USA > Washington > Asotin County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 71
USA > Washington > Columbia County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 71
USA > Washington > Garfield County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 71
USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 71
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MR. AND MRS. THEODORE P. INGALLS
MRS. ISRAEL INGALLS
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that occurred in the great cholera epidemic that ravished the country. His widow subsequently crossed the plains to Oregon and in later years made her home with her sister, Mrs. J. V. B. Butler, her death occurring in March, 1871.
It was in 1852 that Theodore P. Ingalls accompanied his mother on the long journey to the northwest. He was then a youth of sixteen years. They made the trip with ox teams, there being fourteen wagons in the party. Cholera broke out en route and twenty-one members of the party died ere they reached their destination. Mr. Ingalls and his mother first took up their abode in Clackamas county, near Oregon City, Oregon, where a brother of our subject had preceded them. Here Theodore P. Ingalls worked at various occupations, much of his time being spent in the timber, in getting out saw logs and in splitting rails. He also worked in the sawmills and for a time he was in the mines and thus his expe- riences were broad and varied, acquainting him with every phase of pioneer life and development in the northwest.
On the 27th of February, 1867, Mr. Ingalls was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Smith, of Clackamas county, Oregon, who had come to the northwest with her sister, crossing the Isthmus in 1863 and thence proceeding up the coast. In the summer of 1871 Mr. and Mrs. Ingalls became residents of Walla Walla county, Washington, where he took up a preemption of one hundred and sixty acres, but money was scarce, and being unable to make payment upon his prop- erty, he turned it into a homestead of eighty acres. The place was located in Spring valley about three miles north of Dixie, and there he made his home and successfully engaged in farming for thirty-three years. During that period he added to his holdings from time to time as opportunity offered until his landed possessions were seven hundred and four acres. . This property he recently sold, but already in 1904, on account of failing health, he retired from active farming operations and for a time spent his days largely in travel. He finally took up his abode in Waitsburg, where he has since remained and where he is now most comfortably situated. At the age of eighty-two years he is surrounded by many friends, enjoying the respect and warm regard of all who know him.
In 1856 Mr. Ingalls took part in the Yakima Indian war, serving under Colonel Cornelius. His political endorsement has long been given the demo- eratie party, while fraternally he is connected with Waitsburg Lodge, No. 5, I. O. O. F., is a consistent member of the Christian church to which his wife also belonged, and their well-spent lives gained for them the warm regard and respect of all with whom they have been brought in contact. Mrs. Ingalls passed away quite recently, her lamented death causing deep grief to her husband and her many friends who greatly admired her for her high qualities of character.
The growth of the northwest has been marvelous but its resources stimulated the efforts and ambitions of the men who cast in their lot with the first settlers. At the time of Mr. Ingalls' arrival the red men had dominion over this entire section of the country. Only here and there had a little settlement been made along the rivers or the coast, for navigation alone could bring to man the things which he needed from other quarters. There were great broad areas that are now highly cultivated which at that time were unclaimed. The forests, too, stood in their primeval strength and the rivers were only used for an occasional trip. Today the powers of the land have been utilized for the benefit of man and with every phase of development from pioneer times down to the present Mr. Ingalls
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is familiar. He has lived to see the rude frontier cabins replaced by commodious and substantial homes, the tiny hamlets converted into thriving villages and cities and the work of progress carried forward along agricultural, industrial and com- mercial lines until the northwest has reason to be proud of her cities, her homes and her mines as well as her wonderful agricultural development, in which Mr. Ingalls took an active part as one of the leading farmers of Walla Walla county for many years.
JOHN F. ADAMS.
An upright, honorable man was John F. Adams, whose entire life measured up to high standards and whose association with public interests constituted an element of advancement and improvement in this section of the state.
He was born in Franklin county, Maine, July 20, 1835, a son of Joseph and Areta (Barrett) Adams, coming of the same ancestry as John Adams and John Quincy Adams, two of the early presidents of the United States. Both the parents were natives of Maine and spent their entire lives there. They had a family of seven children, all of whom have passed away.
John F. Adams was twenty-two years of age when in 1857 he became identi- fied with the northwest, settling first in Douglas county, Oregon, where he took up the profession of teaching in the Umpqua Valley, which he followed for five years. He then exchanged the master's rod for the shepherd's crook, becoming extensively engaged in sheep raising in Umatilla county, Oregon, in 1865, where he resided for twenty-three years, and in addition to raising sheep engaged also in raising cattle and horses, handling only high bred stock. He became one of the foremost representatives of live stock interests in this section of the country, his business affairs being wisely and successfully managed. He was also one of the organizers of the Savings Bank at Pendleton, Oregon, and served as its president until his death. He shaped its policy and directed its activities, help- ing to make it one of the strong financial concerns of that section. He was devoted to the welfare of his town and his county and was actuated by a spirit of progress and improvement in all that he undertook.
On November 17, 1878, Mr. Adams was united in marriage to Miss Susan F. Fry, a native of Indiana and a daughter of Robert and Amanda (Francis) Fry. The father was a native of Virginia, while the mother's birth occurred in Kentucky, and in early life they removed westward to Indiana, where they were married. The mother died in that state but Mr. Fry afterward removed to Kansas, where his demise occurred. In their family were three children, of whom two are now living. To Mr. and Mrs. Adams were born five children : John R., who is a resident of Oregon; George H., who has passed away ; Walter F., living in Walla Walla; Pauline, the wife of Walter Bemus, of Walla Walla ; and Helen M., the wife of Frederick Morrison, of Oakland, California. She was in her girlhood days a student in Whitman College of Walla Walla.
The death of the husband and father occurred in McMinnville, Oregon, in March, 1899, but he was laid to rest in Mountain View cemetery in Walla Walla. He was a self-made man and deserved much credit for what he accomplished.
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At the time of his death he owned several hundred acres, constituting one of the excellent stock ranches of the Inland Empire. Since his demise his widow and her family have removed to Walla Walla, where they took up their abode in 1904, and she now owns an attractive home on Boyer avenue.
Mrs. Adams belongs to the Baptist church, of which Mr. Adams was also a devoted member and an active church worker, doing all in his power to further the cause and extend the influence of the church. In politics he was an earnest republican and took a helpful interest in promoting party successes. He held several county offices while in Umatilla county, Oregon, and at all times was true and loyal to the trust reposed in him. In a word, his was an honorable and upright career and his memory remains enshrined in the hearts of all who knew him. He possessed many sterling characteristics, was straightforward in every business transaction, was patriotic in citizenship, held friendship inviolable and was devoted to the happiness of his wife and children.
C. S. CREWS.
C. S. Crews, who is perhaps better known to his hundreds of friends on the Pacific coast as "Doc" Crews, has a most wide acquaintance as a theatrical man- ager. He is now manager of the Crews Amusement Company, operating the Lib- erty Theater in Walla Walla, which is the only vaudeville theater in the city.
He was born in Montrose, Henry county, Missouri, October 13, 1881, a son of Tyson M. and Elizabeth (Reed) Crews, the former a native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, while the latter was born in Henry county, Missouri. The paternal grandfather, Edward Crews, was the owner of a large tobacco planta- tion and many slaves in North Carolina. In young manhood Tyson M. Crews removed westward to Henry county, Missouri, where he was married and resided until 1881, when he returned to North Carolina. In 1889 he came to Walla Walla, where he engaged in the coal and wood business, but the panic of 1892-3 forced him to suspend operations in that line. He then went to work as a sta- tionary engineer in a laundry and subsequently removed to Olympia, Washington, where he established himself in the laundry business. In 1913 he went to Roy. Idaho, where he has since been engaged in farming.
C. S. Crews was educated in the public schols of Walla Walla, having been brought to the west during his early boyhood days. The spirit of western en- terprise and progress has always been a dominant factor in his career. From an early age he has been dependent upon his own resources and whatever success he has achieved is the direct reward of his labors. As a boy he worked in a livery stable for a wage of twenty-five cents per day. Subsequently he was employed in a laundry at fifty cents per day and later he secured the position of cashier in the mercantile house of the Schwabacher Company. He was en- dowed by nature with musical talent and during these years he became identified with the Walla Walla Band as drummer and in the years following he accumulated musical instruments to the value of about a thousand dollars. These included xylophones, saxophones, aluminum chimes, bamboo chimes, marimbaphones and sonorophones. In fact he acquired everything in the musical novelty line. The
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mercantile company with which he was employed refusing to allow him vaca- tions in order to attend to his band duties, he accordingly resigned and later took up a position with the Mottee-Wheeler Company as credit man, continuing his musical work. In 1903 and 1904 he toured the country on the vaudeville circuit as a novelty musical artist with pleasing success. He then returned to Walla Walla and again entered the employ of the Mottee-Wheeler Company. The moving picture business became a feature of entertainment and Mr. Crews associated himself therewith, opening up a moving picture house in a modest way, and from this small start was developed what is now the Strand, the Arcade and the Liberty, all of which Mr. Crews established, but in October, 1916, he sold the Strand and the Arcade and now operates only the Liberty, where he puts forth nothing but the highest class pictures and also gives a vaudeville show of equal worth. In the days of the Western Tri-State Baseball League, of which he was one of the organizers, he was the vice president and the secretary. He is thus well known in sporting as well as in entertainment circles.
In April, 1906, Mr. Crews was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Connors, of Walla Walla, and to them have been born three sons and three daughters, known as the Golden Stairway, all being of blond complexion with golden hair, while Mr. Crews has black hair. The children are Naomi, Norma, Francis, Mignon, Clarence E. and John. Mrs. Crews is gifted musically, being a graduate in music of St. Vincent's Academy, and she possesses notable skill in piano playing.
Mr. Crews belongs to Walla Walla Lodge, No. 287, B. P. O. E. He is also a member of the Loyal Order of Moose and of the Knights of Columbus. He likewise belongs to the Turkey Reds, an organization comprising the most pro- gressive men of the Commercial Club, and his religious faith is that of the Catho- lic church.
PETER R. WELLER.
Peter R. Weller, who is devoting his time and attention mainly to stock raising under the name of the Weller Live Stock Company, resides on an excellent tract of land on section 22, township 13 north, range 40 east, Garfield county. He was born in Livingston county, New York, September 1, 1862, and is a son of Andrew J. and Mary ( Huff ) Weller. The father was also a native of New York, while the mother was a native of Ireland, but both passed away in the Empire state. Two of their four children are now living, the one besides our subject being Mrs. Jennie Folnsbe, a resident of Garfield county, Washington.
Peter R. Weller was reared in his native state and there obtained a common school education. When twenty-one years old he crossed the continent to Garfield county, Washington, and here turned his attention to farming. At length, however, he decided that stock raising offered better opportunities and since 1900 he has been engaged in the stock business under the name of Weller Live Stock Company, which owns 10,600 acres of land which provides abundant pasture and from which large crops of alfalfa hay are harvested. The company now has about five thousand head of sheep and two hundred head of cattle and it ranks as a leader in stock raising circles. Mr. Weller gives careful personal
PETER R. WELLER
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attention to the management of the company's interests and is a careful student of all the problemis connected with the raising of stock.
He supports the republican party at the polls and has been a member of the school board but has not held other office. He is identified with the Knights of Pythias and in his life has exemplified the benefit spirit of the order. Through his membership in the Live Stock Association he comes in touch with other men engaged in that line of business and finds the exchange of experiences and ideas of great value. He has found the Pacific northwest a land of opportunity and as his salient characteristics are enterprise and the ability to distinguish between the essential and the nonessential in a situation he has been able to take advantage of the opportunities here offered and is now one of the leading citizens of Garfield county.
NICHOLAS S. SULLIVAN.
Nicholas S. Sullivan, manager of and partner in the business conducted under the name of the Whitehouse Clothing Company in Walla Walla, is thus active in control of one of the leading enterprises of this kind in the city. Alert and energetic, his purposes are well defined and are carried forward to suc- cessful completion.
He was born in Marysville, California, April 3+ 1872, a son of John E. and Jane (Richardson) Sullivan. The father was born in Ireland and the mother in East India and both have now passed away. The former was a civil engineer, following that profession throughout his entire career." "The family numbered eight children, two sons and six daughters, but only three of the number are now living.
Nicholas S. Sullivan was educated in the La Salle school, a parochial school of Walla Walla, and also in the public schools. His father removed with the family to Walla Walla county about the year 1884, when the son was a youth of twelve years. He made his initial step in the business world as a cash boy in the dry goods and clothing store of Doheny & Marum. When his employers sold out he became a clerk in the service of Al Goldman, who was proprietor of a clothing store, and with him remained for about twelve years. He then became connected with R. E. Guichard, owner of the Whitehouse clothing store, with whom he acted as assistant manager during Mr. Guichard's life. Before his demise he purchased stock in the business and upon the death of the senior partner took over the management of the store and has since been active in its control. The company carries a large and carefully selected stock of men's clothing and furnishings and their business has reached a gratifying figure. They put forth the most earnest efforts to please their customers, recognizing ever that satisfied patrons are the best advertisement. Their business methods are such as will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny, and energy, enterprise and integrity have gained Mr. Sullivan a place among the leading merchants of Walla Walla.
On the 16th of October, 1905, Mr. Sullivan was married to Miss Flora Hobkirk, of Portland, Oregon, her parents being Peter and Maria Hobkirk, the
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former a pioneer contractor of Portland. Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan have one son, Nicholas Peter, born September 15, 1906.
The parents hold membership in the Catholic church and Mr. Sullivan is identified with the Knights of Columbus and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is also a member of the Commercial Club and he gives his political allegiance to the democratic party but has never sought or desired office, pre- ferring to concentrate his time, energies and attention upon his business affairs. He is not remiss in the duties of citizenship, however, and his cooperation can be counted upon to further every plan and measure for the general good. He has many sterling traits of character and his pronounced qualities have won for him personal popularity.
JOHN N. THOMPSON.
John N. Thompson became a resident of what is now Columbia county in the early days of its settlement and went through all the unpleasant experiences of pioneer life but also had the satisfaction of knowing that he was a factor in bringing about the transformation that has made this county the rival of the older localities in the east in all that pertains to the highest type of civilization. He was quick to recognize the unequalled opportunities offered in the unclaimed frontier land of the Walla Walla valley, and from time to time added to his holdings, becoming eventually the owner of three thousand acres, of which more than nine hundred acres is excellently adapted to the raising of wheat. He accomplished much during his long and busy life, and his demise was recognized as a loss to his community.
Mr. Thompson was born December 20, 1836, in New York state, and was a son of Elisha D. and Anne Thompson, the former born in New Hampshire and the latter in Massachusetts. At length the family removed to Wisconsin and there the parents resided until called by death. To them were born ten children, of whom only one survives.
John N. Thompson grew to manhood in the Badger state, and his education was that afforded by its public schools. In 1860 he decided to try his fortune in the west and for some time engaged in gold mining in Colorado. Later he re- moved to Oregon, whence he came to Old Walla Walla county, Washington, homesteading land in what is now Columbia county. He at once began the im- provement of his place and his labors proved so profitable financially that he was able to purchase more and more land, holding title at his death to three thousand acres. He engaged in both wheat and stock raising, nine hundred and twenty acres of his holdings being wheat land, and about two thousand acres comprising a stock farm. The management of his extensive interests required marked executive ability as well as a thorough knowledge of the best methods of cultivat- ing the fields and caring for the stock, but he proved more than equal to all the demands made upon him and was thoroughly businesslike in the direction of his affairs.
Mr. Thompson was married in Oregon, November 8, 1871, to Miss Viola A. Eastham, a native of Oregon and a daughter of William F. and Delilah (Clever)
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
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Eastham. Her father was born in West Virginia and her mother in Illinois, in which state their marriage occurred. In 1848 they made the long journey across the plains by wagon train, that being the only means of travel, and Mr. Eastham took up a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres near Salem, Oregon. Their first residence in the west was a log cabin and their life was that common to pioneers, characterized by hard work and self-denial. They were not dis- couraged, however, and in time were rewarded by prosperity. Both Mr. and Mrs. Eastham passed away in Oregon, and six of their fourteen children are also deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were born four children: Myrtle A., who died when three years old; Roy Eastham, who died at the age of five years; Leo John, a well known stock man of Columbia county, who is married and has two children, Roy B. and Helen A .; and Helen Viola, a graduate of Pullman College and the wife of Irving F. Laucks, of Seattle, by whom she has a daughter, Helen V.
Mr. Thompson was a stalwart republican and was an active party worker, doing all in his power to secure the success of the republican candidates. He had a wide acquaintance throughout Columbia county and had many friends to mourn his death, which occurred in 1910. His remains were interred in Dayton cemetery.
THOMAS B. McKEIRŅAN.
Thomas B. McKeirnan was well known as an extensive farmer of Garfield county, Washington, and his death, which occurred at a comparatively early age, was recognized as a loss to the community as well as to his friends. He was born in Pennsylvania, March 29, 1874, a son of Michael and Mary (Donnelly) McKeirnan, the former born in Ireland and the latter in Pennsylvania. The parents were married in the Keystone state and resided there until 1884, when they made their way to Garfield county, Washington, and located upon a farm, which remained their home until they retired from active life and removed to Pomeroy, where they still live. To them were born six children, of whom three survive.
Thomas B. McKeirnan was about ten years of age at the time of the re- moval of the family to the west and the greater part of his education was acquired in the public schools of Garfield county. He was reared to farm work and on starting out upon his independent career continued to follow agricultural pursuits. He prospered and as the years passed added to his holdings, owning at the time of his death eleven hundred acres, which is still in possession of his widow. He was systematic, practical and progressive in carrying on his work and the success that came to him was but the natural result of his industry and good management.
Mr. McKeirnan was married in 1897 to Miss Hattie Edwards, who was born in western Oregon, a daughter of Orlando and Ella (Ritz) Edwards, both natives of Oregon and representatives of two of the earliest families of that state. Both survive and their six children are also living. Mrs. McKeirnan is a graduate of the Walla Walla high school and taught for two terms prior to her marriage.
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She personally manages the estate and possesses an unusual degree of executive ability and sound business judgment. She owns a fine residence in Pomeroy and since her husband's death has lived in town. To them were born seven children, namely : Thomas L., who spent five years at Gonzaga University in Spokane and is now at Columbia University in Portland but in March, 1918, expects to take the examination for West Point Military Academy ; Marie, a high school student ; Leland, deceased; Frances J., in high school; John J .; William R .; and Alice E.
Mr. McKeirnan supported the candidates of the democratic party at the polls but was not otherwise active in public affairs, preferring to devote his attention to his farming interests. He passed away November 6, 1913, and was laid to rest in the Catholic cemetery. His salient characteristics were such as invariably command respect and regard and he won many friends who still cherish his memory.
KRISTIAN FALKENBERG.
There are many chapters of unusual interest in the life record of Kristian Falkenberg although he is now quietly engaged in commercial pursuits, being recognized as the leading jeweler of Walla Walla and one of the city's most progressive business men.
He was born in Norway on the 16th of August, 1872, where he lived until a young man of twenty, having graduated from high school and completed his apprenticeship as a watchmaker with Frederick August Michelet, the leading chronometer and watchmaker of Norway. At this time Mr. Falkenberg decided to come to the United States, choosing Chicago as his destination, and there he lived for nearly five years. In 1897 he went to Alaska, leaving on the 15th of September with the second party that left Chicago for the gold fields. They went by way of Edmonton and the Mackenzie river, which was the all Canadian route. It required twenty-two months to make the trip, on which they were engaged in hunting and prospecting. There were three who started together but only two of them reached their destination. They arrived in Dawson on the 8th of July, 1899, after having made nine hundred miles of their journey on foot through the wilderness, carrying from eighty-five to one hundred and fifty pounds on their backs and in winter time pulling as high as five hundred pounds each on a sled. During the latter part of the journey their supply of provisions became exhausted and they lived on decayed vegetables and lynx meat, shooting lynx from time to time as needed. From the time Mr. Falkenberg left Chicago until his return, a period of four years and six weeks, he kept a daily record of his journey. He left Dawson for Rampart City on the Yukon in company with a manufacturing jeweler from Dawson and they engaged in the jewelry business in Rampart. In 1900 they followed the rush to Nome and were engaged in the jewelry business at St. Michael. In November, 1901, Mr. Falkenberg returned to Chicago for a visit, but in the spring of 1902 he again went to St. Michael, where he reopened his store. In the fall of that year he returned to Rampart City, where he conducted a jewelry business until 1905, when he again made his way to Chicago. He was not satisfied with life in that section of the coun-
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