cantonw
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The
Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties,
State of Washington", published by Western Historical Publishing
Co., 1904.
WILLIAM J. CANTON is one of the
leading attorneys of Douglas county. Being endowed with an analytical
mind and forensic ability which have been fortified with the best of training
and thorough and extensive reading, the subject of this article is especially
fitted to win distinction in his chosen profession in which he has made
rapid strides and done excellent work. He is at the head of a fine
practice in Douglas county and has won many friends, distinction and honors,
especially in the military line.
William J. Canton was born in Leeds county,
Ontario, Canada, on November 5, 1861 and was raised on a farm. Like
the ordinary youth of the land, William J. commenced his education in the
common schools. Then he pressed on through the excellent high schools
of Ontario, and later took a thorough university course. He also
took his degree from the law department in the university in 1879, being
the youngest member of the large class and yet the recipient of special
honors. For two years subsequent to his graduation he taught school
at New Market, in Ontario, and in July, 1883, he enlisted in Company C,
Fifteenth United States Infantry under Captain C. H. Conrad. For
four years he served, first as sergeant and then asked for his discharge
that he might take up the practice of law. In 1887, he was honorably
discharged and took up his profession at O'Neil, Nebraska, in company with
Hon. Thomas M. Carlon, where he remained until 1890. In July of that
year, Mr. Canton determined to come west and accordingly selected Washington
as the objective point. For a time he remained in South Bend and
in June, 1891, located at Waterville and. opened an office. Since
that time, he has given himself largely to the practice of his profession,
and has maintained an office in Waterville continuously. In 1892,
Mr. Canton organized a company of militia which took the prize at the encampment
in 1894. In May, 1898, he was appointed adjutant general of the state,
by Governor John R. Rogers and fitted out the troops for the Spanish-American
war. In the fall of the same year he was appointed major of the First
Washington Volunteer Infantry and went to the Philippine Islands.
For eleven months he saw active service there and participated in the heaviest
part of the fighting. On November 1, 1899, he was mustered out at
San Francisco and immediately returned to Waterville and gave himself to
the practice of law. In the November election, 1904, Mr. Canton was
chosen prosecuting attorney for Douglas county.
At Yankton, South Dakota, on November 26,
1888, Mr. Canton married Lillian M. Reynolds, a niece of General Philip
Sheridan, and the daughter of William E. and Mary E. Reynolds, natives
of Vermont. She was born in Island Pond, Vermont, and to this marriage
two children have been born, William R., in Nebraska, in October, 1889,
and Florence J., in Waterville, in 1891.
Mr. Canton is a member of the Spanish-American
war veterans and has the distinction of being one of the best drilled men
in military tactics in the state of Washington. He has won numerous
prizes at contests and he is certainly very proficient in this line.
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