Part 23

Peter McClung, of Pomeroy, editor and publisher of the East Washingtonian, was born in Clarke county, Washington, a son of Mathew and Catherine (Wigle) McClung. He was one of four children, the others being: Mrs. Susan Shoemaker, now living in Gresham, Oregon; Mrs. Jennie Buchanan, of Portland; and Edward A., living in Bakersfield, California.

Peter McClung was the third in order of birth and was educated in Clarke and Columbia counties of Washington, attending the schools of Dayton. He learned the printer's trade and as a compositor became connected with the Washingtonian in 1885, his brother-in-law, E. T. Wilson, having founded the paper in 1881. Eight years later, or in 1889, Mr. McClung purchased an interest in the paper and became associated in the business with E. M. Pomeroy, then publisher. Three years afterward he bought out Mr. Pomeroy and has since been owner and publisher thereof. In later years he has been assisted by his son, who pursued a special course in journalism in the State University and who now practically manages the paper.

In 1886 Mr. McClung was united in marriage to Miss Alva E. Pomeroy, a daughter of Joseph M. Pomeroy, who was the founder of the town which bears his name. Mr. and Mrs. McClung have become the parents of two sons: Ray, who has charge at Washington, D. C., of the weekly newspaper publications under the direction of the committee on public information; and Hugh, who is with his father in business.

Fraternally Mr. McClung is an Odd Fellow, and he and his family are connected with the Christian church. In politics he has always maintained an independent course and has the distinction of having published for more than a quarter of a century an absolutely independent paper. His entire life has been passed in the west and with the development and progress of his section of the state he has been helpfully associated.

GEORGE E. KELLOUGH.

Characterized by a spirit of undaunted enterprise, George E. Kellough has won a place among the most substantial and progressive business men of Walla Walla, where he now figures in financial circles as the president of the Third National Bank. He was born in Ontario, Canada, on the 9th of May, 1872, a son of William H. and Ann Grace Kellough, both of whom were natives of Canada. The former was of Irish extraction, while the latter was of French lineage. They spent their entire lives in Canada, residing for many years in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where they were among the pioneer settlers.

George E. Kellough, reared in Winnipeg, there pursued his education in the public schools and at the age of nineteen years, attracted by the broader business opportunities which he felt he might find across the border, he came to the United States and made his way to the western part of the country, reaching Walla Walla county, Washington, in July, 1891. He started in business life here as a ranch hand, but ambition actuated him at every point in his career and continually lured him on to better things. Subsequently he took up a homestead and in time acquired other land, for as his financial resources increased he made judicious investment in property and for some six years was actively and successfully engaged in farming. He then turned his attention to business interests of the city and in 1899 took up his abode in Walla Walla, where he established a clothing and furnishing goods store. He was prominently identified with that business for a decade and built up an extensive trade, ever endeavoring to please his patrons, while his honorable business methods constituted one of the strong features of his growing success. Then a still broader field seemed to open before him and in February, 1910, he made his initial step in financial circles, becoming connected with the Third National Bank as president of the institution, over whose financial policy he has since presided. His plans are well formulated. The business under his direction has been carefully systematized and he has ever recognized the fact that the bank is most worthy of support which most carefully safeguards the interests of depositors. While extending every possible courtesy of the bank to patrons, he has never erred on the side of ultra progressiveness, his actions at all times being tempered by a safe conservatism. His name, therefore, has become a synonym for sound judgment and thorough reliability and he today occupies a central place on the stage of banking activity in Walla Walla county.

In 1893 Mr. Kellough was united in marriage to Miss Viola Purdy, a daughter of Orlando Purdy, who was a Michigan farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Kellough have become the parents of two children, Lance E. and Erma G. Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Kellough has given consistent and loyal support to the republican party and has been an earnest and active worker in its ranks. His fellow townsmen, appreciative of his worth and ability, have called him to public office and for two terms, in 1906 and 1907, he served as mayor of Walla Walla, giving to the city a businesslike and progressive administration. He is a member of the Commercial Club, in the work of which he has taken a most active and helpful interest and for one term he served as its president. In this connection he promoted many activities looking to the further development of Walla Walla, the extension of its trade relations and the promotion of its civic standards. He has been very prominent as an Odd Fellow, holding membership in Trinity Lodge, No. 121, I. O. O. F. He has passed through all of the chairs in both the local lodge and in the state organization, and few in Washington have equalled him in active and effective service for the upbuilding of the organization. In fact he is one of the best known Odd Fellows in all the northwestern country. He is likewise connected with the Woodmen of the World, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is actuated by a spirit of progressiveness in all that he does. There are in his life few leisure hours. He is constantly busied with some interest either for the benefit of his own fortunes or for the upbuilding of the district with which he is connected, and his labors have been effective, beneficial and resultant.

MARCUS ZÜGER, JR.

Prominent among the most alert and progressive farmers of Walla Walla county is numbered Marcus Züger, Jr., who is the owner of extensive and valuable holdings in Walla Walla and in Garfield counties. He was born January 1, 1878, in the county where he still resides, being a son of Marcus Züger, Sr., of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work. His youthful days were spent in the usual manner of farm bred boys and the habits of industry and close application which he early developed have constituted the foundation of his present success. He remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority and at the age of twenty-five years, at which time he was married, he began farming for himself on the old homestead, comprising fourteen hundred and sixty-eight acres of land. He has since been prominently and extensively identified with agricultural interests in Walla Walla county and in addition to the old homestead tract he is now the owner of eleven hundred and seventy acres in Garfield county, which is highly improved and which brings to him a gratifying annual rental. He follows the most progressive methods in all of his farm work, utilizes the latest improved machinery and upon his place is found every convenience and accessory of the model farm of the twentieth century. He has closely studied scientific methods of wheat raising, whereby he has greatly enhanced the productiveness of his fields. Aside from his farming interests he is connected with the Exchange Bank at Waitsburg as one of its directors.

In 1904 Mr. Züger was united in marriage to Miss Jennie L. Woodworth, a native of New York, and they have become parents of four children, Margaret D., Arthur Frederick, Kenneth and Erma. Mrs. Züger is a member of the Christian church, while Mr. Züger fraternally is connected with the Masons and with the Knights of Pythias and in his life exemplifies the beneficent spirit on which these organizations are based. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he has served as county commissioner for two years. He has also proved his friendship to the cause of public education by active service as a member of the school board. He stands for progress and improvement in all things relating to the public welfare and has never allowed personal ambitions or interests to dwarf his public spirit or activities. His views have ever found expression in prompt action rather than in theory and he is a man of stable purpose, accomplishing what he undertakes.

ALFRED LARSON.

Alfred Larson, head miller of the mill of the Portland Flouring Mills Company at Dayton and thus prominently identified with the industrial activity and development of southeastern Washington, was born in Sweden, May 13, 1856, a son of Edward and Margaret Larson, both of whom spent their entire lives in Sweden, the father following the occupation of farming there.

Alfred Larson was reared in his native country and its public schools afforded him his educational opportunities. In 1878, when a young man of twenty-two years, he crossed the Atlantic and made his way to Minneapolis, Minnesota. He had previously learned the miller's trade in Sweden, having entered upon an apprenticeship to that work when a youth of but fifteen years. After coming to the new world he secured employment in the flouring mills of Minneapolis and during two different periods devoted seventeen years to that business in that city, spending the entire time with two companies. In 1891 he first came to the far northwest, making his way to Salem, Oregon, where he was employed as head miller by the Portland Flouring Mills Company. He remained in that position in Salem for four years and then returned to Minneapolis, where he spent the succeeding seven years as second miller in one of the city's most important milling plants. In 1902 he again came to the west, this time accepting the position of head miller in the Creston Mills at Creston, Washington, where he resided for three and a half years. He then went to Condon, Oregon, where he took charge of the plant of the Portland Flouring Mills Company, which he managed for five years. He was transferred to the Albino Mills, owned by the same company at Portland, Oregon, and a year later he resigned his position there to engage in the real estate business in Portland. That, however, proved an unsuccessful venture and he returned to the milling business, accepting the position of head miller of the plant of the Portland Flouring Mills Company at Dayton. In this important position he has since continued and the success of the business at this point is attributable to his skill, enterprise and close application. He has won a substantial position among the foremost millers of the northwest.

In 1882 Mr. Larson was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Corlstrom, who was born in Sweden and emigrated to the United States with a sister when a maiden of fourteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Larson have become the parents of three children, two of whom are living, namely: Mabel, the wife of C. N. Lockridge, who is serving as county clerk of Gilliam county, Oregon; and Wallace, a mechanical engineer and miller who is assisting his father in the mill.

Mr. Larson gives his political allegiance to the republican party and fraternally is identified with the Masons, belonging to Creston Lodge, No. 123, F. & A. M.; Davenport Chapter, No. 25, R. A. M.; Zion Commandery, No. 2, K. T.; and Al Kader Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Portland, Oregon. Mr. Larson's record is that of one who through orderly progression has reached a creditable position in the business world. Coming to America when a young man of twenty-two years without capital save energy, ambition and a knowledge of his trade, he has steadily worked his way upward and among his marked characteristics should be mentioned his fidelity and loyalty to the interests which he serves. This is indicated by the fact that he continued for seventeen years in the employ of but two companies in Minneapolis and that he has been gladly received back into the ranks of the representatives of the Portland Flouring Mills Company, with which company he has been associated for twenty-five years and with which he now occupies a position of responsibility and importance. There is no phase of the milling business with which he is not thoroughly familiar and he is thus well qualified to discharge the onerous duties that devolve upon him in his present connection. Dayton numbers him among her foremost citizens and accords him a high measure of respect and goodwill.

CANTREL R. FRAZIER.

Cantrel R. Frazier is a retired farmer residing at No. 305 Newell street in Walla Walla. He has passed the eighty-sixth milestone on life's journey and well deserves the rest which has come to him, for it is the reward of persistent, earnest and intelligently directed effort in former years. He was born in Barren county, Kentucky, February 15, 1832, a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Marshall) Frazier. The mother died in Kentucky, after which the father removed to Missouri in 1846. There his remaining days were passed, his death occurring in that state in the early '70s.

Cantrel R. Frazier in young manhood, or in 1853, when twenty-one years of age, crossed the plains with a drove of cattle belonging to the firm of Packwood & Lewis of San Jose, California. He was accompanied on the trip by his brother William and five months were spent upon the road ere they reached their destination. After the cattle were delivered to their employers they took up a homestead in Tulare county, California, after which they paid ten cents per pound for seed wheat. They planted fifteen acres and harvested six hundred bushels, for which they received six cents per pound. For two years they remained in the Golden state and then returned to Missouri.

In 1857 Cantrel R. Frazier was united in marriage to Miss Salitha Shubert and in 1864 he again crossed the plains with Walla Walla as his destination. He made the trip with one yoke of oxen and a small wagon and brought with him his wife and two children, one of the children being born in Colorado while they were en route to the Pacific coast.

After reaching Washington, Mr. Frazier homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land on Dry creek, about nine miles east of the city of Walla Walla, and upon that farm he resided until his removal to Walla Walla in 1907. He had there lived for forty-three years and his labors had wrought a marked transformation in the appearance of the place. He had planted a variety of fruit and nut trees upon his farm as well as various kinds of grain. Chestnut trees planted in 1884 are now seven feet seven inches in circumference. His fields were most carefully cultivated and the results attained were very gratifying. On the completion of the Northern Pacific Railroad into this section of the state, Mr. Frazier and his wife went back to the old Missouri home on a visit. When he again came to the northwest he brought with him some shell bark and some bull hickory nuts, also some butternut trees and black walnut trees. He likewise has persimmon trees upon his place and one of his apple trees is perhaps the largest apple tree in the state. It measures more than seven feet and seven inches in circumference around the base and has a spread of fifty-seven feet, while in height it has reached forty-two feet. In 1907 it yielded a crop of one hundred and twenty-six and a half boxes of fruit of Frazier's prolific variety. From this old tree a number of gavels have been made by the Commercial Club and one was presented to Mr. Frazier. He owns one hundred and seventy acres of land and his place has been brought under a very high state of development and improvement, so that it yields to him a most gratifying annual return.

Mr. and Mrs. Frazier reared a family of six children; namely Florence, who is the wife of Samuel Philips, formerly of Weston, Oregon, but now of Walla Walla; Benjamin, a cattle man living in northern Washington; Jane, who is the wife of Joseph Gwin, of Walla Walla county; Armeda, who gave her hand in marriage to Samuel McHenry, of St. Francois county, Missouri; John, who follows farming in Walla Walla township; and Dora, the wife of Daniel Neiswanger, of Bend, Oregon. The wife and mother died in 1907 after a happy married life of half a century.

Mr. Frazier was again married in 1907 to Mrs. Missouri Ann Wightman, a native of Wayne county, Missouri, and a daughter of Thomas J. and Lucinda Swezea, the former born in Tennessee and the latter in Missouri. In 1859 the parents, accompanied by their six children, started across the plains with two hundred head of cattle, which dwindled down to about one hundred head before reaching Walla Walla. Mr. Swezea purchased a claim about eight miles from the city on Cottonwood creek. On the 8th of July, 1860, a son, Charles L., was added to the family, he being the first white child born in Walla Walla. Mr. Swezea died at the age of seventy-seven years and his wife at the age of seventy-five. Of their nine children only four are now living, namely: Mrs. Nancy J. Harer, of Walla Walla; Missouri Ann, now Mrs. Frazier; Smith W., a resident of Harrison, Idaho; and Charles L., of Walla Walla county. Mrs. Frazier was a girl of fifteen years when she came to this state and on reaching womanhood married William Wightman, by whom she had one child, Elizabeth, the wife of William Wiseman, of Tacoma.

In his political views Mr. Frazier is a democrat, which party he has supported since reaching adult age. He belongs to the Christian church, while his wife is a member of the Presbyterian church. They are people of genuine personal worth, enjoying in large measure the friendship and kindly regard of those with whom thy have been brought in contact. Their own home is noted for its warm-hearted hospitality and is the scene of many delightful social gatherings. For fifty-three years Mr. Frazier has resided in this county and has been a witness of much of its development and improvement. His own labors have demonstrated in large measure what can be accomplished in the way of raising fruits and nuts in this section. He has ever been progressive in his work and the practical methods which he has followed have brought substantial results. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to try his fortune in the northwest. He here found conditions favorable to the man who is willing to work, for the land is rich in its natural resources and Mr. Frazier accordingly brought his diligence to play with the result that he is today the possessor of a handsome competence which surrounds him with all of the necessities and comforts of life and some of its luxuries.

HENRY S. COPELAND.

Henry S. Copeland, deceased, was one of the early pioneer settlers of Walla Walla county, arriving here in 1862. He found a largely unsettled and undeveloped region in which the work of improvement had scarcely been begun. The Indians in the state far outnumbered the white settlers and only here and there had been founded a little town, showing that the seeds of civilization had been planted on the western frontier which were later to bear fruit in the development of one of the most progressive commonwealths of the Union.

Henry S. Copeland was born in Vermont in 1824 and was a son of Thomas Copeland, who came from Ireland to Canada in young manhood. Later he crossed the border into the United States, establishing his home in Vermont, where he resided up to the time of his death. Both he and his wife died when their son Henry was a small boy. He was born upon a farm and continued to work at farm labor through the period of his youth, dividing his time between the tasks of the fields and attendance at the district schools through the winter months. At an early age he began farming on his own account and 1857 found him in Sacramento, California, while in 1859 he was in the Willamette valley. In 1862 he crossed to Walla Walla, believing that the growing community there would offer him the best opportunities. It was not long thereafter until he had purchased a home and subsequently he took up a homestead claim, southeast of Walla Walla. For many years he was prominently identified with the agricultural interests of this county and from time to time purchased other land until his holdings were very extensive. He utilized every chance for judicious investment and never lost faith in the future of this district, for he readily appreciated the fact that nature was kind to this region and had placed before man many opportunities for successful business in this section.

Mr. Copeland was united in marriage, in the Willamette valley, to Miss Mary Ann Morton, a daughter of William and Catherine Morton, of Illinois, and they became the parents of nine children, four of whom survive. The wife and mother passed away in April, 1957, while the death of Mr. Copeland occurred twelve years earlier in February, 1905. He was very prominent in Masonic circles as well as in his business connections and in his life exemplified the beneficent spirit of the craft. He was ever ready to extend a helping hand to a brother of the fraternity or to aid any fellow traveler on life's journey. He was broad-minded and liberal in his views and had many qualities which made him worthy of the high regard in which he was uniformly held.

JOHN W. BROOKS.

For almost a quarter of a century John W. Brooks has been actively engaged in the practice of law in Walla Walla and throughout that period has steadily forged to the front until he has long since occupied an enviable position in the foremost rank of the attorneys of Washington. He was born in Asheville, North Carolina, September 9, 1870, a son of Charles and Elizabeth (Cagle) Brooks, both of whom were natives of that state, where they spent their entire lives. The father died in the same building in which he was born, passing away in his ninetieth year, after having devoted his entire life to general agricultural pursuits.

John W. Brooks was reared upon the home farm and the public schools afforded him his early educational privileges. Being desirous of preparing for the bar, he afterward entered the University of North Carolina, which conferred upon him his degree as a lawyer upon his graduation with the class of 1892. He was admitted to the bar on the 24th of September of that year and following his admission he opened an office in Asheville, North Carolina, where he remained in practice until the 15th of February, 1893. Thinking that the west offered still better business opportunities, he then left the Atlantic coast to make his way to the Pacific seaboard and eventually arrived in Walla Walla, where he has since practiced independently. He is an able lawyer, possessing comprehensive knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence and is seldom if ever at fault in the application of such principles to the point in litigation. His reasoning is sound, his deductions clear and his arguments convincing. For twenty-four years he has now practiced in Walla Walla and has long been accorded a position of leadership among the attorneys of this section of the state.