USA > Washington > Asotin County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 67
USA > Washington > Columbia County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 67
USA > Washington > Garfield County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 67
USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 67
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WALTER CLARENCE MINNICK.
Walter Clarence Minnick, who is carrying on extensive farming operations although a resident of Walla Walla, is a western man by birth as well as prefer- ence, as he was born in Old Walla Walla county, August 19, 1873. He is a son of Adam and Amanda (Davis) Minnick, the former of whom was born March 9, 1830, in Pennsylvania, whence he accompanied his parents to Dayton, Ohio, at the age of five years. Later, while he was still a youth, the family removed to Davis county, Iowa, and there he resided until 1852. He then went to Cali- fornia by ox team in Dr. Udell's train. In addition to the hardships of the road the Indians gave considerable trouble and cholera broke out, causing the death of many. In November, however, they reached the Sacramento valley of Cal- ifornia and Mr. Minnick spent the next two years mining in different parts of that state. He then decided to return to Iowa and on the Ist of October, 1854, sailed from San Francisco on the steamer Yankee Blade. Unfortunately the ship was wrecked after being at sea only twenty-four hours, being wedged among the rocks, with one part broken off. The twelve hundred passengers remained on the ship for about twenty-four hours, at the end of which time they were rescued by a passing vessel, which landed them at San Diego. As he Vol. 1-34
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had lost his earnings on the wrecked ship Mr. Minnick decided to return to San Francisco, where he lived for two more years. In the year 1856 he again embarked for home and this time the voyage was uneventful and he reached New York in safety. He then went by rail to lowa, where he was married. In 1872 Mr. Minnick again came to the Pacific coast and on landing at San Francisco, proceeded by boat to Portland, whence he came to Walla Walla county with his family by railroad. He preempted land on the Pataha prairie and resided there until 1876. He then removed to Spring valley, six miles south of Waitsburg, where he engaged in farming until 1900, when he retired and took up his residence on Park street, Walla Walla. In 1906 he removed to Los Angeles, California, in the hope of benefiting his health and there he lived until his death on the 9th of May, 1911. Ilis remains were brought back to Walla Walla, Washington, and were interred in the Mountain View cemetery. He is survived by his widow, who bore the maiden name of Amanda Davis. She is a daughter of Dr. Moss Davis, for many years a prominent physician of Davis and Wapello counties, Iowa. She makes her home in Walla Walla and owns between eight and nine hundred acres of land, left her by her husband. To them were born the following children: Mrs. Mary Minnetta Hubbard, a resident of Waitsburg; George D. and John H., who are living in Walla Walla; Mrs. Anna Shepherd Crook, of Spokane, Washington; Walter Clarence, a resident of Walla Walla; Mrs. Ella Elisabeth Price, who is living in Waitsburg; and Chester Clifford, who is operating his mother's land but resides in Walla Walla.
Walter C. Minnick received his education in the district schools, the Waits- burg High School, the Waitsburg Academy, from which he was graduated in 1902, and Professor Walton's School of Expression of Spokane, which he attended during the four winters after leaving the academy. When about nineteen years of age he began farming on his own account and has continued to follow that occupa- tion to the present time. He is now the owner of extensive tracts of land and is one of the large wheat growers of Walla Walla and Columbia counties. The fact that he can successfully manage such large interests is proof of his enterprise, keen business judgment and executive ability. He was one of the organizers of the Ex- change Bank of Waitsburg, of which he was elected vice president at the time of its reorganization, and for seven or eight years he held that office, but has recently disposed of his bank holdings.
On the 23d of December, 1908, Mr. Minnick was married to Miss Amy Jane McCown, of Waitsburg, a daughter of Frank and Laura (Walker) Mc- Cown, both natives of this region. Her grandparents came west in 1852 by ox team and located in Oregon and both parents were born on the Pacific coast. Mrs. Minnick was born in Waitsburg, June 3, 1885, and was graduated from the Waitsburg high school and the organ department of Whitman Conservatory of Music. She also spent one year in study at Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Minnick have been born three children, Walter Lawrence, Erma Helen and Virginia Pauline.
Mr. Minnick endorses the basic principles of the democratic party but on occasion votes independently, believing that the general welfare is of far more importance than party success. For four years he was state democratic com- mitteeman from this district and his influence was strongly felt on the side of
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progress and clean government. He belongs to the United Artisans, and both he and his wife hold membership in the Christian church. Following his marriage he maintained his home in Waitsburg until 1914, when he removed to Walla Walla, where he has a resdence at No. 216 Fulton street. For several years past he and his family have spent the winters in Los Angeles, California. He is one of the substantial men of Walla Walla and such is his efficiency and ability that he is able to keep all of his business affairs well in hand and yet find time to enjoy the worth-while pleasures of life. He has been a factor in the advancement of his community, being always ready to give not only of his means but also of his thought and time to the promotion of projects for the public good.
JOHN FORGEY.
John Forgey is numbered among the pioneer settlers of Asotin county who have contributed in marked measure to its material development and upbuild- ing and also to its progress and improvement along social, political and moral lines. He was born near Albany, Linn county, Oregon, August 9, 1865, a son of George and Martha (Shear) Forgey. The father, a native of Indiana, came to the west with an uncle when eleven years of age and settled in the Willamette valley, where he followed farming. He and his wife are now living with a daughter, Mrs. Phoebe Ramsey, in Linn county, Oregon, Mr. Forgey having retired from active business. In their family were the following children: Bell- zena, who married James Newman, of Linn county, Oregon; Grover, who mar- ried Miss Margaret Milsaps and resides in Astoria, Oregon; Emma, the deceased wife of W. G. Dagget; two who died infancy; Phoebe, the wife of Alvin Ram- sey; and Fred, who died at the age of eighteen years, being accidentally shot while hunting.
John Forgey of this review was but six years of age when brought by his parents to Washington, the family home being established in Ellensburg, where they lived for twelve years. In 1882 they came to Asotin county, where they took up their abode upon a homestead claim. Jolin Forgey obtained his education in one of the old-time log schoolhouses and in the schools of Asotin. When twenty-one years of age he began farming independently and previous experience well qualified him for the work which he undertook. He first secured a pre- emption claim of one hundred and sixty acres but did not prove up on it. Later he bought three hundred and twenty acres, which he developed, bringing his land under a high state of cultivation, and afterward he bought another tract of one hundred and sixty acres, which he still owns. It is eleven miles south of Asotin and is largely devoted to wheat raising, extensive crops being annually gathered. Mr. Forgey makes his home in the city of Asotin during the winter months and in the summer resides upon the farm and manages his property.
On the Ioth of October, 1886, Mr. Forgey was married to Miss Sadie Milsaps, a daughter of Robert and Holly (Carpenter) Milsaps, of a prominent old family of Asotin county, to which they removed from Missouri. Mrs. Forgey crossed the plains with her parents by mule team in 1885, the trip taking three months
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and eleven days. They arrived in Asotin county on the 3Ist of August of the same year and camped at what is known as the old Wamsley place on Ten Mile creek until October I, moving from there to Asotin Flat, where they settled on a homestead, Mrs. Forgey residing there until married in 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Forgey have become the parents of the following named: Bellzena, who is the wife of Ben Moody, a farmer of Asotin county ; Alva, who died in infancy; Joe, who was married in 1914 to Esther Hardy and follows farming in Montana; Jessie, who died in infancy; and Dell, who was a volunteer in the National Guard and then was transferred to the regular army, now serving in Company E, One Hundred and Sixteenth United States Engineers, in France.
Mr. Forgey and his family are members of the Christian church and are loyal adherents of its teachings. In politics he is a republican where national issues are involved, but casts an independent local ballot, supporting men and measures rather than party. Fraternally he is connected with the Woodmen of the World. He has been a resident of Asotin county for thirty-five years, having arrived when the work of development seemed scarcely begun in this section of the state. He has seen the little village grow to a nice town and has assisted largely in its upbuilding and progress. He now has an attractive home on Main street, in which he spends the winter months. He is a substantial citizen, loyal at all times to the best interests of community and of state, and as a business man he has a record for thorough reliability and enterprise, his success being attributable entirely to his persistency of purpose and his indefatigable energy intelligently directed.
L. C. CORBETT.
L. C. Corbett, who is well known as a dealer in grain and fuel and a fire insurance agent of Huntsville, Columbia county, was born in Canada, October 19, 1851. An account of the lives of his parents, John and Jane (Lewis) Cor- bett, is found elsewhere in this work. Our subject was reared in the Dominion and received excellent educational opportunities, graduating from Toronto Uni- versity. For five years he was engaged in public school work, and for twenty years he taught in high schools and collegiate institutes in Canada as instructor in modern languages. In 1904 he came to Columbia county, Washington, and became bookkeeper and secretary for Corbett Brothers, at Huntsville. In 1907 he was joined by his family and has since made his home in Huntsville. He was in partnership with his brother until 1915, when their business connections were severed and Mr. Corbett of this review took over the warehouse which he now owns. He enjoys a large patronage as a dealer in grain and fuel, and has also built up a good insurance business. He owns an attractive residence surrounded by beautiful grounds, and is recognized as one of the substantial men of Hunts- ville.
Mr. Corbett was married in Canada to Miss Sarah Kirk, a native of England and a daughter of Robert and Fannie (Holland) Kirk, both of whom were born in Ireland and were married in Canada. The father, who was in the English army, subsequently was stationed in England for some time but at length went
L. C. Corbett.
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to Canada and there both he and his wife passed away. They were the parents of ten children, of whom five survive. To Mr. and Mrs. Corbett have been born five children : Lewis H., a graduate of Toronto University, in which he was an instructor for four years and is now teaching modern languages in Harbord- Street Collegiate-Institute, Toronto, Canada; Edith, the wife of Wade H. Wolfe. who is associated with Mr. Corbett in business; Sarah Christabel, a graduate of the Ellensburg, Washington, normal school, who for three years followed the teacher's profession but is now taking training at Berkeley, California, for dea- coness work; Alice Kathleen, also a graduate of the Ellensburg normal school. now teaching in Walla Walla County; and Frances Enid, a high school student, at home.
Mr. Corbett takes the interest of a good citizen in public affairs but has never sought office. He is well known fraternally, belonging to the Masonic order, and to the Foresters. Both he and his wife are members of the Protestant Episcopal church, in which he holds official position, and both are always willing to give of their time and means in the furtherance of its work. Although they have resided in Huntsville for only a few years they have already won the unqualified respect of their fellow townsmen and have made many warm friends.
BISHOP A. HERROLD.
Bishop A. Herrold, an honored old settler of. Walla Walla county, residing on section 7, township 9 north, range 38 east, was born in Hamilton county, Indiana, May 5, 1836. His parents, Daniel and Frances (Fierce) Herrold, were both born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, but were married in Athens county, Ohio. They resided there for a number of years and five of their chil- dren were born in that county. At length, however, the family removed to In- diana and in 1849 migrated still farther west, settling in Knox county, Illinois, which was then only partly settled. They continued to reside there until death, the father dying at the age of eighty-four years and the mother when eighty years old.
Bishop A. Herrold received a district school education and, through assisting his father with the farm work, gained practical training in the occupation to which he devoted his active life. On reaching mature years he began farming on his own account in Illinois and in 1870 removed to Jefferson, Oregon. For seven years he was a resident of that state, most of the time being spent in Linn county. In 1877 he took up his abode in Palouse, Whitman county, Wash- ington, and preempted one hundred and sixty acres, on which he lived for six or seven years. He next came to Walla Walla county and took up a homestead on Eureka flats. He was successful as a farmer, his well directed labors being rewarded by good crops, and at length he felt that he had accumulated sufficient capital to enable him to retire and he took up his abode in Waitsburg, where he lived until the death of his wife, April 19, 1907. Since then he has made his home with his son on section 7, township 9 north, range 38 east, Walla Walla county.
Mr. Herrold was married May 29, 1856, to Miss Harriett Cullison, a native
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of Knox county, Illinois, and they became the parents of six children, of whom three survive: Jeremiah Burres; Ilattic B., who is the widow of William Baim and resides with her brothers; and Morton C. The brothers are operating in partnership four hundred and thirty-four acres of excellent land, Morton C. residing upon the place, while J. B. lives in Walla Walla.
Mr. Herrold is an adherent of the republican party and loyally supports its candidates and measures at the polls. Fraternally he belongs to Waitsburg Lodge, No. 16, F. & A. M., and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist church. He is widely known throughout the county and has gained the warm personal friendship of many.
ABRAHAM C. DICKINSON.
Abraham C. Dickinson, in whose death Walla Walla county lost one of its valued and representative citizens, was for a long period actively and promi- nently connected with agricultural interests. He lived for many years upon his farm and in his later years made his home in Waitsburg, where he passed away in 1911. He was born in Bartholomew county, Indiana, May 15, 1830. His father, Harvey Dickinson, was a native of Oneida county, New York, born in 1799, and on reaching young manhood he emigrated westward to Indiana, which was then a frontier state. There he wedded Miss Mary Finley and they began their domestic life in Indiana, where Abraham C. Dickinson was born, reared and educated. On attaining his majority he wedded Miss Abbie C. Carter, the wedding being celebrated on the 2d of February, 1854. Two years later they removed to Missouri accompanied by his father, his mother having passed away in November, 1847. They established their home in Linn county, where they prospered until the outbreak of the Civil war, when their competence was swept away.
In 1863, with a yoke of oxen hitched to a small wagon, Mr. Dickinson started across the plains with his family for the golden west and arrived in Walla Walla county, Washington, where he ever afterward made his home. He filed on a homestead in Spring Valley, four and one-half miles southwest of Waitsburg, and there built a one-room log cabin with clapboard roof. He occupied that primitive home for five years, after which he was able to replace it by a more commodious and modern frame dwelling. Thrift and industry at length brought him a substantial measure of prosperity and from time to time he added to his landed possessions until he became the owner of a thousand acres of valuable farm land, six hundred and eighty acres of which comprised the Spring Valley Home. In subsequent years he sold all of his holdings except one hundred and twenty acres, which his widow still retains. In 1882 he removed to Waitsburg, where he erected a comfortable residence and there he spent his remaining days, enjoying many of life's comforts and some of its luxuries. He well deserved the success which came to him, for his life was a busy and useful one, his industry was unfaltering and his energy untiring. Moreover, in all of his busi- ness affairs he was thoroughly reliable, honorable and upright and his word came to be recognized as good as any bond solemnized by signature or seal. When
MR. AND MRS. ABRAHAM C. DICKINSON
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he came to Washington territory he brought with him his wife and six children but no money. He faced the necessity of at once providing for their support and by hard work and good management he overcame all difficulties and obstacles in his path and in the course of years gained a very substantial competence.
To Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson were born eleven children, five of whom still survive, as follows: Mary M., who is the wife of E. D. Mills; Ella L., who gave her hand in marriage to Charles O. Cram; Cora B., the wife of F. T. Keiser ; Lydia F., who is the wife of O. Conover; and Albert S., who is one of the prominent citizens of Waitsburg.
The family circle was again broken by the hand of death when in 1911 Mr. Dickinson passed away. He was a man of sterling character and a conscientious Christian, a devoted husband and loving father and a man highly esteemed as a friend and as a citizen. He long held membership in the Christian church, to which Mrs. Dickinson still belongs. She is now nearing her eighty-third year but is yet hale and hearty and occupies the old home in Waitsburg. She, too, has been a most consistent Christian and one whose life has been fraught with good deeds, as she has continually extended a helping hand where aid, counsel or sympathy were needed.
H. E. ANGERMANNASU
H. E. Angermann, the president and treasurer of the Model Bakery and Con- fectionery, Incorporated, at Walla Walla, has been a resident of this city since 1906 and progressive business methods have brought him to a place in the front ranks among the representative merchants. He has ever been actuated by laud- able ambition and persistency of purpose has constituted one of the foundation stones on which he has built his success.
He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the 21st of June, 1865, and is a son of Traugott and Johanna (Kupke) Angermann, both of whom were natives of Germany and came to the United States when they were in the twenties. The father was.a tailor by trade and followed that pursuit throughout his entire life. After living for some time in Pennsylvania he removed to New Jersey, where both he and his wife passed away. In their family were twelve children, nine of whom are living, five sons and four daughters.
H. E. Angermann, whose name introduces this record, was reared and edu- cated in New Jersey, where he learned the trade of cigar making and followed that pursuit for twenty-three years in different states. Subsequently he took up carpentering and was thus employed for six years. In 1906 he arrived in Walla Walla and since 1911 has been engaged in the bakery and confectionery business, forming a partnership with Charles Retzer under the name of the Model Bakery and Confectionery, Incorporated. He has been continuously engaged in this business through the intervening period of six years and his patronage has steadily grown, for he has given to the public goods of the highest quality, and, moreover, his business methods are such as will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny. The Model Bakery and Confectionery is today one of the leading establishments of this kind in the Inland Empire and its patronage has reached
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most gratifying proportions. The building in which the business is carried on is a handsome structure and is the property of Mr. Angermann and Charles Retzer. Mr. Angermann is also the owner of an attractive residence in Walla Walla.
In 1890 Mr. Angermann was united in marriage to Miss Christina Wittmann, a native of Germany and a daughter of Carl and Katherine ( Retzer) Wittmann. She came to America when sixteen years of age. Her mother had died in Ger- many and the father afterward crossed the Atlantic to the new world, becoming a resident of Walla Walla. To Mr. and Mrs. Angermann have been born five children ; Arthur W .; Herman C .; Carrie W., deceased; Minnie C. and Martha K. The children are all assisting their father in the business.
The parents are members of the Lutheran church and are loyal to its teach- ings. Mr. Angermann gives his political allegiance to the republican party but does not seek office as a reward for party fealty. Fraternally he is con- nected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and also with the linproved Order of Red Men and the Sons of Hermann. Attracted to the west by its almost limitless opportunities, he has here made steady progress in his business career and, advancing step by step, now occupies an enviable position among its more successful men.
A. W. CLAXON.
Business enterprise in Walla Walla finds a worthy representatives in A. W. Claxon, who is conducting a real estate and insurance agency. It is a well known fact that his plans are always carefully made and promptly executed and that his course at all times measures up to high business standards. He came to the new world actuated by the laudable purpose of finding opportunities here that would lead to advancement and success. He was born in the county of Durham, England, March 1, 1875, a son of William and Georgina (Croft) Claxon, both of whom were natives of England, where they spent their entire lives. The father was a huntsman, hunting with the South Durham hounds for thirty-four years. He was also well known as a farmer and his business activities were wisely and carefully directed.
A. W. Claxon began his education in the public schools and afterward had the benefit of high school instruction in his native country. He was a youth of seventeen years when in 1892 he bade adieu to friends and native land and sailed for the United States, coming to the new world with a cargo of horses. For some time he devoted his attention to such work, making several trips with horses between England and this country. He also made two trips to Japan, taking one cargo of horses from America to that country and another from England to the little flowery kingdom. The latter cargo was one of thoroughbreds imported to improve the grade of horses raised in Japan. They were imported by the Japa- nese government. While Mr. Claxon was in that country he was offered a very remunerative position by the government, but was required to reside in the country for at least twenty-five years and became a naturalized citizen. This plan was not altogether pleasing and the position was therefore not accepted. At the breaking out of the Boer war Mr. Claxon enlisted for service in South
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Africa, going to that country, where he was on active duty during the uprising there. Since his first trip to the United States he has crossed the ocean thirty- four times and has visited every important city in the world, gaining broad . knowledge and experience from his wide travels and storing his mind with much interesting information and many amusing incidents.
In 1902 he located in New Jersey and engaged in the raising of thoroughbred race horses. When racing was abolished in the east by legislation he went to Canada, where he spent one year, and in 1908 he came to the Pacific coast. In Spokane he met a Mr. Harding and a Mr. Rutter of the Western Union Life Insurance Company, and Mr. Claxon accepted an agency with them and was sent to Walla Walla. Later he became associated with Gilbert Hunt, a manufacturer of threshing machines, whose business he represented upon the road for about six years, covering the states of Oregon, Washington and Idaho. In 1913 he engaged in the real estate and insurance business in partnership with O. Z. Skinner and is now active in that field. He is thoroughly conversant with realty values and has negotiated many important property transfers. He is constantly watchful of opportunities for judicious investment for himself or his clients and has become one of the well known real estate men of Walla Walla. In insurance circles, too, he has built up a business of considerable proportions, that department becoming a profitable branch of his interests.
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