In his home town on the 5th of June, 1900, Mr. Wheeler was united in marriage to Miss Myrtie V. Duncan, a native of California and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Duncan, who were pioneers of the Walla Walla valley.
Mr. Wheeler has an interesting military record. For four years he served as a member of Company D, First Infantry, of the National Guard of Washington, occupying that position until 1898, when the National Guard was mustered into the national service as Company K for active duty in the Philippines. He was, however, rejected on account of defective eyesight, so that he could not go to the orient. In politics he has always been a republican, giving stalwart support to the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. That he is one of the leaders of the party is indicated in the fact that he is the present mayor of Waitsburg and with the exception of one year he has continued in the office for the past decade. Previously he had been a member of the city council for several years and his official record is one over which there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. He has always been active in the Commercial Club and is at the present time secretary of the Waitsburg Commercial Club, having been called to that position on its incorporation in 1911.
Fraternally Mr. Wheeler is connected with Delta Lodge, No. 70, K. P., in which organization he has always taken a very active part. He is likewise a member of Waitsburg Lodge, No. 16, F. & A. M.; of Occidental Lodge, No. 11, A. O. U. W.; and of Waitsburg Camp, No. 72, W. O. W. In all these organizations he is loyal to the purposes and teachings of the different societies. His standards of life are high and he never deviates from what he believes to be right between himself and his fellowmen. He is actuated by a spirit of progress in all that he undertakes in a business way or in relation to the public welfare and as an official of Waitsburg he has done splendid service in its behalf, looking ever to the benefit and upbuilding of the city.
A. HERBERT GRAVES.
A. Herbert Graves, appointed by President Wilson in January, 1916, to the position of postmaster of Asotin, was born December 2, 1871, in Shelbyville, Shelby county, Missouri, a son of Edmond and Sarah (Tuttle) Graves. He acquired a public school education in his native city and continued his studies at Macon, Missouri. On completing his course he took up the drug business, which he followed in Missouri for six years, and then went upon the road as a traveling salesman, representing a wholesale drug house, in which line of business he continued for about two years. He then became connected with the telephone business and on the 5th of April, 1913, he arrived in Asotin, Washington, where he bought out the Asotin Telephone Company, which at that time had but sixty-five patrons. The business is now conducted under the name of the Asotin Telephone Exchange and Mr. Graves is the sole owner. He gives service at the present time to three hundred patrons all over Asotin county and the adjoining territory. He has built up the business along substantial lines and he is accorded a gratifying patronage.
On the 14th of September, 1899, Mr. Graves was united in marriage to Miss Ida Algena Watson, a native of New York, and to them have been born three children: June Irene, who is a student in the Asotin high school; Herbert, a student in the eighth grade of the public schools; and Edward, now three years of age.
Mr. Graves and his wife are communicants of the Episcopal church and he belongs to the Masonic fraternity. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and in January, 1916, by presidential appointment, he became postmaster of Asotin, in which connection he is now serving, discharging the duties of the office in a prompt and capable manner and at the same time conducting his telephone business. He is a progressive, energetic and farsighted business man and is meeting with well merited success.
J. BURRES HERROLD.