An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington, Part 185

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 185
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 185
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 185

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).

Mr. Cleman has two brothers: Jolin, a stock- man and farmer of the Yakima valley, and Jacob, of E lensburg, and five sisters, Caroline Wagnon, North Yakima; Ruth Pressy, Areas Island, near Victor'a ; Olive Sanders, Ellensburg ; Flora Small, Seattle, and Rosa Olson, two miles from Ellensburg. His children are: Virgil, the eldest, aged nine- teen; Parney, Flora, Stanley, Alice. Otho, Edith . and Charles. With the exception of the latter two, who are under school agc, all are attending school. In lodge circles Mr. Cleman is known only as a member of the K. of P. and Ancient Order of United Workmen. Politically, he is a Democrat. His principal holdings in the stock business con- sist of about three thousand five hundred sheep, which number he is continually increasing. Since making his home in the Yakima and Kittitas val- leys, Mr. Cleman's life has been closely connected with the history of those sections. At the time of the memorable Indian outbreak he was instrumental, with others, in protecting the settlers from the fury of the savages, and some of the stockades he, with his father and brother, erected on their farms until recently were conspicuous landmarks of the country.

WILLIAM B. LEVERICH. He is the super- intendent of the electric light department for the city at Ellensburg, Washington, a position he is filling with great success. He comes of famous old New York stock and was born in New York City in 1852. His father, Benjamin Leverich, was born in New York in 1828 and died of cholera in 1865. His mother, Mary (Hopson) Leverich, was also a native of New York, her ancestors being among those Hollanders who made the first settlement at New Amsterdam. His father died when William Leverich was but a few years old, so he knew little of his parent. His mother was left some means. The boy attended the common schools and started to learn the trade of boiler making. He did not take kindly to that employment and ran away, coming west when seventeen years old and locating in California. He joined the navy and served three years. during which time he visited China and Japan and South America. He decided he could do better

JACOB P. BECKER.

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in other lines and left the navy and secured employ- ment with the General Electric Company at San Francisco. This line of work he has followed since with great success. He was in Astoria for seven years in the electrical business and moved to Ellens- burg, Washington, December 28, 1898, to accept the position he now occupies.

Mr. Leverich was married in Astoria, Oregon, in 1886 to Mary Miller, a native of St. Johns, New Brunswick. She died in 1897. They had one child, a daughter, Pearl, who was sixteen years old Octo- ber 16, 1903, and who is living with her father at Ellensburg. Mr. Leverich has seven sisters and one brother living in New York. They are named respectively : Ada, Emma, Ella, Lydia, Sofia, Min- nie and Lillie (twins), and George. Mr. Leverich is a member of the Republican party and takes con- siderable interest in political matters. He is a men- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

JACOB P. BECKER, the well-known and pro- gressive citizen and blacksmith of Ellensburg, was born in the state of California, October 16, 1861. His father, Jacob Becker, was a native of Germany, where he was born, January 23, 1826. He was a blacksmith by trade, and also served in the army of his native land for three years. At the age of thirty-two he started for the United States, passing around Cape Horn and landing at San Francisco. He at once resorted to his trade for a livelihood, opening up a shop on his own responsibility. He remained in California for three years, doing well, when he decided to verify the favorable reports from the north in Oregon, making The Dalles his first stopping place. Here he remained for nine years, at the end of which period, 1872. he came to Ellensburg, where he opened a shop and con- tinued to work at his trade until his death, Decem- ber 12, 1890. His wife, Josephine (Guisse) Becker, was a native of Germany. Tacob P., our subject, came to Ellensburg with his parents at the age of eleven, and has grown right up in the blacksmith shop, which in some measure accounts for his me- chanical skill for which he is reputed in Kittitas county. But while naturally proud of his name as a mechanic, Mr. Becker has many regrets that his time as a youth was so wholly taken up in the shop that his education was to some extent neglect- ed. The Beckers can truly be termed the "pioneer blacksmiths" of Kittitas county, as they have been continuously at the business since 1872. Fifteen years ago he associated himself with Martin Stiren, which partnership has since continued, and it can be said without fear of contradiction that they today have the most up-to-date shon in the county, and there is nothing in their line that they do not suc- cessfully undertake. All the machinery of the shop is operated by a gasoline engine.

Mr. Becker was united in marriage April 9, 1882, to Miss Lottie H. Preston, a native of East-

port, Maine, where she was born, April 23, 1863. Her father, Nenmier Preston, a teamster, was like- wise a native of Maine, in which state he also died. Her mother, Charlotte Preston, lives in Ellensburg with her son. Mr. and Mrs. Becker have one son, Chester F., who is now in Portland studying dental surgery. Mr. Becker has two brothers and four sisters, all of whoni are living. Fraternally, Mr. B. is connected with the Knights of Pythias, of which he is a zealous and consistent member. He is an ardent Republican and active in the councils of his party. He is a public-spirited, enterprising citizen, ever interested in promoting the best inter- ests of his town and community, and holds in a high degree the respect of his fellow citizens.

MARTIN MEEHAN is a retired stockman living in Ellensburg, Washington. He has had many ups and downs in his business undertakings, but misfortune never disheartened him, and he has pluckily started in again at each reverse to win back what he had lost. He was born in New York February 15, 1838. His father, John Meehan, was born in Ireland in 1801, came to America in 1821 and died in 1885. His mother, Mary (Crahen) Meehan, was also a native of Ireland and died in 1893. Mr. Meehan went to country school and worked on a farm until 1852, when he secured em- ployment in the lumber industry, in the woods of Wisconsin, where he remained until June, 1875. He then moved to Franklin county, Iowa, and set- tled on a farm for a short period, then came west and spent six months traveling through California, looking for a location. He arrived in Seattle, Wash- ington, November 20, 1875, and the following year engaged in logging on Lake Washington, adjoining that city. In August, 1877, he went to Ellensburg, which then consisted of four small shacks and a log store building, took up a farm across the river from that village and engaged in stock raising. In 1879 he lost most of his horses, moved to Ellens- burg, and in 1881 commenced buying cattle. That fall he built the first rustic house ever built in Ellensburg, with lumber brought from Wenas. During the severe winter of 1881-2 he lost nearly one thousand head of stock, having but sixteen head left of his large herd. He then engaged in the timber business, making enough money to pay every dollar of debt he owed, and selling his house began buying calves at $3 and $4 a head, thus accumulat- ing about one hundred forty head. On account of rheumatism he sold out and went east. He returned the following spring, built a house on his farm and again went into the stock business. He accumu- lated about two hundred fifty head, which he sold in 1895, and the following year he drove his herd of 375 head of horses to Seattle and disposed of them. In 1897 he went to Alaska, where he remained until the summer of 1899. He was at Dyea, built boats on Lake Bennett and went

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to Dawson, thence to Seventy Mile creek ; but found no gold. On his return to the Sound he engaged in the real estate business in Everett for two years, with considerable profit. October 10. 1901, he re- turned to his own property near Ellensburg and has now retired from business. Mr. Meehan was married in 1869 to Miss Alice Benigon, who was born in upper Canada in 1840, and died November IO, 1872. They had one daughter, Alice, who is the wife of J. J. Carpenter, of Milwaukee, Wiscon- sin. Mr. Meehan is a member of the Catholic church. He is a Democrat and while he takes much interest in politics has never held office nor been a seeker after political preferment.

EDWARD C. FERGUSON. Edward C. Fer- guson is one of the happy characters of Ellensburg. He is an all-round sportsman, and in business life is a plumber and steam fitter. He was born in London, England, August 31, 1852. His father, Mark Ferguson, was born in England, 1814, and in business was a wholesale and retail liquor dealer and manufacturer. He died in 1859. Our sub- ject's mother was Elizabeth (Coxon) Ferguson, also a native of England, born in 1814, dying in 1869. Mr. Ferguson has one brother, Henry, a merchant of London. Edward C. Ferguson received a college education in his native country, and later took a technical course in plumbing and sanitary engineering, which he completed in his twenty-first year. He was in business for himself in London and Liverpool, which he followed successfully for fourteen years. At the end of that period he came to New York City and entered the employ, as fore- man, of Murhead Bros., plumbers. He later took contracts on his own account in New York, con- tinuing thus for seven years. His next move was to Boston, where he remained a like period in the plumbing business, and in 1888 he came to Seattle. While in Seattle he took a contract to do a piece of work in Ellensburg and was so favorably im- pressed with conditions here that he decided to re- main. He has since resided in the city and is now doing a thriving business in his line. In politics Mr. Ferguson is a Republican. He has ever been an active and aggressive party worker, representing his constituents in many of his party's caucuses and conventions, but has never held elective office. For three years he was chief of the Ellensburg fire de- partment, and was the organizer of the present department. It was he, too, who was instrumental in the purchase of the first sprinkler for Ellensburg's dusty streets. He is a member of good standing in the Knights of Pythias order, in which he displays the same spirit and energy that have characterized him in all other institutions with which he has been allied. Mr. Ferguson is a Protestant in religion, but belongs to no particular denomination ; how- ever, he is ever ready and generous when called upon by any church for aid. He owns no small

amount of valuable real estate, besides his busi- ness. As was initially stated in this sketch, Mr. Ferguson is an all-round sportsman. He is passion- ately fond of fishing and hunting ; especially does he take delight in the pursuit of "big game." He is an expert shot with a rifle or pistol and is well known throughout the Northwest as being a thor- ough athlete. An ardent lover of dogs and birds, he has one of the first best kennels of Gordon setter dogs, and as fine a pen of game chickens as is to be found in this state. His genial and generous nature, combined with his industry and honor, has made for him an enviable reputation among his people.

WILLIAM O. AMES. Ellensburg's first school was taught in the winter of 1881-82 by W. O. Ames, who came here from Goldendale, Klickitat county, where for two years he had engaged. in teaching. In 1882, abandoning his profession as teacher, he began work in Ellensburg as a carpen- ter and builder and, during the past twenty years, has erected a good portion of the city's business and residence buildings. He has twice erected the North- ern Facific roundhouse, it having been destroyed by fire. At the time of the general fire, when Ellens- burg was almost totally destroyed, he and his part- ner, Jack McCarthy, met with considerable loss by the partial destruction of several large buildings which they had under construction at that time. Later they sustained a heavy loss by the total destruction of their planing mill. In this mill and in their various other milling, lumbering and build- ing enterprises they employed at one time upward of two hundred men. During his long residence in Ellensburg he has followed steadily his business as contractor and builder, and has become thor- oughly identified with the city's business life. Mr. Ames was born in South Tamworth, Carroll county, New Hampshire, January 3, 1860. His father was William P. Ames. a lumber manufacturer of South Tamworth, New Hampshire, where he was born in 1824. The father came to Klickitat county, Wash- ington, in 1879 and died there in 1892. He served during the Civil war in a New Hampshire regiment as army surgeon and during an engagement at Burwick's Bay was wounded and taken prisoner, returning after his release and recovery to New Hampshire. The motlier of W. O. Ames was Ada- line M. (Locke) Ames, also a native of New Hampshire, where she was born in 1824; she died November 22, 1897. Her father, Elisha Locke, was a man of great intellectual attainments and was a leading citizen of his community, both in educa- tional and other matters. When W. O. Ames was eleven years old his parents moved to Mahaska county, Iowa, where he grew to voung manhood, working on the farm and attending the common schools. After finishing the common school course he entered the Mitchelville Seminary, from which he was graduated, going thereafter direct to Golden-

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dale, Washington, where he became a teacher in 1879. His Ellensburg school in 1881 consisted of forty-nine pupils that were crowded into one small room; this was the beginning of the magnificent educational institutions of the city of todav.

Mr. Ames was married March 27, 1884, to Sal- lie Houghton, who was born in San Francisco in 1863. Like her husband, she was for some time a teacher. Her father was Joseph B. Houghton, born in Maine in 1832 and died in Tacoma, Washington, in 1895. He went to California with the immi- grants of '49 and in 1877 settled in Goldendale. He was a contractor and builder : was active in politics and for many years served as city councilman in Tacoma. He was a public spirited man and was a wise counselor ; his ancestors were English. Mrs. Ames' mother is Abbie F. (Caldwell) Houghton, a lady of Scotch descent, who was born in Maine in 1837 and who now resides in Tacoma. Mrs. Ames has three brothers and three sisters living. H. F. Bean, a veteran of the Civil war, is a half- brother, and Ida F. Baker is a half-sister of Mr. Ames; Stanley L. Ames is a brother and Kate E. Shoemaker and Carrie M. Henton are sisters. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ames: Earnest W., a graduate of the high school; Willis, Hazel, Helen, Adelyn and Houghton. Mrs. Ames is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Ames holds membership in the Woodmen of the World order. Both are prominent in social and church circles and are esteemed and respected by all. Mr. Ames is a great admirer and firm supporter of Fresident Roosevelt. He is among the successful picneers of Ellensburg.

WILLIAM D. KILLMORE. It has fallen to the lot of but few men to have experienced a more varied, eventful and romantic career than that of William D. Killmore. Born in Syra- cuse, New York, October 15, 1832, he is of a race of forerunners of the history. industrial life and development of the United States. His father, Luke Killmore, was a native of Dutchess county, New York, born in 1796 and died in 1867. By trade Luke Killmore was a contractor and builder, and he enjoyed the distinction of having built thirty miles of the old and famous Erie canal. At the time when the Canadian forces moved upon Black Rock, William D. Killmore was a volunteer in the army organized to repel that invasion. He was of Holland Dutch an- cestry, originating from the old stock of Philip Kulmuer, who came to the colony of New York in 1710, the name having since been changed to Killmore. The subject's grandfather, Henry Killmore, was a colonel in the Continental army during the Revolutionary war, and died at the extremely old age of one hundred and seventeen years. William Killmore's mother was Axey (Rathburn) Killmore. She was born in Amer-

ica, and while acquiring her early education was a schoolmate of Millard Fillmore, who subse- quently became president of his nation. This was in the little town of Sodus, near Auburn. Her father invented and made the first stove, at Albany, New York.

The first fifteen years of Mr. Killmore's life were spent in the state of liis birth. He then went to work out the difficult problem of exist- ence for himself. His first employment was in the capacity of "cub" pilot on the steamers Al- ida and Frances Skidder, plying the Hudson be- tween Albany and the sea. Leaving the river he entered railroad life, and for two years fired a locomotive on a line in New York state. Later removing to Chicago, he became an engine driver on the Northwestern railroad, which position he held for seven years. In 1859 he crossed the Plains to Pike's Peak, being attracted thither by the gold excitement which had recently come over that section. He had been in this locality but two years when, in 1861, he enlisted in Com- pany F, First Colorado cavalry, commanded by Captain Cook, to fight the Indians. With his company he waged war against the hostile tribes all winter, then the following spring went south to encounter the daring Sibley and turn him back. The little army succeeded in doing this, but not until four engagements had been fought between "Pigeon Ranch" and Galestheo, fifteen miles from Santa Fe, New Mexico, the last named being the bloodiest battle of the four. At the battle of "Pigeon Ranch" Killmore with sev- enty followers attacked a force of three hundred, and captured it. During the fight he received in all seven bullets, and suffered the loss of two fingers. But three weeks afterward he was out of the hospital and doing duty. With his regi- ment he marched back to Denver, and was there discharged after the surrender of Gen. Lee. After being mustered out he was employed near Denver for a time, starting with the army and going thence to the City of Mexico after the gold excitement at the Palo Alto mines. He did not reach the mines, but was with the army in Mex- ico at the time of the capture of Maximilian, and was an eye-witness of that famous leader's tragic death. For five years he was an engineer on the Mexico & Alpasaco railroad, after which time he returned to his old home in New York. After one summer there he again came west, this time. to Harrison county, Missouri, and bought a farm. Two and one-half years were spent on this farm when, in 1873, he sold out, and in May of that year he landed in Seattle. He at once came to the Kittitas valley on a tour to spy out the land, and while on this trip he met with an old surveyor named Andrews, who had made a survey of the valley, and who recommended the land as being desirable for the making of a home. Mr. Killmore himself was pleased with

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the country, so, on June 8, 1873, he filed a home- stead on the farm where he now lives. With him on this tour were J. H. Stevens and Morris Bell, each of whom also took land. When Mr. Killmore left Missouri it was with $1,200 in his pocket ; when he arrived in the Kittitas valley he had but twelve. The provisions the three families brought with them were reduced to $1.00 worth of sugar, the same amount of coffee, and a little tea, salt, soap, etc., which they had car- ried in on the back of a pack animal previously hired by Messrs. Killmore and Stevens for $5.00. Mr. Killmore at that time had a wife and babe, and this meager supply of groceries was all the three families had during the following sixteen months, when Mr. Killmore bought in Ellens- burg the first sugar since coming to the country. The supplies at that time came in almost exclu- sively from The Dalles, Oregon. Mr. Killmore made some trips to that station for provisions, and as there was then no money in circulation he took his pay in goods. But ten men had preceded him in the valley, and it truly was a pioneer's life which they led. He was in the valley at the time of the Indian uprising in 1877, and assisted in building fortifications to protect the families.

The date of his marriage was Feb. 18, 1872, while he was on his farm in Missouri. His bride was Josephine Rego, of Indiana, the daughter of John B. Rego, a native of Metz, France; and her mother was Katherine (Freedley) Rego, born in Pennsylvania, of German parentage. Mr. Killmore has three sisters and one brother, George B .; the brother lives with him near El- lensburg. His sisters are: Katie Downer, who owns the Downer block, Syracuse, New York, for which she was once offered $250,000 by the government as a site for a postoffice building ; Rosetta Bragdon, of Syracuse, whose husband was manager of a plank road thirteen miles long, and Jaqueline Seeley, wife of the Albany, New York, depot master, Hyrem Seeley. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Killmore are: John S., Ida Bull, Lot- tie, Clara Wason, Katie and Effie. The first and second named and Clara Wason reside a few miles south from Ellensburg, while Lottie, Katie and Effie are at home. Mr. Killmore has been a lifelong Republican, though not an active party man. He is at present a trustee of the Tanum ditch owned by the farmers of his locality. Al- though he came to the country with a capital of but $12, he is now worth between $40,000 and $50,000. His farm consists of two hundred acres of choice land, well improved, well stocked and watered, and is looked upon as being one of the best farms in the valley. He has been a good stockman and a good manager generally. His present high standing, social and financial, is the outgrowth of spotless integrity, industry and rare business capability.

WILLIAM J. PEED. Prominent among the business men who began operations in El- lensburg in an early day and whose faith in the city's future has never wavered is W. J. Peed, the man whose name stands at the head of this article. For twenty years he has been identified as a business man with the interests of Ellens- burg and has had much to do with the progress not only of Ellensburg but of Kittitas county. Mr. Peed is a native of Tippecanoe county, In- diana, where he was born in 1861. His father was William Peed, a native of Kentucky; he died in 1872. The mother, now living in Den- ver, Col., is Mary (Hickson) Peed, a native of Ohio, where she was born in 1822; her father was a soldier of the Revolution, serving directly under General Washington. When W. J. Peed was eleven years old his mother moved to Illi- nois, and two years later, in 1874, to Arkansas City, Cowley county, Kansas, where our subject learned the trade of a harness and saddle maker with a half-brother, Mitchell, who was then en- gaged in the business. After working for some time in the brother's establishment, he bought out the business and conducted it alone until 1879, when he sold out and went first to New Mexico and later to Colorado, where he remained antil 1882. In this year he came to the Pacific coast and in 1883 to Ellensburg, at once going to work at his trade. After a few months he established a business of his own and for a time conducted it alone. At a later period he joined a partner in the establishment, but for some time past has operated alone and has built up and is enjoying a good trade.

· Mr. Peed was married in Ellensburg in 1894 to Lizzie Shortill, who was born in New Bruns- wick, Canada. She is the daughter of Richard Shortill, deceased. Her mother is still living. Mr. Peed has one sister, Linnea Thompson, liv- ing in Denver, Colorado, and two half-brothers, James I. and Robert Mitchell, living in Kansas City, Kansas. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Peed are Clarence, Thresa and Vern, all at home in Ellensburg. Mr. Peed is a Republican and has always been an active worker in the ranks. He is at present a member of the city council of Ellensburg and has before served in that ca- pacity. He has been a member of the school board and has always contended for the best ed- ucational advantages. He has been active in the work of securing for the valley a perfect system of irrigation and takes a lively interest in all public enterprises. He has investments in lands in the valley and is recognized as one of its sub- stantial and progressive citizens.

JOHN G. ALDRICH. Among the young men of Ellensburg there is none better fitted by education and by personal traits of character for

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a successful business career than the subject of this article, J. G. Aldrich. Although he has been a resident of Ellensburg scarcely three years, he has already built up a good business as one of the proprietors of the Hotel Vanderbilt, and has established a reputation as an energetic and pro- gressive citizen. Mr. Aldrich was born in Sum- mit, Benton county, Oregon, August 10, 1876. His early life was spent in the Willamette val- ley and his education began in the common schools of his native town; continuing his stud- ies he completed full high school courses and in 1895 entered the Oregon State Agricultural Col- lege at Corvallis, graduating therefrom June 30, 1899, receiving the degree of B. S. Until the tiine of his graduation he lived in the Willam- ette valley, with the exception of three years spent in Phoenix, Arizona, the change of resi- dence being made on account of his father's health. After the completion of his collegiate course he took the state teachers' examination and was granted a certificate authorizing him to teach in any school in the state of Oregon for a term of six years. It being his original inten- tion to follow school work, he came to Yakima county in August, 1899, and taught a six-months school. At the close of this term a change was made in former plans and, quitting school work, he became connected with the Bartholet Hotel in North Yakima, remaining there as clerk for two years, until January II, 1902, when he left North Yakima and came to Ellensburg. Being greatly pleased with climatic conditions and business prospects he determined to locate here and, forming a partnership with F. S. Jackson, he joined him in taking a lease on the Vander- bilt Hotel; they took possession February I, 1902, and have since conducted this popular hos- telry in a manner highly satisfactory to the pub- lic, making of it also, from a financial stand- point, a paying property.

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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 185

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