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.