Vinyardd
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.
DAVID VINYARD is now enjoying
a good livery business in Sprague. He has suitable buildings, a good stock
of horses and rigs and enjoys a good patronage. He is a man popular in
the community where he resides and he has been thrice elected city councilman,
also city marshal one term. In these capacities, Mr. Vinyard has manifested
the same wisdom and good judgment that characterizes him in his private
enterprises.
David Vinyard was born in Roanoke county,
Virginia, on May 16, 1858. He was the son of J. H. and Mary (Howell) Vinyard,
also natives of Roanoke county, Virginia. The father followed contracting
and met his death as a prisoner of war during the Rebellion. The mother
died in November, 1901, in Virginia. Owing to the deprivations of the war,
our subject had little opportunity to gain an education, but improved what
he had with a diligence and very early in life went to work to support
himself. While still young, he went to Maryland and then in 1877 went to
Nevada. There he rode on the stock range, drove stage, handled stock and
did various other things. His advent to Washington was made while driving
a band of horses north, and soon thereafter he came to Spokane. He wrought
at various occupations and for a time did a transfer business in Sprague.
After that he operated a transfer line in Spokane, then in 1900 started
his present business. He has succeeded very well in his enterprises and
is still handling his patronage in the line named.
On February 5, 1893, Mr. Vinyard married Mrs.
Mary Conlee, the nuptials occurring in Sprague. Mrs. Vinyard has two children
by her former marriage, Roy and Edna. The family home is a nice cottage
at the corner of First and E streets, which is surrounded by a beautiful
lawn. Mr. Vinyard has always been a very active participant in politics
in every sense of the word as it is usually understood and is always prominent
in the campaigns. The Democratic party is his political home and he well
knows how to expound the principles of his faith. Mr. Vinyard was the leader
of the men who took the county records from Davenport during the struggle
for county seat. He was in Nevada during the Piute uprising in 1897 and
in company with Jack Berry took a dangerous journey of inspection right
into the Indian country. Mr. Vinyard is classed as one of the early pioneers
of Sprague and is well and favorably known.
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