USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > An illustrated history of Walla Walla County, state of Washington > Part 63
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GEORGE HARRIS CHAMBERLIN, one of the most respected business men of Walla Walla, is the present secretary and manager of the Chamberlin Lumber Company, No. 213 East Rose street. He is the son of George H. Chamberlin and was born at Rock Falls, Wis- consin. July 5. 1865, where he grew to man- hood, receiving his education in Galesville University of Wisconsin. from which he grad- uated in 1886. He engaged in the lumber busi- ness in Wisconsin as an employee of the Eau Claire Lumber Company, with whom he re-
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
mained two years. After this, he spent about a year in traveling, but finally decided to come west and in December. 1888. settled at Bucoda, Washington. There he was employed by the Seatco Manufacturing Company for about eighteen months.
On June 30, 1890. Mr. Chamberlin came to Walla Walla to look after the interests of the Bucoda company, and that he continued to do until March, 1889. When, on that date. the company was reorganized and the present firm formed, he was elected secretary and manager. He owns a large part of the stock of the com- pany and to his efforts its success has been largely due. Their business has been liberally patronized and the growth of their trade is very gratifying and satisfactory.
Mr. Chamberlin was married March IO, 1887. in Meridian, Wisconsin, to Harriet E. Garland, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Garland. Her father was manager of the Eau Claire Lumber Company's interests at Merid- ian, Wisconsin, and a highly respected citizen of that community. Mr. Chamberlin is a mem- ber of Blue Mountain Lodge, No. 13, F. & .1. M., and belongs also to Walla Walla Chapter. No. 1, Royal Arch Masons, and to Washing- ton Commandery, No. I, Knights Templar, also to the Society of Colonial Wars, in the state of Minnesota.
Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlin and their two children, Louise and Helen, reside at 421 Lincoln street. They are members of St. Paul's Episcopal church.
WILLIAM M. SHELTON, deceased, was born in Indiana in 1827. He passed his early youth and received his education in that state, but when nineteen years old moved to Iowa,
where he resided until 1862, engaged in farm- ing. In that year, however, he started across the plains with ox-teams, taking six months to make the journey. He, with his family, lived on Cottonwood creek the first winter, but the following spring they bought land seven miles southeast of Walla Walla, where Mr. Shelton passed the remainder of his days, and where his wife still lives. He was for many years engaged in the nursery business, and sup- plied the stock for many a fine orchard.
Mr. Shelton was always looked upon, dur- ing his lifetime, as one of the leading spirits of his community, and was frequently elected to local offices. For several seasons he served as director of the school district in which he re- sided, and he also held the offices of road overseer, justice of the peace and constable at different times. Mr. Shelton was married in Davis county, Iowa, in 1850, to Margaret Earnst, who survives him and lives on the home which they had at the time of his death. They had one son, William Allen.
CHARLES .A. TYSON, a pioneer of 1877. is a native of New York, born May 4. 1846. He was taken by parents to Illinois while still in his early youth, and in that state and the state of Nebraska he grew to manhood and was educated. He removed to Calfornia in 1873. and in 1877 came north to Oregon, whence, three years later, hie proceeded to the Walla Walla valley. Locating in the vicinity of Wallula, he secured some land and engaged in farming and stock raising, and that occupa- tion he has followed continuously since with good success.
Mrs. Tyson owns a half section near Wal- lula, and a quarter section in Umatilla county.
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
Oregon, upon which they keep, besides other stock, a large bunch of horses. Our subject is a prosperous ranchman, a good neighbor, and an estimable member of society. In the state of Nebraska, in 1867, he married Loretta Sapp, who died in 1872, leaving two children, Belle, wife of Frank Martin, and James F. He married again in January, 1880, the lady being Mrs. Matilda A. Warner, a native of Ohio, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Burdett, and of this union two children have been born, Robert and Charles R.
Mrs. Tyson's first husband, George Warner, was an early pioneer of the coast, having come to California in 1852. In 1861, he settled in Walla Walla county, a half mile east of Wallut- la, where he resided until death overtook him, March 22, 1877. He is survived by two chil- dren, Jessie, now Mrs. Gustavus Kuhlenkomp, and George W. Mr. Warner was quite promi- nent in local affairs during the years he spent in the neighborhood of Wallula, serving as jus- tice of the peace, and at different times hold- ing municipal offices.
AMOS CUMMINGS, a pioneer of 1867, and a man who has long been very prominent in the development of Walla Walla county, is a native of Indiana, born January 9, 1832. When ten years old, he accompanied his parents to Rock county, Wisconsin, where he resided until man's estate had been reached and where he completed his public school education. In 1850, he crossed the plains to California, ex- periencing considerable trouble with the Int- dians, two of his party being killed and many head of cattle stolen. On his arrival in the Golden state, he engaged in mining on the
Feather river, where, by an unfortunate acci- dent, he was crippled for life. He was caught under a falling tree, and had an arm and a leg broken.
In 1852, he returned, via the isthmus, to Wisconsin, and in 1853 he engaged in the mer- chandise business in Mitchell county, Iowa, where he lived and prospered until 1857. In that year he moved to Linn county, Kansas, and for the next decade was a farmer there. He also served as a member of the militia dur- ing the final years of the war. In August, 1867, he again set out across the plains, and early the next year he was established in a hotel business in Old Wallula. Ile was, for several years afterwards, one of the popular hotel men of the town, but in 1870 he started a mercantile establishment there. Subsequent- ly, he removed to Wallula Junction, and entered into partnership with his brother in a general merchandise business in that town, but this they long since sold out. For seventeen years prior to 1892 he served as postmaster in Wal- lula, but since withdrawing from that office he has lived in practical retirement, at least from business. Since 1896, he has been living on his two-hundred-acre farm, engaged in raising alfalfa hay and some stock.
Mr. Cummings has long held a place of leadership in the county government, serving in all about ten years on the board of county commissioners, and being chairman of that board which built the court house. Recently he has been again elected as a commissioner to serve until 1903.
Mr. Cummings has been a Mason for thirty-five years, his membership at present be- ing in the Walla Walla Lodge, No. 8. He was married in lowa, May 3, 1857, to Miss Susan E. Babb, a native of Indiana. and they have six children, three of whom are living, namely :
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
Alice M .. now wife of M. L. Johnson : Joseph J .. and Edgar. at present a soldier in the Philip- pines.
U'RIAS S. HARMAN, one of the pioneers of Walla Walla, was born near the Canadian line in the state of New York. April 18. 1840. When he was seven years of age, the family removed to New Bremen. Cook county. Illi- nois, whence they later moved to Joliet, going thence twelve months afterward to Davenport. lowa, where for ten years they lived on a farm. and where Mr. Harman completed his educa- tion. From his sixteenth to his twenty-first year he was employed as a farm laborer. In Sep- tember. 1861, he enlisted in Company E. Sec- ond Iowa Cavalry, under Captain Hendricks. and served three years and one month. He took part in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth. White Station, West Point. Franklin, Nash- ville and others and in numerous skirmishes. At Pittsburg Landing, his regiment charged a Confederate battery of six guns and lost twen- ty men and about two hundred horses, but silenced the battery.
After being mustered out in September. 1864. Mr. Harman located in Clinton coun- ty. Iowa, and again engaged in farming. In 1869 he removed to Sioux City, lowa. and in the spring of 1877 emigrated to California. He was employed about four months there as a farm hand, but then came to Portland, Oregon, whence, shortly after- wards. he removed to Walla Walla valley. He settled on a farm on Mill creek where he lived until 1897. but in that year he removed to Walla Walla, in which city he has since resided. He is now employed as janitor of the Sharp- stein school.
Mr. Harman was married at Grand Mound,
Iowa. June 28, 1868, to Miss Sarah A. Great- trax. a native of Massachusetts, whose parents were pioneers of Illinois and Iowa. Their chil- dren are Francis E .. an engineer in the mines of the John Jay district: Charles W .. a farmer in this county ; and Lester L .. a printer on the Walla Walla Union. Mr. Harman is a member of Abraham Lincoln Post. Grand Army of the Republic. of Walla Walla.
The family are members of the Episcopal church. The son, Charles W .. was a member of the First Washington Volunteers in the Spanish-American war. belonging to Company I. commanded by Captain Buffam, and he was all through the Philippine campaign, taking part in all the engagements in which his regi- ment participated, prominent among which were the battles at Pasig river and Paco church.
JOSEPH W. HARBERT. one of the old- est pioneers of Walla Walla county, was born in Montgomery county, Indiana. September 25. 1835. He passed the first nine years of his life there, then moved with his father to Dubuque, Iowa, whence two years later he went to Linn county, same state. Here he re- mained until May 10. 1859. when he set out across the plains to the west. making the trip with ox-teams. On the twenty-fourth anni- versary of his birth he arrived in Walla Walla. and from that time until the present day he has been a very efficient factor in the upbuild- ing and development of the county.
Mr. Harbert busied himself during the win- ter of 1859-60 in riving the first shingles ever put upon a house in this city. His next em- ployment was freighting with ox-teams from The Dalles to Walla Walla for the Bagleys. and after making two trips he entered the em-
J. W. HARBERT
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
ploy of Mr. Charles Russell, who had a contract to deliver one hundred tons of freight to Pend d'Oreille Lake. While on his third trip in this delivery he and his partner were the only white men between that lake and the Snake river. Our subject worked for Mr. Russell for about a year and a half, then was in partnership with him in the freighting industry one summer, but in the fall of 1862 they dissolved partner- ship, dividing the teams, and from that time until 1866 Mr. Harbert hauled freight on his own sole account. In that year, however, he bought land four miles east of Walla Walla, where he has ever since resided. He now has a fine farm of twelve hundred acres, well im- proved and cultivated, and furnished with ex- cellent buildings, and the magnitude of his in- dustry may be imagined when it is remembered that he keeps about seventy-five head of horses for his own use. His principal crop is wheat, though he is also more extensively interested in the production of corn than any other man in the county, having raised over one hundred acres per year of this product for the last twenty years. He has ten acres of prunes and four acres planted to other varieties of fruit.
Mr. Harbert is a very industrious, enter- prising man, possessed of a sturdy pioneer spirit, and. as before intimated, has borne an important part in the industrial development of Walla Walla county. He deserves an honored place among the builders of the west. On July 13, 1866, in Lewiston, Idaho, he married Miss Emma Evans, who died in January. 1878, leaving six children, Henry F., Ida H., Alvin L., Floy, Homer L. and Liberty. Mr. Har- bert was again married, on April 8, 1884, in Cheney, Washington, to Lizzie C. DeGroff, and of this union three children have been born, Cora, deceased, Clifford and Hazel.
JOSEPH LAFORTUNE, whose connec- tion with the city and county of Walla Walla, dates back to 1883, was born in Canada in 1860. He acquired his education in the public schools of his native land, then removed to Michigan, where he was employed in the iron mines and in the lumber camps until he came to the state of Washington. For a number of years after his arrival here, he busied himself with various kinds of work, but in 1889 he received a permanent position from Mr. D. H. Henroid, by whom he was employed until 1894. He then engaged in business for himself in com- pany with Mr. Genevay.
Our subject's interest in the town is mani- fested in many ways, but finds more specific expression in the fact that for years he has belonged to the volunteer fire department. Hle is quite a prominent man in fraternal circles, being an active member in the Catholic Knights of America, the Young Men's Institute, the Eagles, and the Improved Order of Red Men. On February 5. 1894. he was united in mar- riage to Miss Elmira Bergevin, a native of Walla Walla, daughter of early pioneer parents. They have three children, Lucille, Joseph, and Lester.
GEORGE H. MIDDLETON, a hotel- keeper at Waitsburg, was born in Sheffield, England, April 7, 1855. He attended the schools of his fatherland for a time, but when only sixteen, emigrated to America, accom- panied by his mother, a widow, and by his uncle and sister, all of whom have since (lied. He located in Kansas, but was not there many years before the call came for volunteers for the Indian war, and he en- listed. He served under General Canby three
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
years. . At the close of hostilities, he took a homestead and timber culture in Lane county, Kansas, where he farmed uninterruptedly until 1881, when he came to Walla Walla.
For the first five years after his arrival here, Mr. Middleton was engaged in the restaurant business, but in 1886 removed to Rulo Sta- tion on the Hunt railroad, fifteen miles north of Walla Walla, and resumed farming. He was there until 1893, then returned to Walla W'alla, renting a farm. He tried the dray busi- ness in this city for three years, but at length tiring of that, returned to his place at Rulo, and again became a tiller of the soil, remaining in that occupation until quite recently.
Since September 22, 1900, however, he has been proprietor of the leading hotel in Waits- burg. Ilis farm of one hundred and sixty acres he lets out to other parties. Mr. Middle- ton is one of the respected men of the town in which he lives, and stands well in every other neighborhood in the county in which he has resided. Ile was married in Milton, Oregon, January 1, 1893, to Miss Eleanor L. Owen, a native of California, and they have one living child, Lorena G., born October 27. 1893.
J. BUROKER, a farmer, residing five and a half miles east of Walla Walla, was born in Ohio, January 18, 1845. Ile lived there until twelve years old, then moved with the remain- der of the family to Montgomery county, Mis- souri, whence, three years later, he went to lowa. He was a resident of that state until April, 1864, then set out across the plains with teams to Walla Walla. He remained here from the time of his arrival until September, 1865. when he went to Linn county, Oregon, where the ensuing three years were passed. Returning.
then, to this county, he took a homestead and purchased a quarter section of land on Mill creek, not far from his present place of abode. In June, 1883. he bought the farm on which he now lives. He is the owner of three hundred and seventy-five acres of fine land, and is en- gaged principally in producing wheat. An in- dustrious, progressive, enterprising man, he stands well in the community in which he re- sides, though he does not seem to be specially ambitious for personal preferment, or leader- ship among his confreres. He was married in Walla Walla county, December 9. 1877, to Miss Josephine Patterson, also a pioneer of the west, and they have one child, Claudia.
CHARLES A. JACOBS, proprietor of the Perfection creamery and dairy, half a mile west of Touchet, is a pioneer of 1862, having been brought to this valley from Oregon by his parents in that year. His father crossed the plains to Oregon at a very early date, and was connected with the carly development of various parts of the northwest until his death, which occurred in Walla Walla. His mother. now Mrs. J. H. Lasater, still lives in this city.
Mr. Jacobs was born in Oregon in 1860. was brought to the county, as before stated, when two years old, and after a brief stay was taken to Boise, Idaho, where he lived until 1870, and where he took his first steps in the pursuit of an education. He has, however, re- sided in this county since that date, complet- ing his public school training here. He began his career as a merchant at Touchet. but was also interested in farming. so took up some land in the vicinity, and bought more from time to time until he is now the owner of eight hundred acres.
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
For about eight years past, Mr. Jacobs has been quite extensively engaged in the dairy business, and so important did his interests in this industry become that in 1897 he sold out his mercantile establishment that he might give his whole time and attention to it. He estab- lished a creamery in connection, and is now making about two hundred and twenty-five pounds of butter per week. He keeps a fine herd of picked dairy cattle.
Mr. Jacobs is a bright, business-like man, wide awake to every opportunity to better his condition in life, and usually successful in what he undertakes. He was married in Touch- et in 1882, to Miss Rachael Cummins, a native of Iowa, and they have a family of four chil- dren, Arthur M., Mabel R., Alice R., and Nellie M.
AMANDER M. NICHOLAS, a retired farmer, came to Walla Walla November 10, 1877. Ile was born at La Porte. Indiana, September 1, 1854. In his infancy his parents removed to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father engaged in general express work, and where he received his education. At the age of seventeen years, his father having died, he removed with his mother to Cerro Gordo, Piatt county, Illinois, and he was engaged at farm work for wages there until 1877, when he went to Kansas, seeking a place for settlement,
Not finding the country satisfactory, Mr. Nicholas came to Walla Walla, and shortly after his arrival engaged to work for Dr. Bla- lock, by whom he was employed in construct- ing a flume and on the farm for a period of eighteen months. Hle then rented land and be- gan farming for himself, following that indus- try successfully for several years. In March. 1888, he purchased two hundred and fifteen
acres of land six miles southwest of Walla Walla, which he still owns, and in 1891 he purchased a cosy home in Walla Walla, No. 353 West Maple street, where he now resides. lle also owns two houses and three lots on Sprague and Chestnut streets, has a house and two lots on Seventh street and a fine house and lot on Seventh and Willow streets. He also owns a ten-acre tract near the O. R. & N. depot. on which he is constructing a small distillery which will soon be in operation.
Our subject is a member of the I. O. F., of Walla Walla, and also of the Fraternal Union of America. He was married in Walla Walla November 9, 1887, to Susan Bashore, a native of Ohio, whom he met in Illinois, and who came in the same immigrant party with him to Walla Walla. They have four children, Addie C., Alice M., Lillie B., and David D). Mr. Nicholas has been a school director of his district for two years in Oregon and is an active friend of education.
J. FRED ROHN, a farmer, residing ten miles east of Walla Walla, was born in this county in 1871, so he has the distinction of being one of the comparatively few grown men who are sons of the Evergreen state. He ac- quired his education in the public schools of this county, then worked on the farm for a time, but is now the owner of land of his own, and is engaged in business on his own account. His place is already fairly well improved, and, as a natural effect of his industry and toil, is rapidly being reduced to submission. He is en- gaged principally in raising wheat, but is also starting a fine young orchard, and is giving at- tention to other farm products. A young man of energy and ambition, he is speedily becoming
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one of the leading farmers of his section. lle was married in Dayton, Washington, in 1894. to Miss Lulu Beeson, and they have three chil- dren. Elmer F., Gladys M .. and John J.
HON. ALEX CAMERON. a farmer re- siding three miles southeast of Walla Walla. is a native of Rosshire, Scotland, born in 1834. He lived in his fatherland until eighteen years old. receiving the advantage of the thorough common schools for which Scotland is noted. In 1852, however, he came to Quebec, Canada. and after a residence of about six months in that province he travelled quite extensively through Michigan, also visiting Chicago, Cleve- land and other cities in the neighboring states. When the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- way Company began the construction of its road, he entered its employ, and remained with them for several months, but he at length quit their service, settled in Stark county, Illinois. and turned his attention to farming. He was thus employed for eight or nine years, at the end of which time he went to Jefferson coun- ty, Iowa, and secured a position in the coal mines there located.
In April. 1863. Mr. Cameron set out across the plains to this county. He experienced some little trouble with the Indians, on ac- count of their interfering with the stock, but found them for the most part disposed to be friendly. For a year after his arrival in Walla Walla county he lived on a rented farm, but he then homesteaded a quarter section where he now resides. To this he has since added an- other one-hundred-and-sixty-acre tract. ac- quired by purchase, and he is now engaged in raising wheat, barley, corn and other cereals. He has long been a prominent man in the local
affairs of the county, ever manifesting a will- ingness to bear his portion of the public bur- dens, and to do what he can for the promotion of the general welfare. For five years he was road overseer and for about ten he had a place on the board of trustees of his district. In 1893. he was elected to represent his county in the state legislature.
While on his way to the west, he was mar- ried in Council Bluffs, to Miss Janet McRae. the ceremony being performed on May 18. 1863. Mr. and Mrs. Cameron became parents of nine children : John .A. : Jane S., deceased : Daniel, deceased ; Bessie, Belle, Maggie. Jessie, George and Hattie. Mr. Cameron is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America.
GEORGE DACRES .- The respected pio- neer whose name forms the caption of this article is a son of the Emerald Isle, the land from which came so many of the men whose restless energy and resistless force have wrought the development of the Inland Em- pire. A man of great native ability, indomit- able will power and above all of unswerving integrity, Mr. Dacres ranks among the "true and the tried" citizens of Walla Walla, and his faithfulness to every trust, public or private. which has been reposed in him has won him the esteem and confidence of the entire community.
Mr. Dacres was born in 1829. He grew to man's estate and acquired his educational dis- cipline in his Irish home parish, but with the advent of manhood came the desire to try his fortunes in the new world. so in 1849 we find him embarking aboard a vessel bound for America. He landed in New York in due course and in 1852 came thence via the isthums
GEORGE DACRES
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
route to California, where for five years he served as a clerk in a store, thereafter coming to the state of Washington, whence in 1858 he made a trip into the Fraser river region. In- mediately upon his return he entered the em- ploy of the United States government as an assistant in making the survey between this state and British Columbia, a task which kept him busy until 1860.
From that date until about 1875 Mr. Dacres was employed in packing with mules into the various mining camps of this section, and since that date he has given his attention almost ex- clusively to farming. His methods in this in- dustry have been conservative yet progressive, the sphere of his control gradually widening until at present he is the owner of one one- thousand-acre tract, a portion of which is with- in the city limits of Walla Walla, and of real estate located elsewhere in the county suf- ficient to bring his entire holdings up to a grand aggregate of three thousand acres. In 1899 our subject erected in Walla Walla the Hotel Dacres, the finest and best equipped hotel in the city.
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