William Delbert Barkhuff was born at Fayette, Iowa, June 10, 1873, and came west with his parents in 1875. They located at what was then Leitchville (since abandoned) seven miles west of Colton, Washington. Barkhuff enrolled at the State College of Washington (now Washington State University) on the opening day in 1892 and was the first editor of the college newspaper. Barkhuff withdrew from school for one year to earn money. He subsequently graduated with the Class of 1898.
Later Barkhuff worked as the City Engineer for Everett; construction engineer with the Union Pacific and the Spokane International; district engineer in Seattle; Superintendent of Streets and Sewers for Seattle; and finally (about 1921) City Engineer for Seattle under three different mayors. In 1930 he was killed in an automobile accident while on his way to Camano Island.
From the description of Photographs of Whitman County, Washington, 1892-1921. (Washington State University). WorldCat record id: 42266503
