History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 32

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 32
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 32
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 32

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On the 28th of May, 1867, Mr. Thorp was married to Miss Philena Henson, a daughter of Alfred Henson, who removed to Oregon in 1852 and to Klickitat, Wash- ington, in 1858, while in 1861 he settled in Yakima, being one of the early pioneers and upbuilders of the west. The children of this marriage were: Martha, now deceased, who became the wife of W. B. Young, by whom she had two sons; Eva, the wife of Thurston Brown, living in Seattle; Dale, who died on a trip to Alaska; Herbert, who died at the age of seven and one-half years; and Margaret, the wife of W. M. Hawkins, of Yakima.

Mr. Thorp belongs to the Pioneer Society. He has resided in the Yakima valley for a longer period than any other white settler and is a most honored pioneer resident. There is no phase of the northwest with which he is not famil-

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iar. His memory goes back to the days when its great forests were uncut, when its broad plains were unclaimed, its streams unbridged, and when the work of civiliza- tion and development seemed scarcely begun. He has lived to witness a remarkable change as the years have passed and he has borne his full share in the work of progress and improvement. Under his direction and through his aid wild land has been transformed into productive fields and he has done much to develop the great herds of cattle found grazing upon the pasture lands of the Yakima valley. He also made a valuable contribution to the prosperity of the district by introducing the Holsteins and thus aiding in the improvement of the grade of stock raised. His stories of the early days are most interesting and his reminiscences claim the attention of all who hear them. Mr. Thorp well deserves the rest which he is now enjoying, for he has passed the seventy-third milestone on life's journey and ease should ever crown a life of intense and well directed activity.

SIMEON E. HOOVER.

Simeon E. Hoover has been a resident of Yakima county only since 1913 but in this brief period has made for himself a place among the representative ranchmen of the district. He comes to the west from Elkhart county, Indiana, where he was born on the 18th of February, 1852, a son of David and Susanna (Shank) Hoover, who were natives of Canada and of Ohio respectively. The father devoted his life to the occupation of farming, which he followed for many years in Saint Joseph county, Indiana, where both he and his wife passed away.

Simeon E. Hoover acquired a public school education and in 1877, when a young man of twenty-five years, went to Kansas, where he remained for two years, devot- ing his attention to agricultural pursuits during that period. In 1888 he arrived in the northwest. Making his way to Tacoma, he afterward engaged in shingle weaving on the Pacific coast for twenty years and at length determined to take up the busi- ness of fruit raising in the Yakima valley. Accordingly in the fall of 1913 he came to Yakima county and purchased forty acres of land on Naches Heights, of which twelve acres is in orchards and the remainder is plow land. He has a fine ranch, on which he has built a good barn, a large silo and made many other modern improve- ments which indicate the progressive spirit that is back of all of his work and which is producing splendid results.

On the 31st of December, 1874, Mr. Hoover was married to Miss Ellen Reed. who was born in Saint Joseph county, Indiana, a daughter of William and Susanna Reed. The children of this marriage are: Dora, the wife of M. C. McDougal, a rancher, by whom she has two daughters; and Arthur, a resident of Seattle, but now a member of the United States army. He is married but has no children.

Mr. Hoover gives his political endorsement to the republican party, which he has supported since reaching manhood. He is a member of the Baptist church and high and honorable principles guide him in all the relations of life. He never seeks to figure prominently in public affairs, preferring to give his attention to his business interests, and his close application and unfaltering energy have been the salient features in the attainment of the success which he now enjoys.

EDWIN W. TRENBATH.

It is a well recognized fact that real estate activities largely contribute toward the growth and development of any community, and in that line of business Edwin W. Trenbath has aided in the upbuilding of Kennewick, where he has maintained a real estate office for several years in partnership with George E. Tweedt. He was born in Soverville, New Jersey, February 2, 1889, his parents being Robert C. and Alice Alva (Wight) Trenbath, both of whom have passed away. The father, a native of England, crossed the Atlantic to the United States at the age of twenty-one and for many years was a buyer for the famous firm of A. T. Stewart & Company. Later,

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however, he turned his attention to farming, following that pursuit until his demise. The mother came of an old American family, the first ancestor having emigrated to this country in 1634 from the Isle of Wight.

Amid the refining influences of a Christian home Edwin W. Trenbath received the first lessons of life from his parents. In the acquirement of his education he attended the common school in Somerville, subsequently entering the high school, from which he was graduated. Well prepared to take up life's active duties, he then entered the employ of the American Steel & Wire Company of Trenton, New Jersey, with which he remained for three and a half years, coming in 1910 to Kennewick, Washington, where he secured a position with the Hover Investment Company. He remained with that concern until 1914 and in that connection acquired much valuable experience which has stood him in good stead in his present business enterprise. In 1914 he joined George E. Tweedt in establishing a real estate and insurance busi- ness which has since grown to extensive proportions. They handle not only tarm but also city property and write various lines of insurance, representing some of the best known companies of the country. Mr. Trenbath has given much time to the study of local real estate conditions and is considered an expert in his line, so that his judgment is regarded as practically infallible and his advice often sought. He is equally well versed in insurance matters and this knowledge, in combination with his natural ability, has made him one of the foremost business men in his line within the Yakima valley. The most honorable business standards have guided all the trans- actions of the firm and their reputation is of the highest, so that they enjoy the full trust and confidence of the public.

On the 18th of September, 1913, Mr. Trenbath married Alice Armstrong Ashmun, of Waupaca, Wisconsin, and both are popular members of the social set of Kenne- wick, their hospitable home often being the meeting place of their many friends. They have an adopted daughter, Margaret Middleton, upon whom they bestow all the love and care of an own child.

Mr. Trenbath has always taken a laudable and active interest in the growth and . development of his city and county and has particularly concerned himself in indus- trial and commercial expansion, serving at present as vice-president of the Commer- cial Club and having in his official position advocated many measures which have proven of great benefit to the community. He has also been a strong advocate of the good roads movement, realizing the value of improved roads in order to bring tourists, motorists and other travelers to the district and also to facilitate transpor- tation generally, and serves at present as the secretary of the Benton County Good Roads Association. The family identify themselves with the Episcopal church and take a laudable and helpful part in its work. Fraternally Mr. Trenbath is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he is a past noble grand. In his political affiliations he is a democrat and has always faithfully supported the party, although he has never desired office for himself, preferring to devote his time and efforts to his other interests. As a business man and as a private citizen he is a valu- able addition to Kennewick, which city has now been his home for over eight years, and all who have the honor of his closer acquaintance are agreed as to his high qualities of heart and character. On the 10th of September, 1918, Mr. Trenbath enlisted in the United States military service and was sent to the Infantry Central Officers' Training School at Camp Pike, Arkansas, where he remained until after the armistice was signed. He was then honorably discharged December 7, 1918, and returned home to resume business affairs.

ANGUS C. DAVIS.

Holding to the most advanced educational standards, Angus C. Davis has greatly benefited the educational system of Yakima as superintendent of the city schools, and Yakima has every reason to be proud of the educational opportunities which she offers to her youth. Since taking up the profession of teaching, Mr. Davis has been a close and discriminating student of all that bears upon his chosen life work and is continually reaching toward higher ideals. He was born in Polo, Illinois, February

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1, 1880, a son of Charles H. and Hattie A. (Allen) Davis, the former a native of Ohio, while the latter was born in Massachusetts. In the late '70s, however, she re- moved westward to Illinois. Charles H. Davis was a minister of the Baptist church and for many years devoted his life to preaching the gospel but is now living retired in Yakima. His labors proved a potent element in the upbuilding of the churches with which he was connected and the influence of his teachings was widely felt. He is a Civil war veteran, having served throughout the period of hostilities between the north and the south, and was an active member of the freedmen's bureau after the war.

Angus C. Davis is indebted to the public school system of Ohio for the early edu- cational opportunities which he enjoyed. He also attended the Denison University of Ohio and subsequently became a student in Chicago University. Taking up the profession of teaching, he was for three years identified with the public schools of Marshall Texas, and for a year and a half was a teacher in McMinnville College of McMinnville, Oregon. Later he was in charge of the department of physics in the Spokane public schools and for two years occupied the position of principle of the high school at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. In 1909 he came to Yakima as principal of the high school and so continued for four years, when he was advanced to the position of city superintendent of schools and has remained in that connection for five years. In 1909 the daily attendance at the high school was three hundred and today this number has increased to seven hundred. Mr. Davis has put forth every possible effort to develop his ability and is regarded today as one of the foremost public school educators in the state-a state which holds to the highest possible standards. He has attended a summer school for several years and at all times keeps abreast with the trend of modern thought and progress along educational lines, being now active in the building up of a wonderful school system in Yakima.

Mr. Davis was inarried in 1908 to Miss Jessie Hopkirk, of Fort Madison, Iowa, and their children are: Norman, now deceased; and Marietta. Mr. Davis belongs to Yakima Lodge No. 24, F. & A. M., and the Knights of Pythias fraternity. His mem- bership relations also extend to the Presbyterian church and to the Commercial Club. In politics he is an independent republican but places the general welfare before partisanship and the good of the community before personal aggrandizement. In fact he has never been an aspirant for office. He has preferred to do his public service in other ways and his contribution to progress and improvement in his community has indeed been marked. He is now president of the board of trustees of the public library, also a member of the board of the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation and of the board of trustees of the First Presbyterian church. His work and influence have been a most potent element in advancing social, intellectual and moral progress in Yakima.

WILBUR HUGHES.

A native of Washington county, Oregon, Wilbur Hughes is an enterprising western agriculturist who cultivates a valuable property near Wiley City, having been a resident of Yakima county since his third birthday, at which time he was brought by his parents to this part of the state. Coming of an Oregon pioneer fam- ily. Mr. Hughes was born July 9, 1868, a son of Samuel Vinton and Louisa (Ketch- ings) Hughes, the former born in Pennsylvania and the latter in Missouri. Mrs. Hughes was a daughter of Benjamin Ketchings, who in 1853 or 1854 brought his family to Oregon, in which state he remained during the balance of his life, there following agricultural pursuits. Samuel V. Hughes removed to Oregon in 1865 and there was married. He crossed the plains twice, going on his first trip to California during the gold rush in 1855, and remaining five years. He continued along farming lines in Oregon until 1871, in which year he came to Yakima county, and in the spring of 1872 he bought one hundred and sixty acres on the Ahtanum, Wiley City now being located on part of the old home farm. For many years Mr. Hughes de- voted his entire attention to the further cultivation of his property but later in life removed to Centralia, Washington, where he died August 4, 1912, in his ninetieth

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year. His wife had preceded him in death, passing away on the home farm on the Ahtanum. Mr. Hughes, Sr., also conducted a livery stable in old Yakima City long before the railroad came here, his being the second establishment of the kind to be opened in the city.

Wilbur Hughes was reared amid western pioneer conditions and was but three years of age when the family was transplanted to the Yakima valley, where he at- tended the public schools. Having received a fair education, he laid aside his text- books and continued to assist his father with the farm work, thus becoming thor- oghly acquainted with valuable methods in regard to local farming conditions. He subsequently worked for wages but in 1910, in which year his mother died on the 8th of February, Wilbur Hughes received as his share of the old home farm twenty- five acres and here he has made his home ever since. He raises hay, grain and pota- toes but his live stock interests are also important and he has cattle and hogs, also conducting a dairy. He is enterprising in all that he does and has instituted modern improvements and facilities, thus increasing the value of his property from year to year.

On December 14, 1904, Mr. Hughes married Ada Jackson, a native of Illinois and a daughter of Charles Jackson, who was one of the pioneers of Kansas. Mrs. Hughes came to Yakima county in 1903 and in the following year her marriage occurred. She bore her husband three children, Dolly, Robert and Fay, but the firstborn, Dolly, is deceased. The family are highly esteemed in their community, where they have many friends, all of whom speak of them in terms of warm regard.

Mr. Hughes is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and in his political affiliations is a republican. He is ever ready to cooperate in worthy measures and movements for the promotion of the public welfare and through the development of his agricultural property has contributed toward the prosperity that is now prevalent in this part of the state.

WILL G. LAUDERDALE.

Will G. Lauderdale, who is at the head of an attractive and leading dry goods establishment of Ellensburg, ranks with the representative merchants and business men of Kittitas county and in all that he does is actuated by a spirit of progress and advancement. He was born in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, January 17, 1875, a son of J. H. and Zelia M. (Gibson) Lauderdale. The father died in Wisconsin in the year 1895, but the mother survives and is now making her home with her son in Ellensburg. J. H. Lauderdale also devoted his life to merchandising. He became one of the pioneer settlers of Wisconsin, as did his wife, and in that state they were married.

Will G. Lauderdale, passing through consecutive grades in the public schools, pursued a high school course and then entered upon his business career as a clerk, in which capacity he was employed until 1910. He had come to the northwest in 1903, at which date he took up his abode in Everett, Washington, there residing until 1905, when he removed to Ellensburg. Step by step he advanced in his com- mercial career, gaining valuable knowledge and experience as the years passed, and in 1910 he purchased the dry goods store of A. C. Spalding. He has since greatly improved the establishment and now carries a very high grade stock, his being one of the leading dry goods stores of Ellensburg and this part of the state. He occupies a corner building with a fifty foot frontage and employs seven people. He carries an extensive and well selected line of dry goods and ladies' ready-to- wear clothing, and his patronage has grown year by year. He is most careful and maintains the highest standards in the personnel of the house, in the treatment accorded patrons and in the business methods pursued, and his earnest desire to please his customers, combined with his integrity and enterprise, have been the dominant characteristics in the attainment of his present day success.

On the 12th of February, 1908, Mr. Lauderdale was married to Miss Pauline Burcham, of Indiana, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Burcham, who came to

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the northwest in pioneer times, settling in Salem, Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Lauderdale have two children, James Burcham and William Arlet.

Fraternally Mr. Lauderdale is a Mason of high rank, belonging to lodge, chap- ter, commandery and Mystic Shrine. He is also identified with the Elks Lodge, No. 1102, of Ellensburg and he attends the Presbyterian church. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he keeps well informed concerning the questions and issues of the day but does not seek nor desire office, his attention and energies being fully occupied by his business affairs. His strict attention to his commercial interests and his progressive spirit have made him one of the success- ful merchants of Ellensburg, and all with whom he has come in contact speak of him in terms of high regard.

CHARLES SMITH.

Charles Smith, who is successfully engaged in the cultivation of twelve acres of land on the Cowiche, was born in Will county, Illinois, April 19, 1875, a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Sampson) Smith, both of whom were natives of England. They became residents of Illinois in the '50's and were married in that state. The mother was a daughter of Samuel Sampson, who brought his family to Illinois at an early day. Joseph Smith devoted his life to the occupation of farming and thus provided a comfortable living for his family but passed away on the 19th of April, 1875. His widow afterward became the wife of Joseph Brereton, who passed away in Illinois. In later life she came to Yakima county and here her death occurred in May, 1909.

Charles Smith is indebted to the public school system of his native state for the educational opportunities which prepared him for life's practical and responsible duties. He came to Yakima county in 1898 and worked for wages for a few years. He afterward took up a homestead on the Cowiche but sold it and purchased twelve acres of land, also on the Cowiche. In addition to cultivating this tract he rents forty acres from Mrs. A. J. Splawn and is now busily engaged in the further devel- opment and improvement of this land, which he devotes largely to the raising of grain, hay and potatoes. He annually gathers large crops, for he employs most practical and progressive methods in the cultivation of the fields. He has made a close study of the soil and its condition and his work bears the sanction of science and modern judgment. Moreover, his efficiency is attested in the excellent financial results which accrue.

On the 27th day of July, 1905, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Sarah E. Steven- son, a daughter of John W. Stevenson. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born two children: Harold E., nine years of age; and Shirley M., aged six. Mr. Smith votes with the republican party, which he has supported since reaching adult age. His entire time and attention, however, have been concentrated upon his agricul- tural interests and he is numbered among the successful farmers of his district.

ALFRED H. SINCLAIR.

Live stock interests, particularly in regard to the cattle industry, are ably rep- resented by Alfred H. Sinclair, a wideawake and successful agriculturist of the Naches district. He is a worthy representative of one of its honored pioneer fami- lies. the Sinclairs living in the first log cabin built in the Naches valley. A native of Nova Scotia, he was born August 27, 1867, and is a son of Hugh K. and Frances (Bishop) Sinclair, also natives of Nova Scotia. His cousin, Dan Sinclair, removed irom Nova Scotia to Puget Sound when a young man and for some time worked in a logging camp but afterward returned to Nova Scotia. On again coming to Wash- ington in 1879 he was accompanied by Hugh K. Sinclair and his two brothers. Hugh K. Sinclair, who was a blacksmith by trade and very proficient in his line, had removed to Iowa in 1867 but later returned to Nova Scotia, whence he came to the

ALFRED H. SINCLAIR

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Naches valley in 1879, as mentioned above. Here, however, he did not work at his trade but gave his entire attention to live stock interests, being successfully engaged in that business until his death on the 22d of July, 1908. His widow survives and now makes her home in Yakima at the age of seventy-five years.

Alfred H. Sinclair was but twelve years of age when the family removed to this section and he therefore received his education partly in the British Dominion and partly here. After laying aside his schoolbooks he assisted his father with the work on the ranch, thus becoming thoroughly acquainted with farming conditions in this locality. At a later date he acquired the property and now has one hundred and seventy-five acres, eighty of which are in a high state of cultivation. He largely raises hay and gives considerable attention to the live stock business, particularly to Shorthorn cattle. He has thoroughly studied all the details in regard to this busi- ness and has been very successful along this line.

On the 31st of December, 1896, Mr. Sinclair was married to Miss Grace McMil- lan, a native of Sumner, Washington, and a daughter of James and Mary (Stone) McMillan, pioneers of this state, who made their way to the Pacific slope in pioneer style, coming by wagon. To this union have been born three children: Kenneth, who is twenty years of age; Minnie Frances, who died in 1917 at the age of seventeen; and Edith Grace, at home.

Mr. Sinclair is numbered among the Yakima pioneers and stands high in the confidence of his fellow citizens not only for what he has achieved but because of those qualities which made his success possible. He is industrious, reliable, de- pendable and true in friendship and is therefore a valuable member of the community. Fraternally he is a member of Yakima Lodge, No. 318, B. P. O. E., and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias, being a charter member of the local lodge. His political affiliations are with the republican party. Besides his agricultural interests he is a director of the Yakima National Bank, as was also his father. The family stands high among those connected with the planting of civilization and culture in this state when Washington was practically still undeveloped.

JOHN DITTER.

The name of John Ditter is closely interwoven with the history of commercial levelopment in the Yakima valley, for he is today at the head of the oldest and largest grocery store in this section of the state. Moreover, he has ever been actuated by a notable spirit of enterprise that has never stopped short of the successful ful- fillment of his purpose and at all times his methods have been such as would bear the closest investigation and scrutiny. He indeed deserves mention among the leading and highly respected business men of the Yakima valley.

Mr. Ditter was born in Hennepin county, Minnesota, in 1869, a son of Frank and Regina (Butz) Ditter, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father was a son of Armor Ditter, who in pioneer times in the development of Wisconsin hecame a resident of Fond du Lac county, that state, and there spent his remaining days. Frank Ditter removed to Minnesota and cast in his lot with the pioneers of that section of the country. He devoted his life to farming and was also a country merchant and the postmaster of his town. He continued a resident of Hennepin county until he passed away and his wife also died in that locality.

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History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 32

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