F Biographies - Walla Walla Valley

Walla Walla Valley
F- Biographies

Frank FAURE

James H. FEE

William F. FERGUSON

FRANK FAURE

Frank Faure, proprietor of the McFeely Hotel in Walla Walla, has been a resident of this city since 1902 and has made for himself a creditable position in its business circles. He was born in France, August 15, 1884, a son of Jean and Marie (Grant) Faure. The father was a farmer by occupation and spent his entire life in his native country, where he and his wife reared a family of three children, Jean and Leon being now soldiers of the French army. Frank Faure acquired a common school education in France and afterward attended the Superior school of La Mure Isere. After putting aside his textbooks he sought the opportunities offered in the new world, crossing the Atlantic in 1902, when a young man of eighteen years. Making his way westward to Walla Walla, he here became engaged in the hotel business and now owns and conducts the McFeely Hotel, located at Fourth and Alder streets. He has made of this a popular hostelry, catering to high-class trade, and his business has steadily grown because of the comforts which he affords to his guests.

In 1911 Mr. Faure was united in marriage to Miss Mary Daffis and they have a daughter, France. In his political views Mr. Faure is a democrat. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and with the Knights of Columbus, his association with the latter organization indicating his membership in the Catholic church. For fifteen years he has resided in Walla Walla, where he has become widely and favorably known, and he has never had occasion to regret his determination to try his fortune in the new world, for he here found good business opportunities and in their utilization has worked his way steadily upward.

Lyman's History of Old Walla Walla County - 1918
Page 315, 316

JUDGE JAMES H. FEE. - The present judge of the circuit court of the sixth judicial district, although having attained an eminent position is still a young man, having been born in Wisconsin in 1858. His early opportunities were of the best character. At the upper Iowa University of
Fayetteville, and at Waterloo, Iowa, he laid the foundations of his education. Coming to California in 1873, he completed his course at San Jose',
and began the study of law, enjoying in his preparatory work the instructions of a priest of that city; and in 1880, at Walla Walla, he concluded his professional studies under T.J. Anders, of the law firm and Anders & Brents. In 1884 he came to Pendleton, and soon took a leading position in his profession. He so gained the confidence of the people, and gathered so much personal influence, that upon his nomination as judge of the sixth district, embracing six counties, - Union, Umatilla, Baker, Grant, Wallowa and Malheur, - although put forward as a Republican in a Democratic region, and running against a gentleman of deserved popularity, he received a majority of two hundred and ninety-eight. His associate is the able Judge L.B. Ison, of Baker City.

In political circles, Judge Fee holds an essential place, having been a delegate to the Republican state convention of 1888. He also was a delegate to the convention of the officers of the Oregon National Guard, and was elected as an officer in the militia. In his own city he shares the public responsibilities, having been chief of the fire department for the term ending in July, 1888. For a time he also was associated with J.D. Eddy on the Tribune, a paper of wide influence.

His wife, the daughter of Mr. Maney, a well-known pioneer of the Walla Walla valley, is a lady of culture, and is well known in social circles.

History of Pacific Northwest - Oregon and Washington
Volume II
321

WILLIAM F. FERGUSON is a native of Bradford Co., Penn., near the Susquehanna river, and was born May 26, 1822. His grandfather came from England during the Revolutionary War in this country. His grandmother, when a child, witnessed the massacre of Wyoming, but escaped because of her extreme youth. His father was a soldier in the American army in the war of 1812. The mother of Mr. Ferguson was a direct descendent from the Pilgrim band that landed at Plymouth Rock, and her name was Mary Atwood. In about 1836, with his parents, he removed to Coles Co., Illinois, and was married November 3, 1849, to Miss Sarah J. Shores. In 1853, he crossed the plains to Oregon, and wintered a few miles from Albany. From there he removed to the Umpqua valley, and then to Walla Walla, in 1871. He came with about 100 head of stock, and bought land high up in the foot hills where he lived for about three years, when he purchased the farm where he now resides (see view of it in this work.) There are 1120 acres of land belonging to Mr. Ferguson, 320 of which constitute the homestead. It would be useless to describe the farm; for productiveness, it is like the hundreds of others, and is situated seven miles east of Walla Walla City. Mrs. Ferguson was born in Kentucky, the 28th of September, 1822, from where, with her parents, she removed to Coles Co., Illinois. Here she became the wife of Elmer Shores, February 18, 1842; and on the 29th of June, 1845, her second child, Sarah E., was born, the first having died in infancy. Mr. Shores died September 25, 1847, while in Pennsylvania on a visit to his mother. After the removal of Mr. Ferguson to Oregon, his wife's daughter, Miss Shores, became the wife of Y.H. Brown, May 1, 1868. In 1869, Mr. Brown was drowned in the Umpqua river, and the widow married C.H. Barnett of Walla Walla co., W.T. May 25, 1873; and they now live near Russell creek in the county mentioned. The children of Mr. Ferguson are as follows: Lydia E., born April 1, 1851, now living in Red Bluff, California, the wife of John W. Brown; Myron A., born August 15, 1853; who married Miss S. ostrander, March 11, 1876, and now lives in Union Flat, Whitman Co, W.T.; Mary A., born August 9, 1855; Stephen H., born October 31, 1857; Daniel G., born December 15, 1859; William A., born June 6, 1862; Arvilla J., born September 25, 1863; Walter S., born June 15, 1866.

Gilbert's Historic Sketches
Biographical Supplements
1882
Page 15

ANDREW J. FIX is a native of Ohio, and was born near Columbus in Franklin Co. of that State, July 18, 1840. His father's name was David, and he moved when Andrew was but five years old, with his family to Clark Co., Illinois. In 1855, the father died, and young Andrew, then fifteen years of age, undertook the battle of life for himself. In 1857, accompanied by an elder brother, he crossed the plains to California, in what was known as the Shields train. When making this trip, while near the head waters of Humboldt river, he witnessed one of those tragic scenes that make a dark page in the history of Nevada. A small party of emigrants were encamped some eight miles in advance of them on the Humboldt, who were attacked by the White Knife band of the Shoshone Indians. All were killed but four, two men, a women and a child. The two men escaped by taking to flight, and one of them seized a child, carried it until exhausted and then threw it into some sage brush, left it there, and thus saved its life. A woman was shot with an arrow through the body, scalped and left for dead, but survived and later became a resident of California. The balance of the party were all killed and the stock and valuables were taken by the assailants who withdrew into a cañon within four miles and awaited developments. The alarm soon reached the Shields train, which pushed forward to the scene of the bloody tragedy. The Indians were pursued and a battle took place, but, having the advantage among the rocks, they escaped with the loss of one warrior and the stock they had captured. The dead were buried, and the survivors taken by the train to California; the incident is remembered by the pioneers as the Holaway Massacre. Mr. Fix arrived in Sacramento October 16, with a cash capital on hand of fifty cents. The next few months were spent in Yolo and Napa counties in that state, working for wages; and the ensuing February of 1858, found him in Oregon. He purchased some land near Hillsborough in that state, where he resumed farming, until 1862, when he tried his fortune in the Florence mines. The year previous his brother had gone to the Walla Walla country with four yoke of oxen and wagons to team with; but that severe winter left him with eight ox hides in the spring, no team, and a debt of $260 hanging over him and the subject of his sketch, who was his partner. In the spring of 1863, the two brothers again engaged in teaming from Walla Walla to the interior; the machinery for the pioneer steamer called "49," above Colville, being among the freight hauled by him, in those days. The loss of $1,100 in wintering with his teams near Lewiston, in 1865, caused him to turn his attention to farming on the Touchet the next spring. In 1867 he purchased the ranch where he now lives, that contains 200 acres, all inclosed and cultivated. He has 40 acres of timber land besides this. The farm is situated three miles east of the Dixie school house in Walla Walla Co., between Dry creek and the Copei. Among the improvements at his home are included one and one-half acres of bearing orchard, among which are apples, peaches, pears, plums, and berries of various kinds. As to productiveness of his property, Mr. Fix states that, since he has been farming, the yield of grain has averaged over 30 bushels to the acre on his land; and that an exceptional product was, in one year, of 11 acres that yielded 67 bushels to the acre.

Mrs. Nancy M. Fix is the daughter of Joseph Saunders, who is now a resident of Walla Walla Co., and she was married to the subject of this sketch October 13, 1867. Their children were born and are named as follows: Roderick R., November 3, 1868; Wayne W., September 19, 1870; Arminda L., October 1, 1872; Milam B., December 24, 1875, died January 18, 1878; Tom W., January 13, 1877; Maud and Mable, February 1, 1880. The latter died April 15, 1880.

Gilbert's Historic Sketches
Biographical Supplements
1882
Page 15, 16

JAMES W. FOSTER is a native of Argyle, Penobscot county, Maine, and was born in the twenty-second of May, 1829. The death of his mother, before he was old enough to remember her, left him to the care of his grand parents, and the father emigrated to Oregon, in about 1840, leaving him with them. His youth and early manhood were passed among the pine clad hills of his native state, where few advantages were afforded other than surrounded most of the pioneer lumbermen and husbandmen of the Northern New England States. Philip Foster, the father, who had cast his lost with the destinies of the Pacific Coast, was anxious to see his child of earlier years, and wrote to him to come to Oregon. These letters, form his only living parent of whom he knew little, created an intense desire to visit this far away country, and answering to those promptings he sailed for the Pacific Coast in 1852. Arriving in the Willamette, he took up a farm and spent the ensuing seven years in Oregon; where he was married January 28, 1867, to Moss Louisa M. Rockhill. In 1855, he enlisted under Cap. William Strong, and participated in the Indian war that swept the regions east of the Cascade Range. In the fall of 1856 he came to Walla Walla Valley, stopped for a few days, and then went back to Oregon. In 1859, he came again and took up the ranch now owned by him, and represented in this work. For eight years he tried the cool comforts of a bachelor's life and then, going to Oregon, married as before stated. Since becoming a resident of the Walla Walla Valley, besides farming, his attention has been directed mainly to the raising of horses mostly of the Belfountain stock, until recently, when he was diverted in the direction of fruit culture. He has at present twenty acres of orchard and vineyard combined, and contemplates in the near future an expansion in this branch of industry. In this connection, we would mention that in the fall of 1859 he went to the Willamette Valley, and procuring some fruit trees, packed them over the Cascade Range on a mule, and thus obtained his first start in this line. Of his farm, there can nothing be said that will convey a better idea of its merit than the simple fact of his having, when he selected it, the whole country to pick from; for this region was then, practically, an unoccupied country. It is all under cultivation and all fenced.

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Foster consists of the following named children: James W., born December 2, 1867; Fannie R., October 15, 1869; Chester U., December 30, 1871; Jessie M., March 15, 1875; Cecil N., December 11, 1877; Louisa M., February 20, 1880. The last named died February 26, 1880.

Gilbert's Historic Sketches
Biographical Supplements
1882
Page 16

CANTREL R. FRAZIER is a native of Barren county, Kentucky, where he was born near Glasgow, February 25, 1832. His parents were native Virginians, and farmers by occupation. The father of Cantrel, whose name was Benjamin, moved with his family to Sullivan county, Missouri, in 1847. In 1853, the subject of this sketch, having arrived at his majority, crossed the plains to California, where he remained until 1855, when he recrossed the country in returning to his home in Missouri. In 1857, February 25, he was married, in Milan, Sullivan county, Missouri, to Miss Sytha J. Shubert, a daughter of Henry Shubert, of Kentucky. In the fall of 1860, Cantrel, with his young wife, moved to Richardson county, Nebraska, where they remained until 1863, when they returned to Missouri again. The war was at that time in its fiercest throes, and after remaining for a while within its scathing influence, they concluded to turn their steps, once more to the west. Accordingly, with his family, the winter of 1863 found him in Colorado, from where in 1864, he continued his journey to the west, until arriving in the Walla Walla Valley, where he settled upon the ranch now occupied by him as a homestead.

A view of that place accompanies this work, and the representation is of a home that a yeoman may be proud of, who arrived here eighteen years ago at the head of a little family, the owner of the yoke of steers and a wagon, and less than twenty dollars in money, to start life anew with. The original homestead of 160 acres has grown by acquisition to 600, to which 16 acres might be added that are claimed under the timber culture act. There are 400 acres of it inclosed, 160 acres under cultivation, and 10 acres in orchard, and it is all situated on Dry Creek 12 miles east of Walla Walla City.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Frazier are as follows: Elenia F., born June 12, 1859; Benjamin B., April 12, 1864; Louisa J., May, 1866; John Wm., July 24, 1869; Armedia A., March 30, 1873; Doria A., January 20, 1876; Marshal M., December 28, 1871, died November 16, 1872. Miss Elenia F, was married January 1, 1873, to Patrick Ayde, and lives within a mile of the Frazier homestead. Mr. Frazier in politics is a democrat, but gives little attention to such matters. Both he and Mrs Frazier are members of the Christian church, having joined that denomination in 1872.

Gilbert's Historic Sketches
Biographical Supplements
1882
Page 16

JOHN FUDGE. Adam and Catherine Fudge, parents of the subject of this sketch, were born in Virginia, the former in 1800 and the latter in 1805. Their son John was born in Washington county, in that state, January 22, 1832. Before coming to Oregon, in 1847, he lived in Illinois ten years, and it was in the district schools of that state that he secured such an education as an occasional attendance at those institutions afforded. Upon his arrival in Oregon, he settled in Polk county, where he engaged chiefly in farming until 1862. Then he came to Walla Walla, and for two years was engaged in packing between that point and the Idaho mines. February 7, 1864, he was married in Polk county, Oregon, to Miss Cordelia C. Smith, born in Cedar county, Missouri, September 2, 1844. In 1865 he bought the farm on which he now lives, lying on both sides of the Touchet, near the mouth of Whisky creek. His residence and half of the farm are in Columbia county, while the other half is in Walla Walla county. He owns 560 acres of land, of which 125 are meadow, 200 grain and 235 pasture and timber. A view of his home is given on another page. Until 1872 Mr. Fudge farmed and raised cattle and horses. He then embarked in the sheep business, which he has continued until the past summer. At that time he sold his band, some 5,000 head, to his brother Adam and his son James H. He has now five fine brood mares, eight milch cows, a number of thoroughbred Berkshire hogs, and has recently purchased two Jersey cows and a fine Jersey bull. He proposes to devote his attention to the raising of fine stock, and with his energy, ability and fine location is bound to succeed. Mr. and Mrs. Fudge have been members of the M.E. church for the past eight years. Recognizing the uncertainty of human affairs Mr. Fudge carries a policy of $10,000, in favor of his wife, in the Pacific Mutual Life Inc., Co. of Cal., on the tontine plan. His family consists of four children: James H., born April 5, 1865; Ernest E., October 23, 1870; Marilla E., July 2, 1874; Louie W., February 8, 1880. Although Mr. Fudge is not a politician or office seeker, he is at present a member of the board of county commissioners, of Columbia county, the people having selected him as a man whose carefulness and sterling integrity rendered him peculiarly fitted to aid in administering the affairs of the county. His postoffice is Huntsville, a portion of which town is laid out on land donated by him three years ago.

Gilbert's Historic Sketches
Biographical Supplements
1882
Page 16, 17