History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 117

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 117
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 117
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 117

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and began the building of these graders. For this purpose he has established a well equipped plant supplied with all necessary machinery, and he is turning out a grader which is finding a very rapid and ready sale on the market. It is built of excellent materials and grades fruit to perfection. In fact it is the only grader that has successfully handled pears. All fruit is handled in such a way by the machine that bruising is entirely eleminated. There is no variation in the matter of size and the machine has proven one hundred per cent. efficient in determining size and sound- ness of the fruits handled. This grader soon won wide recognition as the best that has been placed upon the market and the supply at the present time is not equal to the demand.

On the 15th of October, 1905, John Nelson was married to Miss Clara Johnson, a native of Stillwater, Minnesota, and to them has been born a daughter, Faith Chris- tine, now three and a half years of age. Mr. Nelson usually votes with the demo- cratic party but does not hestitate to cast an independent ballot if his judgment so dictates. He has never been a lodge man or active in club circles, preferring always to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business interests, which have con- stantly grown in volume and importance until he is today widely known as a fruit raiser and manufacturer of Yakima.

MOSES J. BROWN.

Moses J. Brown is actively engaged in ranching near Sunnyside and the course that he has followed has largely set a standard for progressivness in his district. He has a place equipped with every modern improvement and he employs the most scientific methods in the cultivation of his land and the care of his crops. His suc- cess is indeed well deserved.

Mr. Brown is a native of Merrimack county, New Hampshire, born September 22, 1860, a son of James B. and Mary S. (Newell) Brown, who were likewise natives of the old Granite state. The paternal grandfather, Moses Brown, was born in New York and was a representative of one of the old colonial families. James B. Brown devoted his life to the occupation of farming, but both he and his wife have now passed away.

Moses J. Brown acquired a public school education in the east and afterward en- gaged in clerking, being thus employed for several years. Subsequently he began general merchandising on his own account at Henniker, New Hampshire, and was thus busily occupied from 1895 until about 1904, when he sold his store. In 1905 he took up his abode at Spokane. This was not his first visit, however, to Washington, for he had come to the state in 1891, settling at Wickersham, where he entered the shingle mill business and was engaged in shingle manufacturing until 1897, when he returned to New Hampshire and there devoted his attention to merchandising and to farming until, again attracted by the irresistible lure of the west, he came to Spo- kane. While in that city he was with the Chant Music Company. In 1909 he pur- chased two hundred and thirty acres of land two miles north of Sunnyside, the en- tire tract at that time being covered with sagebrush. The following year he began the development of the ranch and in the spring of 1912 took up his abode thereon. He has seventy-eight acres planted to apples, with pear fillers on forty acres of the tract. This is the largest orchard in the southern part of Yakima county. He has sold considerable of his land, retaining possession of one hundred and fifty acres, constituting one of the valuable ranch properties of his section of the valley. He has erected a fine home and other substantial and modern buildings upon the place. His orchard is in fine bearing condition and he had ten car loads of fruit in 1917 from just one-half of the orchard. His ranch is all flumed and piped for irrigation and it has fine air drainage and is practically free from frost. Mr. Brown at first put in an electric pumping plant with a capacity of two hundred gallons per minute to irrigate his seventy-eight acre orchard, but in 1916 the ditch was built and he was then able to discard the electric pumping plant. The house is lighted by electricity and supplied with hot and cold water, both the house and barns having water under

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pressure. He has a splendid hot water heating plant and his is one of the finest developments in the valley viewed from every standpoint.

On the 6th of July, 1893, Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Imogene Swift, who was born in Clarkson, New York, a daughter of George W. and Mary J. (Cheeseman) Swift, both of whom were farming people of the Empire state but have now passed away.

In his political views Mr. Brown is a stalwart republican, giving earnest support to the party. He attends the Methodist church. His wife is a member of the Wo- man's Club of Sunnyside, in which she takes a very active interest. They occupy a prominent social position and enjoy the high regard of all with whom they have come in contact, while Mr. Brown's reputation in business circles is a most enviable one. Actuated by a most progressive spirit and at all times achieving his purposes, his labors have exemplified the most advanced ideas in modern ranching and have constituted an example that many others have followed.

GEORGE W. EVANS.

Among those who have carried forward agricultural interests to well nigh perfection is George W. Evans, who is owner of one of the best properties in the Wenas valley, of four hundred acres, two hundred of which are under cultivation. Mr. Evans has specialized in the line of dairying and today conducts one of the most profitable enterprises of this kind in the valley. He has also been postmaster of Wenas for a number of years and in the discharge of his official duties has ever been prompt, accurate and obliging. A university graduate of high standing, Mr. Evans studied law during that time and this knowledge has stood him in good stead during his business career although he has never praticed. His memory often goes back to those pleasant days filled with college work and college ambitions when he was one of the idols of his university, winning renown on the football field. Moreover, Mr. Evans has a record of historical significance and general great interest to his credit which connects him with the Spanish-American war, in which conflict he partici- pated in some of the most important engagements, being one of those who took part in the capture of Manila, which he entered at that time.

A native of Minnesota, George W. Evans was born in Garden City, November 25, 1877, a son of Eri B. and Abbie Ella (Clark) Evans. The father was active as an agriculturist in that state but in 1906 came to Yakima and bought a farm on the Wenas, where he now makes his home. Mr. Evans of this review was reared under the parental roof, his first lessons in life being instilled with loving care by his par- ents. In the acquirement of an education he attended the public schools until he was sufficiently prepared to enter the university, where he took up a law course, graduat- ing from the University of Minnesota in 1901. During this time he was a promi- nent member of Phi Kappa Psi and Phi Delta Phi. Strong of body and healthy of mind, he took the greatest interest in college athletics and became a star on the Twin University football team, on which he played left halfback. He played this position with great success against Madison and also participated in the great games against Chicago, Purdue, Michigan and other big schools. When the country called men to arms on account of the outbreak of the Spanish-American war Mr. Evans, loyal to the flag and thirsting for adventure, broke into his university course, enlist- ing in Company A, Thirteenth Minnesota Volunteers, in 1898. Soon we find him overseas in the Philippines and he was among that memorable number who took par: in the capture of Manila. For nineteen months he served in the army and in 1900 was honorably mustered out, then completing his law course. The profession, however, did not seem to hold out to him sufficient inducements and he turned to the hotel business, being occupied along that line in St. Paul until 1906. He was so successful in his venture there that in 1905 he was enabled to acquire title to a ranch in the Wenas valley of Yakima county but did not take up his residence here until a year later. The winter of 1906 he spent in California and subsequently came to his ranch. This property comprises four hundred acres, two hundred of which are under cultivation, devoted to grain and hay, while the rest serves as pasture for high

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grade stock raised from registered sires. To this branch, particularly, Mr. Evans has given his close attention and has been very successful in the dairying line, using twenty cows for this purpose. Moreover, he manages a one hundred and sixty acre faim belonging to his sister.

On February 18, 1902, Mr. Evans was united in marriage to Miss Grace Barker, of St. Paul, a daughter of Colonel T. A. and Sarah H. Barker. To this union two children were born, a son and a daughter, George W., Jr., and Gladys Graham.

Mr. Evans by successfully carrying forward farming pursuits in his district has greatly contributed to development and upbuilding, instituting modern and progres- sive methods. In fact he is a pioneer along this line and has set an example for others to copy. In his political affiliations he is a republican but not a politician in the commonly accepted sense of the word, although he has served as postmaster of Wenas for the past ten years, discharging his duties promptly and satisfactorily. In this connection he has become well known and many are the friends whom he has made in the neighborhood.

Mr. Evans is a member of the Episcopal church and deeply interested in its work. The loyalty which induced him to enlist in the Spanish-American war in order to bring liberty to subjugated nations who suffered under Spain's cruel administra- tion has remained with him in days of peace and again found demonstration when the world war broke out. During this conflict he was ever interested in measures undertaken by the government in order to establish supreme world democracy. In local affairs he gives his efforts and means willingly and readily in support of worthy movements, thus proving himself a valued citizen.

ROBERT H. KANDLE.

Robert H. Kandle is now living retired in Yakima and among the residents of the city there is perhaps no one who has more intimate knowledge of pioneer life and conditions in this section of the country than he. Mr. Kandle is familiar with every phase of the early development of the region, where he has lived for almost a half century, having come in 1871. He was born in Elkhart county, Indiana, in 1847, a son of Henry and Margaret (Hills) Kandle, who were pioneer people of that state, where the father devoted his life to farming. Both he and his wife have long since passed away. They crossed the plains in the year 1852, making their way to Olympia, Washington, after which they took up their abode on a ranch in Thurs- ton county, where they lived until 1860. In that year they removed to Pierce county, Washington, where both the father and mother passed away.

Robert H. Kandle was but five years of age when the family home was estab- lished on the Pacific coast and throughout the intervening period he has been an interested witness of the growth and development of the western country. On the 4th of March, 1871, he arrived in Yakima, crossing the Naches river with canoes. He and his party swam their horses across and took their wagons apart, loading them in the canoes and thus reaching the opposite bank. Mr. Kandle herded cattle over the Naches valley long before North Yakima was founded. All supplies were brought in from The Dales, Oregon, by pack train and every condition of frontier life was here met. With his removal to this section of the state he took up government land in the Wenas valley, where he remained for three years. He then returned to Pierce county, Washington, where he resided until about 1899, when he again came to Yakima and purchased a ranch on the Wenas. This he devoted to the raising of hay and grain and continued his farming operations there until about 1908, when he retired from active business life and took up his ahode in the city of Yakima, where he now makes his home.

On the 5th of June. 1870, Mr. Kandle was married to Miss Talitha Longmire, a daughter of James and Verinda Longmire who crossed the plains in 1853 and set- tled in Thurston county, Washington, where their remaining days were passed. Mr. and Mrs. Kandle have had a family of nine children: James, who is living on his father's ranch; Walter, a resident of Pierce county, Washington; Maggie, the wife of Henry Anderson, living in Tacoma; Annie, the wife of J. N. Reynolds, formerly

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a rancher of Thurston county, now located on the Natches; Cora, the wife of William Anderson, who is farming on the Naches in Yakima county; Ella, the wife of Joseph T. Bruner, living in Yakima; Frank, a rancher on the Wenas; George, who is ranch- ing on the Naches; and Flora, who died at the age of sixteen years.

There is no phase of the development, settlement and upbuilding of this section of the state with which Robert H. Kandle is not familiar and as a ranchman he con- tributed to its agricultural progress. He can relate many interesting incidents of the early days and the pioneer conditions that then existed, his story presenting a clear picture of life in the Yakima Valley almost a half century ago.

GEORGE MCLAUGHLIN.

George Mclaughlin, engaged in the auto repair business, in which connection he has built up one of the largest enterprises of the kind in Yakima, was born in Raw- lins county, Kansas, March 22, 1889, a son of George D. and Anna M. Mclaughlin, who were pioneer settlers of the Sunflower state. The father was a farmer by occupation and later took up railroad work. He is now a resident of Walla Walla, Washington, where he has made his home since 1904 and throughout the intervening period has continued active in railway service.

George Mclaughlin acquired a public school education and afterward began learning the machinist's trade under the direction of J. D. Jones of Walla Walla. He also worked along the same line in Tacoma and subsequently went to the Brem- erton navy yard, where he was employed for two and a half years. He was after- ward upon the ocean in the army transport service and in July, 1910, he again went t"> Walla Walla, where he was connected with the Walla Walla Iron Works and other enterprises demanding his mechanical skill and ingenuity. In June, 1912, he came to Yakima and worked for the firm of Goodman & Tucker. He was afterward employed by the Yakima Automobile Company, but ambitious to engage in business on his own account, he entered into partnership with C. C. Brown in December, 1913, and they organized the Independent Automobile Company. They have since built up one of the best auto repairing businesses in Yakima. Their patronage is exten- sive, for they have won the public confidence and trust by reason of their skill and ability. The workmanship is of the highest grade and they now enjoy a most liberal patronage.

On the 10th of June, 1913, Mr. McLaughlin was married to Miss Nellie A. Bun- nell, of Yakima, and they have two children, George and John. Mr. McLanghlin belongs to no lodges and in politics maintains an independent course. He concen- trates his efforts and attention upon his business affairs and his energy and determina- tion enable him to overcome all difficulties and obstacles in his path and press stead- ily forward to the goal of success.

ROBERT H. KERSHAW.

Pioneering takes all of a man and all of that man's iron purpose and long pa- tience, as is evident from the fact that so many who came out to the western wilds gave up in despair, returning, if luck would have it, to the east in order to take up their old occupations. Those, however, who had the grit and endurance to hang on, thereby proved themselves the fittest and that success has come to them is only the just reward of their efforts made amid surroundings which tried the best and brav- est. Interesting as are the stories of the pioneers to the present generation, the hardships of those times can only be appreciated by those who went through with them and among these is Robert H. Kershaw, a native of Utah and a western man by spirit and inclination. He was born August 30, 1861, a son of Robert and Mary (Harrison) Kershaw, natives of England, who in their young lives came to the United States, making their way in the approved primitive style overland to Utalı, where they settled as pioneers. There the father successfully farmed until 1880 and

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then came to Yakima county, where he bought a farm on the Naches, subsequently selling out and removing to California. Later in his life, however, he returned to Yakima county, but he now has passed away, as has his wife.

Robert H. Kershaw received a public school education in his native state and after laying aside his textbooks turned his attention to farming, assisting his father in such work until 1884, in which year he set out for himself. Until 1887 he worked as a farm hand for others and, carefully saving his earnings, was at length enabled to buy a ranch on the Wenas. To its further cultivation and improvement he has since given close attention and, studying the soil and climate carefully, has brought the land to a high state of productivity. His farm here comprises two hundred and forty acres and he also has two thousand acres on the Umptanum, two hundred and fifty acres of which are devoted to farming purposes, while the rest is range. Mr. Kershaw employs modern ideas in the operation of his properties and by judicious management has acquired prosperity. He has modern buildings and up-to-date equipment upon his places and his annual income from his labors is now adequately compensating him.

On the 3d of April, 1887. Mr. Kershaw was united in marriage to Miss Ella Taylor, a daughter of Isaac Taylor, a native of Lucas county, Iowa, who came to Yakima county with his family in 1884. To this union were born eight children: Edna, who married Jerry Miles, a rancher of Yakima county, who resides near Granger; Harry, who is interested in and operates his father's large ranch on the Umptanum and is married and has one child; Ray, who is in the United States army and who is a partner of his father and brother; Edith, at home; Myrtle, who married Frank Collis, a rancher on the Wenas; Fred, who has been in the United States army and is now at homc: and Gladys and Clarence, at home. The father and his sons own and operate all their interests together.

Mr. Kershaw is a republican in his political affiliations but has never sought public office, his important agricultural interests requiring his undivided attention. However, he has ever been deeply interested in general development and readily cooperates in the promotion of movements undertaken on behalf of the general wel- fare along material, mental and ideal lines. His memory harks back to the days when primitive conditions still existed here and therefore forms a connecting link between those days of hardship and self-denial and the present pleasant days of achievement and enjoyment, reflecting an up-to-date civilization. Moreover, Mr. Kershaw has not only witnessed this remarkable change but through his labors has contributed thereto and participated therein.

DAVID W. GREEN.

David W. Green, a well known rancher living not far from Sunnyside, was born in Owen county, Indiana, May 23, 1865. a son of Hilary and Elizabeth (Sumerlotte) Green, who were natives of Prussia and of Pennsylvania respectively. The paternal grandfather, Mathew Green, was a native of England but was living in Prussia at the time of the birth of his son Hilary, who was still but a young lad when the fam- ily emigrated to the United States. A brother of Mathew Green was killed while fighting with the British army in Egypt. Hilary Green, the father of David W. Green, settled in Ohio and afterward went to Indiana, while in 1866 he removed with his family to Kansas and spent his remaining days in that state, both he and his wife passing away in Crawford county. They were pioneer residents of Kansas, contributing to the early development and later upbuilding of the section in which they made their home.

David W. Green acquired a public school education and remained with his father until he reached the age of twenty-one years. He then worked for wages for six years and subsequently, attracted by the opportunities of the growing northwest and imbued with the same pioneer spirit that prompted his father's removal to Kan- sas, he came to Washington, settling first in Garfield county, in 1892. There he worked for wages for a few years in connection with agricultural interests and then took up painting and decorating, doing a contracting business along that line. In

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1907 he removed to Yakima county and purchased ninety-six acres near Outlook. He had no capital, so he arranged to purchase the property on time, paying nothing down. Less than a year later, however, he sold sixty-five acres of the tract for enough to pay for the entire place and leave him eleven hundred dollars clear. About 1906 he had purchased forty acres of land in Oregon, which he kept for three years and then sold at a profit of eleven hundred dollars. After disposing of sixty-five acres of his ninety-six acre ranch near Outlook he traded the remainder for land near Pomeroy and he also bought forty-seven acres northeast of Granger, which had never been improved and which is still in his possession. For three years he was a resident of Walla Walla and during that time was engaged in the real estate busi- ness. In 1913 he returned to Sunnyside and bought eighty acres two and a half miles northeast of the city, which he still owns. In 1918 he made investment in thirty- one acres a half mile north of Sunnyside and took up his abode upon the latter place, while his sons cultivate the eighty-acre tract. He raises hay, corn and pota- toes and annually gathers good crops. He also has a fine home upon his ranch and all modern improvements, while his progressive spirit is manifest in the excellent appearance of the place and the air of neatness and thrift which pervades the farm.

On the 14th of March, 1886, Mr. Green was united in marriage to Miss Alice Starnes, a native of McDonough county, Illinois, and a daughter of R. J. and Sidney (Clugston) Starnes, who were born in the states of Tennessee and Ohio respec- tively. The father followed farming throughout his active business career and both he and his wife have now passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Green are the parents of six children, as follows: Roy, who is married and has one child and who operates his father's farm of eighty acres northeast of Sunnyside; Myrtle, the wife of Andrew Holm, of Walla Walla, by whom she has two children; Willie, the wife of Stanley Dixon, of Pomeroy, Washington, by whom she has a son; Frank, who cultivates his father's ranch of eighty acres in association with his brother Roy; Gael, a student in the Hill Military Academy of Portland; and Soleil, who is at home and is a high school pupil.

Fraternally Mr. Green is connected with the Woodmen of the World and the Knights of Pythias, in which he has held all of the chairs. He has also filled the chairs in the grand lodge of the Knights of Pythias. His wife is a member of the Rebekahs and also of The Circle at Pomeroy. She was a member of the Woman's Club at Walla Walla and she has membership in the Neighborhood Club. In his political views David W. Green is a republican of the progressive type and was a strong supporter of Theodore Roosevelt, the man who more than any other individual perhaps best illustrated the true American spirit. While an active supporter of political principles in which he believes, he has never been an office seeker. He is a successful ranchman, possessed of good business ability, keen sagacity and insight. and whatever he undertakes he carries forward to successful completion.

SAMUEL G. ALLAN.

A prominent general and dairy farmer of Naches, the cradle of Samuel G. Allan stood in the land of hills and heather. his birth having occurred in Scotland, October 3, 1855. He is a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Gibson) Allan, also natives of Scotland. From that country the father made his way to Canada in 1856, and his family located in the Dominion in 1861. There they remained until 1880, when they removed to North Dakota, taking up government land, and there Robert Allan successfully followed agricultural pursuits for many years, being ably assisted by his son, Samuel G. In 190] the family came to Yakima county and father and son acquired title to two hundred and thirty-six acres on the upper Naches, where they engaged in raising hay, grain and also fruit, being successful in these various lines to a most gratifying extent. A dairy was instituted and modernly equipped and from this source a considerable addition to their income was derived. They built a fine home and suitable farm buildings and now their property is one of the most valuable in their neighborhood. Robert Allan still makes his home with our subject but his wife has passed away. Although Mr. Allan of this review has been quite suc-

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History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 117

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