Extracted from ``Washington: West of the Cascades," Vol. III,
by Herbert Hunt and Floyd C. Kaylor (The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1917).

JAMES BLAINE ESHOM

James Blaine Eshom, president of the Olympia Garage Company, was born near Gate, in Thurston county, Washington, May 1, 1886, a son of James Granville Eshom, who is a native of Louisville, Kentucky, born October 22, 1849. He left that city in 1864 and came to Washington, making his way to Fort Prairie. The trip across the country was made with horse and mule train and while en route he camped at Omaha, Nebraska. The party experienced no trouble with the Indians but on various occasions their horses stampeded and there were many hardships to be endured on the trip. Mr. Eshom engaged in farming on his arrival here. He married Laura Rhodes, a native of this state, who died in 1888. In order to provide for his family he continued to follow the occupation of farming for many years and in 1906 he retired from active life, having become the possessor of a substantial competence through his former business activity. He is now living in Centralia, Washington.

James B. Eshom attended the public schools of Thurston county until he had completed the work of the seventh grade at the age of thirteen years. Later he was a pupil in the Fords Prairie school in Chehalis county and completed the eighth grade work. He then started out to earn his own living and was employed in a logging camp as signal man. For five years he was identified with the logging industry and advanced to the position of foreman. In 1906 he was married, after which he turned his attention to the automobile business, learning the trade in Olympia, in which connection he was advanced from one position to another until 1910. He then accepted a position with Ex-Governor Hay, for whom he acted as chauffeur for three years and three months, and on the expiration of that period he bought out the Allen Morris Automobile Company, which he reorganized, renaming the business the Olympia Garage Company, of which he became the president. He has since conducted the business in this connection and his success is the merited reward of persistent and earnest effort.

On the 30th of November, 1906, Mr. Eshom was married in Olympia to Miss Mildred C. Duby, a native of Nebraska, and they have two sons: James Wilbur, eight years of age, now attending school; and Raymond Blaine, six years. Fraternally Mr. Eshom is connected with the Elks and is also identified with the Chamber of Commerce. His father was a supporter of the democratic party, but he has become an advocate of republican principles and in January, 1913, he was elected a member of the city council, so serving until 1915. While interested in matters of citizenship and supporting various plans for the general good, he does not desire office but prefers to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, which are wisely and carefully directed and are becoming of greater and greater magnitude and importance.