BENJAMIN F. FLATHERS
At the age of about fifty
On the 1st of January, 1869, Mr. Flathers was united in marriage to Mrs. Malinda (McQuown) Harris, who was born in Russell county, Virginia, May 3, 1836, and in 1841 accompanied her parents, Patrick and Mary McQuown, on their removal to Sullivan county, Missouri, where she was reared and educated. In 1856 she married Mack F. Harris and on the 6th of May, 1863, they and their two small sons started across the plains by ox team. This was a very hazardous journey owing to the Indian troubles which they daily encountered but no consequences of a serious nature resulted. They finally landed in Idaho City in December of the same year and remained there until the spring of 1864, when they proceeded to Walla Walla, arriving in June. In 1865 Mr. Harris died leaving one son, the two children, born before they crossed the plains, having died in Idaho City. Mrs. Harris and her son continued to live near Walla Walla until 1869, when she became the wife of Benjamin F. Flathers, and they located on a farm on Touchet River belonging to H. H. Spaulding. The following year, however, they purchased of Mr. Spaulding the farm, which they continued to own throughout the remainder of their lives. To Mr. and Mrs. Flathers were born five children, as follows: Julia M., John Taylor, Emery, Charley F. and Harry J.
Mr. Flathers was reared in the Baptist faith and although he did not hold membership in any church he contributed to the support of all denominations when called upon to do so. He was an honored member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Masonic fraternity and the Elks, and for several years his wife was also identified with Clematis Rebekah Lodge, No. 30, of Prescott, but after removing to Walla Walla gave up lodge work. In early life she was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, but later became a member of the Congregational church of Walla Walla, with which she was connected at the time of her death which occurred April 21, 1917. She was an earnest and consistent Christian and both she and her husband were held in the highest regard by all who knew them.
WALTER CLARENCE MINNICK.
Walter Clarence Minnick, who is carrying on extensive farming operations although a resident of Walla Walla, is a western man by birth as well as preference, as he was born in Old Walla Walla county, August 19, 1873. He is a son of Adam and Amanda (Davis) Minnick, the former of whom was born March 9, 1830, in Pennsylvania, whence he accompanied his parents to Dayton, Ohio, at the age of five years. Later, while he was still a youth, the family removed to Davis county, Iowa, and there he resided until 1852. He then went to California by ox team in Dr. Udell's train. In addition to the hardships of the road the Indians gave considerable trouble and cholera broke out, causing the death of many. In November, however, they reached the Sacramento valley of California and Mr. Minnick spent the next two years mining in different parts of that state. He then decided to return to Iowa and on the 1st of October, 1854, sailed from San Francisco on the steamer Yankee Blade. Unfortunately the ship was wrecked after being at sea only twenty-four hours, being wedged among the rocks, with one part broken off. The twelve hundred passengers remained on the ship for about twenty-four hours, at the end of which time they were rescued by a passing vessel, which landed them at San Diego. As he had lost his earnings on the wrecked ship Mr. Minnick decided to return to San Francisco, where he lived for two more years. In the year 1856 he again embarked for home and this time the voyage was uneventful and he reached New York in safety. He then went by rail to Iowa, where he was married. In 1872 Mr. Minnick again came to the Pacific coast and on landing at San Francisco, proceeded by boat to Portland, whence he came to Walla Walla county with his family by railroad. He preempted land on the Pataha prairie and resided there until 1876. He then removed to Spring valley, six miles south of Waitsburg, where he engaged in farming until 1900, when he retired and took up his residence on Park street, Walla Walla. In 1906 he removed to Los Angeles, California, in the hope of benefiting his health and there he lived until his death on the 9th of May, 1911. His remains were brought back to Walla Walla, Washington, and were interred in the Mountain View cemetery. He is survived by his widow, who bore the maiden name of Amanda Davis. She is a daughter of Dr. Moss Davis, for many years a prominent physician of Davis and Wapello counties, Iowa. She makes her home in Walla Walla and owns between eight and nine hundred acres of land, left her by her husband. To them were born the following children: Mrs. Mary Minnetta Hubbard, a resident of Waitsburg; George D. and John H., who are living in Walla Walla; Mrs. Anna Shepherd Crook, of Spokane, Washington; Walter Clarence, a resident of Walla Walla; Mrs. Ella Elisabeth Price, who is living in Waitsburg; and Chester Clifford, who is operating his mother's land but resides in Walla Walla.
Walter C. Minnick received his education in the district schools, the Waitsburg High School, the Waitsburg Academy, from which he was graduated in 1902, and Professor Walton's School of Expression of Spokane, which he attended during the four winters after leaving the academy. When about nineteen years of age he began farming on his own account and has continued to follow that occupation to the present time. He is now the owner of extensive tracts of land and is one of the large wheat growers of Walla Walla and Columbia counties. The fact that he can successfully manage such large interests is proof of his enterprise, keen business judgment and executive ability. He was one of the organizers of the Exchange Bank of Waitsburg, of which he was elected vice president at the time of its reorganization, and for seven or eight years he held that office, but has recently disposed of his bank holdings.
On the 23d of December, 1908, Mr. Minnick was married to Miss Amy Jane McCown, of Waitsburg, a daughter of Frank and Laura (Walker) McCown, both natives of this region. Her grandparents came west in 1852 by ox team and located in Oregon and both parents were born on the Pacific coast. Mrs. Minnick was born in Waitsburg, June 3, 1885, and was graduated from the Waitsburg high school and the organ department of Whitman Conservatory of Music. She also spent one year in study at Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Minnick have been born three children, Walter Lawrence, Erma Helen and Virginia Pauline.