USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > An illustrated history of Walla Walla County, state of Washington > Part 44
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Judge Brents and his five partners built the first log cabin in Canyon City at this time. He was appointed justice of the peace and first postmaster of the town, and also has the honor of having served as captain of the loyalists during the Canyon City rebellion. . At the or- ganization of Grant county he was appointed county clerk, and from that time forth he be- came an efficient factor in the political history of the west. He was a member of the Oregon State Republican convention of 1866, and in June of the same year was elected to the state legislature, where he supported the fourteenth
THOMAS H. BRENTS.
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amendment to the national constitution. In He was, however, a delegate to the Chica- September, 1866, lie was admitted to practice go national convention in 1880, and took 'a prominent part in the deliberations of that noted body, helping to secure the Chinese re- striction plank in the Republican platform of that year. He is a very convincing and influ- ential campaign speaker, and has taken the stump in every important campaign for many years with telling effect. in the supreme court of Oregon, being a mein- ber of the same class with Binger Hermann, Cyrus A. Dolph and others who have since won renown. He began practice in San Fran- cisco, where, on August 10, 1868, he was mar- ried to Miss Isabel McCown, whose father and brothers are so well and favorably known in Oregon and Washington.
In September, 1870, Judge Brents located in Walla Walla, and since that date the city and county have had the benefit of his presence and leadership. In 1872 he was one of the Republican candidates for the legislature, but, though running away ahead of his ticket, he was defeated, the county at that time being Democratic. In 1878 he was elected delegate to congress. He was renominated and re- elected in 1880, and again in 1882, each time by largely increased majorities. He served as a member of the committee on postoffices and post roads, and on public lands, obtaining appropriations for improvement of the Cowlitz, Chehalis, Skagit, Nooksack, Stillaguamish, Snohomish and Snoqualmie rivers, for the es- tablishment of light houses at Sandy Point, Robinson Point, and at Gray's Harbor and on Destruction Island, and for the construction of the Port Townsend custom house, and he also secured the opening of over three million acres of Indian reservation lands for settlement, the making of Seattle and Tacoma sub-ports of entry, and the passage of much other valuable legislation. His abilities as a constructive statesman, and his commendable superior- ity to mere localism, were well appreciated by the voting public, and secured him sev- eral offers of renomination to the highest office in the gift of the territory, but for different reasons he has declined them ail. 20
In 1885 the law firm of Anders, Brents & Clark was formed. They practiced together until 1889, when Judge Anders was elected to the supreme bench. The firm then became Brents & Clark, and so continued until, in 1896, the senior partner was elected to the superior judgeship of the county. He was re-elected in 1900, receiving the largest majority ever given any candidate in the county. Judge Brents is displaying the same breadth of mind and power of discrimination on the bench which characterized him as a legislator, and is dis- charging his duties with great ability and fair- ness. He and Mrs. Brents became the parents. of nine children, namely: Herman M., How- ard M., Mildred, Norman M., Seldon M. and Thomas H., deceased, and Myrtle I., Mabelle and Helen D., living.
JOHN A. CAMERON, agent at Spofford for the Pacific Coast Elevator Company, is a native of Walla Walla county, born on the paternal homestead, three miles south of Walla Walla, January 31, 1864. Ile received such education as the public schools of that period afforded, then turned his attention to farming. In 1885 he bought a farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Umatilla county, Oregon, in the vicinity of Pendleton, and for five years thereafter he was a tiller of the soil there. In
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1890, however, he sold out and returned to Walla Walla, where the following year he was given a position as guard in the state peniten- tiary. He soon was promoted to the post of deputy warden.
In 1896 Mr. Cameron severed his connec- tion with the official management of that insti- tution, and in 1897. in company with Dr. C. B. Stewart, he went to Alaska to try his for- tunes in the Eldorado of the north. He en- gaged in freighting from Skagway and Lake Bennet. employing in his business eight horses and a dog team. He also gave a portion of his time and attention to prospecting in the Atlin mining region, where he still has a good claim. Returning to Walla Walla in November, 1899, he, a few months later. accepted a position as agent for the Pacific Coast Elevator Company at Spofford, and he has been in their employ ever since. Mr. Cameron is one of the sub- stantial and thoroughly reliable men of the county, and enjoys the esteem and good will of his neighbors generally. He is an active worker in the Republican party, and quite a leader in its campaigns. He was married in Walla Walla to Ella. a daughter of Daniel and Margaret Stewart, and like her husband a native of Walla Walla.
THOMAS TAYLOR, electrical engineer, a pioneer of 1887, was born in England, on April 9. 1849. When ten years old, he em- barked as cabin boy in the merchant marine service, and he continued to follow the sea for sixteen years thereafter, advancing through the various grades until he became captain. He spent nine years in the Chinese and Japanese trade, then served as a joiner aboard the Great
Eastern, the largest vessel ever built, in the lay- ing of the French Atlantic cable. During his long experience as a sailor he visited France. Spain, Italy, Egypt. Turkey, Russia, Norway, Sweden, Germany. St. Vincent island, the Cape of Good Hope, Madagascar, Bombay. Aden, China, Japan, the Philippine islands, Sumatra, Borneo, Australia and numerous other places. He was wrecked three times : first off Dunge- ness, caused by a collision with a steamer; next off the north coast of England, where he was rescued by a life saving crew, and lastly on a reef near Fern Island, where the father of the noted heroine, Grace Darling, served as lighthouse keeper.
After leaving the sea Mr. Taylor sailed for two years as second mate on the Great Lakes, then went into contracting in the business of loading and unloading vessels at Racine, Wis- consin. Four years were spent thus, then for five years he was employed by the J. I. Case machine shops as superintendent. He was sent by them to take charge of their business in Spokane, but shortly afterward was moved to Walla Walla to assume the management of their branch house here. When, some eighteen months later, the Walla Walla Gas and Electric Company was formed he accepted a position with them. and except for about twelve months he was in their service contin- uously for the ensuing twelve years. When he first entered their employ, they had a thirty horse-power engine, but before he left they used in their business, 1165 horse-power, con- sisting of water, electricity and steam. . All the machinery for this large plant he, as chief en- gineer, had to put in place and get ready for operation. For about eighteen month from October. 1898, he was engaged as general electrician in Walla Walla, but, in April, 1899. lie assumed the managership of the Milton,
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Oregon, electric plant, which position he still holds.
Mr. Taylor has been a very successful man both on the sea and as a contractor and en- gineer. He possesses remarkable mechanical ability and skill, so that his services are in de- mand wherever, in this section of the country, intricate electrical plants are to be established. In fraternal affiliations hie is a Forrester and Red Man. He was married in Clinton, On- tario, in April, 1878, to Miss Emma J. Rundle, a Cornish lady, who, when a girl, worked five years in a copper mine in England. They have six children, Richard T., Ethel, Edward J., Mattie E., Alice M. and Alfred O.
DANIEL BURR, a farmer whose resi- dence in this county dates back to 1886, was born in Mercer, Maine, on May 6, 1839. He acquired his education in the public schools and in a private high school, then went to work on his father's farm, remaining until he was nine- teen years of age. He then went to Worcester, Massachusetts, and worked on a farm for a season, but later returned to New Sharon, Maine, bought a farm, and, with his mother, followed farming for about ten years. But in 1868 he sold this place and moved onto an- other which he had purchased in the same lo- cality.
After farming this for about seven years Mr. Burr removed to Franklin county, same state, where he continued in agricultural pur- suits until, in 1886, he came to this county. Purchasing a farm on Dry creek, seven miles northwest of Walla Walla, he resumed his former occupation, adding to his real estate holdings a half-section of railroad land pur- chased later. In 1899 he sold all this property,
however, and the following year purchased three hundred and twenty acres near Rulo Station, where he now resides, and on which he is raising wheat.
Mr. Burr has the distinction of having served as a soldier in the Civil war, having enlisted in Company K, Twenty-eighth Maine Volunteer Infantry, in September, 1862. He participated in the Mississippi campaign, en- countering many dangers, especially in one ex- pedition after wounded men. His principal duty, however, was to serve as escort guard and provost guard, also to prevent the carry- ing of contraband articles by a bayou to the Confederates. His father and grandfather also served in the war of the Rebellion and his great-grandfather was a captain in the Revo- lutionary war. Mr. Burr was married in New Sharon, Maine, on June 13, 1867, to Miss Han- nah G. Paine, one of his schoolmates. They have four children, Mary E., Sarah P., John F. and Nettie.
ALLEN H. REYNOLDS .- As a promi- nent member of the bar of Walla Walla coull- ty, as a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of the city of Walla Walla, of which he is a native son, it is peculiarly compatible that in this compilation be given a resume of the genealogical and personal his- tory of him whose name initiates this para- graplı.
Mr. Reynolds, who is the senior member of the firm of Reynolds & Gillis, attorneys at law, with offices in the Reynolds building, Walla Walla, was born in this city on the 24th of January, 1869, the son of AAlmos II. and Lettice J. Reynolds. Mr. Reynolds has passed his entire life in his native city, his pre- liminary educational discipline being received
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in a private school conducted by Rev. P. B. the vicinity of Walla Walla, where he has re- Chamberlain. He later matriculated in Whit- sided almost continuously since. He has al- ways been a true friend of his neighborhood, and has ever manifested a willingness to do his full share for the general welfare. He is iden- tified with Columbia Lodge, No. 26, F. & A. MI., and with the F. O. E. He was married in Walla Walla, in 1878, to Miss Ida Pettibone, a native of that city, and they are parents of one son, Cyrus A. man College, in this city, completing a course of study and then entering the law department of Boston University, where he graduated as a member of the class of 1893. Returning to Walla Walla he entered upon the active prac- tice of his profession, being associated at this time with W. H. Kirkman. Later he was for a time in partnership with his brother, Harry A., but in the spring of 1900 he entered into a professional alliance with his present asso- ciate, Andrew J. Gillis. The firm are building up a large and representative practice.
Mr. Reynolds has charge of the affairs of the family estate, is treasurer of Whitman College and a member of its board of trustees. He is vice-president of the First National bank and is a member of the executive com- mittee of the Farmers' Savings bank, while he holds much valuable realty in the city and county. On the 7th of November, 1894, Mr. Reynolds was united in marriage to Miss Fanny Kirkman, daughter of William H. and Isabella Kirkman, well known residents of Walla Walla, where Mrs. Reynolds was born. Our subject and his wife are the parents of two children. William Allen, and Almos, the former of whom was born November 19, 1895. and the latter May 19, 1898.
LORENZO A. DAVIS, one of the ener- getic and progressive farmers and business men of the vicinity of Walla Walla, is a na- tive of Indiana, born February 26, 1853. His education was received in the state of Wiscon- sin, whither his parents moved when he was about four years old. At the age of eighteen he set out for the west, and finally located in
Mr. Davis' father, Cyrus, a native of Ver- mont, was born May 3, 1827, is both a glass- blower and a stone cutter, having learned those handicrafts in early youth. He followed stone-work in Ohio and Wisconsin until 1871, when he came out to Walla Walla, and pur- chased what is now known as the Davis ranch. He later purchased land on Whisky creek, and engaged quite extensively in stock-raising and general farming. In 1883, however, he moved to Pataha City and in 1888 to Dayton, where he now resides. He is one of the best known and most highly esteemed of the early pio- neers, and deserves an honored place among those who have laid the foundations of our western civilization.
THEADORE H. JESSUP, of the real es- tate firm of Worth & Jessup, has long been prominent in the civil administration of Walla Walla county. He was born in Indiana July 29, 1848, but received his education in Polk county, Iowa, his father having moved there when he was four years old. For a number of years after leaving school he followed farm- ing as an occupation. In 1878, however, he came out to this county, located at Waitsburg, and engaged in the butcher business. In 1883 he accepted a position as clerk for E. L. Powell,
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by whom he was employed for the ensuing three years. He was appointed postmaster un- der Cleveland's first administration, and filled that office with credit to himself for a period of four years, after which he then accepted an- other clerical position.
In 1894 Mr. Jessup was elected county as- sessor, but on the expiration of his term he again became a clerk, and so remained until 1896, when he was asked to accept a deputy- ship under County Assessor William Gholson. In 1898 he moved to Walla Walla and opened a real estate office in the quarters now occupied by the firm of which he is a member.
Mr. Jessup is one of the most highly es- teemed of the citizens of Walla Walla county, and enjoys the entire confidence and hearty good will of all who know him. He is a very active man in fraternal circles, being identified with the A. O. U. W., the I. O. O. F. and the F. & A. M. On April 18, 1867, he married Miss Sophronia M. Olds, a native of Ohio, and they now have three children living. name- ly : Anna B., wife of W. C. Roach, of Seattle ; Mary L., wife of J. W. McLean, of Waits- burg; and Lethia Burrel Clare. The names of the deceased children are Frank, Edward and Lizzie.
MRS. EMELINE J. MABRY, of Walla Walla, widow of Thomas Mabry, was born in Ontario, Canada, April 11, 1839. Her father, Stephen M. Herrett, was a courier for the Brit- ish government in the war of 1812. She ac- quired her education in the public schools of her native land, remaining there until twenty- eight years old, when she moved to Detroit, Michigan. Here she met and married Mr. John Clement, with whom she came to Ricli- mond, Illinois. They followed the shoe busi-
ness there and in Osage, Iowa, for about six years, then tried the same line in Carthage, Missouri, but soon returned to Bedford, Iowa, where, for a number of years afterwards, they combined their former occupation with farm- ing, Mrs. Clement superintending operations on the place, while Mr. Clement followed his trade in town.
They afterwards pursued the same dual oc- cupation in Beloit, Kansas, but losing heavily in the grasshopper scourge, they at length de- cided to come west. They were in business in Oregon about two years, after which they came to this valley, via the old portage route. Mr. Clement died here in 1880, and for a few years afterwards Mrs. Clement had some very trying experiences, but her stamina and energy enabled her to triumph over all adverse cir- cumstances. In 1881, she rented the place in which she now lives for the purpose of keeping boarders, also pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres twelve miles north of the city. By paying some cash and trading this land in as part payment, she obtained title to her present home in 1885, but it was quite heavily en- cumbered, and after only one payment had been made, her second husband, Mr. Mabry, whom she had married in 1884, died, and she was left to struggle with heavy debts alone. Despite the prophesies of her friends, however, she suc- ceeded in meeting her payments ; indeed she has also added wing after wing to the original house, until it has become one of the most com- fortable and best equipped residences in the city. She might well retire now, but is too ambitious and active to care for a life of idle- ness.
Mrs. Mabry is an enthusiastic Christian Scientist, and she has good reason to be, having been restored to health through the agency of that faith after being given up by the physi-
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cians. She had a cancerous growth on her left cheek, which defied all treatment until she put her case in the hands of the Christian Science healers, after which it, and all attendant ail- ments, quickly disappeared.
Mr. Mabry, her last husband, was one of the well known and highly esteemed business men of Walla Walla, and when he died in 1886, his loss was mourned by all who knew him. Ile was a prominent member of the local lodge, 1. O. O.F.
ALMOS H. REYNOLDS was born in Ma- drid, St. Lawrence county, New York, on the 2Ist of October, 1808, being the son of Nicho- las Reynolds, who was a native of the state of Vermont, and who was a millwright by trade. .After a temporary residence in several locali- ties the family removed to Aurora, Erie coun- ty, New York, where Almos was reared and educated, becoming a millwright by occupation, having learned the trade under the direction of his father. In the year 1838, he removed to the west. residing for a time in Illinois, whence he moved to lowa. He was a resident of Davenport, the latter state for the greater por- tion of the time up to the year 1850, when he made his way across the plains to California. In the succeeding year he crossed the mountains to Oregon, and here he devoted his attention to mill building.
In May, 1859, Mr. Reynolds became a resi- (lent of Walla Walla and with the upbuilding and progress of the Garden City his name was most conspicuously identified, and here he con- tinted to make his home until his death, which occurred on the 21st of April, 1889. He was a man of strictest integrity in all the relations of life, was endowed with market business and executive ability, and was signally successful
in temporal affairs, being known and recog- nized as one of the leading citizens of the county, where he was held in the highest esteem as one of the valued and honored pioneers of this state. He erected many mills throughout the territory of Washington, two of them in the immediate vicinity of Walla Walla. He also built, and for several years owned. the woolen mills at Dayton, now the county seat of Columbia county. He was associated with Dr. J. II. Day in the establishing of the first banking business in Walla Walla, the same be- ing a private institution, conducted under the firm name of Reynolds & Day. He later be- came one of the principal stockholders of the First National bank, in whose organization he was largely instrumental. He was public- spirited and ever maintained a lively interest in all that conserved the progress and substantial upbuilding of the city and county where he passed many years of a useful and honorable life.
The marriage of Mr. Reynolds was solem- mized on the 23d of May, 1861, when he was united to Miss Lettice J. Clark, nce Millican, the widow of Ransom Clark, who first crossed the plains to Oregon with Fremont, in 1843. Mrs. Clark was a resident of Walla Walla at the time of her marriage to Mr. Reynolds, and this city still continues to be her home. She is held in the highest esteem as one of the ven- erable pioneers of the county. By her mar- riage to Mr. Clark she became the mother of three children .- Charles, born August 29. 1846; William, April 9. 1857 ; and Lizzie, Au- gust 19. 1859. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds became the parents of two sons,-Harry A., who was born October 14, 1863, and who is now one of the prosperous agriculturists of the county ; and Allen H., of whom more extended mention is elsewhere made.
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GEORGE SMAILS, a pioneer of 1862, was born in West Virginia, April 27, 1838. His education, however, was acquired in Illi- nois, to which state his parents moved when he was six years old. He accompanied the fam- ily to Iowa in 1854, and followed farming in that state for a few years, but in 1862 he set out across the plains with ox-teams. Reaching Walla Walla in due time, he purchased one hun- (red and sixty acres six miles south of the town, and again engaged in farming, buying more land at a later date. In 1883, he disposed of his holdings, moved into Walla Walla, and en- gaged in a hotel and livery business. He it was who built the Exchange hotel, of which he was proprietor until 1888. Shortly afterward he received an appointment as a member of the city police force. For the ensuing ten years, he served as such officer, invariably performing his duties conscientiously, and with skill and dispatch. He has been living in comparative retirement for the past few years.
Mr. Smails is a very public-spirited man. and has always donated liberally to every de- serving public enterprise of both his money and his time. His fraternal affiliations are with the F. O. E. He was married in Iowa, in 1858. to Miss Mary E. Harvey, a native of that state, and to them have been born six children, Nancy, now Mrs. Felix Warren, Sarah, now Mrs. John Knifong, of Colfax, John F., in busi- ness in Walla Walla, Harvey, also in business in Walla Walla, Robert E., in business at Lewiston, Idaho, and Bettie, wife of Frank Strong, of Spokane.
WINFIELD S. OFFNER, who is at the head of one of the leading commercial enter- prises of the city of Walla Walla, where he
conducts an extensive business as a wholesale dealer in fruit and produce, is a native of St. Joseph, Missouri, where he was born in the year 1847. He grew up under the sturdy and invigorating discipline of the farm, under the guidance of his grandparents, his father and mother having both died in his infancy. His educational advantages were those afforded by the public schools, which he was enabled to at- tend somewhat irregularly.
In 1864, when but seventeen years of age, he started across the plains with a party, the transportation equipment being that afforded by ox-teams. They had reached a point near Fort Kearney, Nebraska, when the Indians captured the train, killing several of the party and burning the wagons. Those who escaped were compelled to return to their starting place. In 1866 our subject made a second attempt, being on this occasion successful in reaching Denver with an ox train, transporting freight. In the succeeding year Mr. Offner again start- ed out with an ox train from St. Joseph and in due course of time arrived safely in Sac- ramento, California. He remained in the Golden state for a period of four years, after which he returned to Missouri for a sojourn of two years, was then again in California four years, finally returning through the Chero- kee strip to his native state, thence again to California in 1877, where he remained until the following year, in November of the same being united in marriage to Miss Frances E. .Abbott, who accompanied him on his trip to Walla Walla in the following month.
The young couple took up land in the Ritzville country, where our subject put in one crop, which failed, whereupon he abandoned his claim and returned to Walla Walla, which has ever been the field of his well directed and successful operations. Here he engaged in
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fruit growing and shipping, an enterprise which he has developed from modest propor- tions until it is now one of wide scope and un- mistakable importance. He has one hundred acres of fine fruit orchard, the principal prod- ucts of which are apples, prunes and pears, of which he raises the finest varieties, shipping to the leading markets of the Union. His farm, which is located one-half mile west of the city limits, is one of the best in a section noted for its unexcelled productiveness as a fruit- growing country. Here he employs in the sea- son from fifty to sixty persons, and his business is one that has unmistakable influence on the commercial precedence of the city of Walla Walla. Mr. Offner's prominence in his line of industry may be understood more clearly when it is stated that he has held for the past six years, or since the inception of the organiza- tion, the office of treasurer of the Northwest Fruit Growers' Association, whose province includes Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Mon- tana and British Columbia.
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