History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 132

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 132
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 132
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 132

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George Weikel acquired a public school education and afterward spent two years, 1875 and 1876, as a student in the Umpqua Academy. Through the succeed-

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ing two years he was a pupil in the Sisters' College at Yakima and for four years attended the public schools. He early became interested in the live stock business with his father and from an early day has been closely associated with the business development and progress of the county along various lines. With many lines of business he was closely associated and his activities extended to those fields wherein the public was a large beneficiary. He was responsible for instituting the work that resulted in the building of the Tieton canal, which he planned and started. He also assisted in railway construction and for eight years he was engaged in the whole- sale and retail coal trade in Yakima. In 1896 he went to Alaska, where he remained until 1898 and then returned to the States. He has since been engaged in ranching in the valley and is today the owner of more than four hundred and eighty acres of land under cultivation. He has seventy acres planted to fruit trees, ninety acres to hops and one hundred acres to alfalfa. He produces large crops and as an orchard- ist occupies a prominent position, having been one of the most successful as well as one of the extensive fruit growers of this section. He is likewise engaged in stock raising and his business affairs at all times are conducted along thoroughly legitimate and constructive lines, his success being most honorably won.

On the 15th of March, 1899, Mr. Weikel was united in marriage to Miss Ella Chambers, a daughter of Andrew J. and Elizabeth J. (Brown) Chambers. The father was born in Olympia, Washington, in 1853, a son of Thomas J. and America (McAllister) Chambers. The McAllisters came to Washington in 1845 and Benton McAllister, a brother of Mrs. Chambers, was the first white male child born in this state. Thomas J. Chambers was a son of Thomas M. Chambers, a native of Ireland, who took up his abode in Tennessee about 1833, after having previously visited America on two occasions. He subsequently removed to Kentucky and in 1843 started for the west. He spent the winter in Ohio and then resumed his journey, arriving in Oregon in 1845, after having traveled across the country with team and wagon. He was among the first to settle within the boundaries of that state. Later he took up his abode near Olympia, and Chambers creek was named in his honor, while at a later period Chambers Prairie, between Olympia and Seattle, was named for him. He owned and operated the first sawmill in Washington and was con- nected with many events which have left their impress upon the history and develop- ment of the state. He held many positions of trust and was the first probate judge in Washington. Thomas J. Chambers, the grandfather of Mrs. Weikel, was born at Hermitage, Tennessee, in 1833 and was a second cousin of Andrew Jackson. He came to Yakima county in 1866, settling near the city of Yakima, where he lived to the time of his death, which occurred at the home of his daughter. He was a prominent pioneer and in the Yakima valley was widely known as a large cattle raiser and successful dairyman and stockman. His son, Andrew J. Chambers, was a youth of fourteen years when the family came to Yakima county. Here he en- gaged in the cattle business for a considerable period but for the past quarter of a century has given his attention to merchandising at Ahtanum. He now has a small ranch and dairy. His wife was born in New York city, a daughter of William and Mary J. Brown, who made their way to California by boat and across the Isthmus of Panama on mules. Mrs. Chambers being at that time five years of age, the trip heing made in 1854. Later the family removed to Oregon, where Mr. Brown en- gaged in mining. Mrs. Chambers was educated in a convent at Vancouver, Wash- ington, and in 1873 came to Yakima to teach school on the Yakima Indian reserva- tion. At that time there were but few settlers in the neighborhood, there heing hut five children in the school. Mr. and Mrs. Chambers were married in the city of Yakima in the year 1875. The latter was very active in nursing and assisting the sick in those pioneer times when professional help could not be secured.

Mrs. Weikel is a graduate of the schools of Ahtanum and also of the State Nor- mal School of the class of 1895. She owns a ranch on Naches Heights, where the Basket Fort Indian fight took place in 1856. She is a lady of charming personality, always cordial and gracious to her many friends. By her marriage she became the mother. of a daughter. Elizabeth C., who was graduated as honor member from the Yakima high school in the class of 1918 and is now attending the University of Washington at Seattle. where she is specializing in library work. She is also a stu- dent of music. Mrs. Weikel and her daughter attend the Episcopal church.

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Mr. Weikel has membership with the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of the Maccabees. His political support is given to the republican party and he is very active as a worker in its ranks but is not an office seeker. He served as a member of Troop D in the State Cavalry Home Guard. He is one of the leading men of his community-a gentleman of charming manner and pleasing personality, highly esteemed wherever known and most of all where best known, Mrs. Weikel is a charter member of the Coterie Club of Yakima, in which she has held all the offices, including that of president. Both Mr. and Mrs. Weikel are highly cultured people and their home in Yakima, where they reside, is the center of many attractive social functions. Both are representative of old and honored pioneer families of the west and the work instituted by their grandparents and carried on by their parents is being continued by them-work for the benefit and improvement of the district in which they live, notable for progress along material, intellectual and cultural lines.

ARTHUR H. WHEATON.

Benton county has been fortunate in the selection of its county officials, one of whom is Arthur H. Wheaton, assessor. He was born in Syracuse, New York, in 1885, and is a son of Charles W. and Agnes Leora (Huxford) Wheaton, both of whom passed away in New York. The father was a hardware manufacturer in his state and long conducted a prosperous industrial enterprise there.

Arthur H. Wheaton was reared amid the refining influences of a good home and in the acquirement of his education attended the public schools until he started out in life on his own account, becoming a salesman for his father. At the age of eighteen years he decided to cross the continent, having been impressed with the vast opportunities offered to a young man in the west, and came to Washington, locating in Spokane, where for two years he was connected with Jensen. King & Berg, live stock dealers, remaining with them until 1905. He then accepted a posi- tion with J. J. Reed & Company in Kennewick and later was with King & Son. gen- eral merchants. In 1911 he was appointed postmaster of Kennewick and efficiently served in that position until 1914, when he became county assessor of Benton county. In 1915 he was re-elected and has since ably discharged his duties in this connection. He is a trustworthy and thoroughly reliable official, ever ready to assist the public, and has made many friends while in office. In 1918 he was a candidate for the posi- tion of county auditor.

In 1912 Mr. Wheaton was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Vernon Williams, of Kennewick, and to them has been born a daughter. Agnes Leora. The young couple are very popular in the social set of their city and have made many friends, all of whom consider it an honor to share in the hospitality of their home, which Mr. and Mrs. Wheaton ever hold open to them.

In his political affiliations Mr. Wheaton is a republican, faithfully upholding the standards of his party and having considerable influence in its local councils. He is very prominent in fraternal circles, being a member of the blue lodge of Masons and also of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which organization he has held all the chairs as well as in the encampment of that order. The religious faith of the family is that of the Episcopal church and they are ever ready to give their active moral and financial support to the work of that organization. Mr. Wheaton owns farm property near Prosser, which is now being brought to a good state of cul- tivation.

SAMUEL B. RAGSDALE.

Samuel B. Ragsdale, whose ranch property of thirty-five acres is carefully cul- tivated and developed, was born at Shoal, Indiana, February 7. 1876, and is a son of Silas and Romaine (Salyards) Ragsdale, both of whom passed away ere their son Samuel had reached the age of five years. Thus left an orphan, he lived with a guar-

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dian until he was fourteen years of age, when he started out to provide for his own support and for seven years worked for wages. He was desirous, however, of en- gaging in business on his own account and when he had attained his majority he rented land in Indiana and there carried on farming until 1903. In that year he removed to Yakima county and purchased forty acres of land near Grandview. It was an undeveloped tract covered with the native growth of sagebrush and it re- quired much arduous labor to transform it into a state of fertility and productiveness. He afterward sold twenty acres of that place but later purchased fifteen acres more, so that he now has thirty-five acres in all. On this he raises fruit, hay and grain, and he also rents one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he devotes to the rais- ing of hay and grain. He has thus become one of the extensive ranchers of the district with a well developed and highly productive property from which he is an- nually deriving a most substantial income. He is also one of the directors of the Grandview Irrigation Ditch.

On the 31st of October, 1897, Mr. Ragsdale was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Brown, a native of Indiana and a daughter of T. E. Brown. The children of this marriage were eleven in number: Edward, Roy, Otto, Walter, Pearl, Gladys, Clar- encc, Albert, Nellie, Gertrude and Nellie.

Mr. Ragsdale votes with the democratic party and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day but has never been an aspirant for office preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs, which have made him one of the men of affluence in his community.

THEODORE S. DARBY.

Theodorc S. Darby, who now resides on his valuable fruit ranch in the Parker Heights orchard tract, is one of the most successful orchardists of his district. Until 1918 he resided in Yakima but in order to better supervise his important interests has now taken up his residence on his ranch, where he and his brother planted the first trees. The property is largely devoted to the raising of apples but one-half of the orchard has pears as fillers, while a part is seeded to alfalfa. It is under the Union Gap ditch and through irrigation has become very valuable. Mr. Darby has built his own packing sheds and other necessary buildings in order to promote his business interests.

A native of Cortland, New York, Theodore S. Darby was born March 12, 1854, of the marriage of Edwin and Helen (Short) Darby, the former a native of Cort- land, New York, and the latter of Homer, that state. The grandfather of our subject, Joseph Darby, was born in England and after crossing the Atlantic first settled in Connecticut, but later took up his residence in New York. He followed farming, as did the father of our subject. The latter became a resident of Maryland and about 1883 removed to Missouri, where both he and his wife passed away.

Theodore S. Darby received a public school education in New York state and Maryland. He continued on the home place after laying aside his textbooks, until the age of twenty-three years, when he started upon his independent career and for fifteen years was an employe in a wagon factory. Removing to Missouri, he acquired land in that state, which he farmed for eight years, but at the end of that period came to Yakima county in September, 1902. Here he and his brother, Arthur T. Darby, bought land in the Wide Hollow district, which was devoted to orchard and to alfalfa, but this property they sold in 1905, our subject then acquired a ten acre orchard in Fruitvale, which he sold two and a half years later, and in 1907 he and three brothers, Arthur T., E. F. and E. H. Darby, bought forty-three acres in the Parker Heights ochard tracts, No. 2, which at that time was all covered with sage- brush. They planted the first trees here and now the entire tract is in orchards, the principal crop being apples. One-half of the land has pears as fillers and part of it is seeded to alfalfa. They built their own packing plant and the orchard is now in full bearing, guaranteeing them a large profit annually. The land is under the Union Gap ditch and all under irrigation. Mr. Darby lived in Yakima until 1918 but in that year moved upon his ranch. He is now considered one of the most progressive

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and up-to-date orchardists of his neighborhood and is a member of the Horticul- tural Union, being thoroughly in accord with the purposes of that organization. His brother, Arthur T. is now a fruit grower in the neighborhood of the fairgounds in Yakima, while E. H. resides on the ranch with our subject. He is married and has two sons. E. F. Darby, the other brother, has passed away. Each of the living brothers owns an individual tract but they operate the land together.

On May 30, 1898, Theodore S. Darby was united in marriage to Della (Dudley) Trussell, who was born in Clinton county, Missouri, a daughter of William and Jane (Hockenberry) Dudley, the former yet a resident of Missouri but the latter deceased. Mrs. Darby had a daughter by her former marriage, Vida Trussell, who makes her home with her stepfather. To Mr. and Mrs. Darby were born a son and a daughter: Edwin, at home; and Louise, a student in the high school. Mrs. Darby passed away January 22, 1918, hier demise not only being a great shock to her immediate family but to the many friends whom she had made in this neighborhood.

In his political affiliation Mr. Darby is a republican, inclined toward the pro- gressive wing of that party, and for two years he served as a director of Union Gap ditch, being deeply interested in the subject of irrigation, which he recognizes as of the greatest importance in regard to the horticultural development of the district. He has served for two terms on the school board in Fruitvale, the cause of education ever finding in him a warm champion. In fact he has ever been interested in move- ments which have for their purpose intellectual and moral upbuilding as well as ma- terial development. He is the manager of the fruit ranch upon which he now resides and in the administration of his affairs he has not only gained prosperity for himself but is an important force in horticultural development here, thus contributing toward general prosperity and the upbuilding of his district.

DANIEL A. McDONALD.

Daniel A. McDonald, rancher and banker, identified with the financial interests of Yakima county as the vice president of the First National Bank of Wapato and actively interested in the further development and cultivation of a valuable ranch property in that vicinity, was born on Prince Edward Island in 1861, a son of Alexander and Isabel McDonald, who were pioneer residents of Canada, identified with farming interests there.

Daniel A. McDonald acquired a public school education in his native country and at the age of twenty years went to Boston, where for three months he was em- ployed in a rattan factory. Attracted by the opportunities of the growing northwest, he then made his way to Montana and was employed by the Northern Pacific Rail- road Company. He came to the Yakima valley in 1883 as the railroad was being built into this section and continued in railway service for a short time but soon resigned. In 1885 he took up a preemption claim near Yakima, now known as the Alderson farm, and lived upon the property until 1888, when he sold the place. In 1889 he went to Parker Bottoms, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land and in the intervening years he has become one of the leading ranchers of this section of the state, devoting his attention to the raising of live stock and to the cul- tivation of fruit and hops. His is a splendidly developed property. He annually gathers large crops of fruit and his hop interests also furnish a most substantial yield. He raises high grade stock, whereby he materially increases his annual in- come, and in all that he undertakes he displays a most progressive spirit. In 1910 he built upon his ranch one of the best homes in the Parker Bottoms. The same year the town of Donald, Washington, was established upon his farm and was named in his honor. With firm faith in the future of the district, Mr. McDonald has made extensive investments here and is now the owner of over four hundred acres of fine land in the lower Yakima valley, of which thirty acres is planted to fruit, while the remainder is plow land, largely devoted to the raising of hay and grain. In his stock raising interests he makes a specialty of handling fine shorthorn cattle.

In 1889 Mr. McDonald was united in marriage to Miss Ella F. Dunn, the eldest daughter of Captain Robert and Annie M. (Curry) Dunn, mentioned on another page

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of this work in connection with the sketch of George Dunn. Mrs. McDonald was born in Kentucky in 1866, crossed the plains with her parents and attended school in Yakima. To this marriage five children have been born: Edith, born August 25, 1890, is the wife of Melvin Anderson, a rancher near Harrah, and they have four sons. Isabel, born September 15, 1891, is the wife of Roy Tavis, a rancher residing near Wapato, and they have one son. Robert, born September 8, 1894, is at home. Clara, born August 3, 1897, is the wife of Richard Williams, of Buena, Washington, who is there engaged in the automobile business, and they have one daughter. Daniel, born November 30, 1900, is assisting in the development of the home ranch, which in its splendid appearance indicates the careful supervision and untiring efforts of father and sons. In addition to his ranching interests Mr. McDonald is connected with the First National Bank of Wapato, of which he has been a director from its organization and of which he is now vice president.

Fraternally Mr. McDonald is connected with the Masons and his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church, while his political belief is that of the republican party. He is accounted "one of the good men of the valley," a prosperous rancher, able and resourceful in business and loyal and public-spirited in citizenship.

EDWARD CALDER HESTON, M. D.

Dr. Edward Calder Heston, physician and surgeon practicing at Roslyn, was born at State College, Pennsylvania, September 20, 1884, a son of Dr. John W. and Mary (Calder) Heston, the latter now deceased. The father removed from the Key- stone state to South Dakota in 1896 and is a prominent educator of that section, being now president of the State Normal School. He also served at one time as president of the college at Pullman, Washington, and is recognized as a man of pronounced ability in the educational field.

Edward C. Heston, after acquiring a public school education in Seattle and in South Dakota, entered the Northwestern University at Chicago for the study of medicine and completed his course by graduation with the class of 1909. He after- ward filled the position of interne in the Seattle General Hospital for a year and thus put his theoretical knowledge to the practical test. In 1910 he removed to Roslyn, Washington, to become a member of the medical staff of the Roslyn & Cle Elum Beneficial Company and was made head surgeon in 1914. His work in this connec- tion is most valuable. He makes a specialty of surgery and has developed his ability along that line to a notable point, doing surgical work throughout the field covered by this company. He keeps in touch with the latest scientific investigation and re- search and his knowledge of the principles of medicine is comprehensive and exact.

In July, 1917, Dr. Heston was united in marriage to Miss Edith Murphy, of Tacoma, and they now have a son, Neal. Fraternally Dr. Heston is connected with the Elks Lodge, No. 1102, of Ellensburg and also with the Masonic lodge of Roslyn. He has many admirable traits of character manifest in social as well as professional relations, and in his practice he displays a sense of conscientious obligation that indi- cates the thoroughness with which each professional duty is performed.

CHRISTIAN H. HANSON.

Christian H. Hanson has been actively identified with business interests in Top- penish since October, 1916, as proprietor of the Standard Sanitary Grocery and has won a large trade in this connection. His hirth occurred in Douglas county, Minne- sota, on the 4th of November, 1886, his parents being Peter and Karen Hanson, who emigrated from Denmark to the United States in young manhood and young woman- hood. They first took up their abode in Illinois and later removed to Minnesota, where the father was successfully engaged in general agricultural pursuits until 1915. He is now living retired, enjoying the fruits of his former toil in well earned rest.

Christian H. Hanson acquired his education in the public schools of his native

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state and assisted his father in the work of the home farm until eighteen years of age. He then spent a year as a hotel employe and at the age of twenty secured a position in a grocery store, working as a clerk for four years. Subsequently he de- voted three years to farming but on the expiration of that period again obtained a clerkship in a grocery store and was thus employed until October, 1916-the date of his arrival in Toppenish, Washington. Here he embarked in business on his own account, opening the Standard Sanitary Grocery at the corner of A and Toppenish avenues, which he has conducted to the present time. He carries a large line of staple and fancy groceries and enjoys an extensive and profitable trade, for he has won an unassailable reputation for thorough reliability, while his establishment is also most modern in its appointments and his stock attractively displayed.

On the 14th of October, 1916, Mr. Hanson was united in marriage to Mrs. Bertha Trombley, of Nelson, Minnesota. He is a democrat in his political views and an Elk in his fraternal relations, belonging to Lodge No. 318 of Yakima. He is also an inter- ested and active member of the Toppenish Commercial Club, while his religious faith is that of the Lutheran church. Though still a young man, he has already won a measure of prosperity that has gained him a place among the substantial and repre- sentative citizens of his community.

OLIVER ROBINSON.

Oliver Robinson, one of the well known stockmen of Kittitas county, his home being in the vicinity of Ellensburg, was born in Saunders county, Nebraska, Novem- ber 3, 1880, a son of Thomas and Rebecca (Grewell) Robinson, both of whom are natives of Illinois. They went to Nebraska at an early day, casting in their lot with the pioneer settlers there in 1877. They resided for a number of years in that state and in 1883 removed to Colorado but in 1890 returned to Illinois, where they still make their home.

Oliver Robinson acquired a public school education and engaged in farming in Illinois until 1900, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist as he tills the soil and harvests his crops. He arrived in Kittitas county in 1900 and in 1906 purchased eighty acres of wild land which at that time was covered with sagebrush. With characteristic energy he began the de- velopment and improvement of the place, on which he has since built a pleasant home and substantial barns. He is engaged in the raising of hay and grain and annually gathers good crops. He also is well known as a stock raiser, handling sheep, hogs and cattle, and both branches of his business are proving profitable.

In 1905 Mr. Robinson was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Lee Wilson, a daughter of T. T. Wilson, and their children are three in number: Carroll, Florence and Joseph. Fraternally Mr. Robinson is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Presby- terian church. His political views are in accord with the principles of the republi- can party but he has never sought to figure in public life, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs, which are wisely and carefully directed, so that he has gained a substantial competence as the years have passed.

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History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 132

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