Walla Walla, devoted his later years to the buying and selling of city
properties but previously operated a stock farm of twenty-five hundred
acres. His birth occurred in Corvallis, Oregon, December 24, 1853, and
he was a son of Johnson Mulkey, who crossed the plains three times, an
achievement the meaning of which the present generation can scarcely
realize, for at the present time the journey which a half century or
more ago meant months of weary traveling with the danger of attack by
Indians or of an outbreak of pestilence, is now a matter of a few days
and is made with the utmost comfort. Johnson Mulkey was a slaveholder
in Kentucky in the early days but freed all his slaves some years prior
to the Civil war, as he had become convinced that the practice of
holding men and women in bondage was wrong. However, such had been his
kindness to his slaves that one old mammy refused to leave the family
and accompanied them to the northwest. It was in 1845 that Mr. Mulkey
first came to Oregon territory and he was so pleased with conditions
in this section of the country that in 1846 he returned to Kentucky
in order to settle up his affairs and in 1847 he again made the long
journey to the west, this time accompanied by his family. His wife was
ill when they reached the Whitman home and made plans to remain there
until she recovered her health while the other members of the family
should continue their journey but later she decided to accompany them
and did so, thus escaping massacre at the hands of the Indians, for it
was only a short time later that the Whitmans were killed by the red
men. Mr. Mulkey located at Corvallis, Oregon, and in the succeeding
years acquired extensive farm, timber and sawmill properties, together
with valuable mining interests in Idaho. He became one of the wealthy
men of Oregon and at the time of his death in the winter of 1861-2
carried in his belt something more than seven thousand dollars in gold
dust. He had made a trip to some of his mining properties in Idaho and
on his return reached John Day, Oregon, about fifty miles from The
Dalles, where he became snowbound. Anxious to reach home as soon as
possible, he started overland on foot and, being weighted down by the
gold dust which he carried, he became exhausted and nearly perished
from the cold. His companions buried him in the snow and then hurried
for help to the home of William Graham, whose sons went after him and
brought him to the Graham home, where a few days later he died. This
was quite a coincidence, as it was years afterwards when Logan P.
Mulkey and Georgia Graham were married that the facts were discovered
that it was to her father's house that the dying man had been taken.
The body was buried in the cemetery at The Dalles.
[Illustration: LOGAN P. MULKEY]
[Illustration: MRS. LOGAN P. MULKEY]
Logan P. Mulkey received his education in the public schools of
Corvallis, Oregon, and also gained valuable training in self-reliance
and resourcefulness in the experiences which came to him in the
pioneer settlement in which he grew to manhood. On starting out on his
independent career he went to Pomeroy, Washington, where he became
connected with the hardware business, and for twelve years he was
engaged in that line. He erected one of the first store buildings in
Pomeroy and was quite prominent in the early commercial life of that
place. At length his health became impaired through close confinement
and he sold his hardware store and bought a stock ranch of some
twenty-five hundred acres seven miles from Pomeroy. For many years he
gave his attention to raising stock on an extensive scale but in 1903
he disposed of his land and removed to Walla Walla, where he became a
prominent operator in real estate, buying and selling city properties.
He was highly successful in that business but his prosperity was not
gained at the price of the failure of others, for he was never known to
take advantage of any man. If he had sold a property and the purchaser
found it difficult to make his payments at the time specified he was
given an extension of time and his terms were made easier. Mr. Mulkey's
high sense of honor and his probity inevitably won for him the respect
and the warm regard of those with whom he was brought in contact and
his friends were legion.
In 1885 Mr. Mulkey was united in marriage to Miss Georgia Graham, a
daughter of William Graham, who was also a pioneer of the northwest,
having crossed the plains from Ohio in 1852.
Mr. Graham was born in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1818, and at the age of
twenty-one years married Miss Harriet Duncan. They removed to Missouri,
where they spent seven years, and in 1852 started across the plains
to Oregon with three wagons and twelve head of cattle. This trip was
a very arduous one and while en route their money was stolen. Being a
very generous man, Mr. Graham picked up all stranded travelers from
other trains. He was accompanied by his wife and six children. In
crossing the Cascade mountains an ox fell exhausted and by hand the
wagons were lowered in order to proceed on their journey. The next
morning this ox had wandered away and a man bought the wagon and
brought the family to a place near Corvallis, for which Mr. Graham paid
him one hundred dollars. On the journey westward nearly all provisions
gave out and the men were forced to hunt in order to supply the party
with something to eat. While on one of these hunting trips five Indians
came and the women traded a wagon cover for flour. Mr. Graham took up
a homestead near Corvallis, not far from the mouth of the Deschutes
river, where he developed a fruit farm. In 1874 he came to Washington
and purchased a farm one and one-half miles from Dayton, where he spent
the remainder of his life. He died at the age of seventy-four years and
his wife at the age of seventy. In their family were eleven children,
of whom six are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Graham were both consistent
members of the Congregational church and were very hospitable people,
their home being always open to the travelers or newcomers of this
region.
To Mr. and Mrs. Mulkey were born five children, of whom four survive,
namely: Allen L., who operates a twenty-two hundred acre ranch in Walla
Walla county belonging to his mother; Frances, at home; Marion, who
volunteered June 1, 1917, and is now a member of Battery D, Twentieth
Field Artillery, stationed at Camp Stanley, Leon Springs, Texas; and
Helen, at home.
Mr. Mulkey was a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity but was
not very active in the work of that organization, preferring to spend
his leisure time at home. One of his strongest characteristics was his
devotion to his family and to his friends and anything that he could
do to add to the pleasure of those whom he loved was a source of the
greatest satisfaction to him. His death occurred on the 7th of August,
1910, but his memory lives in the hearts of many.
Since her husband's death Mrs. Mulkey has personally managed the large
estate and in 1914 she erected the Mulkey apartments at No. 20 Park
street and the following year erected an apartment building on the
site of the old family home, which had been destroyed by fire, the new
building being entirely designed by her. These buildings are thoroughly
up-to-date and provided with all the improvements to be found in the
highest class apartments and are valuable assets of Walla Walla. In
addition to looking after her interests in connection with these
apartments Mrs. Mulkey gives supervision to the operation of a splendid
ranch of twenty-two hundred acres which she has acquired since the
death of her husband and she also owns considerable city property. She
and her children are members of the Congregational church and she also
belongs to the Sunshine Club and the Reading Club of Walla Walla. All
movements for the moral and civic as well as the material upbuilding
of Walla Walla receive her hearty support. She combines the qualities
necessary to the successful conduct of large business interests with
the qualities of the home maker, for she has been a devoted mother and
was in the fullest sense a true helpmate to her husband.
JOHN G. PAINE.
[Illustration: JOHN G. PAINE]
John G. Paine, who has been actively identified with commercial,
financial and agricultural interests in western Washington, was born in
Mercer, Maine, July 8, 1842. He acquired a common school education in
his home town, where he was reared upon a farm. Prompted by a desire
to attempt something more promising than a New England farm offered,
he followed Horace Greeley's advice to go west and in 1865 arrived
in Walla Walla. Soon after his arrival he secured employment in the
general merchandise store of Baker & Boyer, acting as a salesman in
their establishment. In 1868 he entered into partnership with his
brother, F. W. Paine, in the conduct of a general store and in 1871
took over the management of a branch store in Waitsburg. Six years
later, having disposed of that business, he opened a branch store
in Dayton and in the meantime he served as cashier of the Columbia
National Bank. After a few years of confinement in indoor life, the
firm having acquired several large tracts of wheat land, he undertook
the development of that property and devoted several years to wheat
growing. More recently, however, he has been largely interested in the
development of alfalfa land and is thus prominently connected with an
industry which is proving a source of wealth to eastern Washington. Mr.
Paine occupies a homelike suite of rooms in the Paine building. He is
widely known in the state as a most progressive business man and his
enterprise has carried him into most important business connections.
OSCAR W. BRUNTON.
Well directed business activity finds expression in the life record
of Oscar W. Brunton, vice president of the Dement Brothers Company,
proprietors of a large flour mill at Walla Walla. He was born in Alton,
Illinois, on the 15th of March, 1868, a son of David and Margaret P.
(White) Brunton. The father was a native of Pennsylvania and the mother
of Tennessee, while their marriage was celebrated in Illinois. The
former was a winding stair builder and became actively identified with
business interests in Alton, Illinois, where he passed away in 1870.
His widow afterward removed with her three children to Macon City,
Missouri, and thence to Hannibal, that state, and in August, 1876 they
came to Walla Walla, where she joined her sister, who was the wife of
Rev. H. W. Egan, who was presiding over the Cumberland Presbyterian
church at this place. Here Mrs. Brunton reared her children and
continued to make her home until 1907, when she took up her residence
with a daughter in Berkeley, California, where she has since resided.
She is now in her eighty-seventh year and is enjoying excellent health,
while in possession of all of her faculties.
Oscar W. Brunton was educated in the Walla Walla public schools and
in Whitman Seminary. In his boyhood days he took up the study of
telegraphy and mastered the Morse code while he was but a child. A
brother being an operator, he was desirous of studying along that line
but he never followed the profession as a means of livelihood. For
some years in his youth he worked as a job printer in the old Journal
office, and in 1884 he entered the employ of Dement Brothers in the
Eureka flour mills. There he proved efficient, capable and trustworthy
and in 1892 he had risen to the position of mill manager, while in
1896, upon the incorporation of the company, he became one of the
members of the concern and continued as manager of the mills. In 1907
he was elected to the vice presidency of the Dement Brothers Company
and remained as manager as well. Since that time he has given his
attention to administrative direction and executive control as well as
to the operation of the mills and has contributed much to the success
of the business. There is no phase of milling operations with which he
is not familiar and his long experience and capability constitute an
important element in the growing success of their trade.
Mr. Brunton was united in marriage on the 12th of May, 1891, to Miss
Alice Roberta Egbert, a daughter of Marion D. Egbert, who is now
deceased, but for many years was a well known publisher of Walla Walla.
Mr. and Mrs. Brunton have become the parents of one child, Margaret A.,
who is a graduate of the University of California of the class of 1914
and is now a successful teacher in the Le Grand (Calif.) high school.
In his political views Mr. Brunton is a stalwart republican, having
been a staunch supporter of the party since age conferred upon him the
right of franchise. He belongs to the Walla Walla Commercial Club and
cooperates in all of its well defined plans for the upbuilding of the
city, for the extension of its trade relations and for the upholding of
its high civic standards. He ranks with its foremost business men and
representative residents, enjoying the goodwill and confidence of all
with whom he has been associated.
HON. HARLAN D. ELDRIDGE.
A valuable farm property is that owned and operated by Hon. Harlan D.
Eldridge, who is living on section 1, township 7 north, range 37 east,
Walla Walla county. It is equipped with all the latest accessories
and conveniences of a model farm property of the twentieth century
and in its splendid appearance indicates the care and supervision
of a practical and progressive owner. But while Mr. Eldridge is a
representative and prosperous agriculturist, he is also a citizen wide
awake to the duties and obligations that devolve upon him in connection
with public affairs and has rendered active aid to his state as a
member of the general assembly.
He was born in Dallas county, Iowa, April 6, 1858, and is a son of
Joseph W. and Matilda (Parks) Eldridge, the former a native of Ohio,
while the latter was born in Indiana. Removing westward, they settled
in Iowa in 1856, taking up their abode upon a farm in Dallas county,
where they remained for a number of years. Afterwards they became
residents of Omaha, Nebraska, where both spent their remaining days.
They had a family of three children, of whom two are now living.
Harlan D. Eldridge spent the period of his boyhood and youth in his
native county and there completed a public school education which
fitted him for life's practical duties and responsibilities. He
received thorough training in the work of the farm and thus became well
qualified for the tasks which he later undertook for his own benefit.
In April, 1880, when a young man of twenty-two years, he arrived in
Walla Walla county and took up a homestead north of Waitsburg, upon
which he resided for ten years. On the expiration of that period he
sold the property and bought his present farm, which is situated on
section I, township 7 north, range 37 east. He has since improved the
property with fine buildings, making it one of the attractive features
of the landscape. In addition to the comfortable and commodious
residence there are also barns and outbuildings for the shelter of
grain and stock and the latest improved machinery facilitates the
work of the fields. He has here six hundred and forty acres under
cultivation and he makes a specialty of the growing of wheat and of
stock raising, in both of which branches of business he is meeting with
excellent success. He studies carefully the question of crop rotation
and the productiveness of the soil and he employs the most scientific
methods of carrying on his farm work-methods which are after all the
practical elements of desired results.
[Illustration: MRS. HARLAN D. ELDRIDGE]
[Illustration: HON. HARLAN D. ELDRIDGE]
In 1884 Mr. Eldridge was united in marriage to Miss Etta Barnes,
who was born in Walla Walla county and is a daughter of William T.
and Sarah A. (Blaine) Barnes, natives of Kentucky and of Indiana
respectively. The family removed to Oregon in 1852 and settled on a
ranch there, upon which the parents resided until 1864, when they came
to Walla Walla county, here spending their remaining days. In their
family were thirteen children, including one pair of twins, and of this
number six are yet living. To Mr. and Mrs. Eldridge have been born five
children: William W., who is now located on a ranch in Alberta, Canada;
Taylor B., who is a merchant of Dixie, where he is also filling the
position of postmaster; Earl V., at home; Geneva M., the wife of J. G.
Brunton; and Bonnie G., the wife of Burt O'Neal. Her death occurred
November 25, 1915.
The parents hold membership in the Christian church and guide their
lives according to its teachings. Mr. Eldridge gives his political
support to the republican party and in 1909 was elected on that ticket
to the state legislature. He proved an earnest working member of the
general assembly and gave thoughtful and earnest consideration to the
vital questions which came up for settlement. He has also filled the
office of county commissioner for four years and he has done effective
service in behalf of the interests of the schools as a member of the
school board. In a word, he stands for progress and improvement at all
times and lends his support to those interests and activities which are
matters of civic virtue and of civic pride. Fraternally he is connected
with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has filled all of the
chairs in the local lodge to which he belongs. He has also filled all
of the offices in Mountain Gem Lodge, No. 136, K. P., of which he is
a charter member. His life has been well spent and his many sterling
traits of character have gained for him the warm regard and confidence
of all who know him. Whatever he undertakes he does with thoroughness
and energy and because of his genuine worth and public-spirited
citizenship his fellow townsmen have honored him with high office.
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 10th 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,
recognized 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 children: 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 education 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 registered 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-Mae, 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 likewise 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.
Hon. Elmer E. Halsey, of Clarkston, is a lawyer, now following his
profession 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 Missouri 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
1890 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 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.
[Illustration: ELMER E. HALSEY]
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 Washington 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 reputation.
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 fighting 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
expedition in 1858 and in 1859 he was transferred to Vancouver, where
he remained until honorably discharged in 1860.