History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 122

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 122
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 122
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 122

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

ELMER E. SAMSON.

Much has been written concerning the cause of success and the best methods of attaining it, but no matter in how much fantastic theorizing one may indulge he must eventually reach the conclusion that honorable success is the direct result of inde- fatigable effort, intelligently directed. A noted New York financier has said: "If you would win success you must he willing to pay the price-the price of earnest, self- denying effort." With a realization of these facts Elmer E. Samson has so directed his labors that he has made for himself a most creditable place in the business circles of Yakima, being now a well known wholesale merchant, conducting his interests under the name of the E. E. Samson Company, Inc., marketers of fruit and produce.

Mr. Samson was born in Lyman, New Hampshire, in 1862, a son of Edwin and Phoebe (Dexter) Samson, the former now deceased, while the latter is a resident of California. The father during his active business career was engaged in the cigar trade.

The son, reared in the Old Granite state, there acquired a public school educa- tion and started out in the business world as a clerk in a store. Later he learned telegraphy and in 1886 he made his way westward to Minneapolis, where he was em- ployed as telegraph operator by the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. The year 1887 witnessed his arrival in the northwest, at which time he went to Portland, Ore- gon, and afterward to Tacoma, Washington, where he acted as telegrapher in the superintendent's office. He was afterward stationed at several places during the suc-

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ceeding three years, at the end of which time he left the telegraph service and in 1890 entered into business at Puyallup, Washington, as a real estate dealer, while later he took up merchandising. His next step identified him with the banking and mortgage loan business and he became secretary and treasurer of the Puyallup Loan & Trust Company, with which he was associated until 1896.

In that year Mr. Samson went to Alaska and spent the greater part of five years in that country. He was one of those who took part in the Klondike rush of 1897, and during a part of his sojourn in the far northern country he was with the White Pass Railway Company. He was also connected with the River Transportation Company during a part of the time and he spent one winter at Dawson. It was in 1903 that Mr. Samson came to Yakima, where he became interested in the fruit busi- ness, working for the Ryan-Newton Company. During the next year he occupied the position of manager with the Yakima County Horticultural Union and continued in that position for five years. Later he went to British Columbia, where he spent two years, and then again came to Yakima, where for three years more he was man- ager for the Horticultural Union. In 1915 he organized the E. E. Samson Company, Inc, marketers of fruit and produce, at No. 9 First Avenue, South. This company has a warehouse seventy-five by one hundred and fifty feet. with a storage capacity for eighty carloads of fruit and produce. The company also owns a warehouse at Selah with a storage capacity of fifty cars and it is represented by buyers through- out the valley. The firm ships under the name of Samson, which is used as a brand name for the fruit. Its annual shipments amount to from five to six hundred cars. The officers of the company are: E. E. Samson, president; C. D. Samson, secretary and treasurer: and C. H. Oliver, vice president.

On the 3d of May, 1887. Mr. Samson was married to Miss Margaret Willis, a native of California, and to them have been born four children. Harold Willis at- tended the Pullman College and is now with the Bureau of Markets, in the service of the United States government. He is also a graduate of the University of Cali- fornia and he has ever specialized in horticulture. He married Gladys Lockwood and they have two children. Clyde D. Samson, the second of the family of Elmer E. Samson, is with his father in business. He married Henrietta Muller and has one child. Donald. the third son, was in France with the Field Artillery, having taken active part in the world struggle. E. F. Samson, the youngest of the family, died at the age of three months.

Mr. Samson of this review is well known in Masonic circles as a loyal advocate of the teachings of the craft. He has membership in Yakima Lodge, No. 24. F. & A. M .: Yakima Chapter. No. 21, R. A. M .: Yakima Commandery, No. 13. K. T .; Tacoma Consistory, S. P. R. S .; and in Afifi Temple of the Mystic Shrine. Mr. Samson is a republican in politics and is never neglectful of his duties of citizenship. He is a member of the Commercial Club and takes an active interest in the work of that organization for the benefit of the city. At all times he has been actuated by a spirit of advancement that is continually reaching out along broadening lines for the betterment of the individual and the community, and his business activity has ever been of a character that has promoted public prosperity as well as personal success.

HARRY B. FULMER.

Harry B. Fulmer is a partner in the firm of Fulmer Brothers of Yakima, con- ducting an extensive machine shop and garage business which includes also the sale of Velie motor cars and trucks. Mr. Fulmer comes to the northwest from Iowa, his birth having occurred in Hickory Grove, that state, on the 16th of April, 1885. He is a son of John and Mary Fulmer, mentioned elsewhere in this work in connec- tion with the sketch of their son, Franklin R. Fulmer, who is a partner of Harry B. Fulmer.

The latter acquired a public school education and when his textbooks were laid aside he took up the business of learning the machinist's trade, being employed hy the Root & Van Der Voort Engineering Company, manufacturers of gas engines and automobiles, of East Moline, Illinois. He continued to work at the trade, becoming

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a tool and die maker with the Rock Island Railway Company at Silvis, Illinois. Later he was with the Union Pacific Railroad Company as expert gasoline engineer, working for the Union Pacific and for the McKeen Motor Car Company jointly at Omaha. He was next sent to Yakima to take charge of the gasoline equipment of the North Coast Railway Company, which was afterward taken over by the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company and eventually by the Union Pacific Railroad Com- pany. Mr. Fulmer continued for seven years in that line of work and on the 27th of May, 1910, arrived in Yakima. In 1917 he joined his brother, F. R. Fulmer, under the firm style of Fulmer Brothers, and has since been active in this business, to which he brought thorough training and broad experience. They employ from ten to twelve workmen and they have the largest and best equipped machine shop in the city. Their patronage in that connection is very liberal and at the same time they are doing a good business as sales agents for the Velie motor cars and trucks. Their garage, department is fast proving an important branch of their business and they are meeting with success in all that they undertake.

On the 20th of June, 1906. Mr. Fulmer was married to Miss Alma Peterson, of Moline, Illinois, and to them have been born two children, but the elder, Gladys, is now deceased. The younger, Helen, is five years of age.

Mr. Fulmer does not ally himself with any political party but casts an independ- ent ballot. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protctive Order of Elks.

WILLIAM R. OLSEN.

William R. Olsen, whose name is on the list of Yakima merchants, while his straightforward business policy and enterprise have enabled him to build up a grati- fying grocery trade, was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1888, his parents being Tellaf and Mary Olsen. The father, who devoted his life to the business of contracting and building, died in 1896 but the mother survives and now makes her home in Cali- fornia.

William R. Olsen completed his education in the Lane high school of Chicago and hegan his business career as clerk in a drug store, where he was employed for a few years. He was afterward manager of the Forty-eighth Avenue Pharmacy in Chicago, having gained broad and valuable experience along that line that qualified him to take control of a store of that character. He arrived in the Yakima valley in 1915 and was proprietor of a general merchandise establishment at Buena, Washing- ton, for a time and was instrumental in having a postoffice established there. In 1916 he came to Yakima, where he opened a grocery store in the Public Market and he has since built up a very substantial trade through honest dealing and also by reason of the excellent line of staple and fancy groceries which he carries. He has ever recognized the fact that satisfied patrons are the best advertisement and he has done everything possible to please those who give him their trade. His commercial meth- ods will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny and his course again proves the wisdom of the old adage that honesty is the best policy.

In 1915 Mr. Olsen was married to Miss Julia Matilda Erickson, of Redfield, South Dakota, and they have become parents of two children, Richard and Lois. Mr. Olsen votes with the republican party and he belongs to the Commercial Club. His lodge connections are with the Masons and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist church.

WILLIAM B. HILLMAN.

William B. Hillman, a dealer in electrical goods at Yakima, entered the business circles of this city in 1909, and has since been an active representative of commercial interests here. A native of Minnesota, he was born in Hastings on the 20th of August, 1878, a son of Samuel T. and Hannah (Bennett) Hillman, the latter a daughter of the Rev. George W. Bennett, who settled in the Willamette valley in

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pioneer times. The father of William B. Hillman died in the year 1882, after which the mother removed westward to Oregon, the family home being established at Cor- vallis, where she passed away at the age of forty years.

William B. Hillman accompanied his mother to the Pacific coast. He acquired a public school education, which he supplemented by a course of study in the Oregon Agricultural College, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science and Electrical Engineer. He afterward pursued a practical engineering

course with the Westinghouse Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and in 1905 he became a resident of Clarkston, Washington, where he installed the first Westing- house steam turbine generator that was brought to this state. When that task was completed he became superintendent of electric construction for the Tieton project, in connection with the Yakima Valley United States Reclamation Service, and was thus engaged from 1907 until 1909. He afterward went to Priest Rapids and installed the machinery for the Hanford Power Company and also for the Allis-Chalmers Company.

In was in 1909 that Mr. Hillman established business in Yakima at No. 110 South Second street, where he remained until 1910, when he removed to No. 312 West Yakima avenue. The following year he secured a location one block west and on the 1st of March, 1918, he removed to No. 308 West Yakima avenue, where he has a floor space of twenty-five by one hundred and thirty feet. He carries a full line of electric supplies and electric automobile equipment and specializes in auto electric work. He is a representative of the Auto-Lite, the Westinghouse interests and other lines. He also installs lighting plants on farms, doing a big business in that con- nection. He employs from six to ten people and his patronage is extensive and gratifying.

In January, 1907, Mr. Hillman was united in marriage to Miss Julia M. Chilcott, of Mapleton, Pennsylvania, and they have become parents of five children: Rutlı, Stanley, Margaret, Julia and William. The religoius faith of the family is that of the Methodist church, to which Mr. and Mrs. Hillman loyally adhere. His political position is independent of party ties. He belongs to the American Institute of Elec- trical Engineers and occupies a most progressive place in connection with scientific attainments in his line.

JOHN L. BARNEY.

John L. Barney, the manager and one of the founders and owners of the Yakima Cash Store, was born in Boulder county, Colorado, June 8, 1877. His parents, W. H. nad Aurilla E. (Gray) Barney, are still living in that state, where the father has long conducted business as a steam engineer.

The son, John L. Barney, was a pupil in the public schools of Colorado but put aside his textbooks when a youth of fifteen in order to make his initial start in the business world. He accepted a clerkship in a store and has since been identified with mercantile interests. For some time he was employed by T. M. Callahan, of Long- mont, Colorado, and in 1903 he was associated with Mr. Callahan in opening a mer- cantile establishment at Montpelier, Idaho, which he conducted for six years. On the expiration of that period he came to Yakima and in 1909 the Yakima Cash Store was established by Mr. Barney and Mr. Callahan at No. 417 West Yakima avenue. The store is fifty by seventy feet and an excellent line of dry goods and ladies' ready- to-wear clothing, as well as men's clothing and shoes, is carried, in fact they handle everything in men's furnishings. This is the leading west side store and Mr. Barney is the manager. Since the Yakima establishment has been placed upon a profitable basis they have exerted their efforts in other fields, opening stores at Pasco, at Roslyn and at Cle Elum, these being three branches of the Yakima establishment. Mr. Bar ney attends to the buying for all four stores, which constitute a part of a chain of twenty-eight stores over Washington, Idaho and Colorado.

In 1901 Mr. Barney was married to Miss Eva B. Wagner, of Seymour, Iowa. Fraternally he is a well known Mason, holding membership in Yakima Lodge, No. 24. F. & A. M .: Yakima Chapter, No. 21, R. & A. M .: and Yakima Commandery, No. 13.

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K. T. His wife attends the Presbyterian church. Mr. Barney is a member of the Commercial Club and in politics is an independent republican. He is not ambitious to hold office but cooperates in progressive movements that have to do with the welfare and upbuilding of the city and state in which he makes his home. The major part of his time and attention is concentrated upon his business affairs and from a humble clerkship he has risen to a place of distinction in commercial circles of the northwest. The thoroughness with which he mastered his duties in his youthful days has remained one of the strong elements in his progress as the years 'have passed by. He has acquainted himself with every phase of the buying as well as the selling end of the business and has ever recognized the fact that satisfied patrons are the best advertisement. He has therefore done everything possible to please those who have given him their trade and his business has grown constantly year by year He has always held to high standards of commercial activity and he now ranks with the leading merchants of the Yakima valley.

THEODORE A, LIEBERT.

Theodore A. Liebert is a successful grocery merchant of Yakima, conducting his business at No. 210 Seventh avenue, South. He was born in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, on the 10th of June, 1877, a son of Fred and Minnie Liebert, who removed from Wis- consin to Crookston, Minnesota, where the father continued to reside to the time of his demise. Throughout his active business career he was successfully engaged in general agricultural pursuits. His widow still survives and now makes her home in Yakima.

Theodore A. Liebert supplemented his early educational training by a course in a business college at Crookston, Minnesota, and after putting aside his textbooks became associated with J. H. Peterson in the soda water bottling business, being thus engaged at Crookston for a period of eleven years. In 1907 he made his way to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he spent a year and a half, and in 1909 came to Washington, entering the service of the Western Engineering Company at Tacoma. It was in 1911 that he arrived in Yakima, having the previous year purchased the grocery store of George Surbridge at No. 214 Seventh avenue, South, where he car- ried on business until 1917, when he moved into the new building at No. 210 Seventh avenue, South. Here he carries a large stock of staple and fancy groceries and his trade has steadily grown until it has now reached extensive and profitable propor- tions, for his business methods are characterized by the utmost integrity and he has ever recognized the fact that satisfied customers are the best advertisement.

In October, 1901, Mr. Liebert was united in marriage to Miss Emma Worm, of Princeton, Wisconsin, by whom he has three children: Laura, Margaret and Carl. In politics he is independent, always considering the capability of a candidate rather than his party affiliation. His religious faith is that of the Lutheran church and his life has been governed by its teachings. A man of genuine personal worth, he has become widely and favorably known through business and social connections and enjoys an enviable reputation as one of the substantial merchants of Yakima.

H. M. GILBERT.

H. M. Gilbert is a fruit grower of Yakima, whose wise investments and care- fully directed business interests have brought to him a most substantial measure of success. He does not claim the possession of any unusual qualities, but by keen business discernment and unwearied industry he has reached the enviable position which he now occupies. He was born in Geneseo, Illinois, October 22, 1862, a son of Nathaniel C. and Francelia A. (Amsden) Gilbert, the former a native of New York, while the latter was born in Vermont. They were among the pioneer resi- dents of Henry county, Illinois, where the father devoted his life to the occupation of farming. He has passed away and the mother still lives in that state.

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H. M. Gilbert completed his education in Knox College of Galesburg, Illinois, with the class of 1885 and three years later his alma mater conferred upon him the Master of Arts degree. He was reared to the occupation of farming, early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the stock and took up agricultural life when his school days were ended. He was one of the promi- nent stock farmers of Illinois until 1897, when he sought the opportunities of the northwest and came to Yakima, at which time he purchased a twenty-acre tract of land on Yakima Heights, a district that is now a suburb of the city. He and his wife are owners of more than three hundred acres of fine land all over the valley and planted to apples. Mr. Gilbert has recognized the conditions and the oppor- tunities of this section of the country, seeking to improve the former and utilize the latter to the benefit of public as well as private interests. He was one of the or- ganizers of the Tieton Water Users' Association, of which he has been the presi- dent for the past three years. Into banking circles he has extended his efforts and is now the president of the Central Bank of Toppenish, which position he has oc- cupied since its organization. He is also the president of the Richey & Gilbert Com- pany, which was organized in 1900 for the conduct of farming interests and which was incorporated in 1904. They are now extensively engaged in the wholesale fruit trade as dealers, packers and shippers. Their main office is in Toppenish and they also have warehouses at Zillah, Buena, Wapato, Donald, Yakima and Selah. Some- thing of the vast volume of their trade is indicated in the fact that they ship over one thousand cars of fruit annually.

In 1892 Mr. Gilbert was united in marriage to Miss Marion H. Richey, a daugh- ter of James and Anna (Hamilton) Richey and a native of Lasalle county, Illinois. The family came to Yakima about 1899 and the father was a partner of Mr. Gilbert, their association being continued until the death of Mr. Richey in 1911. Mrs. Richey has also passed away. To Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert have been born seven children: Curtis R., who is now a captain of Company F of the Three Hundred and Sixty- first Infantry, serving in France; Lois Marion, who is a graduate of the University of Washington and is assistant matron at the Grand Mound Reform School for Girls; Elon, a student of the University of Washington, who joined the United States Naval Reserve and is in the Naval branch of the aviation service at Seattle; Margaret, who is a freshman in the University of Washington; Horace N., who is a senior in the high school and is president of the associate student body; Dorothy, attending high school; and Evelyn, also in school.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Congregational church and Mr. Gilbert is identified with the Yakima Commercial Club. His political endorsement is given to the republcan party. He is one of the best known men in this section of the state by reason of the extent and importance of his business interests, which cover a wide territory, while the high regard entertained for him is the direct result of a social, genial nature and thorough reliability in all of his transactions. He stands for progress and improvement in every relation affecting the welfare of the individual and of the community at large and his business activities have ever been of a char- acter that have contributed to general improvement and prosperity as well as to individual success. He is a lover of the northwest with its countless opportunities and advantages, and that he has done much for its upbuilding is uniformly recognized.

ROY PURVIANCE.

Roy Purviance, who is engaged in stock farming and dairying in Yakima county, is a native son of Washington, his birth having occurred in Klickitat county, May 5, 1887, his parents being A. H. and Mary E. (Lusby) Purviance. The father was born in Illinois, the mother in Missouri and they were married in Klickitat county, Wash- ington. A. H. Purviance was a son of James Jackson Purviance, who came to Wash- ington with his family in pioneer times, settling in Klickitat county. The father of Mary E. Lusby was also one of the pioneer residents of Klickitat county and it was after the removal of the two families to this state that the parents of our subject were married. Mr. Purviance took up three hundred and twenty acres of govern-

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ment land in Klickitat county and there carried on farming for some time but even- tually sold out and removed to Yakima county in 1897. He then purchased sixty acres of land, which he continued to further develop and improve to the time of his re- tirement. Eventually he put aside the active work of the fields and rested from further labor, enjoying the fruits of his former toil. He died in August, 1912, and is survived by Mrs. Purviance, who yet makes her home in Yakima.

Roy Purviance acquired a public school education and when not busy with his textbooks assisted his father in the development and improvement of the home ranch. Later he purchased forty acres of his father's place and is still engaged in farming. He is devoting his attention to the raising of alfalfa and grain, also to stock farming and dairying and for the latter purpose he keeps a number of graded cows. His business interests are wisely and carefully conducted and his success is well merited.

On the 4th of November, 1908, Mr. Purviance was united in marriage to Miss Blanche Rake, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Richard and Jennie Rake, who came to Yakima county about 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Purviance are now the parents of two daughters, Dorothy Edna and Leona Margaret. The political support of Mr. Purviance is given to the democratic party and fraternally he is connected with the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. His religious faith is that of the Baptist church, to the support of which he makes generous contribution, doing all in his power to promote its growth and extend its influence. He has been a lifelong resi- dent of Washington, thoroughly imbued with the spirit of western enterprise and progress, which spirit finds exemplification in his business career.

HOWARD A. HARSCH.

Howard A. Harsch, whose photographic studio is the oldest establishment of the kind in Yakima and who in his work has always maintained the highest standards of the art, was born in Braidwood, Illinois, on the 23d of June, 1878, a son of Alfred James and Ella (Gardner) Harsch. The parents came to Washington in 1902, settl- ing in Skagit county, where the father hought a ranch and lived on the same until his death.

The son, Howard A. Harsch, acquired a public school education in his native state. He afterward engaged in various lines of business before taking up photog- raphy about 1908. On the 6th of September, 1912, he came to Yakima, where he bought out a photographic gallery at 101 1-2 East Yakima avenue and through the intervening period he has developed a business of extensive proportions. He is now the oldest photographer in Yakima in years of continuous connection with the city. His gallery is supplied with all of the latest appliances to promote the photographic art and he utilizes the most improved processes in his work. Appreciative of the value of light and shade, he has been very successful in obtaining lifelike results in his work and has thereby won a liberal patronage.

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History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 122

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