Dorsey S. Baker was born in 1823 in Wabash County, Illinois. A Graduate of Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, he began a career as a medical doctor in 1845. However, practicing medicine didn't seem to spark his interest as much as did entrepreneurism.

In 1848 he traveled west, crossing the plains to Oregon before following the lure of gold in California one year later. He returned to the Northwest in 1850 to begin a varied career in Portland, the Umpqua Valley and in Eastern Washington. He became the motivating force behind a wide range of commercial enterprises including milling, raising livestock, grain farming, freighting, steam boating on the Columbia and Snake Rivers and several ventures in merchandising.

Dr. Baker came to Walla Walla in October 1859 to open a mercantile. Baker placed William Stephens in charge, but took over himself one year later. John F. Boyer, Baker's brother-in-law, partnered with him in 1862 and together they established the firm D.S. Baker & Company.

Although the firm was considered a mercantile business, ledgers show receipts and withdrawals, loans and the purchase and sale of bullion and gold dust. The ledgers indicate that the firm was even then performing many of the functions of a bank.

With the decline of mining and the increase in farming, Dr. Baker's sharp business sense led him in a new direction. Perhaps best known of Baker's business achievements was the construction of a railway that connected Walla Walla with steamboat transportation at the river port of Wallula. In 1872, using his personal funds, Dr. Baker set out to construct the railroad. In 1875, The Walla Walla & Columbia River Railroad was complete. This connection was profitable for Dr. Baker (even at half the previous cost of freight) as well as vital to the expansion of grain growing, the number one industry in Eastern Washington today.

After only a few years of operation, Baker anticipated the completion of the transcontinental railroad. In 1879, he sold a majority interest to the Oregon Steam Navigation Company. The remainder was sold to Henry Villard. It eventually became a branch line of the Union Pacific Railroad.

For more than 40 years Baker's usual form of organization, with the exception of the railroad, was partnerships. In most of these arrangements, profits were divided on a 50/50 basis, although Baker ordinarily furnished the greater portion of partnership capital. This allowed Baker the time and freedom to study, analyze and innovate to meet a wide variety of frontier opportunities.

Dr. Baker's commitment to this community was expressed not only through mutually beneficially business ventures, but also with his generous contribution of time, money and land. One of his more visible contributions was the donation of land for the original site for Whitman Seminary—his gift becoming the nucleus of the present Whitman College property.

Born in Kentucky in 1824, John F. Boyer moved with his parents to Ohio. Twelve years later they traveled to Indiana. In school he was industrious and studious. At age 20, Mr. Boyer went to Arkansas where he worked as a clerk in a general store. He was a pleasant and social person and soon made many friends. His business career, like his personal character, was unsullied and unquestioned through his long and prosperous life.

In 1849, he joined the gold hunters in California. He had enough success with mining to become a merchant in Sonora, California. In 1852, he left his business in charge of a partner and returned to Arkansas. During his absence, fire destroyed most of his property and he elected to stay in Arkansas indefinitely.

He married Sarah Baker in 1853 , sister of Dr. Dorsey S. Baker. In 1859, by way of the Isthmus of Panama, he returned to Sonora and went on to Walla Walla to become Dr. Baker's partner in a merchandising business.

When leaving for distant mines in the winter, miners entrusted their gold to Mr. Boyer for safekeeping. They would bring large amounts of gold dust to the store in buckskin pouches with the owner’s name attached—either on a card tied to the sack or written on the sack itself.

In many instances John Boyer was the only living witness that anything at all had been entrusted to his care. Although this system continued for many years—with miners sometimes leaving $30 to $40,000 dollars at the store—there were never any losses, disputes or misunderstandings over these pioneer transactions.

Eventually, the merchandising interests were sold and the partners focused on establishing the first bank in the territory. Mr. Boyer made banking his principal business, while Dr. Baker focused on building the Walla Walla and Columbia River Railroad or other large enterprises. When the bank received its National Charter in 1889 Mr. Boyer was elected its first president, a position which he retained until his death in 1897.

Aside from his business activities, Boyer was treasurer of Walla Walla County for six terms of two years each. He was Receiver of the US Land Office in 1872. He was also a devoted friend and supporter of the ambitions of Cushing Eells and the founders of Whitman College. He made generous contributions and gave much of his time. For 30 years he was a trustee of the Seminary and College, and also served as treasurer. A few months before his death, he was elected president of the board of trustees.

He was also a strong supporter of St. Paul's School, having been for many years a vestryman and warden of the Episcopal church. He was a lovable and sociable man, always warmhearted and charitable. Among the pioneers of Walla Walla County, John Boyer set a shining example.