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.
HARRY OCHS resides in the town
of Harrington. He is a native of Prussia, born December 19, 1854,
the son of Sebastian and Martha Ochs, and was reared for the most part
in Frankfort, Germany. After receiving his education, he served for
three years in the German army, finishing the same in the latter part of
1879. So well had he done his duty that he was qualified for an officer's
position and had he remained, he would have been promoted.
In 1880 he came to the
United States and direct to California, in which state he worked at various
occupations until coming to Lincoln county, Washington, in 1884, where
he took a homestead. He came to the country without means and was
compelled to work for wages in order to make the improvements required
by law upon his land. His claim lay two and one-half miles south
of the present site of Mohler, which vicinity was very thinly peopled at
that time. He went to Walla Walla two seasons to work in the harvest
fields, and at other times worked for various farmers in the Big Bend.
During the spring of
1900 he was married to Mrs. Emma (McCallup) Owen, a native of Illinois,
who came to Lincoln county twelve years since.
After his marriage he
devoted his entire time to his personal farming operations, and in so doing
endured many hardships to make the business pay. However, times with
him soon improved, and by dint of relentless effort and energy he has succeeded
in accumulating four sections of choice grain land, all of which is cultivated
and improved according to the methods of the best up-to-date farmers.
He has good buildings on his farm, a first class water system and ten acres
of orchard. In fact, it is one of the best improved farms in the
country. He also has a handsome modern home in Harrington, where
he is now living. In addition to this home he owns several choice
lots and three good tenament houses in the city.
Mr. Ochs has two step-cildren,
Edith and Grace Owen; and two others, issues of the marriage of Mr. and
Mrs. Ochs; Martha E. and Harry L.
Mr. Ochs is a member
of the Lutheran church, and considered to be one of the best citizens in
the town of Harrington.