A few years later, therefore, George Benson Kuykendall became a student in Willamette University and was graduated at the head of his class, in the medical department, and at once entered upon active medical practice. Within a few months he was appointed to the position of government physician at Fort Simcoe, Washington, where he enjoyed a large practice in addition to the government work. He there took up the special study of microscopy and chemical research, particularly as related to toxicology and medical jurisprudence. He also did much work in Micro-photography to aid in differentiation of tissues, cells and blood corpuscles and while thus engaged he made a fine collection of mounted specimens, both physiological and pathological.
While at Fort Simcoe he was requested by Professor J. W. Powell of the Smithsonian Institute of Washington, D. C., to make a study of the ethnology of the native Indians of the Pacific northwest—a line which he followed up as his time would permit. He collected many traditions, myths, ancient laws and customs of the Indian tribes and wrote an account of these for preservation. In this work all traditions and myths were obtained at first hand from the Indians themselves. Later he wrote a series of papers on the subject for The West Shore, a magazine then published in Portland, Oregon. After ten years with the government at Fort Simcoe, the Doctor found his family growing and needing better facilities for education and social culture and accordingly resigned his position and located at Pomeroy, Washington.
It was in 1868 that Dr. Kuykendall married Miss E. J. Butler, a daughter of Judge Benjamin Butler, of Douglas county, Oregon, who later removed to Pomeroy, where he was judge of probate for many years. The Doctor has an interesting and intelligent family of five sons and three daughters. In his marriage he was peculiarly fortunate, Mrs. Kuykendall being a lady of marked intelligence and practical good judgment. His eldest son, Chester Ernest, is a druggist and dealer in books, musical instruments and fancy holiday goods. He is a popular man who for years has been closely identified with the interests of Pomeroy as one of the leaders in educational work, being a member of the board of directors of the Pomeroy high school and also mayor of the city. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and has been church organist for years. Elgin Victor, the next son, is a prominent attorney and was elected to the state senate from the counties of Garfield, Columbia and Asotin by a large majority. George Vivian, the third son, is chief operator in the offices of the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company. William B. is engaged in the real estate and insurance business and is now reading law preparatory to practice. Hubert John is in the drug store with his brother Chester. All these sons are married and with the exception of George all are residents of Pomeroy. Minnie Pearl and Grace Orlean, are the elder daughters. The former is the wife of R. B. Spencer, of Hermiston, Oregon, and the younger is the wife of G. C. Start, of Sunnyside, Washington. Both have decided talent for painting and Mrs. Spencer taught oil Painting in Pomeroy for years. The youngest daughter, Bessie, is at home with her parents.
Dr. Kuykendall has had an extensive acquaintance among the prominent pioneer settlers of Oregon, including Rev. J. H. Wilbur, pioneer missionary minister, Hon. Binger Herman, Judges J. F. Watson, E. B. Watson and P. L. Willis, who were early friends in southern Oregon, Judge M. P. Deady and General Joseph Lane, Delazon Smith, Colonel Hooker, Governor Chadwick and others. In addition to his professional attainments Dr. Kuykendall has an enviable reputation as a writer. He has written much for the press and has always been very industrious in gathering up material for use in future writings. He has completed a history of the Kuykendall family for the past three hundred years, the family being of the old Knickerbocker stock of New York and New Jersey, whence they have gone as pioneers across the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The family has been represented in every war of note since early colonial days. Dr. Kuykendall has retired from the active practice of medicine and spends his leisure in reading and writing. He has a collection of data pertaining to Indian mythology, ethnology and customs which he hopes yet to be able to publish, besides other matter written during the passing years.
Dr. Kuykendall has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for many years, actively connected with its social and moral endeavors for the benefit of the community. He has always made it a point to support every movement for the good of the community with his money as well as with his personal aid. He has been too busy to give much attention to money making but has prospered sufficiently to have gained a good competence. His father was liberal to a fault and when he gave, as the Doctor thought, too liberally of his means the Doctor always helped him out. The latter has always been glad to remember this generosity of his father and has been stimulated by his example to think more of "the other fellow." Since its organization he has been a member of the Garfield County Pioneer Association and for some years has been its secretary. He is a member of the Oregon Historical Society and the Holland Society of New York city. To belong to this society one must be able to show documentary evidence of having come from an ancestor born of a forefather who came from Holland to America before 1675.
WALLACE LEROY WHITMORE.
Few men of the northwest have been more widely known than Wallace Leroy Whitmore, now deceased. He resided on section 21, township 13 north, range 42 east, Garfield county, but for more than forty years he traveled extensively over this country as a commercial salesman and he was also known throughout the Pacific coast states as a breeder of fast horses. He had those special qualities which make for personal popularity and wherever he went he made friends. He was born in Oakland, Oregon, June 8, 1857, and was a son of George and Mary (Vaughn) Whitmore, both of whom were natives of Wisconsin. They crossed the plains to Oregon in 1852 and in 1867 removed to San Francisco, California, where they made their home for a number of years. The mother made her home with Wallace Leroy Whitmore most of her life, his filial care and attention rewarding her for the love which she had bestowed upon him in his boyhood days.
