An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington, Part 88

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 88
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 88
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 88

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).

The trial continued through the entire night and in the morning the justice, being moved by com- passion, dismissed the case and pardoned the of- fenders, making it evident, however, that he had left himself liable by his leniency and neglect of duty. "I ought to have hanged you both," said the justice. "I could do it and it is at my own risk that I fail to do my duty."

The poor fellows were in great terror lest they be found guilty and the clemency of the court filled them with gratitude. The justice was somewhat disconcerted, however, and felt sure that this thing of conducting a court had its drawbacks when the witnesses, who had thoroughly enjoyel the fun, came to demand their fees.

TOBY AND NANCY.

Kittitas county's two most noted characters are unquestionably Toby and Nancy, residents of El- lensburg. There they are to be seen nearly every day-a sad picture of a dying race. Bent and tot- tering, wrinkled with the furrows of care and age, and picturesquely dressed in a motley garb of red and white men's clothing, they wander about the streets, poor, old, blind Toby led by a short rope and cautiously feeling his way with a cane, Nancy packing a load of food supplies or wood upon her back. Everybody knows them; all have a kindly word for them. They need not stir from their tepee on the city's outskirts for the matter of food or wood or clothing, for charity has kept them many years now, but they realize that activity is life to them.

How old they are, no one, not even themselves, knows. They were old when the first white settlers came to the valley in the later sixties. In 1873, Charles Reed employed Toby to do some road work, and at that time named him Toby. Toby worked for various people as long as he was able and since then has been supported by others. At the time of the Indian scare in 1878 he did some scout duty for the settlers. Nancy is the only wife Toby ever had. At one time they had several children, but these died years ago. Upon another page will be found late pictures of these Indian centenarians.

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REMINISCENT.

THE FAIR MOXEE.

In the days long since departed, Lived a maiden, gentle hearted, Ere the pale face came, so wary. Tripped she lightly like a fairy ; Sweet her laugh as rippling water; To old Yakima a daughter. Wooers came from far to see- Sang the praise of fair Moxee.

Many wooed but none had won her; Through the spring and through the summer Rang her note of rippling laughter Till the birds forever after Paused with silenced notes to listen Where the bounding waters glisten- Paused, entranced, to hear her glee, Sweetly laughing fair Moxee.

Once the Manitou, Multnomah, Spake in smoke from great Tacomah; And his voice brake forth in thunder Till the tribes bowed down in wonder. Thus he spake while flashed the lightning, All the Yakimas affrightening- Spake of future time to be, Spake unto the fair Moxee:

"Moxee, fair and gentle maiden, Time for thee is richly laden- Rich in stores of great fruition; For thy breast shall yield nutrition . To a race whose name is legion ; They shall own and rule this region. Bride of pale face thou shalt be- Keep the saying, fair Moxee."

Chilly winds and winters dreary O'er the sage brush plains so dreary Came and went and left their traces, Came and brought the first pale faces With their tubes of thunder speaking, With their leaden bullets shrieking. One there was from near the sea Who won the heart of fair Moxee.

O'er the wooing we will hasten ; Love each heart must surely chasten ; Broader paths the feet will follow, Selfish aims are empty, hollow. Sons and daughters soon caress them, Plenty's hands with riches bless them; Years of joys and sorrows flee O'er the home of fair Moxee-

Till at last, by Time's hand stricken, With a dread disease they sicken. Side by side they now are sleeping, O'er their graves the willows weeping. In the quiet vale so lowly, Where the river wanders slowly, Old Tacomah's eye may see Where now sleeps the fair Moxee.

But the sage brush plains unsightly, Where the robber coyote nightly Sang his challenge 'round each tepee To awake the eye that's sleepy, Are changed to fertile fields of clover- Orchards, vineyards cover over ; Sheep and cattle wander free In the vale of fair Moxee.

This no doubt was then the reading Of the prophecy preceding ; Or the simple native dreaming O'er his pipe so skookum, steaming, Like some of a higher station May have used imagination ; But e'en then you will agree There's the valley of Moxee.

R. S. ROBERTSON.

KITTITAS VALLEY.

No fairer vale was ever sung, No better theme could poet know, Or far, or near, for pen or tongue, Than picture in the morning glow, Our valley home, inviting all, Environed by a mountain wall.

Afar, the rugged mountains rise, Cold, gleaming in the morning sun, Reaching as if to meet the skies. I fondly turn to them, as one Would turn to greet a long tried friend, Unswerving, constant to the end.

The growing fields on every side, Proclaim a bounteous harvest near; The cooling waters dance and glide; With wild flowers springing everywhere, While health inspiring breezes blow And kiss the cheek to ruddy glow. .

Anear a thousand beauties spring, In pleasing form to greet the eye; Afar the towering mountains fling A glory on the earth and sky, That lifts and fills and thrills the soul Above, beyond the will's control.

I love the mountains best of all; Somehow they are so grandly free; A nameless gladness seems to fall In restful joy from them to me, Such as I never elsewhere know Save where the sea tides come and go. -Kittitas Standard, June 16, 1883.

WITHIN A HUNDRED YEARS.

Where millions dwell in happiness, And streams of commerce flow, There stretched a pathless wilderness A century ago.

Till then, no Saxon voice had stirred The desert solitudes, Nor sound of settler's axe disturb'd The silence of the woods.

Wild savages alone had seen The prairies bright with bloom, The forests robed in summer green, Or clouds of wintry gloom.

The trails that border'd this land then Were often moist with blood, From hearts of bold, courageous men, Who led progression's flood.

From where Missouri's waters run, So swiftly to the south, To where the rays of setting sun Flame at Columbia's mouth,

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CENTRAL WASHINGTON.

A thousand battles have been fought By hardy pioneers To make this change, that has been wrought Within a hundred years.

Now palaces and humble homes Are seen on every hand, And lofty spires and gilded domes Of cities grace the land ;

Where busy people throng the streets, And boats ply on the streams, And every face another greets With joy's apparent beams.

But this was all most dearly bought, With wounds and widows' tears Of those whose valor this change wrought Within a hundred years.

EDWARD PRUYN.

ON THE BANKS OF THE KLICKITAT.

I stood on the banks of the Klickitat, On an Indian camping ground, Where a dusky band of Yakimas Had pitched their tents around.

They could see the bluffs of the ancient fort, Where their fathers had bent the bow;

Where white and red had fought and bled In battle long ago.

They could see the white man's furrowed fields, They knew they could hunt no more, And their hearts grew cold like the snowy peaks That dotted the landscape o'er.

They sadly gazed on the busy road, Where once they followed a trail, While in the twilight gleamed the spires Of the city of Goldendale.

That night I saw them move their camp And ride in solemn tread As if they were chanting a requiem In honor of the dead.

They turned their train to the northern hills, Where now they are forced to stay; And only the dying embers show Where a nation camped that day.

Like phantoms grim where the willows shade, Where the path runs into the stream, I saw them cross it one by one In the moonlight's silvery gleam.

This I say is an emblem true Of all the faded race; They are crossing the river one by one, While the white men take their place.

Thus civilization surges on, Nor waits for flesh or blood, And those who will not join its ranks Must sink beneath the flood.

AUTHOR UNKNOWN.

PART VI.

BIOGRAPHICAL

"Biography is the only true history." -Emerson.

"Biography is infinitely more valuable than the dumb statue or monument." - Carlyle.

KLICKITAT COUNTY BIOGRAPHY

COL. ENOCH W. PIKE.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES KLICKITAT COUNTY

COL. ENOCH W. PIKE. The reader will need no extended introduction to the pioneer citizen whose biography is here recorded, so generally is he known throughout this section of the state. For nearly forty years the Pacific Northwest has been his home, and for thirty-two of those years he has been intimately and prominently identified with the history of Klickitat county as a pioneer farmer and stockman, volunteer soldier, business man, county official and a public-spirited citizen. Through all his life, except as a very young lad, he has been in the van of settlement, blazing the trail for others to follow, fighting the hostile red man, subduing the wilderness and rearing settlements, and whenever the call to action has come, wherever it has led him, he has responded with alacrity and energy and abil- ity. Colonel Pike is a native of the New England states, born April 13, 1842, on a farm in Franklin county, Maine, the state of which it has been so aptly said "her chief product is men." Moses Pike, the father of Enoch W., was also a native of the Pine Tree state; he was born in Oxford county, February 12, 1816. In 1854 the Pike family left the old home on the Atlantic coast and penetrated the forests of Wisconsin, where the dauntless pioneer soon erected his new abode. After farm- ing five years in that state, the home was again moved, this time to Minnesota. Not satisfied, how- ever, the father determined to go to the westmost west, and accordingly, in the fall of 1867, took pas- sage in a steamship bound from New York to Pan- ama ; thence he went to California and, without stop- ping in that state, north to Linn county, Oregon. He resided in that locality until 1873, when he be- came a pioneer of Klickitat, remaining in this county until his death, which occurred in 1900. Phoebe (Scribner) Pike, the mother, was born in historic Concord, New Hampshire, the year of her birth being 1813. She received her education in the schools of her native state and after graduating taught several terms. In New Hampshire, also, she was united in marriage to Moses Pike. Mrs.

Pike passed away in 1898, two years previous to her husband's death. Enoch W. Pike received his edu- cation in the schools of Maine, Wisconsin and Min- nesota, being seventeen years old when he reached the last named state. He remained with his father on the farm until he was twenty years old, when he answered President Lincoln's call to arms by en- listing in Company K, Ninth Minnesota volunteers. He was mustered in August 22, 1862, and served continuously until June, 1865. During a long period he acted as camp clerk. He participated in the famous battles of Nashville and Mobile, as also in numerous other engagements of the Army of the West. Previous to his regiment's departure for southern battlefields, the young private also took part with his comrades in the historic Minnesota Indian outbreak of 1862. After the close of the war, the young soldier returned to Minnesota and spent a year, during which period he was married. In the spring of 1867 he came to Oregon, via the Panama route, settling in Oregon's capital city, Salem. While he tarried there a year he was en- gaged in carpenter work. But the next year he left the thickly populated settlement and for four years farmed in Linn county. Then, in May, 1872, he drifted again to the frontier, coming to the sparsely settled Klickitat country and taking a soldier's homestead, twelve miles east of Goldendale. There he lived for thirteen years, gradually accumulating a fine property and assisting others to secure a foot- hold. Early in 1885 he removed to the town of Gold- endale, where he erected a livery barn, now known as the "Red Barn." During the next few years he was engaged in the livery business and in selling farm implements, wagons, etc. The livery he sold in 1894, the implement business, three years later, though he has since again taken up the latter bnsi- ness. He became associated as land inspector with the Oregon Mortgage Company in the year 1889, and still holds that responsible position. Col. Pike was one of the founders of Goldendale's first bank, the First National, and has been connected with

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other important business interests since he came to the city. In addition to his other business, he also handles real estate and loans money.

Miss Clara Palmer, a daughter of Aaron A. Palmer, was united in marriage to Mr. Pike at Winona, Minnesota, on Washington's birthday, 1866. Her father was born in New Hampshire and by trade was a mechanic. He immigrated to Minnesota in 1854 and there his death occurred in 1900. Mrs. Palmer, whose maiden name was Ladd, was also a native of New Hampshire, where she was educated and married; she died in Minnesota. Mrs. Pike is a native of New Hampshire, born in October, 1848. She was educated in the schools of Minnesota and in that state was married when eighteen years of age. Col. and Mrs. Pike have reared a family of three children, two sons and one daughter, all of whom are living. The oldest, Edwin W., was born in Klickitat county, February 14, 1879, and is one of the county's prosperous farmers ; Chester A. was born in this county in 1882, and is now conducting a drug store in Goldendale; Vera, born in Goldendale, June 10, 1888, is living at home. Fraternally, Col. Pike is connected with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Order of Washington; besides, he is a member of Baker Post, No. 20, G. A. R. An active Republican, he was the candidate of his party for the office of as- sessor in 1878, and was elected, serving one term. His fellow men have also honored him by electing him several times to membership in the city council and once as the city's mayor. For fifteen years he was connected with the Washington National Guard, and he went through the different offices to colonel of the Second regiment. He was colonel for eleven years. However, his military record in Washington extends back to the year 1878, when he was chosen captain of the first militia company or- ganized in the territory, the Klickitat Rangers. This company participated in the Moses affair and the arrest of the Perkins murderers. Colonel Pike's property interests are large, including, among other holdings, one thousand four hundred acres of deeded land, of which six hundred acres are in cultivation. Colonel and Mrs. Pike enjoy the high- est esteem of all who know them. As a man of sterling qualities, keen business abilities and commendable public spirit, the Colonel well deserves to reap the rewards of good deeds well done.

WILLIAM VAN VACTOR. Among the lead- ing men of Klickitat county the man whose name forms the caption of this article is certainly to be given a prominent place. Coming to the county some twenty years ago, he early won for himself a place in the esteem and regard of its citizens, who soon summoned him by their franchises to the office of sheriff. His services then and later were eminently satisfactory, as is evinced by the fact that the people have kept him in public office much of

the time since. In private life also he has so de- meaned himself always as to retain the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens and to impress them with the fact that he is a man of sterling integrity and worth. Mr. Van Vactor is a native of Hardin county, Kentucky, born October 8,' 1842. He is of Dutch descent, his father, Solomon, having been born in Holland in 1813. When two years old he came to the United States with his parents, who settled in Hardin county, Kentucky. There Solo- man Van Vactor was educated and spent his early years. When a young man he engaged in operating flatboats and other craft upon the Ohio and Mis- sissippi rivers. In 1848 he removed to Meed county, in the same state, and made his home there until murdered by river pirates in 1855. His wife, whose maiden name was Isabel Wilson, was born in Virginia in 1816. She went to Kentucky as a school teacher and while so engaged taught the younger members of the Van Vactor family the rudiments of their education. After her husband's death, she became the wife of a minister named Williams; her death occurred in the fall of 1890. The Van Vactor so prominently mentioned in Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin," because of his mag- nanimous act of freeing the slaves of his plantation at a time when such an act was considered by South- erners to be rank disloyalty, was Solomon Van Vac- tor. William Van Vactor received his education at home, his mother teaching him, and when eleven years of age commenced working upon the river. After the murder of his father in 1855, William joined the rest of the family, who had removed the year previous to Lewis county, Missouri. In 1857 he went to Van Buren county, Iowa, and there learned the blacksmith's trade, serving an appren- ticeship of three years. Then the gold fields of the far west attracted his attention with the result that May 7, 1861, he started for California. The party crossed the Plains by mule teams, arriving in Vir- ginia City, Nevada, October 26th. At that camp Mr. Van Vactor resided twelve months, working at his trade, but the succeeding fall continued his west- ward journey and finally settled at Stockton, Cali- fornia. The Golden state was his home until Sep- tember, 1863, when he took up his abode in Linn county, Oregon. For fifteen years he lived there, partaking of the prosperity which came to the pio- neers of the Willamette valley. But, urged on- ward by the pioneer spirit so characteristic of the family, he left Oregon in 1878 and settled on a homestead twenty-five miles west of Goldendale. While his family lived upon the ranch, Mr. Van Vactor followed his trade, working in various towns throughout the region until 1884, when he opened a blacksmith shop of his own in Goldendale. Two years later his fellow men elected him sheriff. Upon assuming his duties Mr. Van Vactor sold his shop and so faithfully devoted himself to the duties of his office that he was accorded a re-election in 1888. After retiring from office, he engaged in the general

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merchandise business in Goldendale and success- fully conducted the store four years. He again opened a blacksmith shop in 1898 and followed that occupation until elected sheriff in 1902, selling the shop soon after. Besides being engaged in public work, Mr. Van Vactor conducts a livery stable and with his son, W. F. Van Vactor, recently established a general flour and feed store. He has served as city marshal also.

Mr. Van Vactor and Miss Mary E. Wishard, daughter of Archie L. and Lavona (Fisher) Wish- ard, were united in marriage August 7, 1864, in Linn county, Oregon. Mr. Wishard was born in Park county, Indiana, in 1815, and was of Holland de- scent. By occupation he was a farmer. He crossed the Plains by ox team to Linn county, Oregon, in 1852, where he died seven years later. Mrs. Wish. ard, also a native of Indiana, born in 1816, was the daughter of German parents. She was married in her native state and crossed the Plains with her husband, living in Oregon until her death in Octo- ber, 1874. Mrs. Van Vactor was born in Park county, Indiana, March 24, 1847, crossed the Plains with her parents and was married when seventeen years of age; she died in Goldendale in 1892. Mr. Van Vactor was again married May 29, 1894, his bride being Miss Emma Robinson, daughter of Edwin W. and Catherine (Bowin) Robinson; the ceremony took place in Missouri. Mr. Robinson was born in Kentucky and is at present engaged in farming in Lewis county, Missouri, to which state he came when a young man. Mrs. Robinson was born in Missouri and died there in the year 1879. Mrs. Van Vactor is also a Missourian by birth, born September 24, 1870. She received her education in the public schools of that state. To Mr. Van Vac- tor's first marriage were born six children, of whom Monrova, born in Oregon, June 25, 1865, is the eldest ; she is living in North Yakima. Mrs. Annie Johnson, the next eldest daughter, was born in Linn county, in July, 1867, and now lives in Portland ; Samuel E., living in Heppner, Oregon, was born in the Webfoot state, July 14, 1870; Mrs. Martha E. Dunbar, another daughter, was born January 2, 1875; Francis, living in Portland, was born August 6, 1882; and William F., engaged in business with his father, was born January 22, 1886, the last two named children being natives of Klickitat county. To Mr. Van Vactor's second marriage, three chil- dren have been born: Dayton, May 11, 1896; John and Thelma, twins, September 23, 1903; all liv- ing. Fraternally, Mr. Van Vactor is connected with the Masons, Knights of Pythias and the Order of Washington. He is a member of the Methodist and his wife of the Christian church. Politically, Sheriff Van Vactor is a stalwart Democrat, active in the councils of his party. He has the distinction of being one of two Democrats serving one of the strongest Republican counties in the state. His strict integrity, faithful devotion to duty wherever it may be, and energy have made him deservedly a

successful business man, a popular and efficient official and an esteemed citizen.

ALLEN BONEBRAKE, M. D. The fact that he whose name stands at the beginning of this biog- raphy is now serving his fourth full term as mayor of the city of Goldendale is in itself prima facie evidence of the substantial position to which he has attained and plainly indicative of the high regard in which he is held by those who know him best. As one of the city's pioneers, as a man who has taken an active part in the upbuilding of his county and as a successful worker in his chosen profession, Dr. Bonebrake is deserving of a place on the roll of Klickitat's history makers. Marion county, Iowa, is his birthplace, and January 21, 1852, the date of his birth. His father, Rev. William F. Bonebrake, an Ohioan, born in 1814, was a minister of the United Brethren church for over forty years. He came to Marion county, Iowa, from Illinois in 1843, living there until the spring of 1862, when he crossed the Plains, by ox team, to Roseburg, Oregon. Four years later he returned to Iowa, but again, three years afterward, recrossed the Plains to Ore- gon, this time settling in Coos county. He trav- eled throughout the state in his professional capacity until 1887, then came to Goldendale. However, he survived only six months after coming to Washing- ton, his death occurring in 1887, also. Mrs. Bone- brake was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1816. Her parents moved to Ohio when she was a child and there she was educated and, when twenty-two years old, was married. Both she and her husband were of German descent.

Our subject received his early schooling in Iowa, being ten years old when he made the long, danger- ous journey overland to Oregon, and his latter edu- cation in Oregon. Until he was eighteen years old, he remained at home, but not liking the migratory life rendered necessary by his father's calling, he then sought his fortunes alone. In the fall of 1870, he settled upon a quarter section in Coos county and for twelve years was engaged in farming and stock raising. During this time he began the study of pathology and subsequently entered the office of Dr. Tower, of Marshfield, Oregon, with whom he re- mained two years. He then matriculated at Wil- lamette University, by which he was graduated three years later, in the class of 1883. with the de- gree of M. D. Shortly afterward he located in Day- ton, Washington, where he practiced a year. Dr. Bonebrake opened his office in the town of Golden- dale March 29, 1884, since which date he has resided in the city, winning success in all that he has under- taken.

On June 3, 1885, a year after his arrival in the city, he married Miss Letitia Flanary, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Green (Chamberlain) Flanary. Mr. Flanary was a native of Missouri, born in 1829, who crossed the Plains by ox team to Oregon in

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CENTRAL WASHINGTON.

1852, being among the earliest Oregon pioneers. He was engaged in farming in Yamhill county until 1879, when he settled eight miles east of Goldendale. He brought his family to Goldendale in 1884, and there passed away in 1899. Mrs. Flanary also died in 1899. Mr. Flanary was of English and Irish and Mrs. Flanary of English descent. Mrs. Bone- brake was born in Yamhill county, Oregon, March 22, 1867. She received her education in the schools of Goldendale and at the time of her marriage was eighteen years of age. Her eldest brother, William P. Flanary, is a photographer in the city ; another brother, Jasper G., resides at Juliaetta, Idaho; one sister, Mrs. Sonora Hess, lives in the Ahtanum valley; and the other sister, Mrs. Susie Shearer, also lives in Yakima county. Mr. and Mrs. Bone- brake have reared a family of three children, all born in Goldendale. Holt, the eldest, was born April 17, 1887, and was recently stricken down in the flower of his youth ; Allen Crede, the next oldest, was born January 12, 1893, and Adria, the only daughter, was born February 27, 1896. Dr. Bone- brake is connected with five fraternal orders, in all of which he is prominent : The Masons, Odd Fel- lows, Woodmen of the World, A. O. U. W., and the Order of Washington .. Mrs. Bonebrake is a mem- ber of the Christian church. In politics, the Doctor is a Republican. Besides serving Goldendale as mayor so many years with honor to himself and profit to the city, he is city health officer, and for a number of years has been a member of the school board, being its president at this time. Of all his public service nothing but words of praise and commendation are spoken by those whom he has served. His property interests are substantial, in- cluding a fine city home and an undivided fifth share in four hundred acres of farming land. Dr. Bonebrake is truly one of the representative citizens of both city and county, highly esteemed by his fel- low men and fellow practitioners.

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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 88

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