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.
ISAIAH STAMBAUGH, one of the
wealthy and respected men of the Big Bend country, has the distinction
of having gained his present large property interests solely by his wisdom
and industry, having, in the meantime, been called on to pass through all
the trying hardships and dangers incident to pioneer existence, all of
which he has accomplished in a becoming manner. He is today one of
the citizens of Lincoln county that people look up to, having gained this
esteem and confidence from his fellows by his upright walk and kind, neighborly
ways.
Isaiah Stambaugh was born in Butler county,
Ohio, on March 10, 1846, the son of George and Sarah (Garrison) Stambaugh.
The father came from a Pennsylvania Dutch family of prominence, while the
mother was of English extraction, her family being an old and influential
one. Our subject was taken by his parents to Schuyler county, Illinois,
when two years of age. Soon thereafter, they went to McDonough county,
where Isaiah received his education in the common schools. The father
died when this lad was eight years of age and the widowed mother had the
heavy burden of caring for a family of six children in a new country.
The children were named as follows: Samuel, Jacob, Isaiah, Margaret E.,
Rebecca A., and George G. They were all kept together until the Rebellion
broke out and then, our subject being sixteen, he took charge of the farm,
while his two older brothers went to fight back the forces of treason.
He continued with his mother until her death in 1864, and then continued
on the home farm until his marriage. In 1868, Mr. Stambaugh married
Miss Mary M., daughter of John and Elizabeth (Linton) Smith, natives of
Kentucky. The father was a cooper and was in Kentucky in the days
of pioneer hardships. He had much trouble with the Indians together
with his other trying times, but became one of the leading men of his section
and reaped the rewards of his labors. Mrs. Stambaugh was born in
Kentucky, on November, 18, 1844. To Mr. and Mrs. Stambaugh, the following
named children have been born: John M., a merchant at Quincy, Washington;
Mrs. Sarah M. McKay; Mrs. Anna Elizabeth Howell; Mrs. Tiney M. Cole; Silas
Otis; and Stella G.
Reverting to an earlier portion of our subject's
career, we notice that in 1869, Mr. Stambaugh removed with his wife to
Missouri, from Illinois. In September, 1870, they returned to Illinois.
In 1882, Mr. Stambaugh turned his face westward and eventually landed in
the Evergreen State. Upon investigation, he selected his present
place, which lies about three miles southwest from Creston. He had
much arduous labor to perform and many trying things to encounter.
However, he overcame all and with his family weathered the many severe
storms both of the hard winters and of adversity. He has a good place
now and is one of the substantial men of the county.
In 1873, Mr. Stambaugh was converted and joined
the United Brethren church, but since coming to Washington, he has been
allied with the Methodists and is a consistent member of that denomination.
He is a zealous and active worker in Sunday schools and in promoting all
good enterprises
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