chaffeee  
 

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.

     ELMER S. CHAFFEE handles a prosperous general merchandise business at Waukon.  In connection therewith he buys wheat and does a very large business in this line.  Last year he handled over seventy thousand bushels of this cereal.
     Elmer S. Chaffee was born in Erie county, New York, on January 16, 1861, being the son of Jarvis and Charlotte (Cooper) Chaffee, natives also of New York.  In 1861, the father went with his family to Santa Rosa Valley, California.  The mother died there in 1863.  Our subject's early life was spent in California, where he gained his education from the public schools and from the Methodist college at Santa Rosa.  After his school days, he farmed until 1887, when he came to Lincoln county.  A location was selected about four miles north from where Waukon is now located, and Mr. Chaffee gave his attention to farming.  In 1901, he sold his real estate and began buying wheat at Waukon for a large company.  He has continued in that business ever since and is now handling for a Seattle grain company.  In August, 1902, he opened a general merchandise establishment and since that time has been steadily gaining a fine patronage.  He carries a large assorted stock and is a business man of good ability.
     In 1885, while still in California, Mr. Chaffee married Miss Kate Adams, a native of Iowa, and to them three children have been born, Jarvis, Austin, and Naomi.  Since coming here, Mr. Chaffee has handled considerable real estate, at times owning a very large acreage.  At the present time, he has sold his farm property and is giving his attention entirely to his business in town.  His testimony in regard to the Big Bend country is that it is the finest wheat producing country that he has ever seen.  Fraternally, he is a member of the W. W. and is a liberal and progressive man.  He is not partisan in politics and takes the interest that becomes a good citizen and has always been foremost in the enterprise to build up the country.
 
 



 

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