MRS. JOHN F. BREWER
Mrs. Brewer owns a fine residence on Boyer avenue in Walla Walla, where she resides, and in addition she has five hundred and twenty acres of valuable wheat land near the city and another tract of eight hundred acres in Franklin county. She is an active and prominent member of the Sunshine Club and is also connected with the Eastern Star and church organizations. Mr. Brewer left his family in very comfortable financial circumstances when death called him on the 21st of February, 1905. He was one of the valued and respected citizens of this section of the country. He took an active part in the development of Walla Walla county and never withheld his support from any enterprise that he believed would prove beneficial in any way. He was intensely patriotic and he stood for all that was progressive in relation to public affairs. He served for several terms as alderman of his city and at the time of his death was filling the position of councilman for his ward. To him belongs the honor of being the father of the paid fire department of Walla Walla, which has proven successful and satisfactory even beyond his confident predictions. Fraternally he was connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias. the ancient Order of United Workmen and the Royal Arcanum, while his religious faith was indicated by his membership in the First Presbyterian church.
His home paper, in writing of his death, said: "In the death of John Brewer, Walla Walla loses one of her best and most progressive citizens. No citizen of the town had more warm personal friends, and his demise has brought sadness to many a home. As private citizen and public official he always strove to do his full duty. He endeavored to be just to all men and he spoke ill of no one. He was broad-minded and conservative, generous and public spirited. It would be hard to find a man in the community with fewer faults and more virtues. His home life was ideal and it is no wonder that those nearest and dearest to him find it so hard to reconcile themselves to the loss of a kind and loving husband and father."
"I cannot say and will not say
That he is dead, he is just away;
He has wandered into an unknown land
With a cheery smile and a wave of the hand;
And left us dreaming how very fair
It needs must be, since he lingers there."
VICTOR E. SIEBERT.
Victor E. Siebert is a member of the firm of Osterman & Siebert, known as Walla Walla's foremost architects, in which connection he has developed skill of the highest degree, and his patronage is indicative of the high order of his work. He is a native son of Walla Walla, born October 3, 1884, his parents being Chris and Minnie (Nahen) Siebert, the former a native of Berlin, Germany, while the latter was born in Red Bluff, California. The father was reared to manhood and pursued his education in his native country and served throughout the Franco-Prussian war. Following that conflict, in 1875, he came to the United States, making his way to Oconto, Wisconsin, but after a brief period there passed he removed westward to Washington, establishing his home in Asotin county, where he took up a homestead claim and lived for a few years. He later removed to Walla Walla county and purchased a farm six or eight miles east of the city of Walla Walla, on which he resided for some time. He next removed to the city, where he now makes his home. He is still active in farming in a small way but in a measure has put aside the arduous duties of life.
Victor E. Siebert, whose name introduces this review, was educated in the Baker school of Walla Walla and when eighteen years of age he began the study of architecture in the office of Henry Osterman, with whom he thus remained for three years. He then went east to complete his education and entered the Boston Technical School in the fall of 1906. There he pursued a special course in architecture, attending the institution for four years. After completing his studies he entered into partnership with Peter F. McLaughlin and established business in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, under the firm style of McLaughlin & Siebert. This relationship existed for two and a half years, at the end of which time the partnership was dissolved and in the fall of 1912 Mr. Siebert returned to Walla Walla and entered into partnership relations with Mr. Osterman, his former preceptor. They are well known architects of this city, the firm of Osterman & Siebert occupying a very creditable and enviable position in professional circles. Many of the most important buildings of the northwest have been designed and erected by them and stand as monuments of their skill, their enterprise and business ability.
In 1910 Mr. Siebert was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hoelzel, of Adams, Massachusetts, and they have become the parents of two children, Henry and Gretchen. Mr. Siebert is a consistent member of Blue Mountain Lodge, No. 13, F. & A. M., and also belongs to Columbus Council of the Knights of Kadosh, No. 6, of Walla Walla, and to Oriental Consistory, No. 2, A. & A. S. R. He is also connected with El Katif Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Spokane. His political allegiance is given to the republican party. He belongs to the Walla Walla Commercial Club and is one of the city's representative men, his aid and influence being always given on the side of progress and advancement, reform and improvement. He and his wife are members of the Christian Science church and their genuine personal worth has gained for them a circle of friends almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintance. Thorough preliminary training has constituted the basis of Mr. Siebert's success in a professional way and fidelity to the highest standards of business has actuated him at every point in his career. The northwest is fortunate in having his services in connection with its important growth and development and Walla Walla is proud to number him among her citizens.