An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, page 462 WILLIAM P. HIDDLESON, City Assessor and a prominent educator of Vancouver, was born in Whiteside county, Illinois, May 1, 1850, a son of William P. and Nancy (Wick) Hiddleson. The father was born in Pennsylvania, in 1816, was a farmer by occupation, and during his earlier life was a prominent educator in Chester county, Pennsylvania, and in Tazewell county, Illinois. In 1843 he located in Whiteside county, Illinois, and in 1871 the family removed to Beloit, Mitchell county, Kansas, and later to Osborne county, where Mr. Hiddleson subsequently died. His widow still resides in Downs, Kansas. She is descended from the Bedmans, an old and influential family who settled in Virginia in the seventeenth century, antedating the Revolutionary period. In her younger days she also was a successful teacher. William P. Hiddleson, the subject of this sketch, and the third of his parents' six children, attended the public schools of his native county, and graduated at the Sterling high school at the age of nineteen years. Being "to the manner born," he naturally chose teaching as his life work, engaged in it at once, and his efforts were crowned with success, both in Illinois and Kansas. In 1882 he with his family came to Washington, and settled in Vancouver, where he has been closely identified with the public schools, being elected County Superintendent of Schools in 1886. He has held the office of City Assessor since 1889, and is now also Deputy County Assessor. Since locating in this city our subject has been closely identified with the progressive element, and is one of its most worthy and conscientious citizens. In 1889 he laid out the Fairview Addition to Vancouver, where he now has a beautiful home, and has fine property on Vancouver lake, three miles from this city, where he has lately embarked in fruit culture, having five acres planted and more under way. Mr. Hiddleson was one of the founders of the Columbian Publishing Company, and has been secretary and treasurer since its organization. April 8, 1877, he was united in marriage to Miss Hattie E. James, of Delevan, Wisconsin, a daughter of George E. and Elizabeth (Odell) James. The father was a native of Rhode Island, where his parents, of English stock, settled in the eighteenth century. He was among the early pioneers of Wisconsin, and removed to Kansas in 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Hiddleson have three living children: Christel D., Vivian W., and Vibart W. The deceased are Lillian, who died in 1882, and Claybourne and Juanita, in 1890. In his political relations, our subject has ever been an ardent supporter and earnest advocate of the principles of the Democratic party. He has been for some time a member of the Board of Trustees, and is now Noble Grand of Vancouver Lodge, No. 3, of the I.O.O.F. In every instance the subject of this sketch has acquitted himself with honor to himself and credit to his constituents. Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in October 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer * * * * Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.