An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington, Part 96

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 96
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 96
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 96

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Edson E., whose life is the theme of this out- line, took his earliest steps in the pursuit of knowl- edge in the schools of the Quaker state, then at- tended school two years in Oregon, to which he had come at the age of seven, and completed his educa- tion in Klickitat county. He worked in his father's mill until reaching the age of twenty-three, at which time he married and started to farm on his own ac- count, securing a ranch some five miles east of Gold- endale. He resided on that property four years. In 1901, he secured the place on which we now find him, and to its cultivation his energies have been de-

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voted ever since. His holdings now aggregate 240 acres, all but fifteen of which are under cultivation. June 3, 1893, in Goldendale, Mr. Pierce married Rachel McEwen, daughter of Methuen McEwen, a native of Scotland and by occupation a farmer and stockman. He came to America when a small boy and settled in Missouri, from which state he crossed the Plains in the early days with a company of Mor- mons, settling in Utah. At a later date he came thence to Klickitat county, where he died in 1895. Mrs. Pierce's mother, whose maiden name was Sarah A. Stevens, was married in Utah, but now resides in Goldendale. Though born in Utah, April 19, 1874, Mrs. Pierce was reared and educated in Klickitat county. She and Mr. Pierce are parents of two children-Mathew M., born June 4, 1894, and Marjorie M., born March 16, 1901, both in Golden- dale. Mr. Pierce is, in religion, a Presbyterian, and fraternally he is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World. He adheres to the principles of the Republican party. A man of high moral character and sterling integrity, he is highly esteemed by his neighbors and acquaintances.

JOSEPH O. YOUNG, one of Klickitat county's pioneers and an estimable citizen, follows the occu- pation of a farmer on his fine 200-acre ranch, seven miles southeast of the city of Goldendale. He was born in Washington county, Oregon, February 4. 1857, the son of Daniel and Ailazan (Henton) Young. The father was born in Ohio, of American parentage, and was a carpenter and farmer. He was taken to Missouri, the "gateway of the west," when nine years of age, and in 1848 came across the Plains to Oregon by ox team conveyance. His parents bought a farm in the Willamette valley, and there he lived until 1875, when he came to Klicki- tat county, in which was his home until swept away by the grim reaper in 1891. The mother was a na- tive of Indiana, who came as a little girl to Oregon in 1850; she died in that state. Joseph attended the common schools of Oregon, receiving a fair educa- tion. He was eighteen years of age when he came to this county and commenced farming and stock- raising. Four years he raised sheep. He resided on railroad land eighteen years, and when it was forfeited to the government he filed a homestead claim to it, and he has since made it his home. He still farms the land, nearly three-fourths of which is in a splendid state of cultivation. One of Mr. Young's uncles was killed during the blood-thirsty Cayuse war that followed the Whitman massacre.

Miss Eliza M. Myers, a daughter of John and Hulda M. (Nunley) Myers, was united in mar- riage to Mr. Young, January 9, 1884. Her father was of Dutch descent. He crossed the Plains to Oregon in early days and settled in Yamhill county, where he died several years ago. Her mother, who now resides with her, at an advanced age, is a na- tive of Tennessee; she was married in Arkansas.

Mrs. Young was born in Yamhill county, Oregon, in October, 1868, and was educated in the public schools there established. She was married in Klickitat county at the age of seventeen. Five chil- dren have been born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Young, of whom Bessie M., the oldest, was born December 21, 1886; Joseph W. was born in Klicki- tat county, February 2, 1891 ; Della M., five years later; John M., in 1897, and Nellie, in 1900. Mr. Young is a member of the Methodist church, and in politics is a stanch defender of Republican princi- ples. He is one of the popular members of his com- munity, a farmer of progressive and modern ideas, and a man of sterling honesty and exalted character.

EVERETTE C. THOMPSON, a progressive ranchman of Klickitat county, resides on his 160-acre farm, three miles south and four east of Goldendale. He was born in Linn county, Oregon, January 21, 1874, the son of James Thompson, who was born in Tennessee in 1848, and who was likewise a farmer. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Harriet Cram, was born in Minnesota and came thence to Oregon when she was seventeen years old, and her marriage occurred in the latter state. She is at present living near her son. She has married again, and is now Mrs. G. D. Whitcomb. Our sub- ject received his education in the public schools of Oregon and of Klickitat county. His father died when he was twenty years old and he ran the paren- tal farm twelve months afterward, then rented Col. Pike's place and farmed it four years. In 1899 he bought his present place, and he has since lived on and farmed the land, which is all in cultivation ; also raising stock. He holds as a homestead a quarter section of mountain land, besides his farm near Goldendale.

March 3, 1896, in the town of Goldendale, Mr. Thompson married Hattie, daughter of George T. and Mary D. (Newman) Slaughter. Her father was born in Peoria county, Illinois, in 1840, and was a farmer by occupation. He removed to Missouri in 1856, married in that state and lived there until 1893, at which time he came to Klickitat county. He passed away in June, 1894. His wife was born in Hardin county, Kentucky, in 1842. Her parents moved to Missouri when she was a small girl, and she grew up and was educated there. Mrs. Thomp- son was born in Christian county, Missouri, No- vember 14, 1876. She received her education in the schools of Missouri and Washington, having come to the latter state at the age of sixteen. She is the fifth in a family of eight. her brothers and sisters being: Charles W., in Missouri; Mrs. Mary C. Kivett, also in that state; Mrs. Eliza J. Godsey, in Franklin county, Kansas; Theodore T. and George H. C., in Douglas county, Washington : Mrs. Clara A. Miller and Mrs. Pearl Moblev, in Klickitat coun- ty. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have four children, namely, Guy, born October 12, 1897; David R.,

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on the 30th of April two years later; Victor B., January II, 1901, and Claud L., March 14, 1902, all in this county. Mrs. Thompson belongs to the Women of Woodcraft, and in religion she is a Bap- tist. Fraternally, Mr. Thompson is connected with the I. O. O. F. and the Woodmen of the World; politically, he is a Republican. He is an upright citizen, possessing the esteem and good will of his neighbors.

JOHN ATKINSON, one of the leading farmers of Klickitat county, resides three miles south and four miles east of the city of Goldendale, Washing- ton. He was born in Nodaway county, Missouri, October 13, 1852, the son of Robert and Elizabeth (Clemens) Atkinson. His father was born in Ire- land, came to the United States with his parents when six years old and became a resident of Andrew county, Missouri. He grew up in that locality and was married there, the lady of his choice being a native of Clay county, Missouri, of Dutch and Irish descent. By occupation he was a farmer. He came to Yamhill county, Oregon, in 1870, and there he remained until his death, which occurred in 1891. Mrs. Atkinson also died in Yamhill county, Oregon. John Atkinson, of this article, received his educa- tion in the common schools of Missouri, attending school, also, for a short time in Oregon, though he was eighteen when he came to that state. He re- mained at home until he reached the age of twenty- two, then married, and for the ensuing four or five years he followed farming. He next engaged in the hotel business in Newberg, Oregon, but in the spring of 1893 he embraced an opportunity to ex- change this place for his present home in Klickitat county, and here he has ever since followed the oc- cupation of a farmer, achieving a very marked suc- cess. His land holdings include 1,720 acres, and of this mammoth domain he cultivates fully 1,000 acres.

Mr. Atkinson was married in Yamhill county, Oregon, March 12, 1876, to Miss Eliza J. Parrott, daughter of George and Martha (Ewell) Parrott. Her father, who was born in Cook county, Tennes- see, February 10, 1833, was a pioneer of the county, having come in the fall of 1878. He is an honored veteran of the Civil war, and one of the substantial farmers of Klickitat county, his residence at pres- ent being two miles west of his daughter's home. Mrs. Atkinson's mother was born near St. Joe, Mis- ·souri, January 3, 1839, and Mrs. Atkinson herself is a native of Kansas, born August II, 1859, though she grew to womanhood and received her education in the states of Missouri and Oregon. She is the mother of four children : Edward D., born Decem- ber 24, 1879; Hugh M., on the 9th of June, 1883; George R., April 2, 1885 : Verona B., April 13, 1887, all in Yamhill county, Oregon. Mr. Atkinson is a member of the Methodist church and in his frater- nal connections he is an Odd Fellow. He adheres

to the principles of the Republican party. A com- petent farmer of modern and progressive ideas, he has achieved a success of which he has just reason to be proud. He has been no less successful in win- ning the esteem and regard of his fellow citizens, who speak of him as one who combines unusual business shrewdness with the highest integrity of character.

TUNIS T. HINSHAW, a representative citi- zen of Klickitat county and a farmer by occupation, resides on his ranch two and a half miles south and two east of the city of Goldendale. He was born in Morgan county, Indiana, May 3, 1857, the son of Isaac Hinshaw, whose biography appears else- where in this volume. His father and mother were both natives of North Carolina. He received his education in the public schools of Indiana and Kan- sas, to the latter of which states he went with his parents at the age of ten. The family came west to California when he was about eighteen years old and the following year he took up the carpenter's trade, which he followed for nearly three years. He came north to Klickitat county in 1878, arriving on the last day of May, and settled in Goldendale, where he followed his trade for a period of three years. He then took up agriculture as a means of gaining a livelihood. He was employed by R. W. Helm fourteen months, then in the fall of 1882 rented his employer's place and engaged in farming on his own account. Two years were thus spent. He filed on his present homestead in June, 1883, and has since made his home on the land, following agriculture and stock raising. He now owns about 260 acres of land, of which he is at present cultivating 200 acres. He has considerable stock of different kinds on the place, but is making a specialty of the best blooded hogs. He is an enterprising, progressive and suc- cessful farmer.

October 30, 1883, in Marion county, Oregon, Mr. Hinshaw married Lucinda J., daughter of John W. and Mary A. (Clymer) Short. Her father was born in Delaware to German parents and was a minister by calling. Crossing the Plains to Oregon in 1852, he came thence to Klickitat countv in 1873, but returned two years later to the Webfoot state, where he passed away in 1902. Her mother was brought up in Indiana, married in Iowa and died in Oregon in 1895. Mrs. Hinshaw is a native of Ore- gon, born in Marion county in 1861, and educated in the local schools. She and Mr. Hinshaw are parents of eight children, namely, Lelia M., born in Klickitat countv, September 18, 1887 ; Mabel H., September 14, 1889; Ernest T., November 4th, two vears later ; Marv E., December 19, 1893 ; Lau- ra E., October 23, 1895; Alice and Agnes, twins, born April 25, 1897; and Hazel, horn two years later on the 19th of October, all in Klickitat county. Mr. Hinshaw is a member of the Methodist church and a Prohibitionist. He has served in the capacity

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of school clerk for the past fourteen years. A man of generous traits, good morals and sociability, and a public spirited, progressive citizen, he enjoys the esteem and confidence of all his neighbors.

WILLIAM L. HARRIS, a Klickitat county land owner and farmer, resides on his ranch two and a half miles south and two miles east of the city of Goldendale. He was born in Jackson county, Mis- souri, January 2, 1865, the son of John E. L. and Mary (Armstrong) Harris. His father, who was of German descent, was likewise a farmer by occupa- tion. Locating in Jackson county, Missouri, he resided there until 1881, at which time he came west to Klickitat county and took up a homestead two miles and a half south of Goldendale, where he lived until his death in 1898. His wife, Mary, who is likewise of German descent, claims Tennessee as her birthplace, but now makes her home in Klickitat county. William L. Harris received his early edu- cation in Missouri and later attended school in this county, to which he came with his parents at the age of fifteen. He remained on the parental farm until twenty-three, then bought the improvements and filed on a homestead near-by, on which property he lived some ten years. In 1899 he traded his first place for the present home, removing to the latter farm soon after making the deal. His property holdings comprise 461 acres, of which at present he is cultivating 300 acres, the balance being pasture land. He has a number of kinds of stock on the farm, to which he gives his careful attention, and he is achieving a very enviable success in agriculture and stock raising.

In Goldendale, on Independence Day, 1889, Mr. Harris married Miss Dora Simms, whose father, Richard Simms, was born in Clay county, Missouri, December 23, 1839. He followed farming in his na- tive state until the outbreak of the Civil war, then enlisted at St. Joe and served throughout the strife. He came to Benton county, Oregon, in 1874, and thence to Klickitat county three years later, and at present he resides about three miles and a half southeast of Goldendale. Mrs. Harris's mother, whose maiden name was Mary Garner, was born and married in Missouri, and passed away in Klick- itat county in 1886. Mrs. Harris was born in Mis- souri on the 20th of February, 1871, but was ed- ucated in the common schools of Washington. She and Mr. Harris are parents of four children : Mary, born September 13, 1891; Annie B., born August 28, 1893; Clara, December 15, 1895; and Ethel G., January 17, 1900. In religion, Mr. Harris is a Methodist, and fraternally, he is connected with the Woodmen of the World and its auxiliary, the Wom- en of Woodcraft. He is an active Democrat, taking great interest in all political matters. Interested deeplv in the cause of education, he is now discharg- ing the duties of the office of a school director. A successful agriculturist, a capable and honorable

business man, a public spirited citizen, and a good neighbor, he enjoys a large measure of respect and esteem among those who know him well.

WINFIELD S. LEFEVER, one of Klickitat county's pioneers and at present a prosperous farm- er and stock raiser, living two miles east and a mile south of the city of Goldendale, was born in Van Buren county, Iowa, December 19, 1848. He is the son of John and Rebecca (Robinson) LeFever, the former born in Pennsylvania to French and Dutch parents. The elder LeFever was a mechanic, though during the greater part of his life he followed the occupation of a farmer. When a young man he moved to Iowa, where he was married. He went to Texas in 1873 and died in that state in the year 1894. Rebecca LeFever was born in Ohio in 1830, and when a small girl, was taken to Iowa by her parents. She now makes her home in Montana. Winfield S., the subject of this sketch, was denied the privilege of a good school education, through unfortunate circumstances, but nevertheless has educated himself and has acquired a comprehensive knowledge of things practical and useful. He worked with his father on the farm until he was nearly twenty-six years old and then formed a part- nership with his father which lasted four years. His residence in Klickitat county dates back to the year 1878, the time of the great Indian scare in this re- gion. In the fall of that year he located on a piece of railroad land, upon which he has since made his home. When this land reverted to the government through the forfeiture act, Mr. LeFever filed upon it as a homestead and subsequently acquired title. He now owns some 600 acres of valley land, of which 230 are in a high state of cultivation, the balance being pasture.

Mr. LeFever was married in Van Buren county, Iowa, October 12. 1871, to Miss Mary Findlav, a daughter of Alexander F. and Margaret (Whitfield) Findlay. Her father was a Scotchman, a coal miner and farmer bv occupation. He came to the United States when fourteen years old and settled in Marv- land. Afterwards he removed to Iowa. where his death occurred. The mother was also born in Scot- land, though she was married in Maryland, and is now a resident of Iowa. Mrs. LeFever was born in Maryland, April 27, 1848. and educated in the schools of her native state. She was married at the age of twenty-two. She and Mr. LeFever are the parents of eight children, of whom George C., born in Iowa, in 1874, and at present living in Alaska, is the oldest. Frank and Harry were born in Texas, Nettie E. in Klickitat county, in 1879, and the other children, Richard C., Tesse, Daniel and Mary, also in this county. Mr. LeFever is a member of the Methodist church and in politics, is a Prohibitionist. He is at present serving his district in the capacity of school director. Besides his real estate. he also owns nearly a hundred head of stock, including a

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large number of grade Durham cattle. Mr. LeFever is a gentleman of high moral character, a successful farmer and stockman, possesses those companionable qualities which attract friends, and is, in short, one of the community's most substantial men.

ARTHUR G. HARRIS is a farmer and stock- man, residing five miles southeast of Goldendale, Washington, on rural free delivery route No. I. He was born in Hawkins county, Tennessee, May 17, 1858, the son of John E. L. Harris, a farmer, also native of Tennessee, born February 16, 1826. The elder Harris moved with his family to Jackson county, Missouri, in 1861. Here he served in divers engagements which took place in Missouri incident to the Civil war. At the close of the war he moved from Jackson county to Cass county, in which he resided till March 23, 1881, when he started west, his objective point being Goldendale, and at this place he resided till the time of his death. The mother, Mary F. (Armstrong) Harris, was a native of Tennessee, born August 21, 1833, and is still living, her residence now being in Klickitat county. Arthur G. lived in Missouri during the interval between his second and his twenty-second year. During this time he became well acquainted with the Younger brothers, 'and in Cass county attended school with the Dalton boys. It was at this school, his playmates lads who were to become the most desperate criminals in the country, that Arthur re- ceived such education as was to come to him through the use of school-books. He came west with his parents in 1881, but in the fall of that year returned to Missouri and, on November 21st, married Miss Mary Alice Cassell, a native of Springfield, Mis- souri, born August 3, 1862. Her father, Joseph Cassell, died when she was young. Immediately after marriage Mr. Harris returned to Goldendale, and settled on the place he now occupies, to the original one hundred and sixty acres of which he has added forty acres, secured from the railroad by purchase. The farm has been devoted by Mr. Har- ris principally to the production of grain. When he began farming he was obliged to haul his wheat many miles to Columbus, his nearest market, where it was weighed on diminutive scales, five sacks at a time. Mr. Harris has raised a crop every year since he first began farming in 1882 on his fine two hun- dred-acre farm. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Harris, of whom the first, Charles W., is dead. Those living are Sadie Ella, Lottie May, Millie I., Maude E. and Claude E., twins, Ada B., Martha A. and Arthur J. The brothers and sisters of Mr. Harris are Mrs. Polly A. Oldham, Mrs. Julia A. Morgan, John P., now living in Gold- endale ; William L., Mrs. Alice C. Brown, residing west of Goldendale: Richard L., in Oregon : Mrs. Carrie L. Jones, residing at The Dalles, and Wiley J., living in Klickitat county. Fraternally, Mr. Harris is associated with the Woodmen of the

World, and Mrs. Harris has membership in the Women of Woodcraft order. Both husband and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics, Mr. Harris is almost independent, though slightly inclined to favor the Prohibition party. At different times he has served his community as school clerk, and as road supervisor. As a thresh- ing machine man, Mr. Harris is one of the experts of the county. His bearing in business affairs, as well as in matters relative to the interests of his community, has ever been strictly commendable, and such as to merit the respect of his fellow citizens.

DAVID A. SHEARER is a farmer and stock- man, residing two and one-half miles southwest of Goldendale, Washington. He is a native of Iowa, born October 10, 1861. His father, William Shear- er, was born in South Carolina, and died January 29, 1899, at the age of seventy-two years. The elder Shearer was one of the pioneers of Oregon. He made the journey to this then unsettled wilder- ness in 1864, crossing the Plains, in company with other equally hardy homeseekers, with a team of oxen. In 1884 he came to Klickitat county, and there he resided till the time of his death. The mother, Nancy (Johnson) Shearer, died when Da- vid A. was but four years of age, and of her he knows but little. David was brought to Oregon when three years old, and remained there on a farm until nineteen. He received his education in the common schools, also attending a business college in Portland, from which he received a diploma. After keeping books for two years, he took a homestead in Klicki- tat county, to which he had come in 1882. This place he proved up on and sold ; then he purchased other property, which he in turn sold, and for some time he continued this course of buying and selling. He worked as a cowboy at a time when fences were practically unthought of hindrances to rangemen, and it was during this period of his life that he learned to speak Chinook fluently. During 1886 and 1887 he drove stage from Goldendale to North Yakima, and followed other occupations, all inci- dent to the pioneer conditions obtaining at that time.

In March, 1887, in Klickitat county, Mr. Shearer married Miss Jennie Stephens, who was born in Yamhill county, Oregon, in 1870. Her father, Thomas Stephens, one of the pioneers of Oregon, is now living near Roseburg, in that state. He crossed the Plains in 1849, and fought in the wars necessary to quell the Cheyenne Indians, also in the early Indian wars of Washington and Oregon. One battle in which he took part was fought at a point just east of the present location of Goldendale. Some of the campaigns in which Mr. Stephens served were among the severest during the subju- gation of the Indian tribes of the West. Mr. Ste- phens' wife, Ann (Thornton) Stephens, is also still living, but her mother died when Jennie-now

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Mrs. David A. Shearer-was but twelve years old. Her demise occurred near the site of the present Arlington, and a wagon-box was used for the inter- ment, since no better coffin was obtainable. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Shearer are Chester L., now at home; Ida Nell, Gretta M., and Delbert A. Politically, Mr. Shearer is independent, and fra- ternally, he is associated with the Knights of Pyth- ias and the Woodmen of the World. Mrs. Shearer is a member of the Baptist church. Their home farm comprises two hundred and thirty-eight acres of land, all in a body, but this land is only a part of what Mr. Shearer farms, as he leases extensively. Up to last year he gave considerable attention to cattle raising, but is now largely out of the busi- ness and into that of raising draft horses. His animals are among the best in the county.

ANGUS J. WATSON, an energetic Klickitat county farmer and stockman, resides on his 160- acre farm, situated some six miles east of the city of Goldendale. He was born in Napa county, Califor- nia, in December, 1874, the son of Robert and Anna (Ferguson) Watson. His father is a native of Ireland, and likewise a farmer by occupation. He crossed the Atlantic to this country when six months old, and his parents settled in Canada. He removed to California when a young man, and fol- lowed farming in the Golden state until 1879, at which time he removed north to Klickitat county, and bought some land. He again farmed in the county until 1901, then sold the ranch and moved to Yakima county, where he and his wife now re- side. . She was born in Canada, of Scotch-Irish parents.

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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 96

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