IRA D. BRUNTON.
Among the native sons of Walla Walla county who have elected to continue residents thereof is Ira D. Brunton, who is engaged in farming on section 30, township 8 north, range 36 east. He was born in that township, May 11, 1876, and is a son of W. H. H. and Sarah A. (Lewis) Brunton, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. He was reared upon the home farm, and his boyhood and youth were spent in the acquirement of a district school education and in helping his father. He further pursued his studies in Whitman College and at the old Empire Business College at Walla Walla, thus fitting himself for his later life.
After his marriage Mr. Brunton began farming for himself, operating a part of the homestead in partnership with his father, this relation being continued until his father's death, after which Mr. Brunton of this review and his brother Frank managed the entire estate of seven hundred acres for five years. At the end of that time Ira D. Brunton took over the operation of four hundred acres and his brother Garfield became responsible for the cultivation of the remaining three hundred acres. In 1903 our subject purchased one hundred and sixty acres adjoining the home farm and he now operates both places and also four hundred acres of rented land, or nine hundred and sixty acres in all. It is thus evident that his interests are extensive and make heavy demands upon his time and energies, but he is industrious, progressive and systematic in his work and his affairs are kept well in hand.
Mr. Brunton was married October 10, 1897, to Miss Bessie L. Ramseur, a daughter of David W. Ramseur, who removed to Walla Walla county from North Carolina in 1892. To Mr. and Mrs. Brunton have been born five children: Elsie M., the wife of Clyde Garland, of Walla Walla; and Reese R., Lucille B., and Miles and Melvin, twins, all of whom are at home.
Mr. Brunton's political views are in accord with the principles of the democratic party and he supports its candidates at the polls. In 1908 he was his party's nominee for sheriff and polled a large vote. Fraternally he is connected with Mountain Gem Lodge, No. 136, K. P., and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is held in high esteem as a citizen and as a man, and his success as a farmer entitles him to rank among the leaders in the agricultural development of the county.
JOSEPH CLARK FAIR.
Joseph Clark Fair, an independent grain buyer and one of Dayton's foremost business men and representative citizens, was born in Benton county, Arkansas, February 26, 1874, a son of Joseph A. and Martha Ann (Russell) Fair, the former born in Sullivan county, Tennessee, and the latter in Barry county, Missouri. The parents were taken by their respective parents to Benton county, Arkansas, and there grew to manhood and womanhood. They continued to reside there following their marriage, with the exception of four years spent in Texas, up to the time of the mother's death, which occurred in June, 1899. The father devoted his active life to farming but is now a resident of Centerton, Benton county, Arkansas, where he is living retired. He is a local Methodist minister and was often importuned to join the conference but refused, saying he knew he could make a living farming but did not know whether he could as a minister or not. His parents, Ellis and Nancy Hamilton (Easly) Fair, were representatives of old families of Tennessee. Mr. Fair was killed by Indians at the time of the Civil war. The parents of Mrs. Martha Ann (Russell) Fair were Elijah and Louisa (Bell) Russell, natives respectively of Missouri and Tennessee. Mr. Russell went to the California gold mines in 1849, crossing the plains with ox team, and returned to the east in 1852 by sailing vessel. At the time of the Civil war he was killed by bushwackers.