USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > An illustrated history of Walla Walla County, state of Washington > Part 52
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the railroad company, for a farm of two hun- dred acres in the Grande Ronde valley, Oregon. Upon this land he resided until July, 1900, when he sold out and returned to Walla Walla to become a partner of his brother in the livery business here.
Mr. Cummins has always been a friend of progress and a promoter of the general welfare wherever he has lived. He is a great friend of education, and has served as school director in different places for a number of years. He was married, in Walla Walla, on November I. 1876, to Miss Louisa C. Davidson, a native of Tennessee, who crossed the plains from Ar- kansas in the 'seventies, and who died October II. 1900, at Walla Walla, leaving five children, James R., Bert, Daisy I .. Charles E. and Maude.
EDWARD McDONNELL, chief night turnkey at the state penitentiary, a pioneer of 1872, was born in Ireland May 6, 1844. He received his education in Iowa, to which state his parents emigrated when he was five years old. For several years he attended college in Milwaukee, and thereafter was engaged in farming and teaching until 1872, when he came out to Walla Walla. He took land liere and at once embarked in the sheep business, an industry which continued to engage his energies until 1878. When Columbia county was or- ganized he became one of its first county com- missioners, and in 1876 he was elected to rep- resent it in the legislature. In 1879 he moved into Walla Walla, from which city he directed operations on his farm two miles out. For the two years following 1883 he was a farmer in: Spokane county, but he then returned to Walla Walla.
Mr. McDonnell has been very active in the
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political history of state and county, serving a term in the legislature as above mentioned. presiding over the board of county commis- sioners for four years, and leading the delibera- tions of the Democratic party in many of its most important conventions. He was the nom- inee of his party in the first election held under the state constitution for the state senate, and was appointed by Governor Rogers to the stewardship of the penitentiary in 1897. but was afterwards given the post of chief night turnkey, which he still holds.
Mr. McDonnell married, in Dubuque, Iowa. January 29. 1878. Miss Sarah A. Curran, a native of that city. They have a family of three children, Curran, Blanche and Shirley. Mr. McDonnell is the owner of a comfortable home at 109 Second street and of considerable other valuable city property.
BENJAMIN L. SHARPSTEIN, of the law firm of Sharpstein & Sharpstein, a pioneer of 1865. was born in Bath, New York, October 22. 1827. In 1834 he accompanied his par- ents to Michigan, and when nineteen years of age he moved to Wisconsin, where he studied law, gaining admission to the bar in 1852. For the ensuing thirteen years he practiced his pro- fession there, but in 1865 he set out across the plains to Washington, traveling in the prim- ative fashion of those days, namely, with teams and wagons.
Arriving in Walla Walla in due time, Mr. Sharpstein opened an office and again engaged in law practice. He seems to have come into prominence in his new home almost immediate- ly. for in 1866 he was elected to the territorial legislature. . As his subsequent career proved. the choice was a wise one, and the people, ap-
preciating the faithfulness and ability of his public service, twice returned him. In 1889 he was elected a member of the state constitu- tional convention. Afterward, for three suc- cessive terms, he was chairman of the Tide Lands Commission, a most important post, for upon this board fell the burden and responsi- bility of superintending the sale of tide lands.
Mr. Sharpstein has labored in many ways for the development and upbuilding of Walla Walla, but it is in the educational work of the city that his beneficent influence has been most sensibly felt. For many years he was a faith- ful and judicious member of the board of edu- cation. He takes rank among the leading at- torneys of the Inland Empire, and the firm of which he is the senior partner is doing an ex- tensive business. They are the owners of large tracts of land in Walla Walla and other coun- ties, besides considerable valuable city property.
In fraternal affiliations Mr. Sharpstein is a prominent thirty-second-degree Mason. In Wisconsin. on December 27. 1855, he married Miss Sarah J. Park, and to them have been born five children : John L., a partner in the firm: Addie, now Mrs. C. B. Upton : Frank B., of the law firm of Sharpstein & Rader : Charles M., in Chicago; and Arthur P., deceased.
HORACE J. MURPHY, a retired farmer. residing in Waitsburg, is a son of the west. having been born in Oregon June 22. 1854. He lived in that state until fifteen years old. acquiring most of his education there, then came to Spring Valley, Washington, and en- gaged in stock raising. He continued in that business until 1877. then took up land seven miles west of Waitsburg and commenced gen- eral farming. For fifteen years thereafter he
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was one of the most enterprising and success- ful farmers in the valley, increasing his real estate holdings until they amounted in all to a full section, but in 1892 he rented his land and retired from active participation in any of the callings of life. He now resides in Waitsburg, where he has some valuable prop- erty.
JAMES WICKERSHAM, a stone and brick mason at Waitsburg, is a native of Ohio, born November 16, 1832. He acquired a com- mon-school education and learned his trade there, then went to Iowa, where he worked as a journeyman until the fall of 1865. Ile then went to east central Kansas, bought a farm of one hundred acres one and one-half miles east of Ottawa, the county seat of Franklin county, and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and contracting. While there he was quite prominent locally, holding the positions of township trustee and assessor for a period of five years. After farming there steadily for more than a score of years he, in the spring of 1888, came to Waitsburg, where for half a dec- ade he was engaged in the dual occupation of farming and merchandising.
In 1892 Mr. Wickersham sold both his farm and his store, and purchased a half interest in the Waitsburg planing mill, but he afterwards sold this also and returned to the pursuit of his trade. He took a trip east in the fall of 1899, visiting the old home place and eating apples from the trees he liad himself planted in 1849.
Though quite well advanced in life, Mr. Wickersham is so well preserved that he is able to hold his own with the average man on a brick or stone wall. He was married in Iowa, on October 18, 1855, to Miss Mary Smith, a
native of Pennsylvania, and they have become the parents of nine children : Alcestes, de- ceased ; James T., Florence M., Eliza J., Alta, Isaac E., Anna G., Hiram L. and Arrabella Gertrude.
BENJAMIN W. MARCY, a fruit grower, one-half mile west of MeMinn's drier, a pio- neer of 1861, was born in Worcester, Massa- chusetts, January 27, 1834. When he was but two years old the family moved to the vicinity of Beardstown, Illinois, then a very new coun- try, and there Mr. Marcy grew to maturity and was educated. His mother died when he was seven years old and his father when he was seventeen. He then stayed with his sister about a year, after which he set out across the plains to California, traveling with ox-teams. The emigration from the eastern states was heavy that year, so that his train never was out of sight of wagons ahead or behind.
Arriving in California August 20, 1852, Mr. Marcy at once proceeded to the placer mines, where for a short time he worked for wages, getting six dollars per day. Soon, how- ever, he engaged in mining on his own ac- count, following this as his occupation con- tinuously for nine years. In August, 1861, he came to the Walla Walla valley. For the first three months of his residence here he busied himself in shooting prairie chickens for the market, and when winter came on he engaged in hunting deer for the same purpose. Next spring he went to Florence, Idaho, on a pros- pecting trip, but that summer he and his part- ner went to Camass Prairie, Idaho, and engaged in making hay, for which they got one hun- dred dollars per ton.
Returning to Walla Walla in the fall, Mr. Marcy squatted on a claim of one hundred and
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sixty acres on Cottonwood creek, where for the next nineteen years he was engaged in ag- ricultural pursuits. In addition to his home- stead he also became the owner of a half-section of railroad land on the Oregon side of the line, and a quarter-section of school land. He sold the last of this real estate in 1890, and in 1892 purchased seventeen acres, upon which he is now raising fruits, berries, etc. Mr. Marcy possesses the true pioneer spirit. He has the resourcefulness, courage and ability to make the best of circumstances, for which the first settlers of any country are usually noted, and he has contributed his full share towards the subduing and civilizing of this section.
In 1864 he married Miss Ellen Artheion, a native of lowa, who died in 1873. Of this marriage five children were born, three of whom are still living: Carrie, wife of John Savage: Charles, a farmer : and Dwight, also a farmer. Mr. Marcy was again married, in 1875, the lady being Mrs. Emma Lilly, nec Campbell, a native of New Jersey, and they are the parents of six living children: Char- lotte, now MIrs. Herman Flaherty: Martin, May M., Nellie C., Pearlie P. and George W .: also of one named Claude, deceased.
CHARLES ACHERMANN is a native of Switzerland, born in 1870. When twelve years old he went to France, where he remained for the ensuing eleven years, coming then to . Amer- ica. the date of his arrival being 1893. 1le located first in Coolman, Alabama, remaining, however, only a brief period. From that lo- cality he went to St. Helena, California, where for three and a half years he was engaged in the manufacture of wines, thereafter coming to Walla Walla. Shortly subsequent to his ar- rival here he engaged in the wholesale wine
and liquor business with .Alfred Bachtold, like whom he is, in being energetic and progressive lle affiliates with the Red Men, the Sons of Herman and the Maennerchor. He manifests his local patriotism by taking an active interest in the volunteer fire department.
WILLIAM A. CLARK, a dairy farmer. seven miles southwest of Walla Walla, was born in Missouri August 10, 1850. His father died when he was eight years old, and when he reached the age of fifteen he and his mother started across the plains with ox-teams to the west. Mr. Clark, though so young, made the entire trip on foot, driving the oxen all the way. In their train were one hundred wagons. so that, though they were compelled to sustain a running fight with the Indians all through the journey, they were too strong to be closed ir by their enemies. They settled first on Dry creek, this county, in the fall of 1865. rented land and began farming, but later they moved to Pine creek, where they had bought a small place.
Having disposed of this shortly afterwards. they returned to Dry creek and purchased two hundred and sixty-five acres, which was their home until Mr. Clark bought his present forty- seven-and-one-half-acre tract. lle is also the owner of a quarter-section of land on Blue mountain, which he took as a homestead that he might have a pasture for his cattle, of which he has a fine band, all shorthorn Durham stock. Hle gives the major part of his attention to the dairy business. Mr. Clark has never been troubled in the least by Indians since settling in the valley, though during the war of 1878 he thought best to send his family to Walla Walla. He himself remained on his farm.
Our subject has long been one of the repre-
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sentative men of his neighborhood, taking a very deep interest in everything which promised to promote the general welfare. Ilis interest in the cause of education is evinced by the fact that for nine years he was director in the Couse creek district. He was married, in this coun- ty, July 3. 1873, to Miss Eliza P. Kinney, a native of Minnesota, whose parents were pio- neers of 1859. They have seven children liv- ing : Eva, wife of J. L. Rogers ; Myrtle, Willie, Louis, Elizabeth. Josephine, and one born Jan- uary 16, 1901, not yet named ; also four de- ceased,-Edwin, Dora, Millie and Bessie.
Mr. Clark's mother, Mrs. Cyntha Clark, was born in Madison county, Kentucky, Jan- uary 7, 18II, and is still living anl in good health, though over ninety years old. At pres- ent she is residing with her daughter, Mrs. Mildred Swaggart, at Heppner, Oregon. She is one of the earliest and most highly and uni- forinly respected pioneers of this section and is affectionately called "Grandma" by all her ac- quaintances far and near. When the Methodist Episcopal church was divided by the forma- tion of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, she, though she had been reared in that de- nomination, withdrew her membership and joined the Baptist church, of which she has ever since been a faithful and consistent member.
JOIIN H. HODGIS, a native of Walla Walla, was born March 2. 1863. He received such education as the primitive schools of the pioneer town afforded, then turned his atten- tion to steamboating. For a number of years he was captain of steam vessels on the Colum- bia river, and he also spent much time as an engineer on steamboats on Puget Sound. For the past two years, however, he was engaged
in farming in the vicinity of Walla Walla, but at present is living a retired life. He is identi- fied with the A. O. U. W. of that city. On October 2, 1890, he was married, in King county, this state, to Mary Christman, a na- tive of Oregon.
Mr. Hodgis' father, Hemen M., a native of Michigan, born in 1831, crossed the plains in 1857 as captain of a wagon team, becom- ing identified with the town of Walla Walla the following year. He was quite prominent and active in the early political history of the city, filling several county and local offices. In 1857 he was married, in Linn county, Oregon. to Miss Irene Havird, who died in 1869, and lies buried in the Whitman Mission. Mr. Hodgis passed away in 1881, leaving four children,- Mary E., wife of W. H. Johnson, of Wallula; John H., whose name heads this article ; Ida S., wife of William Huff ; and Emma I .. wife of F. D. Sharp, a farmer near Prescott.
CHARLES E. GHOLSON, a farmer and fruit dryer, residing seven miles southwest of Walla Walla, was born in this city March 20, 1875. He has passed his entire life thus far in this county, receiving his education in the public schools and in Empire Business College, of Walla Walla. As soon as he had finished his course of business training he assumed charge of his father's farm, of which he is now the owner, having purchased it in 1896. He is also interested in a fruit drier, which he and his father erected together in that year, and which has a capacity of three tons daily. The drier is constantly rushed in the effort to handle the large quantities of fruit which are brought to it.
Mr. Ghiolson, as might be supposed from
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what has been already recorded, gives the Oregon, but in 1890 he came to Walla Walla major part of his attention to fruit raising and and opened a restaurant. The following year he opened his present establishment, and his energies have been given to it continuously since. His interest in the city's welfare is man- ifested by the intense activity he displays in maintaining the efficiency of the volunteer fire department, of which he is president. He is active in fraternal circles also, being identified with the Red Men, the A. O. U. W., the For- esters, the Eagles, the Sons of Herman and the Maennerchor. He was married in Gray's Harbor, in 1892, to Miss Annie Schwich, and to their union have been born three children, Ida, Annie and George. drying, and to finding markets for the products in eastern cities, but he is also interested in rais- ing hay and dairy cattle. He is the owner of a beautiful herd of Jerseys, consisting of forty head. principally thoroughbreds. For a young man, Mr. Gholson is displaying remarkable en- ergy, good judgment and business ability, and he has already given earnest of becoming one of the leading fruit raisers and handlers in the Inland Empire. He is quite interested in pol- itics, too, and in the recent campaign was active in the counsels of the Democratic party, to whose county convention he was a delegate. He married, in Walla Walla, in 1895, Miss Mary McEvoy, a pioneer of the valley, and a graduate of the Catholic college established in this city. They have two children, Ralph W. and Marion.
Note .- On October 2, 1900, since the above was written, our subject's fruit drier and the entire year's product were destroyed by fire, but with his characteristic energy he at once began planning for the erection of a new drier in the early spring. He also recently purchased the livery business of the Cummins Bros., at 318 West Main street, and is conducting this new business on plans that insure success.
THOMAS QUINN, deceased. was a native of Toronto, Canada, born March 7, 1837. He lived in his fatherland until twenty-five, re- ce ving the advantage of the excellent public schools for which that province is noted and also learning the trade of a harness-maker. He then removed to California, going by way of the isthmus, and followed his handicraft there for some time. Subsequently, however. he came to Walla Walla. He worked here two years as a journeyman, then started in business for himself and continued to devote his energie? to the development and extending of his trade until the time of his death.
JOHN BACHTOLD, 124 W. Main street, Mr. Quinn was a true friend of the city. and took a lively interest in all local affairs. For two terms he was a member of the city council and discharged his duties as such faith- fully, conscientiously and with an eye single to the city's welfare. He further demonstrated his interest in Walla Walla by serving as a volunteer fireman in the early days. For many Walla Walla, was born in Switzerland in 1865. but emigrated to America when only fourteen years old. For nine years after his arrival in the new world he followed farming ir South Dakota. He then removed to Gray's Harbor. Washington, where for the ensuing two years he was clerk in a hotel. The next year he was proprietor of a hotel at Oswego, years he was affiliated with the I. O. O. F ..
THOMAS QUINN
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but at the time of his death hie belonged only to the Catholic Knights of America. He was married in Walla Walla, in 1868; to Clara Paris, and to them were born nine children, namely: Joseph, deceased; Teresa, deceased ; Thomas, now in charge of his father's store; Catherine, deceased; John, also in the store; William, Albert, Edward and Clara. Mrs. Quinn has been a resident of Walla Walla for thirty-four years.
At Mr. Quinn's death the entire estate came to Mrs. Quinn and she has ever since conducted the business left her by her husband in a most successful manner. She has always, however, retained her eldest living son, Thomas, in her employ as manager of the store.
ALVIN BOSTON, dentist, 27 West Main street, was born in Hartland, Maine, in 1857. He acquired his early education in that city and in Boston, but in 1879 came out to The Dalles, Oregon, where for about two years he was engaged in a general stock raising and handling industry. He subsequently began the study of dentistry, and in the spring of 1881 opened offices for the practice of that profession at Lone Rock, Fossil and Heppner, Oregon. He afterwards came to Colfax, where for nine years he maintained dental parlors. Seized with a desire to try his hand at mining, he then went to the Cœur d'Alene country, and during the next six years he was engaged there in the search for hidden treas- ures. At the end of that time he came to Walla Walla, and again took up the practice of his profession. He enjoys quite an exten- sive patronage, being looked upon as one of the leading dental surgeons of the city. He is a stockholder in the Building and Loan 24
Association of Butte, Montana, Portland, Oregon, and Walla Walla. In fraternal affili- ations he is an Odd Fellow, a Forester and a member of the Woodmen of the World. He was married in Idaho, in 1894, to Miss May Anger, a native of Hancock, Michigan.
VALENTINE WILSON, a farmer at Waitsburg, is a native of Virginia, born October 10, 1829. He was, however, reared and educated in Hancock county, Illinois, whither his parents took him when seven years old. After leaving school he clerked a while, then farmed two years, but in 1852 he started across the plains with ox-teams, determined to try his fortune in California. For two years he tried mining, then, in 1854, went to Suisun valley and resumed his for- mer occupation of farming. Three years were given to that industry and three to the livery business, then he sold out and took a trip east in a steamer, via Panama, visiting Havana, also New Orleans, and all Mississippi river points as far north as Quincy, Illinois.
Returning to Suisun City, California, after fourteen months absence, he secured stock in the City Water Works Company, and con- tinued in that business for nine years. He was also quite active, during this period, in political and semi-political matters, and held different positions, such as road master, con- stable, deputy sheriff and tax collector. In 1871 he removed to Two Rocks, California, where for the third time in his life he en- gaged in farming, an occupation to which his energies were thereafter given uninterrupted- ly for about seven years. The needs of a growing family then compelled him to seek better school advantages, so he spent a few
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years in Bloomfield and Santa Rosa, that his children might become thoroughly educated.
In September. 1881, he came to Waits- burg. Washington, took up land and again engaged in farming and stock raising. He was for many years one of the most enter- prising and progressive agriculturists of his neighborhood, though he did not farm quite as extensively as some. Of late years, how- ever. he has been living a retired life.
Mr. Wilson was married in Illinois March 28. 1860, to Miss Eliza A. Tracy, a native of Ohio, and their union has been blest by the advent of nine children: Dr. George B., at Pullman, Washington ; Albert C .; Isaac E .; Luella, deceased; Valentine L. : Gaston; Stella M .: Walter, deceased; and Harmon.
the county, and high in the esteem and regard of all of his fellow townspeople, stands the man whose name initiates this sketch. His naturally fine intellectual endowments have been fully developed by years of faithful and patient study, and he needs but the added ex- perience and prestige which come only with greater age to place him among the leading barristers of the Inland Empire.
Born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, on July 8. 1865. he was reared and educated in his native state, receiving the advantages of West Sunbury Academy, from which he grad- uated in 1885, and of Westminster College, at New Wilmington, which conferred upon him the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1889.
Immediately after graduation he set out for the west, believing that it offered greater advantages for a young man of education
and ability than were to be had in the older civilization of his native state. He settled in Waitsburg; where his services were soon called into requisition by the Waitsburg Academy, but his inclination led him to seek entrance to a profession opening a wider sphere of activ- ity to an ambitious person than is to be found in the school room or the professor's chair. Accordingly he went to Spokane, entered the office of Henley & Scott, one of the leading firms of that city, and began vigorously the study of law. In 1892 he was admitted to the bar of the state, and he at once opened an office in the city in which he had received his legal education. He practiced there until December, 1894, then decided to try his for- tune in the town to which he had first come after arriving in the state. He opened a law office there and began building up the desira- ble and lucrative practice he now enjoys. He is a leading man in politics, and is active in
THOMPSON M. MCKINNEY .- Prom- inent among the rising young attorneys of . promoting in every way possible the best in- terests of his town and county. Between the years 1895 and 1898 he served as city attor- ney and city clerk of Waitsburg, and in 1900 he was the nominee of his party, the Demo- cratic, for the office of prosecuting attorney, but, with most other Democratic nominees, was defeated. The majority received by his opponent was, however, very small.
Though deeply devoted to his business, Mr. Mckinney recognizes the fact that in times of need or danger his first duty is to the flag that protects him, and accordingly, when the war with Spain broke out he quickly responded to the call of patriotism, and en- listed as sergeant of Company K. First Wash- ington Volunteers. He accompanied his regi- ment on all marches, and was found at his post of duty in every battle in which the First Washington participated. When the regiment
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