Gilbert, Frank T.  "Historic Sketches of Walla Walla, Whitman, Columbia and
Garfield Counties, Washington Territory; and Umatilla County, Oregon." Portland,
OR: Print & Lithographing House of A.  G.  Walling, 1882.  p. a29.

WILLIAM C.  PAINTER

	was born in St. Genevieve Co, Missouri, April 18, 1830.  His parents, Philip
and Jean, lived on a farm, and the early years of William's life were passed in
that home.  In 1850 his father started for Oregon with his family of wife and
seven children, and died of cholera on the Little Blue river.  Two of his sons
had been hurried as they camped by that stream two days before, and only the
mother, with her two daughters, Margaret A., and Sarah J., and three sons,
William C., Joseph C., and Robert M., were left to continue their sorrowful
journey to the Pacific coaSt. Upon the family's arrival in the Willamette, they
took up several donation land claims in Washington Co., and die one taken by
William was retained by him, until his removal to Washington Territory, in 1863.
When the Indian war of 1855 broke out he was one of those who enlisted for that
campaign, as a member of Company D, 1st Reg., Oregon Mounted Vols., continuing
to follow the fortunes of his company until it was mustered out of service late
in 1856.  It was the opportune arrival of this command upon the scene of action
that caused the Indians, at the battle of Walla Walla, in December, 1855, to
give up the struggle, and retreat into the Palouse country.  He participated
with credit to himself in all the battles and skirmishes of that war east of the
Cascades, prior to the disbandment of his company.
	In 1878, when the hostile Bannock and Pah Ute Indians were being pursued
into Washington Territory by Gen.  O.  O.  Howard, a company of men enlisted in
Walla Walla under W.  C.  Painter for active service, and their brief campaign
on the Columbia river received the following mention by Capt.  John A Kress,
which was made a part of General Howard's official report of that war: "Small
bands of Indians with large number of horses passed to north side Columbia
simultaneously, at daylight this morning, at point near North Willow Creek, at
Cayote Station, at head of Long Island, and just above Umatilla.  I caught one
band in the act at Long Island, as reported this morning.  Have attacked and
dispersed these bands at different points during the day.  Had possession of
over two hundred horses at one time, but was not able to keep them.  Captured
and destroyed packs, canoes, and other property; captured thirty horses and
packs of one band.  Had two very lively skirmishes, landing after firing from
steamer, and charging Indians successfully up steep hills; no casualties known
except wounding one Indian and killing five horses in attack on one of the
bands. Captain Charles Painter and the forty-two volunteers from Walla Walla
deserve praise for good conduct and bravery, not excepting my Vancouver regulars
and Captain Gray with officers and crew of Steamer Spokane, who stood firmly at
their posts under fire." A week after the close of service on the river he was
made Aid de Camp on the staff of Gov.  E.  P.  Ferry, with rank of Lieut.
Colonel, and immediately took charge of fifty two men, who crossed over to
assist the people of, Eastern Oregon in defending that region against the
onslaught of the hostile savages, recently defeated by General Howard.  He
passed south of the retreating bands to Camas prairie with his little force, to
intercept their retreat, but the hostiles, learning of his position, avoided a
collision by a circuitous route, and the Colonel returned to Walla Walla with
captured horses as his only visible trophy of that campaign.  These horses were
sold at auction, and money enough was received by this means to pay the entire
expense of his command.  Although no battle was fought in this last expedition,
it was considered so hazardous that ten dollars per day was offered for guides
without its inducing any one to undertake the duty.  But let us return to the
more ordinary pursuits of his life, and pick up again the thread in Oregon.  In
1861 and 1862, he left the farm in the Willamette valley and became a miner in
the mountains east of Snake river, and in 1863, came to Wallula, and clerked for
Flanders and Felton for four years.  When the senior member of the firm was
elected to Congress in 1867, Mr. Painter took charge of their business, and
became Post-master and agent for Wells Fargo S Co.  at that place.  While there
he was appointed Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue for Eastern Washington
Territory.  On receiving this last appointment he removed to Walla Walla City,
and has lived in this place since.  He resigned as Deputy in November, 1870, but
the resignation was not accepted until the following May.  He then made an
unfortunate investment in some mill property that proved his financial Waterloo,
and was forced to commence at the foot of the ladder for a business climb.  He
then went to work for wages and continued this until 1876, when the wheel of
fortune turned in his favor again, and he received the appointment of a Receiver
in the U.  S.  Land Office.  This position was held by him until in September,
1878, and he was then elected Auditor of Walla Walla Co., in November of that
year, and reelected in November 1880.
	In 1864, January 7, he was married to Carrie Mitchell, the daughter of
Israel and Mary Mitchell, of Washington Co., Oregon, and their children's names
and ages are as follows: Philip M., April 15, 1866; died November 1, 1869 ;
Joseph E., March 13, 1868 ; Charles F.  S., December 15, 1869 ; Mary Maud,
October 23, 1871 ; Harry M., July 23, 1873 ; B.  Jean, June 4, 1875; Daisy M.,
June 15, 1877; Roy R., April 29, 1879; Rex, August 30, 1880; Carry M., February
8, 1882.  Of Mr. Painter it may be said truthfully, that in his active life no
private or public transaction of his has left a shadow or taint of dishonorable
motive or dishonest act, and those who know him best esteem him most.

* * * *

Submitted to the WA.  Bios Project in February 2007 by Diana Smith.

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.