Mr. Brunton was united in marriage on the 12th of May, 1891, to Miss Alice Roberta Egbert, a daughter of Marion D. Egbert, who is now deceased, but for many years was a well known publisher of Walla Walla. Mr. and Mrs. Brunton have become the parents of one child, Margaret A., who is a graduate of the University of California of the class of 1914 and is now a successful teacher in the Le Grand (Calif.) high school.
In his political views Mr. Brunton is a stalwart republican, having been a staunch supporter of the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He belongs to the Walla Walla Commercial Club and cooperates in all of its well defined plans for the upbuilding of the city, for the extension of its trade relations and for the upholding of its high civic standards. He ranks with its foremost business men and representative residents, enjoying the goodwill and confidence of all with whom he has been associated.
HON. HARLAN D. ELDRIDGE.
A valuable farm property is that owned and operated by Hon. Harlan D. Eldridge, who is living on section 1, township 7 north, range 37 east, Walla Walla county. It is equipped with all the latest accessories and conveniences of a model farm property of the twentieth century and in its splendid appearance indicates the care and supervision of a practical and progressive owner. But while Mr. Eldridge is a representative and prosperous agriculturist, he is also a citizen wide awake to the duties and obligations that devolve upon him in connection with public affairs and has rendered active aid to his state as a member of the general assembly.
He was born in Dallas county, Iowa, April 6, 1858, and is a son of Joseph W. and Matilda (Parks) Eldridge, the former a native of Ohio, while the latter was born in Indiana. Removing westward, they settled in Iowa in 1856, taking up their abode upon a farm in Dallas county, where they remained for a number of years. Afterwards they became residents of Omaha, Nebraska, where both spent their remaining days. They had a family of three children, of whom two are now living.
Harlan D. Eldridge spent the period of his boyhood and youth in his native county and there completed a public school education which fitted him for life's practical duties and responsibilities. He received thorough training in the work of the farm and thus became well qualified for the tasks which he later undertook for his own benefit. In April, 1880, when a young man of twenty-two years, he arrived in Walla Walla county and took up a homestead north of Waitsburg, upon which he resided for ten years. On the expiration of that period he sold the property and bought his present farm, which is situated on section I, township 7 north, range 37 east. He has since improved the property with fine buildings, making it one of the attractive features of the landscape. In addition to the comfortable and commodious residence there are also barns and outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock and the latest improved machinery facilitates the work of the fields. He has here six hundred and forty acres under cultivation and he makes a specialty of the growing of wheat and of stock raising, in both of which branches of business he is meeting with excellent success. He studies carefully the question of crop rotation and the productiveness of the soil and he employs the most scientific methods of carrying on his farm work-methods which are after all the practical elements of desired results.
MRS. HARLAN D. ELDRIDGE