Mr. Dewar was a stanch advocate of republican principles and was recognized as a leader in party circles. In 1878 he was chosen as a member of the territorial legislature and while serving in that body was the author of the celebrated railway freight bill which bore his name. In 1882 he was again elected to the legislature and a third time was chosen to represent his district in 1888, but before that legislature convened the territory had become a state. He was also a delegate to the convention which nominated candidates for membership in the body to which the drafting of the state constitution was entrusted. To him a public office was a sacred trust and his course was dictated solely by considerations of the general welfare. Through the honest and capable discharge of his duties he won the right to rank among the builders of the state. The guiding principle of his life was his religious belief and the Presbyterian church found in him a loyal and active member. His widow is still identified with that denomination and likewise takes a hearty interest in its activities. The death of Mr. Dewar occurred March 27, 1892.
ELI BOLICK.
Eli Bolick is now practically living retired in Asotin but still has extensive investments in farm lands and mercantile interests. He was born in North Carolina in 1854 and there spent the period of his boyhood and youth, during which time he acquired a common school education. The period of his minority was passed in the home of his parents, Abner and Nancy Bolick, who were farming people of the Old North state. On his way westward Mr. Bolick stopped for one year in Missouri in order to earn money with which to continue the trip. He then came on to Washington, where he arrived in 1878, and settled on a homestead on the flat above Asotin. From time to time he added to his property until he now has eighteen hundred acres of rich and valuable land, which his sons are now cultivating. For many years, however, he personally gave his time and attention to his farm work and his life has ever been one of untiring energy and thrift. However, about two or three years ago he retired from the farm. While busily engaged in tilling the soil he made wheat his principal crop. It was in the latter '90s when the people began to realize that their land was valuable and it has since steadily advanced in price until it is now selling on an average of from fifty to sixty dollars per acre. In addition to his farming interests Mr. Bolick has a large hardware and implement store in Asotin which is supervised by Robert Anderson, who is half owner of the business. This is the only store of the kind in the town and the trade has steadily grown.
ELI BOLICK
In 1886 Mr. Bolick was united in marriage to Miss Elvinia Forgey, who was born in the Willamette valley, Oregon, and was a daughter of Elias and Calistine Forgey, pioneers of that section. In 1882, however, her parents removed to Asotin county, Washington, and took up a homestead, where Mr. Forgey engaged in the raising of grain and stock. Mrs. Bolick passed away July 7, 1916. By her marriage she had become the mother of nine children: Maude, who died at the age of seventeen years; Wallace and Alice, twins, the former a large rancher of Alberta, Canada, while the latter is the wife of Ray Adams, of Cheney, Washington; Mollie, the wife of B. Hughes of the Willamette valley; Grace and Nettie, who are engaged in teaching; Dell, who married Ruby Sargent and is upon his father's farm; and Russell and Fern, both at home.
In politics Mr. Bolick has always been a republican but not an active party worker. He served for six years as county commissioner although he was never ambitious to hold office. He has ever been a friend of education and the public schools have found in him a stalwart champion. He stands for progress and advancement along many lines and in his own business career has illustrated the force of unfaltering industry and close application guided by sound judgment.