Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The
Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties,
State of Washington", published by Western Historical Publishing
Co., 1904.
DELBERT LEROY AMON resides about
three miles west from Downs and there owns a fine estate of one half section.
The same is well improved with good buildings, orchard, wells, and so forth.
It is in a high state of cultivation and is handler each year by tenants.
Mr. Amon devotes his attention to other things and oversees his property.
He was born in Sublimity, Marion county, Oregon, on February 15, 1871,
the son of William R. and Eunice (Downing) Amon. The mother was a
relative of Commodore Perry and her ancestors were prominent in the Revolution.
She crossed the plains when a girl and died in Oregon in 1872. The
father was born in Clark county, Missouri, and crossed the plains with
ox teams in 1854. He located in Marion county, Oregon, and in 1871
came cast of the mountains to the vicinity of Athena and there did farming.
During the Indian troubles of 1878, he was in the midst. The family
had to go to Weston for safety. In 1889, he removed his family to
where Downs is now located and bought three sections of railroad land,
which he placed under cultivation. Location was made in the month
of July. Later he bought two sections more and his attention was
occupied in handling this vast estate and in raising stock. In 1890,
however, he bought the only store in Harrington which he sold later.
In 1899, Mr. Amon, senior, sold all his property in the Big Bend country
and retired to Waitsburg, Washington, where he resides now. He has
vast interests in different localities and his time is occupied in overseeing
his property. His ancestors were from Maryland and were prominent
in the Revolution. In 1854, when his older brother, Sylvester Amon
was crossing the plains, he was murdered by the Indians. It occurred
on the Snake river and was in the Ward massacre. Our subject has
the following named half brothers and half sisters, Mrs. Addie Strickler,
Howard, Mrs. Emma Strickler, Alfred, William, Annie and Ruth. He
has one brother, James Ralph, who dwells in Seattle. Our subject
grew up in Umatilla county and after receiving a good training from the
common schools, he went to the Willamette University and completed a course
there. He came to the Big Bend when his father did and for five years
he gave his attention to teaching. Afterward, he bought land and
has improved it to its present high state of cultivation, besides providing
all the necessary equipment and buildings needed. Water is piped
into the house and the place is one of value and a comfortable rural abode.
On November 20, 1901,
Mr. Amon married Miss Agnes, the daughter of Thomas and Jane (Boyd) Kerr.
The parents were both born in Ireland. The mother is deceased, but
the father lives in Harrington. Mrs. Amon was born in Manchester,
England, and has the following brothers and sisters, Thomas J., Margaret,
William, and Annie. To Mr. and Mrs. Amon one child has been born,
Margaret A. While Mr. Amon has done well farming, he is now retired
from that, owing to poor health, and rents his estate. His attention
is divided among other matters and especially to the endeavor to recuperate
his health.