Mr. Whiteman endorses the principles of the republican party and gives his loyal support to its candidates at the polls. For four years he was a member of the city council of Walla Walla and his record in that office is one of unusually capable work in behalf of the welfare of the municipality. For twenty-two years he has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and he also belongs to the Woodmen of the World and the women's branch of that organization, known as the Women of Woodcraft. Both he and his wife are active members of the Christian church, of which he is an elder, and he is also president of the board of directors of the Northwest Christian Home of Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington at Walla Walla. It is under the supervision of the Benevolent Association of the Christian church, which organization is designed to erect homes and hospitals for the young, old and needy of that church, and Mr. Whiteman gives much of his time to looking after the affairs of that institution. The prominence which he has gained establishes beyond question his ability, for his advancement has at all times come as the direct result of his own efforts and he is indeed a self-made man.
The average farmer is apt to think of Washington as a great forest country, and while there are wonderful tracts of timber land, making this one of the leading centers of the lumber industry on the continent, there are also great stretches which are most splendidly adapted to farming and particularly to wheat raising, so that Washington has come to be known as one of the great wheat producing states of the Union. Among those who in following farming have devoted their attention to wheat culture in Walla Walla county is P. B. Dowling, who in 1887 arrived in this section of the state and who is now the owner of one hundred and forty acres of land, constituting one of the best farms in the Walla Walla valley. He was born in Springfield, Illinois, March 14, 1860, and is a son of William and Margaret Dowling, who were natives of Ireland. They came to America in early life and established their home in Illinois, but afterward both returned to Ireland and their last days were spent in that country.