An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington, Part 116

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 116
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 116
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 116

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).

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

served several terms as clerk of the school board. Indeed, he holds that unremunerative position at this time. He is a capable, progressive man in his business, and as a citizen and member of society, he holds an honored place.

JOHN W. WEER, a well-to-do farmer of Klickitat county, lives on his ranch of five hun- dred and sixty acres, situated one mile east of the town of Cleveland. He was born in McDon- ough county, Illinois, in the year 1855, on the day before Christmas. His father, William Weer, a native of North Carolina, born in David- son county, in 1825, is a farmer and blacksmith. He moved to Illinois when a young man, during the pioneer days of that state, and made his home there until 1869, in which year he removed to Kansas. He settled in Linn county, which was his home for a period of almost seventeen years. In March, 1886, he came to Klickitat county, Washington, and established himself five miles southeast of Cleveland, where he still lives. He is of German descent. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary L. Wier, was likewise a native of North Carolina, born in 1829, making her four years younger than her husband. She moved to Illinois with her parents when a small girl, and was later married in that state. The sub- ject of this review was educated in the common schools of Illinois. He remained at home on the farm until his majority was attained, then rented a place, and went to farming and stock raising on his own account. He followed those occupations until 1886, then came west, settling in Klickitat county on Christmas Day of that year. The next twelve months were spent in various parts of the county in various kinds of work, Mr. Weer meanwhile keeping a sharp lookout for a location. Finally, in 1888, he filed a homestead claim to his present place, pay- ing a man for the improvements thereon, six hundred dollars. He has lived on the property since that time and followed farm- ing and stock raising with success, increas- ing his realty holdings as he has been able, until he has now nearly six hundred acres, of which he has placed one hundred and sixty acres under cultivation, devoting the rest to the pasturing of his stock, for he has a number of cattle and nearly seventy hogs. He is continu- ally improving his land.

Mr. Weer was married in Kansas, in 1876, to Mary J. Beck, daughter of Paul and Rosannah (Walters) Beck. Her father, who was born in Illinois, in 1825, is a farmer by occupation. He moved to Linn county, Kansas, in 1856, and for twenty-six years followed farming and stock raising there. Coming to Klickitat county in 1882, he settled five miles south of Cleveland, where he and his wife still live. He is of Ger-

man extraction. His wife was born in the Blue Grass state, in 1829, but removed to Illinois with her parents in the early days. She and Mr. Beck have had six children. Mrs. Weer, who was the second oldest child, was born in Shelby county, Illinois, February 15, 1856. Her parents moved to Kansas when she was one month old and in the common schools of that state she received her education. Her brothers and sisters are: Charles, now living in Cleveland; Mrs. Frances A. Hosfelt, living four miles south of the same town; Mrs. Josephine Johnson, residing three miles south of Cleveland; Mrs. Isabel Ellis, in Chelan county, Washington; and John L., who died at Cleveland during the year 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Weer have two children, namely: Mrs. Dora B. Laslie, born in Linn county, Kansas, August 27, 1879, now residing one mile south of Cleveland, and Bertha L., born in Klickitat county, October 17, 1889. Mr. Weer has one sister, Mrs. Alice Gaines, living five miles south of Cleveland. He is a member of the Presbyte- rian church, and in politics an active Republican. He is one of the members of the present school board and has held that position for several years. As a man and citizen he stands well in his community, while his energy and industry have enabled him to win a splendid success as an agriculturist and to contribute his full share toward the general progress.

ANTON DUUS, a Klickitat county farmer, resides ten miles southwest of the town of Bickleton, Washington. He was born in Den- mark on the 2d of February, 1867, the son of Hans Duus, who was also a Dane. His father followed farming as a means of gaining a liveli- hood until his death, which occurred in his native land in the year 1888. His mother, Mary (Peter- sen) Duus, also a native of Denmark, was three years younger than his father. Married in 1859, she became the mother of two children, Anton and Peter, with the former of whom she is now living.

Our subject received his education in the com- mon schools of his native land, after which he served an apprenticeship of six years at the weav- er's trade. In 1887 he left the land of his nativ- ity and came to this country, settling at St. Paul, Minnesota, where he remained for nearly eleven years. In the fall of 1898, he removed to Wash- ington and took a homestead in Klickitat county, upon which we find him at this time. It consists of one hundred and sixty acres, half of which is in cultivation. Mr. Duns is a member of the Lutheran church and in politics is an active Democrat. As a man and citizen, his standing is good and his neighbors speak of him as a rep- resentative of that class of Europeans who are always welcomed to our shores. Mr. Duus was

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married at The Dalles, Oregon, 'September 12, 19OI, the lady being Julia Hoch, whose father, Frederick Hoch, is a native of Denmark, born in 1833. He has followed the life of a soldier since young manhood, never leaving his native land. Mrs. Duus's mother, Johanna (Terkensen) Hoch, was also born in Denmark and still resides there. In that country, also, Mrs. Duus was born on the 13th of August, 1869, and there she received her education. She came to the United States in 1900, in which year she was married.

STEPHEN A. JORY is a blacksmith and wagon-maker of Cleveland, Washington. He was born in Marysville, Yuba county, California, January 5, 1864, the son of Henry and Martha (Van Pelt) Jory, the former a native of England. Henry Jory came from England to the United States with his parents when he was six years old. The family settled in Ohio in 1830. Thence they moved to California in 1861, crossing the Plains with ox teams, and in this state Stephen A. was born. His father died in California in 1886. The mother, Martha (Van Pelt) Jory was born in Ohio, November 12, 1829, and died Janu- ary 12, 1878. Stephen A. received his education in the common schools of California, remaining at home until he was twenty years of age. He arrived in Klickitat county, September 12, 1884, and went to work for his sister, Mrs. H. J. San- ders, remaining thus engaged for eight months near Dot postoffice. He then purchased one hun- dred and sixty acres of railroad land, and a tim- ber culture claim comprising one hundred and sixty acres from A. Beldin. For a time he farmed this property, but later discontinued farming and built a blacksmith shop at Dot, which was the first establishment of the kind at that place. He worked at the blacksmithing trade until 1899, when he sold out to Frank Copenhefer. After the sale, he took up farming for a year near Dot, at the end of which time he went to Cleveland, where he accepted employment in a shop, work- ing from March 19, 1901, to September 12, 1902. He returned then to his farm and for a time at- tended in person to farming interests in conjunc- tion with his blacksmithing work, but in May, 1904, he opened the shop he is now conducting in Cleveland.

Mr. Jory was married at Dot, Washington, February 14, 1892, to Miss Barbara E. Walker, a native of Missouri, born March 26, 1875. Her parents were Wilburn and Susan (Barrett) Walker, both natives of Missouri. Wilburn Walker is a farmer now residing near Jersey postoffice, having come from Missouri to this point in 1891, bringing with him his famliy. Susan (Barrett) Walker, the mother, attained young womanhood in Missouri, and in that state was married. Barbara E. Walker, her daughter,

now the wife of Mr. Jory, received the greater part of her education in Missouri. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Jory are : Oliver F., born January 7, 1893; Henry A., March 26, 1895; Ethel M., No- vember, 1897; Edith V., November, 1899, and Elsie, December 6, 1902, all in Klickitat county. Fraternally, Mr. Jory is affiliated with the An- cient Order of United Workmen, and in religion he adheres to the Christian church. His farm comprises one hundred and sixty acres of land, all of which is in a high state of cultivation, and is well stocked with all accessaries that con- tribute to successful farming. At his trade he is said to be an unusually good workman and de- serving of the lucrative patronage he now en- joys.

ELISHA S. MASON was, prior to his death, which occurred August 14, 1899, a prominent farmer and stockman residing four miles south of Cleveland, Klickitat county. He was born in Ten- nessee, June 7, 1834, the son of William W. and Polly (Headlie) Mason, both natives of Tennes- see. The elder Mason moved from Tennessee to Missouri in 1846, and there resided till the time of his death. He was of Scotch' descent. Polly (Headlie) Mason, the mother, grew up and was educated in Tennessee, and in that state married Mr. Mason, the elder. Her death occurred many years ago in Missouri. Deceased was but twelve years of age when his parents moved to Missouri. He remained at home, following farming pursuits mainly, till he was twenty-seven years of age, then, in 1861, enlisted in the Union army. For the two years following he was in active service. At the close of his experience as a soldier he settled on a farm, to the cultivation of which he gave his attention until 1874, also being engaged part of the time as a carpenter. In that year, however, he emigrated to Indian Territory, leased a tract of land there and began its cultivation. He moved thence three years later to northern Texas, where he resided for two years. His final change of residence was to Klickitat county in 1884. Upon arriving he took up a homestead which, until the time of his death, he devoted to stock raising and farming, principally. Death came unexpectedly, resulting from heart trouble.

In 1859, Mr. Mason married Miss Tabitha A. Ezell, then residing with her parents in Missouri. Miss Ezell was a native of Kentucky, born in 1841. and came of one of the oldest established families of that state. Her father, William Ezell, was a farmer and one of the pioneer spirits of Kentucky when that grand old state was but sparsely settled. The mother's maiden name was Loving, and she, too, was born in Kentucky. Her death occurred many years ago.

To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Mason thirteen children were born. Those now living,

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seven in number, are: John F., William W., Sam- uel H., Charles A., Emmett W., Benjamin L. and Victor W. A niece, Miss Jennie Mason, was adopted and raised as one of the family. Fra- ternally, Mr. Mason was affiliated with the Ma- sonic order. In religion, he belonged to the Meth- odist Episcopal Church South. On political ques- tions, he was independent, voting his principles always without fear of party lash. Intensely pub- lic-spirited, he was invariably found active in the promotion of educational enterprises. While re- siding in Missouri for several years he served as justice of the peace with credit to himself and satisfaction to the community that he served. His will left the estate of which he was in possession at the time of death to his wife, free from all save a few minor incumbrances which were assumed by Mason Brothers (William and Charles Mason) as a firm. Charles and William have since become the sole managers of the place, having devoted it for ten years to stock raising, their efforts in that line being given almost exclusively to sheep. Within the last year, however, they have sold out the sheep and invested in cattle, and now they are in possession of a herd of two hundred head, which they range in the mountains in summer and on their one-thousand-acre ranch on Chapman creek in winter. This farm, known as the old Dick Lyons ranch, the two brothers own. Until about a year ago they were in partnership with their three other brothers, but they then bought them out, and took full charge. William was born in Greene county, Missouri, September 16, 1866, and Charles, in the same state, August 1, 1873.

GEORGE W. GRANTLY is a favorably known farmer residing one and one-half miles southeast of Dot postoffice, in Klickitat county, Washington. He is the son of Thomas and Phoebe (Gould) Grantly, the former a music- teacher and bookkeeper, born in Maryland in 1809, the son of English parents. His death oc- curred in 1845. Phoebe (Gould) Grantly was born in Pennsylvania in 1800, and came of Penn- sylvania Dutch stock. She died in 1872. George W. grew to manhood in Ohio on a farm, and dur- ing youth, received an education in the common schools.

Left fatherless at the age of four years he learned at an early age to assume the responsi- bilities of life, and as he attained early manhood he gave his best efforts toward helping his mother discharge the duties devolving upon her, on ac- count of the loss of her husband. When eighteen years of age he forsook the parental roof and inde- pendently assumed the burdensome responsibili- ties of life. At the beginning of the Civil war he responded to the first call for volunteers by enlist- ing for three months' service with Company E, Fifteenth Ohio volunteers. He was immediately sent south to Virginia, where he served in the

engagements at Laurel Hill and Phillipe, the first fought in that state. At the end of the three months' service he re-enlisted, this time joining Company A, Sixty-eighth Ohio, and later he served under General Grant at Fort Donelson and at the battle of Shiloh. During the latter part of the war he belonged to the command of "Pap" Thomas, justly renowned for his service in the great conflict. Beyond a wound at the battle of Shiloh, Mr. Grantly received no serious injury throughout the war, though he took part during his service in some of the greatest engagements. When the war was over he went to Texas and for two years following lived on the Gulf. His next move was to Bourbon county, Kansas, where he filed on a tract of government land, and where, for thirteen years, he farmed and raised stock, meet- ing with fair success. In March of 1882, however, attracted by the opportunities offered by the de- veloping country, he came to Klickitat county. Immediately upon arrival he filed on his present farm, on which he has resided continuously since.

In 1871, in the state of Kansas, Mr. Grantly married Mrs. Rebecca McKhann. She died in 1900, leaving two children by her first marriage and three by the second. Mr. Grantly's second marriage took place January 25,- 1903, in Klickitat county, the lady being Mrs. Margaret (Adams) Conell, a widow, as was his first wife, and a native of Illinois. She was born in 1858. Politically, Mr. Grantly is a Republican, and in religion, he belongs to the Baptist church. Deeply interested in school affairs, he has served with marked effi- ciency as a member of the local school board. His farm, comprising two hundred and forty acres of land, is well stocked with all things necessary to make profitable the cultivation of land.

GASTELL BINNS is the owner of a fine farm situated four miles south of Dot postoffice, on which place he is at present residing. He is a son of "Old Kentucky," born in Cumberland county, June 2, 1862. He lived at home with his parents until he reached the age of nineteen, secur- ing a common school education, then went to Texas, where for two years he was employed as a cowboy. In 1884 he moved to Washington and immediately upon his arrival accepted employ- ment in a logging camp. After working at this for a month, he proceeded to Goldendale, where he worked a year on a farm. Going then to the Dot locality, he filed on his present farm in 1886, and began building up the splendid home of which he is now possessed. He has since lived the life of a thrifty and successful agriculturist and stock- man.

Mr. Binns was married in Klickitat county in March, 1894, to Miss Marie Nelson, a native of Sweden, born in 1869. She received her education in the old country, and there reached the age of

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twenty-five, then came to the United States. Her parents did not accompany her. Christen Nelson, the father, was a gardener in Sweden. His death occurred several years ago in that country. The mother, Boel (Boman) Nelson, was born in Swe- den, December 3, 1840. She has never left her native land, but is residing in it at this date. Mr. Binns' parents were William and Jennett ( Baker) Binns. The former was of English descent and a native of Kentucky, in which state he died. He was a farmer by occupation. Jennett (Baker) Binns was likewise a native of Kentucky, and lived the greater part of her life time in that state, finally passing away there. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Gastell Binns are: Archie, born in 1894; Walter, in 1895; Hurchell, in 1897; Elam, in 1899, Chester, in 1900, and Albert D., in 1903, all in Klickitat county. Fraternally, Mr. Binns is affiliated with the Odd Fellows, and in politics, allies him- self with the Democratic party. His land hold- ings comprise in all nine hundred and sixty acres, five hundred of which are under cultivation. He at present owns fifty head of cattle and is making a specialty of the Hereford breed. Among ac- quaintances and neighbors he is regarded as a capable and well-meaning citizen. That he is a thrifty, energetic man of good judgment and abili- ties, is abundantly proven by the splendid success he has had in building a home and extensive prop- erty for himself and family in Klickitat county.

WILLIAM W. WOODS is a citizen of good reputation residing three and one-half miles south and three and one-half west of Dot post- office, Klickitat county, Washington. He was born in Klickitat county, December 7, 1874, the son of Alfred O. and Martha C. (Soper) Woods, who are mentioned elsewhere in this volume. William W. grew to manhood and received a com- mon school education in Klickitat county. At the age of eighteen he became interested with his father in the sheep business, and still retains the holding then acquired. In 1901 he bought a half section of railroad land, and one hundred and sixty acres of land that was deeded. The following year he filed on a tract of government land (and has since then made this place his home), though by dint of energy and thrift he has been able to add greatly to his original holdings.

Mr. Woods was married near Dot postoffice, August 20, 1901, to Miss Jennie Loftin, a native of Washington, born in Waitsburg, Walla Walla county, September 13, 1884. She moved to Klick- itat county at an early age and here grew to womanhood and was educated in the common schools. Her parents were Wesley and Emma (Johnson) Loftin, who were among the early ar- rivals in Klickitat county. Wesley Loftin was born near Kansas City, Missouri, in 1856. Upon reaching manhood he farmed for a time in Mis-

souri, then, in 1886, came west, his objective point being Klickitat county. Upon his arrival he lo- cated near Dot, and after a residence of nineteen years at that place moved to his present home in Arlington, Oregon. He is of Irish parentage. Enima (Jolinson) Loftin was born in Linn county, Kansas, in 1857. She married Mr. Loftin in Kan- sas, afterwards coming west with him, as men- tioned. Mr. and Mrs. Woods are parents of the following children: Claude C., born in Arling- ton, Oregon, June 5, 1902, and Delmar H., also in Arlington, May 29, 1903. The latter named child died at the age of eight months and twenty- nine days. Mr. Woods is a member of the Pres- byterian church. In politics, he is an adherent of Republicanism, though not to the exclusion of oc- casional departures from the Republican stand- ards in municipal elections, where, in his judg- ment, the opposite issue is the more worthy. His land holdings comprise six hundred and forty acres, one hundred and thirty of which are under cultivation. His home farm is well equipped with all stock, implements and buildings that add to the- comfort of farm life, and each year, under the cap- able management of its owner, is becoming more attractive as a dwelling place. Few men of his age have attained a more enviable success than has Mr. Woods, even in the Northwest, where- energy and thrift are almost invariably well re- warded.

FRANK P. VINCENT. Among the many thriving industries of the west at the present time, none is paying larger returns on the capital in- vested than the sheep business, in which the- Klickitat citizen whose name commences this ar- ticle, is heavily interested. Since 1886 he has been connected in one way or another with this . important branch of the stock industry, so that his experience has been a valuable one to him. His fine ranch is located nine miles southwest of Dot .. Mr. Vincent was born in Washington county, Ohio, July 28, 1853, the son of George and. Rachael (Wilson) Vincent, of Welsh and Irish extraction respectively. Their families have been residents of Washington county for nearly a cen- tury back. George Vincent was born in 1812 in southern Ohio on the same farm which was the birthplace of his father; he died at the age of eighty-four in Washington county. Mrs. Vincent, the mother, was born in Washington county in 1810, the daughter of Ohio pioneers; she died in that county. Frank P. attended school and worked on the farm until he was twenty years old, then rented the place from his father and operated it three years. After his marriage, about that time, he farmed four years on his own place, but in the spring of 1882 came west to Milton, Oregon. Four years of farming followed. Then, in 1886, he came to Klickitat and looked after the sheep .

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of George Donald a year. Next he and Joseph Thomas entered the business and ranged sheep three years, after which Mr. Vincent worked three years for A. Smythe. In the fall of 1898 he went into the industry on his own account and he has been very successful since that time. He and his two sons are partners in the business. In 1889 Mr. Vincent filed on the ranch which is now his home and by purchasing other land, father and sons now own a section of excellent farming and grazing land.

Mr. Vincent was married July 3, 1875, in Washington county, Ohio, to Miss Sybil D. Coley, a daughter of George and Laura (Sherman) Coley, both of whoni were born in Washington county. The father was born in 1818 and died at a mature age in his home county. Mrs. Coley was born in 1830; she is now living with her son in Goldendale. Mrs. Vincent is also a native of Washington county, born in 1856, August 30th. After attending the public schools and receiving a thorough education, she was married, being twenty years of age at the time. Their children are : Fred, born in Washington county, Novem- ber 2, 1876, living at home, a partner in the sheep business and ranch; Arthur, born in the same county, October 6, 1878, likewise a partner in the business and ranch; Hubert, born in Klickitat, July 22, 1890; Mabel, also born in this county, October 15, 1896. One hundred and fifty acres of the ranch are now being cultivated; the balance is used for pasture. There are two thousand sheep in the Vincent herds, besides which they own a con- siderable number of horses, cattle and hogs. Mr. Vincent is one of the most popular men in the county, held in high repute by his neighbors and he and his sons are known as capable stockmen. In religion, he is a Methodist.

GEORGE W. SMITH. Among those hardy pioneer stockmen who sought the luxuriant range of Klickitat in its early years is he whose name stands at the beginning of this sketch, one of the county's present prosperous farmers and stock- men. Mr. Smith came to Klickitat in 1872 and since that date has been prominently identified with its growth and development. His home is on the Columbia river four miles north of The Dalles. Born in South Bend, Indiana, February 20, 1842, he is the son of Jacob D. and Sarah (Griswold) Smith, who became pioneers of Ore- gon in 1852. The elder Smith was born in Ohio in 1810. He crossed the Plains in 1852 to Yanı- hill county, Oregon, where he filed on a donation ciaim and there followed farming and stock rais- ing. Subsequently he removed to Salem and was a resident of that city when his death occurred in 1884. His wife was a native of New York, born in 1807; she died in 1893. When a child she was taken to Indiana by her parents, who were Ger-

mans. Mrs. Smith never learned to speak her na- tive tongue, being reared in an English settle- ment. Jacob Smith's father was also of German ancestry. He was born during the turbulent times incident to the Revolution and while a middle- aged man served in the War of 1812. George W. Smith accompanied his parents from Indiana to Janesville, Wisconsin, at an early age, and when he was nine years old the westward journey was continued across the Plains to Oregon. There the lad lived until he was sixteen years old, then boldly and bravely struck out for himself. When . the Idaho mines were discovered, he was among the first to reach Oro Fino creek, and in that district he spent two years in developing property of his own. Then he participated in the rush to Boise basin and for more than a year mined in the vicinity of Boise City. Later he was employed as a carpenter in that town. The occupation of freighting then appealed to him so strongly that until 1865 he was engaged in packing on the trails between Walla Walla, Helena and Boise City and · in freighting between Wallula and interior points. From this occupation he went to Owyhee county, Idaho, where for two years he was employed in the Golden Chariot mine, then he spent a year at the carpenter's trade in Salem, Oregon, and final- ly, in 1872, became a pioneer of Klickitat county. in which he has since resided. At that time the region was but sparsely settled and the few hardy pioneers who were there had scarcely come to a realization of the resources awaiting development. Sheep raising first appealed to Mr. Smith as a lucrative industry, so he acquired a small herd, filed on a claim and began life as a stockman. While Goldendale was yet but a trading post, Mr. Smith ranged his sheep over the site. Later Mr. Smith built the first schoolhouse erected in Goi- dendale. It was only a rough board structure, un- attractive in appearance and with walls not en- tirely proof against the harsh breath of winter, but withal its erection was one of the long steps which the pioneer takes in securing the perpetuation of the civilization which he founds. This homely institution is known to Goldendale pioneers as "the old schoolhouse;" it stood on the flat near the creek. Mr. Smith continued to follow stock raising and accumulate herds and land with com- mendable and gratifying success until he is today one of the leading stockmen of this region.

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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 116

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