William A. Struthers was educated in the public schools of his native city and when twenty years of age he left the Mississippi valley for the Pacific slope. He made his way to Walla Walla, where he engaged in farming. For several years following his arrival he worked for wages in the employ of his brother George and in 1897 he began farming on his own account. For ten years he cultivated rented land, operating fifteen hundred acres on the Eureka Flats. About 1907 he purchased the W. H. Babcock farm of twenty-two hundred and forty acres, on which he resided until June, 1917, when he became owner of the Dr. C. N. Suttner residence at the corner of Palouse and Birch streets in Walla Walla. This is one of the finest homes in the city and is now occupied by Mr. Struthers and his family. His farm, also, is one of the best equipped and most conveniently and comfortably arranged of any in Walla Walla county. The numerous buildings are large, airy and commodious. They are strictly modern in every particular and the residence is elegantly appointed with all the latest conveniences, as Mr. and Mrs. Struthers made many improvements thereon, intending it at that time for their permanent home. The grounds are beautifully laid out and planted with well kept shrubs, while the lawns are interspersed with rare flowerbeds. The business facilities of the place are looked after with equally painstaking care and there are even laid sidetracks from the railroad to the barns to facilitate loading and shipping. Mr. Struthers still personally superintends his extensive farming interests and has become one of the leading and representative agriculturists of this section of the state. He has kept in close touch with the most progressive methods of farming and wheat growing and the latest improved machinery is seen upon his land, used in connection with the plowing, planting and harvesting of the crops. Indeed, there is in evidence every convenience and accessory of a model farm property of the present day.
In 1893 Mr. Struthers was united in marriage to Miss Maggie McDonald, her father being P. J. McDonald, then of Walla Walla county but now a resident of Sprague, Washington. They became the parents of two children, of whom one survives, Hazel, who is now the wife of P. J. Tully, of Sprague, Washington. The wife and mother passed away in 1903 and in 1905 Mr. Struthers was again married, his second union being with Miss Lucy B. Labudde, a daughter of Gustav Labudde, of Eureka, Walla Walla county. By his second wife Mr. Struthers has four children, Selma, Helen, Bernice and Jack.
WILLIAM A. STRUTHERS
RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM A. STRUTHERS
In politics Mr. Struthers is a democrat and for twenty years was a member of the school board of District No. 2. He does everything in his power to insure the success of his party and extend its influence but has never been a politician for the sake of office. He belongs to Walla Walla Lodge, No. 287, B. P. O. E., and he and his wife are consistent members of the Congregational church. An analyzation of his career shows that he has always placed his dependence upon industry and perseverance rather than upon fortunate circumstances or the assistance of friends. In other words he has not been afraid of hard work and his close application and intelligently directed effort have been the means of winning for him a position among the prosperous citizens of southeastern Washington.