Champneysh  
 
 

Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.


     HERBERT G. CHAMPNEYS is one of the leading stockmen of Okanogan county.  He raises cattle extensively, and also has two fine farms, one on the bottoms along the Similkameen especially adapted to hay, and one seven, miles north of Loomis, where he resides at the present time.
     Herbert G. Champneys was born in western Turville, Buckinghamshire, England, on February 2, 1864 the son of John and Anna (Walker) Champneys, natives of England.  The father, whose fathers were Church of England ministers, died at the age of sixty-five.  The mother is still living in Wolverhampton, England, aged fifty-eight.  Our subject received a good education from the public and special schools, and in due time began life as a salesman and bookkeeper.  He wrought in various places, his last occupation being in London.  He worked for Baerlin & Company of Manchester, and also in the civil service stores in London.  It was in 1886, that he started from London to Sprague, having a through ticket. His brother, Weldon V. met him, and they came direct to Okanogan county, crossing the ferry where Wild Goose Bill lives.  That enterprising pioneer had just completed a row boat, and our subject and his brother were the first passengers to cross.  The horses had to swim.  Few stores were in the Okanogan country then.  Mr. Champneys located a pre-emption adjoining his present ranch.  He now has an estate of two hundred acres largely seeded to timothy and clover.  He made the pre-emption his home until 1900, when he took his present place as a homestead.
     On September 15, 1887, Mr. Champneys married Miss Zora, daughter of Alfred C. and Mary S. Cowherd.  To them has been born one child, Julian Drake, his birthday being May 22, 1900.  Mr. and Mrs. Cowherd came from Jackson, Michigan, to the Ivanhoe mines in Okanogan county in 1890, which Mr. Cowherd had located in 1886, and which is said to be one of the largest in the county.  The property is located on Palmer mountain, and consists of four patented claims.  Before the concentrator was built on that property, they resided there, but now dwell upon a homestead adjoining that of our subject.  During the panic, the mine was closed, and at Mrs. Champneys' suggestion, they started the concentrator and ran through a number of tons of ore lying on the dump.  Mrs. Cowherd was equal to the emergency and handled the engine while Mr. Cowherd attended to the rest of the mill, and the result was that the job was completed in good shape, and the returns from the ore tided them over the panic times.
     On July 31, 1903, Mrs. Champneys' sister, Miss Grace L. Cowherd, in company with Miss Tora Torguson, began the trip from their place to the top of Mount Chapaca.  They carried their blankets, provisions, and a rifle, and wended their way up the rugged heights until they finally planted the stars and stripes on the very summit of this mountain.  It is supposed that these ladies were the first white ladies to step foot on the top of Mount Chapaca.  They completed the trip in safety, and no small credit is due them for their undertaking.  Mr. Champneys has manifested ability, and shown a real pioneer spirit.  He has assiduously labored here for the last eighteen years, and is deserving of the esteem and respect which he receives in generous measure.