USA > Washington > Asotin County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 34
USA > Washington > Columbia County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 34
USA > Washington > Garfield County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 34
USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 34
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
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of the state; W'm. Guion, who was known as a capable editor and brilliant writer, and Harold Ellis, now city editor of the Bulletin. While those changes were in progress, a new afternoon daily, destined to be a great factor in subsequent journalistic history, had been launched by Eugene Lorton. This was the Walla Walla Bulletin, and its first number appeared on February 12, 1906. Another stage of importance occurred in 1910. In that year the publication of the Statesman was discontinued. That pioncer paper, a monument to the enterprise and capacity of Major Rees, and later of W. H. Newell and Colonel Parker, having had many ups and downs, but entitled to the leading place among the journals of the Inland Empire, thus closed its career after forty-nine years of active participation in the foundation period of Walla Walla.
Dr. E. E. Fall still continued as manager of the Union, but in December, 1912. he disposed of his interests to Berton La Due and D. W. Ift, while John H. McDonald acquired the ownership of Mr. Ankeny's share of the paper. In 1916 Mr. McDonald disposed of his share in the company to E. G. Robb. At the date of this publication the Union is therefore the property of Messrs. La Due, Ift, and Robb. Of the many who have been connected with the Union it may be said that Mr. La Due is the dean in service, having been connected with it for eighteen years. Most of the others have had brief tenures. The Wash- ington Printing and Book Publishing Company are not only providing a first- class newspaper in the Union, but do an immense printing business of the best grade.
The Walla Walla Bulletin, founded, as we have seen, by Eugene Lorton in 1906, was acquired by John G. Kelly, formerly of Omaha, Neb., on February I, 1910. Under his management the Bulletin has become one of the successful and influential daily newspapers of the Northwest. It is an independent newspaper. It has always stood for definite purposes and for the advancement of the general good as against special interests. It has been the leader in many movements for public betterment, notably the commission form of city government for Walla Walla, adopted in 1911, and for state-wide prohibition, which attained a sweeping triumph in both 1914 and 1916. The Bulletin appears every after- noon except Sunday and has the full leased wire reports of the Associated Press. The Sunday morning edition has the full leased wire report of the United Press Association. The independent policy of the Bulletin backed up by its superior news service, including telegraph, local news and correspondence from nearby towns, together with a splendid distribution service, has brought to it the largest circulation of any publication in Southeastern Washington and Northeastern Oregon. The Bulletin has a strictly modern mechanical plant. A site for a permanent home has been secured at the northwest corner of First and Poplar streets and there a first class modern newspaper building will soon be erected.
The Statesman, the Union, and the Bulletin may be regarded as the leading general newspapers of Walla Walla. But a number of others have been founded with more specialized aims which have played important parts for comparatively limited time, yet are well worthy of a place in a historical record. A brief item about each of these is due to history.
The Spirit of the West was founded by J. M. Ragsdale in 1872. Charles Humphries assisted as editorial writer. He was succeeded in turn by L. K. Grimm and Charles Besserer. Mr. Besserer becoming owner in 1877 changed the name
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to Il'alla IV'alla Watchman, to be changed in turn to Walla Walla Journal. The Journal in time, as already noted, became merged with the Union, and for a time the paper, known as the Union-Journal, was under the ownership of Mr. Besserer.
Mr. M. C. Harris was for a time concerned in newspaper ventures, publishing the Morning Journal in 1881 and the Daily Events in 1882. In the latter year also appeared the Washingtonian, published by W. L. Black, an accomplished writer, who also conducted Town Talk.
In April, 1894, W. F. Brock started the Garden City Gasette and in the next year J. J. Schick brought out the Watchman. In the Garden City Gazette Mr. Brock undertook the establishment of a distinctively local and social department, which Mr. Schick carried on into the Watchman. In 1900 the owners of the Union, Messrs. La Due, Frankland, and Armstrong, acquired the plant of the Gasctte and the Watchman and continued the publication under the name of the Saturday Record.
In 1898 Walter Lingenfelder and C. H. Goddard started the Argus. This paper had the avowed aim of exposing abuses and humbugs and grafts, and ful- filled its mission by causing cold chills on the part of many who were conscious of belonging in those categories. It became ultimately the sole property of Mr. Lingenfelder, but he left it to become associated with Doctor Fall in the Union.
In 1900 A. H. Harris brought out an excellent monthly, maintained for sev- eral years, known as the Inland Empire.
In 1916 there was founded at Walla Walla, as a democratic campaign advo- cate for the re-election of President Wilson and Governor Lister, the Walla Walla Democrat. The managers were Charles Hill and Ernest W. Lanier. Rus- sell Blankenship and W. D. Lyman were regular editorial contributors during the campaign. The triumph of the cause in the election of both the democratic President and democratic governor was a sufficient encouragement to Mr. Lanier to maintain the publication, and it is accordingly continued with vigor and suc- cess. At the present date Mr. Fred H. Butcher is associated with Mr. Lanier in the ownership and management of the Democrat. They maintain a well equipped printing establishment, in which they make a specialty of embossed printing.
The first issue of the Garden City Monitor (weekly) was dated October 10, 1908. This paper was established by Jesse Ferney to represent the interests of union labor in Walla Walla and Southeastern Washington. It has been the official organ of the Walla Walla Trades and Labor Council since its inception. In 1910 L. F. Clarke purchased a half interest in the paper. Ferney & Clarke, the publishers, have endeavored to make the paper progressive yet represent the conservative rather than the radical forces of union labor. A feature of the publication is an illustrated annual edition appearing on Friday before Labor Day each year.
One of the notable publications of Walla Walla, filling a field not occupied by any other, is the monthly Up-To-The Times Magasine. This valuable pub- lication was founded in November, 1906, by R. C. Macleod, and he has been editor and manager to the present date. Mr. Macleod is entitled to great credit for his faith in the appreciation of a community which ordinarily would hardly be regarded as possessing sufficient population to justify a monthly magazine.
The aim of the magazine is to secure greater efficiency in education, agricul-
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ture, commercial, and industrial life. It also maintains a department devoted to historical and pioneer subjects. Today, the magazine, independent of any sub- sidy from any source, is the only publication of its kind in the interior Northwest. Its success has been due to the steady maintainance of high literary as well as business ideals.
The importance of Up-To-The-Times as a publication may be inferred front the fact that it has paid for printing to one firm of Walla Walla printers the sum of $40,000, and that its half tone cuts of local scenes and industrial and agricultural life have called for an expenditure with a Spokane engraving house of $5,000. The cuts accumulated during the years of its existence constitute by far the most extensive and valuable collection of pictorial matter in this sec- tion of the state.
The field of Up-To-The Times is some eight counties of Washington and Oregon, but it may be noted that it has subscribers and readers in many other parts of the United States and Europe. The staff of the magazine at the present date consists of Mr. Macleod as editor and manager, and A. F. Alexander, as secretary and circulation manager. There are a number of regular correspondents and contributors in Walla Walla and elsewhere.
In addition to the publications in Walla Walla City, this is the proper place to name the pioneer papers of the other towns of the old county. We turn first of all to Waitsburg in respect to its leading paper.
WAITSBURG TIMES
This has been the leading paper and most of the time the only paper of Waitsburg for a period of thirty-nine years. This paper originated in a joint- stock company formed in 1878, a number of local business men feeling that the little community should have a weekly spokesman. The first editor was B. L. Land and the first issue appeared in March, 1878. A few months later the plant was leased to D. G. Edwards, and later to J. C. Swash. The following year C. W. Wheeler was induced to lease the plant and he liked the work so well that the next year-1880-he purchased the property from the stockholders. Under the influence of C. W. Wheeler the Times became an influence in the com- inunity and in Walla Walla and Columbia counties. The paper continued under the management of Mr. Wheeler until 1900 when he leased the plant to two of his sons-E. L. and Guy Wheeler-so that he might enjoy a well-earned rest from the grind of newspaper work and take up the work of traveling lec- turer for the Woodmen of the World fraternity, that he might be able to fulfill his desire to travel in the West extensively. These two sons having been practically raised in a printing office, were able to take entire charge of the paper. A couple of years later E. L. Wheeler, the older son, purchased the paper and plant from his father, and has been sole editor and proprietor since.
The Times boasts of one of the finest country plants in the state at the present time, owning its brick building and being equipped with modern presses, two magazine intertype type-casting machines, electric and water power and all other conveniences of present day journalism.
Not since the day that C. W. Wheeler took charge of the paper has the Times missed an issue.
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In politics the Times is republican.
There was published for a short time in Waitsburg a democratic weekly, the Gasette. Its first issue appeared on June 29, 1899. R. V. Hutchins was pro- prietor and editor. In the next year C. W. McCoy acquired the Gazette, but in less than a year he in turn sold out to J. E. Houtchins, by whom the paper was conducted for some years, to be discontinued in 1905.
The pioneer newspaper of Dayton, while it was still in Walla Walla County, was the Dayton News, founded in September, 1874, by A. J. Cain. In April, 1878, county division having come in the meantime, E. R. Burk began publica- tion of the Chronicle, still one of the leading papers of Columbia County. H. H. Gale was first editor. In 1879 O. C. White became owner of the Chronicle. In 1882 T. O. Abbott started the publication of the Democratic State Journal. It was designed to maintain the banner of democracy in Columbia County which had been lost when the Dayton News plant was destroyed by fire in 1882.
The first newspaper in what is now Garfield County was established at Pome- roy on April 12, 1880, by F. W. D. Mays, and named the Washington Independent. The Pomeroy Republican came into existence March 4, 1882, founded by Eugene T. Wilson, who admitted F. M. McCully to an equal partnership two months later. The ambitious little Town of Pataha became also the home of a news- paper, the Pataha Spirit. Its founder was G. C. W. Hammond and its first issue was in January, 1881. The next year it came into the hands of Dr. J. S. Denison and Charles Wilkins. Both the Pomeroy Republican and the Pataha Spirit were republican in politics, the Independent being generally true to its name, though inclining to democratic and populistic views.
The publications named may be regarded as the pioneers in the parts of the old county now comprising the three counties outside of Walla Walla. During the years following county division a number of others came into existence and now represent the press of their respective towns, and of them we shall make mention under the different counties.
The quest for journalistic history in the present Walla Walla County outside of Walla Walla City and Waitsburg leads us to the editorial sanctum of the Il'alla Il'alla Spectator of Prescott, presided over by Charles H. O'Neil, a native son of the "Valley of Waters," and a leading spirit among the pioneers and "Boosters" as well as the newspapermen of this section. The Spectator was established November 22, 1902. Mr. O'Neil has followed the occupation of printer during almost his entire business life, having spent a number of years in the printing establishments of Walla Walla before entering upon his independent venture. The Spectator has performed a service of conspicuous importance for the rich farming region in which it is located by helping organize public senti- ment in the direction of community enterprise and civic advancement. As a result of these enlarged ideals through the schools, church, business men, and homes of the town, as well as the part borne in the same direction by the Spectator, Pres- cott has become somewhat remarkable, for a town of its population, for its high community spirit.
The veteran journalist of the west end of Walla Walla County is R. C. Julian of Attalia. Mr. Julian has been connected with several newspaper enter- prises and at the present time is the owner and manager of the Wallula Gateway, the Attalia News-Tribune, and the Helix Advocate, at Helix, Ore. The Wallula
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Gateway was launched on December 25, 1905, by Harter and Julian. After a few months Mr. Julian bought out his partner and has since conducted the paper alone. On May 11, 1907, he started the Touchet Pioneer, selling it after a year to A. M. Cummins. After sundry ownerships, the Pioneer became the Touchet- Gardena Empire, and is at the present time published by Ferney and Clarke of Walla Walla. The Attalia News-Tribune was the successor of the short-lived Two Rivers Tribune, which was started in 1908 by A. B. Frame to "boom" the land project at Two Rivers. The plant of the latter paper was secured by D. D. Swanson, formerly of Minneapolis, and in May, 1909, he entered upon the publication of the News-Tribune at Attalia. After three months Mr. Swanson retired, disposing of his establishment to Messrs. Cummins and Julian. Within another short period Mr. Julian became the sole owner and has so continued to this day. Looking still further, Mr. Julian started yet another weekly journal at Helix, Ore., the Helix Advocate. Having disposed of it in 1915 to J. J. Lewis, Mr. Julian reacquired possession in August, 1917, and thus is now the sole pro- prietor of the three weeklies.
CHAPTER VIII
WITH THE LAWYERS, JUDGES AND DOCTORS
A special interest always attaches to the legal, judicial and medical repre- sentatives of any country, and especially a new country. The lawyers and judges necessarily play so large a part in the creation of laws and the founding of institutions that their history is well nigh co-extensive with the development of their country. The physicians are so vital an element in the home life and the general conditions of their communities, that their history also comes near being a history of these communities.
We are presenting here several special contributions from representatives of these classes of citizens. We have had occasion at many points in the progress of this history to name prominent representatives of the bench and bar, and of the medical profession.
We present first a sketch of the early Walla Walla bench and bar by one of the foremost lawyers of the city, who is himself also a member of a family which has, perhaps, been more closely identified with the bench and bar of this section of the state than any other. We refer to the Sharpstein family, and we have the privilege of here presenting this article by John L. Sharpstein :
The intention is not to make this matter relating to the first judicial district of the Territory of Washington such a complete history as would be demanded if it were written more exclusively for the use and information of attorneys. The judicial system which existed in the Territory of Washington prior to its admission as a state possessed some characteristics which in the present time would be regarded as peculiar. There were originally three district courts estab- lished under the acts of the Congress of the United States, and which were known as territorial district courts. These courts had jurisdiction of all matters, both civil and criminal, other than probate causes and each county in the terri- tory had its own probate judge who was not necessarily a lawyer. The peculiarity referred to above was the fact that the Supreme Court was composed of the judges who were the district judges, so that the same judge who presided in the trial of a case in the lower court also participated in its final decision in the ter- ritorial Supreme Court.
As originally constituted there were three judicial districts in the Territory of Washington. The first judicial district consisted of all of Eastern Washington. Subsequently Eastern Washington was divided and a new district was created which was known as the Fourth Judicial District, with its presiding judge resi- dent at the City of Spokane. The District Court in the First Judicial District was organized at Walla Walla on June 4, 1860. Judge William Strong, who afterwards became a practicing attorney at Portland, Ore., was the presiding judge. The first attorneys admitted to practice in this court were Edward S.
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Bridges and Otis S. Bridges. They were admitted on June 4, 1860. John G. Sparks was the next attorney admitted to practice, and the date of his admission was June 5, 1860. W. A. George was admitted on April 15, 1861, and his prac- tice at the bar in Eastern Washington probably covered more years than that of any other attorney who has ever practiced in this jurisdiction.
At the organization of the court a grand jury was impanelled and included in the members of that grand jury were WV. S. Gilliam and Milton Aldrich, both of whom afterwards became prominent in both business and political affairs in Walla Walla County, and were among the most useful and respected citizens of that community.
As originally constituted the territorial District Court comprised all of Eastern Washington, but by division the territorial jurisdiction was gradually reduced so that the southern half of Eastern Washington practically constituted the first district at the time of the admission of the territory as a state. After the first organization of he court and the appointment of Judge Strong, among the presiding judges were E. P. Oliphant, James A. Wyche, James K. Kennedy, J. R. Lewis, S. C. Wingard and William G. Langford. William G. Langford was the last judge prior to the admission of the state. Judge Wyche, Judge Kennedy and Judge Wingard after their retirement from the bench made their homes in Walla Walla City, and were useful and respected members of that community until the dates of their respective deaths.
While the systems prevailing prior to the admission of the state in the terri- torial courts permitting the judge who tried the case to be a member of the Supreme Court on the hearing of the case on appeal would seem to be peculiar, it was not so unsatisfacotry in its results as one would be inclined to think it might have been.
J. L. SHARPSTEIN.
We next present a contribution from Judge Chester F. Miller, of Dayton, long and intimately identified with the legal practice and with the court decisions of this section. We have had occasion to refer to Judge Miller many times in the course of this history, and we have had the privilege of enrolling him among the advisory board for the work. Anything from his pen is of exceptional value. His contribution follows here :
LAWYERS AND JUDGES OF COLUMBIA AND GARFIELD COUNTIES
The district court of Walla Walla County, with jurisdiction over all of the eastern part of the territory, was created by the Legislature in 1860, and made a part of the First Judicial District of the territory. Judge William Strong of Vancouver then presided over this court, and held his first term at Walla Walla on June 4, 1860. In 1861, James E. Wyche was appointed judge of the district, took up his residence in Walla Walla and thereafter held regular terms in that place. The territorial judges succeeding him were James K. Kennedy in 1870, J. R. Lewis in 1873, Samuel C. Wingard in 1875, and William G. Langford in 1886.
The only resident attorneys appearing of record at the first term of court held in Walla Walla were Andrew J. Cain and Col. Wyatt A. George. There may have been other mining camp lawyers in Walla Walla at that time, but they
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COUNTY COURTHOUSE, WALLA WALLA
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did not remain long enough to become identified with the courts or the early history of this section. William G. Langford, James H. Lasater and James D. Mix came in 1863, Benjamin L. Sharpstein in 1865, Nathan T. Caton in 1867, Thomas H. Brents in 1870, Thomas J. Anders in 1871, John B. Allen and Charles B. Upton in 1878 and Daniel J. Crowley in 1880. Although these lawyers resided in Walla Walla, and were more closely identified with the history of that county, yet they should be mentioned here, for the reason that they followed the judge around the circuit of the old first judicial district, and practiced in the district courts of Eastern Washington, as fast as they were created by the Legislature. The court practice in those days was very different from what it is now. When Judge Wingard was appointed in 1875, he held court in Walla Walla, Yakima and Colville. Afterwards Dayton, Colfax and Pomeroy were added to the court towns. Court was held two or three times each year in each town, and usually lasted for two or three weeks. The judge was followed around the circuit by the members of the bar above mentioned. They took their chances of picking up some business at each term, and on account of their experience and ability were usually associated with local counsel on one side or the other of each case. There was no preliminary law day, and the attorneys had to be ready on a moment's notice to argue the motions and demurrers, and get their cases ready for immediate trial. Stenographers and typewriters were unknown, and the lawyer prepared his amended pleadings at night with' pen and ink, and in the morning proceeded with the trial of his case. Law books were few and far between; a good working library consisted of the session laws, "Bancroft's Forms," "Estee's Pleadings," and a few good text books. Supreme Court reports were unknown in this section of the country, and the case lawyer had not yet come into existence. In the argument of legal questions, decisions of the courts were seldom mentioned, but the lawyers depended upon their knowledge of the prin- ciples of the law, and their ability to apply those principles to the facts of the case on trial. There were no specialists in different branches of the law in those days and the successful lawyer was able to take up in rapid succession, with only one night for preparation, first an important criminal case, then a com- plicated civil jury case, and then an intricate equity case. There may be at this time abler lawyers in some one branch of their profession, than were this pioneer bar, but for a general knowledge of all the branches of the law, and readiness in applying the fundamental principles of the law to their particular case, with- out having reference to the court reports, the pioneer lawyer was far in the lead of the modern practitioner. This method of practice made big, broad and ready men; the little lawyer drifted in and soon drifted out; only the big ones remained, and they made their mark both in law and in politics. In those days, when there were no railroads, no daily newspapers, no moving picture shows, or other places of amusement, the people from far and near came to town during court week and regularly attended its session, enjoying the funny incidents com- ing up during the trials, and listening attentively to the eloquent speeches of the able lawyers.
The District Court for Columbia County was created in 1878, and in June of that year, Judge Wingard held his first term in Dayton. In addition to the Walla Walla lawyers above mentioned, the following members of the local bar were in attendance at that time: Andrew J. Cain, Robert F. Sturdevant, Wyatt
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A. George, Morgan A. Baker, Mathew W. Mitchell, Thomas H. Crawford, John T. Ford, William Ewing and John D. McCabe, of Dayton and William C. Potter ind Joseph H. Lister of Pomeroy.
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