Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 41

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 41
USA > Washington > Ferry County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 41
USA > Washington > Okanogan County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 41
USA > Washington > Stevens County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 41

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).

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been sought after by a great many and has done worlds of good in Stevens county.

Dr. Horton resides about five miles east of Daisy, where he has a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He has a good residence, plenty of buildings, fences, and so forth on the farm which is laid under tribute to pro- duce the various crops and fruits indigenous to this section. In addition to this, Dr. Horton has close by him valuable mining interests. He owns one-third interest in the Tempest Mining and Milling Company, being general manager and vice president of the same. They have a twelve foot ledge which runs very high in silver, and had been developed by a fifty foot shaft and eleven hundred feet of tunnel- ing. Spokane capitalists are interested with the doctor in this property and it is expected soon to become one of the good paying proper- ties of the county.

Joseph N. Horton, was born on September 30, 1854, in Miami county, Indiana, being the son of Thomas G. and Harriett (Fennimore) Horton, natives of Indiana and Ohio, re- spectively. The father was born in 1826, and is now living on the old homestead, aged seventy- seven years. Our subject's paternal grand- father was one of the earliest pioneers in Indi- ana and died in 1892, aged ninety-six. The mother of Joseph N. died in 1873. Her father was in the early Indian struggles and the Mex- ican War, and also served in the Civil War althorugh he was aged sixty-five. Doctor Hor- ton has three brothers and one sister, William F., Charles G., Addison E., Mrs. Julia E. Alspach. In his nattive place, our subject was educated and grew to manhood's estate and in 1876 went to Sumner City, Sumner county, Kansas. Two years later he went to Texas where he engaged in shoeing horses for a stage line, having learned the blacksmith's trade in his youth. In 1880 he went to Mexico and traveled something over thirteen hundred miles in a trip in that Republic. After this he was engaged in various sections of Old Mexico and western United States and endured many hardships in passing through a country of hostile Indians. In 1884 he came to Spokane prospecting and was also engaged at the Old Dominion in Stevens county. In 1888 he loaded his earthly possessions on a pack horse and wended his way into the Columbia valley where he soon located a mining property in

which he is now interested. In 1893 he located his farm and since then has made this his home.

On June 8, 1894, Dr. Horton married Miss Alice M. Bradley, who was born in Minnesota, on February 1I, 1876. Her father, John S. Bradley, was a minister in the Free Methodist church, came west in 1890, and is now living near Daisy. Her mother is Julia A. Bradley. Mrs. Horton has the following brothers and sisters, Mrs. Dama Foster, John E., Mrs. Ruth Bohren, Thomas E., Bertha E., and Bernice M.

Dr. and Mrs. Horton have always labored for the moral and educational upbuilding and the general welfare of the community. The doctor has served as justice of the peace and has always been one of the leading men of this section. Two children have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Horton, Beryl M. and Marion J.

LEWIS H. BROWN. On May 23, 1885, Mr. Brown threaded his way across the moun- tains from where Valley, Washington, now stands to his present place three miles east from Daisy. He had a cayuse, a cow and twenty-seven dollars in cash. The country was wild. Marcus was the nearest postoffice and Spokane the nearest railroad town. When he reached the Colville valley. he choose a place in the wilderness, erected a little log cabin in the brush and called it his home. Now Mr. Brown owns over two hundred acres of land, the whole fenced and cross fenced and in a high state of cultivation. He has a beautiful residence with barns, plenty of outbuildings and every thing to make the place comfortable and valuable, and in contrast with going sev- enty-five miles for his mail he now has rural delivery at his door, school privileges one hun- dred rods away and telephone communications with the outside world in his house. In addi- tion to doing general farming and making this desert place blossom as the rose, Mr. Brown has shown commendable knowledge and ability in raising fine stock. He has some excellent thoroughbred Shorthorns, good horses, and raises Yorkshire and O. I. C. thoroughbred hogs. He is one of the prosperous and sub- stantial men of Stevens county and is respected and honored by all who know him.

Lewis H. Brown was born on April 30, 1862 in Columbia county, Wisconsin, the son

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of David and Julia ( McCormick ) Brown. The father came from the rugged hills of Scotland to the city of London, where he lived twenty years, being in the coffee and spice business. Later he crossed the Atlantic to New York, the trip consuming fifty-six days, whence he made his way to Wisconsin and there died in 1894, aged seventy-eight, having suffered much from cancer in his stomach. The mother was born in Maine and is now living in Salem, Oregon. Mr. Brown has the following sisters, Mrs. May Ehr. Mrs. Victoria Wisdom, Mrs. Flora Walker and Mrs. Maggie Swanson. The two latter were graduates of Valparaiso normal and spent many years in teaching. In 1880 Mr. Brown moved from Wisconsin to Carlton county, Minnesota and bought a farm which he afterwards lost. In 1883 he came to Spokane and the next spring took up land where Valley now stands, when in 1885 as stated above he came to his present place.

On March 20, 1891 Mr. Brown married Miss Lenora Lewis, who was born on June I. 1872, in Missouri. When seven years of age she came with her parents, William H. and Lucy A. (Waugh) Lewis from Arkansas across the plains to the vicinity of Latah, Wash- ington. Thomas A. Waugh, the father of Mrs. Lewis, was a native of the south and at one time owned about thirty negroes. He died at Kettle Falls in the spring of 1903. aged eighty- seven. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are now operating a hotel at Meyers Falls, Washington. Mrs. Brown has the following brothers and sisters, Albert, William, Mrs. Bertha Halford, Edith, Ellen, Katie and Edna. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown six children have been born, William O., aged eleven : Lawrence L., aged nine ; Vic- toria L., aged six ; Ralph, died when two years old; Clyde H., aged two, and Lester, the baby. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have always been actively engaged in both church and educational work and have done a great deal for the upbuilding of the community.

THOMAS BROWN has the distinction of being one of the earliest settlers in the Colville valley, and as circumstance go his settlement here permanently was an accident. However, such has been the walk and labors of this worthy gentleman, that he is to-day one of the favored ones, whose rewards for honest labor

and skill entitle him to retire from active busi- ness now and enjoy the golden years of his life in a goodly competence. He lives in Chewelah. He was born in 1827, in the Selkirk settlement on the Red River of the North. His parents were Henry and Emma (Slater) Brown, natives of Scotland, who came to America when young and settled on the Red river, where they re- mained until their death. Eight children were born to this venerable couple : James, Henry, Belle, Emma, William, Thomas, Mary and Jennie, all living in Canada except our subject. The common schools furnished the educational training of Mr. Brown, and when twenty he stepped forth to do for himself in the activi- ties of life. Farming occupied him until 1854, when he started with forty families for Cali- fornia. Seven months later they reached Wallula, whence he came to Stevens county to winter his stock. He expected to go to Cali- fornia the next spring, but because of the fav- orable resources of what is now Stevens county, and the discovery of gold on the Col- umbia, he was led to remain a year; but the time has lengthened until the present. Mr. Brown took a homestead, and to general farm- ing. raising stock, and mining, he has devoted himself with excellent success until the time came for him to retire.

The marriage of Mr. Brown and Miss Jane Mode, a native of Scotland, was solemnized in the Red river country, and six children have been born to them : Mary, wife of E. M. Thoin- ason; Maggie, wife of Charles Montgomery : Rebecca, wife of Fred Keling ; John, deceased ; Albert; Temima, widow of Mr. Reynolds, all living in Cliewelah. Mr. Brown has always been an active Democrat, and for three years he held the office of postmaster of Chewelah, being the first incumbent of the office. He always manifests great interest in educational facili- ties, and has labored hard for their betterment. He and his family are adherents of the Congre- gational church.

MARY L. THOMASON. In Selkirk on the Red River of the North, the subject of this review was born to Thomas and Jane ( Mowat) Brown, natives of Canada and Scotland, re- spectively. The date of this event was Janu- ary 5, 1848. In 1853 the family removed from Selkirk, coming by teams across the plains and

THOMAS BROWN.

MARY L. THOMASON.

MRS. JOSEPH LAPRAY.

JOSEPH LAPRAY.

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mountains to Stevens county, where the father now lives, having retired from active business. The mother was called away by death on July 20, 1900. She is descended from a prominent Scotch family and a vast estate to which she and her descendents are heirs is being ad- judicated in the old country now .. They were the parents of seven children : Mary, Margeret J., Montgomery, Robina A. Killing, John L., deceased, Tormima Reinhal and Albert H. Mrs. Thomason was educated by a private tutor, whom the father secured to reside in his family. She remained with her parents until January II, 1887, when she contracted a mar- riage with Ellis B. Thomason, who was for- merly a sawmill man. To this marriage five children were born : Ralph C., at home with his mother; Ella R., who belongs to the R. N. A .; Edwin E., a member of the M. W. A .; Nettie, also a member of the R. N. A .; and Raymond G. Mrs. Thomason has a fine farm of one hundred and fifteen acres adjoining the town of Chewelah on the east and she personally manages the estate. It is a very fertile and val- uable farm. So skillfully does Mrs. Thomason handle her estate that each year she is bounti- fully rewarded by large crops. Mrs. Thom- ason is a woman of excellent executive ability, has manifested real integrity and worth, and stands well. She has many friends in all sec- tions of the valley, where she is acquainted, and is secure in their confidence and esteem.

JOSEPH LAPRAY, one of the earliest settlers of Stevens county, Washington, dis- tinguished for his business ability, public spirit, and force of character, after an eventful life, crowned with social and financial success, passed from earth in 1900.

He was a Canadian by nativity, having been born in Montreal, January 3, 1834, the son of Louis and Rosalie (Gilbert) Lapray. The father was born in France; the mother in Canada, the former coming to Montreal while it was yet a wilderness. Here he met his future wife, married and settled down to the indepen- cent life of a farmer. Their union was blessed with three children, Rosalie, married to Ed- ward Mathews, of Hyacinth, Canada; Vir- ginia, wife of Peter Langillier, Canada; and Joseph. Louis Lapray, the father, was highly 16

connected, his relatives being wealthy and not- able people of France. The death of one of them left a large fortune to be divided among heirs, of whom Joseph was one. This bequest he declined, saying that he needed nothing he could not earn for himself, and advising the administrators of the estate to distribute it among the poor. This is a striking illustration of our subject's generosity and independence.

Joseph was graduated from the Catholic College of Montreal, and at the age of fourteen years began life for himself. Coming to the United States, he crossed the plains in 1859, in company with Charles H. Montgomery, a sketch of whose career is given in another por- tion of this work. It was their intention to push on to Fraser river, but they located for the time being at Colville, Stevens county. Here he pre-empted a quarter section of land, which property he owned at the time of his death. In 1874 he removed to Walker's Prairie where he lived and died. He, also, located a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, subsequently adding to the same, until he owned a thousand acres, where he engaged in the cattle business, having a band of six hundred head.

In 1882 Mr. Lapray controlled a profitable sawmill business in Lincoln county, which he conducted fifteen years. The property on which his widow now resides, nine miles south of Springdale, is sprinkled with buildings until it resembles a small village by itself. He pur- chased a bridge of James Monaghan, which he afterwards rebuilt, locating it across the Spokane river and converting it into a toll bridge. This structure was afterwards bought by the two counties of Stevens and Spokane, and it is still known as the Lapray Bridge. He also constructed twenty miles of roadway be- tween this bridge and his saw mill. It is at present a county road.

In 1872 our subject was united in marriage to Roseline Miganault, daughter of Joseph and Corinne (Luseier) Miganault, natives of France. They came to Canada when children, and the mother died at Montreal in 1891. The father, one of the French nobility, still resides in that city. They were the parents of the following children: Lucie, deceased; Charles, a dairyman, of Winnipeg; Vic- tor; Corinne, married to Joseph Broullet, of Falls River; Peter; Joseph, a sister of the Order of Teachers of the Cath-

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olic religion, in Montreal; Louis; Etinne ; Sophie, deceased; Mary, a Sister of Charity; and Roseline.

To Mr. and Mrs. Lapray were born six children : Alice, wife of James Newhouse, Stevens county; Edward, in Idaho; George; Corinne, living with her mother; Florence, married to Fred Merchant, of Spokane; and Joseph, at present living on the homestead in Stevens county.

The political principles of Joseph Lapray were in line with those of the Republican party. In 1872 he was elected treasurer of Stevens county, but after that he would accept no other office. He was a devout and earnest member of the Catholic church. His bereaved widow is a most excellent woman and highly esteemed by a wide circle of friends who recognize in her a youthful vitality and elasticity that have with- stood the many trials to which she has been subjected.

JOHN W. MAXWELL is to be numbered with the thrifty and skillful agriculturists of western Stevens county. His farm lies about one mile northeast from Daisy, and was se- cured in 1891 by homestead right. He has em- bellished his present place with valuable im- provements and is now devoting his entire time to producing the fruits of the field.

John W. Maxwell was born on February II, 1868 in Huron county, Michigan, the son of William and Aurilla ( Dibble) Maxwell. natives of Hastings county, Canada. When our subject was small he went with his parents to visit their native place whence they returned to the United States in 1879, locating in Isa- bella county, Michigan. In 1890 the family came to Spokane where, soon after, the mother died. Our subject engaged in farming around Spokane for a time, having taken his home- stead, as stated, in 1891. He spent consider- able of his time in working in various places. In 1895, on March 10, Mr. Maxwell married Miss Ida Weget, a native of the Willamette valley, Oregon. The next year Mr. Maxwell moved his wife to the homestead and since then this has been their home. Mrs. Maxwell's father, Thomas Weget, was a native of New York state and crossed the plains in 1849 to the Willamette valley, being one of the earliest settlers there. In 1876 he came to Spokane

county, Washington, being also a pioneer in that place. Mrs. Maxwell has the following brothers and sisters, T. D., Wilber P., Edward, Albert, and Mrs. Eva Hosington. Mr. Max- well has brothers and sisters named as follows, William, Mrs. Mary E. Stewart, Margaret J., Robert J., Mrs. Annie Wood, George W., Mrs. Alice Vest, Clarence, Earl, and Sarah. To Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell two children have been born, Ray W. and Ruth E. The home place is suplied with a good residence, barns, out- buildings, fences, orchard, and so forth, while plenty of pure spring water is at hand. In addition to general farming Mr. Maxwell raises stock. Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell are both devout members of the Free Methodist church, while his father, who owns eighty acres of land adjoining his son's place, also is a member of the same denomination. Mr. Maxwell and his father. who is now in his sixty-seventh year, are both active for the welfare of the com- munity and especially for better educational facilities.

FRANCIS M. BROWN. When the clouds of fratricidal life were lowering and the minions of treason were trampling the stars and stripes in the dust, the subject of this article was one of those honorable men who responded quickly and fought bravely until the banner was retrieved from insult and the last gun of rebellion was silenced forever. His enlistment was in January, 1862, at Iola, Kansas, in Com- pany F, Ninth Kansas Cavalry, under General Blunt. His discharge occurred in January, 1865. During the time of service he fought in many of the leading battles of Missouri and Arkansas as Prairie Grove, Pea Ridge, Cain Hill, Lutonia and Lone Jack. In the meantime he was almost constantly in skirmishes with the bushwhackers. This character of service was among the most trying and disastrous of the entire Rebellion. On many occasions Mr. Brown was in the utmost danger and although his clothing was pierced frequently by bullets, he never received a wound. He is now a mem- ber of the G. A. R. and takes great interest in the affairs of that order.

Francis M. Brown was born on February II, 1847, in Poke county, Illinois, the son of George and Nancy ( Fry) Brown, natives re- spectively of North Carolina and Ohio. The

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paternal grandfather, John Brown, was one of the noble patriots of the Revolution. The father died in 1867 and his widow in 1861. At the age of seven our subject went with his parents to Jasper county, Missouri, and there grew to manhood and received his education. After the war, he returned to Coffey county, Kansas and there in August, 1865 he married Miss Lucy, daughter of Joseph and Relefa (Turner) McKee, natives of Kentucky and Germany re- spectively. Mrs. Brown was born in Jefferson county, Missouri on June 10, 1849. Her mother came from Germany when a child and was reared in Kentucky. In 1873, our subject went to Colorado, locating where Leadville is now. Two years later he went to Boise, Idaho and did mining and farming until 1884 when he settled where Arzina postoffice is now located. Soon after he located his present place about one mile southwest of Rice postoffice. At that time the country was wild and very few whites settlers lived there. Mr. Brown gave himself up to building a home, raising stock and general farming and he now has a good farm, well improved. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown, Nancy R., wife of L. F. Ledgerwood of Harvey : John R. ; Mary E., wife of R. S. Ledgerwood of Kettle Falls and now deceased. Mr. Brown is a member of the I. O. O. F. while his wife be- longs to the Circle of the W. W. and the Wo- man's Relief Corps.

Mr. Brown has two brothers, George W. and William H., who enlisted at the same time and place as our subject and fought through the entire war, all three taking their honorable discharge at Duvall's Bluff, Arkansas, when the strugle was at an end. They were mustered out at Leavenworth, Kansas. Mr. Brown also had three sisters, Louisa, deceased, Mrs. Llewellyn Hurst and Mrs. Amanda C. Losey.

JOHN H. McGREGOR resides about one mile west of Arizona postoffice and in addition to general farming carries the United States mail from Harvey to Arzina. Like many of the settlers of Stevens county, he has come here from the eastern part of the United States, and has manifested commendable zeal and industry in his labors to build up this country.

John H. McGregor was born on November II, 1863 in Winnebago county, Illinois, the son

of Neil and Jane ( Andrew) McGregor, natives of Scotland and England respectively. The father came to this country with his parents when four years of age and settlement was made in Winnebago county, Wisconsin. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted but his father refused to let him go. he being under age. Later the father of our subject removed to Winnebago county, Illinois and died there in 1876. The mother came with her parents to the United States when a child and lived in Winnebago county until 1867, when she too passed away. They were the parents of three children, George A., and our subject, twins, and Alexander E. The other two brothers are in the creamery business in Rockford, Illinois. Our subject was educated in the common schools of his native place and at the age of thirteen, began to do for himself. He followed various occupations until be had arrived at manhood's estate when he choose farming and occupied himself with that.

On November 21, 1888, Mr. McGregor married Miss Elizabeth A., daughter of George and Emma (Ruffe) Coulter who now resides in Stevens county. In the spring of 1893 our subject and his wife came to Stevens county to join Mr. Coulter who had been here some time. He took his present place and since then has been occupied in farming, stock raising and mail carrying. He now owns one hundred acres of land. having sold sixty acres. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McGregor, Lena M., Neil G., Charles A. and Arthur A. Mr. McGregor is a member of the W. W. of Rice, while his wife belongs to the Circle and Womans' Relief Corps. They stand well in the community and have the confidence of all.

JOHN H. MAGEE is operating a general merchandise establishment at Harvey. Owing to his skill in handling the goods needed in this locality, and his affable and kindly ways, to- gether with strict uprightness in dealing, he has won a good patronage from the surrounding country.

John H. Magee was born in Harrisville, Butler county, Pennsylvania, on February 10, 1863, the son of George W. and Mary A. (Lightner) Magee, also natives of Butler county. The father is a wagon maker and for years made the finest wagons turned out in the

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country. The Magee wagons became famous all over the eastern country. After suffering from a stroke of paralysis, he died at his old · home on July 17, 1903, being about eighty years of age. The mother is seventy-one years of age and was visiting our subject some three years since. She had two brothers, John, who was starved to death in Libby prison ; Hezekiah, a veteran of the Civil War. Our subject is one of seven children, named as follows: William F., Willis R., Mrs. Jennie Mckinney, Samuel L., John H., who is our subject, Edward B., and James B. John H. attended the schools of his native town in his youth and also served a thorough apprenticeship in the blacksmith trade. In 1882 he came to Montana and the following year he journeyed on to the Colum- bia valley. He located adjoining the farm of his brother, Samuel, at Daisy, taking a home- stead. He gave his attention to the improve- ment of his farm, to stock raising, and to as- sisting his brother in the merchandise business. In the spring of 1902, he sold his holdings at Daisy and the following year came to Harvey and bought his present place. He owns twen- ty-seven acres of land, having given two acres to the boat company for a landing. The store is located on the Kettle Falls stage line and Mr. Magee has one of the best stocks of merchan- dise in the section. He has a choice assortment of dry goods, groceries, tinware, hardware, ready-made clothing, boots and shoes, and so forth, and so forth. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and is one of the leading men of the section.

On October 22, 1890, Mr. Magee married Miss Bettie, daughter of Warren and Catherine (Buey) Castle, natives of Ohio and Canada, respectively. They are mentioned elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Magee was born in Ashta- bula, Ohio. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Magee, Charles A., his birth being on June 5, 1892. Mrs. Magee is postmistress at Harvey and is capable and efficient.

JAMES B. CLINTON. No compilation of the work in hand would be complete with- out especial mention of the gentlemen whose name initiates this paragraph. He surely merits the approval of those who esteem men who have done things. Being a man of ex-

cellent wisdom and executive ability, he has put into practical execution his ideas and the result is that he is now not only one of the most highly esteemed men of the county but has to show for his labors one of the finest orchards and home places in the state of Washington. James B. Clinton was born in Jennings county, Indiana on August 5, 1849, the son of David and Jane (Butler) Clinton, natives of Indiana. In 1851 the family crossed the plains with ox teams to the Rogue river country and were very success- ful in their affairs in that country in financial lines. Later they went with saddle and pack animals over to Crescent City, thence by steamer to San Francisco, Panama and New York, and then on to Indiana. The parents lived in Indiana, Illinois and finally went to Vernon county, Missouri where they both died. Our subject grew to manhood and was educated in the various places where his parents lived, com- pleting his training in Alton college, Illinois. In the spring of 1889 he came to Spokane, Washington and soon thereafter was installed as manager of the post dairy at Fort Spokane. He continued in the discharge of these duties until 1883, when, after due exploration, he set- tled on his present place, two miles south from Harvey. He bought the improvements from some Indians and took the land by squatter's right, having added by purchase since until he owns now one-half section. The estate is known as the River Scene Fruit Farm and is one of the finest for location and is as well improved as any on the Columbia river. Mr. Clinton has an excellent modern residence of twelve rooms, well supplied with hot and cold water, ex- cellent baths and so forth, while all the barns, outbuildings, fruit and other improvements of his estate are quite in keeping with the tasty dwelling. Every detail of the farm manifests the skill and wisdom of the proprietor. In ad- dition to raising some stock and doing general farming. Mr. Clinton devotes himself to the culture of fruit. He has sold over ten thousand dollars worth in the last few years, and raises every kind that is adapted to this latitude. among which may be mentioned pears, peaches. plums, apricots, cherries, apples, nuts and so forth. He has taken several premiums, among them first prize at the Kettle Falls' fair which was an order for five hundred Wealthy apple trees.

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Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 41

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