History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 62

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 62
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 62
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 62

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Elizabeth (Epperson) Bandy, who came to Yakima county in 1909 and now reside in the city of Yakima. Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman have become the parents of four children: Charlotte Marie, deceased; Louise Elizabeth; Robert; and Billy.

In exercising his right of franchise Mr. Zimmerman considers the capability of the candidate rather than his party ties. In other words he casts an independent ballot. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian church and are people of sterling worth, enjoying the high regard, confidence and good will of all who know them.

CARL WALTERS.

The fine orchard which Carl Walters developed on the Tieton is said to be one of the most valuable within that whole section of the state. It is the largest in the Tieton district and is modernly equipped and highly cultivated, bringing rich returns to its owners. Mr. Walters always took the greatest pride in its cultivation and development and so well did he succeed that the high reputation which he enjoyed as an orchardist was fully deserved. Many were the friends who mourned his death when, on the 24th of April, 1916, he passed away, leaving a bereaved family who keenly felt this great loss. His memory remains with them and the good name which he left continues as a consolation to them.

Mr. Walters was a native of Sweden and came to America at the age of about twenty years. Crossing not only the ocean but the entire continent, he took up his abode in Seattle, Washington, where at first he engaged in carpentering. Later he successfully operated a sawmill at Stanwood, Washington, not only proving himself thoroughly competent in lumber work but also displaying great natural ability for business transactions. Although Mr. Walters was ever shrewd and careful in his dealings, he never took advantage of another and his whole career reflects honor upon his name. In 1900 he changed his occupation entirely, acquiring one hundred and twenty acres on the Tieton and also forty acres on the Ahtanum, in addition to eighty acres on the Indian reservation. He took up his residence at Everett and developed the property, planting sixty acres to orchard, this being the largest in the Tieton valley. Ever progressive and alert, Mr. Walters made this one of the most valuable fruit-raising properties in the state, the family now deriving a most gratifying income as a result of his untiring labor and business foresight. He made many valu- able improvements, instituting up-to-date equipment and erecting modern buildings. Not only did he work for himself and his family' but contributed by his labors to general development along horticultural lines, thus demonstrating what may be achieved when singleness of purpose combines with natural ability, thoroughness and experience. The large interests are now managed by Mrs. Walters and her sons.

Mr. Walters was united in marriage to Anna Anderson, a native of Norway and a daughter of Andrew and Annie (Olson) Anderson, the former of whom passed away in Norway. Subsequently the mother came to the United States with her fam- ily but she is now also deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Walters were born five children, of whom Percy and Deena, the two eldest, have passed away. The others are Chal- mer, Earl and Carl. The family are highly respected in their neighborhood, enjoying the full confidence of all who know them.

Mr. Walters was a loyal and devoted Mason, being a member of the blue lodge, the Royal Arch chapter and the commandery. Helpfulness, which is one of the fundamental principles of this organization, ever guided him in his life's work. He was also a member of the Knights of The Maccabees and the Ancient Order of Uni- ted Workmen. In politics he was a republican but was never an office-seeker. He was thoroughly in accord with all movements for progress undertaken by the party and readily gave his support to such measures. Public office, however, did not at- tract him as his private interests demanded much of his time. Success came to him because of his inherent qualities and also because of that industry and thrift which he ever practiced. He left not only a fine example of what may be accomplished in this section of the country but he also left a name which stands out as that of a loyal, true citizen, a man who was ever faithful to his word. Such prosperity as came to

CARL WALTERS

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him was but his just reward. Many were those who regretted his passing and who still miss him, but his loss was most sincerely felt by his loving family, who revere his memory as hallowed.

J. W. TAPP.

J. W. Tapp, now a successful orchardist in the Tieton district, has for years been closely connected with evangelical work, having traveled over a large section of the country as a singing evangelist. He has also been a leader of note in band music as well as in choirs and has been prominent in Sunday school work in connection with the Christian church. By his efforts he has contributed largely toward directing the people to the fundamental principles of religion and has therefore wrought much good in the communities in which he has been active. He is a man of refined tastes, a close student of human nature, tender in his ministrations where help and aid are needed, yet he is vigorous and never loses sight of the goal to which he aspires, and thus is combined in him a personality that at one and the same time makes him a genial companion as well as a forceful leader. His progressiveness, faithfulness, fore- sight and energy have in late years heen equally applied to his present task of de- veloping one of the profitable orchards of his neighborhood.

Mr. Tapp was born in Mount Sterling, Kentucky, April 22, 1864, a son of Jolin and Amanda (Myers) Tapp, both natives of Kentucky. His paternal grandfather, Harvey Tapp, was a native of England and was numbered among the pioneers of the Blue Grass state. Throughout his life the father followed farming and in the '70s removed to Montgomery county, Indiana, where he continued in the same line of occupation quite successfully until death claimed him. His widow is still living at the age of eighty-four years.

J. W. Tapp was reared under the able guidance of his parents. In the acquire- ment of his education he attended the common schools, rounding ont his elementary knowledge by a course at the Ladoga (Ind.) Normal School, from which institution he was graduated. Upon laying aside his textbooks he decided upon an agricultural career as most suited to his tastes and ability and continued to engage in farming in connection with his father until twenty-one years of age. In 1893 he went to Chicago and in that city assisted in the erection of the famous Ferris wheel at the World's Fair. This completed, he turned his attention to sawmilling and also was in the lumber business, being thus occupied until thirty-five years of age, when he became a singing evangelist, having developed remarkable talent along that line. Great success attended his labors in the ten years he was connected with Brooks Brothers and others in evangelical work. In 1911 he came to Yakima county, where in the previous year he had acquired title to ten acres of land on the Tieton. Later he bought ten acres more and he now has fourteen acres in orchard, the remainder being under the plow. This property is in a good state of cultivation, as Mr. Tapp has ever followed the most progressive methods, has carefully read up on the sub- ject of horticulture and has instituted modern facilities and equipment. Upon his farm is a fine residence, modernly equipped. The success that has come to him is due to his rare foresight, executive ability, thoroughness in regard to detail and all those higher qualities that make up the modern business man and horticulturist. In 1911 he removed to Yakima and became financial secretary, superintendent of the Sunday school and choir and was also a director of the Christian church until May, 1918. In these connections he did much toward assisting the organization and his efforts have been of the greatest benefit to the church.

On the 20th of September, 1893, Mr. Tapp was united in marriage to Miss Anna Kirk, a native of Crawfordsville, Indiana, and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kirk. To this union has been born a son, Horace, who is an able musician and is now serving with the United States army in Siberia, holding the rank of corporal and acting as secretary and librarian with the Thirty-first Regimental Band.

Mr. and Mrs. Tapp are very prominent socially, as they are people of refinement and superior tastes. Mr. Tapp is often called upon to make use of his fine baritone voice and is much in demand as a leader of choirs, his rare musical ability being

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duly recognized by all who know him. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to the blue lodge, and he is also identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America, while his religious faith is that of the Christian church. In politics he is a democrat but is not an active party worker, although he keeps well informed in regard to the issues of the day. The Tieton valley is to be congratu- lated upon having such a valuable citizen as Mr. Tapp, who has ever exerted his efforts in order to raise social as well as economic standards in his neighborhood. By his activities along various lines he has contributed to material as well as to mental and moral development and is therefore esteemed, respected and honored by all who know him.

CHRISTOPHER A. LIVENGOOD.

A valuable farm of one hundred and forty acres stands as evidence of the life work of Christopher A. Livengood, who is numbered among the successful ranchers of the Tieton district. A native of Yakima county, he was born in the Cowiche valley July 18, 1889, and although only thirty years of age he has already attained a degree of prosperity which is highly commendable. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Ira Livengood, who are mentioned to a greater extent on another page of this work.

Christopher A. Livengood in the acquirement of his education attended the public schools, subsequent to which time he assisted his father with the ranch work, thus learning the fundamental methods of farming as pertaining to local conditions. At the early age of fourteen he started to work for wages, and, carefully saving his earn- ings, he was enabled in 1912 to buy a ten acre ranch on the Cowiche, on which seven acres were devoted to apples. This he later sold and in 1917 acquired title to one hundred and forty acres on the Tieton, where he raises grain and hay, in fact engages in general farming, and also gives considerable attention to stock raising, deriving a gratifying part of his income from this source. He is progressive in all of his undertakings and as he is painstaking and industrious he has already made his property a valuable one.

On October 30, 1912, Mr. Livengood was united in marriage to Miss Della Parker, a native of Kansas. Her parents, R. W. and Emma (Breaght) Parker, were Kansas pioneers, who in 1900 removed to Yakima county, where the father bought a ranch on the Naches, later acquiring title to another ranch on the Nile, where he is now extensively engaged in cattle and horse raising. He is prominent in his neighbor- hood and respected by all who know him. Mr. and Mrs. Livengood are the parents of a son, Christopher Robert. They are highly respected in their neighborhood, where they have many friends. Both are interested in the moral progress and take part in all movements for the uplift of humanity. Mr. Livengood has ever taken a laudable interest in promoting material prosperity here and has given his close attention to measures which are undertaken for the benefit of the public. In his political affiliation he is a democrat but has never aspired to office.

D. JEFFERSON DAVIS.

D. Jefferson Davis is one of the business men of Toppenish, where he is con- ducting the creamery interests of the Mutual Creamery Company of Salt Lake. The story of his life is the story of endeavor crowned by success. He was born on the 18th of March, 1888, and the year 1894 witnessed his arrival in Idaho when a youth of but six summers. The completion of his public school course awakened the ambition to enjoy better educational opportunities and after earning the money necessary to meet his tuition and other expenses he entered the Idaho University. He there pur- sued a special course in dairying and since that time has given his attention to dairy work with excellent results.

In September, 1915, Mr. Davis came to Toppenish and established a crcamery which in 1918 he sold to the Mutual Creamery Company and remains as local manager

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of the business at this point. The corporation which he represents has twenty-six plants over the northwest. The business was established at Toppenish as a receiving station and in 1917 the company erected a new building sixty by one hundred and twenty feet and one story in height. It is a cement structure well equipped for the purposes used. The company has its own ice plant here with a capacity of seven tons for every twenty-four hours and a condenser with a capacity of ten thousand pounds of milk per day. The cheese factory has a capacity of sixteen thousand pounds of milk and the butter-making department handles two thousand pounds per day. There is also an ice cream manufactory as a department of the business and this turns out three hundred gallons of its products daily. The company employs at Toppenish from eight to ten people in addition to the manager, who directs all of the activities of the concern at this point. A good business is being conducted, the plant at Toppenish using the product of eight hundred cows. The output of the creamery is sold largely locally and refrigerating rooms have a capacity for two carloads of the products. The plant has all the most modern machinery for carrying on the business and everything is arranged in a systematic manner, neatness and sanitation characterizing every department of the work.

On the 29th of May, 1915, Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Frances Dysart, a native of Idaho, and they now have an interesting little son, Richard S. Mr. Davis is a member of the Improved Order of Foresters. Politically he maintains an independent course, voting for men and measures rather than for party. He is actuated, however, by a public-spirited citizenship that prompts his active cooperation in all measures and movements for the general good. Those who know him, and he has gained a wide acquaintance during his residence here, entertain for him high regard, speak of him as a most progressive business man and enjoy his friendship.

IRA LOUIS BROWN.

Ira Louis Brown, conducting one of the leading shoe stores in Yakima and actuated in all that he does by business enterprise, progressiveness and initiative, was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, January 17, 1888, a son of Edward and Emma Brown. The father was a shoe merchant and both he and his wife are now deceased. The family removed to El Paso, Texas, in 1902 and there Ira L. Brown supplemented his public school training by a business college education. He made his initial step in commercial circles as clerk in a shoe store owned by his uncle, J. L. Brown, who was a general merchant of El Paso, Texas. He afterwards spent two years in Douglas, Arizona, and a similar period in Cleveland, Ohio, and in both places was connected with the shoe trade. In 1909 he came to Yakima and for two years was employed by the Barnes-Woodin Company. He then embarked in business on his own account on Front street and in November, 1915, bought out the firm of Allen & Mackey, proprietors of a shoe store in the Miller building. At a subsequent period he removed to the Yakima Hotel building and in November, 1917, established his business at No. 216 East Yakima avenue, where he occupies the first floor and base- ment of a building twenty-five by one hundred and thirty feet. His trade has steadily grown, necessitating the employment of six clerks. He handles the Nettleton, Doug- las, Packard, Utz & Dunn, Hervey E. Guptill and other lines of shoes, carrying an extensive stock of men's, women's and children's footwear. He demands the most courteous and obliging treatment on the part of all of his employes, and his earnest efforts to please his patrons, combined with his honorable business dealings, have made him one of the prosperons merchants of the city.

On the 6th of July, 1913, Mr. Brown was married to Miss Rebecca Lippman, of Seattle, and they had one child, Emily, who is now four years of age. Mrs. Brown passed away on December 17, 1918, her death being a great blow to her husband and causing sincere sorrow among her many devoted friends, as she was a woman of the highest character and accomplishments. Her memory will remain as a benedic- tion to all who knew her. Mr. Brown belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, also to the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of America. His

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political allegiance is given to the republican party and his interest in community affairs is indicated by his connection with the Commercial Club. He belongs also to the Young Men's Christian Association and is a member of the Washington State Guard-connections that indicate his support of state and national interests. He has ever manifested the utmost loyalty to his country and her cause and has done every- thing in his power to promote national and community progress.

WALTER PRICE.

Walter Price, a well known rancher living near Outlook, was born near State Center, Iowa, July 19, 1860, a son of William O. and Martha (Tramel) Price, who were natives of Pennsylvania and of Indiana respectively. They became pioneer residents of Iowa, the father removing to that state in 1855, while the mother had gone to the west in 1852. She had accompanied her parents on their removal with ox teams from Indiana and her father had purchased thirteen hundred acres of land in that state. Three years later William O. Price became a resident of Iowa and there he formed the acquaintance of Martha Tramel, whose hand he sought and won in marriage. At the time of the Civil war he responded to the country's call for aid and joined the Twenty-third Iowa Infantry, in which he served as sergeant. With his return to Iowa he took up the occupation of farming, which he followed continu- ously in that state save for a period of four and a half years spent in California during the '70s. He was long numbered among the progressive and representative argicul- turists of Iowa, where he continued to make his home until his death.

Walter Price acquired a good public school education in his home locality and was associated with his father in the development and improvement of the latter's farm until he attained his majority. He then started out in life on his own account. In the spring of 1885 he went to South Dakota, where he took up a homestead, pre- emption and desert claim, and his wife also secured a claim of one hundred and sixty acres, so that they had six hundred and forty acres in all. He became a successful farmer of that district, carefully and systematically developing and cultivating his fields there until the fall of 1903, when he sold his property in that state, attracted by the opportunities of the growing northwest. He then made his way to Yakima county and bought forty acres of land two miles northwest of Outlook. This he partly cleared and has improved the place, developing it into an excellent ranch. The summer seasons find his fields green with good crops of corn, potatoes and hay, which, ripening in the fall, find a ready sale upon the market, bringing to him a sub- stantial annual income. He also makes a specialty of handling hogs and cattle and conducts a dairy business. He is interested in the most progressive methods of farm- ing, which he employs in the further development of his property, and for four years he was president of the Outlook Irrigation District. He has closely studied irriga- tion problems as well as the questions relative to the methods of farming his land and caring for the crops and he is able to speak with authority upon many problems relative to the agricultural interests of this section of the state and its water supply.

On the 31st of December, 1886, Mr. Price was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hartman, who was born in Iowa, a daughter of Valentine and Christina Hartman, the former a native of Switzerland. He became a pioneer settler of Iowa, taking up his ahode first near Burlington and afterward removing to Keokuk county. To Mr. and Mrs. Price have been born ten children: Clinton F., who is engaged in ranching near Outlook; Ethel, the wife of Axel Lennstrom; William, who was an ensign and was connected with the staff of the Officers' Training School in the Naval Training Station at Seattle, teaching navigation; but has now been discharged; Alfred, who in April, 1918, went to France as a member of Battery C, Twelfth Field Artillery, Second Division, but is now on the Rhine with the American Army of Occupation; Albert, twin brother of Alfred, who died at the age of seven years; Martha, who is attending a business college of Yakima; Stella. who is engaged in teaching school; Frances W., who died at the age of eighteen months; Herbert; and Russell.

Mr. Price is a prominent member of the Grange and was deputy state master of the Grange of Washington in 1915. He has done much public speaking in behalf

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of the organization and upon other vital public questions. He is a socialist and was a candidate for Congress in South Dakota. He has been active in the people's party and was itc candidate for the state senate in South Dakota in 1892. He has twice been a candidate for congress on the socialist ticket in Wash- ington and he fearlessly and earnestly espouses the cause in which he believes. He served as postmaster and also as town clerk while in South Dakota and at the present time he is a member of the school board. He is the possessor of a fine library, reads broadly and thinks deeply. He possesses the most important his- torical works of the world and after thorough reading and investigation he forms his opinions, which he presents clearly and cogently.

WILLIAM L. WRIGHT.

The productivity of the Yakima valley in regard to fruit raising has been one of the marvels of the northwest. The early visitors to this region found a wild and undeveloped land largely covered with sagebrush. The rainfall was so slight that nothing but the sage would grow and the most farsighted could scarcely have dreamed that in time the sunny slopes would be covered with fine orchards, pro- ducing fruit equal if not superior to that raised in any other part of the country. William L. Wright is numbered today among the successful orchardists, for science and man have wrought what was seemingly an impossibility. He has resided in the Yakima valley since 1894. His birth occurred in Stephenson county, Illinois, Novem- ber 29, 1850, his parents being Pascal and Jane (Lawson) Wright, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania. They went to Illinois by team in 1838 and settled near Freeport, where the father took up government land. That, too, was a wild and undeveloped tract upon which not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made. Only six years had passed after the Black Hawk war was fought, which determined the right of the white race to rule in that region, and pioneer conditions everywhere existed. Mr. Wright, however, braved the trials and privations of settle- ment on the frontier and gave his attention to general agricultural pursuits, continu- ing to there engage in farming until his death. His wife also passed away in Illi- nois.

William L. Wright acquired his public school education in Stephenson county, Illinois, and following the death of his father he purchased the old homestead farm, which he continued to further develop and improve until 1894, when, attracted by the opportunities of the northwest, he came . to Yakima. Looking over the district, he soon invested in twenty acres lying a half mile west of Yakima. It was just as it came from the hand of nature, being all covered with sagebrush, but Mr. Wright recognized the possibilities of the country and began its development. Later he and his son purchased a ten-acre fruit ranch on the Naches and subsequently Mrs. Wright bought an eighteen acre ranch on the Naches. Upon his place Mr. Wright erected a fine home and around it he planted cottonwoods for shade trees that in 1918 had reached a height of about ninety feet. He planted his orchard according to the most progressive and scientific methods and his care and cultivation of his trees have resulted in the attainment of notable success in fruit raising. In the year 1917 his sales of fruit from twenty acres of land amounted to twelve thousand dol- lars. His orchards are also all seeded to alfalfa and thus he is manifesting the spirit of intensive farming that takes into consideration the possibilities of the full de- velopment and utilization of the soil.

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History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 62

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