Dr. Huntington pursued his course in medicine in the medical department of the University of Oregon at Portland and was there graduated on the 1st of April, 1891. He located for practice near his old home in Cowlitz county, where he remained until the fall of 1898, when he entered the employ of the Oregon & Washington Railroad & Navigation Company as local surgeon at Starbuck. There he has since remained and, in addition to his work with the railroad company, he has enjoyed a lucrative practice. He is very conscientious in the performance of all professional work and by broad reading and study keeps in touch with the latest scientific researches and discoveries so that he is familiar with the most progressive methods.
For many years Dr. Huntington has been an active member and worker in the Masonic lodge and derives much pleasure therefrom, while in his life he exemplifies the beneficent spirit of the craft that is based upon a recognition of the brotherhood of mankind and the obligations thereby imposed. While a student at the university he became a member of the Presbyterian church, of which Dr. Matthews is now pastor, and is a member of that church at Walla Walla. He represents one of the old and honored pioneer families of the northwest, his parents having come here at a very early day, while in the same party was Captain Miller, who is well known in Walla Walla and along the Columbia and Snake rivers. His father was acquainted with Dr. McLoughlin, Rev. Eells and other notable pioneers. The work which the father began in the early days has been continued by the sons and the name of Huntington has ever stood as a synonym for progressiveness and loyalty in citizenship and for the support of all interests looking toward the upbuilding and betterment of the state.
FRANCIS M. CORKRUM.
Francis M. Corkrum is extensively engaged in farming in Walla Walla county, having supervision over fourteen hundred acres of land. He resides on section 19, township 8 north, range 37 east. It was in this township that he was born, April 11, 1892, a son of Uriah F. and Ida May (Chew) Corkrum, both of whom were natives of Walla Walla county. The paternal grandfather, Francis M. Corkrum, was one of the earliest pioneer settlers of this section of the state, arriving here in the late '50s. He figured most prominently in connection with the pioneer development of the county and is classed with those who aided in reclaiming this region for the purposes of civilization. At the time of his arrival the red men far outnumbered the white settlers in the state, the great forests were uncut, the streams unbridged and the lands uncultivated. In fact the work of progress and improvement seemed scarcely begun, yet here and there a few venturesome spirits had planted the seeds of civilization in the northwest. Mr. Corkrum bore a most active part in the work of general progress and improvement in that early period and this work has been carried on by his descendants to the present time. Uriah F. Corkrum is now living in Walla Walla and is the owner of seven hundred acres of land in this county.
Francis M. Corkrum, whose name introduces this review, spent his youthful days under the parental roof and acquired a district school education, supplemented by a course in the Empire Business College in Walla Walla. He was early trained to the work of the farm and at the age of twenty years began farming on his own account, renting land. He secured seven hundred acres owned by the Kibler brothers in the township where he now makes his home. This farm he is still cultivating and on the 1st of September, 1916, he took over the management of his father's farm and is now operating fourteen hundred acres of land, which places him among the most extensive farmers of his section of the county. He follows the most progressive methods and his enterprise and industry are producing splendid results. He is familiar with every phase of modern farming and he has secured the latest improved machinery to promote the work of the fields. Annually he harvests good crops and the neat and thrifty appearance of the places which he cultivates indicates his practical and progressive spirit.
On the 16th of October, 1913, Mr. Corkrum was united in marriage to Miss Edith Gwin, a daughter of J. A. Gwin, one of the substantial farmers of Walla Walla county. They are now the parents of two children, Mary Jane and Uriah F., Jr.