Their son, Henry Osterman, was reared under the parental roof and acquired a college education in Essen, Germany. He served three years in the German army and after reaching his majority took up the study of architecture in Dusseldorf, Germany. In May, 1889, he decided to try his fortune in the new world, hoping here to find excellent professional opportunities. He accordingly came to the United States and on the 15th of June of that year he arrived in Walla Walla, Washington, where he has since made his home and practiced his profession. Having little knowledge of the English language and of building conditions in this country, which he found somewhat different from those in his native land, he did not immediately apply himself to architectural work but became associated with building operations and for a time worked as a carpenter. Shortly afterward, however, he took up contracting and building on his own account and was prominently identified with building operations for eight years. In 1899 he began the practice of his profession, opening an architect's office in the old Baker-Boyer building. He associated with him in this undertaking Victor E. Siebert, who was a former employe of Mr. Osterman and had later gone to the east, where he was graduated from the Boston School of Technology in 1912. The following year he was admitted to a partnership, forming the present firm of Osterman & Siebert. Among the many buildings for which Mr. Osterman has drawn the plans and also superintended the erection are the courthouse, the city hall, the Young Men's Christian Association building, the high school building, the Jefferson, the Green Park and the Sharpstein schools, the city library and practically all the important business and office buildings in the city, together with many of the finer residences. All these stand as monuments to the enterprise, the skill and the professional ability of Mr. Osterman, whose thorough preparatory training and subsequent study and experience have placed him in the front ranks among the architects of the northwest.
In 1902 Mr. Osterman was united in marriage to Miss Geneva Cooney, of Coon Rapids, Iowa, and to this marriage have been born five children, Bernardina, Henrietta, Hugo, Ruth and Betty.
Mr. Osterman gives his political endorsement to the republican party. Fraternally he is connected with Blue Mountain Lodge, No. 13, F. & A. M.; Walla Walla Chapter, No. 1, R. A. M.; Washington Commandery, No. 1, K. T.; the Consistory of Spokane; and El Katif Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., also of Spokane, while both he and his wife are connected with the Order of the Eastern Star. He is also identified with Trinity Lodge, I. O. O. F., and both he and his wife are consistent members of the Congregational church, guiding their lives according to its teachings. Mr. Osterman has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for here he has found the business opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has made steady progress. Not only does he rank with the leading architects of Washington, but is also a prominent figure in financial and commercial circles. He was one of the organizers of the Third National Bank, of which he is now a director, and he is also one of the organizers and a member of the board of directors of the Gardner Company, which owns and controls Walla Walla's largest mercantile establishment. His identification with these interests is the expression of his well directed energy and thrift, his close application and his persistency of purpose, ever guided by a laudable ambition. Step by step he has worked his way upward and his course should serve to inspire others who must start out in life empty-handed. The wise use which he has made of his time, his talents and his opportunities has placed him in the creditable position which he fills today in business and professional circles of Walla Walla.
ALMOS H. REYNOLDS.
LETTICE J. REYNOLDS.
Almos H. Reynolds was for many years one of the prominent financiers of the northwest, becoming a factor in the establishment of the first banking business in Walla Walla and figuring for many years as one of the principal stockholders of the First National Bank. He was born in Madrid, St. Lawrence county, New York, October 21, 1808, and in early life learned the millwright's trade. In 1838, when a man of thirty years, he removed westward to Illinois and subsequently became a resident of Iowa, where he remained until 1850. He then crossed the plains to California, attracted by the gold discoveries on the Pacific coast, and in May, 1859, he came to Walla Walla, where he resided until his demise, which occurred thirty years later, or on the 21st of April, 1889. He was prominently identified with milling interests in this section, erecting many mills throughout the territory of Washington, two of them being in the immediate vicinity of Walla Walla. He also built and for several years owned a woolen mill at Dayton. He was associated with Dr. J. H. Day in establishing the first banking business in Walla Walla, opening a private banking institution, which they carried on under the firm style of Reynolds & Day. He was alert and energetic, constantly watchful of opportunities pointing to success. Eventually he became one of the principal stockholders in the First National Bank and was largely instrumental in its organization. Mr. Reynolds was a man of keen insight which enabled him to readily recognize a favorable business situation and his laudable ambition prompted its immediate use. Whatever he undertook he carried forward to successful completion and the integrity of his business methods was above question.
ALMOS H. REYNOLDS