Sincocks
Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history
of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western
Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
SAMUEL J. SINCOCK has shown himself
to be one of the most energetic and stirring mining men of Okanogan county.
Of late years he has retired more from this line of work and is devoting
himself to farming. His estate is located ten miles southeast from
Loomis, in Horse Springs coulee, where he has a quarter section of excellent
land, which is producing abundant crops of the cereals and vegetables.
He also raises hay and some stock.
Samuel J. Sincock was born in the county of
Cornwall, England, on November 30, 1850, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth
(Hasking) Sincock, also natives of Cornwall county. Our subject gained
his education between working hours and sleeping, and as early as seven
years of age began to earn his own living. At twelve he began working
in the mines, the first day being twenty-eight hundred feet under ground.
When nineteen Mr. Sincock was foreman of the timbering department, and
in June, 1871, he came from his native land to the United States.
He was soon in the Lake Superior copper region, where he operated as shift
boss in some of the leading mines.
On August 15, 1874, in Michigan, Mr. Sincock
married Miss Mary Higgins, also a native of Cornwall county, England.
Three years later he went to the Cariboo country, British Columbia, whither
his father had preceded him, and for fourteen years he labored there in
prospecting and placer mining. The family joined him there after
a year and he made money rapidly, but afterward lost heavily. Some
of the time he operated a dog train, and this arduous labor in the winter
was attended with great hardship and suffering. Many nights he slept
on snow fifteen feet deep. In 1891 Mr. Sincock went to Seattle and
visited a sister whom he had not seen for twenty years. He soon took
a contract for mining work from the Index Company, on Index Mountain.
In the spring of 1892 the Baltimore Mining Company. of Seattle, sent him
to the west slope of Palmer Mountain, where he took charge of their property.
Then later he went to prospecting for himself, and finally took charge
of the Wehe consolidated mines. About this time he located his present
farm, and soon retired to it.
Mr. Sincock is a member of the 1. 0. 0. F.
and has passed all the chairs. He was delegate to the convention
at Ellensburg which sent state delegates to nominate McKinley. He
has also served as county delegate several times.
To Mr. and Mrs. Sincock six children have
been born, William J., of Calumet, Michigan; Mary J., a graduate of the
state university in Michigan, who is now teaching; Annie A., a college
graduate, teaching in Michigan; Samuel H., of Calumet, Michigan; Albert
C. and Herbert S., both attending school in Michigan. Mrs. Sincock
is in Calumet now, for the purpose of giving the children educational advantages.