The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-22
A LONG LIFE WELL Spent.
Came 70 seutheastern washtagssn
IN 1902 ana for Nearly Fsrsy
Years Was Active I'm Building uD
Z the County-A Successful miller.


Years Was Active in Building U
the County-A saccsssful miller.
wALLA wALLA, July t1.-The death
Of Henry +. Isaacs at Portland few
days ago takes from the Walia walla val
ley one OF It's best known men, one whose
life work had to DO with the upbuilding
Of the country as much as or more than
that OF any other man. A few days ago
mako ready for retirement and ease. Sons
or experience and integrity were ready to
accept the tasks OF the father. and ne con-
cIuded TO lay down tho burden. This he
proceeded 20 DO last week. and in clos
ing up the large interests which were In
voived q trip to Portland was necessary,
and Friday evening he concluded 10 make
the trip. In usual health and spirits, he
left homo and took cab to the train
leaving THIS city at 80 over the Oregon
Railroad & Navigation Company's line.
He arrived In Portland In the morning,
sud felt poorly. A doctor was called. but
life had fed before medical aid could be
had Heart failure had done It's work
quickly. The body was brought to this
city and buried In the city cemetery by
tho Masonic fraternity, OF which he had
been an honored member for many years.
Mr.. rssacs came 10 this valley in 1859.
and began TO build up q fortune where
nothing OF the sort had been dreamed Of
before. He was successful. and made few
mistakes I'm oil the long years which fol-
lowed. Fortune smiled on him at every
turn. and from nothing he buiided up for
tune for hts family, dying just as the cli-
max had been reached.
But few other men in all Washington
had become 80 thoroughly conversant with
the state, with all Its varied interests, or
Was 30 much enthused with the success
Of its enterprises as Mr. isnacs, and but
few men had been permitted to take so
active a part In the development OF the
section OF country In which he had chosen
his home. To some extent the history OF
Henry Perry Isaacs fs the history OF
Southeastern washington and Northeast
ern Oregon.
Went 20 walla walla In 1864.
After a residence OF seven years In The
pnlles. whore he made some money in
business. Mr.. fsaecs removed to this city
ia 1862, and AZ once began TO develop the
AGRICULTURAL resources OF the section, then
untouched At that early date but little
effort had been made to grow wheat. and
most Of tho land was given up 70 grazing
q few head OF stock. which found ready
market at fabulous prices. Mr.. 1saacs saw
that what would grow. and proceeded TO
demonstrate the fact 80 thoroughly that
II was but short time until millions OF
The task undertaken was a formidable
one, and in 1868 Mr.. fsnacs made move
TO change conditions, for a time at least.
lie went TO Boise city. and there found
some OF the gold which had been dug
from the rich piacers discovered about that
time. There he also made an EFFORT In
milling. and erected the War Eagle nour-
ing mills. Later he spread out and plant
81 another mill at Middleton. Idaho, with
good results. while Mt Boise .Cyy the pio-
I. 80 hpfA
the river In that place. and NJ once pro-
ceeds6 to erect one. The old bridge which
now does service In tho northern part OF
Esss siy stand, AZ ~ . me
But Boise City did not suit the ener-
gstic man ana he returned TO this city 70
go what agriculture could do on tho nils
and valleys. then devoted 20 the growth
Of bunchgrass. before leaving the valley
he had demonstrated that fruit trees would
grow, ana IN 1864 set out small orchard
Qsar this city. small vineyard was also
6taYted. and from that time 20 this there
he's beer no question as 20 the possibility
81 raising fruit In the valley OF tho walia
Wsiia,
Urged Railroad Building.
On coming 90 this section Mr., Isaacs
saw the o nSes aro 2, ..lI9@ ssu fse noa
s s,ssa % and a a. enc. t. Sc, aSou, in an
effort 10 &c, railway 20 the coinneia
ne sssk was a hard one. Money MAS
scarce and railroad iron was high a. that
time Al a critical moment Mr.. Isaacs
essociased hhsnssif with pr. Dorsey y.
Bake, the pioneer who dice few years
ago leaving large fortune. and In .
Baker deserves the most OF the credit
for carrying out the plans Of consttuo-
sion, but Mr., fsaacs was first to furnish
business and plan TO make the road z
MA iA.i n
per ton on the haul OF thirty-one miles
V Mallnla, and ne great amount was
furnished al nrst, either. Teamsters were
eervirs After tho line had been operated
few ycaFs Il was sold out to the Ore
son Steam Navigation Company, and the
standard suass' and now the iins Il
operatsa ny the Oregon Railroad a Nav,-
satian Company an part Of Its great sys-
ten
When Mr. isases came 60 walla walla
Main strvct waA hat a faint Indian trail
The place was amau trading post, with
a few white men scattered here and
thcss. rho military post was located on
tho north side OF Msf ereek. near where
the Washington a Columbia River depot
nov stands, A tran ~as made from the
Post 10 store and sporting resort To-
Gated on the south bank 81 MIN creek.
and that trait was Afterwards isia out
a. Main rtrvet The peculiar curve Ia
ana thS hridre across the stream il 10,
catcss Just where a foetloS isia forty
Years ESQ The natural timber which
furrsshea shelter and Iuel fpT tire soldier
ana rtonear has given way 20 tho cui-
tivAssa tree and the beautiful lawn
Attef Railroad facilities we're secured
- The Columbia river the country act.
tiled up rRphify and iH a short time more
reads were needed MI isAscs vac the
Gvst 10 induce q W Hunt to ny the con-
s,rNssien ~ the Washington 4 Cviam1a
giv~r hno FROM pAyton 90 wallniA. and
tAenes - peaais,on. and the ilpa was
syeesysfpiy aellS ana operated Ne was
&r~ritent - the Commercial Club at the
tuAs. ans need every esoFt 10 SECURE ,Ae
early sagstrucstou u the roAa lie lived
a. see y In prosperous. eonsit'oa, sperst-
Or Tho stock heideFs az wNi az serving
the tafnasrs II q large stretch es eauh-
arr.
attisak na.tae.s Ht. rs~ss,
Bat ths ui.Hrs aasasas ~as Mr. isaAos'
e.fSshg tore. sud and 20 this he directed
bis heat .TaFts We es,aAltshs1 tbs line
e. E9ls kneWn as TIE North fArirn
4 tssnins MIA ana eSvsrSt a large scope