History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 67

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 67
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 67
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 67

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JAMES E. PRATT.

James E. Pratt has been a landowner from the age of twenty-three years and since 1904 he has made his home in Yakima county, where he now has an excellent ranch property. He was born in Keokuk county, Iowa, June 2, 1858, a son of George A. and Harriett Hannah (Sisson) Pratt, who were natives of Indiana, where they were reared and married. In the early '40s they removed to Iowa, casting in their lot with the pioneer settlers of that state. The father was a veteran of the Civil war and died in 1864, while in the service of his country. His widow survived for many years, passing away in 1910, at the age of eighty-seven.

James E. Pratt acquired a public school education. He was one of a family of eight children left to the care of his widowed mother at the father's death, the eldest being but thirteen years of age. The mother sold her little Iowa farm in 1871 and removed with her family to Wabaunsee county, Kansas, where she pur- chased land. In 1874 they had fine prospects for crops till upon a sunshiny August afternoon, about three o'clock, there arose what appeared to be a dark cloud upon the horizon. It was a swarm of grasshoppers that devoured every green thing. It was a blow to the little family gaining a start, but they replanted and again in 1875 their crop was destroyed. As the years passed they developed a good farm there and the mother remained upon that place to the time of her demise.

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James E. Pratt early knew hard work and responsibility. He assisted his mother until he reached the age of twenty-three years and then bought a farm nearby, continuing its cultivation until 1904. He had become owner of four horses and five cows when he bought the little farm in Kansas and he mortgaged his stock in order to purchase his land. As the years passed, however, success crowned his persis- tent and earnest labors and he continued to successfully engage in farming in Kansas until 1904, when he came to Yakima county and bought forty acres of land north- east of Granger. He moved upon this place in October of that year, having made the purchase, however, in the spring. In 1906 he bought thirty-five and a quarter acres two miles northwest of Outlook and was the owner of both ranches for several years but finally sold the Granger ranch. He now lives upon the place near Outlook and has greatly improved it, transforming it into one of the attractive farm proper- ties of the neighborhood. There is a good house upon it and many modern improve- ments, including good machinery and all facilities for carrying on the farm work. He raises corn, hay and potatoes, annually harvesting substantial crops.

On the 3d of April, 1881, Mr. Pratt was married to Miss Nellie Loomis, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Samuel D. and Julia (Hubbard) Loomis, who removed to Kansas in 1874. The children of this marriage are seven in number. Grace, the eldest, is the wife of James Saul, residing at Sunnyside, and they have four children. Gertrude is the wife of Sherman Bissell, a rancher living near Sunnyside, and they have two children. Elmer E., making his home in Yakima, married Opal Latin and has two children. Albert married Edith Jory, by whom he has one child, and he is engaged in farming his father's ranch. Bertha Mary is the wife of John Case, of Sunnyside. Fred S. was a member of the United States army but was honorably discharged in February, 1919. Jesse Grant, twin brother of Fred, was also in the army but is now at home. The family is widely and favorably known in their section of Yakima county, where they have now resided for fifteen years. Mr. Pratt deserves much credit for what he has accomplished. He is indeed a self-made man, for he started out in the business world empty-handed and at a period when most boys are in school he was shouldering heavy responsibilities. Since then he has steadily progressed and his success is the direct outcome of his persistent and earnest labor.

CLAUD HILL WEIR, M. D.

Among those whose knowledge insures them a large medical practice is Dr. Claud Hill Weir, who for eight years has engaged in practice in Yakima, removing to the northwest in 1910. He was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, March 8, 1878, a son of William John and Margaret (Campbell) Weir, both of whom were of Scotch descent and were natives of Maryland. The father was a son of William Weir, who came from Londonderry, in the north of Ireland, but was of Scotch lineage. The grandfather was a contractor who carried on business along that line for many years in Maryland. William John Weir became a contracting engineer and his highly developed powers brought to him a very liberal and important patron- age. He was the builder of the state capitol of North Carolina and did a large amount of railway work. Both he and his wife are now deceased.

Dr. Weir pursued his education in the Frey & Morsen school, a private school for boys in North Carolina. He afterward entered the University of North Carolina, where he won the Bachelor of Science degree upon graduation with the class of 1899. He next entered Columbia College as a medical student and gained his pro- fessional degree in 1904. He then had the benefit of two and a half years' broad experience as interne in New York city, spending two years of that time in the New York City Hospital and six months in the New York Lying-In Hospital. He continued practicing for five years in New York city and in 1910 came to the Pacific northwest, settling in Yakima, where he has since followed his profession. He was surgeon for the government on construction work. He is a most able physician with broad knowledge and wide experience, and his professional standing is attested by his colleagues and contemporaries as well as by the general public. He owns two grain

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and stock farms in this section, having forty-five acres planted to alfalfa and one hundred and sixty acres to wheat.

Dr. Weir was married in 1907 to Miss Laura Harriet Fraser, of New York City, who was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and is of Scotch parentage, being a daughter of Joseph Fraser. Dr. Weir holds membership in Harlem Lodge No. 457. F. & A. M., and also with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is likewise connected with the Commercial Club and the Country Club and belongs to the Yakima County Medical Society. The Doctor is a veteran of the Spanish-American war and served as a surgeon at the base hospital at Camp Lewis during the World war. He takes keen interest in fishing and hunting but perhaps receives his greatest enjoyment from travel. He has been from coast to coast in his native country, visiting many points of modern and historic interest, and he is continually broaden- ing his knowldege in this way as well as through reading. In connection with his profession he has never put aside his student habits.

CHARLES A. RIEMCKE, M. D.

Dr. Charles A. Riemcke, physician and surgeon of Yakima, was born in Musca- tine, Iowa, May 8, 1882, a son of George A. and Fannie C. (Tewksbury) Riemcke, who were early settlers of Muscatine. The father was a druggist who for thirty-five years or more conducted business in that city and was one of the leading represen- tatives of its commercial interests.

Dr. Riemcke acquired a public school education in Muscatine, completing the high school course, after which he entered the University of Iowa and was graduated with the Ph. G. degree in 1903. Continuing his studies, he won the Bachelor of Science degree in 1908, and having thoroughly prepared for the practice of medicine and surgery, he gained his M. D. degree in 1909. He then secured the position of interne in the City Hospital of Muscatine and gained that broad and valuable knowledge and experience which can never be acquired so quickly in any other way as through hospital practice. After his graduation he practiced for a short time in Muscatine. Iowa, but believing that he might have better opportunities in the growing north- west, he removed to Washington in 1910 and maintained an office at Selah until 1915. He then sought the broader field offered in Yakima, where he has since re- mained. In 1916 he pursued a post-graduate course in the University of Southern California, specializing in surgery. In the intervening period his practice has steadily grown and he is particularly prominent in surgery. He is a member of both the Yakima County and Washington State Medical Societies and was president of the former for the two years of 1915 and 1916.

In December, 1915, Dr. Riemcke was married to Miss Lois Steen, of Yakima, a daughter of Taylor Steen, and they have one son, Charles A., Jr. The Doctor be- longs to the Masonic fraternity, in which he has taken the degrees of lodge, chapter, commandery and consistory. He is also connected with the Elks and is a member of the Country Club. In politics he maintains an independent course.

WILLIAM VERRAN.

William Verran, editor and owner of the Wapato Independent, was born in Merrimac, Michigan, on the 15th of August, 1867, a son of John and Marjorie (Tre- vena) Verran. The father died in the year 1917 but the mother is still living. John Verran was a miner and thus provided for the support of his family.

William Verran acquired a public school education and made his initial start in the business world as printer's devil in a job printing shop. Later he was with the Scranton (Penn.) Times and following his return to Michigan was for thirteen years associated with George A. Newett. On the expiration of that period he went to Rossland. British Columbia, where he remained for four and a half years, and was part owner of a weekly and daily paper there published. In 1903 he came to

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Washington, settling at Yakima, and was with the Yakima Democrat for two years. Later he was with the Daily Herald as superintendent and on the 16th of June, 1909, came to Wapato and purchased the Wapato Independent, which had been es- tablished on the 23d of March, 1906, by Charles M. Shrader, who failed, and the paper was sold to the Wapato Development Company, from whom Mr. Verran purchased it. He then installed new equipment and gets out a fine weekly paper which would be a credit to a much larger town. He is progressive in all that he does and has made the Independent a most readable journal, that is now a popular weekly visitor in many a home in this section of the state. It is published as an independent sheet and it has been an active factor in promoting public progress and improvement in the locality.

On the 18th of December, 1890, Mr. Verran was married to Miss Eliza A. Kemp, who was born in Ishpeming, Michigan, a daughter of Mark and Eliza J. (Trewartha) Kemp. Mr. and Mrs. Verran have become the parents of four children: Goldie, who died at the age of eighteen months; William, who is in the United States Navy as a musician; Doris M., who is in the First National Bank at Wapato; and Myrtle, who is a student in the high school.

Mr. Verran belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of The Maccabees. He is also a member of the Wapato Commercial Club, of which he became the first secretary and of which he later served as president. In politics he is a republican where national questions and issues are involved but casts an independent local ballot. He has become an in- tegral factor in the development of the community in which he makes his home and his work indicates that he stands for all that is progressive in newspaper publication.

ANSON S. WHITE.

Among the honored pioneers and foremost agriculturists of Yakima county is numbered Anson S. White, who now resides at No. 510 North Second street, Yakima. He was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, December 20, 1848, a son of William and Margaret M. (Stewart) White, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Illinois. 1n 1846 the parents removed to Wisconsin with ox team and in 1850 the father again took up the westward march, making his way by team to Portland, Oregon. In 1851 the mother and children followed him, making the haz- ardous trip with a brother and sister who also were coming west. There were at that time five children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. William White. The winter was passed in Portland and the family then took up their abode on a donation farm of six hundred and forty acres near Chehalis, Washington, about twelve miles from Olympia, where in 1856 the father was killed by Indians. The family had been attending church, making their way back in a one-horse cart, William White walk- ing beside the vehicle, when the Indians stopped them. While they talked with the father the horses ran for home and thus the family was saved. The Indians killed Mr. White, and subsequently continuing their raid, killed another settler. The Indians had also raided the property and taken away all of the horses belonging to the family. Mrs. White was thus left with seven children in most trying circum- stances, the government not even paying her for the lost horses, as it had done in several cases before. However, she courageously took up the task of rearing her family and through her unceasing efforts she succeeded, thus proving herself a woman of the highest qualities of character. She lived upon the property near Chehalis until death claimed her in 1890.

Anson S. White was but two years of age when he arrived in Washington and he therefore has been a witness of all the development that has taken place here and that has transformed a wilderness into a wonderfully developed agricul- tural district. Where Indians were wont to roam modern hamlets, villages and towns are now seen and happy, prosperous people are the visible evidence of the progress that has been made. Mr. White early became accustomed to frontier con- ditions and had to assist in providing for the family. He acquired a public school education, however, and throughout his life he has used every opportunity in order

MR. AND MRS. ANSON S. WHITE

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to perfect his knowledge, so that he is today considered a well informed man. In 1866 he came to Yakima county with a surveying party and so favorably was he impressed with the opportunities here presented that in 1871 he took up govern- ment land on the Wenas where a monument now stands, erected in memory of the first train of white settlers that passed through Yakima county. This is now David Longmire's ranch. He then made a trip to the Sound but in 1871 returned to the valley and lived on the Wenas for one year. At the end of that time he returned to the Sound and there his wife passed away. In 1872 a return trip brought him to Yakima and this time he took up his residence in old Yakima City. In 1878 he took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, to which he added six hun- dred acres, making seven hundred and sixty acres, all of which he still owns with the exception of sixty acres. He has devoted his attention largely to general farm- ing, specializing, however, in dairying and the raising of cattle and receiving a gratifying addition to his income through this line of business. To some extent Mr. White has retired, having taken up his residence in Yakima, his home being at No. 510 North Second street, which property he bought in 1891.

In 1869 Anson S. White was united in marriage to Nancy Hale, a native of Maine and a daughter of Captain C. H. and Waitstill (Look) Hale. Mrs. White died in 1872 and in 1875 Mr. White wedded Almeda Tigard, a native of Portland, Oregon, and a daughter of A. J. and Sara J. Tigard, who were pioneers of Portland, having gone to the City of Roses from Arkansas in 1852. A. J. Tigard was born in Arkansas, November 24, 1828, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. Upon arriving at a point three miles west of the present city of Portland, Oregon, he settled on a donation claim, where he lived until 1872, when he moved to Yakima county and settled on a homestead in the Cowiche valley, where he resided until his death on October 6, 1898. He married Sara J. Edwards on September 15, 1848, at Currington, Missouri, and they became the parents of seven children. She was of Welsh-Irish descent and died February 2, 1902. Mr. Tigard early in life became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and remained an earnest Christian throughout his life. To Mr. and Mrs. White were born seven children. William, who now has charge of the home farm, having taken his father's place in active work, is married and has three children. Margaret is the wife of Ben Chaney, by whom she has one child, and they reside in Yakima. Guy, who is married and has four children, successfully follows ranching pursuits on the Yakima Indian reserva- tion. Roy, who is engaged in ranching in the Moxee district, has a wife and two children. Aleen is a successful school teacher of Yakima. Charles Hugh, living on a portion of the old homestead, is married and has two children. Lee is married and is now in the United States reclamation service. All of the children received a good education and have attained substantial positions in life, reflecting honor upon their parents.

Both Mr. and Mrs. White are widely known in their neighborhood and have many friends in Yakima, all of whom esteem in them honored pioneers of high qualities of character. They are members of the Methodist church, and fraternally he belongs to the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. Mr. White served on the school board and has been active in the promotion of local public enterprises al- though he has never been a politician in the commonly accepted sense of the word. In his political affiliations he is a stalwart republican. There is great honor due him for what he has achieved, as he is a self-made inan, who through his labors has attained an independent position in life.

MANNIE GLEN CRABTREE.

Mannie Glen Crabtree, who is widely recognized as a representative and success- ful young agriculturist of Kittitas county, owns and cultivates one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land six miles northeast of Ellensburg. His birth occurred in Jewell county, Kansas, on the 24th of April, 1891, his parents being Albert and Melinda (Dickey) Crabtree, both of whom were natives of Illinois. They removed to Kansas at an early period in the development of the Sunflower state and there

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the mother passed away in 1895. Fifteen years later the father brought his family to Washington, arriving in Kittitas county on the 9th of March, 1910. He purchased a farm of two hundred acres six miles northeast of Ellensburg and devoted his time and energies to its further cultivation and improvement until called to his final rest on the 14th of February, 1914. His well directed efforts were attended with a gratify- ing measure of success, so that he gained a place among the substantial agriculturists and esteemed citizens of his community.

Mannie Glen Crabtree acquired a public school education in Kansas and after coming to this state spent a year as a student in the Washington State Normal School at Ellensburg. He became the active assistant of his father in the operation of the home place and has remained thereon continuously to the present time, hav- ing purchased one hundred and sixty acres of the property. He raises both grain and hay, of which he annually gathers excellent crops which find a ready sale or the market. Enterprising, progressive and industrious, he is meeting with well de- served prosperity in his undertakings and is numbered among the representative young farmers of his county.

On the 6th of October, 1916, Mr. Crabtree was united in marriage to Miss Lillie Katherine Crawford, a daughter of George E. and Dora (Evans) Crawford, one of the honored pioneers of Kittitas county, of whom a sketch appears on another page of this history. Fraternally Mr. Crabtree is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while his political allegiance is given to the republican party. Both he and his wife are popular in social circles, enjoying the warm regard and friend- ship of those who know them.

REUBEN HARTLEY.

Sixty acres of highly developed land two miles north of Granger bespeak the prosperity of Reuben Hartley and there he raises hay, corn and potatoes and also has valuable dairy interests. His success is to be ascribed entirely to his industry, energy and close observation, for he has ever studied agricultural methods and by applying the right principles has succeeded in business.

A native of Watauga county, North Carolina, Mr. Hartley was born July 20, 1868, and is a son of Harrison H. and Margaret (Isaacs) Hartley, also natives of that state. The father successfully followed agricultural pursuits. In 1870 the family removed to Missouri but not finding conditions there to their liking, they returned to North Carolina in 1871. The year 1872 marked their arrival in Coos county, Oregon, and there Mr. Hartley, Sr., rented land for six years. Another removal brought him to Whitman county, Washington, where he took up a preemption and also a homestead claim, the two comprising one hundred and sixty acres. This ranch he improved to a considerable extent but later sold out and returned to Coos county, Oregon, where he bought a farm which he successfully conducted until 1918, in which year he divided the farm among his children. He now lives retired in Cali- fornia in the enjoyment of a fair competence. His wife passed away in 1914.

Reuben Hartley made the various removals with his parents and was largely reared amid the surroundings of the farm. He received his public school education in the states of Washington and Oregon and remained with his parents until twenty- two years of age, when he started out for himself. He at first took up a homestead and preemption claim in Coos county, Oregon, which comprised two hundred and eighty acres, but after proving up sold out and bought forty acres of bottom land. This property he greatly improved and thereon built a good house and barns but again sold to advantage because he had decided to make another change. Having heard many favorable reports in regard to the Yakima valley, he came to Yakima county on the 10th of September, 1910, and bought twenty acres of land three miles northeast of Granger, which was partly improved. He added to the improvements and installed modern equipment, remaining there for about seven years and selling in December, 1917, when he bought sixty acres two miles north of Granger, which is all under cultivation. Ever ready to embrace new ideas and wisely utilizing his past experience, he is a successful agriculturist in the best sense of the word, not

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only deriving a large income from his labors but also setting an example to others and thus contributing toward general development. He raises hay, corn, and po- tatoes and also has dairy interests.

On October 17, 1900, Mr. Hartley was united in marriage to Miss Annie Arnold, a native of Pueblo, Colorado, and a daughter of A. M. and Catherine (Dolan) Arnold, who later settled in Kittitas county, Washington, and thence removed to Coos county, Oregon. Her father was a successful rancher. To Mr. and Mrs. Hartley were born six children, Inez, Almys, Elmer, Leslie, Robert and Helen.

In his political affiliation Mr. Hartley has ever followed the democratic stand- ard and is well informed in regard to the issues of the day as far as local, state and national politics are concerned. While a resident of Oregon he served on the school board and also was a member of the town council at Myrtle Point, that state. Mr. Hartley is a man of high character, energetic and industrious, who has attained to a prosperous condition in life entirely through his own efforts.

SAMUEL H. COCHRAN.

Samuel H. Cochran, engaged in dairying and ranching near Grandview, was born in Marshal county, Minnesota, September 16, 1888, a son of John and Mary (McCarthy) Cochran, both of whom were natives of Canada. The father crossed the border and became a resident of Minnesota in early life. He was among the pioneers of the Red River valley and took up government land there. His entire life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits and he now resides at Grandview, Washing- ton, being connected with the ranching interests here.

Samuel H. Cochran is indebted to the public school system of the country for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. He arrived in Washington in 1905 and afterward made his way to the Yakima valley, where he worked for wages on various ranches, being thus employed for eight years. In 1913, desirous that his labors should more directly benefit himself, he rented land and was occupied in its further cultivation until 1918, when he invested his savings in ten acres near Grand- view. He has upon this place a good house and substantial barns, together with other modern improvements, and he devotes his land largely to the raising of al- falfa. He also keeps a considerable number of cows and is successfully engaged in the dairy business, finding a ready sale in nearby towns for his dairy products.

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History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 67

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