History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 18

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 18
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 18
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 18

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David C. Reed was but four years old at the time of his father's demise and his early education was acquired in the Soldiers' Orphans' School at Uniontown. He afterward worked his way through Duff's College and through the University of California, and throughout his entire life he has remained a man of studious habits, constantly promoting his knowledge through reading and research. It was in the year 1879 that he made his way westward to California, where his sister Isabel, lived, and there he took up the profession of teaching, which he followed in that state for twenty-seven years, becoming recognized as one of its most eminent and able educa-

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tors. It was in California that he attended the Los Angeles Normal School and he also became a student in the Throop Polytechnic Institute at Pasadena, from which he was graduated in 1898, in order that he might know the real value of manual training. He also pursued a course in kindergarten work and he was thus able to speak with authority on these questions when later he became a prominent factor in connection with the public schools of Yakima. While still a resident of California he served as principal of the schools of Redding and of Yreka and later became super- intendent of public schools at Eureka, California, and county superintendent of schools in Plumas county. For ten years he occupied the responsible position of superintendent of schools at Redlands, California, and thus made valuable contribu- tion to the educational development of that state during the twenty-seven years of his connection with its public school system. In 1906 he arrived in Yakima to accept the superintendency of the schools of this city, in which capacity he continued until 1911, and during his connection with the office various school buildings were erected, including the high school, the Lincoln, Garfield, Mckinley, Fairview and Summit View schools. Practically all of this work was done under the immediate direction of Mr. Reed and during his superintendency the attendance of the high school increased from one hundred and fifty to five hundred, while the number of teachers was in- creased from forty-eight to ninety. It was Mr. Reed who was instrumental in intro- ducing the commercial course, also domestic science, manual training, the agricultural course and the arts course, thus making the high school most efficient in its scope and purposes. The graded schools also more than doubled in attendance during his superintendency and he ever had the ability to inspire teachers and pupils under him with much of his own zeal and interest in the work. While in California he organized many of the manual training schools of the southern part of that state and all acknowledge that he laid the foundation for the present splendid school system of Yakima of which every citizen is justly proud. He was also a member of the library board of Yakima when the public library was built.

In 1911 Mr. Reed gave up school work to enter into active connection with the Yakima Title Guaranty & Abstract Company, which had been organized in 1906 by J. O. Cornett, George S. Rankin, W. J. Reed, Sylvester Peterson, E. G. Peck, H. Stanley Coffin, H. M. Helliesen and W. L. Lemon. Of these Mr. Peck became the president, Mr. Peterson the vice-president, secretary and manager, and Mr. Lemon the treasurer. They first had their offices at No. 7 North First street but in 1908 the company erected a building at the corner of A and Second streets and has since occupied it. In 1910 H. H. Lombard was elected to the presidency and so continues. David C. Reed became the secretary in 1911 and in 1917 was made both secretary and manager, so that he is the active executive officer of the business. In 1912 W. J. Aumiller became treasurer and in 1912 I. H. Dills was elected vice-president. The corporation is capitalized for one hundred thousand dollars. It guarantees titles to real estate and has very complete records of Yakima county property. The business has been developed to extensive proportions and the company has today over fifty lcading citizens of Yakima among its stockholders.

In 1897 Mr. Reed was married to Miss Jean MacMillan, of Carnegie, Pennsyl- vania, and their children were: Emily Judson, now a student at Smith College in Massachusetts; and Jeannette, deceased.

The family attend the Presbyterian church and Mr. Reed also belongs to the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Commercial Club. In the Masonic order he is well known as a member of lodge, chapter, commandery and Mystic Shrine and he is a past master of the lodge with which he held membership in California. His political endorsement is given to the republican party but the honors and emoluments of political office have had no attraction for him. Outside of his professional duties and his business he has pre- ferred to choose the point at which he would render service to the public. He has taken an active part in promoting moral as well as intellectual progress in the com- munity and has been most active in bringing about the erection of the Young Men's Christian Association building at Yakima. His life has ever been characterized and actuated by the highest principles and ideals. He is continually extending a helping hand, not in that indiscriminate giving which fosters vagrancy and idleness, but in intelligently directed effort to assist his fellowmen. He gives liberally when material

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aid is needed. but he also makes it his purpose to stimulate the pride, ambition and self-reliance of the individual by speaking an encouraging word. He is known as one of the best loved men of Yakima.

EUGENE R. CRAVEN.

Eugene R. Craven is the owner of a valuable farm property of one hundred and eighty-three acres, in the midst of which stand a fine residence and substantial barns, while all of the equipment of the farm is thoroughly modern and indicates his pro- gressive spirit. Mr. Craven is a native of Curtis, Nebraska. He was born April 4, 1888, of the marriage of Sylvester and Emma Alice (Jessup) Craven, who were na- tives of Indiana but went to lowa at an early day and afterward became pioneer set- tlers of Nebraska. In 1889 they removed to Puyallup, Washington, where the father engaged in the butchering business. He afterward went to Ellensburg and he now makes his home on the Columbia river. His wife, however, passed away in 1901.

In the same year Engene R. Craven made his way by train to Toppenish, Wash- ington, and then walked a distance of sixteen miles to Outlook. He worked for wages for six years and then, feeling that his experience was sufficient to justify him in engaging in business on his own account, he rented land and at a later period he also rented land on the Yakima Indian reservation. In 1913 he went to British Colum- bia but later returned and it was then that he took up his abode on the reservation. In this way he gained his start. In 1918 he bought two hundred acres of land four and a half miles northwest of Sunnyside but has since sold seventeen acres, so that he now has one hundred and eighty-three acres, constituting one of the valuable farm properties of that section. He is now most pleasantly and attractively located, having a beautiful home and a splendidly developed farm and is successfully engaged in the cultivation of hay, grain, corn and alfalfa and also raises stock.

On the 27th of February, 1909, Mr. Craven was united in marriage to Miss Lillian M. Burlingame, a daughter of E. H. and Louisa C. (Smith) Burlingame, the former a native of Minneapolis, while the latter was born in California. The paternal grand- father, Hiram Burlingame, in pioneer times took up a homestead covering what is now the center of Minneapolis. In 1862 he removed to California, where his last days were spent. It was in the Golden state that the parents of Mrs. Craven were married and about 1892 they made their way to the Palouse country of Washington and about 1895 came to Yakima county. The father engaged in farming here for two years and then returned to California but after a short time again came to Yakima county and purchased the ranch now owned and occupied by Mr. Craven. It was then a tract of wild land, which he developed and improved, converting it into one of the best ranches in the valley. He is now engaged in farming near Top- penish and makes his home in that city. To Mr. and Mrs. Craven have been born three children: Carol, Donald and Gordon.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Craven give their political allegiance to the democratic party. He is recognized as one of the successful and prominent young ranchers in his sec- tion of the county, carefully and intelligently directing his interests so that sub- stantial results accrue.

CHESTER C. CHURCHILL.

Chester C. Churchill, president of the Ellensburg Telephone Company, with four- teen hundred subscribers over the Kittitas valley, was born in Harrisburg, Oregon, July 18, 1871, a son of George Henry and Sarah C. (Reed) Churchill, who were na- tives of Illinois and of Indiana respectively. Coming to the west in early life, how- ever, they were married in Oregon. The father was a son of Willoughby Churchill, who brought his family to the northwest in 1851, crossing the country by wagon and ox team to Oregon. His wife died at The Dalles, Oregon, ere they reached their destination. Mr. Churchill took up government land and began the development of

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a farm, whereon he continued to reside until his death. His son, George Henry Churchill, passed away in eastern Oregon in 1885. He had followed stock raising in that section of the state for a number of years and was a representative business man of the locality. His wife was a daughter of Eli A. Reed, who brought his fam- ily across the plains to Oregon about 1855 and in later life removed to Ellensburg, where his death occurred.

Chester C. Churchill in young manhood became actively identified with the live stock business. In 1887 his mother brought the family to the Kittitas valley and they became identified with the live stock industry in this region. Chester C. Churchill afterward obtained a farm of his own and continued the possessor thereof until 1916, when he sold the property. He is still, however, engaged in buying and selling stock and has long been recognized as one of the prominent live stock dealers of this section of the state. In 1908, however, he was associated with John N. Faust in the purchase of the plant of the Pacific Telephone Company at Ellensburg and reorganized the business under the name of the Ellensburg Telephone Company. At the time of the purchase there were only five hundred subscribers but today there are more than fourteen hundred, located throughout the Kittitas valley. The pres- ent officers of the company are: C. C. Churchill, president and manager; and Mr. Faust, secretary and treasurer. They have rebuilt the entire system, making it thoroughly modern in every respect, and they give excellent service to their patrons.

In 1896 Mr. Churchill was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Hauser, a daughter of Tillman Hauser, one of the early pioneers of Washington. Their children are Eunice, Doris, Lois and George, all at home.

Mr. Churchill is a prominent Mason, belonging to Ellensburg Lodge No. 39, A. F. & A. M., also to the Royal Arch Chapter and to Temple Commandery No. 5, K. T., of which he is now the eminent commander. He is also identified with the Mystic Shrine and is a most loyal follower of the craft, believing firmly in its teach- ings. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is one of the active workers in its local ranks, his opinions carrying weight in its councils. His business affairs have been wisely and carefully managed and as president of the Ellensburg Telephone Company he has made for himself a creditable place in con- nection with one of the public utilities, the value of which is most widely recognized.

WILLIAM T. CARPENTER, M. D.

Dr. William T. Carpenter, who engages in the general practice of medicine in Toppenish but specializes in surgery and the treatment of diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, was born in North Carolina in 1868, a son of George and D. D. (Woodward) Carpenter. The father devoted his life to the occupation of farming in order to provide for his family and was thus engaged to the time of his demise. His widow still resides in North Carolina.

Doctor Carpenter acquired his early education in the schools of his native state and supplemented the public school course by study in Albemarle Academy. He afterward entered the Southern College of Pharmacy, at Atlanta, Georgia, from which he was graduated with the class of 1897, and he is also a graduate of the South- ern College of Medicine and Surgery of the class of 1898. Having thus qualified for onerous professional duties, he located for practice in South Carolina but afterward gave up professional labor and traveled over the west. He located ultimately at San Francisco, California, but did not practice there. In 1907 he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Chicago for a further course in medicine and was gradu- ated with the class of 1910 from this institution, which is the medical department of the University of Illinois. Doctor Carpenter in 1908-9 was assistant in the medical department of the University of Chicago under Professor Santee in histological work in neurology. For two years he was assistant to Professor H. O. White in anatomy in the University of Illinois, and also for two years assisted John M. Lang, M. D., in his clinic in the University of Illinois in gynecology and also assisted Walter C. Jones, professor of surgical pathology in the University of Illinois, for two years. Following his graduation in 1910, he removed to the northwest, settling at Spokane.

DR. WILLIAM T. CARPENTER

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Later he was located for a time at Ellensburg, Washington, and he afterward pur- sued post-graduate work in the Chicago Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital in 1917. In the same year he opened an office in Toppenish, where he has since remained, and although he continues in the general practice of medicine, he specializes in surgical cases and in the treatment of diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. He is splen- didly qualified along these lines and his efforts are productive of excellent results. Doctor Carpenter has complete, and in every way, up-to-date equipment, including an X-ray machine to facilitate his professional labors. His ability is acknowledged by his colleagues and contemporaries in the profession and he is at all times keenly interested in everything that tends to bring to man the key to the complex mystery which we call life.

In 1903 Dr. Carpenter was married to Miss Mary F. Heaton, of Spangle, Wash- ington, and they now have an interesting little daughter. Vivian Flavilla. Doctor Carpenter belongs to the Masonic fraternity, also to Elks Lodge No. 1102, at Ellens- burg, Washington, to the Woodmen of the World and the Modern Woodmen of America. He has membership in the Toppenish Commercial Club and is interested in everything pertaining to the welfare and progress of his community. Along strictly professional lines his connections are with the Yakima County Medical So- ciety, the Washington State Medical Society and the American Medical Association and thus he keeps in close touch with the trend of modern professional thought and progress. He reads broadly, thinks deeply and is constantly promoting his ability through study and today occupies a creditable position among the medical practi- tioners of his section of the state.

JOHN B. WILLARD.

For more than three decades John B. Willard has been a resident of the Yakima valley and is devoting his time and energies to the further development and im- provment of a forty-acre homestead on the north fork of the Cowiche. The excellent condition of the place indicates his enterprise, industry and determination. He was a young man of about twenty-seven years when he removed to the northwest, his birth having occurred in Marshall county, Indiana, January 21, 1861, his parents being James Edward and Ann Eliza (Lewis) Willard, the former a native of New York, while the latter was born in Indiana. James E. Willard was a son of Ezra Willard. who was born in New York and who took his family to Indiana at an early day. Farming has been the occupation of the family for many generations. In 1872 the parents of John B. Willard removed to Kansas, taking up a homestead claim in Rice county, and subsequently they went to Oklahoma, becoming pioneer residents of Grant county, where both now reside.

John B. Willard acquired a public school education and in 1881 went to Colorado where he engaged in prospecting, working in the mines through three summers, the winter months during that period being spent at home. Later he took up farming on his own account in Kansas and in 1888 he came to Yakima county, where he entered government land on the Cowiche. He then turned his attention to stock raising and the dairying business and later he rented two different farms. Subse- quently he purchased a forty-acre homestead on the north fork of the Cowiche, whereon he now resides, and his attention is given to the raising of wheat, oats, corn, potatoes and hay. He annually harvests excellent crops, having a fine ranch. He has built a good home and large barns upon the place and everything in his sur- roundings indicates his progressive spirit, his keen business sagacity and his un- faltering enterprise.

On the 21st of March. 1887, Mr. Willard was married to Miss Addie Davis, who was born in Hardin county, Illinois, a daughter of Isaac and Catherine (Hufford) Davis, who in 1874 removed to Kansas but in 1888 came to Yakima county, where the father purchased land and also took up a homestead on the Cowiche. He has now passed away, but the mother survives and resides in Yakima. To Mr. and Mrs. Willard have been born eleven children: Laura, the wife of Bert Daggett, a rancher on the Cowiche, by whom she has one child; Floyd, who is a member of the United

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States army; Ellis, who married Verna Van Hoy and is a rancher on the Cowiche; Stella, deceased; Guy, a rancher on the Cowiche, who married Nellie Thompson and has one child; Grace, who is the wife of Richard Roley, a rancher on the Cowiche, and has one child; Helen, James, Claude, Ruth and Emard, all at home.

In his political views Mr. Willard is a republican and he has served as road supervisor. He has also been a member of the school board and the cause of educa- tion finds in him a stalwart champion, as he believes that every opportunity should be accorded the young to acquire a good education and thus provide for life's prac- tical and responsible duties. As a business man he has proven his right to be classed with the representative ranchers of his section of the state, for his carefully directed labors have brought to him substantial success.

ERWIN S. SIMON.

Erwin S. Simon, identified with the horticultural interests of Yakima county, was born in Renville county, Minnesota, August 17, 1879, a son of John B. and Mary L. (Linse) Simon, who were early settlers of Minnesota. In the year 1915 they came to Yakima county, Washington, and began ranching on the Tieton.

Spending his youthful days under the parental roof, Erwin S. Simon acquired a high school education, supplemented by further study in a normal school. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American war he enlisted for active service as a member of Company C, Twelfth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, in 1898 and was mustered out in 1899. He afterward learned the machinist's trade, which he continued to follow for fourteen years at Brainerd, Minnesota, but attracted by the opportunities of the rapidly developing northwest, he made his way to this section of the country and purchased four acres of land two and a half miles from the city of Yakima. Upon this place he is engaged in raising apples, peaches, pears and cherries and is meeting with good success in his undertakings.

In 1902 Mr. Simon was married to Miss Elizabeth Fisher, of Minnesota, a daughter of C. M. B. Fisher, and she passed away in 1910, leaving three children: Clifford, Russell and Dorothy. In June, 1915, Mr. Simon was again married, his second union being with Miss Luella A. Reeck, of Minnesota, daughter of Rev. A. Reeck, and they have one child, Marcelle Gladys.

Mr. Simon is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, also of the Brotherhood of American Yeomen and the International Association of Machinists. The family attend the German Evangelical church. Politically Mr. Simon casts an independent ballot, not caring to ally himself wth any party or to subject himself to the dictates of party leaders. He has worked diligently for the attainment of his success and is now the owner of a valuable property devoted to horticulture.

ZENAS Y. COLEMAN.

Commercial enterprise in Toppenish finds a worthy representative in Zenas Y. Coleman, who comes to the United States from across the border, his birth having occurred in Scotstown, Canada, on the 12th of August, 1872. His parents were William and Flavilla (Knapp) Coleman, the former a native of Canada, while the latter was born in Maine. Mr. Coleman had lived in the United States for about twelve years prior to his marriage. Subsequently he returned to Canada, where the birth of his son Zenas occurred, but when the boy was only about a year old the parents once more came to the United States and settled upon a farm in New Hamp- shire. At a subsequent date they again went to Canada, where they lived for two years and then became residents of Michigan about 1883. They continued to make their home in that state until 1891, when they started for the far west with Seattle, Washington, as their destination. The father was a farmer by occupation and fol- lowed that pursuit in the various localities in which he made his home. His death occurred in Seattle and his widow is still living.

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Zenas Y. Coleman obtained a high school education in Michigan and when his textbooks were put aside secured a clerkship in a store. In fact he began clerking while still in high school, being thus employed at Stanton, Michigan, where he re- mained in clerical work until 1896. He afterward spent two years as a clerk in Chicago and in 1898 he came to Washington, making his way to Yakima, where for three years he was in the employ of the Henry H. Schott Company. He next took charge of the business of the Moore Clothing Company, remaining as manager for three years, and subsequently he was half owner of a shoe store in Yakima. There he remained until 1908, when he sold his interest in that business and removed to Toppenish. In the meantime or in December, 1905, he had been appointed register of the United States land office by President Roosevelt and served in that connection until 1908, when he resigned.

With his removal to Toppenish, Mr. Coleman purchased an interest in the Top- penish Trading Company and became vice president and general manager, in which connection he has since continued. The firm has built up a business of large pro- portions and Mr. Coleman has been most active in producing this result. He applies himself with thoroughness and earnestness to the work and puts forth every effort to please his patrons, while his reliable business methods as well as his progressive- ness have constituted an important force in the development of the business.

On the 16th of August, 1899, Mr. Coleman was married to Miss Edith M. Moore, who had been a schoolmate in Stanton, Michigan. They became the parents of five children but three of the number died in infancy, those still living being: Zenas Y., Jr., now twelve years of age; and Katherine, a little maiden of eight summers.

Mr. Coleman is well known in fraternal connections. He belongs to Yakima Lodge No. 318, B. P. O. E., of which he is a past exalted ruler, is a member of Toppen- ish Lodge No. 178, A. F. & A. M., of which he is now serving as master and he has also taken the degrees of the Scottish Rite of Masonry in Yakima. He likewise belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Yakima and to the Toppenish Commercial Club, of which he served as president in 1915 and 1916. His political endorsement is given to the republican party. He has been a member of the school board of Toppenish and has served as a member of the state fair board by appoint- ment of Governor Meade. At all times he manifests a public-spirited devotion to the general welfare and has cooperated in large and active measure with movements and projects put forth to benefit community and commonwealth. In public life, as in business affairs, he is actuated by a progressiveness that knows no bounds and he attacks everything with a contagious enthusiasm that easily wins the cooperation and support of others.

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History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 18

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