USA > Washington > Asotin County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 29
USA > Washington > Columbia County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 29
USA > Washington > Garfield County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 29
USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 29
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GRANT LOW.
Grant Low, a resident farmer of Columbia county, living on section 3, town- ship 10 north, range 40 east, is numbered among the native sons of North Caro- lina, his birth having occurred within the borders of the Old North state De- cember 25, 1870. His parents were Samuel and Dillie (Proctor) Low, who were also natives of North Carolina, where they spent their entire lives, the father there conducting a plantation.
Grant Low was reared upon the old home farm until his sixteenth year and acquired but a limited common school education. His parents died when he was a youth of ten years and he was placed with a guardian, for whom he worked for his board and clothes. He did not like the treatment he received. however, and at the age of sixteen hie ran away from his foster parents and went to Missouri, where he was employed as a farm hand for three years. In July, 1889, he made his way westward to Dayton, Washington, where he arrived with a cash capital of but five dollars. His financial condition rendered it im- perative that he secure immediate employment and soon afterward he began working for wages at farm labor, spending three years in that way. He next
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purchased a place of one hundred and sixty acres on credit. He did not have a cent with which to make an initial payment but he possessed courage and determination and was not afraid to work. Moreover, he recognized the eternal principle that industry wins. He began farming for himself and within the next five years was able to clear his place of all indebtedness. From that time for- ward he has steadily added to his holdings until he now has twelve hundred and forty acres in his home farm and he owns altogether forty-four hundred acres near Starbuck, in Columbia county, of which eighteen hundred acres is valuable farm land. He operates altogether three thousand acres of his own land and six hundred acres belonging to the Dwelly estate, which he farms under lease. He is one of the leading agriculturists of southeastern Washington, his business affairs having been most carefully man- aged and his investments most judiciously made. He employs progressive methods in the care and cultivation of his land and he has added many improve- ments to his farm, which is today valuable and which constitutes one of the attractive features in the landscape.
On December 3, 1891, Mr. Low was united in marriage to Miss Oral Mon- nett, of Covello, Columbia county, Washington, a daughter of Wallace Mon- nett and a sister of A. A. Monnett, one of the prominent business men of Day- ton. Mr. and Mrs. Low became the parents of five children, four of whom survive, namely : Nellie, Josie, Alberta and Donald. All are at home.
Mr. Low gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is a stanch advocate of its principles but does not seek nor desire office as a reward for party fealty. He has always preferred to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs and, working steadily and persistently, he has gained a comfortable competence, being numbered among the leading and progressive agriculturists of Columbia county.
ANGUS McKAY.
Angus McKay, a well known and enterprising farmer of Walla Walla county, was born in Canada on the 13th of January, 1836, and is a son of Angus and Margaret (Campbell) Mckay, both of Highland Scotch birth. In 1832 they crossed the Atlantic and settled in Canada, where they continued to make their home until called from this life. To them were born eight children but Angus is the only one of the number now living.
Mr. Mckay grew to manhood in Canada with the usual advantages of a boy of that period, attending school as he found opportunity. He subsequently served three years apprenticeship in a general merchandise store and remained in the Dominion in various capacities until in 1861 he left Canada and came to Walla Walla, Washington, where he engaged in the confectionery and to- bacco business for five years. His former experience stood him in good stead and that he was successful along business lines is evident from the fact that at the end of that period he was enabled to secure a homestead of three hun- dred and twenty acres on Russell creek and he has since given his time and
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attention to farming with good results, becoming one of the well-to-do men of his community.
In 1866 Mr. Mckay married Mrs. Mary A. Winship, a native of Ohio, who crossed the plains with her parents in 1852 in a covered wagon drawn by ox teams and settled in Oregon. To this union have been born seven children, of whom three are living, namely: March, residing and assisting on the ranch ; Angus, living in Prossor; and Bessie, the wife of Oscar M. Shelton.
Mr. and Mrs. McKay are living on the ranch which has been their home for over half a century and besides this property they own a residence in the city of Walla Walla. Fraternally Mr. Mckay is a member of the Masonic order and being a strong temperance man he organized the first Good Templars lodge in this region in 1866. In politics he is a republican and for fifty years he has efficiently served as justice of the peace, his rulings being fair and impartial. He has also filled the office of assessor for several years and no trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed in the slightest degree. His honorable principles have won him many friends and all who know him hold him in the highest esteem.
JOHN W. FOLEY.
The life record of John W. Foley spells success. He has succeeded in what- ever he has undertaken by reason of close application, determined purpose and indefatigable energy. Early in life, when little more than a youth, he started out upon a mercantile career in Adam, Oregon, and the prosperity which at- tended that venture gave him his start for bigger things. He was likewise suc- cessful in the live stock business and later in farming operations, which he has carried on extensively, being regarded today as one of the foremost repre- sentatives of agricultural interests in Garfield county, his home being on section 3, township 12 north, range 41 east. He was born in the Willamette valley of Oregon on the Ist of November, 1866, and is a son of Francis and Hannah (Reese) Foley. The father is a native of Ohio and the mother of Kansas and in early life they crossed the plains, becoming residents of Oregon. They now make their home in California.
Liberal educational advantages were accorded John W. Foley. After mas- tering the branches of learning taught in the public schools he became a student in the Willamette University of Salem, Oregon, and subsequently attended the Portland University, thus becoming well qualified for life's practical and respon- sible duties. In young manhood he turned his attention to the hardware busi- ness, establishing a store in Adam, Oregon, where he remained for two years. The venture proved profitable and he sold out at a good advance. He then went to Rock Lake in Whitman county, Washington, and for seven years was engaged in the cattle business. Again success attended his undertaking and on the expiration of that period he removed to Walla Walla, where he was engaged in the hardware and implement business for two years. He also devoted a part of his attention to farming when in Walla Walla county and in March, 1916, he took up his abode upon his present home farm in Meadow Gulch, Garfield
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county, where he owns sixteen hundred acres of rich and valuable land that responds readily to the care and cultivation which he bestows upon it. In busi- ness affairs he displays sound judgment and discriminates readily between the essential and the non-essential, discarding the latter and utilizing the former to the best possible advantage.
In 1893 Mr. Foley was united in marriage to Miss Edith Babcock, a daughter of W. A. Babcock, one of the early pioneer settlers of Whitman county who is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Foley have three children: Harold F., Eva and Wayne C. Mr. Foley gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is a stanch advocate of its principles but he has no desire for public office. He and his wife are consistent members of the Methodist church, contributing gen- erously to its support and doing their part in its work. They are interested in all that pertains to the welfare and upbuilding of the community in which they reside and have been active factors in advancing its material, social and moral progress. They are widely and favorably known and the hospitality of the best homes of their locality is accorded them.
ANDREW J. ABEL.
Among the well known residents of Columbia county is Andrew J. Abel, a retired farmer. He was born in Indiana, October 28. 1838, a son of Andrew and Sarah Abel, both of whom were Hoosiers by birth. They grew to mature years and were married in Indiana but in 1840 removed with their family to Iowa, whence, in 1864, they set out by wagon for the far west. They at length reached Old Walla Walla county. Washington, and took up their residence on a farm near Dayton. Their first home in this section was a log cabin with a slab floor and a clapboard roof. Subsequently good buildings were erected upon the place, and the parents resided there until their death.
Andrew J. Abel, who is one of two living children of a family of ten, received the greater part of his education in Iowa and there grew to manhood. Upon removing to Washington with the other members of the family in 1864 he took a preemption claim in Paddock Hollow, and there he maintained his home for six years. At the end of that time he sold this place and took up as a home- stead the farm on which he still lives. This comprises two hundred and forty acres, is in a high state of cultivation and is well improved. During his active life he gave the closest attention to the management of his affairs and as the years passed his resources increased. He is now in good financial circumstances and is living practically retired.
Mr. Abel married Miss Sarah A. Brodhead, and they have had eleven chil- dren, of whom eight survive, namely: Andrew J., Jr .; Maria J., the wife of James Woodward: Sarah E., who married William Newby ; Cora A .. now Mrs. Charles Ingram; Adele, the wife of Seymour Litter; Maud, the wife of Sterling Litter ; Chester, a resident of Columbia county ; and Tressie, who married Lenn Collins, now of Missouri.
Mr. Abel gives his political allegiance to the democratic party but has not served in any office with the exception of that of member of the school board.
MR. AND MRS. ANDREW J. ABEL
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His wife belongs to the Christian church and he also casts his influence on the side of right and justice. For more than five decades he has been an interested witness of the progress that has been made in Old Walla Walla county, and his reminiscences of the early days are of much interest to the younger genera- tion who are growing up amid conditions vastly different from those that their parents found here.
SMITH OWENS GWINN.
Smith Owens Gwinn is successfully engaged in farming on section 20, town- ship II north, range 40 east, in Columbia county. He was born in Putnam county, Missouri, February 17, 1855, his parents being William and Nancy (Triplett) Gwinn, both of whom were natives of Kentucky, where they were reared and married. Soon afterward they removed to Putnam county, Missouri, where they resided until 1864, when they heard and heeded the call of the west. The stories which reached them concerning the opportunities on the Pacific coast led them to the determination to try their fortune in Washington. With ox teams and wagons they traveled across the plains, being six months on the journey, and at length they established their home in Walla Walla county, six miles east of Walla Walla, where the father purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, for which he paid eighteen hundred dollars. Today the same property is worth forty thousand dollars. He lived upon that farm for a num- ber of years and then sold the property, after which he took up his abode in the city of Walla Walla, spending his remaining days in the enjoyment of well earned rest. He had acquired a comfortable competence sufficient to meet all of his needs and also sufficient to supply him with the comforts of life. He passed away in 1897, while his widow survived for about twelve years, her death occurring in 1909. In his political views Mr. Gwinn was a democrat, giv- ing stalwart allegiance to the party. He served as county assessor of Walla Walla county before it was divided, occupying that position for three or four years. He was widely known throughout the county, ranking as a representative business man and progressive citizen, and as a pioneer he contributed much to the early development of his section of the state. He and his wife were con- sistent and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church and were people of the highest respectability, enjoying the goodwill and confidence of all with whom they were associated. They left the impress of their individuality for good upon the material, political and moral development of the community.
Smith O. Gwinn was a lad of but nine years at the time of the removal of the family to Washington, so that he pursued his education largely in the schools of this district. He attended the Maxson school on Russell creek and on reach- ing his majority he began farming on his own account, renting land for that purpose. He raised two crops in Walla Walla county and in the fall of 1877 removed to Columbia county, where he homesteaded eighty acres. He failed, however, to get water on his land and therefore sold his right, after which he purchased another eighty acres with water on it. About 1880 he disposed of that farm and invested in his present home place of one hundred and sixty acres.
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In 1895 he leased this farm to Charlie Thronson and removed to Dayton, where he turned his attention to the livery business, with which he was identified for four years. Later he was engaged in various lines of business and retained his residence in Dayton until 1904, when he removed to Portland, where he resided for two years. He then went to Spokane, where the following year was passed, after which he returned to Portland, Oregon, where he again lived for three years. Once more he took up his abode in Spokane, where he remained until July, 1917, when he returned to the old home farm in Columbia county. Upon this place he has recently erected one of the most commodious and beautiful country homes in southeastern Washington and he has added many other mod- ern improvements which add to the value and attractive appearance of the place. He also owns four hundred and eighty acres of land which constitutes one of the valuable wheat ranches of Columbia county. His business affairs are care- fully managed and his unfaltering energy has carried him steadily forward to the goal of success.
Mr. Gwinn votes with the democratic party, of which he has been a stal- wart champion since attaining his majority. He belongs to Touchet Lodge, I. O. O. F., and is one of the well known citizens of Columbia county who has gained a gratifying measure of success owing to his close application and indefatigable energy. His efforts have been a contributing factor in bringing about the splen- did results that have been achieved in making southeastern Washington a nota- ble agricultural belt, especially adapted to wheat raising.
W. H. YOUNGER.
W. H. Younger, who superintends the operation of the Prescott mills as agent for the Portland Flouring Mills Company, the largest concern of the kind in the northwest, was born in Stockton, California, on the 29th of January, 1889, a son of Thomas W. and Nannie (Welch) Younger. For a period of forty- three years the father was connected with the Southern Pacific Railroad Com- pany as superintendent of motive power but has recently retired and now makes his home at Forest Grove, Oregon.
In the acquirement of his education W. H. Younger attended the public schools of Portland and also the Portland Academy. When a youth of sixteen years he entered the employ of the Portland Flouring Mills Company, securing a position as office boy in their Portland offices. With this important enter- prise he has been connected continuously to the present time, becoming thor- oughly familiar with every phase of the milling business, and that his services have been recognized as of value is indicated by his steady promotion. In 1909 he was made bookkeeper under E. H. Leonard, agent of the Prescott mills, serving in that capacity for four years or until the Ist of April, 1913, when he was appointed agent of the mills at Dayton, Washington. He had charge of the mills there for four years and on the Ist of May, 1917, was transferred to Pres- cott as agent at this point, in which connection he is making an excellent and most commendable record.
On the 28th of June, 1910, Mr. Younger was united in marriage to Miss
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Jessie Grace Anderson, of Portland, Oregon. Mr. Younger gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is deeply interested in matters of civic concern, having served as president of the Dayton Commercial Club and as a member of the Dayton Board of Trade. Fraternally he is identified with Dayton Lodge, F. & A. M., and he is also a charter member of Whetstone Lodge, No. 157, K. P., in which he has passed through all the chairs. His wife belongs to Trinity Episcopal church of Portland and both enjoy an enviable position in the social circles of Prescott, where they now make their home.
WILEY L. ARNOLD.
Wiley L. Arnold, a representative and successful agriculturist of Walla Walla county, resides on section 26, township 8 north, range 37 east, where he operates a well improved farm of forty-five acres, and he is also the owner of another valuable farm of one hundred and eighteen acres four miles distant from the aforementioned place. His birth occurred in Tennessee on the Sth of September, 1866, his parents being John and Anna Arnold, who spent their entire lives in that state. They had two sons, the brother of our subject being Grant, who is still a resident of Tennessee.
Wiley L. Arnold spent the period of his minority in his native state and in 1887, when a young man of twenty-one years, made his way to Spokane, Wash- ington. Soon afterward, however, he removed to Vancouver, Washington, where he also spent but a short time and then went to Grants Pass, Oregon, there remaining during a winter season. Subsequently he came to Walla Walla county, Washington, and here worked on a ranch for three and one-half years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Grants Pass, Oregon, but two years later again made his way to Walla Walla county and purchased the farm on which he now resides and to the cultivation of which he has devoted his atten- tion continuously to the present time. It is a highly improved property, com- prising forty-five acres on section 26, township 8 north, range 37 east, near Dixie. Mr. Arnold also owns another farm of one hundred and eighteen acres nearby and in the conduct of his agricultural interests has met with gratifying and well deserved success, being energetic, enterprising and progressive. He is also a stockholder in the warehouse at Sapellel.
In 1893 Mr. Arnold was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Perry, a native of California and a daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Shinn) Perry, the former born in Canada and the latter in Michigan. They made the trip to California in 1849 and after a number of years' residence in that state took up their abode in Grants Pass, Oregon, where they spent the remainder of their lives. They became the parents of twelve children, eight of whom survive. To Mr. and Mrs. Arnold have been born six children, as follows: Veora I., who is the wife of George W. Bruce; Marion Harvey; Zeffie A .; Sarah F .; Ivan W .; and one who died in infancy.
Mr. Arnold gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has ably served as school director here. Fraternally he is identified with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Lodge No. 117, and his wife is a
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consistent member of the Christian church. They are widely and favorably known in Walla Walla county and Mr. Arnold enjoys an enviable reputation as a self-made man whose success is the merited reward of his unremitting in- lustry and sound business judgment.
JOHN HOFFMANN.
John Hoffmann is one of the honored pioneer settlers of Walla Walla and of the Inland Empire. There is no phase of the frontier development with which he is not familiar, for he came here when the work of progress seemed scarcely begun. In the years which have since clapsed he has not only witnessed remark- able changes that have brought this county to a foremost place in the way of improvement and development but he has also taken a most active part in bring- ing about this result by reason of his extensive interests and activities as an agriculturist.
Mr. Hoffmann was born in Germany, March 28, 1852, and remained in that country until he reached the age of sixteen years, when his father sent him to the new world in order that he might escape Bismarck's compulsory military service law, which had been established at the close of the Franco-Prussian war. He remained for a period in New York and in the castern part of the country but in 1878 reached Walla Walla, being then a young man of twenty-six years. Hc began life as a farm hand, and something of the intense activity and enterprise which has ever characterized;him is indicated in the fact that he came to be the possessor of eight thousand acres of the finest land in the wheat belt of Wash- ington, having six thousand and eighty acres in one body, which was but bunch grass land when taken by Mr. Hoffmann. It is now well improved with fine buildings, supplied with best modern improvements, including electric light and baths. Water is secured at a depth of nine hundred and forty-five feet, Mr. Hoffmann being the first to drill a deep well in this locality. His fine place cer- tainly indicates what energy, good judgment and determination can do. At the time of his arrival, however, little land had been brought under the plow and the city of Walla Walla was scarcely more than a trading and military post. The wide fields were covered with sagebrush or bunchgrass and there were no railroads. Mr. Hoffmann brought with him a heavy team and with this he at once began work, hauling freight from Wallula to Spokane and into the Coeur d' Alenes. It often required two or three months to make such trips, for the horses had to be fed on grass, as there was little grain for that purpose. With the completion of the Northern Pacific Railroad, Mr. Hoffmann recognized the fact that freighting would no longer be profitable and therefore looked about him for some other means of support. He was unable to secure a homestead because he could not remain upon it, necessity forcing him to provide for his support in other ways. He therefore used his preemption right and occupied one hundred and sixty acres of land on what is now Eureka Flats. He used his team in work for others and as opportunity offered rented adjoining land. It was about 1880 that he threshed his first wheat crop from a tract of seventy-five acres, selling the crop at about forty-four cents per bushel after hauling it eighteen miles to
1
LADAARI
ASTOR. LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATION
Theresa Hoffmann
N' YORK LIMARY
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OLD WALLA WALLA COUNTY
Prescott. In his third year hie harvested half a section of wheat but as yet had no farm machinery. When sowing and threshing time came, Mr. Hoffmann with his eight horses continued to work for others and in this way paid for putting in and gathering his crops for several years. In the meantime he was most carefully saving his earnings in order to equip a farm, and whenever opportunity offered he also added to his holdings, becoming the owner of four thousand four hun- dred acres on the Eureka Flats. There he introduced punctuality and regulations as stringent as those of a factory. He began work after three o'clock in the morning to round up the horses and ended the day's work at dark or later. He secured modern steam machinery and with his working system he did more work than if he had forced his employes to continue their labor from daylight until dark. There was no loss of time and each move was made to count for the ittmost. He kept in touch with every phase of progressive farming and in fact was a recognized leader in introducing improved methods. He studied agricul- ture from the practical and from the scientific standpoints and, in fact, he recog- nized that these two things are one. The results achieved were marvelous and as his financial resources increased he continued making investments. From time to time he purchased cheap land. He bought six sections of railroad land along the Snake river to be used as horse pasturage until rapidly moving settle- ment required it. For this he paid only seventy five cents per acre and after a few years he sold it at a net profit of five dollars per acre, thus realizing a hand- some sum on his investment. He made other, similar purchases of land, which in time he turned into ready money, continuing to realize"a fair profit. His hold- ings at one time embraced over twelve thousand acres. He continued to occupy his farm until 1893, when he removed his family to Walla Walla, and in 1903 he retired from the active management of his farming property. He helped to organize and is a director of Walla Walla's Farmers Agency.
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