Last Updated on May 23, 2011 by
LOUIS LA BRACHE. – Mr. La Brache was born in Illinois in 1847. His father was at that time a partner with Stephen A. Douglas in the lumber and wood business, taking large contracts. In 1862 he became a citizen of Washington Territory, locating at Walla Walla, and engaging in freighting to the mines. Three years later he was packing from Wallula to Montana. In 1866 he accompanied his father in a tramp throughout the mining districts of Eastern Oregon, and the next year was engaged as government packer in a Nez Perce war. He also served the government in 1878 as packer with Howard’s command in the Bannack war, and remained in that desperate campaign all the season. He continued his arduous calling as packer and miner until 1880, when he married Miss Maggie depot and made a permanent home on a farm near Centerville, Oregon, where he now resides.