History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 114

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 114
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 114
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 114


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Garfield R. Stover, associated with his brothers in business affairs, was born in Adams county, Indiana, March 24, 1881, the family living in that locality for a period of six years. He, too, is indebted to public schools for his educational privileges and he also enjoyed the benefit of a commercial course in the A. D. Wilt Business Col- lege at Dayton, Ohio. In the spring of 1903 he arrived in Yakima county, joining his brother William, and he also took up a homestead in Horse Heaven, near Bickle- ton. He purchased his first twenty acres of land in connection with his brother William. His place is improved with a fine residence and the characteristic spirit of enterprise of the Stover family is manifest in all that he does. He married Blanche Hartman, a native of North Dakota, and they became the parents of two children, Jasper Garfield and Gerald Dean. In politics Garfield R. Stover is independent nor has he ever been an office seeker. He has served, however, as drainage commissioner of District No. 9 for two years and helped organize the district. He is interested in everything that pertains to the public welfare and cooperates heartily in all move- ments for the general good.


Philip Stover. the seventh member of the family, was born in Indiana, February 13, 1884, and obtained a public school education, while later he was grduated on the completion of a course in law in the Willamette University at Salem, Oregon. He practiced his profession for a short time in that state and later at Sunnyside, Wash- ington, while subsequently he spent five years in Alaska with a geological surveying party. In 1911 he went to the Philippines and for six years was connected with the United States Constabulary Force with the rank of first lieutenant. He became a captain in the Officers' Reserve Corps in 1918. He is now assistant superintendent of the penal farm at San Ramon, Zamboanga, Mindanao, P. I.


Conrad Stover, born in Indiana, April 15, 1886, completed a high school course and also a civil engineering course in Ohio. He, too, went to Alaska, where he re- mained for three years and later was connected with the United States Reclamation Service on the geological survey of the Yakima valley. He is now at Hoquiam, Washington, where he is engaged in shipbuilding work. He married Florence Mahaffy, a daughter of Professor Mahaffy, superintendent of schools at Sunnyside, and they have one child, Robert.


The three sons, Victor A., William S., and Garfield R. Stover, have adjoining homes. They have one hundred acres of land adjoining and eighty acres near by, together with the four hundred and eighty acres of the homestead in Horse Heaven, which is rented. They likewise lease sixty acres near the home farm and they are


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among the most prominent and progressive agriculturists of their section of the state. They have beautiful homes, splendid barns and all modern improvements upon the place. They are successful and well known ranchers and what they have undertaken has been accomplished. The boys have graded and seeded over four hundred acres of land for others. They had but little when they came to Yakima county and are now numbered among the most successful residents of the valley, They raise hay and corn, also have splendid orchards and are successfully carrying on business as raisers of live stock. They are actuated by a spirit of progress that produces splendid results and their course has contributed much to the development and upbuilding of the district in which they make their home, while at the same time their labors have greatly enhanced their individual fortunes. All who know them speak of them in terms of high regard, for they are reliable citizens, progres- sive business men and thoroughly straightforward in every relation of life.


SIDNEY W. MEANS.


The late Sidney W. Means, formerly a wholesale fruit merchant of Yakima, resident manager with the Ryan Fruit Company, was born in Marysville, Kansas, in 1883, a son of William. E. and Emma H. (Hunt) Means, and died October 29, 1918. The paternal grandfather was John W. Means, who took his family to Marshall county, Kansas, in 1861, removing to that district from Missouri. He became a pioneer settler of the Sunflower state, where he extensively engaged in farming. His son, William E. Means, also took up the occupation of farming in Kansas but he and his wife are now residents of Yakima.


Sidney W. Means completed his public school education by graduation from the high school at Blue Rapids, Kansas, and afterward he attended the State Agri- cultural College. He made his initial step in the business world in connection with the dry goods and clothing trade, being active along those lines in Kansas and Nebraska. The year 1908 witnessed his arrival in Yakima, where he became asso- ciated with the Barnes-Woodin Company, in charge of their clothing department. In 1912 he severed his connection with that house and went with Richie & Gilbert for one year in the fruit business. He was afterward inspector for the State Horti- cultural Department and for two years he was superintendent in charge of the ware- house and cold storage department of the Fruit Growers Storage & Supply Company. He next organized the Producers Fruit Company of Oregon and subsequently the Means & Ballard Company in the conduct of their fruit business, which ultimately they sold to the Ryan Fruit Company, Mr. Means remaining as resident manager. The Ryan Fruit Company is a reorganization of the Ryan-Newton Company of Spokane and was organized in January, 1917, with a capital of a million dollars. The head offices are in Spokane, with T. F. Ryan as the president and R. T. Dilworth as the secretary and treasurer. They have thirty-two houses in six western states, theirs being one of the largest organizations of the trade in the west. They have an average daily output of forty cars of fruit and vegetables and not only buy and sell vegetables but act also as jobbers and distributors. The Yakima plant was established in 1917, buying out Means & Ballard, and the business is conducted at Nos. 25-27 North First avenue. This plant supplies their other houses with Yakima produce and shipped four hundred cars of fruit and vegetables in 1917. The Yakima plant includes a large common storage building fifty-five by one hundred and seventy feet and three stories in height. They are represented by buyers all over the valley and employ here more than sixty people in the busy season and in addition to sales rooms and warehouse have a boxing and packing plant. Mr. Means' experience in connection with the fruit trade well qualified him for the work which he undertook in this connection and he was regarded as a most valued representative of the cor- poration.


Onc the 26th of June, 1907, Mr. Means was married to Miss Isabel Tibbetts, of Beatrice, Nebraska, and they had two children, Beverly Esther and Marion. He belonged to the Commercial Club and to the Business Men's Association and also to the Yakima Traffic Association and was deeply interested in the work of those


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organizations to promote business conditions and improve everything that had to do with the commercial upbuilding and development of this section of the country. He voted with the republican party and was a firm believer in its principles but not an office seeker. His religious faith was that of the Presbyterian church and his life was ever guided by its teachings. He was a man of genuine worth whom to know was to respect and honor and during the years of his residence in Yakima he made many warm friends, who deeply deplored his untimely end on October 29, 1918, when death called him at the early age of but thirty-five years. His memory is sacred to his immediate family to whose welfare he was most unselfishly devoted, making them ever his foremost thought and care.


ARTHUR N. SWIGART.


The wonderful agricultural development of the Yakima valley has been brought about by the combined efforts of many progressive men who have recognized the possibilities of the district for the production of crops and fruit and have made the once barren tract a most beautiful region of green fields and fine orchards. Con- tributing to this result is Arthur N. Swigart, who is engaged in ranching near Sunny- side. He was born in Fremont county, Iowa, April 1, 1880, a son of Hezekiah and Sarah (Black) Swigart, both of whom were natives of Illinois, whence they removed to Iowa, casting in their lot with the early settlers during the pioneer epoch in the history of that state. The father there engaged in farming for many years but now resides in Missouri. The mother's death occurred in 1916. The family removed to Atchison county, Missouri, in 1880 and there the father has since lived.


Arthur N. Swigart acquired a public school education and when a youth of fif- teen years began to work for wages upon farms. In the spring of 1902 he came to Yakima county and purchased forty acres of land in connection with his brother, James H., the place being situated three miles east of Sunnyside. It was once all covered with sagebrush. He cleared a part of the land and continued its cultiva- tion until 1903, when he sold that property and made investment in forty acres two and a half miles northeast of Sunnyside. This was cleared and he there engaged in farming until 1911, when he sold that place. He next bought seven acres two and a half miles northeast of Sunnyside and in 1916 he increased his holdings by the addi- tional purchase of thirty-six acres. He now has forty-three acres in all and upon the ranch he has built a good residence and added other substantial buildings for the shelter of grain and stock. He conducts a small dairy but gives much of his time to the raising of corn, hay and potatoes, producing substantial crops annually.


On the 19th of January, 1905, Mr. Swigart was united in marriage to Miss Olive Stahlhut, a daughter of William and Lydia Stahlhut, the former a prominent ranch- man of Yakima county. They are now parents of five children, as follows: Lloyd, Alma, Esther, Ralph and Edgar. Mr. Swigart belongs to the Non-Partisan League. He stands for progressiveness in all public affairs and his cooperation can be counted upon to further plans and measures for the general good. He does not desire, how- ever, to serve in public office and, giving his entire time and attention to his busi- ness affairs, has become a successful rancher.


I. L. MARCHILDON.


For seventeen years I. L. Marchildon has resided in Yakima county. Arriving here in 1901, he purchased twenty acres of land and has since given his attention to its further development and improvement, converting it into a farming ranch prop- erty largely devoted to fruit raising. Mr. Marchildon is of Canadian birth. He was born in Ontario on the 4th of December, 1854, and is a son of Constant and Gen- evieve (Tessie) Marchildon, who spent their entire lives in Canada.


The son was educated in a French school and when seventeen years of age started out in the business world on his own account, since which time he has de-


MRS. EVA SICKENGA


I. L. MARCHILDON


MISS MARIA MARCHILDON


DR. F. N. SICKENGA


MRS. I. L. MARCHILDON


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HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY


pended entirely on his own resources. He was first employed on boats on the lakes and afterward went to St. Louis, Missouri, from which point he sailed on the Missis- sippi river for nearly three years. He afterward devoted twenty-four years of his life to wheat raising in Minnesota and in 1901 came to Yakima county, where he invested in a twenty-acre tract of land adjoining the limits of Yakima. There were a few apple trees on the place at the time but the work of development had been carried forward to only a slight extent at the time of his purchase. He closely stud- ied the possibilities for the development of his ranch and that he has made the most of his opportunities is indicated in the excellent appearance of the place, which is today largely planted to orchard. He has various kinds of fruit trees, which are in healthful condition, showing excellent care. The income from the fruit which he raises is a most gratifying one. He has rebuilt his residence, has also put up barns and other necessary buildings for the shelter of his fruit and the farm machinery and implements, with which he has equipped his place.


On the 19th of February, 1882, Mr. Marchildon was married at Red Lake Falls, Minnesota, to Miss Amanda Lizée, of Ste. Genevieve de Bastican, Quebec, Canada, a daughter of Treffle and Mary (Jacob) Lizée, who were also of Canadian birth and of French descent. The mother died in Canada, March 2, 1880, and the father after- ward took his family to Minnesota, where he passed away in 1884. They had a family of ten children, nine of whom reached adult age, this number including Mrs. Mar- childon, who by her marriage has become the mother of three children: Eva, a grad- nate of the Ellensburg Normal School, and who taught school until her marriage and is now the wife of Dr. F. N. Sickenga, of Yakima; Dulice, deceased; and Maria, at home. She is now attending the University of Washington and has won major rank in the French Fine Arts College of Education.


Mr. and Mrs. Marchildon are members of St. Paul's Catholic church and his political allegiance is given to the democratic party. He has never been ambitious to hold office. preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs, which, carefully directed, have brought to him a substantial measure of prosperity.


BENJAMIN HOOVER.


Benjamin Hoover, a successful rancher living near Sunnyside, was born in Wayne county, Ohio, April 2, 1853, a son of Cyrus and Annie (Weaver) Hoover, both of whom were natives of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. The former was a son of Daniel Hoover, who was also born in Lancaster county, and his ancestors came to the new world with William Penn. In the year 1840 Daniel Hoover left the Key- stone state and removed to Wayne county, Ohio, where he purchased land and en- gaged in farming to the time of his death. His son, Cyrus Hoover, also devoted his attention to farming throughout his entire life, passing away in the year 1900. He had for six years survived his wife, whose death occurred in 1894. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Weaver of Pennsylvania, who also became pioneer residents of Ohio. Both were members of the German Baptist or Dunkard church, in the work of which they took a very active part.


Benjamin Hoover was the fourth in order of birth in a family of eight children. He attended the normal school and afterward took up the profession of teaching, which he followed through thirteen terms. He then gave his attention to farming. From his father he received a farm and later he purchased other land until he was the owner of one hundred and thirty acres. Eventually, however, he disposed of that property and took up his abode near Sunnyside, Washington, in 1901, investing in eighty acres of land a mile north of the city. The tract was then all covered with sagebrush, but he cleared it and transformed it into productive fields, from which he has annually gathered good harvests. He has since sold a portion of the land, re- taining possession of only fifty acres. He has built a good house upon the place and he raises hay and corn and follows general farming, his fields producing substantial crops.


On the 12th of April, 1881, Mr. Hoover was united in marriage to Miss Celia B. (39)


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Reese, a native of Stark county, Ohio, and a daughter of Jackson and Blanche Sarah (Clark) Reese, who were also born in the Buckeye state and are now deceased. By occupation the father was a carpenter. Mr. and Mrs. Hoover have become the parents of seven children, as follows: Musadora, the wife of Thomas Antles, a rancher of Yakima county, by whom she has one child; Camilla, the wife of Earl Rowley, a ranchman residing in Benton county, by whom she has three children; Roscoe, living on the home farm, wedded Miss Beatrice Shields, who passed away leaving one child; Celia Belle, the wife of Fred Delansky, of Sunnyside, by whom she has one child; Angie Lorina, who gave her hand in marriage to Clarence Zook, of Sunnyside; Vennetta, the wife of Marvin Roark, of Ellensburg, Washington; and Lindell, who wedded Wilma Leffingwell and lives in Sunnyside.


Mrs. Hoover is a member of the Methodist church, while Mr. Hoover has mem- bership in the Brethren church. In politics he is an independent republican. He has served as township assessor and was also a member of the school board in Ohio, but he prefers to give his undivided time and attention to his business affairs, which have been carefully directed and have brought to him a measure of success that numbers him among the substantial ranchmen of this part of the state.


HARRY F. ROBERTS.


Harry F. Roberts, a rancher living at Tampico, is one of the native sons of Yakima county, his birth having occurred on his father's ranch on the Ahtanum, March 23. 1885. His parents were Harry and Augusta (Heath) Roberts, the former a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and the latter of Maine. They were married in Mis- souri and about 1881 removed westward to Yakima county by way of The Dalles, Oregon. The father took up a homestead claim at what is now Tampico and located a post office there. He also opened a store and in addition to its conduct engaged in the cultivation of hop vineyards, in general farming and in the raising of live stock. His was a very active and useful life in which industry and perseverance won a substantial measure of success. Later he lived retired at Yakima, where he spent his remaining days, his death there occurring in 1910. His widow survives and is now a resident of Arizona.


Harry F. Roberts acquired a public school education in Yakima county and afterward entered the sheep business and also took up general farming. He likewise still conducts the store which was established by his father at Tampico. In his business affairs he is a partner of his brother, W. A. Roberts, who was born in Wide Hollow, in Yakima county, in 1883. Both are progressive and enterprising young business men, alert to every opportunity and displaying unfaltering enterprise in the conduct of their interests.


On the 6th of December, 1911, Harry F. Roberts was united in marriage to Miss Daisy M. Archer, who was born at Parkston, South Dakota, a daughter of Benjamin and Alice Archer, who removed to Bickleton, Washington. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have become parents of a son and daughter, Archie and Kathlyn.


Fraternally Mr. Roberts is connected with the Elks Lodge No. 318 at Yakima and his political endorsement is given to the republican party, which he has sup- ported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He is interested in all that has to do with the welfare and progress of the community in which he lives and his aid and cooperation are ever given to plans and projects for the general good.


EMIL C. DALTON.


Emil C. Dalton, who is numbered among the prosperous agriculturists of the Wenas valley, where he owns three hundred and seventy acres of land, gives par- ticular attention to cattle interests, very successfully conducting a large dairy. Not only is he thoroughly informed in regard to agricultural matters in general and as


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pertaining to the branch in which he specializes, but he has also proven himself an up-to-date business man who is well able to take care of large interests. A native of Sweden, Mr. Dalton was born September 12, 1870. His mother has passed away but is survived by her husband, who is still a resident of his native country.


Emil C. Dalton emigrated to this country in his teens and after reaching the Atlantic seaboard made his way to Minnesota, where he arrived in the spring of 1888. For about two years he remained in that state but in 1890 removed to Spokane and spent the years from 1892 until 1894 in Okanogan county. In the fall of the latter year he arrived in Yakima county and here he has ever since given his attention closely to agricultural pursuits. In 1895 he bought a ranch on the Wenas and now owns three hundred and seventy acres, of which forty are in a high state of cultiva- tion, while the remainder of the property is used as pasture. His progressive methods and spirit are indicated by the fine appearance which his farm presents, for he has not only erected good buildings to shelter his produce and stock but has also built a modern residence, handsomely appointed. He raises grain and hay and conducts a large dairy. He has bred a good grade of cattle in his herd and his success along this line is very gratifying.


On December 30. 1907. Mr. Dalton was united in marriage to Miss Hulda Swen- son, a native of Sweden, who crossed to this country in 1902. A pretty romance is the foundation of this union, for it was in that year that Mr. Dalton returned to Sweden in order to pay a visit to his parents and on the return trip met his future wife on shipboard. A mutual attraction resulted and it became plain to Mr. Dalton that here and now he had met the one whom he would have to rule his household. Miss Swenson proceeded to Chicago and there she lived for five years, but during all of this time Mr. Dalton remained true to his choice and finally they agreed to wed. A happy union resulted. Mrs. Dalton becoming an able helpmate to her hus- band, assisting him faithfully in his efforts toward the goal of prosperity. In 1914 they again paid a visit to Sweden and were nearly caught in the upheaval caused by the outbreak of the World war, but succeeded in safely reaching American shores before shipping was entirely paralyzed.


There is much credit due Mr. Dalton for what he has accomplished, as all of his prosperity is the result of his own labor and foresight. He is public-spirited and ever ready to give of his time and effort to promote worthy causes and is a loyal and valued resident of his community, county and state.


ED REMY.


Ed Remy is the president of the Yakima County Horticultural Union and has been a most active factor in promoting the fruit raising interests of this section of the state, demonstrating the possibilities of the valley in his connection and doing much to stimulate effort of that character. He has lived in the valley since April, 1893, and his labors have been a most resultant force in producing desired results.


Mr. Remy is a native of Belgium. He was born on the 12th of November, 1860, a son of Peter J. and Mary Jane Remy. The mother died in her native country and in 1879 the father came with his son Ed to the new world, settling in Kent, Ohio. He was a glassblower by trade and after working along that line for a time in Ohio lived in various places. Ed Remy accompanied his father as he removed from point to point and in April, 1893, he reached the Yakima valley, where he purchased a fruit ranch three miles southeast of the city of Yakima. It was then a tract of wild land. He planted it to prunes and is still the owner of the place. His labors demon- strated the possibility for successful prune production in this locality and in 1900 he turned his attention to the raising of apples and pears. He has ten acres planted to trees of that kind and his fruit interests are now in excellent condition, returning to him a gratifying annual income. He is also the owner of city property, having made investment in Yakima real estate. He has been very active in building up the Yakima County Horticultural Union and deserves great credit for his efforts in that connection, being now president of the organization which is doing so much to ad- vance the fruit raising interests of this section of the state and promote and protect


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the rights of those active in this field of business. Mr. Remy also served for four years on the state fair board under Governor Meade.


On the 16th of January, 1883, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Remy and Miss Mary Deiley, a native of England. Their children are three in number: Mary, who is president of the Yakima school board and resides at home; Alice, the wife of Chester L. Miller, a resident of the Yakima valley; and Ed, Jr., who is with the Yakima County Horticultural Union.


The religious faith of the family is that of the Methodist church and in addi- tion to his membership therein Mr. Remy is a member of Yakima Lodge, No. 24, F. & A. M .; Yakima Chapter, No. 21, R. A. M .; Yakima Commandery, No. 13, K. T .; and Afifi Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs to the Commercial Club and in politics is a republican. In addition to his other activities of a business nature he has served as trustee and president of the Union Ditch Company. He is most widely known because of his activity along horticultural lines, in which connection he has done much for the west. He is constantly studying the possibilities and opportuni- ties for fruit culture and his labors have given demonstration of the practicability of his belief. He has set a pace which others have followed, leading to the substantial development of Yakima county along horticultural lines.




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