USA > Washington > Benton County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 110
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 110
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 110
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of the Yakima Hardware Company. He was made foreman of the plumbing and heating department and continued in that responsible position for nineteen years. In 1910 he did over sixty-three thousand dollars worth of business for the firm in his department. In 1911 he entered the plumbing and heating business on his own ac- count in Yakima but in June, 1913, sold out and removed to his ranch, which was pleasantly and conveniently situated a mile and a half north of Buena and which he purchased in February, 1908, at which time it was covered with sagebrush. He liad twenty-four acres, of which cighteen acres is now planted to apples, peaches, cherries and pears.
On the 17th of December, 1890, Mr. Knowles was married to Miss Lizzie Park Gibson, who was born near Liverpool, England, and came to the United States in her girlhood days. Their children are: Ray, who died at the age of twelve years; and Eva Priscilla, at home. The family residence is maintained in Yakima.
Mr. Knowles and his family are members of the First Christian church of Yakima and his political allegiance is given to the republican party. He is truly a self-made man, deserving much credit for what he has accomplished, as his success is the direct outcome and result of his individual effort. He has worked diligently as the years have passed, displaying efficiency in everything that he has undertaken, and his thorough reliability has been one of the elements that have gained him the high respect in which he is uniformly held.
ROBERT M. SHOEMAKE.
For over twenty years Robert M. Shoemake, now deccased, was a resident of Kittitas county but for almost a quarter of a century made his home in Washington. He was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa, October 16, 1864, a son of Enoch and Mary Shoe- make. The father died in the year 1873, after which the mother came to Washington with her son Robert in 1894, their home being established in Klickitat county. Mrs. Shoemake afterward removed to California, where her last days were passed.
Robert M. Shoemake was reared and educated in his native state, early becom- ing familiar with farm work in all of its branches. His education was acquired in the public schools and throughout his life he learned many valuable lessons in the school of experience. He was married in 1897 and the following year went to Tacoma, where he resided for five years, during which period he was engaged in the dairy and fuel business. In 1903 he arrived in Kittitas 'county, where he engaged in rent- ing land for four years. He then purchased two hundred and forty acres five miles northwest of Ellensburg and thereon built a house and barn. With characteristic energy he began the development and improvement of the place, which he con- verted into rich and productive fields from which he annually gathered good harvests. He raised hay and grain, which yearly taxed his barns and bins to their capacity, and he also made stock raising a feature of his place.
On the 13th of March, 1897, Mr. Shoemake was united in marriage to Miss Myrtle McQueen, a native of Wisconsin and a daughter of Alexander and Mary (Dopkins) McQueen, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Wisconsin, in which state they were married. They became residents of Klickitat county, Wash- ington, in 1874 and the father was there engaged in the lumber business to the time of his death, which occurred in 1878. His widow survives and is now living in Oregon. To Mr. and Mrs. Shoemake were born four children: Stella, the wife of L. G. Sim- mons, a resident of Ellensburg; Mabel, the wife of A. R. Yuill, of Ellensburg, and the mother of two sons; Bessie and Gladys, both at home. Two of the daughters, Stella and Bessie, are graduates of the Washington State Normal School at Ellensburg.
Mr. Shoemake was a member of the Modern Woodmen and his religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Christian church, to which Mrs. Shoemake also belongs. His political belief was that of the prohibition party, which indicated his attitude on the temperance question. He ever stood for those forces which work for the uplift of the individual and the welfare of the community. His aid and in- fluence were ever on the side of right, progress, truth and reform and his labors were productive of excellent results along those lines. He was also well known as an
ROBERT M. SHOEMAKE
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honorable and successful farmer and his many sterling traits of character made him one of the highly respected citizens of his community. He was called to his final rest on the 8th of February, 1918.
AXEL CARLSON.
Axel Carlson is the owner of ten acres of rich and productive land on Academy Heights in Yakima county, in addition to which he cultivates forty acres of rented land. Sweden has furnished many substantial citizens to this section of the country, of which number Axel Carlson is a representative. He was born in Sweden, Febru- ary 6, 1886, a son of Carl and Sarah Eliza (Pearson) Carlson. The parents came to the United States in 1901 and settled first in Omaha, Nebraska, where they re- sided until 1914 and then made their way across the country to Yakima county, where the mother passed away in the same year. The father is now living with a son and has reached the age of eighty years.
Axel Carlson acquired a public school education in Sweden and there began working for wages as a farm hand and also in machine shops. He accompanied his parents to the United States in 1901 and in 1905 went with the family to St. Paul, Minnesota, where they resided until they removed to Yakima county in 1914. In the meantime Axel Carlson had worked industriously and saved his earnings, so that he and his brother were able to bring their parents to the west. On removing to this section of the country he invested in ten acres of land on Academy Heights in Yakima county and has since given his time, thought and energy to the improve- ment of the farm. He built a fine new home upon his place, also erected large and substantial barns and has added all of the equipment and accessories found upon the model ranches of the northwest. He is also giving much attention to the cultiva- tion of a forty-acre tract of land which he rents and he is classed with the success- ful orchardists of the county.
On the 27th of January, 1916, Mr. Carlson was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Hilstrom, a native of Chicago, Illinois. They attend the Swedish Mission church and are people of the highest respectability, enjoying the confidence and warm regard of those with whom they have been associated. Mr. Carlson has proved his worth as a business man and being still a young man, undoubtedly has before him a prosperous future. From each experience in life he has learned the lessons therein contained and by the faithful performance of each day's duties he has found courage and strength for the labors of the succeeding day. Step by step he is advancing and each forward step brings to him a broader outlook and wider opportunity, which he eagerly and wisely utilizes.
WILLIAM BROWNLIE.
William Brownlie, extensively and successfully engaged in fruit raising and in ranching near Grandview, came to Yakima county in 1909, after about twenty years' residence in Illinois and a year spent in New Hampshire following his arrival in the United States. He was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, on the 26th of April, 1860. a son of Thomas and Annie Brownlie, both of whom have passed away. The father was a farmer and thus provided for the support of his family.
William Brownlie was reared in a district made famous by the songs of Robert Burns. His education was acquired in public schools of Scotland and in 1888 he bade adieu to friends and native land and came to the new world. He made his way first to New Hampshire, where he resided for a short time and then removed to Dekalb county, Illinois, where he engaged in the butter making business for about twenty years. In 1909, however, he determined to try his fortune in the northwest and came to Yakima county, where he purchased forty acres of land in the vicinity of Grandview. He has twenty-five acres now planted to apples, peaches, pears and cherries and his orchards are in splendid condition. They are a thing of rare beauty
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in springtime when the trees are filled with bloom and a source of gratifying interest when the fruit hangs heavy on the boughs in the autumn. The utmost care is put . forth in developing the orchards, in enhancing the productiveness of the soil, in spraying and caring for the trees. The remainder of his land Mr. Brownlie devotes to the raising of general crops but makes his orchard interests the most prominent feature of his place. He has erected a large packing house, has also built a garage and a beautiful modern residence, in which he enjoys all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
On the 5th of February, 1901, Mr. Brownlie was married to Miss Mary Porter, a native of New York, and to them have been born two children, Annie and Ulyssia. In his political views Mr. Brownlie is a republican but not an office seeker. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church and are people of the highest respectability, enjoying in marked degree the kindly regard and friendship of those with whom they have been brought in contact. As a business man Mr. Brownlie ranks high, for his progressive spirit and the substantial results which accrue from his labors place him with the leading orchardists of his community.
LESLIE F. KINSLEY.
Leslic F. Kinsley, is one of the most recent arrivals in Yakima county, having made his home here for little more than five years, but within this period he has become well established as an active and energetic rancher whose labors are bring- ing desired results. He was born in Shelby county, Indiana, April 17, 1868, a son of William and Caroline (Nichols) Kinsley, the former a native of Indiana, while the latter was born in Virginia. The paternal grandfather, Appolis Kinsley, was a na- tive of Ohio but established his home in Indiana during the pioneer epoch in its history. The maternal grandfather was Absalom Nichols, a native of Virginia, whence he removed to lowa. William Kinsley went to lowa in early life and in 1855 con- tinned his westward journey to Utah. Later, however, he returned to lowa, where he took up the profession of teaching, and in that state he was married. Subse- quently he returned to Shelby county, Indiana, where he taught school and engaged in farming, there continuing to make his home to the time of his death, which oc- curred in the spring of 1918, when he had reached the age of eighty-two years. The mother survives and is now seventy-eight years of age. They were prominent and highly esteemed people of the community in which they lived, enjoying the warm regard of all with whom they were associated. They belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Kinsley gave loyal support to the principles of the re- publican party.
Leslie F. Kinsley is indebted to the public school system of Indiana for the edu- cational privileges which qualified him for life's practical and responsible duties. When his textbooks were put aside he learned the cabinetmaker's trade, which he continued to follow for fifteen years. In 1899 he went to South Dakota, where he carried on farming for seven years, and later he took up a homestead claim in North Dakota whereon he resided until 1913. In that year he arrived in Yakima county and purchased twenty-six acres of land near Grandview, of which half had been improved. He now has five acres in orchards, while the remainder is devoted to the raising of alfalfa and diversified crops.
On the 14th of October, 1891, Mr. Kinsley was married to Miss Mary T. Wil- son, a daughter of Charles and Barbara (Applegate) Wilson. Her father was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and was a son of William Wilson, one of the pioneers of that city and one of its early harness makers. He served as a veteran of the Civil war. being for four years a member of the Union army. The death of Charles Wilson oc- curred in Indiana in 1877. His widow, however, survives and is now making her home with Mr. and Mrs. Kinsley, who by their marriage became the parents of two children, but the first born, Mary Ruth, died at the age of five years. The son, Wil- liam Fred, was born October 18, 1894, and is now serving with the United States Marines in France. He enlisted in June. 1917, after having graduated from a public school of North Dakota and attended the Agricultural College of North Dakota. On
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the 27th of June, 1917, lie enrolled as a member of Company B of the First Sec- tion of the United States Marines-a name that will ever thrill the American public because of the notably brilliant military movements of that organization in the effort to establish democracy in the world. He is now with the Sixth Machine Gun Bat- talion and has seen very active service during the summer of 1918. The parents have every reason to be prond of their son, owing to the fact that the highest phy- sical, mental and moral standards are demanded for enlistment in the Marines and by reason of the splendid work he and his organization have done on the battle front of western Europe. The Kinsley family now occupies a prominent position in public regard in Grandview and that section of the county and Mr. Kinsley is rec- ognized as an alert and active business man whose interests are of a character which contribute to public progress as well as to individual success.
JOHN J. SCHAEFFER.
Arriving in the Yakima valley in 1911, John J. Schaeffer has since made his home two and a half miles north of Buena, where he owns an excellent property ot twelve and a half acres. He was born in Yankton county, South Dakota, then Dakota territory, on the 31st of October, 1874, a son of Henry and Doris (Voss) Schaeffer, who upon their removal to South Dakota in 1869 took up government land in the vicinity of Yankton, being among the early pioneers of that section. Both were na- tives of Germany and the father's last days were spent in South Dakota, where his carefully directed business affairs made him a successful farmer. The mother sur- vives and still makes her home in South Dakota.
John J. Schaeffer supplemented his early public school training by study in Yankton College at Yankton, South Dakota, and also in a college at Naperville, Illinois. He then entered the ministry of the Evangelical Association in 1898, re- maining a preacher of the gospel until 1911. In the latter year he came to the Yakima valley and made investment in twelve and a half acres of land two and a half miles north of Buena. It was entirely destitute of improvements and he then began its development, supplanting the sagebrush with carefully nurtured trees that are now in bearing, making his orchards a gratifying source of income. He specializes on the production of apples and pears.
On the 20th of April, 1898, Mr. Schaeffer was united in marriage to Miss Annie Sade, who was born in Germany and came to the United States in girlhood, becom- ing a resident of South Dakota. They now have two children, Estelle and Opal, who are ten and four years of age respectively.
The family occupy a nice home which Mr. Schaeffer erected. He and his wife are members of the Evangelical Association and are people of genuine worth, highly esteemed by all who know them. In politics he is an independent republican, for while he usually supports the men, and measures of that party, he feels free to cast his ballot without regard for party ties if he so desires. He has made a success in his ranching and orcharding. He served for one year as a director of the Union Gap Irrigation District and he put in on his own place a pumping plant that fur- nishes irrigation for the land and thus greatly enhances its productiveness.
ISRAEL ANDERSON.
Israel Anderson, whose ten-acre ranch on Academy Heights is highly produc- tive, was born in Sweden, February 17, 1869, a son of Andrew and Caroline (Erick- son) Anderson, both of whom passed away in Sweden, where they had spent their entire lives as farming people. Mr. Anderson obtained a public school education in his native country and there remained until he reached the age of eighteen years, when in 1887 he severed home ties and made his way to the new world. He first set- tled in Emporia, Kansas, where he resided for four months, and then removed to Omaha, Nebraska, where he secured employment in the packing houses. Later he
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spent two years as a coachman and on the expiration of that period went to western Nebraska, where he purchased forty acres of land. He devoted a year and a half to the cultivation and improvement of that tract, after which he sold his farm and returned to Omaha, where he was again employed as a coachman for a few years. He after- ward married and for eight years occupied a position in a hardware store. Later he spent a year and a half as an employe in a laundry and then returned to Sweden with his wife, remaining for six months in his native country.
On again coming to the new world Mr. Anderson once more made his way to Omaha, Nebraska, where he was employed in a grocery store for a year and a half. He subsequently purchased a horse and wagon and entered the laundry soliciting business on his own account. In this he was active until 1914, when he came to Yakima county, where he had previously purchased ten acres of land on Academy Heights. He has erected a good residence upon this place and has planted three acres to apples. The remainder of his land is devoted to the raising of hay and he has one of the well improved ranch properties of the district.
On the 23d of June. 1897, Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Antina Nelson, who was born in Sweden and came to the United States in her girlhood. They now have an adopted daughter, Lucile, thirteen years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are mem- bers of the Swedish Mission church and cooperate earnestly and heartily in all movements for individual uplift and for community advancement. Mr. Anderson has never allied himself with any political party but gives his aid and support to all pro- gressive measures which he believes will prove of benefit to the district in which he lives. He is a self-made man, deserving of much credit for what he has accomplished, as he started out in the business world empty-handed. He came to America without capital and from a most humble position in business circles has worked his way up- ward until he is now the owner of an excellent ranch property in Yakima county.
EDWIN M. MELLEN.
Edwin M. Mellen, connected with the industrial activity of Yakima as a repre- sentative of the plumbing business, was born in Byron, Minnesota, May 17, 1867, a son of William H. and Lucy (Tennent) Mellen. The father, who devoted his life to the occupation of farming, passed away in Minnesota and the mother is now living with her son Edwin.
After his school days were over Edwin M. Mellen learned the plumbing and heating business in Minneapolis and gained valuable experience in the employ of others, after which he entered upon business on his own account at Redwood Falls, Minnesota, in 1903. There he remained until 1907, when the lure of the west came upon him and he made his way to Washington. Settling in Yakima, he opened a plumbing establishment at No. 12 South Fourth avenue, where he remained until 1915, when he removed to 12 South First street, where he occupies room space cover- ing twenty-five by one hundred feet. He does an extensive plumbing and heating busi- ness, having as patrons many of the leading business houses of the city. He has installed the plumbing and heating systems for the high school and five other schools, for the Wilson building, the Mitchell building, the Armory, for twenty school build- ings outside of the city, including the Ellensburg Normal School and several high school buildings, and many residences. He employs from six to twelve men and has one of the largest plumbing establishments of Yakima, conducting business under the firm style of Mellen & Bender. the latter having succeeded to the interests of Milton Morton in the firm in January, 1918. Mr. Mellen's long experience and close study of the trade have made him familiar with every phase of the plumbing busi- ness and his actual experience has enabled him to wisely direct the labors of those in his employ.
On the 17th of September, 1890, Mr. Mellen was married to Miss Matilda R. Parker, a native of Washington, D. C., and a daughter of Captain C. C. Parker of the United States army. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Foresters. He belongs to the Yakima Commercial Club and is interested in all
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that has to do with the business development and progress of his city. In politics he is an independent republican, usually supporting the men and measures of the party but not hesitating to vote otherwise if his judgment so dictates. He has never regretted his removal to Washington, for here he has found business opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has made continuous progress toward the goal of success.
HENRY STAHLHUT.
Henry Stahlhnt, engaged in ranching near Sunnyside, was born in Mount Morris, Illinois, November 19, 1850, a son of Augustus and Frederica Stahlhut, who were pioneer settlers of Illinois, where the father devoted his life to the occupation of farming and both passed away in the year 1899.
Henry Stahlhut acquired a public school education and followed farming in con- nection with his father. He afterward operated his father's place from 1876 until 1902, at the end of which time he sold the property and came to Yakima county, pur- chasing twenty acres of land three miles northeast of Sunnyside. It was an im- proved property on which he has since engaged in the raising of hay and corn. He has built a modern residence upon the place and added other attractive improvements which make his one of the desirable properties of the district. His life has been one of industry and thrift, resulting in the attainment of a substantial measure of success.
On the 4th of January, 1887, Mr. Stahlhut was married to Miss Lanra C. Feidt, a native of Washington county, Maryland. Their children are: Vernie I., who is now engaged in teaching; and Rose Lec, at home. The family are members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Stahlhut gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He served as road commissioner for seven years in Illinois and also as school director but since coming to the west has concentrated his efforts and energies upon his business affairs and has never been a candidate for office. His work, intelli- gently directed has gained for him a position among the substantial representatives of agricultural interests in his district.
CHARLES TISSELL.
Sweden had furnished a good quota to the citizenship of Yakima county and the sons of that land have proven substantial supporters of the work of progress and de- velopment here. Mr. Tissell is of this number. He was born in Sweden, December 2, 1858, a son of Erick Anderson and Carrie Johnson, who spent their entire lives in Sweden, where the father made farming his life work. He died at the extreme old age of ninety-nine years, while his wife passed away when she was seventy years of age. He was a son of Erick Erickson, who died at the age of ninety-three years after rearing a family of twelve children. The ancestry of Mr. Tissell is certainly a notable one for longevity and also for their large families, for the father of Mr. Tissell had sixteen children.
After spending the first twenty-six years of his life in his native country Charles Tissell crossed the Atlantic to the new world and took up his abode in Kansas, where he worked as a farm hand. He afterward became a resident of Emporia, Kansas, where he was employed as a gardener, and subsequently he removed to Omaha, Ne- braska, where he worked in connection with the packing business. He afterward took up the carpenter's trade, which he followed for many years, and in 1914 he became identified with the northwest through the purchase of ten acres of land on Academy Heights in Yakima county. He has four acres planted to apples, while the remainder of his land is devoted to the raising of hay. He removed to this place in the spring of 1917 and built a fine home and good barns upon his ranch. He is now concen- trating his efforts and attention upon its further development and cultivation with good results.
On the 27th of October, 1888, Mr. Tissell was united in marriage to Miss Annie
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Nystrom, who was also born in Sweden, a sister of Nels Nystrom, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. They have five children: Hulda, who is now successfully teaching school in Omaha, Nebraska; Arthur, who is engaged in ranching in Yakima . county; and Esther, Elmer and Fridolph, all at home.
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