HORACE G. HART.
Horace G. Hart is spoken of by friends and neighbors as a man of high purpose that has found expression in his daily conduct. He is now engaged in general farming on section 3, township 9 north, range 36 east, in Walla Walla county. He was born in Macon county, Missouri, on the 7th of September, 1858, a son of Horace and Margaret E. (Mercer) Hart. The father was a native of Connecticut and the mother of Kentucky. The former first crossed the plains in 1846, making his way to Spalding's mission at Lapwai, Idaho, Mr. Spalding's first wife having been his sister. In the fall of 1848, when gold was first discovered in California, he went to that state and subsequently he crossed the continent four times, twice by way of the Isthmus route and once around the Horn. He was married on the 22d of November, 1855, and in 1864 he brought his family across the plains, making his way to the Touchet valley, where he established his home about twenty miles north of Walla Walla. There he became actively identified with farming and stock raising and acquired two hundred and forty acres of land, upon which he spent his remaining days, passing away September 1, 1892, when in his eightieth year. His experiences were broad and varied, acquainting him with all phases of mining life and with all phases of pioneer life in the far west. On the 29th of May, 1893, his wife passed away when sixty-nine years of age.
Horace G. Hart was reared under the parental roof upon the western frontier, having been but six years of age when the family came to Washington. His education was acquired in the district schools and as early as his eighteenth year he began farming on his own account, operating his father's farm, which he continued to manage until after his father's death. In the meantime, on attaining his majority, he filed on a homestead adjoining his father's place and continued its cultivation in connection with the further development of the old homestead. Following his father's demise he came into possession of the farm on which he still resides, but has sold much of the land, retaining one hundred acres as a home. His career has been that of a very busy man. He has closely applied himself to the care and management of his property interests and he has long ranked with the leading and representative agriculturists of his section of the state.
On the 28th of March, 1881, Mr. Hart was united in marriage to Miss Ollie L. McKinzie, of Walla Walla, a daughter of Isaac McKinzie, one of the early settlers of the county. To this union have been born ten children: Myrtle A., the wife of Daniel Callahan, a farmer of this county; Carl E., of Waitsburg, Washington; Ralph H., a farmer of Walla Walla county; Lulu P., the wife of Arthur Coe, a farmer residing at Milton, Oregon; Mabel, the wife of Herbert E. Carr, of Prescott; Dorsey, a resident of Detroit, Michigan; and Mary, Lester, Loverne and Horace, Jr., all at home.
Since attaining his majority Mr. Hart has given stalwart allegiance to the republican party but has never been an aspirant for public office. He, however, allowed his name to be used on the prohibition ticket for the office of county commissioner. He has always been a staunch advocate of temperance and does everything in his power to advance the cause. He belongs to Prescott Lodge, No. 46, I. O. O. F., and to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He and his wife are members of the Federated church at Prescott and his aid can always be counted upon to further any movement that tends to uplift the individual or advance the best interests of the community. His standards of life are high and those who know him have come to recognize the fact that his word is as good as his bond.
ALEXANDER PRICE.
Alexander Price was a most prominent and progressive farmer of Columbia county for many years and in his death the community lost one of its valued citizens. He was born in Missouri, November 3, 1847, a son of Joseph S. and Sarah (Williams) Price, the former a native of Kentucky, while the latter was born in Indiana.
Alexander Price was reared and educated in Missouri and was a youth of seventeen years when he crossed the plains, traveling with ox team and wagon after the primitive methods of the period. There were no railroads across the country at that time and with the slow-plodding oxen only a few miles could be covered every day. Thus the trip lengthened out over weeks and months but eventually they reached their destination and Mr. Price became a resident of Yamhill county, Oregon. There he secured employment as a farm hand, remaining in that state until the fall of 1870, when he came to Walla Walla county and took up a homestead nine miles southwest of Dayton. Upon that farm he lived for seven years and his labors wrought a marked transformation in the appearance of the place. His widow still owns that property, which has now become very valuable.