Lyman, W. D. "An Illustrated History of Walla Walla County, State of Washington." W. H. Lever, Publisher, 1901. p. 311. WINFIELD S. OFFNER who is at the head of one of the leading commercial enterprises of the city of Walla Walla, where he conducts an extensive business as a wholesale dealer in fruit and produce, is a native of St. Joseph, Missouri, where he was born in the year 1847. He grew up under the sturdy and invigorating discipline of the farm, under the guidance of his grandparents, his father and mother having both died in his infancy. His educational advantages were those afforded by the public schools, which he was enabled to attend somewhat irregularly. In 1864, when but seventeen years of age, he started across the plains with a party, the transportation equipment being that afforded by ox-teams. They had reached a point near Fort Kearney, Nebraska, when the Indians captured the train, killing several of the party and burning the wagons. Those who escaped were compelled to return to their starting place. In 1866 our subject made a second attempt, being on this occasion successful in reaching Denver with an ox train, transporting freight. In the succeeding year Mr. Offner again started out with an ox train from St. Joseph and in due course of time arrived safely in Sacramento, California. He remained in the Golden state for a period of four years, after which he returned to Missouri for a sojourn of two years, was then again in California four years, finally returning through the Cherokee strip to his native state, thence again to California in 1877, where he remained until the following year, in November of the same being united in marriage to Miss Frances E. Abbott, who accompanied him on his trip to Walla Walla in the following month. The young couple took up land in the Ritzville country, where our subject put in one crop, which failed, whereupon he abandoned his claim and returned to Walla Walla, which has ever been the field of his well directed and successful operations. Here he engaged in fruit growing and shipping, an enterprise which he has developed from modest proportions until it is now one of wide scope and unmistakable importance. He has one hundred acres of fine fruit orchard, the principal products of which are apples, prunes and pears, of which he raises the finest varieties, shipping to the leading markets of the Union. His farm, which is located one-half mile west of the city limits, is one of the best in a section noted for its unexcelled productiveness as a fruit-growing country. Here he employs in the season from fifty to sixty persons, and his business is one that has unmistakable influence on the commercial precedence of the city of Walla Walla. Mr. Offner's prominence in his line of industry may be understood more clearly when it is stated that he has held for the past six years, or since the inception of the organization, the office of treasurer of the Northwest Fruit Growers' Association, whose province includes Oregon. Washington, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia. In his religious proclivities Mr. Offner adheres to the faith of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, of which he is a consistent member, while fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Mr. and Mrs. Offner became the parents of five children: Chester R.; Myrtle, deceased; Lelah; Winnie, and the baby, as yet unnamed. Transcriber's additional notes: Offner burial at Mountain View Cemetery; Walla Walla, Washington http://www. interment.net/data/us/wa/wallawalla/mtview/mtview_no.htm ******************* Submitted to the Washington Bios. Project in January 2008 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.