An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington, Part 101

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: [Chicago] Interstate publishing company
Number of Pages: 1146

USA > Washington > Kittitas County > An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington > Part 101
USA > Washington > Yakima County > An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington > Part 101
USA > Washington > Klickitat County > An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington > Part 101

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

1 F

--- --

----------- ------ 1 ! i

437

BIOGRAPHICAL.

gives his personal attention to all his farming inter- ests. By his methods, characterized as they are by care and judicious management rather than by haste and inattention to details, Mr. Fenton has built up a farming business creditable and profitable to himself.

ERNEST L. WELD is a comfortably situ- ated rancher and stockman residing six miles south and one and a half miles west of Golden- dale, Washington. He was born in La Salle county, Illinois, October 10, 1863, the son of Timothy and Samantha (Alvord) Weld, both of whom at present reside in Klickitat county. Timothy Weld is a stockman by vocation and a carpenter by avocation. He was born in Maine in 1828 and arrived in Klickitat county in 1881. During the first few years of his stay here he was engaged in the planing mill business, and later he worked as a contractor and builder. At present, however, he is devoting his attention to stock raising. Samantha (Alvord) Weld, who was born in Illinois in 1844, is still living. She is of German descent. Ernest L.'s parents moved from Illinois to Story county, Iowa, when he was five years old, and after residing eleven years at Ames in that county moved to Furnas county, Nebraska, where they settled at Arapahoe. Here the elder Weld followed contracting and build- ing. Buffaloes were not yet extinct from this part of Nebraska, and the first influx of settlers was pouring into the country and breaking away the barriers which Nature is ever wont to place in the way of pioneers. The Weld family came to Klickitat county in 1881, Ernest accompany- ing. For a time he engaged with his brother Charles in the stock business, but after two years thus spent he moved to Sherman county, Ore- gon, where he took up land. Upon this he made his home till 1903; then he returned to Klickitat county and bought the farm which is his home at present.

In 1898 Mr. Weld married Miss Rose Venable, then a resident of Oregon. She was born in Wil- lamette valley, Oregon, August 29, 1873, the daughter of Francis and Jane (Hubbard) Vena- ble. Francis Venable was born in Illinois in 1825. He crossed the Plains to Oregon when twenty-four years of age, and after residing in that state for seven years engaged in farming and stock raising, came to Klickitat county, ar- riving in 1859. At this writing he is living and in good health for one of his age. Jane (Hub- bard) Venable was born in Missouri, June 5, 1836. She is now residing in Sherman county, Oregon. Mr. Weld's brothers and sisters are Frank, Ray, Alice, Hattie, Bertha, and Charles, the last mentioned deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Weld have one child, Wayland, born July 11, 1903. Fraternally, Mr. and Mrs. Weld are associated

with the Knights of Pythias and the Rathbone Sisters, respectively. Mr. Weld is a Republican and makes it a point to attend all caucuses and conventions of his county. He is a vigorous ad- vocate of all measures to the betterment of ed- ucational facilities, and at present is discharging the duties of school director. By individual own- ership and as a partner with his father and broth- er-in-law he is interested in nearly thirteen hun- dred acres of real estate, part of which is valu- able pasture land. . His herd of cattle at present numbers one hundred and forty head, mostly of the Durham breed.

GEORGE W. WADE, a fruit raiser and ship- per of Columbus, Washington, is a native of Illinois, born in Adams county May 27, 1862. He was the son of Lorenza Wade, a farmer, who died when George was very young. The elder Wade belonged to a Kentucky family, and served in the Civil war, there suffering hardships which, it is thought, were partly responsible for his death so soon after. The mother, Mary (Richards) Wade, a native of Missouri, also died when Mr. Wade was a lad. Left an orphan when so young, George W. was brought up by his brother-in-law, John W. Bennet, who soon moved to Kansas, settling in Smith county, where George grew up, receiving a fair educa- tion in the common schools, and afterwards learning the carpenter's trade. Upon reaching his majority he took a pre-emption in Smith county, where he farmed for fifteen years, rais- ing corn and hogs chiefly. He was successful, but in 1889, seeking broader opportunities, sold out and came to Goldendale. Here for several years he followed the carpenter trade, afterward going into the fruit raising business on his pres- ent farm, which he leased for a term of five years. The ranch is one of the best in its locality, and comprises two hundred acres along the Co- lumbia, forty of which are devoted to the raising of grapes, and twenty to berries of divers kinds. The grapes are the most profitable crop, owing partly to the less complicated operations neces- sary to handle them. From his vineyard Mr. Wade ships four thousand crates of grapes per year, principally to Spokane and Portland. That part of his farm which is in alfalfa raises three crops a year, and furnishes an excellent pasture as well. In addition to the fruits named, Mr. Wade markets peaches, pears, prunes and apples, and though he ships his own fruit exclusively he is regarded as the most extensive shipper in the county.

In Smith county, Kansas, in 1888, Mr. Wade married Miss Hattie L. Barnes, a native of Iowa, born in 1867. Miss' Barnes' father was a farmer, also native of Iowa, from which state he moved to Smith county, Kansas, where he now lives.

438

CENTRAL WASHINGTON.

To this marriage two children have been born- Minnie B., now residing in Oregon, and Mary Leo, who is staying at home. Fraternally, Mr. Wade is associated with the Woodmen of the World, and in politics supports the Republican platform. Mrs. Wade is a member of the Ad- ventist church. In every way both are deserving of the highest esteem of those who know them. By energy and thrift and the exercise of all the industrial and social virtues, they have won an honored place in the esteem of their neighbors.

MARION F. WREN is a farmer and fruit raiser residing at Columbus, Washington. He was born in Neillsville, Clark county, Wisconsin, Octo- ber 10, 1868. He is the son of Sereno Wren, a farmer and sawmill owner, born in Ohio in 1842,, and now residing on the old homestead in Wiscon- sin. The elder Wren settled with his parents near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, when a boy, and lived with them till nineteen years of age, when he left home and went to Wisconsin. His father, grandfather of our subject, enlisted in the army during the Civil war and was never heard of again. Sereno, after going to Wisconsin, worked in the pineries for years, eventually accumulating sufficient means to purchase a large farm on which, in addition to agricultural pursuits, he engaged in the sawmill business. It is on this place that he is now living. The mother of our subject was Alleda F. Wren, a native of Kankakee, Illinois, and a daughter of Earl .W. Hatch, a Civil war veteran. Her death occurred at Columbus in 1891.

Marion F. grew up in Wisconsin, assisting his father on the farm and in the mill. He acquired his education in the public schools and learned en- gineering in the sawmill. After he had become pro- ficient as an engineer he and his father bought a traction thresher, the first of the kind in Clark county, which they ran for several seasons. Since coming to Washington Mr. Wren has continued the threshing business with more than creditable suc- cess. He visited Washington in 1890, and two years later came to remain. After farming, work- ing in a sawmill, and owning a third interest in the Grants ferry for several years he purchased his present farm of one hundred and fifty-two acres adjoining Columbus, in 1900, which property was known as the old Wm. Hicenbothm place. Since acquiring this place Mr. Wren has made extensive improvements in the way of building and increas- ing the facilities for irrigation till it has come to be without doubt one of the most valuable proper- ties in the region.

On May 23, 1894, in Columbus, Mr. Wren mar- ried Miss Lavina C. Hope, a native of Nebraska, born near Lincoln, January 20, 1875. Her father, Samuel B. Hope, was a carpenter, architect and cabinet-maker, having learned his trade in London, near which city he was born. Upon leaving Eng-

land he came to Canada, then resided for a time in Nebraska, coming thence to Klickitat county, where he landed in 1877. He now lives at John Day, Oregon. Mr. Wren's mother, Charity C. (Fuilay- son ) Hope, who has been dead for many years, was of Scotch descent. His brothers and sisters are: Lamont S., in Arizona; Frank W., in Wisconsin ; Lemuel C., in Vancouver, Washington ; Thomas E., in Wisconsin; Mrs. Nettie E. Hale, in Washington, and Earl, in Montana. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Wren are: Harry, Stella, Raleigh and Ches- ter. Fraternally, Mr. Wren is associated with the Woodmen of the World, and Mrs. Wren with the Women of Woodcraft. He is a stanch Republican, and usually attends the conventions. His best effort is given to the betterment of his home, and to the improvement and management of his farm, but not- withstanding the engrossing nature of these matters, he is public spirited, and is invariably found to be an active participant in all things that concern the good of his community.

JOHN A. M'ADAMS, a farmer residing in Goldendale, was born near Highpoint, Guilford county, North Carolina, May 22, 1863. His father, Robert McAdams, also a North Carolinian, was a farmer by occupation, born in 1829. At present he is living in Ray county, Missouri. The mother, Nancy (Fonvill) McAdams, was a native of North Carolina, born in 1834. Her death occurred in 1896.

When John A. was five years old he went with his parents to Ray county, Missouri, where his father engaged in farming and dealing in land. Here he remained with his parents until sixteen, then left home to earn his own living. He went to Kansas where, in Jefferson county, he worked on farms for a period of six years, at the end of which time he returned to Missouri, where for two years he remained, buying and selling horses in Kansas City. He then moved to Arkansas City, Kansas, thence, in 1888, to Klickitat county, where for ten years he farmed in the region between Goldendale and Centerville. Good management and persever- once finally enabled him to buy the ranch which he had rented, and this farm is his present home. The Phillips & Aldrich ranch, of which he was man- ager, comprises nine hundred acres, and is situated twelve miles south of Goldendale on the breaks of the Columbia river.

In 1886, in Ottawa, Kansas, Mr. McAdams married Miss Eva L. Killgore, a native of that state, born in 1869. She was the daughter of Wiley Killgore, a horse raiser and farmer, born in Iowa in 1854, and now residing in Colorado. Her mother, Caroline ( Phillips) Killgore, was a native of Missouri, born in 1852. Her death occurred in 1896. The brother and sisters of Mr. McAdams who are still living are: Calvin N., Mrs. Kate Whitsett, Mrs. Emma Bales and Mrs. Mary A.

439

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Post. Another brother, William, is now deceased. The children that have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McAdams are Orville E., Verl C. and Guy S. Fraternally, Mr. McAdams is a member of the Woodmen of the World, and in politics he is a Republican. His farm, comprising four hundred and eighty acres, is all under fence and in a high state of cultivation. It is well adapted to the rais- ing of wheat and barley, as well as fruits, and un- der the well-directed efforts of its owner, is increas- ing in value every year.

MARTIN L. M'CANN is a favorably known fruit raiser, residing nine miles south of Golden- dale. He is a native of Ohio, born near Zanesville, Muskingum county, May 19, 1850. His father, Samuel McCann, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, March 10, 1807, and died July 31, 1890. Samuel H. McCann in company with his father, James McCann, grandfather of our sub- ject, came to Muskingum county, Ohio, in 1812, taking up government land, which is still in posses- sion of the family. Grandfather McCann, while in Ireland, took part in the Irish rebellion under the noted Robert Emmet, and came to the United States with a price on his head. The McCann family traces its lineage back through Scotch ances- tors for several centuries. The mother of our sub- ject was Caroline (Irvine) McCann, a native of New Jersey, born in 1814; she died in 1874. Her father was of Scotch parentage; her mother of old Puritan stock. Martin L. McCann grew to man- hood in Ohio, obtaining a common school educa- tion. He was in Kansas during the palmy days of 1873-75, when cowboys were the most numerous inhabitants, excepting Indians, and when the grassy plains were teeming with buffaloes. He rode the range and was otherwise engaged in the stock busi- ness until 1885, then coming west to Klickitat county, arriving April 12th of that year. He at once filed upon his present place and since that date has farmed and raised fruit with satisfactory results.

In Kansas, December 21, 1878, Mr. McCann married Miss Carrie Adams, a native of Mus- kingum county, Ohio, born July 25, 1848. Her father, Littleton Adams, a native of Virginia, was a farmer during his lifetime; he died several years ago. The Adams family has a lineal connection with the Adams family which took such an active part in freeing the American colonies from English rule. Nancy (Van Voorhis) 'Adams, the mother of Mrs. McCann, was of Holland Dutch stock, her father being among the earliest settlers of Ohio. Mr. McCann has six brothers: Harvey, a judge of Henry county, Missouri; Allen, residing in Gar- field county, Washington; Maxwell, of Texas; Warren, Orville and Emmet, all living on the old homestead in Ohio. Three children, Nellie, Nanna and Harvey, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mc-

Cann. Fraternally, he is associated with the Masons and the Grange, being treasurer of the latter's local lodge. Politically, Mr. McCann is an active Demo- crat, who takes enough interest in the welfare of his party to attend all county conventions. His farm, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of excellent land, shows the results of well directed tilling, yielding abundantly every year.

ABRAHAM P. HUNTER is a genial farmer, residing two and one-quarter miles east and one north of Centerville, Washington. He is a native of Missouri, born in Jefferson county, July 18, 1837, the son of John D. Hunter. The elder Hunter was born in Tennessee, May 24, 1814. Thence he moved to Missouri in the early thirties, and lived there till the time of his death, in 1890. The mother was Jane (Hayter) Hunter, also a native of Tennessee, born May 24, 1815. Her death occurred in Mis- souri. Abraham P. lived on the home farm with his parents till he reached his majority, at which time he began farming independently. In 1884 he moved to Smith county, Kansas, and there farmed till 1890, when he came to Klickitat county. During the first year of his stay here he rented, but by 1892, by good management, he was enabled to purchase his present farm. In 1895, he filed on eighty acres adjoining, so that he has at the present time two hundred and forty acres of land, which he is devot- ing to farming and stock raising with creditable success.

In Ray county, Missouri, on May 8, 1865, Mr. Hunter married Mrs. Jane (Brody) Phillips, a widow. Mrs. Phillips was a native of Richland county, Ohio, born December 7, 1838. Her parents were Jesse Brody and Elner (Slater) Brody, both natives of Richland county, Ohio, the former born September 15, 1802, and the latter in 1806. Mr. Brody was of Scotch-Irish descent. His death occurred July 4, 1882, when he was seventy-two years old. Mrs. Brody was Scotch-Irish and Welsh, and died at the age of ninety-two, in Caldwell county, Missouri. The first husband of Mrs. Hunter lived but eighteen days after the marriage. She married Mr. Hunter when twenty-eight years of age. Their children are : James O., born December 25, 1886, in Missouri, and now living at Toppenish, Washing- ton; Mrs. Cora Campbell, born in Jasper county, Missouri, August 10, 1877; and Mrs. Flora Mer- riam, who is a twin sister to the latter. Mrs. Mer- riam is now a widow, and with her one child is living at home with her parents. Mr. Hunter is associated with the Masons and the Grangers, fra- ternally, and in religious principles, supports the doctrines and faith of the Methodist church. He has now reached a period of life when men are enti- tled to retire from the more active toil required by the hurrying, bustling world, but notwithstanding still maintains a keen and intelligent interest in the affairs of life, both personal and relative to the

440

CENTRAL WASHINGTON.

commonwealth. He served honorably during the Civil war, and now, with the diminishing thousands of veterans that yet survive this awfulest of wars, from the glorious eminence of twentieth century progress views the brightening future of the nation which he once risked his life to save from the blot of slavery and disunion.

CONRAD B. YEACKEL, an energetic Klick- itat county farmer and stockman, and one of the leading Germans in his locality, resides three miles south of Centerville, on his well-improved ranch of five hundred and sixty acres. He was born in Petersburg, Canada, July 3, 1850, the son of Conrad and Maggie (Fox) Yeackel. His father, a native German, was likewise a farmer. He

served as a soldier in the German army, but in early life left his home for Canada, where he resided two years; then crossing to Wisconsin and settling in Manitowoc county. After having passed several years in that state, he removed west- ward to Swift county, Minnesota, thence in 1886 to Klickitat county, Washington. He died some twelve years later, at the age of seventy-four. The mother of our subject was born in Byrne, Ger- many, in 1813, and came to this country when a girl. She died in 1898, at the age of eighty-five. Mr. Yeackel, of whom we write, grew to manhood in Wisconsin, working on the farm when not in school. When he reached maturity, he went to Osh- kosh, in the same state, and there drove team for several years. In 1871 he moved to Minnesota, set- tled in Swift county, took a pre-emption claim, and engaged in farming. During 1877 he came west to California, thence to Portland, Oregon, and thence to Klickitat county, in the fall of the sante year. At the time he crossed the Columbia river at The Dalles, he had his family of three children, his wife and mother with him, and the sum of $9.75 repre- sented his entire capital. He took up a homestead, now his present home, and with his family went into the timber to live for the first winter. The succeed- ing spring he sold the rails and fence posts he had cut in the timber during the winter, and found that he had a surplus capital of $50 after paying all ex- penses, and leaving considerable lumber to be used on his farm. With this money he obtained his start in the cattle business. He also broke wild cat- tle and logged some. At the expiration of two years he had saved enough money to permit him to break ground on his ranch, and he has contin- ually devoted his time since then to improving the property. From a start of one lonely lamb he raised a band of two thousand sheep, which he afterward sold. He also ran range cattle, and now has consid- erable stock on the place. He started to operate a threshing machine four years after he came to the locality, and still continued this work, sometimes operating two machines at the same time. Though he came to the country during the Indian scare,

when settlers were all fleeing to The Dalles for pro- tection, he continued to work in the timber all this time, getting out logs; paying no attention to the trouble whatsoever.

Mr. Yeackel was united in marriage in Swift county, Minnesota, March 30, 1872, to Amelia Heitz, a native of Rome, New York, born June 4, 1854, to German parents. They were the first couple to be married in the county. Mrs. Yeackel has one brother, Charles, now living with her, while a brother, Joseph, and sisters, Henrietta, Lizzie and Terese, live at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Lizzie is now Mrs. Work and Terese is married to a Mr. Lidg- burgn. Mr. Yeackel has one brother, Theodore, who lives quite near Centerville. Mr. and Mrs. Yeackel have eight children: Henry, married and living near-by; Mrs. Emma Crocker, living a half- mile south of Centerville ; Charles, also married and living in the neighborhood ; Lizzie, Fred, Nellie, Jo- seph and Mabel, at home. Fraternally, Mr. Yeackel is a member of the Woodmen of the World, the A. O. U. W. and the Grange. He belongs to the Presbyterian church, and in politics votes for the man who, he considers, will best serve the county, without regard to his political affiliations. He has been road supervisor for eight years. His place is all fenced and rendered convenient and homelike by the erection of a good, modern house and good out- buildings, the planting of an orchard of well select- ed trees, etc. He is a competent business man, full of energy, agreeable and pleasant in manner and of good standing in his community.

DANIEL JORDAN is a well-established and highly respected farmer and stockman living two miles north and one mile east of Columbus, Wash- ington. He was born in Cabington, England, De- cember 12, 1840. His parents were John and Sarah (Hoggins) Jordan, both of whom were natives of England, in which country they passed their entire lives. The elder Jordan was a farmer. Daniel grew to manhood in England, receiving a fair education in the common schools. At the age of thirteen he left home, and from that time till he reached his majority, he worked for different farmers, in this way earning his own living. When twenty-one years old he went to Australia, and there followed mining for five years. Thence he went to New Zealand, where he worked in the mines for another half decade. In 1870 he came to the United States, landing at San Francisco, California. He worked in the harvest field the summer ensuing, and in the fall went to Oregon, where, during the winter, he followed railroad work. The next summer, that of 1871, he went to the Cascade mountains, and in the fall arrived in Klickitat county. Here he accepted employment on a stock-ranch. In 1873, he pur- chased his present farm, where he has since worked independently. February II, 1877, Mr. Jordan married Mrs. Sarah E. (Storey) Busey, the cere-

--- -----

-- --

441

BIOGRAPHICAL.

mony being performed in Blockhouse, Klickitat county, Washington. Mrs. Busey was a widow, her deceased husband being John D. Busey, to whom she was married when nineteen years of age. Of this marriage there were two children, William W., and Henry C. Mr. Busey died in 1872, and five years later Mrs. Busey married Mr. Jordan, of whom we write. Mrs. Jordan is a native of Han- cock county, Illinois. Her father was David Storey, a native of North Carolina, and her mother was Pheba (Pugh) Storey, a native of Indiana. When , a youth of fifteen Mr. Storey left his native state and went to Indiana, where he met and later mar- ried Miss Pugh. Afterwards he went to Illinois. Mr. Storey is one of the pioneer spirits of the West. He served in the Mexican war, and later crossed the Plains to Oregon, settling near Hillsboro. He is now residing with his children near Goldendale. His parents were of Irish extraction, and those of his wife, the mother of Mrs. Jordan, of German. Mr. and Mrs. Jordan have but one child of their own, Nettie E., born in Klickitat county, November 20, 1877. Paul L. Jordan is an adopted son. He was born September 25, 1894. Mr. Jordan is a Methodist, and is now serving with credit as a trus- tee of his home church, of which Mrs. Jordan is also a member, and in which she is one of the most active workers.

By integrity, well directed industry and econ- omy, Mr. and Mrs. Jordan have established them- selves securely in the possession of a fine five hun- dred acre farm, and have it well supplied with all accessories that go to make an ideal farm home. They are pioneers of Klickitat county, to whom credit is due for the part they have taken in the de- velopment of the county into a prosperous agricul- tural community, and also for the excellent bearing they have ever maintained relative to neighborhood affairs.

HERBERT P. TRASK is a well-to-do farmer and sheep man, residing two and one-half miles northeast of Columbus, Washington. He was born in New Hampshire, February 14, 1854. His parents were David and Polly (Presby) Trask, both of English extraction. The elder Trask was a native of Maine, whence he moved, in 1858, to Wisconsin. His death occurred in that state in 1866. The mother was born in New Hampshire, August 8, 1820, and died in Wisconsin, April 19, 1862.

Herbert P. was obliged to shoulder the re- sponsibilities of life at a very early age. His mother died when he was seven years old, and three years later his father passed away. Thus left an orphan, he was obliged to support himself, and did so by working on farms, and at whatever else he was able to do. In spite, however, of the many reverses to which he was subjected during boy- hood, he managed to obtain a practical education

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington, Part 101

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1904 Publisher: [Chicago] Interstate publishing company Number of Pages: 1146

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: [Chicago] Interstate publishing company
Number of Pages: 1146