An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington, Part 113

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 113
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 113
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 113

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CHARLES M. BECK, a merchant and farmer at Cleveland, was born in Shelby county, Illinois. August 31, 1852. His father, Paul Beck, was also born in the same state, but in Fayette county, in the year 1825, and also is a farmer. In 1856 he re- moved to Kansas, locating in Linn county, where he resided continuously for twenty-seven years. In the spring of 1883. he came to Klickitat county, and established himself about four miles south of Cleve- land, where he still resides. He is of Scotch extrac-

tion. His wife, Rosannah P. (Walters) Beck, is of Scotch-Irish descent, but a native of Kentucky, born in 1828. She was married in Illinois, to which state she moved with her parents while young. She came to Washington with her husband and still lives at their home near Cleveland. The subject of this review remained at home with his parents until twenty-four, working on the farm and receiving his educational discipline in the schools of Kansas. For seven years after leaving the parental roof, he was successfully engaged in farming and stock raising, but, in the spring of 1883, he put into practice a determination to try the West, so came to Klickitat county and took up a piece of railroad land. This property afterward went back to the government. He filed on it as a homestead, and for seven years he resided upon it continuously. In 1900, however, he bought another piece of railroad land and moved onto it, and two years later he came to Cleveland, where, in 1903, he engaged in the general merchan- dise business, having formed a partnership with his son, Chester, for that purpose. His realty holdings consist of three hundred and ten acres, one hun- dred and sixty of which are in cultivation.

Mr. Beck was married in Kansas, December 7, 1876, the lady being Etta Johnson, daughter of Seneca Johnson, a native of the Green Mountain state, and a farmer by occupation. He was an early settler in Kansas, and died in that state nine years ago. Eleanor (McCrae) Beck, his wife, is a native of Canada, but was married in the state of Illinois, and now lives in Kansas. Mrs. Beck was born in Illinois, on the 3Ist of January, 1858, and was ed- ucated in the state schools of Kansas, where she taught successfully one term of school. Her career as a teacher was cut short, however, for at the age of nineteen she married. She and Mr. Beck have five children: Chester, born in Kansas, in 1877, now engaged in the mercantile business with his father at Cleveland; Mrs. Lulu Van Nostern, whose husband is the owner of the Bickleton-Arlington stage line, who was also born in Kansas; Mrs. Myrtle Bailey, at present living near Cleveland, her birthplace; Oscar and Bernetta, at home with their parents. Mr. Beck belongs to the Baptist church and in politics, is an active Republican. He has been constable in Cleveland for two or three terms. He is highly esteemed as an industrious, agreeable man and a public-spirited citizen.

FRANK SINCLAIR, a young ranchman at Cleveland, was born in Linn county, Kansas, June 28, 1876. His father, John Sinclair, a native of Treland, came to this country in the early days, and settled in Kansas with his family. He enlisted for service in the Civil war, and participated in numer- ous engagements, serving through the entire strife. He came to Klickitat county, Washington, in the spring of 1882, and still makes his home there. His wife, Maria, was a native of Missouri. She grew

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to womanhood and was married in that state, but accompanied her husband to the West and died in Klickitat county in 1896. Frank Sinclair was educated in the public schools of Cleveland, to which town lie had come with his parents when less than seven years old. On reaching the age of sixteen, he commenced to earn his living, his first employment being as a sheep herder, and for four years he was in the employ of different wool growers. In 1896, after his mother's death, he engaged in the sheep business with his brother Samuel, forming a part- nership which lasted five years. Samuel then bought Frank's interest in the business, and the latter gave himself to farming. In 1901 he took up his present homestead, and since then he has wrought assiduously in its development and cultiva- tion. His brother Samuel is at present living at Dot, Washington, and his married sister, Mrs. Jen- nie Bellington, is the present postmistress there. Mrs. Annie Highfield, another sister, now resides at Lone Spring, Washington.

At Goldendale, Washington, in 1901, Mr. Sin- clair married Nora Zumault, whose father, John Zumault, was a resident of Kansas for a number of years, but afterward removed to the Sound, whence he came to Klickitat county in 1899. Here he still lives, as does her mother, Jane (Hinkle) Zumault. Mrs. Sinclair was born in the state of Kansas in 1883, but received her education in the schools of Mt. Vernon, Skagit county, Washington. She and Mr. Sinclair have one child, John F., born at Cleve- land, June 12, 1902. Mr. Sinclair is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and also belongs to the Knights of the Loyal Guard. In politics, he is an active Republican. An enterprising young man, with ability to perceive his opportunity and the courage to seize it, he can hardly fail to win fortune and standing in the rich country where his lot has been cast.

ZACHARY T. DODSON, M. D., a physician and druggist at Cleveland, Washington, was born in McMinn county, Tennessee, May 9, 1849. His father, McMinn Dodson, though of Scotch and English extraction, was also born in McMinn coun- ty, Tennessee. By occupation, he was a farmer and stockman. He crossed the Plains by ox teams in 1853, settled in Polk county, Oregon, took up a donation claim there, and resided upon it until his death in 1892. The mother of our subject, Sarah D. (Cunningham ) Dodson, was a native of Missouri, of Irish extraction, born in 1831. She married in Ten- nessee, at the age of nineteen, crossed the Plains with her husband, and is now living in Polk county, Oregon. Dr. Dodson received his preliminary ed- ucation at the Willamette University, at Salem, Oregon; also took his medical course in the same institution, from which he graduated at twenty- seven. When nineteen years old, he taught his first

term of school, and five years of his life were de- voted to the pursuit of that profession. After com- pleting his medical course, he began practice at Eugene, Oregon, in partnership with J. C. Shields. He was thus engaged for a year, but in 1878 he removed to eastern Oregon, and opened an office at Rock Creek, whence, after practicing a short time, he removed to Whitman county, Washington, and established himself at Pine City. He remained there four years, during which time he was married. His next move was to Weston, Oregon, but his stay there was short, as it was also at Rock Creek, his next place of abode. He afterward spent seven months in Dallas, Polk county, Oregon, and eight at Myrtle Point, Case county, then went to San Fran- cisco. At a somewhat later date, he opened a drug store in Anderson, Shasta county, California, in company with Dr. S. Gibson, and remained in this business until June, 1885, then selling out and mov- ing to Scotts Valley, Oregon, where he opened an office and remained for five months. Returning then to Rock Creek, he practiced there for the ensuing five years. His next field of labor was the Indian reservation in Klamath county, Oregon, where for eighteen months he held a position as physician. He resumed the general practice in Rock Creek, his former place of abode, but soon moved to Lone- rock, in Gilliam county, Oregon, where the ensuing two years of his life were spent. Removing then to Mayville in the same state, he practiced there a year. In 1903 he came to Cleveland, Washington, opened a drug store and engaged in the dual occupa- tion of dealing in drugs and practicing the healing art.

Dr. Dodson was married at Pine City, Oregon, February 28, 1881, to Frances V. Jackson, a native of Johnson county, Missouri. Her father, John Jackson, farmed in the states of Illinois and Kansas for a number of years, and in 1874 became a resident of California. Five years later he located in Whit- man county, Washington, where he still resides, as does also his wife, Sarah (Bowse) Jackson, a native of Missouri. Mrs. Dodson was educated in the California schools. She and Dr. Dodson have five children : Mrs. Mabel Notridge, born in Pine City, February 25, 1882, and residing at Mayville, Or- egon; Sarah, born at Anderson, California, May 9. 1885; McMinn, born in Oregon, September 7, 1889 ; John, born at Klamath Falls, Oregon, October 4, 1893 ; and Gold, born on the 17th of October, 1898; all at home. Fraternally, Dr. Dodson is connected with the Knights of the Maccabees, and in politics, he is an active Republican. He owns considerable property in Cleveland besides his business. A well educated, thorough physician, with long experience- and an honorable record, he enjoys a measure of confidence and respect in his community such as is accorded to none but those who are in earnest in their battle for professional success and their desire to benefit and bless mankind.

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

THOMAS M. TALBERT, a prosperous farmer living on his eight-hundred-acre ranch a mile and a half south of the town of Cleve- land, was born in Pike county, Illinois, Jan- uary 28, 1850. His father, William J. Talbert, born in Washington county, Virginia, July 12, 1818, was a farmer by occupation, and a tanner by trade. Moving to Missouri in 1835, he made his home near Joplin, in a settlement of French people, for two years, going later to Pike county, Illinois, where he was married in 1844. He was of Holland Dutch descent. He joined the Methodist Episcopal church early in life, and, until his death, in 1897, continued to be an influential and active member of it, holding various positions in the church at dif- ferent times. Elizabeth (Hull) Talbert, his wife, was of English parentage, but a native of Randolph county, Illinois, born March 20, 1825. In 1840 she moved with her parents to Pike county, and there she was married four years later, as already stated. There also she died in 1887, after having become the mother of nine children. The subject of this review attended the public schools of Illinois, but completed his education after coming to Klickitat county. He remained at home with his parents until he reached the age of twenty-eight, then, on October 6, 1878, went to Portland, Oregon, but the next spring he came back to the section of country that had been his home so long. For four years he followed team- ing at Goldendale. Then he bought a ranch near town, and was engaged in farming for four years. In 1886 he moved to a place a mile and a half south of Cleveland, took up a homestead, bought another hundred and sixty acres of land, and resumed, in a new location, his former business, namely, agri- culture and stock raising. Success has crowned his efforts. At present he is the owner of eight hun- dred acres, two hundred of which are in cultivation and producing bountifully. He also rents and farms a section of school land.

At Goldendale, Washington, January I, 1883, Mr. Talbert married Nellie M. Ballington, daugh- ter of Charles Ballington, a native of Maine, born November 8. 1842; by occupation a farmer. When nine years of age, her father migrated to Waupaca, Wisconsin, where he married and where his home was until the spring of 1878, when he removed to Oregon. After a stay of six months, he came to Klickitat county. He settled near Goldendale, re- sided there four years, and then moved to a location five miles south of Cleveland, took up a homestead and made his home upon it for seven consecutive years. He then sold his ranch, removed to Cald- well, Idaho, and followed the confectionery business there for a year. At present he is living at Port- land, Oregon, where he practices as a cancer spe- cialist. His wife, whose maiden name was Louisa Roberts, was one of a pair of twins. She died in Klickitat county in 1880. Mrs. Talbert was born near Waupaca, Wisconsin, December 29, 1863, and in the public schools there she took her first steps

in the pursuit of knowledge. Her education was completed, however, in the Goldendale High school. She has a brother, Fred, in Klickitat county, the present postmaster at Dot ; a sister, Jessie, in Seattle, and a brother, Henry, in Oregon. She and Mr. Tal- bert are parents of four children, namely : Geda E., born at Goldendale, June 6, 1884; Walter I., born at the same place, on the 18th of November, 1887; Myrtle, born near .Cleveland, December 13, 1890; and Harry W., born at Cleveland, on Independence day, in the year 1893. Mr. Talbert is a member of the Presbyterian church, in which for sixteen years. he has been ruling elder, and in which he has at different times held numerous other offices. He was commissioner of the general assembly from his church at the meeting at Los Angeles, California, in 1903. In politics, he is an active Republican. He has capably filled the position of deputy sheriff of Klickitat county and for a year he was city marshal of Goldendale. His life in public and private is: considered above reproach. As an officer, as a cit- izen and as a man, and in all the varied relations of life, he has so demeaned himself always as to cement to himself the respect and esteem of those with whom he has been associated.

GEORGE W. LYMER, a prosperous stockman of Cleveland, is a native of the state of Ohio, borm in Wyandotte county, in the year 1843. His father, William Lymer, who was of English birth, followed] farming as an occupation. In the early thirties he came to the United States and settled in Ohio, whence he moved to Missouri, when our subject was a young boy. After six years' residence in that state, he moved to Illinois, where he died in 1893- Our subject's mother, Clarissa, who was also Eng- lish, was married in her native land, but soon after came to the United States, and she died in Ohio. George W. Lymer received his education in the pub- lic schools of the states of Ohio and Illinois. He re- mained at home until twenty-five years of age, work- ing on the parental farm. The three succeeding years were spent in work for various farmers in the- neighborhood, but in the spring of 1872 he deter- mined on a radical change of residence, so came to the territory of Washington, and located in Golden- dale. He there worked for Mr. Alexander for three months, then for J. J. Golden, the founder of the town of Goldendale, for three months more, after which he worked several months for Benjamin Butler as a sheep shearer. He then went into the stock business with his brother-in-law, near Golden- dale, and this partnership lasted for ten years, being" dissolved in 1882. His next venture was made in the neighborhood of Cleveland, where he continued? in the horse business for a number of years. In 1891 he took up a homestead, also bought a half section of railroad land, and fixed the property up for a stock ranch. He lived on it until 1901, then disposed of it and moved to Cleveland, where he is

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still engaged in the buying and selling of horses. He has shipped many carloads of horses to eastern points, principally Chicago, and has made a finan- cial success of the business. In 1892 he purchased the Cleveland grist-mill, which he operated suc- cessfully, in addition to attending to his other busi- ness, for six years, but in the fall of 1898 he sold out. That he possesses good business abilities is evinced by the fact that he has succeeded in a line in which many fail, namely, in the handling and ship- ment of horses. He is still the owner of a hun- dred and sixty acres of fenced land, sixty acres of which are plowed, and there are two substantial barns on the property, besides a dwelling and a small orchard. Mr. Lymer has a married sister, now living in Christian county, Illinois, Mrs. Mary Spates, and a brother, James Lymer, also residing in Illinois. Mr. Lymer is a member of the Pres- byterian church, and in politics he is an active Re- publican. He has served on the school board of his district and in every way discharged the duties devolving upon him as a good citizen. His stand- ing in the community is an enviable one.

EDWARD MORRIS, a Klickitat county farmer and stock raiser, residing a mile north of the town of Cleveland, is a native of New York state, born in Wyoming county, June 14, 1848. His father, Pattock Morris, of Irish extraction, but likewise a native of New York, was a merchant and farmer. In 1854 he removed to Wisconsin and settled at Oak Groves, where he resided for eight years, engaged in farm- ing, then removing to Minnesota. In 1862 he en- listed in Company K, Seventh Minnesota infantry, and served until 1865, when he was taken down with a disease contracted in the service and died. His wife, whose name was Lucy Bedow, was born, brought up and educated in New York, in which state she married. She now resides with our sub- ject on his farm near Cleveland. Her parents were English. Edward Morris, whose life is the theme of this article, received his early education in the common schools of the state of Minnesota, remov- ing to that state with his parents when about seven years old. He remained at home with his mother and father until the time of his father's death, in 1865, then with his mother for four years. Remov- ing to California in the fall of 1869, he there fol- lowed teaming and farming for a period of nine years. It was in the year 1878 that he first came to the Cleveland country, in Klickitat county, but as the Indians were on the warpath at that time, he remained there only a little while. Almost all the settlers in the surrounding country were moving with their families either to The Dalles, Oregon, or to Goldendale, and he helped some of the families to get to these places. Returning to Cleveland soon after the scare subsided, he was employed that sum- mer in putting up hay; the fall and winter of the same year he spent in the timber at work. In 1879

he took up his present homestead, and upon it he has since lived with his mother, engaging in farm- ing and also, since 1880, in raising and handling horses. His farm comprises one hundred and sixty acres, partly in cultivation, and he also owns one hundred acres of timber land. To the culti- vation and improvement of his property and to the horse business he devotes himself with assiduity and zeal, and he has won an enviable success in both lines, at the same time gaining and retaining a place in the esteem and regard of his neighbors. In politics, he is a Republican.

CHARLES L. TALBERT, the owner of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of agri- cultural and forty acres of timber land, a mile and a half west of the town of Cleveland, was born in Pike county, Illinois, October 20, 1859, the son of William J. and Elizabeth (Hull) Talbert. His father, a Virginian, born July 12, 1818, was a farmer by occupation. He moved to Missouri at the age of twelve, and resided in that state for a period of two years, going thence to Pike county, Illinois, of which state he became a pioneer settler, passing there the remainder of his days. He was of Scotch and Irish parentage. His wife was likewise a Virginian, and her people were likewise pioneers of Illinois, having moved to Pike county among the earliest immigrants. She died there in the year 1890. Charles L. received his education in Illinois, graduating from the grammar and high schools with honor. He was at home with his parents until thirty years of age, farming in part- nership with his father. who gave him an interest in the home place. In 1888 he moved to Springfield, Missouri, where he learned the trade of a carpenter, spending three years in house building. He was married during this time. In April, 1892, he re- turned to Illinois and again engaged in farming, but in the fall of 1893 came to Klickitat county, located a mile and a half west of Cleveland, rented a place there for four years, and once more took up the life of an agriculturist. In 1897 he homesteaded the land that is now his home, and the ensuing years have been employed in improving and cultivating it. He is interested, also, to some extent in mining stock. Mr. Talbert is one of a family of nine children, the others being: Thomas, living near him; Mrs. Etta Clark, in Pike county, Illinois : Edward, George and Hattie, deceased in Illinois; Sarah, who died young; Mrs. Martha E. Courtnay, who passed away in Cleveland; and Mrs. Mary I. Dilley, who died in Denver, Colorado.

In Springfield, Missouri, June 5, 1889, Mr. Tal- bert married Ellen Green, a native of Missouri, born in 1858. She was educated in the Illinois schools. Her father, Lemuel Green, was a Missouri farmer, who moved to Illinois in 1861, and died in that state some years later. Mrs. Talbert has a brother, Henry, who lives in the Indian Territory, and a

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married sister, Mrs. Eliza McCune, whose home is in Kansas City, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Talbert have four children, namely : Irene, born in Missouri, March 26, 1890; Anita, born in Illinois, May 30, 1892; Mary L., born in Klickitat county, September 26, 1894; and Ralph V., also born in Washington, August 24, 1896. In religious persuasion, Mr. Tal- bert is a Presbyterian, and in politics, a Republican. He is an energetic farmer, and an upright, honor- able man, highly esteemed by all who know him in- timately.

ISAAC B. COURTNAY, one of the oldest pioneers of Klickitat county, resides on his farm two and a half miles west of Cleveland. He was born in Clark county, Indiana, June 18, 1821, making him now eighty-three years of age. John D. Courtnay, his father, a native of Westmoreland county, Penn- sylvania, was a farmer. He crossed the Plains in 1845 with his wife and son, and was accidentally killed in Oregon by a falling tree. He married in Indiana a native of the Quaker state, Agnes Ritchie by name, who died in Oregon several years after the demise of her husband. The subject of this re- view was educated in the schools of Illinois, to which state his father removed from Indiana. The family settled first in Fulton county, but in 1833 went to Warren county, where Isaac B. grew up. He remained with his parents until their death, taking charge of the rest of the family at the time his father was accidentally killed. During all these years, he followed farming principally. Going to Umatilla county, Oregon, in 1858, with cattle, he remained there for five years, then settled in the Willamette valley. In 1878 he came to Goldendale, and spent six years in that locality, but in 1884 in partnership with Tom Talbert, he bought a place near Cleveland. This they farmed for several years, Mr. Courtnay eventually selling out to his asso- ciate. He filed on his present homestead in 1900, and has since made it his home.

Mr. Courtnay has been married three times. His first wife's maiden name was Elizabeth Wagner and the ceremony which joined her to him was per- formed in Henderson county, Illinois, in 1844. She died in Oregon, January 10, 1846. She was the daughter of Frederick Wagner, a farmer born in Pennsylvania, who passed away in the state of In- diana. The second marriage of our subject took place in the year 1862, and the lady who then became his wife remained by his side for twenty-six years, then died at Goldendale, Washington. Mr. Court- nay was married a third time in 1893, when Martha E. Talbert joined fortunes with him, but she passed away a half decade later, leaving him again alone. He has one child by his first marriage, Samuel M., born in Henderson county, Illinois, January 10, 1845, and now living in Oregon. Mr. Courtnay is a member of and an elder in the Presbyterian church. One of the earliest pioneers of the North-

west, he has participated in the development of more than one section of it, and has witnessed its gradual settlement, subjugation and civilization, contributing always his mite to the general progress. While he may not have retained for himself so much worldly treasure as some, he is rich in the esteem and confidence of his neighbors, and the conscious- ness of having lived a life of honor and stainless integrity.

EDGAR E. MASON, a prosperous ranchman of Klickitat county, resides on his hundred and sixty acre farm, three miles west of the town of Cleve- land. He was born in Wisconsin, near the city of Fond du Lac, in the year 1847. His father, Jacob Mason, a native of the Quaker state, and likewise a farmer by occupation, moved to Wisconsin in 1845, becoming a pioneer of that state. He went to Minnesota in 1855 and died there some years later. He belonged to an old Pennsylvania Dutch family. His wife, whose maiden name was Amanda Harroun, was born in the Green Mountain state, to English parents, removed to Pennsylvania in the early days, and was there married. She died at her son's home in Klick- itat county, in the year 1895. Edgar E. received his education in the common schools of Minnesota. He remained at home until twenty-two years old, but in 1878 journeyed westward to California, in which state he followed the occupation of a gardener for two years, going then to the Willamette valley in Oregon, where he farmed for an additional two years. In 1882 he came to Klickitat county. A few months were spent in Goldendale and Cleveland, in various kinds of work, but that fall he took a piece of land, on which he lived for three years. Going to Seattle in 1885, he worked in that city for a twelvemonth, then returned to Cleveland, and homesteaded his present land, buying the improve- ments which were on the place at that time. He has since continued to reside on the property, en- gaged in farming and stock raising.

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An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington, Part 113

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