Sprague Washington

Biography of Dr. John H. Kennedy

DR. JOHN H. KENNEDY. – Doctor Kennedy was born in Iowa in 1850. His father, John K. Kennedy, was born in Tennessee in 1811, and figured in the Mexican war as well as in local politics. In 1862 the parents crossed the plains to Union county, Oregon. They had given their children the advantages of a good early education. In 1865 his father’s house and personal effects were destroyed by fire; and the Doctor was obliged to assist his parents, as well as to care for himself. In 1871, having studied at Whitman Seminary and taken a course in the … Read more

Biography of Rev. Cushing Eels, D. D.

REV. CUSHING EELS, D.D. – Dr. Eells was born at Blandford, Massachusetts, February 16, 1810, and was the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Warner) Eells. He was descended from Samuel Eells, who was a major in Cromwell’s army, and who came to America in 1661. Cushing Eells was brought up at Blandford, became a Christian when fifteen years old, prepared for college at Monson Academy, Massachusetts, entered Williams College in 1830, and graduated four years later. The distance from his home to college was forty-five miles. Twice he rode the entire distance, – when he entered and after he graduated, … Read more

Dunn, Amy Elizabeth Bowman – Obituary

Mrs. C. A. Dunn passed away at the home of her parents [William Bowman and Xantippe Lee] at Pendleton, Ore., Saturday [June 3, 1922] after a long illness. Following an operation in Spokane last spring, she went to her parents’ home at Pendleton to recuperate, returning here several weeks ago apparently greatly improved in health. Believing that her complete recovery would be more rapid at Pendleton, Mr. Dunn prevailed upon her to return there shortly after coming home but a relapse occurred and a week ago Tuesday, Mr. Dunn and son, Ray, were summoned to Pendleton because of her serious … Read more

McLachlen, Don – Obituary

Don McLachlen Answers Call Death Comes After Brief Illness Funeral to be held from the Home Tomorrow Afternoon at 2 O’clock Donald A. McLachlen aged 37, died last midnight after an illness of less than a month brought about by hardening of arteries. The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock from the J. H. McLachlen home, 1803 Third street. His life has been despaired for several days and the end came about midnight last night. His son Archie was called from Portland, and his near relations were assembled in the home of his father, J. H. McLachlen … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John H. Shields

JOHN H. SHIELDS. – The reader of this sketch can find elsewhere within these pages an excellent view of the mill and lumber yard of the gentleman named above, and upon glancing at its proportions will not dispute the assertion that Mr. Shields stands well to the fore among the more prominent of the lumber merchants of the Pacific Northwest. Being attracted with the location of Sprague, Washington Territory, he established himself there in 1882. His business grew to such proportions that in 1885 he found it necessary to add to his equipment a large planing-mill. His enterprise occupies one … Read more

Biography of Hon. H. W. Fairweather

HON. H.W. FAIRWEATHER. – Mr. Fairweather was born in St. Johns, New Brunswick, May 20, 1852. Here he received a common-school education. His father was from Essex county, New York, pure English. His mother’s parents were from Ireland, pure Irish. Our subject went to Boston in 1868, and found work as brakeman on the Old Colony Railroad. He spent 1869, ’70 and ’71 in Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Minnesota in the same line of work. He came to Washington Territory in 1871, and was employed by the Northern Pacific Railroad Company as locomotive engineer, and subsequently as chief clerk. In … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George Murphy

GEORGE MURPHY. – The firm of Murphy & Burns occupies an important place in the business of Sprague, Washington. Their book and stationery business, including also novelties and jewelry, now aggregates some twenty thousand dollars a year and is rapidly increasing. This is a dept for these articles to the Big Bend and Okanagan countries. Mr. Murphy is a native of Ireland, and was born at Limerick. He is a veteran of the United States navy. He came to New York in 1858, and in 1862 joined the United States marine corps, serving under Commander E.Y. McConley for three years … Read more

Biography of George M. Cannon

Any work which purports to give in review the leading points in the career of the prominent citizens of Wallowa County would be open to serious criticism were there failure to incorporate within it an epitome of the life of the esteemed gentlemen whose name heads this article, and who has labored here constantly from the time of the early settlement of the north part of Wallowa County until the present, manifesting, meanwhile, commendable intelligence, activity and energy, together with uprightness and sound principles, which have commended him to the esteem and confidence of his fellows in every respect, and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of E. M. Kinnear

E.M. KINNEAR. – The mercantile house of Mr. Kinnear is one of the largest and most patronized in this part of the territory. Its owner and founder is a native of Ohio, where he was born in 1856. He came to Washington Territory in 1871 and located on the Touchet, engaging in merchandising. From 1878 to 1880 he was in business at Colfax, but removed in the latter year to Sprague for his permanent home. There he has bought quite a property, conducts a large business and is one of its most prominent citizens. He has served as city councilman … Read more

Biography of George S. Brooke

GEORGE S. BROOKE. – This gentleman is the cashier of the First National Bank of Sprague, and is also a director and one of the largest shareholders. Mr. Brooke comes of cavalier stock. On his father’s side, he is a descendant of the Brookes of Maryland. In the year 1650, Robert Brooke, of England, having brought out a colony consisting of his wife, ten children and servants, forty persons in all, settled on the east shore of the Patuxent river. The settlement was called De La Brooke. The founder had a patent direct from Lord Baltimore. He was a member … Read more

Biography of William M. Chandler

WM. M. CHANDLER. – It is a lamentable fact that quite a large percentage of the young men born in Oregon within the last thirty years have not taken advantage of the opportunities by which their early life has been surrounded. The defects of education or character have made them idlers, or have caused them to waste in dissipation or distraction the time which might have been employed in fitting themselves for our great future. Mr. Chandler, of whom we present a portrait in this history, is not one of these. He belongs to that other class which is not … Read more