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.
B. J. DESPAIN, who dwells adjacent
to Edwall, was born in Cloverdale, Lane county, Oregon, on July 6, 1862,
the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Hardesty) Despain, natives of Illinois.
The father came to Oregon in the fifties and engaged in sheep raising in
the Western part of the state. He died many years since. The
mother is still living at Prosser, Washington. Our subject spent
his early life in Oregon and there received his educational training.
When twelve, his father having died before that time, he went with the
family overland to Arizona and drove cattle all the way. For four
years, he remained there working at various occupations then came back
with a band of horses to Dayton, Washington. He lived in Whetstone
hollow near Dayton, on a farm for four years after which he moved to Asotin
county and filed on a pre-emption. Sometime was spent there then
he made a trip to the territory now embraced in Lincoln county. In
the same year, he took a homestead where he now lives. To this he
has added by purchase until he now has three hundred and seventy-five acres
of choice wheat land. The same is in a high state of cultivation
and supplied with with plenty of good buildings and other improvements.
Mr. Despain has labored faithfully since coming here and although he has
had to endure many hardships in the earlier days he has now won a success
that places him among the wealthy people of Lincoln county. His entire
holdings have been gained through his own wisdom and labors.
On January 1, 1890, in Lincoln county, Mr.
Despain married Miss Mattie Service, a native of California. To them
four children have been born; Della aged thirteen; Elmer aged ten; Vernie
aged eight; and Bessie three. Mrs. Despain's parents came to Washington
in 1879. In addition to farming, Mr. Despain has raised a great deal
of stock and handles considerable at the present time. He has traveled
a good deal and believes the Big Bend country one of the choicest sections
of the entire west. Mr. Despain has three sisters, Mrs. Jacob Lumpp,
Mrs. Edith Lile, and Mrs. Dora Justus.
Fraternally, Mr. Despain is affiliated with
the Maccabees.
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