History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 20

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 20
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 20
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 20

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Mr. Clemmer belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and to the encampment and in the subordinate lodge has filled all of the chairs. He was a delegate to the state convention of the order at Bellingham in 1902. He likewise has membership with the Woodmen of the World and was a delegate to its national convention in Denver in 1902 and in Los Angeles in 1905. For eight years he served as secretary of the local camp of Woodmen and he also occupied the positon of secretary of the Barbers' Union of Yakima for several years. In 1896 he went to San Francisco, where he pursued a course in Heald's Business College, from which he was graduated in 1897, thus further qualifying for life's practical and responsible duties. For the past twenty years he has been a member of the Commercial Club of Yakima and is interested in all of its well defined plans and projects for the upbuilding of the city and its improvement along all those lines which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride. He votes with the republican party and his religious faith is that of the First Church of Christ. He is well known as a substantial and representative citizen of Yakima and enjoys the high respect, confidence and good will of all with whom he has been brought in contact.

CHARLES WILEY.

Agricultural interests of more than ordinary importance were for years repre- sented by Charles Wiley, a member of the famous pioneer family which has been most helpfully and intimately connected with the history of development in Yakima county. Mr. Wiley was born March 7, 1873. He was a native of Yakima county and a son of Hugh and Mary Ann (Tufft) Wiley, natives of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and Quebec, Canada, respectively, who are mentioned more exten- (8)

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sively in connection with the sketch of James J. Wiley, a brother of our subject.

Charles Wiley was carefully reared by his parents for life's arduous duties. In his youth he became thoroughly acquainted with pioneer conditions, which then maintained in Yakima county, and thus his life's work was closely connected with the early history of the county to its present state of wonderful development. In the acquirement of his education he attended Woodcock Academy and subsequently ranched in the Ahtanum district until his death. In 1904 he acquired one hundred and forty-five and a half acres on the Ahtanum which were partially improved and to the cultivation of which he gave his further attention, becoming prominent in the stock and dairy business. He closely studied along this line and became in fact a leader of dairy interests in his section of the state, also being very progressive in general farming. He instituted many new methods which set an example to other agriculturists and thus not only attained individual prosperity but greatly con- tributed toward making this one of the richest sections of the state.

On the 22d of February, 1905, Mr. Wiley was united in marriage to Miss Ellen M. Fear, a native of England, who with her parents came to the United States in 1889 when she was but a child. The family located on the Ahtanum, in Yakima county, and Mrs. Fear passed away in Yakima on December 4, 1890. Mr. Fear has successfully followed agricultural lines and is now a resident of Yakima. To Mr. and Mrs. Wiley were born two children: Cecil Albert, whose birth occurred on the 20th of February, 1906; and Stanley Charles, born March 7, 1908.

Mrs. Wiley is a member of the Congregational church and interested not only in church work but also in all movements undertaken on behalf of the uplift of the human race. She is charitably inclined and ever ready to extend a helping hand to those whose life's course is not made easy and thus she is greatly beloved because of her qualities of heart and mind.

Mr. Wiley was a republican and ever stood up for the principles of that party, steadfastly supporting its candidates. In his passing on November 15, 1916, when but forty-three years of age, Yakima county lost one of its most enterprising agri- culturists and a man who was ready to give his aid to every movement that was worth while. His death was not only a great blow to his immediate family, who lost in him a devoted husband and father, but also to many friends, all of whom had come to appreciate his highmindedness and loyal character. His memory will live as a benediction to all who knew him and his work along agricultural lines stands as a monument to his enterprise and industry, being a part of the prosperity- creating development in Yakima county that in turn makes for better and higher and more perfect conditions for the enjoyment of life here.

FRANK CARPENTER.

Frank Carpenter, president of the Cle Elum State Bank, was born upon a tarm near Girard, Illinois, June 5, 1871, a son of Charles and Lottie (Peak) Carpenter. The father, a native of Iowa, was a son of a pioneer settler of that state. He crossed the plains to California in 1864 and spent three years in that state and in Oregon, after which he returned to Illinois by way of the Isthmus of Panama. He then settled near Girard, Illinois, where he resided until 1906, when he came to Cle Elum, Washington, where he is now living retired. He assisted in opening the first coal mine at Girard, Illinois, and was there engaged in merchandising as well as being a mine owner and operator. His wife was born in Illinois.

Frank Carpenter acquired a public school education in his native state and in September, 1888, became connected with the United States land office at Lamar, Colorado, where he remained for five months. He then went to Pueblo, Colorado, where he was with an abstract firm for two months, and on the 30th of April, 1889, he arrived in Tacoma, Washington. On the 9th of May of the same year he became messenger boy in the Merchants National Bank of Tacoma and remained with that institution until 1893. He was afterward employed along various lines of business until 1896, when he went to Spokane, Washington, and was connected with W. H. Adams & Company, commission merchants, for a period of two years. In 1898 he

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became a resident of Libby, Montana, where he took a position as accountant with the Northwest Mining Corporation of London, having charge of the business in his line in connection with the Snowshoe mine of Libby, Montana. There he continued until 1901. In 1902 he again became connected with the banking busiess as cashier of the Bank of Edwall in Washington, with which he was associated until October 31, 1904, when he came to Cle Elum and organized the Cle Elum State Bank. This was the first banking institution to become a permanent factor in the business life of the town. The Cle Elum State Bank was opened November 2, 1904, the first officers being: Frank Carpenter, president; Thomas L. Gamble, vice-president; and R. R. Short, cashier. The bank had an authorized capital stock of twenty-five thou- sand dollars, with fifteen thousand dollars paid in, and at the end of the first year they had only twenty-nine thousand dollars on deposit. From that time for- ward, however, the business steadily grew and at the end of the second year they had eighty-five thousand dollars on deposit. In 1906 they erected a substantial brick building, in which the bank was soon comfortably housed. In 1908 Mr. Gamble passed away and the following year Henry Smith was elected to the vice-presidency of the bank, continuing in the office until his death in 1915. In 1916 he was succeeded by William Rees, who is still in that position. Walter J. Reed was elected a director in 1905 but has also departed this life. The other directors aside from the president and vice-president are M. C. Miller, Joseph Smith and Charles Carpenter. Today the Cle Elum State Bank has a paid in capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, with a surplus of ten thousand dollars and undivided profits of about five thousand dollars, while its deposits amount to almost eight hundred thousand dollars. The capital stock was increased in 1909 and was all paid in at that time. Mr. Short retired as cashier in March, 1905, and L. R. Nelson succeeded him. In 1906 the bank estab- lished a branch, known as the Roslyn Branch of the Cle Elum State Bank, with D. G. Bing as its first cashier. He was sujcceeded by L. R. Nelson as cashier and in July, 1918, Joseph Smith was appointed to the position. A modern brick bank build- ing was erected at Roslyn in 1908.

On the 3d of June, 1908, Mr. Carpenter was married to Miss Norah Carr, a native of Girard, Illinois, and a daughter of Harmen and Margaret (Bowersox) Carr, natives of Miami county, Ohio. The father opened the first exclusive clothing and men's furnishing goods store in Girard, Illinois, in 1868, in which business he remained until he passed away in 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter were schoolmates, so that their acquaintance dated from early life. They have one daughter, Margaret. Fraternally Mr. Carpenter is a Mason, belonging to Cle Elum Lodge No. 139, A. F. & A. M., and he also has membership with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, while his wife is a member of the Universalist church. In politics he is a republican and he served as mayor of Cle Elum for a year. He has been chairman of the Liberty Loan drives here, doing splendid work in that connection, raising the quota for the town during the honor week. He is interested in the promotion of every public enterprise that has for its motive the upbuilding of the community and the betterment of humanity. This characteristic with marked patriotism entitles him to stand in the class of the highest type of American manhood.

W. N. LUBY.

W. N. Luby, a horticulturist and a merchant of Wapato, whose business inter- ests are wisely, carefully and successfully directed, was born in Oconto, Wisconsin, on the 29th of January, 1873, a son of William and Mary Luby, who in the year 1904 became residents of Seattle, Washington, where the father passed away, while the mother still lives there. Mr. Luby was a real estate dealer and land operator and was recognized as a representative business man of his community.

After mastering the branches of learning taught in the public schools W. N. Luby entered the employ of the Bank of Ironwood at Ironwood, Michigan, where he served as assistant cashier. Later he was with Armour & Company for ten years as traveling auditor, traveling out of Chicago, and in 1905 he arrived in Wapato, where he erected the first building on the new townsite. He afterward

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organized the Wapato Trading Company and built a one-story frame building thirty by eighty feet. This has twice been rebuilt in the intervening period and the busi- ness block is now fifty-five by one hundred and twenty-five feet, one story and basement. It is utilized as a department store, Mr. Luby handling a large and attractive line of ladies' and men's ready-to-wear clothing, dry goods, hardware and groceries. Something of the volume of his business is indicated in the fact that he now employs from eight to ten people. In 1913 he was joined by his brother, C. J. Luby, who is now a partner in the business, and they rank with the leading and representative merchants of this part of the state, characterized in all that they do by a spirit of enterprise and progressiveness. Mr. Luby is also the owner of a fine fruit ranch of eighty acres, devoted to the raising of apples, pears, peaches and apricots.

Mr. Luby is a member of the Elks lodge, No. 318, of Yakima, also of the Wapato Commercial Club, of which he served as president for two terms, covering 1916 and 1917. His political alegiance is given to the republican party, of which he has ever been a stanch advocate. He is recognized as a man of genuine worth, standing for all that is progressive in citizenship and also for all projects and interests which have to do with civic progress and improvement. As a citizen he has co-operated in many plans that have been directly beneficial to Wapato.

PHIL A. DITTER.

Phil A. Ditter has throughout his entire business career, which began when he was but thirteen years of age, been identified with mercantile interests and is today at the head of the oldest retail business of Yakima. The story of his thrift and enter- prise is an inspiring one and should serve to encourage others. He was born in Shakopee, Minnesota, May 11, 1868, a son of Henry and Katherine (Mechtel) Ditter, who were pioneer residents of Yakima, where they arrived on the 23d of July, 1884. The father was a native of Baden, Germany, but was a lad of only fifteen years when he came to America, making his way at once to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where he was reared to manhood. After attaining his majority he removed to Minnesota and was there united in marriage, in 1867, to Miss Katherine Mechtel. Before North Yakima had been founded Mr. Ditter removed to the west, traveling by stage from The Dalles to Yakima City and later removing to North Yakima when the latter place was founded. There he remained to the time of his death and was ever one of its most loyal and progressive citizens. He was engaged in merchandising from an early age, although about sixteen years before his demise he turned his interests over to his sons and retired from active business. Subsequent to his arrival in the north- west he joined the firm of Hoscheid & Bartholet, proprietors of a general store in Yakima city. It was the first dry goods establishment of Yakima and had been founded several years before by Peter T. Gervais. After a year's connection with the business Mr. Ditter purchased the interests of his first partners and remained for two and a half years at Yakima City. He removed the business to North Yakima in the fall of 1888 and opened a store in the west half of the First National Bank building, for which he paid a rental of fifty dollars per month. He began dealing in dry goods, men's furnishings and shoes, in a building twenty-five by eighty-two feet. He remained in active connection with the business until January, 1893, and then turned it over to his two sons, Phil A. and Joseph E. Retiring from active life, he then spent his remaining days in the enjoyment of a well earned rest until called to his final home on the 29th of November, 1908. He had for about three years sur- vived his first wife, who died in 1905. He was highly esteemed as a most enter- prising and progressive citizen as well as a merchant and was an active democrat but did not seek or desire office. His religious faith was that of the Catholic church and he was an active member and communicant of St. Joseph's church and also an interested member of the Knights of Columbus. His family numbered three chil- dren, the two brothers previously mentioned and a sister, Anna, who became the wife of Charles R. Donovan, cashier of the First National Bank. He belonged also to the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin and to St. Joseph's Central Verein. After losing

HENRY DITTER

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his first wife he was married at Port Townsend to Miss Bessie March, who survives him. Those who knew him entertained for him the warmest regard for he had proven himself a man of genuine worth in business, in citizenship and in the relations of private life.

Phil A. Ditter acquired his education in public schools and also in a Sisters' school of Minnesota. He started work when a boy of thirteen years in his father's store and has been identified with mercantile interests since that time. Prior to 1893 the firm of which he is now a member conducted business under the name of Henry Ditter but since that date has been carried on under the style of Ditter Brothers. In 1901 they erected their new store building between Second and Third streets, on East Yakima avenue. It is a two-story and basement structure fifty by one hundred and thirty feet and they also own a fifty-foot frontage lot east of the store and ex- pect to enlarge their building after the war. They now carry an extensive line of dry goods and ladies' ready-to-wear clothing and their stock includes all that the latest market affords. Theirs is the oldest retail business in Yakima, having been in existence for a quarter of a century. Ditter Brothers employ the most progres- sive methods in the conduct and management of their business and have thus fol- lowed in the footsteps of their father, who was so long an honored and respected merchant of the city.

Phil A. Ditter was married on the 13th of June, 1894, to Miss Mary A. Duffey, of Minnesota, and their children are: Henry J., twenty-one years of age, residing in Seattle; Amor P., who is a student in Gonzaga University of Spokane; and Berna- dine A., at home. Two other children died in infancy.

Mr. Ditter has membership with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and, like his father, is identified with the Knights of Columbus, having held all of the chairs in the local organization. He has likewise filled all of the offices in the Catholic Order of Foresters and again like his father is a communicant of St. Joseph's Catholic church. He has been active in associated charity work and was one of the organizers of the Associated Charities of Yakima, and has served as president for five years. In politics he is an independent republican and he belongs to the Commercial Club, in which he has served on the governing board. He is actuated in all that he does by a spirit of enterprise and progress that falters not in the face of obstacles and difficulties but is constantly seeking out new, improved and progres- sive methods whereby he may reach the desired goal. His establishment is an im- portant factor in the commercial circles of Yakima, where the name of Ditter has long been an honored one.

JOSEPH E. DITTER.

The name of Ditter has long been an honored one in commercial circles in Yakima and for a quarter of a century Joseph E. Ditter has been associated with his brother in the ownership and conduct of a business with which their father had previously been long connected. Joseph E. Ditter was born in St. James, Minnesota, December 6, 1871, a son of Henry Ditter, who is mentioned at length in connection with the sketch of Phil A. Ditter on another page of this work.

Spending his youthful days under the parental roof, Joseph E. Ditter acquired a public and parochial school education and received his initial business training in his father's store and under the father's direction. He thoroughly mastered busi- ness principles and in 1893 took over the business, the father in that year turning over his interests to his sons. Henry Ditter had long been a most active and prom- inent figure in commercial circles and the splendid qualities which he displayed throughout his entire mercantile career seem to have descended to his sons, who have been his most worthy successors. They are both men of marked business en- terprise, keen discernment and indefatigable energy and these qualities are com- bined with straightforward dealing. They have always followed constructive meas- ures in the conduct of their business and have built up their interests according to the most advanced commercial standards.

In April, 1901, Joseph E. Ditter was united in marriage to Miss Alma L. Schanno,

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a native of The Dalles, Oregon, and to them have been born four children: Harold, Florence, Edward and Joseph.

Fraternally Mr. Ditter is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and also with the Knights of Columbus and in the latter organization has filled all of the chairs. He likewise has membership with the Catholic Order of Foresters and is a member of St. Joseph's Catholic church. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, diligently and earnestly supporting every measure or movement that he believes will prove of public benefit. He is a member of the Country Club and has a wide acquaintance in Yakima, where he has made his home for so many years and where his course at all times has measured up to the highest standards.

CHARLES H. FORBES.

Charles H. Forbes dates his residence in Yakima county from 1905 and is identified with its horticultural interests and development. He was born in Ver- ona township, Faribault county, Minnesota, August 22, 1858, a son of Benjman F. and Sophronia Forbes, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New York. They were married, however, in Wisconsin and in the year 1857 removed westward to Minnesota, casting in their lot among the pioneer settlers of that state. The father devoted his attention to farming there until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting in Company D, Ninth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment, with which he served until the close of the war. He continued to make his home in Verona township to the time of his death, which occurred in 1902.

Charles H. Forbes was still comparatively young when he took charge of the home farm and his early training and experience were along that line, for when but a boy in years he became familiar with the work of the fields. He continued to follow farming in the middle west until 1905, when he sold his property, embrac- ing two hundred and forty acres of land. He then made his way to Yakima, Wash- ington, and purchased a house and lot at No. 116 South Tenth avenue. For two years he continued to reside in the city and during that period was engaged in the hay trade. In 1907 he purchased ten acres of land two and one half miles south- west of Yakima and has since replanted a considerable portion of this. He has six acres in apples, pears, peaches, plums and cherries and his orchards are in ex- cellent bearing condition. He built the barn upon his place and has in other ways greatly improved the property. His mother now lives with him and has reached the age of eighty-two years.

In politics Mr. Forbes is a prohibitionist, having long been a stanch supporter of the prohibition cause. His religious faith is that of the Baptist church and his sterling worth of character has gained for him the high esteem and warm regard of all with whom he has been brought in contact throughout the period of his residence in this section of the country.

WILLIAM M. McGOWAN.

William M. McGowan, the secretary and treasurer of the Toppenish Trading Company and an active factor in the continued development of its business, was born in Huron county, Ontario, Canada, in 1871, a son of Robert and Isabella (Cum- mings) McGowan, who in the year 1889 came to the northwest, settling at Salem, Oregon. The father was a farmer by occupation.

Public school opportunities qualified William M. McGowan for the practical duties of life. In his youthful days he was employed in various ways and in 1889 accepted a position with the Wells Fargo Express Company at Salem, Oregon. In 1891 he removed to Portland, Oregon, and afterward was with the banking depart- ment of the express company, remaining in that connection until the company sold

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out to the United States Bank in 1905. Mr. McGowan was afterward identified with the United States National Bank of Portland until the fall of 1906, when he removed to Everett, Washington, where he embarked in business on his own account as a dealer in mens' and women's clothing and furnishings. In June, 1907, he came to Toppenish, where he entered into active connection with the Toppenish Trading Company, which was incorporated in 1908. He was elected its secretary and treas- urer and has since served in this dual position, covering the period of a decade. Through the intervening years he has bent his energies to administrative direction and executive control and in all things he has advised a constructive policy in busi- ness, ever recognizing the fact that satisfied patrons are the best advertisement. He has not feared competition because of the reliable business methods of the company, displayed in the conduct of the business, and the growth of the trade has been most substantial. Mr. McGowan has also been vice president and one of the direc- tors of the Traders Bank since its organization in 1908 and is likewise a director of the First National Bank ..

On the 1st of November, 1899, Mr. McGowan was married to Miss Ella Pohle, a native of Salem, Oregon. He belongs to the Toppenish Commercial Club and gives hearty endorsement to all of its well defined plans for the advancement of the city's business interests and for the promotion of its civic welfare. In politics he is a republican, and while he has never sought for desired political office he has served for six years on the school board and has done everything in his power to further the interests of the schools in this locality. His religious faith is that of the Meth- odist Episcopal church and he has been a devoted follower of its teachings, doing all in his power to promote the moral progress as well as the material development of the community in which he makes his home.

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History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 20

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