Walla Walla County, Washington

“ The educational system of Asotin County, like that of other units of old Walla Walla, has been typically American, one of the bed rock institutions in [422] the upbuilding of the new land. From the first the people of the county have taken pride in their schools and while not absolutely true at all times and in all places to the highest interest of their children—as none are even in the State of Washington—they have results which make a demonstration of high ideals. There has been steady advancement from the log schoolhouse day to date. ”

“ Hoffmann was united in marriage to Miss Theresa Kirchner, a native of Minnesota, who came to Washington with her parents when she was a child of but four years. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffmann have become the parents of ten children, seven of whom are yet living: John Edward, an agriculturist of Columbia county, Washington; Bessie D., who is the wife of Ben Grote, of Walla Walla; Anna, who gave her hand in marriage to George Retzer, a druggist residing in Walla Walla; Valline, who is pursuing a course in mechanical engineering in the University of Washington at Seattle ”

“ The largest and in many respects most important organization in the four counties is the Farmers' Union. This great organization is national in its aims and membership. Washington and Northern Idaho constitute one unit of the National, and in turn it is divided into county units, either single counties, as the large ones of the state like Yakima or Whitman, or by grouping, as in the smaller. Our counties belong in the latter category, and we find the Tri-County Union of Walla Walla, Columbia, and Garfield. ”

“ Frank Neace, who is actively engaged in farming in Columbia county, was born in Walla Walla, Washington, on the 19th of October, 1875, and has always been a resident of this state. The spirit of western enterprise which has been the dominant factor in the upbuilding of the Pacific coast country has been manifest throughout his entire career. ”

“ 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. ”

“ His aid and influence have ever been on the side of progress and improvement and his work has had far reaching and beneficial results. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He belongs to the Commercial Club and cooperates heartily in all of its well defined plans and measures for the welfare and upbuilding of the city. Along strictly professional lines he has connection with the Walla Walla County Medical Society and the Washington State Medical Society. ”

“ Mr. Lloyd belongs to Waitsburg Lodge, No. 16, F. & A. M.; Dayton Chapter No. 5, R. A. M.; Washington Commandery No. 1, K. T., of Walla Walla; and El Katif Shrine, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Spokane. His wife holds membership in the Christian church and its work profits from her co-operation. In politics Mr. Lloyd is a stanch democrat, but he has never been an aspirant for office. He ranks among the influential men of Walla Walla county and his personal qualities are such that his friends are legion. ”

“ The republican party steadily gained, and in subsequent decades Walla Walla County, as all other parts of the states of Washington and Oregon, became overwhelmingly republican. By the progress of the same evolution, progressive politics have had a powerful hold upon the people of these states, as well as of the entire Pacific Coast, and the support given to democratic candidates, state and national, in 1916, is a thoroughly logical development. The people have been consistent, though party names have not. ”

“ He remained for a period in New York and in the eastern part of the country but in 1878 reached Walla Walla, being then a young man of twenty-six years. He began life as a farm hand, and something of the intense activity and enterprise which has ever characterized him is indicated in the fact that he came to be the possessor of eight thousand acres of the finest land in the wheat belt of Washington, having six thousand and eighty acres in one body, which was but bunch grass land when taken by Mr. ”

“ President, H. P. Isaacs; vice presidents, Anderson Cox, and W. H. Newell; treasurer, J. D. Cook; secretary, R. R. Rees; executive committee, Charles Russell, T. S. Lee and A. A. Blanchard. Under the management of this society the first county fair was held on October 4, 5 and 6, 1866.
Another organization, known as the Washington Territory Agricultural, Mining, and Art Fostering Society, undertook the maintenance of fairs in 1870. In September of that year the first of a series was held until 1873. Finding that the grounds were too far from the city they were sold and the fairs discontinued. ”

“ Walla Walla was well on its way toward becoming a regional center. Throughout the sixties forward-looking citizens began working for a better order and balance in the life of the community. Classes were held in a rented room until a regular school building was constructed. A post office was established, a packing plant and a flour mill were built in 1859, and additional mills were opened within the next three years. In 1861 one of the earliest journals between the Missouri and Cascades, the Washington Statesman (combined with the Walla Walla Union in 1914) , started publication. ”

“ Municipal politics demand our attention in the remainder of this chapter. Containing over two-thirds of the population of the county, as Walla Walla City does, it would be expected that it would control county affairs to a great degree. But it has usually happened, very fortunately, that the smaller towns, with the country precincts, have held the balance of power between contending factions in the city. Hence, there has been general harmony of action in the political development of the two units. The city has had its life and the county has had its life. ”

“ It is reported that two of our representatives in the Legislature are pledged to the removal and also to give several more townships to Walla Walla County to buy its influence. They do not propose to give the people an opportunity to vote on the question, as they fear the result, but aim to have the change made by the Legislature without consulting the wishes of the voters of the whole county. ”

“ In the way of a general view of political conditions in the period from the creation of county offices by the Legislature of the Territory on January 19, 1859, through the period of war, it may be said that the prevailing sentiment was at first strongly democratic. The majority of the settlers in Old Oregon, from which had come a large proportion of the earlier comers to Walla Walla, were from Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, with quite a sprinkling from Tennessee and Kentucky and democratic views preponderated in the sections from which the majority came. ”

“ That meeting eventuated in the actual incorporation of the Walla Walla and Columbia River Railroad. The incorporators were D. S. Baker, A. H. Reynolds, I. T. Reese, A. Kyger, J. H. Lasater, J. D. Mix, B. Scheideman, and W. H. Newell. They planned to place $50,000 of stock in the city, $200,000 in the county, and $100,000 with the O. S. N. Co. An act of Congress of March 3, 1869, granted a right of way and authorized the county commissioners to grant $300,000 in aid of the road, subject to approval of the people by special election. The election was set for June 21, 1871. ”

“ He has never been an office seeker but has nevertheless manifested a commendable interest in public affairs and has staunchly supported the candidates and measures of the democratic party. He holds membership in the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Columbus and the Maccabees and is deservedly popular in those organizations. Both he and his wife are communicants of the Catholic church. He is enthusiastic concerning Walla Walla county and its opportunities and finds pleasure in cooperating in movements calculated to advance its interests. ”

“ The only just and equitable way out of the difficulty is to divide the county on the line indicated and allow the citizens of the new county to locate their county seat. But with the county seat of Columbia County beyond the Tucanon, nineteen-twentieths of the people of this vicinity would petition to be attached to Walla Walla County, as with the present facilities for travel it would be most convenient, to say nothing of the great advantage of joining a wealthy county with public buildings erected and paid for and a brilliant future before it. ”