History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 71

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 71
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 71
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 71

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On the 1st of March, 1904, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss Anna Beck, a native of Sweden, who came to the United States in her girlhood. To this union were born four children, Emily, Sylvia, Fred and Edwin.

In his political affiliations Mr. Anderson is a republican, which party he has supported ever since taking out his citizen's papers. He is a loyal American, who

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here has found the opportunities which have permitted him to advance rapidly, 60 that he has never regretted coming to this country. Moreover, he has not only wrought for himself but has ever readily supported public movements undertaken in behalf of the community in which he resides and he has proven a force for development, particularly along agricultural lines, showing through his example what may be accomplished where there is the will to dare and to do.

OSCAR F. CARLSON.

Oscar F. Carlson is the owner of an attractive home in the midst of an excellent ranch property of the Selah valley. He was born in Sweden, June 12, 1874, a son of Christian and Hannah (Matson) Carlson. The father became a resident of Illinois in 1882 and the following year removed to Minnesota, taking his family to that state in 1884. He secured a tract of governemnt land in Ottertail county and, casting in his lot with the pioneer settlers of that region, became actively identified with its early development. He transformed wild land into productive fields and continued to engage in farming there throughout his remaining days. His wife also passed away in that state.

Oscar F. Carlson acquired a public school education and carried on farming in connection with his father in Minnesota after his textbooks were put aside. In 1898 he removed to North Dakota and took up a homestead claim in Benson county, whereon he resided for eleven years. Again the lure of the west came upon him and he then made his way to Yakima county, Washington, in 1909, still holding his North Dakota property. Here he invested in ten acres of land in Selah valley well adapted to fruit raising and planted it to apples and pears. His labors have since wrought a marked change in the appearance and in the value of the place. He has built a fine bungalow and has a fine farm home and also a warehouse, and his time and attention are given to the further development of his orchards, which are in excellent bearing condition.

On the 9th of October, 1914, Mr. Carlson was married to Miss Edna Hane, of St. Paul, Minnesota, and they have a daughter, Gladys Lillian. There is also a son, Clarence, by Mr. Carlson's former marriage. Mr. Carlson votes independent of party ties, exercising his right of franchise according to the dictates of his judgment.

PETER SHIPLEY.

Almost every civilized country on the face of the globe and every state of the Union has sent its representatives to the Yakima valley. Among those who are successfully engaged in horticultural pursuits in this section of the state is Peter Shipley, who was born in Switzerland, May 16, 1845, a son of Joseph and Anna Marie (House) Shipley, who were also natives of the land of the Alps and came to the United States with their family in 1851, making their way to Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The father there engaged in farming, having a place about three miles south of the city, and from the wild land he developed an excellent farm. He was one of the pioneer settlers of that region and contributed to the early development of the section in which he lived. Both he and his wife passed away on the old homestead there.

Peter Shipley was reared to manhood upon the old home farm and through the period of his boyhood and youth, when not busy with the duties of the school- room, he assisted his father in the further cultivation and development of the fields. He afterward entered the copper mines on Lake Superior and aided in exploring the Calumet & Hecla mine and was there engaged in mining for fifteen years. He built the breakwater and coal docks at Marquette, Michigan, for the government, doing contract work there for three years. He next established a brewery at Es- canaba, Michigan, in partnership with Joseph Nolden, this being the first enter- prise of the kind in the town. They conducted the brewery for seven years, after

MR. AND MRS. OSCAR F. CARLSON

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which Mr. Shipley went to Marinette, Wisconsin, where he spent four years in the cigar manufacturing business. He then removed to Virginia, Minnesota, where he built a hotel, and while engaged in that business there twice had his property destroyed by fire, causing him a loss of thirty-five thousand dollars. Desiring to start anew elsewhere, he then went to North Dakota and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he engaged in cultivating for three years. The west attracted him, however, and in 1906 he made his way to Yakima county, where he purchased nine and a quarter acres of land in Fruitvale. This had been partially planted to orchard and the entire tract is now devoted to fruit raising. He has fine peach, pear, apple and plum trees upon his place and also an excellent vineyard and his fruit raising interests are bringing to him a gratifying annual income. He has remodeled the house and made other improvements upon the property and in all that he does is actuated by a spirit of enterprise and progress.

On the 26th of April, 1870, Mr. Shipley was united in marriage to Miss Veronica Fadderer, who was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, February 4, 1852, a daughter of George and Martha (Hadenthal) Fadderer, both of whom were natives of Switzer- land, the mother's birth occurring at Bern. They were married, however, in Wis- consin, and were pioneer settlers of Sheboygan, where the father followed the oc- cupation of farming. To Mr. and Mrs. Shipley were born ten children: Cecelia, who is deceased; Mary Martha, the wife of Albert Bickford, a resident of Virginia, Minnesota, where since 1900 he has filled the office of city clerk; Julia, the wife of Edmund O'Rourke, of Duluth, Minnesota, by whom she has three children: George, deceased; Frank E., a civil engineer employed in the shipyards at Seattle; Anthony, who resides at Virginia, Minnesota, where he is engaged in the banking business; Clara, deceased; Albert, an attorney, also of Virginia, Minnesota, where he resides with his wife and two children; Peter, who is a graduate of the high school at Yakima and is now conected with the banking business at Virginia, Minnesota; and Veronica, at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Shipley are members of St. Paul's Catholic church and Mr. Ship- ley is also connected with the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin. His political al- legiance is given to the republican party and he served as a member of the city council while living in Virginia, Minnesota. He belongs to the Grange and is in- terested in all that has to do with the public welfare and especially with the agri- cultural development of the region in which he lives. In the wise conduct of his fruit raising interests he has met with substantial success and is now owner of one of the fine orchards of the county.

JOHN H. RAMSEY.

While John H. Ramsey is of southern birth he has spent the greater part of his life in the west and since 1905 has made his home in Yakima county, where he is the owner of sixty acres of valuable ranch property. He was born in Knox county, Tennessee, March 29, 1868, a son of John B. and Emma (Huffacker) Ramsey, who were also natives of Tennessee, where the father followed the occupation of farm- ing. In 1872 he removed with the family to Kansas, settling near Fort Scott, and later he became a resident of Missouri. At a subsequent date he went to Texas, where he passed away in the year 1916, having for four decades survived his wife, who died in 1876.

John H. Ramsey acquired a public school education and was largely reared in Kansas, having been but four years of age when his parents removed with their family to that state. He was a young man of nineteen years when he made his way to Lewis and Clark county, Montana, where he worked for wages and also engaged in the cultivation of rented farms until 1905, when he came to Washington. Making Yakima county his destination, he purchased forty acres of land near Grand- view and in 1918 he purchased twenty acres more, so that his holdings now com- prise sixty acres. He is engaged in raising hay, corn and other crops well adapted to soil and climatic conditions here. Upon his place he has put many substantial improvements. He built a comfortable residence and a good barn and is constantly

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striving to enhance the value of his place through further cultivation and develop- ment. He is an energetic man, never stopping short of the successful accomplish- ment of his purpose if obstacles and difficulties can be overcome by persistent and honorable effort.

On November 16, 1894, Mr. Ramsey was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Mills, who was born near St. Joseph, Missouri, a daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Ann (Boston) Mills, who made their way up the Missouri river to Montana, where they cast in their lot with the pioneer settlers, becoming ranchers near Cascade, Montana. To Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey have been born nine children: Ralph, who died at the age of thirteen years; Henry, now a member of the United States army; Charles; Alice; Annabelle; Eva; Frederick; Mabel; and Raymond.

The family are members of the. Presbyterian church, and in his political faith Mr. Ramsey is a democrat. He has served on the school board and is interested in the advancement of educational interests, recognizing the worth of the schools as a preparation of the young for life's practical responsibilities and duties. His own life has been an active and useful one and through individual effort and persistency of purpose he has come to rank with the successful ranchmen of his part of the state.

GEORGE WIRT.

George Wirt is the owner of one of the finest fruit ranches in the valley and is still giving personal supervision to his business interests although he has now passed the eighty-first milestone on life's journey. He was born in Germany, February 2, 1837, a son of Michel and Christine Wirt, who came to the United States in 1850, when their son George was a youth of thirteen years, and settled at Lexington, Ohio, where they continued to make their home until they were called to their final rest.

George Wirt lived in Ohio until he reached the age of sixteen years and then removed to West Union, Iowa, where he made his home for two years. He after- ward went to Faribault county, Minnesota, and took up a homestead, upon which he resided until 1861, when the Civil war was declared and he put aside all business and personal interests in order to respond to the country's call for aid. He joined Company I, of the Fifth Iowa Cavalry, on the 1st of October, 1861, and served until June 6, 1866. He became a sergeant of the troop that was called Colonel Lowe's Bloodhounds and he participated in a number of hotly contested engagements, prov- ing his valor on many a southern battlefield.

When the war was over Mr. Wirt returned to his farm, which he very success- fully conducted. Later he spent three years in Ohio upon the old home place, for during the period of the grasshopper scourge in Minnesota he rented his land in that state. Later, however, he returned to Minnesota, where he continued to reside until 1903, when he sold his property there and made his way to the northwest. On reaching Yakima county, being pleased with the district and its opportunities, he purchased one hundred and one acres of land in Fruitvale, of which at that time only four acres had been planted to fruit. He afterward sold all but forty acres of the tract. He now has twenty acres in apple orchards, peaches, cherries, pears and plums. During seventeen years he was also owner of an excellent fruit ranch on Nob Hill but has recently sold it. His home place is one of the best fruit ranches in the valley and the fruit which he raises is of the largest size, and finest quality and flavor. He has always held to the highest standards and the progressiveness of his methods is manifest in the excellent results which have attended his labors.

In the year 1867 Mr. Wirt was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Carlton, of Minnesota, a native of Illinois, and to them were born the following children: Allen J., a rancher on the reservation, who is married but has no children; George, who died in August, 1918, leaving a wife and five children, who are now living with his father; Clarence, at home; Fred, who is now engaged in ranching on the reser- vation and has a wife and three children; Amanda C., at home; Orpha J., who died in Minnesota; William H., who is with the Medical Corps of the United States army

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in France; Harry M., who is a graduate of the Yakima high school and the State University and is now in the aviation department of the United States army at Rockwell field, California.

The military record of Mr. Wirt covers two years and two months of service in the United States army, after which he reenlisted in Tennessee under Major Brackett as a member of Company B. of Brackett's Battalion, serving all told four years and seven months. After the close of the Civil war, in which he bore an honorable and valiant part, he was in the Indian service until mustered out at Indi- anapolis on the 6th of June, 1866. He proudly wears the little bronze button that proclaims him a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, his connection being with Meade Post, No. 9, and through this association he maintains pleasant rela- tions with his old military comrades with whom he marched to the defense of the Stars and Stripes during the dark days of the Civil war. His political allegiance has always been given to the republican party and he vas an active worker in its ranks while a resident of Minnesota. He belongs to Yakima Lodge, No. 24, F. & A. M., having been made a Mason in 1864, while a member of the army, and he is also connected' with the Royal Arch Chapter at Yakima. He has membership with the Yakima County Horticultural Union and he is numbered among those citizens of German birth who are truly American in spirit, in interests and in actions. Fight- ing for the nation during the Civil war, he has never ceased to thrill over every record of the triumph of American arms and over every story of the progress of this land, in which he has now lived for almost three score years and ten.

MELVIN BISHOP.

The spirit of the west-that intelligence and audacity of original thought and action-has been the birth gift of Melvin Bishop, for he is a native of Oregon, his birth having occurred in Wallowa county, February 18, 1883. He is now very successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits near Sunnyside, Washington, where he owns a valuable property. Although he is a comparatively young man, he has al- ready made his mark in the world and a bright future may be predicted for him. He is a son of Oliver and Annie (Powers) Bishop, also natives of Oregon, born in the Willamette valley, and our subject is therefore a member of one of the pioneer families that have played an important role in the development of the west. His father is a son of Hiram M. Bishop, who in 1852 went to Oregon by the overland route, having before that time been a pioneer of Illinois. Mrs. Annie Bishop was a daughter of W. P. Powers, also one of the early settlers of Oregon, who removed to that state in 1849. Members of the family have for many years been engaged in ranching and stock raising and have been very successful along those lines. The father now lives in Mason county, Washington, and is prominently known as a live stock raiser and rancher. Mrs. Bishop passed away in May, 1899.

Melvin Bishop pursued his studies in a log schoolhouse in the neighborhood of his father's farm and after putting aside his textbooks took up the occupation of farming, which he followed in the state of Idaho when but sixteen years of age, there passing his boyhood and young manhood. In 1902 the father and the re- mainder of the family came to Yakima county, where Oliver Bishop bought land and improved two ranches near Sunnyside. In 1903 our subject took up a home- stead in Klickitat county, this state, but later sold it. In 1907 he and his brother Albert acquired title to forty acres three miles southwest of Sunnyside which was then all wild land covered with sagebrush. He immediately set himself to the task of bringing this land to a good state of cultivation and in 1910 acquired his brother's interest. He has since made many improvements here and his is now considered one of the valuable ranches of the neighborhood. He has since bought twenty acres one and a quarter miles from the original farm and this is also highly improved. He raises hay and corn and also gives considerable attention to live stock, specializ- ing in hogs. Everything about his place indicates the progressive and up-to-date western farmer and his industry and energy result in gratifying returns for him.

On the 12th of June, 1910, Mr. Bishop was married to Iona Waite, a native of

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Lewis county, Washington, and a daughter of M. L. and Serena (Morgan) Waite, who are numbered among the honored pioneers of Yakima county, where the father is engaged in farming. To this union have been born two children, lva and Frances.

Mr. and Mrs. Bishop are very popular with the younger social set of their neighborhood and often entertain their many friends at their hospitable fireside. Both are devoted members of the Church of God, in which denomination they are helpfully interested. Politically he is a republican but has never desired public honors for himself although he is ready to give his support to worthy movements undertaken on behalf of the general public.

JAMES B. BRAIN.

James B. Brain was the founder and is the senior partner of the leading mer- cantile establishment in Thorp, the business being now carried on under the firm style of Brain & Hatfield. Mr. Brain is a native son of Washington and is imbued with the spirit of western enterprise which has been the dominant factor in the up- building of this section of the country. He was born at Cle Elum on the 30th of January, 1890, a son of Byron and Julia (Callahan) Brain. The father was born in Ohio, while the' mother's birth occurred on the ocean when her parents were en route from Ireland to the United States. In the year 1888 Mr. and Mrs. Byron Brain became residents of Kittitas county, where the father took up a homestead near Cle Elum, upon which Mrs. Brain still resides. Mr. Brain, however, is now in Cali- fornia.

James B. Brain acquired a public school education and throughout his entire life has been identified with commercial interests. When his textbooks were put aside he secured a clerkship in a grocery store at Thorp. This was in the year 1903. He obtained practical training in commercial methods and in 1912, prompted by a laudable ambition, he established business on his own account, opening a grocery store in Thorp. In 1914 he sold an interest in the business to John O. Hatfield and they have since developed the largest general mercantile house in the town, carry- ing an extensive stock of attractive goods in all lines. They employ several clerks, have a well appointed establishment and the neat and tasteful arrangement of their stock, as well as their straightforward methods, wins for them a growing patronage.

On the 4th of April, 1913, Mr. Brain was married to Miss Lillian Lechman, a native of Prosser, Washington, and a daughter of Thomas and Mary Lechman, who were pioneer people of Yakima county. Her father was the owner of a homestead at Grandview. To Mr. and Mrs. Brain have been born two children, James Thomas and Booth Eugene. Mr. Brain belongs to the Woodmen of the World and he and his wife are Catholics in religions faith. In politics he is independent nor has he ever been an aspirant for office. He has always preferred to concentrate his ener- gies and attention upon his business affairs and throughout his entire life he has continued in the line in which he embarked at the outset of his business career. It has been by reason of his close application, unfaltering energy and perseverance that he has won the substantial measure of success that is now his.

WILBUR C. HALL.

Ranching interests near Yakima have long claimed the attention of Wilbur C. Hall, who is now numbered among the prosperous residents of that district. He was born in Mazeppa township, Wabasha county, Minnesota, July 16, 1858, a son of Moses C. and Julia (Roberts) Hall, the former a native of Ashtabula, Ohio, and the latter of New Haven, Connecticut. The grandfather of our subject, Moses C. Hall, was born in Massachusetts and the family is of English descent. He was one of the early pioneers of Ohio, 'in which state he passed his remaining days. Moses C. Hall and Julia Roberts were married in Ohio and there resided until they decided to take advantage of the newer conditions and greater opportunities presented in the

WILBUR C. HALL

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northwest and set out for Minnesota, in which state they took up their home in the early '50s. They traveled by team from Wabash and arrived in Wabasha county, Minnesota, in 1856. The father assisted in organizing the first Masonic lodge there. For his first land he paid a dollar and a quarter per acre and in Minnesota he con- tinued to engage in farming until his death in 1858. Later in life the mother made her home with our subject in Washington, where she passed away.

In 1858 Wilbur C. Hall accompanied his mother on her return to Ohio, where he attended school and remained until nineteen years of age, when he returned to Minnesota, in which state he took up a homestead, and there he farmed until October, 1903. During this period he also worked for the Great Northern Railroad for about twenty years, at the same time owning farm property and looking after its cultiva- tion. While connected with the railroad he was largely engaged in railroad con- struction work. In 1903 Mr. Hall came to Washington and for two years resided in Stevens county, while connected with the telegraph construction department of a railroad company. He then removed to Pierce county, this state, where he bought a ten-acres farm, but in September, 1909, he came to Yakima and acquired forty acres on the Ahtanum. Subsequently he added ten acres to this tract, which he named the Skookum-Chuck Ranch, skookum meaning good in Indian, while chuck is water. The two words, however, skookum-chuck, the Indians applied to whiskey, thus designating whiskey as good water. After discovering its meaning, however, Mr. Hall did not change the name of the ranch and it still goes by the old appella- tion. He has greatly improved his property, having crected suitable buildings and a handsome residence and installed modern facilities and equipment. He raises hay and grain and also gives considerable attention to live stock and dairying. He keeps poultry, goats and hogs, as well as sheep, and also devotes some attention to fruit raising. From all these various lines he receives a gratifying income and is today numbered among the prosperous agriculturists of his district.

On November 17, 1890, Mr. Hall was united in marriage to Elizabeth A. Wel- harticky, a native of Bohemia and a daughter of John and Mary Welharticky, who came to the United States when Mrs. Hall was a baby. The family remained for three years in Chicago and then moved westward to Minnesota, where the father is still engaged in agricultural pursuits upon the old homestead which he took up many years ago. His wife passed away. To Mr. and Mrs. Hall were born four children: George, who died at the age of nine years; Irene, at home; Walter, who ably assists his father with the farm work and is now nineteen years of age; and Marion, aged thirteen. Mr. and Mrs. Hall are highly respected in their neighbor- hood and have made many friends since coming to Yakima. They are Episcopalians in their religious faith and attend that church.

In politics Mr. Hall is a republican but in local affairs votes independently, giv- ing his support to the candidates whom he deems best fitted for the offices to which they aspire. He is prominent in the Masonic order, being a member of the blue lodge as well as the Royal Arch Chapter. Such success as has come to him is well merited, as it is the result of his own labors. He is a self-made man in the best sense of the word, having not only attained substantial prosperity but also con- tributed by his labors toward the development of his district.

ALFRED JOHNSON.

Many interesting and varied experiences figure in the life record of Alfred Johnson, who has wintered several times in Alaska and who is now identified with horticultural interests in the Selah valley, having resided in Yakima county since 1908. He was born in Sweden, July 27, 1860, and came to Seattle, Washington, in 1889, when a young man of twenty-nine years. He was employed in the sawmills for a few years but in 1898 went to Alaska and in 1900 became a resident of Nome. He spent eight summers and two winters in that country. He left Nome one winter with two others, taking sleds and three hundred and fifty pounds of provisions and equipments each. They started from Nome in January and traveled four hundred miles north on foot, prospecting all winter and returning to Nome the following (23)

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History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 71

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