USA > Washington > Asotin County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 38
USA > Washington > Columbia County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 38
USA > Washington > Garfield County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 38
USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 38
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JOHN W. WOODS, D. V. S.
Dr. John W. Woods, one of the incorporators of the Veterinary Hospital Company, builders of the City Veterinary Hospital of Walla Walla, was born in Contra Costa county, California, on the 20th of May, 1868. His parents, Daniel and Sarah (Golden) Woods, crossed the plains to California about the time of the gold excitement in that state, locating in Contra Costa county, where the father engaged in mining and subsequently turned his attention to merchandis- ing. Both he and his wife remained residents of Contra Costa county, California, until called to their final rest.
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In the acquirement of an education John W. Woods attended the public and night schools of Stockton and Fresno. Having determined upon the practice of veterinary surgery as a life work, he took up the study of that profession in early manhood and in 1898 he entered the veterinary department of the Washington State College, being graduated from that institution in 1902. For a year following his graduation he served as house surgeon at the college and on the expiration of that period he located for practice in Dayton, Washington, there remaining for two years. The year 1906 witnessed his arrival in Walla Walla and for a short period he practiced independently here but in 1907 became associated with Dr. Herman A. Trippeer, with offices on Main street. Dr. Woods, Dr. Trippeer and Dr. J. C. Baddely organized the Veterinary Hospital Company and built the City Veterinary Hospital. In 1915 the two first named acquired Dr. Baddely's interests and have since conducted the business with marked success, having built up an extensive veterinary practice in Walla Walla and surrounding coun- ties. Their hospital is equipped with all modern needs and is recognized as a model of its kind.
In 1902 Dr. Woods was united in marriage to Miss Ida M. Bruce, of Day- ton, Washington, by whom he has three children, two daughters and a son, name- ly : Vyvien B., Sylvan M. and Edwinna M. Dr. Woods gives his political alle- giance to the republican party and fraternally is identified with Blue Mountain Lodge, No. 13, A. F. & A. M. His wife is a consistent and devoted member of the Christian church. Both Dr. and Mrs. Woods are widely and favorably known' in social circles of Walla Walla and the former enjoys an enviable reputation as a most successful representative of his profession.
JOHN SMITH.
A man of well balanced capacities and powers is always a strong character and one who inspires confidence in others ; he may not have genius or any phe- nomenal characteristics, yet he is capable of mature judgment of his own capacities and of the people and circumstances that make up his life's contacts and experi- ences. He is eminently a man of business sense and easily avoids the mistakes and disasters that come to those who, though possessing remarkable faculties in some respects, are liable to erratic movements that result in unwarranted risk and failure. A man of well balanced mind, even temper and conservative habits is not necessarily lacking in enterprise of the kind that leads to great accomplish- ments. What a man does and what he attains depend largely upon his opportuni- ties, but the well balanced man mentally and physically is possessed of sufficient courage to venture where favoring opportunity is presented and his judgment and even-paced energy generally carry him forward to the goal of success. Such has been the record of John Smith, a hardware and implement dealer, whose activities not only center in Walla Walla but also extend to Waitsburg. Washing- ton, and formerly to Milton. Oregon. In a word he is one of the foremost mer- chants and business men of the northwest, constantly alert to opportunities which he uses wisely and well.
Mr. Smith was born in Casco, Wisconsin, on the 16th of June, 1863, a son
MRS. JOHN SMITH
JOHN SMITH
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of John M. and Kate (Larkin) Smith, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The father came to the United States with a brother when he was but a child, settling in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In his youth he learned the stone mason's trade, to which he devoted many years of his life. He passed away at the age of seventy years, while his wife died at the age of sixty-seven years. She also came to the new world in childhood with her parents and in Wisconsin became the wife of John M. Smith.
John Smith, whose name introduces this review, was reared upon the old homestead farm in Wisconsin, his father being an agriculturist as well as a stone mason. He therefore early became familiar with all duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He received but a limited education in the country schools of his district and at the age of fourteen years he went into the lumber woods of Wisconsin, since which time he has been dependent upon his own resour- ces. Although young, he was rugged of constitution and he spent several months at the heavy work in the logging camps, after which he entered upon an apprentice- ship to the blacksmith's trade and when still in his teens had become a skilled workman in iron. In 1884 he entered into partnership with John Huntamar and opened a blacksmith and horseshoeing shop. A year and a half later his partner withdrew from the firm and Mr. Smith was joined by others in the organization of the firm of Tierney, Smith & Company. This new company embarked in a wider field, taking over the manufacture of wagons and carriages as well as blacksmithing and horseshoeing. Two years later Mr. Smith sold his interest in the business, desiring to try his fortune in the west.
It was in 1888 that he crossed the continent to become a resident of Walla Walla and here he entered the employ of E. F. Michael, of Laporte, Indiana, as a salesman of agricultural implements in Utah, Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and California. He sold goods for the Laporte house throughout these six states and remained in that position until 1893, when he resigned and embarked in business on his own account. entering into partnership with H. V. Fuller. They opened an agricultural implement warehouse in Walla Walla under the style of Fuller & Smith. This undertaking proved profitable from the beginning and after a year Mr. Smith purchased the interest of his partner in the business, which he conducted alone for a year. He then opened a branch store in Waits- burg, Washington, and in 1900 he bought out the firm of McComber & McCann, hardware dealers of Waitsburg. The hardware store was then consolidated with his implement business and the new venture was incorporated under the firm name of the John Smith Hardware Company, with Mr. Smith as the president. In order to accommodate the enlarged business he erected a brick block, seventy by one hundred and twenty feet, the finest business block in Waitsburg. In 1901 the John Smith Company of Walla Walla was incorporated, with Mr. Smith as the president. and in 1903 the Smith-Allen Hardware Company of Milton, Oregon, was organized and incorporated, Mr. Smith also becoming the president of the last named company. His interests and activities in con- nection with the hardware and implement business are thus extensive and im- portant, his ramifying trade interests covering a broad territory. He carefully and wisely selects his stock, is reasonable in his prices, straightforward in his deal- ings and has ever recognized the fact that satisfied patrons are the best adver- tisement. He also has extensive land holdings in southeastern Washington and Vol. 11-19
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he is a heavy stockholder in the Tariff Silver Mine of British Columbia. He likewise has other property holdings. He was one of the organizers of the Inter- state Building & Loan Association, the name of which was changed in 1916 to the Walla Walla Savings & Loan Association. Since its organization he has served on the loaning committee and also as one of its directors and has filled the office of vice president. During the fifteen years of its existence the company has made but two foreclosures. Efficiency has ever been his slogan and has constituted the foundation upon which he has built his success. He possesses an aggressive nature and his vocabulary knows no such word as fail. By keen at- tention to business, by careful management and by ready discrimination he has built up interests of large and profitable proportions which are the merited reward of his labors and which have placed him in the ranks of the foremost business inen of the Inland Empire.
In 1887 Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Darrow, of Madison, South Dakota, who died the following year. On the 12th of October, 1897, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Mary E. Vaile, a daughter of Rufus and Minerva Vaile, who were among the early settlers of Walla Walla. To this marriage there have been born seven children, five of whom survive, namely : Frank M., Mary Catherine, Edward Ralph, Helen B. and Bernice Elizabeth. Mr. Smith has three times been the victim of fires. each of which started on adjoining property and once almost a block away. These conflagrations swept away about forty thou- sand dollars worth of his property. The most disastrous of these occurred in 1902. when his barn burned and two of his children. John, four years of age, and Zera, less than three years old. were playing there and were burned to death.
It is a recognized fact in this day and age of the world that it is almost as essential to play well as to work well. In other words there must be recreation to act as a balance wheel to intense business activity lest commercialism should result in an undue development out of all proportion to other things. Fraternities provide the outlet for many men and Mr. Smith is among the active members of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. and the Ancient Order of Foresters. For almost thirty years he has also been a director and once served as president of the Pacific Northwest Hard- ware & Implement Association and has the unusual distinction of having never missed a meeting of the board of directors. He votes with the republican party, to which he has always given his support since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He takes an active interest in all public affairs but has never been an aspirant for office, and if asked the reason would probably answer that he has never had the time. Mrs. Smith has been a prominent member of the Walla Walla Shakespeare Club for ten years and has filled all of the offices in that organization, serving as its secretary for three terms. She is also a member of a committee of the Red Cross and is very active in its work. In early life she engaged in teaching for about eight years, having taught nine months of school when she celebrated the seventeenth anniversary of her birth. She taught for some time in the mountains of Oregon, near the Washington state line, and has also taught in this state. In church affiliation Mr. and Mrs. Smith are Catholics, loyal to the teachings of their denomination. He has justly won the proud American title of a self-made man, for he started out in life empty-handed when a youth of fourteen and his boyhood was a period of earnest and unremitting
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labor. In fact he has led a most strenuous life and activity and diligence have been the crowning points in his career, winning for him the prosperity which he now enjoys.
BERTON DELANY.
Among the native sons of the Pacific northwest who have elected to continue their residence in this section after reaching man's estate is Berton Delany, a well known farmer of Columbia county, whose birth occurred in Walla Walla county, April 12, 1884. His parents, George and Olive (Day) Delany, were born re- spectively in Tennessee and West Virginia. In 1843 the father crossed the plains with his parents when but twelve years of age and the family located in Marion county, Oregon. There he remained until 1858, when he came to the Walla Walla valley. He participated in the Rogue River Indian war. In 1864 he en- gaged in stock raising on an extensive scale in the Grande Ronde valley but in 1870 removed to the Crab creek country of Washington, where he devoted his attention to cattle raising until his return to the Walla Walla valley in 1880. Here he began raising grain. He was one of the earliest pioneers of this section, and here he spent his last days.
Berton Delany, who is one of six living children in a family of eight, was reared under the parental roof and attended the common and high schools in the acquirement of his education. He has concentrated his energies upon raising stock and grain, and since beginning his independent career has gained a place among the leaders in the agricultural development of Columbia county. He now owns two thousand acres, most of which is planted to wheat, and the manage- ment of his farm leaves him little time for participation in public affairs.
Mr. Delany was married in 1906 to Miss Mamie Henten, and they have two daughters, Dorothy O., and Sarah M. Mr. Delany belongs to Starbuck Lodge, No. 106, A. F. & A. M., at Starbuck, in which he has filled part of the chairs, and also to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of that place. His wife is iden- tified with the Order of the Eastern Star.
PINCKNEY N. HARRIS.
Pinckney N. Harris, a prominent real estate dealer who has negotiated some of the most important realty transactions in the history of Walla Walla, was born in North Carolina, June 18, 1877, a son of Sidney Butler and Mary Ann (Cooper) Harris, both natives of North Carolina, where they lived and died. To them were born nine children, of whom our subject is the eighth in order of birth and of whom only four now survive. The father served throughout the entire period of the Civil war and was so fortunate as to come out without a scratch. He was mustered out of the military service at Chattanooga, after which he returned to North Carolina, where he engaged in farming until he passed away in 1898. His widow survived for sixteen years, her death occurring in 1914.
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Pinckney N. Harris grew to manhood under the parental roof and in the acquirement of his education attended the district schools. As a young man he held the position of foreman in a large tannery for two years but at the time of the Spanish-American war put aside all personal interests and enlisted in Company B, First Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, with which he was connected until 1900, when he received his discharge in Nebraska. He then located in Walla Walla county, Washington, and for three years followed agricultural pur- suits, with which he had become familiar in his boyhood. Later he was for onc and a half years engaged in mercantile business at Prescott, after which he dis- posed of his interests there and removed to Walla Walla, where he has since been active in the real estate field. He has carried through some of the largest sales of real estate that had ever been made in the county and is generally recog- nized as an authority upon conditions and prices in his line of work. He owns prsonally a number of valuable pieces of property in Walla Walla and has great faith in the future of the city, believing that realty here will show a steady in- crease in value.
In 1904 Mr. Harris was united in marriage to Miss Edith Ogden, who is a native of Oklahoma and is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ogden. Her parents now reside in Waitsburg, Washington, but were born respectively in Illinois and Kentucky. To Mr. and Mrs. Harris have been born three children, Arline, Edgar and Arthur T.
Mr. Harris is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks at Walla Walla and he also belongs to the Commercial Club, which numbers within its ranks practically all of the public-spirited and up-to-date business men of the city. He has won prominence in real estate circles and his success is doubly creditable in that it is due entirely to his own efforts.
CHARLES THOMAS MAXWELL.
Charles Thomas Maxwell is one of the pioneer photographers of western Washington, conducting a gallery at Walla Walla. He arrived in this state in April, 1883, and through all the intervening period, covering more than a third of a century, he has been closely associated with the photographic art and has maintained the highest standards in his work. He has been identified with the business in several of the leading cities of the state but has long maintained a studio in Walla Walla, where he makes his home.
Thomas Maxwell, as he is called, was born at Piney, Monroe county, Ten- nessec, May 20, 1865, a son of Samuel G. and Martha E. (Allison) Maxwell. Ile is connected in the paternal line with the Greer family. His great-grand- father, Sanmel Greer, was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, serving as a private in Captain AAsa Hill's company of the Second Battalion of the Cumberland County (Pa.) Militia. In the maternal line Mr. Maxwell is connected with the Allison family. his great-grandfather, John Allison, serving as a captain under Colonel Isaac of Sullivan county, Tennessee, in the battle of Kings Mountain in October. 1780, and otherwise actively sharing in all the experiences which went to make up the record of the Continental soldier in the Revolutionary war. His great-
CHARLES T. MAXWELL
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great-grandfather, John Allison, emigrating from Ireland, became a resident of Pennsylvania and was one of the Allison family from whom have descended the well known Allisons of Pennsylvania, also W. B. Allison of Iowa and Nancy ( Allison) Mckinley. the mother of President William Mckinley. Samuel G. Maxwell. father of C. Thomas Maxwell, was born about a mile from Jonesboro, Tennessee, in 1820 and there passed away in 1867. He had attained the thirty- second degree in Masonry at the age of twenty-four years. His wife was born in Jonesboro, Tennessee, in 1826 and died in Walla Walla in 1901. Both were educated in Jonesboro and they had a family of ten children, of whom Thomas was the youngest. His eldest brother was killed in the Civil war before the birth of Thomas.
The latter acquired a district school education at Piney and Sweetwater, Ten- nessee, and was a youth of eighteen years when in April, 1883, he came to Wash- ington, making his way to Dayton, where he entered into business with his brother, Joseph D. Maxwell, who was a photographer and had made photographs in Walla WValla in 1878. He had reached Washington territory in 1877 and continued in the photographic business until his death, which occurred in 1915. Thomas Max- well and his brother Joseph were the first photographers in Spokane, opening a permanent studio there in 1884. They were later joined by two other brothers, Grayson Y. and W. W. Maxwell, and they conducted three studios for many years-one in Spokane, one in Dayton and one in Walla Walla. Thomas Maxwell took charge of the Walla Walla establishment and is still conducting business in this city. He has at all times kept in close touch with the most advanced and progressive methods and employs the latest scientific processes in photographic production.
On the 3d of July, 1911, in Walla Walla, Washington, Mr. Maxwell was united in marriage to Miss May Bradlee, who was born at San Francisco, Cali- fornia, December 12, 1882. The birth of her father, Frank Kimball Bradlee, occurred in California in 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell have one son, Charles Thomas (called Thomas), who was born on the 16th of July, 1913.
In politics Mr. Maxwell sometimes votes the democratic ticket, sometimes the republican. In fact he is non-partisan, supporting the candidates whom he thinks best qualified for office. For many years he has been identified with the Benev- olent Protective Order of Elks and is also a member of the Loyal Order of Moose. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. His has been an active, useful and honorable life, winning him the high esteem of all with whom he has come in contact, and Walla Walla has long numbered him among its valued, respected and representative citizens.
ALEXANDER MILNE.
Alexander Milne, who owns valuable farm holdings in Umatilla county. Oregon, now resides in Walla Walla and is well and favorably known in the city. He was born in Scotland, August 1, 1856, a son of William and Janet (Reid) Milne, also natives of that country, where they passed their entire lives. Our subject, who is one of three living children in a family of eight, received
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his education in his native country and remained with his parents until he was seventeen years old. He then started out on his own account and came to Amer- ica, believing that this country offered better opportunities to an ambitious young man than the older countries of Europe. He went at once to Umatilla county, Oregon, and for some time was employed as a common laborer, although later he was engaged in railroad work and in freighting. In 1882 he purchased a farm in Umatilla county, Oregon, and for almost three decades his time and atten- tion were given to the operation of that place. He worked hard and, moreover, so planned his labors as to receive the maximum result and the business phase of farming also received his careful study and he accumulated a competence which in 1910 enabled him to retire from active life. He then rented his farm of three hundred and twenty acres and removed to Walla Walla. The value of his place is enhanced by the excellence of the improvements thereon and he derives a good income from its rental.
In 1887 Mr. Milne was united in marriage to Miss Mary Armour, a native of Canada, and they have one son, Edmund, who after graduating from Whitman College went to Harvard University, where he completed his course in 1915. Ile is now a member of the faculty of Bowdoin College of Brunswick, Maine.
Mr. Milne is a stanch republican but his interests in public affairs is that of a public-spirited citizen and not that of a would-be office holder. His wife belongs to the Presbyterian church and his- support can always be counted upon for movements seeking higher moral standards. Although he came to the northwest a boy in his teens without money or any usual advantages of any kind he has through his own efforts gained financial independence and justly ranks as one of the substantial residents of Walla Walla.
J. C. MELGER.
J. C. Melger, who since 1914 has owned and operated the farm that he now occupies on section 14, township S north, range 37 east in Walla Walla county, has in the course of an active and well spent life won substantial reward from his labors. While he acquired the ownership of his present farm only three years ago he has long been a resident of Walla Walla county, where he arrived in 1888, while Washington was still a territory. He was born in Russia, January 31, 1868, a son of Christ and Mary (Layman) Melger, both of whom spent their entire lives in Russia.
J. C. Melger was reared to his eighteenth year in his native country and acquired his education in its public schools. The favorable reports which had reached him concerning America and its opportunities led him to the determination to try his fortune in the new world and in 1886 he bade adieu to friends and native country and sailed for the United States. He was penniless when he arrived in New York city, but a fellow traveler advanced him money with which to reach Chicago and from there he wired to some friends in Kansas to send him the funds to continue his journey westward. Accordingly he made his way to the Sunflower state, where he spent two years. But still the lure of the west was upon him, beckoning him farther on, and in 1888 he made his way to the Pacific
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MRS. J. C. MELGER
J. C. MELGER
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coast country. It was in that year that he arrived in Walla Walla county, Wash- ington, where he secured employment on a ranch. He thus worked for eleven years in order to gain a start, after which he began farming on his own account as a renter. He was thus engaged until 1914, when his industry and economy had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to purchase his present place, com- prising two hundred and eighteen acres, on which he now resides. He has since operated this farm and in connection with his home place he cultivates one hundred and sixty acres of rented land. He is industrious and energetic and is meeting with good success in his undertakings.
On July 20, 1915, Mr. Melger was united in marriage to Mrs. Clara Matthews and to them has been born a son, Clyde Joseph. By her former marriage Mrs. Melger had a daughter, Mary Thelma. Politically Mr. Melger is a republican, having supported the party since becoming a naturalized American citizen. His study of the political questions and issues of the day has led him to a belief in the efficacy of republican principles as a factor in good government. He belongs to Welcome Lodge, No. 117, I. O. O. F., of Dixie, and to Mountain Gem Lodge, No. 136, K. P. He came to this country a poor boy unable to speak the English language, but he soon mastered the tongue of his adopted land and he is today one of the progressive and influential men of his section, actuated in all that he does by the spirit of western enterprise and allowing no obstacles or difficulties to bar his path if they can be overcome by persistent, earnest and honorable effort.
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