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From History of North Washington, published 1903, now in public domain. 
Submitted by Candy L. Grubb May 13, 1997. Both above notices must remain 
when copied or downloaded.

candyg@ieway.com

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FREDERICK L. CASTNER

	From the frontier regions of the middle west, came the subject of 
this article, to make a home in the fertile sections of Washington and after 
exploration decided in 1897, to settle on his present place, four miles 
southeast from Fruitland, where he owns one hundred and sixty acres and does 
farming and raising stock. Frederick L. Castner was born in Morris county, 
New Jersey, on March 16, 1848, the son of S.M. and Mary (Heldbrant) Castner, 
also natives of New Jersey.  The father served in the Rebellion.  When 
seven, our subject came with the balance of the family to Bureau county, 
Illinois, and secured there his education.  In March, 1862, he enlisted in
Company G, Fifty-seventh Illinois Infantry, and served under Grant and
later under Sherman.  He participated in the battles of Corinth and
the march to the sea, besides many skirmishes and other battles.  His
regiment was detained by a railroad wreck so as not to be able to
participate in the battle of Altoona Pass, but they buried the dead.
In February, 1864, he re-enlisted in the same company and went through
all the hardships that a soldier could undergo, without being wounded 
or in prison and when all was over he participated in the grand review
in Washington.  Thence he was sent to Chicago and there was mustered
out on July 7, 1865, receiving his discharge on the twelfth.  Mr.
Castner was a natural-born traveller, and from the Canadian border to
the gulf he has visited all the important middle states and western
places and has been in thirty-one states of the union.  He was rail-
roading much of the time and also engaged in other occupations.
	On June 27, 1878, at Lesueur Center, Minnesota, Mr. Castner
married Miss Clara E., daughter of John and Jane (Davis) Ritcheye,
natives of Germany and Illinois, respectively.  In 1881, Mr. Castner
removed to the frontier of Dakota, and there remained until 1890,
when he came overland with his family to Old Mission, Idaho.  The
following spring they came to Addie and in 1897 to his present place.
Seven children have been born to this union, Emma J., wife of Charles 
Park, in Sherman, Washington; Fannie, wife of Arthur Burns; Frederick 
L.; James E.; Richard, Estella G., Clara E.  Mr. Castner is a member 
of the G.A.R. and is always active in bettering educational facilities
and is an enterprising and progressive man.  He was frequently visited
by the Sioux and left Dakota just before an uprising.  A gentleman,
his wife and five children were the victims of an awful murder in New
Jersey, known as the Changewater case.  This unfortunate man was an
uncle to our subject's father.