Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history
of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western
Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
ERVIN F. BRIGHAM, Deceased.
It is very fitting that a memorial of the esteemed gentleman whose name
appears above should be granted space in the history of this county.
He was born on April 17, 1853, near Springfield, Michigan, being the son
of Curtis and Esther (Metcalf) Brigham, natives of Minnesota. He
came with his parents via New York and Panama to California when three
years of age. They lived in San Jose valley, where he received a
fine education and grew to manhood. He came to Moscow, Idaho, in
1881 and there taught school for a number of years. In connection
with his school teaching, he took a homestead and did farming and stock
raising, at which he prospered until the time of his death, on June 3,
1893. He was a good man and was mourned by many at the time of his
death. Mr. Brigham had four brothers and one sister, Alfred C.; John
W., state senator from Idaho; Mrs. Ella C. Berryman; Eddie; and Burnice,
of North Idaho. On October 5, 1879, Mr. Brigham married Miss Emma
Overacker, who was born in Jones county, Iowa, on July 22, 1859.
Her parents, William and Lydia (Kramer) Overacker, were early pioneers
of the vicinity of Genesee and there remained until their demise.
Mrs. Brigham came to California in 1878, to where her uncle, Howard Overacker,
was living. He has been there since 1849 and is still living in the
San Jose valley. After a visit there she came to Genesee and joined
her parents in 1879. To Mr. and Mrs. Brigham have been born five
children: William C., dwelling in Kipling; Frank H., deceased; Harrison
B.; Fleda and Gladis, deceased. When the reservation was opened,
Mrs. Brigham came with her brother, mentioned elsewhere in this volume,
to this section and located her present home place. She lived on
the land until the following spring. The farm is well located, being
fertile land and well improved. It has a good residence, large barn,
and eleven acres are devoted to orchard. Since the death of her husband,
Mrs. Brigham has managed the affairs and has shown herself to be a skillful
business woman. In addition to her other property, she owns the old
home farm in Latah county, and property near the university at Moscow,
Idaho, and is considered one of the wealthy residents of this section.
Mr. Brigham was a devoted member of the Brethren church and his widow is
an adherent of the same.