History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 61

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 61
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 61
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 61

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Charles F. Whippey received a public school education in New York and at the age of sixteen years went to sea. Many and interesting were his experiences in that connection, as for twenty years he led the life of a sailor, of which period twelve years were spent as captain or as captain and part owner. He was principally engaged in the West Indies and South American trade and three times he was shipwrecked, los- ing one of his ships in the heavy gales of 1898. He was navigator for John O'Brien, the famous shipowner on the Atlantic. Captain Whippey was engaged at that time in "gun running," that is carrying guns and ammunition to Cuba before the Cuban war in order to furnish the natives with weapons to throw off their oppressors. His boat was taken over by the Spanish government but subsequently, through the efforts of the British consul. released, all of the crew testifying that they were Nova Scotia men. Before their release was effected, however, they were cast into a Spanish prison. During one of the shipwrecks on the Atlantic coast which Captain Whipey experi- enced he was picked up unconscious, his leg and ribs having been broken. He went through the yellow fever epidemic, as he was running at that time out of Mobile, Alabama. His captain died with the fever and Mr. Whippey was made captain for the first time, this being in the early '80s. From that time until he gave up his sea- faring life he held that rank. For several years he was navigator of private yachts belonging to capitalists and during this period won twenty-six out of twenty-eight yacht races on the Atlantic. Among these was one memorable race against Charlie Barr, the famous yacht racer.

It was in the fall of 1899 that Captain Whippey arrived in Yakima county, Wash- ington, and here he acquired title to twenty acres of land one and a quarter miles east of Zillah, the tract being covered with a dense growth of sagebrush. Although he had never been on a farm before and knew nothing of orcharding he undertook this new enterprise with courage and soon his indomitable spirit won out. He at first planted a few cantaloupes and potatoes, gradually clearing his ranch and also working for wages. Fifteen acres of the tract are now in bearing orchard, which is largely set out in apples, and today he receives a most gratifying income from his ranch, the remain- der of which is planted to alfalfa.

In 1898 Captain Whippey was united in marriage to Miss Marie Nicola, a native of Switzerland, and to this union has heen born a daughter, Dorothy, who married Charles V. Weddle, who served in the United States army during the World war and received his honorable discharge in February, 1919.

Captain Whippey is prominent in fraternal circles, having held all of the chairs in the subordinate lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He also be- longs to the encampment of that organization. In politics he is independent, preferring to follow his own judgment instead of party dictation. In the progress and develop- ment of Yakima county he is deeply interested and is ever ready to lend his aid and co- operation to measures which are undertaken on behalf of the general good. He has closely studied the subject of orcharding and, following progressive methods, has succeeded in more than ordinary measure. All who know him speak of him in terms of high regard, as he is a man of character who faithfully discharges all of life's obligations.

JOHN A. McDONELL.

John A. McDonell has been actively identified with horticultural interests in the Selah valley for the past decade and now owns twenty-five acres of land devoted to the growing of apples, pears, peaches and prunes. His birth occurred in Glen- garry county, Ontario, on the 14th ot June, 1852, his parents being Alexander and Annie (McRay) McDonell, who were also natives of Canada and are now deceased By occupation the father was a farmer.

John A. McDonell attended the public schools in the acquirement of an edu- cation and after his textbooks were put aside turned his attention to general agri- cultural pursuits. The year 1888 witnessed his arrival in Washington but he did not remain in the state at that time, removing to Idaho at the end of a year's residence in Seattle. He was identified with mining interests in Idaho for eighteen years and

JOHN A. MCDONELL

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on the expiration of that period purchased twenty acres of land in the Selah valley of Washington, where he took up his abode in 1908. A decade later he purchased an additional tract of five acres, so that he now owns twenty-five acres, all planted to apples, pears, peaches and prunes. His efforts as a horticulturist have been attended with gratifying and well deserved success and he has long been numbered among the representative fruit growers of his section. He has remodeled his residence, making it a most attractive and comfortable home.

On the 18th of July, 1878, Mr. McDonell was united in marriage to Miss Hen- rietta McDonald, a native of Canada, by whom he has seven children, as follows: Alexander, who is connected with mining interests in Idaho; Lawrence, who is en- gaged in ranching in the Selah valley; Finley, a resident of the Squaw Creek country; Frank, at home; Jane, the wife of William Rohr; Annie, who gave her hand in mar- riage to Edward McNamamra; and Catherine, a thome.

In politics Mr .. McDonell is a stauch republican, supporting the men and meas- ures of that party at the polls. He is a devout communicant of St. Joseph's Cath- olic church and also has membership relations with the Knights of Columbus and the Woodmen of the World. His career has ever been straightforward, upright and honorable, winning for him the esteem and high regard of all with whom business or social relations have hrought him in contact.

CHARLES GUSTAFSON.

Charles Gustafson is the owner of an excellent farm property of three hundred and sixty acres, which he has brought under a high state of cultivation and to which he has added many modern improvements. That he is practical as well as progressive in all of his idtas is indicated in the excellent results which have attended his labors. He was born in Sweden, September 9, 1873, a son of Gustave and Charlotte Larsen. The father is now deceased but the mother survives and is still a resident of Sweden.

Through the period of his boyhood and youth Mr. Gustafson of this review re- mained a resident of his native country. He was a young man of nineteen years when in 1892 he crossed the Atlantic and made his way to Iowa, where he worked out. He afterward went to Minneapolis and later to Chicago, where he was employed on the drainage canal. Subsequently he secured work in the lumber woods of Michigan and afterward went to Moorhead, Minnesota, where he was employed at farm labor for a few years. Although he had previously worked in the lumber woods, he decided on removing to Minnesota that he would secure employment in the harvest fields. A farmer who offered him a job asked him if he could run a binder. He replied that he could, although he had never done such a thing. That he made good in the posi- tion is indicated in the fact that he was retained in the service of that farmer for four years. He readily adapted himself to any task that was assigned him. He closely studied the demands and the opportunities of each situation and day by day learned valuable lessons which have been of the greatest worth to him in later years. He continued a resident of Minnesota until 1900, when he made his way to the north- west, settling in Kittitas county, Washington, where he was employed by others for a year. He then bought one hundred and sixty acres of land eight and a half miles northeast of Ellensburg and to his original purchase he has added from time to time until within the boundaries of his farm are now comprised three hundred and sixty acres. Of this he has two hundred acres planted to hay and grain and he also has a fine dairy, splendidly equipped according to modern methods. In addition to the cultivation of the soil he raises cattle and horses and both branches of his business are proving profitable. He has erected all of the buildings upon the place, which in- clude a fine home and large, substantial barns and sheds, and his business affairs have been wisely, carefully and systematically conducted, bringing to him well earned success.

On May 17, 1901, Mr. Gustafson was united in marriage to Miss Mary Anderson, a native of Norway, who came to the United States during her girlhood days. By her marriage she has become the mother of four children: Andy, Carl, Ruby and Roland.

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Fraternally Mr. Gustafson is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he lends earnest support to its principles. He is a self-made man in that he started ont in the business world empty-handed, coming to America without financial resources. Steadily he has worked his way upward and each forward step has brought him a broader outlook and wider opportunities. Believing that he might secure the best chance in the great and grow- ing northwest, he made his way to this section of the country-a step that he has never regretted, for here he has made steady progress along lines that have placed him with the substantial agriculturists of Kittitas county.

JOHN A. YEARWOOD.

John A. Yearwood, who since 1898 has occupied his ranch near Thorp, where he is engaged in dairying as well as in the cultivation of the soil, is numbered among those men who by individual effort win success. He started out in the business world empty-handed and has made steady progress since that day. He was born in Ala- bama, April 7, 1862, a son of John and Alpha Ann (Clarke) Yearwood. The father died prior to 1864 and the mother afterward went to Tennessee with her son, John. Later she became the wife of J. R. Mathews in 1869 and in 1879 they removed to Texas. In later life they became residents of Kittitas county Washington, where both passed away.

It was in the spring of 1887 that John A. Yearwood arrived in Kittitas county, where he was employed for two years. He then took up a homestead near Thorp and later purchased seven hundred and twenty acres of railway land and also other land, having more than eight hundred and thirty acres at one time, but in 1914 he sold that ranch. In the meantime, or in 1898, he had purchased sixty acres of land near Thorp and has since lived thereon, He now has a fine home, substantial barns and all modern equipments upon his place, which is devoted largely to the raising of grain and hay. He also makes dairying an important feature of his business, and though he started out in life empty-handed, he is today one of the substantial citi- zens of the district.

In January, 1889, Mr. Yearwood was married to Miss Etta May Page, a daughter of Heman and Rachel Page, who were pioneers of Kittitas county. The children of this marriage are: Alfred, who is now a member of the United States army; Snsie, the wife of Andy Beers, who resides near Cle Elum, where he is engaged in ranching; Rachel. the wife of Bert Christner, a resident of California; Amanda, the wife of Ben Ellis, who is engaged in ranching in Kittitas county; Lucy, John, Etta May and Merle, all at home. The youngest is now ten years of age.

Mr. Yearwood is a democrat in his political views and fraternally is connected with the Modern Woodmen. His present condition is in marked contrast to the condition of the early period of his residence in Washington, for at an early day he cut and split wood at three dollars per cord and then hauled it a distance of eighteen miles. A period of unremitting toil, fraught also with many hardships and privations, brought him at lengeth to a point from which he has advanced steadily toward the goal of prosperity.

PETER PATNODE.

Washington had long been settled and various natural resources of the state developed before it was recognized that it might become a rich agricultural district. There were great stretches of land covered only with sagebrush and it was believed that the desert could not be developed. Men of vision and of enterprise, however, took up the task and demonstrated the possibilities for successful farming and fruit raising in various sections of the state, including the great Yakima valley. Among the number now wisely, carefully and profitahly engaged in farming on the Moxee is Peter Patnode, who purchased a tract of land of twenty-six acres, most of which

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was wild, and began its development. That he has accomplished splendid results is indicated in the fine apearance of his place. Mr. Patnode was born at Red Lake Falls, Minnesota, September 8, 1872, a son of Moses and Philamene Patnode, who were natives of Canada and removed to Minnesota as a part of the first French settlement in that state. There they continued to reside throughout their remaining days and the father successfully followed farming.

In the year 1901, Peter Patnode, then a young man of about twenty-nine years, who had been reared and educated in Minnesota, came to Yakima county and pur- chased twenty acres of land near Moxee City. It was a wild tract covered with sagebrush, and he was one of the first of the French colony to locate here. With characteristic energy he began the development and improvement of his land, which he carefully and successfully cultivated until 1911. He then purchased twenty-six acres by the Selah-Moxee canal, most of which was also wild. His previous ex- perience enabled him to know just how to go about its development and soon his lahors wrought a marked transformation in the appearance of the place. The prop- erty is now highly cultivated in the production of hay, hops and potatoes and each year he gathers good crops. In the midst of his farm he has erected an attractive and substantial residence and he has added many modern improvements to his place, success attending him as the years have gone by.

In 1898 Mr. Patnode was married to Miss Antonia Brulotte and their children are Moses, Elvina, Leah, Florine, Amie, Doris and Eli, all yet at home. The parents and children are members of the Holy Rosary Catholic church at Moxee City and Mr. Patnode gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come from the Mississippi valley to the Pacific coast, for here he found good opportunities and in their utilization has worked his way steadily upward until he is now in affluent circumstances and is a creditable representative of that class of men who have done so much to develop the agricultural interests and thus enhance the prosperity of the Yakima. valley.

WALTER C. BALL.

Walter C. Ball is vice president and general manager of the Sunnyside Undertak- ing Company, which conducts one of the most modern and up-to-date establishments of the kind in the Yakima valley. The company was organized in 1906 by B. F. Centwright, who has passed away; M. D. Clark, also deceased; and Walter C. Ball of this review, then general manager. The officers now are: W. B. Royce, presi- dent: Amelia Ball, secretary and treasurer; and Walter C. Ball, vice president and general manager.

Walter C. Ball was born in London, England, in 1876, a son of George Cornelius and Annie Elizabeth (Jones) Ball. The father was also an undertaker. In fact our subject is in the fifth generation of the family to be connected with the business. U'nder the parental roof in London he spent his boyhood days, Jater assisting his father in the undertaking business, beginning at the age of fourteen and learning all the details from the ground up. In the old establishment in the mother country they even made their own caskets and other accessories which are now generally bought factory made. The opportunities offered on this side of the Atlantic attracted Mr. Ball, however, and he decided to seek his fortune in America. Having crossed the ocean, Mr. Ball was for a time engaged in the undertaking business in Duluth, Minnesota, but in 1905 came to Sunnyside and shortly afterward organized the Sunny- side Undertaking Company, which is the outgrowth of three former firms. He has since given his undivided attention to the conduct of this business, which has become one of the leading establishments of the kind in this part of the state, its equipment including fine auto service and a Winton Six hearse, which is very beautiful. In the establishment there is a display room for caskets, etc., and an operating room on the first floor. The modern and beautifully decorated chapel has seats for seventy- five. The firm also maintains a branch at Mabton, which was established in 1917, and Mr. Ball is the manager of both places. Mrs. Ball was one of the first women

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to receive a license as an undertaker in the state of Washington and is ably assisting her husband in his work.

In 1897, at the age of twenty-one, Mr. Ball was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Drewett, of Duluth, Minnesota, where they resided while the former was engaged in the undertaking business in that city. To this union were born the following chil- dren: Herbert C., eighteen years of age, who assists his father; Percival George, aged fourteen; and Margaret Ethel.

Mr. Ball is a member of the Masonic order, belonging to the blue lodge, and his religious faith is that of the Episcopal church. In his political affiliations he is a re- publican, steadfastly supporting the principles and candidates of the party but without desire for office. He has. readily cooperated with all projects instituted for the development and upbuilding of his section of the state and is ever ready to give finan- cial aid to any undertaking for the betterment and welfare of the general public. He has many friends in Sunnyside, all of whom speak of him in terms of the highest respect.

DAVID A. RAYL.

David A. Rayl, largely devoting his time and energies to orcharding near Zillah, comes to the west from Ohio. His birth occurred near Ada, that state, on the 23d of April, 1877, his parents being Cornelins and Sabina (Wade) Rayl, who were also natives of the Buckeye state. The father was a son of John Rayl, one of the pioneers of Ohio, where he reared his family. Cornelius Rayl, after living through the period of his minority and early manhood in Ohio removed with his family to Harrison county, Iowa, in 1877 and there purchased land, continuing to make his home in that district until he was called to his final rest. His widow still survives and is now living with a daughter in the Yakima valley.

David A. Rayl is indebted to the public school system of Iowa for the educational oportunities which he enjoyed and on reaching the age of seventeen years he started out in the business world on his own account. For a time he was employed at farm labor, and then, feeling that his age and experience justified his engaging in business on his own account, he rented land in Iowa. In March, 1901, he removed to the northwest, making the Yakima valley his destination, and here he worked for wages for four years. Carefully saving his earnings, he then purchased ten acres two miles northwest of Zillah, at which time the tract was planted to alfalfa. Today he has six and a half acres of that place planted to apples and pears, while the remainder is devoted to the raising of hay and diversified crops. He has built a good home upon the place and his labors are productive of substantial results.

On the 20th of May. 1903, Mr. Rayl was married to Miss Myra Moody, who was born in Missouri, a daughter of James and A. E. Moody, who removed to the Yakima valley in 1900 and became identified with its ranching interests, but the father has since passed away.

Mr. and Mrs. Rayl are members of the Christian church, and in politics he main- tains an independent course. He is not remiss in the duties of citizenship, however, but gives his aid and support to various measures for the general good. In the acquirement of success, however, he has had to concentrate every effort and his un- divided attention upon his business affairs and the results which he has obtained are most gratifying.

JOHN R. BELL.

John R. Bell is still engaged in farming although he has now passed the seventy- third milestone on life's journey. He was born in Scotland, January 28, 1846, a son of Irving and Jean (Robson) Bell, who spent their entire lives in Scotland, where the father devoted his attention to the occupation of farming.

John R. Bell acquired a public school education and remained in his native coun-

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try until 1864, when, at the age of eighteen years, he went to Australia. Later he removed to New Zealand and in both countries followed farming. The year 1884 witnessed his arrival in the Yakima valley, when the work of progress and improve- ment had scarcely been begun in this section of the state. He cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers of the district and was engaged in farming on the Cowiche. At a subsequent date he took up his abode on a ranch of the Moxee Company, residing thereon for two years, but was ambitious to engage in business independently and in 1891 invested his earnings in twenty acres of land on the Moxee and has since occupied this place, covering a period of more than twenty-seven years. For a considerable time he was engaged in cattle raising but afterward devoted his atten- tion more largely to the production of hay, grain and other crops. He has also at different periods rented land but is now concentrating his efforts and attention upon the cultivation and further improvement of his twenty acre tract.

On the 23d of October, 1874, Mr. Bell was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Cochran, a native of Scotland and a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Patterson) Cochran. Mr. and Mrs. Bell have become parents of eight children: twins who died at birth; Irving, now deceased; Lily, the wife of Thomas Evans, a resident of Alaska; John, living in Yakima; William, who is a ranchman living on the Yakima reserva- tion and is married and has one child; George, who died in 1915 at the age of twenty- seven years; and one who died in infancy.

Mr. and Bell are members of the Presbyterian church and are most loyal to its teachings, doing everything in their power to promote the growth of the church and extend its influence. His political endorsement is given to the republican party, which he has supported since becoming a naturalized American citizen. He has lived in the Yakima valley for more than a third of a century and there is no one more familiar with the story of its improvement and development as the years have passed on. His memory goes back to the time when this was a great wild and unsettled region without railroads or improvements and very few of the now flourishing towns and cities of the valley had then sprung into existence. He rejoices in what has heen accomplished and through his own farm work has contributed to the agricultural development of the region. He has ever been thoroughly reliable as well as enter- prising in his business and throughout his entire life he has displayed substantial qualities which have gained him a high place in public regard both as a man and as a citizen.

THOMAS B. ZIMMERMAN.

Thomas B. Zimmerman has for more than a decade resided in the Yakima valley. He comes to the northwest from Illinois, his birth having occurred in Jackson county, that state, on the 25th of April, 1879, his parents being William and Louise (Freed) Zimmerman, who were pioneers of that state. They were horn in Pennsylvania but removed to the Mississippi valley during the early cpoch of its development. They were farming people of Illinois and both spent their remaining days in that state.

Thomas B. Zimmerman pursued his education in the public schools and assisted his father in the work of the home farm until he reached the age of twenty-one years. He then devoted a year to the study of electricity in the Highland Park College at Des Moines, Iowa, after which he purchased an interest in the Illinois Engineering & Machine Company at Carterville, Illinois. He remained a director and the treas- urer of that company for a period of five years, but the opportunities of the growing northwest attracted him and in April, 1908, he came across the country to Yakima county, Washington. He worked for wages at the carpenter's trade in Yakima for five years and then invested his savings in 1913 in twenty acres of land in the Cowiche valley. He built a house and barns upon the place and began the active work of its further development and improvement. The land is now devoted to the raising of hay, grain and potatoes and he annually harvests good crops. He is also the owner of a hay baler, which he operates throughout the valley.

On the 16th of March, 1907, Mr. Zimmerman was united in marriage to Miss Lillian B. Bandy, who was born in Williams county, Illinois, a daughter of B. P. and

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History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 61

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