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. a8. W. J. CANTONWINE who lives on a farm twelve miles north-east of Walla Walla,and two miles north of Dixie, has been a resident of Washington Territory since 1863. He is a native of Benton county, Iowa, where he was born, May 30, 1853, and lived with his parents on a farm until ten years of age, when he came with them to Walla Walla county in this Territory. The next year his father moved to Albany, Oregon, but returned to this county in less than a year, where they now reside. George Cantonwine, the father of W. J., was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, May 18, 1821, moved to Iowa in 1839, and in 1844 married Miss Mary M. Lewis, in Benton county of that state. Their children were Hannibal L. W. S., who still lives with them; Sylvania E., the wife of W. B. King, who resides on the Tukannon in Columbia county; the subject of this sketch; and Amanda M. The last named was the wife of John B. Scott, and on the twenty-ninth of September, 1867, they were both murdered by Indians, who committed the act in retaliation for the death of one of their own race whom they wrongfully supposed Mr. Scott had slain. This sad affair occurred on Burnt river in Oregon, a few miles from the home of the deceased. They were returning in a wagon from a visit, accompanied by two of their children, when fired upon. Mr. Scott sank down into the wagon with a mortal wound, and the brave woman, seizing the lines, drove out of danger with her children, as her life blood flowed from the many wounds that soon caused her death. February 10, 1875, the subject of this sketch was married to Miss Clara E. Cram, of Walla Walla county. Mrs. Cantonwine is a native of Polk county, Oregon, and her parents now reside in Penawawa, Whitman county, in this territory. The names and dates of birth of Mr. and Mrs. Cantonwine's children are as follows: Ernest J., November 12, 1876; Fred L., 14, 1878; Bertie F., December 16,1880. The homestead of this couple consists of 640 acres of land, all of which is inclosed, and 500 acres of it under cultivation. It is but two miles and a half from their place to the railroad station of Dixie that furnishes both school and mail facilities. From a sketch accompanying this book a better idea can be obtained of the appearance of the homestead, than from any written description that could be made. * * * * 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.