USA > Washington > Asotin County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 66
USA > Washington > Columbia County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 66
USA > Washington > Garfield County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 66
USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 66
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
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nie Pearl and Grace Orlean, are the elder daughters. The former is the wife of R. B. Spencer, of Hermiston, Oregon, and the younger is the wife of G. C. Start, of Sunnyside, Washington. Both have decided talent for painting and Mrs. Spencer taught oil Painting in Pomeroy for years. The youngest daugh- ter, Bessie, is at home with her parents.
Dr. Kuykendall has had an extensive acquaintance among the prominent pio- neer settlers of Oregon, including Rev. J. H. Wilbur, pioneer missionary minister, Hon. Binger Herman, Judges J. F. Watson, E. B. Watson and P. L. Willis, who were early friends in southern Oregon, Judge M. P. Deady and General Joseph Lane, Delazon Smith, Colonel Hooker, Governor Chadwick and others. In addition to his professional attainments Dr. Kuykendall has an enviable repu- tation as a writer. He has written much for the press and has always been very industrious in gathering up material for use in future writings. He has completed a history of the Kuykendall family for the past three hundred years, the family being of the old Knickerbocker stock of New York and New Jersey, whence they have gone as pioneers across the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The family has been represented in every war of note since early col- onial days. Dr. Kuykendall has retired from the active practice of medicine and spends his leisure in reading and writing. He has a collection of data per- taining to Indian mythology, ethnology and customs which he hopes yet to be able to publish, besides other matter written during the passing years.
Dr. Kuykendall has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for many years, actively connected with its social and moral endeavors for the benefit of the community. He has always made it a point to support every movement for the good of the community with his money as well as with his personal aid. He has been too busy to give much attention to money making but has prospered sufficiently to have gained a good competence. His father was liberal to a fault and when he gave, as the Doctor thought, too liberally of his means the Doctor always helped him out. The latter has always been glad to remember this generosity of his father and has been stimulated by his example to think more of "the other fellow." Since its organization he has been a mem- ber of the Garfield County Pioneer Association and for some years has been its secretary. He is a member of the Oregon Historical Society and the Holland Society of New York city. To belong to this society one must be able to show documentary evidence of having come from an ancestor born of a forefather who came from Holland to America before 1675.
WALLACE LEROY WHITMORE.
Few men of the northwest have been more widely known than Wallace Leroy Whitmore, now deceased. He resided on section 21, township 13 north, range 42 east, Garfield county, but for more than forty years he traveled extensively over this country as a commercial salesman and he was also known throughout the Pacific coast states as a breeder of fast horses. He had those special qualities which make for personal popularity and wherever he went he made friends. He was born in Oakland, Oregon, June 8, 1857, and was a son of George and Mary
WI Whitmore
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(Vaughn) Whitmore, both of whom were natives of Wisconsin. They crossed the plains to Oregon in 1852 and in 1867 removed to San Francisco, California, where they made their home for a number of years. The mother made her home with Wallace Leroy Whitmore most of her life, his filial care and attention rewarding her for the love which she had bestowed upon him in his boyhood days.
Wallace Leroy Whitmore was little more than a boy when he was sent out on the road by a wholesale clothing house of San Francisco. This, however, was not his initial experience in the business world, for through two years he had been employed as a messenger boy. For forty years he remained upon the road as a traveling salesman, representing two San Francisco houses-a wonderful record characterized by the utmost fidelity and loyalty as well as capability. He won for the houses which he represented a very liberal patronage, for he was thoroughly reliable in business affairs and men came to know that whatever he said was to be depended upon. After four decades devoted to travel he left the road in order to give his entire time to his sotck and landed interests. In the meantime he had purchased property until he owned twenty-seven hundred acres in Garfield county. He was a lover of the thoroughbred horse and was a pioneer in the breeding of standard and thoroughbred horses in Garfield county, raising them more for pleasure than for profit. His blooded stock, of which Coloma, the noted sire, was the head, became known wherever racing was popu- lar. In fact Mr. Whitmore's reputation in this regard spread wherever there was to be found anyone who desired a fast horse for pleasure driving. In his three-year-old form Coloma took every Derby in Montana and his owner re- fused ten thousand dollars for him. . Bill Frazier, who was taken east from Portland, has a pacing mark of 2:12; Minnie Mann Was also a horse with a notable record and Ken West at one time could step the quarter in thirty seconds, while Hallie Hinges, Daybreak, Sallie Goodwin and a long list of other running and pacing horses became well known on the circuit. Swiftsure, Coloma's first colt, sold for five thousand dollars at two years old and many others brought the breeder record prices, but despite this fact it was said that Mr. Whitmore put more money into race horse breeding than he ever got out of it. He was a very progressive man and his farm was one of the best improved properties in the county. He erected thereon good buildings, kept them painted and in good con- dition at all times, installed an electric light system and equipped his home and buildings with the most modern improvements.
On the 2d of December, 1889, Mr. Whitmore was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Williams, of San Francisco, who is a native of New York. Her father was Arthur Williams, a member of the One Hundred and Fiftieth New York Engineering Corps during the Civil war, who re-enlisted in the field after his discharge and was given a large bounty. Mrs. Whitmore's mother prior to her marriage was Miss Hannah E. Poorman. After the close of the Civil war she brought her two children to the Pacific coast, making the journey by sailing vessel around Cape Horn. She took up her abode in San Francisco and after- ward became the wife of Horace Eldred, proprietor of the State House Hotel of Sacramento. Several years later Mr. Eldred's death occurred and his widow afterward lived in southern California until her death, which occurred in Port- land, Oregon, in 1901.
Mrs. Whitmore is an accomplished woman of marked business ability as well
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as of many social graces. She manages her extensive property holdings with keen sagacity, displaying unfaltering enterprise, and her labors are attended with ex- cellent results. The death of Mr. Whitmore occurred September 8, 1916, and was the occasion of deep and widespread regret to many friends. He was a man of genial, kindly nature, always approachable and at all times he held friendship inviolable. His well managed business affairs and investments enabled him to leave Mrs. Whitmore in very comfortable financial circumstances and she is today the owner of one of the valuable farm properties of Garfield county. Like lier husband, she is widely and favorably known and her friends are legion.
W. E. AYRES.
W. E. Ayres, while actively engaged in agricultural pursuits, managed his affairs so ably that he attained financial independence and is now living retired upon his home farm in Columbia county. He was born in Adams county, Illinois, February 8, 1841, a son of Eli L. and Ruth (Stevens) Ayres, natives respectively of England and Canada. Following their marriage in the Dominion the parents removed to Illinois in the latter '30s and resided there for a few years but in 1842 went to Appanoose county, Iowa. There the father acquired title to land and engaged in farming until called by death, although he was by profession a physician and Baptist minister. Subsequently the mother removed with her family to Linn county, Oregon, reaching there in 1864, when the Pacific north- west was still largely undeveloped. Eventually she became a resident of Walla Walla county, Washington, and there passed away.
WV. E. Ayres, who is one of four living children in a family of six, grew to manhood in Iowa and there obtained his education. He accompanied his mother to Oregon and for seven years was a resident of that state but at the end of that time took up a homestead in Old Walla Walla county, Washington, his farm being located in what is now Columbia county. His first residence was a log cabin and his experiences for a few years were those of all pioneers. At lengthi, however, his land was brought under cultivation, substantial improve- ments were made thereon and adequate facilities for transportation and communi- cation with other parts of the country were secured. He found farming both profitable and congenial and continued to engage in stock and wheat raising until he retired. He still owns 960 acres of fine land.
In 1868 Mr. Ayres was married to Miss Martha S. Redford, of Henry county, Missouri, a daughter of Walker P. and Nancy (Davis) Redford, the former born in Virginia and the latter in Kentucky. In the '30s Mr. and Mrs. Redford removed to Missouri and there the father died in 1861. Three years later the mother, with her children, made the long journey across the plains by ox team. For three years they resided in Union county, Oregon, and then went to Linn county, when they came to Washington, where the mother passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Ayres have become the parents of eleven children: Eudora, the widow of W. J. Beal and a resident of Pomeroy, Washington ; Willie and Robert, both deceased ; James P., who is also living in Pomeroy ; Anna : William S., a resident of Pineville, Oregon; Nancy, deceased; Mary C., a home missionary stationed
W. E. AYRES AND FAMILY
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in western Oregon; Palmer, a farmer; Sarah, the wife of Sanford Skillman, who is farming the home place ; and Albert E., an agriculturist of Pomeroy.
Mr. Ayres is a democrat in politics and has served as county treasurer, as county commissioner and as a member of the school board, which office he held for years. His record as a public official is highly creditable both to his ability and his devotion to the general good, and as a private citizen he has given his support to movements calculated to advance the interests of his community. He takes justifiable pride in the fact that he has had a part in the development of this section and believes that nowhere can the agriculturist find better opportuni- ties.
LOUIS NEACE.
On the pages of Walla Walla county's pioneer history appears the name of Louis Neace, who took up his abode in the city of Walla Walla when it was a mere military post. As the years passed on he became prominently identified with agricultural interests in this section of the state and ranked with the fore- most business men. He was born near Frankfort, Germany, September 27, 1835, and was but twelve years of age when he came to the United States with an uncle, who was a resident of Newark, New Jersey. From that time forward Louis Neace never saw his family nor his native country. His father had been a member of the forestry department in Germany, an official position to which only men who were scholars and had special training in the science of forestry were eligible.
Becoming a resident of Orange, New Jersey, Louis Neace was there em- ployed in a sash and blind factory, in which he served a four years' appren- ticeship, thereby gaining thorough and comprehensive knowledge of the work. In the meantime, however, he spent one winter in Florida, where he was em- ployed in driving a mule team for the owner of a lumber mill on the St. Mary's river. When his apprenticeship was ended he removed to the middle west and at the recommendation of friends in Orange, New Jersey, he secured a position in a sash and blind factory at Fulton, Illinois.
The west, however, still lured him on and afterward he made a tour of Kansas, at which time the state was the battleground of the parties who were contending whether it should be admitted as a free or as a slave state. Not desiring to become a landowner in Kansas under such conditions, Mr. Neace joined a construction crew at Independence, Missouri, and started across the country for Harney Lake, Oregon, the crew being engaged to lay out a road in that section. The Mormons were at that time a menace to all travelers through Utah and the crew was placed under military protection, spending the winter of 1856-7 at Fort Bridger, Wyoming. The Mormons destroyed several of the supply wagon trains of the fort and their rations were reduced for a period to two small biscuits per day. Hardly any salt was obtainable throughout the entire winter and the first that was brought in sold at a dollar per pound. In 1857 Mr. Neace became a resident of Los Angeles, California, which was then a tiny village, and from that point he continued his journey northward to San Fran-
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cisco, where he became a passenger on the steamer Columbia. A northward trip brought him to the mouth of the Umpqua river, where he disembarked and spent the winter, reaching The Dalles, Oregon, in the spring of 1858.
From that point Mr. Neace came to Walla Walla as an employe of Lieuten- ant Mullan, who was in charge of the construction of a military road from Fort Walla Walla to Fort Benton, Montana, which is still known as the Mullan road. After completing the work the crew spent the winter in Fort Benton and in the following year Major Blake arrived from St. Louis with troops on his way to Fort Walla Walla and Mr. Neace returned with him, after which he re- mained a resident of eastern Washington. When he first visited Walla Walla there was only a cantonment built by Colonel Steptoe in the fall of 1856. It consisted of a few rude log huts along what is now East Main street, west of Palouse, these huts constituting the winter quarters for the military troops who were here stationed as a protection to the few settlers who had penetrated into this region. In 1861 Mr. Neace took up his abode on the Tucannon river, at the present site of Starbuck, for the purpose of engaging in the cattle business there. The most severe winter ever known in the Pacific northwest followed. He was at the time a young man of but twenty-six. Undiscouraged by the severity of the winter, he bought a right to a place on the Pataha river, a tribu- tary of the Tucanon, and continued in the live stock business, there remaining until 1870, when he removed to the Lock & Long mill near Dayton. A little later he took up his abode on a farm north of Waitsburg and the place has since been known as the Neace farm. He afterward purchased what was known as the Anderson Cox residence in Waitsburg and the family home was there established. As the years passed on Mr. Neace added to his holdings from time to time as his financial resources increased and became one of the most exten- sive landowners of Washington. When asked how great were his possessions he replied : "I do not know." In addition to his Washington holdings he had considerable land in Montana. Possessing sound judgment and keen sagacity, his investments were most judiciously made and with the settlement and devel- opment of the county and his land rose constantly in value, making his estate a most substantial one.
On the 6th of October, 1864, Mr. Neace was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Harrington, of Walla Walla, and they became the parents of nine children, all of whom are living, namely: Mrs. D. C. Eaton; Mrs. S. F. Patton ; Frank and Charles, of Waitsburg; John and Louis, of Millstone, Montana; Mrs. Ellen Hauber, of Portland; and James and Isaac, of Endicott.
Aside from his extensive connection with farming interests Mr. Neace had for a number of years been president of the First National Bank of Waits- burg. For more than forty years he was member of the Masonic fraternity exemplifying in his life the beneficent spirit of the craft which is based upon a recognition of the brotherhood of man and the obligations thereby imposed. He was a member of the constitutional convention of Washington and thus in many ways left the impress of his individuality upon the history of the state. His philanthropy was ever a salient factor in his life. He aided generously many benevolent institutions and gave freely to individuals. He never believed in that indiscriminate giving which fosters vagrancy and idleness, but wherever possible to extend a helping hand to assist a traveler, making earnest effort to
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progress on life's journey, he did not hesitate to do so. His life, honorable and upright in act and purpose, gained for him the high esteem of all with whom he was brought in contact, and what he did for the county in the way of its agri- cultural development and in other connections entitles him to prominent men- tion among the builders of the great Inland Empire. He died January 12, 1916.
ADOLPH SCHWARZ.
Adolph Schwarz, who is conducting a pool and billiard hall in Walla Walla, was born in Germany, December 24, 1853, a son of John Joseph and Theresa (Rieder) Schwarz, who passed their entire lives in the fatherland. Mr. Schwarz of this review attended the public schools of Germany in the acquirement of his education and remained with his parents until he was sixteen years old. At that age he emigrated to America and for a year resided in New York, after which he spent a similar length of time in Pennsylanvia. He then went to California but in 1876 went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and later to New York. He spent the winter in the east but in the following spring he again came west and for about a year was employed on a boat running on the Col- umbia river. In October, 1877, he arrived in Walla Walla county, Washington, and for three years was in the employ of others. In 1880, however, he estab- lished a pool and billiard hall in the city of Walla Walla and has since con- ducted that business. His place is well equipped and is managed on such a high plane that it receives the support of the best class of people. He was also one of the organizers of the local brewing company and had an active part in the management of the business until the brewery closed down. The com- pany is still in existence, however, and still owns the plant.
In 1894 Mr. Schwarz was united in marriage to Miss Lula Stahl, a daugh- ter of J. H. Stahl, and to them have been born four children: Lillian E., a graduate of the local high school; Ruth and Adolph, both high school students ; and Catherine.
Mr. Schwarz is independent in politics, believing the qualifications of a can- didate to be of far greater importance than his party affiliation. Fraternally he is identified with the Eagles, the Red Men and the Foresters of the World. Both he and his wife belong to the Episcopal church and Mrs. Schwarz is active in its work.
FREDERICK P. YENNEY.
Frederick P. Yenney, a retired farmer residing in Walla Walla, was born in Baden, Germany, February 27, 1852, a son of Frederick and Susanna (Swigard) Yenney, both natives of that country, where they passed their entire lives. Frederick P. Yenney, who is the only son in a family of seven children, and the only one in America, grew to manhood in his native country and there acquired his education. In 1881 he came to the United States and after living
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for six years in Kankakee county, Illinois, removed to Minnesota, where he spent two years. In 1889 he came to Walla Walla county, Washington, but after residing here for one summer went to Lincoln county this state, and purchased a farm, which he operated until 1905. He then retired from active life and removed to Walla Walla, trading his farm in Lincoln county for land in Walla Walla county and now has four hundred and eighty-five acres of improved land near Walla Walla. He owns his fine residence at No. 350 South Third street.
Mr. Yenney was married in 1875, in Germany, to Miss Catharine Lavber and they have four children, namely: Conrad, John W. and Emil, all of whom are farmers; and Matilda, the wife of George C. Raymond, a resident of Fresno, California.
Mr. Yenney is a stanch supporter of the republican party but has never had the time nor inclination to seek office. Both he and his wife hold membership in the German Methodist Episcopal church of Walla Walla.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN FLATHERS.
Benjamin Franklin Flathers, deceased, was one of the old and honored resi- dents of Walla Walla, where he made his home for almost half a century. He was born near Louisville, Kentucky, on the 20th of August, 1836, and was a son of John and Julia Flathers. During his boyhood he received a limited educa- tion in the country schools near his home. He was only a small boy when the family removed to Iowa and located on a farm. When still quite young he sought new and more favorable conditions of life and left home, roughing it in various parts of the United States for some time. He finally arrived in New York city, where he mustered on a freight ship, and made the long voyage around the Horn, landing in San Francisco, after having experienced some very rough weather.
Throughout his business career Mr. Flathers was variously employed. When a young man he engaged in firing on a railroad for a short time and on reaching California in 1854 became a packer, operating a train along the coast. He remained a resident of the Golden state until 1861 and from there removed to The Dalles, Oregon, whence he came to Walla Walla, Washington. He con- tinued to operate a pack train until 1869, traveling from Montana to Arizona, but in that year he sold his outfit to the government while in the latter state. In 1870 he located on a homestead in Walla Walla county, where for years he con- ducted a forage station, furnishing accommodations for travelers over the old Mullen trail from Walla Walla. He gradually worked into agriculture and con- tinued to follow farming for thirty years with good success but at the end of that time retired from active labor and divided his magnificent farm among his children. With a comfortable fortune he then removed to Walla Walla, where his last days were spent in ease and quiet. There he passed away on May 10, 1910, leaving his immediate family as well as many friends to mourn his loss.
On the Ist of January, 1869, Mr. Flathers was united in marriage to Mrs. Malinda (McQuown) Harris, who was born in Russell county, Virginia, May 3, 1836, and in 1841 accompanied her parents, Patrick and Mary McQuown, on
MRS. BENJAMIN F. FLATHERS
BENJAMIN F. FLATHERS At the age of about fifty
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their removal to Sullivan county, Missouri, where she was reared and educated. In 1856 she married Mack F. Harris and on the 6th of May, 1863, they and their two small sons started across the plains by ox team. This was a very hazardous journey owing to the Indian troubles which they daily encountered but no con- sequences of a serious nature resulted. They finally landed in Idaho City in December of the same year and remained there until the spring of 1864, when they proceeded to Walla Walla, arriving in June. In 1865 Mr. Harris died leaving one son, the two children, born before they crossed the plains, having died in Idaho City. Mrs. Harris and her son continued to live near Walla Walla until 1869, when she became the wife of Benjamin F. Flathers, and they located on a farm on Touchet River belonging to H. H. Spaulding. The following year, however, they purchased of Mr. Spaulding the farm, which they continued to own throughout the remainder of their lives. To Mr. and Mrs. Flathers were born five children, as follows: Julia M., John Taylor, Emery, Charley F. and Harry J.
Mr. Flathers was reared in the Baptist faith and although he did not hold membership in any church he contributed to the support of all denominations when called upon to do so. He was an honored member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Masonic fraternity and the Elks, and for several years his wife was also identified with Clematis Rebekah Lodge, No. 30, of Prescott, but after removing to Walla Walla gave up lodge work. In early life she was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, but later became a member of the Congregational church of Walla Walla, with which she was connected at the time of her death which occurred April 21, 1917. She was an earnest and consistent Christian and both she and her husband were held in the highest regard by all who knew them.
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