ALFRED H. WEATHERFORD. – This representative citizen of Columbia county was born on a farm in Missouri in 1853. While but a child he suffered the loss of his father and mother. At the early age of thirteen he began life for himself. Hs first venture was in working on a farm at seventy-five cents per day. In 1868 he emigrated to California and worked on a farm for wages, until two years later he came to Washington and bought a ranch on the stream euphoniously termed Whiskey creek, and in 1872 formed a home, marrying Miss Allie M. Baldwin. In 1880 he changed his residence to Shutler Flat, twelve miles below Arlington, and farmed there until 1884. In that year he was honored by election as commissioner of Wasco county, and upon its division was appointed commissioner of Gilliam county. In 1885 he disposed of his property there and returned to Columbia county, Washington, and purchased five hundred and twenty acres of very productive land six miles south of Dayton. He has since managed this farm personally, raising an average of thirty bushels of wheat to the acre.
At the November election in 1888, he was elected representative to the Washington legislature. In the following January he suffered the irreparable loss of his wife by death, who left him with three little boys and four little girls, whom to properly educate and train has become his ambition. A large-hearted, generous-minded man, Mr. Weatherford is highly respected by his many friends, and fully trusted by the constituency whom he publicly represents.