History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 113

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 113
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 113
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 113

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On the 12th of April, 1917, Mr. Kappelman was married to Miss Edyth Horne, of Yakima, and they have one son, Frederick Coke. In his political views Mr. Kappelman is a democrat. He belongs to the Commercial Club, thus indicating his deep interest in the business development and welfare of the city. He is an exem- plary representative of Yakima Lodge No. 24, F. & A. M., and also belongs to Elks Lodge No. 318. His membership relations extend likewise to the Sour Dough Club, an organization formed of former residents of Alaska. Of social manner and genial disposition, his personal qualities are those which contribute to success in his chosen undertaking and the firm of Kappelman Brothers ranks high in business circles of Yakima.

CARL ROBERT DALTON.

Many are the sturdy, reliable and industrious people whom Sweden has furnished to the new world and among this very desirable class of citizens is numbered Carl Robert Dalton, who was born in that country June 6, 1877, and now owns a valuable farm in the Wenas valley which he has brought under a high state of cultivation. Having the energy to transform into a reality his boyhood dreams of a prosperous existence, he came to this country in order to participate in the many chances here presented for advancement, and in the development of a valuable ranch property in the Yakima valley has realized his ambition. The father is still a resident of his native land, where he has followed the occupation of farming throughout his life, but the mother is deceased.

After acquiring an average degree of schooling and starting upon life's active labors Carl R. Dalton decided upon agriculture as a suitable field for his efforts and upon coming to Yakima county located in the Wenas valley, taking up a homestead claim on which he proved up. Later he bought eighty acres of land and now has one of the fine ranches of his neighborhood. He raises hay and grain, both of high qual- ity, and also lias valuable stock upon his place, deriving from these various sources a gratifying income by following progressive and up-to-date methods. He built a pleasant home, modernly arranged, and there Mr. and Mrs. Dalton often entertain their friends, who eagerly partake of their hearty hospitality.

The marriage of Carl Robert Dalton and Bertha Gross was solemnized August 21, 1912. Mrs. Dalton is a daughter of August and Ernestine Gross, who were num- bered among the pioneers of the Puget Sound, where the father for many years fol- lowed the occupation of farming. They removed to Yakima in 1905. Mr. Gross has now passed away, but his widow survives and is still residing in Yakima.

Mr. Dalton has become thoroughly Americanized and is a loyal adherent of all the principles and ideals of this country. Here he has found the opportunities which he sought and has made for himself a substantial position among the citizens

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of his community. Although well informed on the questions and issues of the day he has never aspired to public office but on the contrary has given his whole atten- tion to the further improvement of his farm. He is a republican by political per- suasion and supports the measures and candidates of that party.

WILLIAM E. NORTON.

William E. Norton of the Yakima Transfer Company is one of the citizens that Minnesota has contributed to the state of Washington. He was born in St. Charles, Minnesota, March 5, 1881, his parents being Thomas and Christina (Gilmore) Nor- ton, who removed to Dayton, Washington, in 1883. The father came to North Yakima in 1885 and he was joined by his family in 1888. He purchased a ranch and devoted his remaining days to agricultural pursuits. His widow survives and is yet living in Yakima.

William E. Norton, after mastering the branches of learning taught in the public schools of Yakima, began learning the harness-making trade in preparation for the practical duties of a business life. He later entered the transfer business in connec- tion with his father under the firm style of Norton & Son and eventually purchased the business, which he conducted under the name of the Norton Transfer & Storage Company at No. 11 North Front street. Later he and J. J. Crawford bought out the Yakima Transfer Company, which had been established by Linbarger Brothers and W. L. Steinweg and which was later owned by Linbarger, Kelso & Wilcox. Eventually the business was taken over by T. J. Manahan and on the 1st of March, 1917, was purchased by J. J. Crawford and W. E. Norton. The business has been conducted at No. 11 South First avenue for the past two years. They occupy two floors of a building two hundred by one hundred and forty feet, in addition to which they have a warehouse with barns at No. 415 North Front street. Their equipment includes nine teams, one single rig and two auto trucks and they employ about fif- teen people. They are conducting the largest transfer business between Spokane and the coast and they also have a very large storage business. Mr. Norton's part- ner, John J. Crawford, who is his brother-in-law, is now with the Field Artillery in the United States army, and Mr. Norton continues the business, which he is carefully conducting. His earnest efforts to please his patrons, the thoroughness with which he accomplishes whatever is intrusted to him and his enterprising methods have been the dominant element in the attainment of the substantial success which the firm has won.

Mr. Norton is a valued member of Elks Lodge No. 318, of Yakima and his name is also on the membership rolls of the Commercial Club and the Business Men's As- sociation. His study of the political questions and issues of the day has led to his stalwart support of the republican party. Practically his entire life has been spent in the west. He is a firm believer in Washington and its future and his own life illustrates the possibilities for successful accomplishment in this section of the country that is undergoing such rapid and such substantial development.

OLE WASHINGTON.

Ole Washington is one of the pioncer ranchers of Yakima county, having begun his farming operations here before Sunnyside was established. Through the inter- vening period he has carefully cultivated his land and has won a substantial measure of success as a reward for his labors. He was born in Nelson county, Virginia, Jan- uary 21, 1856, and on the 17th of January, 1875, removed to Morgan county, Tennes- see, where for three years he was employed in railroad work. He afterward spent a few months in Kentucky, where he worked for the United States government in the building of cofferdams on the Mississippi river. In 1877 he hecame a resident of Will county, Illinois, where he engaged in mining for twelve years, and later he spent one year in Chicago. He then returned to Will county and on the 16th of

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February, 1889, he arrived in Kittitas county, Washington, where he was employed as a fireman and engineer at Rosyln. He afterward devoted his time and energies to mining until he brought his family to the ranch which he now owns and occu- pies. On the 3d of October, 1890, he took up a homestead in the lower end of the Yakima valley, before even Sunnyside had been founded. It was a wild tract covered with sagebrush and he was among the first settlers of the district. Not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made upon the place when it came into his pos- session, but he possesses energy, industry and determinatian and these characteristics stood him in a good stead in the development of his ranch property. In May, 1892, he brought his family to the place, at which time his nearest neighbor was Henry Vawner, living three and a half miles away. In those early days he had to pay a dollar per barrel for water to be hauled to his ranch. That year the Yakima river froze solid, so that they could cross on wagons and there was two and a half feet of snow. The nearest store was at Prosser, fifteen miles away, and the family had to share in all of the hardships and privations of frontier settlers. Mr. Washington took up one hundred and sixty acres of land but afterward sold one hundred and twenty acres of his property and had forty acres remaining. The drainage, however, took three acres of his land, so that he has thirty-seven acres capable of cultivation. He raises corn, hay and potatoes and also conducts a small dairy business.

It was on the 29th of April, 1884, that Mr. Washington was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Wells, a native of Virginia, and to them have been born seven chil- dren but they have had the misfortune to lose six of them. The surviving daughter, Vivian, was graduated from the high school of Grandview as a member of the class of 1919. Mr. Washington has ever been a stalwart champion of the cause of educa- tion and he assisted in establishing the first school in the neighborhood, while his wife served on the school board for over fifteen years. Both are members of the Baptist church and Mr. Washington gives his political support to the republican party. Theirs is an attractive home and the ranch is an excellent property. They were among the pioneer people of the valley and have contributed in substantial measure to its development and progress. As the architect of his own fortunes Mr. Washington has builded wisely and well and as the reward of his industry and per- severance is now the owner of an excellent ranch.

JOHANES JOHNSON.

For a considerable period it was believed that the greater part of the Swedish emigration had Minnesota as its destination. But the Swedish people, quick ever to recognize opportunities, have realized that the northwest has many chances for busi- ness progress and in recent years a large percentage of those who have come from the Scandinavian countries have made their way to Washington. A most substan- tial element in the citizenship of Yakima county is that which has been furnished by Sweden. Johanes Johnson, a representative of that class, was born in Sweden, Oc- tober 19, 1870, a son of John and Marie (Erickson) Johnson, both of whom have passed away. The father was a farmer by occupation and followed that pursuit in order to provide for the support of his family.

Johanes Johnson remained in his native country until he had reached the age of about twenty-three years, when he crossed the Atlantic to the new world. This was in 1893 and he took up his abode in Chicago, where he remained until 1916. He was engaged in steam hammer forging work in connection with railway locomotive con- struction but his thoughts turned to the northwest, of whose opportunities he had heard favorable reports. In 1913, therefore, he invested in ten acres of land on Academy Heights and had six acres of this tract planted to apples, using pears as fillers. In 1916 he brought his family to the northwest, built a substantial residence upon his land and is now bending every energy to the further development and im- provement of his place, which has already become one of the substantial ranch prop- erties of the district. In addition to raising fruit he is engaged in the production of hay and potatoes, of which he annnally harvests large crops.

On the 21st of May, 1904, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Alma

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Marie Olson, who was born in Sweden, a daughter of Ole and Britta (Neilson) Olson. The mother has passed away but the father still lives in Sweden, although at one time he spent a couple of years in Michigan. Mrs. Johnson crossed the Atlantic and became a resident of Chicago in 1899. By her marriage she has become the mother of three children: Ethel, Florence and Eldon. The family attend the Swedish Mission church, and Mr. Johnson gives his political endorsement to the republican party, which he has supported since becoming a naturalized American citizen. He is actuated by a spirit of advancement in all that he undertakes and his close application and indefatigable energy have been strong points in winning for him the substantial success which he now enjoys.

WILLIAM E. LAUPP.

Through the steps of an orderly progression in the business world William E. Laupp has reached a place among the substantial citizens and orchardists of the Zillah district. He was born in Horicon township, Dodge county, Wisconsin, June 26, 1888, a son of John and Minnie (Bladow) Laupp. The father was born in Dayton, Ohio, while the mother was a native of Germany and they became pioneer residents of Wisconsin, where Mr. Laupp followed the moulder's trade. He passed away in that state but his widow survives and is still living there.

While spending his youthful days under the parental roof William E. Laupp of this review attended the public schools and afterward learned the machinist's trade, which he followed in Wisconsin until March 1, 1910. He then came to the Yakima valley, where he worked for wages until 1913. He then rented land, which he cultivated until 1917, when he bought four and a third acres a mile northwest of Buena, already planted to apples and pears. He has since built a good home upon his place and is devoting his attention to the further development of his orchards and the care of his fruit.

On the 26th of February, 1913, Mr. Laupp was married to Miss Johanna Leun- ing, a daughter of D. G. Leuning, mentioned elsewhere in this work. They now have one child, LeRoy, who was born April 29, 1914. Mr. Laupp does not identify himself with any political party but casts an independent ballot. He is a self-made young orchardist whose business interests have been wisely conducted and whose life has been one of unfaltering activity.

OSCAR CARLSON.

Oscar Carlson, for eighteen years a resident of Yakima county, started upon his business career here by working for wages. He is truly a self-made man, for what- ever he has achieved is the direct result of his industry and perseverance. He care- fully saved his earnings until he was able to purchase property and today he is the owner of thirty acres of excellent land on Academy Heights. He was born in Sweden, September 5, 1882, a son of Carl J. and Christina (Anderson) Johnson, both of whom are living in Sweden, where the father devotes his attention to agricultural pursuits.

Oscar Carlson acquired a public school education in his native land and there remained to the age of eighteen years, when he determined to try his fortune in America. Accordingly he severed home ties and in 1900 crossed the Atlantic, making his way to Geneva, Illinois, where he lived for a year. In 1901 he came to Yakima county, where he began working for wages. He carefully saved his earnings as the years passed and in 1910 he purchased ten acres of land in the Moxee valley. He then devoted his energies to the development and improvement of that place until 1916, when he sold it to his brother and bought thirty acres of land on Academy Heights. He has planted altogether eighty acres of orchards for other landowners in this locality and has done much therefore to develop the fruit raising interests of the district. His own land is devoted to the raising of hay, grain, beets and onions

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and he also raises a large number of hogs annually. His place is improved with a good residence, which he built, and with modern equipment that indicates his pro- gressive spirit and his determination to make his farm a paying proposition.

In August, 1918, Mr. Carlson was united in marriage to Miss Emma Rieger, who was born in Pennsylvania. She is a member of the Catholic church, while Mr. Carl- son has membership in the Lutheran church. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, which finds in him a stalwart supporter. He is a man of genuine personal worth. His neighbors speak of him in terms of high regard and all with whom he has had business relations recognize in him the honesty and straightfor- wardness characteristic of the Swedish people. He has never had occasion to regret coming to the new world, for in utilizing the opportunities which he here found he has made steady progress toward the goal of prosperity.

C. E. MEYSTRE.

Many are the sturdy and valuable citizens who have come from Switzerland to this country, among them being C. E. Meystre, now a prosperous agriculturist in the Naches district. He was born in the land of the Alps, near the French border, Friday, November 13, 1863, a son of John Frederick and Jeannette (Vez) Meystre, both of whom are now deceased. The father spent his entire life in Switzerland and there followed the trade of shoemaking.

In 1882, at the age of nineteen, C. E. Meystre came to the United States, hav- ing been left an orphan at seven years. He heard many favorable reports regarding the opportunities presented for advancement in this country. He located at first in St. Paul, Minnesota, but remained there only a month, at the end of which time he made his way to Wabasha county, that state, and later went to Marshall county, Minnesota, spending four years in Argyle, where he worked for wages until 1888, when he came to Yakima county, Washington.

In 1890 Mr. Meystre was united in marriage to Hilda Engdahl, a native of Sweden and a daughter of A. C. Engdahl, who in 1886 brought his family to Yakima county. Mrs. Meystre was county superintendent of schools at the time Washington was admitted to statehood and is a graduate of the State Normal School of Minne- sota, receiving the second life diploma to teach school in Yakima county. She had acquired title to the land on the upper Naches where M1. and Mrs. Meystre now live and Mr. Meystre now gives his attention to the further cultivation of this property. The farm comprises over two hundred acres, of which eighty are in a high state of cultivation, while three are devoted to orchard. Mr. Meystre follows the most progressive and up-to-date methods in the cultivation of his land and great suc- cess has attended his labors, so that he is now numbered among the prosperous agriculturists of his neighborhood. He has erected suitable buildings and a fine home and everything about the place bespeaks the progressive methods of the owner.

Mr. and Mrs. Meystre have a family of ten children: Helen J., at home; Laura A., who is the widow of Thomas Betiero and resides at home; Constance E., also at home; Elvie, the wife of Frank Rousseau, of Yakima; Emile F., who volunteered for service and is now with the United States army in France, having been severely wounded on the 19th of July, 1918, and reported dead about that time: Ivan E., who is now in his second year in the State University at Pullman; Lillian C., attending Wapato high school; and Rose, Josephine and Hilda, all at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Meystre are widely and favorably known in their neighborhood, to the development of which they have contributed in such marked measure in their respective spheres of life. Not only have both taken a prominent part in agricul- tural development but Mrs. Meystre in particular has done much toward furthering educational advancement. Mr. Meystre is a prominent member of the Grange, being master of Wapatox Grange, and his wife has been secretary of the organization for the past six years. In his political affiliations he is a democrat and while he is not a politician in the ordinary sense of the word he has always been deeply interested in any movement pertaining to the general welfare and for many years has served as school director of his district. Fraternally he is connected with Lodge No. 150,

C. E. MEYSTRE

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A. F. & A. M., of Minnesota, the honorable principles of brotherhood underlying this organization guiding him in his conduct toward his fellowmen. There is great credit due Mr. Meystre for what he has achieved, as he has attained a position of sub- stantial prosperity entirely unaided and is therefore entitled to the proud American title of a self-made man.

STOVER BROTHERS.

The Stover brothers are among the most prominent ranchers of the southern part of the Yakima valley. They have extensive holdings and are actively and suc- cessfully engaged in the cultivation of lands from which they derive a most substan- tial annual income. They are sons of Philip Robert Stover, now deceased, who was born in Greene county, Ohio, May 15, 1845, a son of John anl Nancy (Dill) Stover, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. John Stover was a cooper by trade and owned and carried on a shop in Ohio. At the time of the Civil war he responded to the country's call for troops and joined the army, his death occurring at Vicksburg, Mississippi, during the progress of the war.

His son, Philip Robert Stover, also learned the cooper's trade and he, too, put aside business cares after the outbreak of hostilities between the north and the south. He joined the One Hundred and Fifty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry and was on active duty until the nation's starry banner had been planted in the capital of the southern confederacy. Resuming work at his trade, he conducted a cooper shop at Palestine, Ohio, where he was also employed in a sawmill. Hc likewise devoted four years to railroad engineering and did various other things, such as selling lightning rods and sewing machines. He also conducted a real estate busi- ness but finally turned his attention to farming, securing a tract of land near Green- ville, Ohio, which he continued to cultivate for many years or until 1904, when he disposed of that property and removed to the northwest, making Yakima county his destination.

Here he and his sons purchased sixty acres of land six miles southeast of Sunny- side, which at that time was all covered with sagebrush. A well was dug to a depth of two hundred and forty feet and a substantial house was erected. The work of development and improvement on the farm was carried forward year after year and the father was actively identified with ranching interests to the time of his death, which occurred on the 19th of September, 1916. His loss was deeply deplored, for he had become firmly established as a leading, valued and highly respected citizen of the community.

On the 18th of January, 1870, Philip R. Stover was united in marriage to Miss Alice E. Wilcox, who was born in Darke county, Ohio, a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Ketring) Wilcox, who were also natives of the Buckeye state, where they were connected with farming interests and where they made their home until called to their final rest.

In his political views Philip Robert Stover was a republican but was not am- bitious to hold office, although ever loyal to the best interests of the community in which he lived, his loyalty being manifest in active support of all measures for the general good. Both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church and their sterling worth of character endeared them to all with whom they came in con- tact.

They had a family of nine children, of whom the first born, James, died at the age of five years, while the youngest child died in infancy. Victor A., the second son, was born in Darke county, Ohio, July 14, 1872, and acquired a public school education, after which he engaged in farming for a time with his father. Later he rented land in the east and ultimately came to Yakima county with his father, after which he purchased land in this section of the state. He now has thirty-six acres devoted to general farming and upon the place he has built a good home and all necessary buildings for the shelter of grain and stock. His farm is well improved according to modern ideas and he is progressive in all that he undertakes. He was married March 16. 1900, to Miss Mae Shook, of Darke county, Ohio, who passed

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away on the 13th of September, 1917. They were the parents of three children: Ernest, Herbert and Virginia, but the last named died at the age of three years. Victor A. Stover attends the Brethren church, in the work of which he takes an active and helpful interest. In politics he maintains an independent course. He has served on the school board and he was among those who established the first tele- phone system in this section. He has ever stood for progress and improvement in community affairs and his activity and enterprise have placed him in the front rank among the leading citizens. The third of the family, Marcus Stover, died at the age of eleven months. The only daughter, Reta Virginia, was born on the 10th of October, 1876, and is now the wife of the Rev. L. S. Bauman, an evangelist of the Brethren church now residing in California.

William S. Stover, born in Darke county, Ohio, May 8, 1879, obtained a public school education and was the first of the family to come to Yakima county, where he arrived in the fall of 1902, at which time he took up a homestead near Bickleton, Washington, where his sister, Mrs. Bauman, also later secured a homestead. He has since devoted his attention to the improvement of farms and other work in connec- tion with the development of the valley. In 1903 he purchased twenty acres of land in the district in which the Stover brothers all now reside and where the father built his first house. William S. Stover has since purchased forty acres additional and throughout the intervening period has resided in this district. He now has fifty acres of land here and has built thereon a nice home and added other modern improvements. He has also purchased forty acres near by and is successfully en- gaged in general farming. He spent one year in Alaska on a geological survey. Like the others of the family, he maintains an independent attitude in relation to political affairs and his religious faith is that of the Brethren church.

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History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 113

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