"An Illustrated History of the Big Bend Country; Embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin Counties; State of Washington". Spokane, Western Historical Publishing Company, Publishers, 1904. pp. 820-821. HON. GEORGE SINCLAIR, who may truly be called the father of Adams county, Washington, is now living a retired life in Ritzville, where he is one of the foremost men of influence and prestige. In a long career of active business and public service, he has demonstrated his ability and his unswerving integrity, which have commended him to all good men and have so materially assisted in the building up of this country to its present prosperous condition. One characteristic of Mr. Sinclair has always shone out brightly in his life, namely, that of caring as faithfully for the smallest item entrusted to his care as for the large interests that were as important and as wide as the state itself. That has given him the entire confidence of the people and few men have so endeared themselves to their constituency as has Mr. Sinclair. Born amid the rugged hills of Scotia, the land of historic and world wide fame, and coming from the strong blood, which through its sturdy specimens of the race has made itself felt in every civilized land and than which, it is conceded, there is no stronger in human veins, we could expect to see a strength and principle in Mr. Sinclair commensurate with his worthy ancestors. In this no one has bee mistaken, as his career will amply substantiate. It was on October 12, 1829, that the announcement was made to George and Margaret (Johnson) Sinclair of the birth of a son, who is the subject of this sketch. They were both natives of Scotland, and the county of Caithness, the extreme north portion of the mainland, was their home. At Dunnet, near the sea, our subject was educated and when seventeen he laid aside his books for the invigorating work on the farm. Here he was occupied until 1852, when he entered the employ of the North British railroad as overseer of the grain department. In this capacity he continued until 1865 in which year he resigned his position to come to the United States. In June, he landed in New York and soon went thence to St. Charles, Minnesota, where he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of school land and gave his attention to its cultivation. He sold out four years later and went to Lincoln county, Dakota, where he homesteaded a quarter section. For a decade he was an industrious laborer there and then sold out to come west. In 1880, he landed in Ritzville, since which time he has been one of the prominent men of this portion of our state. The county seat was then at Colfax, and soon Mr. Sinclair was agitating the question of a new county. In due time Adams county was organized as the result of these efforts and Mr. Sinclair was appointed to the important position of county commissioner of Adams county. There was much labor to do and great wisdom needed to launch the new county right, and for five years an appreciative people kept Mr. Sinclair at the helm. Then he resigned to accept the postmastership of Ritzville, he being the fourth incumbent. For five years he held the position to the satisfaction of all, and then on account of the election of Grover Cleveland, he resigned and was straightway elected treasurer of Adams county. For two terms, four years, the limit allowed by the law, he continued in this office, and as usual, pleasing the people in every respect. In 1899, he was called to represent his county in the state legislature and in that capacity did some excellent work. He was known in the capitol as a man of power and integrity and the interests of the people were safely guarded in his hands. After that service, Mr. Sinclair was again appointed postmaster of Ritzville by McKinley. This position he resigned four years later to take a trip to his native land. In Scotland, Mr. Sinclair married Miss Mary White, the daughter of Andrew and Mary (Marshel) White, the nuptials occurring on June 1, 1857. To this happy marriage thirteen children were born, George, Margret, Tressa, Mary, Minnie, Andrew, Jane, Annie, William, Charles, Emma L., and two that died when infants. All are unmarried except Margret, who is the wife of Henry Horn, of Ritzville. Most of the children are living in Adams county and are highly respected citizens. In the fall of 1899, Mrs. Sinclair was called to lay down the burdens of life and participate in the realities of another world. She died as she had lived, a faithful and noble woman and many sincere mourners were lamenting her departure. Mr. Sinclair has rounded out a long life of three score years and ten and is still hale and hearty and is now enjoying the fruits of his labor in the golden years of his career, secure in the love and esteem of an appreciative people and surrounded by his children and friends. Submitted by: Georgia Harter Williams, georgiahw@earthlink.net