Mr. Ledgerwood was a very progressive man, public-spirited in all that he did, and his aid and cooperation could ever be counted upon to further public progress. He aided many movements for the general good, and while he was never a politician in the commonly accepted sense of the term and never would consent to hold office, he gave earnest support to the democratic party because of a firm belief in its principles. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was a consistent Christian man, both he and his wife being lifelong members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Ledgerwood occupies a handsome home in Pomeroy, surrounded by all the comforts and conveniences which make life worth living.
REME De RUWE.
Among the successful sheep raisers of Columbia county is numbered Reme De Ruwe, who was born in Belgium, September 15, 1882, a son of Peter and Julia De Ruwe, also natives of that country, where their entire lives were passed. To them were born fifteen children. The subject of this review is indebted for his education to the schools of his native land, and remained at home until he was about twenty years old. Then, in 1902, he decided to try his fortune in the United States and located in Walla Walla county, Washington, where he at once turned his attention to raising sheep. He has since continued in that occupation on an extensive scale. He pastures his sheep on a ranch comprising twelve hundred acres of land in Columbia county. The success which he has gained in fifteen years is quite unusual, demonstrating his ability to adapt himself to a new condition, his sound judgment and his enterprise. His ranch is well improved and is a very valuable property.
In 1914 Mr. De Ruwe was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Kregger, and they have a son, Marvin, and have also adopted three children. Mr. De Ruwe casts his ballot in support of the republican party, whose principles accord with his political beliefs. He was reared in the Catholic faith and consistently gives his influence on the side of moral advancement. He has gained many friends since coming to eastern Washington, his salient characteristics being such as never fail to command respect and win regard.
CHARLES L. WHITNEY.
Charles L. Whitney, who is living retired on section 6, township 6 north, range 36 east, Walla Walla county, is now enjoying a period of well merited leisure made possible by his former successful labors as a nurseryman and horticulturist. He was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, January 26, 1857, of the marriage of William G. and Marcia M. (Pettis) Whitney, the former a native of Onondaga county, New York. They removed to California in 1879; two years before their son Charles L. had made his way to the Pacific coast, and after residing there for one or two years they came to Walla Walla county, Washington. Here the father, in partnership with his son Charles L., bought the farm where the latter still resides. This place was the site of the Sims mill, which was the first mill built in the state and possibly the first in the northwest. The date of its erection was 1858 and there was also a distillery operated within the limits of the farm. In the early days pack trains, numbering one hundred animals were sent to the outlying camps loaded with flour, bacon and whiskey, and the farm is indeed one of the historic places of the state. The father established the Home nursery and the son the North Western nurseries, and both proved successful in that business. The father remained active in the management of his affairs both as a nurseryman and as a farmer until his death in 1912. The mother passed away in 1910.
Charles L. Whitney was reared in Pennsylvania and after attending the common schools became a student in the Edinboro (Penn.) State Normal school and in Austinburg College at Austinburg, Ohio. Later he took up the study of medicine at the Eclectic Medical College at San Francisco, California, but left that institution a year before the completion of his course. It was in 1877 that he removed to California and he was one of the first settlers of the town of Whatcom. He devoted some time to timber cruising and for a number of years he traveled through California, Oregon and Washington, becoming familiar with practically every part of the Pacific coast. In 1880 he came with his parents to Walla Walla county and established the North Western nurseries, which he conducted for years. He was one of the first men to enter that line of business in this section and his success in the growing of fruit trees determined the possibilities of this region in the production of fruit. He also engaged in general farming to some extent and found that likewise profitable. For four years he was county fruit inspector and later was for a similar length of time state fruit inspector and was generally recognized as an authority on everything pertaining to fruit and its production. About 1907 he gave up the nursery business and has since rented his land for gardening, although he still resides upon his farm, which comprises one hundred and-fifty-two acres two miles south of Walla Walla, in the most fertile part of the valley. His home is a handsome country residence, provided with all modern conveniences.
In 1883 Mr. Whitney was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth McCaslin, who was born in Sharon, Pennsylvania, but was teaching in the schools of Omaha, Nebraska, at the time of her marriage. They have become the parents of five children, of whom four survive, namely: Elizabeth May, the wife of Ned McLean, of Walla Walla; Bertha, who married L. F. Turman, of Willows, California; Charles B., who is first sergeant with the Washington Field Artillery, under Major Weyrauch; and Marguerite, the wife of Fred Houghton, of Attalia, this county.