An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington, Part 163

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 163
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 163
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 163

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JAMES F. LOWRY, wheat raiser and stock- man, living in Kiona, is a Kentuckian by birth, that event in his life occurring in the year 1858, and in that state he spent his youth. Isaiah Lowry, his father, was a native of Ohio and became a prominent citizen of Covington, Kentucky, and there lived until his death. Mrs. Isaiah (Runyon) Lowry, the mother, was also an Ohioan; she died when James was only six years old. At the age of thirteen, the subject of this article left Kentucky and commenced working on a farm in Ohio, com- pleting his education by attending school winters. He remained in Ohio until 1878; then visited Illi- nois, and a little later went to Iowa. From Iowa he went further west into Colorado and was em- ployed in the mines of that state three years, also spending a year at farming. Thence he came to the Northwest, settling first in Oregon, where he was engaged two years in railroad work. In 1882

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he arrived in Washington Territory, locating in Klickitat county. A year in farming and the nur- sery industry followed, then a year riding the range for McGee Brothers, four years' service with the Northern Pacific, and finally thirteen years in the stock industry in Yakima county. Of these thir- teen years, Mr. Lowry spent five in the employ of the Eclipse Live Stock & Cattle Company, two years as foreman. In 1901 he commenced raising wheat upon four sections of leased land in the wheat belt and was quite successful. Last season he cultivated sixteen hundred acres and the pre- vious season but nine hundred acres, showing the growth of the enterprise. Mr. Lowry also has a homestead in the wheat region. His stock inter- ests are still large and require a great deal of his attention. He has four hundred head of horses at present and is making a special effort to breed high grade driving animals. Mrs. Alice Johnson, living in California, is his sister, and he has two other sisters living in Colorado and Missouri, re- spectively. Mr. Lowry is an Odd Fellow, a mem- ber of the Methodist church, and in politics takes his stand with the Republican party. He is a suc- cessful ranchman, one of the builders of Yakima county and one of its esteemed citizens.

WILLIAM A. KELSO, of the well known firm of Kelso Brothers, engaged in the general store business in Kiona, and probably the most exten- sive wheat growers in the Yakima wheat belt, be- sides being operators along other lines, is among central Washington's most substantial and influen- tial citizens. He and his brothers have long been leaders in their community; established Kiona, bore their full share of responsibility in develop- ing the county, and are recognized from one end of it to the other as men of progressive ideas, energetic action and public spirit. To such men the Yakima country owes its present high repu- tation and its progress. The subject of this biog- raphy is a native of Ohio. born in 1858 to John A. and Martha (Miller) Kelso, of Irish extrac- tion. The elder Kelso was also born in Ohio, 1832 being the year of his birth, and he has followed agricultural pursuits all his life. He came to Wash- ington in 1884, and the year following took up his abode in the Walla Walla valley. At present he is engaged in market gardening at his place, two miles from the city of Walla Walla, where he and his wife are passing their declining years in com- fort and peace. Martha (Miller) Kelso was also born in Ohio, and both educated and married in that state.

William A. Kelso obtained a common school education in his native state, working upon the farm summers and attending school winters. In the spring of 1878 he left Ohio, and during the next four years worked for different farmers in

Minnesota. Returning to Ohio, he spent a short time at home, and then set out to investigate the Northwest, particularly the Willamette valley. He was disappointed in his hopes of settling in Ore- gon, and came to Walla Walla. While in that city an old Minnesota friend induced him to visit Yakima county, with the result that in the spring of 1882 he filed a pre-emption claim to a tract in the Horse Heaven region, laying the foundation for his present fortune. Two years later his father and the remainder of the family came to Wash- ington. It was then that the firm of Kelso Broth- ers was formed, the partners being William A., Edward E. and Clinton C., and operations were begun on a large scale. The first year they cul- tivated between one thousand and fifteen hundred acres and later increased their farm to six thou- sand acres, its present size. In the summer of 1894 they opened a general mercantile store at a point between Prosser and Kennewick, now known as Kiona, beginning in a small way. Will- iam A. was placed in charge, and so well was the enterprise received that a rapid growth resulted. The firm leased its immense wheat farm in 1900, but continued to operate along other lines and increased the mercantile stock to one of twenty thousand dollar value.

Mr. Kelso and Miss Mary E. Ketcham were united in marriage New Year's day, 1895. Her parents, August C. and Lydia F. Ketcham, of Ger- man and English descent, respectively, were born in New York state and married in Wisconsin. Mr. Ketcham went to Wisconsin with his parents when a little boy and was. there reared. He en- listed in the Fourth Wisconsin infantry in 1861, and served his country throughout the Civil war, attaining to the rank of captain. Upon his return from war he was married and commenced farm- ing. Subsequently he removed to Missouri, and in 1884 immigrated to Washington; he died in Ki- ona in 1892. Mrs. Ketcham, whose maiden name was Lydia F. Thurston, is still living, being in her sixtieth year. Mrs. Kelso was born in Wisconsin, educated in the common schools of Missouri and later in the Brookfield Academy, and at the age of sixteen years began teaching school in Yakima county. She was thus engaged ten years, or until her marriage in 1894, at the age of twenty-six. She has two brothers-Henry T., working in the Kióna store, and Milton, at home; also two sis- ters-Mrs. Ellen C. Rolph, living near Kiona, and Katherine, attending Whitman college. Mr. and Mrs. Kelso have four children, all born in Kiona- Harland D., November 20, 1896; Amy O., No- vember 18, 1898: Merle A., December 10. 1900, and Wallis W., February 2, 1903. Fraternally, Mr. Kelso is connected with the Modern Woodmen; politically, he is a stanch Republican, who has served his county two years, 1893-4, as county commissioner. Mr. and Mrs. Kelso are members

JOHN G. MCCREADIE.

JAMES F. LOWRY.

NOAH J. BECKNER.

WILLIAM A. KELSO.

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of the Methodist church. Besides a third inter- est in the Kiona store and the six thousand-acre wheat farm, Mr. Kelso owns a section of raw land in the Wenas valley, forty acres of raw land near Kennewick, forty acres of meadow land in the valley, and one hundred and fifty head of horses. Both Mr. Kelso and his wife are held in high es- teem by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Kelso is in every respect one or Yakima's solid citizens, a man of sterling character and worth.

NOAH J. BECKNER is one of Yakima county's esteemed young citizens and a merchant in the thriving town of Mabton, which he has made his home for several years. Of German and Eng- lish extraction, he is the son of Tobias and Susan (Small) Beckner, and was born in the state of Indiana, June 27, 1869. His father, with whom he was associated the major portion of his life, was a native of Rush county, Indiana, born in 1847. Tobias Beckner was educated and married in his native state, emigrating from there to Kansas in 1877. There he lived two years at Cottonwood Falls, and then came to The Dalles, Oregon, via the water route from San Francisco. All of his house- hold effects were lost by the sinking of the Great Republic off the Columbia bar. Nothing daunted. by this misfortune, however, the father settled upon a homestead in the Glade, Yakima county, and there farmed and raised stock successfully until 1893. He then removed to Mabton and opened a general store, taking his son Noah into partnership at a later date. The elder Beckner managed the busi- ness until his death in October, 1902. In his re- moval from earthly life, the family lost a most de- voted, loving husband and father, and those who knew him intimately, a loyal friend. Mrs. Beckner is also a native of Indiana, having been born in Rush county in 1848, her father being a pioneer of that state, and born in North Carolina. Susan Small was married to Mr. Beckner when nineteen years of age, and survives him. Noah J. received his education in Indiana, Kansas and Washington, and, as before stated, was in busines with his father until the latter's death, when the junior partner took full charge. He joined his father at Mabton in 1897. Mr. Beckner has only one brother, Barney, who was born in Indiana, Janu- ary 22, 1871. He accompanied his parents to Washington, and is at present married and living on the old homestead in the Glade. The subject of this biography is a Democrat, taking an active part in all county campaigns. Mr. Beckner has pros- pered exceedingly, his property being a five hun- dred and twenty acre tract in the southwestern part of the county, grain land, and a quarter sec- tion of alfalfa adjoining the town of Sunnyside, besides which he owns a small band of horses, and

is heavily interested in Mabton. He is a young man, possessing those qualities which are certain to win for him greater success in business and which have drawn to his side a host of friends and well- wishers.

CYRUS OSCAR WOMMACK, engaged in the livery business at Mabton, was born in Illinois November 15, 1866, and is the son of William L. and Matilda (Renner) Wommack, both of German descent, but born in Illinois and Missouri respect- ively. His father immigrated to the Kansas plains in 1876, went to Gunnison, Colorado, in 1881, where he followed freighting two years, and in 1883 settled upon land near Bickleton, Klickitat county. There he was engaged in farming and raising stock until 1902, since which date he has been living with his son Cyrus at Mabton. Willianı L. is a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted August 27, 1861, in Company F, First Missouri cavalry, and served until May, 1865. The mother was born in St. Louis. She was first married to John Ziff, six children resulting from this union, of whom three are living. The subject of this article was educated in Missouri, Illinois and Kan- sas. He remained on his father's farm until he be- came of age; then entered the horse raising busi- ness in Klickitat and Yakima counties, both buying and selling. In 1894 he filed a homestead claim to a quarter-section in Klickitat county and lived there seven years, continuing his stock business. In 1898 he purchased two hundred and forty acres of land, but four years later sold his entire holdings and removed to Mabton. There he engaged in the livery business, in which he has been successful. In 1890, he was married in Bickleton to Miss Phoebe Bickle, the popular young daughter of Charles N. and Fannie (Bacon) Bickle. The father is a na- tive of Iowa, who crossed the Plains in the early fifties, and located his home in Goldendale. Sub- sequently he founded the town which bears his name, he establishing the first store at that point. Mrs. Bickle was born in Kansas, and is the mother of sixteen children. They are still living, residing near Prosser. Mrs. Wommack was born in Kan- sas, and crossed the Plains when a child. She was seventeen years old when married. To this mar- riage have been born the following children: Will- iam V., November 3, 1892; Mona M., November 27, 1894; Harry O., February 6, 1897; Richard P., born September 1, 1899, died March 6, 1902, and

Carroll, October 6, 1901. Fraternally, Mr. Wom- mack is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Yeomen ; politically, he is a Republican. He owns forty acres of farming land near Mabton, sixty head of cattle and fifty head of horses, besides his livery at Mabton. He is an energetic, progress- ive business man of excellent qualities, and is favor- ally known throughout that section.

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CENTRAL WASHINGTON.

JOSEPH ANDREW HUMPHREY, owner of one-half the site of Mabton, and Northern Pa- cific station agent at that point, was born at Brockville, Ontario, July 7, 1869, to John and Annie (Greer) Humphrey, also natives of On- tario. The father was born in Kingston and was a pioneer of the country north of that place, go- ing into that sparsely settled region in 1825. He is still living in Ontario in his eighty-first year. The mother was born at Gananoque in 1828 and was married when seventeen years old. Her fam- ily were among the first settlers in Iowa, and claim the distinction of being the first to recognize the adaptability of that section for raising corn. The family is of Welsh extraction. Mrs. Humph- rey is also living. Joseph was educated in the public schools of his home and later, when eight- een, was graduated from the Toronto high school. From the schoolroom he went into the Grand Trunk Railroad telegraph offices in Toronto and when nineteen years old his efficiency earned for him promotion to the position of operator at Orilla, Ontario. Two years later he left Canada, taking a position with the Northern Pacific in Montana. Here his first office was Big Timber ; then he went to Miles City for two years. Fol- lowing came a year in charge at Hope, Idaho, then two years at Ritzville, Washington, a year at Lind, and in 1899 his transfer to Mabton, wnere he is still stationed. In 1901 Mr. Humphrey became thoroughly convinced that there was a fine business opportunity in the possession of the townsite and, forming a partnership with Mrs. S. P. Flower, he purchased it from the Northern Pacific Company. The tract contains four hundred and forty acres, and, judging from the past and present of the town, is destined to increase rapidly in value. Mr. Humphrey was united in marriage to Miss Elska Schnell at Ritzville, April 29, 1896. Her parents are Klaas and Annie (Spanjer) Schnell, born in Germany. Mr. Schnell immigrated to America in 1858, settling first in Illinois, where he was mar- ried. In 1893 he came to Whatcom, Washington, where he remained a year, then moving to Ritz- ville, where he now resides. Mrs: Schnell came to America in 1856 and was married when thirty- three. Mrs. Humphrey was born in Minonk, Il- linois, in 1879, and was there educated. She was eighteen years old when married. To Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey have been born two children, Elska V., at Hope, August 13, 1898, and Kathryn L., at Mabton, January 27, 1900. Fraternally, Mr. Humphrey is affiliated with the Masons. He is a member of the Episcopal church. In politics, he is a liberal Republican. Besides a half inter- est in the townsite of Mabton, of which fifty acres have been laid off into five hundred and eighty lots, he owns a half interest in three hundred and twenty acres adjoining the site. Realizing the importance of having the purest water, the

proprietors of the townsite are now engaged in sinking an artesian well. The drill is down six hundred feet at the present writing, and is ex- pected to tap the supply at any time. A new ditch is also heading toward Mabton, seven miles being already constructed. Mr. Humphrey has un- bounded faith in Mabton's future, and none has . done more to forward the town's interests than he. A keen, capable business man, a faithful em- ployee, a public-spirited citizen of integrity and a man devoted to his home, Mr. Humphrey is ad- mired and esteemed by all who know him.

JOSEPH B. EARLY, proprietor of Early's Restaurant, is one of Mabton's substantial citizens and a progressive business man of that section. He came to Mabton in 1902 in the interests of the Christian Co-operative Colony of Sunnyside, and appreciating the business opportunities presented, he entered the hotel and livery business, of which he made a signal success. Mr. Early was born in Lima, Ohio, 1867, to the union of David and Sarah (Miller) Early. His father was a native of Virginia, born in 1832, and the mother a native of Ohio, born two years later. In 1844 David Early settled in Ohio. He lived there until 1878, when he immigrated to Oregon, taking up his abode in the Willamette valley, where he died in 1893. The Millers were pioneers of Ohio. Mrs. Sarah Early was married when eighteen years of age and is the mother of twelve children. She is living in Sunnyside. The subject of this biog- raphy attended the Willamette University of Ore- gon at first, finishing his education with a course at the Mount Morris College, in Mount Morris, Illi- nois. After coming out of school he taught in the public schools a year, then for three years was head instructor in the Oregon School for the Deaf, and the succeeding year was elected superintendent, serving in that capacity two years. Meanwhile he conducted a stock farm east of Salem, raising thoroughbred stock. After leaving the school for the deaf, he was engaged in stock raising until he came to Mabton. In 1891 he was married to Miss Polly Yoder, daughter of Levi J. and Mary (Mishler) Yoder, natives of Ohio. Her father is of Pennsylvania Dutch descent; the mother's peo- ple were Virginians. Mr. and Mrs. Yoder are residents of the Willamette valley, whither they came in 1877. Mrs. Early was born in Ohio in 1867 and attended school in Oregon. There she was a teacher for one year and matron in the state school for mutes, her marriage taking place when she was twenty-three. Their children are two in number: Vera E., born in Salem, December 22, 1891, and Joseph Quinter, also born in Salem, July 27, 1897. Mr. Early is an ordained minister of the Brethren church. Politically, he is affiliated with the Republican party. He has one sister liv-

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ing in Mabton, Mrs. Lizzie Litherland, whose husband is engaged in the livery, carpenter and cabinet business, and owns a fine livery barn. Mrs. Litherland is a skilled artist, executing oil paintings of considerable merit. In connection with the restaurant business Mr. Early is engaged in raising some fine stock. Nine miles southeast of town he has a homestead, and a school section leased, which is considered as being of consider- able value as wheat land. Mr. Early is regarded as a progressive man of strength in his commu- nity.

ALBERT BEILSTEIN, engaged in the liquor business in Mabton, was born in Ontario, September 5, 1863, his parents being Adam and Elizabeth (Dietz) Beilstein, of German birth and descent, the father born in Germany in 1823 and the mother in 1833. Mr. Beilstein, senior, came to Canada in 1842 and lived there until his death in 1890. The mother was married in Canada and survived her husband but three days. Until fourteen years old Albert Beilstein attended school in Canada ; then left the parental roof to seek his fortune in the wide world. When nine- teen years of age he commenced learning the tanner's trade, at which he worked in all six years. The year 1888 marks the date of his ar- rival in Washington, Tacoma being his first home in the far West. After two years spent at vari- ous occupations in Tacoma, he went to Puyallup and secured employment for a year. He was then engaged in the liquor business in that town for a year, on his own account, following which he went to North Yakima. That city was his home for the succeeding seven years, during which he worked for A. Johnson. In November, 1903, he opened the present branch business in Mabton for Mr. Johnson, Mr. Beilstein and Miss Kate Fuller, daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Holteman) Fuller, were married in Tacoma in 1900. Her parents are natives of Germany. Mr. Fuller was engaged in farming on the Sound until his death in 1893, his residence in Wash- ington dating from the early eighties. Mrs. Beil- stein was born in Canada in 1873, received her education in the Canadian schools and was mar- ried when twenty-seven years old. Mr. Beilstein is a member of the Red Men and Canadian Order of Foresters, and in political matters is a stead- fast Republican. He owns a comfortable home in North Yakima, besides being interested in business at Mabton. He considers the Yakima country as presenting one of the best fields for business in the Northwest.

JOCK MORGAN. The subject of this biog- raphy is one of the earliest pioneers of the North- west, and his father was a pioneer of Kentucky

and Missouri. For nearly a century these two generations alone have helped to redeem the wil- derness of America and there plant American civilization and before them were many other Morgans engaged in the same noble work. Jock Morgan was born in Burlington, Iowa, 1844, to Richard and Martha (Morgan) Morgan. His father was a native of Kentucky, who immi- grated to Iowa in the early forties and there lived until 1850, when he set out with his family to build a new home in the far Northwest. The mother was a daughter of Jonathan Morgan, of Iowa, a widely known cattle and land dealer in his day. During the tedious journey across the Plains and mountain ranges Richard Morgan died. The mother bravely persevered and strug- gled onward with her family, finally arriving, after a seven months' journey, at Albany, Ore- gon, where she settled upon a donation claim, and lived until her death. This border country was the scene where Jock passed his boyhood and grew to rugged manhood. When only fifteen years old, after having attended school for a time at Eugene, he became an employee of the old California Stage Company and for many years handled the reins between Portland and San Francisco. He drove the last stage into Salem, just preceding the locomotive. As a driver he was known as the best in the North- west, holding medals conferring that honor. After the decline of the staging business, he en- gaged in buying and selling stock, and in 1871 drove a band of cattle into the Yakima country, which date marks his advent into Yakima county. His first home was on the reservation, where he lived nine years, braving the dangers and sur- mounting the difficulties incident to border life. However, in 1881, he left the reservation, settling on purchased land just across the river from the present town of Mabton. On this ranch he is now living, farming and raising stock with suc- cess. Mr. Morgan was married in June, 1866, in Roseburg, Oregon, to Miss Temperance Her- vey, daughter of Thomas Hervey. Her father crossed the Plains in 1863 and settled near Rose- burg. Both parents spent the latter years of their lives in Oregon. Mrs. Morgan was born in Tennessee in 1848, and was educated in the dis- trict schools of Tennessee and Missouri. She was married at the age of twenty. Five brothers, William, John. James, Thomas and Abe Hervey. are living in Oregon ; also a sister, Mrs. Mary Mell. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan have two children : Charles, born in Albany, Oregon, May 11, 1869. and Harry, also born in Oregon, June 14, 1870; both of whom are living at home. In political matters, Mr. Morgan is a member of the Socialist party, and claims the distinction of having cast the first Socialist vote in Yakima county. His property interests consist of four hundred and forty-four acres of fine hay land lying along the

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Yakima river within a mile and a quarter of Mab- ton, one hundred and fifty head of stock cattle and one hundred head of horses. As a pioneer, Mr. Morgan strove earnestly and bravely to ob- tain a foothold in the virgin West, undergoing experiences both exciting and dangerous. As a citizen of one of the best counties in one of the most progressive states in the West, he is influ- ential, respected and widely known.

JAMES S. DONOHO, living eight miles northeast of Bickleton, in what is known as the Glade settlement, is one of Yakima county's pros- perous and popular farmers. Like so many of the pioneers of the far West, he was born in Missouri, the date of his birth being September 16, 1847. His parents were Robert, born in Kentucky, 1825, of Irish extraction, and Margaret (Shipley) Donoho, a native of Ohio, and of German descent. She died in 1871, leaving ten children to mourn her loss. The father served more than three years in the Civil war, under General Sherman, return- ing to Missouri after being mustered out, where he is still living. James remained at home, work- ing on the farm and attending school until he was twenty-two years of age, when he learned the car- penter's trade. August 4, 1864, at the age of sev- enteen, he enlisted in the Forty-fourth Missouri in- fantry, company K, and was ordered south, where he served in the Sixteenth Army corps, under A. J. Smith and General Thomas, for eight months, when he was mustered out. In 1875, he went to Cali- fornia, worked at his trade a year at different places, then went to Dunnigan, where he was mar- ried, and subsequently moved to Vacaville, where he lived until 1887. That year marks the date of immigration to Washington. Here he filed a home- stead claim to land on the Glade, and purchased two sections of railroad land. Upon this immense grain and stock ranch he has since lived. In 1881, Mr. Donoho was married to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Anthony W. and Cindica (Cooper) Dunnigan. Mr. Dunnigan was born in Illinois, crossed the Plains to California in 1851, where he settled in Yolo county, and platted the town which bears his name. Mrs. Donoho was born in Cali- fornia in 1859, and was there married at the age of

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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 163

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