USA > Washington > Asotin County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 45
USA > Washington > Columbia County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 45
USA > Washington > Garfield County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 45
USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 45
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MR. AND MRS. CHRISTIAN J. BOWERS
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they secured a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres. The parents both died in Oregon, the father passing away in 1888 and the mother in 1898. Soon after their marriage James W. Coplen and his wife took up a donation claim on the old battleground near Vancouver, Washington, at which place Mrs. Bowers was born, and while there Mr. Coplen became ill and accordingly re- turned to his old home in the Willamette valley, where his death occurred in 1868. To him and his wife had been born two children: William, a resident of Lewiston, Idaho; and Laura V., who became the wife of Christian J. Bowers. Mrs. Coplen later removed to Walla Walla county, where she met the Rev. Wil- liam C. Gallaher, and in 1871 they were married. Mr. Gallaher was born in Putnam county, Illinois, in 1835, and died on a farm which he owned near Mil- ton, Oregon, December 22, 1915, his widow passing away upon the farm in Feb- ruary, 1916. They were the parents of two children : Minnie E., now the wife of O. E. Phillips, of Walla Walla; and Ernest U., who resides upon the old home farm near Milton, Oregon. Rev. Gallaher was one of the pioneer ministers of the northwest, coming as a missionary to Oregon. He was one of the earliest settlers of "Old Oregon," having made the long journey across the plains with his parents in 1845, when a boy of ten years. The family settled in Oregon and there he grew to manhood. In 1861 he removed to Walla Walla and helped to organize the first United Brethren church in the state. He remained active in the work of the ministry until he reached an advanced age and was one of the best known divines of the northwest.
To Mr. and Mrs. Bowers have been born four children, namely: Harry C., who is farming the Whitman county farm belonging to his father; George W .. who is operating his father's farm in Walla Walla county; Violet B., the wife of Wayne Reid, who is also farming in Whitman county ; and Sheldon H., who is at home.
Mr. Bowers gives his support to the candidates and measures of the dem- ocratic party and takes a commendable interest in the questions and issues of the day but has never been an office seeker. His wife belongs to the Christian church and aids in its work. She is also a member of the Sunshine Club and the pres- ident of the Woman's Educational Club of Walla Walla. He is a man of im- portance in his community and is also popular personally.
J. W. ROGERS.
J. W. Rogers, who for eight years has been sucessfully and extensively en- gaged in the automobile business in Walla Walla, was born in Georgia on the 28th day of February, 1879, a son of James and Ellen (Tatum) Rogers, the former a native of Tennessee, while the latter was born in Georgia. About thirty years ago they removed to Kansas, where they are still living.
J. W. Rogers was reared and educated in the Sunflower state, passing through consecutive grades until he became a high school student. He left the middle west in 1907 to become a resident of the Pacific coast country, making his way to Walla Walla, where for two years he was employed in a wholesale grocery house. Since then he has given his attention to the automobile business and now
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handles the Stutz and Premier cars. He has developed a business of large and extensive proportions. The Stutz car is the champion of the world today and his sales reach a most gratifying annual figure. He also still owns a garage and other property in Dayton, Washington. His business affairs have been wisely and carefully managed and he is actuated by a spirit of enterprise in all that he does. Alert and energetic, he never fails in carrying out his purpose, for he recognizes that when one avenue of opportunity seems closed, he can carve out other paths that will reach the desired goal.
In 1909 Mr. Rogers was united in marriage to Miss Florence Helm, a native of Walla Walla. They are members of the Baptist church and are prominent in the social circles of the city, the hospitality of many of the best homes of Walla Walla being cordially extended them. Mr. Rogers votes with the democratic party and is a stanch advocate of its principles. He belongs to the Commercial Club and is in hearty sympathy with every plan and measure put forth by that organization for the benefit and upbuilding of the city, the extension of its trade relations, or the upholding of its civic standards. For ten years a resident of Walla Walla, he has made himself an enviable position in its business and social circles, and those who know him speak of him in terms of high regard.
EUGENE F. BOURGEOIS.
Eugene F. Bourgeois, one of the prosperous farmers of Walla Walla county, where he has been actively identified with agricultural pursuits during the past four decades, is now the owner of seven hundred acres of valuable land on sec- tion 13, Dixie township. His birth occurred in Paris, France, on the 10th of October, 1847, his parents being Franquell and Felicia Bourgeois, who emigrated to the United States in 1852 and took up their abode in Bond county, Illinois, where they spent the remainder of their lives. They had a family of eleven chil- dren, three of whom yet survive.
Eugene F. Bourgeois, a little lad of five years when he crossed the Atlantic in company with his parents, was reared and educated in Illinois and remained in that state until thirty years of age. In 1877 he made his way to the Pacific coast country and took up a homestead in Walla Walla county, Washington, which he has since made his place of residence, erecting fine buildings on his property and otherwise improving the same until it is now very valuable. As the years have passed and his financial resources have increased he has extended the boundaries of his farm by purchase until it now comprises seven hundred acres of land, through the cultivation of which he has won a gratifying annual income.
On the 21st of October, 1888, Mr. Bourgeois was united in marriage to Miss Isabel Lang, a daughter of Israel and Allie Ann (Hambough ) Lang. both natives of Warren county, Virginia, from which state they removed to Illinois, locating in Pike county in 1867. There they spent the remainder of their lives. By occupation Mr. Lang was a farmer. To Mr. and Mrs. Bourgeois were born four sons, namely : Charles ; Frederick; Henry; and William, who is deceased.
Mr. Bourgeois gives political allegiance to the republican party and has fur-
EUGENE F. BOURGEOIS
MRS. EUGENE F. BOURGEOIS
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thered the interests of education as a member of the school board. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian church. He has justly won the proud American title of a self-made man, for he came to this state empty- handed and has worked his way upward to a position among the substantial and representative citizens of his county.
JOHN REITH, M. D.
Well equipped by thorough preparatory training, Dr. John Reith entered upon a successful career as a physician and surgeon and is now prominently known as the superintendent of the Walla Walla Sanitarium, the Seventh Day Adventist institution of this city. He was born in Huron county, Ontario, Sep- tember 10, 1883, a son of John and Jane (Moir) Reith, the former a native of Ontario, while the latter was born in Ireland. The father has devoted his en- tire life to agricultural pursuits. He removed to British Columbia in 1892 and now resides in Lacombe, Alberta.
Dr. Reith came to Walla Walla, Washington, in 1900. He had attended the schools of British Columbia, where he had accompanied his parents on their re- moval during his childhood days. He was therefore reared on the western fron- tier. Becoming imbued with a desire to enter upon a professional career, he became a student in the Walla Walla College, which he attended for six years, and in 1907 he entered the medical department of the University of Oregon at Portland and there won his professional degree as a member of the class of 1911. He afterward served for a year as interne in the Good Samaritan Hos- pital of that city and while thus engaged gained the broad and valuable experience which can be secured in no other way as rapidly and as accurately as in hospital practice. In March, 1912, he was made superintendent of the Walla Walla San- itarium, over which he has since presided. He has held to the highest standards in its management and conduct and has made it largely an ideal institution.
On the 14th of August, 1907, Dr. Reith was married to Miss Grace M. Wood, a native daughter of Walla Walla county, her father having been one of the early pioneers of this section of the state. He arrived about 1856, when the Indians were still numerous throughout Washington and when the work of progress and development was scarcely begun. He brought into Walla Walla county the first harvester ever seen here and he was closely associated with many initial move- ments which have resulted in the upbuilding and benefit of the county. His wife was a singer of considerable note and she was also the first teacher of music in Whitman College; likewise in St. Paul's and in Walla Walla College. She brought into this county the first organ ever within its borders. To Dr. and Mrs. Reith have been born two children, Margaret Isabel and Mabel Elizabeth.
Dr. and Mrs. Reith are members of the Seventh Day Adventist church and guide their lives according to its teachings. The Doctor is a member of the Washington State Medical Society and the American Medical Association and through his connections with those organizations keeps in close touch with the trend of modern scientific thought, research and investigation. He has developed pronounced ability in the line of his profession, is very careful in the diagnosis
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of his cases and accurate in his judgment. In his hospital work he has developed a splendid institution, one in which the most thorough care is given to patients, and the success which has attended the work secures to it a continued patronage.
MAJOR PAUL H. WEYRAUCH.
Major Paul H. Weyranch, for many years connected with the United States regular army, a veteran of the Spanish-American war and now major of the Washington Field Artillery in the United States service, is a valued resident of Walla Walla, where his business connection is that of president of the Blalock Fruit & Produce Company. He was born in Barmen, Germany, April 4, 1873, a son of Ernest and Johanna ( Piper ) Weyrauch. The father died in Germany in 1886 and in 1889 the mother came with her family to the United States, two of her elder sons having preceded her to this country. With her younger chil- dren she settled in the state of New York, where she resided to the time of her death, which occurred in January, 1917.
Major Weyrauch was a youth of sixteen years at the time he accompanied his mother to the new world. He was educated in the public schools and in preparatory schools of his native country, and after crossing the Atlantic he worked for his brothers, who were engaged in silk ribbon manufacturing in the Empire state. After spending two years in that way he went to New York city, where for some time, through the financial panic of 1893, he was employed at whatever he could get to do that would yield an honest living. However, he was possessed of a good education and marked enterprise and subsequently secured a position as shipping clerk and bookkeeper in a silk factory at College Point, Long Island. He continued to act in that capacity until 1895, when he entered the service of his adopted country as a member of the regular army. He was first stationed at College Point and while there saw much of the army engineers stationed at Willets Point, about three miles from College Point. He became impressed with this branch of the service, and with the hope of later securing a commission, he joined the service and was assigned to the First Artil- lery at Davids Island, New York, there remaining for almost two years. He then went with his command to Key West, Florida. While at Davids Island he had endeavored to be transferred to the hospital corps, where there was greater opportunity for advancement, but his commanding officer did not want to let him go and his transfer did not occur until after he had reached Key West. In May, 1897, however, he became a member of the hospital corps and on the night of the blowing up of the Maine, February 15, 1898, he was sent to Havana, Cuba, with Major Paul Clendemin to assist the Maine survivors, being the first enlisted man to be sent to Cuba after the destruction of the battleship. In April. 1898, he was made hospital steward and served as such at Key West Barracks, Florida, at Fort Jefferson on the island of Dry Tortugas, at Washington Bar- racks in Washington, D. C., at Fort Monroe, Virginia, at Hilton Head, South Carolina, and at Fort Screven on Tybee island in Georgia, thus continuing until August, 1899, when he was transferred to the Twenty-eighth United States Volunteer Infantry as hospital steward and served with that regiment in San
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MAJOR PAUL HL. WEYRAUCH
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OLD WALLA WALLA COUNTY
Francisco, California, and in numerous places in the Philippine Islands. He took part in various engagements in the Orient and in February, 1901, he took the examination for a commission, General Pershing, now commanding the American forces in France, being then president of the examining board. Major Weyrauch was commissioned a second lieutenant of cavalry to date from February 2, 1901, and was assigned to duty with the Fourteenth Cavalry Regi- ment, with which he served at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, and also in the Phil- ippine Islands, while in December, 1905, he came to Fort Walla Walla with his regiment. While in the Philippines he took part in several campaigns against the Moros under General Leonard Wood.
Following his return to the United States, Lieutenant Weyrauch was as- signed to duty as quartermaster at Boise Barracks in Boise, Idaho, and later was detailed to the Army School of the line at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He returned to Fort Walla Walla in the fall of 1906 and was retired from active service on the Ist of March, 1907, at which time he again entered civil life.
On the IIth of February, 1907, Major Weyrauch was united in marriage to Miss Edith Moffatt, a daughter of Mrs. Edith G. Moffatt, widow of Lieutenant William P. Moffatt. The father of Mrs. Edith G. Moffatt was the son of the old pioneer, James P. Goodhue, who was among the first, if not the first, settlers of the Walla Walla valley. To Major and Mrs. Weyrauch have been born two children, Paul Russell and Mary Jane.
Soon after his retirement from the army Major Weyrauch served as assist- ant engineer of the city of Walla Walla for a short time and on the 11th of April, 1907, he became connected with the Blalock Fruit Company, with which he filled various positions, his first position being that of bookkeeper. He was later assistant secretary, also assistant manager, and in April, 1910, became general manager of the company, in which position he still continues. On the ist of January, 1916, he organized the Blalock Fruit & Produce Company, of which he is the president. This company is a shipping concern and handles the entire output of the Blalock orchards and also that of adjacent tracts. Thi, organization is also a factor in the marketing of all the fruits and vegetables grown in the valley and the business, under the guidance of Major Weyrauch. has been very profitably conducted from the beginning.
Aside from his connection with interests of a personal character Major Weyrauch has figured prominently in promoting interests that have to do with the material upbuilding and prosperity of the community. In April, 1913, he was elected a member of the board of trustees of the Walla Walla Commercial Club and he served as president of the club from April, 1914, until April, 1916. He was also instrumental in organizing the Fruit Growers' Agency, Incorporated. was elected its first president and has done much to further the interests of the organization, which is composed of growers' and shippers' organizations in the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana, and is fostered by the bureau of markets of the Department of Agriculture. He was reelected president in April, 1917, and is still serving in that capacity. He has been a director of the National Apple Show held in Spokane since 1913. Fraternally Major Weyrauch is a prominent Mason, belonging to Walla Walla Lodge, No. 7, F. & A. M .; Walla Walla Chapter, R. A. M .; Walla Walla Commandery, K. T .; Spokane Consistory, A. & A. S. R .; and El Katif Temple, A. A. O. N.
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M. S., of Spokane. He likewise belongs to Walla Walla Lodge, No. 287, B. P. O. E., and is a member of the Spanish War Veterans, belonging to General Lawton Camp No. 7, of which he is a past commander. His interest in military affairs has never ceased. In February, 1910, he organized Company K of the Second Infantry Regiment of the Washington National Guard and commanded the company until January 1, 1911, when he was appointed quartermaster of the Second Infantry and thus served until July, 1912, when it became necessary to resign owing to his increasing business interests, which were making con- stantly greater and greater demand upon his time and attention. But there came a day when he felt that military duty was paramount to all else and in July, 1917, he organized the First Battalion of the Washington Field Artillery and on the 9th of July was commissioned major. The battalion was mustered into the federal service September 30, 1917, and on the 9th of October left Walla Walla for Camp Green, North Carolina, where they remained until Octo- ber 25th. They then proceeded to an Atlantic seaport and sailed for France, December 24th, arriving there safely January 9, 1918. Major Weyrauch has faithfully served his adopted land in military capacities for many years-a splendid example of the loyalty expressed by many men of German birth who recognize their obligations to the country under whose laws they have found protection and by whose privileges and opportunities they have benefited, while in return they render the utmost allegiance and loyalty.
OSCAR E. GRANT.
Oscar E. Grant, who is extensively and successfully engaged in farming in Walla Walla county, near Prescott, was born January 23, 1870, and is a native son of the state of Washington. His parents were Jonathan and Elizabeth Grant. the former a native of Indiana, whence he removed westward and established his home in Walla Walla county, Washington, at a very early day. Here he passed away, while his widow, who was also born in Indiana, is still living.
Oscar E. Grant spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Walla Walla county, as he has the period of his manhood. He was early trained to the active work of the farm upon his father's place and devoted the summer months to the tasks of plowing, planting and harvesting but in the winter seasons attended the public schools. He has never sought to change his occupation but has found in agriculture a vocation thoroughly congenial and one which has proven highly profitable to him. He now owns eight hundred acres of fine wheat land in this section of the state, together with some pasture land. His fields are thoroughly cultivated and his progressive methods produce substantial results.
On October 30, 1895, Mr. Grant was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Pettijolin, whose parents are mentioned elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Grant have been born three children, Mark II., Samuel O. and Elda M., all at home. For forty-eight years or since his birth, Mr. Grant has been a resident of this section of the state, so that he is largely familiar with its history and with the events which figure most prominently in its annals. He has seen its broad lands claimed and cultivated. In the days of his youth there was much
MR. AND MRS. OSCAR E. GRANT
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OLD WALLA WALLA COUNTY
open range and stock raising was an important feature of business life in this section. Today all of the land is owned individually and the work of improve- ment has transformed the tracts largely into productive fields devoted to grain raising. He has borne his part in this result and is today one of the progressive farmers in the vicinity of Prescott.
JAMES M. CORNWELL.
James M. Cornwell, a pioneer of Walla Walla county, was a man of such in- herent strength of character that the position of leader was accorded him by his fellows without his seeking prominence. The determination which throughout life was one of his most salient characteristics was never more clearly shown than during the months when he worked his way with wagon teams across the plains to the west and especially when, having left the train, he and his brother walked the distance of three hundred miles from Fort Boise, Idaho, to The Dalles, Oregon, over a country unknown to them, fighting the exhaustion and discouragement of starvation.
His birth occurred in Orleans, Orange county, Indiana, August 7, 1834, and his education was that usually received by farm boys in those early days. His father, Payton Cornwell, who was a native of Kentucky, in 1839 removed with his family from Indiana to Edgar county, Illinois, and there the mother died when our subject was but nine years old. At that time the family was broken up and the eight sons found homes among strangers. In 1852 James M. Cornwell, at the age of seventeen years, with an older brother, Francis M., aged nineteen years, started on foot from Iowa for the Pacific coast with a capital of only five dollars between them. On arriving at a town on the Mississippi river James M. Corn- well worked as a teamster for an emigrant, who in turn was to furnish him with food until they reached St. Joseph, Missouri. In addition to this the brother was permitted to put his little bundle of clothing in the wagon. All that was left of the five dollars was spent for crackers to eat along the journey and at St. Joseph both of the brothers found employment as teamsters with a train bound for Oregon. According to agreement they were to receive their food on the trip but in addition to acting as teamsters were to continue in the service of their em- ployer for one month after reaching the coast. This train was made up of pro- fessional men and their families and when they reached Fort Boise, Idaho, late in the season after a six months' journey, they found themselves short of rations. Fearing starvation, the owners of the teams proposed to the teamsters that the latter leave the train and go on ahead and take care of themselves as best they could. Eight of the teamsters, including the two Cornwell brothers, agreed to this plan and left Fort Boise on foot with three days' rations and started for The Dalles, Oregon, three hundred miles distant, which was the nearest point where there was any certainty of obtaining food. It was a desperate chance to take, but it seemed the best under the circumstances and they hoped that somewhere along the way they could find food. As the days passed their scanty store was used up, although they made it last as long as possible and as they came down the west slope of the Blue mountains to Meacham's creek they were almost famished.
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There they came upon an emigrant camped near the water and found that he, too, had met with misfortune. His family one by one had died and been buried along the trail, his cattle were worn out and could go no farther, and his food supply was exhausted. In order to sustain life he killed one of the almost starved oxen and hospitably fed the party of eight teamsters. After leaving this man the party of eight resumed their journey, one-half of which still lay before them. On reaching Alkali Flats one of the men lay down exhausted and the others went on, for there was no alternative. The only hope of any surviving was to press forward as rapidly as possible. One by one the men gave up and lay down exhausted until only the two brothers were left. These two journeyed hand in hand, each assisting the other as now one and then the other staggered and seemed about to fall. On reaching John Day ford they came across an Indian who had a fish weighing about a pound, for which James gave him a shirt and was glad to make the exchange. From that point on the journey was a nightmare and at length they lost hope and the older brother proposed that they, too, lie down and give up the struggle. Still they staggered on, their weakness causing them to sway as if drunk. Suddenly James saw a light and, renewing their efforts, they at length managed to reach it and there found an emigrant with the surviving members of his party encamped in a nook somewhat sheltered from the wind. However, there was little hope to be obtained here, for the fam- ily had been living on corn meal gruel for days and had so little that they could spare none. However, they gave the brothers a quilt and allowed them to sleep on some boxes in the wagon. Even so, the cold of that October night chilled them and James became delirious, but in the morning he was able to again re- sume the weary way westward. After they had gone some distance they met an Indian with a rotten fish on the banks of the Columbia and James traded a knife for the fish, which the brothers ate in spite of its decayed condition. When they reached the Deschutes river they gave an old pistol as pay for being ferried across the stream and on reaching the other bank, to their great surprise and joy, were overtaken by six of their comrades whom they supposed to be lying dead on the Alkali flats. Somewhat heartened by this reunion, they continued their journey and at length reached The Dalles. James Cornwell was chosen by the party to go to the commissioners stationed there by the people of Oregon for the purpose of relieving destitute emigrants, but on asking for provisions he was told that food was scarce and rations could be given only to widows or orphans of men who had perished on the way across the plains. However, at length he succeeded in getting two pounds of flour, which was made into bread by a kind emigrant woman. Strengthened by this food, they continued their journey westward and at length reached the Willamette valley.
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