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PART 1

Childers Of Lincoln County, Washington

Descendants of Henry Childers of Virginia and Kentucky

The first settlers of this name in the community were Walter Scott Childers, his wife Sally Bell and three children. During the winter of 1889-1890 they moved onto the homestead six miles north of Almira, where Childers descendants farm today. Additional acreage was added to the Childers holdings and was later divided to form two separate farms.

Walter Scott Childers was born in Scotland County, Missouri January 10, 1858, the oldest child of Robert P. and Mary Jane (Williams) Childers who lived on a farm six miles southwest of Memphis, the county seat. Orphaned at the age of fourteen, Walter was sent to live with an uncle, Thomas A. Williams, and his wife, Nancy. Walter met Sally Bell, daughter of James M. and Lucinda (Pence) Whalen, in Scotland County and they were married at the bride's home 21 February 1883, with J. W. Owen of the M. E. Church South officiating.

The family came West by train about 1887, going first to Union County, Oregon, where an uncle, George Childers, lived. Walter said it was not good country for raising horses, and the family moved on. He worked at Walla Walla, Washington as harvester on the Drumheller farm, and then drove a logging team for Dart Lumber Mill at Athol, Idaho where Sally also was employed as cook for the logging crew. In 1889 Walter operated a dray service at Spokane Falls, Washington. He looked at three abandoned homesteads in Lincoln County and chose the one north of Almira. In September 1892, he filed for homestead papers and received his first certificate November 15, 1898.

The four surviving brothers and sisters of Walter Childers came to Almira to visit and look over the territory as a prospective future home. Only Sarah, the eldest girl, settled in Washington. Sarah Jane Childers was born in 1859 in Scotland County, Missouri and married there to William H. McCoy, son of J. J. and Mary Ann (McCandless) McCoy, 17 October 1877. "Aunt Sadie" died 1911 and "Uncle Billy" died 1922; both are buried at Almira Cemetery. They had three daughters, Delia who married Roy Rankin, a farmer at Del Rio, Washington; Myrtle, who married Otto Amos, restaurateur of Blanchard, Washington; and Laura, who married Dale Rankin, brother of Roy, and grocer of Spokane, Washington.

Walter Childers was a horse trader, as shrewd as the best of them. It was often left to Sally and the children to tend the farm work, and for this Sally was able and competent. When Walter retired from farming, he and Sally moved to an apartment in Spokane, Washington. Walter died in Spokane July 24, 1942. Sally and her unmarried son moved into a house in Almira where Sally, though blind, kept house and tended the yard. She died May 21, 1950. Sally had wanted to live to be one hundred; she missed it by thirteen years.

Walter and Sally were the parents of five children, three whom lived to adulthood. The first-born, and only daughter, Nellie Dale was born in Scotland County, Missouri, 13 February 1884 and died of tick fever 12 March 1890. A baby boy was born during the winter of 1893 and died shortly after birth. Both children were buried on the ranch, but in later years headstones were placed for them in the Almira Cemetery near the graves of Walter and Sally.

Robert Guy Childers was born in Scotland County, Missouri 15 August 1885. He attended Grandview School, the one-room country school located six miles north of Almira, and prep school at Washington State College, Pullman, Washington, where he studied veterinary medicine. On 22 September 1919, he and Anna, daughter of Martin and Laura Theresa (Troedel) Hoiznagel of Waukon, Washington, were married in Spokane. In 1928 they moved into the big, brick house situated next door to the house Walter and Sally built on their homestead. Guy and Anna lived there until he retired from farming and moved to Wilbur, Washington about 1960. Guy died 15 May 1969 at age 85 and Anna died 10 May 1984 at age 89. They are buried at LaFollette Cemetery, a rural cemetery north of Almira.

James Ross Childers, second son of Walter and Sally, was born 27 July 1889 while the family was living in a covered wagon on the bank of the Spokane River. It was only a few days before the famous Spokane fire. Jim also attended Grandview School and prep school at Washington State College. He never married. After retiring from farming, he moved, to Carlsberg, Washington where he died 9 January 1965. He is buried at Almira Cemetery.

The youngest child of Walter and Sally is Walter Rex Childers, born 23 August 1900. He attended Grandview School, then went to high school in Almira but graduated from Lewis and dark High School in Spokane, Washington. He attended Northwestern Business College in Spokane for about five months, and then returned to farming at Almira. During World War II he spent two winters working at the Seattle shipyards as a journeyman burner. In December 1953 he moved to Sequim, Washington where he worked at portable welding and well drilling. After retiring, he and his wife traveled extensively throughout North and Central America. Rex died 10 December 2001 at Sequim and is buried at the Almira Cemetery. He married Erma, daughter of George Brewster and Eva (Rawlinson) Rees on 15 February 1928. This marriage ended in divorce in 1945. Erma married second to John Nelson of Spokane, Washington. She died in 1989 and is buried at Almira Cemetery.

On 10 February 1947 Rex married Mary Margeurite (Evans) Bolen of Kalispell, Montana. She was the daughter of Harry H. and Edith A. (Thomas) Evans of San Jose, California. Margeurite had one son, Thomas Terry Bolen, by her first marriage, born 8 May 1940. Terry attended school at Almira, then moved to Sequim with his mother and stepfather. On 4 August 1974 he married Ignacia (Bertram) Reynolds. She is called "Angie". Terry and his wife live at Kaknek, Alaska where he works as welder-and well driller, and sells parts and accessories for three-wheelers.

The first grandchild of Walter and Sally was Laura Belle, born 25 July 1920 and named for her two grandmothers. She was born at the Childers homestead where Guy and Anna lived with his parents. Laura Belle attended the first three grades at Grandview School, then it was consolidated with the Almira School District and she finished her school years at Almira. She graduated from Washington State College in 1942. She married John Badger Kunz, son of Joseph Nelson and Florence (Badger) Kunz of Wilbur, WA, 2 March 1943 at Coeur d'Alene, ID where he was on leave from the navy base at Farragut, ID. After World War II, John farmed in the Sherman district, northeast of Wilbur, until retirement. He died at the nursing home in Davenport, WA, 11 June 1989.

Karen Virginia, daughter of Laura Belle and John Kunz, was born 28 April 1945. She attended Wilbur School and graduated from Washington State University. On 5 February 1967 she married Robert Kenneth Perrine, son of Clyde and Georgia Perrine of Bremerton, WA. Karen and Bob live at Puyallup, WA and have one son, Kenneth Avery who was born 9 June 1975 at Spokane, Washington. He graduated from Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Washington and works at Batelle-Northwest at Richland, Washington.

Joseph Michael Kunz, son of John and Laura Belle, was born 18 August 1947. He attended Wilbur schools and Washington State University, where he graduated with a degree in agriculture. He was married to Susan Xavier Doane, daughter of Russell and Betty Doane of Wilbur, on 31 December 1977 at Coeur d'Alene, ID. They live in Wilbur and have two daughters. Jalayna Renee was born 21 August 1978 at Davenport, Washington. She graduated from Washington State University at Pullman, Washington having majored in law and justice. She is currently employed by Whitman County, Washington as juvenile probation officer. She married Robert Watkins, son of Robert and Ruth Watkins, and-lives at Fairfield, Washington.

Mikki Sue Kunz was born 21 March 1982 at Davenport, and is currently attending Central Washington University.

The second child of Guy and Anna Childers was born 30 May 1923 and was named Anna Virginia — Anna after the nurse who cared for the mother and new baby, and Virginia because Anna, the mother, liked that name. Virginia attended Almira schools and three semesters at Washington State College. She married Theodore Hanks, son of John and Marjorie Blanche (Schoonover) Hanks of Ellensburg, Washington, on 21 October 1943 at Yakima, Washington. Ted died 9 November 1979 at Ellensburg, Washington. Ted and Virginia have no children.

The third grandchild of Walter and Sally Childers was Betty Jean, born 6 June 1930 to Rex and Erma Childers. She attended Almira schools through the first ten grades, then finished high school at Lewis and dark High in Spokane. She took vocational training at Esther's School of Beauty in Spokane. When Sally Childers became infirm from old age, Betty returned to Almira to care for her grandmother. On 31 October 1953, Betty married Ray Willard Pfeifer, son of Phillip John (Jr.) and Nettie E. (Kallenburger) Pfeifer of Marlin, Washington. "Bud" farmed until 1979, when he and Betty moved to an acreage at Soap Lake, Washington. They have traveled extensively throughout the United States and spend the winters in Arizona.

Marilyn Rene, daughter of Betty Jean and Bud Pfeifer, was born 19 February 1955. She attended Marlin and Wilson Creek, Washington schools, then completed her education at Washington State University. She and Thomas Stephen Giovanelli were married at Mercer Island, Washington 14 October 1978. This marriage ended in divorce. Clarilyn has a son Joseph T. Giovanelli born June 1985 at Mercer Island. Marilyn married second Michael Christian Santangelo 16 November 1990, at Mercer Island, WA. They have a daughter, Maggie Michael Santangelo, born 27 January 1992 at Bellevue, WA.

Lyle Dennis, son of Betty Jean and Bud Pfeiffer, was born 20 March 1956. He attended Marlin and Wilson Creek schools, then continued at Washington State University, Big Bend Community College, and Central Washington University, where he received a degree in aerospace science. On 7 June 1968 he married Marlene Sue Mitchell, daughter of Vernon C. and Opal (Kaminsky) Mitchell of Ellensburg. Lyle is an airplane pilot. Their children are Mitchell Rees born 4 January 1988, TN; Mathew Ray born 9 October 1989 IN; Brian Michael born 24 November 1991 TN; Kaitlin Claire born 19 August 1993 Yakima, WA. The family lives near Ellensburg, WA.

Duane Rodney, second child of Rex and Erma Childers, was born 21 September 1932. He attended Almira Schools and Eastern Washington State University. He farms the original Childers homestead north of Almira. He and LoraBelle Keener, born 19 April 1935 to Agatha and Ada Lily (White) Keener, were married 13 June 1955 at Almira. They have one son and three daughters.

Dale Rodney Childers was born at Spokane, WA, 21 March 1956. He married Lori Lynn Snyder, daughter of Wayne and Linda Snyder of Grand Coulee, Washington. Lori was born at Coulee Dam, Washington 30 May I960. They have two children, Chelsea Doreen born 3 September 1981 and Dakota Dale born 27 February 1988.

Deanna Michelle Childers, oldest daughter of Duane and Lora, was born June 20, 1958. She attended Almira schools and Spokane Community College. She married Donald Carson Kuehne, son of William G. and Berneice Keuhne of Keller on 14 April 1981 at Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. Donald died August 10, 1984.' They had one child, Brandon Wayne Keuhne born 7 August 1982. Deanna married Hal Roach of Electrio City, Washington. Hal's parents are Elmer and Leona Roach. Deanna and Hal have one daughter, Shannon Marie born 1989.

Danette Rachelle Childers, third child of Duane and Lora, was born 10 August 1959. She attended Almira schools, Spokane Community College, Glen Dow Academy for Hair Design, and Leithauser Electrolysis. She is a cosmetologist-electrologist at Electric City, Washington. She married John Pryor, 16 November 1990 at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

The youngest child of Duane and Lora Childers is Delora Lynn, born 8 October 1961. She attended Spokane Community College and Eastern Washington State University. She married Bob Engman of Seattle, Washington September 1989 at her parents' summer home on Lake Roosevelt.

References used for this segment:

Personal knowledge items told by Anna (Hoiznagel) Childers, Laura Belle (Childers) Kunz, Betty Jean (Childers) Pfeifer, Lora (Keener) Childers, Sally (Whalen) Childers and Marie Williams.

Homestead papers of Walter S. Childers.

Washington and Missouri census records.

Washington vital records.

Scotland County, Missouri marriage and probate records.