Bender massacre occurred. In 1872 he returned to Ohio and completed his educa- tion in the Northwestern Normal School at Ada, following which he gave his attention to teaching and farming. His marriage to Hattie M. Benson, of Cardington, Ohio, occurred in 1877. After this he established himself in the real estate business at Carey, Ohio. Although . he was a thorough Democrat in politics, he was elected mayor of Carey, which was a strong Re- publican town. He was re-elected, and later resigned on being chosen to the state legislature in 1885. Two years later he again represented his district in the legislature. He was chair- man of the Democratic executive committee of Wyandot county, Ohio, for seven years, and in 1894 was chosen chairman of the state cen- tral committee, to which he succeeded himself in 1895. In February, 1896, he was appointed by President Cleveland, United States marshal for the northern district of Ohio, he being the last marshal appointed by Mr. Cleveland. He served as marshal four months over his term, retiring July 1, 1900. During this time he was interested in the production of oil in North- western Ohio. In 1890 Mr. Smalley was local manager of the Lenore city company. which built Lenore at the confluence of the Tennessee and Little Tennessee rivers on the Lenore plantation in Tennessee. In 1893, while in charge of the office of the Missouri Railroad and Navigation Company, he was appointed receiver of the Findley, Fort Wayne and Western railroad, extending from Findlay, Ohio, to Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was manager of this road as re- ceiver for two years, but was not discharged by the court until 1900. In that year he made a visit to this part of Washington to inspect the mineral and other resources. He purchased a group of claims known as the Oregon prop- erty, which is situated near the famous "Hee Hee Stone," six miles west from Chesaw. Mr. Smalley and associates organized a company

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known as the Wyandot Mining Company, and began to develop the property purchased. It is one of the most promising properties in the county and will soon be shipping. Mr. Smalley has made careful examination of the resources of this country and believes that Chesaw is the center of one of the finest mineral districts in the northwest, and his efforts have been and are directed toward the development of the Okan- ogan country and bringing the same to the no- tice of capitalists. Fraternally, Mr. Smalley is affiliated with the I. O. O. F., the A. F. & A. M., the Eagles and the Elks. Mr. Smalley has had charge of the Wyandot mining company's interests since coming here, and has been so well pleased with this section that he removed his family here in 1892, and intends making Okanogan county his permanent home.

CHARLES T. PETERSON is a prom- inent real estate man and mining promoter of Okanogan county, and has done commendable work in these lines since coming to this section. He is now secretary and treasurer of the Night- hawk Realty Company of Nighthawk, and is an active and energetic man in this capacity. Mr. Peterson is a man of good business ad- dress, and has shown a sagacity and pertenacity of effort here that stamp him as a winner of success.

Charles T. Peterson was born in Raymond, Wisconsin, on September 26, 1869, the son of Jens J. J. and Elizabeth (Wilson) Peterson, who are more specifically mentioned elsewhere in this volume. His educational training was received in the common schools of his native place. and in the Metropolitan Business Col- lege of Chicago. Following this, Mr. Peterson embarked in the real estate business in Mil- waukee, and met with a brilliant success. It was in 1900 that he came to this county, and here he has busied himself in handling real es- tate and in different capacities in mining. He was one of the incorporators of the Ixonia Mining Company of the Cascades, and also of the M. P., Mt. G. & C. M. Co. He was also the locater of some of the claims now held by the Nighthawk company, and assisted to incorpor- ate that property. He is also interested in the Favorite and other claims and companies. Mr. Peterson has always evinced a great interest in the development of the properties he is associa-

ted in, as well as in the general development of this district, bringing to bear his great wealth of energy, and keen business judgment. He is the centre of a large circle of admiring friends, and has always shown affability and true manliness.

MRS. JENNIE BOTTOMLEY resides four miles south of Oroville, and no compilation of the character of this work would be complete without a mention of her. An account of the life struggles of Mrs. Bottomley is a sufficient encomium, without any other words. She was born under the British flag at Gibraltar in March, 1842, the daughter of William and Margaret (Newcomb) Devlin, natives of Arma and King counties, Ireland, respectively. The father was a soldier under the British flag for twenty-one years, and was stationed in various places. When our subject was four years old, the father was transferred from Gibraltar to St. Lucy. From St. Lucy he went to several West Indies islands to take on troops and then sailed from Jamaica in a seventy-four-gun ship to Halifax, and from there to New Brunswick, she accompanying him. She was the fourth in a family of nine children, and the parents lived at New Brunswick until their death. Follow- in that, Mrs. Bottomley went to Boston, join- ing her sister there, and arrived a few days be- fore the assassination of President Lincoln. In due time she engaged in tailoring for Freeland, Beard & Company, and worked eight years for them. In 1873 she went to New York. She traveled thence by steamer via the Isthmus to San Francisco, where she engaged in dress making. In that state, in November, 1876, Mrs. Bottomley married Robert Bottomley, a native of Scotland, now about seventy years of age. He spent his early life at sea and traveled to almost every portion of the globe. After their marriage they lived in several places in California, generally engaged in farming, un- til the spring of 1884, when with a large Cali- fornia wagon and six horses, they journeyed from Oaksdale, California, to Okanogan coun- ty. On account of the high water, bad roads, and so forth, they consumed six months in the trip. Mr. Bottomley took sick and was delirous and Mrs. Bottomley had to drive across one range of the Blue Mountains. At the Colum- bia they paid the Indians twenty dollars to

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swim their horses and transfer their goods across the river. They got to the Okanogan river in the fall of 1884, and Mrs. Bottomley was one of the first white women from the Col- umbia to the British Columbia line. Some of the stockmen opposed the settlement of families and they being without means and the country very new, the greatest hardships were endured. They struggled along, Mrs. Bottomley doing washing and nursing as occasion required, un- til 1888, when her husband left her. She had four children, the eldest ten years of age. Mrs. Bottomley was delicate and slight and with those to support, and no means, and on the frontier, she was confronted with a very dis- couraging outlook. It was with difficulty that she kept the wolf from the door, and many times was she forced to leave her children while she walked miles to her work to earn a living. She took the homestead where she now resides, four miles south of Oroville and bought her first cow, paying for the same by washing. She and her children now own over one hun- dred and fifty head of cattle, and are among the prosperous people of the county. This has all been gained by their own industry and thrift and they are well worthy to enjoy the fruits of their labors. The children are Charles M. and William A., both born in Santa Clara county, California, and now own two ranches on Funk creek; Margaret J., born in Fresno county, California ; Mary J., born in this county in 1885, being the first white girl born in the Okanogan valley, south of the British Colum- bia line. She died at the age of four years. Mrs. Bottomley has her farm all fenced, a good orchard, comfortable house, barns, and so forth, and handles the land to general crops. She has won the respect and esteem of all who know her and is an industrious and upright woman. She and her children are members of the Catholic church. Mr. Bottomley was not a member of any church.

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Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 110

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