USA > Washington > Asotin County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 44
USA > Washington > Columbia County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 44
USA > Washington > Garfield County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 44
USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume II > Part 44
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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
RALPH E. GUICHARD.
Ralph E. Guichard, deceased, was born in Walla Walla on the 6th of January,. 1869, being a son of Judge Rudolph Guichard, who in a military capacity was sent to Walla Walla when there was nothing here but a fort. The father was a man of high intellectual attainments and of unswerving integrity. He was born at Zeitz, Prussia, December 8, 1830, and in 1854 came to the United States. For a year he resided in Rhode Island and in Massachusetts, after which he went to West Virginia and subsequently to Newport, Kentucky, where he enlisted in the United States army. On the Ioth of August, 1857, he was sent to Fort Walla Walla and on retiring from the army he embarked in merchandising in this city. successfully conducting business here until 1871. He afterward took up the study of law and in 1884 was admitted to the bar. He held many public offices, including that of probate judge, was also register of the land office, was county treasurer and penitentiary commissioner. His public duties were discharged with marked fidelity and ability, so that over the record of his official career there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. In politics he was a democrat, rec- ognized as one of the leaders of his party. He was also a prominent Mason, loyal to the teachings and purposes of the craft. On the 14th of October, 1866, Judge Guichard was married to Miss Mary Morrison and to them were born three chil-
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dren : Ralph E., Albert and Mary. The father passed away on the 3d of April, 1898.
Ralph E. Guichard spent his entire life in Walla Walla. He pursued his educa- tion in the Catholic Academy and at the age of fifteen years he entered the drug store of Charles A. Hungate in the capacity of clerk, there remaining for seven years, during which time he thoroughly mastered pharmacy and became a regis- tered pharmacist. He subsequently spent three years in the same store under J. W. Esteb and for one year was in the employ of James McAuliffe. He then became a partner in the business, under the firm style of Guichard & McAuliffe. After a few months, however, the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Guichard entered the employ of the Whitehouse Clothing Company and later became part owner of the business. In 1900 the entire business passed into his hands. His sagacity, his industry, his caution and his capable management, together with his close application, won for him substantial success and an honored place among the commercial leaders of this section. The Whitehouse Clothing Company or the R. E. Guichard Clothing Company, Inc., developed an excellent trade and has become one of the leading clothing houses of the city.
On December 30, 1903, Mr. Guichard was united in marriage to Miss Margaret A. Wooden, of New York, who taught for several years in the city schools of Walla Walla. They had a family of three children : Harold E., Dorothy-Mac, and Robert A.
Mr. Guichard passed away August 10, 1913, and his death was the occasion of deep and widespread regret. He was a member of the Catholic church, also of the Knights of Columbus and of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He like- wise held membership in the Commercial Club. His entire life, with the exception of a few years spent in travel, was passed in Walla Walla, so that he was largely familiar with its history, and events which to many were matters of record were to him familiar from personal knowledge and experience. He ever rejoiced in the upbuilding and progress of his city and cooperated to the extent of his time and ability in all matters that related to the general welfare and improvement.
HON. ELMER E. HALSEY.
Ilon. Elmer E. Halsey, of Clarkston, is a lawyer, now following his profes- sion in Washington and at the same time is taking active part in framing the laws of the state as a member of the legislature. He was born in Dover, New Jersey. January 23, 1861, a son of Thomas J. and Sarah E. Halsey, who were also natives of that state. He was reared in New Jersey and acquired his early education in the schools of Dover and Hackettstown. In 1878 he went to Mis- souri and worked on a farm. In 1883 he attended the St. Louis Law School in the same state. In 1885 and 1886 he was a law student in the State University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and was admitted to the bar in the spring of the latter year. In 1800 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Baraga county, Michigan, and was reelected in 1892 and 1894, having been elected to that office for three consecutive terms. He was also appointed to the position of receiver of the United States land office at Marquette, Michigan, in 1896 and occupied that
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ELMER E. HALSEY
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position until 1898. In August of the latter year he made his way westward to Washington and took up his abode in Clarkston, opening a law office in that city and also in Lewiston. He has since engaged in the practice of law. In 1902 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Asotin county. He is recognized as a strong. able lawyer, and is considered one of the leaders in the legislature. He is a stalwart supporter of the republican party and in 1909 was elected to represent his district in the state legislature and is still serving at this date in that capacity, having been elected to the office for five consecutive terms, without opposition in his own party four times, and twice without opposition from the democrats.
In 1886 Mr. Halsey was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Thomas, a daughter of John R. Thomas, of L'Anse, Michigan, but a native of Vermont. They have two children: Marion G., who is the wife of Dr. E. D. Sawyer, of Asotin, and Burt C., who is in the United States army in the Fourth Balloon Squadron of the Signal Corps, having enlisted while a student at the University of Washington.
Mr. Halsey is a Mason, having three times served as master of Clarkston Lodge, No. 143, F. & A. M. For fifteen years he served on the Clarkston school board and the cause of education has found in him a stalwart champion. He was largely instrumental in the legislature in promoting the bone-dry law of Wash- ington and succeeded in having the bill passed through the house. His name is connected with much important legislation which has been enacted during his five terms connection with the house of representatives. His course has been characterized by the utmost devotion to the public good and the record of no member of the legislature has extended over a longer connection therewith and none has been more faultless in honor, fearless in conduct or stainless in reputa- tion.
J. J. ROHN.
J. J. Rohn is now living retired in Walla Walla but for a long period was actively identified with farming interests in this section of the state and through close application and unremitting energy won a substantial measure of success. He was born in Baden, Germany, November 22, 1834, and is a son of Nicholas and Kate (Cipf) Rohn, who were also natives of that country, where they spent their entire lives. They had a family of six children, but so far as he knows, J. J. Rohn is the only one now living. He was reared and educated in his native country and was a youth of seventeen when he bade adieu to friends and native land and sailed for America, having determined to try his fortune on this side of the Atlantic. He crossed the water in 1851, making the trip on a sailing vessel, and landed at New York city, where he remained for two years, working at his trade of picture frame gilder, which he had learned in Germany. Subsequently he removed to Baltimore, Maryland, where he resided for one year, and in 1855 he enlisted for active service in the United States army and was sent to New York harbor, where he remained until May of that year. He was then transferred to San Francisco, California, and afterward was sent to Red Bluff, and still later to Fort Lane, Oregon, to which point he walked, making the entire distance on foot. In 1855 the Indian war broke out and that winter he was engaged in fight-
OLD WALLA WALLA COUNTY
ing the red men, being in the mountains throughout the entire period. He was fortunate in that he escaped all injury, although he experienced many of the hardships incident to such warfare. In 1857 he was sent to Fort Walla Walla, where he was stationed for several years. He went out with the Wright expedi- tion in 1858 and in 1859 he was transferred to Vancouver, where he remained until honorably discharged in 1860.
Mr. Rohn then returned to Walla Walla and took up a homestead on Mill creek, where he has since lived. He still owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which is highly improved. He has added to it all modern accessories and conveniences and was successfully engaged in farming for many years but event- ually put aside the active work of the fields to enjoy a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. He is now eighty-three years of age and is most comfortably situated in life, the years of his former toil bringing to him a com- petence that supplies him with all necessities and many luxuries.
In 1866 Mr. Rohn was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Sanders, who was born in Indiana, a daughter of Joseph Sanders, who came to Walla Walla in 1864. To Mr. and Mrs. Rohn were born four children : Kate, who is the widow of T. J. Bryan ; Malina J., who is the wife of Harry Gilkerson; Fred, who owns and operates three hundred and eighty acres of land in Whitman county; and Sarah Belle, deceased. The son is married and has seven children. The wife and mother passed away in 1872 and Mr. Rohn has never married again. He reared his children to man and womanhood alone, doing the part of both mother and father in his care of them.
In politics Mr. Rohn has always been a stalwart democrat, actively interested in the success of his party and doing everything in his power to secure the adoption of its principles. His has been a well spent life fraught with good results and characterized by all those traits which in every land and clime awaken confidence and regard. Industry, and perseverance, guided by keen intelligence, have been the basis of his success and he can look back over the past without regret. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for he here found the opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has made steady progress.
HON. JAMES M. LAMB.
No history of Walla Walla county would be complete and satisfactory were there failure to make reference to Hon. James M. Lamb, who was familiarly known as Governor Lamb. When death called him in 1898 he had been a resi- cent of this county for almost forty years. He was one of its first pioneers and one of its most progressive citizens. He had established the first blacksmith shop in this section of the state and he was the first to demonstrate the possibility of wheat growing on the hills. In many other ways he contributed to public prog- ress and improvement through the utilization of the resources of this section of the country. 1
Mr. Lamb was born in Logan county, Kentucky, February 19, 1835, a son of Downing and Elizabeth ( Maxwell) Lamb, both of whom were natives of Logan
HON. JAMES M. LAMB
MRS. JAMES M. LAMB
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county, Kentucky, where they resided until the '70s, when they came to Wash- ington territory, establishing their home in Columbia county, where they resided until called to their final rest.
James M. Lamb remained a resident of his native state until he reached the age of nineteen years, when he crossed the plains to California with his parents in 1854, the gold fields being the attraction which brought them to the Pacific coast. He learned the blacksmith's trade after reaching California, where he conducted a shop and also engaged in farming. In 1856 he was married there to Miss Jane Pearce, also a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of John and Martha (King) Pearce. She crossed the plains from Atchison county, Missouri, in 1856.
Mr. and Mrs. Lamb began their domestic life in California but in 1859 came to Washington, establishing their home in Walla Walla county, where Mr. Lamb opened the first blacksmith shop in this section of the country, there being no shop between Walla Walla and Dayton at that period. He continued to operate his shop and conduct his farm up to the time of his death. About 1867 he went to a place near McMinnville, Oregon, to help perfect the first combination cutting and threshing machine used in this section of the country, as he was a master mechanic. This machine was first drawn by horses attached both in front and behind. Later he made a number of improvements on the machine, which was afterward sold to Holt & Company for two thousand dollars, and it has subse- quently been perfected until today it is the standard machine of the kind used in this locality.
Mr. Lamb homesteaded eighty acres of land on his arrival in Walla Walla county and afterward added to his holdings by purchase from time to time until his farm comprised two hundred and eighty acres. This he brought under a high state of cultivation, carefully and persistently developing his fields, so that annually he gathered abundant harvests. It is said that he was the first man to demonstrate the possibility of growing wheat on the hills. He continually sought to improve his farm, was always ready to take up new methods and his sound judgment demonstrated to him the worth of any new idea that was advanced.
In politics Mr. Lamb was a democrat and one of the active workers of the party. He became a leader in molding public thought and opinion and exerted much influence over the affairs of the community. His aid was always given on the side of improvement and upbuilding. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his ability, called upon him to serve in several public offices. He was elected justice of the peace and filled that position for many years, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial, so that he won golden opinions from all sorts of people. In 1867 he was elected to the territorial legislature, where he served with honor and distinction, carefully aiding in the solution of many intricate and involved problems in connection with shaping the early legislation of the state. He also assisted in surveying Walla Walla county in pioneer times and there were many phases of public improvement with which he was closely identified. In 1885 he removed to Walla Walla, where he made his home until his death, although he passed away in Lodi, California, on the 5th of March, 1898, having gone to that place for the benefit of his health. His widow still survives and resides at the old home in Walla Walla with her son, Daniel W.
To Mr. and Mrs. Lamb were born six children: John D., a resident of Walla Walla ; Georgia A., the wife of George Howard, of Berkeley, California ; Martha Vol. 11-22
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OLD WALLA WALLA COUNTY
E., who married A. H. Johnson, of Tacoma, Washington; Cora A., the widow of J. L. Cation and a resident of Walla Walla; William T., of this township; and Daniel W. The two sons, William T. and Daniel W. Lamb, conduct the old home farm and are representative agriculturists of this section of the state.
James M. Lamb was a most consistent Christian gentleman and an active worker in the church. He became one of the organizers of the First Christian church, services being held on the 4th of July, 1874, in an old log cabin at Dixie. The charter members were John R. Ware, Margaret Ware, Philip and Clarinda Beal, Elizabeth Neland, J. M. and Jane Lamb, W. T. Barnes, Sarah Barnes, Mr. Barnes becoming deacon and clerk, with J. R. Ware as elder. The life of James M. Lamb was ever guided by the highest and most honorable principles and he left to his family the priceless heritage of an untarnished name. For almost forty years he was a resident of Walla Walla and was one of its most valued citizens and honored pioneers. He contributed much to its early development as well as to its later progress and at all times he enjoyed the confidence and respect of those with whom he was brought in contact. His two sons are mem- bers of Mountain Gem Lodge, No. 136, K. P., of Dixie. Both have passed through all of the chairs and are members of the grand lodge and they are also identified with El Kindi Temple, No. 193, of the Knights of Khorassan. In busi- ness affairs they are progressive and enterprising, wisely managing their im- portant farming interests, which are bringing to them a substantial annual return.
HON. HENRY PERRY ISAACS.
Hon. Henry Perry Isaacs, deceased, was one of the historic figures who have been dominant factors in the development of southeastern Washington and north- eastern Oregon. His activities were of such a nature that he might be termed one of the empire builders of this section of the country. He saw the possibilities here and utilized the opportunities offered, his labors at all times contributed to public progress and prosperity as well as to individual success. He thus left his impress for good upon the history of Walla Walla and of the state and his memory is yet revered and honored by all who knew him.
Mr. Isaacs was a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where his birth oc- curred on the 17th of March, 1822. He came of Scotch-English ancestry and while spending his youthful days in the Keystone state acquired a common school education. He had no other opportunities for educational advancement save those which were self-acquired. He possessed, however, an observing eye and retentive memory and was continually storing his mind with facts that proved a basis for his success in later years. At an early age he entered the employ of one of Philadelphia's foremost mercantile houses and his training there consti- tuted an important element in his later progress along commercial lines. When twenty-one years of age he removed to Indiana with a view of seeing something of the outside world and after reaching that state he engaged in merchandising on his own account. Subsequently he joined the rush for the California gold fields, but was not especially successful in his mining venture. However, he was a man of broad vision and saw wonderful opportunities in the new western country.
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This land of perpetual sunshine seemed to promise great things for the future and in 1858 he proved his faith in the country by erecting at Fort Colville, Wash- ing, his first flour mill, demonstrating to the farmers of this section that wheat could be raised profitably upon the hills and uplands, which in those early days were given over to stock raising. This was the initial step in the development of his important milling interests. In 1862 he built the North Pacific Mills at Walla Walla and in 1864 he erected the War Eagle Mills at Boise City, Idaho. Wherever opportunity offered he eagerly grasped it and extended his efforts into various fields, his labors at all times proving profitable by reason of the intel- ligent direction of his efforts. In 1865 the Middleton mills at Middleton, Idaho, were built and in 1883 he still further extended his efforts by the building of the North Pacific Mills at Prescott, known as Mill B. In 1898 he built the North Pacific Mills at Wasco, Oregon. His wide experience in this line made him the foremost miller of the Pacific coast. His operations exceeded in volume and im- portance those of any other man engaged in the milling business. His knowledge concerning the best methods of manufacturing and handling flour became a mat- ter of general comment and he was recognized as authority upon all matters per- taining to milling in any of its branches. The output of his mills was not only sold extensively in this section of the country but the production above what was needed in Washington and the northwest found a ready market in the orient and much of the product was exported to China. Mr. Isaacs was the first miller on the Pacific coast to adopt the roller system in the manufacture of flour, his first rolls being of porcelain and imported from Switzerland. He at all times kept his business in touch with the most modern processes and introduced the latest improved machinery into his plant.
Outside of milling circles Mr. Isaacs was perhaps best known by reason of his public spirit and his progressiveness. After demonstrating the possibilities of wheat growing and the development of kindred interests arising therefrom he did some pioneering in horticulture, planting in 1864 one of the first orchards in the vicinity of Walla Walla. Not long afterward he planted a vineyard and from this point he experimented successfully with almost every variety of fruit and veg- etables grown in the north temperate zone. He was an enthusiast in all that per- tained to progress and evolution in plants and tree life and he gave liberally of his time and means to further the cause. He was a leader in public affairs and he represented the county in the territorial council of 1885 and 1886, at which ses- sion he introduced the bill establishing the state penitentiary at Walla Walla. He was constantly watchful of opportunities pointing not only to his individual suc- cess but to the general development of this part of the country, and he ever looked beyond the exigencies of the moment to the possibilities and opportunities of the future. He was the first to attempt to induce G. W. Hunt to build the Wash- ington & Columbia River Line from Dayton to Wallula and thence to Pendleton. The line was successfully built and operated and the completed project was a monument to his enterprise and farsightedness. He was also president of the Commercial Club at the time and used every effort to secure the early construc- tion of the road. But few men in all Washington became so thoroughly con- versant with the state, its varied interests and its possibilities or were so deeply interested in the success of its enterprises as Mr. Isaacs, and but few men have arisen to take so active a part in the development of this section of the country.
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With his death on the 14th of July, 1900, the state of Washington and in fact the entire Pacific northwest lost one of its most conspicuous figures, most es- teemed citizens and most honored men.
CHRISTIAN J. BOWERS.
Christian J. Bowers has gained a gratifying measure of success as a farmer and is still active in that connection although now a resident of Walla Walla. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland. January 7, 1867, a son of George W. and Catherine M. ( Brown) Bowers, also natives of that city, where they were reared. They continued to reside there for about ten years after their marriage and then removed successively to Pennsylvania, Illinois, Iowa and Kansas. From the last named state they crossed the plains in 1880 by horse team to Walla Walla, Wash- ington, and located in the Dry creek hills, about seven miles north of Walla Walla. The father took up a homestead and also preempted one hundred and sixty acres of land and resided upon his farm until about 1896, when he disposed of his holdings and removed to Columbia county, where he purchased two hun- dred and forty acres on Patit creek, four miles from Dayton. He still owns that farm, but since 1905 has been a resident of Walla Walla. To him and his wife were born the following children: Christian J., of this review ; Bertha S., who passed away at the age of eighteen years; Mae, who is now the wife of John W. Eby, of Walla Walla county ; Charles E., a resident of Walla Walla ; and Gertrude, who is the wife of Clarence Wilson, of Topeka, Kansas. .
Christian J. Bowers received his early education in the district schools and in the Waitsburg public schools and at the Huntsville Seminary. He was reared to agricultural pursuits and following his marriage in 1888 he began farining on his own account in the Dry creek hills and maintained his residence upon his ranch until 1905, when he removed to Walla Walla. He still directs the opera- tion of his holdings, which include three hundred and twenty acres near Low- clen, and also owns about eight hundred acres in Whitman county. The financial independence which is now his is the direct result of his thorough knowledge of farming, his enterprise and his good management, and he justly ranks among the successful men of Walla Walla county.
On the 13th of May, 1888, occurred the marriage of Mr. Bowers and Miss Laura V. Coplen, a native of Washington. Her grandfather, Henry Coplen, removed with his family from Indiana to Colorado and thence in 1864 located in the Willamette valley. near Vancouver, Washington. Six years, later, in 1870, he removed to Whitman county, Washington, where he founded the town of Latah. His son, Benjamin, was a scout in the early days and took part in the Indian wars in the northwest. The mastodon skeleton which is now preserved in Field Museum in Chicago was found upon his farm. James W. Coplen, father of Mrs. Bowers and son of Henry Coplen, was married in 1865, in the Wil- lamette valley, to Miss Elizabeth Hoskins. a daughter of Dillon and Rachel (Em- ery) Hoskins, who had removed to the west with their family from Iowa, cross- ing the plains with ox teams in 1851 and reaching their destination after six months spent en route. They settled at Scio, in the Willamette valley, where
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