History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 76

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 76
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 76
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 76

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In April, 1891, Mr. Smith arrived in Yakima county and for two years worked

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for wages. He then rented land for six years, at the end of which time he had acquired the means that permitted him to bny eighty acres on the Cowiche, to the cultivation of which he devoted several years. He has since sold part of this tract retaining twenty-eight acres. He raises hay and grain and also gives considerable attention to cattle, having full blooded Jerseys and Holsteins. He has instituted a high class dairy and receives a very gratifying income from his farming interests. Ever following progressive methods and trying out new ideas, the years have brought him prosperity and there is great credit due him for what he has achieved, as all that he has acquired is the result of his own labor.

On December 13, 1894, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Mamie Rockett. a daughter of Robert Rockett, who is mentioned more extensively on other pages of this work. To this union were born four children: Margaret, who has passed away; Alice, who died at the age of six years; and Edward and Mildred, both at home.

Mr. Smith has always taken a laudable interest in public affairs although he is not active in politics. He is serving as clerk of the school board, having held that office for the past seventeen years and the cause of education has ever been dear to his heart. Fraternally he is an active member of the Modern Woodmen of America and serves as clerk of the local canton. At one time he was a candidate for the office of county assessor but was defeated by one vote, the close contest indicating his popularity. He is a faithful adherent of the republican party, the principles of which he stanchly upholds. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith have many friends in their neighbor- hood, all of whom are agreed as to their high qualities of heart and character.

BENJAMIN S. CERSWELL, M. D.

Yakima has ever had reason to be proud of the success of the members of the medical profession here. They have measured up to the highest standards and their work has been the exemplification of the most progressive methods and idcals of their calling. Among the recent additions to the medical fraternity of Yakima is Dr. Benjamin S. Cerswell, who removed to this city from Toppenish, Washington. in 1909. He is a native of Ontario, Canada, born June 8, 1875, a son of Samuel and Christina (Sutherland) Cerswell, who were also of Canadian birth. The mother was a daughter of Benjamin Sutherland, one of the pioneer citizens of Manitoba, but a native of Ontario. The Sutherland family is of Scotch ancestry, while the Cers- well family is of Scotch-Irish descent. The Doctor's father followed the occupation of farming as a life work, but both he and his wife have now passed away.

In preparation for his chosen profession Dr. Cerswell attended the Toronto Uni- versity and completed a course in its medical department as a member of the class * of 1907. He afterward spent one year as interne in the Western Hospital of Toronto and was thus further qualified for professional duties. Between the period in which he completed his public school education and entered upon preparation for the prac- tice of medicine he had attended the Ontario College of Pharmacy, from which he was graduated in 1898, and he also received the pharmaceutical degree of Bachelor of Pharmacy from Toronto University. He then engaged in the drug business in Toronto for a year and for two years in Winnipeg. He afterward spent a year in the same line of business in British Columbia, after which he crossed the border into the United States, and for fourteen months was connected with the drug trade at Portland, Oregon. His activity along that line awakened his deep interest in the study of medicine and, as previously indicated, he went to Ontario to qualify for practice. Following his gradnation from the university there, he returned to Port- land, where he passed the state board examination and then removed to Castle Rock, Oregon, where he remained in active practice for fourteen months. On the expira- tion of that period he opened an office in Toppenish, Washington, and practiced there until July, 1916, when he was appointed whole time health officer for the county and city of Yakima and so continues. While a resident of Toppenish he was a member of the governing board of the Commercial Club for three years and served as president of same during 1914.

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He is a member of the county and state medical associations and was elected to the vice presidency of the former in 1913.

In November, 1908, the Doctor was married to Miss Mary Holladay, of Aurora, Ontario, and they have become the parents of an interesting little daughter, Helen, six years of age. Dr. Cerswell belongs to Toppenish Lodge, No. 178, F. and A. M., which he aided in organizing and of which he was master in 1913. He also has taken the degrees of the Rose Croix and Council of Kadash in the Scottish Rite. He likewise belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and to the Knights of Pythias. In politics he maintains an independent course and his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church.

GEORGE W. MORTIMER.

George W. Mortimer, a well known and successful orchardist of Yakima county, owns twenty acres of land on the Tieton which he acquired in the fall of 1911. His birth occurred in Sauk county, Wisconsin, on the 19th of August, 1867, his parents being James and Margaret (O'Toole) Mortimer, the former a native of England, while the latter was born in the United States. They became pioncer settlers of Wisconsin and the father there devoted his attention to general agricultural pur- suits during his active business career. Both have now passed away.

George W. Mortimer acquired his education in the public schools of his native state and then took up the occupation of farming, to which he had been reared. He was also identified with commercial interests for a period of four years, conducting a grocery store at Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. In the fall of 1911, however, he decided to establish his home in the Pacific northwest and made his way to Yakima county, where he purchased twenty acres of land on the Tieton. The tract was entirely covered with sagebrush, but with characteristic energy he began its improvement and now has twelve acres planted to apples, while the remainder is plow land. He erected an attractive residence on his place and his trees are now in excellent bear- ing condition, for he utilizes the most modern and scientific methods in their care. He is a member of the Yakima County Horticultural Union. In 1914 he purchased an interest in a general store at Tieton and was actively engaged in its management for three years but at the end of that time returned to his ranch, although he still owns stock in the business.

In 1907 Mr. Mortimer was united in marriage to Miss Daisy Winn, a native of Ironton, Wisconsin, and a daughter of William and Sadie (Thornton) Winn. They have become parents of seven children, namely: Margaret; Marion; James Stanley; Herbert and Helen, twins; one who died in infancy; and a baby.

In politics Mr. Mortimer is a republican where national questions and issues are involved but at local elections casts an independent ballot. He has served as postmaster of Tieton during the past four years and has made a most excellent record in that connection. He is a worthy exemplar of the Masonic fraternity, while his wife belongs to the Presbyterian church. Both are widely and favorably known throughout the community in which they make their home, their many sterling traits of character commending them to the high regard and confidence of those with whom they have come in contact.

BOYD E. MOBERLY.

A splendidly developed property pays tribute to the care and labor bestowed upon it by the owner, Boyd E. Moberly, who, actuated by a most progressive spirit, has utilized his advantages along agricultural lines to the utmost in the develop- ment of one of the fine farms of the Yakima valley. He was born in Clinton county, Missouri, May 1, 1872, a son of William and Elizabeth (Moberly) Moberly, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. In early life they removed to Missouri and there

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the father followed the occupation of farming until called to his final rest. Both he and his wife passed away before their son Boyd was ten years of age.

The latter acquired a public school education and in his youthful days worked on farms, thus providing for his own support. Thrown upon his own resources at an early age, whatever success he has achieved or enjoyed is attributable to his persistency of purpose, keen discrimination and sagacity. In 1899 he came to Wash- ington and for some time was employed in the sawmills at Everett. In 1904 he ar- rived in Yakima and purchased twenty acres of land on Selah Heights. It was a wild tract, the acreage having not yet been brought under the plow. He paid eight hundred dollars for this property and such was the increase in its value because of the rapid settlement of the district and the improvements which he had made upon the land, that he sold it two years later for fifty-five hundred dollars. He then purchased twenty acres of land on the lower Naches and devoted five years to its cultivation and improvement and also cultivated land which he rented. He then sold his property and made investment in twenty-eight and a quarter acres on the lower Naches, whereon he has since engaged in raising corn, alfalfa and potatoes. He also makes the raising of cattle and hogs a feature of his business and is now the owner of one of the fine farm properties of the district, highly developed and improved according to all modern standards of farm life.

In 1894 Mr. Moberly was united in marriage to Miss Nora Daniels, a daughter of Marcus H. Daniels, a native of Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Moberly have been born three children: Mary Leta, the wife of R. E. Hughes, a resident of Yakima, by whom she has two children; Floy Gladys, who is training for nursing; and Helen, ten years of age.

Mrs. Moberly is a member of the Christian church. Mr. Moberly gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and both are held in high esteem be- cause of their many sterling traits of character, their loyalty in friendship and their devotion to those interests which figure in public-spirited citizenship.

HARRY WISE.

Harry Wise, conducting an auto trimming establishment in Yakima, his busi- ness enjoying a most satisfactory growth, was born in East Dubuque, Illinois, on the 25th of December, 1866, a son of Mathias and Pauline (Smith) Wise. The father was connected for a long period with the freight department of the Illinois Central Railroad at East Dubuque and was one of the pioneer residents of that city. Both he and his wife have now passed away.

Harry Wise, after his school days were over, took up the carriage trimming trade, which he thoroughly mastered. He followed the trade in the east and won promotion from time to time until he became factory manager in the Tom Conley carriage shop of Dubuque, Iowa. With the introduction of the automobile he took up the work of trimming motor cars and trimmed the first automobile that was shipped into Minneapolis. He thoroughly knows the husiness from every angle and can trim any kind of a car or vehicle. He was the pioneer in this field in Yakima, removing to the west after having spent nineteen years in the trimming business in Minne- apolis. He made his way to North Yakima in 1906 and purchased a ranch in the Selah valley, upon which he resided for a year. He was afterward with Alexander Christie of Seattle as a trimmer and in 1913 he opened a trimming shop in Yakima, where he is enjoying a splendidly growing business. He does plate glass trimming with nickel and in fact is acquainted with every phase of the business. His shop is excellently equipped for all kinds of work of this character and the standard of his workmanship is of the highest. He is the owner of two business lots on First street and expects soon to erect a new shop. The building to be fifty by one hundred and forty feet, two stories in height, situated on First street, South, near Chestnut, and of cement construction. Mr. Wise expects to occupy one-half of the building on the first floor, while John Schwartz will occupy the entire second floor, utilizing it for a modern auto paint shop. Mr. Wise has done trimming for many of the leading automobile manufacturers and his friends justly claim that he is the best

HARRY WISE

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carriage and automobile trimmer in the west. He carries an extensive stock of nothing but the very best goods, handling the products of the firm of L. G. Mottey & Son, of Buffalo, New York, manufacturers of the best automobile fabric in the world. It is his purpose always to please his customers and he puts forth every effort in that direction. He possesses marked mechanical skill and ingenuity, is ever ready to follow out the ideas of his patrons or make suggestions which will assist them in getting the very best results in trimming. He employs from three to five people and his work is unsurpassed.

In 1894 Mr. Wise was married to Miss Phoebe Weber, of East Dubuque, Illi- nois, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Weber. They were schoolmates in child- hood and their early friendship ripened into a love that was consummated in mar- rage. They have become the parents of four children: Hermey, the business part- ner of his father, but at present with the United States army in France, as a mem- ber of the Eighth Infantry; and Amy Marie, Walter E. and Percy M.,-a family of which they have every reason to be proud. They live at 804 North Sixth street, where they have a pleasant home. Fraternally Mr. Wise is connected with Elks Lodge, No. 318, of Yakima, also with the Knights and Ladies of Security, the Travelers' Life Association and the Business Men's Association of Yakima. He has lived an active and useful life. concentrating his efforts and attention upon his busi- ness, giving his leisure to his family and holding at all times to the highest standards of manhood and citizenship.

RALPH MASON.

Ralph Mason is the owner of a good ranch property of forty acres, one-half of which came into his possession by purchase in 1900, since which time he has lived upon the place. He was born in Minnesota, October 7, 1874, a son of G. W. and Malinda (Twitchell) Mason, who were natives of Pennsylvania and of Maine respectively. The father was a son of Jacob Mason, who removed to Wisconsin in 1847 and cast in his lot with the early settlers of that state. Subsequently he and his son, G. W. Mason, became pioneers of Minnesota and contributed to the early development of that state. G. W. Mason served for three and a half years as a soldier of the Civil war and throughout his entire life was actuated by a spirit of marked devotion to his country and its welfare. He continued his residence in the middle west until 1875, when he removed with his family to the Willamette valley of Oregon, there remaining until 1879, when he became a resident of Klickitat county, Washington. For a period of ten years he resided in that county and in the spring of 1890 made his way to North Yakima, where he lived for two years. In 1892 he bought twenty acres of land two and a half miles north of Granger, which at the time was covered with sagebrush. He at once began to clear the place and cultivate it and as the years passed continued the work of general improvement and development, so that his labors wrought a marked transformation in its appearance. He resided upon that farm until his death, which occurred February 17, 1916. The mother survives and still occupies the old home farm.

Ralph Mason spent his youthful days under the parental roof, being brought by his parents to the northwest in his infancy. He acquired his education in the public schools of this section of the country and in vacation periods and after his school days were over worked with his father until he reached the age of twenty-five years. In 1900 he bought twenty acres of land three miles northeast of Granger and, prosper- ing in his undertakings, was enabled to double the extent of his acrcage in 1916 by the purchase of another twenty-acre tract, which he yet owns. He is now raisinng corn, hay and potatoes and also conducts a dairy business, and the sound judgment and enterprise which he displays in the management and improvement of his farm are bringing to him well merited success.

On the 29th of December, 1903, Mr. Mason was married to Miss Grace E. Dopps, who was born in Kansas, a danghter of J. H. Dopps, who came to the Yakima valley in 1901 and took up ranching in this section. Mr. and Mrs. Mason have become the parents of five children: Pearl, Helen, Gladys, Thelma and Jack R.

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The religious faith of the family is that of the Methodist church and politically Mr. Mason maintains an independent course, voting for men and measures rather than party. He is now serving on the school board and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion. He is numbered among the pioneer ranchers of this section and his labors have constituted an important element in the growth and progress of the district.

ROBERT D. LOW.

Robert D. Low, the period of whose residence in Yakima county covers a quarter of a century, is now successfully engaged in agricultural and horticultural pursuits, owning a tract of land comprising thirty-five acres on the Naches river. His birth occurred in Kansas on the 21st of August, 1867, his parents being Robert D. and Martha (Gibson) Low, who passed away before their son Robert was fourteen years of age. He continued his residence in the state of his nativity until a young man of twenty-two years, pursuing his education in the public schools and being employed at farm labor after his textbooks were put aside. In 1890 he made his way to the Pacific northwest, locating first in Seattle, where he worked in sawmills until 1894. The latter year witnessed his arrival in Yakima county and here he continued in the employ of others until 1901, when he purchased a tract of land of thirty-five acres on the Naches river which was all covered with sagebrush. With characteristic energy, however, he began the work of improving and developing the place and now has a valuable property, of which an acre and a half is planted to orchards, while the re- mainder of the land is devoted to the raising of hay, wheat and potatoes. He also conducts a small dairy and in the various branches of his business is meeting with gratifying success, for his methods are most practical and progressive. He has erected an attractive residence upon the place and also built barns and other necessary build- ings, making his one of the well improved and valuable ranch properties of the district.

On the 7th of June, 1901, Mr. Low was united in marriage to Miss Dora Clark, a native of Yakima and a daughter of Joseph Clark, who took up his abode in Yakima county in 1870 and became one of its pioneer agriculturists. In later life he removed to Seattle, where his demise occurred. Mr. and Mrs. Low have become the parents of five children, namely: Harold, John, Robert D. Jr., Ruth and Grace.

Politically Mr. Low is a republican where national questions and issues are in- volved but at local elections usually casts an independent ballot. His fraternal re- lations are with the Yeomen. Both he and his wife are widely and favorably known throughout the community in which they reside, having a circle of friends that has constantly broadened as the number of their acquaintances has increased.

ADAM DUNCAN DUNN.

Adam Duncan Dunn is a representative of one of the old and prominent families of Yakima county and was born within the borders of the county on the 31st of May, 1879. He is a son of Captain Robert and Annie (Curry) Dunn, who are mentioned at length on another page of this work. Removing to the west, they were numbered among the most prominent and honored residents of the Yakima valley, where the mother still resides, but the father has passed away.

A. Duncan Dunn supplemented his public school education by study in the State College at Pullman, Washington, where he completed a course in the department of agriculture by gradnation with the class of 1902. He has since carried on ranching on his father's place and is also the owner of much land, which he holds independently. He is associated with his brother George in the further development of the old home property and they rank among the representative and prominent ranchers of their section of the state. In addition to his other interests Mr. Dunn of this review has served as a director of the First National Bank of Wapato.

On the 26th of November, 1907, Mr. Dunn was married to Miss Bonnie Lucy Davis,

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who was born in Ohio, a daughter of G. O. Davis. Their children are Robert, Adam Duncan, Jr., Bonnie Lucy and Clyde.

Fraternally Mr. Dunn is connected with Yakima Lodge, No. 318, B. P. O. E. He votes with the republican party and is interested in all that has to do with progress and upbuilding in the community in which he makes his home. He is now serving as a regent of the State College and at all times he is recognized as a most public- spirited citizen. He displays marked ability in the conduct of his business affairs but he has never made the attainment of wealth the sole end and aim of his life. On the contrary, he has ever recognized his duties and obligations to his fellowmen and to his country and stands as a splendid representative of a high type of American manhood and citizenship.

GEORGE B. HARVEY.

George B. Harvey, a well known and successful agriculturist of the Kittitas valley, where he has been actively identified with farming interests for the past fourteen years, is now engaged in the cultivation of a quarter section of land in the vicinity of Thorp. He was born in Indiana, March 3, 1880, a son of Samuel Henry and Sallie Harvey, who removed to Nebraska in 1882 and throughout the intervening period of thirty-six years have made their home in Falls City of the latter state.

George B. Harvey acquired a public school education in his youth and also pur- sued a business course at Falls City, Nebraska. When a young man of twenty-four years he made his way westward to Washington, taking up his abode in the Kittitas valley in May, 1904. After working for others for two years he rented a farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Thorp from Mrs. Amy A. Ellison and has since devoted his efforts and attention to its further cultivation, raising grain and hay and also some stock. Wide-awake, energetic and industrious, he has met with success in his undertakings and enjoys an enviable reputation as a representative and prosperous farmer of his community.

On the 25th of December, 1905, Mr. Harvey was united in marriage to Miss Rosa Etta Ellison, a daughter of John C. and Amy A. (Childs) Ellison, who are mentioned on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of John W. Ellison, who is a brother of Mrs. Harvey and a successful young merchant of the town of Thorp. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey are the parents of two children, Olive and Elmer, aged twelve and ten years respectively.

In politics Mr. Harvey is a stanch republican, exercising his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of that party. He is a self-made man whose pros- perity is attributable entirely to his own labors and whose life in all of its relations is such as commands for him the confidence and esteem of those with whom he is associated.

HERBERT ERNEST HAGER.

Among the agriculturists near Mabton is numbered Herbert Ernest Hager, a native of LaSalle county, Illinois, and a son of Stephen J. and Fannie Jane (Hoyt) Hager. He was born September 15, 1872, and in his native state received a public school education. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania and New York respec- tively. the family being numbered among the pioneers of Illinois, whither Stephen J. Hager had removed with his father, Peter Hager, who bought land there in the early days. Both parents have passed away, the father having for many years been quite successful in agricultural pursuits.

Herbert E. Hager after laying aside his school books turned to farming as a life work, thus following in the footsteps of his father. He remained upon the home farm until the age of thirty and then rented the plaee, managing it until Stephen J. Hager passed away. After his father's death he continued for two more years in the operation of the property, but having heard many favorable reports in regard to the

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new and more prosperous conditions maintaining in the Pacific northwest, he decided to seek a home here and on Christmas Day of 1907 came to Yakima county. Upon his arrival he bought one hundred and twenty acres of land five and a half miles north- west of Mabton, of which forty acres were improved. He now has fifty acres in a high state of cultivation, raising grain, potatoes and hay, the remainder of the land being in pasture. Since becoming owner of this property he has made many valuable improvements, instituting modern machinery and equipment, while he also has re- modeled and modernized his home. As the years have passed his annual income has increased and he is thus deservedly rewarded for his enterprise and energy.

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History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 76

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