McEachenj
Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history
of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western
Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
JOHN McEACHEN, who resides at
Bolster, is one of the mining men who have showed by their labors their
faith in the boundless mineral resources of this country and have brought
forth substantial evidence of the rich deposits in the mountains adjacent.
He is now developing some properties which he located sometinie since,
and has uncovered showings which convince one that he has some good ledges.
He came to Meyers creek in the spring of 1897, and at once devoted himself
to prospecting. His first location was at his present home, which
was the beginning of the town of Bolster. Here he has resided since.
Mr. McEachen has also some other valuable claims showing good values in
gold and copper. The Constitution and the Yamhill are well developed,
and have a thirty foot ledge. The Keystone has twelve hundred dollars
of development and promises well in gold.
John McEachen was born in Bath, Maine, on
April 12, 1855, the son of John and Flora (McDonald) McEachen. The
father was born in Maine, and died during service in the Rebellion.
The mother, who is a native of Scotland, is now living in Portland with
her daughter, Mrs. Mary T. Ducett, and is eighty-five years of age.
Mr. Ducett was captain on a steamboat, but is now farming near Portland.
Our subject was with his parents when they went to Boston, Massachusetts,
and after his father's death worked in a wholesale grocery, and so assisted
to support the rest of the family. His older brother, Norman, was
killed in the battle of Brandy Station, and our subject was the mainstay
of his widowed and sorrowing mother in those years of trial. In 1877,
Mr. McEachen came via New York and Panama to San Francisco, then went to
Phoenix, Arizona, and later settled in Portland, Oregon, where he engaged
in the cigar business. After this he was clerk in a hotel in The
Dalles, then came to Sprague in 1881. After being in business there
for some time he returned to Portland, then went to Couer d'Alene at the
time of the excitement there in 1883-4. Later he went to Butte, Montana,
after which he was conductor on a construction train on the Northern Pacific
in the Cascades. From that Mr. McEachen went to Portland, and later
located a quarter section in Washington county twenty-six miles northwest
from the city. It is a good farm, well improved and valuable.
On April 24, 1893, Mr. McEachen married Miss
Sarah, daughter of William and Hannah Kutch, and a native of Yamhill county.
The parents crossed the plains in the early fifties, and are now living
on the old donation claim in that county. On December 28, 1896, Mrs.
McEachen died leaving no children. The bereaved husband then sold
his stock, rented his farm, and came to Okanogan county to mine, where
he has remained since.