History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 109

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 109
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 109
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 109

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many years resided in Canada, where they passed away. They had become early set- tlers of that country and the father there engaged in business as a millwright.

William M. Watt acquired a public school education in his native country and when his textbooks were put aside learned the carriage-making trade. In 1892 he came to Yakima and bought a fruit ranch, on which he resided for four years, after which he entered into business relations with the Pioneer Lumber and Coal Com- pany, of which he is now the manager. This business was reorganized in July, 1906, after having been in existence for about ten years. Its location is at No. 9 North First avenue, where the company has one hundred and fifty by one hundred and eighty feet. They handle a full line of builders' materials, shingles, mouldings, lath, sash, doors, blinds, lime, cement, plaster and sewer pipe, together with bee supplies, fruit boxes, tin tops, grape baskets, berry crates, drain tile and Roslyn coal. They employ five men throughout the year and at times have ten in their employ. The officers of the company are: T. H. Brew, of Puyallup, Washington, president; F. W. Morris, of Puyallup, vice president; and William M. Watt, secretary, treasurer and manager.

Mr. Watt married Miss Annie Cornett, of Canada, now deceased. He afterward wedded Linda Barton, of Minneapolis. The children of the first marriage were Gordon, Elizabeth and Roberta, all of whom have passed away. By the second mar- riage there is one son, Harold, seventeen years of age, now attending high school.

Mr. Watt is well known in Masonic circles, belonging to lodge, chapter and commandery, and the spirit of the craft finds exemplification in his career. He be- longs to the Commercial Club and to the Business Men's Association and is thus putting forth earnest effort to promote commercial activity and improve business conditions. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and for six years he served as one of the school trustees, but has never been a politician in the sense of seeking political office. That he is interested in moral progress and the wel- fare of the community in its character building is shown in his membership in the Presbyterian church and the Young Men's Christian Association. In a word, he places no false values on life and its opportunities but regards each duty with a sense of conscientious obligation that makes his career worth while to the community in which he lives.

BURT K. FERRIS.

Burt K. Ferris, devoting his time and attention to general agricultural pursuits and fruit raising in Yakima county, was born in Hampton, Minnesota, February 5. 1864, a son of Peter B. and Hannah (Karker) Ferris, who were natives of the Empire state, but at an early day in the development of Minnesota established their home within its borders. There the father passed away, and later the mother came to Washington and made her home with her son Burt until her death, which oc- curred in 1915.

Burt K. Ferris obtained his education in the public schools but was only fifteen years of age at the time of his father's death and the responsibility of caring for and developing the old home farm then largely devolved upon him. At a later period the family sold the farm and removed to Northfield, Minnesota, where Mr. Ferris of this review had liberal educational opportunities, there attending the high school. He was afterward employed in the town and later in Minneapolis in connection with a creamery business, in which he spent six years. Subsequently he spent five years on his brother's farm near Northfield, acting as manager of the property, and in January, 1896, he made his way to the northwest, arriving in Yakima county. Here he purchased seventy-five acres of land six miles west of Yakima, the greater part of which was wild and undeveloped. He at once began the improvement of the property and after a time traded twenty acres of this for water, thus irrigating the remainder of his place of fifty-five acres. He now has fifteen acres in orchard, while forty acres are devoted to diversified farming. He likewise keeps Holstein cattle and conducts an extensive dairy business which is proving very profitable. He raises apples and pears for commercial purposes and has other fruit upon the place for home

MR. AND MRS. BURT K. FERRIS

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consumption. His crops of grain, too, are excellent and in fact everything about his place is wisely and successfully managed and his labors are therefore crowned with a substantial measure of success.

On the 15th of August, 1896, Mr. Ferris was married to Miss Clara Burroughs, of Minnesota, and to them were born five children: Marie, who is the wife of Aubrey Farrer, a resident of Seattle, by whom she has one son, Dean Clinton; Earl, Cecil and Donald, all at home; and Harold, who died at the age of three years.

Mr. Ferris and his family are members of the First Baptist church, taking an active interest in the work and contributing generously to its support. In politics Mr. Ferris is a republican and while never an office seeker has served as school director for one term. He belongs to the Horticultural Union of Yakima county and is interested in everything that has to do with the welfare and progress of his com- inunity, supporting all those projects and interests which are a mater of civic virtue and of civic pride. As a business man he has made steady progress. Starting out in the world when a. lad of fifteen years, he has since been dependent upon his own resources, and with industry as the basis of his success, has built up a substantial competence.

ALBERT S. CONGDON.

Many tangible evidences of the public spirit and the business ability of Albert S. Congdon have been cited. These two qualities are inseparable in his makeup and his efforts have been a most valuable clement in the development and improvement of the Yakima valley as well as in the promotion of his individual fortunes. He holds large property interests, including fruit lands, and he is still president of the Yakima Valley Canal but to a considerable extent has retired from active business.

Mr. Congdon was born in Rochester, New York, December 4, 1857, a son of Sylvester L. and Laura (Adgate) Congdon. The father, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, passed away in 1868, while the mother survived until 1901. They had a family of six children, of whom three died in infancy. Of the others Chester, who was born June 12, 1853, departed this life November 21, 1916, and Laura is the wife of George Hebard, living in San Gabriel, California.

The other member of the family is Albert S. Congdon of this review, who after acquiring a high school education entered Syracuse University of New York, from which both he and his brother were graduated. The brother, Chester Congdon, was a prominent attorney of St. Paul and Duluth, Minnesota, and became a multimil- lionaire through operations in the iron and copper fields. In 1889 the two brothers came to Yakima and Chester Congdon assisted in the survey for the Sunnyside Canal but did not built it. He was, however, the builder of the Yakima Valley Canal in 1889 and both Chester and Albert S. Congdon purchased large amounts of land, the former making investments until he had acquired over nine hundred acres of highly developed land, while Albert S. Congdon also became the owner of several hundred acres. The latter owned a large part of the land that is now the site of the city of Yakima. They together platted what is now the Capitol addition and their efforts have been greatly resultant in the development of the city and the valley. In 1914- 15 Chester Congdon built what is known as Congdon's Castle of over eighty rooms. It is built of native Yakima stone quarried within a few miles of Yakima, near the Painted Rocks, and is one of the most beautiful structures of the west. Albert S. Congdon is still president of the Yakima Valley Canal and is the owner of large fruit interests in the valley, together with a most beautiful residence in Yakima. His investments in this section of the state are very large and imporant. He is one of the directors of the Ontario Land Company, of which he is the local manager, and he owns large tracts of land in the valley besides much valuable city property.

In 1893 Mr. Congdon was married to Miss Winifred Newcombe, of Traverse City, Michigan, and their children are Shirley and Dorothy. Mr. Congdon belongs to the Masonic fraternity and has taken the degrees of the Lodge of Perfection and has attained the eighteenth degree in the Rose Croix Chapter and the thirty- second degree in Oriental Consistory at Spokane. He belongs to the Commercial (37)

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Club and to the Country Club and is appreciative of the social amenities of life. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, but while thoroughly interested in the political situation and keeping thoroughly informed concerning the questions and issues of the day he has never been an aspirant for office. His business inter- ests of growing importance have made full claim upon his time and attention and the management of his affairs has brought to him a measure of success that places him among Yakima's most substantial citizens. Moreover, his work has been of a character that has contributed in marked measure to the development and progress of the valley, so that he is numbered among its most valued citizens.

KLAAS DEN HARTIGH.

Klaas den Hartigh, engaged in general farming near Sunnyside, is one of the substantial citizens that Holland has furnished to this section of the country. He was born in the land of the dikes, September 20, 1883, a son of Paulus and Janna (Monster) den Hartigh, who were also natives of the same country. They came to Yakima county in the spring of 1904 and purchased forty acres of land two and a half miles northeast of Sunnyside, which was but partially improved. The father built thereon a good residence and continued the work of further development and improvement upon his land to the time of his death, which occurred in April, 1916. His widow survives and lives with her son Klaas.

The latter obtained a public school education in Holland and in the fall of 1901 came to the new world with his sister, who is now Mrs. Christopher G. Van Belle. They made their way westward to Yakima county and he worked for wages until joined by his parents in 1904. He then engaged in ranching with his father until the latter's death. In 1913 he was given twenty acres of land and he now farms the re- mainder of the old home place for his mother and the other children. He is leading a busy life and his energy and perseverance are producing most excellent results in the cultivation of the home property. He annually gathers large crops of corn, hay and potatoes and he also conducts a small dairy. The family are members of the Reformed church. Mr. den Hartigh is numbered among the successful ranchers of his district.

GOTTFRIED GOTHBERG.

Gottfried Gothberg belongs to that little colony of Swedish people who have done so much toward developing Academy Heights, where he now makes his home. He was born in Sweden, November 24, 1860, a son of August and Emma Gothberg, who are still living in Sweden, the father having now reached the age of eighty-nine years, while the mother is eighty-six years of age. They have been married over sixty years and they are one of the most venerable couples in that section of the country. The became the parents of twelve children and ten of the number are still living.

Gottfried Gothberg obtained a public school education and after his textbooks were put aside learned the blacksmith's trade. He was a young man of twenty-six years when he bade adieu to friends and native country and sailed for the United States in 1886. He first made his way to Worcester, Massachusetts, where he re- mained for three months, and then journeyed across the country to Chicago, where he secured employment in a railroad shop. In 1912 he arrived in Yakima county and purchased ten acres of land on Academy Heights. He planted one-half of this to apples, while the remainder is devoted to the raising of hay. His crops are large, showing his careful method of cultivation, and the place presents a most neat and at- tractive appearance. He has erected a nice home and his neighbors consider that he is on the highroad to success.

In 1894 Mr. Gothberg was united in marriage to Miss Tilda Strohm, who was born in Sweden, where they were schoolmates. Their marriage was celebrated in

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Chicago. The first child of their marriage died in infancy and they have one daugh- ter, Mildred, who is still at home. The parents are members of the Swedish Mission church and are interested in all that pertains to the moral progress of the community.

Politically Mr. Gothberg is a republican. He is imbued with the spirit of west- ern enterprise and progress and his well defined activities have brought him to a creditable place as one of the successful orchardists of his community.

ARCHIE L. NORTON.

The "Star of Empire" in its western course has been the beacon light which has led many enterprising men to the Yakima valley, rich with its opportunities, its possibilities and its resources. They have found here conditions which, wisely util- ized, have led to the upbuilding of many fortunes that, with a boomerang action, have at the same time promoted the growth and progress of the district. Prominent among the progressive business men of Yakima at the present time is Archie L. Norton, who became general manager of the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Company at Yakima in 1916. He was born in St. Charles, Minnesota, December 18, 1882, a son of Thomas and Christina Norton, who in 1883 removed to the Pacific coast, settling at Dayton, Washington. The following year they took up their abode in North Yakima, where the father engaged in well digging and afterward in the trans- fer business. He died in the year 1911 but the mother is still living.

Utilizing his educational opportunities, Archie L. Norton was graduated from the high school of Yakima and then entered the employ of the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Company, with which he has worked in all of the departments and in most of the yards. Gradually advancing, he served for a time as local manager at Wapato and at Kennewick and in 1916 was called to the position of general manager at Yakima.

The St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Company was organized in 1888 at Tacoma, Washington, and a branch office was established at Yakima in May, 1894, with L. Palmer as general manager. The first location was on First avenue, near C street, after which a removal was made to First avenue and Walnut street about 1906. The business was started on one square block and it now covers two blocks on First avenue, South, and a half block on Walnut street. W. O. Scott was the first local manager, continuing until January, 1898, when he was succeeded by C. A. Anderson, who continued until February, 1899. Miles Cannon then became manager and filled the position until August, 1902, when he became general manager of the company, acting in that capacity until 1906. W. P. Taylor was manager at Yakima from July, 1903, until January, 1907, when he became general manager for the company but has since withdrawn from that connection. T. W. Howell served as local manager from August, 1902, until August. 1903, preceding Mr. Taylor. A. E. Rasmussen occupied the position from 1907 until 1909, when he was succeeded by T. E. Manning, who served until 1912. L. B. Ward has been local manager to the present time and Mr. Taylor served as general manager until 1910. C. W. Gamble then occupied the posi- tion until 1916, when A. L. Norton was called to the office, which he is now most acceptably filling. The company has yards at Selah, Wapato, Toppenish, White Swan, Sunnyside, Prosser, Kennewick, Richland, Hanford and White Bluffs, all in the Yakima valley; also at Ritzville, Marcellus and Ralston, in Adams county. The officers of the company are: E. G. Griggs, of Tacoma, president; and H. S. Griggs, secretary and treasurer. The former, who was the founder of Troop B of Tacoma, is now a major in the Signal Corps, in charge of the fir aeroplane production. The mills and general offices of the company are at Tacoma and the mills have an out- put of six hundred and fifty thousand feet of lumber per day. The yards handle a full line of building material and fuel. The major part of the output of the mills is shipped to the east and to California and they also have a complete creosoting plant on the coast. The sales organization through the yards is all managed from Yakima and the Yakima plant is now the oldest yard owned by the company. This is the leading lumber concern of the city and as general manager Mr. Norton has important and extensive duties, connecting him largely with the lumber trade of the northwest. His entire life has been devoted to the service of this company and gradually he has

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won advancement and promotion until he has reached his present position of respon- sibility.

On the 6th of June, 1917, Mr. Norton was married to Miss Bernice Myer, of Seattle. He is well known in fraternal circles, belonging to the Elks lodge, the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He also has mem- bership in the Commercial Club and the Business Men's Association, and he gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He gives the closest attention to social and community interests and his is a well balanced character. He recognizes life's value and meets every obligation and duty in the matter of citizenship and in his relations with his fellowmen as well as in his business connections.

GEORGE REID.

George Reid, a successful agriculturist residing in the vicinity of Selah, is the owner of a rich and productive tract of land comprising fifty acres on Wenas creek. He is a native son of Scotland, where his birth occurred on the 3d of May, 1880, his parents being George and Jessie (Taylor) Reid. The father is still living in that country, but the mother has passed away.

George Reid spent the first twenty-eight years of his life in the land of his na- tivity and then crossed the Atlantic to the United States in 1908. He made his way across the continent to the Pacific northwest and for two years was employed in Yakima by his uncle. Alex Taylor, with whom he later entered into partnership in the sheep business. In 1910 he located on Wenas creek and four years later pur- chased his present farm of fifty acres, where he has since been actively engaged in the cultivation of hay and, grain and also in the raising of cattle. His labors along these lines have been attended with a gratifying and well deserved measure of suc- cess, so that he has gained a place among the substantial and representative agri- culturists of Yakima county.

On the 22d of April, 1907, Mr. Reid was united in marriage to Miss Susan Hay, a native of Scotland and a daughter of George and Margaret Hay. The mother has passed away, but the father survives and since 1914 has made his home with Mr. and Mrs. Reid. The children of this marriage are three in number: Gordon S., L. J. and Vernon G.

Mr. Reid gives his political allegiance to the democratic party where national questions and issues are involved but at local elections casts an independent ballot, considering the capability of a candidate rather than his party affiliation. The re- ligious faith of Mr. and Mrs. Reid is that of the Presbyterian church. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to leave his native country and establish a home in the new world, for here he has found the opportunities which he sought and through their wise utilization has worked his way steadily upward to the goal of success. During the period of his residence in Yakima county, which now covers a decade, he has made many friends who esteem him highly for his genuine per- sonal worth and sterling traits of character.

LEO F. SAINSBURY.

Leo F. Sainsbury, manager of the Fruit Growers' Agency of Yakima, was born in Lamoille, Minnesota, December 9, 1882, a son of George and Margaret Sainsbury. The father has been agent for the Milwaukee Railroad Company since 1872 and is also the owner of a fine farm. The son acquired a public school education and then took up railway work in connection with his father, being thus employed until 1898, after which he devoted his attention to telegraphy until 1905. In May of that year he came to Spokane and soon afterward accepted a position as telegraph operator in Idaho. Later he was located at Lind, Washington, as operator and occupied a similar position at other points. He was with the Northern Pacific Railway Com- pany at various places, including Pasco and Toppenish. In August, 1910, he came to

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Yakima as agent for the Northern Pacific and so continued until June 30, 1917, when he became manager for the Yakima Valley Traffic & Credit Association, which was established in July of that year as successor to the Yakima Traffic Association. The organization was formed as an association of fruit shippers to promote and benefit their shipping interests. They now handle claims and messenger service, which is the sending of men with cars of fruit to the east. They sent over one thousand cars of produce east with special messengers in 1917. These men look after the refrigera- tion and general care of the shipments. The association is a service company for the benefit of the shippers and during 1917 handled one thousand and seven cars in ninety- four trains. They take charge of about seventy per cent of the shipping in the valley under messenger service. The membership includes eighteen of the largest shipping con- cerns in the valley and has charge of eighty-five per cent of the tonnage of the valley. The general offices are located in the building of the Yakima Valley Transportation Company. The officers are: J. M. Perry, president; Fred Eberle, vice president: C. R. McKee, treasurer; Lloyd Garretson, P. F. Clarke and W. J. Hayes, trustees. Mr. Sainsbury continued as manager until 1918 and did splendid work in getting the peo- ple in the same line of business to work together and thus greatly promote the in- terests of each. In the same office is found the Fruit Growers' Agency. This was organized in Walla Walla and includes a membership that is drawn from Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana. This is an organization for the promotion of the general development of the fruit growing industry. The agency is now putting torth efforts to secure a general government inspection of shipments at the time they are loaded. In 1918, severing his connection as manager with the Yakima Valley Traffic & Credit Association, Leo F. Sainsbury became general manager for the agency and so continnes. His former experience is proving of the greatest value in this con- nection and his efforts are productive of splendid results.

On the 28th of October, 1908. Mr. Sainsbury was united in marriage to Miss Olive S. Brace, of Athena, Oregon, and they have one son, George Forrest. Mr. Sainsbury belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and also to the Yakima Commercial Club. He is interested in everything that has to do with the progress and upbuilding of the section in which he lives and his labors have been an effective force in advancing the interests of a large part of the population in this section. He displays marked initiative and his well formulated plans have produced excellent results.

ELMER ELSWORTH KNOWLES.

Twenty-seven years have come and gone since Elmer Elsworth Knowles became a resident of Yakima county. For an extended period he has been connected with the plumhing business in the city of Yakima. In 1913, however, he located on his ranch, a mile and a half north of Buena, and engaged in raising fruit but the following year sold the place and has since engaged in the plumbing business in Yakima. He was born in Penobscot county, Maine, June 16, 1861, a son of Christopher Columbus and Betsey (Winchester) Knowles, both of whom were natives of Maine. The father was a son of Silas Knowles, one of the early settlers of the Pine Tree state, who was killed in the War of 1812. The maternal grandparents were also among the early settlers of Maine and all were farming people. Christopher C. Knowles was a veteran of the Civil war, loyally defending the interests of his country during the period of strife between the north and the south, as his father had done in the second war with England. He passed away in December, 1917, lacking but eight days of having reached the advanced age of ninety years.

Elmer E. Knowles, after acquiring a public school education. left home at the age of twenty years and learned the tinsmith's trade, which he followed for a decade. He then took up the work of plumbing and steamfitting over New England and in 1890 made his way to the Pacific coast, spending three years in San Diego, California. He afterward went to South Bend, Washington, and later to Astoria, Oregon, but in December, 1892, arrived in Yakima, where he resumed work at his trade as an employe

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History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 109

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