Following his marriage he continued to cultivate his father's farm
until 1875, when he determined to try his fortune on this side of the
Atlantic and with his wife and one son sailed for the United States.
On reaching American shores he penetrated into the interior of the
country and established his home in Woodford county, Illinois, where
he resided for eight years. It was in the winter of 1882-3 that he
came to the Pacific coast, making his way by train to San Francisco
and thence northward by boat to Portland, Oregon. From that point he
traveled by train to Walla Walla county, Washington, arriving in the
city of Walla Walla on the 1st of February, 1883. He remained in the
town for a couple of months and then purchased a farm on Mill creek,
ten miles from Walla Walla. He continued to reside upon that place
for fifteen years, at the end of which time he sold the property and
purchased a portion of his present farm in Spring Valley, about four
miles southwest of Waitsburg. His holdings he has since increased by
additional purchase until he now has thirteen hundred acres, and upon
this property he continued to reside until 1914, when he removed to
Waitsburg, where he has since lived retired. His business affairs were
most carefully and wisely managed and his well directed interests
brought to him a very gratifying and substantial measure of success,
so that, possessing a very desirable competence, he is able to rest
from further labor and yet enjoy all of the comforts and some of the
luxuries of life.
Mr. and Mrs. Clodius became the parents of nine children, seven of whom
are yet living, as follows: H. F., who is a farmer residing in Garfield
county, Washington; Catherine M., the wife of David Kibler, of Mill
Creek, Walla Walla county; Marie C., the wife of Charles Kibler, who
is an agriculturist living on Spring creek, Walla Walla county; Rosa,
who gave her hand in marriage to William Weller, of Columbia county;
Augusta, who is the wife of Emory McCown, a farmer of Walla Walla
county; Ella, the wife of Henry Züger, who also follows farming in
Walla Walla county; and John W., who operates the home farm. Two of the
children, H. F. and Claus, deceased, were born in Germany.
Mr. Clodius votes with the democratic party and he has twice been a
candidate for the office of county commissioner but failed of election.
He belongs to Walla Walla Lodge, K. P. He is one of the wealthy farmers
of Walla Walla county, is one of its broad gauged men and enjoys the
friendship and regard of a great majority of those with whom he has
come in contact. He is forceful and resourceful, has ever accomplished
what he has undertaken and in the attainment of his success has
followed well defined plans and purposes.
LEWIS SCHMUCK.
Lewis Schmuck, now living retired, was for many years a prominent
figure in the business circles of Walla Walla, where he operated
extensively in connection with the lumber industry as a member of
the firm that established the business now conducted under the name
of Whitehouse-Crawford Company. His start in business life was most
humble. He began earning his living by selling newspapers and shining
shoes. His educational advantages were naturally limited but he made
such good use of his time and opportunities for securing intellectual
advancement that in young manhood he was able to secure a teacher's
certificate and for a time engaged in teaching school. Each point in
his career has brought him a broader outlook and wider opportunities
and his life has been characterized by a most splendid and steady
progression.
Mr. Schmuck was born in Peoria, Illinois, June 2, 1852, a son of Xavier
and Mary Schmuck. The father was born in Alsace, and as a member of
the French army fought against the Germans. The mother died when Lewis
Schmuck was but a young child and at the early age of ten years he left
home and began to shift for himself. He sold newspapers on the streets
of Peoria during war times, when many extras were being published, and
he also shined shoes, thus picking up many a stray nickel wherever
possible. Later he drifted into the country, where he worked as a farm
hand, and immediately following the close of the Civil war he went to
Nebraska, where he engaged in farm work. Still later he was employed
in a stone quarry and worked on the building of the state prison. He
continued in Nebraska for almost seven years and by reason of his
continuous employment that he might provide for his own support he
had little chance to obtain an education. However, he was desirous of
progressing along the line of intellectual culture and when possible
attended a few months' school. He had pursued his studies to a limited
extent before he left home in his tenth year and he did not again
attend school until after he had attained his majority, when he devoted
three months each winter for three years to improving his education in
Nebraska. In the school of experience, however, he had learned many
valuable lessons and, possessing an observing eye and retentive memory,
was continually adding to his knowledge. After his nine months' school
training in Nebraska he was able to secure two third grade certificates
and later a second grade certificate. He taught one summer term in
Nebraska, after which he resolved to try his fortune in the northwest,
having heard favorable reports concerning this section of the country.
Arriving in Walla Walla on the 24th of December, 1877, Mr. Schmuck
spent the following winter as an employe in the sawmill of Dr. Blalock
and thus he obtained his initial experience in connection with the
lumber industry. In the summer of 1878 he carried the hod in connection
with the erection of the Schwabacher store building on the present site
of the Gardner building. In the fall of that year he was employed in
a wheat warehouse, loading grain on the Dr. Baker Railroad. Late in
the fall of that year, in company with Charles Cooper, he established
a small chop mill adjoining the Glassford planing mill, securing
power from the latter plant. Subsequently they built a factory on the
present site of the Whitehouse-Crawford Company and engaged in the
manufacture of the cheaper kinds of household furniture. This business
was conducted successfully for several years and was finally developed
into the lumber business. In the meantime Mr. Schmuck and his partner
acquired a ranch of nine hundred and sixty acres in Whitman county and
stocked the ranch, after which Mr. Schmuck located thereon in order
to look after their cattle business, while his partner attended to
their lumber interests in Walla Walla. This business was subsequently
purchased by the firm of Whitehouse & Crimmins and later became the
Whitehouse-Crawford Company. Mr. Schmuck remained upon the ranch for
twelve years and then established his home in Colfax, where he engaged
in the farm implement business for five years. On the expiration of
that period, or in 1911, he sold out and returned to Walla Walla,
where he has since lived retired. He is still, however, the owner of
twenty-two hundred and seventy acres of wheat land in Umatilla county,
Oregon, and a tract of four hundred and twenty-seven acres in Dixie,
Walla Walla county. His investments have been most judiciously made and
from his realty holdings he derives a very gratifying annual income.
On the 30th of July, 1883, Mr. Schmuck was united in marriage to Miss
Bettie Wade, a niece of T. T. Burgess, by whom she was reared. They
became parents of a daughter, Sarah E., who is now the wife of Frank
Vollendorff, state clerk of the penitentiary. The wife and mother
passed away July 6, 1906, and Mr. Schmuck was again married on the 26th
of September, 1907, when Mrs. J. B. Chamberlain became his wife. They
had become acquainted in early life while he was boarding with her
parents in Nebraska. In her maidenhood she was Miss Martha Gerking and
was a native of Missouri. By her former marriage she had a daughter,
Blanche, who is the wife of C. A. Sprague, owner and editor of the
Journal-Times of Ritzville, Washington.
Mr. Schmuck has always given his political allegiance to the republican
party and has served for one term as justice of the peace of Whitman
county but has never been an aspirant for public office. He and his
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mrs. Schmuck
belongs to the Order of the Eastern Star and to the United Artisans.
Mr. Schmuck is one of the well known and highly esteemed citizens
of Walla Walla. He has always been a liberal contributor to church
and charitable work and has been foremost in all movements for the
advancement of the community and its substantial upbuilding. He gave
to the city of Colfax what is known as Schmuck Park and many other
evidences of his public spirit could be cited. In business affairs he
has always displayed sound judgment that has enabled him readily to
discriminate between the essential and the non-essential. The methods
which he has employed in the attainment of success awaken approval and
admiration, for his course has been characterized by enterprise, by
indefatigable energy and clear judgment which has won advancement in
the business world without infringing on the rights of others. He is
a man of well balanced capacities and powers and has long occupied a
central place on the stage of action, being accorded leadership almost
from the time when he made his initial effort in the field of business
in the northwest.
HERBERT McARTHUR.
Herbert McArthur, deceased, was one of the representative residents
of Walla Walla county and a self-made man who in his business career
steadily progressed. He started out to earn his living when a little
lad of but nine years and from that time forward depended entirely upon
his own resources. He was born in the state of New York, November 11,
1868, and was a son of Albert and Grace (Scoville) McArthur, both of
whom are natives of the Empire state and are still living there. In
their family were four children, two of whom survive.
Herbert McArthur pursued his education in the schools of his native
state but his opportunities in that direction were quite limited, for
he left home when only nine years of age and began to earn his living.
He came in time to be one of the most successful men of the Walla Walla
valley. In 1890 he arrived in the city of Walla Walla without a cent.
He was then a young man of twenty-two years, and though he lacked
capital, he possessed ambition, determination and energy. He utilized
every opportunity that promised advancement and he was not afraid of
hard work. After a time he embarked in merchandising in Walla Walla
and so continued for eight years, after which he sold his business and
took charge of the interests of the Blalock Fruit Company, of which he
became a large stockholder. This company owned seventeen hundred acres
of valuable land devoted to fruit cultivation and Mr. McArthur remained
in charge until his death. He closely studied every phase of fruit
culture in the northwest, knew where to secure the best nursery stock
and also knew just what soil conditions were required for the best
production. He studied scientific methods for the care of his trees and
the fertilization of the soil, the spraying of the trees, and in fact
every branch of work that could facilitate the interests of the company
was carefully looked after by him. Following his death Mrs. McArthur
purchased two hundred and twenty-five acres of raw prairie land which
she has since improved, erecting thereon fine buildings and bringing
the fields under a high state of cultivation. She now has one of the
finest farms in the state of Washington. All of the trees upon the
place have been planted since it came into possession of Mrs. McArthur,
who is a most capable business woman, readily recognizing and utilizing
opportunities and discriminating quickly between the essential and the
non-essential in all business affairs.
It was in 1886 that Mr. McArthur was united in marriage to Miss
Jennie Abel Gee, who was born in Cuba, New York, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Aaron G. Gee, who were also natives of the Empire state, where
her father passed away, as did the mother, whose death occurred in
Cuba. Both were laid to rest in New York. In their family were three
children, two of whom are now living.
The death of Mr. McArthur occurred in June, 1908, and he was laid
to rest in Walla Walla cemetery. His demise was deeply regretted by
many friends, for he had won for himself a creditable position not
only in business circles but in the regard of those with whom he was
associated. Mrs. McArthur is also widely and favorably known in Walla
Walla county and ranks with the most representative business women,
controlling an estate valued at over three hundred thousand dollars.
She possesses notable energy and sound judgment and carries forward to
successful completion whatever she begins.
HENRY A. JOHNSON.
Henry A. Johnson, a well known stock raiser of Columbia county, has
been a resident of Washington for forty years and has therefore been a
witness of much of the growth and development of this section of the
state. A native of Ontario, Canada, he was born in Lincoln county,
August 18, 1844, a son of W. G. D. and Catherine (Miller) Johnson, who
were also natives of Canada, where they spent their entire lives. They
had a family of ten children, eight of whom are now living.
[Illustration: HENRY A. JOHNSON]
[Illustration: MRS. HENRY A. JOHNSON]
Henry A. Johnson spent his youthful days in Canada and acquired his
education as a public school pupil there. In 1865 he removed to the
middle west, settling in Champaign county, Illinois, where he resided
for a decade. In 1875 he made his way to the Pacific coast and located
in California, where he spent two and a half years upon a farm. In
1877 he arrived in Walla Walla and in May, 1878, he purchased a herd
of cattle and came to Starbuck. He rented a farm for several years but
during that period carefully saved his earnings until his industry
and economy had brought to him a capital sufficient to enable him to
purchase land. He then invested in property which he owned for a time
but afterward sold that farm. His wife, however, owns eleven hundred
and twenty acres near Starbuck, which is excellent valley land, devoted
to the cultivation of hay, fruit and vegetables.
In August, 1909, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Mrs. Nancy A.
Pearson, a native of Restigouche county, New Brunswick, and a daughter
of Robert and Mary Ann (Reid) Watson. Her father was born in Scotland,
but her mother was a native of New Brunswick, where they were married.
To them were born eight children in New Brunswick and two others were
added to the family after their removal to California, Mrs. Johnson
being the oldest. It was in 1868 that they came to the Pacific coast
and settled in Rio Vista, California, where Mr. Watson owned and
operated a ranch and where both he and his wife died. They have three
sons still living: William, of San Jose, California; and R. W. and
Alex M., both of Great Falls, Montana. Their daughter, Nancy A., was
married in Rio Vista to J. S. Pearson and in 1878 they came to Dayton,
Washington, being among the pioneers of that locality. Two years later
they became residents of Starbuck. Mr. Pearson died at Spokane in 1908.
The children born of that union were: Charles W., now an extensive
wheat farmer of Eureka flats, Walla Walla county; Margaret J.,
deceased; Sadie M., the wife of a prominent physician of Sacramento,
California; Marian E., whose husband is a prominent railroad man of
Spokane; Florence P., the wife of an eminent physician of Sacramento;
Robert G., also a prominent physician of that city; and Joseph N.,
a rancher of Marysville, California. All of the children were given
excellent educational advantages, attending colleges in this state and
finishing their course at the University of Washington. Charles was
one of the first children to attend public school in Starbuck, Mr. and
Mrs. Pearson with one or two others having organized the first school
district in 1880, before the village of Starbuck had been started. Mr.
and Mrs. Johnson now spend their winters in California but during the
summer months occupy the ranch at Starbuck, where they have a beautiful
and attractive home located on a knoll overlooking the Tucanon river
which is modern in every respect, being lighted by electricity and
supplied with all conveniences.
Mr. Johnson is prominent in Masonic circles, belonging to Starbuck
Lodge, No. 106, F. & A. M., in which he has filled all of the chairs,
and both he and his wife are connected with the Order of the Eastern
Star. In politics he is a stalwart republican and has served as justice
of the peace and as mayor of Starbuck, while for several years he
has been a member of the school board. His public duties have been
discharged with promptness and fidelity and he has manifested marked
capability in the performance of every task that has devolved upon him.
During the long years of his residence in Washington he has contributed
much to the upbuilding and progress of his section of the state and has
always stood for advancement, reform and improvement.
JOHN HUNTINGTON, M. D.
Dr. John Huntington, enjoying a lucrative practice at Starbuck, was
born April 14, 1860, at the old home at Monticello, Washington, being
the third son of Harry D. and Rebecca J. Huntington, who were early
pioneers of western Washington. They had crossed the plains with ox
teams in the year 1848 and on the journey met Joseph Meek conveying
the news of the Whitman massacre to Washington. Mr. Huntington with
his family spent the first winter at Oregon City and in the following
spring removed to his donation claim, situated at the mouth of the
Cowlitz river, on which was located a warehouse of the Hudson's Bay
Company. There the pioneer town of Monticello grew up and was made
memorable by the fact that the first convention was held there to
organize the territory of Washington. It is a pleasing memory to Dr.
Huntington to know that he as well as others of his brothers and
sisters were born in the same house in which that convention was
held. His father was a member of the first territorial legislature
and his brother, Chandler Huntington, was a member of the first state
legislature. Dr. Huntington attended the Territorial University, from
which institution he won his Bachelor of Science degree upon graduation
with the class of 1885. He was there a classmate of Professor Meany
of the State University and of Charles V. Piper, who taught for many
years in the Washington State College and for the past decade has
been connected with the agricultural department of the United States
government at Washington, D. C.
Dr. Huntington pursued his course in medicine in the medical department
of the University of Oregon at Portland and was there graduated on
the 1st of April, 1891. He located for practice near his old home in
Cowlitz county, where he remained until the fall of 1898, when he
entered the employ of the Oregon & Washington Railroad & Navigation
Company as local surgeon at Starbuck. There he has since remained and,
in addition to his work with the railroad company, he has enjoyed a
lucrative practice. He is very conscientious in the performance of all
professional work and by broad reading and study keeps in touch with
the latest scientific researches and discoveries so that he is familiar
with the most progressive methods.
[Illustration: DR. JOHN HUNTINGTON]
For many years Dr. Huntington has been an active member and worker in
the Masonic lodge and derives much pleasure therefrom, while in his
life he exemplifies the beneficent spirit of the craft that is based
upon a recognition of the brotherhood of mankind and the obligations
thereby imposed. While a student at the university he became a member
of the Presbyterian church, of which Dr. Matthews is now pastor, and is
a member of that church at Walla Walla. He represents one of the old
and honored pioneer families of the northwest, his parents having come
here at a very early day, while in the same party was Captain Miller,
who is well known in Walla Walla and along the Columbia and Snake
rivers. His father was acquainted with Dr. McLoughlin, Rev. Eells and
other notable pioneers. The work which the father began in the early
days has been continued by the sons and the name of Huntington has
ever stood as a synonym for progressiveness and loyalty in citizenship
and for the support of all interests looking toward the upbuilding and
betterment of the state.
FRANCIS M. CORKRUM.
Francis M. Corkrum is extensively engaged in farming in Walla Walla
county, having supervision over fourteen hundred acres of land. He
resides on section 19, township 8 north, range 37 east. It was in
this township that he was born, April 11, 1892, a son of Uriah F.
and Ida May (Chew) Corkrum, both of whom were natives of Walla Walla
county. The paternal grandfather, Francis M. Corkrum, was one of the
earliest pioneer settlers of this section of the state, arriving here
in the late '50s. He figured most prominently in connection with the
pioneer development of the county and is classed with those who aided
in reclaiming this region for the purposes of civilization. At the
time of his arrival the red men far outnumbered the white settlers in
the state, the great forests were uncut, the streams unbridged and
the lands uncultivated. In fact the work of progress and improvement
seemed scarcely begun, yet here and there a few venturesome spirits had
planted the seeds of civilization in the northwest. Mr. Corkrum bore
a most active part in the work of general progress and improvement in
that early period and this work has been carried on by his descendants
to the present time. Uriah F. Corkrum is now living in Walla Walla and
is the owner of seven hundred acres of land in this county.
Francis M. Corkrum, whose name introduces this review, spent his
youthful days under the parental roof and acquired a district school
education, supplemented by a course in the Empire Business College in
Walla Walla. He was early trained to the work of the farm and at the
age of twenty years began farming on his own account, renting land.
He secured seven hundred acres owned by the Kibler brothers in the
township where he now makes his home. This farm he is still cultivating
and on the 1st of September, 1916, he took over the management of his
father's farm and is now operating fourteen hundred acres of land,
which places him among the most extensive farmers of his section of
the county. He follows the most progressive methods and his enterprise
and industry are producing splendid results. He is familiar with
every phase of modern farming and he has secured the latest improved
machinery to promote the work of the fields. Annually he harvests
good crops and the neat and thrifty appearance of the places which he
cultivates indicates his practical and progressive spirit.
On the 16th of October, 1913, Mr. Corkrum was united in marriage to
Miss Edith Gwin, a daughter of J. A. Gwin, one of the substantial
farmers of Walla Walla county. They are now the parents of two
children, Mary Jane and Uriah F., Jr.
Fraternally Mr. Corkrum is identified with Walla Walla Lodge, No. 287,
B. P. O. E. Mrs. Corkrum is a member of the Christian church. Mr.
Corkrum gives his political allegiance to the democratic party, which
he has supported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise,
but he does not seek nor desire office as a reward for party fealty. He
prefers to concentrate his time and energies upon his business affairs,
which, wisely directed, are bringing to him substantial success.
FREEMAN C. ROMAINE.