History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 11

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 11
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 11
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 11

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On the 22d of January, 1896, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Ella Hassell, who was born in Iowa, a daughter of William and Emily Hassell, who came to Yakima county in 1903. The father died in 1917, but the mother survives and is still living in Yakima. They were farming people of this district. Mr. and Mrs. Smith be- came the parents of three children, but have lost two, Floy, the eldest, and Donald, the youngest, who died in infancy. The second child, Leonard, is at home. The family attend the Methodist church and Mr. Smith gives his political support to the republican party, keeping well informed on the questions and issues of the day, so that he is able to support his position by intelligent argument. He has never regretted his determination to come to the northwest, for he here found the opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has reached a desirable posi- tion as a business man and rancher. He is energetic and determined, working per- sistently and diligently as the years go by, and his efforts have brought excellent results.

RALPH B. WILLIAMSON.

Ralph B. Williamson, a member of the Yakima bar since 1911 and specializing in his practice in irrigation and water right law, in which he has acquired a more than state wide reputation, comes to the northwest from Iowa. He was born in Tama, Iowa, July 31, 1879, a son of Thomas L. and Kate Williamson. The father, who devoted his life to the banking business, is now deceased.

The son acquired a public school education in his native state and in the pur- suit of his more specifically literary education) he attended Cornell College of Iowa. He next entered Harvard University for a course in law, which he com-

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

pleted by graduation with the class of 1905. Removing to the northwest, he located at Portland, Oregon, where he remained for a short time, and later he spent five years in the reclamation service of the United States government as a representative of the legal department. In 1907 he came to Yakima while still engaged in that work, but in January, 1911, he opened a law office and entered upon the private practice of his profession. In 1913 the firm of Williamson & Luhman was organized and has since continued. He has made a specialty of irrigation law and has been identified with much of the most important of recent water law litigation.

On the 5th of August, 1908, Mr. Williamson was married to Miss Helen M. Scott, of Yakima, a daughter of W. H. Scott, and to them have been born two children: Richard Scott, whose birth occurred November 16, 1909; and Mary Helen, born August 31, 1914.

Fraternally Mr. Williamson is a Mason. In 1915 he was president of the Yakima Commercial Club and under his direction many projects of the organization were satisfactorily completed and new ones incepted. His political allegiance is that of the republican party and for a number of years he was a member of the water code commission of the state. He assisted in drafting the code adopted by the legislature of 1917 and was largely instrumental in securing the passage of this act, generally believed to be one of the most important pieces of economic legislation passed by the legislature. There are few men who have equaled him in the extent of his experience and research in connection with questions relative to water rights and irrigation interests and his knowledge of law relative thereto enables him to speak with authority upon disputed questions of that kind. He takes a lively and earnest interest in matters pertaining to the public welfare, and is a permanent member of the legal advisory board appointed by President Wilson for Yakima county.

A. B. FOSSEEN.

A. B. Fosseen, familiarly and affectionately known as Ben, is an alert and energetic business man and one who holds to advanced ideas in the treatment of employes and of the general public. He is dealing in building supplies at Yakima and has gained a very substantial trade during the seven years of the existence of the firm-a trade that has come to him as the merited reward of persistent effort, earnest desire to please his patrons and straightforward dealing. His career is one which should certainly receive the thoughtful consideration of young men who start out empty-handed as Mr. Fosseen has done and who desire to work their way upward through legitimate business methods.

Mr. Fosseen was born in Leland, Illinois, on the 6th of October, 1876, a son of Osman and Isabel Fosseen. The father was engaged during his active business career in various lines, following farming and merchandising at different times, but eventually he retired and died in the year 1915.

After completing his education in the University of Minnesota and thus becom- ing well equipped by thorough educational training for life's practical and responsible duties, A. B. Fosseen entered the lumber business in Minnesota and was there engaged until 1908, when he removed westward to Washington, making Yakima his destination. Here he entered the employ of the Hellison Lumber Company, with which he was connected until the 1st of January, 1911, when he established the firm of A. B. Fosseen & Company. It had long been his ambition to organize a company where fair play would be given employes and he has taken some of these in as members of the firm as fast as their ability has been proven. In this way and by his straightforward treatment of them, his fairness and his justice, he has built up a wonderful loyalty among the men in his service. He has always believed that honorable success is founded upon straightforward dealing with debtor and credi- tor alike, upon fairness to employes and by capable service to customers. When the business was organized Mr. Fosseen became president and treasurer, with H. F. Luhman as secretary, and both continue in office to the present time. W. E. Coleman

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

is now vice president, with F. B. Sincel as treasurer. Neither Mr. Luhman nor Mr. Sincel are directors of the company, the board consisting of Mr. Fosseen, Mr. Coleman, A. E. Rassmussen, W. C. Rider and Eck Baughn. All are active in the business with the exception of Mr. Luhman, and Thomas S. Smiley and F. B. Baker are also stockholders in the concern. This company deals in building sup- plies, irrigation supplies, paints, oils, pumps, motors, coal, brick and cement and spraying supplies. They were first located in the Clegg building and then on A and First streets. In 1917 they erected a large building, one hundred by one hundred feet, at the corner of Yakima and First streets. This is a one-story and basement structure with cement floor and has beautiful offices. The building is constructed of hollow tile and brick. The company is capitalized for thirty-five thousand dollars and now employs from twelve to twenty men according to the season. The prosperity of the undertaking may be attributed to three factors, namely: low cost of operation, volume of business and best grades of material obtainable.

On the 22d of January, 1908, Mr. Fosseen was married to Miss Florence Vance Neal, of Fargo, North Dakota, and they now have one son, Neal Randolph. Mr. Fosseen is a prominent representative of Masonry, ever loyal to the teachings and purposes of the craft. He belongs to the lodge and has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, while with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine he has crossed the sands of the desert. He also is a member of the Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks, of the Commercial Club, the Country Club, the College Club of Seattle and Beta Theta Pi, a college fraternity. His political alegiance is given to the republican party and he served as secretary of the district exemption board. Mr. Fosseen commands the highest respect of all who know him. He has many splendid qualities; not the least of which is his quick recognition of worth in others. He judges men by worth, not by wealth, and sterling traits of character can always win his regard. His course has never been such as to make him sacrifice his self- respect but on the contrary has gained for him the loyal friendship and admiration of all with whom he has been brought in contact.

LEONARD TALBOTT.

Leonard Talbott, who for four years served as postmaster of Toppenish, was born in Bement, Illinois, March 6, 1867, a son of Jefferson M. and Amanda Tal- bott, both of whom passed away in Illinois, where the father had devoted his life to the occupation of farming.

Leonard Talbott acquired a public school education in his native state and after- ward became a telegraph operator, devoting twenty-five years of his life to service of that kind. In 1892 he removed to the northwest, making his way first to Montana, where he was agent for the Northern Pacific Railroad Company for three years at Billings and seven years at Red Lodge. In 1905 he came to Toppenish, Wash- ington, and was appointed railway agent for the Northern Pacific Company at this place. He continued in that position until 1908, when he entered the furniture busi- ness on his own account, conducting his store for six years. He sold out, however, in 1914 and was appointed postmaster, in which capacity he served until his death September 20, 1918.

In 1892 Mr. Talbott was married to Miss Sadie F. Fox, of Mazeppa, Minne- sota, and to them was born a son, Robert F., whose birth occurred in Montana in 1896 and who is a graduate of the Toppenish high school, having completed the course in the first class to graduate therefrom-a class of but two members. He is now serving with the One Hundred and Sixty-first Infantry of the United States army and is in active duty in France.

Mr. Talbott belonged to Toppenish Lodge, No. 178, A. F. & A. M., of which he was a past master at the time of his death, and he was regarded as a most loyal adherent to the tenets and purposes of the craft. He also belonged to the Knights of Pythias lodge, of which he was a past chancellor. In the Toppenish Commercial Club he was an active and earnest member and served as its president in 1910 and

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

1911. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party and he was an earnest worker in its ranks. He served as the first mayor of Toppenish in 1907 and was reelected to that position in 1909. His administration was of a practical and businesslike character and greatly promoted the interests of the town. When he came to Toppenish there were only a few houses in the place and its population was very small, but through the intervening years it had grown rapidly and Mr. Talbott was closely associated with its development and progress in many ways, at all times proving himself a loyal and public-spirited citizen.

H. C. DAVIS.

H. C. Davis, of Yakima, is a man of well balanced activities and powers and his intelligently directed efforts have brought him to a creditable and enviable position in financial circles of his city, for he is now the president of the Central Bank & Trust Company. He was born in Bellaire, Ohio, on the 21st of August, 1872, a son of T. C. and Sarah J. Davis, who in 1884 removed with their family to south- eastern Kansas, where the father purchased land, but failure overtook them there and a later removal was made to St. Clair county, Missouri, where the family home was maintained for twelve and a half years, during which period the father with the as- sistance of his sons engaged in farming. In 1902 the family came to the Yakima valley and the father again gave his attention to general agricultural pursuits up to the time of his retirement from active business life.

H. C. Davis acquired his education in the public schools of Kansas and Missouri and upon the removal of the family to the northwest began working for wages. He was ambitious, however, to engage in farming on his own account and as soon as possible purchased some land. This he later traded and also at different times bought land until he is today the owner of a very fine ranch near Granger, Washington, which he has carefully developed and improved. He had thereon a fine herd of pure blooded Holstein cattle but sold these in 1918. In 1913 he held a sale of fifty- seven head of cattle, which brought the largest average price of any such sale held in this section of the country, an average of four hundred and sixty-two dollars per head. In fact the price was greater than had ever seen paid for any herd of cattle of that size in the world at the time. Mr. Davis has done much toward improving the grade of cattle raised in the Yakima valley and has thus contributed materially to the prosperity of the section. In the east he had largely devoted his time to stock feed- ing, and although he is no longer engaged in stock raising, he still keeps his land.

At the present time Mr. Davis concentrates his efforts and attention upon the banking business, having become president of the Central Bank & Trust Company, which was organized on the 11th of, June, 1910, taking over the old Farmers & Mer- chants Bank on the 8th of July of the same year. The latter had been organized August 12, 1907, by Philip Armbruster, who became president, J. R. Marshall vice- president, and C. E. Fraser, cashier, while other directors were L. A. Dash, F. A. Morgan, Orvis McCullongh and Lee C. Delle. The capital stock was thirty thou-

sand dollars, all paid in. The bank was located at the corner of Second avenue and Yakima street and in 1910 a removal was made to the corner of Fourth avenue and Yakima. In January, 1917, another removal was made, on which occasion they re- turned to the old location at Second avenue and Yakima, buying the building, which is a two-story structure one hundred and forty by fifty feet. The bank is splendidly equipped with mahogany fixtures and with the latest fireproof and burglar-proof vaults and safes and everything to protect the interests of depositors and of the bank. In 1910. upon the reorganization of the business under the name of the Central Bank & Trust Company, George C. Mitchell became the president, Ernest Woodcock vice- president, E. A. Beekman temporary secretary, with Charles H. Allen, S. Grant Smith, G. H. Grotewohl and William Wiley as directors. R. S. Wickersham afterward became cashier and secretary but not a director. On the 4th of October, 1915, fol- lowing the resignation of Mr. Mitchell, W. R. Philips was chosen to the presidency and on the 4th of October, 1915, A. B. Hood was elected cashier and W. F. Gitchell became assistant cashier. On the same date G. C. Waller was elected treasurer.

H. C. DAVIS

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

Another change occurred in the presidency when Mr. Philips resigned and D. L. Buren was chosen to fill the vacant position on the 20th of September, 1916, at which date W. F. Gitchell was elected cashier. In January, 1916, H. C. Davis became one of the directors of the bank and on the 1st of September, 1917, was elected to the presidency. Mr. Woodcock has remained as vice-president and on the 1st of Sep- tember, 1917, E. S. Rowe, of Sandpoint, Idaho, was made cashier. The present directors are W. E. Coumbe, E. B. Marks, Ernest Woodcock, H. C. Davis and E. S. Rowe. The Central Bank & Trust Company was organized with a fully paid-up capital of fifty thousand dollars. The bank's statement of July 7, 1910, showed its resources to be one hundred and twenty-eight thousand seven hundred and forty- three dollars and eighty-nine cents, while the statement of December 30, 1916, showed the resources to be two hundred and six thousand four hundred and thirty-five dol- lars and that of December 24, 1918, indicates a notable growth, for the resources at that date amounted to more than five hundred and seven thousand dollars. To his duties as president Mr. Davis brought keen discernment, sound business judg- ment and unfaltering energy and he is proving his right to rank with the leading financiers of the city.

On the 12th of February, 1895, Mr. Davis was married to Miss Sarah J. Baxter, who was born in Texas but was reared in Missouri, a danghter of Hale Baxter. The children of this marriage are: Opal J .. twenty-one years of age; Elmer B., eleven years of age; H. C., Jr .; and Roy, who has passed away.

Fraternally Mr. Davis is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and his prominence in the society is indicated in the fact that he has served for four terms as noble grand. He is also an active member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. In politics he is a democrat where national issues and questions are before the people but at local elections he casts an independent ballot. He has been a candidate for the state legislature and the state senate and although the district nor- mally has a republican majority of over six thousand, he ran within one hundred and sixteen votes of election-a fact indicative of his personal popularity and the confidence reposed in him by his fellow townsmen. He deserves much credit for what he has accomplished in a business way, as his entire career has been actuated by a spirit of progress that has benefited the community as well as promoted his individual interests.

CHARLES H. HINMAN.

Charles H. Hinman, a prominent fruit man of Yakima, who is now manager of the Fruit Growers' Association, was born in Missouri, January 7, 1871, a son of Henry V. and Jane L. Hinman. His parents removed to Kansas in 1873 and after twenty years' residence in the Sunflower state came to Washington in 1893, settling in Kittitas county, while subsequently they came to Yakima county. The father was register of the land office and passed away in Yakima in 1905, but the mother still survives.

Charles H. Hinman acquired a public school education in Kansas and supple- mented it by study in the Kansas State Agricultural College. He taught school in Washington for twelve years, becoming one of the successful and able educators of the state, imparting readily and clearly to others the knowledge that he had ac- quired. In 1902 he took up his abode in Yakima and became clerk in the land office. While thus engaged he devoted his leisure to the reading of law and en- tered the active practice of the profession as a land attorney, in which connection he remained for several years. He afterward turned his attention to the real estate business in connection with Ernest Woodcock and has contributed much to the development of the countryside through the planting of orchards and the sale of property well adapted to fruit production. He joined the fruit growers' organization as a charter member and for about two years served as its president, while in 1917 he became manager for the association and is now filling that re- sponsible and important position.

In 1911 Mr. Hinman was united in marriage to Mrs. Caroline Satterwhite, of

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

Sunnyside, Washington. He has four children, two by a former marriage: Charles Lee, who is now in the State University; and Lorene. The children of his second marriage are Carroll and Charlene.

Mr. Hinman is connected with the Woodmen of the World and the Knights of Pythias. In politics he is a republican, and while not a politician in the sense of office seeking, he has served as county superintendent of schools in Kittitas county. He belongs to the Presbyterian church and to the Commercial Club and his activi- ties and interests have always been along lines which have been far-reaching in purpose and result. He stands for public benefit and has done much to bring about progress and improvement in the Yakima valley.

JOHN M. MEEKHOF.

John M. Meekhof, a substantial and esteemed citizen of Yakima county, owns and operates a fruit farm two miles west of the city of Yakima. He was born in Holland on the 3d of April, 1860, a son of Mynerd and Bertha (Tallen) Meekhof and it was in that country that the father passed away.

John M. Meekhof spent the first twenty years of his life in the land of his nativ- ity and then emigrated to the United States in 1880. Making his way into the interior of the country, he located near Cadillac, Michigan, where he began farming and was . thus actively and successfully engaged for many years. In 1909 he removed to the northwest and on the 5th of December of that year took up his abode on Whidbey Island, Washington. Subsequently he located in Everett, this state, and later spent a short time at Duval, Washington, while for a brief period he resided in Seattle. He next rented a large farm near Rainier, Washington, the cultivation of which claimed his time and energies until September, 1914, when he came to Yakima county and purchased a twenty-acre tract of land near Eugene. Later he purchased eighty acres of land near Wiley City where he was engaged in general agricultural pursuits for a year. During these years he was for some time near Snohomish and also in Tolt, Washington, where he had an hundred acre farm. In February, 1918, he dis- posed of the property and bought a small fruit farm two miles west of Yakima, where he now owns an attractive residence and is successfully carrying on his fruit-growing interests.

In 1890 Mr. Meekhof was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Von der Heide, of Michigan, by whom he has four children, as follows: Jacob, who follows farming near Prosser; Bertha, at home; Mynerd, who is also yet under the parental roof but operates a farm near Prosser in association with his brother, Jacob; and Henrietta, at home.

In politics Mr. Meekhof is a stanch republican, exercising his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of that party. He belongs to the Dutch Re- formed church of Moxee and guides his life by its teachings. Coming to the new world in early manhood, he eagerly availed himself of the opportunities for advance- ment offered on this side of the Atlantic and as the years have passed has won well merited prosperity, at the same time gaining the friendship and high regard of those with whom he has been brought in contact.

PETER F. BESSESEN.

Peter F. Bessesen, who is filling the position of assistant postmaster at Toppen- ish, was born near Portland, Oregon, on the 9th of September, 1888, a son of Sjur and Barbara Bessesen, both of whom were natives of Norway. In the year 1884 they became residents of Oregon, and the father, who devoted his early life to sail- ing, afterward became a farmer of that state. He passed away February 7, 1896.

Peter F. Bessesen acquired a public school education while spending his youth- ful days in his mother's home. After the death of her first husband she became the wife of J. M. Hildreth, who died in 1911, and later she married N. G. Van Dusen.

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

In 1903 the family went to Yakima, where Peter F. Bessesen attended the high school. When his school days were over he took up the occupation of farming in connection with his stepfather and also conducted a large dairy. At a subsequent period he engaged in the meat business and in other lines and at one time he and his stepfather, Mr. Hildreth, conducted a butcher shop in the old town of Yakima, which they opened in 1902, there carrying on business until 1907. In the latter year they removed to Toppenish and Mr. Bessesen conducted a meat market in this town until 1912 and at the same time was identified with other business interests. He en- tered the post office in 1912 in the capacity of letter carrier and later was retained for inside work, while in 1917 he was appointed to the position of assistant postmas- ter and is now acting in that capacity.

On the 10th of March, 1910, Mr. Bessesen was united in marriage to Miss Maude Calkins, of North Yakima, and to them were born four children: Ivan Sjur and Pauline Peter, both of whom died of scarlet fever; Jack Peter F .; and Ralph Alonzo.

Mr. Bessesen is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose and also of the Fores- ters of America. His political views are in accord with the teachings and principles of the republican party and his religious faith is that of the Methodist church. He has spent his entire life in the northwest and has therefore been a witness of its wonderful growth and development. He has lived to see remarkable changes in the Yakima valley during his connection therewith and through the conduct of busi- ness interests has contributed in no small measure to its growth and success.

THOMAS J. DONNELLY.

An up-to-date eighty acre farm, well irrigated and highly productive, stands as evidence of the industry and foresight of Thomas J. Donnelly, a successful agri- culturist near Tieton. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, December 16, 1873, a son of Patrick and Rose (Parland) Donnelly, natives of Ireland, who as young people emigrated to New York, where they were married, and thence removed to St. Louis. In 1874 they went to Klickitat county, Washington, taking up government land near the old block house, and there the father entered the sheep business. In 1887 they came to the Cowiche valley, in Yakima county, where Mr. Donnelly bought the Kelly ranch of one hundred and sixty acres. Closely confining himself to his farming interests, he derived a good annual return from his labors and was enabled to add to his holdings from time to time until he had accumulated over thirteen hun- dred acres of land. He gave up the sheep business in 1886 as the ranges were gradually taken up, then engaging in the cattle business and also in general farm- ing. In later life he retired in the enjoyment of a handsome competence and died in Yakima, being survived by his wife, who later married Benjamin Juru, a resident of Fruitvale.

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History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 11

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