BYRD COYLE.
Byrd Coyle, a well known dairyman and substantial farmer of Walla Walla county, was born in Lebanon, Oregon, February 7, 1860, and is a representative of a very old and prominent family of that state. His father, James B. Coyle, was born in Peoria, Illinois, March 4, 1832, and throughout life followed farming. In 1852 he crossed the plains with ox teams and located in Oregon, where he made his home until coming to Walla Walla county, Washington, in 1866. Here he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land, to which the family have since added from time to time until now the home place comprises five hundred and sixty acres. The father died on the 29th of April, 1901, but the mother of our subject is still living and continues to reside on the home farm. She bore the maiden name of Jane Summers and was born in Iowa, August 23, 1841. She was only five years of age when she crossed the plains with her parents in 1846, her father being captain of a large company traveling with ox teams. They reached the Whitman Mission in Oregon so late in the fall that they resolved to spend the winter of 1846-7 at that place and there Mrs. Coyle attended the school conducted by Dr. Whitman, who was killed in the Whitman massacre the following fall. In the spring of 1847 Captain Summers proceeded with his family to Lebanon, Oregon, where Mrs. Coyle grew to womanhood and was married. She is today one of the oldest settlers of the Pacific northwest and is thoroughly familiar with the entire development of this region.
Byrd Coyle is one of a family of ten children, nine of whom are still living. Two sons are now residents of Canada and a daughter lives in Kennewick, Washington, but the remainder are all living in Walla Walla county. Here Byrd Coyle attended the district schools and his early education was supplemented by a course at Whitman College and later at the Oregon State University, where he was a student for two years. After putting aside his textbooks he engaged in railroad work for several years and then spent three years and a half in Alaska, but in November, 1900, he returned to Walla Walla county. His father died soon afterward and he and his brother Charles have since had charge of the home farm, which they have operated with most gratifying success. In connection with general farming they give considerable attention to the dairy business, having a creamery upon his place and selling both milk and butter, and they furnish employment to from twenty-five to forty men.
On the 27th of June, 1916, Byrd Coyle was united in marriage to Miss Lenora Stewart, a native of Virginia and a daughter of Moore Stewart. They are earnest and consistent members of the Congregational church, and Mr. Coyle is also identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. In politics he is a democrat and takes a deep and commendable interest in public affairs.
H. D. CONOVER.
H. D. Conover, who is farming extensively in Columbia county, Washington, is now financially independent, although he began his career empty-handed. He is a western man by birth as well as preference, as he was born in Linn county, Oregon, March 28, 1859, a son of W. S. and Margaret (Crawford) Conover, both of whom were born in Indiana. In 1852 both came to Oregon as members of a train of emigrants journeying by ox team. They were married in Oregon and remained residents of that state until called by death. To them were born two sons, the brother of our subject being O. M. Conover, of Waitsburg.
H. D. Conover attended the district schools in his early boyhood, but in 1872, when but thirteen years, came to Washington and found work on a stock farm. He was so employed until he was thirty-five years old, since which time he has followed agricultural pursuits independently. He now operates fourteen hundred acres of land, growing large crops of grain annually and also raising some stock. His long experience and his keen powers of observation have taught him the most effective methods of carrying on his work and he manages the business phase of farming excellently and as a result receives a good return on the capital invested in his holdings.
Mr. Conover was married on the 6th of December, 1885, to Miss Rachel McKinney, a native of Washington county, Oregon, and they have three children: Lettie A., the widow of J. W. Roberts; Henry M., a prosperous farmer; and Louise, the wife of F. P. Kinder, of Waitsburg, Washington.