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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.
LINCOLN LAUGHLIN was born in
Yamhill county, Oregon, January 17, 1862, the son of John Laughlin, a native
of Illinois. The father crossed the plains with ox team to the Willamette
valley in 1850. He had a wife and two children at that time, and
at once settled on a donation claim where Lincoln was born. Here
the father died when our subject was fourteen years of age. Mr. Laughlin's
mother, Susan (McCoy) Laughlin, was born in St. Charles county, Missouri,
her parents being early pioneers to that state, and now lives in Bellingham,
Washington.
Lincoln Laughlin was reared on a farm in Oregon
until shortly after his father's death, when with his mother and two sisters,
he removed to Dayton, Washington, remained there a year, then returned
to Forest Grove, Oregon. He then entered the Pacific University at
Forest Grove, remained in that institution three years, after which time
he rented a farm near town which he managed for three years. He next
entered the butchering business here, having a partner who managed the
shop while he did the buying of the stock. Mr. Laughlin's next move
was to a homestead and timber culture near Hatton, Washington, whither
he drove a team across the mountains, bringing with him about five hundred
dollars worth of horses and appurtenances and an equal amount in cash.
He filed on his land in May, 1888, and the following spring returned to
Oregon and bought a herd of young cattle. During the winter of 1890-91
he suffered heavy losses and five years later met with a distressing accident
which necessitated the amputation of a limb. After his recovery he
commenced teaching school and buying wheat. He taught two terms in
Oregon and three years in Adams county, bought grain one season for the
Tacoma Grain Company, and in 1900 was elected county auditor of Adams county,
and re-elected in 1902. He ran both times on the Democratic ticket,
and at his last election he ran far ahead of the Congressional ticket in
his county. Formerly he was a Populist but when they came in line
with Democrats, he identified himself with them.
Mr. Laughlin owns twelve hundred and eighty
acres of wheat land near Lind, which he rents, and a handsome home at Ritzville.
He has one brother living and four sisters: Thomas M.; Nancy J., wife of
A. Lee; Isabel, widow of Daniel Davis; Sarah, wife of Warren Merchant,
and Lela B., wife of J. T. Smith.
At Ritzville, September 15, 1901, Mr. Laughlin
was married to Martha M. Stone, a native Nebraskan. Her parents were
Norman M., a native of Michigan who died in 1893, and Elizabeth (Baronet)
Stone, a native of the Isle of Man, who died in 1891. Mrs. Laughlin
has one brother and two sisters: Henry C.; Carrie, wife of Frank Jones;
and Deborah, wife of Olbie Rucker.
Our subject is a member of the W. O. W. and
of the I. O. G. T., as well as an active and influential Democrat.
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