DR. JOHN W. SUMMERS
Dr. Summers before removing to the west became interested in southern timber and cotton lands, which he still retains. He also has agricultural and horticultural lands in the Walla Walla valley. It is said that his preferred recreation is to leave his office cares and spend as many as fourteen hours per day on the farm or in the orchard, for he is keenly interested in the development and improvement of agricultural and horticultural interests. He was one of the organizers and became a director and vice president of the People's State Bank in 1911, which official positions he still occupies.
On the 29th of September, 1897, in Sullivan, Illinois, Dr. Summers was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Bosworth Burks, a daughter of Christopher C. and Sarah E. Burks. Mrs. Summers was educated in the Central Normal College at Danville, Indiana, and in the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois, and is a lady of liberal culture and innate refinement. Dr. and Mrs. Summers are the parents of four children: Allingham Burks, Paul Dilwyn, Sarah Hope and Harriet Jean.
Dr. Summers has for years been an officer of the Christian church, of which he became a member in early boyhood. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and to the Dramatic Order of the Knights of Khorassan, being Royal Vizier in the latter organization at this time. He is also connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and is an exemplary representative of the Masonic fraternity. He is a lover of history and has ever been keenly interested in politics from his boyhood days. He was reared in the faith of Jefferson and of Jackson but in 1896, differing from his party on the question of the free coinage of silver, he joined the republicans and has since remained one of the supporters of that party. He was elected a member of the state legislature and in this connection one of the local papers wrote: "Representative Summers made such a good record during the last session of the legislature that friends throughout the district quickly saw in him congressional timber and repeated requests have come to him from legislators and influential republicans throughout the district to become a candidate for congressman next year. In the last session of the legislature he succeeded in getting through the vocational training bill which secures aid from the national government providing a practical education for every boy and girl in the state over fourteen years of age. He is saving the state approximately fifty thousand dollars yearly by the invention of an improved number plate for autos which he deeded to the state." He brought forth this invention, gave it to the state and thus contributed to the yearly income of the commonwealth by a great saving. His bill requiring automobiles shipped into the state to be fully equipped with dimmer or anti-glare devices saves annually more than one hundred thousand dollars to the auto purchasers of Washington. He opposed the million dollar appropriation for a new capitol building, believing that this was but the entering wedge for the appropriation of many additional millions during the next few years. He was, however, connected with much constructive legislation of great worth, doing valuable service on the appropriation, revenue and taxation, banks and banking, education and military affairs committees. For many years he has been recognized as one of the strongest workers in behalf of temperance in southeastern Washington and contributed in large measure toward the enactment of the "bone-dry" law of 1917. The attitude which he displayed in the legislature when the question of the osteopath, labor union and Christian Science interests were before the house shows him to be a man of fairness and tolerance who justly considers the rights of all men, notwithstanding they oppose his own ideas. In a word he is a broad-minded man who recognizes the right of every individual to his honest opinion. There is nothing narrowly partisan or bigoted in his attitude. During the present crisis in the world's history Dr. Summers has manifested the same spirit which has actuated his ancestors through the different wars in which this country has been engaged. Three times since the declaration of war with Germany he has tendered his services to state and nation, only to be rejected because of a slight physical disability. Deprived of the privilege of serving his country at the front, he has availed himself of every opportunity to render aid and service at home in behalf of the Red Cross, liberty bonds and twice served as district chairman of the Y. M. C. A. war fund campaign. He is a member of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. He has always been deeply interested in civic affairs and in the educational welfare of his community and at all times stands for progress and improvement for the individual and for the state at large.
One of the old, valued and honored members of the house of representatives gives this estimate of Dr. Summers: "I found him an indefatigable worker and always supporting measures that he believed to be right and in the interest of the state at large. He is broad-minded and capable and secured the passage through the legislature of as many important measures as any other member of the house and every measure was good and necessary. He is clear-headed, a great mixer, frank and open, conscientious and absolutely dependable, and is entirely free from cant and sophistry."
ANDREW P. PEARSON.
Andrew P. Pearson is now living retired in Walla Walla after many years devoted to the grocery business. He was born in Sweden, September 15, 1848, a son of Pear Bengtson, who passed his entire life in that country. Our subject grew to manhood under the parental roof and obtained the education afforded by the common schools. In May, 1869, when almost twenty-one years of age, he crossed the ocean, landing in Quebec, Canada, whence he came direct to the States. He located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he found work as a carpenter. He had received training in that line under his brother, who was a carpenter and cabinetmaker. In 1874 he went to San Francisco but a month later removed to Los Angeles, where he entered the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad. He worked on the timbering of the San Fernando tunnel and proved so capable that he was promoted to foreman. For about six months he filled that position but in 1876 he decided to take a trip east and see the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia. From there he went to Sweden on a visit, remaining there for about a year, after which he once more went to San Francisco. He again became connected with the Southern Pacific Railroad, with which he remained until 1880.