The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1910-02-18
MAN WHO HELPED TO
MAKE LOCAL HISTORY
Thomas J. Smith, a Pioneer of
Whitman County.
Died at Elk, Ore, Buried at Waits
burq- He represented Whitman
County in Legislature During the
Territorial Days--S State Senator.

Thomas J. Smith, former resident of
Whitman county and one Of its best
known citizens, departed this life at Elk,
Oregon, on the 4th instant, and was
buried in Odd Fellows cemetery, Waits
burg. on the 9th. Mr.. Smith was born
in Missouri in 1S45, and crossed the
plains by OK team with his parents when
four months old, coming first to Polk
county, Oregon, where he lived until
1866. when he moved to the Touchet
valley, settling at Wsitsburg. Soon
after that he left for the mines at Elk
City. Idaho, then the mecca for gold
hunters. In 1869 he, in company with
C. B. King, came to what is now Whit
man county, settling on Union fiat, near
Colfax. 10 July, 1870, be and James A.
Perkins located on land which is now the
townsite Of Colfax, but was then unsur-
veved government land, Perkins taking
the north end and Smith deciding to
take land on the south, it later becOm-
ing the homestead Of I'll. s. HOllings-
worth. Perkins and Smith, both young
men and unmarried, got out logs that
summer to build houses, Smith selecting
for his building site the ground on Mill
street now occupied by the HollingswOrth
residence, but before the logs we're put in
place Smith changed his mind and de-
cided to return to Union fat and home.
lopJ This Uaa dnnp a tho
quest Of the young lady who soon after
wards became his wife, she looking over
the situation and thinking the location
too far from neighbOrs to make it desir-
able Mr. Perkins stuck to his location
and is generally known as the "Father
of Colfax." The logs gotten out by
Smith were transferred to the Union fiat
homestead, where Mr. Smith spent the
greater part Of bis life. It was eight
months after this, or in the spring OF
1871, that H. S. Hollingsworth came
here and took up the abandoned claim
of Smith, now the main business section
of Colfax and all valuable property.
In 1871 Mr. Smith married Miss Melissa
Cox. VINO died 10 years ago Three
years later he married a sister OF bis
wife. Mrs. Mida Cox Whitcher, who sur
wives him, as does a son by his first wife,
Ralph Smith of Standpoint, Idaho.
Mr.. Smith took an active part in poll
tics, and was identified with the political
interests of the Territory of Washington.
In 1880 he was elected a representative
to the legislature, and in 1882 territorial
councilman from Whitman county. He
was a member Of the legislature when
the Territory was admitted in 1889. and
was a member of the constitutional con-
ventiOn. He was also elected first state
senator from Whitman county, serving
four years. He was a member OF the
first commission appointed to locate the
agricultural college, now known as the
Washington State College, standing firm
all the while for locating it at Colfax.
The commission, however, couldn't agree,
Judge Whitson, now federal Judge, favor
ing North Yakima, and Senator Fergu-
son of SnOhomisb county standing out.
Thomas Smith was a nOhleman, in
that he was honest, and was greatly re-
spected by all who knew him. Peace to
his ashes.