Lyman, W. D. "An Illustrated History of Walla Walla County, State of Washington." W. H. Lever, Publisher, 1901. p. JAMES W. BRUCE. Among the enterprising and respected agriculturists and stock raisers of the vicinity Of Waitsburg, Mr. Bruce holds a prominent and leading place. He is a son of the west, having first opened his eyes to the light of day in Oregon, the date of his birth being April 17, 1856. He is one of the earliest pioneers of Waitsburg, in fact, he was on the site of the town as early as 1861, long before the establishment of an organized and incorporated town had been thought of. He grew to manhood in this locality, receiving his education in the Waitsburg schools, and when he engaged in business for himself he naturally drifted into the enterprise which his father had followed before him and in which he had been reared. He is a man of energy and good judgment, thoroughly interested in everything pertaining to his business and ready to profit by any new method or improvement which his own experience or that of others may bring to light. At the present  time he is the owner of a fine farm of about a thousand acres, also an elegant brick residence in Waitsburg. He is quite prominent in fraternal circles, being an active member of the United Artisans and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. On November 17, 1885, was solemnized, in Columbia county, Washington, the marriage of our subject and Miss Addie L. Harmon, the latter being a native of Iowa, born October 23, 1864. Three children were born  of this marriage: William E., on September  18, 1886; Zula E., on January 31, 1888; and Hobart O., on November 4, 1895. Mr. Bruce had been previously married to Miss Lottie M. Seward, the date of their union being in August, 1874, and the issue one daughter, Carrie B., now wife of Ralph Lloyd. Our subject's father, William P. Bruce, was a very old pioneer of the west, having crossed the plains to Oregon in 1850. In 1861 he became identified with Waitsburg, of which he continued to be a respected and representative citizen until his death, which occurred November 17, 1888. He was long an active worker in the political campaigns of the county, and for some years served on its board of county commissioners. His widow, Caroline Bruce, nee O'Neal, survived him until January, 1891, residing on the old home. The couple became parents of five children, namely: Mary E., widow of the late H. J. Abbey, of Waitsburg; J. W. ; Dora E., wife of E. L. Powell, of Spokane; also Edward, who was drowned when two years old, and John H., who died near Vancouver, Washington, in 1898. To Mr. William P. Bruce belongs the honor of pioneership in Waitsburg, he having been the man who secured from the government by homestead the place where that city now stands, the date of his homestead entry being 1863. ******************* Submitted to the Washington Bios. Project in December 2014 by Diane Wright, wldhart07@yahoo.com