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Cage 335
Thomas Benjamin Southard
Papers, 1904-1946
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| Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections Pullman, WA 99164-5610 USA (509) 335-6691 Inquiries |
Cage 335
Thomas Benjamin Southard
Papers, 1904-1946
The papers of T. Ben Southard, attorney-at-law, of Wilson Creek, Washington, were transferred to the Washington State University Library in 1975 along with the records of the Wilson Creek State Bank. The papers were processed during May-July, 1977 by Lawrence Stark and Vanida Trongyounggoon.
BIOGRAPHY
Few facts about T. Ben Southard's life are readily available. He appears to have been in the real estate and loan business at Almira, Washington until about 1904, probably in partnership with his brother William E. Southard. The two moved to Wilson Creek in 1904 where W. E. Southard began a law practice, while Ben Southard operated a loan and collection agency, which he sometimes referred to as a law office. He appears to have begun a regular law practice in 1908 or 1909.
He continued his legal practice until the late 1940s. Most of his work consisted of fairly routine matters of estates, divorces, and suits over delinquent accounts. Often as not he arranged settlements and avoided lengthy legal actions.
Southard's law practice was closely linked to the Wilson Creek State Bank, in whose building he rented office space. The bank also provided him with many of his cases. In 1929 or 1930 he became a vice-president of the bank, and was compelled to take a considerable role in management of the business because of its lack of office personnel and uncertain financial condition. After the bank moved to Ephrata, Washington in 1935, Southard acquired its building in Wilson Creek and its early records. The bank's records and many of his own remained locked in the bank vault until after he sold it in 1963.
Southard was also involved in Republican Party politics on several occasions, including serving as Grant County party chairman from 1938 through 1940. In addition, Southard served as agent for the Milwaukee Mechanics Insurance Company from at least 1911 until 1916.
DESCRIPTION AND ARRANGEMENT
T. Ben Southard's papers consist largely of the records of his law practice--case files and correspondence--from the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. Since Southard's practice consisted of a great many routine cases, the papers tell little concerning novel or special points of law. Instead they heavily reflect the nature of the community in and around Wilson Creek and the disputes, agreements, and concerns of its residents.
The papers are arranged much as Southard kept them in his office, A series of case files arranged alphabetically by plaintiffs' names or by that of a principal party is the main series. A few documents relative to his practice, but not included in any case file, supplement this group. A second series consists of Southard correspondence which he had arranged in alphabetical letterboxes, employing occasional closings. Lastly there is a series of materials - correspondence, enclosures, brochures and posters - relative to Southard's political activities.
CONTAINER LIST