From "Clark County Pioneers: A Centennial Salute", by Clark Co. Genealogical Society, SLC FHL 979.786/H2c,

Profile of Francis "Frank" Marion Van Bebber, p 135:

Francis "Frank" Marion Van Bebber grew up in Clark County just across the Lewis River from Woodland. He attended school about three months each year, first in a log schoolhouse to which he walked six miles each way and he played alto horn in the Woodland band. He worked on his step-father's farm until he was about nineteen years old and then in 1875 struck out on his own, working in the mines in Idaho for one year. He returned home for a short time and then joined his father working in the woods near Sumner, Washington, and also working in the mills in Pierce County for about three years. Again he returned home and worked in his step-father's store in Woodland and also farmed.

"He married Zerelda Stewart from Ohio in 1876, daughter of C.H. and Clara Stewart of Martin's Bluff. In 1881 they went to Spokane and pioneered on a homestead 30 miles north of the city. While Frank proved up his claim he worked on the railroad and they remained in the area for eight years. Over the years Frank almost completed a road from his homestead to the town of Spokane. He joined the Masons at Spokane in 1890 and later belonged to the lodge at Tacoma. He was also a member of the Odd Fellows and both he and his wife were members of the Order of Eastern Star.

"In 1892 Frank once again returned home and clerked in his step-father's store. He then went to Alaska where he lived for a period of twelve years. On his first trip to the Klondike he traveled over the Dyea Trail and shot the rapids at White Horse. For a time he acted as a pilot taking other boats through the dangerous rapids. He came away with a tidy sum and was able to pay off his debts and invested in property. He returned to Alaska the following year and while at Nome he hauled freight for several years and was superintendent of dredging at the Three Friends Mine for four years. In 1909 he left Alaska and moved to Portland, Oregon where he became partners in the establishment of Leisure and Van Bebber, dealers in stirrups and saddles. During the ten years he stayed in Portland he spent part of each year at his ranch in Spokane. In 1919 he bought his step-father's home and moved to Woodland.

HISTORY: Fields of Flowers and Forests of Firs, Woodland History Committee, published May 13, 1958, p. 227-228, from Lois Kullberg:

"Frank worked in his step-father's (C. C. Bozarth's) store - did prospecting around Mt. St. Helens in 1894 and 95 but this venture did not pan out. In 1882 he and his brother-in-law Jake Stewart took up homesteads 30 miles North of Spokane. They were poor and lived mostly on venison. (Frank like his father was a good shot.) In 1896 Frank made his first trip to the Klondike over the Dyea Trail or Chillcot pass. Quoting Lloyd again, "He (Frank) put his scow together with 5 Swedes at Lake Lindeman and was the first man in the party to shoot White Horse Rapids. He took 50 other boats through the rapids, as pilot for 50 or 150 dollars depending on the size of the boat. He was practically broke at Dyea but landed at Dawson with his entire outfit weighing about one ton and a trained team of 7 shepard (sic) dogs. He staked out some good claims and made a fair cleanup. (He) came back to Woodland in the fall with enough to clean up his debts and leave him a tidy sum, most of which he invested in property. He returned the next year to find that during his absence his claims had been taken over by Sharpers and worked out. He prospected, worked claims, etc. till steamboats appeared on the Yukon at which time he worked on the boats, mostly as pilot. Later he went to Nome when they had the Beach strike".

He was foreman on the first dredge operated on Salmon River or anywhere in Alaska. Lloyd just returned from the sea, became fireman. Frank had the reputation of being the only one from this vicinity coming back with a full poke.

JOHN HARRISON VANBIBBER

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