Lockley, Fred.  "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the
Sea." Vol. 2.  S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928.  p. 769.
 
WALTER L. TOOZE, SR.

     who spent practically his entire life in Oregon and gained prominence in
both business and political circles, had attained the age of sixty-six years
when he passed away in Salem on the 28th of September, 1927, his natal day being
November 25, 1861. He was born in the vicinity of Pittsfield, Lorain county,
Ohio. In early life he came to Oregon in company with an uncle, James Tooze, who
settled near Newberg, Yamhill county, where Walter L. Tooze acquired his
education as a public-school pupil. Subsequently he became a teacher in the same
school in which Harvey Scott was one of the instructors. He was an excellent
penman and successfully taught the art. Eventually leaving the schoolroom, he
entered the general merchandise establishment of Joseph Barnes at Butteville,
Marion county, whence he removed to Woodburn, where in association with his
brother, Charles Tooze, he developed an extensive business as a dealer in hops,
potatoes and other farm produce. He also acquired financial interests at
Woodburn but several years later disposed of his business there and purchased a
large store at Falls City in Polk county, which was destroyed by fire.
Thereafter he came to Portland and here served as registrar at the federal land
office until the time it was closed, discharging his duties in this connection
in a most efficient and highly satisfactory manner.
     Mr. Tooze became an active and influential worker in the ranks of the
republican party and was at one time a candidate for congress, but he never
sought or cared for political preferment for himself. He nominated Governor Geer
in convention and enjoyed an enviable reputation as an orator of pronounced
ability and power. Fraternally he was affiliated with the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks at Salem, with the Knights of Pythias and with the
Woodmen of the World. His life was actuated by high and honorable principles in
every relation, and in his passing the city of Portland sustained the loss of
one of her valued and representative citizens, while his family mourned a
devoted and loving husband and father.
     On the 22d of April, 1886, Mr. Tooze was united in marriage to Sadie A.
Barnes, daughter of Joseph and Julia Barnes, the former now deceased and the
latter a resident of Santa Rosa, California. Mr. and Mrs. Tooze became the
parents of three sons and a daughter. Walter L., a graduate of Riverview Academy
and of the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, is now a
successful practicing attorney of McMinnville, Oregon. During the period of the
World war he was in training camp service as captain of a company of the Three
Hundred and Sixty-first Regiment. He married a Miss Smith, of Cedar Rapids,
Iowa, and has two children, Walter (III) and Suzanne. Ethel is the wife of
Walter Fisher, of Roseburg, Oregon. Leslie made the supreme sacrifice in the
World war, being killed in France on the 28th of September, 1918, while serving
as a lieutenant of the Three Hundred and Sixty-fourth Infantry, Ninety-first
Division. His remains were brought home and interred at Eugene, Oregon. Lamar,
twin brother of Lester, was a member of the intelligence department during the
war. He is a law graduate of Harvard University and is now a well known attorney
of Portland. He married Miss Marie Sheahan, of Ocean Falls, British Columbia.
Mrs. Sadie Tooze, the mother of the above named, has been manager of the Martha
Washington Hotel in Portland during the past six years and is widely known as a
capable and successful business woman, while in social circles her popularity is
attested by her many friends.

 
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in July 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter has
no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.