USA > Washington > Asotin County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 16
USA > Washington > Columbia County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 16
USA > Washington > Garfield County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 16
USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 16
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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
Hon. William Farrish was the second in order of birth in a family of three sons and three daughters, of whom only three are now living. He acquired his
MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM FARRISH
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early education in the paid schools of New Brunswick, which he attended for about three years. He left home in 1853, when eighteen years of age, and made his way to Wisconsin, settling in Grand Rapids, that state, after which he worked in the lumber camps, cutting logs and sawing lumber, which was then rafted down the Mississippi and sold. Part of the time he worked for others and during a part of the time engaged in business there on his own account. He continued a resident of Wisconsin until 1878, when he removed to the west, traveling by rail to San Francisco and thence by boat up the coast and up the Columbia river until he took up his abode in Columbia county, Washington, establishing his home in that section which is now Asotin county. He made his way by stage from Walla Walla to Dayton and on to Pomeroy and to Columbia Center, where his wife's people lived. From that point he came to Asotin, where he embarked in the lumber business in connection with his father-in-law, T. G. Bean. They were thus associated in business for twenty years, on the expiration of which period Mr. Farrish purchased his partner's interest and conducted the business alone. He came to Washington territory in the spring of 1878, when there were a number of Indian uprisings occurring in various sections. There were only about twenty families living in the Anatone country at that time and there was great fear among them because of the possibility of an outbreak of Indian hostility at any time. Some of the men began to build a stockade in the hills and Mr. Farrish sent two of his men to help them cut logs and build the stockade, into which all of the families were taken. The Indians, however, did not attack them although the people were expecting an attack daily. The asso- ciation which existed between Mr. Bean and Mr. Farrish. was ever most har- monious and their business affairs were carefully, wisely and successfully con- ducted. They would haul the lumber from the mountains by team and then raft the lumber down the Snake river. They furnished the lumber for the famous Truax interests, used for the building of the big warehouses, and also the lumber for the Columbia county plank road. They had a lumberyard at Ilia, in Columbia county, now Garfield, as well as at Asotin, and sold lumber throughout old Walla Walla county. They sold the lumber for the old grist mill at Almota, the frame of which is still standing although it was erected in 1878. After coming to Washington, Mr. Farrish lived in the timber for about five years. Later he removed his home on the ranch, where he remained for about fifteen years, when his residence was destroyed by fire. He then took up his abode in the town, where he had another home that had been erected several years before. He has always been actively identified with the lumber interests during the period of his residence in Washington and has done much to develop the lumber resources of this section of the country and has thus added mate- rially to the wealth, development and progress of the state. He owns a ranchi of eight hundred acres, half of which is under cultivation and is now being managed by his son, Harry H.
Mr. Farrish was united in marriage to Miss Content V. Bean, who was born April 14, 1847, in Union county, Wisconsin, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. G. Bean, who were pioneers of Washington. On removing westward from Wis- consin they settled for a time on the Walla Walla river, where the father con- ducted a shingle mill. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Farrish was celebrated in Plover, Wisconsin, on the 31st of March, 1869, and to them were born seven
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children: William Thomas, born in Port Edwards, Wisconsin, February 14, 1870, and now a resident of Walla Walla, married Georgia Bradley and to them were born four children. Frank A., born in Port Edwards, Wisconsin, Decem- ber 16, 1873, is now a resident of Anatone and operates the sawmill there. He married Nellie Smelcer and to them were born three children who are living and one who died in infancy. Harry H., born in Port Edwards, Wisconsin, April 16, 1876, and now ably conducting the home ranch, married Carrie Evans and they have two children: Gervais, who died in infancy; and Colin. The younger children of this family were all born in the same house although in different counties, owing to the various divisions which were made in the counties at that period. Arthur, who was born in Columbia county July 7, 1878, is now con- ducting his father's interests in the lumber business and lives at home. Grace was born in Columbia county June 25, 1880, and is the wife of George N. Ausman, a prominent rancher of Asotin county and a son of one of the early and honored pioneer settlers mentioned elsewhere in this work. They have six chil- dren. Robert Bruce was born July 14, 1883, and now occupies a homestead ten miles from the town of Asotin, in Asotin county. He married Maud Trent and they have become the parents of two daughters. Edith, born August 8, 1886. in Asotin county, is the wife of E. R. Downen, who served two terms as county treasurer and is now county assessor, and they have two sons. The wife and mother passed away in Asotin, November 14, 1916, and her death was the occasion of deep and widespread regret, for she had endeared herself to many with whom she had been brought into contact. She was a consistent member of the Methodist church, to which Mr. Farrish also belongs.
In politics he is a stanch republican and represented his district in the state legislature in the first, second and third sessions after Washington was admitted to the Union. He was made a Mason in Grand Rapids, Wisconsin, in 1852 and holds membership in the Royal Arch Chapter in Lewiston. He is the only living charter member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Anatone.
FREDERICK J. FLEISCHER.
Frederick J. Fleischer occupies a central place on the stage of business and political activity in Prescott. Important public and private interests have been controlled by him to the benefit of the public and he well deserves the position of leadership which is accorded him. He is vice president and the cashier of the First State Bank of Prescott and is now serving as mayor of the city. He was born in Madison, Wisconsin, on the 16th of May, 1871, and is a son of John A. and Elizabeth (Miller) Fleischer. His paternal grandfather, Knute J. Fleischer, was of German descent on his father's side, although of Norwegian birth, and he came to the United States as Norwegian consul.
John A. Fleischer, father of Frederick J. Fleischer, was born in 1846 and was but five years of age when brought by his parents to the new world, so that he was reared in Madison, Wisconsin, where the family home was established. He was a youth of seventeen when, in response to the call of the country for troops to service in the Civil war, he enlisted in a Wisconsin regiment and through
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the following two years rose to the rank of second lieutenant. The war having ended, he was then honorably discharged and returned to Madison, Wisconsin, where he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Miller, a native of that city, the wedding being there celebrated in 1868. They began their domestic life in Madison, where they continued to reside until 1872, and then removed to Pelican Rapids, in Ottertail county, Minnesota, where the father secured a homestead and engaged in farming for thirty-four years, being thus ranked for more than a third of a century with the representative and honored residents of that part of that state. In 1906 he came west and settled first in Lewiston, Idaho, where he remained for five years, and after a year or more spent in Seattle and in Portland he came to Prescott, Washington, where he has since resided. He is now living retired, enjoying the fruits of his former toil, for his years of indefat- igable industry and perseverance have brought to him a substantial competence that enables him to rest from further labor.
Frederick J. Fleischer, whose name introduces this review, was reared upon the home farm in Ottertail county, Minnesota, with the usual experiences of the farmbred boy. He supplemented his public school training by a business course received in Dixon, Illinois, and until his twenty-seventh year remained upon the home farm, assisting his father in its cultivation through the summer months, while in the winter seasons he engaged in teaching. In 1898 he accepted a posi- tion as bookkeeper in the J. P. Wallace State Bank of Pelican Rapids and three years later he became one of the stockholders in the bank and was made a mem- ber of its board of directors. He was also elected cashier of the bank, in which position he continued to serve until 1906, when he sold his interest in that insti- tution and came to the west with his father, making his way to Lewiston, Idaho. On the Ist of January, 1907, he went to Moscow, Idaho, to accept the cashiership of the Moscow State Bank. During the following year the bank changed hands and in January, 1908, Mr. Fleischer went to Spokane, Washington, where he resided until the Ist of August of that year, when he came to Prescott. On the Ist of January following he purchased stock in the First State Bank and assumed the cashiership. This bank had passed through some severe financial reverses and the task of rebuilding it devolved upon Mr. Fleischer. How well this task has been performed is told in the present condition of the bank's affairs. When he took charge the deposits amounted to about thirty thousand dollars. Today and for several years past the deposits have averaged about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars and the affairs of the bank are in splendid condition in every way. Mr. Fleischer brought to his work long experience, keen sagacity and notably sound discrimination and his close application and careful manage- ment have brought most satisfactory results.
On the 26th of June, 1901, Mr. Fleischer was united in marriage to Miss Charlotte G. Hicks, of Milner, North Dakota, and to them have been four chil- dren, of whom three are living, Ernestine Lois, Frederick J. and Hugh Warren.
Mr. Fleischer is a republican but not a narrow partisan. On the contrary he is a man of broad and liberal views, but is unfaltering in his allegiance to a prin- ciple in which he firmly believes. He has served as a delegate to the republican state conventions of Minnesota on two different occasions and he was city treas- urer of Pelican Rapids for a number of years. Since coming to Prescott he has also been called upon to fill positions of public honor and trust by his fellow citi-
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zens, who recognized his splendid ability as a business man and desired that the city might benefit by that ability. He was made a member of the city council, in which he served for a number of years, and for two years he has been mayor of Prescott. His administration is businesslike and progressive. It has resulted in bringing about various improvements and while he avoids all useless expend- iture he also equally avoids that retrenchment which blocks public progress. In a word his sound judgment discriminates between the essential and the non- essential in regard to municipal affairs just as surely as it does in relation to the interests of the bank, which has grown so steadily under his direction.
Mr. Fleischer is well known in Masonic circles, holding membership in Waitsburg Lodge, No. 16, F. & A. M .; Walla Walla Chapter, No. I, R. A. M .; and Washington Commandery, No. 1, K. T. He is also identified with El Katif Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Spokane, and he belongs to Whetstone Lodge, No. 157, K. P., of Prescott, in which latter he has held all the chairs. He and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star at Waitsburg and both are actively identified with the Federated church of Prescott, taking an active and helpful interest in all that pertains to the improvement and upbuilding of their city along material, intellectual, social and moral lines. Without invidious distinction Mr. Fleischer may well be termed one of the foremost men of Pres- cott, loyal to every interest of general benefit, while his course in private affairs marks him as a man of high honor.
JOSEPHUS M. MOORE.
Josephus M. Moore came to Walla Walla county in 1870 and during the many years of his residence here became widely and favorably known. Hc was born in Rock Island, Illinois, September 17, 1838, a son of Amos L .. and Mary Moore, both of whom were natives of Ohio, whence they removed to Illinois when the Prairie state was still but thinly settled. Still later they removed to a new frontier, coming to Walla Walla county, Washington in 1868, and here both passed away. To them were born five children.
Josephus M. Moore received his education in the public schools of Illinois and remained with his parents during his boyhood and youth. He continued to reside in the middle west until 1870, when he decided to try his fortune in the Pacific coast country, concerning which he had heard excellent reports. He arrived in Old Walla Walla county, Washington, in July, 1870, and turned his attention to farming in what is now Garfield county. This occupation claimed his time and energies throughout his remaining days. He was energetic and resolute and overcame all obstacles that lay between him and success, gaining a substantial competence.
Mr. Moore was married in Ohio to Miss Louisa Prescott, by whom he had one daughter, Mary, now the wife of Walter Preston, of Portland, Oregon. On coming to Washington Mr. Moore was accompanied by his wife and daughter. and Mrs. Moore died here some years later. In 1894 Mr. Moore was again married. his second union being with Miss Eva Abbott, a native of Ohio. Her parents, S. J. and Chiloe (Russell) Abbott, were born respectively in Vermont
JOSEPHUS M. MOORE
MRS. JOSEPHUS M. MOORE
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and Ohio, but in 1862 made the long journey across the great plains to California, where they remained until 1880. In that year they came to Walla Walla county, Washington, and both are still living here, the father at the age of eighty-three years and the mother at the age of eighty. Both are still keen of mind and active of body and they are one of the most highly esteemed couples in the county. Four of the seven children born to them survive. To Mr. and Mrs. Moore was born a son, Amos A., who was graduated from the military academy at Staun- ton, Virginia; later was a student in the State University of Washington, at Seattle, and is now a student at Walla Walla Business College.
Mr. Moore was a stanch advocate of republican principles and served with much satisfaction to his constituents in a number of local offices. The principles of conduct which guided his life were found in the teachings of the Masonic order, to which he belonged. His death occurred September 24, 1901, and he was buried in Mountain View cemetery. He was a man of many admirable traits and those who knew him well still cherish his memory. Mrs. Moore makes her home in the city of Walla Walla, where she owns a fine residence situated on five acres of ground.
ROBERT O. SANDERS.
Robert O. Sanders is living retired in Waitsburg, although for a long period he was actively identified with farming interests in Walla Walla county, and his capable management of his business affairs brought to him the measure of success which he is now enjoying. He was born in Jefferson county, Illinois, October 8, 1852, and is a son of Jacob and Mary ( Breeze) Sanders. The father was a native of Indiana, while the mother's birth occurred in Illinois, where for many years they resided and where both passed away. In their family were seven children, four of whom are yet living.
Robert O. Sanders spent the period of his boyhood and youth upon the home farm in Illinois with the usual experiences that fall to the lot of the lad who divides his time between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the play- ground and the work of the fields. When he was sixteen years of age his father died and he continued to assist his mother until he attained his majority, when he began farming on his own account. In 1888 he removed to Walla Walla, since which time he has resided in the northwest, his connection with this section of the country now covering a period of almost thirty years. He began farming here and first rented land and while thus engaged he carefully saved his earnings until his industry and economy had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to purchase a farm. That he has prospered as the years have gone by is indicated in the fact that he now owns three hundred and twenty acres which he has greatly improved. It is wheat land and is cultivated according to the most pro- gressive and scientific methods of crop production. His work has always been carefully performed and his industry and diligence have brought substantial results. He continued personally to cultivate his place until 1902, when he retired from active farm life and removed to Waitsburg, where he is now living.
On January 29, 1874, Mr. Sanders was married to Miss Eva Harned, a native
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of Indiana, and they became the parents of seven children: Addie, the wife of O. W. Abbey; Maud, who married J. W. Cram; Samuel C., living in Oregon ; Alva H., who occupies his father's farm; and three who died in infancy.
Fraternally Mr. Sanders is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Touchet Lodge, No. 5, while both he and his wife are con- nected with the Rebekahs. In politics he is a republican, having always been a firm believer in the principles of the party. He has served as school director for ten years and it is his earnest desire that excellent educational advantages shall be given to the youth of this section of the state. He and his wife are consistent members of the Christian church and have guided their lives according to its teachings. They are influenced by high principles of conduct and their genuine worth has commended them to the friendship and regard of all with whom they have been associated. The record of Mr. Sanders should serve to inspire and encourage others, showing what may be accomplished when one has the will to dare and to do, for he started out in life empty-handed and whatever success he has achieved or enjoyed has been won through his persistency of purpose, his unremitting diligence and his business integrity.
EMERY FLATITERS.
Emery Flathers, who followed farming on section 31, township 10 north, range 36 east, is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of Walla Walla county. From an early period in the development in this section of the state the family has taken an active part in the work of general progress and improvement and is particularly well and favorably known in connection with the agricultural development of this section. Emery Flathers was born on the old homestead farm adjoining the town of Prescott, March 27, 1872, a son of Ben- jamin F. and Melinda S. (McQuown) Flathers. The father was a native of Louisville, Kentucky, while the mother was a native of Virginia.
Upon the old homestead Emery Flathers was reared and in the schools of Prescott he pursued his education. In 1905 he entered into partnership with his brothers, John and Charles, and for five years they were associated in farming operations. In 1910, however, Emery Flathers withdrew from the firm and since that time has rented his land and lived retired. He owns two hundred acres, constituting a valuable property, and his rental returns to him a very gratifying income.
On December 23, 1908, Mr. Flathers was married to Miss Rae E. Dunlap, a daughter of John K. Dunlap, who has passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Flathers became the parents of two children, a son and a daughter, Howard and Frances. Mrs. Flathers departed this life July 17, 1915, and her death was deeply regretted not only by her immediate family but by many friends.
Mr. Flathers is independent in politics, voting for the men and measures he considers of the best interest of all the people. He keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day but neither seeks nor desires office. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Waitsburg Lodge, No. 16. A. F. & A. M .; Walla Walla Chapter, No. 1, R. A. M., of Walla Walla ; and
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Washington Commandery, K. T., also of Walla Walla. He has likewise crossed the sands of the desert with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, being a member of El Katif Temple of Spokane. He is a substantial citizen, widely and favorably known by reason of his business ability, his loyalty in citizenship and his personal worth. For forty-five years he has been a resident of Walla Walla county, wit- nessing its growth and development. He has lived to see its pioneer cabins re- placed by commodious and substantial residences, its wild lands converted into productive fields, its hamlets developed into thriving cities, and as the years have gone by he has ever willingly cooperated in any plan or movement for the gen- eral good.
ALFRED J. BOLTER.
Alfred J. Bolter is a retired farmer living in Dixie. For a long period he was actively and prominently connected with agricultural interests and acquired several hundred acres of valuable land, from which he derived a very gratifying annual income as a result of the care and labor which he bestowed upon the fields. Moreover, his life record shows what may be accomplished by determined effort and perseverance, for he started out empty-handed and is now the pos- sessor of a very substantial competence which enables him to rest from further labor. He was born in Northampton, Massachusettts, in September, 1853, a son of Ziba and Christina Bolter, the former a native of Massachusetts, while the latter was born in the state of New York. They spent their entire lives in the east and there they reared their family of ten children, nine of whom are yet living.
Alfred J. Bolter passed the days of his boyhood and youth in Massachusetts and is indebted to the public school system of that state for the educational oppor- tunities which he enjoyed. In 1875, when a young man of twenty-two years, he came to the west and first settled in Dallas, Oregon, where he remained for three years. In 1878 he removed to Walla Walla county and took up a home- stead sixteen miles north of the city of Walla Walla. With characteristic energy he began its development and improvement and occupied that place for ten years, during which time his labors wrought a marked transformation in its appearance. He then disposed of that property and invested in two hundred and eighty acres near Dixie. From time to time he extended the boundaries of his farm until it now comprises seven hundred acres, all of which is improved land and returns to him a most substantial annual income. He continued actively to develop his fields until 1902, when he retired, and since that time he has rented his land, while he is enjoying a well earned rest.
Mr. Bolter was married in 1876 to Miss Elsie A. Crystal, a native of lowa, and they have become the parents of three children: Madie, the wife of S. M. Jones, now a resident of Spokane; Maud, who is the widow of Burt Roff; and Homer, who is engaged in merchandising in California.
Mr. Bolter belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has filled all of the chairs in Welcome Lodge, No. 117, in which he has membership. He has also been called to all of the different offices in the Knights of Pythias lodge and
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is true and loyal to the teaching of these societies. He and his wife are members of the Christian church and endeavor to follow closely the Golden Rule. Their lives have been well spent, fraught with good deeds and actuated by kindly pur- poses. Many good things are spoken of them by friends and neighbors, who have enjoyed their companionship and who recognize their sterling worth in all the relations of life.
HON. JAMES EWEN EDMISTON.
Iligh on the roll of Washington's distinguished citizens appears the name of Hon. James Ewen Edmiston, deceased, who was for many years a resident of Dayton. His ideals of life were very high and in early manhood he displayed conspicuously the traits of character that made his career brilliantly successful. He performed all the duties that devolved upon him, however humble and how- ever small the recompense might be, conscientiously and industriously. Ile gave proof of his ability to cope with intricate problems of the law and his natural industry prompted him to prepare his cases with great thoroughness and care, so that he ever entered the courts well equipped to combat any attack or position of the opposing counsel. He lives in the memory of his friends enshrined in the halo of a gracious presence and of pronounced power in the legal profession.
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