History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 102

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 102
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 102
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 102

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HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

to the executive ability, large experience and conscientious performance of duty of Mr. Keyes.

On December 23, 1912, Clarence M. Keyes was united in marriage to Miss Alice Walter, a native of Bellingham, Minnesota, and a daughter of George W. and Tilly (Dolquist) Walter, agriculturist, who removed to Pullman, Washington. There her father was at one time representative of the International Harvester Company but is now connected with the tire business in that city. He served as county assessor of Whitman county, Washington, for four years. Mrs. Keyes is a graduate of Wash- ington State College, completing her course in that institution with the class of 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Keyes have three children, Elizabeth, David and Mary Jane.

The family are very prominent socially and have many friends in Zillah. They are members of the Congregational church and politically Mr. Keyes is a republican but has not had the time nor the inclination for political office. Fraternally he is con- nected with the blue lodge of Masons in Zillah. As a young orchardist successfully handling the largest propositions he occupies a prominent position among the men who are connected with the fruit raising industry in his part of the state. He has divided the orchards into various tracts and each tract is in charge of a foreman who is held responsible. Each foreman receives a salary and also a bonus if the harvests of the tracts warrant such. In that way the different foremen feel that they have a permanent position and exert their best efforts in order to gain the highest results. Mr. Keyes now looks after about five hundred acres of orchard in one of the largest tracts in the Yakima valley, part of which is managed for east- ern owners. He has closely studied the latest horticultural methods and the success that has come to him is due entirely to his own industry, experience and foresight. He himself has considerable financial interest in the orchards and in the discharge of his duties ever displays rare executive ability, trying to get the best men for the positions he has open. Being a close student of human nature, he has been ex- tremely fortunate in the selection of his foremen. Numerous buildings have been put up under his direction and good homes have been erected, equipped with elecric lights and running water. Thus he has greatly contributed toward the growth and development of the valley and especially the fruit raising industry and his services in this connection arc widely recognized. How large a proposition he handles is evident from the fact that they have their own blacksmith shop on the ranch and also their own machine shop.

The Manuel Brothers are prominent real estate and investment brokers of Minneapolis and R. W. Manuel is the president of the Exchange State Bank of that city, while M. H. Manuel is in charge of the land properties, but both reside in Minneapolis. They were born in Wisconsin and went to Minnesota as boys. For a number of years they taught school and then went into business and now are widely and favorably known in the financial and real estate circles of their city. They have over two hundred investors interested with them in their various development propo- sitions and it may be mentioned in order to illustrate how fairly they treat their clients that they have never foreclosed an investor. Although they have never lived in the Yakima valley there is probably no one who has done more for the develop- ment of this district than have the Manuel Brothers, who established one of the first development companies here. Their reputation as financiers, bankers and real estate dealers is unassailable and Mr. Keyes as their personal representative has done much in the line of development, for which thousands of the residents of the Yakima valley are indeed grateful.

CHARLES H. RENZ.

Charles H. Renz, who has lived in Yakima county throughout the past eleven years, is the owner of a valuable tract of land comprising ten acres a few miles west of the city of Yakima, whereon he grows apples and other fruit. His birth occurred in Henry, Illinois, on the 24th of May, 1864, his parents being Dominick and Theresa (Droll) Renz, both of whom were natives of Germany but came to the United States in early life. The father was active in business as a shoe merchant.

CHARLES H. RENZ

RESIDENCE OF CHARLES H. RENZ

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HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

During the period of the Civil war he served for about two years as a member of the Union army, loyally defending the interests of his adopted land. Both he and his wife passed away in Illinois.

Charles H. Renz spent his youthful days in the acquirement of a public school education and after putting aside his textbooks devoted his attention to farming for several years. Subsequently he became identified with the lumber business at Henning, Illinois, and later turned his attention to general merchandising, conduct- ing an enterprise of that character at Colfax, Illinois. Owing to impaired health he then spent a year in travel, journeying all over the United States in search of a desirable location. He visited Yakima in 1906 and was so pleased with the district that he settled here permanently in 1907, taking up his abode on a twenty-acre tract of land which he purchased, four and one-quarter miles west of the city. Later he sold half of the place but still retains the remaining ten acres, which he has improved until it is now a valuable orchard property, devoted to the growing of apples and other fruit for his own nse. He also erected a handsome residence and substantial barn which are the visible evidence of the success which has attended his efforts.

On the 1st of March, 1909, Mr. Renz was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Sells, of Missouri. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and while a resident of Illinois he served in a number of local offices in most creditable and satisfactory manner. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, while fraternally he is identified with the Woodmen of the World and the Knights of Pythias. He is also a member of the Yakima County Horticultural Union and the Yakima Commercial Club, and has long been widely recognized as a successful orchardist and representative and esteemed citizen of the community.

CLINTON P. BROSIOUS.

There is no feature of pioneer life with which Clinton P. Brosious is not familiar, for from an early day he has resided in this section, the period of his residence here covering more than a third of a century. He was born on Blockhouse creek, in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, November 30, 1859, a son of Abraham and Rebecca (Baryer) Brosious, who were also natives of the Keystone state. The father was a veteran of the Civil war, and the company and regiment in which he enlisted were nearly wiped out in one of the hotly contested engagements. He was . afterward transferred to the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry and was killed just eighteen days before the surrender of General Lee, which terminated the war. His wife died in May, 1860, and thus Mr. Brosious of this review was left an orphan when less than six years of age. He went to live with a relative, with whom he remained until he reached the age of sixteen and then started out in life independently. He made his way to Minnesota and afterward to Wisconsin and from the middle west came to Yakima county in May, 1883. Here he took up a homestead where Jonesville, Washington, now stands. He was the discoverer of the Roslyn coal vein, finding the first coal of that vein upon his own ranch. He sold the property in 1906 and purchased two hundred acres of land at Sunnyside. He has since disposed of eighty acres of this tract but still retains one hundred and twenty acres, constituting one of the valuable ranch properties of the district. With many events which have shaped the development and the history of his section of the state he has been closely associated. He assisted in making the survey of the townsite of Yakima before the city was established and he has pioneered over all this part of the state. He traveled extensively over the region when it was largely a wild and arid tract covered with sagebrush and gave no indication of what the future held in store for it as man has reclaimed it for the uses of civilization. In 1908 Mr. Brosious purchased four hun- dred acres of land on the Ahtanum and removed to that tract in 1909. He has a val- uable ranch property, well improved, whereon he is engaged in raising hay, grain and live stock. He annually gathers good crops from his fields and his live stock interests add materially to his income.

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HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

On the 18th of March, 1908, Mr. Brosious was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary A. (Allen) Clark, who was born in England, a daughter of George and Sarah Ann Allen. By her former marriage to Joseph Clark, a miner and photographer, who came to Roslyn in the fall of 1886, and died in 1891, she had a son, G. W. Clark, a veterinary surgeon, who is a second lieutenant of the Veterinary Corps of the Three Hundred and Forty-sixth Field Artillery, now in Germany in the army of occupa- tion. Mr. and Mrs. Brosious are well known in Yakima county, where they have a host of warm friends. By reason of his connection with the county from early pio- neer times he has gained a very wide acquaintance in this district and his worth as a man and citizen has commended him to the confidence, goodwill and regard of all with whom he has been associated.

MRS. ALFRED HILTON.

Mrs. Alfred Hilton is now at the head of a successful fruit raising enterprise in Yakima county, owning ten acres of orchard one and three-quarters miles east of Buena. Since 1910 this ranch, whereon she built a fine modern bungalow, has been the family residence. Mr. Hilton was a cotton merchant of Manchester, England, and in that city passed away February 11, 1908. In 1912 Mrs. Hilton brought her family to this county, having in 1910 acquired title to the ranch which has since been the family home.

Mrs. Hilton has two children. Geoffrey, born February 19, 1895, attended the public schools in England and ever since old enough has taken a great interest in the fruit ranch, which he has assisted his mother in managing. Three times he tried to enlist but three times was rejected. He then took himself in hand and got himself in such good physical shape that on September 3, 1918, he was accepted and he entered the depot brigade at Camp Lewis. Three months after joining the army he was made a corporal. Since his return home he has given his undivided attention to his work as foreman for the Manuel Orchard Tracts, operating some five hundred acres, including his mother's ranch. On August 31, 1918, he married Miss Georgia V. Walter, of Pullman. He is exceedingly popular and has served as secretary of the Community Club and also as secretary of the Buena Community Fair. In the best sense of the word he is a social favorite, well liked by all who have the pleasure of his closer acquaintance. The other child of Mrs. Hilton is Elea- nor Mary, at home.

Mrs. Hilton was secretary of the Red Cross Auxiliary, in the work of which she was deeply interested and in her home neighborhood she did all she could to make the Red Cross drives successful. In fact she was greatly interested in all war work and is equally interested in social development and upbuilding. The family are of the Episcopal faith and are devoted members of that church. They are refined people of a cultured English family who sought this locality as a place of residence largely because of their health.

ERNEST C. PUTERBAUGH.

For fifteen years Ernest C. Puterbaugh has occupied the ranch on which he now makes his home. He cleared it from the sagebrush, which was the only crop that nature vouchsafed to it, and he converted the once arid land into fertile and produc- tive fields. Today he is raising large crops and his energy and enterprise are mani- fest in the attractive appearance of the place. He dates his residence in the Yakima valley from 1901, having arrived in this section of the country when a young man of twenty-nine years. He was born in Carroll county, Illinois, on the 6th of December, 1871, a son of Henry and Ruth Puterbaugh, the former a native of Pennsylvaia, while the latter was born in Ohio. They became early settlers of Illinois, where the father took up his abode in.1837, only five years after the Black Hawk war had settled the question of Indian supremacy in that state. He devoted his attention to farming,

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which he carried on extensively and became one of the prosperous agriculturists of Illinois. Both he and his wife have passed away.

In the acquirement of his education Ernest C. Puterbaugh passed through suc- cessive grades until he had acquired a high school education, after which he concen- trated his efforts and attention upon farming in connection with his father. In 1901 he left the middle west and made his way to Washington, after which he purchased eighty acres of land near where Grandview now stands, although the town had not been laid out at that time. The sagebrush flourished, for the land was wild, not a furrow having been turned nor an improvement made upon the place. In 1904 he brought his wife to the ranch, which he has since cleared and developed, and now well cultivated fields annually produce large crops of corn and hay, while his dairy business is also bringing to him substantial profits, which he likewise derives from the raising and sale of hogs. He is leading a busy life and his energy constitutes the broad foundation upon which his success has been built.

On the 6th of April, 1903, Mr. Puterbaugh was married to Miss Anna Shiley, also a native of Carroll county, Illinois, and a daughter of B. F. and Hannah (Lenker) Shiley, who were early settlers of that state, where the father devoted his life to the harness business. Mr. and Mrs. Puterbaugh are the parents of four children: Shiley, fifteen years of age; Raymond; Claude; and Benewell.

In his fraternal relations Mr. Puterbaugh is an Odd Fellow, loyal to the teach- ings and purposes of the order. He does not vote with any political party but casts an independent ballot, supporting the candidate whom he regards as best qualified for office. He is now accounted one of the successful ranchers of the district in which he makes his home and has had no occasion to regret leaving his native state for the far west.

REV. JACOB ALLAN EBY.

Rev. Jacob Allan Eby is now identified with ranching interests near Sunnyside and also since January, 1915, has been elder in charge of the Church of the Brethren at both Sunnyside and Grandview, his time being thus divided between his ranching interests and his church work. He was born in Stephenson county, Illinois, Decem- ber 3, 1877, a son of the Rev. David B. and Hannah (Studebaker) Eby, both of whom are natives of Somerset county, Pennsylvania. The father was a son of Enoch Eby, also a native of the Keystone state, who removed to Illinois in the pioneer epoch in the history of that state, spending his remaining days there. Rev. David B. Eby attended college at Bourbon, Indiana, and afterward entered the ministry of the Church of the Brethren, preaching in Illinois until November, 1898, and also dividing his time with farming interests. In the year indicated he came to Sunnyside, Wash- ington, and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land two miles east of the town. The tract was partly improved but there was only a shack upon it. In 1899 he built one of the best homes in this part of the county and otherwise greatly im- proved the property, transforming it into one of the well developed ranches of the district. In 1900 he assisted in organizing the Church of the Brethren and became the first pastor together with Rev. S. H. Miller. He remained pastor of the church until January, 1916, when he removed to Olympia, Washington, and is elder in charge of a church there. In the meantime he and his sons had developed one of the best ranches of the valley, of which Rev. Jacob A. Eby now farms sixty acres.

During his youthful days Jacob A. Eby was a pupil in Mount Morris College of Mount Morris, Illinois, and in 1906 he went with his family to Chicago, where for two years he studied in the Bethany Bible School. He then returned to Sunnyside and assisted on the ranch and also became assistant pastor of the churches at Sunny- side, Outlook and Grandview. Since January, 1915, he has been elder in charge of the Church of the Brethren at both Sunnyside and Grandview and gives much of his time to the interests of his denomination. He likewise cultivates sixty acres of the home place and gives his attention largely to the production of hay, sugar beets and potatoes.

On the 14th of April, 1902, Rev. Eby was married to Miss Viola Smith, a native

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of Maryland and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Smith, the latter now deceased. Her father removed to Sunnyside in 1900 and has conducted business as a contractor. In 1911 Rev. Eby was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away in March of that year. They had become the parents of four children: Francis and Fern, twins, born June 2, 1904: and Kenneth and Katherinc, also twins, born Feb- ruary 11, 1911.

In his political views Rev. Eby is a republican with independent tendencies, for he makes his support of any candidate or measure a matter of judgment and not of party following. In 1906 he served as a director of the drainage district and he co- operates in all plans and measures for the material upbuilding and the social and moral progress of the community in which he makes his home. He is one of the most highly respected residents of this section and his worth is acknowledged by all who know him.

MERLE CARSON.

Merle Carson is engaged in dairying and general farming in Yakima county upon the place which he purchased in 1917. He has, however, been a resident of this county since 1900, at which time his father brought the family to the northwest. He was born in Greene county, Iowa, March 25, 1885, a son of John and Sarah J. (Wilson) Carson, the former a native of Indiana, while the latter was born in Illi- nois. The paternal grandfather was a native of South Carolina but became a pioneer of Indiana and after assisting in the early development of that state he removed to Iowa in the early '50s and became associated with events which shaped its history during the formative period. John Carson became a successful farmer of Iowa, where he continued to make his home until 1900, when, attracted by the opportuni- ties of the northwest, he came to Washington and has since lived in Yakima county. He first purchased one hundred and sixty-six acres of land on the Ahtanum and thercon built a new barn, also erected a comfortable residence and as the years passed continued the work of developing and improving his farm, which he con- verted into a valuable ranch property. He carried on farming upon this place to the time of his retirement from active business in 1913, since which time he has made his home in the city of Yakima.

Merle Carson obtained a public school education in Iowa and afterward contin- ued his studies in the Woodcock Academy. He was a youth of fifteen years when he came with his parents to Washington, after which he engaged in ranching with his father until 1917, when he purchased his present ranch property of fifty-one acres, which is part of the old homestead. He is now engage in the raising of grain and 'hay. He also makes a feature of dairying and keeps high grade cattle and other stock. The various branches of his business are carefully conducted and success in substantial measure is his.

On the 22d of May, 1912, Mr. Carson was married to Miss Etta G. Mosier, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of W. H. and Ella Mosier, of Mosiertown, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Carson have one child, Wesley M., who was born July 21. 1916.

The parents are members of the Congregational church and Mr. Carson gives his political support to the republican party. He has never aspired to office, how- ever, but has given undivided attention to his business affairs and has won a credit- able position as an enterprising and successful rancher.

WILLIAM McGONAGLE.

William McGonagle, who is profitably engaged in raising apples and pears, is a progressive and enterprising business man whose spirit is manifest in the splendid equipment upon his place. Mr. McGonagle was born in Ireland, August 14, 1871, a son of Edward and Eleanor McGonagle, both of whom have passed away. The son

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spent the days of his minority in his native country, acquiring a public school educa- tion there, and was twenty-four years of age when in 1895 he crossed the Atlantic to Boston. He lived on the eastern coast for about three years and then went to San Francisco in 1898. In 1899 he removed to Alaska and for five years was a resi- dent of Dawson and for three years of Fairbanks. He was employed by others during the first year and then obtained property of his own, prospering during the period of his residence in the far north. In 1907, however, he disposed of his inter- ests in that section and returned to the states, taking up his abode in Seattle, where he lived for a year and during that period he also visited Boston.

In 1908 Mr. McGonagle came to the Yakima valley and made investment in thirty-two acres of land on Selah Heights. This tract was just in the condition in which it came from the hand of nature, being all covered with sagebrush, and much arduous labor was required to convert it into fine orchard land. Mr. McGonagle, however, planted the tract to apples, with pear fillers, and all the trees are in bear- ing now. In fact he has one of the finest orchards in this section of the valley. In 1910 he built upon his place a fine modern residence and he has also his own pack- ing plant-a frostproof stone building that is one of the best in the valley. Most of his orchard is also seeded to alfalfa and he annually gathers a good hay crop.

On the 23d of September, 1908, Mr. McGonagle was married to Miss Mary McCarty. a native of Ireland, who went to Alaska in young womanhood. They now have one child, Mary Ellen, who is eight years of age. Their religious faith is indi- cated by their membership in St. Joseph's Catholic church and Mr. McGonagle is also identified with the Knights of Columbus. He likewise belongs to Yakima Lodge No. 318, B. P. O. E., while his political endorsement is given to the democratic party. He has become widely and favorably known during the period of his residence in this section of the state and his genuine worth is attested by all, for he stands for that which is progressive in citizenship and for all that makes for the material devel- opment and upbuilding of the district.

JOSEPH A. THORNDYKE.

Joseph A. Thorndyke, a well known orchardist of Zillah and equally well known in musical circles, was born in Ontario, Canada, October 22, 1885, a son of Joseph and Frances (Calvert) Thorndyke, who were likewise natives of Ontario, where the father devoted his life to farming. He has now passed away, but the mother sur- vives and resides in New York city.

Joseph A. Thorndyke had the advantages of a public school education and on starting out in business life learned the printer's trade, which he followed for eight years in Canada and the United States. In 1908 he arrived in Zillah, Washington, and was employed on the fruit ranch of his uncle near the town. In 1911 he bought twenty-three acres of land two miles northeast of Buena, upon which not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made. It was covered with the native growth of sagebrush and with characteristic energy Mr. Thorndyke began the development of the property, which he has since planted to apples and pears, converting the place into valuable orchards. He is most systematic and thorough in the care of his trees, which annually produce large crops that find a ready sale on the market. He like- wise has fifteen acres adjoining which he has planted to apples and pears, so that his orchards altogether cover thirty-eight acres and his position is acknowledged that of one of the foremost orchardists of his section. His place is called Home o' Dreams Ranch.

Mr. Thorndyke has long figured prominently in musical circles in his section of the county. He has for many years been connected with brass bands, playing all kinds of musical instruments, and in the summer of 1910 he organized the Zillah Concert Band of twenty-one pieces, which has played all over this part of the state. Ife likewise formed the Thorndyke Orchestra, which renders excellent music for dances. In this Mr. Thorndyke plays the violin and his wife the piano. Loving music as he does, he makes it, however, a side issue, for his chief attention is given to his ranching operations.

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History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 102

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