An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington, Part 197

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 197
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 197
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 197

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).

Mrs. Banister is a member of the Methodist church, while the husband is an active member of the Republican party. His farm place consists of one hundred and sixty acres, of which he has about

sixty acres under cultivation. The farm is well equipped with all needed machinery and is stocked with thirty-five milch cows, horses and hogs.

EDD A. ERICKSON is a farmer and stock raiser who lives four miles east of Ellensburg, Washington. He was born in Kittitas county, June 5, 1875, and has resided there ever since. His father, Erick Erickson, and his mother, Carrie (Larson) Erickson, were natives of Norway. Edd A. acquired an education in the common schools, and when eighteen years old began to work on his father's farm, where he remained for four years. Then he rented a farm, which he worked with suc- cess for three years. During one summer following he worked for others, and then purchased one hun- dred and sixty acres, which he has since cultivated, and which is now his home. The place is well stocked with all necessary farming appurtenances, and supports sixty-five head of horses and some cattle. Mr. Erickson's brothers were all born in the valley, and are farmers. His sisters, also natives of Kittitas county, are all married to farmers. The names of the latter are: Mrs. Mary (Erickson) Burroughs and Mrs. Laura (Erickson) Sherrill. The brothers are: William Erickson, John Erick- son and Lewis Erickson. The subject of this biog- raphy was married, June 30, 1897, to Miss Dora Dolsen, who was born in Detroit, Michigan, June 14, 1877. Her father, William Dolsen, was born in Canada, April 17, 1843, and is now living in Seattle, where he follows the carpenter trade. The mother, Bertha ( Chase) Dolsen, was born in New York city, April 7, 1853. The brothers of Mrs. Erickson are: Edward A. and William R. Dolsen, both born in Michigan, and now teamsters in Seat- tle. Her only sister, Estella A., is deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Erickson has been born one child, Loyal, born February 22, 1901. In politics, Mr. Erickson is a decided Republican. He is a hard worker, and one who makes his labor count. Beginning with practically nothing, he has built up a home and property interests of which he may justly be proud.

DAVID H. LYEN is engaged in blacksmithing three and a half miles east and one-half mile north of Ellensburg, Washington. He was born in Wash- ington, about eighty miles from Portland, June 2, 1860. His father was Ezekiel W. Lyen, a native of Kentucky, and moved from this state to Washing- ton, settling in the Kittitas valley, where he raised thoroughbred racing stock. At one time he owned the fastest running mare in Kittitas valley. He was treasurer of Yakima county for four years, his term of office being from 1869 to 1873. The mother of David H. was Nancy Jane ( Ballard) Lyen, born in Illinois, at Whitehall Fern. Her father was a farmer.

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Mr. Lyen was educated in the common schools of Yakima and Kittitas counties until he was six- teen years old, at which time he went to work on his father's farm, devoting his attention chiefly to stock raising. In 1883 he filed on a homestead in the Kittitas valley and farmed it for five years with more than ordinary success. Then his father died from a paralytic stroke, leaving an estate valued at forty thousand dollars. His mother was appointed administratrix, but she gave the manage- ment of the trust principally to Mr. Lyen. He gave a mortgage on his farm to secure money to probate the estate. Then, on account of his trusting to hired advice, practically nothing was realized from the estate, and Mr. Lyen lost his farm under a mort- gage. After this reverse, beginning in 1891, Mr. Lyen engaged in sheep-shearing during the spring months, and in running threshing machines in the fall. This work he followed for several years, and at different times has owned partnership interest in three different threshing outfits. During the sum- mer and winter months he worked in blacksmith shops till he mastered the trade. Within the last two years he has learned horseshoeing under the best experts in the state. With experience thus acquired, in March, 1902, he opened up a black- smith shop, and, in his work, has met with the success to be expected. His increasing trade now makes necessary the building of a larger shop. The new shop will be built at a point more convenient to patrons.

In 1852, Mr. Lyen's parents crossed the Plains and came to Oregon. They came with ox teams, and suffered the well-known hardships incident to such a journey. Besides David H., the children in the family were: John F., born in 1855, now farm- ing in Kittitas county; Margaret C. and Mattie, both now dead ; Mrs. Lavina (Lyen) Fowler, born in 1857, now living at Oakland, California, and Leander J. S. A., born in 1862, now a farmer of Kittitas county. Mr. Lyen is a Democrat, and an active worker in politics, but has no desire to hold public office. Fraternally, he is a member of the T. O. T. E., and in religious matters inclines to the Christian church. He is recognized as a man worthy of public trusts, but he is not an office- seeker.

CASPER E. REED resides five miles east and three miles north of Ellensburg, Washington, where he is engaged in farming and stock raising. He was born in Norway, December 30, 1871. His father, Jacob Reed, was a native of Norway, born in 1845, and was a tailor in the old country. He is now engaged in farming near Tacoma. His mother, Ann (Flolo) Reed, was born in Norway in 1846, of a family of farmers. Mr. Reed received his edu- cation partly in Norway and in Tacoma. He was graduated from the McCaulay Business college at Tacoma in the fall of 1889 and then engaged in the

transfer business for about three years. He learned the printing trade when young. He sold out his transfer business and took charge of the estate of his father in Tacoma, valued at one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, prior to the panic of 1893. He spent three years in disposing of the property and closing up the estate. Then he moved to Kittitas county, June 15, 1897, and worked that summer for P. H. and C. P. Schnebly. For the following three years he followed the stock business and then leased one hundred and sixty acres of school land. This he has since purchased in part- nership with E. G. Marks and has been cultivating it successfully. His brothers and sisters are : Anna (Reed) Foss, born in Norway, now the. wife of a boat builder at Tacoma ; Nels Reed, born in Norway and engaged in the mining business at Portland, Oregon ; Carrie (Reed) Skibnes, wife of the North- ern Pacific yardmaster at Tacoma; Harold Reed, born December 25, 1873, a tailor at San Francisco ; Christine (Reed) Greenlaw, wife of a farmer near Tacoma; John Reed, in the logging business at Tacoma; Eilert Reed, a shingle bolt contractor of Everett ; Jennie Reed, who is dead, and Albert Reed, a Tacoma druggist. Mr. Reed is a Democrat and a member of the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. He has accumulated a half-interest in one hundred and thirty head of cattle, owns ten horses, seven- teen milch cows, one hundred and sixty acres of land, and a good house and barn. He is a breeder of blooded Poland-China hogs, one of which cost four hundred dollars.

JOHN CROCKER is engaged in stock raising and farming three miles east and three and one- half miles north of Ellensburg, Washington. He was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, December II, 1844. His father, Otto Crocker, was born in Ger- many in 1797. He was quite wealthy, but his for- tune was consumed in trying to regain his father's. estate, which was long in litigation. Mr. Crocker's mother, Mary (Pastor) Crocker, was born in 1807, and was the daughter of a noted Lutheran preacher.

Mr. Crocker was educated in Germany, and at the age of sixteen left the common schools and took a year's course in an agricultural college .. At the age of eighteen he engaged as foreman on a farm, where he remained five years He then came. to the United States and learned the cabinet-mak- ing trade, which he followed one year. Afterward, for five years, he farmed in New York state, and then moved to Kansas There drought and grass- hoppers caused the loss of all he had accumulated, and in March, 1888, he moved to Kittitas county, Washington. Here he worked in sawmills and on farms one year, leased a farm for a year and then filed on a homestead twenty miles from Ellensburg. To get supplies to this place it was necessary for him to build seven miles of road. He cultivated forty acres for six years, and then leased four hun-

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dred and eighty acres, which he worked for six years, during which time he purchased his present farm. He has two brothers and three sisters, all born in Germany, as follows: Mary (Crocker) Rabe, wife of a New York blacksmith; Sophia (Crocker) Costorf, wife of a farmer in New York; Dora (Crocker) Holz, also the wife of a farmer in New York; Henry and Frederick Crocker, farmers in Germany.

Mr. Crocker was married in New York, Novem- ber 20, 1870, to Miss Minnie Willet, who was born in Germany, November 3, 1850, and who died November 19, 1902. Her father died when she was six months old. Her mother, Dora (Ilet) Willet, was born in Germany and died in New York at the age of seventy-four years. Mrs. Crocker has one sister, Hanna (Willet) Fell, the wife of a farmer in New York.

Mr. Crocker is a member of the Republican party and belongs to the German Lutheran church. On his well improved one hundred and sixty acre farm he has a splendid home and commodious barn. He owns ninety head of cattle and sufficient num- ber of horses and machinery to operated the farm with.

JAMES A. HOLCOMB, a farmer and dairy- man living seven and one-half miles northeast of Ellensburg, is a typical Westerner, born in San Benito county, California, June 7, 1874. His parents were James A. and Mary (Rader) Hol- comb. Soon after the birth of James A., his parents came to the Kittitas valley, and here the boy at- tended school until fourteen years of age. At the age indicated, he left school and for five years following worked for divers farmers in his neigh- borhood, and then embarked in the creamery busi- ness, assuming charge of the first creamery operated in the Kittitas valley. He continued in this capac- ity for two years, then returned to his native state (California ) and engaged in the mercantile business at Fort Bidwell. After spending two years at that point he sold out his interests and returned to the Kittitas valley, arriving in the fall of 1898. The return journey was made by wagon, and consumed seventeen days. He spent his first year after re- turning in touring the surrounding country with a photographic outfit, which venture netted him a con- siderable sum. At the end of the year he sold his photographic outfit and embarked once more in the creamery business, which he ran in connection with an eighty-acre farm. On this farm he still makes his home. Over one-half of his land is in the high- est state of cultivation and has natural irrigation. Mr. Holcomb was married at Cedarville, California, September 9, 1896, to Miss Elmira Richardson, born in California, April 18, 1877. She is the daughter of James and Sardinia (Himes) Richard- son, both of whom are now living in California, the state of Mrs. Holcomb's nativity. Mr. Richard-

son, her father, was born June 15, 1830, in the state of Maine, and by trade is a carpenter. In the year 1892 he was granted a patent by the govern- ment on a hay loader, which was manufactured in Stockton, California. Mrs. Richardson was born in New York state, and is of Scotch extraction.

Mr. Holcomb, of whom we write, has one sis- ter, Maggie (Holcomb) Coon, born in California, 1872, who is now living in Washington. Mrs. Hol- comb's brothers and sisters are: Perley Richardson and Satira (Richardson) Peck, both born and now living in California. Besides these she has two half-brothers and ten half-sisters. Mr. and Mrs. Holcomb have four children: Leota, born September 29, 1898; James L., March 26, 1899; Melisie M., August 30, 1900, and Rubbie Holcomb, March 14, 1902. Leota was born in California, and the remaining three in Kittitas valley. Mr. Hol- comb is a member of the Brotherhood of American Yeomen, and is a Republican in politics. Both he and Mrs. Holcomb attend the First Christian church. He has eighty acres of first quality land, a commodious dwelling and all necessary stock and implements to operate his farm. He is a man not afraid to toil, and all his efforts are characterized bv a degree of enthusiasm and perseverance that makes work pay. He is a man of sterling worth and honor, a valuable man in the community, and it may be said with truth that he has as many friends as he has acquaintances.

ISAAC F. CARLTON, who for many years resided on a farm five miles northeast of Ellens- burg, was born in Atkinsville, North Carolina, Feb- ruary 15, 1827. He was the son of Bloom Carlton, who, before the war, was a slave-holder, and the mother was a native of North Carolina. Isaac F. graduated from the Atkinsville college at the age of nineteen. Immediately after graduation he came west to the state of Missouri, where he served for a number of years as overseer on a large farm. He left Missouri in the employ of the United States government as wagon-master of an expedition bound for Salt Lake City. Upon the outbreak of the Rebellion he enlisted in Company E, Fourteenth Kansas cavalry, and fought throughout the war, receiving at the battle of Poison Springs a saber wound on the shoulder. He was mustered out at Fort Gibson, Cherokee Nation. After being dis- charged from the army he went to Kansas, where he was employed for a time as a sawyer in a large mill. He left Kansas in 1868 and went to Arkansas, thence to Nevada by mule team about the time of the Custer massacre. From Nevada he moved to Los Angeles, California, thence to Ari- zona, and again to Nevada, in which state he en- gaged in mining. This business he followed for nearly two years, after which he leased a hay ranch, which he worked for two years. His final move was from Nevada to Oregon, thence, in 1881, to

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the Kittitas valley. Here he filed on one hundred and sixty acres of land and at once launched upon the business of farining and stock raising. After eleven years of this pursuit he died on his Kittitas farm at the ripe old age of seventy-five. He had three sisters, Liza, Mary and Jane, all of whom are now dead.

Deceased was married at Fort Scott, Kansas, July 10, 1863, to Miss Rose H. Rollet, the daughter of Peter and Grace (O'Conner) Rollet, the former a native of England, and the latter of Dublin, Ire- land. Both are now deceased. Mrs. Carlton's broth- ers and sisters were: John, Richard, Thomas, Mrs. Amelia (Rollet ) Earl, Elizabeth and Mrs. Mary Ann Clark. The last named, the only one of them now living, resides in Canada and is one hundred and four years old. All were born in England. Mr. Carlton was a member of the Odd Fellow and Masonic fraternities. His wife, who survives him, is a member of the Eastern Star and Rebekah orders. He was a man of indomitable energy, sterling integ- rity and generous impulses. Though a gallant soldier and a patient sufferer, it was in civil life that his courage and magnanimity were most mani- fest. The malady to which he succumbed was one of long standing and which he spent a small fortune in combating. His patient forbearance during the years of harrowing pain to which he was subjected won for him the regard and esteem of all who knew him, and set an example of heroism worthy of emulation by those who survive him.

WILLIAM H. RADER, one of the well-known farmers of Kittitas county, resides on a farm lying three miles east and five miles north of Ellens- burg. He is the son of Andrew J. and Margarett (Chance) Rader, both natives of Indiana. The elder Rader at the outbreak of the Rebellion en- deavored to go to the front as a cavalryman, but at the last moment was debarred from service on account of physical disability. William H., our subject, received his education in his native state and in California. When twenty years of age, he left school and returned to his father's farm, where he worked for about five years, till he came west to Oregon. After spending a year in that state, he came to Kittitas county, attracted thither by the attractive opportunities offered in the new country, such as it was then. Upon his arrival, in 1879, he at once purchased one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land, which has furnished him a home and livelihood from that day to this. The farm is small, but extremely well cultivated.

On July II, 1880, Mr. Rader was united in marriage to Miss Ellen B. Bailes, who was born in Oregon, September 26, 1864. Her father, Heathly Bailes, is well known among the pioneers of the west. He was born in the year 1828, and is a minister of the Christian faith. The greater part of his life has been devoted to religious work

throughout the states of Oregon and Washington. He now lives near Tillamook, Oregon. The mother, Sarah (Marshall) Bailes, spent the greater portion of her life laboring beside her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Rader have nine children, whose names are: Blossom, Floyd W., Bessie, Virginia, Benjamin, Ruth, Lena, Larem and Jay. All were born in the Kittitas valley-Blossom, the eldest, in 1881, and Jay, the youngest, in 1902.

Mr. Rader is a stanch Republican, but never ac- cepted office at the hands of his party, preferring to assist his friends rather than to be elected to office. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian church, and are active workers. Fraternally, Mr. Rader is associated with the Modern Woodmen. He is an enthusiast in matters of education and for sixteen years has held the office of director in his school district. It was principally through his per- sonal efforts that his district is now able to boast one of the finest school houses and equipages of the country district in the county. As thrifty in business as in public matters, he has acquired, be- sides his home farm, a section of farm land in Douglas county, half of which he purchased from his father. The farm which he makes his home is well stocked in every way. Successful in business, honest and public-spirited, he has risen to an envi- able position in his community.

AUGUST HABERMANN is a farmer residing three miles east and five miles north of Ellensburg. He was born in Germany, October, 1854, and is the son of Frank and Annie (Linsner) Habermann, both natives of Germany. August attended school in his native country until he was thirteen, when he went to work on his father's farm. Three years later he entered the employ of others, giving his wages to his father. In this work he continued two years, when he decided to cast his lot in America. He came direct from the old country to Minne- sota, and there worked on a farm for two years, after which he went to Nebraska. As that country was not to his liking he went to Kansas, and there filed on a homestead. He cultivated his land for four years, but during the time, lost so heavily from storms and drought that he left and came to this state. He stayed for a while in the Palouse country, and then pushed on to Seattle, where he worked a short time at the carpenter's trade. His next and final move was to Kittitas valley, whither he came in July, 1883. Here he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land, which he has since farmed. To this original tract he has added from time to time, till now he has four hundred and eighty acres of land all under cultiva- tion.

Mr. Habermann was married, in 1879, in the state of Kansas, to Miss Anna Luisner. He has one sister living, Mrs. Frances (Habermann) Rol- linger, a native of Germany, now residing in the

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Kittitas valley. Another sister, Cicily Habermann, is now deceased. Mrs. Habermann knows but little of her family, since her parents both died when she was an infant. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Habermann, as follows: Ru- dolph, the eldest, was born in Seattle, February 14, 1881 ; Othilla, in Kansas, on October 21, 1882; Frank, in Kittitas county, December 25, 1884; Rosa, May 6, 1887; William, July 3, 1891 ; Nicholas, Au- gust 15, 1893; Albert, October 6, 1895 ; John, Octo- ber 16, 1900, and Martin, who is the youngest of the family. Excepting Rudolph and Othilla, all the children were born in the Kittitas valley. Mr. and Mrs. Habermann are members of the Catholic church. The former is a Republican, and a stanch supporter of President Roosevelt. He has one of the most desirable farms in the valley, on which is a modern ten-room house, and two large barns. The placed is stocked with thirty-two head of cat- tle, and horses and farming implements sufficient to carry on all agricultural pursuits. Mr. Haber- mann is regarded by his neighbors as a man whose word is as good as his bond. He is energetic and enterprising, and well endowed with the qualities which go to give a man weight in his community.

WILLIAM PREWITT, a farmer living four and one-lialf miles northeast of Ellensburg, was born in Missouri, March 27, 1864. He is the son of Joseph and Catherine (Harris) Prewitt, the former born in Missouri, the latter in Kansas, and both now living in the first named state.

William Prewitt's life up to the time when he was sixteen years of age was spent in the common schools of Texas. After leaving school he was three years in the employ of various farmers in Texas, but the fall of 1883 found him in the Kittitas valley. He was employed on farms and in sawmills in the valley for about eight years, during which time he purchased a farm. He then went to Okanogan county and "squatted" on a piece of land. After eight years he sold his claim and returned to his Kittitas valley farm, where he has remained con- tinually since. He was married in Kittitas county, November 4, 1885, to Miss Amanda Coon, a native of Texas, born August 11, 1866. Mr. Prewitt has one brother and one sister, Robert Prewitt, born in Missouri, May 18, 1858, who is now a farmer in the Kittitas valley; and Catherine Ross, also born in Missouri, February 12, 1861, and now living on a farm in that state. Mrs. Prewitt's father, Wil- liam Coon, a native of Ohio, born May 2, 1837, was a farmer and a Civil war veteran. He is now dead. Her mother. Edna (Freeman) Coon, was a native of Indiana, born February 5, 1839, to parents of Irish lineage. Mrs. Prewitt's brothers and sister are: John, David, Thomas and Martha Coon, all natives of Texas, born January 26, 1862, February 23, 1864, January 23, 1879, and May 30, 1883, re-

spectively. John and David are at present living in the state of Washington.

Mr. and Mrs. Prewitt have six children, as fol- lows: Rose Reynolds, born in Kittitas county, October 1, 1886; Clara, born in Kittitas county, April 28, 1888; Eunice, born in Okanogan county, May 29, 1890; Joseph, born in Okanogan county, July 29, 1892; Bee, born in Kittitas county, August 20, 1894, and Grace Prewitt, born in Kittitas coun- ty, March II, 1900.

Mr. Prewitt is a member of the Brotherhood of America, and politically is an active Democrat. He has a good two hundred and forty acre farm, weil stocked and in a high state of cultivation. He is a well-to-do farmer and a man of high honor, and occupies an exalted position among his neighbors.

W. R. THOMAS. W. R. Thomas is a carpen- ter by trade, though he is now an extensive land owner and stock raiser in the Kittitas valley. He was born in Transylvania county, North Carolina, January 9, 1859. His father, William A. Thomas, born in North Carolina, 1821, was a farmer and stockman. He was a successful breeder of fancy trotting horses. The mother, Anthaler V. (Mc- Call) Thomas, was the daughter of a North Caro- lina merchant and ante-bellum slave-holder. She was born in North Carolina in 1839, at Albert, a famous summer resort.

Mr. Thomas, after receiving a good education in Roan college, Tennessee, at the age of eighteen learned the carpenter's trade, which he fol- lowed for some fifteen years in the states of Ohio, Kentucky and Washington. He came to the Kittitas valley in 1889 and worked at his trade for three and a half years in the employ of the North- ern Pacific Company, at the end of which time he purchased eighty acres of land from this company, lying seven miles east of Ellensburg. This he cultivated for four years, when he sold at a good figure and purchased his present farm. He was married in his native state in 1880, to Harriet Hart, who subsequently died, leaving two children. Mr. Thomas afterward was married to Miss Bessie Cleveland. To this marriage six children have been born. Mr. Thomas has one sister, Laura L. Rhodes, a native of Georgia, whose husband is a farmer now living in North Carolina.

Mrs. Thomas was born in Illinois, June 22, 1881, and is the daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Lewis) Cleveland, both natives of Illinois. The former, now deceased, was born in 1830 and was a Baptist minister of note. The latter was born in 1842, and now lives at North Yakima.

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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 197

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