USA > Washington > Asotin County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 31
USA > Washington > Columbia County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 31
USA > Washington > Garfield County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 31
USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 31
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WILLIAM E. CAHILL.
William E. Cahill, who is engaged in the abstract and general loan business in Dayton, was born in Green Lake county, Wisconsin, on the 18th of January, 1862, his parents being William R. and Angeline C. (Church) Cahill, both of whom were natives of the state of New York, but in early life removed with their respective parents to Wisconsin, where they reached man and woman- hood. It was there that William R. Cahill and Angeline C. Church were mar- ried, after which they located upon a farm, Mr. Cahill devoting his attention to the development and improvement of that place until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when he responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting in the Union army in the fall of 1861. He served for three years and participated in many hotly contested engagements. On one occasion he was carrying on his back from the field a wounded man when a shell burst near them and cut the man squarely in two and threw Mr. Cahill a distance of seventy-five feet, the concussion being so great that it burst both ear drums and partially paralyzed him, making him a physical wreck through the following years of his life. He passed away in 1890. In 1878 he had removed with his family to Columbia county, Washington, arriving in Dayton on the 4th of May of that year. He took up his abode upon a farm near Dayton, where he resided until about a year prior to his death, when he established his home in the city of Dayton. His widow still survives and now resides with her son, A. P. Cahill.
William E. Cahill spent the first sixteen years of his life in his native state and during that period acquired a common school education in Wisconsin. In 1878 he accompanied his parents to Washington and subsequently became a student in the Dayton high school. At the age of nineteen years he started upon his business career in a humble capacity, being employed to wheel sawdust from under the saw in a sawmill in the mountains near Dayton. Thirty days later he was promoted to the position of driving a bull team of five yoke of bulls at the sawmill. For three months during this summer he lived on red beans and sour dough bread and he carried fifty cents in his pocket for that entire period
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without having occasion to spend it. During the following winter he attended the Dayton high school and subsequently he took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for two years. During this time he saved enough money to pay his tuition in the Portland Business College, where he became a student. After completing his course in that institution he once more returned to Dayton and on the 4th of May, 1884, he accepted a clerkship in the mercantile house of M. Hexter, by whom he was employed for seven years, his long retention in that position indicating most clearly his fidelity, capability and trustworthiness. He resigned his position on the 4th of May, 1891, and opened a set of abstract books, since which time he has been engaged in the abstract and insurance busi- ness, also handling mortgage loans and acting as agent for various clients. He has built up a business of extensive proportions and derives therefrom a grati- fying annual income. He was also one of the organizers of the Broughton National Bank and became a member of the board of directors, in which capacity he is still serving. He has from time to time made extensive investments in farm lands and is now the owner of farm property comprising two thousand acres eight miles east of Dayton.
Fraternally Mr. Cahill is connected with Columbia Lodge, No. 26, F. & A. M., of Dayton, and with Dayton Lodge, No. 3, K. P. He is loyal to the teach- ings and purposes of those organizations and enjoys the high regard of his brethren. Dayton numbers him among its foremost citizens and he is pro- gressive in every movement that looks to the advancement of the city and the upbuilding of its interests. There is no movement for the public good which seeks his aid in vain, but he never has been imbued with political ambition and prefers to do his public service as a private citizen. He has been an interested witness of the growth and development of this section of the state since pioneer times and has been a contributing factor to the work that has been accomplished in the way of promoting public improvement. Each forward step in his career has brought him a wider outlook and broader opportunities and his entire record has been marked by an orderly progression that has brought substantial results.
HON. MILES CONWAY MOORE.
Honored and respected by all, there is no man who occupies a more enviable position in public regard in Walla Walla than does Hon. Miles Conway Moore, the last territorial governor of Washington and now a prominent figure in bank- ing circles. His high position in the regard of his fellowmen is due not to the success which he has achieved but to the straightforward, honorable purpose which he has ever followed. He has made wise use of his time, his talents and his opportunities and in laboring to promote his individual interests has also advanced the welfare and progress of city and state at large. He is now the president of the Baker-Boyer National Bank.
Mr. Moore was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, April 17, 1845. His father, Amos L. Moore, was a native of Delaware, while his mother belonged to the Monroe family of which President James Monroe was a representative
ی
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-- one of the oldest and most prominent families of Virginia. At the age of twelve years Miles C. Moore accompanied his parents on their removal from Ohio to Wisconsin and he was educated in the Methodist Episcopal Institute at Point Bluff, Wisconsin. In 1863 he came to Walla Walla, then a youth of but eighteen years, and was first employed as a clerk in the store of Kyger & Reese. The following year he embarked in business on his own account in Blackfoot City, a mining town in Montana, but in the fall of 1866 he returned to Walla Walla and entered into partnership in the conduct of a store under the firm style of H. E. Johnson & Company. In 1869 he opened a general store as a member of the firm of Paine Brothers & Moore. This establishment was later converted into an agricultural implement business, which was the first of the kind in east- ern Washington.
In 1877 Mr. Moore became associated with his father-in-law, Dr. D. S. Baker, in the grain business, buying extensively for those early days. They loaded three ships at Astoria with the first wheat brought from the interior of the state and continued in the wheat business until 1879. The partnership, however, was main- tained until the death of Dr. Baker in 1888, at which time Mr. Moore was made one of the administrators of the estate. Together they built six miles of rail- road up Mill creek in order to bring down timber and wood from the mountains. After Dr. Baker retired from the grain business Mr. Moore formed a partner- ship with his brother Charles and continued along that line-until the death of his brother in 1888. They bought grain in the Palouse district and along Snake river. Our subject afterward devoted several years to public affairs and in 1889 was chosen territorial governor of Washington, which office he most ably filled. He was interested in the Baker & Boyer Bank, which was the first private bank established in this state, being organized in 1869 and made a national bank in 1889. Mr. Moore became a stockholder and the vice president, remaining in that position until the death of Mr. Boyer in 1898, when he succeeded to the presidency and still remains at the head of the institution, discharging his duties with marked capability. He possesses notable executive force and his adminis- trative direction has been characterized by a recognition of all the different phases of the business and its opportunities. IIe was likewise a stockholder in the First National Bank of Walla Walla and is extensively interested in real estate in various parts of Washington, Oregon and Idaho. His investments have been most judiciously made and have brought to him a very gratifying financial return.
In Walla Walla, in March, 1873, Mr. Moore was married to Miss Mary E. Baker, a daughter of Dr. D. S. Baker, who was born in Portland, Oregon. They are the parents of three children : Frank A., a resident of Walla Walla; Walter B., deceased ; and Robert L., also of Walla Walla. Mrs. Moore died in 1904 at Oakland, California, where she had gone with the hope of benefiting her health. In 1884 Mr. Moore purchased property and erected the residence which has since been his home and where his children grew up.
Governor Moore early came to a recognition of the duties and obligations as well as of the privileges of citizenship and has been a leading factor in promoting political progress and in advancing the interests of his community and the com- monwealth along many lines. In 1877 he was elected mayor of Walla Walla and in 1889 was appointed governor, serving in that important position at the time
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when the territory was merging into statehood. The duties which devolved upon him in this connection were of a most delicate and important character, but were discharged with credit and honor to himself and to the satisfaction of the people at large. No plan or movement for the benefit of the city along lines of progress and improvement seeks his aid in vain. The public work that he has done has largely been of a nature that has brought no pecuniary reward and yet has made extensive demand upon his time, his thought and his energy. Oppor- tunities that others have passed by heedlessly he has noted and improved to the betterment of the city and the state in many ways. He is extremely modest and unostentatious in manner and all who know him speak of him in terms of praise. In his life are the elements of greatness because of the use he has made of his talents and his opportunities, because his thoughts are not self-centered but are given to the mastery of life's problems and the fulfillment of his duty as a man in his relations to his fellowman and as citizen in his relations to his city, state and country.
J. C. LEWIS.
J. C. Lewis, who has resided in the Pacific northwest for more than seventy years, is one of the most honored residents of Dayton. His birth occurred in Kentucky, February 1, 1842, but when he was two years old he was taken by his parents to Missouri, where the family home was maintained for a year. In 1845 they removed to the Willamette valley, the long trip across the plains being comparatively uneventful as there was no trouble with the Indians and no serious shortage of food or water. He grew to manhood in the Willamette valley and received his education in its pioneer schools. He remained in Oregon until the fall of 1869, when he came to Old Walla Walla county, Washington. The following winter was spent on the site of the town of Dixie, which was not platted until a number of years later, but in the fall of 1870 he took up a home- stead in Columbia county eleven miles northeast of Dayton. He devoted his time and attention to the cultivation of his fields and the raising of stock and derived a gratifying annual income from the sale of his farm products. In 1898, feeling that he had accumulated a competence, he retired to Dayton, where he is still living.
In 1864, in Oregon, Mr. Lewis was united in marriage to Miss Maria Lapham. who in the spring of 1853. when seven years of age, accompanied her parents and an older sister on their removal from Michigan to the Willamette valley. Not only was the trip across the plains long and tedious, as the journey was made by ox team, but many misfortunes overtook the train, which, captained by a Mr. Eliott, attempted to reach the Willamette valley by a cut off route known as the "lost trail." As the result of the many hardships of the journey Mrs. Lapham died in eastern Oregon and the only coffin available was the wagon box. Not long after this the party lost its way and all came very nearly perishing of thirst. They were also attacked by Indians and their cattle driven away and Mr. Lapham and his small daughters found themselves alone and afoot in the Deschutes country. Leaving the two little girls in camp with a little flour, the father set out in search
MR. AND MRS. J. C. LEWIS
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of the cattle, hoping to find at least a few. During his absence a rescuing party found the girls and took them to the Willamette, Maria riding behind the captain of the party down the Mackenzie river. Mr. Lapman settled in Willamette valley and passed away in Dayton, Washington in 1901 at the age of ninety years. The older daughter died soon after reaching the family's destination but the younger, as before stated, became the wife of Mr. Lewis and is still living in Dayton. By her marriage she became the mother of six children, but only two daughters are now living: Mrs. Wilson McBride and Mrs. John A. McCauley. both of Columbia county.
Mr. Lewis is a strong advocate of republican principles and supports the candidates of that party by his ballot. He served as county commissioner from 1888 to 1892 and in 1906 was appointed to the board to fill out eighteen months of an unexpired term. Practically the entire story of the development of the northwest is a matter of personal knowledge to him, for when he accompanied his parents to Oregon the city of Portland had not been thought of and there were no settlements in the valley with the exception of Oregon City and a trading post at Salem. He has taken great pleasure in watching the marvelous changes that have since occurred and is confident that a still greater future is in store for this section. At all times his attitude has been that of a public-spirited citizen willing to subordinate private interests to the general good and performing faith- fully all the duties devolving upon him. Both he and his wife have hosts of friends in Dayton and throughout Columbia county, and the leisure which they are enjoying is well merited.
LAWRENCE O. McINROE.
Lawrence O. McInroe is the owner of one of the well improved farms of Walla Walla county, his place being situated on section 34, township 8 north, range 36 east, where he has four hundred and forty-two acres of rich and valu- able land. He is one of the native sons of the county, his birth having occurred within its borders December 29, 1874. His parents were James and Cordelia (Nelson) McInroe, the former a native of the state of New York, while the latter was born in Iowa, where their marriage was celebrated. The father crossed the plains in the year 1852, assisting Mr. Sharpstein in bringing a herd of horses across the country. He remained for some time but afterward re- turned to Iowa and it was subsequent to that event that he was married. The spell of the west, however, was upon him and soon after his marriage he brought his bride to Walla Walla county. Here he took up a homestead and later he purchased more land, becoming actively and prominently identified with agricultural interests. Adding to his possessions from time to time, he was at his death the owner of eight hundred and eighty acres of valuable wheat land and was numbered among the prosperous farmers of this section of the state. Both he and his wife died in this county. In their family were but two sons, the younger being Frank, who now resides southeast of Walla Walla.
Lawrence O. McInroe was reared and educated in the county where he still resides, supplementing his public school course by study in a business col-
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lege. After attaining his majority he began farming on his own account on the land which he now owns. He had been reared to the occupation of farming and had early become familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He has always kept in close touch with the trend of modern progress along agricultural lines and his valuable farm property of four hundred and forty-two acres indicates his careful supervision and his progres- sive methods. He has added splendid buildings to his place and all modern equipments and improvements. He makes a specialty of raising wheat. to which the soil is splendidly adapted, and he is also successfully engaged in stock raising, keeping high grade cattle, horses and hogs upon his farm.
In 1902 Mr. Melnroe was united in marriage to Miss Zenna Buroker, a native of Walla Walla county and a daughter of William and May (Gallaher) Buroker. Mr. McInroe belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and his wife is connected with the Rebekahs. He is also a member of the Benevo- lent Protective Order of Elks. His political allegiance is given to the demo- eratic party but he has never sought nor desired office. He and his wife attend the Presbyterian church and they are widely and favorably known in the com- munity where they reside. Since starting out in the business world he has made steady progress. His industry and perseverance are among his salient charac- teristics and upon these qualities he has builded his success. He is not only progressive in all that he undertakes but is thoroughly reliable and his business integrity stands as an unquestioned fact in his career.
SAMUEL WALTERS.
Samuel Walters, a well known merchant and assistant postmaster of Star- buck, Washington, was born in Australia on the 24th of May, 1869, his parents being John T. and Elizabeth (Neil) Walters. His father was a native of Pennsylvania but in 1853 went to Australia, where he was married, the mother being of Scotch descent but born in Australia. They continued to reside in that country until 1871 when they came to the United States and took up their abode in Iowa, where they made their home for nine years. In 1880 they arrived in Walla Walla county, Washington, but after living here for about three years removed to Whitman county and later to Stevens county, where their last days were passed. To them were born eight children and six of the number still survive.
Samuel Walters was only two years of age when his father returned to America, bringing with him his family, and the son was principally educated in the common and high schools of Whitman county, Washington. After putting aside his textbooks he entered the service of a railroad company and continued in that line of work for six years. In 1910 he came to Starbuck and has since engaged in mercantile pursuits, carrying on business under the name of the Starbuck Trading Company, of which he is secretary and treasurer. He is a progressive, energetic business man of sound judgment and keen discrimination.
Mr. Walters was married in 1908 to Miss Alberta Gerking, of Waitsburg, Washington, and to them has been born a daughter, Elizabeth. Mrs. Walters is
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a member of the Episcopal church, and Mr. Walters is identified with the Wood- men of the World and the Masonic fraternity, holding membership in Lodge No. 106, A. F. & A. M., in which he has filled all the chairs. The democratic party finds in him a stanch supporter of its principles and he is now serving as chairman of his precinct. For the past five years he has served as city treasurer of Starbuck and is also filling the position of assistant postmaster. No trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed in the slightest degree and he well merits the confidence of his fellow citizens.
JOHN BLESSINGER.
For more than forty-two years John Blessinger was a resident of Columbia county and was one of its most esteemed citizens, manifesting throughout his entire life those sterling traits of character which in every land and clime awaken confidence and regard. He was born in Pennsylvania on the 8th of March, 1838, and when he was but a young child accompanied his parents on their removal to Hancock county, Indiana. It was there that he was reared to early manhood and in the common schools of that locality he acquired his education. About 1859, however, he left the middle west and made his way to the Pacific coast, settling in the Willamette valley near Salem, Oregon. Dur- ing the following ten years or more he devoted his attention to mining and then came northward to Washington, arriving in Dayton on the Ist of November. 1872. This section was then a largely undeveloped and unimproved district. He purchased land and turned his attention to farming, his home ranch being located about five miles east of Dayton. It comprised six hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land and he developed it into one of the most valuable wheat farms of Columbia county. The soil is splendidly adapted to the production of that crop and Mr. Blessinger's methods were at once practical and progressive. In addition to that property he owned other land and was classed among the county's most successful and enterprising farmers. His labors brought splendid results and his methods constituted the last word in pro- gressive agriculture. About 1900 he removed to Dayton, turning over the opera- tion of his farm to his sons, and he then became one of the organizers of the Broughton National Bank, of which he was made a member of the board of directors.
On the 21st of April, 1872, Mr. Blessinger was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Byrd, of Marion county, Oregon, a daughter of Luther Byrd, who crossed the plains with ox teams from Arkansas to Oregon in 1854 or 1855. He took up his abode in Marion county, that state, and there engaged in farming to the time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Blessinger became the parents of seven children, five of whom survive, as follows: John B., who follows farming in Columbia county, Washington ; Albert E., who is an agriculturist of Columbia county and resides in Dayton ; Myrtle, at home; Leo, who is engaged in farming in Columbia county ; and Fred, who operates the home place.
Mrs. Blessinger resides in a comfortable home in Dayton, her husband having left her in easy financial circumstances. She is a devoted member of the Congre-
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gational church and her aid and influence are always given on the side of re- form and progress. She is a member of the Halpine Society and is also a mem- ber of the Red Cross Society. She is a lady of culture and refinement and is constantly extending a helping hand where aid is needed, taking a most active part in charitable work. Mr. Blessinger was numbered among the esteemed citi- zens of Dayton, being a man of sterling character, and when death called him the deepest regret was felt throughout the community in which he lived.
HENRY F. WATROUS.
Prominent among the self-made men of Columbia county is Henry F. Watrous, whose life has been principally devoted to agricultural pursuits, and success has attended his well directed efforts. He was born in Green county, Wisconsin, January 26, 1848, his parents being Levi W. and Elmira ( Fish) Watrous, natives of Canada and Ohio, respectively. On leaving the Dominion the father removed to Wisconsin, where he was married and where he continued to make his home until 1850. The following five years were spent in Iowa but at the end of that time he went to Minnesota, where 'he lived for the same length of time. He then returned to Iowa and in 1875 came to Washington, settling in Old Walla Walla county. He took up a soldier's claim of one hundred and sixty acres a mile and a half from Dayton and built thereon a box house, making his home upon that place until the required improvements were made; he then sold the farm and brought his family here. There were eleven children and nine of the number are still living.
During his boyhood Henry F. Watrous accompanied his parents on their various removals but was principally reared and educated in Iowa, attending the common schools there. At an early age he began earning his own livelihood by working as a farm hand at seventeen dollars per month and was thus employed for two years, during which time he saved enough money to come west. It was in 1871 that he crossed the continent to Salt Lake City, which was then the terminus of the railroad, and from there continued his journey on horseback in company with an uncle and his family who rode in a wagon. On reaching Dayton, Washington, he found employment on a farm at four hundred dollars per year and at the end of that time was able to send for his father. After the latter's arrival they contracted to purchase a sawmill near the mouth of Jim creek, agreeing to pay for the plant with lumber, which was the principal medium of exchange in those days. Whenever enough clear lumber had been cut to warrant a trip to Walla Walla, Henry Watrous would start with a load drawn by oxen and would sell the same for thirty-five to forty dollars per thousand. After operating the mill for four years it was traded for the farm still owned by our subject but he has added to the original tract until he now owns nine hundred and fifty acres of land, all improved and devoted to wheat. Until 1914 he operated his land but has since rented the place and is now living retired in Dayton, where he owns a fine residence. He is a stockholder in a grain warehouse there and is today one of the prosperous citizens of the community.
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