An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington, Part 146

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 146
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 146
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 146

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JOSEPH M. BROWN, a horticulturist, whose home is one and one-half miles southeast of North Yakima, is an esteemed citizen of the county and well worthy a place of honor on the pages of this volume. His father was James Brown, a native of Indiana, born in 1825; he died when the son Joseph was but three years old. His wife, the mother of the subject of this article, was Mary (Crosley) Brown, also a native of Indiana, born in 1823; she has been dead a number of years. Mr. Brown was born in Missouri, April 18, 1857, and remained at home until fourteen years of age. He was the youngest of a family of six children ; in his youth he was troubled with a cancer, and, fearing it would prove a great disadvantage to him in later life in agricultural pursuits, he was very desirous of obtaining such an education as would enable him to follow other pursuits should he so desire. The family being large and the school opportunities of his home neighborhood

being poor, he left home when fourteen and went to Nebraska, where he secured employment on a farm at sixteen dollars per month in a neighbor- hood where the school privileges were much better than at home. Here for a number of years he worked on the farm in the summer and at- tended the district schools in the winter. He afterwards spent two years in the high school at Tecumseh, Nebraska, being graduated in January, 1879. In October of the same year he was mar- ried in Syracuse, Nebraska, to Miss Jessie F. Wells. He at once purchased a farm on credit, canceling the obligation, eighteen hundred dol- lars, at the end of two years. In 1883, he sold out and moved to the Horse Heaven country in Yakima county, Washington, and for nine years followed the breeding of Clydesdale draft horses, his imported Scottish Knight being a well known horse of that region. While a resident of Yakima county he served two terms as county commissioner. In 1892, he came to North Yak- ima and purchased fifteen acres of land, where he now resides, at that time desert sage-brush land, now a beautiful orchard of apples and apricots, in which nestles the comfortable home of the family. Mr. Brown served the Republicans of the county in one campaign as their candidate for county clerk, and was elected. During this term and for two years as insurance solicitor, he was a resident of North Yakima. During Mr. Brown's residence in North Yakima he was very popular with his Republican friends and had a bright political future before him; but preferred the associations of home and rural pursuits, and hence returned to his fruit ranch. Besides being a stanch Re- publican, he is prominent in Masonic circles and has a long list of fraternal and political friends. He has brothers and sisters as follows: Samuel W., deceased; Ethan A., of North Yakima ; Mrs. Melissa A. Brady, deceased : James F., of Kansas; Mrs. Nancy J. Estes, of Wenatchee, Washington. Mrs. Brown was born in Wisconsin, October 13, 1856, the daughter of Gilbert and Mary (Kelley) Wells, both natives of New Hampshire and of English parentage. Mrs. Brown has one brother living, Lewellyn A. Wells, of Nebraska. She has two sisters and one brother dead: Clara, Ermina E. and Forest. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been born the following children: Harry E., Nebraska, September 16, 1880; Frank W., Klick- itat county. April 21. 1884. the first white child born in the Horse Heaven country; Edna M., Washington, March 13, 1886; Benjamin F., May 16, 1888; Mary E., October 10, 1890; Pearl M., November 26, 1892; Joseph M., Jr., December 25, 1894. and George D., May 21, 1898, all in Wash- ington. When the youngest child, George, was born, he was totally blind, but the sight of one eye was completely restored and of the other nearly so, by Dr. P. V. Wing, of the Fannie Paddock

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hospital, Tacoma. Although he could not speak until three years old, he has developed into a re- markably intelligent child; he is a natural musi- cian, and, at the age of six, plays well on the piano and organ. His accomplishments are a wonder to all who know hin. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are' highly esteemed by neighbors and by their many friends.

MRS. ELIZABETH (COCHRANE) CAR- MICHAEL. Among the many women who have bravely and successfully fought the battle of life in the great Northwest, and shared equally with the men in its development, none is more worthy of a place in this volume than is Mrs. Elizabeth Carmichael, of Yakima City. She was born ill Scotland January 6, 1858, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Patterson) Cochrane, both natives of Scotland. The father was born in 1818 and died in New Zealand in 1884. The mother was born March 26, 1828, and is still living in New Zealand. Mrs. Carmichael went with her parents from Scotland to New Zealand in 1865. There she attended school until her eighteenth year and afterwards taught one year as assistant in- structor in the primary department of the public schools. After spending one year with her parents she was married, in New Zealand, May 17, 1878, to William Loudon. In 1884 they left New Zea- land and in August of that year reached Yakima county, Washington, and went into the stock busi- ness on the Cowiche. The following year (1885) Mr. Loudon died and Mrs. Loudon at once moved to Yakima City, opened a store of general merchandise, at the same time receiving the ap- pointment as postmistress ; she held this appoint- ment for nine years. April 9, 1898, Mrs. Loudon married Colin Carmichael and in July of the same year sold her stock of merchandise at Yakima City. Mr. and Mrs. Carmichael then went to Santa Rosa, California, and for a time engaged in the purchase and sale of hops. March 23, 1899, Mr. Carmichael died in Santa Rosa, and, in September of the same year, Mrs. Carmichael returned to Yakima City and purchased one hundred and fifty acres of land adjoining the town, at once beginning its cultivation. In April, 1900, she again opened a general merchandise store and in September, 1902, established the Yakima City creamery, which is still in successful operation. Mrs. Carmichael is now secretary and treasurer of the Washington State Dairy Association and takes a lively interest in the development of the industry. She is also specially interested in educational matters and is an active member of the Presby- terian church. She has one of the most beautiful and comfortable homes in Yakima county and en- joys the esteem of a very large circle of friends and acquaintances. She has four sons : James A.

Loudon, born in New Zealand, December 28, 1879, and now receiving teller of the First National bank, North Yakima, a graduate of the Santa Rosa (Cal- ifornia ) business college; William Loudon, born in New Zealand, April 24, 1881, manager of the Yakima City creamery; John P. Loudon, born in New Zealand, October 30, 1883, graduate of the North Yakima high school, 1902; Guy Loudon, born in Yakima county, December 22, 1885, as- sistant manager of the Yakima City creamery.

EDWARD REMY. One of the successful fruit growers of Yakima county is Edward Remy, whose home is two and one-half miles southeast of North Yakima. Nowhere may be seen to bet- ter advantage the transforming effects of water and the skill of man upon the barren sage-brush plains of the west than at Mr. Remy's home; the wealth of foliage in season, the hanging fruit and the trail- ing berry vines, and in their midst the comfortable dwelling, making an ideal home to which Mr. and Mrs. Remy and their three children are naturally very much attached. Mr. Remy is a native of Bel- gium, where he was born November 12, 1860. His father was Peter J. Remy, a glass-blower by trade, . born in Belgium in 1830; he died in Yakima county in 1902. The mother was Mary (Richir ) Remy, also born in Belgium; she died in her native coun- try when her son Edward was seventeen years old. During his youth, Edward attended the schools of his native land. At the age of nineteen, having already learned the glass-blower's trade, he came to the United States and located in Ohio, following his trade in the glass works at Kent for two years. He was afterwards employed for three years in the glass works of New Albany, Indiana, and later in those of Rock Island, Illinois. In 1887 he went ·to Ottawa, Illinois, where he remained, still in his trade, until 1893. This year marks the close of his career as .a glass-blower. He came then to Yak- ima county, Washington, and purchased the land where he has since made his home. July 16, 1883, Mr. Remy and Miss Mary Deeley were united in marriage in New Albany, Indiana. Miss Deeley was born in England, November 2, 1863, the daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Deeley, both na- tives of England. Her father died in his native country and her mother is still living, now a resi- dent of Yakima county. Mr. Remy has three brothers and three sisters: Felician, a glass- blower living in Indiana ; Mary (Remy) Dandoy, in Belgium: Juliett (Remy) Brigod, in Indiana ; Peter J., an Indiana farmer; Julius, a glass- blower in Indiana; Esther (Remy) Andris, also living in Indiana. Mrs. Remy has one sister and one brother: Phoebe, a native of England, living in North Yakima, and Samuel, born in England, now an Indiana glass-blower. Three children have come into the Remy home: Mary, born in New

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Albany, Indiana, February 20, 1884; Alice, born in Rock Island, Illinois, April 20, 1886; Edward, born in Ottawa, Illinois, March 10, 1889. Mr. Remy is an active Republican and holds membership in the fraternal orders Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica and the Masons. Mr. and Mrs. Remy and their two daughters are members of the Methodist church. On his home place Mr. Remy produces several varieties of fruits and berries and always makes exhibits at state and local fairs. At the last state fair held at North Yakima he was awarded special premiums on apples, pears, prunes and plums. He is a progressive and an energetic horticulturist. He was recently appointed on the board of county supervisors, but declined to serve, his interests being centered in his orchard and his home. Mr. and Mrs. Remy are highly respected and have many warm friends.

WILLIAM E. THORNTON, a pioneer of 1872, lives two and one-half miles southwest of North Yakima, where he is engaged in farming. He was born in Holt county, Missouri, August 13, 1848, the son of Frank and Elizabeth Thornton. His parents died when he was a small child and he was placed in the charge of an aunt, Mrs. Mary Russell. 'In 1851 the aunt crossed the Plains with ox teams to Oregon, occupying six months in making the journey, encountering many obstacles and escaping many dangers en route, one man of the party, Wash Stewart, being killed by the Indians. William Thornton spent his youth in Oregon and, until his fifteenth year, attended the common schools of that state, later graduating from a Portland business college. At the age of fifteen, he began making his own way in life: at eighteen he entered the employ of a sash and door factory, learning the business ; two years later learning the painter's trade and eventually becom- ing a sign writer and decorator. In 1872 he came to Yakima county and until 1886 was engaged in the stock business, at the same time working, at intervals, at his trade as a sign writer. He built the first high trellis hop yard in the state at a cost per acre of one hundred and fifteen dollars. He was one of the promoters and builders of the Konne- wock and the Naches and Cowiche high ditches. In the late seventies he was one of the party that made the search for the Indian murderers of the Perkins family, assisted in the capture of Chief Moses and acted as his guard; also helped to ar- rest the chief at a later date. Aside from agricul- tural pursuits, he has always been more or less interested in mining. He is one of the principal holders of Gold Hill property; owns the Inca group in Yakima county; the Minnie T. group on Crystal mountain, a one-third interest in the Re- liance group and a one-half interest in the Rara Avis group, the last three properties in Pierce

county. Like many more who came to the county in the early days, he has suffered reverses and found much to endure and overcome. In the cold winter of 1881-82 he lost four hundred and ninety- five out of five hundred head of stock and in the panic of 1893 his losses footed twenty thousand dollars.

Mr. Thornton is a relative, in direct line, of Judge J. Quinn Thornton, who figured so prom- inently in early Oregon affairs ; was a delegate from Oregon to congress during Polk's administration, and was the author of a history of Oregon and Cal- ifornia. Mr. Thornton was married in Yakima county June 10, 1896, to Mrs. Alice (Tilton ) McLean, daughter of Major Joseph Tilton, a native of Pennsylvania and a veteran of the Civil war. Mr. Thornton has one sister, Mrs. Rebecca Keller, living in Nebraska. Mr. Thornton is a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity and is active and influ- ential in the councils of the Democratic party. He is a Methodist in religious convictions, and for years his sweet, strong tenor voice was heard each Sunday in the North Yakima church. Unfortu- nately. however, his voice has now lost much of its sweetness and power. He is widely known as one of the earlier pioneers of central Washington, as a man of strictest integrity and excellent executive ability and both he and Mrs. Thornton are highly esteemed by all with whom they are associated in public or in the home life.

OSCAR VANSYCKLE, a pioneer of 1871, is now engaged in market gardening at Yakima City. He was born in Ohio, March 1, 1845. His father was Jolin M. Vansyckle, a native of New York, a Wells-Fargo express agent, and a pioneer of Cali- fornia and Oregon. He went to California in the spring of the year 1852, as agent for Wells, Fargo & Company at Stockton. In 1855, he was transferred to San Francisco, where he served as superintendent of the same company in the express department. In 1857, he went to Portland, Oregon, and opened there the banking department of the Wells-Fargo Com- pany. He engaged in the hotel business in Portland in 1859, but in the following year removed to Wal- lula, Washington Territory, as agent for Thompson Coe and as quartermaster agent. The mother was Susanna E. (Rensford) Vansyckle, born in 1827 : she died December 15, 1903, in Seattle, at the age of seventy-seven. Her father was an English sea captain. Mr. Vansyckle spent his youth in Portland, where he attended school and assisted his father in the hotel. In 1865 Oscar Vansyckle came to Yakima county, Washington, with cattle, which he looked after on the range, being allowed the in- crease for a number of years for his share of the profits. After several years in the stock business, he engaged for four years with his brother-in-law, Dan Nelson, and H. L. Tucker, in prospecting and

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mining in various localities, but without success. He then located in Yakima City and engaged in the hotel business, remaining so occupied for about four years. At the end of this time the railroad was built through the town and its residents nearly all moved to the new town of North Yakima. Mr. Vansyckle remained, however, served as postmaster for a number of years and has since followed mar- ket gardening. In Portland, Oregon, November 19, 1876, Mr. Vansyckle was married to Mrs. Eliza- beth (Nelson) Mauldin, daughter of Judge J. B. Nelson, a prominent pioneer of Yakima county. Mrs. Vansyckle was born in Missouri October 14, 1843. Her children by her first husband are: Pearl (Mauldin) Rudkin, born in Klickitat county, Au- gust 6, 1862, living in Yakima county ; Frederick A. Mauldin, born in Klickitat county, April 9, 1864, a mine carpenter living in Idaho; Mrs. Cora Gard- ner, born in Yakima county, April 19, 1867, living in Okanogan county. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Vansyckle are: Mrs. Clara Noble, born December 15, 1877; Edith, born July 23, 1880, died April 25, 1882; John M., born July 18, 1883. Mr. Vansyckle is an active member of the Demo- cratic party and always takes a lively interest in the success of the party. Mrs. Vansyckle is active in church circles and belongs to the Christian congregation. Both are worthy of a place of honor among the pioneers of Yakima county, and they are held in high esteem by all who have been associated with them in the development and progress of the valley where they have for so long a time mnade their home.

JOSEPH RICHARTZ, a successful dairy farmer of Yakima county, lives one mile east of North Yakima. Germany is the country of his nativity and the date of his birth was June 16, 1854. He is the son of Henry and Mary (Stiles) Richartz, both natives of Germany and both dead. Until his twelfth year Joseph Richartz attended school in his native land, but was obliged to dis- continue his studies at this age on account of the death of his father, which made it necessary for him to assist in the support of his mother, his four elder brothers being at the time serving their allotted years in the German army. He was vari- ously employed for a number of years, but, when seventeen, began to learn the shoemaker's trade, which he followed for eighteen years, with the ex- ception of three years spent in the army. Becom- ing acquainted with the opportunities offered in America to the industrious and ambitious, to gain a competency and a desirable and permanent home, he decided to try his fortunes in this coun- try and accordingly, in 1881, he embarked with his family for the United States. Shortly after his arrival he located near St. Paul, Minnesota, and followed his trade there for several years; event-

ually, however, having to leave that section on account of his failing health. In the fall of the year 1887 he came to Yakima county, landing here with twenty-five cents in his pocket and having with him a large family, for which he must pro- vide. For a time he engaged in farm work, chop- ping cord wood and in common labor of any kind that he could find to do, using goods boxes for tables and chairs in the home and doing without many of the ordinary comforts of home life. He managed to keep himself employed, however, and prospered, so that, in 1888, he was able to pur- chase a homestead relinquishment to eighty acres of land, paying therefor the sum of one hundred dollars. With twenty-five dollars of remaining capital lie moved 'his family to the farm, and, with the assistance of his wife, dug a well and erected a small dwelling. . For several years he carried supplies to the home on his back and got but small returns from the land. Then the Condon ditch was built and he gave half of his farm for water privileges, which made his remaining forty acres much more valuable. In 1897 he sold for three thousand dollars and at once purchased two hundred and forty acres where he now resides. This farm he has developed into one of the most valuable in the county, with a commodious and comfortable dwelling, a large barn sixty by sev- enty-six feet in dimensions and forty-four feet high, and has stocked the place with twenty-one milch cows and sixty additional head of cattle and horses. Mr. Richartz has four brothers and two sisters living: Nicholas, Peter, Mathias, Fred, Mrs. Susanna Kline and Mrs. Eva Knot, all liv- ing in Germany excepting Nicholas, who is in this country. Mr. Richartz was married in Germany, January 15, 1880, to Miss Elizabeth Powley, who was born in Germany, March 16, 1860, the daugh- ter of Theodore and Helen (Custer) Powley. This faithful wife and devoted mother died October 31, 1903. She was the mother of the following chil- dren: Nicholas, Henry and Bernard, deceased ; Frank, born in Minnesota, July 28, 1883; John born in Minnesota, January 24, 1885; Mary, Feb- ruary 27, 1888; Gertrude, November 22, 1890; Joseph, February 22, 1893; Henry, December 28, 1895; Louisa, October 12, 1897; Theodore, June 8, 1900, all born in North Yakima. Mr. Richartz is a Catholic. In politics, he is a Republican. He is classed with the energetic and successful agri- culturists who have been active factors in the won- derful development of Yakima county, is a man well known and influential in local affairs, and he commands the respect and confidence of all who know him.

JOHN MORRISEY, a farmer and stock raiser, whose home is nine miles northwest of North Yakima, is a native of Ireland, born March

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20, 1837. He is the son of David and Nora (Walsh) Morrisey, also natives of Ireland. The father started for America when the son John was thirteen years old, but died at sea. The mother died in Chicago, aged eighty years. John Mor- risey received his early education in his native country, and continued his studies in Canada, hav- ing immigrated to that country when seventeen years old. For ten years he worked on farms and in sawmills in Canada and then removed to Illi- nois, continuing in farm work there for about five years, after which he was located in the saloon business for seven additional years in Chicago. Concluding that the Northwest offered special in- ducements to one wishing to establish a perma- nent home, he left Chicago in quest of a desir- able location. He stopped for a few months in Nebraska but. not being suited with the country, came on to Washington and settled on the home- stead where he has ever since resided, April 16, 1877. Here he has four hundred acres of land which he has developed from its primitive wildness to a high state of cultivation ; he is also one of a company of seventeen that owns one thousand acres devoted to grazing purposes, where are ranged cattle, horses and other stock. The home- stead is equipped with a good residence and hop house, and a large barn; it is an ideal home and is a lasting monument to the industry and integ- rity of its owner. Mr. Morrisey was married in Chicago, Illinois, October 15, 1873, to Miss Mary Walsh, a native of Ireland, where she was born September 14, 1850. The brothers and sisters of Mr. Morrisey are : Michael, deceased ; Francis, liv- ing in Canada; Morris, living in Texas; Bridget (Morrisey) Mahoney, living in Chicago; Thomas and David, deceased; Richard, living in Chicago. Mrs. Morrisey has two brothers, Thomas and John Walsh, both natives of Ireland, the latter a citizen of North Yakima. To Mr. and Mrs. Morrisey have been born the following children: Mary J. ( Morrisey) Loughon, born in Chicago, July 12, 1874, living in Yakima county ; John D. Morrisey, born in Nebraska May 14, 1876, a citizen of Yakima county; Thomas and Anna (Morrisey) Lemon, twins, deceased; Edward J., born in Yakima City November 1, 1880; James F., born in Yakima county May 4, 1882; Agnes, born No- vember 17, 1884; Francis Joseph, born June 15, 1888. Mr. Morrisey is a Democrat and takes act- ive interest in the success of his party. He and Mrs. Morrisey are members of the Catholic church. They have recently built a good home in North Yakima. Mr. Morrisey is widely known over the county as one of the earlier pioneers of the central part of Washington; is a man of in- fluence in local affairs and, by all who know him, is highly respected as a man of integrity and real worth. It is a pleasure to accord him a place of honor among the pioneers of Yakima county.

MICHAEL PROBACH, merchant tailor, re- sides at No. 701 North Second street, in the city of North Yakima, and has been in business in the city since 1889. The town of Koln, Rhine Province, Germany, is the place of his nativity, his birthday being June 1, 1850. He is the son of Gerhard and Katherina ( Stanger ) Probach, both native born Germans. The parents are both dead. Michael Probach spent his youth and early man- hood in the land of his birth. He attended school until thirteen years old ; then quit the school room for the active duties of life. At fifteen he began to learn the tailor's trade, which he followed suc- cessfully until 1882 in his native land. For some time he had been considering the advisability of coming to America, impressed as he was by the superior advantages offered here to one seeking a permanent home and lucrative employment, and in 1882, his plans having been completed, he em- barked for the United States. He worked for a time as a journeyman tailor in Denver and in other Colorado towns, but eventually opened a shop at Silver Cliff, that state, and conducted it successfully for two years. At the end of this time, in 1886, he sold his Silver Cliff establish- ment and returned to Germany, remaining for eighteen months. Having tasted life in America, however, he was not content to remain in the old country and, in 1888, he returned to the United States, settling first at Pendleton, Oregon, where he opened an establishment. After operating in Pendleton for one year he sold his business and came to North Yakima, where he has since re- mained and where he has become a leading mer- chant tailor. He purchased the establishment of Hugo Sigmund and, at this old stand, which was the first tailor shop opened in North Yakima, he is now doing an exceptionally good business. He is rated with the successful business men of the metropolis of central Washiington. Of the three children born to his parents, he is the only one living ; he has lost one brother and one sister, Jolın and Minnie. Mr. Probach was married in Ger- many July 24, 1872, to Miss Gertrude Schmidt, who was born in Germany in 1845, the daugliter of John and Louisa (Stanger) Schmidt, natives of Germany. The father is dead. The mother, born in Germany in 1823, is now living with her daugh- ter in North Yakima. To Mr. and Mrs. Probach have been born the following children: Louisa (Probach) Schwartz, Mary, Peter, Anna, Aloyz- sius, and Paul, all born in Germany; Kathe, Ger- trude, and Genevive, born in North Yakima. Mr. and Mrs. Probach are members of the Catholic church. Mr. Probach is a Democrat in politics and always takes a lively interest in the success of his party. He is somewhat interested in city property, owning five good lots and an attractive and modern eight-room dwelling. He is energetic and progressive, is making a success of his busi-

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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 146

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