Kinchs
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.
SAMUEL C. KINCH is one of the
leading men in Sprague. That he is a thoroughly self made man will be evident
to any one reading the account of his career. He has achieved abundant
success in the lines of endeavor pursued and is certainly to be commended
for the marked industry and energy manifested throughout. Mr. Kinch
is handling a nice drug trade in Sprague, having a well equipped and stocked
store.
Samuel C. Kinch was born in Grindstone City,
Michigan, on August 31, 1867, the son of Samuel and Augusta M. (Lemman)
Kinch, natives of Canada and Lockport, New York, respectively. The
father was a merchant in Grindstone City and died there in 1878.
The mother is now dwelling in Seattle. Our subject received his education
in the common schools and at the age of eighteen, secured a third grade
certificate and commenced teaching. By personal investigation and
careful study while he was teaching, he fitted himself and secured a first
grade certificate. For five years he gave his attention to teaching
in Washington and in 1890 and '91 was principal of the Medical Lake schools
of this state. During odd moments, he studied pharmacy and later
took a course in the National Institute of Pharmacy, in Chicago, and in
1897, opened a drug store in Sprague where we find him doing a nice business
at the present time. He had come to this state in 1888 and soon after
arriving here bought the relinquishment of a party in Rattlesnake Flat
and homesteaded the place. He taught school, worked at day's labor
and kept up his studies until he fitted himself for the position that he
now occupies and accumulated also, during this time, a magnificent estate
of thirty-five hundred acres of excellent wheat and grazing land.
A portion of the estate is irrigable and he also has on his homestead,
a fine water power. Mr. Kinch owns a nice residence of eight rooms,
tastily surrounded with trees and lawns, in Sprague, and other property,
in addition to what we have mentioned. He certainly has made a most
excellent success in his labors for his entire holding has been gained
through his own endeavors since coming to this state.
In September, 1898, at Sprague, Mr. Kinch
married Mrs. Emma Bracken, whose parents were John and Elizabeth (Watson)
Lucas, natives of Iowa and Ireland, respectively, and now deceased.
The father was a miner in California in early days. Mr. Kinch has
one brother, Frank, and two half sisters, Mrs. John Copeland and Mrs. C.
F. Cunningham. Mrs. Kinch has the following brothers and sisters;
John, George, Mrs. Louisa Harker, Mrs. Elizabeth Cameron. To Mr.
and Mrs. Kinch two children have been born, Frances, aged four and Samuel
C., Jr., an infant.
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