watersr
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.
RICHARD J. WATERS resides about
five miles north from Waterville on an estate of two hundred acres, the
title to which he secured by homestead right and by purchase. From
the raw prairie, Mr. Waters has made one of the best farms of the section.
It is now all under cultivation, well fenced, wisely laid out and
is provided with all necessary improvements. In addition to general
farming, Mr. Waters has gone very extensively into fruit raising and has
now at least thirty-five acres set to leading varieties of trees.
This is one of the best orchards in central Washington and is kept in most
excellent shape, Mr. Waters going on the motto that what is worth doing
at all is worth well doing. The fruit is largely apples, apricots,
and cherries. The leading varieties of apples are Black Ben Davis,
Missouri Pippins, Winesaps, Jonathans, Senators, Apples of Commerce, and
of cherries Royal Ann, Rag, and General Wood. Without doubt, Mr.
Waters has shown himself one of the leading orchardists of the country
and we may well look for large returns from his labors.
Richard J. Waters was born in Mercer county,
Illinois, on March 4, 1857, the son of Aron P. and Eliza (Stroup) Waters.
The former born in Ohio and the latter in Indiana. Aron P. Waters
was one of the pioneer settlers in Kansas and in 1862, when the call came
for men to fight for the stars and stripes, he enlisted among the volunteer
troops under Captain Harlow. His service was largely in Missouri,
against General Price and he received his honorable discharge at Fort Leavenworth,
Kansas, at the close of the war. Mr. Water's regiment made a good
record and for days did much hard fighting. Our subject was educated
in the common schools of Illinois, and in Kansas completed the high school
course. At the age of fifteen he departed from home and soon thereafter
began work on a farm in Pike county, Illinois, where he remained until
1877, then journeyed to Minnesota, settling in Stillwatter. Sawmilling
occupied him for some time there, after which he moved to Kansas City and
tilled the soil until he went to Wyoming a year or so later, where he took
up railroading. He remained there until July, 1881, then came on
to Idaho then settled across the river from where Payette now stands, being
the locator of the town. In the spring of 1884, he came to this county
and took a portion of his estate as a homestead. In addition to the
property above mentioned, he has some lots in Waterville and is a very
prosperous farmer and orchardist.
Mr. Waters has the following brothers and
sisters, Thomas, James, Charles, William, Mrs. Lincoln Hamilton, Mrs. William
Frederick, and Mrs. Frank Lyon. The marriage of our subject and Miss
Hattie L. Clement, occurred at Payette Idaho, on December 27, 1882.
Mrs. Waters' parents are James and Lucy (Hayes) Clement, natives of Michigan
and Ohio, respectively. She was born on July 12, 1866 in Allegan
county, Michigan and has one brother, Roswell, and one sister, Mrs. Edna
Boyd. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Waters, Grace
D., on September 27, 1887; Belva L., on June 12, 1889; Madge H., on September
30, 1893; Richard J., on September 10, 1895 ; and Newton D., May 27, 1897.
All are natives of this county.
Politically, Mr. Waters is satisfied with
the principles of the Republican party and in local matters, he maintains
an independent position, always preferring to vote for the man, not the
party.
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