William M. Scott belonged to that class of honored pioneers who have laid broad and deep the foundation upon which has been built the present prosperity and greatness of the state of Washington. He was a resident of Walla Walla from 1905 until his death and for many years was prominently identified with the wheat industry in Umatilla county, Oregon. He was born in McLean county, Illinois, December 29, 1837, and was a son of John B. and Rena (Halsey) Scott. During his infancy he was taken by his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Halsey, with whom he remained until his ninth year, when his uncle, Dr. A. K. Scott, became his foster father, and with him William H. Scott remained until 1855, when at the age of eighteen years he started out in life independently. He went to Coffey county, Kansas, where he remained for one year and then started to return to Illinois but stopped off in Daviess county, Missouri, and decided to remain. He there continued until 1859, when he again went to Kansas and in 1860 he started across the plains for the western country, his objective point being the Walla Walla valley, of which he had heard much. The lure of the California gold fields, however, drew him as a magnet and his course was diverted. He was one of the party to which J. L. Stubblefield belonged. The company subsequently divided but Mr. Scott and others proceeded to California. After spending several months in that state he came, in 1861, northward and located at McMinnville, Oregon, where he attended college for a time. In 1862 he engaged in freighting with ox teams from Wallula to Lewiston and subsequently from The Dalles to the Idaho mines. In the fall of 1863 he went to Salem, Oregon, where he resided for seven years. He then crossed the mountains, locating near Prineville, where he was engaged in the live stock business for eight years. In 1878 he removed to Umatilla county, Oregon, where he took up a homestead and a timber culture near Helix. One of these claims subsequently sold for two hundred dollars, but later he bought it back for forty-two hundred dollars. He acquired a full section of six hundred and forty acres of the best land in the wheat belt and engaged in farming eight hundred acres, leasing a quarter section adjoining his place. One year he harvested sixty-six bushels of wheat to the acre upon his farm and he averaged from year to year from forty to forty-five bushels. He experienced all the hardships and privations of early pioneer life and twice in the year 1878 was forced to leave Helix on account of the hostility of the Indians and seek refuge in Fort Walla Walla. However, he persevered and his determination and energy overcame the obstacles in the path of material advancement, while changing conditions, brought about by the settlement of the country, soon obviated the necessity of protecting against Indian attack. In 1905, after many years successfully devoted to farming, he retired from active agricultural life and removed to Walla Walla, where he remained until called to his final home, on January 18, 1915.
Mr. Scott was united in marriage to Miss Anna D. Caplinger, a daughter of Jacob and Jane (Woodside) Caplinger, of Salem, Oregon. They crossed the plains from Fulton county, Illinois, to Oregon in 1845 and settled in Oregon City but after two years removed to Marion county, that state, taking up their abode on the prairie four miles east of Salem, where they remained until called to their final rest. The father died on the 20th of June, 1904, and the mother survived only until the 26th of July of the same year. In 1845, on their journey across the plains, which was made by way of the Mount Hood route, they were there snowbound for more than three weeks with no food but coffee for several days.
Mr. and Mrs. Scott became the parents of nine children, namely: Mary L., who is the wife of J. M. Richardson, of Rosalia; Emma J., who gave her hand in marriage to Dr. E. A. Mann, of Portland, Oregon; John A., who resides in Lacrosse, Washington; Ira C., who operates the home farm for his mother, now residing in Walla Walla; Ray W., who passed away in 1902, when sixteen years of age; and Alexander, Charles, Walter and Bertha, who are also deceased.
In his political views Mr. Scott was a stalwart democrat and in 1890 he was a candidate for county judge of Umatilla county. His life was that of a consistent Christian and for more than twenty years he was an elder in the Church of Christ at Helix. He was also a public-spirited citizen and a factor in the advancement of the county's welfare and interests along many lines. Death called him January 18, 1915. A modern philosopher has said: "Not the good that comes to us, but the good that comes to the world through us, is the measure of our success"; and judged by that standard Mr. Scott was a most successful man, for he went about doing good, extending a helping hand to the poor and needy, assisting in the work of general improvement and shedding around him much of life's sunshine. His widow now occupies a beautiful home on South Division street in Walla Walla. She, too, is a member of the Church of Christ and gives liberally to its support and in charitable work, her benevolences being many.
CHESTER J. WOODS.
Chester J. Woods, a representative agriculturist of Walla Walla county, was born April 23, 1883, on a farm adjoining the one on which he now resides, on section 7, township 9 north, range 37 east. He is a son of Joel Woods, mentioned elsewhere in this work. He pursued his education in the public schools, supplemented by study in the academy at Waitsburg, and through the period of his boyhood and youth he aided largely in the work of the home farm, so that he was well qualified by actual experience to take up farming on his own account when he attained his majority. At that time he purchased land on section 8, becoming the owner of seven hundred acres, all of which is now improved. The fields are carefully cultivated and the buildings upon the place indicate the progressive spirit of the owner. He has always engaged in wheat raising and also in raising stock and both branches of his business are proving profitable. He is also a stockholder in the Self-Oiling Wheel & Bearing Company of Walla Walla.
On the 30th of March, 1910, Mr. Woods was married to Miss Jennie Caplinger, who was born in Umatilla county, Oregon, a daughter of T. W. and Marie Caplinger, who are also natives of that place. They are now residents of Walla Walla. Both Mr. and Mrs. Woods hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is one of the trustees, and they take an active part in its work. Mrs. Woods is a graduate of the Waitsburg high school and Ellensburg Normal School and for seven years successfully engaged in teaching prior to her marriage.
In politics Mr. Woods is a democrat and has served as school director and as clerk but has not been an active worker along political lines. He stands for progress and improvement in public affairs, however, and is willing to support any measure that tends to uphold civic interest. Both he and his wife are held in the highest esteem because of their genuine worth and the hospitality of the best homes in the county is freely accorded them.