Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 54

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 54
USA > Washington > Ferry County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 54
USA > Washington > Okanogan County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 54
USA > Washington > Stevens County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 54

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BERNARD WILLENBRINK is one of the substantial men of Colville and is now re- tired from active business enjoying the com- petence which his skill and enterprise have ac- cumulated, He was born in Oldenburg, Ger- many, on November 20, 1846, the son of An- tone and Agness (Rabe) Willenbrink, natives of Germany, where they remained until the time of their death. Our subject received his education in Oldenburg, completing his train- ing in the normal. Then he learned the car- penter trade and followed that until he came to America in 1866. He landed in Cleveland, Olio, and there worked at his trade until 1873, when he removed to Cincinnati and entered the employ of a large casket and coffin inanufac- tory. This continued until 1875 and the next two years he was at his trade of building. Then came a move to Iowa where he followed mer- chandising for one and one-half years. We next see him in Kansas City, Missouri, where he followed his trade until 1879. Mr. Willen- brink determined to try the mining country at this time and accordingly made his way to Leadville, Colorado, and in 1883, he went thence to San Francisco and later was in The Dalles. He journeyed from that place to Spokane and in 1885 came into the Colville valley. He took a pre-emption and in 1892 filed a homestead. In 1888, Mr. Willenbrink built the Standard grist mill and operated that in connection with overseeing his farms until 1901. His farms are well improved and are valuable estates. Mr. Willenbrink has the fol- lowing brothers and sisters: Arnold, deceased, Antone, Carl, deceased, Francis, Katherine

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HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

Wilke, Josephine, deceased, Dina, Elizabeth, deceased. Our subject is an active Democrat and is keenly interested in the issues of local and state import. He is a devoted member of the Catholic church and is a man of substantial qualities and integrity.

ELBERT L. FRY, a well known carpenter of Colville, is a young business man of ability and good standing, and because of his worth and integrity he has hosts of friends and is respected by all. He was born in Marion county, Oregon, on July 10, 1875, the son of N. B. and Elizabeth ( Bigges) Fry, natives of New York and Missouri, respectively. The father came west in 1849 and the mother in 1852, being aged fifteen and six respectively. The mother's people settled in Scio and the father's in Linn county, Oregon. The father died there in 1895. aged ninety-three. They were the parents of seventeen children. Our subject was educated in his native place and at the age of thirteen started out for himself. He worked at various vocations and in 1891 came to Stevens county and worked in the mines. Then he settled in town and took up his trade of carpenter, which he had previously learned.

In 1896 Mr. Fry married Miss Ada, daugh- ter of Frank and Amanda ( Koker) Nickels, na- tives of Iowa. In 1888 they came west and then returned, the father dying in Iowa in 1891. The mother still lives there. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fry, Ellis L. and Gladys. Mr. Fry is a member of the W. W.

ADAM W. ARNOLD, the well known gunsmith and knife manufacturer of Colville, is a man of good standing and of vast experi- ence in the northwest in pioneer days. He was born in Chatham, Canada, on April 20, 1836, the son of John Arnold, the blacksmith, as he was familiarly called, who served in the War of 1812, on the Canadian side, participating in the battles of Lundy's Lane and Longwoods. The mother of our subject was Catherine Shay, a native of Canada. Both remained in their native place until their death. Our subject's father's father was born in Pennsylvania and the father of Adam's mother was a sea captain and followed it until eighty, when he retired and lived to the grand old age of one hundred

and nineteen. This venerable gentleman was a native of Ireland. Our subject received a com- mon schooling and became a very apt mechanic under his skillful father's tuition. He remained at home until twenty-two and then started for himself. In 1862 he crossed the plains and the Rockies and commenced the labor of pros- pecting for placer gold. This was continued for ten years and then he bought a threshing machine. This was in 1873 and he operated the machine until it was worn out and then bought another and wore it out also. In 1890, Mr. Arnold started a gunsmith shop and a manufactory of knives and since that time has given his attention to these industries with a good patronage. He has the skill to make any kind of a knife and makes a specialty of hunt- ing knives. He made one for a friend of Presi- dent Roosevelt, which the president admires very much. The weapon is made of heavy tool steel of the best quality and is a handsome and excellent piece of workmanship.

In 1888 Mr. Arnold married Miss Alice, daughter of John and Jennie Brook. The father was a stone cutter and died in 1900 but the mother still lives in Spokane. To this mar- riage three children have been born: Ethel, Emigene and Charles G. Mr. Arnold has the following brothers and sisters: Elizabeth, Os- car, Amanda, Timothy, Mary, Edward and Thomas. Mr. Arnold is a stanch Republican and a warm supporter of the present adminis- tration.

HENRY A. DUPUIS is one of the lead- ing business men of Colville and is handling a good patronage in the livery line. Mr. Dupuis is in partnership with his brother, Joseph, and they are enterprising and successful in their business. They have a full quota of rigs and some fine driving animals.

Henry A. Dupuis was born in Ontario, Canada, on March 29. 1878, the son of Elie and Natolie (Leblanc) Dupuis, natives of Can- ada. They came to The Dalles, Oregon, in 1887 and to Stevens county in 1888, where they now dwell on a farm. Our subject was with the family in these moves and began his schooling in this valley which was continued in 1893 at Gonzaga College, in Spokane. At the age of nineteen, he started out for himself and soon entered partnership with his brother. For four

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years they were successfully engaged in farm- ing. In 1901, they bought out their present business in Colville and since that date have conducted a first-class stable and have, by their care for guests and skill in furnishing good rigs, won the patronage of the traveling public in a gratifying manner. They have twenty head of horses and fifteen rigs for the service here. They also own two hundred and forty acres of land.

JOHN B. NELSON, who resides four miles northwest from Colville on a good estate of a quarter section, is one of the prosperous farmers of the Colville valley and is doing a good business in raising hay and handling stock. He was born in California on July 6, 1866, the son of John M. and Alvira A. ( Stew- art) Nelson, natives of Kentucky and Iowa, re- spectively. The father crossed the plains first as guide for a company fitted out by the Amer- ican Fur Company, and landed in Portland. He went through the Rogue river war under Joseph Lane and received a wound in the stom- ach with a poisoned arrow, which compelled him to lie on his stomach for eighteen months. Recovering from this, he went to California and Nelson river is named from him on this trip. He returned to Oregon and married Miss Stewart then went again to California and mined and travelled to various places until 1885, when he settled in the Colville valley. In 1901 he went to Spokane, Washington and is now overseer for Dr. Latham, who is putting in a large fish pond near that city. The mother of our subject died in 1900. Six children were born to this union : William R., deceased, Cap- tain Dick, deceased, Emma, deceased, John B., Fannie Miles and Bird. Our subject went to the various places visited by the family after his birth, and in Seattle and Vancouver he re- ceived his education and early learned the car- penter trade. He remained with his father un- til thirty and then went to do for himself. Mr. Nelson did considerable bridge work in this county and in 1893 he took a homestead and started an orchard. He sold this later and in 1898 went to Republic and built the Laree brewery. Upon his return to Colville, he bought his present estate, which is known as the Jandrew farm, the first piece of patented land in the valley. He has fine improvements

and handles considerable hay annually, his be- ing considered about the best hay ranch in this section.

On November 6, 1895, Mr. Nelson mar- ried Miss Ione D., daughter of A. J. and Clara M. (Dudley) Reynolds, natives of Minnesota and emigrants to Washington in 1896. Mrs. Nelson died in March, 1899, leaving three children : Clara, Nellie I., and an unnamed in- fant, now deceased. Later, Mr. Nelson mar- ried Miss Mary Walsh, whose parents were na- tives of Illinois, where the father now lives. The mother died when Mrs. Nelson was young. Two children have been born to this marriage: Mary and John E. Mr. Nelson is a member of the M. W. A. and Mrs. Nelson is a member of the Catholic church.

GEORGE W. SEAL. This enterprising and capable gentleman, whose labors for the ad- vancement of the country are so well known in the Colville valley, is deserving a place among the leading citizens of the county both on ac- count of his achievements as well as because of his integrity and uprightness which have been manifested in a worthy career.

George WV. Seal was born in Lesueur, Minn- esota, on July 1, 1866, the son of John E. and Ena (Brunstead) Seal, natives of England and Norway, respectively. They came to Canada in 1852 and were married in New Lon- don, whence they removed to Lesueur county, Minnesota in 1857. . The father served in the Civil War, being in Company G, Tenth Minn- esota Volunteers, where he continued four years. Following the war he returned to Minn- esota and remained in the first county and in Ottertail county until 1892. In that year they removed to Addy and there he kept hotel until his death, November 5, 1899. The mother still lives there. Seven children were born to this marriage: Etta, Addie and Emma, twins, Al- fred, George W., Minnie, and Lilly. Our sub- ject was educated in the graded and high schools in Minnesota and then taught school winters and assisted his father on the farm dur- ing the summers. This continued until he was twenty-three and at that time he came to Addy, or rather where Addy stands now. Then there was a grist mill owned by Godleib Fatzer, who died in 1896. Mr. Seal located there in the

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mercantile business and in 1890 secured a post- office, his partner, E. S. Dudrey, being ap- pointed postmaster. They secured a sidetrack and began the laborious work of opening up a town for the benefit of the surrounding coun- try. They continued the business until 1896 then Mr. Seal bought out his partner and han- dled the business alone until 1902 when he sold to J. D. Newman. Mr. Seal states that his car- load shipments were as high as eight hundred cars in 1900, thus demonstrating the mammoth business he attended to. In 1902, Mr. Seal was nominated by the Republican party by ac- clamation for county treasurer and although his opponent, J. F. Lavigne, was held up by the fusionist forces, still he won the day by one hundred and thirty-eight votes. His precinct of one hundred and twenty-seven gave him one hundred and five. He is in this important office at this time and is an efficient and capable of- ficer. Mr. Seal was clerk and director of his school district for ten years. He owns the town site of Addy and has liberally endowed the churches, schools and town, by lots for edi- fices and a town hall.

On March 8, 1893, Mr. Seal married . Miss Nellie A. Anderson, whose parents were natives of Sweden and came to Galesburg, Illinois when young. The father journeyed on to Stevens county in 1890 and now dwells near Addy. The mother died when Mrs. Seal was young. Two children have been born to this union : Irene M. and George A. Mr. Seal is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and of the W. W., while Mrs. Seal belongs to the Women of Woodcraft and the Eastern Star. Mr. Seal has considerable real estate in various places, as Spokane, Addy, in the valley, and in Ross- land.

FRANCIS WOLFF is one of the most enterprising and intrepid pioneers of this west- ern country, having been intimately acquainted with its development and the ways and times of early days, and is now one of the prominent men of the county of Stevens.

Francis Wolff was born in Philadelphia June 15. 1833, the son of Henry and Charlotte (Nebel) Wolff, natives of Germany. They came to the United States, the father having taken part in the revolution there and being in disfavor with the king. Later he was recalled

and settled up the estate of which he had been deprived and lived on the king's domain until his death. Six children were in the family, William, Henry, Carl, Francis, who is our sub- jest, Annie and Augusta. Francis was well educated and at the age of fifteen was appren- ticed to a dry goods firm for five years, but as he loved independence he later threw off the re- striction and came to the United States and enlisted in the regular army. His regiment was sent to the Pacific coast in 1852 and was de- tailed to meet Governor Stevens of Washing- ton at Fort Benton. Governor Stevens found suppplies too short to accomplish his work, and so called for volunteers to accompany Captain John Mullan. Only seventeen responded, our subject being with that number. The object of Captain Mullan was to find a practical route through the mountains, and fourteen months of most arduous search and labor were spent in this undertaking. In 1854 Mr. Wolff opened a mercantile establishment in The Dalles and later removed to Umatilla Landing where he was cleaned out by the Indians on the war path. He enlisted in 1855 to fight them and continued until they were subdued. He came to Colville in 1856 with a stock of goods and in 1858 the Indians, agitated by the agents of the Hudson's Bay Company, tried to oust him, but he was given time to sell his goods. Later Mr. Wolff, with seventeen miners, fitted for the Fraser river gold fields, being the first in there, this being in 1857. He took in goods and sold to Indians for gold dust and came out to The Dalles to fit up again. He sent word to his partner at Colville to meet him with the goods and stock at Okanogan lake, thencalled Soyers lake. At Fort Okanogan Chief Moses refused to cross Mr. Wolff at the Columbia river. Later, however, they crossed Mr. Wolff and party, but told him if he insisted on going into the Fraser country there would be a fight. So a few days later they were attacked by the In- dians and a continuous fight was kept up for two days and one night. Then the Indians moved on ahead, intending to waylay the Col- ville outfit. This they accomplished and confis- cated the entire train of cattle and supplies.

Mr. Wolff put in a claim to the government, but as it was done on Canadian soil he could get no reinbursement. He fought his way on to the Fraser country and returned to The Dalles, going to San Francisco. Colonel

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Wright asked him full particulars and knowing the truth of the matter promised to send sol- diers back with him if he wished to return. The next year he came back to Colville and has practically been here since. He raised many cattle and one winter sent six hundred to the Newman lake country to be wintered, but through carelessness of his man four hundred died. Mr. Wolff has a half section of land, is now retired, rents his property, and is one of the prosperous men of the valley.

In 1870 Mr. Wolff married Celeste, daugh- ter of Daniel and Rosale Meraux, natives of Scotland and Canada, respectively. Six child- ren have been born to this union, Kate Char- lotte, Frank, Lawrence, Percy and Lester. Mr. Wolff is a strong Republican and has always been prominent in this realm. He was sheriff in 1862-3, was county commissioner one term, and has been probate judge for two terms. Mrs. Wolff is a member of the Catholic church.

JOHN RICKEY is at the present time de- voting his attention to farming and raising stock and is making a good success in these lines. He is one of the oldest pioneers of the country and is one of the leaders in general de- velopment and in commercial relations. Dur- ing all the years since 1866 he has been allied with the interests of this valley and much credit is due him for the advancement and progress brought about by his enterprise and wisdom. He was born in Knox county, Ohio, on October 19, 1844, the son of Foster and and Nancy (Bowles) Rickey, also natives of Knox county. The father was a physician and re- moved to Albany, Gentry county, Missouri, in 1845, where he practiced until his death in 1853. The widow moved to Lafayette county, Wisconsin and later to Wapello county, Iowa and married again. She died in 1863. Our subject was educated principally in Iowa and in 1864 came across the plains to California with Benjamin Ingles, where he lived two years. It was 1866 when he came to the Col- ville valley, whence he went to British Colum- bia and mined on the Columbia river and then returned to this county and mined with George Weaver for about six years. Then Mr. Rickey took a right on unsurveyed land and for twenty years he lived on that land and improved it in

good shape. He traded with the Indians and the incoming settlers and did a good business, also did much farming and raising stock. He put out the first orchard in the valley and has in many ways lead on in the good work of de- velopment. He ran the first and only steamer on the Columbia river from Kettle Falls to Fort Spokane and for eight years he did mer- chandising. In 1887, Mr. Rickey was ap- pointed county treasurer and the next year he was nominated by his party and elected and then at the end of the term re-elected, gaining the day the second time by two hundred ma- jority over B. P. Moor, Democrat. In 1892, Mr. Rickey built a large brick block in Colville, three stories and seventy by eighty feet, the lar- gest structure in the town. He took up dairy- ing and also bought forty acres of land near town and put up a brick dwelling, two stories high. Mr. Rickey is a strong and leading Re- publican and is always laboring for the up- building and welfare of the county.

On October 9, 1881 Mr. Rickey married Miss Delphine, daughter of Frank and Silva (Murgerux) Jenette, natives of Canada and Washington, respectively. Eight children have been born to this union: Foster, Ida, Meta, Iona, Walter, Nora, Bertha, and an infant un- named. The children are all at home.

JOHN U. HOFSTETTER is one of the earliest pioneers to permanently locate in the Colville valley. He is one of the prominent men of the county to-day and has been a lead- ing citizen during the intervening years. He was born in Splugen, Switzerland, on April I, 1829, the son of John and Ursella ( Mangalt) Hofstetter, natives of Switzerland, where they remained until the time of their death. The mother died when this son was seven and the father married again and raised two children by the second wife. Nine children had been born to the first marriage. One brother of John U. was instrumental in quelling a re- bellion in the country in 1848. Our subject received his education in his native land and when eleven went to work in a calico printing factory. For seven years he followed that and then learned shoemaking. In 1854, he landed in the United States and after a short stay in New York, he went to New Jersey and then en-

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listed in the Nineteenth Regular Infantry under General Scott. He was sent to Fort Monroe then to the Pacific coast and did active can- paigning against the Indians. He was in The Dalles, at Walla Walla, in the Yakima country and always in action against the savages until they were quelled. Mr. Hofstetter well re- members the winter of 1856-7 when all the stock was starved or frozen. He made the trip to Walla Walla from The Dalles on horse- back in the dead of that winter and arrived in safety. His company was sent to Colville to establish a depot of supplies for the adjusters of the north boundary of the United States in 1859. In 1860, he took his discharge and then worked at teaming for the government for a time, after which he started a brewery in this valley and took a homestead where Colville now stands. He rented the brewery but it was burned in 1873 and he build another in Colville. He operated that together with his farm and to these interests he has devoted himself since, also raising stock. Mr. Hofstetter now owns the finest residence in Colville, has elegant grounds, a farm of two hundred acres, a band of stock and much other property.

In 1863 Mr. Hofstetter married Jean Fer- rel, and to this union there have been born eight children, John U., now in Utah and a veteran of the Philippine war, in Company G, Twelfth Infantry ; Willie P., in Republic, Washington ; George. in Colville: Lillie, wife of J. F. Rice, in Colville: Charles, in Lewiston ; Clara, with her parents ; Fanny, wife of Henry Silke, and one deceased. Mr. Hofstetter is an active Democrat. In 1863 he was elected county com- missioner ; in 1867 he was appointed sheriff ; in 1868 he was elected sheriff, continuing for four years ; then again in 1874. continuing for five consecutive years : in 1882 he was elected county commissioner and again in 1889.

WILLIAM H. GRAHAM, who is well and favorable known throughout Stevens coun- ty, is a substantial land owner and is at present deputy sheriff of the county. He was born in Lee county, Virginia, on May 1, 1862, the son of William T. and Martha E. (Cecil) Graham, natives of the same county. The father died January 5. 1863. The mother lived a widow for seven years and then married James M. Olinger and they are now prosperous people

in the home county. Our subject's grand- father Graham came from Scotland and the family is a hardy and long lived people. Mr. Graham has one full brother and one full sister and two half brothers and one half sister. He received a common schooling in his native place and remained with his step-father until fifteen and then resided with his grandfather Cecil until nineteen when he started out in life for himself. He farmed there for three years and then came to Lincoln county, Washington, where he lived four years. In 1891 he came to Stevens county and homesteaded a part of his present estate, which lies four miles north from Chewelah. To this he has added until he now owns four hundred and eighty acres of good land, part farmed and part pasture and timber. He has good improvements and a fine orchard of all varieties of fruit.

On July 24. 1881, Mr. Graham married Miss Catherine, daughter of David and Louisa (Barker) Cox, natives also of Lee county, Vir- ginia, where they resided until their death, be- ing prominent and respected people. The fol- lowing named children have been the fruit of this union: Mollie, Mattie B., Emma L., Louisa M., deceased. Grover and Bertha. On August 21, 1896, Mrs. Graham was called away by death. Her remains rest in the Addy cemetery. In political matters, Mr. Graham is a strong Democrat and active for the welfare of the county and state. He was before the convention for sheriff in 1900 and as a warmı friend was also in the race, he withdrew in his favor and has since been appointed deputy sher- iff, which position he has filled with acceptance to all. Mr. Graham is a member of the Macca- bees and the W. W.

HON. CHARLES A. MANTZ needs no introduction to the people of Stevens county for he has repeatedly received at their hands the highest gifts that they can bestow. In all his long and varied career of public service he has always displayed that fearless spirit against monopoly and wrong that has brought him face to face with strong adversaries, yet he has never flinched and has never failed on all occa- sions to stand for the people and their rights.

Charles A. Mantz was born in Medina county, Ohio, on April 4. 1867, the son of Franklin R. and Phœbe J. (Edson) Mantz.

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The father was a native of Pennsylvania and his father of Maryland, while their ancestors came from Switzerland. The mother was born in Ohio, and her ancestors came to this country the next year after the Mayflower landed. Our subject received a public schooling and when seventeeen was sent to Cornell University, where he remained to complete the Junior class. He began the study of law in the state of Ken- tucky, and was admitted to the bar in 1890. Two years were spent there in practice and then in 1892 he came to Washington, making loca- tion in Colville. Since that time Mr. Mantz- has allied himself with its interests and now enjoys a lucrative practice. In 1894 he was nominated by the People's party for prosecut- ing attorney against L. B. Reader, Republican, and John B. Slater, Democrat. The decision at the polls showed Mr. Mantz was chosen to the office by three hundred and fifty plurality. He refused the nomination for the second term and in 1898 he was nominated for state senator against W. G. Gray, Fusionist, and he won the day by ninety-seven majority. He took an ac- tive part in the legislature to reduce the passen- ger and freight tariffs, but was unable to do much on account of the overwhelming influence of the railroads. He succeeded, however, in defeating several bills of taxation and banking measures. For four years Mr. Mantz served and then refused a renomination. Since that time he has devoted himself steadily to his prac- tice.

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Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 54

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