Martinsburg Iowa

Biography of R. P. Kelley

R. P. Kelley, a distinguished lawyer since 1884, originally from New England, has balanced his legal career with substantial business interests across the country. Born in Newburg, Maine, in 1850, he came to the West in 1870, eventually earning his law degree in Iowa. After practicing law in Iowa, he settled in Eureka, Kansas, where he built a significant civil practice. A politically independent figure, Kelley has refrained from seeking office, though he served as regent for the State Agricultural College. He married Harriet Whitney in 1879.

Champ, William – Obituary

William Champ, a prominent pioneer in Washington’s Masonic community, passed away at 88 on November 2, 1912, in Winlock. He was a founding member of several Masonic lodges, including those in Chehalis and Olympia. Champ moved to Olympia in 1860 and later settled in Lewis County, where he lived until his death. His contributions to fraternal life spanned decades, beginning with his initiation in 1845. He is survived by four children, numerous grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and was laid to rest with Masonic honors.