USA > Washington > Asotin County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 36
USA > Washington > Columbia County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 36
USA > Washington > Garfield County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 36
USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 36
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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
EDMOND J. JOHNSON.
Edmond J. Johnson is a self-made man who has gained a substantial position in business circles of Walla Walla as a dealer in wood and coal. He deserves great credit for what he has accomplished, as he started out in life empty-handed and has placed his dependence upon the substantial qualities of industry and perseverance. He was born in England in February, 1861, and was there reared and educated. He had attained the age of twenty-four years when he determined to try his fortune in America, hoping that he might find better business oppor- tunities on this side the Atlantic. He crossed the continent afer reaching Ameri- can shores, making his way to Walla Walla, Washington, where he worked at the butchering trade, which he had previously learned in his native land. He
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followed that business for seven years and then went to work for the city in the street department, occupying a position of that character for fourteen years. On the expiration of that period he turned his attention to the wood and coal trade, in which he has since been engaged, and through the intervening years he has built up a business of very gratifying and substantial proportions. He also has the contract for street cleaning in the city and is leading a most active life. Energy has ever been one of his most marked characteristics and inde- fatigable effort has brought him the success which is now his.
In 1890 Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Leona Hastings, a native of Kansas, and they have become the parents of three children: Susie, who is now the wife of C. Brent, of Portland, Oregon; Hazel, who is the wife of Clem Burgman, living on a ranch in Walla Walla county ; and William, who died at the age of three months.
The family occupy an attractive home in Walla Walla and Mr. Johnson has become the owner of some good residence properties in the city. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, which he has supported since becom- ing a naturalized American citizen. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has made many warm friends in that organization. His life record should inspire and encourage others, for he started out when a lad of eleven years and has since been dependent upon his own resources. He early recognized the fact that industry wins. He may never have heard of the Greek philosopher Epicharmus, who said: "Earn thy reward; the gods give naught to sloth," but he knew the principle that underlies those words and indefatigable industry has characterized him at every point in his career. Step by step he has advanced and is now not only a substantial business man of Walla Walla but one who enjoys and deserves the respect, goodwill and confidence of all with whom he is associated.
JOHN WARREN LANGDON.
John Warren Langdon, one of the best known business men of eastern Wash- ington, prominently identified with the commercial and financial interests and with the community life of Walla Walla, was born in New Hampton, Iowa, December 18, 1871, a son of Warren W. Langdon, who was a native of Illinois. The father was an expert tinner by trade and was also connected with banking interests of the northwest for a number of years, becoming a very prominent factor in business affairs in Moscow, Idaho.
He was superintendent of the Walla Walla waterworks for five years and figured prominently in connection with public affairs in this city. His attitude in respect to his country's welfare was clearly manifest at the time of the Civil war, when he put aside all business and personal considerations and responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting as a member of Company A, Ninety- fifth Regiment of the Illinois Volunteer Infantry, on the 9th of August, 1862, at Marengo, Illinois. He served for three years and was mustered out at Camp Butler, Illinois August 17, 1865. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Hester M. Robinson, is also a native of Illinois.
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Their son, John Warren Langdon, acquired his early education in the common schools of Moscow, Idaho, and afterward attended the Bishop Scott grammar school of Portland, Oregon, where he stood at the head of his classes, receiving the headmaster's prize for the highest standing during the school year; his marks at this school were the highest received by any student during the seventeen years of the school's existence to that time, and he also received two additional prizes for excellence in deportment and penmanship.
At the age of sixteen years he left school and was placed in the First National Bank of Moscow, Idaho, of which his father was vice president. Two years later he accepted a position with the Dorsey S. Baker estate of Walla Walla, one of the richest estate in the northwest. Ten years later, upon division of the estate, he became secretary of the firm of Baker & Baker, a strong loan company, doing business in the Walla Walla valley. Two years later, owing to increased personal business responsibilities, he resigned, and at that time incorporated the Green Investment Company of Walla Walla for the purpose of handling the business affairs of Mary F. Green, his mother-in-law. This corporation is heavily interested in both city and country real estate, and its holdings are scattered throughout the state of Washington.
There is no man more familiar with property values and conditions in this section of the country than Mr. Langdon. At the present time-he is one of the joint owners and managers of the Baker-Langdon Orchard Company of Walla Walla, owners of a six hundred acre apple orchard adjoining the city of Walla Walla, which is recognized as one of the finest commercial orchard' properties in the United States; is also vice president and manager of the Green Investment Company of Walla Walla ; a director of the Baker-Boyer National Bank of Walla Walla, the oldest bank in the state of Washington ; is vice president of the Blalock Fruit Company, owning the largest fruit and vegetable farm in the northwest ; is a director of the Northwestern Fruit Exchange of Seattle and New York, one of the largest and most widely known fruit shippers in the northwest, and has still other interests which place him in the foremost rank of the business men of this section of the country.
On the 16th of September, 1897, Mr. Langdon was married to Miss Philinda Green, who was born in Walla Walla, a daughter of William O. and Mary F. (Young) Green, who were pioneers of the Walla Walla valley, having crossed the plains by team at a very early period in the settlement of the northwest. Mr. and Mrs. Langdon have become parents of two sons: Warren Orville and John Green, both now attending Walla Walla high school.
While most important business interests have claimed the attention of Mr. Langdon, he has also found time and opportunity to cooperate in plans and measures for the public good and has been a most generous supporter of interests which are looking toward the upbuilding and development of city and state.
The cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion and he is a member of the board of trustees of Whitman College and chairman of the board of directors of the Whitman Conservatory of Music. He is also a director and vice president of the Walla Walla Commercial Club and chairman of its agricultural and horticultural committee. Elected president of the park board of Walla Walla. Mr. Langdon set about to construct an ideal park for the city. The city council
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having set aside a beautiful tract of forty acres owned by the city, for park purposes, Mr. Langdon prepared, with his own hands, plans for the park, and working in conjunction with the Woman's Park Club of Walla Walla, assisted in developing an unusually attractive landscape, embracing play grounds, boating lake, tiny streams and waterfalls, now known as City Park. Recently he has prepared elaborate plans for the development of Dreamland Park on Ninth street. Hle is now and for many years past has been secretary of the board of trustees of St. Paul's School, which was the first school for girls in the territory of Washing- ton, and today is recognized as one of the state's best educational institutions.
Holding membership in St. Paul's Episcopal church, he has served for years as one of its vestrymen and as its junior warden. He is one of the trustees of the newly organized Young Women's Christian Asociation, and as the first vice president of the Young Men's Christian Association in Walla Walla assisted materially in raising funds for the construction of an elegant building for this association in Walla Walla. Mr. Langdon is chairman of the membership com- mittee of the Red Cross in Walla Walla; vice president of the Washington State Harvesters League ; and a member of the state executive committee for food con- servation appointed by Herbert Hoover, chairman of food conservation. Mr. Langdon is interested in art, and has done some exceedingly creditable photo- graphic work among the northwest Indians and has reproduced in enlargements and panoramas historical scenes in the states of Oregon and Washington, many of which he has personally hand-colored. He thoroughly enjoys home life and takes great pleasure in the society of his family and friends.
He is always courteous, kindly and affable and those who know him personally entertain for him warm regard. A man of great natural ability, his success in business from the beginning of his residence in Walla Walla has been uniform and rapid.
As has been truly remarked, after all that may be done for a man in the way of giving him early opportunities for obtaining the requirements which are found in schools and in books, he must essentially formulate, determine and give shape to his own character, and this is what Mr. Langdon has done. He has persevered in the pursuit of a persistent purpose and gained a most satisfactory reward. He has endeavored to make his life exemplary in all respects and he has ever sup- ported those interests which are calculated to uplift and benefit humanity.
JOHN BACHTOLD.
John Bachtold is a well known and representative business man of Walla Walla who is now proprietor and manager of the Dacres Hotel, one of the leading hostelries of the city. He comes from a land that has produced many famous hotel proprietors. In every country on the face of the globe the Swiss have proven their capability in that field, many of the finest hotels of every land being conducted by those who were born within the shadow of the Alps. Mr. Bach- told was born in Switzerland in 1865 and spent the first fourteen years of his life in his native country. He then crossed the Atlantic to America and became
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a resident of South Dakota, where he engaged in farm work for nine years. On the expiration of that period he arrived in Washington, making his way to Grays Harbor, where he secured a position as clerk in a hotel, thus receiving his initial business training in the line to which he now directs his energies. The next year he became proprietor of a hotel in Oswego, Oregon.
In 1892 Mr. Bachtold removed to Walla Walla, where he established a restaurant. The following year, however, he turned his attention to other busi- ness interests, in which he was engaged for several years. At length he took over the management of the Dacres Hotel, which is an excellent hostlery, well equipped, while his keen interest in the successful management of the business leads him to put forth every effort for the comfort and welfare of his guests. He is likewise identified with several other business concerns of the city, all of which profit by his sound judgment and indefatigable energy. That Mr. Bachtold is deeply interested in the city's welfare has been manifest by his in- tense activity in maintaining the efficiency of the volunteer fire department, of which he was the president. He has also been very active in fraternal circles as a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Foresters, the Eagles and the Sons of Hermann. He is also connected with the Maennerchor, which indicates his love of music and a cul- tivated taste in that direction.
Mr. Bachtold was married in Grays Harbor in 1892 to Miss Annie Schuerch and to them have been born six children, Ida, Annie, George, John, Edward and Walter. Mr. Bachtold has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for in this land he has found the opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has made steady progress along the high road to success.
GEORGE J. GUTHRIDGE.
Walla Walla rightly takes pride in her efficient fire department, which is highly systematized and is conducted along the most modern methods, and as chief of the department George J. Guthridge has accomplished work that en- titles him to rank among the best fire chiefs of the northwest. He is a native son of Walla Walla, born April 7, 1870, in the house which he now occupies though it has since been remodeled. His parents, Benjamin G. and Ellen J. (Goss) Guthridge, were born respectively in London, England, and Cork, Ire- land, but came to the United States in young manhood and young womanhood. At that time the father had been dependent upon his own resources for a number of years, as he ran away from home when a boy and went to sea and in the next few years visited all the principal ports of the world. It was in 1862 that he decided to settle permanently in the United States and the vessel on which he was then sailing, on putting into Portland, Oregon, was wrecked on the Columbia river bar, he and the negro cook being the only persons rescued. At that time there was considerable excitement in the northwest over the newly discovered mines in Idaho and he went to that section, where he remained for a short period.
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after which he drifted to Walla Walla. There he engaged in the restaurant busi- ness for a time and then turned his attention to the conduct of a meat market. HIe was engaged in that business for a quarter of a century and derived there- from a gratifying profit which enabled him to retire. Having disposed of his private interests, he was then offered and accepted the appointment as steward of the state penitentiary, being the first man to hold that position after the institution had been removed from Seattle. For seven years he filled that im- portant and difficult position and then retired from all active work, spending his last years in well deserved leisure. His death occurred June 4. 1912. He had survived his wife for many years, as she passed away July 21, 1885.
George J. Guthridge was reared under the parental roof and attended the Catholic boys' schools of Walla Walla and also took a business course in a night school. As a youth and young man he assisted his father in the management of his butchering business and after the latter disposed of his meat market the son was variously employed until 1890, when he was appointed a member of the city fire department. He served in that capacity for two years and then was for a similar length of time deputy sheriff. Again he became connected with the fire department but following an accident in 1896, which occurred when answering a fire call and in which his leg and ankle were broken, he was for four years out of the department. In 1900, however, he returned to the service and in April, 1904, was appointed captain. In January, 1912, he was appointed assistant chief and on the ist of February, 1917, was made chief. His long experience in the department has given him a thorough knowledge of the needs of the service and as captain, assistant chief and chief he has worked tirelessly and effectively to raise the work to an ever higher standard.
On the ist of October, 1902, Mr. Guthridge was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Berg, who was born August 17, 1879, six miles east of Vancouver, Washington, but at the age of ten years removed with her parents to North Yamhill, Oregon, living there until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Guthridge have become parents of six children, five of whom survive: Eugene, thirteen years old; Francis; Albert; Leona ; and Walter.
Mr. Guthridge is a republican in politics and fraternally is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Improved Order of Red Men, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Knights of Columbus. He and his family are members of the Catholic church and support the work of that organization. His entire life has been passed in the west and he is thoroughly imbued with the spirit of enterprise characteristic of this country and has great faith in the prosperous future before it.
D. C. EATON.
D. C. Eaton, a member of the present board of county commissioners, resid- ing in Waitsburg, is ranked among the extensive wheat farmers of Walla Walla county, within the borders of which he has made his home for almost four decades and where he has acquired some quite valuable land. His birth occurred in Rock county, Wisconsin, on the 19th of September, 1854, his parents being
D. C. EATON
MRS. D. C. EATON
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Asael and Amanda (P'ineo) Eaton, who were born, reared and married in Nova Scotia. Soon after their marriage they crossed the border into the United States, locating first in DeKalb county, Illinois, and a few years later in Wisconsin. Subsequently they took up their abode in Allamakee county, Iowa, and there spent the remainder of their lives.
D. C. Eaton acquired his education in the public schools of Iowa and in 1877, when a young man of twenty-two years, he left the parental roof to make his own way in the world. Journeying westward to the coast, he spent a year or more in the vicinity of Portland, Oregon, and in the spring of 1878 came to Walla Walla county, Washington. Here he was engaged in the stock business for seven or eight years and about 1886 he turned his attention to farming, which has claimed his time and energies continuously since. Success has crowned his efforts in the intervening years, he now being numbered among the extensive wheat growers of Walla Walla county.
On July 15, 1886, Mr. Eaton was united in marriage to Miss Melvina Sickler, of Waitsburg, who is a native daughter of Walla Walla county, her father, Daniel Sickler, having crossed the plains in an early day. They have become the parents of six children, five of whom survive, namely: Clarence, who is a graduate of the State Agricultural College at Pullman of the class of 1910 and who now operates one of his father's ranches; and May, Marcia, Gladys and Ruth, all of whom are attending the State Agricultural College at Pullman.
Politically Mr. Eaton is a stanch republican and in 1898 he was elected to the board of county commissioners, in which connection he made an excellent record and to which office he was again chosen in the November election of 1916, so that he is again serving at the present time. .. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to Waitsburg Lodge, No. 16, A. F. & A. M .; Dayton Chapter, No. 5, R. A. M .; Walla Walla Commandery, K. T .; and El Katif Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Spokane. Ifis is a highly creditable record and he well deserves mention in this volume as one of the foremost farmers and representative citizens of the county.
FRED GAYLORD WILLS.
Fred Gaylord Wills was born August 24, 1884, in Arlington, Oregon, a son of W. H. and Clara (Oviatt) Wills. The father was born in Plymouth, England. and when twenty-one years of age came to the states, settling in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1879 he made his way to the Palouse country to buy sheep and after spending the winter at Endicott came to Walla Walla. He considered this locality as the most desirable that he had seen and accordingly decided to make it his perma- nent home. He was married at Walla Walla to Miss Clara Oviatt, who was born in Akron, Summit county, Ohio, and resided there until the early 'Sos, when she came to Walla Walla and made her home with a sister until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Wills have watched with great interest the development of what was a mere hamlet to a prosperous and up-to-date city of over twenty-five thousand inhabitants and they have at all times done their full share in con- tributing to its upbuilding.
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Fred Gaylord Wills attended the public schools of Walla Walla, Whitman Academy at Walla Walla, the Rindge Manual Training School at Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the University of Washington at Seattle, which in 1908 conferred upon him the degree of LL. B. It had been his intention to devote his life to the legal profession but being offered a position in July, 1908, a short time after his graduation, he entered the employ of the First National Bank of Walla Walla as messenger. In 1910 he was appointed deputy clerk of the superior court of Walla Walla county and while holding that office in addition to discharging his duties in that capacity he was employed in the First National Bank, working there after the hour of closing at the clerk's office. In 1912 he went to Seattle and for a short time engaged in the real estate business there, after which he went to Tacoma, where he turned his attention to accounting, which profession he has since followed. In 1916 he returned to Walla Walla and he has met with gratifying success here. His acquaintance among the busi- ness men of the city and his excellent business and official record were important factors in his obtaining the appointment of city clerk. He understands thor- oughly the principles of finance and accounting, and his work gives uniform satisfaction.
Mr. Wills was appointed city clerk on the 20th of January, 1917, and his prompt and capable performance of his duties has won for him the commenda- tion of the citizens. He has always given careful study to the questions and issues of the day and has been a stanch supporter of plans and projects calcu- lated to promote the civic interests of his city and county. The greater part of his life has been passed in Walla Walla, and his genuine personal worth is indicated by the fact that those who have been intimately associated with him since boyhood are his stanchest friends.
On the 16th of June, 1917, Mr. Wills was married in Walla Walla to Miss Dorothy Frances Drum, who was graduated from the University of Washington with the A. B. degree and who from 1914 to 1917 was assistant librarian of the public library at Walla Walla. Her father, Henry Drum, was appointed warden of the state penitentiary by Governor Lister in 1912 and still holds that office.
WILLIAM LAMBIE.
William Lambie, prominent as a horse breeder and farmer of Garfield county, living on section 31, township 14 north, range 43 east, was born near Glasgow, Scotland, March 15, 1846, a son of John and Margaret ( Bryson) Lambie, both of whom were born in the neighborhood of Glasgow, where they spent their entire lives, the father devoting his time and attention to the occupation of farm- ing in order to provide for his family. His son, William Lambie, was reared under the parental roof and acquired a public school education. On attaining his twenty-first year he bade adieu to the land of hills and heather and made his way to New Zealand, where he spent four years. He then came to the United States. making his way to the Hawaiian Islands and thence to San Francisco. He spent a short time in the Sacramento valley of California, after which he removed from San Francisco to Portland, making the trip by steamer. He spent one
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month in the harvest fields of the Willamette valley and then came by steamer up the Columbia river to Wallula and thence by wagon to Walla Walla, Wash- ington. This was in the summer of 1871. When he saw the Blue mountains and the Walla Walla valley he said to himself that he would travel no farther. Dur- ing that fall and the succeeding winter he was employed by James Foster, located at the foot of the mountain and the following spring he started out to find land for himself. He assisted a party with cattle upon the Palouse river below Colfax and slept on the floor in his own blanket in the only house in sight in Colfax at that time. He then journeyed northward in search of land near the much-talked- of route of the Northern Pacific Railroad, which at that time, however, had not been surveyed. He pushed on to the neighborhood of Medical Lake, where he located on a beautiful prairie sloping toward the south. He then returned to Walla Walla for a team and wagon, and when he again traveled over the route he brought back with him some garden seed and grain and planted ten acres of his land that first season. In the summer he worked for a stock man upon the present site of the town of Sprague, putting up hay. In August he returned to his own place to look after his crop, but found that his potatoes had been frosted and he, therefore, abandoned his claim. That fall he started down the creek with his team and located in a big meadow on Cow creek, where he cut and sold hay, the purchaser being Thomas Durry, a sheep man. In this business he engaged for four years and afterward sold the ranch to Mr. Durry for eight hun- dred dollars. He then went to Lower Crab creek and bought mares with his money and began the breeding of horses. In the fall of 1877 he took up his abode upon what has since been his home farm and in the fall of that year he did the first plowing done on the bench land in the north half of Garfield county. He first preempted one hundred and sixty acres and at the same time took up a timber claim, while three years later he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land. This constituted the nucleus of his present extensive posses- sions and gave him his start toward his later success. From time to time he has bought adjoining land until his present holdings comprise something more than twenty-one hundred acres and he operates under lease four hundred and eighty acres in addition, which he has cultivated for more than a quarter of a century. HIe has been one of the foremost breeders of thoroughbred draft horses in southeastern Washington and for the first fifteen years he specialized in the breeding of Clydesdales, for which breed he has gained a wide reputation. For the last ten or twelve years he has given his attention largely to the breeding of black Percheron horses and has gained an enviable reputation in this respect throughout the entire northwest. He is regarded as one of the foremost breed- ers and one of the most reliable judges of good horses in Washington. In con- nection with his extensive operations as a breeder Mr. Lambie farms eight hun- dred acres to wheat and has one hundred and ten acres planted to alfalfa and annually he produces splendid crops because his methods are practical and pro- gressive.
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