History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 33

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 33
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 33
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 33

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Their son, John Ditter, acquired a public school education yet his opportunities were somewhat limited, for he started out in life at an early age. When a youth of eleven years he left home and went to Wisconsin. Later he became a resident of Minnesota and the year 1888 witnessed his arrival in North Yakima, where he followed the carpenter's trade for a year. He later spent two years in the employ of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company in connection with the bridge department and for onc year was on the coast at Port Townsend, Washington, his sojourn there covering the year 1890. In 1893 Mr. Ditter secured a clerkship in the grocery store of C. W. Luther and from that time on has been almost continuously connected with the grocery trade. He remained with Mr. Luther in his Front street store for a year and then, in connection with John Mechtel, purchased the business of his em-

274

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

ployer and formed the firm of Ditter & Mechtel. They removed to Yakima avenue and their partnership continued most harmoniously and profitably for seven and a half years. On the expiration of that period Mr. Ditter established a bakery busi- ness and in 1899 his store was destroyed by fire. He then again followed carpen- tering for a year, after which he became identified with the Mulholland Grocery Company, with which he continued for two years. He afterward established busi- ness on Yakima avenue and Third street and admitted a partner under the firm style of Ditter & Bothwick, an association that was maintained for five years, when he bought out his partner and continued the business alone on Third street and Yakima avenue for four years. At the end of that time a removal was made to Nos. 19 and 21 North Second street, where he has been located since July, 1917, occupying a splendid business block with a frontage of fifty feet and a depth of one hundred and forty feet. This is the largest grocery store in the valley. Mr. Ditter has ever conducted this business alone and in connection with it he owns and operates a large bakery. The store is splendidly equipped. In fact it is one of the finest grocery houses in the entire west and it furnishes employment to twelve people. One of the attractive features of the establishment is a ladies' rest room. Mr. Ditter caters exclusively to family trade and meets the wants of his customers with auto delivery. He carries a most extensive line of staple and fancy groceries, everything that the markets of the world afford, and his trade has assumed most gratifying proportions.

On November 21, 1895, Mr. Ditter was married to Miss Gertrude Mechtel, a native of Shakopee, Minnesota, and their children are: Genevieve, now the wife of Dr. A. J. Lemioux, of Yakima; Gertrude, deceased: Francis and Margaret, at home: and Benitia, who has passed away.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and they are communicants in St. Joseph's parish. Mr. Ditter belongs to the Knights of Columbus and to the Catholic Order of Foresters and he also holds membership with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is president of the building association of .the Knights of Columbus. He is likewise a member of the Commercial Club and in politics he maintains an independent course, preferring to cast his ballot in support of the candidates whom he regards as best qualified for office without con- sidering party ties. There have been no spectacular phases in his career, but his record is that of a most substantial citizen, loyal to the best interests of his com- munity and holding to high standards in commercial activity and in private life. Ask any old-time resident of Yakima concerning John Ditter and he will be spoken of in terms of warm regard and of genuine respect.

RAY W. SMITH.

Ray W. Smith was born in the old town of Yakima, July 28, 1886, and through- out his entire life has resided in this locality, his life expressing the spirit of western enterprise and progress, which have been the dominant factors in the upbuilding of the great empire of the northwest. His parents were Robert W. and Addie Gertrude (Adkins) Smith, the former a native of England, while the latter was born in Michigan. Coming to Washington in 1886, they located at Yakima, where the father engaged in business. He also secured a homestead in Yakima county and in 1893 he purchased ten acres of land six miles west of the city of Yakima, planting one-half of this to orchard, while the balance was devoted to the raising of hay and corn. He afterward divided his homestead between the children, but the property has since been sold. The father is now living retired, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. He served as a soldier of the Civil war, enlisting in the Union army from Wisconsin and giving active aid to the cause of liberty. Since coming to Yakima he has filled the office of justice of the peace and he is recognized at all times as a citizen of worth. In the family were three children, two sons and a daughter, but the daughter is now deceased. There was also one child .of the father's second marriage.

Ray W. Smith acquired a public school education and in early life took up

275

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

ranching. He now manages the old home place and is accounted one of the suc- cessful and representative business men of the locality.

On the 5th of April, 1907, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Margaret Gearheart, of Oregon, and they have become parents of two children, Raymond and Welford. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Seventh Day Adventist church. In politics Mr. Smith is an independent republican, voting according to the dictates of his judg- ment, which often, however, endorses republican principles. He stands for progress in all that relates to the community and district in which his entire life has been passed. For a third of a century he has lived here, witnessing the growth and development of the community, and he is a most enthusiastic champion of the west.

JULIUS SCHNASE.

Julius Schnase, an orchardist of the Yakima valley, residing in Yakima county since October, 1912, was born in Germany, August 30, 1859, a son of Adam and Edmunda Schnase, who came to the United States in 1874, settling in Minnesota, where the father followed farming until he passed away. His wife also died in that state.

Julius Schnase was a youth of about fifteen years when the family emigrated to the new world. He attained his majority in Minnesota and started out in life as a farm hand, working in the neighborhood of his home at a wage of ten dollars per month. He afterward took up government land in Minnesota but later sold his property there for eight hundred dollars and removed to South Dakota in 1881. Again he entered a claim from the government, locating in Brown county, where he developed and improved a farm but eventually sold that property and established his home near Aberdeen. There he remained until October, 1912, when he came to Yakima county, Washington, having in 1911 purchased a ten-acre orchard six miles west of Yakima. Here he has devoted his attention to the cultivation of apples and pears and has been very successful in his fruit raising ventures. In the midst of his farm he has built a fine home and is most pleasantly and comfortably situated in life.

In 1882 Mr. Schnase was married to Miss Amelia Knie, a native of Wisconsin and a daughter of Martin and Adolphina (Reivert) Knie, who were pioneer settlers of South Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Schnase became the parents of a son, Elmer Martin, who was born in South Dakota, September 12, 1888, and after acquiring a public school education continued his studies in the Norwestern College at Naperville, Illinois, since which time he has engaged in farming with his father. On the 26th of December, 1911, Elmer M. Schnase married Maude Hey, of Naperville, Illinois, who passed away in February, 1912, leaving a little daughter, Maude. In 1913 he married Olga H. Mitzel, a native of North Dakota, but at that time a resident of Yakima, and they have become parents of one child, Eunice. The religious faith of the family is that of the Evangelical Association. In politics Julius Schnase main- tains an independent course, voting according to the dictates of his judgment. He concentrates his efforts and attention upon his business affairs and his success is the direct and legitimate result of his industry and perseverance.

CLINTON C. MOFFAT, M. D.

Dr. Clinton C. Moffat, who died October 29, 1918, was not only one of the able ,t physicians and surgeons of Benton county but also maintained a drug store at Prosser. A large amount of his time was given to surgery and he successfully per- formed some difficult operations. He was born in Ontario county, New York, September 27, 1883, a son of John and Kathryn (Strayline) Moffat, who in 1885. when the subject of this review was but two years of age, removed from New York to Nobles county, Minnesota, and thence to Davenport, Washington, in 1898. Since 1909 the parents of Dr. Moffat have made their home in Eugene, Oregon, where (13)

276

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

they now live retired, the father having followed agricultural pursuits throughout his active life.

Clinton C. Moffat was reared under the parental roof and received his primary education in the rural schools. Having prepared for college, he entered the Wash- ington State College, from which he received the pharmaceutical degree in 1905, while in 1914 the M. D. degree was conferred upon him by the University of Oregon. In 1905, having become a full fledged pharmacist, he came to Prosser and here opened a drug store. In August, 1907, he bought out Todd's Pharmacy and com- bined the two stores. He carried a complete line of the best drugs on the market and also all standard patent medicines in addition to sundries generally found in a store of this kind. Desirous of taking up the profession of medicine, he in the meantime graduated from the University of Oregon, as above stated, and then en- gaged in general practice, giving, however, a great deal of his time to surgery, along which line he was quite successful. He was careful in diagnosis but after reaching a conclusion followed the course decided upon unfalteringly and had a remarkable number of cures to his credit. His reputation extended as he became better known and he enjoyed a large practice in the valley.

In 1908 Dr. Moffat was united in marriage to Miss Verda Hardesty, of Rosalia. Washington, a daughter of John and Ella (Roberts) Hardesty, who are numbered among the honored pioneers of Washington. To Dr. and Mrs. Moffat was born a son, John, who is nine years of age.

Along professional lines Dr. Moffat was connected with the Benton county and Washington State Medical Societies and the American Medical Association. In his political views he was independent and fraternally he was a member of the blue lodge of Masons, the Scottish Rite bodies and the Eastern Star. He also held membership with the Knights of Pythias, of which he was a past chancellor, with the Foresters and the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. He readily cooperated with all movements undertaken for the betterment of the people of the district in a moral and intellectual way and was ever ready to give his aid to progressive meas- ures for the material development of Prosser and Benton county. Among his colleagues his standing was high and from a business point of view he achieved considerable success for one of his years. He had many friends in Prosser whom he had made in private, business and professional life.

F. A. WIGGINS.

F. A. Wiggins is the president of the Washington Nursery Company, conduct- ing the largest nursery business in this state. Twelve years of determination and energy have brought Mr. Wiggins to his present enviable position in his company, for step by step he has worked his way upward, utilizing the opportunities which have come to him and making the best possible use also of his time and talents. He was born near Toronto, Canada, in 1869, a son of Robert and Eliza Wiggins, who in 1871 crossed the border into the United States, establishing their home in Kansas. In 1903 they came to the northwest, settling in Oregon. The father devoted his life to farming until 1918, when he was called to the home beyond. His widow sur- vives and is living in Portland, Oregon.

F. A. Wiggins acquired a public school education in Kansas and became con- nected with mercantile interests. In 1888 he removed to Salem, Oregon, where he was identified with commercial pursuits as a dealer in dry goods and farm imple- ments. In 1906 he came to Toppenish and purchased an interest in the Washington Nursery Company, of which he was made vice-president and sales manager. He has since been identified with this enterprise and in 1916 was elected to the presidency. The Washington Nursery Company was organized in 1903 by A. W. McDonald, who retained the presidency until his retirement in 1916, when Mr. Wiggins succeeded him in that position, also continuing as manager. The other officers are: W. L. Shearer, vice-president, and C. J. Atwood, secretary and treasurer. This company grows fruit, shade and ornamental trees and also farms two hundred and seventy- five acres of land in all, having one hundred and fifty acres in nursery stock, while

277

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

the remainder is devoted to hay and grain. The main office is at Toppenish, where employment is given to from twenty to fifty people. The product is sold all over the west, from British Columbia to Arizona, and theirs is the largest nursery in the state. At one time they had four hundred and twenty-five acres in nursery stock and in one year prepared and planted four and a quarter million apple trees, which they sold in a period of two or three years. They now conduct a big but conservative business and they are represented by a sales force of from one hundred to one hun- dred and twenty-five men over the west. They handle all kinds of fruit trees such as grow profitably in the west and they are now giving much attention to the develop- ment of the ornamental and landscape branch of their business. They have always maintained the highest standards in the character of the nursery stock which they have handled and propagated, and anything that comes from the Washington Nur- sery Company is known to be of worth. Their name is accepted as a synonym for high grade goods and for straightforward dealing.

In 1894 Mr. Wiggins was married to Miss Myra Albert, of Salem, Oregon, and they have a daughter, Mildred, who is now a student in the State University. Fra- ternally Mr. Wiggins is connected with the Masons as a member of Toppenish Lodge No. 178, A. F. & A. M. He likewise belongs to the Commercial Club, of which he has been president for two years. His political endorsement is given to the repub- lican party and for six years he served on the city council, exercising his official pre- rogatives in support of all plans and projects which had to do with the upbuilding of the city and the advancement of its civic standards.

Mr. Wiggins, with others, has been active in getting legislation through con- gress for the development of the Yakima reservation, the promotion of its irrigation system and other practical means of assisting the Indians to get their rights. He has worked for their allotments of land, whereby more than four thousand allotments have been made, giving to each man, woman and child a separate tract, usually eighty acres, but in some instances one hundred and sixty acres, depending upon the location and the availability of water for irrigation. The Yakima reservation comprises one of the richest agricultural districts of the northwest, splendidly adapted for crop production because of the absence from frost and the possibility for early planting. Mr. Wiggins has been untiring in his efforts to promote development in this section and has done most effective work for Toppenish, the main trading point of the reservation, as a member of the Commercial Club.

H. H. ANDREWS.

H. H. Andrews, well known in the business circles of Yakima as the head of the Andrews Overland Company, was born in Pontiac, Michigan, May 5, 1880, and is a son of Charles N. and Sarah Jane Andrews. The father is a son of Samuel Andrews, a native of Connecticut and a representative of one of the old families of the Massa- chusetts Bay colony. His wife was a niece of General Joseph Warren, who led the forces at the hattle of Bunker Hill. In the year 1832 the grandfather of Mr. Andrews of this review left New England and made his way westward to Michigan, traveling across the country with ox team and wagon. On reaching his destination he took up government land, for at that time much of the state of Michigan was still owned by the government and the work of progress and improvement had scarcely been hegun in many .sections of the state. The family has since been represented there and Charles N. Andrews, father of H. H. Andrews, yet occupies the old homestead.

Spending his hoyhood and youth in his native state, H. H. Andrews supple- mented his public school training by a course in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and there won the Bachelor of Arts degree upon graduation with the class of 1905. He afterward took up newspaper work, which he continued to follow in the Mississippi valley until 1907, when attracted by the opportunities of the growing west, he made his way to the Pacific coast, continuing in newspaper work until 1911. He was editor of the Yakima Morning Herald for four years and became well known in journalistic circles of this section of the state. He had also proved up on a home- stead, which he afterward sold, and in 1912 he entered the automobile business,

278

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

making his initial step in that direction as an employe of the Washington Automobile Company, with which he remained for a year. He afterward began working for Fred Chandler, with whom he continued from 1913 until 1917, when he embarked in business on his own account. It was on the 21st of December of that year that lie organized the Yakima Motor Sales Company, in which undertaking he was asso- ciated with C. S. Mead. They leased a building opposite the postoffice and having a frontage of fifty feet. On the 1st of January, 1919, the name of this company was changed to the Andrews Overland Company. They have the agency for the Over- land and also for the Willys-Knight cars and for the Nash passenger cars and trucks. The Overland business in this locality was much increased in the year 1918, owing to the progressive methods and unfaltering spirit of enterprise displayed by the new firm. They have a service station for their own patrons and they carry a full line of accessories and auto parts. They have the general agency and are the distribut- ing center for Kittitas, Yakima and Benton counties and the firm has adequate rep- resentation all over the valley. They employ several men in Yakima and their busi- ness is constantly growing. Mr. Andrews has built up a business of very gratifying proportions and his present interests are indicative of the spirit of enterprise and progress that actuates him at all points in his career.

On the 20th of September, 1916, Mr. Andrews was married to Miss Emma Flor- ence Mead, of Yakima, and they have many friends in the city where they reside. Mr. Andrews belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and also to the Country Club. He likewise has membership in the Yakima Valley Business Men's Association and was made secretary of the Yakima Valley Auto Dealers' Association for 1918. Of the latter he was one of the organizers and is doing much to further the interests of the association, which was formed to promote the business of dealers through cooperation resulting from a discussion of problems and opportunities for the trade. In politics Mr. Andrews is a republican, having been a stalwart cham- pion of the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He is well known as an alert, energetic young man to whom opportunity has ever been the call to action.

ELLSWORTH S. GIBSON.

Ellsworth S. Gibson, secretary of the Yakima Meat Company, was born in Waterloo, Oregon, on the 24th of August, 1872. His father, James D. Gibson, was a native of Pennsylvania, and in the year of 1859, crossed the plains to California, and after residing for a number of months in the Golden state, made his way to Walla Walla, Washington, in 1860, where he made his headquarters for about ten years, mining and packing supplies to the mines of the northwest. He later estab- lished his home at Portland, Oregon, and still later removed to Waterloo, that state, where he married Miss Mary Agnes Keys, a native of Linn county, Oregon, and a daughter of Elmer Keys, who crossed the plains to Oregon in 1845, and subsequently went to California during the gold rush in 1849, later returning to Oregon where he made his home until his death, about 1855. About the time of his marriage Mr. Gibson entered the grist mill and lumber business and later turned his attention to the raising of live stock. He afterward went to Wasco county with his stock, arriv- ing there in the fall of 1877 and remaining in that district for many years. Even- tually, however, he removed to Idaho and is now living retired at Pleasant Valley, California. The wife and mother passed away in the year 1891, and he subsequently married Miss Ange McGowan, and they have one child, John.

Ellsworth S. Gibson acquired a public school education and then pursued a business course in the Holmes Business College at Portland, Oregon. He afterward engaged in the stock business and has since been associated with his brother, O. D. Gibson. He was also for a short time at Auburn, Washington, in the butchering busi- ness, but through the greater part of his active carcer has been identified with the important interests controlled by the Gibson brothers, and is now the secretary of the company. These brothers are proprietors of the Yakima Meat Company, in which connection they are conducting an extensive packing business, having made

281

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

theirs one of the important industries of the city. They also own and lease large land holdings under the name of Gibson Brothers, Inc., on which they are exten- sively engaged in raising cattle, hogs and sheep.

On the 2d of June, 1909, Ellsworth S. Gibson was married to Miss Inez Harer, a daughter of John H. Harer, of Walla Walla. Their family now numbers three chil- dren, Miles Ellsworth, Stanley and Evelyn Jane.

Mr. Gibson is a representative of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, his membership being in Yakima Lodge No. 318. He also belongs to the Commercial Club and to the Business Men's Association and is an esteemed member of the Country Club. In politics he is a republican. He stands for all that is progressive in civic affairs and gives hearty endorsement and support to many plans and meas- ures for the general good. The cooperation of the Gibson brothers in the conduct and management of their growing and important business has placed them with the men of leadership in trade circles of the northwest. The sterling worth of Ellsworth S. Gibson is recognized by all with whom he has been associated. He is alert and energetic but always courteous in demeanor and obliging and never allows business interests to so monopolize his time that he has no opportunity to bear his part in activities that have to do with the welfare and upbuilding of the community in which he makes his home.

OMER D. GIBSON.

Omer D. Gibson, president of the Gibson Brothers Corporation and the Yakima Meat Company, was born in Waterloo, Oregon, January 18, 1877, but has spent much of his life in Washington. He is a son of James D. and Mary Gibson, who settled in Oregon in pioneer times. The father was a farmer and also engaged in the live stock business. In 1879 he removed from Waterloo to Wasco county, Oregon. where he engaged in the stock business for many years, and he is now living retired at Pleasant Valley, California.

Omer D. Gibson, of this review, acquired a public school education in Oregon and Walla Walla, Washington, and afterward had the benefit of instruction in a business college at Portland, Oregon. He next entered the live stock business in connection with his father and brother and, later devoted his attention to horse raising at Snake River in Washington. In 1896 he took up the business of cattle buying for the Walla Walla Meat Company and afterward spent three years with the firm of Bruhn & Henry, whose headquarters were at Snohomish. On leaving that firm he and his brother, E. S., organized the Walla Walla Meat & Cold Storage Company with a capital stock of twenty thousand dollars, and built a fine plant which they conducted for three years, increasing the capital stock to one hundred and fifty thon- sand dollars. Afterward Mr. Gibson went to Seattle, where he built a large packing house in connection with the Yakima Sheep Company, but eventually sold his interest in that corporation. He subsequently came to Yakima and entered into active rela- tions with the Yakima Meat Company, which was incorporated in 1909. It had been established by the firm of Rand & Sigle about 1906 and in 1911 the business was pur- chased by the Gibson brothers and Charles Bruhn. The plant then consisted of a small slaughter house. They began to do packing in 1911 and in 1912 commenced packing on an extensive scale. The plant has been increased until today it covers forty acres, with a yard capacity for several hundred head of stock. They feed and fatten five hundred or more head of cattle each winter and they buy extensively throughout the valley. They also have an interest in thirteen thousand acres of grazing land, and the Gibson Corporation owns eighteen thousand acres. They kill sheep, hogs and cattle and their product is sold from Pasco to the Cascade moun- tains. They employ about sixty people, having the largest packing house in the Yakima valley. The Gibson brothers incorporated their interests under the name of Gibson Brothers in 1914 in order to attend to the general live stock business and their landed interests. As the years have passed their business has steadily grown until it has reached the position of leadership in their line. From early boy- hood Omer D. Gibson has been closely associated with live stock interests, cach year

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 33

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