History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 127

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 127
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 127
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 127

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).

On July 20, 1909, James N. Hand was united in marriage to Miss Mary Finne- gan, a native of Kingscourt, County Cavan, Ireland, whom he had known in school days. Mrs. Hand came to New York, where she was met by her husband, their mar- riage being celebrated in that city. To Mr. and Mrs. Hand has been born a son, James Edward, now seven years of age.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and in politics Mr. Hand maintains an independent course. He is a successful farmer and, more- over, a self-made man whose industry and enterprise have been the dominant factors in the attainment of his present success. He has never sought to figure promi- nently in any public light but has given his entire time and attention to his business affairs and never has he had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for he has here found the opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has won desired results.

DANIEL MCCLEERY.

Daniel McCleery was not only widely and favorably known as one of the pro- gressive business men of Zillah, Washington, but he also served for several years as postmaster and in that connection ever ably and faithfully discharged his duties. In his untimely death on March 13, 1913, Zillah lost one of its foremost and public- spirited citizens. Mr. McCleery was a native of Trumbull county, Ohio, born Sep- tember 18, 1844, and was a son of Daniel and Mary (Adams) McCleery, natives of Pennsylvania. They were pioneers of Ohio but in 1859 undertook the hazardous trip across the plains to Colorado and located in Denver, where both passed away. Thus they were connected with that great metropolis when it was yet a mining village.

Daniel McCleery began his education in the public schools of Ohio and continued the same in Colorado, being fifteen years of age when his parents removed to that state. One of his sisters was a schoolmate of President McKinley. When the Civil

DANIEL MCCLEERY AND FAMILY

1057

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

war broke out Mr. McCleery enlisted in Company E, Second Colorado Cavalry, in 1861, and served until the close of the conflict, when he was mustered out and hon- orably discharged at Junction City, Kansas. This, however, is not his only military experience, for he reenlisted on May 9, 1876, in Company B, Second Regiment of Cavalry, and served for five years. He was raised to the rank of corporal and par- ticipated in much Indian fighting. He received his discharge May 8, 1881, at Fort Keough. In that year he went to Nebraska, where he became manager of his broth- er's large stock farm. He subsequently was postmaster of Pauline, Nebraska, and served in that position for several years. The year 1903 marked his arrival in Zillah, which remained his residence until his death. He entered the flour and feed business and was quite successful along that line, while he also conducted a confectionery store. Subsequently he was made postmaster of Zillah and for several years ably discharged his official duties.

On March 2, 1887. Mr. McCleery wedded Mrs. Jennie (Lawrence) Livingston, of Hastings, Nebraska, the Lawrence family being more extensively mentioned in con- nection with the sketch of L. E. Lawrence, a brother of Mrs. McCleery. She bore her husband two children: Jessie L., who is married to R. E. Hill, a ranchman located west of Zillah, by whom she has a son, Noble G., now seven years of age; and Paul D., who died in Nebraska when seventeen years of age.

Mr. McCleery ever stanchly supported the republican party, in the principles of which he thoroughly believed. Outside of the position of postmaster, however, he held no other public offices, being content to fulfill his duties as a citizen in a private capacity. Fraternally he was a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and also belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic, in which latter connection he kept in touch with his old army comrades. In religious faith both he and his wife were Methodists but as there is no church of that denomination in Zillah she now belongs to the Christian church. Mr. McCleery died of blood poisoning March 13, 1913, in a hospital at Toppenish, Washington, after two operations. His demise not only caused sorrow to his immediate family but was greatly regretted by his many friends, all of whom esteemed him as a man of high character, a reliable business man, a public-spirited and loyal citizen and a trustworthy friend.

THEODORE R. JACOBS.

Theodore R. Jacobs, whose ability as an architect is manifest in many of the fine buildings of Yakima and the valley, was born in Mannsville, New York, on the 8th of August, 1883, a son of George M. and Katherine (Rider) Jacobs, who in the year 1888 left the Empire state and removed westward to Colorado. The father was a civil engineer and did much surveying in connection with the development of the irrigation systems of that state. He was appointed United States surveyor general under President Cleveland during the latter's second administration and occupied that office until 1908. He has passed away but is still survived by his wife, who is now living in Pullman, Washington, with a daughter.

Theodore R. Jacobs was but five years of age when the family home was es- tablished in Colorado and his education was acquired in the public schools of Den- ver. He afterward entered the office of F. E. Kidder, a noted architect, when a young man of seventeen years and remained with Mr. Kidder for about eight years, receiving most thorough instruction and practical training in the profession. He

also attended a school in Denver maintained by the American Institute of Archi- tects and known as the Atelier, this being a similar institution to the one or more schools maintained by the American Institute of Architects in each state in the Union. After thorough preliminary training Mr. Jacobs, feeling that he was well qualified to carry on business on his own account, opened an office in Spokane in 1910 and there remained until 1912. He afterward went to Pullman, Washington, and was assistant architect at the State College for four years, having charge of construction work to the amount of one million dollars. On the 25th of April, 1917. he arrived in Yakima and already during the short period of his residence here has designed many of the fine homes of the city. He is now engaged in building

1058

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

the Toppenish high school and he erected the building for the Lowe Tire Company of Yakima and has done other important work.

On the 18th of August, 1917, Mr. Jacobs was married to Miss Mabel B. Gerber, of Yakima, and they have one son, Theodore Rider, Jr. Mr. Jacobs belongs to Whitman Lodge No. 49, A. F. & A. M., and also has membership in the Commer- cial Club. His political allegiance is given to the republican party. Along profes- sional lines he is widely and favorably known and has membership in the Wash- ington State Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Prompted by laud- able ambition, he has held to the highest standards of his profession and his ability has brought him prominently to the front.

GRANDVIEW STATE BANK.

The Grandview State Bank, owing to the enterprising methods and sound judg- ment of its officers, has become one of the strong financial institutions of this sec- tion of the state. It was organized in Grandview, April 1, 1910, succeeding to the banking business of A. W. Hawn & Company, whose private bank had been estab- lished in 1908 by A. W. Hawn, J. D. Bassett and J. E. Prouty. With the organiza- tion of the State Bank in 1910, J. D. Bassett was elected to the presidency, J. E. Prouty becoming vice president and A. W. Hawn cashier. On the 1st of September, 1911, Mr. Prouty and Mr. Bassett sold their interests in the bank. On the 1st of January, 1911, F. H. Gloyd became president and on the 1st of September of that year E. O. Keck was elected vice president. In May, 1912, Mr. Keck became presi- dent of the bank, with George M. Chase as vice president, and with the death of Mr. Keck in the spring of 1917, Mr. Hawn was elected to the presidency. He had continued all through the years as cashier of the bank and when he left that office vacant John Vanderpole was chosen his successor. When the latter was made dep- uty state bank examiner he was succeeded by A. L. Thiele, who has held the office since August 20, 1918.

The bank was established with a capital of ten thousand dollars, which was increased on the 1st of July, 1918, to twenty thousand dollars, and there is a surplus of five thousand dollars. The deposits amount to about three hundred thousand dollars and the rapid growth of the institution is shown by the fact that in 1906 there was only about five thousand dollars on deposit. The bank began business in a little frame building which cost but four hundred dollars. In 1910 a good cor- ner brick building was erected and in 1918 this was replaced by a fine stone building which would be a credit to any town. The bank is supplied with oak fixtures, has a torazzo floor, modern vaults and all equipment such as is found in the most mod- ern bank buildings of the present day. The directors of the bank are A. W. Hawn, George M. Chase and A. L. Thiele. The town of Grandview was established in 1906 and the bank was one of the first business enterprises of the new place. At that date the entire countryside was covered with sagebrush but the town has grown rapidly and the surrounding country has been marvelously developed, the bank remaining as one of the important factors in the business life of the community.

A. W. HAWN.

A. W. Hawn, the honored president of the Grandview State Bank and one of the substantial business men of Yakima county, was born in Canton, South Dakota, November 30, 1873, a son of D. H. and Addie E. (York) Hawn, who were pioneers of South Dakota. The father was born in the state of New York, while the mother's birth occurred in Wisconsin. They drove overland from Wisconsin to South Dakota in 1869, and the father became one of the pioneer farmers of that district. He had previously served his country as a soldier of the Union army in the Civil war. After living for a number of years in South Dakota he removed with his family to Grandview, where he has since remained His wife has passed

1059

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

away but he yet makes his home in Grandview, although he has retired from active business.

A. W. Hawn acquired a public school education and also pursued a business course in Sioux City, Iowa. He then took up the occupation of farming, which he followed for a short time in the early '90s, and later he became deputy register of deeds at Canton, South Dakota. Subsequently he was in an abstract office and then became identified with the banking business as an employe of the Farmers & Merchants Bank at Worthing, South Dakota. In 1903 he arrived in Washington, establishing his home at Ritzville, where he accepted the position of cashier with the King Mercantile Company. He afterward removed to Sunnyside, Washington, where he remained for six months, during which period he was engaged in the real estate and insurance business. He also resided for a few months at Granger, Washington, and finally came to Grandview, where he established a private bank with the founding of the town. The history of this institution is given above. It has shown a steady growth under the wise management and safe control of Mr. Hawn, who has ever recognized the fact that the bank is most worthy of support that most carefully safeguards the interests of its depositors.

In June, 1898, Mr. Hawn was united in marriage to Miss Elma Vida Stilwell. of Canton, South Dakota, and their children are Elma, Lewis, Marcella and Mar- garet. Fraternally Mr. Hawn is connected with the Elks Lodge No. 318, of Yakima, also with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Grandview. His political en- dorsement is given to the republican party and for three years he served as alder- man of Grandview, exercising his official prerogatives in support of many progres- sive public measures. He has been at the head of the Liberty Loan drives in Grandview and has put forth every possible effort to support the war activities and thereby promote the interests of the government. In community affairs he stands for all that has to do with the progress and upbuilding of his section and lends his hearty aid and support to any movement or plan that is calculated to benefit local interests.

OTTO M. JOHNSON.

Otto M. Johnson, who is one of the successful young farmers of Yakima county, was born in Edmonds, Washington, February 9, 1894, a son of Otto W. and Anna C. (Bard) Johnson, both of whom are natives of Sweden. The father came to the United States when seventeen years of age and established his home in St. Paul, Minnesota. The mother was but eleven years of age when she crossed the Atlantic to the new world and they were married in St. Paul. After living for some time in the middle west they came to the Pacific coast, settling in Edmonds, Washington, in 1888. The father was engaged in the shoe business there for a short time and afterward turned his attention to shingle manufacturing, in which business he continued actively for about eighteen years. He is now a shoe mer- chant of Seattle, well known as an enterprising business man of that city.

Otto M. Johnson acquired a public school education and after his textbooks were put aside hecame a plumber and pipe fitter, learning the trade in Seattle. In April, 1912, he removed to Yakima county and for a time operated a ranch be- longing to his father near Wiley City. Subsequently, associated with L. M. Ayling, he bought a ranch near Selah and afterward rented land on Naches Heights for two years. In 1917 he purchased forty acres and he now has twenty-five acres under cultivation, devoted largely to the raising of potatoes, hay and grain as well as other crops. His land is carefully developed according to modern scientific · methods and the results achieved are most desirable. The care and thoroughness with which he has directed his interests have placed him among the successful young farmers of his section of the state.

On the 5th of February, 1916, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Ethel C. Hersom, who was born in Iowa, a daughter of E. B. and Evaline Elizabeth (Henthorne) Hersom, who came to Yakima county in 1902 and settled on a ranch near Selah. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have become parents of an interesting little

1060

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

daughter, Edna Luella. They are well known and highly esteemed in the commu- nity in which they reside, having gained many friends during the period of their residence in Yakima county.

BERT L. BLOOD.

The name of Bert L. Blood is closely associated with the wholesale fruit trade of Wapato, for he was one of the organizers of the Sunset Fruit & Produce Com- pany and remains one of its officials. He was born in Oregon City, Oregon, on the 24th of April, 1883, a son of Abel R. and Hattie A. (Stone) Blood, the former a native of Illinois, while the latter was born in Wisconsin. Both went to Iowa when young people and in the year 1875 Abel R. Blood established his home in Seattle, Washington, where he became connected with the lumber trade. His widow is a daughter of David L. Stone, who removed to Oregon with his family in the same year. The parents of Bert L. Blood were married in Marysville, California, in 1880. They had become acquainted in Iowa and the friendship thus begun ripened into love and was consummated in marriage. In 1881 Abel R. Blood removed from Washington to Oregon and there engaged in teaching school and was also active in the lumber trade. In 1889, however, he returned to Washington, settling at Chehalis, where he made his home until 1898. He then removed to Aberdeen, Washington, where he remained until 1899, when he met death by accident. His widow survives and is now living in Yakima.

After the completion of a high school course Bert L. Blood pursued a business course and then in young manhood became actively identified with the lumber trade. In 1904 he removed to Yakima, where he was employed along various lines of husi- ness, and in the spring of 1907 he purchased an orchard near Yakima and has since been identified with the horticultural interests of the valley. He was a mem- ber of the firm of Pike & Blood, fruit dealers, from 1910 until 1916, when he sold his interest in that connection and in 1917 hecame one of the organizers of the Sun- set Fruit & Produce Company, of which he has since been the vice president. This firm has made steady progress since its organization and their business is now large and gratifying. Mr. Blood also owns a fine fruit ranch of five acres, which is in good bearing

Fraternally he is connected with the Brotherhood of American Yeomen and he belongs to the Toppenish Commercial Club. He is widely known in this section of the state as an energetic and enterprising man and Wapato regards him as a valued addition to her citizenship hecause of his business capacity and his loyalty to every interest calculated to promote the growth and benefit of the town.

J. H. CARSTENS.

A native of Illinois, J. H. Carstens has for about sixteen years heen connected with the development of Yakima, where he has not only been engaged in the build- ing and construction business but has also engineered important real estate deals, contributing by his activities toward the growth of his city, at the same time gain- ing a comfortable competence for himself.

Mr. Carstens passed his boyhood days in Nashville, Illinois, where he received a public school education. As a young man he became connected with the build- ing and construction business and on August 1, 1901, came to Yakima and, acquiring land here, huilt thereon houses which he sold at a gratifying profit. He quickly demonstrated his business ability and also his honesty and reliability, thereby winning the trust and confidence of the public. He deals in real estate and is rec- ognized among the few who have a true knowledge of local conditions. It is therefore but natural that his business affairs have prospered and that he has been quite successful along the line in which he first embarked. He largely gives his

1061

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

attention to developing his own town properties but is also interested in farm lands, particularly in the establishment of fruit ranches.

On December 24, 1896, Mr Carstens was united in marriage to Miss Dora R. Rhine, of Nashville, Illinois, and to them have been born two children, Halsey R. and Alma. Mr. Carstens is prominent in the Masonic order, being a member of Yakima Lodge No. 24, F. & A. M .; Yakima Chapter No. 21, R. A. M .; Yakima Council No. 12, R. & S. M .; and Yakima Commandery, K. T. He also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. In business circles he stands high as a thor- oughly reliable and trustworthy builder and real estate dealer and upon these quali- fications have largely been built his success.

AUSTIN E. TYRRELL.

Although the business training and experience of Austin E. Tyrrell previous to his arrival in Yakima county was totally unlike fruit growing, his activities being directed along clerical lines, he has nevertheless met with substantial success in the development of orchards in the Selah valley, where he now makes his home. He was born in Waseca county, Minnesota, January 27, 1871, a son of Edward and Mary Tyrrell, who in 1868 became residents of that state, removing to the upper Mississippi valley from Maine. The father purchased a homestead from the gov- ernment, securing a tract of land upon which not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made, but with characteristic energy he began its cultivation and transformed the wild tract into productive fields, which he continued to cultivate until his death. His widow survives and now lives with her children.

Austin E. Tyrrell acquired a public school education and afterward pursued a business course in Mankato, Minnesota. He then secured employment in railroad offices, where he continued until 1900, when he went to Montana and spent three years with the Anaconda Copper Mining Company. He was afterward located in Washington, D. C., where for five years he occupied a responsible position in the treasury department of the United States. Attracted, however, by the stories which reached him concerning the opportunities of the Yakima valley for fruit culture, he came to this section of the state in 1910 and purchased ten acres of land on Selah Heights. This tract he has since planted to pears and apples and now has splendid bearing orchards. He has also spent three years in the interval in California as a member of the state board of control but is now again upon the farm, which he is carefully, wisely and successfully managing, having today one of the fine orchard properties of this section of the state.

On the 20th of May, 1900, Mr. Tyrrell was united in marriage to Miss Rena An- derson, a native of Minnesota and a daughter of T. Anderson, of Albert Lea, Minne- sota. Politically Mr. Tyrrell maintains an independent course, voting for men and measures rather than party, nor is he identified with fraternal interests, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention solely upon business affairs, and in all that he does he is actuated by a laudable ambition

ABRAHAM VAN WYK.

Abraham Van Wyk is actively engaged in general farming and stock raising, running both sheep and cattle upon his farm in Yakima county. He was born in Holland. April 9, 1857, a son of John and Johanna Lena Van Wyk, who removed to New Jersey in 1888 and there resided until they were called to their final rest.

Abraham Van Wyk spent the period of his boyhood and youth in his native country and was about twenty-nine years of age, when he came to the United States, crossing the Atlantic in 1886. He made his way to Nevada, where he en- gaged in farming until 1888, when he returned eastward to New Jersey and there joined his parents, who in that year came to the new world. He continued a resi- dent of New Jersey until 1904, when he made his way to the Pacific northwest, (44)

1062

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

settling in Yakima county, Washington, where he purchased twenty acres on the Moxee. To this he afterward added a ten-acre tract, becoming owner of thirty acres in all. He has since devoted his attention to general farming and he has over six hundred head of sheep and cattle, handling registered Holstein cattle. His live stock interests constitute an important branch of his business. He is also engaged in the raising of hay and grain and his farming interests have gained him a place among the substantial citizens of his section of the state.

On the 27th of August, 1898, Mr. Van Wyk was married to Miss Freda Neu- deck, a native of Germany and a daughter of Gustave and Antonia Neudeck. Mrs. Van Wyk came to the United States at the age of sixteen years with her parents and was married in New Jersey. To this marriage have been born five children: John, who was born July 6, 1899; Gustave, born October 5, 1900; Walter, May 8, 1906; Otto Ernest, December 24, 1908; and Johanna Lena, May 28, 1911.

The parents attend the First Reformed church and Mr. Van Wyk gives his political support to the republican party. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for here he has found the opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has made steady progress toward the goal of success.

FRANK TAYLOR.

Frank Taylor, of Ellensburg, filling the office of deputy sheriff of Kittitas county, was born in Yakima county, Washington, on the 4th of July, 1883, near Ellensburg, a son of William J. and Mary (Grewell) Taylor, of whom extended mention is made on another page of this volume. Reared in this section of Wash- ington, he acquired a public school education in Ellensburg, completing his course by graduation from the high school with the class of 1903. He was then engaged with his father in the live stock business until they retired from that field of activity in 1898. They were afterward engaged in dealing in horses for several years and subsequently Frank Taylor took up the occupation of farming, which he followed for four years. He later devoted three years to teaming in Ellensburg and on the 3d of March, 1914, he was called to the office of deputy sheriff, in which position he has served for two terms, making a creditable record in that connection hy the prompt and fearless discharge of his duties. In 1918 he became the candi- date of the democratic party for the office of sheriff.

In 1906 Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to Miss Emma Abraham, of Cali- fornia, and to them have been born three children: Bernice May, Lois Augusta and Frankie William. In his fraternal connections Mr. Taylor is an Elk, belonging to Lodge No. 1102 of Ellensburg. His business interests and his public activity have made him widely known through this section of the state and he is highly esteemed as one who has heen loyal to duty and faithful to every cause which he has espoused.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 127

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