born in Washington county, Arkansas, but at the time of her marriage
was county superintendent of schools of Columbia county. To them
was born one child, who, however, is deceased. Mr. Fair is a stanch
democrat in politics and has served with ability as a member of the
town council. He is well known in fraternal circles, belonging to
Alki Lodge, No. 136, I. O. O. F., of which he is past grand; Franklin
Encampment, No. 13, I. O. O. F., of which he is past chief patriarch;
Dayton Lodge, No. 26, F. & A. M., of which he is now worshipful master;
and Dayton Lodge, No. 3, K. P., of which he is past chancellor. His
religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Congregational
church, and in his business dealings, as well as in the private
relations of life, his conduct measures up to high moral standards. He
feels that his decision to come to the west was one of the wisest that
he has ever made and he is confident that a greater future is in store
for this section.
CHARLES CLAGUE.
Charles Clague, a prosperous farmer residing on section 2, township 9
north, range 36 east, Walla Walla county, was born on the Isle of Man
in March, 1860, a son of Richard and Isabella (Quirk) Clague, also
natives of that island, where their entire lives were passed. Our
subject's education was received in the public schools and he remained
in his native country until he attained his majority but in 1881 came
to the United States. For six months he worked in a grocery store in
Olean, New York, after which he decided to see the west. There for a
month he worked in Colorado and then continued his journey, arriving
in San Francisco on Christmas day, 1881. He only remained in that city
for two days, however, and then came to Walla Walla county, Washington.
He took up a homestead two miles south of Prescott and for twenty
years lived upon that place, which he operated successfully. He also
purchased other land, becoming the owner of seven hundred and eighty
acres. In 1902, in partnership with T. F. Dice, he bought five hundred
acres of land and later they purchased the old Samuel Erwin home farm,
where both have since resided. Mr. Clague has sold his homestead and
the land adjoining and has also disposed of the equity of the five
hundred acre tract but retains his interest in the farm of eighty
acres, where he and Mr. Dice reside. He also is the owner of fifty-two
acres of irrigated land near Patterson, Stanislaus county, California.
He has gained financial independence and, having disposed of the
greater part of his holdings, is now enjoying a period of comparative
leisure.
Mr. Clague is a progressive republican in politics and has always been
most loyal to the interests of his adopted country. He belongs to the
Presbyterian church and in its teachings are found the principles
which guide his life. For thirty-six years he has resided in Walla
Walla county and has done his part in bringing about the wonderful
development that has taken place during that time. He has a wide
acquaintance and a large number of warm personal friends.
FRANK W. PAINE.
Frank W. Paine is a capitalist of Walla Walla whose name is inseparably
interwoven with the history of city and state. Coming to the west in
pioneer times, he is familiar with every phase of frontier life and
with the processes of development which have brought the state from
pioneer conditions to its present stage of progress and prosperity. His
individual labors have contributed much to the results achieved, and no
account of Walla Walla's development would be complete without extended
reference to him.
Mr. Paine was born August 31, 1839, in Mercer, Somerset county, Maine,
and has therefore passed the seventy-eighth milestone on life's
journey. His father, William Paine, was born in Hingham, Massachusetts,
September 5, 1801, and died December 4, 1883, while the mother,
who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Wentworth Pike, was born in
Somersworth, New Hampshire, December 29, 1804, and passed away February
14, 1872. Both parents were of English Puritan stock. Among the early
representatives of the Paine family were men of title who belonged to
the nobility of England, and in New England representatives of the
name loyally served their country in the struggle for independence and
as statesmen aided in formulating the policy of the commonwealth with
which they were connected. In religious faith the parents of Frank W.
Paine were Congregationalists. In political faith William Paine was
first a whig and afterwards a republican, and by occupation he was a
farmer. To him and his wife were born six children, who were reared
more in the fear than in the love of God, but for their day they were
on the firing line, both in good works and exemplary lives.
Frank W. Paine began his education in a little unpainted schoolhouse
of one room, which stood at the forks of the road on Beech Hill,
in the town of Mercer, Somerset county, Maine. He at first had the
opportunity of attending school for about eight weeks in the summer and
ten weeks in the winter season until he was ten or eleven years of age,
when he no longer found it possible to continue his studies through
the summer but was enabled to attend school through the winter until
his eighteenth year. He then began teaching in the country districts
through the winter months, while the summer was devoted to farm work.
On leaving the schoolroom, however, he did not consider his education
complete, for his strong desire for learning has led him to read and
study systematically and he always has near him good books on history,
literature, science and poetry. Such books have also constituted a part
of his continuous reading and thus he has obviated his lack of early
training and become a most well informed man. Moreover, in the various
positions of public trust which he has filled he has always found
it to be of the greatest assistance to resort to the most reliable
authorities treating on the matters in hand and in these ways he has
been able to accomplish something of what a liberal education might
have done for him. He has many times so keenly felt his deficiency in
the lack of school and college training that upon an analysis of his
educational shortcomings he determined that his most serious lack was
a fuller understanding of history, literature and Latin, and he has
wherever possible urged young men to prepare along those lines.
[Illustration: FRANK W. PAINE]
[Illustration: RESIDENCE OF F. W. PAINE]
As school teaching and farming seemed to offer small opportunities
in Maine, Mr. Paine resolved to go west and chose California as his
objective point, arriving in that state in October, 1861, with a letter
from the late Judge E. D. Sawyer of San Francisco to an old friend
of his at Mokelumne Hill. He was soon on the ground of the "Jumping
Frog of Calaveras county" and found the addressee of his letter to be
the proprietor of a provision store and his affairs much run down at
the heel. Early in the spring of 1862, therefore, Mr. Paine went to
Dogtown, in Shasta county, to join two friends who were preparing to
go to the newly discovered mines on Salmon river in Idaho. He became
the third member of the party, whose route, as contemplated, lay over
the Siskiyou mountains to southern Oregon, then to Portland and on by
way of Walla Walla, but at Jacksonville they were advised to cross the
Cascade mountains down the east side to Klamath lake and on to Walla
Walla. After many days of weary walking they arrived in Walla Walla
late in June 1862, and there met the returning tide of miners from
Salmon river and Florence, which discouraged the three young men from
going further in that direction.
Under the stress of necessity Mr. Paine made haste to find employment
and after two or three months by precarious work of different kinds
he secured a situation in the Baker-Boyer store but was soon detailed
to take charge of the Spray warehouse at Wallula under Dr. Baker's
direction. In the spring of 1863 a mad rush for the Boise mines carried
Mr. Paine along. As a measure of economy he engaged with a mule pack
train owned by the firm of Johnson & Stratton, serving as off side
packer and learning to "throw the diamond hitch." The wealth which
Mr. Paine accumulated in that mining venture consisted mainly in
experience. In the fall of 1864 he returned to Walla Walla and at once
was reinstated in his former position with the Baker-Boyer firm, there
remaining until the spring of 1866, when another attack of mining fever
took him to Montana with a stock of clothing made for the California
miners' trade, which stock of goods was readily sold at a good profit.
After enjoying a few weeks of summer on the summit of the Rockies he
returned to the land of his adoption, and to be safeguarded against
another "call of the wild," on his return he accepted the proffer of a
partnership made by William Stephens, a merchant conducting business
at the corner of Main and First streets. The business prospered and
at the end of a year Mr. Paine purchased the interest of his partner
and admitted his brother John to a partnership, removing the stock to
the corner of Second and Main streets, where they conducted a very
substantial business. After about two year opportunity enabled Mr.
Paine to succeed by purchase to the Baker-Boyer business, then located
on the present site of the Baker-Boyer Bank. Miles C. Moore joined him
as a partner under the style of Paine Brothers & Moore, which firm soon
became widely known for its business enterprise and also for its local
political influence. During the existence of the firm they established
branches at Waitsburg and at Dayton and built a fine steamboat, The
Northwest, to ply in wheat carrying on the Columbia and Snake rivers.
The war department, however, leased the steamboat to transport troops
and munitions during the war with the hostile Willowas, under the
notable Chief Joseph, in 1878. Soon after the boat was taken over
by the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company. After nearly ten years
of pleasant and profitable partnership Mr. Moore withdrew from the
firm. In the meantime they had concentrated their attention upon farm
implements and machinery and this business was conducted under the
style of Paine Brothers. In 1879 they built the three-story brick
building, which was then the finest business block in the northwest
outside of Portland. Upon its completion and upon the organization of
the First National Bank it took up its home in this building, where it
has since continued.
While for many years Mr. Paine figured most prominently in commercial
circles, he also became a leader in the public life of the community as
well. His first public office was that of councilman, which he filled
in 1878 and 1879. He afterward served as city treasurer in 1883 and
1884 and was mayor of Walla Walla through the two succeeding years.
All of these offices came to him unsought. During his mayoralty term
he signed the ordinance prohibiting stock from running at large in the
streets and this executive act lost him his reelection. He recognized,
however, the value of such a course to the city and followed the
dictates of his judgment and his conscience notwithstanding the
contrary advice of his friends who desired his reelection. In 1880 Mr.
Paine was elected school director in District No. 34, the western part
of the city. In 1882, by act of the legislature, Districts No. 34 and
No. 1, the latter the eastern part of the city, were united in one
and the two boards of directors acted as one until the next election,
when Mr. Paine was elected one of the three directors for the combined
district. He was reelected at each succeeding election until 1906 and
during his incumbency, covering more than twenty-five years, he was
chairman of the board, which from time to time had to meet increasing
requirements by the erection of two frame and three brick schoolhouses.
To do this the legal maximum levy of five per cent was not exceeded.
The educational work done and the standing of the schools was equal to
the best in the state.
In 1887 Governor Watson C. Squire, at the request of many of Mr.
Paine's friends, appointed him superintendent of the new state
penitentiary which had been recently erected at Walla Walla, with
orders to establish rules and regulations and to conduct the
institution on a similar plan to that of the Oregon state penitentiary.
After some hesitation he accepted the appointment, and as the
legislature, after providing an appropriation to erect the buildings,
had neglected to make any appropriation for its maintenance, it became
necessary to secure a citizens' pledge of five thousand dollars on
which to draw for incidentals for the ensuing year or until the next
legislature should meet. This done, he took six good men as guards
with him to Seatco, where the old contract prison built of logs was
located and where the convicts divided their time between working in
a sash and door factory, working their way out of prison and being
worked back by a reward or a bloodhound. Governor Squire met Mr. Paine
at that place and after getting a record of the convicts, as a measure
of economy for the state, he pardoned sixteen whose terms were nearly
completed, leaving ninety-seven to be transferred to Walla Walla,
which was accomplished without loss of any member. The next problem
was to produce work for the prisoners and Mr. Paine soon succeeded
in establishing and operating successfully a brickyard, which proved
greatly beneficial to the prisoners. At the close of his term and on
the convening of the legislature he reported to the governor, then
Governor Semple, giving account of the amount required to cover all
indebtedness incurred. The legislature readily made the appropriation,
supplemented by a complimentary resolution. Two years later, under a
new legislative enactment, Mr. Paine was made chairman of a commission
of three members appointed by Governor Elisha P. Ferry, consisting of
P. A. Preston, F. M. Lowden and Mr. Paine. With the ready compliance
of his colleagues, Mr. Paine proceeded at once to establish a jute
mill, having at his personal expense visited and investigated the San
Quentin and Oakland jute mills, where he learned of their methods and
was advised of their profits, thus becoming convinced of the economy
of the measure and of what was of much greater moment, the providing
of employment for the inmates of the institution. The establishment of
the mill was strenuously opposed by the labor element, as had been the
brickyard, but the objection to convict labor has been largely overcome
in view of the importance to the health and morals of the inmates of
all such institutions. With the advanced views of the day Mr. Paine
gladly sees the passing of another most degrading abuse from which this
particular institution suffered at times in its earliest history--that
of making it a base for political operations of a most scandalous
character and its offices a reward for political jobbery.
Another field of activity into which Mr. Paine entered was that of the
Building Loan & Trust Association, which he was largely instrumental
in organizing in February, 1890. It was called the International
Building Loan & Trust Association of Walla Walla and soon built up a
prosperous business. It has continuously paid its patrons a good rate
of interest, has built many comfortable homes in and around the city
and is today one of the leading institutions of the kind in the state.
It is strictly mutual, makes money only for the stockholders and the
only salary paid is that to its secretary, together with a small fee
to its board members for each regular monthly meeting. The business
methods are highly commended by the state examiner. Of this association
Mr. Paine has been the president since its inception, covering a period
of more than twenty-seven years. One of the most greatly appreciated
honors that has come to Mr. Paine has been his appointment on the
board of overseers of Whitman College and he is further honored in the
position of chairman on the college loaning board.
In the late '70s Mr. Paine assisted in organizing the first Board
of Trade at Walla Walla. At that early date it was thought to be of
questionable value to the business community, so that it was with
difficulty that funds could be secured to pay a secretary. In fact
the body's activities and even its existence was at times of an
intermittent order. In time the Board of Trade became the Chamber of
Commerce and eventually the Commercial Club, and it fell to the lot
of Captain P. B. Johnson of the Walla Walla Union and to Mr. Paine to
keep alive the last named organization, the former acting as secretary
and the latter as president. They answered correspondence, mailed
descriptive circulars and other literature and in this way induced
at least some settlers to come to the valley. All this occurred long
before the inception of the present very much alive commercial body.
Mr. Paine not only figured in the business and public activities of
the city but also in its social organizations. He became a member of
the Inquiry Club on its organization twenty-six years ago, a club
which is still in vigorous existence. Its membership has included many
of the brightest minds in Walla Walla--men from various professions
and callings in life. Whitman College has been largely represented
on its roster. The workings of the club certainly have a great charm
for its members, for its discussions cover the widest possible range
of subjects and any member called upon expresses his views upon the
subject under discussion with entire absence of restraint and accepts
with good grace whatever he may get in return. Mr. Paine was also
connected with an association of gentlemen of literary attainments
which was organized in 1877. Among its members were Dr. George M.
Sternberg, later surgeon general of the United States army, Judge J.
K. Kennedy, Dr. J. E. Bingham, Colonel H. E. Holmes, Ex-Governor M.
C. Moore, Colonel W. H. Miller, J. F. Boyer, Major R. R. Rees, F.
W. Paine and a number of other prominent citizens. The objects of
this association, as expressed in its articles of organization, were
to maintain a scientific and useful library, to promote science and
to cultivate and improve its members. Mr. Paine is also a member of
the Archaeological Association of Walla Walla, which under Professor
Anderson maintains a good degree of activity, bringing to the city many
able lecturers on arts and sciences. On the list of the members of the
Symphony Orchestra is also found the name of Frank W. Paine, who has
been its honored president for many years, an association which has
done much to cultivate and promote musical taste in Walla Walla.
Most pleasantly situated in his home life, notwithstanding the extent
and importance of his business and public and social activities, the
interest of Frank W. Paine, yet has ever centered in his home. He
married Ida B. Illsley, a daughter of Jonathan H. Illsley, a merchant
of Harrison, Maine, the wedding being celebrated in the Presbyterian
church on Capitol Hill in Washington, D. C., April 3, 1876. After a
brief visit to their old homes in Maine they turned toward Walla Walla,
visiting the Centennial at Philadelphia while en route and thence
proceeding to San Francisco, to Portland and on to their destination,
where they arrived on the 6th of July, being soon domiciled in the
home which they yet occupy. Mrs. Paine comes of a family of superior
musical and literary talent, finding its highest exponent perhaps in
her eldest sister, the late Mrs. Caroline A. Tolman, who possessed
unusual literary ability and devoted much time and talent to advocating
the emancipation of women, contemporaneous with Elizabeth Cady Stanton,
Susan B. Anthony and Abigail Scott Dunniway. They labored to make a
place for woman side by side with man. Theirs was scant praise in their
day but already the harvest of their labors is being garnered.
To Mr. and Mrs. Paine were born four daughters. Elizabeth, the eldest,
passed away at the age of twenty-four years. Josephine became the wife
of Timothy A. Paul, a graduate of the University of Virginia and now
a resident of Walla Walla, by whom she has three children, two sons
and a daughter. Mary became the wife of Ben G. Stone, a real estate
and insurance man and farmer of Walla Walla, and they have two sons.
Frances is the wife of R. Douglas Ball, who is engaged in the wholesale
paper business in Seattle, and they have three children, a daughter and
two sons. Mr. and Mrs. Paine are happy in the possession of their three
daughters, their generous, manly husbands and their promising children.
They stand to them a full measure of reward for any and all sacrifices
it may have been their duty and pleasure to make for them and an ample
assurance of continued happiness in them, for all of which they duly
return thanks to the "giver of every good and perfect gift."
JOHN N. FALL.
John N. Fall was one of the pioneers of Walla Walla county who reaped
the reward of his labors, being at the time of his death the owner of
large tracts of fine wheat land, the operation of which he supervised,
although a resident of Walla Walla. He was born in Indiana, September
13, 1836, a son of Asa and Agnes (Davis) Fall, the former a native of
North Carolina. Both parents passed their last years in Walla Walla
county.
John N. Fall received the education usually afforded boys in pioneer
communities and remained with his parents until he reached mature
years. In 1861 he decided to take advantage of the opportunities
offered the ambitious young man in the Pacific northwest and crossed
the plains with ox teams. He at once settled in Walla Walla county,
buying a farm on Mill creek, on which he resided until 1867. He then
removed to Walla Walla but continued to operate his farm and, although
as the years passed his holdings increased rapidly, he never ceased to
exercise direct personal supervision over his agricultural interests.
He was at once practical and progressive, being ready to adopt any
new method or implement whose value had been reasonably well proven.
He gave careful study to the problems of increased production, the
conservation of soil fertility and advantageous marketing, and it was
recognized that he was an authority on everything pertaining to wheat
raising.
Mr. Fall was married in Missouri in 1858 to Miss Sarah E. Williams,
a daughter of Benjamin and Mary Williams, both of whom were born in
Kentucky, but for a number of years resided in Missouri, whence they
finally removed to Iowa, where the father passed away. The mother then
came to Walla Walla county, where she spent her last years. To Mr. and
Mrs. Fall was born a son, Dr. E. E. Fall, who died in February, 1917,
leaving a son, Edmond E.
Mr. Fall supported the democratic party at the polls and manifested the
interest of a good citizen in public affairs. Fraternally he belonged
to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of
United Workmen, and the spirit which characterized his life was that
of fraternity and consideration for others. He passed away in 1900 and
was laid to rest in Mountain View cemetery. He was a consistent member
of the Presbyterian church, to the support of which he contributed
generously, and his sterling worth gained him a warm place in the
regard of those who were closely associated with him. Mrs. Fall was
also a member of that denomination and was likewise keenly interested
in its various activities. After the death of her husband she owned and
personally managed the operation of two thousand and forty acres of
wheat land and two hundred and forty acres on the mountain, a part of
which was wheat land and a part pasture. In looking after her extensive
interests she manifested an executive ability and keen insight into
business that was far above the average and she was recognized as a
factor in the development of the county along agricultural lines.
ELMER L. WOODS.