Edwards, Rev. Jonathan.  "An Illustrated History of Spokane County, State of
Washington."  San Francisco: W. H. Lever, 1900.  p. 412.
 
J. F. C. ABEL

     A pioneer of 1883, was born in Mechlenburg, Germany, September 11, 1838.
In 1850 the family emigrated to the United States, coming to Chicago and later
locating in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, where Mr. Abel grew to manhood and
learned the cabinetmaker's trade, also becoming skilled as a patternmaker in a
foundry.  In 1859, influenced by the gold excitement, he started, in company
with his brother John and two brothers-in-law, for Pikes Peak, Colorado.  They
kept right on to California, coming all the way by ox-team, and arriving in
Siskiyou county after a trip lasting a little over six months.  He secured
employment in a machine shop and remained at work there till the spring of 1862,
when he moved to Walla Walla, Washington.  In 1866 he passed through the
locality where Spokane now stands and camped over night beside the falls.  On
returning to Walla Walla he established a foundry and machine shop, which he
sold to his partner in 1867.  He then started in the cabinet and furniture
business, following that until 1883, in which year he located in Spokane.
He immediately went to work at his trade again and was thus employed for several
years afterward.  Mr. Abel is a typical pioneer, having experienced all the
hardships and privations incident to primitive traveling, and to the development
of a new and unsettled country.  He was married in Walla Walla March 20, 1870,
to Caroline Saling, a native of Germany, who died June 16, 1889, leaving six
children:  Kate, who died March 15, 1892, at twenty-one years of age; Fred;
Carrie, now Mrs. William Traub; Anna; Arthur and Clara.  Socially Mr. Abel is
affiliated with the A.O.U.W. and the I.O.O.F.  Mr. Abel helped organize
Washington Engine Company, No. 1, of Walla Walla, in 1863.  He held some of the
prominent positions in Walla Walla county at a very early date.


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Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in January 2006 by Diana Smith.  This
biography was transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless
otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured
in the biographies.