History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 35

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 35
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 35
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 35

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MI. Simpson is numbered among the pioneers of his district, having now for a number of years been connected with its development not only to his own benefit but to the advantage of the community at large. He was the first to get water in his neighborhood and the first to realize the importance of irrigation. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees and their religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church, in the work of which he is actively and helpfully interested.

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In politics he is a republican, believing thoroughly in the principles of that organi- zation. He has never regretted the step which he took in crossing the ocean, for here he has found the opportunities which he sought and through their utilization has attained a substantial and honored position in life. He has made many friends in Yakima county, all of whom appreciate his sterling qualities, and his word is as good as liis bond.

JAMES O. CULL.

James O. Cull, attorney-at-law, successfully practicing at the Yakima bar, was born in Missouri, April 6, 1869, a son of John B. and Permelia P. (King) Cull, both of whom were also natives of Missouri. The father was a son of Thomas Cull, of Kentucky, who removed to Missouri about 1840 and there followed the occupation of farming. John B. Cull likewise devoted his energies to general agricultural pur- suits, becoming a well known farmer of Johnson county, Missouri. He and his wife are still living and reside in that county.

James O. Cull acquired a public school aducation and afterward attended a nor- mal school. Determining upon the practice of law as a life work, he began reading Kent, Blackstone and other commentaries at Warrensburg, Missouri, under the direc- tion of O. L. Houts, an able member of the bar of that place. After thorough pre- liminary study he was admitted to practice in February, 1896, and for a short time followed his profession in his native state, but thinking to have better opportunities in the northwest, he made his way to Washington in 1897, first establishing his home in Spokane, where he continued until 1902. In that year he came to Yakima, opened an office and has since successfully practiced in this city. He is careful and con- scientious in his legal work and enjoys a good clientage.

On the 6th of December, 1899, Mr. Cull was married to Miss Emma L. M. Buente, of Warrensburg, Missouri, and they have become parents of two children: Ruth Louise and James B.

Mr. Cull is well known as an exemplary member of Yakima Lodge No. 24, F. & A. M., and he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite in Oriental Consistory No. 2, S. P. R. S. He is likewise a member of Afifi Temple of the Mystic Shrine and in the York Rite he has taken the degrees of Yakima Chapter R. A. M. and Yakima Commandery No. 13, K. T. He is a very active member of the Masonic fraternity and is a most valued representative of the order. He also belongs to Yakima Lodge of the Knights of Pythias and to the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he is a republican and he served as city attorney of Yakima in 1904. He was also one of the organizers of the Yakima Trust Company and is well known as a progressive business man but gives the major part of his time and attention to his professional interests. He holds to high standards in law practice and has ever proven an able and faithful minister in the temple of justice.

AUSTIN E. GLENN.

The broad acres of the Yakima valley have been taken up by enterprising men, and where once was arid land covered with sagebrush are now found fine orchards and highly cultivated fields. The result has been achieved through earnest, persistent labor intelligently directed-until the once sterile tract has been made to bloom and blossom as the rose. Austin E. Glenn is among the number who have been active in the development and improvement of the district. He was born at Shell- rock, Iowa, October 19, 1854, a son of Thomas and Mary Jane (Bussey) Glenn, both of whom were natives of Ohio. Removing westward in 1851, they settled in Iowa, where the father devoted his life to genral agricultural pursuits, but both he and his wife have now passed away.

Austin E. Glenn is indebted to the public school system of his native state for such educational opportunities as he enjoyed. Through vacation periods he worked upon

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his father's farm and for some time after leaving school continued farming in Iowa, while subsequently he carried on business along that line at Pipestone, Minnesota. He next went to Virginia and there engaged in farming until 1906. In the latter year he came to Yakima county and purchased ten acres of land two and a half miles west of the city of Yakima. He has since planted four acres to fruit, six acres having already been so planted. After improving the property he sold about seven acres in one-half acre tracts and twelve homes are built thereon. He has been actuated in all that he has done by a spirit of progressiveness productive of excellent results.

On November 10, 1875, Mr. Glenn was married to Miss Lucia E. Rew, of Illi- nois, a daughter of Noel and Emily Rew, who in 1865 removed to Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Glenn have been born six children: Merton R., who follows farming in Iowa and is married and has three children: Vernon T., a resident of Pipestone, Minnesota, who has been married twice and has four children; Karl R., a ranchman of the Yakima valley, who is married and has four children; Harold A., a member of the United States army and in January, 1919, on active duty in Siberia; F. Thearle, who was a first lieutenant of Company C of the One Hundred and Sixty-first Regiment, was on active duty in France and was honorably discharged in December, 1918, having brought home as a souvenir a beautiful revolver, which he personally took from a German officer; and Mary E., at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Glenn have been members of the Baptist church since 1874 and are loyal adherents of its teachings. His political endorsement is given to the re- publican party. He belongs to the Yakima County Horticultural Union and he has been a student of all that bears upon fruit raising in the northwest. His labors here have been wisely directed and his enterprise and recognition of opportunity have been salient features in the attainment of his present success.

FREDERICK W. McKNIGHT, M. D.

Dr. Frederick W. McKnight, well qualified by thorough preliminary training for the active duties of his profession, is now successfully engaged in practice at Cle Elum. He was born in Ironton, Ohio, December 16, 1877, a son of John T. and Mary Katherine (Hall) Mcknight. The father was a merchant who for a long period conducted business at Ironton, Ohio, where he also filled the office of county treas- urer. He was prominent in the public life of his community, exerting considerable influence over public thought and action.

Frederick W. McKnight obtained a high school education and afterward spent two years as a student in Cornell University. Later he entered the George Wash- ington University, from which he was graduated in 1909. He won the general prize of fifty dollars in gold for the highest scholarship average-ninety and three-tenths per cent. for the four years. He also won the Henry C. Yarrow prize in dermatology and the William K. Butler prize in ophthalmology. Following his graduation he became interne in the University Hospital and also served in a similar capacity at the Children's Hospital in Washington, D. C. For a few months he practiced in West Virginia, but the opportunities of the growing northwest attracted him and he came to Kittitas county in 1912. He located at Cle Elum in 1913 and has since prac- ticed there. He has served as deputy county health officer, also as city health officer and is at present a member of Cle Elum school board and in addition has enjoyed an extensive private practice. He also practiced for a year at Roslyn but during the greater period of his residence in the northwest has given his attention to general practice in Cle Elum. He is physician and surgeon for the Northern Pacific Railway and the Milwaukee Railway Company and also for a number of large lumber com- panies and coal companies. He specializes also in examinations for insurance and government work. He does a great amount of surgery and is particularly skilled in that field. He keeps in touch with the trend of modern professional thought and scientific investigation and his practice has placed him prominently in the front rank among able physicians and surgeons of this part of the state.

In 1901 Doctor McKnight was married to Miss Corinne Evans, of Los Angeles, California, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George McClure of that city and they now

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have two sons: John T. and Robert Abbott McKnight. Doctor Mcknight belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and also to the Fraternal Order of Eagles. His political allegiance is given to the republican party but he has no aspiration for public honors or office, feeling that his time is fully occupied by his professional du- ties, which he discharges with a sense of conscientious obligation that has been pro- ductive of excellent results.

SAMUEL G. BLACKBURNE.

The experiences of Samuel G. Blackburne have been most varied and his rem- iniscences are thoroughly interesting. He is a native son of the Emerald Isle, his birth having occurred at Fenagh in County Carlow, Ireland, January 30, 1865, his parents being Thomas and Elizabeth Sarah (Murphy) Blackburne, both of whom passed away in Ireland, where the father had followed the profession of school teaching.

at the age of eighteen years Samuel G. Blackburne left his native country and went to Australia, remaining there for sixteen years in all, during which time he followed gold mining and also traveled extensively over that country. As he passed to and fro over the dry deserts he was many times near death, for intense heat pre- vailed in those arid districts, where there was no water. However, he found much of interest in the country and as the years passed on he continued his prospecting for placer gold. He also spent two years in New Zealand, where he engaged in timber cutting under contract. He was likewise for six months in Tasmania, where he was engaged in the artillery service. He also served for two years as a member of an artillery company in Australia. He was through that period a young man enjoying adventure and excitement and he gained much of both. In February, 1898, he left Australia, and in April of that year landed at Skagway, Alaska, where he en- gaged in prospecting during the summer. In the fall of the year he returned to Dawson and through the winter worked for wages. In the fall of 1899 he bought a claim on Last Chance, which he operated for eight months and then engaged in pros- pecting during the summer of 1900 in connection with three others. They went down the Yukon river and then up the Hosianna river to a point one hundred and fifty miles north of the Arctic circle and found some gold but not in paying quan- tities. In the fall of that year Mr. Blackburne made his way to Rampart, where he worked a claim through the winter. In March, 1901, he took four dogs and made a trip of four hundred miles up the Yukon river with one companion. They were caught in a blizzard and were almost frozen to death but at length Mr. Blackburne succeeded in reaching Fort Hamlin. The other man, however, could not stand up to the severe hardships and quit, but Mr. Blackburne procecded on his way to the fort and then sent others back from the fort to bring in his companion, which they suc- cessfully accomplished. Nine days later they went on to Circle City and pur- chased two claims sixty miles out. There they remained for two years. In 1903 Mr. Blackburne went to Fairbanks and purchased several claims in that vicinity, there residing until the fall of 1907, when he came to the United States. He visited New York and Chicago, Minneapolis and other cities, after which he returned to Ireland, where he spent three months and also one month in London. He then again came to the U'nited States, making his way to Washington, D. C., to Philadelphia and other points in the east. He had prospered in his Alaskan venture and with the money thus earned he made a most pleasurable and enjoyable trip in various parts of this country as well as in Great Britain. In March, 1908, he arrived in Seattle with the intention of returning to Alaska but came to the Yakima valley to look over the district, having met a number of other Alskan men who had purchased land in this section. M1. Blackburne became interested in the valley and its prospects and invested in eighty acres of land on Selah Heights, which at that time was all covered with sagebrush. He was one of the first to locate in that locality, taking up pioneer worl. in the development and improvement of the district. His labors have since brought about wonderful results. He has planted sixty-five acres to apples, pears, peaches and grapes and his orchards and vineyards are in excellent bearing condi-

SAMUEL G. BLACKBURNE

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tion. In fact he has one of the finest ranches to be found in the valley, supplied and equipped with every modern improvement and commanding a beautiful view of the surrounding country.

In 1909 Mr. Blackburne was united in marriage to Miss Kathe Werley, a native of Allentown, Pennsylvania. Mr. Blackburne belongs to Yakima Lodge No. 318. B. F. O. E., also to the Grange and to the Sour Doughs, a society made up of former residents of Alaska. In politics he maintains an independent course, voting for men and measures rather than party yet giving deep and earnest consideration to all vital and significant problems affecting the welfare of community, commonwealth or country. He is a big man physically and mentally, has seen much of life and from each experience has learned the lessons therein contained. He is a strong man, strong in his honor and his good name, strong in his ability to plan and perform and, morcover, his marked characteristics are such as make for personal popularity among all who know him.

SIMEON DELOS VAN DUSEN.

The early settlers who penetrated into the Yakima valley could scarcely have dreamed that within a few short years its once uncultivated and arid lands would be transformed into fine orchards or farm property. The change has occurred so rapidly as to seem almost magical and today fruit from the valley is regarded through- out the entire country as of standard ' excellence. Devoting his attention to the raising ot apples, pears and cherries, Simeon Delos Van Dusen is meeting with well merited success. He was born at Pine Island, Minnesota, November 29, 1876, a son of Oliver and Electa (Mentor) Van Dusen, who were for many years residents of Minnesota, where the father followed the occupation of farming. He was born in Ohio and removed to Minnesota in 1854, there spending his remaining days.

The youthful experiences of Simeon D. Van Dusen were those of the farmbred boy who divides his time between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the fields. After his textbooks were put aside he con- tinued to engage in farming in Minnesota until 1904 and then came to Yakima county, taking up his abode on a five-acre tract of land given him by his father-in-law and situated four miles west of the city of Yakima. He rebuilt the house upon the place and replanted the orchard and now has fine bearing apple, pear and cherry trees. He also is the owner of fourteen acres six miles west of Yakima. He is a member of the Yakima County Horticultural Union, also of the Yakima County Fruit Grow- ers' Association and is interested in everything that tends to promote the welfare of the horticulturists of this section and to safeguard their interests.

Or the 16th of September, 1902, Mr. Van Dusen was united in marriage to Miss Lattic Lodema Irish, a daughter of Harrison Arthur and Lattie E. (Smith) Irish. They now have three children: Arthur Simeon, Ella Lodema and Helen Melissa.

Mr. Van Duven is a republican in his political views but at local elections casts his ballot rather for the candidate whom he regards as best qualified for office than for a party choice, as at local elections there is no political issue involved. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Modern Wordmen of America and is loyal to the teachings and purposes of these organiza- tions.

GEORGE L. HASKINS.

Among the successful business men of Grandview is numbered George L. Has- kins, who has already built up a very gratifying trade in the automobile business. He has perceived an opportunity and made good use of the same and is therefore now on the highroad to prosperity. Being a young man of modern and progres- sive ideas, he has made his an up-to-date establishment where practically all kinds of repair work is done, besides having a good storage capacity for machines. Mr.

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Haskins was born in Hudson, Michigan, January 30, 1883, a son of Henry B. and Mary M. Haskins. The father was a farmer by occupation. In 1901, when our sub- ject was eighteen years old, the family removed to Paynesville, Minnesota, and seven years later to Minneapolis, where the father died in 1910. The mother after- ward came to Grandview, Washington, and here passed away in 1914.

George L. Haskins was reared under the parental roof, amid farm surroundings, and largely acquired his education in Michigan. Removing with the family to Min- nesota in 1901, he subsequently entered the furniture and undertaking business in partnership with his brother, R. W. Haskins, at Paynesville, that state, where they continued for seven years. Later he was engaged in the real estate business in Minneapolis. Having heard favorable reports in regard to conditions in the far west, he decided to come to Washington and in 1910 arrived in Yakima. For four years he was engaged in farming on the Naches and at the end of that time, removed to Grandview. Here his brother had located in 1910 and together with L. D. Geaney they entered the automobile business in April, 1915. The business grew so rapidly that in 1916 they built a fine garage and so quickly was the capacity of this building utilized that in 1917 an addition had to be erected, so that they now have storage for twenty cars. In their dealings as well as in their work the firm is reliable and has therefore built up a good business. They also maintain a thoroughly equipped repair shop which is well fitted up in order to do any kind of automobile work. In 1917 a garage was also opened at Mabton and in connection therewith a Ford agency was established which covers the southern part of Yakima county and a portion of Benton county. In 1917 over one hundred cars were sold, in fact the manufacturers were unable to deliver all of the machines. In June, 1918, the firm embarked in the wholesale tire business under the name of the Yakima Tire Service Company at Yakima, the management of that place being now in the hands of R. W. Haskins and in March, 1919, they opened another place at Toppenish. From there a wholesale tire business is conducted.

In 1906 George L. Haskins was married to Fanny B. Bump, a native of Hudson, Michigan, who passed away in 1911. On May 22, 1913, he wedded Blanch Leisenring, also of Hudson, and they have a daughter, Mary. By the first marriage were born two daughters, Elizabeth Vaughn and Ruth. Both Mr. and Mrs. Haskins are very popular among the younger people of Grandview and vicinity and often entertain their many friends at their hospitable fireside.

Fraternally Mr. Haskins is a member of Grandview Lodge No. 196, F. & A. M., having joined the Masonic order in Paynesville Lodge No. 71, in Minnesota. In this political views he is a republican but in regard to local affairs is largely independent and his religious faith is that of the Methodist church. He has ever heen interested in movements which have for their purpose the development and upbuilding of Grandview and Yakima county and although not a public man or politician has done much to further prosperity here in a private way.

J. ALVA BULL.

J. Alva Bull, one of the leading young farmers living in the vicinity of Ellens- burg, was born in Kittitas county, Washington, September 10, 1891, a son of Walter A. and Rebecca (Nelson) Bull. The father was born in New York, while the mother's birth occurred in Norway, whence she came to the new world, arriving in the Kitti- tas valley in 1878. Mr. Bull had previously become a resident of this section of the state in 1869 and as the years passed on he engaged extensively in farming and stock raising, having seventeen hundred acres of fine land, which he brought under a high state of cultivation and improvement, converting the place into productive fields and rich meadow land. He died in the year 1898 and his widow survives, making her home with her son, J. Alva. Walter A. Bull had been twice married and had four children by his first wife and two by his second wife.

J. Alva Bull received liberal educational advantages. He attended the University of Washington, where he pursued a law course, and in 1913 he took up farming on his own account by renting the old homestead, which he has since managed. He now

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has one hundred and sixty acres planted to hay and grain and he also manages an additional tract of three hundred and twenty acres not far from the old home. He is persistent and energetic in carrying on his work, follows the most progressive meth- ods and by reason of his capability in business and his undaunted enterprise has won a place among the representative agriculturists of his section of the state.

On the 24th of December, 1915, Mr. Bull was united in marriage to Miss Mar- garet Porter, of Columbus, Montana, and to them has been born a son, John A. Fraternally Mr. Bull is connected with the Elks Lodge No. '1102, of Ellensburg. In politics he casts an independent ballot, voting for men and measures rather than party. He is fond of hunting and indulges in that sport when leisure permits but the greater part of his time and attention is occupied by his business affairs and he has won a place among the leading young farmers of Kittitas county.

JOSEPH M. FLEMING.

Joseph M. Fleming, an orchardist with large interests and marked business ability, as manifest in the success which has come to him, was born in Traer, Iowa, June 2, 1874, a son of Jolin W. and Jane E. (Fleming) Fleming, both of whom were natives of Belleville, Pennsylvania, and became pioneer settlers of Iowa. The father was a cabinet maker by trade and also followed farming, and both he and his wife passed away in the Hawkeye state.

Joseph M. Fleming acquired a public school education, which was supplemented by study in the Iowa State College at Ames, Iowa, but upon the death of his father he relinquished his textbooks and returned home to take charge of the farm. He had attended college together with four sons of Hon. James Wilson, ex-secretary of agri- culture. For eight years Joseph M. Fleming continued to cultivate and further de- velop the home farm and at one time had over a thousand head of hogs upon the place, his attention being largely devoted to the feeding and fattening of hogs and cattle. In 1903 he went to Pueblo, Colorado, where he worked for the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company, having charge of the woodworking department of the Steel Wheel & Wagon Works. He has always been actuated by a progressive spirit and while upon the farm in Iowa he installed the first gas engine to be used upon a farm in that part of the state. In 1904 he removed to California, where he worked at the carpenter's trade for a year and then returned to the old home in Iowa, where he continued for another year. Later he traveled upon the road through Nevada and Utah and in September, 1906, he came to Grandview, Washington, opening the first store of the town and erecting the second building. He was engaged in merchandis .. ing there for seven years, at the end of which time he disposed of his commercial interests and bought ten acres in orchards near Grandview and later added seven more. He has also built and sold two residences in Grandview and has platted and sold the first addition to the town, doing this in September, 1908. He and his brother developed and sold twenty acres of orchard land which had been planted to cherries and other fruit. His business activities have ever been of a character that have contributed largely to the development and progress of the region in which he makes his home. He has upon his ranch a packing house thoroughly equipped to take care of the fruit and also a fine residence. He brought lumber by team from Sunnyside for the first store built in Grandview and hauled merchandise by team from Mabton. All freight was brought by wagon from Sunnyside and from Mabton for a year. A birdseye view of Grandview taken in 1906 shows Mr. Fleming's store, the bank of A. H. Hawn and the postoffice building, and from the founding of the town, Mr. Fleming has been closely associated with its progress and development.

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History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 35

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