An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington, Part 199

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 199
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 199
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 199

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).

(Rosecrans) Gavitt. Her father and mother were natives of Susquehanna county, Pennsyl- vania. The father was born in 1827, and was of French descent, but his mother was a lineal de- scendant of Roger Williams. His wife was born in 1836, and was the mother of six children, Polly, Ruby Annabell, Eliza Jane, Richmond Lee, Peter M. and Louise F., wife of Mr. Sim- mons. Mr. and Mrs. Simmons have two chil- dren, Lee Gavitt, born in Mason county, August 13, 1886, and Ruby Elizabeth, born in the same county, May 8, 1891. Mr. Simmons is a stanch Republican, and is one of the leading farmers and most active citizens of the county.

JAMES WATSON is one of the first citizens of the county and owns and farms three hundred and twenty acres of level valley land, all under irrigation, three and one-half miles southeast of Ellensburg, Washington. The place is well stocked with cattle, horses, etc., and Mr. Watson is considered one of the most substantial and prosperous citizens of the valley. He was born near Glasgow, Scotland, in 1849, the son of James Watson, a machinist, and Jennette (Walker) Watson, both of whom were born and died in Scotland. He has two brothers and an uncle liv- ing in San Francisco. Peter Watson, one brother, is in the wool business there. The other, Benjamin Watson, and the uncle, William Wat- son, are machinists. Mr. Watson received his early education in Scotland. At the age of fifteen he began his apprenticeship as a machinist and served five years and one-half at the forge and lathe ; then, in 1869, he moved to Canada, where for a time he was employed by a brewery at Lachene. In the spring of 1870 he went to Chi- cago, where he remained two years. Later he traveled considerably throughout the Northwest, visiting San Francisco and points in Arizona and British Columbia. He finally settled, in June, 1877, upon his present farm. At that time his nearest neighbors were George W. Carver, R. P. Tjossem, and the "Robbers' Roost," where John A. Shoudy and John Stewart conducted a store. This store was the only source of sup- plies at that time, but later J. D. Olmstead estab- lished another store about seven miles southeast at a place now known as the Nolan farm. In 1877 Mr. Watson acted as courier for the settlers during the time when Chief Joseph and the other Indians were on the warpath. Mr. Watson went to the mouth of the Wenatche and had a meeting with Chief Moses, the purpose of which was to urge Moses to remain friendly to the whites and not to join the Joseph band of marauders, and in accomplishing this object he was entirely suc- cessful. Mr. Watson took out his first citizen- ship papers in Arizona in 1875 and the second papers in Yakima county. He cast his first vote

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for Glover Cleveland for president. He has al- ways been a Democrat in politics, and in religion is an adherent of the Presbyterian church.

JOHN WILLIAM GERMAN is a farmer and stockman, living eleven miles northeast of Ellensburg; was born in McClennan county, Texas, November 7, 1864, and is the son of Grand- erson F. and Maranda (Davis) German, born in Chatham, North Carolina, March 20, 1819, and Anderson county, Tennessee, August 13, 1823, re- spectively. The father died in Kittitas county, May 20, 1902; the mother is still living with the son. Granderson F. German was a physician, widely known throughout Kittitas county, and a veteran of the Seminole and Mexican wars. In the lat- ter named war he served under Col. Thomas Jes- sup and General Scott. His service was princi- pally on the Pacific coast. Mr. German received his early education in the common schools of Wise county, Texas. He came to Kittitas county October 20, 1884, in company with his father. Set- tling near his present home, he embarked upon his career as a stockman and farmer. He went to Okanogan county later, and remained in the stock raising business there for five years, when he returned to the Kittitas valley and purchased the old Tillman Houser homestead, 1892, consist- ing of one hundred and sixty acres, and this tract has furnished him a home since that time. His principal crop is hay. The sisters and broth- ers of Mr. German are : Elizabeth Pendegast, Atoka, Indian Territory ; Rachel Johnson, Bridgeport, Douglas county, Washington; Frances F. Prigmore, Kittitas valley; Maranda Gage, Kitti- tas county ; Robert D., M. D., Kennedy, Indian Territory ; and Malisie Bushon, Childress coun- ty, Texas. Mr. German was married in the Kit- titas valley, November 15, 1888, to Miss Pernina Houser, born in Kittitas county, near Ellensburg, December 27, 1869. She enjoys the distinction of having been the first white child born in the Kit- titas valley. Her father was Tillman Houser, the oldest settler in the valley, and Louisa (Wor- kiser) Houser, a native of Pennsylvania, a sketch of whose lives appears elsewhere in this history. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. German are: Sarah Messerly, Wenatchee; Harrison, who lives on the old Fulton ranch; Clarence J., Kittitas county ; Alvy, North Yakima, and Amelia Chur- chill, Kittitas county. Mr. and Mrs. German have one son, Grover Cleveland, born April 15, 1892, near Ellensburg. The former holds mem- bership in the Brotherhood of American Yeo- men, Fairview Lodge, 969. He has always voted the Democratic ticket, and was brought up un- der the influence of the Baptist church. Mr. German has large stock interests throughout the Kittitas valley, and extensive tracts of grazing land leased, upon which he pastures his stock.

He is rated in financial circles, and is among the most prominent and highly respected citi- zens of his county.

AUGUST NESSELHOUS was born in Ger- many in April, 1838, and is now a farmer resid- ing eleven miles northeast of Ellensburg. His father was Xaver F. Nesselhous, born in 1806, of German parents, and during the greater part of his life was a grape grower on the Rhine. Elizabeth (Echer) Nesselhous, the mother, was born of German parents, in 1808. Mr. Nessel- hous came to the United States with his father in 1847, settling at St. Louis, Missouri. What education he has he acquired in Germany, not having had an opportunity to attend school in this country. By the time he had reached the age of twenty he had become master of the coop- er's trade, and in that capacity worked steadily until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted in the First volunteer infantry of Iowa, Company D, under Captain Mathius. He was in the battle of Wilson Creek, and saw General Lyon fall mortally wounded. Besides this fight, he was a participant in many other skirmishes. He was mustered out of service in September, 1861, at St. Louis, having received a severe wound in the hip which disqualified him for further duty. Returning home, he engaged in farming until in 1862, when he crossed the Plains with an ox outfit and settled at Baker City, Ore- gon. After a brief sojourn there and in Boise he went to Portland and resumed the work of cooper. There he followed his trade until 1866, when he returned east, via the Panama route, going direct to Burlington, Iowa, where his father then lived. In July, 1870, he came west to the Kittitas valley and took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, which he at once began to improve, leading the life of a bachelor for over twenty years. In 1890 he returned east again, and was united in marriage to Miss Anna Weidemeier, October 15, 1890. Mr. Nes- selhous' brothers and sisters are: Robert, So- phie, now Mrs. Frank Coozs, Davenport, Iowa ; Mathias and Mrs. Amie St. Croix, Moline, Illi- nois. The parents of Mrs. Nesselhous were Fer- dinand and Gertrude (Stienkule) Weidemeier, both natives of Prussia, the former born in 1824 and the latter in 1826. They were married in 1852, and came to the United States in 1856, and settled at St. Louis. Mrs. Nesselhous was born in Burlington, Iowa, July 20, 1863. She has four brothers-John E., George H., Adolph and Jo- seph, all residing in Burlington, Iowa, except George H., who lives at Ellensburg. The chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Nesselhous are: Gertrude M., born October 24, 1891 ; Ida E., born Febru- ary 7. 1893; Robert F., born October 3, 1895; Matilda A., born May 12, 1898; and Clara E.,

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born October 5, 1900. Both Mr. and Mrs. Nes- selhous are members of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Nesselhous is a member of David Ford Post, No. II, G. A. R., and in national politics is a Republican, but in local matters places the man before the party. He is an ex- tremely active, public spirited citizen, and gen- erous to a fault ; is a good neighbor and stanch friend.

WILLIAM DENNIS is by trade a turner, but is now engaged in farming and stock raising in the Kittitas valley, twelve and one-half miles northeast of Ellensburg. He was born Novem- ber 26, 1849, in New York City, and is the son of George and Mary (Eurbert) Dennis, both na- tives of Germany. George Dennis was a tailor, and came to the United States when a young man.

The early life of Mr. Dennis was spent in Newark, New Jersey, and there he received his education. At the age of seventeen he ran away from home in order to take part in the Civil war. He served first in the Sixth West Vir- ginia cavalry, being a member of Company A. After six months with this command he enlisted in Company B of the same regiment under Cap- tain Clark. He was stationed at Clarksburg, West Virginia, the regiment being divided among other regiments. Next he was attached to the Eighth Ohio in 1863, when he saw service at the battle of Antietam. He also fought in the bat- tles of Martinsburg, Cedar Swamp, and others of minor importance. At Martinsburg he was captured by the enemy under General Mosby. In company with a negro, Private Dennis had wandered away from his command on a foraging expedition, and was surprised by the enemy, with the result that both he and his colored com- panion were taken prisoners of war. However, they escaped while passing through a wooded country, and made their way to the army of Gen- eral Sheridan, who saw them safely back to their regiment. Mr. Dennis was discharged from the army at Wheeling, West Virginia, and returned to his home in Newark. From Newark he went to Texas and located in Dallas. Afterward he engaged in driving cattle up the James Chris- holm trail in the employ of Colonel Anley. After six years of this life he went to Nebraska and farmed for three years. With a team and wagon he then started on the long journey across the Plains to Baker City, Oregon, arriving at his destination just six weeks later, having made the quickest trip on record. He came to Kittitas county in 1882, and settled on the place where the slaughter house now stands. He lived there one year, when he located on his present place of residence at the mouth of the Coleman can- yon.

In the state of Nebraska, 1873, Mr. Dennis married Miss Matilda Bartelt, a native of Wau- sau, Wisconsin, born January 1, 1854. She was the daughter of John and Matilda (Lust) Bart- elt, both of Germany. The father was born in Hamburg, and was a farmer and wagon maker. He came to the United States in 1844, bringing with him his family, among whom was Matilda, then a child, and afterwards the wife of Mr. Den- nis. The two were married in Madison, Wis- consin, in 1851. Mrs. Dennis' brothers and sis- ters are: William, living at Waverly, and sta- tion agent at Fairfield; Charles, Fairfield ; John, Waverly, a merchant; Herman, a farmer near Fairfield; Lenna, now Mrs. Walter Swan, Ken- newick, and Tennie, now the widow of Charles Morris, near Fairfield. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis are: Edward William, born in Har- land county, Nebraska, May 2, 1875 ; Laura Mes- serly, born in Walla Walla county, October 9, 1878, now of Wenatchee; Mary Shelton, born June 2, 1880, in Walla Walla county ; Ollie Joyce, born March 10, 1883, Ellensburg; Jesse, born January 5, 1886, at home; Harry, born February 20. 1888, at home; Jennie, born November 13, 1892 ; and Lena, born April 13, 1894, now living at home. For three years Mr. Dennis served as United States deputy marshal in Harland county, Nebraska. He was raised in the Catholic faith, but has no marked religious connections at pres- ent. In 1901 he was so unfortunate as to lose his house and contents by fire; his total loss be- ing about $2,000, partially covered by insurance. His present land holdings amount to eight hun- dred acres, most of which is in a high state of cultivation. He is living a peaceful and pros- perous life; his children have the advantage of a first-class school, and, taken altogether, the family is comfortably and happily situated. Mr. Dennis is an active worker, and is highly es- teemed by his neighbors.

FRANK C. BARNHART. Twelve miles northeast of Ellensburg lies the farm of Frank C. Barnhart, farmer and stockman. His birth- place and date of birth are Webster county, Mis- souri, May 28, 1858. He is the son of Thomas H. and Mary (Letterman) Barnhart. His father was born in Tennessee, July 15, 1835, of Ger- man parentage, and the mother was born of English parents, in Indiana, June 14, 1835. She died August 5, 1902. Mr. Barnhart was educated in the common schools of his native state. He came to Yakima in 1876 and went into the dairy business. In 1877 he came to the Kittitas val- ley, took up the homestead in which he still lives, and engaged in farming and the raising of stock. In 1883 he went into the sheep business, continuing in it for three years, when he sold out, but later was forced to take his sheep back.

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He continued to farm and run sheep until 1899, when he found the work too heavy for his health and again parted with the sheep, and has since confined himself to farming. During his career as a stockman, he made a specialty of Spanish Merino sheep and Durham cattle, and his flocks and herds were among the finest in the valley. Mr. Barnhart's brothers and sisters are: Wil- liam Frederick, a commercial traveler, Califor- nia ; George W., a farmer in the Methow valley; Mrs. Hily Ann Rader, Methow valley; Addie (Mrs. J. P. Rader) Methow; Mrs. Sarah Jane Witheral, Yakima valley; and Ivy Johnson, whose husband is a farmer and stockman of the Methow valley. Mr. Barnhart was married in the Kittitas valley, June 29, 1879, to Miss Ma- tilda L. Bailes, born in Umatilla county, Ore- gon, August 26, 1862. She is the daughter of Keathley and Sarah Ann (Marshall) Bailes, the former a native of Indiana, born in 1825, of English-Dutch descent; and the latter born in Missouri, about 1832, of Dutch extraction. The parents are now living at Tillamook, Oregon. The fathers of Mr. and Mrs. Barnhart crossed the Plains together from Missouri to Oregon in 1861. They started with a herd of cattle, which was stolen by thieves en route. The sisters and brothers of Mrs. Barnhart are: Mrs. Mary Ann Pedigo, Cowlitz county ; Mrs. Elizabeth Jane Brown, Ellensburg ; Mrs. Emmaline Royse, Oregon ; Andy Bailes, a farmer of the Kittitas valley; Mrs. Parthina C. Grissom, Ellensburg ; James W. Bailes, Ellensburg ; George W. Bailes, Tillamook, Oregon, and Mrs. Mattie I. Jackson, Cowlitz county, Wash- ington. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Barnhart are : Pleasant Frederick, born October 7, 1881, now a farmer and dairyman; Sarah Estella, born July 9, 1885 : Lizzie May, born October 18, 1887; Wal- ter T., born February 10, 1889; Ernest, born No- vember 7, 1890; Albert B., born August 18, 1892; Jesse W., born October 4, 1894; Theresie Fran- ces, born February 10, 1899; and Mildred Ann, born October 29, 1900. All were born in the Kit- titas valley, and all, with the exception of the first named, are living with their parents. Mr. Barnhart was reared under the Christian faith, but is not a member of any particular denomina- tion at present. He has membership in the Brotherhood of American Yeomen, Fairview lodge, No. 969. He has one of the choice alfalfa farms of the valley, and is in easy circumstances. As a citizen and neighbor he is well and favor- ably known throughout his county.

WILLIS F. ZETZSCHE is a contractor and builder of Ellensburg. His father, Frederick Zetsche, was born in Saxony, Germany, in 1839, and came to the United States in 1847, and set- tled in Washington county, Illinois. Here he followed farming and carpentering. The mother,

Margaret J. (Beckham) Zetzsche, was a native of Tennessee. Besides Willis there were four children in the family. Of these Julius F. is now a merchant of St. Louis; Thomas C. is superin- tendent of the iron works at the union depot, St. Louis; Mae J., now Mrs. H. Davenport, is a minister; and William L. is a paper hanger of Ellensburg.

Mr. Zetzsche received his early education in the state of his parents' adoption. He then learned the carpenter trade under his father and also mastered the trade of tinsmith. His first venture in a business way was in the opening of a hard- ware store in Okawville, which he conducted for a period of two years. He afterward went into a general merchandise business and continued in that line for nine years; when he sold out his interests and came to the Kittitas valley, Sep- tember II, 1888. He first settled on the Maxey ranch, south of Ellensburg, and remained there for one year, during which time he lost his house by fire. His next move was to Ellensburg, and there he began his career as a carpenter and builder. He had the distinction of completing the first store building erected in the city after the memorable fire of 1889. He was married at Okawville, Illinois, January 26, 1882, to Miss Mary A. Downes, who was born in Washington county, Illinois. Her father was born in Illi- nois, of English parentage, and at different peri- ods of his life, was a farmer, a teacher and a veteran of the Civil war. The mother was An- geline (Owens) Downes, a native of Washing- ton county, Illinois, and was of English parent- age.

Mr. Downes served as a private with distinc- tion throughout the entire Civil war. Upon the outbreak of hostilities he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Tenth Illinois, under the com- mand of Colonel Thomas Casey, and Captain Charles Maxey. He was mustered into state service August 14, 1862, and later, on September 23d of the same year, was mustered into the United States service. He was discharged Feb- ruary 13, 1863, on account of sickness. On the 19th of September, 1864, he was drafted to serve one year or longer. On this occasion he entered Company K, Second Illinois, Second brigade, Third division, Fourth corps of the Army of the Cumberland. At Victoria, Texas, he was dis- charged, October 29, 1865. at which time he was serving under Colonel Swain and Lieutenant James McClellan.

Mr. Zetzsche is a member of the carpenters' union in Ellensburg. Both he and his wife were raised under the influence of the Methodist Epis- copal church. He is said to be an expert work- man, and sustains an enviable reputation for in- dustry and honesty. Socially and_ in business circles, he is one of the most popular tradesmen of his city.

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CENTRAL WASHINGTON.

LEANDER F. LYEN was born in Cowlitz county, Washington, May 19, 1862, and is now a prosperous farmer and stockman residing ten miles northeast of Ellensburg. His father, also a farmer and stockman, was a native of Ken- tucky, born in that state about 1823; and his mother was Nancy J. (Ballard) Lyen, born in Whitehall, Tennessee, in 1819. With his father Mr. Lyen came to Yakima county in 1866, and settled in the Moxee valley. Later they moved to what is now North Yakima, and remained there about a year; the next move was to Kit- titas county. Leander F. received his education in the public schools, which were conducted in the primitive log cabins of that day. His father crossed the Plains in an ox-wagon in 1852, and thus became one of the pioneers of the West. Mr. Lyen, of this biography, came to the Kit- titas valley in 1870, and engaged in the cattle and sheep business, which he has since followed. On December 15, 1889, he married Miss Mollie E. (Reed) Prigmore at Ellensburg. Miss Prig- more was born in Mcclellan county, Texas, March 20, 1866. She was the daughter of Eze- kiel I. and Frances (German) Prigmore, the father a native of Texas, born in 1847, and the mother born in Missouri, in 1851. Mr. Prigmore was a farmer and came to this county in 1887. His wife is still living here. The other children of the family besides Mrs. Lyen are: Mrs. S. E. Mullin, of Whatcom, Washington; John R. Prigmore, of Seattle; Mrs. A. B. Jewett, of Whatcom; Samuel Prigmore, of Kittitas county ; Gertrude Prigmore, now resident in Kittitas county. Two others-D. Y. Prigmore and Leh- roy Prigmore-are deceased. The latter died in Alaska.

Mr. Lyen was reared under the influence of the Baptist church. In politics he is a Demo- crat, although he is now a stanch supporter of President Roosevelt. Being raised in the west, he is very conversant with the early traditions of the Indians, as well as the pioneer history of the state in general. He is comfortably sit- uated in his home, and is one of the well-to-do farmers of the Kittitas valley. He is everywhere regarded as being public spirited, and an hon- orable, law-abiding citizen, and counts his friends by the score.

ALBERT TJOSSEM. Albert Tjossem, a miller residing three miles southeast of Ellens- burg, was born in LeGrand, Iowa, July 16. 1867. He is the son of Rasmus P. Tjossem and Rachel (Heggem) Tjossem, both natives of Norway. Mr. Tjossem received his early education in the district schools of his native state, and came to Kittitas county with his father in September, 1877, settling in the southeastern part of Kittitas valley. He at once began working with his

father, and together they built a flour-mill, which they jointly operated. In 1889 the second mill built by them was burned to the ground, but was rebuilt in 1900, and equipped as few rural mills are with the most modern of machinery. Its daily capacity is about one hundred barrels ; its machinery is driven by a ten-foot head of water conducted to the mill by a ditch having its head just below the south bridge. A spur has been built by the railroad at the mill, and the place is known as Holmes Station. The pro- prietors of the mill are in partnership under the , firm name of R. P. Tjossem & Son. A ready market is found for all the mill products, prin- cipally along the Japan coast, while a portion finds sale in the local markets. The grain is for the most part imported from outside the county, only about one-third being locally grown. The mill of R. P. Tjossem & Son is well known throughout the interior of Washington, and bears the reputation of turning out some of the best grades of flour milled in the Northwest. Mr. Tjossem's brothers and sisters are: Rebecca Donald, Torena Moe, Lena Ruthven, Anna and Peter R. Tjossem. The last named is a draughts- man living in Spokane; the remaining four are residents of Kittitas county.

Mr. Tjossem was married in Ellensburg, June, 1899, to Olive Rutledge. Mrs. Tjossem died in June, 1901, and in Sept. 17, 1902, Mr. Tjossem was married a second time to Laura E. Cooper, daughter of John A. and Mary L. (Prose) Cooper. Mrs. Tjossem was born in Pesotum, Champaign county, Illinois, April 15, 1872. Her father was born in 1839, of Virginia stock, was a soldier in the rebellion, and is now a farmer living near Tuscola, Illinois. Mary L. Cooper is a native of the state of Ohio, born May 17, 1837. Mr. Tjossem is a member in good standing of the Masonic lodge of Ellensburg, and is an ad- herent to the Presbyterian church. He is liberal and public spirited. Few men have done more for the advancement and upbuilding of his county, and few enjoy the esteem and good will of a wider circle of social and business friends.

FREDERICK SCHORMANN, one of the substantial farmers of Kittitas valley, resides on his farm seven and one-half miles southeast of Ellensburg, where he devotes his time to farm- ing and the breeding of fine horses. Mr. Schor- mann is a native of Denmark and was born in the prosperous little city of Aarhus, January 3, 1869. His father, Carl Schormann, was a native of Germany, born in 1838. At the age of sixteen he moved to Denmark, where he met and mar- ried Anna Fredericksen, who was a native of Denmark, born in the year 1843. They still make Denmark their home. Mr. Schormann has filled a number of important offices in the com-

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

munity where he lives, and is held in high es- teem as a citizen. The son Frederick grew up and was educated in the land of his birth, but, upon reaching his majority, began to cast about him for a field of labor that promised more than a simple livelihood. Letters at this time com- ing from his brother Frank, who had immigrated to the United States in 1889, telling of this land of liberal laws and wealth of resources, deter- mined him to try the new land of promise and, in 1890, he crossed the sea and shortly after- wards located in Ellensburg. He engaged at general work for a time but, in 1894, settled down on his present farm, where he has since resided, and where he has continued to prosper. He is the third child in a family of five. Frank. the oldest, is a resident of Ellensburg. Michael and Johanna Jacobson live in the Kittitas val- ley, and Mary resides in Spokane.

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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 199

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