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 R. JUMP is one of the
leading business men of Lincoln county. The marked success that he
has achieved in his efforts in this county certainly demonstrates that
Mr. Jump is possessed of no ordinary ability. At the present time
he is at the head of a large mercantile establishment in Creston, the largest
in this portion of the county, and carries a stock of about fifteen thousand
dollars worth of goods. The establishment is conducted on strictly
progressive business principles.
William R. Jump was
born in Missouri, on October 5, 1872, the son of Joseph H. and Margaret
(Bresshears) Jump, natives of Tennessee. In 1877, the family crossed
the plains with teams to Washington and in this state and Oregon our subject
received his educational training. In 1883, he came with his parents
to Lincoln county who began farming. This continued for ten years
and then our subject engaged in farming for himself. It was 1902
when Mr. Jump moved to Creston and engaged in commercial business.
He started in partnership with Thomas F. Frizelle and they now have the
largest establishment in this part of the county. Our subject began
farming in this county as a hand for wages. Two years later, he bought
railroad land on credit. He cleared enough the first year to pay
for it. In 1897, he bought ten acres of fruit land near Peach at
one hundred and thirty-five dollars per acre, improved it and in three
years paid for it with the proceeds. Then he bought thirty acres
more for twenty-two hundred dollars and so arranged matters that the proceeds
of that paid for the whole property in two years. In 1902, he sold
the first ten acres of fruit land for twenty-five hundred dollars.
Mr. Jump started without a dollar and is now worth between fifteen and
twenty thousand dollars, all gained by honest industry and careful business
enterprises.
In 1898, Mr. Jump married
Miss Etta L., daughter of William H. and Sarah Waters, retired farmers
in Lincoln county. Mrs. Jump was born in Iowa and moved to Lincoln
county in 1894. To this union one child was born, William H., on
January 12, 1900.