THOMAS A. RUSSEL.
Thomas A. Russel, deceased, was for a number of years actively engaged in farming on section 3, township 6 north, range 35 east, Walla Walla county, and met with gratifying success. He was born in Ohio, September 26, 1831, and there grew to manhood and received his education. In 1849 he accompanied his father John Russel, to California, crossing the great unsettled plains of the west by team, a long, tedious and dangerous journey, and again in 1852 he came to the coast by the overland route, but each time he returned to Ohio, where he maintained his residence until 1864. In that year he went with his bride by horse team to the Sacramento valley of California, where he lived for three years, during which time he taught school. They then removed to Bowling Green, Missouri, and for twenty-one years he was a resident of that state. During that time he engaged in the practice of law, successfully appearing in most of the more important trials of his district. In 1888, however, he removed with his family to Walla Walla county, Washington and the remainder of his life was devoted to agricultural pursuits.
Mr. Russel was married in 1864 in Ohio to Miss Mary C. Willman, also a native of that state. To their union were born ten children: John B. and William, both of whom are deceased; Frank; Thomas and Anna, who have passed away; Phoebe L.; Lincoln and Grant, twins, and Leslie, the two latter being deceased; and Joseph, who resides in Canada.
Many interesting experiences came to Mr. Russel in his long life, and from the time he accompanied his father to the west in 1849 until his death he was much interested in this section of the country, even while still residing in the east or middle west. He found great pleasure in watching the process of development that has made the west a rival of the east in all that pertains to the highest civilization, and his influence was invariably cast on the side of progress. He passed away in January, 1901, and was laid to rest in the Mountain View cemetery.
HON. F. M. WEATHERFORD.
Hon. F. M. Weatherford is now living practically retired in Dayton but for many years was actively and extensively connected with farming interests and is still the owner of much valuable wheat land in this section of the state. Moreover, he has been prominently connected with public affairs and has been called upon to represent his district in the general assembly. He was born in Missouri, November 12, 1855, and is a son of Alfred H. and Sophia (Smith) Weatherford, both of whom were natives of Virginia and at an early day removed westward to Missouri, where their remaining days were passed. They had a family of nine children but only three are now living.
While born in the middle west, Hon. F. M. Weatherford has spent the greater part of his life in the Pacific coast country. He crossed the plains in 1864, when a lad of but nine years, and became a resident of Linn county, Oregon. The trip was made with ox teams and wagon and he was six months en route, experiencing many hardships and privations as the party traveled over the barren plains, the hot sandy desert and across the mountain ranges. He took up his abode with a brother in Oregon and there remained until 1872, when he made his way northward to Walla Walla county, Washington. The following year, when a youth of eighteen, he rented a farm nine miles southwest of Dayton in the section known as Bundy Hollow. Later he bought land east of Dayton and occupied that farm for twenty years, his labors bringing about a marked transformation in the appearance of the place, for when the land came into his possession it was wild and undeveloped. With characteristic energy he began to cultivate it, breaking the furrows, planting the seed and in due time gathering rich harvests. Year by year the work of operating the farm was carried on and as his financial resources increased he made other investments in property, adding to his holdings from time to time until he is now the owner of sixteen hundred acres of fine wheat land in Columbia county. He was also at one time vice president of the Farmers Exchange at Waitsburg, which he aided in organizing. He has now put aside the more active work of the fields, leaving that to others, while he is enjoying a well earned rest, having taken up his abode in Dayton. His farm property yields to him a most gratifying annual income and his energy and sound business judgment have brought him success.