William de Herthburn Washington

Submitted by Elizabeth Burns, Aug 2002

Arizona, The Youngest State, 1913, pg 367

William de Herthburn Washington is secretary and treasurer of the Douglas Hardware Company in Douglas Arizona. He was born in Jefferson County West Virginia in 1864, a son of Richard Blackburn Scott and Christine Maria (Washington) Washington, both of whom have passed away, the mother dying in 1896 and the father in 1911. The father was a direct descendant of John Augustus Washington, a brother of George Washington, while the mother was descended from another brother, Samuel Washington. In their family were seven children: John A., who resides in Jefferson County West Virginia; Elizabeth, deceased wife of George H. Flagg, who has also passed away; Samuel Walter of Charlestown, WV; Richard Scott Blackburn of Woodbury, New Jersey, Christine M. who lives upon the old homestead in West Virginia; George S. of Philadelphia Pennsylvania; and William de Herthburn of this review.

The last named was reared in the country home called Harewood which was built by General George Washington for his brother. The property was inherited by the father of the subject of this review and is now owned by John A. Washington. In the acquirement of an education William de Herthburn Washington attended a district school in Jefferson County and began a business career at the age of fourteen. He clerked in a railroad office for some time and then became a civil engineer, working at this profession for three years. In 1882 he left West Virginia and went to Texas, where he engaged in stock raising, going at the end of two years to New Mexico. There and in old Mexico he following mining until 1893, in which year he took up his residence in Arizona. For several years he was a well known merchant in Willcox but later removed to Johnson and then to Pearce where he served as the first postmaster of the town for two years. His residence in Douglas Arizona dates from 1903 in which year he established himself in the furniture and undertaking business. In 1909 he organized the Douglas Hardware Company with Mr. Washington being secretary-treasurer and W.H. Fisher president.

In February 1901 Mr. Washington was united in marriage to Miss Alice L. Lemons, a native of Texas and a daughter of P.L. and Leola Lemons. She is one of a family of six children: Mary, widow of Roy Powell of Pearce Arizona; Alice now Mrs. Washington; John, in residence in Johnson, Arizona and James, Charles and Pasquel all of whom reside in Pearce. Mr. and Mrs. Washington have one son, Richard Scott Blackburn, born October 25, 1901.

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