Tompersw
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.
W. BOLTES TOMPERS resides about
a mile south from Tipso, where he devotes his attention to overseeing his
large estate of nine hundred and sixty acres. The place is a model
wheat farm and all under cultivation. It is supplied with first class
buildings and all other improvements required in a large estate of this
kind. In addition to this, Mr. Tompers has plenty of farm machinery
of all kinds and a steam threshing outfit, which he operates every year.
W. Boltes Tompers was born in Germany, on
September, 12, 1849, the son of Theodore and Rosie (Ackerman) Tompers,
natives of Germany. The father brought his family to America in 1857
and settled in Wisconsin. Later, he moved to Minnesota, where he
died in 1900. The mother died in 1878. Our subject was educated
in the district schools of Minnesota and also learned the arts of the mechanical
engineer, being very skilful in this line. He was more or less on
his father's farm until twenty-seven years of age, he then took a trip
to the coast, being well suited with the country. In 1884 he moved
to Puget sound, where he was engaged in building a saw mill, for one year.
He then went to Portland, and in 1886, was sent to Dayton, Washington by
the Minnesota Chief Threshing Machine Company as an expert to operate their
machines. Two years later, he came to Wilbur and built a mill north
of Creston. Subsequently, he put in a planing mill at Wilbur and
ran a lumber yard for a while. While Mr. Tompers was in the planing
mill, he had the great misfortune to lose his right arm, which incapacitated
him for active labor for two whole years. Then in 1891, Mr. Tompers
took a position as engineer in the Columbia River Milling Company at Wilbur
where he served five years. In 1897, he bought some of the land where
he now lives and since then has added by purchase until he has a section
and one-half. Since 1897, he has given his attention largely to the
oversight of his farm. He started in the world with nothing and in
1891, found himself $2,000 in debt, while today he is one of the wealthy
men of Lincoln county, having gained the entire holding as the result of
his careful labors and wisdom.
In 1878, Mr Tompers married Miss Susie, daughter
of John and Mary (Sterns) Peiffer. Mrs. Tompers was born in Forest
City, Minnesota. The father was a pioneer to Minnesota and had experienced
much trouble with the Indians. In 1862 he was driven from his home
by the Sioux and was forced to take refuge in the fort at Forest City.
He was a prominent and well-to-do man. His wife was his companion
in all his troubles and shared also his success later in life, being a
highly respected lady. Mr. and Mrs. Tompers have three children,
Mrs. Lavina King, Jessie and George.
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