JUDGE BENJAMIN SHARPSTEIN
MRS. BENJAMIN SHARPSTEIN
Judge Sharpstein was married in 1854 to Miss Sarah J. Park, who was indeed a faithful companion and helpmate to him on life's journey. She has long figured prominently in the social circles of Walla Walla and her life has been fraught with many good deeds and characterized by the highest principles. Following their marriage Judge and Mrs. Sharpstein continued to reside in the middle west until 1865, when they determined to try their fortune on the Pacific coast and with their three eldest children, John L., Ada A. and Arthur P., they left the Mississippi valley and with a large train of immigrants started across the plains for Oregon. The city of Salem, Oregon, was their objective point but on reaching Walla Walla, Judge Sharpstein was so favorably impressed with the opportunities of this section that he determined to make his home here. Thereafter he was identified with the city and was a most important and influential factor in advancing the best interests of the community, in promoting its progress and upbuilding and in upholding its standards of citizenship. He not only held high rank as a lawyer but was also prominent in shaping the political history of his state. At the bar he was forceful and resourceful. He had comprehensive knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence and was most accurate in applying those principles to the points in litigation. His arguments were most logical, his reasoning sound and clear and his deductions accurate.
In political faith Judge Sharpstein was a democrat and held loyally to the principles of his party, although he knew that such a course would deprive him of many political honors, for the district and state in which he lived were overwhelmingly republican. However, his fellow townsmen recognized his genuine worth and patriotic spirit to such an extent that in 1866, again in 1879 and once more in 1886 he was elected to represent his district in the state legislature by overwhelming majorities. In 1889 he was chosen as a member of the state constitutional convention and aided in framing the organic law of Washington. He left the permanent stamp of his wisdom and farsightedness upon that valuable document. His marked ability as a lawyer, combined with his patriotic citizenship and his keen insight into the present needs and the future possibilities of the state, made his service of the greatest worth to the commonwealth and he bore a most important part in shaping the constitution. He was again called to public office in 1890, when he was appointed a member of the tide land commission.
Judge Sharpstein was also a leader in local affairs and for twenty-seven years in all, with some periods of intermission, he served as a member of the school board and during much of that time was its president. He did most effective work in advancing the standards of the schools and improving the methods of instruction, and one of the fine school buildings of Walla Walla fittingly bears his name.