An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington, Part 152

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 152
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 152
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 152

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).

670

CENTRAL WASHINGTON.

post, and 1846 was the year of his birth. His father was George Foster, a Scotchman who came to Can- ada in early days, and in 1833 engaged as a gun- smith with the famous English fur company above mentioned. He died in the early fifties. His mother was Peggy, a member of The Dalles tribe of In- dians. She died at The Dalles in 1861. Alexander Foster, of this review, was reared on the Columbia river, and upon the death of his mother commenced packing to British Columbia. Then he was engaged by Brostein & Binnard as a packer into the mining camps of Oro Fino, Elk City, Florence and Warren. He followed this occupation for private individuals, for corporations or for the government until about fifteen years ago. During that period he traveled all over the Northwest, worked under General Crook, was with the troops at the time Custer was mas- sacred, served in the Nez Perce and Sheepwater campaigns in central Idaho, engaged in several other minor Indian campaigns, and was stationed in the government's employ at Colville for many years. He is a brother of William Foster, the noted Idaho scout, who met a tragic death on Camas prairie dur- ing the Nez Perce war in 1877, and he is familiar with all the details of that campaign in Idaho county. He was also one of the volunteers who sought to visit the field of the Custer massacre, and who were driven back by the Sioux. As a partici- pant in the Nez Perce war he gained considerable distinction through his excellent services as chief packer and scout. A party in his charge buried the troopers of Captain Perry's command who were killed in White Bird canyon; he himself found his brother William, after the death of the latter at the hands of the Indians, and, digging a grave with a bowie knife, buried him. Over this grave the citi- zens of Idaho county in later years erected a monu- ment in memory of the faithful scout, who gave his life in defense of the whites. Mr. Foster was an important witness in the court-martial trial of Lieu- tenant Catlin, he having been one of the party that rescued the Rains family during the Sheepwater outbreak. In 1879 he went to Lewiston, thence to Walla Walla, and finally took charge of a one hun- dred and twelve mile route terminating at Colville. Following his service there, he left the occupation of packing, and for many years resided on the Uma- tilla and Warm Springs Indian reservations in Ore- gon, serving for a time as government farmer in the industrial schools. In 1893 he came to the Yakima reservation and secured an allotment, upon which he moved in 1900, and there he has since lived. He owns a quarter section, and his children have title to four hundred acres. Mr. Foster is at present in the employ of Dell Williams at the old government ranch, six miles southwest of Toppenish.

In the early nineties he was married at Pendle- ton to Sarah Edwards, whose father was William Edwards, an Englishman, and whose mother was a WVasco Indian. The maternal grandmother was of

Klickitat and Wasco blood ; the grandfather of pure Wasco blood. Mr. and Mrs. Foster have five chil- dren of their own: Hazel, who is attending the Fort Simcoe school; George, William, Allie and Nora; besides whom there are three adopted children, Charlotte, Augustine and Harrison. Their father was Richard Edwards, one of the sons of William Edwards and a brother of Mrs. Foster. Upon the death of Richard Edwards, the children were adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Foster. All three own allotments, and are being educated at the govern- ment school at Fort Simcoe. Charlotte is a bright girl of fifteen summers, who is making the most of the opportunities offered her. The Foster family is probably one of the best known among the Indians and pioneer whites of Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

JACOB KALER, living three miles due south of Wapato, is one of Yakima county's substantial and influential farmer citizens. He first saw the light of day September 15, 1852, in Bartholomew county, Indiana, to which his father came in an early day. His father, Adam Kaler, was born in Ger- many in 1800, and after learning the blacksmith's trade, came to the United States. It is said that he built the first iron roller mill in the city of Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, now the home of the great iron and steel industry of America. He could manufac- ture nearly anything made of iron or steel, and was a man of learning and influence. He died in Indiana in 1871. The mother, Louise (Wentle) Kaler, was also a native of Germany. She was married to Mr. Kaler in Pennsylvania. Jacob attended school in Indiana, and at the age of eighteen commenced learning the butcher's trade with his brother at Columbus. After three years' apprenticeship, he entered the business on his own account, removing to Kansas in 1878, where he established his home in Greenwood county. For sixteen years he was en- gaged in handling cattle in that section, and for many years was highly successful, a sudden drop in prices crippling his finances. From Kansas he went to Stillwater, Oklahoma, and there followed the cattle business five years; then went to Chickasaw, Indian Territory, and for a year was likewise en- gaged. He finally disposed of his meat market at Chickasaw, and came to Yakima county, going on his present place November 10, 1901.

His marriage to Miss Eva Hayes took place October 20, 1878. She was born in Indiana, Sep- tember 25, 1858, and is the daughter of Mahton and Susie (Fisher) Hayes, natives of Ohio and Vir- ginia, respectively. Mr. Hayes was a farmer by occupation ; he died in 1891. The mother lived twelve years longer, passing to her eternal rest in December, 1903, in Greenwood county, Kansas. Three children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Kaler : Mrs. Fannie Jones, living on the reser-

ALEXANDER E. McCREDY.

671

BIOGRAPHICAL.

vation; Harry and Frank, residing at home. Mr. Kaler is identified with the Masonic fraternity, and in politics, has cast his lines with the Democratic party, as did his father before him. Mrs. Kaler is a member of the Christian church. In educational matters Mr. Kaler has long taken a substantial in- terest, and is at present serving the Wapato district as clerk of the board. Upon his ranch he is breed- ing thoroughbred Jersey cattle, and raising alfalfa, corn and hogs-a combination of products that has given the West a leading position in the world's husbandry. Mr. Kaler is counted as a force in the community and a factor in the county's progress.

W. H. REDMAN, canal and railroad construct- or, and at present foreman of the work on the new twelve-mile irrigation canal under construc- tion for the exclusive use of the Yakima Indians, is a representative of the type of successful west- erner whose birthplace is the eastern section of the United States. Of eastern birth, parentage and early training, this type of our western citizenship has fearlessly crossed the continent and by its energy, ability and enthusiasm on the new stage of action has been a tremendous power in mold- ing the West into the condition in which it now ap- pears. Mr. Redman was born in Boston, Massa- chusetts, June 1, 1862, to the union of James M. and Mary (Stuart) Redman, the father being of Irish descent, the mother of Scotch. James M. Redman was born in Dublin, Ireland, 1816, came to the United States in 1831 and died in 1899. He was a physician. The mother is a native of Wor- cester, Massachusetts, and is now in her seventy- second year. The subject of our sketch was edu- cated in Lynn and at the Brockman Academy, and remained at home until eighteen years old. At that age he bade farewell to his eastern home and friends and came direct to the thriving town of Spokane Falls. Subsequently he joined the rush to the Coeur d'Alenes and as a pioneer of that region is familiar with the establishment of Mul- lan, Murray, Wardner, Wallace and other towns, and the discovery of the great silver-lead bonanzas in that district. In 1891 he left the Coeur d'Alenes, joining the Northern Pacific forces in Yakima and Kittitas counties. Six years later his fondness for this branch of engineering led him to accept a position with the forces construct- ing the White Pass Railroad in Alaska. For four years he remained in Alaska, engaged in construct- ing railroads, and in mining, meeting with fair suc- cess in both lines. He returned to the states in 1902, coming immediately to Yakima county, which he considers the best section of country in the world. Here he was selected by the govern- ment inspector to take charge of the government canal being built on the reservation and for the past month has been in active charge. Another W. H.

Redman, belonging to a different family, is super- intendent and chief engineer of this canal, and Alexander Tieo, a native Yakima Indian, acts as Indian foreman and interpreter. When completed this canal will be twelve miles long and will bring several thousand acres of the finest land on the reservation under water. Mr. Redman is a man of recognized ability in construction work of this character and also in mining. and his wide and suc- cessful experience adds to his worth in these lines. He has traveled over the greater part of the west and has witnessed nearly every phase of western life. His home is in Eliensburg, where he is highly esteemed as a business man and a citizen.

ALEXANDER E. McCREDY, founder of Wapato and engaged in the mercantile, commis- sion and warehouse business at that station besides operating several large ranches near there, is one of Yakima county's substantial young business men and also a pioneer of that region. Born May 3, 1868, in Yamhill county, Oregon, to the union of William A. and Elizabeth (Beaman) McCredy, he is the son of two early pioneers of the North- west and of the Middle West, thus coming naturally by his tendencies to seek out the frontier and there engage in the grand work of civilizing. William A. McCredy was born in Ohio, of Scotch parentage, in 1832, and later moved to Missouri, and in 1853, with his young wife, courageously set his face toward the Pacific, six months being required to make the long, dreary journey across the Plains and mountain ranges between the Middle West and the famed valley of the Willamette. Having ar- rived in the promised land, the young pioneer set- tled upon a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres and there lived until 1879. Among his first purchases in Oregon was a sack of flour, costing five dollars, from the Hudson's Bay Com- pany. In 1879 he removed to the luxuriant ranges of Klickitat county, where he raised stock until advancing age forced him into quiet retirement. Mr. McCredy is now living in Cleveland, Klicki- tat county. The mother was a native of Missouri, born in 1842; she died in 1896. The Beamans were descended from the old North Carolina fam- ily bearing that name and Mrs. McCredy's parents were pioneers of Bates county, Missouri. The son Alexander spent his early years in the stock busi- ness, securing an excellent education, however, at McMinnville College and the Portland Business College, besides a common school training. After leaving school he continued to raise stock until 1901. As a boy he witnessed the establishment of most of the towns in the Yakima country, as also the building of the Northern Pacific Railroad through that section of the territory. For seven years he resided in Nortlı Yakima, he and his brothers ranging stock in Yakima, Kittitas and

672

CENTRAL WASHINGTON.

Klickitat counties. In 1901 he disposed of his stock interests to accept an appointment as post trader at Simcoe Side station. Because of his in- tegrity, of his ability and his experience with and knowledge of the Yakima tribes, he was given this concession by the government and August II, 1902, commenced the construction of the neces- sary buildings on the sage-brush plain adjoining the railroad tracks. Among his first acts was the securing of a postoffice at that point. In order to obtain this the government accepted Mr. McCredy's suggestion of the name Wa- pato, it being necessary to change the station's name because of a postoffice at Fort Simcoe. He has been and is a hard worker for the betterment of the Indians and the development of their lands and, because of this genuine inter- est, has won the friendship of the red men on the reservation. He secured the building of roads into Wapato and has taken the lead in developing the school at Wapato from a one-room institution into a school house containing four rooms, taught by three teachers and containing a high school department. Mr. McCredy emerged from bachelorhood June 14, 1900, at Webster City, Iowa, his bride being Miss Allie Barge, a daughter of Professor B. F. and Mrs. Carrie W. (Showers) Barge, of North Yak- ima. The father was born in the historic city of Concord, Massachusetts, February 2, 1834, and comes of Scotch stock, tracing the history of his family back to the landing of the Mayflower. Mrs. Barge is a native of Cambridge, Illinois, where she was born June 2, 1841, to pioneers of that state. A full biography of Mr. and Mrs. Barge will be found elsewhere in this volume, Mr. Barge being one of the most prominent citizens of central Washington and the first superintendent of the Ellensburg State Normal. Mrs. McCredy was born in Genesco, Illinois. Mr. McCredy has four brothers and sisters: Mrs. Pauline Varner, living at McMinnville, Oregon, and George W., John T. and Leland, living at Bickleton. Mrs. McCredy has three sisters, Hattie Eberle and Cora Helen, residing at Williams, Iowa, and Mrs. Jennie Leckey, living at Eagle Grove, Iowa. Mrs. Mc- Credy is a graduate of the Ellensburg Normal. As a wedding tour, Mr. and Mrs. McCredy trav- eled extensively in Europe, attending the Paris Exposition in 1900. He is a Royal Arch Mason and a member of the Elks. On political questions he takes his stand with the Republican party, of which he is an energetic member. Mrs. McCredy is connected with the Baptist church, in which or- ganization she has for many years been an earnest worker. She is also postmistress at Wapato. Mr. McCredy's business interests are confined to his holdings in and around his home. In a social way Mr. and Mrs. McCredy are popular with all who meet them and find much satisfaction in a host of warm friendships. By his indomitable energy and

perseverance Mr. McCredy lias won for himself an enviable position in the commercial life of the county and is looked upon as a successful young citizen of ability and sterling qualities.

HARVEY JELLISON, engaged in conduct- ing a dairy upon leased land near Wapato, was born at Cambridge, Henry county, Illinois, July 30, 1858. Four years later he came across the Plains with his parents, Thomas J. and Rebecca (Craig) Jellison, to Yamhill county, Oregon, where his childhood and boyhood were passed. The father, of Holland Dutch descent, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1828, and by trade is a wagon- maker. For many years he was postmaster at Amity, Oregon, where he still resides on his farm. He is one of the heirs to a fortune of many mil- lions left by a distant Holland relative. The mother was born in Ohio in 1835 and died in De- cember, 1877. At the age of twenty the son Harvey began to do for himself. For four years he was engaged in farming near Bozeman, Mon- tana, returning to Oregon in 1884. The following year he settled in Ellensburg, where he farmed, teamed, hauled milk and worked in mercantile es- tablishments nearly twelve years. In September, 1896, he removed to North Yakima, and for three years was a resident of that city. Then he came · to Wapato and leased land from the Indians, where he has since been successfully engaged in farming and operating a dairy. Two years ago he opened a restaurant at Wapato, but after a year's experience sold the property. At present he owns forty head of cattle, twenty-two of which are milch cows; also eight head of fine horses. Mr. Jellison considers that the country surrounding Wapato is an ideal alfalfa country and thinks that it pre- sents fine opportunities for a man of limited means. January 2, 1879, Mr. Jellison was married to Miss Adelaide Hager, daughter of Elijah and Susan (McCarty) Hager. Mrs. Jellison was born at Bethel, Oregon, in 1860, and was there mar- ried. Elijah Hager was born in Kentucky, in 1828, crossed the Plains in 1852 to California, was married in Oregon in 1859 and is now a resident of Wapato, Washington. The mother was born in Platte county, Missouri. her father owning the land upon which Platte City was established. Her parents crossed the Plains to Polk county, Ore- gon, in 1844, and there settled upon a donation claim. Mr. and Mrs. Jellison have four children, all of whom are living at home: Musetta, Avey, Iva and Bird. Mr. Jellison belongs to the Mod- ern Woodmen, Woodmen of the World and the Royal Tribe of Joseph. Mrs. Jellison is a mem- ber of the Christian church. In political matters, Mr. Jellison is a stanch Democrat. He is a pros- perous dairyman and a respected citizen of the county.

673

BIOGRAPHICAL.

EDWARD STERLING SMITH, business manager of F. Groshen's lands and shipping in- terests at Wapato, belongs to a family of Ken- tucky and Missouri pioneers and himself is a pio- neer of Klickitat county, having come to Golden- dale more than a quarter of a century ago. He is a native of Missouri, born in Scotland county, May 27, 1862, to William D. and Mary (Owens) Smith, natives of Kentucky. The father removed to Missouri in an early day and lived there until he crossed the Plains to the Idaho mines in 1865. Subsequently he returned; then in 1875 went to California, and in January, 1878, settled at the little frontier town, Goldendale, his family arriving the next year. Twice lie was elected assessor and twice sheriff of Scotland county, Missouri, and in 1880 was chosen a member of the Washington territorial legislature. In 1882 he was the unsuc- cessful candidate of his party, the Democratic, for the, office of probate judge of Klickitat county. He died at Goldendale in August, 1899. The mother is still living in Goldendale at the age of seventy- six. The subject of this sketch went to Califor- nia with his parents in 1875 at the age of four- teen, later went to Oregon and then to Golden- dale, receiving most of his schooling at the latter place. When twenty-two years old he bade fare- well to his father's farm and shouldered the re- sponsibilities of life alone. He engaged in agri- cultural pursuits, living near Centerville until 1897, when he removed to Zillah. There he farmed four years, leaving that place to assume his pres- ent position across the river at Wapato. A tract of eight hundred acres is under his management. Mr. Smith was married May II, 1884, at Golden- dale to Miss Martha J. Wheelis, a native daughter of California, where she was born, December 8, 1864. Her parents are Isom and Nancy (Bragg) Wheelis, of Tennessee and Missouri birth, respect- ively. For many years the father was minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. In pio- neer days he crossed the Plains to California and there lived until 1880, when he moved to Golden- dale, Washington, where he resided for six years, theu to Cle-Elum, thence to Everson, and at last returned to California, where he died in May,

I900. Mrs. Wlieelis is living at present in Spo- kane. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have three children : Rufus Orville, Vivian I. and Claude A., all of whom are at home. Fraternally, Mr. Smith is connected with the Modern Woodmen ; politically, he is an active and influential Democrat, having been for some time a committeeman in Klickitat county. Mrs. Smith is a devoted member of the Christian church. Mr. Smith's brothers and sis- ters are as follows: Mrs. Sallie Teel, Spokane; Thomas J., California; Mrs. Mary A. Hamilton, Goldendale ; Jolin H., county auditor of Klickitat county; Mrs. Emma Hamilton, Oregon City; Fred, California ; and Lee, Lud B., Snighton D. and

David C., Centerville. Mr. Smith is considered a man of sound integrity and a good, substantial citizen.

ARCHIE L. NORTON, manager of the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Company's branch yards at Wapato, is an able, popular young man with exceedingly bright prospects, a young American who has accomplished much thus far in his short life and, best of all, laid a substantial founda- tion for future growth. He was born in St. Charles, Minnesota, December 18, 1882, his par- ents being Thomas and Christina (Gilmour) Norton, also natives of St. Charles. The paternal ancestry is Irish, the maternal ancestry Scotch, a blood union that has produced many of our most successful men and women. The father lived in Minnesota the first thirty years of his life, immigrating with his family to North Yaki- ma when that city was established in 1885. Here for many years he followed agricultural pursuits, as he had done in Minnesota, finally, however, engaging in the transfer business in North Yakima with which he is still occupied. Mrs. Norton was born in 1856. Archie has spent nearly his whole life in Yakima county. His education was received in the schools of North Yakima and included a high school course; also a supplementary course in bookkeeping and other business requirements. At the age of nineteen he entered the employ of the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Company at Lind, Washington, and pre- vious to his promotion to the management of the Wapato branch was stationed at Kennewick and Mabton. He arrived at Wapato August 15, 1903, and at once opened a yard and began the con- struction of a warehouse which, when completed, will be the best one the company owns along the Cascade branch of the Northern Pacific. Its di- mensions are 40x150 feet, with an eight-foot porch surrounding the building. Besides a gen- eral lumber business, the Wapato branch will store and ship hops, potatoes, etc. All grades and sizes of finished and unfinished lumber, fruit boxes, ornamental work, etc., are carried by this corporation. Mr. Norton has one brother, Will- iam E., a harness-maker, and one sister, Aleda, both living in North Yakima. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen. Wapato, he considers, is one of the coming important com- mercial centers of the county and as one of its business men is an indefatigable worker for its ad- vancement. As an honest, industrious young citizen of ability and stability, a representative young American, Mr. Norton is respected and esteemed by all, who wish him only continued success and happiness.

ABNER J. SMITH, ranchman, lives three miles northwest of Wapato. It would be difficult

674

CENTRAL WASHINGTON.

to find a more typical representative of the old school of western pioneers than is the subject of this sketch. Few have had a more varied or ex- citing experience than has this frontiersman, In- dian fighter, miner, freighter, farmer, stock raiser and traveler. As a pioneer of the Northwest, he is one of the earliest, having come to Oregon in 1843. Mr. Smith was born in Buchanan county, Missouri, May 10, 1838, to the union of Ander- son and Ann (Enyart) Smith, natives of Ken- tucky, the birthplace of so many western pio- neers. Anderson Smith crossed the Plains by ox teams to Oregon in 1843, settling upon a donation claim near Portland's site, where he lived until his death in 1873. The mother crossed the Plains with her husband and until her death lived in the Willamette valley also. Abner J. remained on the farm with his parents until sev- enteen years old, in February, 1856, enlisting as a volunteer to fight the rebellious Indians of the Northwest. He was in the famous campaign ex- tending fromn Walla Walla west to the Yakima valley and thence south through Klickitat county to the Columbia, participating in several engage- ments, one on the Satus river. Upon being mus- tered out at Portland he joined Company K, Washington volunteers, serving under Captain Francis M. Goffs in eastern Oregon. An ex- tended account of these wars will be found else- where in this volume. After these Indian cam- paigns, Mr. Smith made a trip to Fort Simcoe as government herder, and later lived at Van- couver, where he became well acquainted with Dr. McLoughlin of Hudson's Bay Company fame. In 1858 Mr. Smith drove a band of cattle to Jackson county, Oregon, and there engaged in mining a short time; then he went to Siskiyou county, California; thence to the Fraser river mines via The Dalles and Okanogan river, re- turning to Portland in the spring of 1861. Late that fall the wonderful Florence basin was dis- covered in Idaho and to it went our roving frontiersman, joining the mad stampede. A year later he visited the Canyon City mines in eastern Oregon, then went to Boise basin and Idaho City and finally closed his mining experience by spending two summers in the Warren diggings, although in subsequent years he visited Silver City (1871), Eureka, Nevada (1872), and Fraser river again (1873), besides engaging in a small way in washing the sands of the Columbia, near Umatilla. In 1873 he settled near Olympia and there for twenty-two years was successfully en- gaged in the oyster business, holding the respon- sible position of state oyster commissioner under Governor Rogers. Four years ago Mr. Smith purchased a ranch in Yakima county three miles below Zillah. In the fall of 1900 he came to his present home near Wapato, retaining the Zillah place until quite recently. Mr. Smith was mar- ried in the summer of 1896 to Mrs. Sophia

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 152

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