An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL. 1893

BEN E. SNIPES, one of the enterprising and successful pioneers of Washington,
was born in Chatham county, North Carolina, in July, 1835. His parents, Elam and
Asenath (Rawson) Snipes, were natives of the same State. Elam Snipes was reared
upon a farm and continued in agricultural pursuits, removing to Jefferson
county, Iowa, in 1847. In 1864 he crossed the plains to Washington, locating in
Klickitat county, where he still resides, at the age of eighty-two years, in the
happy companionship of the wife of his early manhood, now eighty years of age.
Ben E. Snipes was educated in the old log schoolhouse in Iowa, without desks,
the benches being made from split logs set upon pins. The schools were kept only
in the winter and continued about three months. Yet, with a desire for
education, he would walk two and three miles to improve these limited
facilities. Thus by summers of labor upon the farm and winters of study he spent
his early life until 1852, when, at the age of seventeen years, he struck out
for self-support. Desiring the opportunities of a new country, and as the tide
of emigration was turning toward Oregon, he found opportunity to cross the
plains as assistant to George Humphrey, who had several teams and a considerable
body of loose cattle. Ben took charge of one of the ox teams and drove the
entire distance, and also rendered assistance as second cook to the party. They
were five months in crossing, but by cautious and wise management they
experienced no unusual difficulties, and entered the Willamette valley at the
south end, continuing to Salem, where our subject began "rustling" for
self-support. His first occupation was digging potatoes, but shortly afterward
hired to work with a pack train bound for California with a load of apples, and
was put in charge of the "bell mare," the train numbering forty-five mules.
Arriving at Yreka, the apples were sold at $1 per pound, fresh fruit being more
rare than gold in those days. At Yreka young Snipes secured a miner's pick and
pan and began prospecting for gold. His first claim indicated some richness, but
without experience he did not realize how great until he sold out for $500 and
then worked for the party at $7 per day. The result of working this claim to the
purchaser was about $75,000, while Mr. Snipes became so disgusted with himself
for selling that he quit the ėdiggings." He then bought a "drifting claim" for
$1,5O0 at Yreka Flats, worked all winter, and in the spring had not sufficient
money to pay his beef bill and had to work it out. Thus becoming familiar with
the butchering business, he subsequently bought the shop and continued it very
profitably for one year, - on the credit basis, - until suddenly the town
stampeded for richer diggings and young Snipes was left with a number of
uncollectible bills, which represented his profits, again reducing him to that
condition termed "dead broke." He then went to a mining camp on Scott's river
and engaged in the livery business, which he continued very successfully to the
fall of 1855, when he returned to Oregon and joined his brother, George R.
Snipes, then located at The Dalles. Our subject remained with him upon his farm
until 1858, when, with the opening of the eastern part of Washington Territory
for settlement, he located 160 acres at the mouth of the Klickitat river and
engaged in the cattle business. After one year he sold his claim, invested the
money in cattle, and with his little band of ninety-seven head started for
Yakima county, the first stockman to take cattle into that county, in which the
Indians were then very numerous. Young Snipes, with great judgment and
foresight, hired an Indian to stay with him, thus allying himself with the
people of the country. In the spring of 1860 he drove his cattle to Rock creek
in the Okanogan mining district and sold out, with a handsome profit. He
continued this system of buying, fattening and selling until 1865, when he
engaged in cattle-raising, having purchased lands bordering upon the Yakima
river, which he stocked with a considerable herd. His land purchase covered
6,000 acres, bordering upon water-courses, with a vast grazing district
contiguous. His herd then increased to vast proportions, and in 1880 numbered
35,000 head. That was a season of drought and disaster, as the severe winter of
1880-'81, which succeeded a summer of short feed, found the cattle in reduced
flesh and unable to resist the more rigorous weather, and they died in scores,
fully 28,000 head perishing in the snow and storms. Though the loss was great,
Mr. Snipes re-stocked and continued successfully to the winter of 1886-'87, when
another severe winter destroyed 10,000 head, but still his range is well
stocked, numbering thousands of head. He has also been an extensive breeder of
horses of the Clyde and Percheron strains, his band numbering about 2,000 head.
These interests were continued to 1892, when Mr. Snipes decided to retire from
the stock business. Though these interests have been extensive, he has also
found time for other enterprises. In 1866, through the process of loan and
mortgage, he came into possession of the Wasco Woolen Mill at The Dalles, which
he operated for a time, until determining there was no profit in the business,
then sold the machinery, and in 1879 refitted with flour-milling machinery,
which he operated as the "highland" mill, and continued to 1889, when the mill
was destroyed by fire. In 1880 he bought an interest in a drug store at The
Dalles and formed the co-partnership of Kinersby, Snipes & Kinersby, which
business is still continued, it having increased from a stock of $10,000 to one
of $60,000, and conducted in both wholesale and retail departments, with an
extensive and lucrative patronage. In 1886 Mr. Snipes engaged in the banking
business at Ellensburg, under the name of Ben E. Snipes & Co., erected one of
the finest stone bank buildings in the State, and is conducting a general
banking business. In 1890 he started the branch house known as the Roslyn Bank
of Ben E. Snipes & Co. to accommodate the mining interests of that locality. He
also owns extensive landed interests in Klickitat and Kittitass counties, and
has recently purchased the Hill tract of 100 acres within the city limits of
Seattle, which he has platted and subdivided and placed upon the market. Mr.
Snipes was married in Columbus, Klickitat county, in 1864, to Miss Mary A.
Parrett, a native of Oregon, and they have one son, Ben E., Jr. In July, 1890,
Mr. Snipes removed his family to Seattle, and purchased a handsome residence on
the corner of Eleventh and Madison streets, where he now resides. Thus briefly
have we attempted to portray the life of a successful pioneer, who has overcome
the manifold trials of life in danger's untold, hardships without number and
heavy financial losses. Yet with keen foresight, good judgment and persistency
of purpose he has followed closely the allotted line of development and has
arisen triumphant in the possession of wealth, with an unsullied reputation and
enjoying the respect and confidence of a large circle of friends and
acquaintances.

Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in January 2004 by Jeffrey L. Elmer

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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.