Told by the Pioneers - Washington Secretary of State

Told by the Pioneers
of 73. :Mr. Sargent's father had come to Washington Territory and
remained here during 1860, 1861, 1862 and part of 1863, and decided
that some time he would make it his future home. He was a frontiersman
and always wanted to pioneer in new country.
:Mr. Sargent took up a homestead in the Grande Ronde Valley in
1897, on which he made final proof. He followed mining from 1904
until 1908, after which he moved to Asotin. He did not make or lose
any monev in this business.
. .'
This pioneer was in the grain warehouse business in Asotin for a
number of years, under the trade name of Sargent and Bolick. He
owned and operated the first abstract office in Asotin County under
the name of the Asotin Abstract Co. He had also been a member of
the school board and citv council.
"
In 1928 he started the Beebe Cold Storage Co., in Lewiston, Idaho.
This business has developed into a big industry.
:Mr. Sargent is a member of the Elks Lodge in Lewiston. He was
born in Linn County, Oregon, in 1868. He is of Scotch and English
parentage. He is a widower, his wife having died in 1933. He has
eight children and three grandchildren. The names of his children
are: :Mrs. Ruby Bolick, Mrs. Hazel Sargent, Miss Ruth Sargent, Mrs.
Gladys Chose, Robert Sargent, Clifford Sargent, Richard Sargent
and Miss Georgia Sargent. All of these eight children started and
graduated from Asotin schools.
:3[1'. Sargent has voted in 'Vashington for forty-seven years.
In 1880 1.1r. Sargent's father took his entire family to their old
home in California on a visit, remaining there a year. They made the
trip both ways in a covered wagon. The father was a veteran of the
Indian wars of 1856 in Oregon. That state gave him a permit to take
up any 160 acres of land in the territory remaining vacant. He lost
the permit and never used his homeste~d right there.
'Vhen :Mr. Sargent's parents came to 'Valla 'Valla County, that
region was well settled. There were quite a number of good houses,
as the farmers were prosperous. They drove to 'Valla Walla for
their supplies while living near that town. When they moved to the
Dayton and Cloverland districts, they freighted their supplies from
Dayton, which was the nearest trading point.
They raised all their provisions with the exception of tea, coffee,
and sugar. They bought the green coffee beans, which they roasted
in the oven at home.
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