Lyman's History of old Walla Walla County, Vol. 1 / Embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties

by William Denison Lyman

LEGISLATIVE DELEGATIONS AND THE CHIEF COUNTY OFFICIALS

In 1876, Walla Walla County was represented in the Legislature by Daniel Stewart, councilman, and W. T. Barnes, William Martin, A. J. Gregory, and H. A. Vansycle, representatives. The county officers were: T. J. Anders, attorney; G. F. Thomas, sheriff; T. P. Page, auditor; W. O'Donnell, treasurer; Samuel Jacobs, assessor; P. Zahner, surveyor; A. W. Sweeney, superintendent of schools; L. H. Goodwin, coroner; D. J. Storms, James Braden, and Dion Keefe, commissioners.

The election in 1878 resulted thus: J. H. Day, councilman; J. A. Taylor, D. J. Storms, J. M. Dewar, and M. F. Colt, representatives; R. F. Sturdevant, attorney; R. Guichard, probate judge; J. B. Thompson, sheriff; W. C. Painter, auditor; J. F. Boyer, treasurer; S. Jacobs, assessor; P. Zahner, surveyor; C. W. Wheeler, superintendent of schools; J. M. Boyd, coroner; M. B. Ward, Amos Cummings and S. H. Erwin, commissioners.

In 1880, election results were these: B. L. Sharpstein, councilman; Jacob Hoover, joint councilman; R. R. Rees and W. G. Preston, representatives; J. M. Cornwell, joint representative; R. Guichard, probate judge; G. T. Thompson, attorney; W. C. Painter, auditor; J. B. Thompson, sheriff; J. F. Boyer, treasurer; S. Jacobs, assessor; F. H. Loehr, surveyor; C. W. Wheeler, superintendent of schools; H. G. Mauzey, coroner; M. B. Ward, Amos Cummings and S. H. Erwin, commissioners; A. S. LeGrow, sheep commissioner. As may be seen from the above, nearly all the incumbents of 1878 were re-elected for another term. That policy became common in subsequent elections.

In 1882 we find the following choices: H. H. Hungate, A. G. Lloyd, and Milton Evans, representatives; G. T. Thompson, attorney; W. C. Painter, auditor; J. B. Thompson, sheriff; J. F. Boyer, treasurer; William Harkness, assessor; F. H. Loehr, surveyor; J. W. Brock, school superintendent; R. Guichard, probate judge; M. B. Ward, Amos Cummings, and S. H. Erwin, commissioners; W. B. Wells, coroner; A. S. LeGrow, sheep commissioner.

The choices in 1884 were these: J. F. Brewer, William Fudge, and J. M. Dewar, representatives; E. K. Hanna, attorney; W. C. Painter, auditor; A. S. Bowles, sheriff; J. F. Boyer, treasurer; L. H. Bowman, assessor; J. B. Wilson, surveyor; J. W. Morgan, superintendent of schools; R. Guichard, probate judge; H. R. Keylor, coroner; Amos Cummings, W. P. Reser, and W. G. Babcock, commissioners; A. S. LeGrow, sheep commissioner.

In 1886, results were as follows: Platt Preston and W. M. Clark, representatives; L. R. Hawley, auditor; A. S. Bowles, sheriff; J. F. Boyer, treasurer; M. H. Paxton, assessor; J. M. Allen, surveyor; Ellen Gilliam, superintendent of schools; T. C. Taylor, Joseph Paul, and Edwin Weary, commissioners; H. R. Keylor, coroner; Timothy Barry, sheep commissioner.

The election of 1888 brought these results: J. M. Dewar, councilman; E. L. Powell, W. H. Upton, and L. T. Parker, representatives; T. J. Anders, attorney; L. R. Hawley, auditor; J. M. McFarland, sheriff; M. McManamon, Edwin Weary, and J. W. Morgan, commissioners; H. W. Eagan, probate judge; J. F. Boyer, treasurer; M. H. Paxton, assessor; J. B. Gehr, school superintendent; L. W. Loehr, surveyor; Y. C. Blalock, coroner.

In 1889 came entrance to statehood, and of that we have already spoken. The election of October 1st, of that year provided for the choice of congressmen, state officers, legislators, judge of Superior Court, and county clerk. Of the first two we have given the ranks earlier.

The following were chosen members of that first State Legislature: George T. Thompson and Platt Preston, senators; J. C. Painter, J. M. Cornwell and Z. K. Straight, representatives.