Gillespied
Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history
of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western
Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
DAVID L. GILLESPIE has shown
himself possessed of excellent business ability by his achievements at
Brewster, in Okanogan county, and formerly at other places. With
his brother he has established a store in Brewster and secured a postoffice,
having been postmaster since the establishment of the office. He
is handling in connection with Mr. Savage, his partner a cigar and confectionery
store, and also the Brewster Herald, a weekly newspaper of republican
politics and known as one of the bright and newsy sheets of central Washington.
David L. Gillespie was born in Raleigh, Missouri,
on April 11, 1866, the son of David L. and Catherine (Glardon) Gillespie,
natives of Ohio. The father served as wagon master through the Civil
war, enduring much hardship for the Union cause. While still in the
Union service he died from the effects of scarlet fever, while at Fort
Scott, Kansas. Mrs. Gillespie was the daughter of French parents
who fled from France during the war and settled in Ohio. She is now
living at the farm home of our subject, opposite Lake Chelan, in Douglas
county, aged sixty-five. Mr. Gillespie has two brothers, Albert C.,
a merchant at Brewster, and William D., who enlisted in the Idaho Volunteers
and was killed in the first engagement at Manila. He was married
just previous to going to the Philippine Islands and his remains were brought
to Spokane, where they now rest.
Our subject came with his mother to Kansas
and there received a good, common school education, remaining there until
1884, when they moved to Douglas county, Washington, near where Waterville
now stands. But two or three families were in that section and they
had all the trials of the pioneers in making settlements and developing
the country. Mr. Gillespie has a fine farm, being one of the first
taken in that country, which is well improved and skillfully handled.
In December, 1891, Mr. Gillespie married Miss
Esther E., daughter of John and Nancy (McAllister) Fletcher, who now dwell
in Douglas county. Mr. Fletcher crossed the plains in early day with
ox teams and settled in the Willamette valley, where he was married his
wife being a native of Oregon. Our subject was deputy sheriff of
Douglas county under his brother, Albert, and in 1891 removed to Chelan
Falls, where he operated a ferry and did a livery business, also being
postmaster there. Four years later he took up general merchandising
and bought wheat. In the spring of 1897, as stated above, he and
his brother opened a general merchandise establishment at Brewster, being
the first store there. In 1898 he received his appointment as postmaster,
and in 1900 opened his present business and the next year started the Brewster
Herald. Mr. Gillespie has secured the appointment of Brewster
as the distributing office of the county and is wide awake for the interests
of his county and party. He is a member of the Red Men and has held
all the chairs of that order, having also been representative for five
years past. He is now an officer of the great council.
To Mr. and Mrs. Gillespie five children have
been born, Harry A., Merle E., Claudia D., Mildred E., and Loris.
Our subject is the youngest of his father's family and has gained his present
gratifying success entirely through his own efforts.