acquirement of an education and was about seventeen years of age when
he began providing for his own support. During the following five years
he worked for wages and was then married. He had saved enough money
to feel justified in starting out independently as an agriculturist
and in 1878 he brought his bride to Washington and took up a homestead
in Garfield county which is a part of his present home farm, on which
he has resided continuously to this time. As his financial resources
have increased, owing to his untiring industry and capable management,
he has extended the boundaries of his place by purchase until it now
embraces three hundred and thirty-three acres. The property yields him
a gratifying annual income and he has long been numbered among the
representative agriculturists and substantial citizens of the county.
In 1877 Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Elmira Hubbard, of
Marion county, Oregon, a daughter of Joseph Hubbard, who crossed the
plains from Illinois to Oregon in 1855 and took up a donation claim
in Marion county, where he spent the remainder of his life. Mr. and
Mrs. Davis became the parents of three children, namely: Edith, who is
deceased; Alvin, at home; and Ella, who holds a clerical position in
Spokane.
[Illustration: MR. AND MRS. CLINTON D. DAVIS]
In politics Mr. Davis is is stanch republican, having supported the
men and measures of that party since age conferred upon him the right
of franchise. He has witnessed the development of this section of the
state from pioneer times to modern and has borne his share in the
work of progress and improvement, while in the conduct of his private
business interests he has also manifested the sterling traits of
character which have won him the high regard and esteem of his fellow
citizens.
DANIEL HAYES.
Daniel Hayes is one of the well known and honored pioneer settlers of
Walla Walla county. Six decades have come and gone since he arrived in
the state of Washington, and there is not a feature of its development
with which he is not familiar. He has had many interesting and varied
experiences incident to the life of a pioneer, and his memory forms a
connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present.
Daniel Hayes was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, in the year 1840.
His parents died while he was yet a boy, and at the age of twelve
years he came to America, where a brother and sister had emigrated
some years before. When in America but a short time he went to work
as an errand boy for James A. Hamilton, a son of Alexander Hamilton,
patriot and statesman, at his beautiful home on the Hudson river. He
was affectionately known to the Hamilton family as "little Danny," and
the only schooling he ever received was from Mr. Hamilton's daughter
Angelica, who became interested in him and taught him evenings. Mr.
Hayes has never forgotten his benefactress, and his youngest daughter
bears her name. When seventeen years of age he left this good home and
the opportunities he was promised, and came west. He made the trip by
the way of the Isthmus of Panama and landed in San Francisco in April,
1857. Shortly after arriving in San Francisco, he entered the employ
of the government in the quartermaster's department. He served for
eleven months at Benicia, California, and then went to The Dalles,
Oregon, with Captain Jordan. In 1858, when on the way to Fort Simcoe
with a government train of forty wagons, news was received of Colonel
Steptoe's defeat in a battle with the Indians near the present site
of Rosalia. They then returned to The Dalles, where Colonel Wright
fitted out troops, and moved to the mouth of the Tucanon river where
Fort Taylor was built. Mr. Hayes was the driver of an ammunition wagon
and brought supplies to Fort Taylor, where Major Wise was stationed.
When Fort Taylor was abandoned he joined Captain Mullan's command and
assisted in building the military road from Fort Walla Walla to Fort
Benton, Montana. In 1861 he left the employ of the government and went
to the mines at Orofino, Idaho. There he took up a claim and engaged in
mining during the summer of that year. He later bought a pack train and
engaged in the business of freighting until 1873, when he settled on
the farm where he still resides.
At the outbreak of the Spanish-American war in 1898, Mr. Hayes offered
his services to the government and was appointed by Quartermaster
Cameron at Fort Walla Walla, to take charge of a pack train in Cuba.
He served in Cuba during the period of the war, carrying food and
ammunition to the American soldiers at the front.
Mr. Hayes was twice married. In 1873 he was married to Miss Elizabeth
O'Donnell, who died in 1876. The two children born to them died in
early childhood. In 1879 he married Miss Mary Carrol, who like her
husband was a native of Ireland and who still survives. Nine children
were born to them, eight of whom are still living, one having died in
infancy. The daughters are: Catherine (Mrs. W. C. Anderson), Nellie
(Mrs. B. G. Wiley), Margaret (Mrs. William Upton), and Angela; the sons
are Parnell, Tom, John and Leo. There are three grandchildren, Elinor
and John Edward Wiley and William Upton.
Mr. Hayes and his family are all members of the Roman Catholic church,
and give their political allegiance to the democratic party. His
youngest son came of age just in time to cast the tenth vote in the
family for the reelection of Woodrow Wilson. The story of his life
proves that Daniel Hayes was a sturdy pioneer whose life has been
closely identified with the early history of the state of Washington,
and who was a man always willing to accept his share of hardships and
always eager to serve his country. When war was declared on Germany he
had reached an age when he could no longer be of service, but was proud
in the knowledge that his children would take up the duties for which
he was no longer fitted. Shortly after declaration of war his son John
enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, and his daughter Angela
joined the Army Nurse Corps. The former is at present stationed at
Galveston, Texas, and the latter at Honolulu.
Mr. Hayes has lived to see the pioneer cabins replaced by the more
commodious and beautiful homes on the farms as well as in the cities.
He has seen his family grow to manhood and womanhood, and though not
possessed of wealth, he is spending his late years in comfort on his
productive farm in the foothills. He takes great pleasure in discussing
his many interesting experiences, and when in a reminiscent mood
can relate most thrilling tales of the days when the Indians were
constantly on the warpath, and when he and his comrades traveled many
miles over unbroken roads, swam their horses across swollen streams,
and often subsisted for days on scanty rations. He has now passed the
seventy-seventh milestone in life's journey, but is still hale and
hearty and boasts an endurance equal to that of his sons.
MARCUS ZÜGER.
Few men control farming interests of such extent in Walla Walla county
as does Marcus Züger, who is the owner of forty-two hundred acres of
land. Moreover, he figures in financial circles as the president of the
Exchange Bank of Waitsburg. Alert and enterprising in business, he has
carefully watched his opportunities, which he has wisely improved, and
his energy and determination have carried him forward into important
relations in business circles. A native of Switzerland, he was born
June 18, 1852, a son of Carl and Elizabeth (Horner) Züger, who were
also natives of the land of the Alps, where they spent their entire
lives and reared their family of twelve children, eight of whom are now
living.
Marcus Züger was reared and educated in Switzerland and in 1871, when a
young man of nineteen years, bade adieu to friends and native country
in order to try his fortune in the new world. Crossing the Atlantic,
he spent five years in Boston, Massachusetts, but in 1877 heard and
heeded the call of the west. It was in that year that he arrived in
Walla Walla county, Washington, and took up a homestead claim on
which he built a box house. In true pioneer style he began life on
the western frontier, but with the passing years he has been able to
secure all of the comforts and conveniences known to the older east,
for his labors have brought substantial success and his sound judgment
has enabled him to wisely invest his earnings in real estate. Adding to
his property from time to time, his landed possessions now aggregate
forty-two hundred acres in the great wheat belt of southeastern
Washington. He is now extensively engaged in the raising of wheat and
also pays some attention to stock raising, he and his sons farming all
of his land. His cooperation has also been sought in connection with
banking and he is now the president of the Exchange Bank of Waitsburg.
In June, 1872, in Boston, Massachusetts, Mr. Züger was united in
marriage to Miss Magdalena Jacober, a native of Switzerland, and they
became the parents of five sons: Fred, who has passed away; Marcus, a
farmer; Carl, who died while serving in the Spanish-American war; and
Henry and Frank, who are associated with their father and their brother
Marcus in farming operations. The wife and mother passed away in
February, 1909, and was laid to rest in the Catholic cemetery in Walla
Walla. Her death was the occasion of deep regret not only to her family
but to many friends, for she had gained the warm regard and friendship
of many with whom she had been brought in contact.
Fraternally Mr. Züger is connected with the Ancient Order of United
Workmen. He has always voted the republican ticket since becoming a
naturalized American citizen and he has done active service for the
community as a member of the school board. He has never regretted
his determination to come to America, for here he found the business
opportunities which he sought and has steadily worked his way upward,
winning the proud title of a self-made man. He arrayed determination,
perseverance and capability against drawbacks, poverty and trials
and the result was absolutely certain, for the former three are
invincible--they know no defeat. He today therefore ranks among the
most prosperous residents of Walla Walla county and his activities
are of a character that have contributed much to the agricultural
development of this section of the state. Making his home in Waitsburg,
he is now able to enjoy all of the comforts and some of the luxuries of
life and the most envious cannot grudge him his success, so worthily
has it been won.
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 merchandising. Both he and
his wife remained residents of Contra Costa county, California, until
called to their final rest.
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 counties.
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
Dayton, Washington, by whom he has three children, two daughters and
a son, namely: Vyvien B., Sylvan M. and Edwinna M. Dr. Woods gives
his political allegiance 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 phenomenal 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 experiences. 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 accomplishments. What a man does and what he attains depend
largely upon his opportunities, 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,
Washington, and formerly to Milton, Oregon. In a word he is one of the
foremost merchants and business men of the northwest, constantly alert
to opportunities which he uses wisely and well.
[Illustration: MRS. JOHN SMITH]
[Illustration: JOHN SMITH]
Mr. Smith was born in Casco, Wisconsin, on the 16th of June, 1863, a
son 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
resources. 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 apprenticeship 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 Waitsburg, 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 connection with the hardware and implement business
are thus extensive and important, his ramifying trade interests
covering a broad territory. He carefully and wisely selects his
stock, is reasonable in his prices, straightforward in his dealings
and has ever recognized the fact that satisfied patrons are the best
advertisement. He also has extensive land holdings in southeastern
Washington and 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 Interstate 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 attention 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 men 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 thousand
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
Hardware & 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 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 respectively 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
engaged 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 management 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 identified with the Order of the Eastern Star.
PINCKNEY N. HARRIS.