27 August 2010

2012 Largent Reunion- Republic & Waitsburg Options from Misty

Kathy replies on 27 Aug 10
I am willing to go to Republic. What is the pavilon? Do we really need it or do you think the tents would be fine. What kind of refrigerator space do they have? I don't think Waitsburg would be good. Can you find out more about the kitchen for us? That is the only thing I am interested in, as far as putting up a tent and camping that doesn't bother me at all. I have asked people about the month and time and we have tried June, july and august before and the same ones show up so it really doesn't matter. When are good dates to rent the fairgrounds? We can probably go with what is more convenicent to renting the grounds. Find out those few things for me and think it will work. I like to do it ahead of time too. I did get a note from the campground thanking us so I guess we were alright. Hope to hear from you soon.

Kathy


Misty sends along this info on the Republic Fairgrounds and the Waitsburg Fairgrounds- both of which have served us well in the past.

I am attaching some of the info that I was able to gather on the Republic Fairgrounds and the Waitsburg Fairgrounds. Just so we can compare and see what is out there. I know that several people mentioned at the last reunions that they would like to try to get back up into Republic. It might be a good idea to try it one year to see how it goes. It looks like once you add all the costs up that the two are pretty comparable. I also wonder about sending something out to see what time of year would be best to do the reunion? I know that there are quite a few people that are tied up during harvest. So would a query to the family be a good thing? Or would it present more problems? I am willing to do what I can and I would like to get started on the planning as soon as I can so we have the best options for dates and things. (I like to start early.) So I wanted to check with you to see what you think. Let me know.......then we will figure out what it best. Thanks =

REPUBLIC FAIRGROUNDS

To Rent the Grounds (including the bathrooms and showers)……………………………………… $50.00 per day
To Rent the Kitchen……………………………………………….. $75.00 per day
To Rent the Pavilion……………………………………........ $230.00 per day
Instead of the pavilion, we can also rent one or two of the grounds 20’x 30’ tents for the picnic tables. The tents will cost $80.00 for the entire weekend.
DEPOSIT
There is a $100.00 (REFUNDABLE) deposit for the kitchen. It will be refunded after the kitchen is inspected.
CAMPER FEES
Then for camping:
RVs………………………………………$12.00 per day
Tents……………………………………$5.00 per day
Fees are per camps not per person.

If this is something that we are interested in, we need to call Kathy Lindsey at (509) 775-5225 ext. 2105 from 9:00-11:30 am or at (509) 775-2494 after 11:30 am.






Waitsburg Fairgrounds
Waitsburg Fairgrounds Building Overview
Community Building* - $8.00/hr ($150/day maximum), $30/month non-exclusive
Jockey Room* - $20/day
Track - $15 day, $30/month non-exclusive
Betting Booth (Junior Exhibit Building)* - $15/day
Cook Shack* - $25/day
Softball Fields (Inner Track Area)* - $40/day, $40/night, $50/season (area leagues)
Horse Stalls^ - $50/month/stall, $5/day/stall*
Grandstands* - $15/day
RV Stalls - $15/night, $300/month
Rainbow Building* - $15/day
Portable Concessions - $30/day
Entire Facility for Annual Events - Case by case basis decided by the City Clerk
Deposit
*$50 Deposit required
^$50 Deposit required for the 1st Stall, $25 per stall thereafter

15 August 2010

2010 W.D. Largent Reunion at Camp Cascade, Idaho

The 2010 W.D. Largent reunion was another success. About 50 of us gathered at Camp Cascade near Cascade, Idaho this year. Most of the weekend crowd was there when I arrived about 5:00 p.m. About 6:00 we had dinner, sat around and talked, and then out to the bon fire which which is pretty hot for smores and marshmallows, but we made do!

Meals are always important. Here Hal & Kathy are cooking our breakfast!



Hal Young- our morning egg cook



Kathy is the morning meat cook


The camp has a bell, somewhat like a church bell- remember we rent a church camp. Mike rings that bell each morning at breakfast time. Even the late arisers make it in before breakfast is over- most of the time. That old family tradition of pulling people out of bed or dumping ice water on those attempting to sleep in isn't completely dead; it lives on in Uncle George's side of the family! None-the-less the morning passed quickly, and soon it was dinner time followed by family baseball. Sorry no photos from me unless someone else sends them!

We took family photos again. We tried to avoid the direct sun where everyone squints and hides their eyes, and we tried to miss the dappled sun that spoiled some of the last photos, but the sun kept moving. We didn't even take a "group photo" this year- just various family groupings- the descendants of the first cousins.

Wondering who Ulia is? Mike and Kathy picked up a foreign exchange student from (East) Germany on the way to the family reunion. She hasn't even been to their home yet, and got to meet all us wonderful people, letting her know what real Americans are like! I'm sure that was a shock, but she fit in like she belonged here. Ulia, welcome to the USA and the Largent clan for the next 6 months or year!


1st cousins: John, Karen, & Steve



Georgia May's Family back: Steve & Michael Ward & Jim Wall
Dawn, Joshua, Carol Ward, Johnnie, Caroline, Jim holding Eva, David Wall, up front: Ami Wall



left to right: Dawn Ward, Bob Grossen holding Grace, Heather hiding behind Amber Grossen, Steve, Joshua, Carol, & Michael Ward, Carolyn Pottenger with Ian Grossen & Ami Wall, Johnnie Pottenger, James, Jim Carrie holding Eva, & red headed David Wall



Harold Largent family back: Michael with Oakley on his head, Ulia (foreign exchange student) Mike.
middle: Jim-Bob Young with Corbin & Alexis, Chelsea, Kathy holding baby, Elizabeth Largent, Caelan Macomb-Lowe, Cassie Largent Macomb, Haden Macomb-Lowe, & Pat Largent



Barbara Largent Young Family
back row: Hal Young, Michael Largent with Oakley on his head, Brandon Riley, Mike Largent
middle row: Jamie Young with Joe Walker, Jim-Bob, Kathy Largent, Ulia (German exchange student), Brandon's girl friend, Katie O'Sullivan (family friend), Wanda & Nicole Young, Rich & Jane Young.
Up front: Corbin & Alexis Young, Chelsea holding baby, Elizabeth being held by Ulia, and Brooke Young??? in front of Nicole Young


Other photos are here: slideshow

Misty's photos- they're generally better than mine!

It's great to get together with the cousins whose lives typically grow father apart as their family grows and the years pass. This year after many years' absence Steve, Carol, Michael, & Joshua Ward showed up, and it was good to get reacquainted!

Family Reunion Business: Location of the next reunion remains an issue. John & Lois will check out camps near Potlatch. Karen will check out one near Wenatchee. Bob Grossen will check on one near Council- not far from Cascade. Some in North Idaho and Eastern Washington resist the drive down south of the Salmon River. Also, the camp host whom I've never seen smile is more of a camp grouch than host. Usually he's driving a golf cart around complaining and looking for some rule violation rather than greeting or showing off facilities we've rented. This year he found toddlers playing in the sand of the volleyball field and grumped at someone (we don't know who) that the sand was to be raked flat again. He didn't like reaction he got, so he told us to be gone ASAP. Also, a huge 5th wheeler arrived about that time. Had he double booked the camp? Despite the excellent facilities, we probably don't want to go back unless Mr. Grump retires. We await word from those checking out the other camps!

This blog's future I thought it might be fun to have a family site where we have have some family news with photos on births, graduations, military service, marriages, obituaries, and a brief family history, but that will need contributions from others.

09 August 2010

Richard E. Largent 1863- 1915

Richard E. Largent 22 June 1863 - 5 June 1915
Richard was born in Yamhill, County Oregon the fourth child of John and Annie Largent. He attended school in Yamhill County and was enrolled in the Highland School on the Patit Prairie on its opening day of 3 November 1871. His father died when Richard was eleven. He rented his mother's farm for sometime before buying a farm 5 miles south of Pomeroy in 1987 just across the Tucannan Canyon from the farm on which he had grown up. On 3 January 1888 he married Mary Frances "Fanny" Ingram, a Dayton girl whose family had lived there since 1872. They sold the farm south of Pomeroy in 1897, and in 1899 bought a farm 4 miles southwest of Gould City (north of Pomeroy) on the Wild Horse Road. The children attended a country school near Gould City. They sold this farm in 1905. They then moved to to Pullman, Washington so their children could attend college. The younger children came home from school one day to find the house had burnt. The entire family moved in with some kind neighbours, the Cunninghams. They immediately started building a small house where they lived for a short time. Then they built a beautiful new home. Indoor bathrooms were a new idea, so they included one. Because they weren't sure they wanted such a thing inside, they put it on the unheated back porch. The bathroom froze up during the cold of winter, so it was back to the outhouse when temperatures fell. Those who have used outhouses year round claim they are even less desirable during the winter months than during the hot summer months, so the indoor bathroom proved useless when it would have been most appreciated.

During a typical Sunday afternoon visit to Willy's, Richard fell so ill that they took him directly to Moscow's Gritman Hospital. He lingered for several days, and just before his 52nd birthday, Richard died at the hospital after an unsuccessful operation for this sudden stomach ailment. The family had lived well most of its years, but there was more debt than Fanny had realized. They had just built a large beautiful home, but the banks offered no help after Richard's death. They owned a farm near Kahlotus, Washington which they had not farmed. The family was forced to sell the farm near Pullman and move to Kahlotus. The banks refused to lend them money for seed, so they borrowed $3,000 from Willy Largent for the first year's crop. Gradually the family rebuilt its financial success. Richard and Fanny's seven children are: Edith (LaFollette), Ethel (Lukins), Alta (Locklin), Lawrence, Lester, Elton, and Winifred (Penney).

Richard E. Largent family  Circa 1910
back: Alta, Lawrence, Edith, Lester, & Ethel front: Richard, Elton, Winifred, & Fanny Largent


a. Edith Largent 13 February 1890 - 19 June 1960
Tabor LaFollette & Edith Largent wedding photos 1911
Edith was born near Pomeroy. In 1911 she was voted the most beautiful girl at Washington State College. Later that year on 19 August 1911 she married the captain of Washington State College football team, John Tabor LaFollette (Tabor) in Pomeroy, Washington. He was from a prosperous farm family; his father was a congressman from eastern Washington as was his brother, Roy. After finishing college at Washington State they moved to Madison, Wisconsin where he attended law school. They returned to Pullman where he farmed on the home farm for a few years. He later owned Colfax Seed Company where he worked until he retired. Edith died of cancer at age 70. Edith and Tabor had three children: Laretta, John, and LaVelle.

Laretta LaFollette 1930
    1. Laretta LaFollette 4 October 1912 - 11 October 1999
Laretta was born at Madison, Wisconsin while her father was in law school there. She married Carl Walsten on 20 June 1937 in Colfax, Washington. Carl put in a career with the Air Force, retired, and worked as a CPA in San Bernadino from 1956 until retirement. They have one child: Mary.

    2. John Richard LaFollette 16 May 1915 - July 2003
John LaFollette 1930
John was born in Pullman, Washington. He married Edna Louise Fox on
20 May 1939 in Spokane, Washington. They farmed the home place near Pullman for several years before moving to Colfax to work at the Colfax Seed Company with his father. John bought his father's interest in the business and later bought Rainier Sales Company which he ran for 21 years before retiring. He and Edna adopted a set of twins: Robert and Janet.

    3. LaVelle LaFollette 24 September 1918 - 24 June 1979
LaVelle LaFollette 1939
LaVelle was born in Moscow, Idaho. She married Leigh Knoblauch on 28 February 1942 at the family home near Pullman, Washington. She was a graduate of Washington State College who enjoyed bridge and golf. Leigh worked in the Seattle Shipyards during World War II. He worked in advertising and wrote "how to" articles for Sunset Magazine. He bought into a Construction firm, Davenport and Knoblauch Construction, about 1960 where he worked until he died. LaVelle died of a diabetic coma. They had two children: Doug and Patricia.

b. Ethel Largent 19 February 1892 - 29 May 1985

Ethel Largent 1910
Ethel was born near Pomeroy. She married Levi Claypole Lukins (Lee) on 31 July 1919 at Colfax, Washington. Lee was a grain buyer at the time they were married. Sometime during the 1920's he bought a Texaco Distributorship in Colfax which he ran until 1942 when he sold it and bought several grain elevators in Diamond, Washington. Ethel worked part time in the county auditor's office and later for the Soil Conservation Office in Colfax. Lee died on 14 September 1945. Ethel married Roy Sanders in 1952. Roy worked for Washington Water Power and after retirement he repaired electrical appliances in the Colfax area. Ethel died at age 93 and was buried in Colfax, Washington. She and Lee had three children: Frances, Donna, and Richard.



1936 Frances Lukins
    1. Mary Frances Lukins 31 March 1922 - 4 February 1977
Frances was born in Lacrosse, Washington. She married John Bernard Druffel on 26 September 1946 at Colfax. She died of cancer at age 54. She was buried in Colton, Washington. They had seven children: Linda, Becky, Paula, Debbie, Anita, John (Jeff), and Dan.



c. Alta Largent 11 March 1894 - 19 May 1992
Alta Largent
Alta was born near Pomeroy. She was graduated from Washington State College and then taught at a country school between Colfax and Pullman, Kahlotus, and finally at Walla Walla where she lived with her Uncle Willy and Aunt Eliza. She taught there until she married Harry Locklin on 31 October 1925 in Walla Walla. They never had any children. Harry worked as a horticulturist for Washington State University, and Alta quit teaching after they were married. They lived most of their married life in the Puyallap, Washington area. Alta lived her last few years in the Wesley Gardens retirement home in Des Moines, Washington. She died of a stroke at age 98.





d. Lawrence Henry Largent 9 February 1896 - 27 May 1974
Lawrence Largent 1915
Lawrence was also born near Pomeroy. He finished the 8th grade in 1911 at a country school S.E. of the Pullman Farm and was graduated from Pullman High School in 1915 just a few days before his father died. He and Lester farmed the family farm at Kahlotus for several years after their father died eventually forming a partnership that lasted until 1934 when they divided the partnership. Lawrence moved his family to the Colfax area where they farmed. Lawrence married Gertrude Knips on 13 June 1926 at his sister, Ethel Lukin's home in Colfax. Lawrence died of a massive stroke in 1974 at age 77. Gertrude died 14 January 1979. They had three boys: Richard, Philip, and Larry.

    1. Richard Dale Largent 3 November 1928 - 7 May 2013
Dick Largent 1945
Dick was born at Pasco, WA and was six when the family moved to Colfax. He was graduated from Longhollow Country School, which was sometimes called the Hickman School, in 1941, the last year before consolidation hit. His father bought the school house after it closed and moved it to the farm where it became a hired man's house. He was graduated from Colfax High School in 1945 and from Washington State College in 1949 with a BS in Agriculture. In January of 1951 he was drafted into the Army and served two years as a Radio Control Aerial Target Detachment on the eastern end of Long Island, N.Y. during the Korean War. He married Mary Ann. He farmed with his father until 1960 when Philip returned to the area and Lawrence retired. Dick and Philip farmed together until 1982 when their brother Larry returned to the farm and they purchased the Jack Miller place near Penewawa doubling the prior acreage. In 1986 they divided the partnership with Dick and his sons, Brian and Gary taking the home place and Larry, Philip and his son Mike taking the Miller place. Dick and Mary Ann have four children: Dale, Linda, Brian, and Gary.

    2. J. Philip Largent 28 October 1930 - 24 February 2014
1952 LT Phil Largent
Philip was born in Pasco, Washington. He took the 1946 and 1947 Washington State High School boxing championships and continued boxing in college. He was graduated from WSU in 1952 with a major in General Agriculture and received his MBA from Harvard in 1957. He served in the Air Force from August of 1952 until August of 1954 when he was discharged as a 1st Lieutenant. He married Josephine Munn on 26 December 1955 in Seattle, Washington. When they returned to the farm in 1960, they moved into the old Longhollow School that Lawrence had purchased and remodeled it. Philip sold the building to his nephew, Gary & Lisa Largent in 1993, and they added a basement. Josephine died of cancer of 28 May 1995. He married Leslie Jan Looney. . Philip and Jose had three children: Susan, Michael, and Elizabeth.

Lester Largent
  
e. Lester Ingram Largent 26 November 1897 - 5 July 1961
Lester was born at Pomeroy, Washington. He married Ruth VanZandt on 27 November 1924 at Pullman, Washington. During the years of his farm partnership with Lawrence, Lester was the mechanic. In 1934 he bought Lawrence's interest in the Kahlotus farm where they lived until 1948 when he semi-retired and moved to Walla Walla. Lester died of cancer at age 63. He and Ruth had two children: Shirley and Vivian.

    1. Shirley Largent 22 November 1926 - 30 June 2003
Shirley was born at Colfax, Washington. She married Edworth Ray on 24 August 1947 at Pasco, Washington. They have three children: Vicki, Randall, and Leslie.



f. Elton Edward Largent 5 July 1901 - 4 April 1996
Elton Largent
Elton was born on the farm near Gould City. He finished his freshman year of high school in Pullman before moving to Kahlotus where he was graduated from Kahlotus High in 1920. He married Lucile Hinchliffe on 28 May 1926 at his sister's, Ethel Lukins home near Colfax, Washington a few days after Lucile was graduated from that same high school. He ran the LaFollette farm at Kahlotus from 1925 - 1957. In 1957 they moved to Pasco where he sold insurance for National Grange and Farmers. They had one child born on 1 October 1943 who died a few hours after birth as his lungs failed to expand.







g. Winifred Anne Largent 11 January 1904 - 28 January 1991
Winifred Largent
Winifred (or Freddie) was also born near Gould City or Wild Horse Springs, Washington. She began her teaching career in Dayton where she and her mother lived and where she met Cecil Penney. They were married on 1 September 1929 in Clarkston, Washington at her mother's home. She was a primary school teacher during her working years. Cecil worked as a clerk in an electrical store when they were first married. They soon moved to Toppenish and then Vancouver where they spent most of their lives. Cecil continued to sell electrical supplies and later kept books while she taught school. After he "retired", he sold real estate. They moved from Vancouver to Pasco in 1989. She and Cecil never had any children. She was buried in the Desert Lawn Cemetery at Kennewick.

Return to John W. Largent 1838 -1874

1883 Drowning of Idelia Largent

From Mr J. W. Cochran, the postmaster at Dixie, a small place distant about fourteen miles from this city, we learn the following particulars of a cloud burst which occurred near that place Monday last: It seems that the cloud struck a ridge above Dixie and near the residence of Mr. Wm Brunton, which is situated in a small ravine. The water gushed past this gentleman’s house at a depth of over seven feet, carrying away all the outhouses and loose articles around the place. The house was saved by the fact of its being built a little on the side hill, and being out of the main channel of the temporary flood. While the storm was at its height, Miss Della Largent, aged 18 years, who was living with the family of Mr. Brunton, went out onto the porch, and as she was of a very nervous temperament , it is thought that in some way she either threw herself or fell into the seething boiling flood, and was immediately swept away into the darkness. About this time it was discovered in the commotion that prevailed in the house, that Charley Brunton, a 10-year old son of Wm. Brunton, had also disappeared, and as he has not been heard from up to noon today, it is a foregone conclusion that he has met the same fate as the unfortunate Miss Largent. It was impossible to do anything in that wild tempestuous night, and at daylight Mr. Brunton notified his neighbors, and at the head of a large party started down the ravine to hunt for the bodies of the missing members of his household When the party reached the place of Mr. Jas. Kershaw, about two miles below, and just above the Dixie school house, they found the body of the unfortunate young lady partially covered with brush and drift. The body of the unfortunate boy was found some distance from that of the young lady. Just below Mr. Brunton’s place and in the channel of the torrent, is the residence and stable of Mr. George Lewis. The dwelling was uninjured, but a barn, in which were nine or ten head of horses was swept away, and most of the horses drowned. Our informant states that considerable damage to grain and roads was done, but nothing of a serious nature. Miss Della Largent, the young lady who met such an untimely end, is spoken of as being highly intellectual and prepossessing, and is widely known and respected in that locality. We are led to understand that she was soon to be wedded to a most worthy young farmer residing near the Coppei.-from the undated Spokesman Review “Historic Newspapers and Front Pages, #1 in a series of 52. Reprinted from the Walla Walla Statesman

Return to John W. Largent 1828-1874

08 August 2010

Jane Largent Wolfe 14 September 1860 - 4 April 1945

Matilda Jane Largent "Jane" 14 September 1860 - 4 April 1945
Jane married Will Wolfe on 22 October 1876 and they homesteaded in the Palouse between Moscow, Idaho and Pullman, Washington. They were the postmasters during the brief existence of the Clinton Post Office from 1877 to 1890, and they donated a corner of their property where the Clinton Country School was built. After Will died in 1927, her nephew, George Harold Largent, came and ran the farm for a few years. Later she moved to Kendrick, Idaho and spent the last year of her life in a nursing home in Clarkston, Washington. Their children are: John, Rosella "Ella" (Adams), and Glen Wolfe.


Jane Largent Wolfe family circa 1901
back: Ella & John front: Will, Jane & Glen Wolfe


A. John William Wolfe 10 April 1879 - 10 September 1969
John was born in the log cabin on his parents' homestead. When he was 18, he met Minnie Stratton, a girl who grew up just two and one half miles from the Wolfe homestead. They were married on 15 September 1901 at her parents' home one mile southwest of the Wolfe home. He and Minnie had three children: Edna (Barnett), Ronald, and Dorotha (Barnett) Wolfe.

    1. Edna Wolfe 3 September 1903 - 13 August 1987
Edna was born in Walla Walla. She married Rutherford A. Barnett (Russ). Edna was graduated from Lewis Clark Normal School. She taught and put Russ through the University of Idaho. Robert, Don, Joe, and Kenneth Barnett.

    2. Ronald Stratton Wolfe 28 May 1905 - 15 January 1998
Ronald was born on the Stratton farm near Pullman, Washington and was graduated from Lewiston High School in 1925. He married Pearl Johnson on 19 May 1929 in Kendrick, Idaho. Their five children are: Wilma (Pochardt), Alice (Roberts), Evelyn (Dahlberg), Virginia (Floch, Barnett), and Vivian Wolfe.

    3. Dorotha Agnes Wolfe 10 March 1908 - 23 February 1943
Dorotha was born in Walla Walla, Washington. She married Tom E. Barnett on 4 September 1927 in Lewiston, Idaho. Dorotha had tuberculous and was placed in a sanitorium in 1939, when her daughters went to live with her parents on the ranch near Asotin, Washington where they stayed until 1943. At age 35 Dorotha died of tuberculous at Asotin, Washington. Their two daughters are: Roberta (Mellick) and Ruth (Olney) Barnett.

B. Rosella Maude Wolfe 22 October 1880 - 26 January 1965
Ella was also born in the log cabin on the Wolfe homestead. She attended Washington State College in 1901 and 1902 and married Charles H. Adams (Charlie) of Unionview, Missouri in Moscow, Idaho on 17 December 1903. they farmed near Pullman until 1912 when they bought a farm near Killam, Alberta where the family moved in 1913. They returned to the states upon retirement. Charlie died on 19 August 1951. Ella lived with Mabel for several years before moving to the River View Rest Home in Clarkston, Washington where she spent the last two and one-half years of her life. They had three children: Mabel, Jesse, and Amy (Robinson) Adams.

    1. Mabel Adams 18 October 1904 - 12 May 1967
Mabel was born on the Wolfe homestead. After her parents moved to Canada, asthma forced her to return to the States where she finished high school and college while living with her grandparents, Jane and Will Wolfe. She married Arthur Smith in 1926. She was the first female Civil Engineer graduated from WSU and had a Master's degree in Chemistry. She worked for Boeing during World War II. They had no children but adopted an adult, Roberta Eileen Smith Peterson. Arthur died on 11 March 1963. The asthma medication Mabel had taken most of her life weakened her heart resulting in a fatal heart attack at age 62.

    2. Jesse Clair Adams: 11 November 1906 - 4 June 1938
Jesse was born on the Wolfe homestead. He married Mary Spohn of Strome, Alberta on 7 February 1925 in Edmonton, Alberta. He died in an automobile crash in Oregon at age 31. They had one child: Stanley Adams.

    3. Amy Rebecca Adams 24 March 1908 - 18 December 1992
Amy was also born on the Wolfe homestead. She completed Normal School at Camrose in 1926 and became a school teacher. Her first job at a country school in Castor, Alberta lasted until 1934. She married William Floyd Robinson in Camrose, Alberta on 19 August 1934. Amy remained very active until her death at age 84. She is buried in Killiam next to Floyd. They had one child: Doris (Milke).

C. Glen Wolfe 4 June 1890 - 30 November 1973
Glen was born on the family homestead between Moscow and Pullman. He secretly married Beulah Kroh at Coeur d'Alene's Presbyterian Church on 1 February 1913. Beulah was the teacher at the nearby Clinton School. At this time female school teachers were not allowed to be married, but it was doubtless worse to have the neighbours or pupils think the teacher was living in sin. Glen lived with his parents near the school where Beulah taught, and Beulah continued boarding with nearby neighbours until the end the 1912-1913 school year while they kept their marriage a secret from the local community. Glen and Beulah made their home in Spokane for most of their married lives. Their four children are: Helen (Orrin), Georgia (Corman), Maxine (Gaetano)(McGarrity), and Jack Wolfe.

    1. Helen W. Wolfe 1 November 1913 - 14 March 1987
Helen was born in Walla Walla. She married Orrin A. Tracy in Moscow, Idaho. Orrin served a career in the U.S. Army retiring as a colonel. He died of cancer on 16 May 1975 in Davis, California. A brain tumor which took her life at age 74 also forced her to move to Philadelphia to live with her daughter, Judy. She and Orrin had two children: David and Judith (Cassada) Tracy.

    2. Georgia Wolfe 13 December 1914 - 1 January 2007
Georgia was born in Walla Walla, Washington. She married Bqrke Corman on 14 August 1945, in Coeur d'Alene in the same church in which her parents were married. She has lived most Of her life sInce in Longview, Washington. Burke died on 29 April 1966. They have four children: Jerry, Julie, John, and Jean (McAlpine) Corman.

    3. Maxine Wolfe 30 November 1919 - 13 November 2008
Maxine was born and raised in Spokane but spent most summers during her youth on her maternal grandparents' farm. She married Lou Gaetano, and they managed her father's apartments for several years. They were divorced, and she reared the six children. She went back to college and was graduated from the University of Idaho. She began teaching when she was 43 and taught school for 24 years. She retired in 1986. After rearing her children, she married Jim McGarrity who died about six months later of cancer. She and Lou had seven children: Richard, William, Mary Lou, John, Mary Ann, James, and Janis.

    4. Jack Wolfe 15 October 1921 - 8 December 1993
Jack was born in Spokane, Washington. He married Helene Jane Rogers on 10 April 1947 in the Westminster Congregational Church in Spokane. He put in a career with the USAF retiring as a major. They currently were living in Eugene, Oregon at the time of his death at age 72 of cancer. They had two children: Jack and James.

Back to John W. Largent

07 August 2010

John W. Largent 4 March 1828 - 7 October 1874; A Family History

John W. Largent 4 March 1828 - 7 October 1874
John was born in Hampshire County, Virginia, the fourth of seven children of William and Elizabeth Morgan (Frazier) Largent. His grandfather, John Largent, died in October 1831 dividing his estate to his offspring. William and Elizabeth sold their portion of the family farm and moved to Tazewell, County, Illinois in the fall of 1832 when John was four years old. In 1852 John W. and two cousins, Levi Sargent and ____ McKenzie took their saddle horses and hired on with a waggon train leaving St. Joseph, Missouri. They rode ahead of the train to find a suitable camp site each day, rested until the train arrived, and then watched the oxen all night. The wagon train made about 10 miles per day. They followed the Oregon Trail but went a southern route through Oregon crossing McKenzie Pass into Oregon's Willamette Valley where homestead records show he arrived on 6 October 1852. His homestead, #1920, was in Yamhill, County, Oregon on Grand Island between Salem and Dayton, Oregon.

Annie W. Matheny 1 October 1842 - 20 March 1917
Annie was born in Pope, Illinois, the sixth of ten children of Michael and Mahala (Pennington) Matheny. Her family also crossed the plains in 1852, but as a ten year old girl she played, walked, or rode at her choice about 10 miles per day also. Her family also settled in the Willamette Valley and on 16 July 1857 she married John at ________, Oregon. The homestead on Grand Island flooded causing them to sell it to her father, Micah Matheny, on 21 February 1866. They moved to the Dayton, Washington area in 1871 where they bought a 160 acre preemption homestead which had a small cabin on it. They farmed on the Patit Prairie (also known as Webfoot Flat) until John's death. Their eight children were born while they were in Oregon. They attended school in Oregon and all but Idelia were registered at Highland School on the Patit Prairie when it opened on 3 November 1874. Records show Idelia attended the next year.


John & Annie Largent's Family circa 1895
back: Ella, Jane, Mary, front: Richard, Annie, & Willy



1. Ira Largent 11 May 1859 - 16 October 1861

2. Matilda Jane Largent "Jane" 14 September 1860 - 4 April 1945
She married Will Wolfe in 1876 and they homesteaded in the Palouse between Moscow, Idaho and Pullman, Washington. They donated a corner of their property where the Clinton Country School was built. After Will died in 1927, her nephew, George Harold Largent, came and ran the farm for a few years. Later she moved to Kendrick, Idaho and spent the last year of her life in a nursing home in Clarkston, Washington. Their children are: John, Rosella "Ella" (Adams), and Glen. See Jane's family

3. Elizabeth Largent 2 February 1862 - 6 October 1864
As a small girl Lizzie fell into a fireplace burning herself to death.

4. Richard E. Largent 22 June 1863 - 5 June 1915
In 1888 he married Mary Francis "Fanny" Ingram. They rented his father's farm from his mother for a few years before moving to the Pomeroy area where they also farmed. They later moved to Pullman, Washington, so their children could attend college. Richard died at Moscow Idaho's Gritman Hospital after an unsuccessful operation. Their seven children are: Edith (LaFollette), Ethel (Lukins), Alta (Locklin), Lawrence, Lester, Elton, and Winifred (Penney).
See Richard Largent Family info

5. Idelia Largent 12 April 1865 - 7 May 1883
She was the only blond in the family. A few weeks after her 18th birthday while working for Wm Brunton on his farm near Dixie ranch she and the farmer’s 10-year old son, Charley down at night in a flash flood. She was buried in the Dixie Cemetery. See reprinted article

6. Rosella Largent “Ella” 6 September 1866 - 12 April 1919
She married Adolphus "Dolph" Briggs and lived most of her married life near Johnson, Washington where they homesteaded. They moved to Meadows, Idaho and then to Corvallis, Oregon where she died of cancer. Their two children are Warren and Roy.

7. William D. Largent “Willy” 26 October 1868 - 21 December 1958
Willy left home when he was 12, four years after his mother remarried. After some time on his own herding sheep and punching cattle on Craig Mountain near the future townsite of Winchester, he moved in with Jane and Will. His uncle, William Matheny had married Mary Jane Massey, and they introduced him to her sister, Eliza Alice Massey whom he later married. They had eight children: Raleigh Massey, George Harold, Harry Elbert, Fred, Anna Rosella (Dyer), Ada May (Evans), Wayne Arthur "Buster", and William Donald "Chub". Willy died at age 90 of pneumonia caused by severe burns. See W.D. Largent Family info

8. Mary M. Largent 8 July 1870 - 16 March 1952
Mary married George Davis Boston on 3 January 1889 in Walla Walla. After four children were born, they moved to the Troy, Oregon area (Grouse Flats) where they homesteaded. Their seven children are: Lillie (Smith), Nellie (Devine) (Cox), Mabel (Knight) Edna (Madison), Hazel (Knight) (Applegate), Dewey, and Mildred (Goebel).

Apparently, John and his family didn't write. When his youngest brother, William, died in 1890 his will reads in part, "to my nephew, John Largent's children whose names are unknown to me, I will and bequeath five dollars to be equally divided between them".

John W. Largent died on the Patit Ranch of typhoid fever on 7 October 1874. Jane said in those days they knew typhoid was caused by water, so they denied typhoid patients water. John asked for water numerous times as he lay dying, but was denied it. Just before his death, he responded to Annie's refusal to provide water with "Jane will get me some water". This expression of faith in his daughter almost broke her resolve to follow the medical advice of the day and her mother's orders, but unfortunately it didn't. For the rest of her life she was sorry she hadn't given him water.

Annie kept the farm for two years after John's death. When Richard was grown, she rented the farm to him, and later rented it to Mary and her husband, George Boston. She tried to sell the farm to them, but Mary and George didn't want to pay her price. Annie sold the farm to Willy who agreed to her price.

All the Largent children but Mary lived part of their lives in the Palouse country and were living there when Willy's children's memories begin. Mary usually made a summer visit and was included in more family functions than her isolated home in the wilderness might suggest. Sunday afternoons were always a treat because they would crowd into the car (Willy had one of the first cars in Moscow) and visit one of the aunts or uncles, or some of or all of them would come over for dinner. To hear Willy's children tell it these dinners were never planned. This photograph was taken on one such Sunday afternoon when Annie, Bessie, and John were over from Walla Walla and Mary was up from her wilderness home. This dinner must have been somewhat planned, but it was a spur of the moment decision to go get the photographer. It is difficult to imagine having a family with eight children or maybe a couple of such families "dropping by" at dinner time. However, they say this was the routine. The children loved these Sundays spent with aunts, uncles, and cousins. Having company was almost as good as being company.

Life for the Largents in the Palouse changed as the family dispersed. Dolph and Ella moved south and then to Oregon; Richard died in 1915, and his family moved to Kalotus; Willy moved to the Walla Walla area in 1916; Annie died in 1917 and was buried in Dixie next to her second husband; Ella died in 1919; Only Jane & Will stayed at their family home near Moscow.


Sunday Dinner at Richard Largent’s in 1913

Column
1. Lester & Ethel Largent
2. Tabor LaFollette & Edith Largent LaFollette with Laretta
3. John Devine & Nellie Boston Devine with Margaret
4. John Wolfe & Minnie Stratton Wolfe
5. Nat Usher & Bessie Wooton Usher
6. Annie Matheny Largent Wooton
7. Will Wolfe & Matilda Jane (Jane) Largent Wolfe
8. Mary Largent Boston
9. Richard E. Largent & Mary Francis (Fanny) Ingram Largent
10. William D. Largent & Eliza Massey Largent
11. Lawrence Largent & Alta Largent
Children in front row: Ada Largent, Dorotha Wolfe, Anna Largent, Ester Murphy (John Devine's niece), Edna Wolfe, Winifred Largent, Elton Largent, Fred Largent,
and Wayne (Buster) Largent. Photo provided by Pearl Wolfe, Lewiston, Idaho