In 1890 Mr. Cox was united in marriage to Miss Decima E. Yeend, of Walla Walla county, a daughter of William Yeend, one of the pioneer farmers of this section of the state, who came to Washington from England in 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Cox have become the parents of two children: Arthur E., who is farming his father's land; and Dessie, at home.
The family occupies a very enviable position in social circles and the hospitality of the best homes of Walla Walla is freely accorded them. Mr. Cox is a stalwart republican in his political views and has done much to further the interests and promote the success of the party. He served for several years as member of the Walla Walla city council and in 1908 was elected to the state senate, serving as a member of the upper house of the general assembly for four years. In 1912 he was a candidate for state treasurer, and while he carried thirty-four out of the thirty-eight counties, he was defeated by the Pierce county vote. In 1916 he was again elected to the state senate, in which capacity he is now serving. He is an earnest working member of the upper house, carefully considering the vital questions which come up for settlement, and his position in support or opposition of any measure is never an equivocal one. He stands loyally for what he believes to be the best interests of the commonwealth and in his political record he has ever been willing to subordinate personal interests to the general good. Mr. and Mrs. Cox are consistent and faithful members of the Methodist church and he has had the honor of representing his church at the general conference for three successive terms. He is chairman of the board of trustees of the church and does everything in his power to advance its cause and extend its influence. While he has won notable success he has never made the attainment of wealth the sole ambition of his life. He has recognized his duties and obligations in other connections and has stood at all times for that which is most worth while in citizenship and in the moral development of the people at large. His life record is characterized by many honorable phases and should well serve as a source of encouragement to others and constitute an example which others may profitably follow. Coming to the west empty-handed, he has here intelligently directed his efforts with a result that has been most notable and gratifying, but winning prosperity has been but one feature of his activities, for his course has been so directed that he has gained not only material success but an honored name as well.
DAMASE BERGEVIN.
Damase Bergevin, whose success from the time that he made his initial purchase of land in Walla Walla county was rapid and substantial, so that he became one of the prosperous farmers of this section of the state and at his death left his family in comfortable financial circumstances, was born near Quebec, Canada, on the 31st of March, 1840. He came of French ancestry. He was there reared with no educational advantages except those found in the school of experience. In 1865 he came to Walla Walla county, Washington, after spending a year in St. Joseph, Missouri. On reaching the northwest he located in what was then known as French Town, about nine miles west of Walla Walla, on the Walla Walla river. Two brothers had preceded him here and Mr. Bergevin worked for a time for one of them. Between the years 1875 and 1878 he was in the employ of Dr. Baker and built the narrow gauge railroad from Wallula to Walla Walla, this being the first railroad in the state of Washington. Mr. Bergevin cut the ties for this road and drove them down the Yakima river.
It was not until 1880 that Mr. Bergevin made his first purchase of land. At that time he and his brother Clement bought an eighty acre farm and a year later the brothers divided their interest and from that time forward Mr. Bergevin operated independently. His success from that time forward was rapid and he proved not only a very enterprising and progressive farmer but a man of excellent ability in managing his financial interests. As his resources increased he kept adding to his holdings until he had acquired sixteen hundred and twenty-one acres of land in the home farm and also owned six hundred and forty acres five miles north of Walla Walla and a tract of one hundred and sixty acres at Rulo Station on the Northern Pacific Railroad. His investments were most judiciously made and his business affairs carefully managed. He seemed to readily recognize the essential in all business transactions and his sound judgment and indefatigable enterprise brought to him a very gratifying measure of success. In 1892 he was stricken with total blindness, but though thus incapacitated in a large measure for the management of his property interests he was surrounded by the loving care of his wife, while his four sons assumed business duties and responsibilities and as the years have passed on more has been added to the family holdings until the Bergevin interests in Walla Walla county are most extensive.
It was at St. Rose's Catholic Mission church at Frenchtown, July 3, 1881, that Mr. Bergevin was united in marriage to Miss Mary P. Allard, a native of St. Paul, Minnesota, who came to Walla Walla county with her parents, Oliver and Leo Cadie (Forest) Allard, in 1862. They crossed the plains with ox teams, meeting the usual experiences of such a trip, and at length located in the little hamlet of Walla Walla. The father was a carpenter by trade and assisted in large measure in the upbuilding of the town in the early days, erecting many of the first buildings in the city. Mrs. Bergevin is now residing in Walla Walla.
To Mr. and Mrs. Bergevin were born six children: Leona P., now the wife of Philip Remillard, a farmer of Walla Walla county; Joseph Damase, who resides on the homestead farm; Arthur A., also engaged in farming; Clement A., who, lives on the old Bergevin home farm; Clarence C., who was married September 26, 1917, to Miss Lois Reavis, and is farming in Walla Walla county; and Augustine A., the wife of Elmer Markham, a farmer of Walla Walla county. There are also twelve grandchildren. At one time Arthur and Clarence Bergevin were engaged in the cultivation of thirteen hundred and fifty acres of land, owning five hundred and twenty acres of that amount, but have since divided their interests. The former was married September 27, 1916, to Miss Margaret Gohres. He is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose and, like the others of the family, is an adherent of the Catholic church. He has one of the best improved farms in the county on which is a large, substantial and beautiful residence with extensive farm buildings, all new, modern and thoroughly equipped. In a word, the name Bergevin has come to stand for progress and improvement in Walla Walla county.
In his political views Mr. Bergevin of this review was a democrat and while he never took an active part in politics he was interested in the welfare and progress of his community and gave his support to all measures which he deemed of public benefit. He died on the 31st of July, 1911, honored and respected by all who knew him. His had been a most active and useful life and one which was crowned with a very substantial measure of prosperity. In fact his record should serve as a source of encouragement and inspiration to others, showing what may be accomplished through determined purpose, unfaltering industry and sound judgment.