History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 7

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 7
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 7
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 7

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ROBERT S. MORGAN.

A third of a century ago Robert S. Morgan came to the Yakima valley and through the intervening period to the time of his death, which occurred in 1909, was closely associated with its development and progress. He secured a homestead claim and for a long period was engaged in the raising of vegetables and in the conduct of a commission business and took the initial step along many lines which have led to the further development and upbuilding of this section of the state. He was born in Caniden, Pennsylvania, January 24, 1847, and acquired a public school education. With the call of the country to arms he enlisted in 1862, although but a youth of fif- teen years, joining Company E of the Tenth Missouri Infantry, with which he served until the close of hostilities, participating in many hotly contested engagements in which he proved his valor and his loyalty. After the war he resumed his residence in Missouri and there for more than two decades was actively engaged in farming. In March, 1886, however, he severed his connection with the middle west and came to Yakima county, where he took up a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres three miles west of the city of Yakima, on the Tieton drive. Mrs. Morgan and all her children, nine in number, also made the long and hazardous trip, arriving here in August, 1886. The homestead was a tract of arid land, all covered with sagebrush, and it hardly seemed possible to transform it into productive fields and fine orchards. He located upon this farm, however, in April, 1887, and began its development and improvement. In 1894 the Congdon canal was built and thus water was supplied to the entire farm. The land proved to be naturally rich and productive when water was added and even before the completion of the Congdon ditch Mr. Morgan had begun the raising of vegetables and entered actively into the commission business. He shipped the first carload of alfalfa from the valley and he built the first produce warehouse in Yakima. He was the pioneer commission merchant of the city and the work which he instituted has set a pace for many others whose labors along this line have constituted a valuable factor in the development, upbuilding and prosperity of the state.

On the 25th of December, 1868, Mr. Morgan was united in marriage to Miss Minnie M. Mason, who was born in Owen county, Indiana, September 28, 1848, a daughter of Joseph T. and Mary (Darby) Mason, who removed to Missouri in 1851, after which the father was there identified with farming to the time of his death, and his wife also passed away in that locality. To Mr. and Mrs. Morgan were born the following named: Leola M., who passed away at the age of twenty-two years; William F., who is a ranchman of the Yakima valley and is married and has three children; Robert H., who is married and operates a ranch near Selah; Ida M., who is the wife of Frank Jordan, who is engaged in ranching on the Ahtanum river and by whom she has three children; Nora A., who gave her hand in marriage to Albert Dean, a clothing merchant of Yakima, by whom she has a daughter; Flora E., who wedded Teunis Wayenberg, a farmer living at Moxee City, by whom she has two children; Carrie, who is the wife of John L. Willett, a ranchman, by whom she has one son; Harry A., who is engaged in ranching in Yakima county and who is mar- ried and has one child; Leslie V., who is also married and has one child; and Lydia M., who died at the age of seven years.

Mr. Morgan was a republican in his political views and an active worker in the

ROBERT S. MORGAN

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

party but not an office seeker. His religious faith was that of the Methodist church of which he was long an active and consistent member, and his widow holds mem- bership in the same church. He was one of the organizers of the first Methodist Sunday school in Yakima and for many years served as its superintendent. He passed away in the faith of that church August 10, 1909, honored and respected by all who knew him. His course was ever characterized by the highest principles of integrity and the most advanced standards of citizenship. He was constantly extending a helping hand to the needy and his aid and cooperation were most heartily given to any movement that was for the benefit of the individual or for the community at large.

RUSSELL J. THOMPSON.

The Naches valley of the Yakima district has made immense forward strides in the last few years, during which the peculiar adaptability of soil and climate in regard to orcharding was discovered. Since that time many valuable orchards have sprung up and many are the enterprising horticulturists who are now deriving large returns from this line of activity, to which considerable acreage in the valley is now devoted. It is characteristic of men of the west that they will always look for the latest methods and best machinery and equipment in order to further their efforts and this quality has been the outstanding feature of the pros- perity that has come to the Yakima valley in this line of business activity.

Among these enterprising orchardists is Russell J. Thompson, who was born at Howard Lake, Minnesota, October 7, 1884. He is a son of W. D. and Mary E. (Terrell) Thompson, the former born in Nashville, Tennessee, and the latter in Vienna, Ohio. In the '70s the parents removed to Minnesota, becoming pioneers of that state, and there the father continued in agricultural pursuits until 1898, when he came to the Yakima valley, acquiring eighty acres on the upper Naches. Of this tract he and his sons planted forty-five acres to fruit and as the years passed the property became very valuable and the family now derives a most gratifying income therefrom. In 1915 W. D. Thompson retired from active work and he and his wife removed to California, turning over the land at that time to his two sons, Russell J. and Leslie J. The father was always a leader in the dis- tricts in which he resided. He was ever ready to embrace new discoveries and assisted in getting the first telephone system established in this district, while he also did valuable work in securing rural free delivery routes. Moreover, he was deeply interested in the good roads movement and his enterprise is further indicated in the fact that he was one of the first in this section to own an automobile. He did valuable work in regard to horticultural development in the Yakima valley, as he successfully established one of the first orchards planted here.

Russell J. Thompson spent his boyhood days under the parental roof in Minne- sota, where he attended the public schools, and removed with his family to the Yakima valley when fourteen years of age. After completing his preliminary educa- tion he rounded out his preparation for life's ardous duties at the State University at Pullman. He then returned to the home farm and assisted his father in the development of the property, so continuing until the land was divided. Mr. Thomp- son now has twenty-one acres of orchard in apples and prunes, has up-to-date buildings for storing his fruit and has also built a fine home. He is typical of the progressive western horticulturist and is now in the enjoyment of a large income.

On June 30, 1915, Mr. Thompson was united in marriage to Miss Pearl Hager- man, a native of Minnesota and a daughter of John Hagerman, who about 1907 removed to Yakima county, where he engaged in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have two daughters: Lucille Mary and Margaret.

In his political affiliations Mr. Thompson is a republican, in the principles of which party he thoroughly believes. Fraternally he is connected with the Loyal Order of Moose, while along the line of his occupation he is a member of the Grange and also of the Yakima County Horticultural Union, thus being in touch

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

with other men in the same line of business and keeping up-to-date in regard to the latest methods by an exchange of opinions. Mrs. Thompson is a valued member of the Christian church, in the work of which both she and her husband helpfully assist. Mr. Thompson has ever readily co-operated in public movements undertaken for the general welfare and particularly along lines of fruit raising has greatly contributed toward the development of horticulture, which promises to bring to the Yakima valley millions upon millions of dollars.

WILLIAM IRVING HUXTABLE.

The fine home of William Irving Huxtable is situated only about a mile west of Yakima. Here he has twenty acres of land planted to fruit and his is one of the attractive properties in his section of the state. Mr. Huxtable is a native of Tazewell county, Illinois. He was born March 15, 1857, of the marriage of Wil- liam and Barbara (Robinson) Huxtable, the former a native of England and the latter of Scotland. They came to America with their respective parents in child- hood days, the Huxtable family taking up their abode in Illinois in 1838. The Robinson family also settled there in pioneer times. In 1883 William Huxtable and his wife removed to Adams county, Nebraska, where he engaged in farming until his life's labors were ended in death in 1904. His wife passed away when she had reached the age of seventy-six years.

After mastering the branches of learning taught in the public schools William Irving Huxtable started out in farm life, purchasing school land in Nebraska. In 1894, however, he made his way to the coast, establishing his home at Hemet, California, where he was engaged in fruit farming until 1899. In that year he came north to Yakima, where he arrived in October, and in 1901 he purchased twenty acres of land a mile west of Yakima, upon which he has since resided. He planted this to fruit, specializing in peaches, and he is today one of the largest peach growers of the county. Upon his place he erected a fine modern residence, large and substantial barns and made all other necessary improvements, and his is now one of the fine ranch properties of the district. In addition to his home place he has a seventy-acre tract planted to apples and peaches and he has made a close study of everything that pertains to fruit growing in this section. He knows the needs of the soil, the best methods of protecting his trees and the results achieved are most gratifying.

Mr. Huxtable was married to Miss Charlotte M. Wells, a native of Illinois, and they became parents of five children: Mary B., the widow of W. Ross Stewart, by whom she had two children, now making her home with her parents; Ora De Witt, a farmer who married Edith Cole; Philo I., who is farming with his father in Yakima county and married Lola Hopper, by whom he has a son, Robert, now five years of age; Elsie, the wife of G. P. Labberton, of Yakima, by whom she has two sons; and Orpha, the wife of John I. Preissner, a mining engineer living on Vancouver Island.

Mr. and Mrs. Huxtable are members of the Baptist church. He has served on the school board and the cause of education finds in him a warm friend. In fact. actuated by a progressive spirit, he stands for all that pertains to the progress and upbuilding of the community along intellectual, social, material and moral lines.

ROBERT BRUCE MILROY.

Robert Bruce Milroy has the distinction of having been a member of the first law firm of Yakima, where he began practice in 1884, but long previous to this time he had seen central Washington, for he was a messenger in the Indian serv- ice in 1873 and has passed through the valley. He was born in Rensselaer, Indiana, September 25, 1859, has back of him an ancestry honorable and distinguished and is fortunate that his lines of life have been cast in harmony therewith. His grand-

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

father was General Samuel Milroy, who served with the rank of major general in the War of 1812 and also in Indian wars. The father was General R. H. Milroy, a distinguished veteran of the Mexican and Civil wars and a promoter of civiliza- tion upon the western frontier. He was born in Indiana in 1816, his father having settled in that state in 1809. The date of General R. H. Milroy's birth preceded the admission of Indiana into the Union by a year. In early manhood he took up the practice of law and became an able attorney. The military spirit of his father, however, was a dominant characteristic in the son and he became a captain in the Mexican war. In days of peace he gave his attention to a large law practice in Indiana and was serving as judge when the Civil war broke out. He had watched with interest and studied closely the progress of events in the south and on the 7th of February, 1861, he issued the first call for troops in the United States. Few so clearly saw or understood the situation as he. When the news came that the south had fired upon the flag at Fort Sumter, he however, had only two recruits, but he at once went to the courthouse, rang the bell and before breakfast his entire company was raised. He had served with General Lew Wallace in the Mexican war, of whom he was also a classmate, and their friendship was one that existed through life. General Milroy's training in the Mexican war well qualified him for the duties which he now assumed in connection with the defense of the Union. He was made colonel of the Ninth Indiana Infantry and his regiment went to the front with the first Indiana troops. The first man killed from the state was John Boothroyd, who was a member of Colonel Milroy's regiment. On the 1st of September, 1861, Colonel Milroy was promoted to the rank of brigadier general and in March, 1863, was raised to the rank of major general, ranking from Novem- ber 23, 1862. He served until the close of the Civil war and in May, 1863, was presented by the Twenty-fifth Ohio Infantry with a sword worth one thousand dollars. The scabbard was silver and the sword was a Damascus blade with jeweled hilt set with diamonds and other precious stones. There were three other swords also presented to him at various times in his life. Such was his known bravery, valor and qualities of leadership that Jefferson Davis offered one hun- dred thousand dollars for General Milroy, dead or alive, and the rebel legislature of Virginia offered twenty-five thousand dollars. He was known as "the old gray eagle." Four horses were shot from under him in battle. At the battle of Win- chester in 1863 he was caught by Lee's troops, numbering ninety thousand, and his own soldiers numbered but six thousand. He had orders to "hold on" and then the wires were cut. He "held on" for three days and then cut his way out. He was blamed by some historians for not getting out before, but the point was that he obeyed orders and historians who have investigated the circumstances have for him only words of the strongest commendation for his courage, his loyalty and his obedience.

General Milroy was a very prominent and honored resident of Indiana through- out the period in which he made that state his home. In 1872, however, he removed westward to Olympia, Washington, to become superintendent of Indian affairs in the northwest and remained in the Indian service until the office was abolished. He was then put in charge of all the agencies on the Sound. In 1882 he came to Yakima as agent of the Yakima reservation, having charge of all the Indians from the Columbia river north to Wenatchee and an exceedingly broad territory surround- ing. He was the first man dismissed on account of "offensive partisanship" by Grover Cleveland. He was a stalwart republican and made a few political speeches in the east while on a visit there. He became as prominent and influential in the west as he had been in the east and at all times and under all circumstances he was a most progressive citizen, his aid and influence being given on the side of advance- ment and improvement. He began the building of the branch railway from Olympia to Tenino and he had the Piute ditch dug on the Indian reservation, this being one of the first irrigation projects of the Yakima valley. He was the first person who started the allotment of lands in severalty to the Indians, which course he pursued in the '70s before any legislation to that effect had been enacted. He was one of the first to advocate taking the Indian children and educating them in order to civilize them and he assisted in establishing the Forest Grove Indian school, later called the Chemawa School. He believed that the Indians should own

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

their land and have educational privileges. He was a very close student of the problems of the red men and did all in his power to secure justice to them in their treatment by the government. He passed away at Olympia, March 30, 1890, the city thus losing one of its most eminent residents, one whose career had not only reflected credit and honor upon the state in which he made his home, but upon the whole nation. His contribution to the world's work had been most valuable and his ability was attested by distinguished men throughout the country.

The name of Robert Bruce Milroy is also interwoven with the history of the Yakima valley. He acquired his early education in the public schools of Indiana and, in the west, at Olympia. He afterward became a student in the Territorial Uni- versity of Washington at Seattle and then entered the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. He next became a student at Hanover College of Indiana and pursued his law course in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. In 1884 he came to Yakima to visit his father and in March, 1885, he opened a law office in North Yakima in connection with his brother, W. J. Milroy, theirs being the first law firm of the city. Later they built the first two-story building on Yakima avenue and in it maintained their law office. They were accorded a liberal clientage and Robert B. Milroy remained an able and prominent member of the Yakima bar until 1897, when he went to Alaska, where he resided for twelve years. He was engaged in mining for two years at Dawson and later he opened a law office in Nome, where he continued in the active and successful practice of his profession until 1901. In 1902 he again took up mining and afterward divided his time be- tween mining and law practice until 1908, when he returned to the United States, and in 1909 once more became a resident of Yakima. Here he has practiced con- tinuously since and is now occupying the office of police judge. He was also assist- ant attorney general of Washington under the first attorney general, W. C. Jones, in 1892. He is a lawyer of marked ability and comprehensive knowledge and has left the impress of his individuality and professional powers upon the legal history of the state.

On the 28th of May, 1889, Mr. Milroy was united in marriage to Miss Pauline Whitson, a daughter of Judge Curtis W. Whitson, who was a member of the supreme court of Idaho.

In politics Mr. Milroy has ever been a stalwart republican and for sixteen years in all has served as chairman of the county central republican committee. Aside from the offices which he has held in the strict line of his profession, he was a member of the state legislature in 1894. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. There is perhaps no man who has a more intimate or accurate knowledge concerning the history of this section of the state and he is one of the best known citizens of the Yakima valley, enjoying the good- will, confidence, honor and trust of all with whom he has been brought in contact.

FIDELIO KING HISCOCK.

Fidelio King Hiscock, who departed this life in 1917, was closely associated with the agricultural development of the Yakima valley and his worth as a man and citi- zen was widely acknowledged. He was born in Syracuse, New York, April 15, 1869, a son of Senator Frank and Cornelia (King) Hiscock, who were representatives of prominent old New York families. The father became an attorney who exercised marked influence over public thought and action. He not only attained prominence at the bar but also was called upon to represent his district in congress and in the United States senate. He was born at Pompey, New York, September 6, 1834, a son of Richard and Cynthia (Harris) Hiscock. His education was acquired at Pompey Academy and in 1855 he was admitted to the bar. He served as district attorney of Onondaga county, New York, from 1860 until 1863, and in 1867 was made a member of the state constitutional convention of New York. His fellow townsmen apprecia- tive of his able powers and marked ability, called upon him to act as their repre- sentative in congress from 1877 until 1887, so that he sat in the forty-fifth to the forty-ninth congresses. In 1887 he was elected a member of the United States senate

FIDELIO K. HISCOCK

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

for New York and remained a member of the upper house for six years. His politi- cal allegiance was always given to the republican party. After his retirement from office he practiced as senior member of the law firm of Hiscock, Doheny, Williams & Cowic, and he was also a director of the Bank of Syracuse and the Syracuse Savings Bank. He belonged to the Union League Club and to the Republican Club of New York. He married Cornelia King, of Tully, New York, on the 22d of November, 1859, and passed away June 18, 1914.

His son, F. K. Hiscock of this review, accorded liberal educational advantages, was graduated from Cornell University in 1891 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In the same year he determined to try his fortune in the west, thinking that better opportunities were here offered for the development of enterprise and ambition. Accordingly he arrived in Tacoma in that year and soon afterward made his way to the Yakima valley, where he purchased an interest in a ranch in connection with R. L. McCook. They had one hundred and sixty acres of land and he later purchased one hundred and twenty acres individually. He utilized his land in the production of large crops of hops and hay, having extensive hop vineyards, and the careful man- agement of his interests brought to him a very substantial measure of success.

On the 22d of October, 1910, Mr. Hiscock was married to Miss Anne Randolph Scudder, a daughter of H. B. Scudder, mentioned elsewhere in this work. The death of Mr. Hiscock occurred January 29, 1917. He had made for himself a miost credit- able and enviable position in the public regard of his community. He was a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, also of the Commercial Club and of the Country Club. His political allegiance was given to the republican party, in which he was an active worker but not an office seeker. His religious faith was that of the Episcopal church. His life was one of intense and well directed activity, which made him widely known, and his record at all times measured up to the highest standards. The worth of his work was widely acknowledged and it seemed that he should have been spared for many more years of usefulness, for he was in the prime of life when called to the home beyond.

STANLEY E. GOODWIN.

Among the native sons of Kittitas county still living within its borders, identi- fied actively with its farming interests, is numbered Stanley E. Goodwin, who is today a well known and highly respected resident of the district in which he makes his home. He was born January 17, 1881, in Kittitas county, a son of Thomas B. and Sarah (Cumberland) Goodwin, who were natives of Indiana. They became pioneer settlers of California and upon leaving that state removed to Oregon. It was during the '70s that they arrived in Kittitas county, casting in their lot with the pioneer settlers who were braving the hardships and privations of frontier life in order to reclaim this region, rich in its natural resources, for the purposes of civilization. The father purchased land and also took up government land ten miles north of Ellensburg, adding to his possessions until his holdings aggregated one thousand acres, of which over five hundred acres are under cultivation. He at once began the development and improvement of the farm and his labors were most resultant in transforming the place into rich and productive fields, from which he annually gathered good harvests. He erected thereon a fine residence, also built large and substantial barns, secured the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields and in every way carried on his farming interests along most progressive lines. In 1894 he was called upon to mourn the loss of his first wife, after which he later married Jennie Cumberland, a sister of his first wife, who still survives him, his death having occurred on the 15th of April, 1917. A more complete sketch and portrait of Thomas B. Goodwin is to be found else- where in this work.

Stanley E. Goodwin acquired a public school education and when not busy with his textbooks assisted his father in the work of the home ranch until he reached the age of twenty-two years. He then rented his father's place in connection with his brother Aubrey and later Stanley E. Goodwin rented it alone. At a subsequent

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History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 7

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