"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. pp. 840-841.

LINCOLN LAUGHLIN was born in Yamhill county, Oregon, January 17, 1862, the son
of John Laughlin, a native of Illinois. The father crossed the plains with ox
team to the Willamette valley in 1850. He had a wife and two children at that
time, and at once settled on a donation claim where Lincoln was born. Here the
father died when our subject was fourteen years of age. Mr. Laughlinís mother,
Susan (McCoy) Laughlin, was born in St. Charles county, Missouri, her parents
being early pioneers to that state, and now lives in Bellingham, Washington.
     Lincoln Laughlin was reared on a farm in Oregon until shortly after his
fatherís death, when with his mother and two sisters, he removed to Dayton,
Washington, remained there a year, then returned to Forest Grove, Oregon. He
then entered the Pacific University at Forest Grove, remained in that
institution three years, after which time he rented a farm near town which he
managed for three years. He next entered the butchering business here, having a
partner who managed the shop while he did the buying of the stock. Mr.
Laughlinís next move was to a homestead and timber culture near Hatton,
Washington, whither he drove a team across the mountains, bringing with him
about five hundred dollars worth of horses and appurtenances and equal amount in
cash. He filed on his land in May, 1888, and the following spring returned to
Oregon and bought a herd of young cattle. During the winter of 1890-91 he
suffered heavy losses and five years later met with a distressing accident which
necessitated the amputation of a limb. After his recovery he commenced teaching
school and buying wheat. He taught two terms in Oregon and three years in Adams
county, bought grain one season for the Tacoma Grain Company, and in 1900 was
elected county auditor of Adams county, and re-elected in 1902. He ran both
times on the Democratic ticket, and at his last election he ran far ahead of the
Congressional ticket in his county. Formerly he was a Populist but when they
came in line with Democrats, he identified himself with them.
     Mr. Laughlin owns twelve hundred and eighty acres of wheat land near Lind,
which he rents, and a handsome home at Ritzville. He has one brother living and
four sisters: Thomas M.; Nancy J., wife of A. Lee; Isabel, widow of Daniel
Davis; Sarah, wife of Warren Merchant; and Lela B., wife of J. T. Smith.
     At Ritzville, September 15, 1901, Mr. Laughlin was married to Martha M.
Stone, a native Nebraskan. Her parents were Norman M., a native of Michigan who
died in 1893, and Elizabeth (Baronet) Stone, a native of the Isle of Man, who
died in 1891. Mrs. Laughlin has one brother and two sisters: Henry C.; Carrie,
wife of Frank Jones; and Deborah, wife of Olbie Rucker.
     Our subject is a member of the W. O. W. and of the I. O. G. T., as well as
an active and influential Democrat.

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