History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 104

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 104
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 104
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 104

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hop vineyards and he is also devoting some time to stock raising, having good grades of live stock upon his place.

On the 22d of November, 1893, Mr. Grissom was united in marriage to Miss Emma C. Hansen, who was born in Des Moines, Iowa, a daughter of Ole and Bertha Hansen, who were pioneer people of Kittitas county and were natives of Norway. To Mr. and Mrs. Grissom were born six children: George D., who is now with the United States troops in England, having enlisted in the navy; Chester, who died at the age of seven years; Edith Pearl, at home; Bertha May; Walter, who has also passed away; and Allen, who completes the family.

Mr. Grissom has been a member of the Woodmen of the World for the past twenty years. He attends the Christian church and he gives his political support to the republican party. He has served on the school board and is interested in the cause of education and in all matters of local progress and improvements, cooperat- ing heartily in all movements for the general good. He is truly a self-made man. He was only about sixteen years of age at the time of his father's death and since then he has been dependent entirely upon his own resources. He started out in the business world empty-handed and all that he possesses and has enjoyed has been won through his earnest effort and landable ambition. He is today the owner of a good ranch property and his life is another proof of the fact that industry is the basis of all honorable success.

PETER PETERSON.

A considerable percentage of the citizenship of the district surrounding Selah comes from Sweden. The sons of that country have manifested their usual untiring industry, perseverance and reliability in the conduct of business affairs here and their worth is widely recognized. To this class belongs Peter Peterson, who was born July 29, 1866, a son of Mons and Enger Peterson, both of whom have now passed away. He spent the first sixteen years of his life in his native country and then in 1882 crossed the Atlantic to the new world and made his way to Chicago, after which he engaged in sailing on the Lakes, becoming master on vessels on the fresh water. He worked his way upward in that connection and also was part owner of Lake vessels. In 1900 he came to Yakima county, Washington, and purchased twenty acres of land on Selah Heights, which was then covered with sagebrush. He com- menced its development with characteristic energy and his labors soon wrought a marked change in the appearance of his land. He also secured five acres near Selah and has added to his holdings until he now has a valuable tract of seventy-eight acres, of which twenty acres is planted to orchards, while forty acres is plow land and the balance pasture. He has sold the five-acre tract and concentrates his efforts and attention upon his other holdings, which are now bringing forth fine crops of fruit and of vegetables and cereals. He knew nothing at all of farming when he came to the west, having had no experience in this line and those who knew him predicted that he could not make a success of it. Perseverance and industry, however, are qualities which always triumph over difficulties and obstacles and these qualities Mr. Peterson possessed in large measure. He worked diligently, studied closely to master the business and acquaint himself with every phase of general farming and stock raising, and today he has one of the fine farm properties in the Yakima valley. He annually gathers farge crops of hay and potatoes and makes extensive shipments of apples and grapes.

In 1890 Mr. Peterson was married to Miss Helen Hansen, a native of Norway, who came to the new world in her girlhood days, settling in Chicago. The children of this marriage are: Esther, now the wife of Philip J. Eustace, a resident of Yakima, by whom she has one daughter; Leif, who is now deceased; Ruth, the wife of G. I. Foster, who is a member of the United States army, while his wife is at home with her parents; and Hazel and Hattie, twins, both of whom have passed away.

Mr. Peterson is a member of the Seventh Day Adventist church. His political allegiance is given to the republican party upon national questions but at local elec- tions he casts an independent ballot. He deserves great credit for what he has ac-

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complished. He became the first settler in his part of the valley and he brought to his work no previous experience along the line in which he engaged. He did not know how to harness a horse or do anything in connection with farming, but he possessed intelligence and determination and set to work to learn all that was neces- sary. Step by step he has advanced and each forward step has brought to him a broader outlook and wider opportunities. Today he is a leading farmer of the district, reliable and progressive, and many who believed that at the outset he would meet with failure are now glad to follow his example and listen to his advice.

CHARLES H. MOWERY.

Charles H. Mowery, conducting a profitable business as an oil man in Yakima, was born in Jennings county, Indiana in 1866, a son of James T. and Frances Eliza- beth Mowery, who about 1879 removed to Kansas, the father spending his remaining days at Fort Scott, that state. The mother afterward married again, becoming the wife of R. M. Jack, and in 1889 they removed to the northwest, settling in Yakima, where Mr. Jack purchased land and engaged in farming. At a later date he estab- lished his home in Oregon, where he passed away, but the mother of Mr. Mowery is still living.

With the removal of the family to the west Charles H. Mowery acquired his education in the schools of Kansas and for a time attended the State Normal School there. Subsequent to his arrival in Yakima in 1889 he became connected with the sheep industry and was employed in that way for seven years. He afterward turned his attention to the retail oil business in Yakima about 1905 and subsequently became. identified with the wholesale oil trade here. In 1913 he sold his business to the Union Oil Company. In 1911 he opened the first gasoline station in Yakima and has since been engaged in the sale of gas. His first station was on B street and later he opened another at the corner of Yakima street and Seventh avenue which he still conducts. In 1917 he erected a new building at Naches street and East Yakima avenue, where he also has a fine gas station and accessories store. He is in the same business at the other stand and both branches are proving profitable.

In 1904 Mr. Mowery was married to Miss Rose Beautrow, of Minnesota, and they have become parents of three children, Albert, Eloise and Ralph. In politics Mr. Mowery maintains an independent course, voting for men and measures rather than party. He belongs to the Commercial Club and is interested in all plans and measures for the upbuilding of the city, for the advancement of its business connections and the support and development of its civic standards.

AUGUST B. SOLTOW.

August B. Soltow, occupying an attractive bungalow on a ranch of ten acres which he owns near Zillah, is also engaged in the development of thirty-one acres adjoining and has won very substantial success as an orchardist. He was born in Winneshick county, Iowa, September 19, 1881, a son of Paul and Anna (Jeddloh) Soltow. The father was born in Germany and came to the United States in child- hood days. He afterward cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers of Iowa, where he carried on farming to the time of his demise. His widow survives and is still a resident of that state, living at Cresco.

August B. Soltow devoted his youth largely to the acquirement of a public school education and on attaining his majority started out in the business world on his own account. He worked for wages until 1909 and then sought the opportunities of the northwest, making his way to Tacoma, where he followed carpentering for a year. In 1911 he purchased ten acres of land a mile and three-quarters east of Buena and is still the owner of that property, upon which he has erected a pretty little bunga- low, together with substantial barns. The orchards which he has planted upon his place are now in bearing and are in excellent condition. In addition to his home

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property Mr. Soltow has also developed thirty-one acres adjoining for E. E. Crook and has planted the entire forty-one acres to apples, peaches and pears.

On the 22d of March, 1911, Mr. Soltow was married to Miss Glencora Oathout, a native of Clayton county. Iowa, and a daughter of George and Margaret (Powell) Oathout, who are natives of New York and Illinois respectively. They became pioneer settlers of Iowa, to which state they made an overland trip. Mr. Oathout is descended from one of the old colonial families whose American progenitor came on the Mayflower. He is a veteran of the Civil war and after the close of hostilities devoted his attention to farming in Iowa for many years but in later life came to Yakima county and is now living retired in the city of Yakima. Mr. and Mrs. Sol- ,tow have two children: Robert Wilmot, who was born January 15, 1912; and Anna Margaret, whose birth occurred on the 4th of July, 1916. The wife and mother is a member of the Methodist church.

In politics Mr. Soltow maintains an independent course. He is a self-made man whose success, attributable entirely to his perseverance, industry and deter- mination. He had no assistance at the outset of his career but has worked his way steadily upward and is now conducting a profitable business.

E. ROY EBY.

E. Roy Eby is one of the representative young ranchers of Yakima county. where he has spent the greater part of his life. He was born, however, in Stephen- son county, Illinois, June 2, 1891, and is a brother of the Rev. Jacob A. Eby, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. He acquired a public school education, passing through consecutive grades to the high school, and later pursued a course in a busi- ness college in Portland, Oregon. On attaining his majority he purchased forty acres of land from his father and has since rented twenty acres more of the old homestead. His boyhood and youth had been passed under the parental roof, so that he early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He therefore brought broad and valuable experience to the starting point of his independent business carcer and through the intervening period he has suc- cessfully cultivated his land, producing large crops of hay, corn, potatoes and sugar beets, for which he finds a ready sale on the market.

On the 11th of December, 1912, Mr. Eby was married to Miss Martha M. Anding, a native of Chicago, Illinois, and a daughter of Angust Anding. Their children are Eleanor, Lois and Emerson. Both Mr. and Mrs. Eby are members of the Church of the Brethren and his political endorsement is given to the republican party. He is well known in the section in which he resides as a progressive young farmer and one whose worth of character has gained for him the respect, confidence and goodwill of all with whom he has been associated.

AUGUST J. LA BISSONIERE.

August J. La Bissoniere, who in the spring of 1918 purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on the Ahtanum and is now identified with ranching interests, having sixty acres of land under cultivation, was born at Red Lake Falls, Minnesota, January 31, 1890. He is therefore yet a young man but already he has won a most creditable position in ranching circles. He is a son of Francis and Adeline (Der- roche) La Bissoniere, both of whom were natives of Canada, whence they removed to Minnesota in 1868. After residing for many years in that state they came to Yakima county in 1906 and purchased a home on Nob Hill. The father is now liv- ing retired on the Moxee, making his home with a daughter.

August J. La Bissoniere acquired a public school education and in young man- hood worked for wages. He was employed in a grocery house and also in connection with a wholesale fruit business, but he was ambitious to engage in business on his own account, so that he carefully saved his earnings until the sum was sufficient to

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enable him to invest in land. In the spring of 1918 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres on the Ahtanum and now has sixty acres of this place under cultivation, devoted to the raising of grain and hay. He also has a five-acre orchard and he is most carefully, systematically and successfully developing and improving his land, which he is converting into one of the fine ranch properties of the district.

On the 9th of January, 1910, Mr. La Bissoniere was united in marriage to Miss Myrtle Hecox, a native of Wisconsin and a daughter of Fred R. and Mary Hecox, who came to Yakima county in 1900. The father purchased the ranch that is now owned hy Mr. La Bissoniere. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. La Bissonicre four chil- dren have been born, Kenneth, Monica, Margaret and Elizabeth. The religious faith of the family is indicated in the fact that they are communicants of St. Paul's church, and Mr. La Bissoniere is also identificd with the Knights of Columbus at Yakima. Fraternally he is an Elk, belonging to the lodge at Ellensburg. Politically he main- tains an independent course, voting for men and measures rather than party. He has worked diligently and persistently as the years have gone by and his enterprise and industry have been the strong features in the attainment of his present day pros- perity.

JULIUS H. FRAZIER.

Julius H. Frazier is a veteran of the Civil war who, though he has now passed the age of three score years and ten, is yet actively engaged in business, being identified with fruit raising interests in the vicinity of Selah. He was born in Craw- ford county, Wisconsin, October 1, 1847, a son of David D. and Alzina (Davidson) Frazier, who in 1849 removed to Minnesota, where they were pioneer settlers, con- tributing to the early development and progress of that state. They were natives of Ohio and the father's people came from New York and were of Scotch descent. Both Mr. and Mrs. David D. Frazier passed away in Minnesota.

Julius H. Frazier was largely reared in that state and acquired a public school education. His early experiences made him familiar with frontier life in all of its phases in the upper Mississippi valley. He had not yet attained the age of eighteen years when he responded to the country's call for troops and on the 14th of March, 1865, enlisted as a member of Company C. First Regiment of Minnesota Volunteers, for duty at the front in defense of the Union. He saw active service in the south and was mustered ont on the 15th of July, 1865, returning to his home with a cred- itable military record. He afterward engaged in farming in Minnesota, residing for a time in Blue Earth county and subsequently in Redwood county, where he continued to devote his attention to general agricultural pursuits until 1914. He then disposed of his property in that section of the state and came to Yakima county, Washington, where he has since made his home. He purchased ten acres of land on Selah Heights, all in apples, and has been closely identified with the further de- velopment and care of his orchards.

On the 19th of February, 1878, Mr. Frazier was married to Miss Laura Simmons, who was born in Iowa, April 29, 1849, a daughter of Randall and Mary (Kennedy) Simmons, the former a native of the Empire state, while the latter was born in Ohio. They became pioneer settlers of Iowa and later, in 1850, Mr. Simmons crossed the plains to California, attracted by the discovery of gold in that state. In 1854 he became a resident of Minnesota, where he and his wife spent their remaining days. They were identified with the pioneer development of the latter state and contrib- uted in substantial measure to its early progress. To Mr. and Mrs. Frazier have been born seven children. George, who is married and has two children, resides in Yakima. Edith died at the age of seven years. Ella is the wife of Frank Rawlings, a resident of Minnesota, and they have four children. Alice is the wife of Max John- son, whose home is at Milroy, Minnesota, and they have two sons. Frank, who is married and has one son, resides at Selah, Washington. Jay, who is engaged in ranching on Selah Heights, is married and has two children. James is engaged in teaching in Minnesota, where he lives with his wife and one child.

In his political views Mr. Frazier is a democrat and has taken an active part in

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political affairs but does not seek nor desire office at the present time. While living in Minnesota, however, he served for two years as mayor of Vesta. His wife is a member of the Nazarene church and Mr. Frazier proudly wears the little bronze button that proclaims him a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He has always been as true and loyal in matters of citizenship as he was when he followed the nation's starry banner on the battlefields of the south.

FRANCIS WILLIAM VALENTINE.

Francis William Valentine, whose time and attention are devoted to orcharding in the vicinity of Zillah, was born in Ellsworth, Wisconsin, February 2, 1873, a son of William and Ellen (Kelly) Valentine. The mother was a native of Utica, New York. They settled in Wisconsin during the pioneer epoch in the history of that state and afterward removed to Minnesota, where their last days were passed.

While spending his boyhood and youth in the home of his parents, Francis W. Valentine attended the public schools but put aside his textbooks when only fourteen years of age in order to earn his living. He worked for wages for some time and he early realized the fact that industry is the basis of all honorable success Throughout all the intervening years he has worked diligently and persistently. After remaining in the employ of others for some time he took up farming on his own account in St. Croix county, Wisconsin, and met success in his undertakings there, but eventually he disposed of his property in the middle west and on the 18th of April, 1913, arrived in Yakima, Washington, where he again worked for wages until February, 1918. He then bought ten acres of land a mile and a half northeast of Buena. He has planted the entire tract to fruit, making a specialty of the raising of peaches, apples and pears. A nice home is one of the pleasing features of his place and neatness and thrift characterize everything upon the ranch.

On the 7th of November, 1899, Mr. Valentine was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Tomlinson, a native of Fargo, Wisconsin, and a daughter of John and Romina Tomlinson. They now have two children, Mira and Eugene. Mr. Valentine is not bound by party ties in his political views, and while he is always interested in the welfare and progress of his community, he leaves office holding to others. He is indeed a self-made man and deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, working his way upward step by step as the years have passed as the result of his industry and determination.

EMILE P. VILLAUME.

An attractive stone residence, standing in the midst of a highly cultivated ranch property largely devoted to fruit raising in the Selah valley, is owned and occupied by Emile P. Villaume, a native of France, who was born on the 29th of June, 1865, of the marriage of Athanase and Marguerite (Baly) Villaume. The father died in France and the mother and children afterward came to the United States, crossing the Atlantic in 1886, when Emile P. Villaume was a young man of twenty-one years. They made their way to the upper Mississippi valley, settling at St. Paul, Minnesota, and there Emile P. Villaume continued until 1902, when the opportunities of the west attracted him and he made his way to Yakima county. Here in 1903 he pur- chased a relinquishment on an eighty acre homestead on the Selah Heights, which was one of the first tracts of land taken up in this part of the county. The greater part of it was at that time covered with a native sagebrush and gave little indication that it would be transformed into valuable fruit land. He now has, however, an eight acre orchard, in which he is raising fine apples. The balance of his place is devoted to the cultivation of hay and cereals. He has sold twenty acres of his land but still retains sixty acres and he has forty acres under the ditch, the irriga- tion system being thoroughly adequate to the demands upon it. From the first Mr. Villaume has steadily developed and improved the property and in 1903 he erected

RESIDENCE OF EMILE P. VILLAUME

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thereon a comfortable dwelling, which at that time was the largest in the locality. That he has since prospered is indicated in the fact that in 1912 he built a fine stone residence of eight rooms, supplied with all modern conveniences and com- forts. In 1911 he built a large barn and there is no accessory or improvement of the model farm of the twentieth century that is lacking upon his place.

On the 6th of April, 1896, Mr. Villaume was married to Miss Leona Gros, of St. Paul, Minnesota, and they have two children, Alice Augustine and Paul Eugene, both at home. In politics Mr. Villaume maintains an independent course. He is a self-made man who started out in life without the aid of influential friends or financial assistance. Undeterred by the difficulties which he has encountered, he has steadily worked his way upward and the steps in his orderly progression are easily discernible. Continuous effort, intelligently directed, has constituted the foun- dation upon which he has builded his prosperity.

HARRY A. GLEN.

Harry A. Glen has devoted almost his entire life to the railway business and has worked his way upward from a humble position to that of general agent for the Northern Pacific Railroad Company at Yakima. He was born in Scotland on the 20th of October, 1871, a son of Henry and Margaret (Campbell) Glen. His father has been the minister of the Presbyterian church at Beith, Ayrshire, Scotland, for more than fifty-two years, but the mother has passed away.

Harry A. Glen is indebted to the public school system of Scotland for his edu- cational opportunities. He came to the United States in April, 1889, when a youth of seventeen years, and secured employment as bellboy in a hotel in New York, where he remained for six months. He afterward removed westward to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where he was engaged in the railway business for seventeen years, start- ing in as office boy and becoming agent for the Northwestern Railroad Company there.

The year 1909 witnessed the arrival of Mr. Glen in Yakima, at which time he purchased land, which he cultivated for a year and then sold. He next returned to railway service in the employ of the Northern Pacific, starting in the position of stenographer with the general agent. His capability and fidelity soon won recogni- tion, resulting in promotion. He became traveling freight agent and in August, 1916, was appointed general agent at Yakima, in which capacity he has since served the corporation, being a most capable official at this point and one who has gained popularity with the public.

On the 12th of December, 1905, Mr. Glen was married to Miss Susan Faber, of St. Paul, Minnesota, and they have one child, Margaret, eleven years of age.

Mr. Glen belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and also to the Benevo- lent Protective Order of Elks. He likewise has membership in the Commercial Club and he gives his political allegiance to the republican party, of which he has been a stanch advocate since becoming an American citizen. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. His genuine worth of character, his business abil- ity and tact and his unfaltering enterprise have placed him in a creditable position in railway circles and Yakima numbers him among her valued citizens.

JOHN V. HARTMAN.

John V. Hartman, for more than sixteen years a resident of Yakima county, is now the owner of thirty-seven acres near Grandview and in his ranching interests is meeting with well deserved success. He has reached the western coast through successive removals. He was born in Keokuk county, Iowa, June 17, 1872, a son of Valentine and Christina (Prong) Hartman, the former a native of Switzerland, while the latter was born in Germany. They came to the United States in early life and were pioneer settlers of Iowa, their marriage being celebrated in Burlington, that

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state, after which they drove seventy miles with an ox team to the point where they settled in Keokuk county. They subsequently removed to South Dakota, taking up their abode in Sully county, that state, in 1883, although it was some years before the state was divided. The father there obtained a homestead claim and became a successful farmer. Eventually, however, he removed to Palouse, Washington, where he passed away in the year 1902, while his wife survived only until 1904.

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History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 104

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