Miss Lizzie M. Rondema, of Walla Walla, by whom he has eight children,
namely: Theodore, Margaret, Lizzie, Ludwine, Martin, Gertrude, Philip
and George. Mrs. Marbach is a daughter of Andrew and Anna (Brower)
Rondema, who were born, reared and married in Amsterdam, Holland, and
came to America in 1870, locating first in Chicago, where Mr. Rondema
engaged in business as a contractor and builder. In 1887 he came to
Walla Walla and while residing in this state turned his attention to
farming. Here he died in June, 1889, and his wife passed away in 1906.
Of their ten children only two are now living, these being Mrs. Marbach
and Theodore, a resident of Walla Walla. They were members of the
Catholic church.
Mr. Marbach exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and
measures of the democratic party, believing firmly in its principles.
The religious faith of his family is that of the Catholic church and
they attend church in Walla Walla. He has never had occasion to regret
his determination to seek a home in the new world, for here he has
found the opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has
won a most creditable measure of success.
JAMES H. LASATER.
James H. Lasater became one of the pioneer residents and early
attorneys of Walla Walla and for many years was closely associated with
public events of importance which left their impress upon the growth,
development and progress of city and state. He arrived in the northwest
in April, 1863, and from that date until his death, or for a third of a
century, was closely connected with interests which have had important
bearing upon the progress and stable prosperity of Washington.
The birth of James H. Lasater occurred in McMinn county, Tennessee, on
the 19th of October, 1823. He was reared in his native county, where he
spent the period of his boyhood and youth and in fact there remained
for a few years after reaching adult age. In 1850 he crossed the plains
to California, where the gold fields were attracting thousands of
fortune seekers, but in 1851 he returned to Tennessee, again making
his way over the plains until he reached Illinois. Through the two
following years he devoted his attention to the study of law under
the direction of Judge William Kellogg in Canton and in Bloomington,
Illinois, but in the fall of 1852 he again made his way westward, this
time settling in Oregon City, Oregon, where he arrived in October. In
1855 he was admitted to the bar at Salem, Oregon, and became one of the
well known attorneys of that section of the Sunset state.
There Mr. Lasater continued until April, 1863, when he removed to
Walla Walla, where he opened a law office and entered upon the active
practice of his profession. He was connected with much of the principal
litigation heard in the courts of the district and was also prominent
in public affairs. He was one of the leaders of the democratic party
and was for years chairman of the county central committee. In 1864 he
was elected district attorney but refused to qualify, and in 1869 he
became a member of the legislature. He proved one of the ablest men
in that body and contributed largely toward shaping the laws enacted
in that session. In early manhood he had taken a medical course and
received his degree and for a short time practiced, but disliking many
features of the work, he abandoned that profession and turned his
attention to law, in which he found a congenial field. He was quick
to recognize the opportunity for becoming the owner of valuable lands
open to the early settler and in the course of time acquired title to
nineteen hundred acres in Walla Walla county and in Oregon. Much of his
land is located in the richest part of Walla Walla valley and is now
very valuable. He also owned city properties and was one of the men of
affluence of Walla Walla county.
James H. Lasater was united in marriage to Miss Emily Moore, a
native of Illinois, and for many years they traveled life's journey
happily together, sharing with each other in the joys and sorrows,
the adversity and prosperity which checker the careers of all. Mr.
Lasater passed away on the 20th of August, 1896, and thus was brought
to a close a life that had been instrumental in the upbuilding of his
county along many lines. He was familiar with every phase of pioneer
experience in the west and his spirit of enterprise and progress
wrought results the benefits of which have been most lasting.
EDWARD BYRNES.
Edward Byrnes was a very substantial citizen of Walla Walla county
whose death in 1916 was the occasion of deep and widespread regret.
He belonged to that class who proudly wear the American title of a
self-made man. He owed his progress and his prosperity entirely to his
individual efforts, for he started out in life when very young and had
no assistance from others as the years went on.
[Illustration: MRS. EDWARD BYRNES]
Mr. Byrnes was born in Ireland, February 2, 1833, and was a youth of
but fifteen years when he bade adieu to friends and native land and
sailed for the new world. For a time he was a resident of Pennsylvania,
where he worked as a farm hand. While still a resident of that state
he was united in marriage, in 1854, to Miss Elizabeth Estell, who is a
native of Pennsylvania, and they traveled life's journey together for
sixty-three years and six months, lacking ten days. They began their
domestic life there and remained residents of the east until 1857,
when they removed westward to Minnesota, establishing their home upon
a farm. For five years they continued in that state and then crossed
the plains in 1862 with team and covered wagon. Their destination was
Baker county, Oregon, but after living there for about a year they made
their way northward to the Walla Walla valley, where Mr. Byrnes engaged
in the live stock business. Later he purchased land and to his widow
he left a tract of five hundred and forty acres, constituting one of
the well improved properties in Hill township, the place being located
on section 34. He was a very energetic man, was never afraid of hard
work and his persistency of purpose and intelligently directed effort
brought to him a substantial measure of success.
Mr. and Mrs. Byrnes became the parents of the following children, four
of whom still survive: John E., a resident of Gardena, Washington;
Ellen, the wife of G. E. Crow of Richland, Washington; Addie E.,
the deceased wife of James Cummins; Albert, a stock farmer and
administrator of the estate residing in Hill township, Walla Walla
county; Caroline, the wife of George Accuntius of Starbuck; Allen,
who was deputy under Sheriff Painter and was accidentally killed; and
Winfield, deceased.
The family circle was again broken by the hand of death when on the
10th of November, 1916, Mr. Byrnes was called to the home beyond. As
the architect of his own fortunes he builded wisely and well. In early
life it was necessary that he practice the strictest economy in order
to gain a start, but difficulties and obstacles did not discourage
him and with persistent energy he worked his way upward, becoming one
of the prosperous residents of Walla Walla county. His personal worth
was widely attested by his many friends and he possessed a genial
disposition and kindly spirit that gained for him the warm regard
of all with whom he was brought in contact. His family attends the
Congregational church and the hospitality of the best homes of the
community is freely accorded them. For more than a half century the
family has been represented in this county, the parents arriving in
1863, so that Mrs. Byrnes has long been a witness of the growth and
development of this section of the state, while her memory forms a
connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present.
She now has twenty-six grandchildren and forty-four great-grandchildren.
CHARLES SEELIGER.
Charles Seeliger is the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and
twenty acres on section 2, township 7 north, range 35 east, and during
the period in which this place has been in his possession he has made
many excellent improvements thereon, converting it into one of the
model farm properties of the county. He was born on Long Island, New
York, March 1, 1864, a son of August and Catherine (Tauber) Seeliger,
both of whom were natives of Germany. They came to America in 1861 and
settled in the state of New York, where they resided for fifteen years,
and in 1876 they removed to Butler county, Iowa. Subsequently they
became residents of Walla Walla county, Washington, and both passed
away here.
Charles Seeliger was largely reared in Iowa, the public schools
affording him his educational privileges. It was in 1888 that he came
to the northwest, then a young man of twenty-four years, thinking to
find good business opportunities in this section of the country. He
first made his way to the city of Walla Walla and after a considerable
period determined to engage in farming on his own account and in 1902
purchased the land upon which he now resides. He acquired one hundred
and twenty acres, which is highly cultivated and splendidly improved.
Most of the improvements have been put upon the place by Mr. Seeliger,
who is a most progressive farmer and enterprising business man. His
place presents a very neat and attractive appearance and constitutes
one of the pleasing features of the landscape. His work is carefully
performed and the results are certain by reason of the fact that his
industry is guided by sound judgment.
In 1886, in Iowa, Mr. Seeliger was united in marriage to Miss Mary
Ide, a native of that state, and they have become the parents of ten
children, Paul, Frank, Esther, Hilda, William B., Mary, Charles, Lena,
Louis and Margaret.
In his fraternal relations Mr. Seeliger is connected with the
Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Politically he is a republican
and strongly endorses the principles of the party, for he believes
that its platform contains the best elements of good government. He
served on the school board for several years and he has ever been a
faithful friend of the cause of public education. Mr. Seeliger came to
the northwest empty-handed, but he possessed energy and perseverance
and his persistency of purpose has enabled him to overcome all the
obstacles and difficulties with which one is continually confronted in
the business world. His worth as a citizen and as a business man is
widely acknowledged by all who know him. His character is one which
will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny and Walla Walla county
has reason to be congratulated on the fact that he became one of its
citizens. The opportunities of this section of the country he realized
and he has done much to further public progress in the Inland Empire.
CASSIUS S. ROBINSON.
In the death of Cassius S. Robinson Walla Walla county lost one of its
honored pioneer settlers--one who participated in the early Indian wars
and took part in many of the events which shaped the pioneer history
of this section of the state. He was born in Sidney Center, Maine, in
1847, a son of Seth and Harriett (Frost) Robinson. The family is of
Scotch and English descent. The parents spent their entire lives in
Maine, where they reared their family of five children.
Cassius S. Robinson left his native state when a youth of eighteen
years and made his way westward to Chicago, where he resided for a
number of years. He afterward remained in various cities of the middle
west until 1876, when attracted by the opportunities of the growing
west, he came to Washington, settling in Walla Walla county, where he
remained until his death. He always took an active part in community
affairs and his aid and influence were always on the side of progress
and improvement. He joined the volunteers at the time of the Nez Percé
Indian war and rendered distinguished aid in subduing the Indians and
reclaiming the region for the purposes of civilization. Mr. Robinson
was a painter and glazier by trade and in Walla Walla engaged in
business along that line until about fifteen years before his death
when he retired. His activities were carefully directed and the
success which he achieved and enjoyed was attributable entirely to his
capability and skill in his chosen trade. Mr. Robinson was one of the
directors of the Third National Bank of Walla Walla and was such at the
time of his death.
[Illustration: MR. AND MRS. CASSIUS S. ROBINSON]
In 1886 Mr. Robinson was united in marriage to Miss Laura Cornwell,
who was a daughter of James M. and Mary Ann (Stott) Cornwell. She
survives her husband and is widely and favorably known in Walla Walla,
where she has an extensive circle of warm friends. On the 4th of
December, 1915, she was called upon to mourn the loss of her husband,
who on that day was called to his final rest. He was a member of the
Foresters and of the Masonic fraternity and exemplified in his life the
beneficent spirit of the craft which is based upon a recognition of the
brotherhood of man. He was ever ready to extend a helping hand where
aid was needed and he possessed many sterling traits of character which
won for him the high regard, confidence and goodwill of all with whom
he was associated.
Since her husband's death Mrs. Robinson has resided in Walla Walla,
where she is well known. She is a member of the Sunshine Club; the
Shakespeare Club; the Eastern Star; and the Presbyterian church. She is
also an active worker for the Red Cross. During the latter years of his
life Mr. and Mrs. Robinson spent much time in travel, making a trip to
Europe in 1910 during the Oberammergau sacred festival which they saw.
They also visited Alaska and spent much time on the Sound and several
winters in California.
BEN M. TURNER.
Ben M. Turner is a self-made man of Columbia county who from pioneer
times has been identified with the agricultural development and
with kindred interests in southeastern Washington. Starting out
empty-handed, he possessed energy and determination, together with
a keen sagacity that has enabled him to recognize and utilize
opportunities which others have passed heedlessly by. He now resides
on section 19, township 11 north, range 40 east, in Columbia county,
and has become well known as a farmer, as a breeder of Belgian horses
and as a grain dealer and warehouse man. He was born in Scotland
county, Missouri, March 15, 1854, a son of John and Mary (Powers)
Turner, the former a native of Virginia, while the latter was born in
Indiana. They were married, however, in Missouri, having removed with
their respective parents to that state in early life. In 1865 they
crossed the plains with ox teams to Oregon, being six months in making
the journey. On their arrival they located in Yamhill county, that
state, where they lived for about six years and in March, 1871, came
to Washington. They took up their abode on Whiskey creek, in what is
now Columbia county but was then a part of Walla Walla county, and the
father preempted a quarter section of land, upon which he continued to
reside until called to his final home.
Ben M. Turner was educated in the district schools but his
opportunities in that direction were quite limited. He was a youth
of eleven years at the time of the emigration to the northwest and he
became an active factor in assisting his father in the arduous task
of developing and improving a new farm. Day after day saw him in the
fields working to break the sod and cultivate crops, and on reaching
his twenty-first year he began farming for himself. He purchased a
quit claim to a preemption of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he
proved up, and with that tract as a beginning he had extended his farm
holdings until he was one of the largest landowners of this section of
the state. Of recent years, however, he has disposed of all but two
sections of land, which is now being operated by tenants. He retired
from active farming, although for many years he was extensively and
successfully engaged in the tilling of the soil. He not only brought
his fields under a high state of cultivation and demonstrated the
possibility of producing fine crops in this section of the state but he
also engaged in the breeding of Belgian horses. He secured two of the
best mares in the northwest and his horses afterward received awards
at the Washington State Fair at North Yakima, the Walla Walla fair and
the Cascade Stock Show at North Yakima. In fact he has won premiums on
his stock at many fairs in the northwest. Since retiring from active
farm work he has given his attention to the grain business and owns and
operates an elevator at Turner and is also in charge of the warehouses
of the Portland Milling Company at Turner, handling about two hundred
and fifty thousand bushels of grain in 1916. He is thus connected
with extensive and important business interests, which are carefully
directed, for he is a man of sound judgment, keen discrimination and of
unfaltering industry.
In January, 1905, Mr. Turner was married to Miss Anna Brofsky, of
Dayton. He belongs to Columbia Lodge, No. 26, F. & A. M., and Dayton
Chapter, No. 5, R. A. M., and is a most worthy follower of the craft,
exemplifying in his life its beneficent teachings concerning the
brotherhood of mankind and the obligations thereby imposed. In politics
he has always been a democrat but never has he sought public office,
preferring to concentrate his energies and attention upon his business
interests, which have gained him place among the most substantial
citizens of southeastern Washington.
CHARLES M. TAYLOR.
Charles M. Taylor, who in former years was prominently and actively
associated with the agricultural development of Walla Walla county,
is now living retired in Waitsburg, having put aside the more active
work of the fields in order to enjoy a rest which he has truly earned
and richly merits. His former activities brought to him a comfortable
competence, so that he is now enabled to meet all of the necessities of
life and also to enjoy many of its luxuries.
[Illustration: CHARLES M. TAYLOR]
[Illustration: MRS. CHARLES M. TAYLOR]
Mr. Taylor was born in Johnson county, Missouri, January 10, 1859, a
son of Simon and Harriet (Burgess) Taylor, both of whom were natives
of West Virginia. In young manhood, or about the time he attained
his majority, the father removed westward to Missouri. The mother
accompanied her parents to that state when she was but two years
of age. There she was reared and eventually they were married in
Missouri, where they resided until 1880, when they started for the
west, accompanied by their five sons and daughter-in-law, Mrs. C. M.
Taylor. Besides the five sons there was one daughter born to them in
Missouri but she remained in that state. The family continued their
journey to the Sunset state, arriving in Walla Walla on the 20th of
March, 1880. The father brought with him some capital and here he
purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Wilson Hollow,
about six miles southeast of Waitsburg. With the assistance of his
sons he at once began the development and improvement of that place
and not long afterward he bought a half section of land, which he and
his sons continued to cultivate for a number of years. The father then
had the misfortune to lose a leg which was cut off in a horse power
machine. His sons then persuaded him to leave the farm and remove to
Waitsburg that he might be free of all care and responsibility, and
there the last seven or eight years of his life were passed. He died in
1899, while his widow survived him for a considerable period, passing
away on the 1st of August, 1911. They were worthy pioneer people of
this section of the country, enjoyed the respect and goodwill of all
who knew them and Mr. Taylor contributed in no small degree to the
agricultural progress in pioneer times.
Charles M. Taylor was reared to manhood in Missouri, being about
twenty-one years of age when the family started for the west. He
pursued a public school education in his native state and on the 4th
of February, 1880, he was united in marriage to Miss Nannie White, a
native daughter of Johnson county, Missouri. Within less than a month
he and his bride started on their wedding journey to Washington,
accompanying his father and brothers, and after reaching this state
Charles M. Taylor worked for two years on the Baker Railroad. He was
also employed on the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company's line, after
which he concentrated his attention upon farming.
In 1890 Mr. Taylor made his first purchase of land, becoming owner
of two hundred acres, which he bought at thirty dollars per acre.
This was situated two and a half miles from Waitsburg and is located
in Wilson Hollow, the Walla Walla and Columbia county division line
passing through his property. Subsequently he bought one hundred and
eight acres adjoining, making his home place a valuable tract of
three hundred and eight acres. For the the second purchase he paid
ninety-five dollars per acre, but today he would refuse one hundred
and fifty dollars per acre for the entire farm. In addition to his
interests in Walla Walla county he owns six hundred and forty acres
in Dawson county, Montana, and an equity in one hundred and sixty
acres in the mountains. His farming interests have always been wisely
and carefully conducted. He has brought his fields under a high state
of cultivation and well kept fences divide his place into tracts of
convenient size for development. He practices the rotation of crops and
the latest improved methods of farming and understands the scientific
principles which underlie his work. His efforts are of a most practical
character and it seems that he makes the wisest possible use of his
time and opportunities. In addition to his farming interests he became
one of the incorporators of the Exchange Bank of Waitsburg and was
elected a member of the board of directors, in which capacity he has
since served.
To Mr. and Mrs. Taylor was born a daughter, Estella, who is now the
wife of Milan Smith, a merchant of Waitsburg. They also have a foster
daughter whom they have reared from a child of four years--Isabelle
Taylor, who is a graduate of the Waitsburg high school and is now at
home.
Mr. Taylor belongs to Waitsburg Lodge, No. 16, A. F. & A. M., also
to Touchet Lodge, No. 5, I. O. O. F., while his wife is connected
with the Order of the Eastern Star and also with the Rebekah degree
of Odd Fellows. Mr. Taylor left the farm and removed to Waitsburg in
1900, after which he continued to operate his land from that point
until 1917. He is now living retired, however, leaving the care and
management of the property to others. He is one of Waitsburg's foremost
citizens. He has one of the handsome homes of the town, with all modern
improvements, and he is enjoying in the fullest degree the comforts of
life. His success is indeed well merited, for it has been honorably
won and his life record proves what may be accomplished when there is
a will to dare and to do. He had no assistance when he started out for
himself, but he early learned to place his dependence upon industry
and indomitable energy and his progressive farming methods enabled him
year by year to add to his capital until he is now the possessor of a
substantial competence that classes him with the more successful men of
Walla Walla county.
FRANCIS M. LOWDEN.