Dr. Mauzey has a wide acquaintance in the northwest and all who know him speak of him in terms of high regard. For many years his position was that of family physician in many a household of Walla Walla, and regret was felt on the part of his patients when he determined to retire from practice. He is also numbered among the pioneer settlers in the northwest, his residence in this section of the country covering almost a half century, so that he is largely familiar with its history. When he arrived at Portland in August, 1870, it had a population of ten thousand and the territory of Washington had a population of sixty-five thousand.
WOODSON CUMMINS.
Woodson Cummins, of Touchet, is a retired farmer who was long actively identified with farming interests, but while still owning valuable farm property, is leaving its care and development to others. He is now vice president of the Touchet State Bank and his business record has at all times been such as has won for him the confidence and goodwill of his contemporaries.
A native son of Iowa, Mr. Cummins was born on the 6th of July, 1855, and is a son of Robert and Lucretia (Myers) Cummins, both of whom were natives of Virginia. They were married, however, in Indiana, to which state they had removed with their respective parents in childhood days. Soon after their marriage they left the Hoosier state to become residents of Iowa, and in 1862 they again started upon a westward journey, with Walla Walla county, Washington, as their destination. They crossed the plains with ox teams and a mule team, leaving their Iowa home on the 1st of April and reaching Walla Walla county about the 16th of September. It was a long and arduous trip across the stretches of hot sand and over the mountain passes. There were some dangers to be faced and many hardships to be undergone, but day after day and week after week the journey was continued with resolute spirit and courage until they arrived in Washington. Soon afterward Mr. Cummins took up a homestead about five miles southeast of Walla Walla and in 1869 he removed to the farm which his son Woodson now owns, situated two miles west of Touchet. There he acquired three hundred and twenty acres of land and for several years he was engaged thereon in stock raising, becoming a prominent representative of the livestock business in this section. He also engaged in freighting in the early days, continuing in that business until the building of the railroad. There was no feature of pioneer life with which he was not familiar and his efforts were an important element in promoting the early development and the later progress of this section of the state. He labored diligently and the intelligent direction of his efforts brought good results. He died in the year 1916, having long survived his wife, who passed away in 1875. In fact he was three times married after the death of the mother of Woodson Cummins, and each of his wives preceded him to the grave.
WOODSON CUMMINS
