"An Illustrated History of the Big Bend Country; Embracing Lincoln, Douglas, 
Adams  and Franklin Counties; State of Washington". Spokane, Western Historical
Publishing  Company, Publishers, 1904. p. 822.

JACOB KASPER is handling the largest general store in Lind, where he has been
established for some years. He is a merchant of wide experience and his success
here has demonstrated his ability to be of a high order. His establishment is
located on the main street of the town and is a one-story brick, which is
entirely occupied with his merchandise. The basement is utilized for storing
goods and the stock carried here is worth more than thirty-five thousand
dollars. Mr. Kasper has shown marked wisdom in selecting his goods for he has a
fine variety of all kinds adapted to this trade, and the motto, ìWell bought,
half soldî is one which he heeds well, for he is a careful and shrewd buyer
knows how to get bargains for his customers. This has drawn a very large
patronage to his store, which his careful business methods have held.
     Jacob Kasper was born in Poland, on January 7, 1855, the son of Jacob and
Sarah Kasper. His boyhood days were spent in his native country and there he was
favored with a good educational training. When he had arrived at his majority,
he determined to try the larger and more inviting fields of the new world and
accordingly came hither ready for business. He located in San Francisco and
there secured employment as salesman in a general store. He made the most of his
opportunities and soon was well acquainted with the lines of business here and
had made good headway in mastering the English language. Then he started a store
for himself. This was eighteen months after he landed. Soon he removed to Forest
Hill, California, and conducted a mercantile establishment there for two years.
His next location was Walla Walla, where he opened a dry goods store in company
with W. Rudee. He soon bought out his partner and continued the store until
1890. Then he removed to Farmington, Washington, and there conducted a general
store until 1893. On account of the panic that then swept the country he lost
heavily. After that, he opened business in Kendrick, Idaho, the largest store in
the town, and did business there until 1901. In that year he and his brother
opened a wholesale woodenware and basket house in San Francisco, under the firm
name of Kasper Brothers & Company. Leaving the management of the concern to his
brother he came to Lind and started the business which has grown to the present
large dimensions under his supervision. The business has the form of a large
department store and would do credit to a city, and Lind is to be congratulated
that Mr. Kasper has been induced to make this his headquarters. The building
utilized is owned by Mr. Kasper and is fifty by one hundred feet. It is packed
from roof to basement floor with the choicest goods and is the center of great
activity. In 1904 Mr. Kasper sold his San Francisco venture and is giving his
entire attention to the management and building up of his Lind store. Believing
that the country will justify it, he has led in the mercantile business in his
town, and determines to make his the best store in the county in due time.
     Mr. Kasper is a strong Republican and takes a keen interest in every
movement, both political and educational, as he is very progressive and public
minded. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and is a leading citizen of Lind.
     At San Francisco, on April 27, 1890, Mr. Kasper married Miss Esther Lewis,
a native of Poland. She came to this country with her parents when six years of
age and lived in San Francisco, where she was reared and educated. Her parents
died in that city. To Mr. and Mrs. Kasper, one child has been born, Sylven L.,
aged thirteen.


Submitted by: Georgia Harter Williams, georgiahw@earthlink.net