MRS. EDWARD BYRNES
Mr. Byrnes was born in Ireland, February 2, 1833, and was a youth of but fifteen years when he bade adieu to friends and native land and sailed for the new world. For a time he was a resident of Pennsylvania, where he worked as a farm hand. While still a resident of that state he was united in marriage, in 1854, to Miss Elizabeth Estell, who is a native of Pennsylvania, and they traveled life's journey together for sixty-three years and six months, lacking ten days. They began their domestic life there and remained residents of the east until 1857, when they removed westward to Minnesota, establishing their home upon a farm. For five years they continued in that state and then crossed the plains in 1862 with team and covered wagon. Their destination was Baker county, Oregon, but after living there for about a year they made their way northward to the Walla Walla valley, where Mr. Byrnes engaged in the live stock business. Later he purchased land and to his widow he left a tract of five hundred and forty acres, constituting one of the well improved properties in Hill township, the place being located on section 34. He was a very energetic man, was never afraid of hard work and his persistency of purpose and intelligently directed effort brought to him a substantial measure of success.
Mr. and Mrs. Byrnes became the parents of the following children, four of whom still survive: John E., a resident of Gardena, Washington; Ellen, the wife of G. E. Crow of Richland, Washington; Addie E., the deceased wife of James Cummins; Albert, a stock farmer and administrator of the estate residing in Hill township, Walla Walla county; Caroline, the wife of George Accuntius of Starbuck; Allen, who was deputy under Sheriff Painter and was accidentally killed; and Winfield, deceased.
The family circle was again broken by the hand of death when on the 10th of November, 1916, Mr. Byrnes was called to the home beyond. As the architect of his own fortunes he builded wisely and well. In early life it was necessary that he practice the strictest economy in order to gain a start, but difficulties and obstacles did not discourage him and with persistent energy he worked his way upward, becoming one of the prosperous residents of Walla Walla county. His personal worth was widely attested by his many friends and he possessed a genial disposition and kindly spirit that gained for him the warm regard of all with whom he was brought in contact. His family attends the Congregational church and the hospitality of the best homes of the community is freely accorded them. For more than a half century the family has been represented in this county, the parents arriving in 1863, so that Mrs. Byrnes has long been a witness of the growth and development of this section of the state, while her memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present. She now has twenty-six grandchildren and forty-four great-grandchildren.
CHARLES SEELIGER.
Charles Seeliger is the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 2, township 7 north, range 35 east, and during the period in which this place has been in his possession he has made many excellent improvements thereon, converting it into one of the model farm properties of the county. He was born on Long Island, New York, March 1, 1864, a son of August and Catherine (Tauber) Seeliger, both of whom were natives of Germany. They came to America in 1861 and settled in the state of New York, where they resided for fifteen years, and in 1876 they removed to Butler county, Iowa. Subsequently they became residents of Walla Walla county, Washington, and both passed away here.