Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 50

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 50
USA > Washington > Ferry County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 50
USA > Washington > Okanogan County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 50
USA > Washington > Stevens County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 50

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In August, 1865. Col. Zent married Miss Charlotte P., daughter of William and Pris- cilla (Thuston) Woodruff, natives of New York. The father was a physician and settled in Meadville, Pennsylvania, in early times. He practiced there until death in 1849. The mother died in 1891. The father was con- nected with the Hyde family of England. Col- onel Zent is a prominent Republican and his popularity has often been declared by his elec- tion to important offices. He is a member of the G. A. R., having held all the chairs, and of the K. P. also. Mrs. Zent is a member of the relief corps. Col. Zent was a member of the Washington state committee for the World's fair in Chicago.

Colonel Zent is also owner of a number of mineral properties. Among them is one, of which he is sole owner and manager, called the Frisco Standard. It has showings to equal any in this vicinity. The ore assays three hun- dred and forty-eight ounces of silver, nine per cent copper, twenty-three per cent lead, and

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eight dollars in gold. The property contains an abundance of ore, while there is a large tonnage on the dump awaiting the making of a wagon road.

ANDREW HUGHSON is one of the earliest settlers in the Colville valley and is a worthy pioneer, a patriotic citizen and a good substantial man. He was born in the north of Scotland on Shetland isles, on September 25, 1830, the son of Andrew and Sarah (Henry) Hughson, natives also of Scotland, where they died in 1847 and 1871, respectively. Our subject received a good education in his native place and worked for his father until nineteen, and then came to British Columbia. This was in 1850 and the next year he crossed to this valley. He went to Vancouver and four years later journeyed to California, remaining four years. Then Mr. Hughson returned to this valley and took his present place, two miles south from where Colville is, as a homestead and commenced the good work of developing. He paid seventy-five dollars for a little heifer and one hundred dollars for a cow and this was the beginning of his fine band of stock which he owned a few years later. In 1878, he had four hundred head and the next year he took a beef contract to furnish the government troops. He bought land in addition to his homestead and put up. vast quantities of hay and since those early days has continued in the stock business. When Mr. Hughson came here, there were but two white settlers and an officer of the Hudson's Bay Company. He has seen the growth and development of this section until Stevens county is one of the leading coun- ties of Washington and already bids fair to be one of the greatest producers in various lines of the northwest. Mr. Hughson has a well im- proved ranch, plenty of good hay land and ֏ fine bunch of stock. He has the following brothers and sisters, Hugh, Robert. John and Erasmus, all deceased; Margaret Williamson ; Henry, deceased, and Mary. Mr. Hughson is one of the stanch Democrats of the section and good service as county commissioner in 1873. He is a man of capabilities as has been shown in his successful career here and it is with pleasure that we are enabled to grant him representation in this volume.

FRANK GORDON is numbered among the agriculturists and stockmen in the Colville valley. His home is about two miles south of Meyers Falls, where he has a very nice estate, well improved and skillfully handled. Frank Gordon was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 19, 1853, the son of Alexander and Julia (McGregor) Gordon, natives of Glasgow, Scotland, and Georgia. They were married at Atlanta, Georgia. They went to Missouri later, and there remained until the death of the father in 1863. After this the widow went to England where she died in 1868. Our subject has six brothers and sisters, Richard, Marcela, Jennie M., Agnes, Edwin and Kate. He was educated in the common school and at the ten- der age of ten years stepped out to meet the responsibilities of life for himself. We see him first in Ohio, then in Nebraska, and later in Wyoming, where he followed the wood busi- ness until 1874. In the next year Mr. Gordon made a visit to the east, and in 1876 enlisted in the regular army. He took part in a number of battles with the Indians among which was the battle of Big Horn, where Lieutenant McKin- ney was killed. After his honorable discharge in 1881 he went to Colorado and did railroad contracting in Boulder county and at Aspen. It was in 1889 that Mr. Gordon came to Ste- vens county, and he soon selected his present homestead. Since that time he has devoted himself to farming and raising stock with good success,

The marriage of Mr. Gordon and Miss Adella C., daughter of Squire and Julia (Ter- rill) McClure, natives of New York, was cele- brated in 1882. The McClure family are re- lated to Samuel J. Tilden. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gordon : Hugh M., Vivian C., Marshall E., Roy and Frank E.

ORIN COATES lives about two miles south of Meyers Falls and devotes his labors to farming. He was born in Wilkesbarre, Penn- sylvania, on July 23. 1837, the son of Robert and Martha (Cremer) Coates, natives of Penn- sylvania. The family moved down the Ohio river to St. Louis and our subject well re- members on this trip they used pork for fuel, it being cheaper than wood. Upon leaving the boat they drove across the country to Iowa

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where settlement was made. It is interesting to note the prices that ruled at that time. A man's wages were eight dollars a month; a good cow could be bought for eight dollars. Pork was one cent per pound. In the spring of 1852 they moved to Cottage Grove, Minnesota, and the next year to St. Paul, where the father conducted Governor Ramsey's farm for three years. After this they went to Rice county, then to Douglas county, and in 1885 came to Custer county, Montana, and on June 12, 1889, Mr. Coates arrived in Stevens county and lo- cated the place where he now lives. It was heavily timbered and required much labor to make a fine producing farm. On October 14. 1861, our subject enlisted in the first Minne- sota Infantry under Captain John H. Parker and Colonel John B. Sanborn of St. Paul. He served until January 1. 1864, being honorably discharged. He immediately re-enlisted being honorably discharged from this service on July 19, 1865. Mr. Coates participated in the fol- lowing battles: siege of Corinth, Inka, Ray- mond, second battle of Corinth. Jackson, Mis- sissippi, Champian Hill, and siege of Vicks- burg, and the assault of Vicksburg which con- tinued for forty-eight days, Missionary Ridge, the siege of Savannah. After this he went to Richmond and then to Louisville, Kentucky, where he retired from the service.

On December 29, 1869, occurred the mar- riage of Mr. Coates and Julia, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth ( Harness) Madon, na- tives of Pennsylvania. The parents moved to Wisconsin, and then to Minnesota, where they remained until their death. Mr. and Mrs. Coates adopted Frank R. Jones and also their niece who is now visiting her relatives in the east. Mr. Coates is liberal in political matters and always takes an active part in the cam- paigns. Mrs. Coates is a member of the Sev- enth Day Adventist church.

WILLIAM V. BROWN. deceased. Since the subject of this memoir is one of the earliest pioneers of the Colville valley and one of the most ardent and faithful laborers for the devel- opment of the country, it is very fitting that a special mention of him should be granted in this volume. William V. Brown was born in New York city on September 18, 1826, and

was the first boy to peddle matches in the streets of that now great metropolis. His grit, en- ergy, and keenness were manifested in that he not only paid his own way and educated him- self, but also furnished the money to educate his brother, James L., who later became one of the great physicians of the world and was an associate of Drs. Agnew and Hamilton, and other noted medical men. He was the author of several important medical works. At the age of twenty our subject went to Georgia and in 1849 he went to South America and thence to California, where he mined on the north fork of the American river until 1861. Fortune favored him and he gained the nice competence of thirty thousand dollars. Being a very pa- triotic and loyal supporter of the government he spent the entire fortune in the gubernatorial campaign in that year using his influence for the election of Governor Stanford. The gov- ernor offered later to reimburse Mr. Brown by transferring to him numerous shares of the Southern Pacific Railroad, but Bown pomptly replied, "I did not spend the money for you, but for the good of my country." In 1862 Mr. Brown went to Fraser river, British Col- umbia and did some mining, but not being sat- isfied there, he started for the Colville country, which he finally reached after arduous journey- ing. He mined at Roger's bar on the Columbia and also conducted a small merchandise busi- ness until the great excitement of the French Creek country, in the big bend of the Columbia in British Columbia. He then started a general merchandise business at Marcus and became associated with Abrams & Company of Col- ville in the same business. They started a branch store at French Creek. It was during this time that Mr. Brown accumulated three hundred thousand dollars. It was gained through mining and later he lost the entire fortune by failures in mining. He promoted various industries and was always a public spir- ited citizen, and at one time he started the only ferry on the Columbia river ahove Wallula.

Mr. Brown was married in 1864, and one son, Charles F., was the fruit of this union. William V. Brown was descended from Lord Vernar on his mother's side. Charles F. Brown, the only son of our subject, was born on July 17. 1865. He married Miss Mary, daughter of H. M. and Julia Signor, and they have two daughters, Mary V. and Geraldine G. At the

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present time he is handling a barber business in Meyers Falls. William V. Brown died on January 13, 1888, mourned by all who knew him, for he was a good man, actuated by sound principles, and ever manifesting the integrity and uprightness that are so becoming the true man.

HENRY MORGAN has had large experi- ence in most of the western mining camps, since the early fifties. He is now dwelling three miles east of Meyers Falls and devotes his en- tire time to mining and farming. He was born in Iowa, on March 16, 1830, the son of Owen and Bridget (Cady) Morgan, natives of Gal- laway, Ireland. They came to America in 1826, lived in Minnesota and later in Ohio where they remained until their death. Our subject has four brothers and sisters, Mary Coyne, Bridget Osborn, Julia, deceased, and William. Henry studied in the common schools and when eleven went to Illinois with his brother. Later they traveled to Iowa then to Missouri and finally to Salt Lake City. The gold fever led them on the California, and when they were camped near the Mountain Meadow massacre ground seventy-five Indians over- hauled them. The whites were eleven in num- ber, including Mrs. Simpson and an adopted daughter of eighteen years of age. The savages sent word by an interpreter, Enoch, that they would fight them unless they were given an ox as a peace offering. The little band was not to be daunted and refused the demand. After camp, they made a display of their ammuni- tion and prepared for a fight, which, however, was not to be as the interpreter saw their ef- forts and counciled his people not to risk it. Mr. Morgan had first discovered the Indians, who were Piutes, he being a mile behind the main train. An Indian tried to swap a water- melon for his gun, but could not make the deal. At dusk, the night of the expected attack, they drove on and the next day burned their wagons and packed the goods on the oxen. The trip was very arduous and trying. However, ar- riving in California, they found employment in various places, but later through a mishap they were separated at Los Angeles, and for two years sought each other. One day when our subject started to the grazing fields for some horses he met his brother, who was in charge

of a brick kiln. They immediately pooled their capital and went to work and after the business was completed divided their profit. Our sub- ject had sufficient to buy a nice large freighting outfit. Later we see him in the mines where he struck some fine pay gravel, and while working in these camps he had the privilege one day of viewing three hundred thousand dollars worth of gold dust in one little log cabin. In 1878 he went to Nevada, later came to Castle, Wash- ington, then went to the Fraser river country whence he returned to the United States and finally located near the Old Dominion. In 1886 he took up a homestead, but sold the same later and bought his present place in 1902. Mr. Morgan, in addition to his real estate, owns the Neglected and the Dew Drop, besides other promising mining property. He is liberal in political matters, is a substantial citizen and one of the jolly bachelors of Stevens county.

DAVID ST. PERE is one of the earliest settlers of the Colville valley and ever since the days that he came to the wilds of this region, he has devoted himself to worthy labor, both enhancing his own property holdings and the welfare of the community. At present he re- sides three miles south from Marcus, on a half section of land which his industry and thrift have made a beautiful and valuable farm. Two hundred acres are laid under tribute for crops annually and he cuts each year about three hundred tons of hay. Also, Mr. St. Pere raises some fine stock, having about fifty head at present. Some of his animals are very val- uable.

David St. Pere was born in Three Rivers, Canada, on February 15, 1836, the son of Frank and Elenore (Gingrand) St. Pere, na- tives of Canada, where they died in 1888 and 1850 respectively. David received his educa- tional training from the common schools of Three Rivers and at the age of thirteen came to New York. Two years later he went via the Isthmus to California, and after five years in the Golden state he was carried on the crest of the Fraser river excitement to that region. For fourteen years Mr. St. Pere sought gold successfully there then came to Stevens county. He took land where he now lives and has spent the intervening years here.

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When Mr. St. Pere first came here all the goods were freighted from Walla Walla.

In 1865, Miss Milly, daughter of Peter Goin, became the wife of Mr. St. Pere. Peter Goin is one of the well known characters of early history in this valley and was the officer of the Hudson's Bay Company who constructed old Fort Colville. He died in 1859, but his widow is still living. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. St. Pere : William, deceased ; Elenore, wife of John Witty; James E., de- ceased; Florence; David; Addie, wife of Mr. Sampere, and now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. St. Pere are members of the Catholic church, and are known as upright people.

ALFRED MCKINNEY resides four miles north of Marcus, and gives his attention to farming and mining. He was born in Rich- mond. Indiana, on August 2, 1836, the son of David and Rachel (Gared) Mckinney, natives of North Carolina. His ancestors were patriots in the Revolution. Our subject has nine brothers and sisters : Margaret, Mary, William, Whitman. Elizabeth, Henry, Angeline, Rachel. and an infant that died before being named. Alfred received a common school education in Augusta county, Iowa, and in 1859 crossed the plains to California. In the course of their travels they came upon a train of immigrants that had been massacred by the savages ; they buried the dead, and rescued as many persons as possible, taking also some of the stock, which they returned to the owners on ahead. Ar- riving in California, he gave himself at once to mining; on February 7, 1862, he sailed for Portland, and a short time later went on to Florence, afterward returning to California.

Later he was in Virginia City, then in Hum- boldt county, Nevada. where he met Judge Clagatt, the well known silver-tongued orator of the Nevadas. After mining in Nevada for about six years, Mr. Mckinney came to Wood River in 1882, then prospected through Thunder Mountain and Florence district, and arrived in Spokane, July 5, 1884. He soon came to Stevens county, and located the Sun- mit group of mines with James Friend ; he also located other mines, the following year, which he sold when he went to the Old Dominion. Afterwards we find him in the Caribou dis-

trict in British Columbia. Later he returned and bought a half section of land where he now resides. He has improved it in fine shape and has an excellent orchard, from which he gath- ered three thousand bushels of fruit in 1902. Mr. Mckinney planted all of the trees him- self.

In 1889 Mr. Mckinney married Miss Elimy, daughter of Peter and Maggie Piere, and they have two children, Rachel and Clara. Mr. Mckinney is an active Republican. His people are all Quakers but he does not belong to any church.

ADAM BOYD is one of the oldest settlers in the Colville valley. The farm where he lives now, two miles south of Marcus, was taken as a homestead over thirty years ago, and for many years previous to that he had lived in the valley. Adam Boyd was born on July 27, 1833. the son of Isaac and Magdalena ( Harsh- burger) Boyd, natives of Pennsylvania, where also they remained until their death. His an- cestors lived in that state for many years pre- vious. Adam was educated in the common schools and at the age of sixteen began to learn the cabinet maker's trade. Then he took up carpentering until 1856, in which year he came to Iowa and in 1859 to Nebraska. Thence he journeyed via Pike's Peak to Walla Walla and in the following year we find him in southern Oregon. In 1861 he came to Idaho in the time of the Orofino gold excitement, where he mined for some time. It was in 1861 that Mr. Boyd first set foot in the territory now em- braced in Stevens county, and the first few years of his stay here were spent in placer min- ing on the Pend d'Oreille. Subsequent to this mining, Mr. Boyd took up hunting and trap- ping and he was a typical westerner and Nimrod until 1872. Shortly after that he operated a saw mill at old Colville and during that time he took his present homestead. In all the years since Mr. Boyd settled upon his homestead he has continued steadily in cultivating the soil and improving the place. He has shown himself to be a man of reliability and sound principles. He has considerable property and has always labored to build up the country.

In 1874 Mr. Boyd married Josephine Harry, and to them have been born five children : Harry, in this county ; Mary, with her parents ;

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Maggie, wife of William Carmicheal; Joseph and Christina, both at home. Mr. Boyd is a Democrat and in 1882 was called by the people to act as county commissioner, running against John Rickey, Republican. In 1884 he was elected his own successor. He has also served as justice of the peace and in his public walk as well as in his private life he has discharged responsibilities devolving upon him in a com- mendable manner.

AUSTIN PROUTY is a venerable and prominent citizen of Stevens county, and to him it is with pleasure we accord the repre- sentation due to a substantial man, a veteran of the Civil war and a builder of the country where he lives. His estate lies four miles east from Colville and here he has resided since 1881. Austin Prouty was born on March 30, 1820, the son of Squire and Diantha ( Howe) Prouty, natives of New York and Virginia, respectively. Later, they settled in Ohio and remained there until their death. The mother's father was a patriot of the Revolution and her brother served in the War of 1812. Austin received a good common school education and when seventeen began farming for himself, also he devoted some time to learning the blacksmith trade in his father's shop. In 1844 he came to Bond county, Illinois and four years later went to Wisconsin. In 1854 he settled in Story county, Iowa, doing there a general merchandise busi- ness until 1860. On August 9, 1862, Mr. Prouty enlisted in the union army, and during his three years of service he participated in many battles and skirmishes, among which may be mentioned Fort Gibson. Champion Hill, siege of Vicksburg, Fort Espranda, Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely. He was mustered out in August, 1865. He had one son who served four years as bugler and one brother who served three years. Following the war, Mr. Prouty returned to Nevada, Iowa, and in 1878 went to Montana. In August, 1881, he arrived in Stevens county, and immediately took a homestead and has devoted his labors there since. His estate lies four miles east of Colville.

In March, 1840, Mr. Prouty married Miss Esther Watkins, who died. on April 6, 1851, and is buried near Black River, Wisconsin. She left four children : James W .. in Balesville, Mississippi ; Louisa, deceased; Cecillia, wife of

Clay Fallon; Mark C. In Des Moines, Iowa, on May 19, 1855, Mr. Prouty married Miss Hester, daughter of Peter and Marian (Coll- yer) Marmon, natives of North Carolina. The following children have been born to this mar- riage: Nancy J., wife of L. D. Wilber, in Greenwood, British Columbia; Charles H., with his parents ; George F., married and living in Colville; James A., living with parents; Rachel, wife of G. T. Theis, in this county ; Mary M., deceased; Sarah N., wife of Fred Ragsdail, in Republic; Poly A., wife of Richard Queener, at Bossburg; Jesse B., in this county. C. H. and J. A. Prouty, the two boys who remain at home, are known as among the most substantial and up- right men of the valley. They are both ex- emplary citizens. Mr. Prouty was assessor in Iowa for three terms and has held various other offices in other places. He is a member of the G. A. R.

Since the above was written, Mr. Prouty has been called to pass the river of death. On September 17, 1903, the summons came, and he laid down the burdens of life to enter on the realities of another world. Few men have at the close of life's labors left more sincere mourners. His remains were laid to rest with becoming ceremonies and the community knew that a good man had passed away.

ADOLPH RIVERS lives two miles south of Marcus and is a prosperous miner and stock- man. He was born in Three Rivers, Canada, on November 25, 1837, the son of Peter and Margaret (LaCource) Rivers, natives of Can- ada. They followed farming there until the time of their death. the father passing away in 1849, and the mother in 1867. Their remains lie buried in the Becancour cemetery. Our sub- ject was educated in his native place and when sixteen began to work for himself. Two years were spent in Massachusetts, after which he returned to Canada and then did timber work in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Later he went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he engaged with the American Fur Company. In 1860 he crossed the Rocky Mountains from Fort Benton to Walla Walls and then participated in the gold rush to the Orofino country where he worked until 1863. Then he crossed the

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mountains back to Virginia City, and in 1870 came west again, and the following year lo- cated near Marcus. He has traveled consider- able since then but has devoted much of his time to mining and stock raising. In 1890 he came to his present location which he bought. He has a good farm and a nice bunch of stock.

In 1871 Mr. Rivers married Miss Mary. daughter of Peter and Felicity (Finley) Guin, natives of Montana. Ten children have been born to this marriage : Amiel, deceased ; Delima, wife of G. Gendron, of this county; Charles. Orelia, Adda, Mary, Henry, Adolph M., Clara, and Ermina. Mr. Rivers is a Democrat and is ever on hand in the campaigns and at the polls. He and his family are affiliated with the Catholic church.

WILLIAM H. SPENCER conducts a first class livery establishment in Meyers Falls where his skill and deferential treatment of patrons have given him a good patronage. He was born in Branch county, Michigan, January 19, 1850. the son of Joseph P. and Jane ( Kingston) Spencer, natives of New York. They came to Michigan when young and there the father died on March 5, 1860: the mother still lives in Bay county, Michigan. The father was a promi- nent man in his section and one of the founders of Maple Grove. Our subject received his edu- cation in his native place and at the early age of fifteen enlisted in the twenty-eighth infantry and was sent to North Carolina where he re- mained three months: the war being over, he returned in 1865 and began to work on the farm. Later he repaired to the woods and fol- lowed lumbering and carpentering in Michigan until 1888 when he went to Spokane; there he was engaged variously until 1891 when he came to Stevens county and took up a homestead. Here he bestowed his labors wisely until 1900. when he moved to Meyers Falls and engaged in carpentering. In 1901 he opened his present livery business and is now being favored with first class success. In 1892 Mr. Spencer was appointed postmaster at the town of Spencer, a place named after himself, and he held that position for six years.

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Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 50

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