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.
CHRISTIAN BRUGGER is a representative
citizen of Lincoln county. He dwells about four miles northeast from
Harrington and has a fine estate of over one half section of fertile wheat
land, all of which is in cultivation and well improved. The residence
is a comfortable six-room structure provided with modern conveniences,
as bath, hot and cold water, and so forth. All other buildings and
improvements needed are at hand and prosperity is evident in the entire
premises.
Christian Brugger was
born in Switzerland, in March, 1855, the son of Christian and Anna (Shink)
Brugger, natives of Switzerland. They came to the United States in
1880 and settled in Fayette county, Illinois, where the mother died in
1890, aged sixty-three, and the father in August, 1901, aged eighty-one.
They had four children; our subject, the eldest; Carl, on the old homestead
in Illinois; Elizabeth, living with him; and Margaret Deitrich, living
near Harrington. Our subject grew up in his native country and was
educated in the schools there. When of proper age he took his place
in the regular army and served for five years. Then, in April, 1880,
he came to the United States and selected the farm where the father located
in Fayette county, Illinois. In the spring of 1882, he came to Dakota,
but not liking the country made his way farther west. It was July,
when he arrived in Cheney and so well was he pleased with the country that
he lost no time in selecting his present place and filing a homestead.
Since that time, Mr. Brugger has devoted himself to the improvement of
his farm and has made it a valuable place. Having no means he was
forced to work out for wages to improve his place but he continued with
good success and has now much to show for his work. When Mr. Brugger
came here the country was largely a vast prairie unbroken by settlement
and he had the choice of the land. He secured a fine piece and the
transformation of these great prairies to wheat fields has all taken place
since he located.
On April 8, 1888, at
Sprague, Mr. Brugger married Miss Rosina Muller, a native of Switzerland.
Mrs. Brugger has one brother, John, near Harrington. To our subject
and his wife seven children have been born, John, Albert, Anna, Robert,
Freedie, Walter and Lizzie. The family are all members of the Evangelical
church and are devoted supporters of the faith. Mr. Brugger expects
to spend the remainder of his days in this country and believes it to be
one of the choicest he has ever seen.