Part 30

On the 2d of July, 1890, Mr. Swegle was united in marriage to Miss Libby Brooks, also a native of Oregon, although at the time of her marriage she was living in Walla Walla county. She was a daughter of John Brooks, who came to this county from that of Yamhill in Oregon. He is still living and at the present time is a resident of Portland, Oregon, the beautiful city of roses. To Mr. and Mrs. Swegle were born eight children, seven of whom survive, namely: Floyd and Jesse, who are operating the home farm; May; Alice; Frank; Florence; and Irene. All the children are yet at home. The wife and mother passed away February 19, 1916, her death being the occasion of deep and widespread regret among her many friends. All who knew her sympathized and grieved with the family, to whose welfare and interest she was always most devoted.

Mr. Swegle votes with the democratic party. He has never been an aspirant for office, preferring to give his time to and concentrate his energies upon his own affairs, upon the interests of his home, upon his business and upon those things which help to further the welfare of the community. For thirty years he has been a resident of Walla Walla county and has witnessed many favorable changes during this period, having by his own labors in no small measure contributed to agricultural development.

S. V. DAVIN.

One of the energetic and progressive business men of Walla Walla is S. V. Davin, president and manager of the Washington Weeder Works. He is a native of France, born September 20, 1861, and is a son of Joseph E. and Nomie (Escalle) Davin, who came with their family to America in 1873 and located in California, where the parents continued to make their home until death. Of their thirteen children only two are living, these being Joseph and S. V., of this review.

S. V. Davin was twelve years of age on the emigration of the family to the United States and in the schools of California he completed his education, which was begun in his native land. He remained in the Golden state until 1888, when he came to Walla Walla and spent three years on a ranch in this locality. During the following ten years he engaged in business in the city and was also interested in farming and stock raising, owning sixty-three hundred acres of land in Franklin county, Washington, stocked with sheep, and is president of the Davin-Mitchell sheep and cattle ranch, the company owning one thousand acres of land. Mr. Davin also owns one hundred and ninety-four acres of land west of the garrison, which is worth eight hundred dollars per acre and has two hundred and twenty-five acres at Lowden, Walla Walla county, upon which he keeps both cattle and sheep and has twenty-five cows for dairy purposes. Since 1910, however, Mr. Davin has given his attention largely to the business of the Washington Weeder Works, which is in a flourishing condition, manufacturing a double-disc weeder, which was awarded the gold medal at the Lewis & Clark Exposition as the best weed killer and cultivator exhibited. Besides the property already mentioned Mr. Davin owns a business building, also the Ritz Hotel and three residences in Walla Walla.

In 1893 he was united in marriage to Miss Ardella Haight, who died in 1901, leaving no children, and in 1903 he again married. To this union were born two sons, Jackson Joseph and Virgil Edward Marion. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Davin is an active member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Eagles, the Moose and the Red Men. In politics he is a republican but has never cared for office. He gives his undivided attention to his extensive business interests, is prompt, energetic and progressive and carries to successful completion what he sets out to accomplish.

HON. JOHN F. ROCKHILL.

Hon. John F. Rockhill owns and operates a farm of five hundred acres of land in Columbia county, upon which he has resided for almost a quarter of a century, having taken up his abode upon that place in 1893. He was born in Marshall county, Iowa, April 29, 1855, a son of Anthony and Rosetta (Robbins) Rockhill, the former a native of Ohio, while the latter was born in the state of New York. They lived for some time in Iowa, but at length determined to try their fortunes upon the Pacific coast and in 1864 crossed the plains, establishing their home in Grande Ronde valley, Oregon. In 1865, however, they removed to the vicinity of Portland and in 1868 they came to Washington, settling in Walla Walla county, where the father rented a farm for two years. In 1870 he removed to a farm near Dayton and upon that place continued to reside until his demise. His widow also spent her last days upon that farm. They had a family of nine children, of whom six are yet living.

Hon. John F. Rockhill of this family was a little lad of nine years when he left his native state in company with his parents and came to the northwest. From the age of thirteen years he has lived in Washington and in the public schools of this section of the state he completed his education. He afterward took up land and engaged in farming, bringing to his duties broad practical experience which had come to him through assisting his father in the development and cultivation of the old home property. In 1885 John F. Rockhill removed to Whitman county, where he resided for eight years, but in 1893 he returned to Columbia county and purchased his present farm, upon which he is now living. He owns five hundred acres of excellent wheat land and in connection with the production of that cereal he is also successfully engaged in raising stock. In a word, his business affairs are capably managed and whatever he undertakes he carries forward to successful completion. He is likewise a stockholder in the warehouse at Turner and at Dayton and is regarded as a prominent figure in the business circles of his section of the state.

In 1877 Mr. Rockhill was united in marriage to Miss Mabel L. Taylor, a native of Iowa, and to them have been born eight children: Don M. a resident of Columbia county; Daisy, now the wife of C. I. Fleming, of Oregon; Hazel, deceased; Luella, who is a graduate of a normal school and is now engaged in teaching; Nora, who has departed this life; Cora, who was graduated from the high school and is now the wife of Edgar Hilbert, of Columbia county; John, who is engaged in farming with his father; and Mabel L., who is also a graduate of the high school and is the wife of Glenn Cecil.

Mrs. Rockhill is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is a lady of many excellent qualities. Mr. Rockhill belongs to Dayton Lodge, No. 136, I. O. O. F. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and in 1915 he was called upon to represent his district in the state legislature, of which he proved an able member, carefully considering the vital and significant problems which came up for settlement and throwing the weight of his influence where he felt that the public good could best be conserved or promoted. For several years he has served on the school board and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion. He is a self-made man whose business advancement is attributable entirely to his own well directed efforts. Not only has he progressed in a financial way but has also come to be recognized as one of the prominent and influential citizens of Columbia county, where for almost a half century he has made his home, therefore witnessing the greater part of the growth and development of this section of the state. Great indeed have been the changes which have occurred during this period and Mr. Rockhill is numbered among the worthy pioneer settlers.

W. E. SPROUT.

W. E. Sprout is regarded as among the foremost business men of Starbuck, where he is engaged in general merchandising and he also is president of the Bank of Starbuck. He was born in Grundy county, Missouri, on the 31st of January, 1861, a son of Francis M. and Sarah (Winters) Sprout, the former a native of Indiana, while the latter was born in Ohio. They were married in Grundy county, Missouri, to which place they had removed in boyhood and girlhood with their respective parents. Following their marriage the father turned his attention to farming in Grundy county, but at the time of the Civil war he put aside all business and personal considerations to espouse the cause of his country, serving for a year and a half in the Civil war. He was wounded in the battle of Shiloh, losing his right arm. His first wife had died when their son, W. E. Sprout, was an infant of but four months and three years later the father married Miss Sophia Newland. He continued his residence in Missouri until 1888, when he removed to Hutchinson, Kansas, where he was engaged in farming until the death of his second wife in the year 1905. Since that date he has lived retired in Hutchinson, where he still makes his home, being now in the eightieth year of his age.

W. E. Sprout acquired but a limited education, his opportunities being such as the district schools afforded. When not busy with his textbooks he worked in the fields and thus early received the training which well qualified him to begin farming on his own account when he attained his majority. He carried on general agricultural pursuits in Grundy county for three years and in 1884 he came west to Washington, settling in Dayton, where he spent two years as a farm hand, working for wages. In 1886 he invested in land, becoming owner of a farm on the Tucanon, a half mile outside the city limits of the town site of Starbuck. Upon that place he engaged in general farming and stock raising, which business claimed his time and attention until the year 1892, when Starbuck was made a railroad division point and Mr. Sprout then established a butchering business in the village. This was largely done in order to find a profitable market for his cattle. Eight years later, in 1900, he bought out the mercantile business of A. L. O'Neil of Starbuck and has since been prominently identified with the commercial interests of the town. For eight years he carried on the business independently and then, in 1908, organized the Sprout & Barnhart Mercantile Company, which was incorporated with Mr. Sprout as the president and W. H. Barnhart as the secretary and manager of the company. In 1907 Mr. Sprout was also the dominant factor in the organization of the Bank of Starbuck, of which he became president and has since served in that connection. He is thus actively identified with the financial interests of the county and has made the Bank of Starbuck one of the strong and thoroughly reliable moneyed institutions of this section of the state.

In 1890 Mr. Sprout was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Wooten, a native of Columbia county, Washington, and a daughter of W. S. Wooten, who came to this state from Missouri about 1878 and still makes his home in Dayton. Mr. and Mrs. Sprout became the parents of one child, who has passed away, and the wife and mother died in January, 1906. Two years later, in April, 1908, Mr. Sprout was again married, his second union being with Miss Ida Hukill, a native of Walla Walla and a daughter of Allen Hukill, who was one of the early pioneers of Columbia county, taking up a homestead in this section of the state shortly after his arrival in Washington, when the entire region was largely an undeveloped section. To the second marriage of Mr. Sprout has been born one child, Allen M.

In his political views Mr. Sprout is a republican and served as the first mayor after the city of Starbuck was incorporated. He also served for a number of years as a member of the town council and ever exercised his official prerogatives in support of well defined plans and measures for the general good. He likewise served on the school board and the cause of education has ever found in him a stalwart champion. Fraternally he is connected with Tucannon Lodge, No. 106, F. & A. M., of Starbuck, and also with Starbuck Lodge, No. 158, I. O. O. F. He has recently disposed of his landed possessions but Mrs. Sprout still owns her homestead which she entered prior to her marriage. Mr. Sprout belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and its teachings have been the guiding force in his life, making him a man among men, honored and respected by reason of his sterling worth, his patriotic loyalty in citizenship, his integrity and progressiveness in business and his faithfulness in friendship. In his public offices he has displayed the same spirit of enterprise and recognition of opportunity that has marked his business career, and Starbuck has profited much by his labors.

LESTER LEE ROBISON.

Lester Lee Robison, one of the foremost agriculturists and most extensive sheep growers of Walla Walla county, has in his own name three thousand acres of wheat land and seventy-five hundred acres of grazing land. His home is on section 34, township 8 north, range 35 east. His birth occurred in Dayton, Columbia county, Washington, on the 13th of April, 1884, his parents being Andrew M. and Theodosia (Fall) Robison, the former born in Austin, Texas, March 16, 1854, and the latter in Sidney, Iowa, on the 7th of September, 1857. It was in the year 1872 that the mother came to Washington with her parents, the family home being established near Dayton in Columbia county. Andrew M. Robison made his way to this state in the winter of 1876-7, when a young man of twenty-two years, and after his arrival he secured a contract with the Northern Pacific Railroad Company in construction work. Later he bought stock throughout this section, furnishing meat for the railroad construction gangs, which numbered about seven thousand Chinamen. Subsequently Mr. Robison took up his abode near Dayton and engaged in farming and in the stock business, being recognized for a number of years as one of the extensive stock buyers of this section of the state. In the fall of 1897 he removed to Walla Walla county, locating on Dry creek, four and one-half miles northwest of Walla Walla, where he acquired extensive farm lands, owning at the time of his death some twenty-eight hundred acres. He was widely recognized as one of the influential and leading citizens of southeastern Washington and was a prominent representative of the Masonic fraternity. His demise occurred on the 21st of October, 1907, but his widow survives, making her home in Walla Walla, where she has an extensive circle of friends.

Lester L. Robison acquired his education in the city schools of Walla Walla and also attended the State Agricultural College at Pullman, Washington. After putting aside his textbooks he worked with his father until 1907, when he started out independently as an agriculturist, taking charge of his father's large holdings, which he has managed with marked success to the present time. The property in his own name embraces three thousand acres of wheat land and also some seventy-five hundred acres of grazing land. Moreover, he has been heavily interested in the stock business for a number of years and is one of the foremost sheep growers of Walla Walla county.

On the 11th of September, 1907, Mr. Robison was united in marriage to Miss Elsie Riffle, of Walla Walla, her father being Elihu G. Riffle, who was one of the earliest pioneers of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Robison have a daughter, Laura Lee. Politically Mr. Robison is a democrat and fraternally is identified with the following Masonic organizations: Blue Mountain Lodge, No. 13, F. & A. M.; Walla Walla Chapter, No. 1, R. A. M.; the Knight Templar Commandery; Oriental Consistory, A. & A. S. R.; and El Katif Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He also belongs to Walla Walla Lodge, No. 287, B. P. O. E. A young man of enterprise, ambition and ability, he has ably carried forward the work of his honored father and his career bids fair to be one of continued achievement.

JAMES G. WOODEND.

James G. Woodend was one of the prominent farmers of southeastern Washington for many years and won a substantial measure of success by reason of the careful manner in which he developed his fields and managed his business affairs. He was a native of England and came to America when a young man of twenty-seven years. He did not tarry on the Atlantic coast but made his away across the country and took up his abode in Columbia county, Washington, at Starbuck. Here he occupied the position of section foreman for nineteen years and on the expiration of that period turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, purchasing a farm which he at once began to further develop and improve. Year after year he carefully tilled the soil and his plowing and planting, with the careful cultivation of his fields, brought to him substantial harvests which sold at a good figure. He was thus busily and successfully engaged in general farming up to the time of his death. In the intervening years he had added to his holdings as opportunity offered until he had become the owner of sixteen hundred acres of land which is still in possession of his widow, the greater part being wheat land. He was regarded as one of the most prominent men in the valley and his life work indicates what can be accomplished in the way of wheat production in this section of the state. Moreover, his history shows clearly what can be attained by honorable purpose and indefatigable energy.

In 1886 Mr. Woodend was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Bellingham, a native of England, who came to America in the same year. To them were born six children: Isabel, the wife of F. F. Kent; Anna M., who is living in Spokane; Robert G., who follows farming; Thomas S., at home; Marguerite V., the wife of A. J. Burke; and Mildred A., who is a student in the high school at Spokane.

The death of the husband and father occurred on September 21, 1915, and his remains were interred in the Starbuck cemetery. He left a widow and six children to mourn his loss, his demise being also a matter of deep regret to his many friends who sincerely esteemed him. He possessed many sterling traits of character, was thoroughly reliable in business, was public spirited in citizenship, held friendship inviolable and was devoted to the welfare and happiness of his wife and children. Mrs. Woodend still owns and manages her farm property and in fact has added to the sixteen hundred acres left by her husband, making an additional purchase of six hundred and twenty acres, also in Columbia county, so that she now owns over two thousand two hundred acres of valuable land in this section of the state.

M. B. WINCHELL.

M. B. Winchell, who is engaged in general merchandising in Touchet, Walla Walla county, ranks with the foremost business men of this section of the state. A spirit of progress and enterprise actuates him in all that he undertakes and his course has been characterized by a determined purpose. He has ever recognized the fact that when one avenue of success seems closed there can always be marked out another path that will lead to the desired goal. Alert and energetic and thoroughly reliable, his position among the business men of Walla Walla county is indeed enviable. A native son of Washington, he was born at Lyons Ferry on the 28th of March, 1888, his parents being Hezekiah and Alice L. (Palmer) Winchell. The father was a native of Michigan and the mother of the state of New York. They were married, however, in Minnesota, where the father was identified with timber interests for a number of years. In 1883 he brought his family to the west, settling in Walla Walla county, Washington, at which time he filed on a homestead near Lyons Ferry but resided thereon only long enough to prove up on the property. He then took up his abode in Waitsburg and for twenty-two years the family lived in or near that town. The father was engaged in farming during this time. He died in 1905, at the comparatively early age of fifty-six years. The sons in the family continued to make their home with their mother, her death occurring on the 5th of June, 1917. Mr. and Mrs. Winchell were worthy pioneer people of this section of the state and contributed much to its development and progress.

M. B. Winchell pursued his education in the graded schools of Waitsburg and also in the Waitsburg Academy, while subsequently he spent three terms in the Waitsburg high school, which he attended in the winter seasons. In fact his attendance at school was by no means continuous, but he utilized every opportunity to promote his education by entering school whenever he could. His father met with financial reverses and thus Mr. Winchell of this review was obliged early to start out in the business world and provide for his own support. He also earned the money that enabled him to continue his education. After finishing his course of study in the graded schools he devoted two years to work before he entered the academy and there was also a period of two years between his academic course and his high school course. In the meantime, however, he was learning many valuable lessons through experience. He was employed during the summer months and he made every spare hour count. He continued farm work and subsequently turned his attention to the grain business, becoming manager of an elevator when a youth of but seventeen years. This elevator was located at Alto, and he subsequently managed elevators at other points for the same company, a fact which is indicative of his capability and of his faithfulness. It is recognized that the best way to learn to do a thing is to do it. Habit brings accuracy and power grows through the exercise of effort. Labor does not tire--it gives resisting force; and all of these facts Mr. Winchell demonstrated in his life. He studied every task that came to his hand and from each new experience learned valuable lessons which have proven of worth to him in later years. He learned to correctly judge men and read character, while at the same time he was acquainting himself with commercial methods. While engaged in the grain trade he bought and shipped grain on tonnage during the winter months and attended school when there was no grain to ship. In other words he improved every opportunity to promote his knowledge as well as to advance his material interests. In 1914 he entered the employ of the Allen Grocery Company in Waitsburg and there laid the foundation for his mercantile success. In 1916 he took up his abode at Touchet and became one of the dominant factors in the organization of the Quality Stores Company, having stores at Touchet, Lowden and Waitsburg. He became the manager of the establishment at Touchet, which at the last inventory showed a stock of over thirty-one thousand dollars value, while annually he does a business of from seventy-five to eighty-five thousand dollars. This is a splendid establishment to be under the care of a young man who had to fight his own way, make his own way through school unaided and at all times rely upon his own resources. In the parlance of the present day, he is a live wire, or in other words he has the dynamic force which makes things move. An opportunity is to him a call to action and the call is never neglected.