pierpointa
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.
ALFRED A. PIERPOINT. From
the earliest days of settlement in Douglas county, until the present time,
Mr. Pierpoint has been a leading and prominent figure both in business
and in public enterprises. He is a man of strong character and consummate
energy and is dominated by a spirit that brooks no defeat; which on many
occasions has been demonstrated in his public career. Upright in
his private walk, wise in business methods, success in every line has been
his pleasant lot and it is eminently deserved.
Alfred Pierpoint was born in Jasper county,
Illinois, on August 5, 1858, the son of Charles and Margaret (Rollins)
Pierpoint, natives of Kentucky and Illinois, respectively. He was
educated in the public schools of Jasper county and when seventeen, started
with wagon train to Boise, Idaho. One year later, he went to Eugene,
Oregon, whence in a year he returned to Illinois. He remained there
until 1881 and again suffered a severe attack of the western fever which
led him to take a trip through Texas, New Mexico, Old Mexico, Arizona,
California, and the Willamette Valley which consumed a year. Soon
thereafter, he came to Cheney then to Spokane. Thence he went to
Crab Creek and wrought for a year on Biggham's stock ranch. It was
in April, 1883, when the coyotes and red skins had full sway over the land
where large wheat fields now stand that Mr. Pierpoint made his way to this
section and took a squatter's right just one mile south from where Waterville
now stands. To gain possession of the claim, he had forcibly to eject
some Indians, which he promptly did. He built a cabin, the second
in the county and which is still in use. Later he relinquished this
claim and took another just north of it where he built a more elaborate
house, which is now the property of A. L. Rogers and is still used as a
dwelling. These claims, Mr. Pierpont sold and took another squatter's
right on the Columbia river which he improved and sold to Senator Helm.
Then he came to his present place and took pre-emption, timber culture
and homestead claims in due time and improved them and has also added land
until he owns more than a section. The whole estate is now in a high
state of cultivation and produces abundance of the cereals. The farm
is supplied with comfortable dwellings, granary, large barn and other improvements.
In addition to general farming, Mr. Pierpoint devotes considerable attention
to stock raising and has one of the finest bands of cattle in Douglas county.
He is also breeding a most excellent strain of draft horses, some of the
best to be found in this part of the state.
In 1884, Mr. Pierpoint was appointed to the
office of sheriff of Douglas county, by the legislature, being the first
sheriff of the county. He assisted to forcibly remove the old county
seat from the old town of Okanogan to Waterville and has had an many occasions
sharp encounters with the Indians.
Mr. Pierpoint had one brother, Frank, who
was frozen to death on February 6, 1893. The marriage of our subject
and Miss Estella Gard occurred at Waterville, on October 20, 1895 and to
them have been born four children, Hazel, Gladdis, Alf C., and Dick.
Mrs. Pierpoint's parents are Washington and Eliza (Hand) Gard, natives
of Ohio and Tennessee, respectively. She was born in California,
on October 25, 1876 and has the following named brothers and sisters, Isaac,
Joel R., James D., Arthur G., Mrs. Martha Kelsey and Mrs. Anna Corbaley.
Mr. and Mrs. Pierpoint are well known and substantial people.
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