Columbia County, WA Databases

William Henry Hedges FOUTS, who is engaged in the general practice of law in Dayton, comes from an ancestry which in its lineal and collateral branches has ben distinctively American for many generations. His parents were William Henry Harrison and Sarah Emily (HEDGES) FOUTS, who became pioneer settlers of Oregon, and William H.H. FOUTS was born at Caneman, Oregon, on the 11th of July 1869. He was a youth of about fourteen years when in 1883 his parents removed to Dayton and in the public schools of that city he completed his education being one of the first graduates. He decided upon the practice of law as a life work and with that end in view he began reading under the direction of M. A. BAKER. His reading was also directed by W. K. ROGERS and R.F. STURDEVANT and in September, 1890, he passed the required examination that secured him admission to the bar. Immediately afterward he opened an office in Dayton, where he engaged in practice for twenty years, making steady progress along professional lines. He then removed to Spokane, where he followed his profession for two years, but in 1914 he returned to Dayton, where he again opened an office. He now has a large general practice and is very successful in handling his cases, which he prepares with great thoroughness and care. He has tried his cases in the state courts of Washington, Oregon and Idaho and also in the United States circuit court. He seems at fault in the application of a legal principle nor in citin a precedent and his devotion to his client's interests has become proverbial.

In 1894 Mr. FOUTS was united in marriage to Miss Clara KRIBS, and they have two children wh are yet living, namely; William and Rodney H. The wife and mother passed away on April 20,1916, greatly mourned by all who knew her.

In fraternal circles Mr. FOUTS is widely and prominently known, being a stalwart member of the Masonic lodge, the Knights of Pythias and Woodmen of the World. His political support is given to the republican party and he has been called upon to fill several positions of public honor and trust. He was elected prosecuting attorney in 1892, again in 1894 and once more in 1898, and he has also held the office of city attorney and city clerk. His duties have been discharged with marked promptness and fidelity and his reelection is proof of the confidence reposed in him by his fellow townsment. That his has been a well spent life is indicated by the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood to the present time.
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Source: Book: Lymans HISTORY of OLD WALLA WALLA, COLUMBIA, GARFIELD, and Asotin Counties. by. W.D. LYMAN, M.A., Lit.D Illustrated Volume 1 Chicago, The S.J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY, 1918 Pages 604-607, picture on pg 605