Corner
of Mockingbird and Sandpiper, College Place, signage, markers
The Walla Walla County Poor Farm was established in 1891. At one point, it included 200 acres, and
extended from the present 12th Street in College Place south to Taumarson Road,
and from just east of Myra Road to College Avenue. The Poor Farm was owned and
operated by Walla Walla County as a place where indigent residents could both
live and work.
The Walla Walla County Poor Farm was closed following the creation of the
federal Social Security system, under which counties were no longer solely
responsible for indigent welfare. The
last burial and the subsequent closure of the Poor Farm took place in about
1954. Except for the cemetery, the land
was then sold by the county, most of which became a private dairy farm for many
years, after which a mobile or manufactured home community was established there.
While the Poor Farm barn was long used for storage by the mobile home park, the
Poor Farm house was under separate ownership and had been vacant for many years
before recently being acquired by the mobile home park. Both buildings have now been removed by the
owners of the park.
The Poor Farm Cemetery was also established about 1891. Deceased Poor
Farm residents along with unclaimed remains in the possession of the Walla
Walla County Coroner’s office were buried in the cemetery in rows running north
and south, which can still be seen in present aerial photos of the cemetery. Most graves were originally marked with small
concrete cylinders bearing only a number, though upright markers were later
placed on several of the graves by friends or family members. The
names and location of people buried in the cemetery could be found by
consulting records maintained at the county courthouse, which until recently
were thought to have been lost.
After its closure, a tuberculosis hospital building located behind the
Poor Farm house was moved to the nearby corner of Scenic View and Larch where
it is in use as a private home. The story of the Poor Farm and the hospital is
partially given in a novel titled “The Diary,” by Frances Potts, whose mother
was employed there and whose father was a patient.
After the Poor Farm closed and the adjoining land was being developed as
a mobile or manufactured home park, all of the cemetery’s upright grave markers
were removed, the small concrete grave cylinders were covered up with soil,
grass was planted over them, and playground equipment whose footings are still
visible was installed on top of a portion of the graves.
In 1965, ownership of the cemetery itself was transferred by Walla Walla
County to the City of College Place. Since 1990, the Poor Farm Cemetery and
other historic cemeteries have been protected from further disturbance by the
Washington Historic Cemeteries and Graves Act that was adopted that year.
A partial list of burials in the Poor Farm Cemetery appears below, and is
also shown on a sign at the cemetery placed by Walla Walla 2020. A full list of
the approximately 700 people buried there appears in partially illegible hand
written county records, copies of which can be seen on the Walla Walla 2020
website at ww2020.net/history-websites/walla-walla-county-poor-farm. The last recorded burials in the Poor Farm
cemetery took place in the early 1940s.
Allan,
Jennie
Amund,
Sam
Anderson,?
Andries,
E. T.
Arents,
Henry
Athison,
M.
Atkins,
Jack
Aunnium,
A. P.
Autros,
Infant
Bacon,
Jose
Ball,
Junis
Barner,
Barnhart,
D.
Barson,
Infant
Barton,
Robert
Batm,
Infant
Baugart,
Jacob
Beppey,
F.
Berry,
Edward
Bishop,
M.
Bitters,
Martha
Blake,
Mrs. Laura
Blodgett,
Infant
Bolon,
Andrew
Bones,?
Boplis,
Junios
Boster,
C.
Bowman,
Arthur
Bown,
Lars
Boyd,
Lee
Brewer,
W. H.
Brinderhoff,
Walter
Brown,
Frank
Brown,
George
Bryant,
Ralph
Bryson,
C.
Bugbe,
Patrick
Burns,
Wm.
Bugelen,
C.
Burr,
B. F.
Burten,
Robert C.
Busveb,
Wm.
Butter,
Infant
Buttinger,
H.
Caelum,
Archie M.
Cameron,
P.
Carpenter,
J.
Carrol,
Chosten
Carson,
Irwin
Carter,
Minta
Casey,
Infant
Cass,
Antonio
Cecil,
V.
Chambers,
Wm.
Chapman,
B.
Chase,
Bert
Chism,
E. L.
Chobar,
Burr
Clay,
Wm.
Clayton,
M. E.
Clifford,
Miller
Clint,
Mrs.
Clo,
Infant
Cogdol,
Pete
Comm,
Infant
Conrad,
Infant
Cony,
Margaret
Craber,
G. E.
Creel,
William
Crider,
Albert
Crider,
Infant
Crull,
Frank
Cunningham,
H. C.
Daily,
David
Daley,
William
Dart,
Infant
Davis,
F.
Davis,
Infant son of A.
Davis,
Jack E.
Davis,
Len
Davis,
Preston
Davis,
W. E.
De
Friese, Lucy
Delaney,
Joseph
Delmire,
Jacob
Demorest,
Infant
Demorist,
Charles
Denney,
James
Derment,
Gus
Dertich,
Charles
Dixon,
J. W.
Doggett,
Jeff
Doke,
Milo
Douglas,
William
Drake,
James
Duncan,
Frank
Durose,
William
Dyke,
Wm. J.
Eaton,
Elmer
Ellison,
Infant
Englehardt,
Carrie
Engstrom,
H.
Erick,
Wm.
Erickson,
Infant
Espinoso,
J.
Exelton,
August
Famborough,
Thomas
Fellers,
Nancy Margaret
Fifer,
Josep V.
Fincher,
Infant
Fine,
T. M.
Fitz,
Infant
Fitzler,
Carl
Flood,
J.
Floyd,
J. M.
Flry,
Infant
Foltz,
Infant
Foree,
Thomas
Forrest,
C. D.
Forrest,
John
Foster,
George
Foster,
T. R.
Fowler,
George
Fox,
Huey
Frazier,
John E.
Frier,
R. W.
Fritzler,
Infant
Fry,
Frank
Gammel,
Robert
Garder,
James
Gilasme,
Infant
Gilligan,
Frank
Girst,
Infant
Girtizer,
J.
Goble,
Isaac
Goble,
John A.
Gordon,
Jess
Gradwohl,
Jack Infant
Gradwohl,
K.
Grafner,
W.
Grant,
James
Grasely,
J. D.
Gratoal,
Jake
Gray,
Eli
Griffin,P.
Grigsby,
Fannie
Grun,
Junios
Gryary,
Infant
Gustavson,
P. W.
Hall,
Dan
Hammersmith,
Infant
Hardum,
Mary
Harling,
J. G.
Harris,
John Leroy
Harrison,
W. H.
Hart,
Infant
Hasbrook,
Infant
Hauri,
Infant
Haven,
Ida B.
Henderson,
J. F.
Hercist,
Henry
Hersey,
W. J.
Hickley,
B.
High,
Woo
Highey,
Infant
Hill,
Adam Infant
Hill,
Lizzie
Hill,
Phillip, infant
Hines,
Veron E.
Hines,
W. H.
Hipier,
R.
Hirst,
Walter
Hockbaum, J.
Hodges,
Alexander
Hoffman,
A. J.
Hoffman,
Sophia
Hood,
Charles
Hoopman,
Fritz
Hoos,
Jacob
Hotstine,
C.
Howard,
John
Huey,
Infant
Huff,
James
Huis,
Infant
Hum,
Leo
Hunt,
F.
Hunter,
J. F.
Hutsmann, Geo.
Huxall,
J. H.
Isuatat,
Eva E.
Itusa,
Pearl
Jackson,
Infant
Jackson,
W. C.
Jake,
Anna
Jasseur,
Zak
Johnson,
Infant
Jones,
G. W.
Jones,
Richard
Jong,
Long, Chinaman
Jurseu,
Infant
Kammersgill,
Essa M.
Kelly,
Michael
Kennith,
John
Key,
Lo
Kinsfather,
Infant
Kinsfather,
Lizzie
Kirkland,
Charles E.
Kissler,
E. K.
Kister,
Jacob
Kittle,Willis
Kohl,
Infant
Kue,
Yon Wing
Lai,
Moni
Lang,
Infant
Larin,
A.
Larson,
Sam
Larus,Joseph
Lawton,
C. B. (babe)
Lewis,
Herbert J.
Libett,
George
Liebert,
Emil
Lietz,
Infant
Liffler,
G. W.
Lind,
Arthur E.
Lindell,
Andy
Ling,
Joe Chinaman
Linker,
H.
Linker,
Infant
Linn,
Albert Wesley
Litchenberg,
Jacob
Livostown,
W.
Lochrin,
Infant
Logan,
John
Long,
James B.
Lovitt,
E. S.
Low,
Loy
Luirs,
L.
Lunde,
Hans
Mann,
Wm.
Mapes,
Samuel
Marley,
Jack
Marsh,
Stephen W.
Marsh,
William
Martin,
G. W.
Martin,
Harry
Martina,
Julius,
Marton,
Thomas
Matson,
Fred
McBray,
Infant
McCary,
infant
McGorm,
Infant
McGowan,
L. E.
McGriff,
Archer
McGuinn,
James
McKayne,
W.
McLaughlin,
Ed
McQuade,
Infant
McQuary,
Andy
McRee,
Henry
Meachum,
E.
Mellon,
Andre
Memmons,
T.
Meugnoit,Doris
Grover
Merry,
Infant
Metger,Infant
Miles,
Edward
Milharne,
Infant
Millan,
D. M.
Miller,
Frank
Mills,
Jacob
Mitscher,
Fritz
Mohr,
Edith F.
Molguard,
S.
Mollard,
Paul
Moore,
Infant
Moorhull,
John
Morgan,
C. H.
Morgan,
Frank
Mundy,
John B.
Munson,
Charles
Myers,
two children
Neal,
Infant
Neal,
William
Neauman,
John
Nevine,
Babe
Nickolas,
Henry E.
Nikon,
P.
Noyes,
Louis
O’Brien,
Thomas
Old,
Junos
Olson,
Ole
Orr,
John R.
Ortell,
Infant
Osborn,
C.
Osualat,
Mary
Otth,
Jacob
Palmer,
Philip
Papft,
Joe
Parker,
John Anderson
Parr,
F.
Patrick,
O. Z.
Patterson,
Douglas
Pepper,
James M.
Perry,
Freeman
Perry,
Infant
Peyser,
Henry
Phenstom,
John
Pieper,
Infant
Pister,
Infant
Prachey,
Geo.
Preston,
Infant
Price,
William
Prisegereder,
Dan
Quinlish,
Samuel
Rehnstrom,
John
Reihl,
Infant
Richards,
T.
Riggs,
William
Riley,
Art
Roach,
James
Robinett,
Martha J.
Ropherger,
Infant
Ross,
T. Infant
Rouz,
H.
Rowe,
Lars L.
Roye,
Charles
Ryland,
C. H.
Ryland,
O. B.
Ryles,?
Sanders,
Joseph
Sandrock,
John
Sanos,
Infant
Schack,
Emil
Schack,
Infant
Schafer,
Infant
Schaffer,
Alexander
Scharman,
Barney
Schiffner,
Infant
Schoffer,
Infant
Schoonover,
Samuel C.
Schoppen,
J. H.
Schreiner,
Infant
Schultz,
Ed
Schultz,
Infant
Schurman,
Infant
Scott,
Infant
Seigfreid,
Adolph F.
Sell,
William
Set,
Hoe
Shaffer,
Geo.
Shaffer,
Leopard
Shant,
Infant
Shaver,
Infant
Shead,
C.
Shilrith,
A.
Shorty,?
Shrinkwiler,
Infant
Sikerman,
Infant
Sikerson,
D. L.
Sing,
Ding
Sitzman,
Erm
Sitzman,
H.
Smith,
Anna
Smith,
Claude
Smith,
E. J.
Smith,
Frank
Smith,
Herman
Smith,
Infant
Smith,
Pearl
Smith,
Ruth
Snider,
E.
Snyder,
Infant
Son,
Lee Chinaman
Sperry,
John
Srinkius,
Infant
Stallard,
Alfred John
Stapelton,
Charles
Stapleton,
John
Starks,
Mary
Starns,
N. H.
Stearns,
Mary E.
Steinburg,
W.
Stevens,
Ira
Stevens,
James
Stevens,
Samuel
Stinner,
M.
Stinnot,
L.
Stoppard,
Infant
Storey,
P.
Streeter,
J.
Stroud,
William L.
Struck,
Infant
Strumpf,
H.P.
Struth,
Geo.
Stuart,
J. R.
Stucknose,J.
Styers,
H. A.
Suartz,
John Infant
Sullivan,
J. M.
Sunde,
Hans
Sweeney,
Infant
Taylor,
C. W.
Taylor,
Infant
Taylor,
W. R.
Tennock,
Frank
Terry,
William H.
Tershman,
Richard
Thompson,
A.
Thomson,
J. W.
Timman,
Thomas
Tobin,
Edward Martin
Tong,
Mark, Chinaman
Toy,
Sam
Tregay,
Infant
Updike,
Anna
Van
Buren, J. L.
Van,
Wong
Voelker,
Conrad
Wagoner,
A.
Walker,
Otto
Walker,
Robert Lee
Ward,
H.
Ward,
Tomas
Weasin,
Infant
Weathermon,
Infant
Weber,
J. W.
Webster,
M.
Wells,
Hanna L.
Whering,
Fred
Whicher,
M. B.
Whitman,
Floyd R.
Whitman,
Martha
Williams,
J. A.
Wills,
Infant
Wilsey,
Peter B.
Wilson, Geo. M.
Wilson,
Peter
Winn,
Infant
Witz,
A.
Woblitt,
Infant
Woddy,
Mary W.
Woodin,
Hugh (Babe)
Wulffe,
Chas.
Yentos,
W. B.
Yong,
Charlie
