"An Illustrated History of Whitman County, state of Washington." San Francisco:
W. H. Lever, 1901.  p. 400.
 
JOHN CANUTT

     This representative citizen of Whitman county is prominent, not alone as an
agriculturist and stock and fruit raiser, but he has long been pre-eminently
influential in the political life of state and county, enjoying high preferment
in the gift of the people. It is a pleasure to be able to add that he has not
only proved faithful to every trust reposed in him, but he has brought to the
discharge of his official duties a degree of energy, zeal and ability which has
enabled him to accomplish what to a less gifted man would be impossible and to
almost unconsciously occupy a place of leadership among his fellow citizens and
his confreres.
     Mr. Canutt is a native of Douglas county, Oregon, born February 1, 1867,
his parents being Alexander and Sallie (Hollingsworth) Canutt. In 1872 the
family moved over to Whitman county, and in 1873 bought a farm on the Penawawa
bar and engaged in stock and fruit raising. The next year, however, they
returned to Oregon, remaining until 1879, which year is the date of their second
advent into Whitman county. They purchased a place about sixteen miles southwest
of Colfax and again engaged in fruit and stock-raising.
     Our subject received the major portion of his education in Whitman county,
and when years of maturity had been attained directed his energies to the same
occupation in which his parents were engaged. He is now the owner of four
hundred and eighty acres adjoining the parental home, and is achieving great
success in farming, especially in the raising of fruit and cattle; indeed he is
rightly regarded as in many respects one of the most successful farmers in the
county.
     As before noted, our subject is an active participant in local and state
politics. In 1896 he was elected a member of the state legislature, and his
splendid executive and legislative abilities received fitting recognition in his
being appointed chairman of the vitally important railroad committee. He became
widely known among his contemporaries and will be known in the annals of the
state as the one who introduced and secured the passage of the Canutt freight
bill. He also distinguished himself in the legislature by the determined manner
in which he, with Hon. George Witt, of Lincoln county, led a fight for the
election to the United States senate of Hon. Charles E. Cline. So nearly
successful were they that their candidate failed of election by only two votes.
     In fraternal connection Mr. Canutt is identified with the Order of
Washington. He was married in Colfax in November, 1891, the lady being Miss
Nettie, daughter of A. M. and Annie (Askren) Stevens, a native of Walla Walla
county, Washington. They have four children: Alexander, Sallie T., Enos E. and
John Maceo. Mrs. Canutt is a lady of refinement and culture, and possesses
literary ability of a high order. Her poetry has gained her a very enviable
local reputation.
 

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Submitted to the Washington Biographies Project in January 2010 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.