An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington, Part 153

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 153
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 153
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 153

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(Thomas) Howard, in whose veins flows the blood of the Yakima Indian race. One child, Frances Arilla, has resulted from this union, besides whom there are two daughters, Ida M. and Ara C., by a former marriage of Mr. Smith's. In political matters Mr. Smith is an unswerving Democrat. As the result of his service in Indian wars the government has placed him on the list of pensioners, his application having been al- lowed seven months ago. The grizzled old vet- eran and pioneer-one of the type rapidly be- coming extinct-has done a full share in exploit- ing the natural advantages of the far West and in subdning the forces opposed to civilization and now, in the winter of life, is finding it most pleasant to spend his remaining years in the sunny, blooming Yakima country where he rode and fought half a century ago.

JOHN E. COMBS, a leaser of Indian land residing two and a half miles west of Wapato, is a prosperous, energetic young farmer of Yakima county. He was born in Noble county, Ohio, September 10, 1866, the son of Isaac M. and Agnes (Squires) Combs, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania respectively. The Combs family came to Ohio in the early part of the nineteenth century, John Combs' grandfather settling in Noble county when he was twelve years old. Isaac Combs was born and still lives on this old homestead. He assisted in the chase of Morgan, the Confederate raider, through Ohio in Civil war times. As an influential Republican Mr. Combs served his county two terms and part of another as commissioner and is still a force in his community. The mother was a member of the third generation of the Squires of Pennsyl- vania. The subject of this sketch passed his youth and early manhood in Ohio, receiving a substantial education in the common schools, sup- plemented by a business training in a Kansas City commercial school. At the conclusion of this two years' business course he accepted a po- sition as collector in Kansas City, remaining there until March, 1891, when he came west to Spokane. In Washington he first settled at Oakesdale, where he farmed leased school land. The financial stringency of 1893 sent him into bankruptcy, but subsequently he recovered. The leased school land he still controls, having it rented. For a number of years Mr. Combs was receiving and shipping agent of the Pacific Coast Elevator Company's branch at Oakesdale and for a short time was employed in the mercantile business. In October, 1902, he came to Yakima county and the following March leased his pres- ent place of eighty acres. Mr. Combs has seven brothers and sisters: Frank D., owner of a plan- ing mill and contractor at Caldwell, Ohio; Albert G .. Charles M .. Ode S., Cora M., Fred. and

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Estella F., all living in Ohio, the last named brother being a merchant in Bell Valley. Mr. Combs is united with the Modern Woodmen of America, is a member of the Presbyterian church and in politics is a Republican of most liberal views. He is satisfied that the Yakima country is one of the most favored spots in the North- west and has shown a substantial token of his belief by becoming a citizen thereof. Although a new comer into the community, he has already won a position of influence among his fellow men.

ELIAS W. BAINTER, residing two miles southwest of Wapato, is a German-American farmer of unusually varied experience in the industry to which he has devoted a lifetime. Born in Hocking valley, Ohio, near the town of Logan, February 19, 1850, he is the son of Elias and Elizabeth (Easter) Bainter, the father being of German parentage but of American birth, while the mother was born in Germany. She came across the seas with her parents when a child. The father was born in 1810, and was one of the earliest pioneers of Hocking valley. He devoted his life to two noble pursuits, farming and preaching the Gospel, being a Methodist min- ister. The mother died in 1850; the father, nine years later. Elias, Junior, remained on his father's farm until eighteen years of age, meanwhile attend- ing school. He then went to Illinois, the first step in his journey across the continent, and there for four years tilled the soil of Shelby county. In the fall of 1871 he pushed farther westward, settling in Harlan county, Nebraska, on government land. Ten years later he removed his home to Fillmore county, where for another ten years he farmed and raised stock with fair success. At the end of that decade, 1891, he took another step westward, living three years in Garfield county, Colorado; then moved to eastern Utah, and was there engaged in his favorite occupation until the fall of 1897, when he went northward into Box Elder county. Two years later, or in 1899, he continued his progress toward the Pacific, arriving in Yakima county in August of that year, and settling upon his present place near Wapato the following spring. Mr. Bainter believes that he has finally reached the peer of any farming country in the West, and in Yakima county he in- tends spending the remainder of his days. He was married September 13, 1877, in Fillmore county, Nebraska, to Miss Catherine L. Walker, the daugh- ter of Thomas and Levina (Saylor) Walker. Thomas Walker was born in Maryland, of Scotch- Irish parentage, and died in January, 1885, in Nebraska. By occupation he was a successful farmer. The mother was of German descent. She died in June, 1901. Mrs. Bainter was born in Penn- sylvania, in August, 1857, and came to Nebraska with her parents. To Mr. and Mrs. Bainter have been born the following children: Elmer C., at

home; Mrs. Della Haye, living in North Yakima; Fred O., at home ; Mrs. Mertie S. Washburn, a resi- dent of Bellingham, Washington ; Maisie L. and Ora B., both living at home. In political matters Mr. Bainter is tied to no particular party, but votes for the measures and men most satisfactory to him. While paying particular attention to the raising of potatoes and grain, in which he has been eminently successful, Mr. Bainter is also devoting considerable time and money to the breeding of thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs, attaining very good results. He is respected and esteemed as a substantial citizen of his community.

MARCUS D. MOODY, although his residence in Yakima county is one of less than three years' duration, has by his ability, strength of character and public spirit in that short period of time risen to a position of influence in his community. Living in a section of the county as yet considered a strip of frontier-the Yakima Indian reservation-Mr. Moody has taken an active part in the development of its natural resources, and the products of his ranch, situated four and a half miles southwest of Wapato, bear testimony to the fertility of the soil, the favorableness of the climate and his skill as a farmer. He was born in Caldwell county, North Carolina, January 22, 1863, to Robert H. and Bath- sheba (Chambers) Moody, also natives of North Carolina, the father born May 10, 1822, and the mother November 28, 1830. Both parents were members of pioneer families in that state. The father's profession is that of a Baptist minister, and in this noble calling he has spent all the years of his manhood. The mother died in 1896, but Rev. R. H. Moody is still living, residing at Junction City, Kansas.

The subject of this biography received his early training in the duties of life on his father's farm and the farms of others in North Carolina, at the same time attending the common schools. When sixteen years old he went to Kansas with his parents, and there, five years later, he was married and com- menced working for himself. Until 1887 he was en- gaged in farming and buying and selling land in Kansas, living in Rice county much of the time. In the western part of the state he pre-empted land. on which he lived until he went to California in 1887. He settled near Oakland, that state, where he lived for two and a half years, removing thence to Seattle .. Here his home was until 1893, when central Wash- ington attracted him so strongly as to induce him to file a homestead claim to a quarter section of fine land in Robinson canyon, Kittitas county. For seven years he made his home among the prosperous people of the Kittitas valley, where he drew to him- self a host of friends ; but in 1901 he discerned a better field for his endeavors in the great, virgin tract of Indian land along the Yakima river, below

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North Yakima, so thither he came and there he has since lived, leasing a quarter section of the finest land.

Mr. Moody was married October 4, 1882, at Chase, Rice county, Kansas, to Miss Martha J. Ken- ton, a native of Kentucky, born in April, 1859, to the union of George W. and Elmira (Collins) Ken- ton. Her family-the Kentons-are members of the famous old Kentucky stock bearing that name, the Kentons with whom Daniel Boone fought in the conquest of Kentucky. George W. Kenton is still living at an advanced age at Raymond, Kansas, as is also his wife. To Mr. and Mrs. Moody have been born eight children : Maude L., George R., Mary E., William T., Elmira B., Elvira E., Martha K. B., and David K., all of whom are living at home. As a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Mr. Moody holds the office of worthy adviser in the lodge to which he belongs; in political affairs he takes a deep interest and he is known as a stalwart Republican. In educational matters he is also deeply interested. He has been for many years a school director, at the present time being a member of the board in district No. 54 at Wapato. His service for the cause of education in both Kittitas and Yakima counties has been highly creditable to himself, and has brought out in strong light his abilities, perse- verance and integrity as a citizen. His ranch pro- duces hay, potatoes, grain and other products peculiarly adapted to the Yakima region.

PETER N. CAMPBELL, one of the prosper- ous and popular ranchmen engaged in farming on the reservation near Wapato, is of Scotch descent and endowed with those traits of character which have placed the Scotch people in the front ranks of our American citizenship, although as yet the subject of this biography is loyal to the British flag. He was born in Kent county, Ontario, in 1869, his parents being Peter and Isabella (Mc- Carty) Campbell, born in Scotland in the years 1819 and 1825 respectively. The father came to New York in 1830 and subsequently settled in Canada with his parents. There he has successfully pursued farming and milling and with his wife still lives in the contentment of a ripe age. The mother came to Canada in 1838 and was there married to Mr. Campbell. Peter N. Campbell was educated in the public schools of Canada and also attended business college. For a time he acted as assistant bookkeeper in his father's mill. In 1882 the family went to Manitoba. where father and sons engaged in the elevator business at Port- age la Prairie, also operating a grist-mill at that place. When Peter reached an age of judgment in business affairs he was placed in charge of the elevator, buying and shipping large quantities of grain. In connection with this business he and his brothers conducted a thousand-acre grain farm

and bought and sold grain throughout the prov- ince. Mr. Campbell was thus successfully engaged until the middle nineties, when the financial strin- gency and other business troubles caused him to retire. In 1895 he sold his interests and came to North Yakima. For six years he leased and farmed two hundred and fifteen acres of land, known as the Dr. Morrison place, in the Yakima valley, raising hops, hay and fruit. Then, in 1901, he removed to his present home on the reserva- tion, three and a half miles southwest of Wapato. On this eighty-acre farm he is prospering and gradually building up his interests.

He was married June 18, 1889, in Ontario, to Miss Mary Patterson, the daughter of John and Catherine (Smith) Patterson. The father was born in Scotland in 1819, came to Canada in his tenth year, where he lived, respected by all, until his- death, September 7, 1903. The mother is of Ger- man descent, but of Canadian birth, and is still living. Mrs. Campbell was born in Ontario in 1865 and received her education at Ridgetown. Into Mr. and Mrs. Campbell's home have come five children, Roy, Vera, Pearl, Lorna and Ralph, the oldest of whom is thirteen and the youngest four. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are faithful mem- bers of the Christian church. He is affiliated with the Wapato camp of Modern Woodmen. Both he and his wife are highly esteemed as loyal, help- ful friends and neighbors and he is recognized as a substantial, progressive citizen of integrity and true worth.

CHARLES D. LAWRENCE, who lives five miles southwest of Wapato on the reservation, where he leases a quarter section of fine land, is- a native of Washington, Ohio, 1856 being the year of his birth. His father and mother were Hen- derson and Margaret (Fleming) Lawrence, he being born in Ohio in 1825, the son of two of the earliest pioneers of that region. His death occurred in 1862. The mother was a native of Scotland, who came to the United States when a young woman and died in Ohio in 1864 at the age of forty- two. She had a brother who accompanied the famous Fremont expedition to the Pacific. The son Charles when only seven years old was left an orphan. Fortunately, however, his aunt, Mrs. Lydia Lawrence-Hart, matron of the Marietta Orphans' Home for fifteen years beginning with 1869, took the young lad in charge and under her care he received a meager education and was in- structed in farming. At the age of twenty he went to Corning, Iowa ; a year later he engaged in farm- ing for himself, living in Iowa nine years. Then he removed to Columbus, Nebraska. During his residence in Iowa, in 1878, a cyclone struck his home, destroying most of his property, grinding the house into kindling wood and carrying the

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family some distance, thought not seriously injur- ing them. In Nebraska he engaged in farming and stock raising extensively, living there nine years, during which period he prospered exceed- ingly. Then he sold out and spent two years in the Ozark mountains, Missouri, after which he lived successively in western Nebraska, Oklahoma, Mis- souri, Kansas, Dakota, where he lived from 1895 to 1900, Idaho, and finally in June, 1902, settled upon his present place, where he intends remaining, as he considers the Yakima valley one of the best favored localities in the West.

Mr. Lawrence was married October 21, 1877, in Iowa, to Miss Mary J. Lock, born in Ohio, 1856, to the union of Jacob and Phoebe (Filman) Lock. Both father and mother were born in Prussia- in 1830 and 1829, respectively. Mr. Lock came to America when he was nineteen years old. In 1864 he settled in Iowa and later went to Nebraska, where he and his wife are still living. By trade he is a tailor. One of his brothers served in the Civil war and was present at the capture of Jeffer- son Davis. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence's children are as follows: Phoebe, Henry J., Simon, Lydia, Es- tella R., Charles D. and Rufus F. Mr. Lawrence is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Because of their congeniality, hospitality and true kindness Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence have won the friendship of all with whom they came in contact, and the husband and father is considered a good citizen. His ranch is principally devoted to corn, alfalfa and potatoes.

REV. FREEMAN WALDEN, now engaged in fruit growing and hay farming, resides three miles northwest of Zillah. He was born in In- diana March 18, 1839, the son of Joseph and Rhoda (Sparks) Walden. His father was a na- tive of Connecticut, born in 1792; was a physi- cian and school teacher, a veteran of the War of 1812, and died in 1854. His mother was a native of Tennessee, born in 1812 and died in 1864. The son Freeman received a high school and college education in Iowa and taught school both be- fore and after graduation. In 1862 he ceased his labors as a teacher and entered the ministry, in which calling he has ever since remained, al- though he has not preached for compensation since 1896. He came to Washington in 1888, locating at Waitsburg, where he had charge of a congregation for four years. Afterwards he had charge of the Christian church at North Yakima for several months, eventually resigning and going east. After one year in Clinton, Mis- souri, and one vear in Boise, Idaho, he returned to Washington and was located first in Pomeroy and later in Ellensburg. Although he still preaches every Sunday, he closed his work in the ministry as a calling when he gave up the El-

lensburg charge. In 1888 he was elected presi- dent of the first state convention of ministers and for one year served the association as a state evangelist. In 1898 he organized the first church in Zillah, at the present time an active and a growing congregation. Rev. Mr. Walden has always been a student of horticulture and many years ago published a book in Iowa entitled "The Small Fruit Guide." In 1891 he purchased eighty acres of land where he now lives and afterwards sent his sons here to start a nursery. This was successfully accomplished and one hundred thou- sand fruit trees were sold in the valley, besides those grown for the setting of a large orchard on the place. Other acres were afterwards added to the farm, which now consists of two hundred and six acres, sixty of which are in bearing orchard and forty more in young trees. Mr. Walden is known as the apple king of central Washington, and probably produces more and finer apples than any one else in the state. He personally superintended the packing of fifty boxes of apples which he sent to the Buffalo Ex- position and which captured a gold medal. He is an acknowledged authority on horticulture; is editor of the horticultural department of The Ranch, a farm paper published at Seattle; is a regularly engaged lecturer before the farmers' institutes throughout the state, and has been in- vited to lecture on the subject in British Colum- bia and at other places.

Mr. Walden was married in Iowa in 1862, to Miss Mary O. Berry, who was born in the same state in 1840, the daughter of Samuel H. and Ellen (Barnes) Berry. The wife died in North Yakima in 1891; she was the mother of nine children. Mr. Walden was again married in 1892 to Mrs. Anna E. (Beeson) Van Voorhees, born in Ohio, July, 1843, the daughter of Samuel and Martha (Smith) Beeson. Mr. Walden has one brother living, Joseph, born in Iowa and now living in Minnesota. The following are the names of the children: A. Judson, James C., Lettie M., Leila, William B., Hattie and Mattie (twins), deceased ; Smiley F., born in Iowa, April 22. 1867, married in North Yakima, October 25, 1893, to Miss Edna . Van Buskirk: their children are: Francis L., Zella M., and Gladys B .; Francis M., born in Iowa, October 18, 1877, mar- ried, June 30, 1903. to Miss Myrtle Gale, living on the home farm. Mr. Walden's fraternal con- nections are with the Masons. In political mat- ters he advocates the principles of the Republican party. The greater portion of his time is devoted to the superintendency of the fruit farm, which has yielded in some vears a net income of one hundred dollars per acre. He always takes a special interest in educational matters and was identified with the organization of school district No. 50. He is widely known over central Wash- ington for his work as a minister and as a horti-

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culturist ; is a man of influence in local and gen- eral affairs : has lived a very busy and a very useful life, and wherever known is highly esteemed and respected by his fellow men.

JOHN P. FOX, postmaster at Zillah, Washı- ington, is a native of Ohio, where he was born July 17, 1847, the son of John and Mary (Fisher) Fox. His father was a farmer, born in Virginia, 18II, one of the first settlers in Vernon county, Wisconsin, where he died; he was of German and Irish descent. His mother, of German descent, was born in Pennsylvania in 1814 and died in Wisconsin. The son John attended school in Wisconsin until sixteen years old, when he be- gan to earn his own living. At the age of twenty he opened a blacksmith shop, hiring a smith from whom he learned the trade, following this, with intervals spent in other occupations, until 1898. In 1870 he went to Minnesota and engaged in raising wheat; but the venture not proving suc- cessful, he returned to Wisconsin, farmed for four years and again opened a blacksmith shop. In 1887 he went to Champion, Nebraska, opened a shop and continued there until 1893, when he came to Washington, locating in Zillah. Here he bought a shop that had already been built, the first erected in the town, which he operated until he received the appointment as postmaster in 1898. In 1900 he purchased forty acres of land adjoining the town and has made of it one of the best farms in the vicinity. Two sisters, Mrs. Amanda Marsh and Mrs. Melissa Marsh, live in Nebraska ; two brothers, Elias and LaFayette, live in Wisconsin. One sister and three brothers are dead; two of the brothers, members of Com- pany I, Sixth Wisconsin volunteers, died while soldiers of the Civil war. Mr. Fox was married in Wisconsin, in 1868, to Miss Clarissa Allen, who was born in Wisconsin June 22, 1848, the daughter of John W. and Larina (Boyer) Allen, natives of New York. Miss Allen was fifth in a family of nine girls and four boys. Six of her brothers and sisters are living, as follows: Mrs. Harriet Bingham, Mrs. Amanda Lind, Mrs. Juliette Board, Mrs. Augusta Proctor, Thomas and Ethan Allen, all living in Wisconsin. John W. Allen, the father of Mrs. Fox, was a pioneer of the early forties in Wisconsin, a period when there were no railroads and when it was neces- sary to haul wheat by wagon to Milwaukee, a distance of ninety miles. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fox: Delmer, born in Wisconsin, May 27, 1869, now a real estate dealer in Zillah, married, and has one daughter, Gratia, born in Ashland, Wisconsin, 1895; George, born in Minnesota January 28, 1871, also married, and living in Zillah ; and Walter, born in Wisconsin, April 9. 1880, living with his par- ents. Besides the farm, on which there are six

acres of orchard, Mr. and Mrs. Fox have a com- fortable home in Zillah. Mr. Fox is a Republican, and has fraternal connections with the Masons and with the Odd Fellows. He is an efficient postmaster, a man of energy and correct prin- ciples, well known for his sterling traits of char- acter and highly respected by his fellow men.

WILLIS S. DOUGLASS, water superintend- ent of the big Sunnyside canal, who resides at Zillah, has been a citizen of Yakima county for fourteen years. He was born in the state of New York, March 25. 1874, the son of Joshua P. and Eliza (Robinson) Douglass. The elder Douglass was a native of New York, born in 1831, was a teacher by profession, and for a number of years was principal of the Utica, New York, schools. In the later years of his life he followed farming and died in Yakima county, November 20, 1902. His wife, the mother of Willis Douglass, also a native of New York, born in 1835, died in Yak- ima county, July 20, 1903. When the son Willis was but two years old his parents moved from New York to Nebraska and here he received his education in the common schools. When seven- teen years old, in 1891, he came to Yakima county, Washington, and engaged at once in carpenter work for the Northern Pacific, Yakima and Kitti- tas Irrigation Company, the promoter of the Sun- nyside canal. During the winter months he at- tended school and, in 1884, attended one term in the Woodcock academy. He continued with the irrigation company, was from time to time pro- moted, and when the canal changed owners, in 1889, he was made water superintendent, a posi- tion of many responsibilities, which he still holds. He has four sisters and two brothers: Mrs. Alice Walker and Mrs. Nannie Mudd, residing in Zil- lah; Joshua P., a printer, living in Chicago, Illi- nois; Grace, living on the home farm; Arthur, a law student in California, and Lena, a school teacher, living on the home farm. There is also a half-brother, Ernest M. Douglass, principal of the public schools at Sunnyside. Arthur Doug- lass has spent six years in the Philippines, three years as a soldier in a volunteer regiment. Octo- ber 9, 1897, witnessed the marriage in North Yak- ima of Willis Douglass and Miss Ethel D. Eader, who was born in Danville. Illinois, March 18, 1880, the daughter of David and Mollie "( Pridemore) Eader, natives of Illinois and now living in Indi- ana. Her father is a dealer in musical instruments and has several stores in eastern cities. Mrs. Douglass has three sisters: Mrs. Edith Stevens, in California; Mrs. Mable Henderson, in Seattle; and Gratia Eader, with her parents. Two children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Douglass : Lucile. born August 1, 1898, and Clarence E., born October 10, 1901. The family attend the

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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 153

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