Bownw
Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history
of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western
Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
WALTER BOWN resides about one
mile southeast of Conconully, where he devotes himself to farming and stock
raising. He was born in Sherbrooke, Canada, June 20, 1832, being the son
of Henry and Jeanette (Wilcox) Bown, natives of England and New York, respectively.
When two years of age, our subject came to Columbus, Ohio, with his parents
and when he was sixteen, the family moved to Peoria, Illinois. In 1857
he went to Johnson county, Kansas, and located a preemption on an Indian
reservation. In the spring of 1860 he went to Pike's Peak and followed
mining and freighting until the fall of 1863, when he enlisted in Company
B, Third Colorado Infantry, which, one year later, was attached to the
Second Colorado Cavalry. They were sent to Missouri and participated in
the terrible battles against Price, and there our subject received a wound,
the bullet entering his face and coming out at his neck, which though very
serious kept him in the hospital only twenty days. He participated in a
great many battles and skirmishes, the terrible fights with the bushwhackers,
being the most dangerous of the war. In December, 1864, his regiment was
returned to Leavenworth and then ordered to escort the United States mail
from Larned, Kansas, to Fort Lyons, Colorado, a distance of two hundred
and fifty miles. They did considerable fighting with the Indians
but carried the enterprise through successfuly and remained on duty until
1865. Then he was ordered to Fort Leavenworth, where he was honorably discharged,
being first sergeant. Mr. Bown, experienced much of the hardship of a soldier's
life, it being especially rigorous on account of his being on the border
and in constant service. On the day following his discharge he returned
to Peoria county, Illinois and at Lancaster, in that state, he married
Miss Emma Minnick. In 1869 they moved to Barton county, Missouri. Four
children have been born to them, Kate S., wife of Charles A. Philhour,
a passenger engineer on the Santa Fe railroad living in LaJunta, Colorado;
William W., a machinist operating an engine at the Stem Winder mill at
Fairview, British Columbia; Frances Maud, a school teacher, living at home;
Edward J., at home, now handling the mail from Conconully to Loomis.
Mrs. Bown died on November 9, 1880, in Barton
county, Missouri. In 1889 Mr. Bown came with his people to Sprague, Washington,
and engaged in farming and stock raising. In 1890, he brought some cows
to Conconully and operated a dairy there for two years. He located his
present place when he first came here, which is a good piece of land and
well improved. Mr. Bown is a member of the G. A. R., also the A. F. &
A. M. He took a trip to Illinois in 1898 and visited his home lodge from
which he had been absent for thirty years and found many of the old associates
still in harness.