History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 129

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 129
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 129
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 129

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Albert G. Berry was a pupil in the public schools near his father's home and when not busily engaged with his textbooks he concentrated his efforts and atten- tion upon the ranch work. In 1903, however, he went to Idaho and on the 12th of October. 1904, came to Kittitas county, where he accepted the position of manager of the ranch of Judge Kaufman, in which responsible position he continued for six years. On the 15th of May, 1911, he purchased eighty acres of land a mile and a half west of Thorp and has since added to his original holdings by the purchase, on the 10th of March, 1916, of nine hundred and sixty acres. He devotes two hundred and forty acres of his place to farming and the remainder of his land is in pasture. In addition to raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and also to raising hay, he gives considerable of his attention to sheep. He has a fine ranch, well im-

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proved, and his business affairs are systematically, carefully and intelligently di- rected, bringing to him gratifying returns.

In 1906 Mr. Berry was married to Miss Tena Holtorf, a native of California and a daughter of Henry and Marie Holtorf, who are now residents of Trinity county, California, where the father is engaged in the cattle business. Mr. and Mrs. Berry have two children, Clarence Albert and Mabel.

Mr. Berry votes with the republican party and keeps well informed on the ques- tions and issues of the day. He is a self-made man, his prosperity resulting from his close application and indefatigable energy. He is imbued with the spirit of wes- tern enterprise and, realizing the possibilities of the northwest, he never stops short of the successful accomplishment of his purpose, which is ever in the line of honor- able activity.

HARRY J. DUNHAM.

Harry J. Dunham, a university man, now filling the office of clerk of the United States district court at Yakima, was born in Morris, Illinois, on the 18th of August, 1892, a son of John and Catherine (Hynds) Dunham. The father died in Mexico about 1900, after which the mother took her family to Missoula, Montana, where she resided for a time, and then removed to Spokane. She was married a second time, becoming the wife of Dr. W. H. Hare, one of the pioneers of the Yakima valley, who is now clerk of the federal court of Spokane, where they make their home.

Harry J. Dunham began his education in the schools of Laporte, Indiana, and afterward took up the study of law at Gonzaga University in Washington, from which he was graduated with the class of 1916. During his college days he was very active on the football and basket ball teams and acted as coach for Marquette College. He came to Yakima as clerk of the district court under Judge Frank H. Rudkin and has since occupied this position, the duties of which he discharges with the utmost thor- oughness and system.

Mr. Dunham is a member of St. Joseph's Catholic church and in politics he main- tains an independent course but keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day and gives his aid to the men and measures that he believes are most worthy of support. He has gained a wide acquaintance during his residence in Yakima and has won the warm friendship of many.

WILLIAM C. WILLETT.

William C. Willett has charge of the county farm in Yakima county and has the distinction of being the only man who has made the property self-supporting. In fact he has so carefully and wisely directed its interests that he not only makes expenses but profits have also accrued upon the work that has been carried on there.

Mr. Willett is a native of Boston, Erie county, New York. He was born June 19, 1869, of the marriage of Christopher and Catherine (Leib) Willett. The father has now passed away but the mother still resides in New York. For many years Christopher Willett was identified with agricultural pursuits.

William C. Willett is indebted to the Empire state for the educational privileges which he enjoyed and which qualified him for life's responsible duties. He was reared to the work of the farm and after his schooldays were over concentrated his efforts and attention upon agricultural pursuits in New York until 1902, when he removed to Poplar Grove, Illinois, and was cashier of the Poplar Grove Bank at that place until 1908. He afterward devoted three years to general farming and in 1911 came to Yakima county, where he purchased a fruit ranch of five acres south of the city of Yakima. He sold that property in 1914 and for a short period was a resident of the city, being connected with the Yakima street department until November, 1915. He was then appointed superintendent of the Yakima county farm, of which he has since had charge. His work in this connection has been highly satisfactory. Since he as-

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sumed the superintendency two silos have been built, the barn has been painted, a basement has been put under the house and all buildings upon the place have been painted. The water system has also been improved, a large amount of new pipe line having been added, and Mr. Willett deserves much credit for what he has ac- complished, for he is the only man who has made the county farm self-supporting. He has sold considerable hay, cream, potatoes and stock from the place, his sales of hay in 1918 amounting to over two thousand dollars. The farm has doubled the amount of stock with which it was equipped in the past three years and in every way Mr. Willett has proved himself an able and enterprising business man.

On the 30th of May, 1893, occurred the marriage of Mr. Willett and Miss Har- riet Almira Churchill, of West Falls, New York. Their children are: Mabel, now the wife of Niles Strow, of Yakima, by whom she has two children; and Byron Churchill, who is a member of the United States army, now on active duty in the spruce department. He is married but has no children.

Mr. Willett is a member of Yakima Lodge, No. 318, B. P. O. E .; of Yakima Lodge, No. 295, I. O. O. F., and also is affiliated with the Daughters of Rebekah and with the Knights of Pythias lodge in Yakima. While in Illinois he held all of the chairs in the Odd Fellows lodge. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and while residing at Poplar Grove, Illinois, he filled the office of alderman. He stands stanchly in support of every principle in which he believes and of every cause which he espouses. He has hecome well known through the period of his residence in the northwest and has many substantial qualities which make for per- sonal popularity.

DAVID T. WILLSON.

A valuable ranch property of forty acres pays a substantial annual income to David T. Willson in return for the care and labor which he systematically bestows upon it. His methods are practical, his judgment sound and his enterprise unfalter- ing. He has lived in Washington since 1899, coming to the Pacific coast from Iowa. His birth occurred in Des Moines county, near Morning Sun, Iowa, on the 16th of November, 1866, his parents being Adam and Anna (Reid) Willson, both of whom were born near Mckeesport, Pennsylvania, and became pioneer residents of Iowa, where the father entered a claim from the government, securing a tract of wild and un- dveloped land upon which not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made. He at once began the arduous task of converting it into cultivable fields and through- out his entire life carried on farming. Both he and his wife, however, died in the early '70s.

David T. Willson was thus left an orphan when but a young lad. He acquired a public school education, which was supplemented by study in an academy of Iowa, and subsequently he entered the livery business and also engaged in the sale of buggies in connection with his brother, Adam C. Willson, at Morning Sun, Iowa. At length they determined to try their fortune in the northwest and together made their way to Seattle in 1899. They worked for wages there for a time and subsequently invested their savings in a stock of groceries. The year 1903 witnessed their arrival in Yakima county and they purchased together eighty acres of land near Grandview. This they cleared and cultivated, transforming it into a good farm property. They built a fine home thereon, also substantial barns and outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock, and after cultivating the place for a time they sold forty acres of the land. Later David T. Willson purchased his brother's interest in the remaining forty, his brother having passed away in 1914. He still owns this property and it is a valuable tract. He has ten acres in orchard, nine acres being planted to apples and one acre to cherries. The remainder of his ranch is devoted to the raising of hay, to the raising of hogs and to the dairy business. Whatever he undertakes proves profi- table, for he is a man of determined purpose who allows no obstacles or difficulties to bar his path if they can be overcome by persistent and honorable effort. He has worked diligently and persistently, closely studying methods of ranch development in the northwest, and his work has been productive of excellent results.

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On the 20th of March, 1895, Mr. Willson was married to Miss Leah Rachel Wil- son, who was born in Morning Sun, Iowa, a daughter of William M. and Miriam (Conway) Wilson. Her mother was born in Liverpool, England. Her father, a native of Illinois, became a pioneer settler of Iowa, where he devoted his attention to farming for many years. He passed away, however, in 1912, but the mother still resides in Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. David T. Willson have reared three children: Grace Meyers, the wife of Ernest De Good, a rancher residing at Prosser, Washington; Laverne Boies, sixteen years of age; and Robert Kelly, fourteen years of age. The last two are both high school students.

Mr. Willson became a charter member of the Grange, and both he and his wife have held office in the local organization. They are also members of the Presby- terian church and their lives are guided by the highest principles. Maintaining an independent political attitude, Mr. Willson supports the candidates whom he thinks best qualified for office. His own capability has frequently led to his selection for public work and duties. He has served for many years on the school board and he has heen treasurer of the County Grange. Self-made, he deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, for he has been hoth the architect and builder of his own fortunes.

FREDERICK C. PALMER.

Frederick C. Palmer, whose name is inseparably interwoven with the business development of Toppenish, took up his abode in the town when it contained only two brick buildings and had a population of but three hundred. Today it is a most pro- gressive city of twenty-five hundred population and is steadily growing. With its commercial development Mr. Palmer has been most closely associated and in every possible way he has contributed to its upbuilding and to the advancement of its civic standards. He was born in Faribault, Minnesota, on the 5th of February, 1884, a son of George and Sophia Palmer, who in the same year left Minnesota and re- moved with their family to Washington, settling at Goldendale. The father was a carpenter by trade and followed that pursuit in order to provide for his wife and children. Both Mr. and Mrs. George Palmer have now passed away. In 1899 they had removed to Yakima and their remaining days were there passed.

Frederick C. Palmer, whose name introduces this review, acquired his public school education at Goldendale and at Yakima and afterward pursued a commercial course. His early practical training in the business world was received as clerk in connection with a mercantile house of Yakima and in April, 1908, he came to Toppen- ish, where he opened a grocery store in the Gilbert block. Later he added a stock of steel goods, granite ware, crockery and other similar lines and now has one of the leading 'stores of the town. It is an L shaped store, with entrance on Toppenish avenue and also on Washington street. Mr. Palmer began business in connection with W. C. Moore under the firm style of Moore & Palmer, and they also carried a large stock of furniture for some time but eventually disposed of that line. Mr. Palmer purchased the interest of Mr. Moore in 1913 and in February, 1917, incor- porated the business under the style of F. C. Palmer & Company. He is the presi- dlent and manager, with H. G. Palmer as the treasurer and J. E. Crane as secretary. H. G. Palmer, however, is now a member of the hospital corps of the United States Navy. In addition to his commercial interests Mr. Palmer owns a fine ranch near Toppenish.

On the 25th of May. 1909, Mr. Palmer was married to Miss Inez Faris, of Yakima, who was born at The Dalles, Oregon, a daughter of Enfield Faris, a pioneer settler of that region. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer have two children: Frederick C., Jr., who was eight years of age on the 10th of August, 1918; and Katherine Mary, born in December, 1914.

Fraternally Mr. Palmer is connected with the Yakima lodge of Elks, with Toppen- ish Lodge, No. 178, A. F. & A. M., and has also taken the Scottish Rite degrees in Yakima, while with the Nobles of Afifi Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Tacoma he has crossed the sands of the desert. He belongs to the Commercial Club and has

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served on its governing board. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and his religious faith is that of the Christian church. Alert and energetic, he has won a prominent position among the foremost business men of his section, con- tributing in marked measure to that commercial activity which is one of the strong- est basic elements in the upbuilding of a district.

JOHN BOYSON.

John Boyson, who has retired from ranching and now makes his home in Yakima, was born in Denmark, June 29, 1854, a son of John and Christina (Christenson) Boy- son, both of whom have passed away. The son acquired a public school education in his native country and in 1878 came to the United States, working first in the lum- ber woods of Wisconsin and afterward in the iron mines in Michigan. In 1887 he arrived in Tacoma, Washington, and soon afterward secured employment in a saw- mill at Buckley and at Hot Springs. He next located at Kingsley, Washington, but afterward returned to Buckley and in 1893 came to Yakima. Soon afterward he rented a ranch on the Selah and later worked for the Yakima Power & Light Com- pany. He was subsequently connected with the Pacific Power & Light Company as chief engineer and while thus engaged he purchased a ranch a mile west of Wiley City. This he owned and developed until 1917, when he purchased another ranch seven miles west of Yakima, on which he lived until November, 1918, when he sold the property and took up his abode in the city.

On the 10th of September, 1886, Mr. Boyson was married to Miss Ella Martin, a native of Denmark and a daughter of Benjamin and Christina Martin. She came to the United States in her girlhood and in Michigan gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Boyson. They have a daughter, Hannah Christina, now the wife of Edmond Sargent, a resident of Peoria, Illinois, and a minister of the Seventh Day Adventist church in that city. Mr. and Mrs. Sargent now have a daughter and a son.

Mr. and Mrs. Boyson arc also members of the Seventh Day Adventist church, and fraternally he is connected with the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. His political allegiance is given to the republican party. Mrs. Boyson is a trained nurse by profession and for fifteen years engaged in nursing in Yakima under Dr. Fletcher and Dr. Baker. As the years have passed and Mr. Boyson has carefully directed his business interests he has won success and is today one of the men of affluence in Yakima. His experiences have been broad and varied. Born and reared in Denmark, he spent two years in France before coming to the United States and has resided in various sections of this country. At all times he has been actuated by a laudable ambition to advance and he has won his way steadily upward step by step, gaining that prosperity which is the legitimate reward of labor.

WILLIAM LUDWIG.

The attractive home of William Ludwig, which was built in 1911, stands on an excellently improved ranch property in the Zillah district and as a result of his care- fully directed efforts and unfaltering industry Mr. Ludwig is meeting with substantial success. He was born in Germany, October 10, 1857, a son of W. M. and Sophie Ludwig, who came to the United States in later life, settling in Illinois. The father is now deceased but the mother survives and makes her home with her son William.

The latter obtained a public school education in his native country and in 1880. when a young man of twenty-three years, became a resident of Illinois, where he began working for wages. He afterward removed to Madison county, Nebraska, where he carried on farming until the spring of 1903, when the opportunities of the northwest attracted him and he made his way to the Yakima valley. He purchased sixty-seven acres of land near Buena, all under cultivation, and he now successfully engages in the raising of hay and corn and cattle and hogs. His is a well improved property, equipped with all modern accessories and conveniences, and the care and

WILLIAM LUDWIG

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labor which he bestows upon the fields is manifest in the excellent crops which he annually gathers. In 1911 he erected an attractive and commodious residence which is supplied with hot and cold water and all modern conveniences. He also has good barns upon his place and he is getting much enjoyment out of life because of his success.

On the 12th of January, 1889, Mr. Ludwig was married to Miss Augusta Shilling, a native of Germany, and they have seven children. Charles, the eldest, who is married and has a daughter, is engaged in the garage business at Buena; Mary, is at home; William is proprietor of a garage at Wenatchee; Arthur, Annie, Walter and Frank are still under the parental roof. All are members of the Christian Science church.

In politics Mr. Ludwig maintains an independent course. He concentrates his efforts and attention largely upon his business affairs and has become recognized as one of the leading ranchers of his community. He bought four hundred and forty acres of dry land above the ditch and cleared much of it and drilled six deep wells to furnish the water supply but found it too expensive to irrigate the land. In the development of his home property he has displayed sound judgment and keen busi- ness sagacity, and his stalwart purpose and resolution are manifest in the substantial prosperity which he has ultimately achieved.

SAMUEL MARTIN McLEAN.

For about thirty years Samuel Martin McLean, a native of Washington, has been connected with agricultural development in Yakima county and thus he has con- tributed toward the upbuilding of this rich and now prosperous section of the state. He is one of the representative farmers of the county, having a fine ranch of one hundred and sixty acres which stands as evidence of his progressive methods, in- dustry and business ability. He was born in Clarke county, this state, January 24, 1866, a son of Thomas and Nancy Ann (Armstrong) McLean, of whom more ex- tended mention is made in connection with the sketch of Frank McLean, a brother. After the demise of his first wife the father married her sister, the latter becoming the mother of our subject.

Samuel M. McLean was reared under the parental roof amid farm surroundings and in the acquirement of his education attended the public schools. He subse- quently assisted with the farm work, thereby becoming thoroughly familiar with the most progressive methods and thus laying the foundation for a successful career along agricultural lines. In 1888 Mr. McLean came to Yakima county, being then twenty-two years of age, and for some time operated rented land in various sections. In 1902 he took up government land on the Cowiche, and to the cultivation of this tract he has since given his close attention, always following the most up-to-date methods. His farm comprises one hundred and sixty acres, of which thirty-three are under cultivation, and he raises hay and grain, also giving considerable time and attention to cattle. He has erected valuable buildings upon the property, and having closely studied soil and climatic conditions, derives most gratifying harvests in re- turn for the care which he bestows upon his fields. A number of improvements have been instituted, modern farm machinery has been installed and other equipment has been added, so that his property is today considered one of the most valuable in Yakima county.

On November 16, 1890, Mr. McLean was united in marriage to Miss Clara Wed- dle, a daughter of Frank and Martha M. (Sullivan) Weddle, natives of Indiana, who in 1871 crossed the plains under pioneer conditions, going to Oregon, in which state they spent a few years. They came to the Cowiche valley in Yakima county in 1880 and here the father took up a homestead, to the cultivation of which he de- voted his attention. They were numbered among the honored pioneers of this valley and have now passed away. To Mr. and Mrs. McLean were born thirteen children: Violet, who married Frank Collins, a rancher in the Cowiche district, by whom she has two children; George S., who is a member of the Twentieth Engineers of the Forest service of the United States army and is now in France; Marion, who is ranch .

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ing on the Cowiche and is married; Wilena G., deceased; Goldie, at home; Viola, also deceased; Lyle; Vilera, deceased; Orville; Walter; Theodore; and Donald and Delorse, twins, born February 6, 1916.

Mr. and Mrs. McLean are numbered among the highly honored pioneers of Yakima county. In politics he is a republican but has never sought office, preferring to give his attention to his private affairs but faithfully performing his duties as an American citizen at the ballot box. Through the development of a valuable farm he has contributed to the general prosperity, and he has many friends in his district, all of whom esteem him as a man of high character.

NORMAN P. MEAD.

Norman P. Mead, an orchardist of Yakima county, was born in Butler county, Iowa, November 18, 1889, a son of Charles Sumner and Mary Mead. They came to the Yakima valley in 1896 and for two years were residents of the city of Yakima. The father then purchased forty acres of land two and a half miles southwest of the depot and afterward added to his original holdings until he had one hundred acres in Yakima county. As time passed he acquired other landed holdings until he was the owner of large ranches on the Parker bottoms, comprising over six hundred acres. On the Yakima ranch he planted sixty acres to fruit. He also had another tract of one hundred and twenty acres near Yakima and was thus extensively and success- fully engaged in farming and fruit raising. Upon his home place he built a fine resi- dence and large and substantial barns and added all of the accessories and conven- iences of the model farm. He improved several of his ranches and after successfully carrying on business for many years he decided to retire. He then took up his abode in Yakima, but indolence and idleness are utterly foreign to his nature and he could not be content without some occupation. He has therefore purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land on the Naches and there resides at the present time.

Norman P. Mead acquired a public school education and after mastering the branches of learning therein taught spent two years as a student in Vashon College at Burton and two and a half years in Washington State College at Pullman. Sub- sequently he was with his father upon the ranch and became his active assistant in the development and improvement of his land. In 1915 the father gave to Norman P. Mead ten acres of fruit land, planted to apples and pears This is ten acres of the old home place, upon which stands a most beautiful and attractive residence. Mr. Mead also rents twenty acres in addition and thus farms thirty acres in all, his time and attention being largely given to orcharding.

On the 24th of April, 1915, Mr. Mead was united in marriage to Miss Helen Marguerite Cornwell, of Montana, a daughter of John Cornwell, who came to Yakima county in 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Mead have one child, Mary Jean.

In his political views Mr. Mcad is a republican and fraternally he is connected with the Yakima lodge of Elks, No. 318. He is widely known and his social quali- ties are such as make for personal popularity, so that he has an extensive circle of friends wherever he has gone.

JACOB E. TAYLOR.

Among the prosperous agriculturists of Yakima county who have come from the middle west is Jacob E. Taylor, who owns a valuable property near Sunnyside, com- prising forty-three acres four miles southwest of the town. It is in excellent con- dition, the buildings are in good repair, the farm home is modern and commodious and everything about the place denotes the progressive spirit of the owner.

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History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 129

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