History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 101

Author: Lyman, William Denison, 1852-1920
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: [Chicago] S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 1138

USA > Washington > Benton County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 101
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 101
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 101

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raiser and agriculturist, and passed away in Oregon when comparatively a young man. In his political views Mr. Morrison is a democrat but has never been an aspirant for office. His time and attention have been concentrated upon his business affairs and his energy has brought to him a success that ranks him with the substan- tial ranchers of Yakima county, while he can truly lay claim to the proud American title of self-made man.

VICTOR CRESCI.

Victor Cresci, a young man of enterprising spirit, now cultivating the Cresci ranch near Grandview, is a native son of Washington, his birth having occurred at Prosser on the 11th of March, 1893. His parents were Peter and Mary (Rea) Cresci. The father was born in Genoa, Italy, and came to the United States in 1876. He was a miner and followed that occupation in New York, in Pennsylvania and in Michigan. He afterward removed to Butte, Montana, and ultimately took up his abode in Prosser, Washington, where he arrived about 1888. There he engaged in business for a time and subsequently went to Roslyn, Washington, where he was one of the six men who opened up the Roslyn mine. Later he established his home in Yakima county, about twelve miles north of Prosser and near the present site of Grandview. There he took up a homestead and timber claim in 1890, securing three hundred and twenty acres in all. A few days after he had left Roslyn the mine blew up, killing all the men in it. Fortunately Mr. Cresci had left and thus his life was spared. About 1897 he went to Alaska, where he remained for a year, after which he returned to Roslyn and in 1901 again came to his ranch. This he improved and later sold one hundred and sixty acres of it but still retains a similar amount and is now ex- tensively engaged in raising hay, corn and potatoes and also handles a considerable amount of live stock. His wife passed away in Prosser, March 22, 1893.

Victor Cresci was their only child and was but eleven days old at the time of his mother's death. He acquired a public school education in Prosser and at Euclid, Washington, and in 1903 he took up his abode upon the ranch with his father and is now devoting his time and energy to its further improvement and development. He is numbered among the progressive young agriculturists of the community, carefully, wisely and successfully directing the work of the farm.

On the 23d of February, 1918, Mr. Cresci was married to Miss Grace Tuttle, a native of Minnesota and a daughter of James F. Tuttle, a pioneer of Seattle who later purchased a farm near Grandview. Mr. Cresci was reared in the faith of the republican party, of which his father is a stanch supporter, but he maintains an inde- pendent attitude in regard to politics. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons and has taken the degrees of lodge and chapter. In early manhood he studied assay- ing and mineralogy, becoming well qualified along those lines, but decided to take up ranching in connection with his father and now devotes his entire time to the development and improvement of his place, which is one of the pioneer ranches of the district. His interests in this direction are extensive and the improvements which he has made upon the place indicate his progressive spirit.

CHARLES W. SUVER.

Charles W. Suver, a prominent pioneer of the Kittitas valley, is now actively engaged in the operation of a valuable farm, known as Riverside. His birth occurred in Sullivan county, Pennsylvania, on the 9th of September, 1861, his parents being David and Catherine (Smith) Suver, who removed to Mitchell county. Kansas, in 1870. There the father took up government land and devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits throughout the remainder of his life, passing away in 1887. His widow, who long survived him, spent her later life in the home of her son Charles near Ellensburg and was called to her final rest in April, 1916.

Charles W. Suver acquired a public school education in his youth and when

CHARLES W. SUVER AND FAMILY

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but fourteen years of age started out to provide for his own support, making his way westward from Kansas to Colorado and securing employment in the timber camps of the latter state. Five years later, in 1880, he went to Seattle and there worked in the lumber woods until the 17th of July, 1885, when he came to the Kittitas valley. He bought a forty-acre tract of land near Ellensburg, which was the first Catholic mission, and as the years passed and his financial resources in- creased, owing to his untiring industry and capable management, he extended the boundaries of his ranch by additional purchase from time to time until it now com- prises three hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land. He is extensively engaged in the cultivation of hay and grain and also devotes considerable attention to sheep raising, both branches of his business bringing to him a gratifying annual income. His labors have ever been carried forward along progressive, practical and resultant lines, so that prosperity has attended his undertakings and he has long been numbered among the representative ranchers and stockmen of Kittitas county.

On the 31st of December, 1888, Mr. Suver was united in marriage to Miss Rose M. Becker, a daughter of Jacob and Josephine Becker, who removed from Cali- fornia to Oregon during an early period in the development of the latter state. Mrs. Suver being born at The Dalles. In 1872 the family came to Kittitas county, Wash- ington, and Mr. Becker established the first blacksmith shop in Kittitas county. Mr. and Mrs. Suver now occupy the old home which was erected by her father, they having purchased the interests of the other heirs in his estate. They have two daughters. Hazel M., who is very proficient in music, studied under Professor Hoyte of Chicago and also under Boyd Wells of Seattle. She is now the wife of George Mead, of Seattle, and they have one daughter, Mary Catherine. Ida is a graduate of the Conservatory of Aquinas and was a pupil of Moritz Rosen. She is the wife of Dr. James H. Mundy, of Ellensburg, and they have one son, James H. III.

In his political views Mr. Suver is a republican, stanchly supporting the men and measures of that party at the polls. In religious faith Mrs. Suver and daugh- ters are Catholics. Both Mr. and Mrs. Suver have witnessed and aided in the growth and development of Kittitas valley from pioneer times to the present and are widely and favorably known for their many excellent traits of character, enjoying the warm regard and esteem of those with whom they have come in contact.

JOHN JACOB MILLER.

John Jacob Miller, a Yakima capitalist who has valuable property holdings and business investments in the valley, was born in Sweden in 1870 and is a brother of Alexander Miller, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. He acquired a public school education in his native land and when a youth of eighteen years determined to try his fortune in the new world. He bade adieu to friends and native country and sailed for America, making Chicago his destination. A year was spent in that city and in 1889 he came to Yakima, Washington, where in connection with his brother Alexander he turned his attention to the milling business, becoming vice president of the Yakima Milling Company, which conducts an extensive grain busi- ness, the growth of the trade necessitating increased facilities from time to time until the capacity of the mill was three hundred barrels daily. Theirs was the first roller mill in the Yakima valley. It was destroyed by fire in 1914. Today the company conducts a very extensive grain business and their interests constitute a splendid market for the grain raisers of this section. John J. Miller proved an important fac- tor in the development and conduct of the business, with which he was actively associated until 1897, when he went to Alaska where he spent a year and a half. He made his way to Dawson, where he passed the winter, and on the expiration of the period indicated he returned to Yakima, where he again became actively associated with the milling company. He has from time to time further extended his business connections by investment along other lines. In 1910 he built the Commercial Hotel,

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which he leases. He also has other city property and large ranch interests. His investments have been most carefully and judiciously made and his success has come as the result of sound judgment and unfaltering enterprise throughout the entire period of his residence in America.

On the 9th of November, 1902, Mr. Miller was married to Miss Janie E. Pollock, of Yakima, and they have two children. Esther and Agnes. Mrs. Miller is a member of the Christian Science church. Mr. Miller gives his political endorsement to the republican party, which he has supported since he became a citizen. He stands for all that is progressive in community affairs, working earnestly for public progress and giving hearty support and cooperation to movements and measures for the gen- eral good, while as a business man the proof of his ability is found in the splendid success which he has won and the honored name that he has maintained throughout the passing years.

OTHO IRA BURTON.

Otho Ira Burton, the owner of a valuable ranch property of one hundred and twelve acres, all of which he has under cultivation, was born at Elkader, Clayton county, Iowa, December 18, 1867, a son of Ira L. and Mary (Banister) Burton. The father was born in New York and the mother in Pennsylvania, and they became early settlers of Iowa. In childhood they had gone to Wisconsin, where they were reared, and it was after their marriage that they took up their abode in Iowa. The father is a veteran of the Civil war, joining the Union army as a member of the Second Wis- consin Cavalry, with which he served until the close of hostilities. In days of peace he has devoted his attention to farming. After living in lowa for a number of years he removed with his family to California in 1874 and there carried on general agri- cultural pursuits until 1878, when he made his way northward to Ellensburg, Wash- ington, and became a successful rancher of this state. In 1908 he went to Canyon county, Idaho, where he is still devoting his entrgies to farming.

Otho Ira Burton completed his education in the public schools of Kittitas county, Washington, and engaged in ranching with his father after putting aside his texthooks. In 1899 he came to Sunnyside and bought one hundred and fifty acres of land two miles northwest of the town. The entire tract was covered with the native growth of sagebrush and there was no indication that it would soon become a producive property, but with characteristic energy Mr. Burton began clearing the land and soon placed it under cultivation, planting it to alfalfa. He also raised fine Percheron horses upon that place. In March, 1910, however, he sold that ranch and for a few years traveled. In March, 1917, he bought a ranch adjoining Sunnyside on the east and has added to it until he now owns one hundred and twelve acres, all under a high state of cultivation. His principal crops are sugar beets, hay and corn, which are raised upon his place in large quantities. Mr. Burton lives in Sunny- side at the present time and the work of the ranch is done by a renter.

In November, 1912, Mr. Burton was united in marriage to Miss Mae Kresse, a native of North Dakota and a daughtre of George E. Kresse, one of the early settlers of Yakima county. Her father was born in Winnebago county, Wisconsin, February 23, 1859, a son of George E. and Christina (Koenig) Kresse, who came to the United States from Germany in 1855, establishing their home in Wisconsin. George E. Kresse, Sr., was a miller by trade but farmed in Wisconsin, and both he and his wife have now passed away. George E. Kresse, Jr., engaged in flour milling and also in farming in Wisconsin until 1880, when he went to Cass county, North Dakota, and there farmed and conducted a general store. He had twelve hundred and eighty acres of fine land. In 1906 he came to Yakima county, Washington, and purchased land near Sunnyside, removing to that ranch in the spring of 1908. He now has one hundred acres, on which he raises corn and hay and carries on general farming, being one of the prominent ranchmen of the district. He has a fine home upon the place which is surrounded by a beautiful lawn. There is a well-kept drive, a new barn and all modern improvements. George E. Kresse was married November 25, 1880, to Elizabeth J. Muller a native of Wisconsin and a daughter of Jose and Mar-

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garet Muller, who were pioneers of that state, where they were identified with farming until called to their final rest. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kresse are members of the Methodist church and politically he is a republican. For fourteen years he served as treasurer of his school district in North Dakota. To him and his wife have been born eight children: Ede, the wife of William B. Cushney, of Sunnyside; Mae, now Mrs. Burton; George E., who is associated with his father in business and now owns sixty acres of land besides operating the home ranch; Arno E., a rancher of North Dakota; Lena, the wife of Medley Lynd, occupying her brother's ranch; Margaret, the wife of Dana Smith, of Grandview; Henry, a rancher residing in Pomeroy, Washington, who is married and has one child; and Alice, at home.

As stated, it was in November, 1912, that Mae Kresse became the wife of Mr. Burton. They are among the leading residents of their section of the state and they enjoy the hospitality of the best homes of the district. Mr. Burton has made sub- stantial progress in his business and his well directed efforts and energies have gained for him a place among the successful ranchmen of the Yakima valley. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and fraternally is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

BENJAMIN F. ESCHBACH.

Benjamin F. Eschbach, engaged in the raising of thoroughbred and shorthorn cattle in the vicinity of Yakima, comes to the northwest from Minnesota. His birth occurred in Blue Earth county, that state, on the 20th of April, 1873, and in 1880 he was brought by his parents to Yakima county, where he has since made his home. The public school system of the county afforded him his educational opportunities and when not busy with his textbooks he engaged in farming with his father and was thus employed until 1898, when he began farming on his own account by renting his father's land. In 1902 he purchased the home ranch and is today the owner of two hundred acres of good land on the Ahtanum. He has a fine farm property upon which has been erected a pleasant and attractive residence and large and substantial barns, in fact the equipment of his farm is thoroughly modern and indicates his progressive spirit and enterprising methods. He cultivates large crops of hay and grain and he also makes the raising of thoroughbred and graded shorthorn cattle an important feature of his business, having some fine animals upon his place. He thoroughly studies business conditions and his carefully managed affairs are bringing to him substantial prosperity.

On the 28th of November, 1901, Mr. Eschbach was united in marriage to Miss Katie Achelpohl, a native of Missouri and a daughter of Fred Achelpohl. one of the early settlers of Yakima county. The father is now living retired from business and the mother has passed away. To Mr. and Mrs. Eschbach have been born three children, Anita, Victor and Dorothy.

Mr. Eschbach belongs to the Knights of Columbus, which indicates that his re- ligious faith is that of the Catholic church, for the organization draws its membership only from those who are connected with the Catholic church. Mr. Eschbach is a communicant of St. Joseph's church. His political allegiance is given to the demo- cratic party and his position in public regard is that of a prominent farmer and reli- able citizen whose success is attributable to well directed energy and thrift.

CHARLES F. CEDAR.

Sweden has furnished a substantial element to the citizenship of Yakima county. The sons of that country, with their characteristic energy, industry and honesty, have made good as successful orchardists in this section and among the number is Charles F. Cedar, who was born in Sweden, September 11, 1859, a son of John and Christine Cedar. The father was a soldier of the Swedish army and lived to the not- able old age of ninety-two years, but both he and his wife have now passed away.

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Charles F. Cedar obtained a public school education in his native country and was a young man of twenty years when he left there and came to the new world in 1879. He made his way to Chicago, where he resided for about twenty-nine years, or until 1908, and during that period he was employed as a car builder in the shops of the Pullman Palace Car Company. The excellence of the workmanship and his thorough reliability are indicated in the fact that he was so long retained in the service of that corporation. Wishing, however, to engage in business independently that his labors might more directly benefit himself, he came to Yakima county in 1908 and invested the capital which he had acquired through his industry and econ- omy in ten acres of land on Selah Heights. He now has this tract planted to apples, pears, cherries, peaches and other fruits and is successfully engaged in the cultivation of his orchards.

In 1885 Mr. Cedar was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Alm, a native of Sweden, who in her girlhood days became a resident of Chicago. By her marriage she has become the mother of three children. Carl William, now residing in Chi- cago, where he is the agency secretary of the Continental Casualty Company, is mar- ried and has one daughter and one son. Alma is the wife of Walter Amberg, also a resident of Chicago, and they have two sons. Esther died at the age of three years. In politics Mr. Cedar maintains an independent course, not caring to ally himself with any party but voting according to the dictates of his judgment. He is inter- ested in public welfare and progress and cooperates heartily and enthusiastically in support of many plans and measures for the general good. In business he has proven a most successful farmer, although for many years his activity was directed along other lines. His sound judgment, however, has enable him to discriminate readily between the essential and non-essential in everything relating to fruit culture and his orchards are evidence of his wise care and business ability.

MILTON R. BOWMAN.

Milton R. Bowman, proprietor of the Bartholet Hotel at Yakima, was born in Somerset county, Maine, on the 22d of June, 1842, a son of Elias and Sarah Bowman, both of whom passed away in Maine. The son acquired a public school education in the Pine Tree state while spending his youthful days under the parental roof. The family numbered seventeen sons and two daughters and Milton R. Bowman had eleven brothers who served in the Civil war. The father fought under Washington in the Revolutionary war, as did his father and all of his brothers. In 1849 five of the brothers of Milton R. Bowman went to California by way of Cape Horn following the discovery of gold upon the Pacific coast. Sixteen years later, or in 1865, Milton Bowman also made his way to California via Cape Horn, thirteen months being con- sumed in making the trip, for the ship was wrecked on an island and it was seven months before they could make their escape. After reaching the Pacific coast Mr. Bowman traveled all over California, Nevada and Idaho engaged in mining and prospecting and is familiar with every phase of mining life. He came to Washington in 1874 and traveled throughout the state. He went up and down the Yakima valley in the Indian days and his memory compasses the period of earliest pioneer develop- ment in the state. At the time of his arrival Seattle had only two stores and lots could be purchased there for four dollars. Mr. Bowman drove a stage out of Mon- month, Washington, and his experience as stage driver form a most interesting tale. Later he was married and began farming near Monmouth, while subsequently he removed to Waitsburg, Washington, and afterward took up his abode in Spokane, where he remained for seven years. At a later period he went to Mexico and with others purchased sixty-eight thousand acres of land. He then removed his family to that country, where they remained until driven out by the Mexican war. Mr. Bowman then returned with his wife and children to Spokane and in 1915 removed to Yakima, where he leased the Bartholet Hotel, which he furnished and has since conducted, making it a popular hostlery, liberally patronized. His experiences in the west have been broad and varied. He has fought the Indians and has seen all of the typical pioneer life, meeting many hardships, privations and dangers and witnessing

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the steady development of the country to its present status of progress and pros- perity. It was Mr. Bowman who had charge of the shift of men at the Comstock mine when the big strike was made. He has known all of the old-time settlers, and pioneers and events which are to most people merely matters of history are to him matters of personal experience.

In 1874 Mr. Bowman was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Garrett, of Kan- sas, whose people, however, were pioneer settlers of Washington. The children born of this marriage are seven in number: Elias, a resident farmer of Idaho; Maude, the wife of Ed Jenkins, also living in Idaho; John, who is in the employ of the United States government at Portland, Oregon; Tina, the wife of Frank LaFollette, of Spokane; Bert, a merchant of Seattle; David, living in Portland; and Delle, a twin sister of David, who is now married and resides in Los Angeles, California.

In the years of his residence in the west Mr. Bowman has made and lost for- tunes. He is one of the well known and honored pioneers, robust and strong physi- cally, of genial personality, kindly spirit and thorough reliability. His reminiscences of the early days are most entertainingly told and his individuality and personal traits of character are of a quality that endear him to all with whom he is brought in contact.

CLARENCE MANUEL KEYES.

Clarence Manuel Keyes, although comparatively a young man, is today con- sidered one of the foremost representatives of the fruit raising industry in the Yakima valley. He looks after five hundred acres of orchard, part of which he man- ages for eastern capitalists. The fruit from his ranches, which is sold under the brand of "The Boy," is not only of the very highest quality but in its packing the utmost care is used in order to preserve its aroma and condition until it reaches the market.

Mr. Keyes was born at Montevideo, Minnesota, November 1, 1888, a son of Ruthven S. and Mary (Manuel) Keyes, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of Canada. The father, who was a very successful mill owner and capitalist, passed away in 1898. The mother survives and now resides in Pullman, Washington.

Clarence M. Keyes receive a public school education in Minnesota, after which he removed with his mother to Washington, taking up their residence in Pullman, where our subject attended the State College, specializing in agriculture and horti- culture. Having thus studied theoretical as well as practical methods, he in 1910 became connected with the United States forestry service in Idaho but in 1911 came to Yakima county and entered the employ of Manuel Brothers, becoming manager for their tracts of fruit land. In 1909 M. H. and R. W. Manuel started to develop fruit ranches in the Yakima valley, acquiring one hundred and sixty acres of land two miles east of Buena. Soon this tract was increased to three hundred and twenty acres and during the years 1909, 1910 and 1911 all was planted to orchard. Subse- quently they sold most of this land, retaining about eighty acres, which is now operated under the management of Mr. Keyes. In the spring of 1909 Manuel Brothers bought one hundred acres in the Grandview orchard tracts and of this they kept twenty. They also developed forty acres southeast of Grandview, planted to apples and Concord grapes, but this tract has since been sold. In 1911 they planted forty acres on the edge of Grandview tracts to apples and pears and they still own one-half of this land. They bought the Burton ranch, two miles northwest of Sunnyside, comprising one hundred and fifty acres, which they platted and have since sold one-half of the tract, while they planted seventy-five acres to fruit, which is now in full bearing. All of this is planted to Winesap, Jonathan and Rome Beauty apples and peaches and pears. In 1918 these properties produced sixty carloads of apples and twenty carloads of peaches and pears. The Manuel Brothers, who are uncles of our subject, market their fruit in Minneapolis and St. Paul. It is sold under the brand of "The Boy," and particular care is taken in packing. In fact they put up a very high grade of fruit and much of the success of their large enterprise is due

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History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 101

Author: Lyman, William Denison, 1852-1920 Publication date: 1919 Publisher: [Chicago] S.J. Clarke Number of Pages: 1138

Author: Lyman, William Denison, 1852-1920
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: [Chicago] S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 1138