History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 48

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 48
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 48
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 48

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NATHAN C. RICHARDS.

Nathan C. Richards, a member of the Washington bar, practicing at Yakima, his ability and position being manifest in the fact that he is now president of the Wash- ington State Bar Association, was born in Hillsdale, Michigan, in 1867, a son of Nathan J. and Mary (Franklin) Richards. He acquired a public school education, supplemented by study in Hillsdale College, after which he took up the reading of law under the direction and in the office of the firm of Campbell & Custer of Chicago. He successfully passed the required examinations in 1888 and was admitted to the bar.

In the spring of 1889 Mr. Richards arrived in Washington. He opened a law office in Tacoma, where he remained in active practice until 1895, when he removed to Baker, Oregon, where he continued until 1909. He then came to Yakima, where he has since practiced, and his ability is indicated in the large and distinctively rep- resentative clientage that has since been accorded him, connecting him with much of the most important litigation heard in the courts of the state. His contemporaries and colleagues at the bar have attested their confidence in and high respect for Mr. Richards by electing him to the presidency of the Washington State Bar Association. Outside of his profession he is also known in business circles, being the president of the Yakima Valley Transportation Company, in which connection he has supervised the construction of over forty-two miles of railway. It was to engage in the building of this line that he removed to Yakima.

In 1899 Mr. Richards was united in marriage to Miss Maidie L. Rinker, of Seattle, and they occupy a most enviable position in the social circles of the city. Mr. Rich- ards is a thirty-second degree Mason and a past venerable master of the consistory. He is also a member of the Mystic Shrine and is a past master of the blue lodge in Oregon to which he formerly belonged. He is likewise connected with the Benev- olent Protective Order of Elks. In politics he is a stalwart republican, recognized as an active worker in party ranks but never as an office seeker. In 1904 he was a delegate to the national convention which nominated Theodore Roosevelt for the presidency.

YAKIMA VALLEY TRANSPORTATION COMPANY.

Yakima Valley Transportation Company, the value of whose service in connec- tion with the public welfare is scarcely to be overrated, was established as the Yakima Inter-Valley Traction Company in 1906, the stockholders being local people. H. B. Scudder, now deceased, was the first president, with Murray Miles, also now deceased, as the secretary. Franchises were granted to this company, which was reorganized in 1907 as the Yakima Valley Transportation Company, with A. J. Splawn as the president and George S. Rankin as general manager. They built about three miles of road. In June, 1909, Nathan C. Richards came to Yakima and purchased the plant for the Union Pacific Railroad. Mr. Richards was made manager of the com- pany and started the development work. In 1910 he was elected to the presidency of this corporation, with J. P. O'Brien as vice president and P. D. Spencer as auditor. The company now has over forty miles of road, extending to Selah, Wiley City and Henryb'ro, covering most of the valley, and the electric railway lines of the city. The equipment is thoroughly modern, power being secured from the Pacific Power (14)

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& Light Company, and today they have over one hundred employes. They do a large freight business, shipping over both the Union Pacific and the Northern Pacific. The capital stock is held by the Union Pacific system. The company operates three freight locomotives, handling the ordinary freight cars, and operates three interurban passenger cars, together with seven city cars. This is the best electric service in Washington for a town of its size.

ANDREW MILTON SKINNER.

Andrew Milton Skinner, who since 1908 has owned and occupied a farm one mile north of Outlook, now has seventy-five acres of good land. He has owned and sold other farms in this district, having for a number of years been closely identified with its agricultural development. He was born in Osage county, Kansas, June 13, 1873, a son of Andrew J. and Mary Jane (Payton) Skinner, who were natives of Ohio and from that state removed to Indiana, and later to Kansas, purchasing land upon which Mr. Skinner carried on farming to the time of his death.

Andrew M. Skinner acquired a public school education and at the age of sev- enteen years started out in the business world on his own account. He worked for wages and after a time went to Kansas City, where he lived for two years. Later he engaged in farming for a brief period in Kansas and upon his removal to the north- west made his way to Black Diamond, Washington, where he worked in the mines for two and a half years. While in Kansas he had suffered losses and was forced to make a new start in the northwest, his wife assisting by teaching music. They saved twenty-five hundred dollars and, wisely feeling that life means more than the accumulation of money, they went to St. Louis to see the Louisiana Purchase Ex- position, gaining much of educational value and pleasure from the trip. In the spring of 1905 Mr. Skinner purchased forty acres of land a mile north and west of Outlook. He sold the property in 1906 and invested in twenty-five acres nearby. This he later sold and his next purchase made him owner of sixty acres in the same locality, but later he disposed of that tract and in 1908 purchased his present farm a mile north of Outlook. He has added to this since that time and now has seventy- five acres of good land, constituting an excellent ranch property of the district, upon which he successfully raises hay, corn and potatoes. He also has fine registered Percheron and Shire horses and is engaged quite extensively in the breeding and raising of horses.

On the 11th of October, 1900, Mr. Skinner was married to Miss Fannie Roady, who was born in Scranton, Kansas, a daughter of Thomas Jefferson and Catherine (Dowling) Roady, who were born in Jerseyville, Illinois, and became pioneer resi- dents of Kansas, where they settled in 1875. In 1908 they came to the Yakima val- ley and purchased a ranch near Outlook, since which time the father has successfully carried on agricultural interests there. Mr. and Mrs. Skinner have become parents of three children: Mabel, Margaret and Hazel May.

In politics Mr. Skinner is a republican but has never been an office seeker. He has made good use of his time, talents and opportunities and as the years have passed he has won that prosperity which is the direct result of industry well guided and of unquestioned business integrity.

JOHN BORGESON.

John Borgeson, who is devoting his efforts and attention to horticultural pur- suits, having a five acre tract of land near Yakima, was born in Sweden, September 3, 1854, a son of Berg and Anna (Johanson) Borgeson, both of whom died in Sweden. It was in the schools of his native country that John Borgeson pursued his education. In 1879, attracted by the opportunities of the new world, he came to the United States and for eleven months was a resident of Nebraska. He then removed to Colorado, where he spent most of his time through the succeeding eight years, after which he

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made his way to the Puget Sound country and also to British Columbia in the year 1882. In 1894 he became a resident of Yakima county and for a few years engaged in the cultivation of rented land. In 1900 he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of wild land, situated on the Moxee, and began the development and improve- ment of this tract. As the years passed he successfully engaged in the raising of grain, hay and potatoes, converting the place into a valuable farm. He sold that property, however, in 1913 and in 1914 purchased five acres two miles south of Yakima, all of which is planted to orchard. He now annually gathers large crops of apples, pears, peaches, cherries and plums. His trees are in good bearing condition and he utilizes the most improved and scientific methods in their care and development. He has built a barn and has added other modern improvements, converting his farm into a highly productive place.

On the 16th of July, 1900, Mr. Borgeson was married to Miss Anna C. Ander- son, who was born in Sweden and came to the United States in 1900, their marriage being celebrated in New York. Mr. Borgeson returned to Sweden in 1900 and brought his wife-to-be to the United States. Mrs. Borgeson is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church.

In politics Mr. Borgeson is a democrat and is serving as precinct committeeman. He takes an active interest in political questions and issues and never hesitates to give his unfaltering support to any cause in which he believes.

FREDERICK SCHLIEN.

Frederick Schlien, who is engaged in ranching near Mabton, was born in Madi- son county, Nebraska, on the 22d of April, 1884, a son of Carl and Mary (Price) Schlien, who were pioneer settlers of Nebraska. The father brought his family to the Yakima valley in 1901 and purchased ten acres of land near the city of Yakima. He also bought eighty-five acres on the Naches and after cultivating his land for a number of years eventually sold the property and retired to Yakima to enjoy a rest which he had truly earned and richly deserved.

Frederick Schlien engaged in ranching with his father until 1902. He afterward devoted his attention to the cultivation of rented land until 1910, when he purchased a part of his father's land near Mabton. He was the third to settle in this section and when he took up his abode thereon it was all wild and his place was covered with the native growth of sagebrush. As the years have passed he has greatly im- proved his farm, converting the place into a rich and productive tract of land, upon which he has built a pleasant residence and good barn. He has forty acres, on which he raises grain, hay, beans and other crops, and the efficiency of his methods is indi- cated in the large harvests which he annually gathers.

In 1905 Mr. Schlien was married to Miss Marie A. Abraham, who was born in Wisconsin, and they have become parents of three children: Frederick Henry, Ches- ter Carl and Florence Lovina. The parents attend the Presbyterian church and Mr. Schlien gives his political allegiance to the democratic party, but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him, as he prefers to concentrate his energies and attention upon his business affairs, which, wisely directed, are bringing to him a good return for his investment of capital and labor.

OVAN A. TAYLOR.

Ovan A. Taylor, an orchardist devoting his attention to the further development of five acres of land a mile and a half northwest of Buena that is planted to apples, was born in Queens county, New Brunswick, December 26, 1848, and is a son of John W. and Rachel (Price) Taylor, who were also natives of that country. The father was a farmer and lumberman and both he and his wife spent their entire lives in New Brunswick.

Ovan A. Taylor acquired a public school education in his youth and on starting

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out in the business world sought employment in the lumber woods, where he re- mained to the age of twenty-seven. He crossed the border into the United States in 1871, making his way to Minnesota. He afterward took up government land in Kingsbury county, South Dakota, in 1881 and there engaged in farming until 1908, when he came to Yakima county, Washington, and for two years thereafter man- aged the Hilton ranch. He subsequently spent one year in British Columbia and in 1913 he returned to Yakima county, where he purchased five acres a mile and a half northwest of Buena, already planted to orchards. He has built a good home upon this place and personally cares for his ranch, although he has now passed the Psalm- ist's allotted span of three score years and ten. His land was all in orchards when he purchased it and he raises Jonathan and Winesap apples.

On the 31st of October, 1875, Mr. Taylor was married to Miss Minda Rundle, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Edwards) Rundle. Fraternally Mr. Taylor is a prominent Mason. He became a member of De Smet Lodge No. 55, A. F. & A. M., in South Dakota, has since taken the Chapter degrees and is a thirty-second degree Mason. He likewise belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has filled all of the chairs and has served as a delegate to the grand lodge. His wife is identified with the Eastern Star and with the Re- bekahs, the ladies' auxiliaries of the Masons and the Odd Fellows. She also has membership in the Congregational church, while the religious faith of Mr. Taylor is that of the Baptist church: In politics he is a republican, giving stalwart support to the party because of his firm belief in its principles as factors in good government. He served as deputy sheriff while in South Dakota but has never sought or desired office in Washington, preferring to concentrate his time and attention upon his orcharding interests, which are now bringing to him a substantial income.

WILLIAM L. ROBERTS.

For fifteen years William L. Roberts has been a resident of Washington and dur- ing this period has contributed in substantial measure to the agricultural development of the district in which he has lived. He was born in Clay county, Kansas, January 17, 1875, a son of Richard and Sarah A. (Gregg) Roberts. The father was born near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, while the mother's birth occurred in Philadelphia. In 1869 they became residents of Clay county, Kansas, then a frontier district, in which the father took up government land, which he developed and improved, continuing to devote the place to general agricultural pursuits until his retirement. His death occurred in Idana, Kansas. His wife has also passed away.

William L. Roberts pursued a public school education, supplemented by a year's study in college at Sterling, Kansas. At the age of thirteen years. he began working for wages. In 1896, when he had attained his majority, he went to Canon City, Col- orado, and was there employed on cattle and fruit ranches. In February, 1903, he arrived in Seattle, Washington, and on the 5th of August of the same year removed to Sunnyside, Washington, where for three years he devoted his attention to the cultivation of land which he rented. On the 24th of December, 1906, he purchased twenty acres near Grandview, all of which was covered with sagebrush. He was also employed by a Mr. Harrison in the development of ranch property and at the same time he used every available opportunity to bring his own tract under culti- vation. In 1909 he removed to Mabton and developed an eighty-acre ranch for W. W. Sawyer. In September, 1909, he took up his abode upon his own ranch near Grandview and now has eleven acres planted to orchard, raising apples and pears. He annually gathers fine fruit and its sale brings to him a substantial income. He is also engaged quite extensively in the raising of hay, beets and cane for the manu- facture of sorghum molasses. He owns a sorghum mill and in 1918 the output was eight hundred and sixty-four gallons. This is the only sorghum mill in the valley. He makes a very fine grade of molasses and finds this a profitable undertaking. He likewise produces a large amount of hay and in fact his farm is proving a profitable one owing to his close application, his well defined energy and his unfaltering per- severance.

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On the 25th of December, 1901, Mr. Roberts was married to Miss Mary E. Glas- gow, a native of Missouri and a daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Glasgow, who removed to Iowa during her girlhood days. She died on the 10th of September, 1918. Her father is now deceased but her mother survives and makes her home in California. To Mr. and Mrs. Roberts were born three children: Edwin, Helen and Cecile, members of the Presbyterian church.

Mr. Roberts is much interested in the cause of education and has served on the school board in his district. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, to which is wife also belonged. In politics he does not maintain a partisan attitude but votes independently. He is interested, however, in all that pertains to the welfare and progress of his community and his cooperation can be depended upon to further plans for the general good. .

CLEVELAND R. DUNCAN, M. D.

Dr. Cleveland R. Duncan has been actively and successfully engaged in the practice of medicine at Wapato for the past nine years and enjoys an enviable rep- utation in this connection. His birth occurred in Columbus Junction, Iowa, in 1884, his parents being Joseph and Ida Duncan. The father, who followed general agri- cultural pursuits throughout his active business career, has passed away, but the mother still survives and now makes her home in Washington.

Cleveland R. Duncan supplemented his early educational training by a course of study in the State University of Iowa, which institution conferred upon him the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1906. 'He then entered the medical department of the university and three years later won the degree of M. D. The year 1909 wit- nessed his arrival in Wapato, Washington, where he has followed his profession continuously to the present time, having built up an extensive and gratifying prac- tice. His ability is pronounced and has become widely recognized, as he is correct in diagnosis and has successfully treated many obstinate cases. He is a member of the Yakima County Medical Society, the Washington State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, thus keeping in close touch with the progress of the profession. Doctor Duncan owns an excellent tract of land comprising one hun- dred and sixty acres which is devoted to diversified farming and which adds mate- rially to his income.

In 1909 Doctor Duncan was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Kennedy, who is also a graduate of the State University of Iowa, having completed a course in that institution with the class of 1908. They have become parents of a son, Bruce Ken- nedy, who is now five years of age.

In his political views Doctor Duncan is a democrat, exercising his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of that party. He is a worthy exemplar of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the blue lodge at Iowa City, and is likewise identified with the Knights of Pythias and with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks in Yakima. In his profession he holds to the highest standards and in all the relations of life has proven worthy of the regard and esteem entertained for him.

ARTHUR C. SNYDER.

Arthur C. Snyder, who owns and cultivates eighty acres of land two miles west of Thorp, was born in Seward, Nebraska, January 1, 1878, a son of Andrew J. and Lulu (Downs) Snyder, who were natives of Ohio. They removed to Nebraska at an early day, traveling across the country with ox team, and on reaching their des- tination took up a homestead in the vicinity of Lincoln. At a subsequent date. how- ever, they went to Iowa, establishing their home at Council Bluffs. The father worked for the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company for many years or until he was pensioned by the road in 1915, after having served as an engineer for thirty- three years.

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Arthur C. Snyder acquired a public school education and for twelve years was connected with railway work. Thinking to find broader opportunities for the attain- ment of more substantial results in the west, he came to Washington in January, 1913, making his way to the Kittitas valley, where he cultivated rented land until 1917. Within that period his economy and industry had brought him sufficient capi- tal to enable him to purchase eighty acres and he is now the owner of a good ranch property of that size two miles west of Thorp, whereon he raises hay and grain. He is carefully and systematically developing this place and already it shows his thor- ougli care and progressiveness.

On the 24th of June, 1902, Arthur C. Snyder was married to Miss Alice Chambers, who was born in Newcastle, England, and came to the United States in her girlhood days. She is a daughter of John and Alice Chambers, the former a resident of Eng- land, while the latter has passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder are the parents of three children: Jack, fifteen years of age; Raymond, aged thirteen; and Earl, aged nine.

Mr. Snyder belongs to the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen. In politics he is a republican where national questions and issues are concerned, but at local elections he considers the capability of the candidate for the office rather than his party affili- ation. Mr. Snyder ranks with the self-made young farmers of Kittitas county and his position is a creditable one by reason of the fact that his success has been worthily gained through his own efforts.

ALEXANDER E. McGEE.

Alexander E. McGee, living retired in Yakima after devoting considerable time and attention to farming interests, is still the owner of valuable property holdings and is well known as a sheepman of the northwest. He was born in Scotland, October 11, 1861, a son of Robert and Jennie (Holland) McGee, who came to the United States in later life. The father was a stockman of Wigtownshire, Scotland. and is now engaged in farming in the state of New York.

The son, Alexander E. McGee, attended the public schools of his native country and in 1886, when a young man of twenty-five years, bade adieu to the land of hills and heather and sailed for the new world. After reaching New York he followed the blacksmith's trade for four years and in 1889 sought the opportunities of the Pacific northwest, making his way to Seattle. In 1890 he arrived in Yakima, where he continued blacksmithing for a year. He next undertook work at the sawmill of Charles Longmeyer, with whom he remained for a brief period. He afterward worked for John Cowan in connection with sheep raising for three years and on the expiration of that period invested his savings in ranch property on the Wenas, where he resided for six years. Then came the hard times of the Cleveland administration and Mr. McGee was obliged to herd sheep for three years at a wage of thirty dollars per month. In 1898 he made his way to the Klondyke, where he remained for two years, and after his return to the state again located on his farm on the Wenas until he sold that property. He afterward bought another ranch on the Naches river and improved it, having there forty acres of good land. Later he bought forty acres from Jack Kaufman for thirty-eight hundred dollars, which property he afterward sold at a very substantial advance, securing seventy-five hundred dollars therefor. During the winter months he devoted his attention to sheep raising. In the fall of 1906 he sold the farm and purchased a small band of sheep. Since then he has increased his stock until he now has twenty-four hundred sheep on the range on the Indian reser- vation. He also has a fine ranch of four hundred and forty acres. well improved. His fine home in Yakima he sold, its maintenance and care being too burdensome for Mrs. McGee.

On the 1st of June, 1885. Mr. McGee was united in marriage to Mary McBride Coulter, a native of Scotland. At the time of his marriage he was serving as oiler on a steamboat and was thus employed for two years. To Mr. and Mrs. McGee have been born three children: Margaret, who married R. J. McKinley, a druggist of Ellensburg: William, a member of the Thirteenth Infantry at Camp Mills, Long Island, New York; and Genevieve, at home.

ALEXANDER E. MCGEE

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Mr. McGee has membership with the Commercial Travelers and is well known in Masonic circles, belonging to Yakima Lodge No. 24, F. & A. M., and he is a Scottish Rite Mason, having attained the thirty-second degree. He is likewise a life member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His political views are in accord with the teachings and principles of the republican party and his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. He is deserving of much credit for what he has accomplished in that he started out in business life empty-handed and by persistent effort has grad- ually worked his way upward. He has never allowed obstacles and difficulties to discourage or deter him, but has regarded them as an impetus for renewed effort on his part and as the years have passed his progress has been continuous, bringing him to a creditable and enviable position among the sheepmen of the northwest.

FRED W. BROWN.

Fred W. Brown enjoys a splendid trade in the stationery and jewelry business, conducting a store of this kind in Sunnyside. He always carries up-to-date goods and while he sells at reasonable prices he never neglects to see to it that the highest quality is preserved. He was born in Wood River, Nebraska, April 1, 1878, and is a son of William A. and Jeannette (Ward) Brown, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of New York. They became early pioneers of Nebraska and there the father was for many years a successful wagon and carriage maker. He has now passed away but is survived by his widow, who makes her home with Fred W. Brown and has reached the age of eighty years.

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History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 48

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