DR. EDWIN H. VAN PATTEN
Dr. Edwin Hugh Van Patten, reared in Lincoln, there acquired his early education as a public school student and afterward attended the Lincoln University, which conferred upon him the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy in 1879 and that of Master of Philosophy in the spring of 1883, the latter coming to him from his alma mater as a well earned honor. In 1880, then a young man of twenty-five years, he accompanied his parents on their removal westward to Oregon and took up his abode upon a claim in Sherman county. It was his desire, however, to enter upon a professional career. He had previously engaged in teaching school in Illinois but regarded this merely as an initial step to other professional labor and in 1881 he returned to his native state to become a student in Rush Medical College in Chicago, from which he was graduated in February, 1883, with valedictorian honors as a member of a class of two hundred. He then returned to the northwest and located for practice in Dayton, where he has remained for thirty-four years, occupying one office through practically the entire period. Actuated at all times by a most progressive spirit, he has kept abreast with the latest thought, researches and discoveries of the science of medicine, has one of the best equipped offices in the northwest and one of the most complete medical libraries. In 1888 he went to New York, where he pursued an extended post-graduate course, specializing in the study of diseases of the eye and ear. It was Dr. Van Patten who performed the first successful laparotomy operation and the first successful hysterectomy operation in Columbia county. He has done much difficult surgical work which has given evidence of his remarkable skill and high achievements in this branch of the profession and he is regarded as the peer of the ablest physicians and surgeons on the Pacific coast. He is likewise a member of the Edwards-Hindle Company of Dayton and is a landowner of Columbia county, Washington, and of Sherman county, Oregon.
On the 25th of June, 1884, in Bismarck, Illinois, Dr. Van Patten was united in marriage to Miss Julia Satterwhite, of Louisville, Kentucky, who had been a schoolmate of the Doctor in Lincoln. She is a daughter of Parker Satterwhite and was graduated from the Lincoln schools in June, 1881, and taught school for some years prior to her marriage. She afterward became grand correspondent for the Grand Chapter of the Eastern Star, which position she occupied for a number of years or until her health caused her to resign.
Dr. Van Patten gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and in 1889 was a candidate on its ticket for the office of state senator and again in 1905. On both occasions he was defeated by a small majority in a strongly republican district, although he ran far ahead of the regular party vote. He served for six years as a member of the school board of Dayton and soon after his arrival in Columbia county was elected county coroner, which position he occupied for many years. In Masonic circles Dr. Van Patten occupies a very prominent position. He is a past grand master of the grand lodge of Masons, having served during 1904 and 1905. He was grand patron of the Order of the Eastern Star in 1892 and 1893 and is now right eminent grand commander of the Knights Templar. He is also the grand king of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons for the state and he is a member of the Oriental Consistory of Spokane, in Scottish Rite Masonry. He is likewise an elder of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, which indicates that his obligations for the religious development of the community are not neglected. In fact he is an active and helpful church worker and does everything in his power to extend the influence and promote the growth of the organization. He belongs to the Walla Walla Valley Medical Society and he went abroad for study in surgery in Europe. He has never ceased to be a close student of his profession and yet his reading has been by no means confined to medical and surgical lines but has reached out into the broad realms of thought. While in Europe he was several times requested to address the Travelers Club and the Camera Club, organizations of prominent people from all parts of the world. He is a gifted speaker and is frequently called upon to address various gatherings. Moreover, he is an unusually entertaining conversationalist, which makes him very popular in social circles. In a word, association with Dr. Van Patten means expansion and elevation.
GARLAND B. TAYLOR.
Garland B. Taylor, of Walla Walla, who is actively identified with farming in southeastern Washington, was born in Johnson county, Missouri, on the 30th of June, 1866, a son of Simon Taylor, who is mentioned in connection with the sketch of C. M. Taylor on another page of this work.
Garland B. Taylor was a lad of but twelve years when his parents removed of Walla Walla county, where he completed his education as a public school student. On attaining his majority he began farming in co-operation with his brothers, Walter and Mack, and about 1897 he withdrew from business connections with his brothers and began farming independently. He is today the owner of six hundred and three acres of rich and productive land and is one of the representative wheat farmers of Walla Walla county. His business affairs are carefully and systematically managed and his efforts have brought to him deserved success.
In 1895 Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Fuller, a daughter of John Fuller, who came to Walla Walla county from Arkansas in 1888 and here spent the remainder of his life. To Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have been born three sons and a daughter, namely: Joseph G.; Ben F.; Garland E.; and Henrietta, who is deceased.