Part 15

William S. Malloy, who was a lad of nine years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Minnesota, acquired his education in the common schools of Stillwater, that state. In 1864, when a young man of twenty years, he left the parental roof and made his way westward to Montana, and for about six years he was employed in the mining fields of Virginia City and in Deerlodge county. The year 1870 witnessed his arrival in Walla Walla county, Washington, and here he embarked in the cattle business, in which he became extensively interested, his large herds roaming the plains on the Columbia, Palouse and Snake rivers. At the end of six years, cattle having gone so low in price that the business was not promising, he disposed of his cattle and for a period of twenty months gave his attention to mining in southern Utah. He then returned to Washington, locating in Columbia county, where he became engaged in farming and in the stock business, his undertakings in that connection being attended with prosperity that enabled him to add to his holdings from time to time until they now embrace twenty-four hundred acres of valuable wheat land. In the cultivation and development of this extensive tract he was actively engaged until 1917, when he put aside further business cares and is now living retired in the enjoyment of well earned rest. In the fall of 1894 he had established the family home in the city of Walla Walla and there it has been maintained to the present time. Realizing that the public domain will soon be gone Mr. Malloy went to Toole county, Montana, in 1917 and purchased in the northwest part of that state, east of the Rocky Mountains, twenty-seven hundred acres of land in one body, which he is now breaking and seeding and making other improvements with the intention of converting it into a farm.

In 1874 Mr. Malloy was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary P. Lyons, a daughter of Dan Lyons, of Lyons Ferry. The seven children of this marriage were as follows: William Lee, Robert Ralph and Ernest Lyons, all of whom are deceased; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Oscar Drumheller, of Walla Walla; Minnie F., at home; Thomas D., an agriculturist residing in Columbia county; and Angeline M., at home. The wife and mother passed away in May, 1916, and her demise was the occasion of deep and widespread regret.

Mr. Malloy is a democrat in his political views but has never sought nor desired office as a reward for his party fealty and in fact has always refused official preferment. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons and with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He has now passed the seventy-third milestone on life's journey and his career has ever been such that he can look back over the past without regret and forward to the future without fear. His memory compasses the period of pioneer development and later progress here, and he has ever borne his share in the work of upbuilding and improvement.

O. Z. SKINNER.

With the development of a district, town or city, real estate activity has much to do and one of the most important factors in substantial growth and progress is the real estate dealer who wisely directs purchases and sales and thus adds much to the beauty and development of the city in which he operates. A notable record of success is that of O. Z. Skinner, senior partner of the firm of O. Z. Skinner & Company, real estate and insurance agents in Walla Walla. He was born in Havana, Mason county, Illinois, December 12, 1853, a son of Orlando and Martha (Roeder) Skinner, who were natives of the state of New York and of Illinois respectively. They were married in the latter state, to which the father had removed in early manhood. He was a well known minister of the Universalist church and devoted his life to that cause. In 1910 he came to Walla Walla, where he lived retired, making his home with his son, O. Z. Skinner, up to the time of his demise, which occurred on the 8th of June, 1914. For a considerable period he had survived his wife, who died in February, 1897.

O. Z. Skinner was educated in the district schools of his native state and in the Jefferson Liberal Institute at Jefferson, Wisconsin. After completing his education he was for some years engaged in merchandising in Durand, Wisconsin, and still later turned his attention to the drug business, which he conducted in Fairmont, Minnesota, for a number of years. He was afterward for thirteen years identified with the lumber industry in northern Wisconsin, acquiring extensive farming lands there also, which during these years he operated in connection with the conduct of his lumber interests. The year 1898 witnessed the arrival of Mr. Skinner in the northwest. In that year he became a resident of Walla Walla and entered the manufacturing field, concentrating his efforts upon the manufacture of mattresses and furniture. He continued active along that line for five years and then turned his attention to the real estate and insurance business, with which he has since been prominently identified. He owns extensive timber land in Union county, Oregon, and in the summer of 1917 began cutting timber therefrom. He realizes what this state has to offer and has improved its natural resources, thereby advancing his individual interests while promoting general progress and prosperity.

On the 18th of September, 1881, Mr. Skinner was married to Miss Ella M. Young, of Dunn county, Wisconsin, who was a teacher in the public schools of that county for a number of years. To this marriage have been born three children, Arthur, Leslie C. and Ethel V.

Mr. Skinner gives his political endorsement to the republican party and is well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He stands for progress along political lines and does everything in his power to advance the success of the party, yet does not seek or desire office. He belongs to Blue Mountain Lodge, No. 13, F. & A. M., and is a faithful follower of its teachings. Those who know him in a business way speak of him as a dominant factor in the upbuilding of Walla Walla and as one who has made for himself a notable place especially in real estate circles.

ALFRED L. WICKERSHAM.

Alfred L. Wickersham, a leading farmer and stock raiser of Walla Walla township, Walla Walla county, holds title to two valuable ranches and is meeting with signal success in the management of his affairs. He was born in Walla Walla county, February 7, 1871, a son of John and Christina (Albertson) Wickersham, natives of Ohio, who removed to this county in 1862. For a number of years the father devoted his time and attention to freighting, as there were then no railroads in this entire section, hauling freight from Wallula to the mines at Umatilla Landing, Boise and many other points, also the fort at Boise, to Fort Lapwai and Fort Colville. At length he purchased eighty acres of land, including the site of the present race track at Walla Walla and followed farming during the remainder of his active life. He passed away September 19, 1906. The mother, however, is still living and makes her home with a son. Ten children were born to their union but only five survive.

Alfred L. Wickersham grew to manhood in his native county and his education was that afforded by the public schools. By the time that he reached man's estate he was a good practical farmer, having received training in the cultivation of the soil and the care of stock from his father. He purchased the farm on Mill creek in Walla Walla township, where he still makes his home and which comprises three hundred and fifty-five acres. He also owns three hundred and twenty acres of fine pasture land and in addition to growing wheat and other crops suited to this section he raises stock on an extensive scale and has found that business likewise profitable.

Mr. Wickersham is a stanch democrat, his political belief coinciding in large measure with the principles of that party. Although he has never failed to do his part in furthering the progress of his community, he has not taken a prominent part in politics, having no desire to hold office. He is a man of unassuming disposition and of genuine worth and his energy, his sound judgment and his unquestioned integrity have gained for him the respect of his fellowmen.

JONATHAN PETTIJOHN.

Jonathan Pettijohn, who was an honored pioneer settler and valued citizen of Walla Walla county, was born in Ohio, January 13, 1827, but when still a boy emigrated with his parents to Edgar county, Illinois, where he remained until he was twenty-three years of age. He assisted his widowed mother in rearing the family of children, of whom he was the eldest. In the year 1850 the lure of gold attracted him to the west. He and three companions started for California on horseback, and as some of their horses died en route they walked much of the way. On reaching the Golden state, Mr. Pettijohn at once went to work in the mines, where he met with fair success, there remaining for two years. He then removed to Oregon, settling in Harrisburg, Linn county, where he was married to Miss Hannah Warner in the year 1853. They took up their abode on a claim and Mr. Pettijohn followed farming. In 1859 he came with his family to Walla Walla county, Washington, and settled on a claim in the beautiful Touchet valley. He spent the winter of 1859 and 1860 here and early in the spring went to the Willamette, after which he removed his family to this valley. Their home was situated a few miles below the present town site of Prescott. He erected a log cabin which still stands as a monument to the early days. He brought with him to this county a band of fine horses and some cattle and, like most of the early settlers, engaged in stock raising. Starting with one hundred and sixty acres of land, during the course of years he kept gradually acquiring more land until finally he owned about thirty-four hundred acres of valuable farming and pasture land, on which he had large herds of fine horses and cattle. Later in life, when the stock business began to wane on account of the disappearance of the free range, he plowed up his holdings and became a wheat farmer in earnest.

Mr. and Mrs. Pettijohn reared a large family of seven sons and two daughters, namely: Thomas, Amas, Eli and John H., all of whom were born in Oregon; and Huldah, A. L., Sherman, Calvin and Mary, who were natives of Washington. All are now living but two, Eli and Mrs. Huldah Richmond. Of those surviving all are married except the youngest son, and are fairly prosperous, enjoying the possessions bequeathed them by their frugal parents. All are still residents of Walla Walla county.

Mr. Pettijohn assisted three territories over the threshold into statehood by voting for the state constitutions of California, Oregon and Washington, and he was a delegate to the constitutional convention of Washington. In the way of public education he was indeed a benefactor. Public money for school purposes was often inadequate to meet the teacher's salary. He felt that the school must be maintained at any cost so he often paid most of the amount of the salary out of his own pocket. He believed in the employment of thoroughly efficient and competent teachers and some of the best teachers that the country afforded taught in that little country school near his home and received a salary equal to any. Another work in which Mr. Pettijohn deserves creditable mention was in connection with a scheme that was put forth to bond Walla Walla county for three hundred thousand dollars to subsidize a railroad company. Mr. Pettijohn with a number of others enjoined the county from making the appropriation, although many were in favor of the issue. There was a very wordy war between the two factions and every inducement was brought to bear upon Mr. Pettijohn, the leader, to change his course, but with characteristic determination he stood for what he conceived to be right and and won out. In after years many thanked him for the stand he had taken, as time has justified the wisdom and value of his position.

Mr. Pettijohn was of a very sturdy type of manhood and a splendid representative of the class of hardy pioneers, who helped to make this county what it is--a land of fine schools and beautiful homes. Along in the early '60s mines were discovered in Idaho, Montana and Oregon and supplies were necessary for the miners in the various camps. So the settlers fitted out pack trains or freight wagons and packed or hauled freight to all points where needed, the pay being sufficient to make it very profitable. Mr. Pettijohn chose the ox team and freight wagon for his and for a number of years spent much time on the road freighting. His wife remained at home caring for her family amid the dangers and hardships incident to pioneer life. She was a woman of rare courage, going calmly about her duties with hordes of half-savage Indians camped at her very door. On occasions they would creep up and peer in at the window as she sat at her work. She pretended not to notice them, knowing that if she showed fear or concern they would become insolent. Not one of these noble women but met with experiences that would make the bravest heart quail, yet they never complained, for it seemed a part of life's duties to endure without a murmur.

Mr. Pettijohn passed away in June, 1913, at a ripe old age, joining that large number who have left very thin the ranks of the real pioneers remaining. His memory, however, is enshrined in the hearts of many who knew him and long years will pass before his work in the community will be forgotten.

ELLERY J. NELSON.

Ellery J. Nelson is engaged in general farming on section 30, township 8 north, range 36 east, Walla Walla county, and it was upon this farm that he was born on the 22d of August, 1871, a son of Hiram and Sarah (McInroe) Nelson. He was educated in the Valley Grove district school and also in the Walla Walla Business College, thus becoming well equipped for life's practical and responsible duties. His youth was also largely devoted to farm work and he early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. After reaching young manhood he continued to assist his father in his extensive farming operations and was thus engaged until 1900, when he began farming on his own account. He is now operating a portion of his father's landed holdings and is ranked among the successful and progressive agriculturists of the county. He pursues the most thoroughly up-to-date methods in caring for his fields, and in the cultivation of his crops is meeting with excellent success, annually gathering substantial harvests.

On the 1st of July, 1915, Mr. Nelson was united in marriage to Miss Julia Kane, of St. Louis, Missouri, and to them were born two sons, Ellery J., Jr., deceased, and Joseph Vincent. In his political views Mr. Nelson has always been a republican since attaining his majority, and while he does not seek nor desire office he is always loyal to the best interests of the community and gives active aid and cooperation to many measures for the benefit of town and county. He concentrates his efforts and attention upon his farming interests, which are wisely and carefully directed, and as the years pass by he is meeting with a gratifying measure of success.

WILLIAM E. GROSS.

William E. Gross, a resident farmer of Walla Walla township who is engaged in dairying and stock raising, was born in Davis county, Iowa, on the 15th of February, 1858, his parents being B. H. and Julia A. (Rice) Gross, the former a native of Illinois, while the latter was born in Ohio. They resided for some time in Iowa and then determined to cross the plains, making the journey with ox teams. This was in the year 1862. They first settled in Nevada, where they resided for eight years, and then removed to northern California, where they remained for a decade. On the expiration of that period, or in the fall of 1880, they came to Walla Walla county, Washington, where they took up their abode upon a farm which continued to be their home until a few years before they were called to their final rest. They moved to Walla Walla, where they passed the last years of their lives. They had a family of nine children, of whom six are now living.

William E. Gross was largely reared and educated in Nevada and in California, his opportunities being those offered by the common schools. He studied through the winter months and in the summer seasons aided in the farm work. When his textbooks were put aside he concentrated his entire attention upon farming and became identified with the agricultural interests of Walla Walla county, where he owned nine hundred and sixty acres of valuable land. He afterward disposed of the more extensive tract and bought the farm upon which he now resides, comprising one hundred and sixty-seven acres. This he has since improved with fine buildings. He now makes a specialty of dairying and has an excellent herd of Holstein cattle. His dairy is well equipped in every particular and he has the most sanitary arrangements for the care of the milk and the handling of his products. He also engaged in raising Duroc Jersey hogs and his live stock interests as well as his dairying constitute important features of his business.

On the 11th of December, 1881, Mr. Gross was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Cusker, who was born in Walla Walla county and is a daughter of James and Clementine (Hayworth) Cusker, the former a native of Washington, D. C., while the latter was born in Indiana. The father made his way westward to Oregon when a youth of but thirteen years and later he became a resident of Walla Walla county. Over forty years ago he settled upon the farm now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Gross and both he and his wife died upon this place. To Mr. and Mrs. Gross have been born six children: Elsie R., at home; Mabel A., the wife of E. Fluke, who has now departed this life; James B., at home; Orien W.; Myron W.; and Myrtle Irene.

Mr. Gross holds membership with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and is a member of the Christian church, guiding his life by its teachings and conforming his actions to its principles. He has been progressive in all that he has undertaken and in his business affairs has shown sound judgment and keen discrimination. He has never been afraid of hard work nor of close application and is numbered among those who, taking advantage of the great natural resources of the northwest, have won success, gaining a place among the most substantial citizens of this part of the state.

HON. CHESTER F. MILLER.

Hon. Chester F. Miller is judge of the superior court of the district which embraces Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties of Washington. He resides in Dayton and is one of the honored and distinguished residents of the southeastern part of the state. He has lived in the same voting precinct for fifty-seven years and has thus been closely associated with the development and progress of his section of the state from pioneer times to the present. Nature endowed him with keen intellect and he has constantly developed his powers until he is recognized as the peer of the ablest jurists who have sat upon the bench of the superior court in the northwest. He was born in Linn county, Oregon, January 6, 1860, a son of George W. and Sarah E. (Ping) Miller, both of whom were natives of Indiana. The father was born in Crawfordsville, that state, on the 6th of April, 1830, and was a son of John Miller, a native of Tennessee, who in turn was a son of John Miller, a Revolutionary war soldier. George W. Miller crossed the plains with his parents to Oregon in 1851, the journey being made with ox teams and wagon. The family home was established on a donation claim in Linn county and George W. Miller also took up a claim near Albany, where the parents settled. He served in the Indian wars of 1855 and in 1860 he came to Washington, taking up a homestead where the city of Dayton now stands. Later he sold that property and removed to Garfield county. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah E. Ping, crossed the plains with her parents in 1852, the Ping family settling in Linn county, Oregon.

Judge Chester Franklin Miller was an infant of but six months when his parents arrived at what is now Dayton. He acquired his early education in the district school, being a pupil in the little old schoolhouse on the hill, and he attributes much of his later success in life to the thoroughness of his instruction at that period, his teacher being the Hon. Oliver C. White, who was then a country school teacher. Subsequently Judge Miller attended a private school in Dayton for two years and there prepared for college under the preceptorship of the Hon. J. E. Edmiston, who was at that time one of the instructors in the Dayton College. Mr. Edmiston and Judge Miller were afterward law partners, their association being maintained for nine years. In 1878 Judge Miller entered the Willamette University at Salem, Oregon, where he continued his studies for a year and still later became a student in the Oregon State University, from which he was graduated with honors in the class of 1882. Three years later his alma mater conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts. Following his graduation he returned to Dayton and while acting as deputy clerk of the district court he read law under the direction of Colonel Wyatt A. George, the nestor of the Columbia county bar, who was known as "Old Equity" by his fellow practitioners.

In 1886 Judge Miller was admitted to the bar by Judge Langford on the recommendation of T. J. Anders, D. J. Crowley and R. F. Sturdevant, his examining committee, and soon afterward entered the office of M. A. Baker and commenced the practice of law. In 1889 he formed a law partnership with the Hon. J. E. Edmiston, which continued until the close of the year 1890, when Mr. Edmiston was elected prosecuting attorney. Judge Miller and his brother-in-law, Charles R. Dorr, then became partners and in 1892, upon the death of Mr. Dorr, Judge Miller again entered into partnership relations with Mr. Edmiston, with whom he continued to practice until the latter's death in 1900. No dreary novitiate awaited Judge Miller. Almost from the onset he was accorded a liberal practice which constantly grew in volume and importance as the years went on. He won for himself very favorable criticism for the careful and systematic methods which he followed. He has remarkable powers of concentration and application and his retentive mind has often excited the surprise of his professional colleagues. As an orator he ranks high, especially in the discussion of legal matters before the court, where his comprehensive knowledge of the law is manifest and his application of legal principles demonstrates the wide range of his professional acquirements. It was but natural that the ability which he displayed in his profession should win for him the recognition that demanded his service in public office. In 1893 he was elected mayor of Dayton and he served at different periods as city attorney and clerk of the city of Dayton. In 1900 he was elected to the office of superior judge and was reelected to that position in 1904 by a greatly increased majority. Reelection has since continued him upon the bench of the superior court, where he has displayed a masterful grasp of every problem presented for solution. Moreover, his decisions indicate strong mentality, careful analysis, a thorough knowledge of the law and an unbiased judgment.