MRS. ANDY TAYLOR
In 1884 Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to Miss Mollie C. Ragsdill, of Menard county, Illinois, by whom he has two sons: Lowell Oakley, a successful agriculturist of Walla Walla county; and Brooks Andy, who engages in wheat growing with his father. Although a grandmother Mrs. Taylor is now a student at St. Paul's School, where she expects to complete the school work begun in her girlhood, having a great desire for a higher education than she could obtain at that time. This is very unusual for a woman past fifty years of age but shows her strength of character and perseverance. Mr. Taylor gives his political allegiance to the republican party, which he has supported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. Fraternally he is identified with the following organizations: Blue Mountain Lodge, No. 13, F. & A. M.; Walla Walla Chapter, No. 1, R. A. M.; Enterprise Lodge, No. 2, I. O. O. F.; Walla Walla Encampment, No. 3, I. O. O. F.; and Walla Walla Lodge, No. 287, B. P. O. E. Mr. Taylor and his two sons are all thirty-second degree Masons as well as members of the Odd Fellows lodge and encampment, while his wife and sons are identified with the Order of the Eastern Star, and Mrs. Taylor is a member of the Daughters of Rebekahs. Mr. Taylor is also a member of the Farmers Union and is widely and favorably known in Walla Walla county, where he has won friends and fortune.
ALBERT R. MATTOON.
Albert R. Mattoon is a representative farmer of Walla Walla county who deserves mention among the self-made men. He had no assistance when he started out in the business world but early realized that energy and effort will bring substantial results and by reason of his unfaltering diligence he has gained a place among the leading farmers of his section of the county. He was born in Oregon, July 12, 1853, and is the only child of Aruna and Eliza A. (Trullinger) Mattoon. The father was a native of the state of New York, while the mother was born in Indiana. It was in 1847 that they crossed the plains, making the journey with ox teams and taking up their abode near Oregon City, Oregon. Mr. Mattoon secured a donation claim, upon which not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made, and there he built a log cabin. The family lived in true pioneer style, for the work of progress and development had scarcely been begun in that region. The Indians far outnumbered the white settlers; the forests stood in their primeval strength; the streams were unbridged and the land uncultivated. Only here and there had some venturesome spirit penetrated into the wildernesses of the west in order to found a home and engage in business. Mr. Mattoon began the development of his farm and continued his residence in Oregon until his demise, but his widow afterward removed to Washington and spent her last days in Walla Walla county.
Albert R. Mattoon was reared and educated in Oregon and remained a resident of that state until 1878, when, at the age of twenty-five years he came to Washington and has since made his home in Walla Walla county save for a brief period. After taking up his abode in the city of Walla Walla he was there engaged in the implement business for fifteen years, ranking with its leading and representative merchants. He then sold his store and returned to Oregon, going first to Riddle, where he engaged in merchandising for seven years. He then disposed of his store at that place and removed to Portland, where he engaged in the real estate business until 1913, when he returned to Walla Walla. He then took up his abode upon the farm on which he now resides, having sixty acres of land on which is raised corn, hay, wheat and garden produce. At the present time, however, he rents most of his land and is now practically living retired.
On the 7th of November, 1880, Mr. Mattoon was married to Mrs. Nancy Jane Knight, a native of Missouri, and to them have been born two sons: Arthur R., who is now living in Portland, Oregon; and Fred V., who is successfully engaged in the hotel business at Wenatchee, Washington. By her first marriage Mrs. Mattoon has one son, P. B. Knight, who resides in Walla Walla. She is a daughter of William Bartlett and Mary (Weaver) Braden, natives of Kentucky and North Carolina respectively. They were married, however, in Tennessee, and from that state removed to Illinois about 1838. Ten years later they went to Missouri, where Mr. Braden died in 1866. In 1870 Mrs. Braden came with her daughter to Walla Walla county, Washington; and here she passed away at the home of Mrs. Mattoon in 1887. She was the mother of twelve children, but only three now survive. In 1873 her daughter, Nancy Jane, became the wife of William C. Knight, who died about a year later.
In his political views Mr. Mattoon has always been a stalwart republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and he represented Douglas county, Oregon, for two years in the state legislature, during which period he was instrumental by his vote in electing John H. Mitchell to the office of United States senator. For some years he served on the school board and the cause of education has ever found in him a stalwart supporter. He also belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge at Roseburg, Oregon, and his life is an exemplification of its teachings concerning the brotherhood of man and the obligations thereby imposed. In all of his business career he has shown ready adaptability and resourcefulness, combined with energy and enterprise, and whatever he has undertaken he has carried forward to successful completion. The record which he has made is a very creditable one and his life history shows that success and an honored name may be won simultaneously.