wjstory.html

The Klickitat County News, Goldendale, WA., August 16, 1934, page 4

INTERESTING PIONEER INTERVIEWS

The News has tried for some little time to interview W.J. Story, editor and publisher of The Klickitat County Agriculturist. Mr. Story, an unassuming gentleman, has been a bit reluctant about publicizing his history in this county and so, upon being informed of his 81st birthday falling next Monday, the News inflicted the task of collecting a bit of data and information concerning "Will" to W.F. Byars, local postmaster. The brief but, but to the point article follows:
It is a trait of human nature, after our friends and loved ones have embarked for that undiscovered country from whom bourn no traveler returns, to place upon the graves of the departed flowers and wreaths, gleaned from the bosom of mother earth, in token of our love, respect and admiration for the ones gone before. But how more benevolent and fitting would it be to scatter the path of life of our friends and loved ones with flowers of love in the form of kind words and loving deeds before they have passed beyond the reach of all human harm and help.
The writer has in mind one whose birthday will occur on Monday of next week. He has gone about his daily toil Goldendale for over half a century, unassuming and in no ostentatious way. If he had no good to say of any of his fellow man, he said no harm. What a great world this would be if all were blessed with this virtue.
For over forty years William J. Story has been editor and publisher of The Klickitat County Agriculturist. When the writer took charge of the Sentinel in 1892, Mr. Story was the foreman of the paper. He had been with paper for ten years. Mr. Story and Oscar C. Nelson commenced the publication of the Agriculturist in 1893, and later Mr. Story bought the interests of Mr. Nelson in the paper.
William J. Story was born in Poughkeepsie, the county seat of Dutchess county, New York, August 20, 1853, the year my parents crossed the plains and later settled in Douglas County, Oregon. His father's name was James E. Story, his ancestors coming from England and settling in the Empire state in an early date.
The Story family came to Klickitat county in 1880, J.E. Story taking a homestead in the Bickleton country where he resided until his death about thirty years ago, the wife preceding him a short time before.
W.J. Story learned the printer's trade in the office of the Eagle in Poughkeepsie. He was employed for a time in New York City. Mr. Story remained a bachelor until about ten years ago when he was married to Mrs. Lilia Spirlock of Olympia, at the time the writer was county engineer. Mr. Story went to Olympia with Lyman W. Ward, who was deputy engineer at that time, and myself, to be married. We were witnesses of the ceremony and the only ones attending besides the Rev. F.M. Simpson and Mrs. T.C. Christensen, an old friend of Mrs. Spirlock's.
William J. Story is to be congratulated on his long and faithful career in the newspaper field and we wish for him and wife continued health and abundance of prosperity. We take off our hat to one of God's noblemen.

W.F. Byars.