HON. ALFRED L. RAY.
Hon. Alfred L. Ray, residing on section 26, township 10 north, range 35, is one of the large wheat raisers of Walla Walla county and is also entitled to mention as a member of the state legislature. He was born in Hamilton county, Illinois, October 12, 1875, a son of Alfred M. and Rachel Ray. He grew to manhood and received his education in Illinois and remained in the middle west until 1901, when he became a resident of Columbia county, Washington. For eight years he engaged in farming there and also taught school, but in 1909 he came to Walla Walla county and took up his residence on his present home farm of three hundred and twenty acres. He also operates rented land, cultivating in all eighteen hundred acres. He specializes in the production of wheat and is recognized as an authority upon wheat growing and marketing. He uses the most up-to-date methods and implements and gives the same careful attention to his affairs that a business man gives to the conduct of his interests.
In 1896 Mr. Ray was united in marriage to Miss Rosa Malone, also a native of Illinois and a daughter of George W. and Cynthia J. (Huff) Malone, the former deceased but the latter still a resident of Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Ray have been born nine children, namely: Eugene D., Ernest T. and Hazel, all high school students; A. Melvin; George W.; J. Wesley; Paul; Virginia; and Stanley S.
Mr. Ray is well known in democratic circles and is now serving as representative in the state legislature from the twelfth district and is making a record highly satisfactory to his constituents. He and his wife belong to the Congregational church and seek to conform their lives to its teachings. He is respected for his ability, honored for his integrity and held in warm personal regard by reason of his attractive social qualities. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Prescott and the Modern Woodmen of America.
ANDREW J. McCULLOUCH.
Andrew J. McCullouch is living retired in Waitsburg after many years of active connection with farming interests. He was born in Mahaska, Iowa, June 9, 1850, of the marriage of Andrew J. and Polly (Stark) McCullouch. The father, who was born in West Virginia, removed to Monmouth, Illinois, at an early day and later went to Iowa, whence in 1850 he crossed the plains to California with an ox team and old fashioned prairie schooner. After three years he returned to Iowa by way of the Isthmus route and there he farmed until called by death, which occurred July 19, 1900, when he had reached the age of eighty-four years and seven months. His wife also passed away in that state in February, 1854, at the age of thirty years. To them were born four sons, of whom three survive.
Andrew J. McCullouch passed his boyhood and youth in Union county, Iowa, and his education was acquired in the public schools there. When twenty-five years old he went to Monona county, Iowa, where he was married and where he farmed until 1883. In that year he cast in his lot with the Pacific northwest, coming to Walla Walla county, Washington. He took up three hundred and twenty acres of land, nine miles north of Preston and that place remained his home until October 1903, when he removed to Waitsburg, where he has since lived retired. He was very successful as a farmer and, realizing that land would steadily increase in value as the country became more thickly settled, he invested his capital in additional land, now owning thirteen hundred and fifty-five acres of fine wheat land. The financial independence which he has gained is proof of his foresight, his sound judgment and his business ability, for he is a self-made man, having depended solely upon his own labors for advancement.
Mr. McCullouch was married on March 16, 1879, to Miss Rebecca Broomfield and they have become the parents of nine children: Elsie H., William, Josie, James A. and Walter, all of whom are deceased; Jessie M., the wife of D. H. Harris; Bertha, at home; Ruby, the wife of Wallace Heffron, and Chauncey L., who is on the home farm.