History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 40

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 40
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 40
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 40

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cessfully conducted a furniture business. In that year he came to Sunnyside and gave his attention to ranching for about four years, at the end of which period he became connected with the mercantile business of J. B. George. On the 19th of February, 1916, Mr. Lail was appointed postmaster of Sunnyside, entering upon his duties in July of that year. He has since ably administered the office, giving great satisfaction to the public. He has introduced simplified systems in order to facili- tate mail matters and does everything possible to render the best service obtainable.

On February 22, 1888, Mr. Lail was united in marriage to Miss Iva Roberts, a native of Kentucky, and to them have been born three children: George, who is married and is an electrical engineer, making his home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Louise, who is acting as assistant postmaster; and Lillian, a resident of Pullman, Washington.

In his political views Mr. Lail is a democrat and has always taken an active part in promoting the interests of this organiation, being quite prominent in local politics. He is a member of the Sunnyside Commercial Club, ever ready to assist in its projects, and fraternally he belongs to the Masons, being a member of the blue lodge and chapter. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Lail has a fine apple ranch in the Wenatche valley and is well known as a successful agriculturist. All who know him speak of him in the highest terms and his genial, pleasant ways have won him many friends who are as one in regard to their es- timation of his high qualities of character.

EARL V. WYANT.

Earl V. Wyant is the owner of a good farm property of forty-four acres near Grandview, which he purchased in 1917, although he had previously owned land and been identified with the agricultural interests of Yakima county. He was born in Greenwood county, Kansas, February 26, 1873, a son of M. B. and Sarah W. Wyant, who were pioneer settlers of the Sunflower state and were natives of Ohio. The father has devoted his entire life to farming but has now retired from business cares, he and his wife still making their home in Kansas.

Earl V. Wyant supplemented his public school education by a course in a business college and afterward took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for several years, dividing his time between the work of the schoolroom and farm- ing. He was the owner of several farms in Kansas but in 1900 sought the oppor- tunities of the northwest. He visited Yakima county to look over the country but did not at that time purchase land. In 1907 he returned to this state and bought a farm near Seattle. In 1915 he became owner of a ranch west of Yakima, which he sold in 1917, when he made investment in forty-four acres of land near Grand- view, whereon he is now engaged in raising hay, corn and other products. He is successfully managing his farming interests and annually harvests good crops.

On the 6th of May, 1896, Mr. Wyant was united in marriage to Miss L. Delle Wood, a native of Kansas and a daughter of James and Mary Wood. They have one child, Jesse W. In his political views Mr. Wyant has always been a republican and while in Snohomish county served as deputy county assessor. His religious faith and that of his wife is indicated by their membership in the Presbyterian church. They are highly esteemed people of the community, winning the warm regard of all with whom they have come in contact by reason of their many sterling traits of character.

JOSEPH A. SNYDER.

Joseph A. Snyder, actively engaged in farming on a ranch of one hundred and fifty-eight acres nine miles southwest of Yakima, was born in Harrison county, Ohio, June 21, 1861, a son of John and Nancy Jane (Hutchinson) Snyder, who in 1864 removed from Ohio to St. Clair county, Missouri, where the father continued to re-

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side until his death. The mother is now living in Pittsburg, Kansas, at the age of eighty-one years.

Joseph A. Snyder acquired a public school education in Missouri while spend- ing his youthful days upon his father's farm and through vacation periods he early became familiar with the work of the fields. He was actively identified with agri- cultural interests in his native state until 1909, when he removed to the northwest with Seattle as his destination. In young manhood he had learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed in connection with construction work for the Seattle Ex- position. He also built a Joy Wheel, which he operated during the exposition, and made considerable money on that venture. In 1910 he located in Yakima and became a carpenter foreman in connection with the crection of the buildings for the State Fair. Pleased with the northwest, its opportunities and prospects, he then rented an eight hundred acre wheat ranch near Ellensburg and continued its cultivation for eighteen months. He afterward rented the Mountain View ranch, near Naches City, living thereon for three years, and in January, 1916, he purchased one hundred and fifty-eight acres nine miles southwest of Yakima and has since devoted his energies and attention to the cultivation and development of the place. He is now engaged in raising wheat, alfalfa, corn and other diversified crops and he also con- ducts a profitable dairy business, keeping graded cattle for this purpose.

On the 31st of December, 1885, Mr. Snyder was united in marriage to Miss Virginia C. Bushong, of Virginia, a daughter of Samuel and Mary Bushong, who removed from the Old Dominion to Grundy county, Missouri, during her girlhood days. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have never had any children of their own, but their kindness and generosity have prompted them to rear six children: Walter and Min- nie Redford, now of Spokane; William and Lettie Merritt, the latter the wife of Andrew Dahl, a rancher; and two others, who are deceased.

Mr. Snyder is a member of the Woodmen of the World, also of the Loyal Order of Moose and of the Grange. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and while in Missouri he served for eight years as deputy sheriff but has never sought or desired office in the northwest. He concentrates his energies, efforts and attention upon his business affairs and has become the owner of an excellent farm property, from which he is now deriving a substantial annual income.

JOHN SEVERYNS.

Although one of the latest additions to Sunnyside's merchants, John Severyns is already recognized as one of its most enterprising business men, being connected with the hay and grain trade. He was born in Custer county, Nebraska, July 12 1885, and is a son of Joseph H. and Mary F. (Francois) Severyns, the former of whom has passed away. Coming to Washington in 1900, Mrs. Severyns located in Rattlesnake, where she acquired three sections of railroad land, to the cultivation of which she has since devoted her attention.

The first fifteen years of his life John Severyns spent in his native state, there receiving his primary education. In 1900 he removed with the family to Rattlesnake and for five years assisted his mother in the cultivation of the large tract which she had acquired from the railroad. He then removed to Prosser, and subsequently, realizing the value of a better education, attended college at Pullman. There he also held a position with a Mr. Fry, who was engaged in the feed business. He was then elected county assessor of Benton county and served for four years, or two terms, proving highly efficient in the discharge of his duties. The two subsequent years he spent in the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad, at the end of which time he again entered the employ of Mr. Fry. In April, 1918, he came to Sunnyside and bought out the business of Rowland & Son and is now engaged in the hay, grain, feed and fuel business. Although he has been located in Sunnyside only a short time he has already instituted a number of improvements in his business and in every way tries to please the public by carrying the highest class of goods and by selling at a reasonable profit. He fully recognizes and practices the principles of good service and honest prices.

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On June 4, 1914, Mr. Severyns was united in marriage to Miss Jessie M. Shelby, of Prosser, and both are prominent among the young people of the valley. In his political views Mr. Severyns is a republican and fraternally is quite prominent, be- longing to the blue lodge of Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Foresters. Aside from his mercantile interests he owns valuable farm lands, from which he de- rives a gratifying addition to his income. He is an energetic, farsighted young busi- ness man of honorable principles and a splendid future may be predicted for his en- terprise in Sunnyside.

JUDGE EDWARD B. PREBLE.

Judge Edward B. Preble, who for ten years was a judge of the superior court and is now president of the Yakima County Bar Association, has long figured promi- nently in connection with law practice in the northwest. The width of the con- tinent separates him from his birthplace, for he was born in Portland, Maine, in 1858, a son of J. T. and Almira Preble. In the carly '60s the family removed west- ward to Minnesota, where the father followed the occupation of farming and also served as county superintendent of schools in Hennepin county, where both he and his wife continued to reside until called to their final rest.

Judge Preble acquired his education in Minnesota and was graduated from the State University there. He also read law in that state under private instruction and was admitted to the bar in 1883. In 1886 he removed to the west, making his way to Roseburg, Oregon, where he continued in the active practice of law until 1895, when hc removed to Washington. In the following year he took up his ahode in Yakima and has since engaged in active practice, and his ability has brought him promi- neutly to the front as an able representative of the legal fraternity here. His high standing among his colleagues and contemporaries is indicated in the fact that he is now serving as president of the Yakima County Bar Association. He was called upon for judicial service and was judge of the superior court for about ten years, retiring from the bench in January, 1917. He has always been accorded a liberal and distinctively representative clientage and has long ranked as one of the dis- tinguished members of the bar of this section. He is the owner of fine farm lands, which he has held throughout the period of his residence in the northwest. He now owns a valuable fruit farm and he spends his summers upon his ranches.

In 1880 Judge Preble was united in marriage to Miss Mattie Lewis, of Monti- cello, Minnesota, who was born in Arkansas. Of the children of this marriage the only one surviving is Nora, the wife of George Guilland, of New York city. The wife and mother passed away and in 1905 Judge Preble was again married, his second union being with Nettie Haynes, of Spokane, Washington, and to them one child was born, Bessie.

Fraternally Judge Preble is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is estcemed as a man of personal worth as well as of marked professional ability.

JOHN B. RAMERMAN.

John B. Ramerman, who now owns thirty-six acres of valuable land two miles southeast of Zillah, of which twenty-five acres are in orchard, is one of those valu- able citizens whom Holland has furnished to the United States. He was born in that country, February 4, 1852, a son of William and Johanna ( Meyerenberg) Ramerman, both of whom passed away in their native land. Throughout his life the father was successfully engaged as a merchant.

John B. Ramerman passed his boyhood and youth under the parental roof in his native country and there acquired his education. He began his independent carcer there but at the age of twenty-nine crossed the Atlantic in order to profit by the chances presented here for a quicker rise. In 1881 he arrived in the United States

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and at first located in Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked for others, but later estab- lished himself in the coal business. He was thus engaged for about nineteen years but in 1900 sold out and, having heard favorable reports in regard to the oppor- tunities for horticulture in the Yakima valley, he made his way to Yakima county and at first rented eighty acres three miles northwest of Granger. Two years later he acquired title to thirty-six acres two miles southeast of Zillah and this he now has in a high state of cultivation. He has made many improvements and instituted modern equipment and, moreover, has erected a handsome farm residence. Twenty- five acres are devoted to orchard, principally apples, but he also raises a few pears, while the remainder of the tract is under the plow. Since taking up horticulture Mr. Ramerman has closely studied the latest mbethods along that line, and profiting by his own experience and that of others. he has succeeded in developing a property from which he now derives a very gratifying income. He has raised corn sixteen feet high and his picture taken in his corn field was exhibited at many local fairs and also at the World's Fair.

In November, 1879, Mr. Ramerman was united in marriage to Miss Albertine Bos, also a native of Holland, and to this union have been born the following named: William, who is a rancher near his father's place and is married and has two chil- dren; Harry, who is also engaged in ranching in the vicinity and is married and has six children; John, who fills the position of principal of schools in Iowa; George, who fills a similar position at Lynden, Washington, and has a wife and one child; and Jerry, who is also married and is farming his father's place.

Mr. Ramerman and his family are highly respected hy all who know them. He has ever been deeply interested in religious matters and assisted in building the Christian Reformed church, of which he is a devoted member. In politics he is a republican but outside of performing his duties at the ballot box has had no connec- tion with public life although he is helpfully interested in all movements undertaken for the development of the district in which he resides. He is a loyal American citi- zen who has made American ideals his own and has become a valuable resident of this country.

WESLEY E. GANO.

Wesley E. Gano, who is engaged in general farming, was born in Hardin county. Ohio, August 25, 1881, a son of James H. Gano, mentioned elsewhere in this work in connection with the sketch of Ira J. Gano. Wesley E. Gano obtained a public school education in Yakima county, having removed with his father to the northwest in 1892. His youthful days were spent in the usual manner of the farmbred boy, his time being divided between the acquirement of a public school education, the pleas- ures of the playground and such duties as were assigned him by parental authority. After his textbooks were put aside he and his brother, Ira J. Gano, engaged in farm- ing together until 1904, when Wesley E. Gano established a livery barn at Yakima. He was joined by his brother and father in the next year and they conducted the business in that way until 1908, when it was sold. They then purchased eighty acres of land on the Moxee and there resided for two years, after which they disposed of that property. Wesley E. Gano bought twenty acres of land independently and con- tinued its cultivation for a year, when he disposed of it. His next purchase made him owner of sixty-two acres nine miles southwest of Yakima, of which he sold twenty-four acres in 1917. He now has thirty-eight acres of land, devoted to diver- sified farming, and he also rents forty acres on the Yakima Indian reservation. He is likewise one of the directors and stockholders of the Ahtanum Cooperative Storc. is a director of the Ahtanum Irrigation District, which he helped to organize, and otherwise is prominently connected with the commercial and business development of this section of the state.

On the 15th of November, 1905, Mr. Gano was united in marriage to Miss Minnie B. Patterson, of Fresno, California, a daughter of W. S. and Sarah (Hope) Patter- son. Mr. and Mrs. Gano now have two children: Leroy William and Jay Harrison. Fraternally Mr. Gano is connected with the Knights of Pythias. His political

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allegiance is given to the republican party and he has served as special deputy sheriff for several years past and has been in charge of the policing of the fair grounds for the past three years, having twenty or more men, who report to him during the State Fair. He belongs to the Ahtanum Grange and also to the Knights of Pythias. He has been road foreman for the past three years and is interested in everything that pertains to the welfare and progress of the community in which he makes his home, and his cooperation can always be counted upon to further any plan or measure for the general good.

GEORGE E. DESMARAIS.

George E. Desmarais is the owner of an excellent farm property of one hun- dred and twenty acres not far from Moxee City. This he has brought under a high state of cultivation, transforming it into very productive fields. His business interests are thereby successfully conducted and he is meeting with well deserved prosperity in what he undertakes. He was born in Quebec, Canada, September 14, 1880, a son of Israel and Sophia Desmarais, who in 1882 removed from Canada to Crookston, Minnesota. They are mentioned at length on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of Louis Desmarais, a brother of the subject of this review.

George E. Desmarais attended school in Minnesota and in 1900, when twenty years of age, made his way to the northwest. Arriving in Yakima county, he pur- chased thirteen acres of wild land on the Moxee that was covered with sagebrush. No plow had ever turned a furrow upon this tract and it required much arduous labor to transform the hitherto undeveloped district into the rich fields seen today. Mr. Desmarais worked on energetically and persistently, however, and as his finan- cial resources increased he kept adding to his original holdings until he now has one hundred and twenty acres of valuable and productive farm land, all of which is under cultivation. He is engaged extensively in raising hay, corn, grain, beets, potatoes and hops. He built a home upon his place and has added many modern improve- ments which make this one of the attractive farm properties of the district.

On the 29th of February, 1905, Mr. Desmarais was married to Miss Amabiles Crevier, who was born in Canada, where they were married. Their children were: Cecelia; Euclid, deceased; Alice; Florence; Robert: Leon; Corina; one who died in infancy; George; and another child who passed away in infancy.

The family are all members of the Holy Rosary Catholic church. In politics Mr. Desmarais maintains an independent course, voting for men and measures rather than for party. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus and also to the Modern Woodmen of America. He is interested in public progress along all lines leading to the benefit of the community at large and he has served as a director of the drainage district. His business affairs have been most carefully and successfully conducted and he is today one of the most prosperous farmers of his part of the state. A fine orchard upon his home place proves the value of the region for fruit raising and he now has extensive crops of grain and vegetables where was found wild sagebrush land at the time of his arrival in the state.

JOHN ALDERSON.

The fine home formerly occupied by John Alderson, now deceased, stands in the midst of the oldest ranch in that part of the Yakima valley. In the development and improvement of the property he displayed keen sagacity and persistency of purpose that brought rich results. Mr. Alderson was born in England, December 27, 1836, a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Alderson, the latter's maiden name being Walker. He had a public school education and after his textbooks were put aside began learning the butchering business, which he followed in his native country until 1864. The stories that reached him concerning the opportunities of the new world led him to

JOHN ALDERSON

MRS. ELIZABETH ALDERSON

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the determination to try his fortune on the west side of the Atlantic and he made his way to the United States, settling at Clinton, Pennsylvania, where he resided for several years. He aferward removed to Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, establishing his home in Wilkes-Barre, where he remained until 1888, when he came to the north- west. He purchased eighty acres of land in Fruitvale, Yakima county, the greater part of which was still wild and undeveloped, being covered with the native sage- brush and giving little indication that it could be converted into rich and productive orchard land. He afterward sold a part of the place, which now comprises forty acres within its borders. He planted most of this to fruit and developed what is today the oldest ranch in this part of the valley. Upon the place he built a fine home and added other modern improvements which were indicative of the progressive spirit by which he was ruled.

On the 12th of October, 1860, Mr. Alderson was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Martin, who was born near Carlisle, in Northumberland, England, May 31, 1840, a daughter of John and Mary (Parker) Martin, representatives of old Eng- lish families. To Mr. and Mrs. Alderson were born nine children: Jennie, the wife of T. J. Moore, a resident of Harwood, Washington; John T., who served in the Span- ish-American war as a lieutenant and died soon afterward; William Henry, who has passed away; Elizabeth, at home; Zippie, also at home; Samuel E., who is with the Pacific Power & Light Company of Yakima and is married and has four children, three sons and a daughter; Lilly Anna, deceased; Emily A., who was killed while riding a horse when fourteen years of age; and Adelia May, the wife of J. W. Free- man, of Yakima, by whom she has four children.

The family circle was again broken by the hand of death when on the 10th of May, 1916, Mr. Alderson passed away when in the eightieth year of his age. His political allegiance had long been given to the republican party; in fact he became one of its stalwart champions on taking out his naturalization papers. He held mem- bership in the Methodist church as do all of the family. Its teachings guided him in all of the relations of life and his was an honorable and upright career that com- mended him to the confidence and goodwill of all with whom he came in contact.

ANDREW BROWN.

Andrew Brown, an attorney-at-law of Prosser, is one of the citizens whom Iowa has furnished to the state of Washington. He has largely contributed toward the development of Benton county and Prosser, in which city he has practiced for about fourteen years. He was born in Scott county, Iowa, December 11, 1872, a son of George and Ellen (McKimn) Brown, both of whom were born across the water, the former being a native of Ireland, while the latter was born in Scotland. The father came to the United States at the age of nineteen and his wife was about seventeen years. He first located in Delaware, whence he removed to Pennsylvania, and in that state they were married. In the '50s the young couple set out for Scott county, Iowa, and there George Brown became one of the pioneer agriculturists and continued along that line . until his death. His wife has also passed away, both being laid to rest in Iowa.

Andrew Brown received his education in the public schools of his native county and later entered the state College of Iowa, from which he was graduated with the class of 1897, receiving the degree of B. S. Having decided upon the law as a career suitable to his tastes and ability, he read with J. A. Hanley, of Davenport, Iowa, and also taught school for about ten years in all. He was a teacher in the Davenport Business College, taught in country schools, and for three years he was principal of the Princeton, (Iowa), schools. In October, 1904, he was admitted to the bar in Washington, but had been previously practicing in his native state. The year 1903 marked his advent into this state and he first located at Davenport, Washington, whence he came to Prosser on the 5th of March, 1905, and here he has ever since remained. He is well known as an earnest, ardent and able advocate, well versed in the law and gifted with an eloquence which is effective before judge and jury. Many important cases have been given into his care and he has never in the slight-

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est degree betrayed any trust reposed in him. His clientage is now large and rep- resentative and he enjoys the general confidence of all who have had business deal- ings with him. He ever holds to the highest standards of professional ethics.

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History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 40

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