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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.


     WILLIAM J. HEATH came to his present home nine miles northeast of Mondovi in October, 1880, bringing his wife and four children, and all his belongings all the way from California by means of a four-horse team and wagon.  At the time of this advent in Lincoln county there were no roads and only a few white settlers.  His nearest postoffice was at Spokane, a distance of thirty-five miles.  Indians were in the vast majority over the whites, but never in Mr.  Heath's experience caused any serious trouble.  He settled on a homestead of 160 acres but as he became able added to this, and his sons as they grew to manhood acquired land, until now they together own 960 acres of good land, most of which is under cultivation, well stocked and well improved.  During the summer of 1882 five families, comprising the neighborhood, organized a school district in which the Heath family still live.  Mrs. Heath taught the first school in her own house, and afterward, two other families alternated in teaching for five years, when the district built a log school house.
     Born June 30, 1852, in Lawrence county, Illinois, Mr. Heath spent his early life on a farm, went with his parents to St. Clair county, Missouri, in 1868, and was there married, in January, 1874, to Annie E. Moore, a native of Mercer county, Illinois.  Soon after their marriage they came west to Stanislaus county, California, where Mr. Heath was employed on a stock farm for four years, when they came to this state.
     Mr. Heath's parents, both of whom are dead, were Judge Ashel and Mary (Wright) Heath, natives of Sullivan county, Indiana, and Ripley county, Illinois, respectively.  Judge Heath was a pioneer immigrant to Lawrence county, Illinois, whence he removed to St. Clair county, Missouri, in which county he was a judge for several years.  He lived the remainder of his life in that state.  The brothers and sisters of William J. Heath are: Lafayette, in Seattle; John S., in Missouri; Jennie Beckman and Holbert Heath, both of Missouri.  Three brothers, Robert, Milton, and Sherman, are dead.
     Mrs. Heath's father and mother were George W. and Emma (Knapp) Moore, both natives of Indiana, and both now dead.  Mr. Moore served in an Illinois regiment during the Civil War.  He removed to St. Clair county in 1869, came west to California, and died in Everett, Washington, in 1896.  Mrs. Moore died in Mercer county, Illinois.  The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Heath are: Hiram; Marion F.; Mrs. Nancy Lock, of Lincoln county; Mrs. Mary Long, and Mrs. Myra Long, of Iowa; Daniel, of British Columbia; and Lewis, of Minnesota.
     The children of Mr. and Mrs. Heath are: John D.; Albert B., married to Minnie Harman; Edith A., wife of F. M. Pershall; Minnie B., wife of John Atrops; Charles R.; George W.; and Frank L.  A long life of honest industry and fair dealing has established for Mr. and Mrs. Heath the esteem of their neighbors and fellow citizens.
 


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