William Denison Lyman

“ The secret of success is not a difficult one to find. Careful analyzation of the careers of those men who have prospered indicates the fact that industry has constituted the foundation of their progress and close application and enterprise have enabled them to overcome all difficulties and obstacles and in time reach the goal of prosperity. Such is the record of Mr. Nilsson, who came as a young man to the new world, well qualified to meet business demands in America by reason of the thorough training which he had received as a wagon maker in his native country. ”

“ Baumeister has borne an unblemished reputation for honesty, kindness and genuine goodness. At the time of this writing he is undoubtedly the best known and best loved man in Asotin county. He is a striking example of what can be accomplished by courage, optimism and persistency in spite of the handicap of lack of scholastic training and financial resources. He is, in fact, a self made man who has done a good job. His life is thus an example worthy of imitation by every young man, and this, in the opinion of the writer, is about the highest praise anyone can be given. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Indolence and idleness were utterly foreign to his nature. Every hour was utilized to the best advantage and as the years passed he prospered, so that from time to time he was able to add to his homestead by additional purchase until prior to his death he had become the owner of about a thousand acres of valuable pasture and wheat land in Garfield county. Mr. Watson had come to this country as a youth without money and without friends, but he employed every moment of his time to good advantage, realizing the eternal principle that industry wins. ”

“ Looking back over the past four years of close and intimate friendship, they seem to reflect back his past and sound out his whole life as embodied living truth; even in his lightest moods he scorned exaggeration as beneath the dignity of his manhood. ”

“ The greatest excitement on the trip was caused by a stampede of the teams. One never experiencing a stampede cannot form any idea of the terror and danger. There seems to be a sort of animal telepathy among cattle, so that at a signal from one, a thousand head will go wild in an instant. Then imagine if you can a train of sixty-five wagons with from five to ten yoke [558] of oxen to a wagon tearing along the prairie at full speed, teams doubling, passing each other, tearing off wheels, amid the screams of children scattered along the way. ”

“ Not only as one of the Indian fighters of the northwest but also as one of the progressive farmers of Walla Walla county did John Singleton leave the impress of his individuality upon the history of southeastern Washington. His worth as a man and as a citizen was widely acknowledged by all who knew him. There was no phase of pioneer life in this section of the country with which he was not familiar and he rejoiced in all that was accomplished in the way of introducing the evidences of modern civilization. ”

“ When energy and ambition lie dormant the path of advancement seems closed, but to the man who believes that there is a chance for every individual and who is willing to take his chance with others, there always comes a time when he can take the initial step that will lead on to fortune. That Mr. Barnhart recognized the opportune moment is shown in the fact that he is now one of the leading business men of Starbuck, where he is widely known as the vice president and manager of the Sprout & Barnhart Mercantile Company and also as a member of the board of directors of the Bank of Starbuck. ”

“ Opportunities 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. ”

“ When the state of Washington was yet cut off from the advantages and comforts of the east by the long stretches of sand and the high mountains, he made his way across the plains, braving all the trials and hardships of pioneer life in order to make a home in the Inland Empire, rich in its resources yet unclaimed from the dominion of the red man. As the years have come and gone he has borne his part in the work of general progress and improvement and has been a prominent factor in promoting agricultural development. ”

“ At different points in his career difficulties and obstacles have barred his path and he has had many hardships to overcome, but persistent energy has enabled him to work his way upward and his life proves the eternal principle that industry wins. His course may well be followed by others who desire to attain honorable success, and although he started out in life empty-handed, he is now the possessor of a very handsome competence and has worthily won the proud American title of a "self-made man." ”

“ He was a self-made man who owed his success to his industry and perseverance alone. He met many hardships and difficulties incident to pioneer life and encountered many obstacles such as always are factors in a business career, but he did not allow himself to become discouraged and with resolute will pushed forward and in the span of his life he won for himself an honored place as one of the substantial men of the county. He was one of its venerable citizens, respected by all, and his worth to the community was widely acknowledged. ”

“ Baker came to the northwest to cast in his lot with its pioneers. People of the present period can scarcely realize the struggles and dangers which attended the early settlers, the heroism and self-sacrifice of lives passed upon the borders of civilization, the hardships endured, the difficulties overcome. These tales of the early days read almost like a romance to those who have known only the modern prosperity and conveniences. ”

“ If a pen picture could accurately delineate his business characteristics, it might be given in these words: a progressive spirit ruled by more than ordinary intelligence and good judgment; a deep earnestness impelled and fostered by indomitable perseverance; a native justice expressing itself in correct principle and practice. ”

“ In acquiring an education he displayed unusual persistency of purpose and great energy, for he worked his way through college, completing the four years' course on a capital of one hundred and eighty dollars which he earned. He boarded himself, living chiefly on graham mush sweetened with syrup, and in order to further decrease his expenses he did his own laundry work at night. Most young men would never consider for a moment undergoing such privations, but he realized the benefit of an education and determined to fit himself for something worth while. ”

“ A man who has contributed to the upbuilding of a city in one line of development is considered worthy of honor, but that man who has a part in the promotion of his city's interests in many fields of activity has a still greater claim upon the gratitude of his fellow citizens, and such was the record of Raymond Ringold Rees, pioneer newspaper man, prominent merchant and man of affairs. ”

“ M. B. Winchell, who is engaged in general merchandising in Touchet, Walla Walla county, ranks with the foremost business men of this section of the state. A spirit of progress and enterprise actuates him in all that he undertakes and his course has been characterized by a determined purpose. He has ever recognized the fact that when one avenue of success seems closed there can always be marked out another path that will lead to the desired goal. Alert and energetic and thoroughly reliable, his position among the business men of Walla Walla county is indeed enviable. ”

“ Gross holds membership with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and is a member of the Christian church, guiding his life by its teachings and conforming his actions to its principles. He has been progressive in all that he has undertaken and in his business affairs has shown sound judgment and keen discrimination. He has never been afraid of hard work nor of close application and is numbered among those who, taking advantage of the great natural resources of the northwest, have won success, gaining a place among the most substantial citizens of this part of the state. ”

“ The average farmer is apt to think of Washington as a great forest country, and while there are wonderful tracts of timber land, making this one of the leading centers of the lumber industry on the continent, there are also great stretches which are most splendidly adapted to farming and particularly to wheat raising, so that Washington has come to be known as one of the great wheat producing states of the Union. ”

“ In the death of John Brewer, Walla Walla loses one of her best and most progressive citizens. No citizen of the town had more warm personal friends, and his demise has brought sadness to many a home. As private citizen and public official he always strove to do his full duty. He endeavored to be just to all men and he spoke ill of no one. He was broad-minded and conservative, generous and public spirited. It would be hard to find a man in the community with fewer faults and more virtues. ”

“ In politics Mr. Corkrum is a democrat but is without ambition for public office. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, to the teachings of which they consistently adhere, and their influence is always on the side of right, progress and improvement. They are honored among those whose financial liberality made possible the fine new church built in 1917. Their cooperation can ever be counted upon to advance and support movements for the benefit of the individual and of the community at large and they advocate the highest standards of citizenship. ”

“ 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 banking 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. ”

“ When the Farmers Agency was established he was made its first manager and served in that important capacity for three years, but his private interests demanded his entire attention and he therefore resigned his position. He does everything in his power to promote the welfare and interests of the agriculturist and in all that he does is actuated by a spirit of enterprise that produces splendid results. He is a man of sound business judgment, sagacious and farsighted, and his well defined plans are carried forward to successful completion. ”

“ In 1908, at the age of twenty years, he began farming on his own account, operating a portion of his [509] father's extensive land holdings, and at the present time he is cultivating between sixteen and seventeen hundred acres of wheat land, thus being one of the big operators in this section of the state. His great broad fields, a waving sea of grain, are a delight to the eye, indicating the ready response which nature makes when intelligent care and cultivation are applied to the fields. ”

“ Edwards has not taken a very active part in civic affairs, preferring to give his entire attention to the management of his extensive business interests. He has found in the development of the Edwards-Hindle department store full scope for his executive ability and energy, and has derived great satisfaction from his effective work in building up its trade. His ability as a merchant is universally recognized, and during the years of his residence in Dayton he has also gained a place in the warm regard of many because of his admirable qualities as a man. ”

“ His record is an inspiring one, for out of a struggle with small opportunities he has come into a field of broad and active influence and usefulness. Quick discernment and the faculty of separating the important features of any subject from its incidental or accidental circumstances have been strong phases in his career. His business has ever balanced up with the principles of truth and honor. He has ever been possessed [236] of sufficient courage to venture where favoring opportunity is presented and his judgment and even-paced energy have carried him forward to the goal of success. ”