An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington, Part 90

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 90
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 90
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 90

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In 1885 he gave two lots and a cash bonus of $200 for the first jail, and for schoolhouse purposes he gave another tract, also furnishing the necessary lumber and helping to build it. To the second school, built a short time later, he gave sixteen lots valued at $100 each, and $200 in money. When the railroad entered the city in 1903, he presented the company with fifty- two lots for depot and yard purposes. In fact, Goldendale has been exceedingly fortunate in pos- sessing a liberal, far-sighted founder, for not a little of the city's hardy growth and present prosperity is due to the wise, generous policy pursued by him. The thrifty, substantial city of Goldendale will ever be a monument, more imposing than marble and more enduring than granite, commemorating the achievements of Klickitat's first pioneer.

Mr. Golden was married in Polk county, Ore- gon, May 17, 1859, to Miss Jane Parrott, a daugh- ter of Lewis S. and Amy (Long) Parrott. The father was a native of Tennessee, who went to Mis- souri when a child and crossed the Plains with the emigration of 1847 to the Willamette valley. He took a donation claim in Polk county, where he lived until he came with the Goldens to Klickitat in 1859. Throughout his long, useful life Mr. Parrott was a true Methodist and by an unusual coincident, his death occurred while attending church, October 26, 1902, he being then in his eighty-fourth year. Mrs. Parrott was a Virginian by birth, but was taken when a child to Kentucky. When twenty-one years old she went to live with a brother in Missouri and was there married. Mrs. Golden was born in Missouri, August 5, 1845, and was only two years old when brought across the Plains by her parents. She was educated in the public schools of Oregon and, like many other giris of the time, was married at an early age, she being only fourteen. To this union, eleven children have

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been born, all of whom except three are still living. Mrs. Sarah E. Barnett, the eldest child, was born in Klickitat county, December 8, 1860, and lives at Wasco, Oregon, her husband being a banker and a merchant there. She was the first white child born in Klickitat county. Mrs. Mary Barnes, the next oldest, was born September 24, 1862, and is living near Goldendale; Mrs. Florence L. Barnes, born August 19, 1864, died in 1883, leaving three children; Clara J. and Annie L. Golden were born October 11, 1866, and August 10, 1868, respectively, and died at the ages of thirteen and thirty respect- ively; Mrs. Flora D. Shelton, the next oldest, born July 19, 1870, is the wife of a Goldendale druggist ; Dora Dale Golden, now Mrs. I. C. Rich- ards, was born October II, 1872, and bears the distinction of being the first white child born in Goldendale; Mrs. Almeda Baker, born March 3, 1874, Mrs. Luella Love, born August 10, 1876, John W., born July 8, 1882, and Paul C., born January 13, 1884, are all living in the city, the latter two being still at home. Mrs. Golden has one brother, William S. Parrott, a Portland artist; a sister, Sarah, died in Missouri at the age of eighteen months. Mr. Golden has two brothers, Elgin, liv- ing in Whatcom, and John, a Portland business man, besides three sisters: Mrs. Mary B. Snipes, of Seattle, the wife of Ben E. Snipes, once Wash- ington's cattle king; Mrs. Elizabeth Pond, the wife of a Seattle mining man, and Eligia D., who re- sides in Portland.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Golden are members of the Methodist church. Mr. Golden is an enthusiastic Republican, though never seeking office. He was one of the members of the city's first council, was Goldendale's first postmaster and has served his fellow men in other positions. Besides his large holdings of city property, he also owns four hun- dred acres of farming lands, timber land and some stock-enough to give him a comfortable compe- tency in his declining years. Mr. and Mrs. Golden are held in high respect and esteem befitting two worthy pioneers of marked courage, integrity and generosity and are spending the evening of life on the old homestead, surrounded by a devoted family and a legion of loyal friends.

JOHN E. CHAPPELL. One of Goldendale's most substantial, successful and popular merchants is he whose biography is herewith presented. Nor is his success an accident; rather, it is the result of natural business ability, coupled with well di- rected energy. John E. Chappell is the son of William H. and Mary E. (Leach) Chappell, who are still living, respected citizens of Goldendale. The father, who is of French ancestry, is a native of the Blue Grass state, born in 1827, and by occu- pation is a farmer and business man. For several years he followed farming and stock raising in Mis- souri, then crossed the Plains to Oregon, where he

lived until 1879. In the fall of that year he came to Goldendale and engaged in the hotel business. This place was burned in the great fire of 1888, but was immediately replaced by another, known as the Palace, which Mr. Chappell conducted three years. About 1894 he and several other business men built the Central hotel, which was destroyed by fire in 1902, a few years after Mr. Chappell had retired from active business pursuits. Mrs. Chap- pell is a native of Missouri, born in 1836, and mar- ried in that state nearly half a century ago. After receiving a fair education in the public schools of Goldendale, John E., at the age of fifteen, began his business career by entering the store of Baker Brothers. For eight years he labored faithfully and energetically, gradually acquiring a thorough knowledge of the mercantile business. At the end of that time he embarked in business for himself, opening a store May 25, 1898. Since that date his business has rapidly expanded until at present it occupies attractive, commodious quarters in one of the city's largest brick blocks. Mr. Chappell operated a sawmill in Cedar valley in 1901, and two years later bought the entire output of three other mills. He is also dealing extensively in timber lands.

Mr. Chappell was united in marriage at Golden- dale, May 16, 1894, to Miss Clara B. Brokaw, a native of Missouri, and the daughter of Peter and Caroline Brokaw, natives of New York and Penn- sylvania respectively. The father, who is a farmer and stockman, early in life removed to Pennsylva- nia, thence to Missouri, and in 1878 became a pioneer of Klickitat county, settling on a home- stead two and a half miles north of the city. Mr. and Mrs. Brokaw were married in Missouri; they are still living in the county, at Bloodgood Springs. Mr. Brokaw is of German descent. Mrs. Chappell was born August 18, 1871. She received her edu- cation in the schools of Klickitat and for several years was engaged in dress making. Mrs. Chappell has two brothers, Charles and Ira, and one sister, Mrs. Flora Le Fever, all living in Klickitat county. Mr. Chappell has three brothers, David, William A. and Charles, living in Klickitat county, and three sisters, Mary Chappell and Mrs. Sarah Baker, res- idents of Goldendale, and Mrs. Elizabeth Dickson, who makes her home in Kaslo, B. C. Another brother, James, died when twenty-eight years old, and a sister, Ella, died at the age of twenty-four. Mr. and Mrs. Chappell have one child, Benjamin E., born in Goldendale, July 16, 1895. Mr. Chap- pell is an elder in the Presbyterian church and also superintendent of the Sunday school of that organ- ization. He is a Prohibitionist in politics. As councilman and member of the school board he has faithfully served his fellow townsmen at different times. His property holdings are extensive and include his store and two and a half sections of timber land in Oregon. Mr. Chappell is a success- ful business man, a public-spirited citizen, a de-

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CENTRAL WASHINGTON.

voted church worker and an unusually popular man with the people of Goldendale and the surrounding country.

HARVEY H. HARTLEY, M. D., a physician and surgeon in the city of Goldendale, Washington, is an energetic, progressive young man who enjoys the confidence of his fellow men and those in his own profession. He was born in Washington county, Oregon, near Forest Grove, September 12, 1871, to the union of James C and Martha (Givens) Hartley, pioneers of Oregon. James C. Hartley, who is still engaged in farming near Forest Grove, is a native of Illinois, born July 10, 1845. He is a veteran of some of the Oregon and Washington Indian wars and took part in quelling the Klamath Indian outbreak. He came across the Plains in 1864 and has spent most of his western life in Washington county. Mrs. Hartley was born in Indiana in the year 1850. She first crossed the Plains as a child only three years old, and twelve years later made a second trip, both times riding in wagons drawn by oxen. Mrs. Hartley has one brother, Doctor Givens, superintendent of the in- sane asylum at Blackfoot, Idaho. The father is of German descent, the mother of Welsh. Dr. Hartley attended the public schools of Washington county and in 1897 was graduated by Pacific University, at Forest Grove; three years later he received the degree of Master of Arts from this well known institution. After graduation he matriculated in the medical department of the University of Oregon at Portland, and from it he received the degree of M. D. During the next fourteen months he prac- ticed in the hospitals of Multnomah county, Ore- gon. He came to Klickitat county in May, 1900, locating first at Centerville, then in Goldendale, and since that time has built up a most satisfactory and lucrative practice in the community.

Dr. Hartley married, at Forest Grove, Oregon, in November, 1900, Miss Mary M. Gleason, a native of Washington county and a daughter of the well known® pioneers, John E. and Hardenia (Naylor) Gleason. Mrs. Gleason was born near Forest Grove in 1850, her parents being among the earliest settlers in that locality. Dr. Hartley has two brothers, Joseph J., residing at Banks, Oregon, and Clarence, who recently graduated in dentistry, and is now practicing his profession in Portland. His sister, May Hartley, is a student in Pacific University. Dr. and Mrs. Hartley have one child, Frederick, born Christmas day, 1901. Dr. Hartley is a member of several fraternities, the Masons, O. E. S., Order of Washington, Wood- men of the World and Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica. Politically, he is a Democrat. A popular mem- ber of the community, highly esteemed personally and an excellent physician, he is sure to win un- usual success in the profession he has chosen.

WENDELIN LEIDL, one of Goldendale's most successful and substantial business men and progressive citizens, as also a pioneer of Klickitat, is a well known acetylene gas manufacturer, watch- maker and jeweler. Like many another of our in- fluential citizens, Mr. Leidi is a native of Ger- many, born in Bavaria, October 19, 1861. His father, for whom the son was named, was a Ger- man government officer, whose death occurred in 1864. The mother, Josephine (Brumuller) Leidl, was also of German birth and ancestry. Germany continued to be Wendelin Leidl's home until he reached the age of eighteen. He there learned the jeweler's trade and spent eleven months in the army, as required by law. Crossing to France at the age mentioned, he spent some time there, then, in 1879, came to the United States. His first stopping point was Chicago, where he worked two years at his trade. He went thence to Texas, rode the range awhile, bought railroad land and tried farming and stock raising for a period, but eventually sold his property and in 1881 came north to The Dalles. From The Dalles he went to the little town of Dufur, in the same county, where he remained three years, farming and following his trade. With his family he then moved to Klickitat county and set- tled upon a homestead near Hartland. Two years later we find him employed at Goldendale and three years afterward, he changed his residence to that city: Mr. Leidl's next important step was the pur- chase of the jewelry business belonging to Victor Gobat, for whom he had been working, paying therefor $2,700. This store he still conducts and by his strict attention to business has built up an enviable reputation as a first-class workman. He was also, for some time, engaged in the drug busi- ness, but sold this establishment a year ago. Re- cently Mr. Leitll, who is a skilled mechanic and a thorough student of physics, went into partner- ship with the patentee of a process for manufactur- ing acetylene gas and he is now devoting most of his time to this business, installing plants in various stores and residences throughout this section of the state. The success of this patent is not only a tri- umph for its inventor but it is also a splendid ad- vertisement for the city of Goldendale.

Mr. Leidl was married at Dufur, Oregon, in 1881, to Miss Lisette Koehler, likewise a native of Germany, who came to America after reaching the age of womanhood. Six children have been born to this union, five of whom, Emma, Charles, Josie, Louis and Wendelin, are attending the public schools of Goldendale; a married daughter, Mrs. Minnie McKillips, is also a resident of this county. It is a characteristic of the subject of this biogra- phy that he is active in everything he undertakes. Fraternally, he is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, a Woodman of the World and a member of the Seat- tle Encampment of the Order of the Eastern Star and of the Maccabees. He has served the city two

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JOHN E. CHAPPELL.

HARVEY H. HARTLEY, M. D.

WENDELIN LEIDL.

CAPT. SAMUEL H. MILLER.

GEORGE PARROTT.

FRANK MESECHER.

JAMES W. JACKSON.

ANTHONY B. COURTWAY.

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

terms as councilman and at present is a member of the city school board, one of the most energetic on it. Politically, he is a Republican of decided in- fluence. He has served at various times on execu- tive committees and is credited with being a leader among the Germans in his county. Financially, he has done exceedingly well. He had two dollars in cash and was $1,700 in debt when he came to Klickitat ; now he owns four hundred acres of farm- ing lands, store buildings in Goldendale, eight lots, two dwellings, his gas factory and other interests, and is entirely free from debt. His congeniality and integrity, his thorough knowledge of mechanics and his tireless energy are all characteristics of him, which stand out prominently, and because of them he commands the confidence and favor of his fellow men.

CAPT. SAMUEL H. MILLER. A typical pioneer of the Northwest is this soldier-pioneer, who is now an esteemed resident of the Klickitat valley. His American ancestors were hardy pio- neers before him, so that to this member of the family the frontier held no terrors. To him the border with its wild forests, its trackless plains, its barren deserts, was but a natural environment, while most of his early life was spent with the In- dians, hunters, scouts, gold miners and homeseek- ing emigrants as companions. Captain Miller is a native of the Empire state, born in Clay, Onon- daga county, July 16, 1828, to the union of James and Nancy (Vanvorst) Miller. James Miller, a German, was likewise born in New York state, on the Mohawk river, in the year 1796, and was a farmer by occupation. He removed to Illinois in 1845, settling in DeKalb county, and there, June Ioth of the same year, the new home was saddened by his death. His wife, of Holland Dutch descent, was born in Schenectady, New York, the daughter of James Vanvorst. He was a pioneer of that state, a freighter during a long period of his life. James Vanvorst attained distinction as an Indian fighter and in one of his numerous encounters with the hostiles killed three of the attacking party with a pitchfork. With his sons, Peter and James, the brave, loyal old frontiersman fought in the War of 1812. Samuel H. Miller was one of nine chil- dren. Until he was seventeen years old he lived in New York state, but at that age, in September, 1844, struck boldly into the Illinois frontier, set- tling near Fox river, a region at that time ex- tremely wild and sparsely settled. Equipped with a common school education, a knowledge of the carpenter's and blacksmith's trades and a strong body and constitution, the young man thus began life independently. After his father's death, Sam- uel remained on the property until the spring of 1849, then went to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and helped to build the Moore and Siegle mills. He followed his trades in that city until 1852, returning in that

year to Illinois, but April 15, 1853, he deserted the rapidly settling country for the almost unknown and uncared for Northwest, arriving in the Willa- mette valley, November 24, 1853, after a long, hard trip across the continent. In the spring he entered the mines of Jackson and Applegate in southern Oregon, lost nearly a thousand dollars, and once again took up his trades. About this time the In- dian war of 1855-6 broke over the Northwest and as a volunteer, the young westerner received his first baptism of blood, bullets and powder. Subse- quently he fought at Big Bar on the Rogue river during that famous outbreak. In the meantime he built a tannery in Phoenix, Oregon, but later sold it and in 1857 took up his residence near Scio, in the same state. When the Civil war broke out, in 1861, the First Oregon volunteers was at once or- ganized. A company (F) was at once formed in Mr. Miller's community, and he was elected cap- tain of it. Governor A. C. Gibbs was at the head of the troops, the company headquarters being at Lebanon. This regiment did its full share in the war by protecting the frontier from Indian upris- ings and holding the Copperheads in check. In 1870, the captain and his family became pioneers of Klickitat county, which was then very sparsely inhabited, locating upon the present homestead. He came in February, filed on the land, built a house and then, in the fall, brought in his family. Like other settlers, he engaged in stock raising and farm- ing, industries which he has since followed. Capt. Miller associated himself with John J. Golden in the construction and operation of the second sawmill in the county. He passed through the Indian scare of 1878 without inconvenience or trouble in any form.

Captain Miller was united in marriage, at Scio, Oregon, May 20, 1857, to Miss Alice Boyce, a daughter of Dr. Joseph and Alice (Nessly) Boyce, of Irish and German descent respectively. The grandfather, John Nessly, served in the War of 1812. An uncle of Mrs. Miller, the Rev. John Fawcett Nessly, was a noted minister of Washing- ton ; he died in Tekoa, in November, 1903. This eminent clergyman is the author of a book soon to be published, entitled "Early Methodism in the Ohio Valley." Mrs. Miller was born in Colum- biana county, Ohio, November 30, 1842; she has one sister still living, Mrs. Maggie Kellogg. Capt. Miller has several brothers and sisters: James A., in Scio; Walter C., living in Alsea, Oregon; Fran- ces T., a resident of this county; Mrs. Sophia Craiz, residing in Camden, New York, and William Henry Harrison, living at Fruit Flat, Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have raised a large family, ten children in all. Mrs. Elizabeth Nesbitt, of Golden- dale, is the oldest; Joseph B. and Philip S. reside four miles northeast of Goldendale; Mrs. Margaret Hill and Mrs. Nancy Sophia Mckinney live in Goldendale; John W. lives at The Dalles; Henry

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T. is a resident of Klickitat county ; Cortez R. is a student at Pullman college; William A. is a thresh- ing machine engineer, living with his parents, as does also the youngest child, Cornelia J. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have seven great-grandchildren, of whom they are very proud. For nearly forty years Mr. and Mrs. Miller have been members of the Methodist church. He belongs to only one frater- nal organization, the Grange, and in politics has always been a Republican. He was one of the or- ganizers of the party in Linn county, being a dele- gate from Lebanon. Now he votes independently, though not taking an active interest in such mat- ters any longer. For fourteen years he was coro- ner of Klickitat county, and besides holding this office has served as road supervisor ten years. Many years the captain has been a school director and clerk and he is an ardent advocate of public education, regardless of the taxes imposed as a consequence. He is a devoted stock fancier and at one time owned the imported horse, "Arabian Boy," sired by Col. Genifer's noted Egyptian horse. His farm, seven miles southeast of Goldendale, contains three hundred and thirty acres of the best land in the valley and its owner claims to raise more grain on the place. in proportion to its size, than is raised on any other tract in the county. Captain Miller is a gentleman of sterling integrity and ability, an honored pioneer and a popular citizen, esteemed by a host of friends throughout the states of Wash- ington and Oregon.

GEORGE PARROTT, one of the early settlers of Klickitat county and one of its substantial agri- culturists, resides on his farm of 160 acres, three miles south and two east of Goldendale. He was born in Cook county, Tennessee, February 10, 1833, the son of Job and Sarah (Swagerty) Parrott. His father, who was of German descent, was like- wise born in Tennessee, and like our subject, fol- lowed farming. He passed his entire life on his place in the eastern part of the state, where he died some years ago. His wife was also a native of Tennessee and lived there the greater part of her life. George Parrott, the subject of this article, received his early education in the common schools of his native state, adding the finishing touches in the schools of Missouri, to which he removed at the age of seventeen. In 1862 he enlisted in Com- pany K. Twenty-fifth Missouri volunteers, and served for some time, then was transferred to the Eighty-first Missouri, with which he remained un- til the close of his term of enlistment, in 1864. Re- turning then to Missouri, he resided there until the fall of 1874. at which time he moved to the Willa- mette valley. After a residence of four years in Oregon, he came to Klickitat county and settled on a piece of school land, which was his home until 1887. when he filed a homestead claim to a tract near Goldendale. To the cultivation and

improvement of this he has ever since devoted him- self with assiduity and energy, putting the entire- quarter section into a state of cultivation.

In Jefferson county, Kansas, on the 13th of August, 1856, Mr. Parrott married Martha Ewell, whose father, Laten, a farmer by occupation, was born in Missouri, the son of English parents. He died when Miss Ewell was but seven years old .. Her mother, Elizabeth, also a native of Missouri,. passed away in 1859. Mrs. Parrott was born near- St. Joe, Missouri, January 3, 1859. Left an or -- phan at the age of seven, she was taken care of by guardians until sixteen, when she married. Her- father was a man of means, but unfortunately the- administrators of his estate managed to secure the- better part of his possessions. Mr. and Mrs. Par -- rott have had ten children, namely, Mrs. Annie Sto- ry, who was the wife of an Idaho school teacher and who died in 1899; Charles W. and Mrs. Eliza J. Atkinson, born in Kansas; Mrs. Cora Phillips, born in Missouri in 1861, now a resident of Toledo,. Ohio; Mrs. Winnie Hartley, born in Missouri,. some eight years later ; Benjamin F. and Fred, also· born in Missouri; Mrs. Effie Maud Carson, born- in Oregon, now a resident of Goldendale; Mrs. Carrie Chatman, also born in Oregon, now living in· Portland; and Grace, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Parrott are members of the Presbyterian- church and politically, Mr. Parrott is a Republican. He stands high in the estimation of the people in this locality and the surrounding country, among whom he is rated as a man of high moral character,. sterling honesty and pleasant address.

FRANK MESECHER, a prosperous farmer of Klickitat county, residing on his ranch of 160 acres, three and a half miles northwest of Goldendale,. was born in Hancock county, Illinois, February 3, 1863, the son of William D. and Margaret (Mar- tin) Mesecher. His father, a native of Virginia, born in 1835, was likewise a farmer. He served three years in the Civil war in the Seventy-eighth. regiment, Illinois volunteers, and was with Sher- man on his famous march to the sea. He was taken prisoner during the war and had the expe- rience of Confederate prisons of which so much has been written. By reason of his services he was granted a place on Uncle Sam's pension roll. He lived for a time in Crawford county, Kansas, of which section he was a pioneer, but in 1883, he came to Klickitat county, where he filed on the first claim in Cedar valley. He passed away in this county, January 8, 1904, but his wife still lives. She was born in Missouri in 1842. Frank Mesecher, of this review, moved to Kansas with his parents when a small boy and grew up near the city of Girard, on the parental farm. He started out in life for him- self at the age of nineteen, at which time his par- ents moved west, leaving him alone in Kansas. He farmed in Jasper county, Missouri, three years ..

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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 90

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