Gillespied  
 
 

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

     DAVID L. GILLESPIE has shown himself possessed of excellent business ability by his achievements at Brewster, in Okanogan county, and formerly at other places.  With his brother he has established a store in Brewster and secured a postoffice, having been postmaster since the establishment of the office.  He is handling in connection with Mr. Savage, his partner a cigar and confectionery store, and also the Brewster Herald, a weekly newspaper of republican politics and known as one of the bright and newsy sheets of central Washington.
     David L. Gillespie was born in Raleigh, Missouri, on April 11, 1866, the son of David L. and Catherine (Glardon) Gillespie, natives of Ohio.  The father served as wagon master through the Civil war, enduring much hardship for the Union cause.  While still in the Union service he died from the effects of scarlet fever, while at Fort Scott, Kansas.  Mrs. Gillespie was the daughter of French parents who fled from France during the war and settled in Ohio.  She is now living at the farm home of our subject, opposite Lake Chelan, in Douglas county, aged sixty-five.  Mr. Gillespie has two brothers, Albert C., a merchant at Brewster, and William D., who enlisted in the Idaho Volunteers and was killed in the first engagement at Manila.  He was married just previous to going to the Philippine Islands and his remains were brought to Spokane, where they now rest.
     Our subject came with his mother to Kansas and there received a good, common school education, remaining there until 1884, when they moved to Douglas county, Washington, near where Waterville now stands.  But two or three families were in that section and they had all the trials of the pioneers in making settlements and developing the country.  Mr. Gillespie has a fine farm, being one of the first taken in that country, which is well improved and skillfully handled.
     In December, 1891, Mr. Gillespie married Miss Esther E., daughter of John and Nancy (McAllister) Fletcher, who now dwell in Douglas county.  Mr. Fletcher crossed the plains in early day with ox teams and settled in the Willamette valley, where he was married his wife being a native of Oregon.  Our subject was deputy sheriff of Douglas county under his brother, Albert, and in 1891 removed to Chelan Falls, where he operated a ferry and did a livery business, also being postmaster there.  Four years later he took up general merchandising and bought wheat.  In the spring of 1897, as stated above, he and his brother opened a general merchandise establishment at Brewster, being the first store there.  In 1898 he received his appointment as postmaster, and in 1900 opened his present business and the next year started the Brewster Herald.  Mr. Gillespie has secured the appointment of Brewster as the distributing office of the county and is wide awake for the interests of his county and party.  He is a member of the Red Men and has held all the chairs of that order, having also been representative for five years past.  He is now an officer of the great council.
     To Mr. and Mrs. Gillespie five children have been born, Harry A., Merle E., Claudia D., Mildred E., and Loris.  Our subject is the youngest of his father's family and has gained his present gratifying success entirely through his own efforts.