USA > Washington > Asotin County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 75
USA > Washington > Columbia County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 75
USA > Washington > Garfield County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 75
USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 75
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William A. Struthers was educated in the public schools of his native city and when twenty years of age he left the Mississippi valley for the Pacific slope. He made his way to Walla Walla,. where he engaged in farming. For several years following his arrival he worked for wages in the employ of his brother George and in 1897 he began farmiing on his own account. For ten years he cultivated rented land, operating- fifteen hundred acres on the Eureka Flats. About 1907 he purchased the W. H. Babcock farm of twenty-two hundred and forty acres, on which he resided until June, 1917, when he became owner of the Dr. C. N. Suttner residence at the corner of Palouse and Birch streets in Walla Walla. This is one of the finest homes in the city and is now occupied by Mr. Struthers and his family. His farm, also, is one of the best equipped and most conveniently and comfortably arranged of any in Walla Walla county. The numerous buildings are large, airy and commodious. They are strictly modern in every particular and the residence is elegantly appointed with all the latest conveniences, as Mr. and Mrs. Struthers made many improvements thereon, intending it at that time for their permanent home. The grounds are beautifully laid out and planted with well kept shrubs, while the lawns are interspersed with rare flowerbeds. The business facilities of the place are looked after with equally painstaking care and there are even laid sidetracks from the railroad to the barns to facilitate loading and shipping. Mr. Struthers still personally superin- tends his extensive farming interests and has become one of the leading and representative agriculturists of this section of the state. He has kept in close touch with the most progressive methods of farming and wheat growing and the latest improved machinery is seen upon his land, used in connection with the plowing, planting and harvesting of the crops. Indeed, there is in evidence every convenience and accessory of a model farm property of the present day.
In 1893 Mr. Struthers was united in marriage to Miss Maggie McDonald, her father being P. J. McDonald, then of Walla Walla county but now a resident of Sprague, Washington. They became the parents of two children, of whom one survives, Hazel, who is now the wife of P. J. Tully, of Sprague, Washington.
WILLIAM A. STRUTHERS
RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM A. STRUTHERS
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OLD WALLA WALLA COUNTY
The wife and mother passed away in 1903 and in 1905 Mr. Struthers was again married, his second union being with Miss Lucy B. Labudde, a daughter of Gustav Labudde, of Eureka, Walla Walla county. By his second wife Mr. Struthers has four children, Selma, Helen, Bernice and Jack.
In politics Mr. Struthers is a democrat and for twenty years was a member of the school board of District No. 2. He does everything in his power to insure the success of his party and extend its influence but has never been a politician for the sake of office. He belongs to Walla Walla Lodge, No. 287, B. P. O. E., and he and his wife are consistent members of the Congregational church. An analyzation of his career shows that he has always placed his dependence upon industry and perseverance rather than upon fortunate circumstances or the assist- ance of friends. In other words he has not been afraid of hard work and his close application and intelligently directed effort have been the means of winning for him a position among the prosperous citizens of southeastern Washington.
CHARLES C. MAIDEN.
Charles C. Maiden, a progressive and up-to-date farmer of Walla Walla county, residing on section 9, township 6 nortli, range 35 east, was born in Vir- ginia, February 28, 1865. His parents, James F. and Mary A. (Dutton) Maiden, were both born in Virginia and there passed their entire lives. They were the parents of ten children, but only four survive.
Charles C. Maiden grew to manhood in his native state and is indebted for his education to its common schools. In 1886, after attaining his majority, he removed to Kansas and three years later again started west, this time with the Pacific coast country as his destination. For two years he worked as a farm hand in Walla Walla county and then for four years operated rented land. At the end of that time he had saved enough money to purchase sixteen acres of rich land, well adapted to gardening, and on that place he has since remained. He now owns, however, one hundred and thirty-five acres devoted to truck gardening and to the raising of alfalfa. He has erected commodious and sub- stantial buildings upon this place and otherwise improved it, thus adding greatly to its value.
Mr. Maiden was married on December 31, 1890, to Miss Laura D. Reynolds, a native of Illinois. Her parents, Evan and Urana (Stiles) Reynolds, were born respectively in Kentucky and Ohio. They became residents of Walla Walla county in 1881, and both lived upon their farm in that county until called by death. Mrs. Maiden is one of five living children in a family of twelve. By her marriage she has become the mother of two children: Florence D., the wife of F. A. Cline, of Clyde, Washington ; and Franklin R., who is at home.
Mr. Maiden is a stalwart democrat in politics and for eleven years has held the office of accessor and for more than twenty years was a member of the school board. The length of his public service is proof of his ability and trust- worthiness. Fraternally he belongs to Enterprise Lodge, No. 12, I. O. O. F., and the principles which guide his life are further indicated in the fact that both he and his wife belong to the Baptist church. When he came to Walla Walla Vol. 1-38
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county he was without capital and without influential friends, but he was quick to recognize the opportunities here offered and through taking advantage of all chances for advancement that have presented themselves he is now in comfortable circumstances.
CHARLES E. SHAFFER.
Charles E. Shaffer, who is farming in Walla Walla county, Washington, was born in Pennsylvania, July 2, 1862, a son of Christopher and Mary M. (Eckard) Shaffer, both natives of Germany. In 1840 they came to America and later were here married. They were for many years residents of Pennsylvania and there botlı passed away.
Charles E. Shaffer, who is one of four living children of a family of six, was reared and educated in Pennsylvania but in 1880, when about eighteen years old, went to California, where he remained for a short time. He then removed to Walla Walla county, Washington, where for a number of years he was em- ployed by the Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation Company. In 1884 he returned to California, where he farmed for a decade, but in 1896 he returned to Walla Walla county and bought the farm of six hundred and forty acres which he still owns. He engaged in the cultivation of the soil until 1908, when he went to Dayton, where he bought a half interest in the J. W. Stevens hardware business, with which he was connected until 1914. He then removed to Waits- burg, where he has since resided. Whether engaged in farming or in the hard- ware business he has manifested a ready recognition of opportunities for advance- ment and has managed his affairs in an able manner. He is one of the directors of the Farmers Union Warehouse Company.
In 1887 Mr. Shaffer was married to Miss Amanda Scott, who was born in Baker county, Oregon, a daughter of John B. and Amanda M. (Cantonwine) Scott, the former of whom was born in the east and the latter in Iowa. They were pioneers of Baker county, Oregon, and both met death at the hands of the Indians. They were a young couple living beside the old Emigrant road on Lower Burnt river. It was about half a century ago that they started with a load of peaches and vegetables for the little mining town of Rye Valley, about eight miles distant, expecting to do some trading and also visit friends whom they thought they would meet at a dance that night. The next day they started home, Mr. and Mrs. Scott occupying the wagon seat and their two-year-old boy and baby girl asleep in the bottom of the wagon. Suddenly the Indians sprang from ambush with yells and delivered their fire at close range. Mr. Scott plunged forward across the dashboard dead and dropped the reins between the horses, but his wife caught him and dragged him back into the wagon. The team, of course, started to run, but she climbed over the dashboard to the wagon tongue, secured the trailing lines and regained her place in the wagon, where she crouched low, followed by many bullets. She guided the frightened animals down the difficult road, forded Burnt river at the foot of the hill and proceeded to her home. She had saved her husband's body and herself and the lives of their children, but received two mortal wounds. To those present she told her story,
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OLD WALLA WALLA COUNTY
made her verbal will, consigning her babies to the care of their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. George Cantonwine, of Walla Walla. She left in the hands of a neighbor the gold watch and chain which she took from her neck, with the request that they be given to her parents for her little daughter. If ever Oregon pro- duced a heroine the girlish looking Mrs. Scott was she.
Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer have become the parents of five children, namely : Ernest M., of Spokane, Washington; Mary Ada, the wife of W. E. Volmer ; Charles P., who is farming with his father; Audrey Grace, who is in high school ; and Clarence, who is an eighth grade student.
Mr. Shaffer is a stanch republican and for two terms served as county com- missioner. He has also been a member of the school board and many projects for the public welfare have benefited by his hearty cooperation. His fraternal connections are with Lodge No. 135, I. O. O. F., of Dayton, and with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His wife belongs to the Congregational church and is much interested in its various activities. They have made many friends in Waitsburg since removing here and are well and favorably known throughout the county.
DOUGLAS V. WOOD.
Douglas V. Wood is the senior partner of the firm of Wood & Lane, promi -. nent and successful dealers in automobiles in Walla Walla. He was born in middle Tennessee, on the 5th of October, 1859, a son of William and Elizabeth Wood. The father served as a soldier of the Union army in the Civil war and died while at the front.
Douglas V. Wood was educated in the public schools and in Mount Vale Academy, now Mount Vale College, at Celina, Tennessee. He took up the pro- fession of teaching and in 1885 he came west to Walla Walla county, after which he was employed as teacher in the Waitsburg schools for two years. On the expiration of that period he turned his attention to the real estate and insurance business and also engaged in grain buying, with which undertaking he was identified in Waitsburg for fifteen years. He later spent two years in traveling over the country and in 1908 he took up his abode in Walla Walla. After one year devoted to the real estate business he turned his attention to the automobile trade and in 1911 sold an interest to C. B. Lane, thus forming the firm of Wood & Lane. The firm has the agency for the White, the Cadillac, the Oldsmobile and the Maxwell cars, and thus handling moderate and high priced cars, they do one of the largest automobile businesses in Walla Walla. They also maintain a splendidly equipped garage and their repair department is meeting with excellent success, while their annual sales of motor cars have reached a large figure.
On the 25th of December, 1888, Mr. Wood was united in marriage to Miss Laura R. Lane, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Lane, who were among the pioneer families of the county. To Mr. and Mrs. Wood have been born three children: Merrill D., who is a practicing physician of Spokane; Robert V., at home ; and one who has passed away.
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OLD WALLA WALLA COUNTY
In politics Mr. Wood is a stalwart democrat and has served as a member of the town council of Waitsburg and was also mayor there for a number of years. His record as a public official is one which has brought to him honor and respect by reason of his loyalty to duty and his faithfulness in the per- formance of every task that devolves upon him. Fraternally he is connected with Touchet Lodge, No. 5, 1. O. O. F., of Waitsburg, and with the Woodmen of the World. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church and are interested in its growth and development. Aside from his automobile interests Mr. Wood became one of the organizers of the Peoples State Bank and has con- tinuously been one of its directors. His activities and his interests are thus broad and varied and he has done much to further the material, intellectual, social and moral progress of the community in which he resides. His aid and influence are always on the side of improvement and advancement and his labors have been resultant forces.
MRS. MARTHA ELLEN KIBLINGER BECKER.
Mrs. Martha Ellen Becker is living on section 6, township 7 north, range 35 east, Walla Walla county, and is the owner of a valuable farm property of six hundred and forty acres. She was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, and crossed the plains in 1861 in company with her parents, Jacob P. and Amanda A. (Rut- ledge) Kiblinger, both of whom were natives of the Prairie state. At length they determined to try their fortune in the northwest and made the long journey over the hot stretches of sand and across the mountains to Oregon, taking up their abode near Salem. Mrs. Becker was therefore reared and educated in Oregon and experienced all of the hardships and privations incident to the set- tlement of the frontier. After reaching young womanhood she gave her hand in marriage to Edwin F. Coffin and in 1879 they removed to the Walla Walla valley, where three years later they took up as a homestead the farm upon the Little Walla Walla river where Mrs. Becker still resides. Mr. Coffin bent his energies to the development and improvement of that place and his labors wrought a marked transformation in its appearance, for he broke the sod, tilled the fields and in course of years gathered good harvests, having brought all of the land under cultivation. Mrs. Becker now owns here six hundred and forty acres, constituting a very valuable farm on which are found all of the modern improvements and the accessories and conveniences known to the model farm of the twentieth century. She has continued to reside here since she took up her abode upon the place with her first husband and upon this farm she has reared her family of three children, two daughters and a son. The eldest, Myrtle, is the wife of Arthur Beard. The second daughter, Lula May, has become the wife of Fred Elsworth, of Deer Park, Washington, and the son, Guy H .. remains upon the old homestead. After the death of Mr. Coffin, his widow be- came the wife of Philip Becker and to them have been born three children : Philip A. I .; Dora May, who is the wife of James Beeson; and George A., who is at home with his mother. Mrs. Becker is a very capable business woman, alert and energetic, and has successfully managed and controlled her farming
MRS. MARTHA E. K. BECKER
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OLD WALLA WALLA COUNTY
interests. Her long residence in the county has made her largely familiar with events which have shaped the history of this section of the state. She can relate many an interesting tale of the early days and of the pioneer experiences which came to the lot of all those who settled in this section of the state when it was yet a frontier region. She has gained many friends during the years of her residence here and is highly esteemed by all who know her.
PATRICK J. HUGHES.
Patrick J. Hughes, one of the most successful farmers of Walla Walla county. was born in Westmeath, Ireland, in 1872, a son of Andrew and Delia (Kenan) Hughes. The father is still living in Westmeath, but the mother passed away, there, about 1894.
Their son, Patrick J. Hughes, was educated in the public schools of his native country and on reaching young manhood came to the United States, cross- ing the Atlantic in 1891. He landed in New York city on the 7th or 8th of May in that year and spent one week in the metropolis. He afterward came to the west, arriving in Walla Walla, Washington, with a cash capital of fifteen dollars, which was his entire possession in the way of finances. He was met at the train by Chris Ennis, who had been a friend of his parents: in Ireland and who took him to his home, making him welcome there, for a week, after which he put him to work on his ranch at the wage of aldollar per day. He continued to work for wages for nine years, during which time he saved in the neighborhood of two thousand dollars. With this capital he started upon an independent career as a farmer. His beginning was a modest one as he rented land from Mr. Ennis. thus cultivating fourteen hundred and eighty acres. This farm he has since operated under lease and about 1903 he bought his first land, becoming owner of what was known as the Hastings ranch of three hundred and eighty-five acres. To his original purchase he had added from time to time until he now has nine hundred and thirty acres in that place. In 1915 he bought the Osborn ranch of twelve hundred and forty-four acres, for which he paid eighty thousand dollars. In 1917 he bought eighteen hundred and eighty-nine acres, and it may be said to be a curious coincidence that this is the very farm on which he first worked at a dollar per day upon coming to this country. For this property Mr. Hughes paid the munificent figure of two hundred and eighty-three thousand, five hundred dollars, or a little more than one hundred and fifty dollars per acre. Such is the notable record of Mr. Hughes, who a little more than twenty years ago arrived in Walla Walla county a poor boy with fifteen dollars in his pocket. He has accomplished what few others have done in so short a space of time. making himself one of the wheat kings of the Inland Empire. Mr. Hughes also has three brothers in Walla Walla county and all of them are successful as ranchers.
In politics Mr. Hughes has always maintained an independent course, voting for men and measures rather than party. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church. He is one of Walla Walla's most esteemed and valued citizens. He belongs to that class of resourceful men, who when one avenue of oppor-
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OLD WALLA WALLA COUNTY
tunity seems closed carves out another path whereby he can reach the desired goal. In a word, obstacles and difficulties have never been allowed to brook his course, but have been overcome by persistent, earnest effort and steadily he has progressed, reaching a most enviable and creditable position among the prosperous residents of the Inland Empire. His record may well serve to inspire and encourage others, for it is a story of honesty and thrift, the story of suc- cessful accomplishment through individual effort.
HERBERT C. BRYSON.
Herbert C. Bryson has won a conspicuous and honorable position in the ranks of the legal fraternity at Walla Walla, Washington, and is also most prominently and successfully connected with the sheep raising industry of the northwest. He was born in Athena, Oregon, on the 10th of February, 1879, and the spirit of western enterprise finds expression in all that he does and says. He is a son of Charles K. and Armilda C. (Darland) Bryson, the former a native of Kentucky, while the latter was born in Iowa. They came with their respective parents to the northwest and were married in Oregon. The father was one of the pioneers of Umatilla county, where he arrived in the early '70s, and for many years he was actively engaged in farming there. He still survives and now makes his home with a daughter in Enterprise, Oregon. His wife, how- ever, passed away in December, 1894.
Herbert C. Bryson was reared on the old homestead farm in Umatilla county, Oregon, and early became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist, for his youthful days were divided between the work of the fields, the pleasures of the playground and the duties of the schoolroom. After attending the public schools of eastern Oregon he continued his studies in the State Normal at Weston, Oregon, and subsequently became a student in the University of Oregon, from which he was graduated with the class of 1899, winning the LL. B. degree. He had determined to make the practice of law his life work and his preparation therefore was most thorough. Following his gradu- ation he opened an office in Grant's Pass, Oregon, where he entered upon the active work of the profession. In February, 1900, he came to Walla Walla, where he formed a law partnership with Oscar Cain, who was afterward United States attorney and is now located in Spokane. This partnership existed up to May, 1907, when Mr. Bryson was appointed deputy district attorney under Otto B. Rupp, in which capacity he served for two years. Since 1909 he has been prac- ticing independently and in the intervening period of eight years he has gained a place in the front rank of the successful attorneys of Walla Walla county. He is thoroughly familiar with the principles of jurisprudence, is careful and pains- taking in the preparation of his cases, is logical in his deductions and clear and sound in his reasoning. Aside from his law practice Mr. Bryson has gained a prominent position in connection with the sheep industry in the northwest. For a number of years he was actively engaged in the business in connection with Henry C. Adams, the pioneer banker and stockman of eastern Oregon and the founder of the town of Adams, Umatilla county. After the death of Mr. Adams
HERBERT C. BRYSON
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OLD WALLA WALLA COUNTY
in August, 1910, his interests were taken over by Mr. Bryson, their extensive sheep holdings including some twelve thousand acres of land and vast grazing privileges. His brother, Elmer D. Bryson, was placed in charge of the business, which in 1916 was incorporated under the name of the Bryson-Robison Corpo- ration. This company has headquarters at Slater, Washington, with their large land holdings in Walla Walla county and their extensive grazing privileges in the Wenaha national forest in Oregon. This company is conducting the most extensive business in connection with sheep raising in northeastern Oregon or southeastern Washington. Mr. Bryson has closely studied every phase of the business and his intelligent direction of their interests has been a salient feature in their substantial success.
On the 16th of October, 1899, Mr. Bryson was united in marriage to Miss Daisy Downing, of San Jose, California, and they have become the parents of a daughter, Juanita C., who is now a sophomore in the high school.
In politics Mr. Bryson is a republican and fraternally he is connected with Blue Mountain Lodge, No. 13, F. & A. M., and he and his wife are members of Alki Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. He is also a member of Walla Walla Lodge, No. 287, B. P. O. E., Columbia Lodge, No. 8, K. P., and Trinity Lodge, No. 121, I. O. O. F .; also of the Walla Walla Commercial Club and the Walla Walla Golf Club. His wife and daughter are members of the Episcopal church. In his professional connections Mr; Bryson is prominently known and is now vice president of the Walla Walla County Bar Association. He was also the organizer of the Wenaha Wool Growers' Association in 1905 and remained its president for four years, when he retired from active work in con- nection with the sheep industry, turning over the management of his interests to his brother. His ability both in business and professional circles is pro- nounced. He has ever held to high ideals, toward which he has made steady advancement, utilizing every opportunity that would bring him nearer the desired goal. His business career is indeed a creditable one, representing the force of active and intelligently directed effort, and his labors in connection with the sheep industry have done much to utilize the natural resources of the state. In a profession where advancement depends entirely upon individual merit he has also steadily progressed and his thorough understanding of the law and ability to accurately apply its principles have made him one of the foremost attorneys of the bar of the Inland Empire.
JAMES F. ROSE.
James F. Rose, an honored pioneer of Garfield county, still resides upon his farm on section 17, township 10 north, range 42 east, but leaves its operation to others and is enjoying well earned leisure.
He was born in Adams county, Ohio, February 5, 1839, a son of Israel and Mary (Peyton) Rose, who were also natives of the Buckeye state. He grew to manhood in that state and obtained his education in its schools, but in 1862 accompanied his parents to Walla Walla county, Washington, the journey being made by ox team. The father took up land but at length removed to Baker
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