Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The
Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties,
State of Washington", published by Western Historical Publishing
Co., 1904.
LOUIS E. BISHOP is at the head
of a lumber manufacturing plant situated about nine miles southwest from
Waterville. He was born in Amherst, Massachusetts, on October 4,
1850, the son of Henry and Catherine (Nutting) Bishop, natives of Massachusetts.
The mother's father, John Nutting, was of Revolutionary fame and also a
veteran of the War of 1812. She is a member of the Society of the
Daughters of the Revolution. The public schools of Amherst, Massachusetts,
contributed the education of our subject and he remained in the vicinity
of that town until the centennial year dawned, when he removed to Faribault,
Minnesota, where he remained for thirteen years. He did carpentering
and some building there and was foreman of a sash and door factory.
In 1888, he came west to Waterville and for two years was engaged in contracting
and building, then bought his present place and built a thoroughly well
equipped mill, with the output capacity of ten thousand feet per day.
He has a planer and all finishing machinery necessary for the manufacture
of lumber for all kinds of building purposes. Mr. Bishop gained four
hundred and eighty acres of land by government right and that portion of
it which is suitable for farming is under cultivation. He owns in
addition to this, eight hundred acres on Badger mountain, where the mill
is located. He is doing a good business at the present time and has
considerable timber yet to cut. The farm estate lies twelve miles
east of Waterville and there, also, Mr. Bishop has a good large band of
cattle and horses.
Mr. Bishop has one brother, Lawriston H.,
and one sister, Mrs. Emily Thayer. On April 1, 1900, at Waterville,
Mr. Bishop married Mrs. Alta Powers, the daughter of John and Emma (Parker)
Donaldson, natives of Canada and Indiana, respectively. Mrs. Bishop
was born in Midland county, Michigan, on March 5, 1867. Our subject
and his wife are the parents of one daughter, Nellie F., born March 20,
1901, and one son, Arthur H., born May 10, 1904. Mrs. Powers had
two children by her former husband: William R., born in Michigan, on May
9, 1886, and Minnie B., born in Tacoma, Washington, on August 24, 1890.
Mr. and Mrs. Bishop are adherents of the Methodist
church and liberal supporters of all public enterprises, which are for
the benefit of all.
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