USA > Washington > Asotin County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 20
USA > Washington > Columbia County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 20
USA > Washington > Garfield County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 20
USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 20
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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
WILLIAM T. LANE.
William T. Lane is a Civil war veteran and a retired farmer who is now living in Starbuck. He was born in Tennessee, December 27, 1841, and is a son of Tidence and Rebecca (Huhn) Lane, who were natives of Tennessee. The father was killed in that state by a falling tree. The mother afterward removed
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to Missouri, vhere her last days were passed. They had a family of three children but William T. is the only one now living.
Through:, the period of his boyhood and youth William T. Lane remained a resident of Tennessee but in 1865, when twenty-four years of age, went to Missouri and established his home in Johnson county. In 1880 he came to Columbia county, where he rented a farm for two years and later he invested his savings in land, becoming owner of a place four miles south of Starbuck, comprising four hundred acres. He occupied that farm for twenty years, devoting his time and energies to its further development and improvement with the result that he converted it into a most valuable and productive agricultural property. At length he sold the place and settled in Starbuck, where he now resides, and through the intervening period he has lived retired, enjoying a well earned rest.
In 1870 Mr. Lane was united in marriage to Miss Nettie Oliphant, a native of Missouri, and they became the parents of seven children: Nancy E., who is the wife of C. A. Gregory ; Hattie E., who is the wife of W. E. Phillips ; and five who have passed away. The wife and mother died in December, 1908, and was laid to rest in the Starbuck cemetery. She left a husband and two daughters to mourn her loss. She was devoted to the welfare of her family and had many excellent traits of character which endeared her to all with whom she was brought in contact.
Mr. Lane is a member of the Christian church. He is a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted in 1861 as a member of Company C, Sixty-first Tennessee Regiment. He was paroled at Vicksburg and came out without a scratch although he had taken part in several hotly contested battles. His life has been a busy and useful one, largely devoted to farming interests, and by unfaltering industry and determination he has advanced steadily on the highroad to success. He is one of the leading men of the valley in which he resides and is enjoying a prosperity which is the merited reward of his labors.
J. W. CLODIUS.
J. W. Clodius is a well known representative of farming interests in Walla Walla county, where he is now engaged in the cultivation of thirteen hundred acres of land. He makes his home on section 34, township 9 north, range 37 east, and his well directed energy and careful management are bringing to him sub- stantial success. He was born April 28, 1889, in the county where he yet resides, his parents being Hans F. and Catherine (Rhode) Clodius, who came to Walla Walla county in 1881. They were both natives of Germany, where they were reared and married, and about 1870 they crossed the Atlantic to the United States, settling in Illinois, where they remained until they came to Washington. On removing to the northwest they established their home in Walla Walla county and the father acquired land from time to time until he owned thirteen hundred acres. He settled on Mill creek and about 1897 removed to the home farm, upon which his son, J. W. Clodius, now resides. There he continued to live until 1913. when he put aside the active work of the fields and removed to Waitsburg, where he is now located. He is numbered among the honored and valued pioneer
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settlers of his section of the state and made for himself a creditable record in business circles, for through his individual effort, persistency of purpose and honorable dealing he gained a most substantial competence.
J. W. Clodius acquired a public school education and through the period of his boyhood and youth remained at home, assisting his father in the operation of the farm. Upon the latter's removal to Waitsburg he then took charge of the home property and is now engaged in cultivating thirteen hundred acres of rich land. He is thus numbered among the leading agriculturists of the community. The methods which he pursues are most practical and progressive. He is syste- matic and methodical in all that he does, he employs the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields and by energy and persistency of purpose is winning success.
On the 8th of November, 1911, MIr. Clodius was united ir marriage to Miss Ina Mary Harkins, of Waitsburg, a daughter of James Harkins, who is now deceased. Her mother, who bore the maiden name of Anna Elizabeth Harris, is now living on a farm in Bolles Junction. She was born, reared and married in Illinois, though her husband was a native of Davenport, Iowa. Shortly after their marriage they came west and located in Lane county, Oregon, where they remained until 1898 and then removed to Waitsburg, Washington, where the death of Mr. Harkins occurred. In their family were eight children, seven of whom are still living. Both Mr. and Mrs. Harkins held membership in the Christian church. Mr. and Mrs. Clodius have become the parents of two children, Emory W. and Brenda M.
Fraternally Mr. Clodius is connected with Walla Walla Lodge, No. 287, B. P. O. E. In politics he maintains an independent course, voting according to the dictates of his judgment. He is yet a comparatively young man but has made for himself a most creditable position in agricultural circles and the extent and importance of his farming interests are indicative of his business ability.
THEODORE GROTE.
Theodore Grote, one of the foremost farmers of Columbia county, Washing- ton, owning ten thousand acres of fine wheat and pasture land, was born in Germany, July 5, 1881, a son of John and Anna (Dryer) Grote, also natives of that country. In 1882 they emigrated to America with their family and took up their residence in Ohio, whence three years later they removed to Kansas. They resided in that state for three years and then came to Washington, first locating in Whitman county. In 1893, however, they removed to Walla Walla county, and there the father passed away in 1915, while the mother survives.
Theodore Grote, who is one of a family of five children, was brought to Washington when a child and in the acquirement of his education attended the common schools. In 1897 he began farming in partnership with his father and brothers, operating eighteen hundred acres of leased land. He devoted six years to that work and then removed to Canada, where for a year he was in the sheep business. He then returned to Walla Walla and purchased fifty-five hundred acres of land and leased six thousand acres. Four years later he sold his property
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to liis brother Ben, but after a period of two years he again purchased land. becoming the owner of a valuable tract in Columbia County on section IO. township [I north, range 38 east. He has since added to his holdings and is now the owner of ten thousand acres, of which forty-three hundred acres is wheat land and the remainder pasture land. He has a herd of six hundred head of cattle and his stock raising interests are very profitable. As a wheat grower he met with unusual success, and he is always among the first to adopt a new method or implement of value. He is systematic and businesslike in the management of his affairs, realizing that the day of haphazard, unthinking farming has passed.
Mr. Grote was married in February, 1911, to Miss Matie C. Baumann, who was born in Washington. He is an advocate of the principles of the republican party but confines his participation in public affairs to the exercise of his right of franchise. He belongs to the Elks at Walla Walla and is a member of the Masonic Lodge, No. 106 F. & A. M., at Starbuck and of the Royal Arch Chapter at Dayton. His ability stands out as an unquestioned fact and it is generally recognized that he is an important factor in the development of Columbia county along agricultural and stock raising lines.
A. G. LLOYD. » :
Fifty-eight years ago A. G. Lloyd became a resident of Walla Walla county and in a little log cabin began life in true pioneer, style., He had, however, been a resident of the west for a much longer period. the family home having been established in Oregon in 1845. He was born in Missouri, July 25, 1836, his parents being John and Nancy (Walker) Lloyd, both of whom were natives of North Carolina. At a very early period they removed westward to Missouri and in 1845 crossed the plains with ox teams, making the long wearisome journey across the hot stretches of sand and over the mountains, three years before gold had been discovered in California, at which later time the trails to the west were more definitely marked and more easily followed. They located in Benton county, Oregon, where the father took up a donation claim of six hundred acres. There he built a log cabin covered with a clapboard roof and the chimney was built on the outside of the primitive dwelling. Hardships and privations fell to their lot but with stout hearts and undiminished courage they put forth every effort to establish a home on the western frontier and were active with those who were planting the seeds of civilization in Washington. The mother died while the family resided upon the homestead farm and the father afterward removed to Colfax, Washington, where he passed away in 1875. In their family were nine children, but one of whom is now living.
A. G. Lloyd was reared and educated in Oregon, having been but a little lad of nine summers at the time of the removal to the west. There was no phase of pioneer life with which he was not familiar. He served in the Indian war on the Walla Walla river and was in the Seven-Day fight. He became familiar with all of the methods of treacherous warfare practiced by the savages and he aided in reclaiming the region for the purposes of civilization. He was mustered out in July, 1856, and returned to the work of the farm.
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In 1858 he was united in marriage to Miss Lois Jasper, a native of Kentucky and a daughter of John and Mary ( Heath) Jasper, who were also natives of the Blue Grass state, whence in 1842 they removed to St. Joseph, Missouri. The father died in that state and the mother with her family of six children after- ward, in 1854, crossed the plains and became a resident of Benton county, Oregon. In the family were eight children, of whom three are now living.
Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd began their domestic life in Oregon, but in July, 1859, removed to Walla Walla county, Washington, where he secured a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres two and a half miles from Waitsburg on the Touchet river. Upon his land he built a log cabin with puncheon floor and door. The home was most primitive but it sheltered stout hearts and willing hands. They bravely faced the conditions of pioneer life in order to secure a home for themselves and for eight years they lived upon that place without change. At the end of that time Mr. Lloyd was able to purchase more land and his widow now owns two hundred acres, for some of which she has been offered three hundred dollars per acre. The rapid settlement of this section of the country, together with the improvements made upon the farm, have greatly enhanced the value of the property, which returns to Mrs. Lloyd a very gratifying annual income. In his business career Mr. Lloyd displayed marked diligence and determination and his farming interests were wisely and carefully managed, so that he became recognized as one of the foremost agriculturists of this section of the state. As the years went on eleven children were added to the family, of whom six are now living, namely: J. C., who is in California ; G. M., a resident of Waitsburg; Wesley A., who is occupying the old homestead ; Gilla Ann, the wife of C. C. Milinger, of Spokane, Washington; Ralph G., also living in this state ; and Angeline, the wife of F. G. Aldridge.
The death of the husband and father occurred January 5, 1915, since which time Mrs. Lloyd has personally managed the farm. Mr. Lloyd not only figured as one of the leading representatives of agricultural life in Walla Walla county but was a most prominent and influential factor in other connections. He attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite in Masonry and held all of the chairs in the different Masonic branches with which he was affiliated. His political allegiance was given the democratic party and he was one of its recognized leaders. His opinions carried weight in its councils and his efforts were an element in advancing its success. Five times he was elected to represent his district in the general assembly of Washington and he left the impress of his in- dividuality upon many important legislative measures which were enacted during that period. He closely studied the questions and issues of the day and gave his aid and support to any measure or movement which he believed would promote the interests of the commonwealth and stood with equal firmness in opposition to any cause which he believed would be detrimental to the welfare of the community at large. His position was never an equivocal one and he loyally supported every measure in which he believed. None questioned the integrity of his opinions or of his actions. He served as a delegate to both county and state conventions and did much to mold public thought and opinion. Mrs. Lloyd is a member of the Eastern Star and also of the Rebekah lodge and in these organizations has filled all of the chairs. She is a consistent member of the Presbyterian church, while Mr. Lloyd was a member of the Methodist Episcopal
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church. He was prominent as a man whose constantly expanding powers took him from humble surroundings to the field of large enterprises and continually broadening opportunities. He was reared upon the western frontier and the effort required to live in those ungenerous surroundings, the necessity to make · every blow tell and to exercise every inventive faculty developed powers of mind and habits which made him a forceful and resourceful business man and citizen. The early rising, the daily tasks, the economical habits of the country boy prepared him for the struggle that must precede ascendency and step by step Mr. Lloyd gained success in business and prominence in public life.
W. M. TAYLOR.
W. M. Taylor resides in Waitsburg but is identified with farming on section 31, township 9 north, range 38 east, in Columbia county. He has resided in this state since reaching the age of eighteen years. He was born in Johnson county, Missouri, January 31, 1861, and is a son of Simon and Harriet ( Bur- gess) Taylor, who are mentioned in connection with the sketch of his brother, Charles M. Taylor, on another page of this work. The public school system of his native county afforded him his educational privileges. He made good use of his time and opportunities in that direction and when not busy with his text- books he was assisting in the work of the home farm and thus learning valuable lessons in the school of experience. He had reached the age of eighteen years when he came to Washington, after which he remained at home, cooperating with his father in the development and improvement of a new farm up to the time of his marriage. In the meantime, however, he and his brothers, G. B., J. W. and J. F. Taylor, bought eight hundred acres of land, which they cultivated in partnership, and they also operated one thousand acres belonging to Whit- man College. This they leased and the four brothers continued their farming interests together until about 1907, when a division of their holdings was made, and W. M. Taylor acquired three hundred and sixty acres of the land that had been held conjointly before. He has since purchased two hundred and forty acres adjoining his other tract, so that his home farm now comprises six hundred acres and constitutes one of the valuable wheat ranches of Columbia county. The soil is particularly adapted to wheat raising and the crops pro- duced are most extensive and gratifying, for the methods which Mr. Taylor follows in the development of his fields are practical. All of the work on the farm is systematically done and is guided by his sound judgment. He uses the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields and there is no equipment of the model farm property of the twentieth century that is not found upon his place.
On September 18, 1889, occurred the marriage of Mr. Taylor and Miss Flora Kinyoun, of Johnson county, Missouri, who came to Washington to teach music in 1887. By her marriage she became the mother of two children: Har- riet E., the wife of R. B. McElroy, of Spokane, Washington; and Laura E., the wife of Theodore Holsey, of Spokane, this state. The wife and mother passed away in 1897 and on November 29, 1899, Mr. Taylor was again mar-
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ried, his second union being with Mrs. Lillian Devall, née Pinkley, who was a teacher in the public schools of Walla Walla and Columbia counties. To this marriage has been born a daughter, Florence G.
Fraternally Mr. Taylor is connected with Touchet Lodge, No. 5, I. O. O. F., and he also belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His political views are in accord with the principles of the democratic party. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church and their lives are guided by its teachings and its principles. Aside from his farming interests Mr. Taylor became one of the incorporators of the Exchange Bank of Waitsburg, of which he is still a stockholder. He has made for himself a very creditable position as a substantial farmer and representative citizen of Columbia county. After the harvests are gathered he takes up his abode in Waitsburg, where he has an attractive city home and there spends the winters. The extent and importance of his business interests have made him widely and favorably known and his life record should serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others. indicating what may be accomplished through persistent and honorable effort. He has aided in demonstrating the possibilities for grain farming in this sec- tion of the state and the worth of his work, both as a source of individual suc- cess and of general prosperity, is widely acknowledged.
: CHRISTIAN STURM, SR.
Christian Sturm, who was one of the best known and most highly esteemed pioneers of the Walla Walla valley, was born in the kingdom of Wurttemberg, Germany, April 14, 1834. At the age of seventeen, accompanied by a brother, he came to the United States, the ocean voyage taking forty-two days.
He enjoyed telling a good joke on himself which occurred when he landed in New York with little of this world's goods. He met with a traveling Jew who said to him: "Carry these bags and suit cases for me several blocks and I'll pay you twenty-five cents." He accepted the offer and carried the luggage blocks and blocks until, finally in the heart of the city, they entered a building and climbed several flights of stairs. On one of the top floors the Jew took the luggage and asked him to wait a few minutes and he would return and pay him. He waited and waited patiently but the generous Jewish gentleman never re- turned. It was some little time before it dawned on him that he was "stung." It was a lesson, for the errand caused him to miss his boat and, also, his brother whom he never saw again. That night he spent sight-seeing about New York, and while standing about admiring what was a most wonderful building to him he was thrown into jail where he was compelled to remain until morning and he often remarked, "his first and only time in jail was his first night in America."
After finishing his education in New York, he moved to Delaware and after spending two years in that state he went to Philadelphia where he enlisted in the service of the U. S. army in 1857. Shortly afterwards his company was moved to Newport, Kentucky, and then to New York; then, by the isthmus of Panama route to San Francisco and from the last named place to Astoria. Astoria at that time had but few buildings. Soon after he was stationed at Vancouver and
CHRISTIAN STURM. SR.
MRS. CHRISTIAN STURM, SR.
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a little later at the Cascades. With his company he walked to the upper Cas- cades and took the boat to The Dalles and from there he marched with his troop to Fort Walla Walla. He was five years in the army and during his enlistment he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. In the army he saw much real fight- ing. In 1858 he was in the expedition to Colville, which was in command of Colonel Wright. They encountered the Indians, nearly twelve thousand strong, who opened fire on the troops, and the famous battle of Steptoe was fought. During this battle Captain Taylor was killed. Captain Taylor was wearing a silk sash which he took off and presented to Lieutenant Sturm of whom he was very fond. The sash he always kept in memory of momentous hours of danger and as a sacred memento of a true friendship, and it now hangs in its familiar place in his widow's home. The Indians that fought at Steptoe consisted of the Yakimas, Colvilles, Palouses, Spokanes and Coeur d'Alenes. In this famous battle the troops fortified themselves on Steptoe Butte and how bravely they fought history tells. During the battle many Indians were dispatched and as many as one thousand Indian ponies were killed.
After retiring from the army as lieutenant, acting as assistant quartermaster, First Cavalry United States of America, 1862, at Fort Walla Walla (the same fort that President Wilson ordered used in 1917 for a training camp for the Washington State Field Artillery, under command of Major Paul Weyrauch) the wonderful opportunities of the Inland Empire country made a strong appeal to Mr. Sturm. After spending a year mining at Orofino, Idaho, he returned to Walla Walla and went into the livery business with Fred Kraft. After a short time he disposed of his interest in the livery and engaged in the general merchandise business with O. B. Brechtel for a partner. Their store was one of the first in Walla Walla; it was a headquarters for miners returning from the Orofino placer mines ; the miners would deposit their gold dust with Messrs. Sturm and Brechtel for safe keeping, there being no banks at that time in Walla Walla. After remaining in the mercantile business for five years Mr. Sturm bought one hundred and sixty acres of land from H. M. Chase two and one-half miles from Walla Walla and engaged in farming. He acquired another adjoin- ing one hundred and sixty acres; also homesteaded one hundred and sixty and preempted one hundred and sixty ; then, in later years, he bought five hundred acres more. He was one of the most successful wheat and stock raisers in the valley.
Mr. Sturm was married in 1865 to Miss Marietta Roff. Four sons and two daughters were born to this union and two sons and two daughters survive. Mrs. Sturm was born September 12, 1844, a daughter of Frederick Roff. Her girlhood was spent in Illinois, but in 1864 she with her parents left Quincy, that state, and they crossed the plains and mountains, using ox and horse teams, the crossing requiring six months. Many were the hardships they endured. Among others, their oxen got on a "poisoned meadow" and died. During the last part of their journey they traveled with a government train and arrived in Walla Walla, October 16, 1864. Mrs. Sturm's father, Frederick Roff, was perhaps the first man to take up a homestead in the valley, filing on one hundred and sixty acres about two and a half miles east of Walla Walla. He there resided until his death, August 2, 1890. Mrs. Sturm survives her husband and resides at the old Sturm home in Walla Walla. More extended mention in
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regard to the family of Frederick Roff is made in connection with the sketch of Oliver DeWitt, whose wife is a sister of Mrs. Sturm.
Mr. Sturm, who died on January 11, 1909, was one of the foremost pioneers of the western country. Taking up his abode in the northwest when Walla Walla boasted but a few log buildings and the tributary country was but a wilder- ness, he was one of those sturdy, upright characters who did his full share to help develop the country and make it the success it is today. At all times public spirited and keenly alive and devoted to the interests of the community he was one of the country's true builders. As one of the distinguished pioneers of the country-as a man who performed many good deeds in his day-his name will always be remembered and ever held in the highest respect.
WILLIAM M. SCOTT.
William M. Scott belonged to that class of honored pioneers who have laid broad and deep the foundation upon which has been built the present prosperity and greatness of the state of Washington. He was a resident of Walla Walla from 1905 until his death and for many years was prominently identified with the wheat industry in Umatilla county, Oregon. He was born in McLean county. Illinois, December 29, 1837, and was a son of John B. and Rena (Halsey) Scott. During his infancy he was taken by his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Halsey, with whom he remained until his ninth year, when his uncle, Dr. A. K. Scott, became his foster father, and with him William M. Scott remained until 1855, when at the age of eighteen years he started out in life independently. Ile went to Coffey county, Kansas, where he remained for one year and then started to return to Illinois but stopped off in Daviess county, Missouri, and decid- ed to remain. He there continued until 1859, when he again went to Kansas and i11 1860 he started across the plains for the western country, his objective point being the Walla Walla valley, of which he had heard much. The lure of the California gold fields, however, drew him as a magnet and his course was diverted. He was one of the party to which J. L. Stubblefield belonged. The company subsequently divided but Mr. Scott and others proceeded to California. After spending several months in that state he came, in 1861, northward and located at McMinnville, Oregon, where he attended college for a time. In 1862 he engaged in freighting with ox teams from Wallula to Lewiston and subse- quently from The Dalles to the Idaho mines. In the fall of 1863 he went to Salem, Oregon, where he resided for seven years. He then crossed the moun- tains, locating near Prineville, where he was engaged in the live stock business for eight years. In 1878 he removed to Umatilla county, Oregon, where he took up a homestead and a timber culture near Helix. One of these claims subse- quently sold for two hundred dollars, but later he bought it back for forty-two hundred dollars. He acquired a full section of six hundred and forty acres of the best land in the wheat belt and engaged in farming eight hundred acres, leasing a quarter section adjoining his place. One year he harvested sixty-six bushels of wheat to the acre upon his farm and he averaged from year to year from forty to forty-five bushels. He experienced all the hardships and priva-
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