USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > An illustrated history of Walla Walla County, state of Washington > Part 53
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
was finally mustered out he returned to Waits- burg, and to his practice of law.
Mr. Mckinney is quite a leader in frater- nal circles, being a member of Touchet Lodge, No. 5. I. O. O. F., of which he is noble grand ; of Delta Lodge, No. 70. K. of P., of which he is chancellor commander ; and of Occidental Lodge, No. 8, A. O. U. W. He also be- longs to all the societies auxiliary to the or- ders above mentioned.
CHARLES M. TAYLOR .- Among those who have attained marked success in agricult- ural pursuits, and who have by their industry and toil forced the rich Walla Walla valley to bring forth the bountiful harvests of which it is capable, the subject of this brief sketch de- serves an honored place. His early educational advantages were not such as to develop the powers of his mind to their fullest extent, but were sufficient to prepare him for success in the line of activity in which he has engaged. Furthermore, he always possessed a degree of hard common sense and inherent force of char- acter which, for all practical purposes, are often better than scholastic training.
Born in Johnson county, Missouri, January 10. 1859. he grew to man's estate on a farm in that locality, and busied himself in assisting with the farm work when not attending the district school. On attaining his majority he came direct to Waitsburg. where for about two years he followed railroading. but he soon de- cided to go back to the business he had fol- lowed in his boyhood, so, renting a tract of land, he began farming, and so successful was he that before long he had saved enough to purchase land for himself. He has been adding to his original home from time to time since
until he is now the owner of a very large farm in the vicinity of Waitsburg. He and his brothers cultivate about twenty-eight hundred acres, raising wheat mostly, though they also have considerable stock.
Mr. Taylor is considered one of the repre- sentative men of his community, and is quite active in promoting every enterprise which tends toward the general progress and the amelioration of conditions. At present he is serving as a member of the city council. He is a member of and noble grand in Touchet Lodge, No. 5. I. O. O. F., also belongs to Oc- cidental Lodge. No. II. A. O. U. W., and to the ladies' auxiliaries of both these fraternities. He was married in Missouri, February 5, 1880, to Miss Nannie E. White, a native of that state. and their union has been blest by the advent of one daughter, Estella M.
Mr. Taylor's father, Simon, who was born ir West Virginia in 1825, died in Walla Walla county in July, 1899, but his mother, Harriet. is still living and resides at Waitsburg. She also is a daughter of West Virginia, born in 1839. She has five sons living, all of whom are residents of Waitsburg, namely: Charles M .. William M., John F., Garland B. and James W. She also had one daughter, Hen- rictta, afterwards Mrs. Francis M. Wooldridge, who died in Missouri in June. 1900.
JOHN H. HARER, a farmer residing near Whitman Chapel, six miles southwest of Walla Walla, a pioneer of 1865, was born in Lane county, Oregon, February 25, 1859. He was, however. reared and educated in this valley. having been brought here by his parents when six years old. After leaving school he was engaged in farming and sheep and cattle
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
raising with his father until the latter's death, which occurred in June, 1883, but he then re- moved to Umatilla county, Oregon, where he followed the same occupation until 1887.
Returning in that year to his father's place near Valley Chapel, Mr. Harer farmed the entire estate until, in 1890, it was divided among the heirs, then he moved onto his own portion, consisting of one hundred and thirty acres, upon which he is now raising timothy and alfalfa hay. His home is within sight of the place on which the Whitman massacre oc- curred, and is less than a mile distant from that historic spot. Ilis own family have seen their share of the unromantic side of pioneer life, being compelled to move into Walla Walla for safety during the war of 1878. Nor was danger from Indians the only draw- back to life in an uncivilized region. Trans- portation facilities were wholly lacking, and as late as 1882 Mr. Harer had to drive his stock from Oregon and Washington all the way to Wyoming and Colorado before they could be loaded on board the cars for trans- portation to the eastern markets. But the pioneers were a dauntless, hardy, persevering race, and finally conquered in spite of every difficulty.
Mr. Harer was married in Walla Walla county February 15, 1892, to Miss Eva Wat- erman, a native of the valley, and they are the parents of two children, Inez U. and Bertha. The family belong to the Christian church of Walla Walla.
Mr. Harer's father, David, was born in Arkansas in 1820, and resided in that state until 1852, when he crossed the plains by ox- teams to the vicinity of Eugene, Lane coun- ty, Oregon. In 1861 he drove his salable stock of sheep and cattle into Walla Walla, and thence to the mining regions of Oregon
and Idaho, and in 1864 he returned to Walla Walla, that he might open a meat market there. He maintained this until 1872, then sold out to Kirkham & Dooley, and gave his entire attention to stock buying, going to Kansas and Texas for that purpose and driv- ing his herds when purchased into Wyoming. As before stated, he died in 1883, but his widow still lives and resides with her son John H. Though in her eighty-third year, she is hale and hearty, and as happy as any of her little grandchildren, whom she strives to amuse.
Mrs. John H. Harer's parents were also among the earliest pioneers of the west, hav- ing crossed the plains from Iowa in 1859. They lived a short time in California at first, then for many years were identified with the development of Walla Walla valley.
ROBERT BURNS, general agent of the freight and passenger departments of the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company, is a native of Hamilton, Ontario, born in 1860. He lived in his fatherland until fifteen years old, receiving his education in the public schools and in a collegiate institute, gradu- ating from the latter. He learned telegraphy in St. Thomas, Ontario, and when competent accepted an agency on the Canada Southern, with which company he remained five years, eventually leaving that he might accept a like position with the Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwaukee Railway Company, by which he was employed a year.
Since that time Mr. Burns has been identi- fied with railway development and operation in the west. He has served the Union Pa- cific Railroad Company in one capacity or an-
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
other for the past eighteen years, and at pres- ent is in the employ of the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company, an affiliated line, as general agent in their freight and passenger department.
Mr. Burns has devoted his entire life, since he became old enough for any kind of business, to railroad work, and has that mastery of the details of that intricate and complex occupa- tion which can be attained in no other way than by assiduous effort for many years. He is one of the most valued and trusted em- ployes in the service of the company. As a man among men, also, Mr. Burns' standing is of the highest. He is affiliated with the Masonic order, in which he is quite promi- nent, being a Knight Templar, and he also be- longs to the Elks fraternity. In Glendale, Montana, on December 10, 1885, our subject married Louise Whitney, a native of Utah, and they have one child, Lewis A.
EMERSON L. WHEELER .- No line of enterprise in which a young man may engage offers better opportunities for exerting a pow- erful influence for good in the community than journalism. The orator holds his audi- ence spell-bound by the beauty and force of his diction and the magnetic influence of his personality, but his words can reach only a few hundreds or thousands, while the influ- ence of the press goes wherever the mails go, and reaches even to the humblest dwellers in the humblest homes of our land. It must follow, then, "as the night the day," that a calling thus potential in moulding the opin- ions and sentiments of a community is worthy the best talent which can be found anywhere, and it is pleasing to see young men of as fine
intellectual powers and as bright prospects as is he whose name initiates this sketch engaged in such an important profession.
Our subject is quite a young man, having been born March 22, 1878, but he has already been a leader of public thought and a moulder of public opinion for nearly a decade. His entire life thus far has been passed in Waits- burg, and in the public schools of that town and in Waitsburg Academy he received his education. After retiring from school he taught a year, then became editor of the Waits- burg Times. His paper, like many other im- portant enterprises, had an humble beginning, but it has steadily advanced in power and in- fluence, keeping pace with the development of the town and county, nay, rather taking a po- sition in the advance guard of the progressive forces which have wrought that development, and contributing a lion's share toward the general progress.
Mr. Wheeler is a member of Delta Lodge, No. 70, K. of P. He is possessed of excel- lent musical talents, and for several years has been president and manager of the Waitsburg Military band. He was married in his home town, June 5, 1900, to Miss Myrtle Duncan, a native of California.
IWA S. MOLKINS, a farmer on Whit- man road, five miles west of Walla Walla, a pioneer of 1871, was born in Des Moines county, Iowa, on September 4, 1855. He lived there until the spring of 1864, then accom- panied his parents on the long journey across the plains with ox-teams to Yamhill county, Oregon, where he lived about six years, work- ing on his father's farm and attending public school. In 1871 the family moved to what
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
is now known as College Place, on the old Daniel Stewart farm, and the father took a homestead near Dayton, onto which he moved his wife and children in 1872. They were en- gaged in raising grain there for the next ten years, but in 1882 they sold out and removed to the vicinity of Rathdrum, Idaho, whither our subject had gone the year before. Both father and son were engaged in farming for about four years, but on April 12, 1886, the old gentleman died.
Mr. Molkins had taken a homestead beside the father's place in 1882, and after the death of the latter, having been appointed adminis- trator of the estate, he farmed both places. In 1895 he sold out and returned to the val- ley, where he has ever since resided. He is a thrifty. progressive farmer, and one of the most highly esteemed and respected citizens of his part of the county. Mr. Molkins was married in Rathdrum, Idaho, October 12, 1890, to Miss Mary E. Adkins, a native of Missouri and a pioneer of Idaho. They have four children, Arthur W., Wayne E., Henry Clay and Lester.
Mr. Molkins was traveling alone on the road to Lewiston the day the great battle was fought between the volunteers and the Indians on Camas Prairie, but got through without molestation, and helped to guard the town that night.
FRANCIS G. H.ART, a miner, is a na- tive of New York, born October 19, 1832. lle lived in the state of his nativity until about twenty years old, receiving a public-school education, then came by steamer to San Fran- cisco, whence he went into the mining region. He was there for six years, engaged in a
search for hidden treasure, but later came to Oregon and took charge of a stage line from Jacksonville to Roseburg.
In 1866 he came to Lewiston, Idaho, where for two years he devoted his energies to carrying express packages on horseback from Lewiston to Warren's for the Wells- Fargo Express Company.
In 1869 he embarked in a livery business in Waitsburg, and his time was thus occupied until 1895, when he accepted a position as superintendent for a mining company operat- ing in the Okanogan mining region, in whose employ he has continued ever since. Mr. Hart is a man of unusual ability, as is evinced by the fact that he has been uniformly successful both in business and as a mining expert.
He was married in 1863 to Miss Isabella M. Thorm, a native of Iowa, born in March, 1844. When nine years old she made the long trip across the plains to Oregon, and in Douglas county, that state, she grew to wo- manhood and was educated. She and Mr. Hart are parents of five living children. Adel- bert, Edward, Fred G., Charles A. and Harry H. The family reside in their own comforta- ble home in Waitsburg.
HON. JOHN F. BREWER, member of the Walla Walla city council, was born in Scotland county, Missouri, November 9, 1842. When ten years old he crossed the plains with ox-teams, arriving in Salem, Ore- gon, in 1853. after a six months' journey. He had attended the public schools for sev- eral years in his native state, and he continued his education in his new home, completing the common-school course and taking a term in Sublimity College. For the first five years
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
after leaving the college he was engaged in teaching. In 1871 he came to Walla Walla county. but before long he received employ- ment as a teacher in Umatilla county, Ore- gon, just across the line. The following spring he went to Whitman county and lo- cated as a homestead the site of the present town of Garfield, but the next fall he was called back to the school he had taught the preceding winter. He had been elected as- sessor of Whitman county, but thought best not to qualify.
For the ensuing three years Mr. Brewer followed the teaching profession in the vicin- ity of Walla Walla, but in 1876 he purchased land and turned his attention to farming, a business which has engaged the greater por- tion of his energies ever since. He was, how- ever, a resident of Seattle most of the time during the seven years prior to 1897, and while there gave much attention to the real estate business, though without neglecting his farming interests. He is now the owner of a section of fine land in this county, and takes rank among the most successful and enter- prising farmers of this section.
In political matters our subject has long been a leader. He served in the city council as early as 1889, and in 1898 he was again called upon to assume the duties of that office. His popularity as a councilman may be judged from the fact that in the present year he was re-elected. Indeed, he has had experience enough in municipal government to render him very expert in that difficult branch of civil administration, having also served as councilman in Seattle for four years. He was also a member of the board of education in the same city for two years, resigning the latter office when he returned to Walla Walla in 1897. In 1884 he was elected to the terri-
torial legislature from Walla Walla county, and he served as its representative during the session of 1885-1886, displaying much political acumen and legislative ability. His reputation as a man and a citizen is most flat- tering wherever he is known. In fraternal affiliations he is prominently connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Royal Arcanum.
In Marion county, Oregon, March 31, 1872, Mr. Brewer married Adora B. Stan- ton, a native of that state, and to their union have been born eight children: John W., mail carrier; Merton E., bookkeeper; B. Frank, clerk in the City drug store; M. Maude, Ber- tha A., Adora B., Rob Roy and Lula May.
CHARLES B. PRESTON .- Among the young men who have been born, reared and educated in the thriving town of Waitsburg, and who, by their industry and business abil- ity. have reflected credit upon the place of their nativity and the home of their child- hood, Mr. Preston is deserving of special men- tion. He was born on the IIth of September, 1877, and, as soon as he became old enough, entered the public schools of his native town. He was, however, too ambitious to be content with a common-school education, and did not allow the attractions of commercial life to lure him from school until he had completed a thorough course in Waitsburg Academy. He then engaged with his father in the latter's flouring mill, and has ever since contributed largely to the success and prestige of the busi- ness. Being a young man of excellent intel- lectual development and good executive abil- ity, he promises in due time to become one of the leading, business men of the town.
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
In his fraternal affiliations Mr. Preston is a member of Enterprise Camp, No. 5209, M. W. A. In Walla Walla, October 12,1898, he married Miss Virgie Nelson, daughter of James E. Nelson, who is one of the early and respected pioneers of the coast. Mr. Pres- ton's father is also a pioneer, and has long been a leader in the industrial development of Waitsburg.
WILLIAM KIRKMAN, deceased, was a native of England, born December 7, 1831. In 1851 he emigrated to Boston, Massachusetts, and the next year he removed to San Francisco, via the isthmus. For a time he followed min- ing. but he soon took to the sea and made a trip on a sailing vessel to Australia and the Sandwich Islands. On his return he joined an expedition to the Fraser river country. For four years he remained under the British flag, meeting with varied fortunes and some thrilling adventures. In 1860 high water carried away a bri.'ge belonging to him and left him finan- cially at the foot of the ladder t> start life again, shadowed by heavy indebtedness. In 1862 he returned to San Francisco and the following year purchased cattle on the Umpqua river for the Boise (Idaho) market. He re- mained in Idaho until 1865, engaged in the stock business, with a meat market at Pioneer City. In 1866 he took an eighty-mule pack train of goods from Walla Walla to Montana, where he disposed of all and became interested in a milk ranch. He prosecuted the dairy busi- ness for six months there, then returned to San Francisco, California, whence a year later he came to Walla Walla.
Here, in company with Mr. John Dooley, he engaged extensively in stock-raising, and the meat market business, a line which he fol-
lowed successfully for many years afterwards. About 1890 he purchased the interest of Mr. Dooley and formed a corporation known as the Walla Walla Dressed Meat Company, of which he was president. He also gave a por- tion of his attention to the real estate business. Soon, however, failing health compelled him to seek a change of environment, so he went back to Europe. He died near St. Paul while re- turning home, April 25, 1893.
A natural leader, Mr. Kirkman exerted a powerful influence in the development of Walla Walla, and few of her public enterprises have not benefited by his encouragement and support. He was president and one of the founders of the Walla Walla Club and one of the directors of Whitman College, to which latter institu- tion he bequeathed five thousand dollars. His interest in education was further testified by the faithfulness with which for several years he discharged the duties of school director in his district. He was also a leader in the Re- publican party, serving as a delegate to the Minneapolis convention, and on the Notifica- tion committee of 1892.
Mr. Kirkman was married in San Fran- cisco, February 4, 1867, to Miss Isabella Potts, a native of Ireland, and they have four living children : William H., an attorney at Walla Walla; Fannie, now wife of Allen H. Rey- nolds : Myrtle B. and Leslie Gilmore. Their deceased children are George D., Agnes A., Robert J., Grace F., Mabel and Dasie.
ELIJAH INGLE, a fruit grower and farmer on the state road, five miles southwest of Walla Walla, a pioneer of September, 1862, was born in Henry county, Kentucky, April 23, 1824. He was left an orphan in early in-
WILLIAM KIRKMAN.
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fancy, and was reared by an uncle, who took him to Illinois when he was seven years old. He received a public-school education in Ed- gar county, that state, then worked on a farm until twenty-one, after which he started farm- ing for himself. He followed that industry renting land for the purpose, for a number of years, then removed to Iowa, where lie was engaged in the same occupation ten years longer.
In 1862 Mr. Ingle started to California, but so many of the train to which he belonged were coming to this valley that by the time they reached Green river he had decided to come along, too. Arriving here in Septem- ber, he rented land one year, then purchased a squatter's right to the place on which we now find him, and which he took as a home- stead as soon as the survey had been made. He kept increasing his holdings until he be- came the owner of five hundred acres, but in later years he sold off all but seventy acres. Half of this is in orchard and the remainder is producing alfalfa hay. Our subject is also the owner of some real estate in Milton, Ore- gon, and seven acres of highly improved land within the city limits of Walla Walla.
Mr. Ingle has always shown himself a public-spirited man, ever ready to do all in his power for the promotion of the general wel- fare, and considerably interested in local, state and national politics. He has served as constable two terms and commissioner of his own county, Umatilla, one term, but his in- terests center rather in Walla Walla than in any town in his own county.
While crossing the plains the train to which Mr. Ingle belonged was at one time hard pressed by Indians, but their safety lay in their strength, the train consisting of two hundred and ninety-two wagons. Mr. Ingle
has not, however, experienced any difficulties with the aborigines since settling in the val- ley, having always treated thiem kindly and received like treatment at their hands. He was married in Vermilion county, Illinois, on May 5, 1865, to Miss Mary Ann Hanson, a native of Virginia, who died in Milton, Ore- gon, on July 24, 1879, leaving nine children, all of whom are doing well in life. The couple also became parents of two children now deceased, namely, J. Lemuel and Mel- vina.
Mr. Ingle was married again at Pendle- ton, Oregon, on August 5, 1880, the lady be- ing Mrs. Amanda McElrath, a native of Ten- nessee and a pioneer of this valley of 1878.
LIEUTENANT THOMAS D. S. HART, deputy county auditor, was born in Louisville, Kentucky, July 6, 1865. He has, however, been a resident of the west nearly all his life, having accompanied his parents to Albany, Oregon, when only six years old. He ac- quired his education in the public schools and in Albany College, also learned the printer's trade in that city. In 1879 he moved to Goldendale, Washington, in which town and in North Yakima he passed the ensuing five years, his business being printing and news- paper work in general. In 1884, however, he became a citizen of Walla Walla, and in that city he pursued his calling until 1889, when he removed to Seattle. Returning in 1891, he again entered the journalistic pro- fession here. In 1900, however, he retired temporarily from the pursuit of his vocation to accept a position as deputy county auditor, a post which he still retains.
Lieutenant Hart is a very successful news-
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paper man, and his work in connection with different periodicals has made him quite well known in many parts of the state. He is, however, fully as well known as one who had a prominent part in the Philippine war. Leav- ing Walla Walla as second lieutenant of Com- pany 1, he went with them to Camp Rogers, thence to San Francisco and thence to the scene of hostilities. His company formed a part of the first division of General King's brigade, commanded by General Anderson. Lieutenant Hart was in command of the com- pany in every engagement, distinguishing himself in the very first encounter with the foe, at the battle of Santa Anna, and win- ning special mention for meritorious service. That his good record was maintained through- out succeeding conflicts is evinced by the fact that on August 25, 1899, he was promoted to the first lieutenancy. He returned with his company in November, 1899, and the follow- ing January received the appointment to his present situation. Ile is a prominent and en- thusiastic member of the Knights of Pythias, being a major in the second regiment, Uni- form Rank. He is also, at present, com- mander of Henry W. Lawton Camp, Spanish- American War Veterans.
In May, 1896, Lieutenant Hart married, in Walla Walla, Miss Bertha Malone, and to their union has been born one child, Arline.
JAMES W. BRUCE .- Among the enter- prising and respected agriculturists and stock raisers of the vicinity of Waitsburg Mr. Bruce holds a prominent and leading place. He is a son of the west, having first opened his eyes to the light of day in Oregon. the date of his birth being April 17, 1856. He is one of the
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