An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington, Part 158

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 158
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 158
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 158

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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dealings with others, a man of influence in local affairs and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow men.

JOSEPH LANNIN, justice of the peace at Sunnyside, Washington, and for three years judge of the horticultural department of the Washington state fair association, is a native of Toronto, Can- ada, born March 28, 1824. He is the son of George and Ann (German) Lannin, of English de- scent; the father died when Joseph was a child; the mother died in Canada in her eighty-second year. The son Joseph was educated in Toronto, leaving there when twelve years old and going first to London, Canada, and later to Elma, Perth county. In 1848 he came to the United States, settling in Van Buren county, Michigan, where he followed fruit growing for forty-five years. He was an expert authority on peaches, grapes and pears, and was in charge of the Michigan fruit exhibit at the World's Fair in Chicago in 1893. He was for a number of years vice-president of the Michigan State Horticultural Society and was afterwards president for years of the West Mich- igan Fruit-growers' Association, of which he was one of the organizers. The Washington exhibit of fruit at the World's Fair attracted his atten- tion in 1893, and soon afterwards he sold out his Michigan interests and moved to Yakima county,. locating on a twenty-acre farm near Sunnyside in 1894. This land he transformed from its prim- itive condition to a most productive tract, setting out ten acres to orchard, erecting a neat cottage (the first plastered and papered house in the com- munity), and making of the farm an ideal home. This farm he sold, retiring from the more active labors of life in March, 1902.

Mr. Lannin was first married in Canada, the wife living, however, but a short time. Again, in 1894, he was married in Iowa to Mrs. Genevieve (Hutchins) Stevens, formerly the wife of Dr. J. F. Stevens, of Portland, Me., to whom she was mar- ried in 1862, and who was a prominent Repub- lican state legislator of Maine. Mrs. Lannin was born in Vermont, February 20, 1845, the daughter of Levi and Caroline (Fitzgerald) Hutchins, na- tives of Vermont and New York, respectively. Mrs. Lannin was educated at Fort Edward col- lege, New York, on the Hudson river, being grad- uated therefrom in her sixteenth year. She is one of a family of six children. The following are her brothers and sisters: Horace W. Hutchins, living in Boston; Major John F., a veteran of the Civil war, of Seattle; Professor Oscar B., for the past thirty years a teacher in the Bryant & Stratton college, in Boston; Doctor Eugene, a prominent physician and surgeon of Minneapolis, Minnesota ; Mrs. Endora Russell, of Iowa, two of whose sons are prominent citizens of Chicago, Illinois, one of them being on the Board of Trade. By her former

marriage Mrs. Lannin has six children, as follows: Gerald F. Stevens, of the firm of Stevens Brothers, Chicago, Illinois, merchants; Grant E., a member of the same firm; Mrs. Edith M. Clancey, of St. Louis, Missouri; John B., of Sunnyside; Mrs. Stella E. Bates, of Three Rivers, Michigan. One sister, Louisa C., died when three years old. John B. Stevens served in Battery B, Utah volunteers, during the Spanish-American war. Mr. and Mrs. Lannin are among the most public-spirited citizens of Sunnyside, and are always found in the lead when the public welfare is under consideration. The Public Library Association was organized in 1901 by Mrs. Lannin's efforts, and she has by her individual endeavors secured cash and lots in sub- scriptions, that place the library on a solid finan- cial basis. She organized the first observation of Memorial day in the community, started the move- ment for the purchase of an organ for the public schools and carried it to a successful issue, and was the leading promoter of the local Sunnyside fair which is held each year after the close of the state fair. The first literary society was organized in October, 1894, with Joseph Lannin as pres- ident. In this way Mr. and Mrs. Lannin have al- ways exerted their united efforts and their whole influence for the advancement of the best inter- ests of the general public. Unselfish and untiring in their labors, of most generous impulses, and desiring only the good and the advancement of others, they have gained the esteem of their fel- low citizens and are held in high respect by a host of sincere friends. Mr. Lannin is prominent in Masonic and Odd Fellow circles, and has been a lifelong Republican, voting with the party since its organization. He has been a member of the Methodist church for seventy years. Respected and loved by all who know them and possessing so many of those sterling traits of personal char- acter that make life a success in the truest sense of the term, none is more deserving of an hon- ored place in the history of their home county than Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Lannin.

DAVID B. EBY. One of the progressive and successful farmers of Yakima county is David B. Eby, who resides two miles east of Sunnyside, on rural free delivery route No. I. Mr. Eby is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Huntingdon county May 10, 1851, the son of Enoch and Hetty (Howe) Eby, natives of Penn- sylvania, the father still living, in Stephenson county, Illinois. His mother was born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, February 19, 1823. His father was born in Franklin county, Pennsylva- nia, November 15, 1828, was a farmer and a min- ister, but has now retired from the more active duties of life. He became a minister of the Brethren church at the age of nineteen, and was sent in early life as a missionary to Denmark,

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where he organized the first Brethren church established in that country. He was a pioneer of Illinois and is now one of the oldest ministers in his church, but is still a hale and hearty man. He was the first minister of the Brethren con- gregation at Sunnyside and vicinity. In the fam- ily are three sons and one daughter: John G., a farmer of Marshall county, Kansas; Mrs. An- netta C. Yarger, wife of an Illinois farmer ; David, the subject of this article, and Levi H., a missionary living in Fort Wayne, Indiana. When the son David was four years old his parents moved to Illinois, where he received his early education in the public schools, following this course with one year in college in Bourbon, Indiana. He then engaged in farming and was so occupied in Illinois until 1898, when he came to Washington, locating on the farm near Sun- nyside which is now his home. This was then a tract of wild land overgrown with sage-brush, but he at once began its improvement and has made of it not only a comfortable home but a most valuable and productive farm on which he has erected good buildings, and where are found the necessary stock and equipage of the modern, progressive farmer. Besides the usual number of horses and dairy cows found on a good farm, he has eighty head of stock cattle, the raising of which he finds very profitable.

December 31, 1874, Mr. Eby was married in Stephenson county, Illinois, to Miss Hannah Studebaker, who was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, February 1, 1849, the daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Wertz) Studebaker, na- tives of Pennsylvania, the father born May 19, 1813, and the mother in 1817; both parents are dead, the date of the father's death being June 30, 1896. To Mr. and Mrs. Eby have been born eight children, three of whom are dead. Their names follow : Cora (deceased) ; Jacob A., born December 3, 1877, living in Sunnyside; Harrison R. (deceased), born January 24, 1880; Mary M., born May 5, 1883, at home ; David L. (deceased), born April 19, 1886; Orpha E., born March 23, 1889, at home; Enoch L., born January 2, 1891, at home; Verna R., born April 6, 1895; Illinois was the birthplace of all. Mr. and Mrs. Eby belong to the Brethren church. In political mat- ters Mr. Eby is a Republican. Besides his one hundred and twenty-acre farm he has a number of lots in Sunnyside. He is a man of honor and integrity, progressive in his ideas, interested in all movements for the public welfare, of pro- nounced influence in local affairs, and is re- spected and highly esteemed by all who know him.

JOHN B. SHELLER, one of the successful farmers and fruit growers of Yakima county, re- sides two and one-half miles northeast of Sun- nyside, on rural free delivery route No. I.

He is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Franklin county, August 6, 1847, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Butterbaugh) Sheller, also natives of Pennsylvania, both now dead. The subject of this biography is one of a family of seven sons and daughters. The names of his brothers and sisters follow : Mrs. Louisa Zuck, living in Iowa; David B., of Tacoma; Mrs. Mary Blough, in Illinois; George W., in Maine; Mrs. Emma Kimmel, in Iowa, and Benjamin F., in Illinois. When the son John was two years old his par- ents moved to Illinois and there, in the public schools of Carroll county, he received his early education, leaving school at the age of nineteen and assisting his father on the farm until his twenty-third year. At this age he went to La- nark, Illinois, and entered a printing office, even- tually becoming a practical printer and newspa- per manager, afterwards taking charge of the Mt. Carroll Gazette and continuing its editor and publisher for four years. He then removed to Iowa and became a hardware merchant, follow- ing the business for five years, when he sold out and entered the employ of L. Harbach as travel- ing salesman for his wholesale furniture house, so occupying himself for fifteen years. At this time, the health of his parents failing, he re- turned home and cared for them until their deaths, in the meanwhile engaging in the hard- ware business. In October, 1897, he left Illinois and went to California, but shortly afterwards came to Washington and in 1898 purchased the farm on which he is now residing. He has here sixty acres of land on which he has a comfort- able home; twenty acres are planted in fruit trees and the remainder is hay land; it is also well stocked with cattle and horses. In 1902 he raised over seven thousand boxes of apples.

In April, 1877, Mr. Sheller was married in Gowrie, Iowa, to Miss Leafy L. Ustick, who was born in Whiteside county, Illinois, January, 1857, the daughter of Abner and Mariam (Ab- bott) Ustick, both of whom are living with the daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Sheller have one son, Roscoe A., born in Illinois, April 3, 1889; two daughters, Eva and Merle, born in Iowa, are dead. Mrs. Sheller is a member of the Metho- dist church. Mr. Sheller's fraternal connections are with the Masons and the Modern Woodmen. Politically, he is a Republican, and, although an active worker in the ranks and a man of influ- ence in the councils of the party, he has refused to accept office, preferring to labor for the suc- cess of friends. He is highly esteemed as a man of honor and integrity, of progressive ideas and correct principles and is well worthy a place in a work of this character.

JAMES R. HARVEY, M. D., the pioneer physician and surgeon of Sunnyside, Washington,

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is a native of Indiana, born in Pleasantville, Sul- livan county, May 20, 1860, the son of Francis A. and Lydia (Gilkerson) Harvey, natives of the same county and state, the father born in 1825 and the mother in 1827, the mother deceased, the father still living in Pleasantville. They were the parents of four children, including the subject of this biography, whose brothers and one sister are located-as follows: L. Asbury Harvey, a farmer near Pleasantville, Indiana; John F. Harvey, a member of the Indiana Methodist conference, and Mrs. Ella J. Fellows, wife of a real estate dealer of Los Angeles, California.

The son James received his early education in the public schools of his native county in Indiana. At the age of twenty-one he entered the DePauw University at Greencastle, Indiana, remaining a student of this institution for two years. Follow- ing this he taught in the common schools of his state for two years. In 1886 he matriculated in the Rush Medical College, graduating therefrom in 1889. During his course of medical study, in order to assist in defraying its expenses, he worked during vacations as a clerk in the offices of a lumber company at Menominee, Michigan. April 1, 1889, he opened an office in Stillman Val- ley, Illinois, where he practiced his profession until the fall of 1900, with the exception of one and one- half years spent in post-graduate study in Chi- cago, Illinois. January 13, 1901, he came west, locating in Sunnyside, where he has built up a very large and lucrative practice. The doctor keeps abreast of the times in his profession and his office is one of the most thoroughly equipped in the county, having among other mechanical de- vices for the treatment of disease, a dynamo for the manufacture of the X-ray and for the electric treatment of various ailments.

March 21, 1889, Doctor Harvey was married in Sullivan, Indiana, to Miss Jessie W. Taylor, who was born in Curden, Iowa, May 24, 1859, the daughter of Judge William E. and Sarah C. (Free- land) Taylor. The daughter Jessie was an only child and her parents died when she was six years old. Dr. and Mrs. Harvey have one son, Francis A., born in Stillman Valley, Illinois, now living in Sunnyside. They are members of the Congrega- tional church, and active church workers. Politi- cally, the doctor is a Prohibitionist, and has al- ways taken a lively interest in the success of his party; he was one of the organizers of the state party in Indiana in 1884. He believes in the future of the Sunnyside country and has invested in a two hundred and forty acre farm near town, also owning a block in the town where he makes his home. He has always shown a commendable pub- lic spirit and takes an interest in the general ad- vancement of the community; he was one of a committee of four appointed to draft the consti- tution and by-laws of the Federated church of

Sunnyside and has since been a member of the advisory board. He has gained the confidence and respect of the community in which he resides, is known as one of the most successful practitioners in the county and as one of its most reliable and substantial citizens.

SIDNEY E. JONES, the genial host of the Globe hotel, Sunnsyside, is a well known and re- spected citizen of the famous Sunnyside country and an important man in the community, for upon him devolves the duty and pleasure of entertain- ing each year a very large number of visitors to and prospective settlers of that region. Success- ful in his work, he is the means in part of favor- ably impressing travelers and thus materially aid- ing in the progress of his home. Mr. Jones is a Pennsylvanian, born in Lawrence county, near the town of Newcastle, in 1860. His father, Erymus Jones, was born in the same state twenty-eight years previously, of Welsh parentage. He served his country faithfully in the Civil war, and in times of peace tilled the soil for a livelihood until his death in 1867. The mother, Mary (Hill) Jones, also of Welsh descent, was born in the Keystone state, and died there. Her father was a soldier of the War of 1812. When only twelve years old, the subject of this chronicle left the Pennsylvania home to join an uncle in Kansas. A year later he plunged boldly into an independent existence, working at various occupations until 1880, when he came west to Umatilla county and two years later settled upon a homestead and timber culture near Heppner. He continued to reside upon this place until 1892, when he sold his property and took up his abode in Yakima county, living at Zillah a year, then opening a blacksmith shop at Yakima City. In 1900 the opportunity presented by the Sunnyside region appealed to him so strongly that he bought the Globe hotel at Sun- ryside and removed to that thriving town.

Mr. Jones bade adieu to his bachelor days while a resident of Oregon, his marriage to Miss Dora Morgan taking place in 1882. She is a Missou- rian by birth, born in 1863. Thomas H. and Eliz- abeth (Noble) Morgan, now dead, were her par- ents. They emigrated from Kansas to Oregon in 1880, locating in Umatilla county. Mrs. Jones has one sister, Mrs. Kate Foster, in Washington, two brothers and a sister in Kansas and a brother and a sister in Oregon. Four children-Clarence, Roy, Ralph and Erymus, all at home-have come to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Jones. He is a mem- ber of the Sunnyside camp of Modern Woodmen; politically, he is bound to no party, but votes an independent ticket. Mr. Jones has accumulated a valuable holding of property in Yakima county, owning, besides his Sunnyside business and land, property in Yakima City. Mr. Jones has watched

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at close range a very rapid settlement of the Sun- nyside region during the past four years, has taken an active part in that progress, and now as a pub- lic spirited citizen of strength among his fellow men is seeking to further advance the interests of his community and county by promoting set- tlement and introducing improvements along all lines. In Sunnyside, as elsewhere in the Yakinia country, "Forward" is the watchword.

EMMETT R. TAYLOR. Prominent among the young men of Yakima county whose talents and energy have been used for the mutual benefit of themselves and the communities in which they live is the man whose name begins this sketch. He came into the Sunnyside country when its plains were just commencing to bear marks of cultivation and money was a rarity among the few settlers ; today he is a prosperous ranchman and stockman of the dis- trict, ranks as a pioneer of that region, and is well started on the highway of life. Van Buren county, Iowa, is Mr. Taylor's birthplace; July 19, 1879, was his birthday. His parents, C. W. and Mattie P. (Pickins) Taylor, were born in Ohio, the father being of Dutch descent, the mother of Irish. C. W. Taylor served as a member of the Ohio state guard during the Civil war, and subsequently settled in Iowa. In that state Mrs. Taylor died in 1887. After her death the family came to the Pacific coast, Mr. Taylor taking a position as bookkeeper for Franks & Company in Seattle, and later as foreman in the Skookum box factory of that city. In 1893 Mr. Taylor and his sons Emmett and Clarence came to the Sunnyside country in the capacity of contractors and builders. They built W. W. Webber's house at Sunnyside, the first substantial house in the town ; also a large number of homes and buildings in the surrounding country, J. B. George's store buildings, and homes for themselves. In order to get to Sunny- side the Taylors borrowed fifty dollars, and for three years after their arrival the family did not see that much in cash, the settlers exchanging farm produce and other articles in place of money. Many became discouraged and left. The pioneers of Sunnyside felt the hard times of the .middle nineties if any people in the west did. In the fall of 1894 Mr. Taylor's daughters, Rena and Grace, joined fatlier and brothers at Sunnyside, and the home was re- established. Emmett Taylor established the first harness shop at Sunnyside in' 1895, conducted it three years, and sold it to John Cody. He also dealt, and is still dealing quite extensively, in horses, being one of the best judges of horseflesh in the county, those who know him say. After selling the harness shop, he bought ten acres in town, improved the tract, sold it and with the proceeds he and his father erected two houses. Subsequently he traded this property for the fine one hundred and twenty acre

ranch, of which he owns forty acres and his father eighty, three miles west of Sunnyside. In March, 1903, he removed to this place, and now makes his home there. He recently bought the interest of his partner in the firm of Taylor & Gochnour, owning one hundred and fifty head of horses, ranging and being fed in the northern part of Yakima county. Among these animals are several blooded stallions of great value. He was married December 30. 1903. in Sunnyside, to Miss Lena M. Peck, daughter of S. D. and Ann Peck, natives of New York, living at Sunnyside. Mrs. Taylor was born in Michigan, February 17, 1881.

Mr. Taylor is a member of the Christian church, and is active in all public matters. He is one of Sunnyside's wide-awake, progressive citizens, re- spected and capable, and both himself and wife enjoy the esteem of a host of friends and acquaintances, young and old.

LOUIS C. RORABACK, plumber and tinner, is a product of the New England states, who has fol- lowed the well-worn western trail leading from the crowded Atlantic coast to the sparsely settled but highly progressive Pacific coast. He is a representa- tive of that army of young men, born, educated and trained in the older eastern states, which each year invades the west and pours its knowledge, energies and enthusiasm into the struggle constantly going on in the development of the west's latent resources. Winstead,. Litchfield county, Connecticut, is the birthplace of Louis C., son of James P. and M. Carrie (Dexter) Roraback, the year of his birth be- ing 1878. James P. Roraback, of German descent, was auditor general of the Central New England railroad for many years preceding his death in 1888. Mrs. Roraback is a native of Salisbury, Connecti- cut, and is now living with her son in Sunny- side. Louis C. attended school until fifteen years old, when he entered railroad work. Subsequently he left this business and learned the trade of a stonemason and worked at electrical engineering, gradually acquiring a substantial knowledge of me- chanics. He was in charge of a crew of men for three years before coming west to Sunnyside in 1900. Arriving in Washington, direct from Hart- ford, Connecticut, Mr. Roraback at once entered the employ of the Hub Mercantile Company as a plumber. He soon discerned a profitable field for that class of work, and opened a shop for himself, and is doing a prosperous business. He commands the respect and business of the community, as a result of which his business is rapidly growing and keeping steady pace with the development of the country. Mr. Roraback is an only child, and with himself and wife lives his widowed mother. He was married at Sunnyside, February 17, 1904, to Miss Rachael M. Whitney, of Sunnyside, daughter

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of Vinal E. and Deborah (Ricketson) Whitney, both natives of New York, where Mrs. Roraback was also born. He is a member of the Congrega- tional church, and is affiliated with the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. As a believer in the princi- ples of the Republican party, Mr. Roraback is an ardent member of that party, and a strong admirer of President Roosevelt. In truth, it may be said that he is one of Sunnyside's most popular and sub- stantial young citizens.

JOHN D. COUEY conducts a blacksmith shop at Sunnyside and is one of the substantial business men of that thrifty little town. He is a native of the Northwest, born in Lane county, Oregon, November 6, 1869, to the union of James M. and Elizabeth (Ritchie) Couey. These brave pioneers crossed the Plains with their parents in the same train during the early fifties. The father was born in Illinois in June, 1847; the mother, in Iowa, in 1851. The family were in Oregon at the time of the Indian troubles in the later seventies, and for four years were absent from their home in Lane county, subsequently returning. They removed to Goldendale when the subject of our sketch was fourteen years old, taking land near that center. John D. worked with his father on the farm until seventeen years old, when he entered into a three and a half years' apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade. From Goldendale he went to Cleveland, in the eastern part of the county, and there opened a shop, meeting with good success. However, mis- fortune overtook him in 1896, when the shop was destroyed by fire. Mr. Couey thereupon com- menced farming, working in Oregon three years. In 1899, he came to Yakima county and became employed seven miles from North Yakima, work- ing upon that place until March, 1902; at that time he located in the Sunnyside region, working at his old trade. Recently Mr. Couey opened his own shop, where he is receiving excellent sup- port from the community-a testimony to the ability of the smith.

In 1895 he was married, Miss Estella Alexan- dar being his bride. The ceremony took place in Klickitat county. Mrs. Couey is the daughter of John and Viola (Newman) Alexander and was born at Vancouver in 1879. John Alexander crossed the Plains from his native state, Illinois, in an early day and is still living, a prosperous farmer of Yakima county. Mrs. Couey is the oldest of a family of five girls and three boys; Mr. Couey is the oldest of a family of four children. To Mr. and Mrs. Couey have been born three chil- dren: James, Kenneth and Hazel, all of whom are living. Mr. Couey is a Prohibitionist. By those who know him he is regarded as one of Sunnyside's reli ble, industrious and honest business men and a good citizen.

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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 158

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