VanBurenf
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.
FRED VAN BUREN who lives about
four miles northwest from Wilbur is one of the industrious and progressive
agriculturists of Lincoln county. He was born in Minden, Germany
on April 20, 1867, the son of Christian and Caroline (Shirfner) Van Buren,
natives of Germany. He was educated at his home place until fourteen,
when he came to Peoria, Illinois. He landed there with five dollars
in his pocket and was soon at work on a farm for wages. In 1885,
he came to Walla Walla where he continued work on the farm for three years,
then he went to Baker City, Oregon, and bought a farm which occupied his
attention for some time and later was sold. It was 1892 when he came
to Lincoln county and bought half a section of land where he now resides.
From that time until the presest, Mr. Van Buren has given his attention
to the improvement of his estate and to general farming, having now one
of the valuable places of this part of the country. He has shown
himself to be a thrifty and wise farmer deserving the esteem and credit
generously accorded him by his fellow citizens. It is very gratifying
to see the fine competence that Mr. Van Buren has gained since he started
in this new country with less than sixty-five dollars.
In 1892, Mr. Van Buren married Mrs. Mary McDaniel,
the daughter of Michael and Sarah (Banning) Whitesides, natives of Illinois,
and to this union one child, Caroline, has been born. By her former
marriage, Mrs. Van Buren has one child, Downey.
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