Thomas R. Shaw was born on June 19, 1845, near Decatur, Illinois. His family moved to Iowa in 1846, where he completed his education in 1861. After clerking and serving in the Civil War with the Forty-fifth Iowa Volunteer Infantry in 1864, he began law studies in Gallatin and was admitted to the bar in May 1865. Shaw held various public positions, including public administrator and Probate Judge. He married Jane Buchhols in 1867, and they had five children.
Henry Baker, a well-known former resident of Mt. Pleasant, passed away on March 23, 1909, at his daughter’s home in Aurora, Illinois. His health had declined following a severe paralytic stroke. His funeral was held on March 27, 1909, at the home of his daughter Mrs. George Rath, with Rev. Nicholas officiating. Baker, fondly referred to as Daddy Baker, was employed by Dr. Pitcher for many years. He is survived by his three children: John, Mrs. Rath, and Mrs. Wilson. He was interred at Forest Home Cemetery.
Julius S. Waters, born in Indiana in 1838, exemplified the virtues of self-reliance and determination throughout his life. Orphaned young, he worked various jobs to fund his education and eventually pursued a legal career, becoming a prominent attorney and political figure. He was actively involved in the abolitionist movement and helped establish the Republican Party in Kansas. Throughout his career, Waters held multiple public offices, including county attorney and presidential elector, gaining respect for his legal expertise and commitment to public service in Idaho.
Hon. Alvin T. Ferriss, born in 1852 in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, moved to Northwest Missouri as a child. In 1872, he ventured west to Denver, later settling in Pullman, Washington Territory, in 1883. He co-founded a successful hardware business with Charles Kingman and his brother, James. After a significant fire in 1887, they rebuilt and expanded. Ferriss also served as president of the Pullman Bank and was elected as a representative of Whitman County in 1888. He married Lizzie Harris in 1885, and they had two children.
Hon. Amos F. Tullis, born in Indiana on January 6, 1830, relocated to Iowa with family before journeying to Oregon in 1852. After working in a sawmill, he faced setbacks before serving as a captain during the Indian War. He later thrived as a farmer and stock dealer in Lewis County, accumulating substantial wealth. Tullis held various public offices and played a vital role in establishing a territorial insane asylum. In 1885, he moved to Tacoma, where he engaged in multiple business ventures and community service.
Julias A. Crane, M.D., born on January 21, 1846, in Ohio, was raised in a family deeply rooted in New England and the Baptist faith. Educated at the Charity Hospital Medical College, he began his medical career at the Iowa Hospital for the Insane before relocating to Santa Ana, California, in 1875. Prominent in local medical and civic affairs, Dr. Crane contributed to the establishment of the Orange County Medical Association and played a key role in promoting Santa Ana’s development. He married Mary A. Schenck in 1882, remaining actively engaged in community matters throughout his life.