History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 77

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 77
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 77
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 77

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

On the 10th of September, 1902, Mr. Hager was united in marriage to Miss Nettie Ford, also a native of La Salle county, Illinois, and a daughter of Eugene and Sophia Ford, farming people of that county, both of whom were born in New York. Her father is deceased but her mother survives. To Mr. and Mrs. Hager have been born four children, Genevieve, Floyd, Helen and Ernest. The parents have ever been deeply interested in the moral and intellectual upbuilding of their district and are faithful attendants of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Politically Mr. Hager is independent. following his judgment in support of can- didates irrespective of party issues, taking into consideration only the qualifications and reputation of a candidate. Ever interested in the cause of education, he has served for three terms as school director. He served as registrar of the Wendell Phillips precinct draft board during June, 1917, and also in September, 1918, thus giv- ing visible evidence of his patriotism.

DANIEL L. DRUSE.

Daniel L. Druse, living in Yakima, is identified with the farming interests of the valley. He is also a veteran of the Civil war and his record of loyal citizenship is one of which he has every reason to be proud. He was born in Boone county, Illinois, August 24, 1842, and has therefore passed the seventy-sixth milestone on life's journey. His parents were Zina and Sally Ann (Lawrence) Druse. The father died in Illinois in 1846 and in 1849 the mother married again, becoming the wife of Charles Dana. In 1856 they removed to Minnesota, where the death of Mr. Dana occurred three years later. In 1864 his widow became the wife of Oliver Webb and in 1895 Mr. Druse of this review brought his mother and stepfather to Yakima county, where she passed away October 2, 1905, at the advanced age of eighty-six years, while the death of Mr. Webb occurred in 1897, when he had reached the very venerable age of ninety-three years. The mother of our subject had three sons: Ed- mond H., who formerly lived in Yakima for twelve years but is now a resident of Minneapolis; Daniel L., of this review; and Charles S. Dana, residing at Red Wing, Minnesota. Both of the parents of Mr. Druse were natives of New York, the father being of French descent. The mother was a daughter of John Lawrence, who removed to Illinois in 1837, casting in his lot with the pioneer settlers of that state.

Daniel L. Druse, reared under the parental roof, acquired a public school educa- tion in Illinois and Minnesota and when twenty years of age enlisted for service as a member of the Fifth Minnesota Infantry in August, 1862. He served for three years or until after the close of the war in September, 1865, and participated in a number of hotly contested engagements. His valor and loyalty bore out the family reputation for patriotism, for his maternal grandfather had served in the War of 1812. When the country no longer needed his aid Mr. Druse took up farming in Minnesota and there made his home until 1895, when he came to Yakima. The previous year he had purchased twenty acres of land near the city and in' 1895 he purchased more land. At one time he owned seventy-five acres of orchard land but has since sold much of this. Throughout the entire period he has made his home in Yakima and has ever been accounted one of its valued and representative resi- dents.

On the 6th of September, 1868, Mr. Druse was married to Miss Mary Carey, a native of Wisconsin, who passed away November 8, 1869, leaving a little daughter,

DANIEL L. DRUSE

643

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

Mary, who is now dean of the art department of the State Normal School at Belling- ham, Washington. On the 21st of September, 1870, Mr. Druse was married to Sarah Sackett, a native of Minnesota, who passed away July 30, 1886. They became the parents of six children: Fannie, who is the wife of A. W. Schwartze, conducting a fruit ranch on Nob Hill; John L., who was a veteran of the Spanish-American war and has passed away; Charles E., who is engaged in the insurance business and resides on Nob Hill; Helen M., who gave her hand in marriage to J. R. Schwartze, the owner of a fruit ranch in Yakima county; Alice G., who is the wife of C. L. Booth, also conducting a fruit ranch on Nob Hill; and Albert Z., who owns and operates a wheat ranch in Yakima county. On the 22d of July, 1888, Mr. Druse was again married, his third union being with Amanda S. Dam. Death called her on the 27th of April, 1906, and she is survived by her husband and two children: Alton S., who is now a member of the Aviation Corps of the United States army; and Mildred S., the wife of Leslie W. Adams, who occupies her father's old ranch.

On the 4th of January, 1909, Mr. Druse wedded Laura F. Dorsett, of Yakima, where they make their home. In his political views Mr. Druse has always been a stalwart republican, giving unfaltering allegiance to the party. He served as town clerk in Minnesota for seventeen years, has been justice of the peace for twenty- two years and township assessor for two years. He has discharged his duties with marked promptness and fidelity, being ever loyal to the trust reposed in him. Since 1869 he has been a faithful member of the Methodist church. He was a charter member of the Yakima County Horticultural Union and these associations indicate the nature and breadth of his interests. He also maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades as a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and was at one time commander of Meade Post, No. 9. He also served as adjutant of the post for more than twelve years. The military history of America has ever been a credi- table one. At no time has this country ever engaged in war save for the protection of its legitimate interests or the extension of democracy, and Mr. Druse may well be proud to be numbered among its military heroes.

JAMES ANDREW BLINE, M. D.

Dr. James Andrew Bline, actively engaged in the practice of medicine at Yakima, comes to the northwest from Indiana. His birth occurred in the Hoosier state, May 4, 1878, his parents being Joseph L. and Charity C. Bline, both of whom are residing in southern Indiana, where the father follows the occupation of farming.

The Doctor is the fifth in order of birth in a family of thirteen children. He completed his college education in the Valparaiso University, where he won the Bachelor of Science degree as a member of the class of 1906. He then determined upon the practice of medicine as a life work and with that end in view matriculated in the Chicago College of Medicine & Surgery, from which he was graduated with the class of 1910. He received a degree in pharmacy and pedagogy at Valparaiso and after winning his M. D. degree he served as interne in the Frances Willard Hospi- tal and in the City Hospital of Chicago. Thus he gained broad and valuable expe- rience, such as can be obtained more quickly in hospital work than in any other way. He afterward practiced for a brief period at Lincoln, Nebraska, and subsequently took post graduate work in the Eye & Ear Infirmary of Chicago. In 1916 he spent a few months in the New York Post Graduate School, thus further promoting his knowledge and efficiency. Since 1912 he has specialized in the treatment of diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. In that year he came to Washington, settling first at Walla, Walla, where he remained in practice for five years and then removed to Yakima in 1917. Through the intervening period he has followed his profession in Yakima and although one of the younger representatives of the profession here, having remained in the city for only two years, he has been accorded a very liberal practice.

In 1912 Dr. Bline was married to Miss Irene Rice, of Lincoln, Nebraska, and to them have been born three children, Bernard, Rolland and Miriam. Fraternally Dr. Bline is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with the Yeo- (25)

644

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

men and with the Knights and Ladies of Security and of the last named he is presi- dent. He is also a member of the Country Club and he has membership in the First Christian church, in which he is serving as deacon, while in the Young Men's Christian Association he is serving on the board of directors. He has a pleasant home in Yakima, in addition to a prune ranch near Walla Walla, and his property holdings are the visible evidence of his life of well directed energy and thrift. He is a man of strong purpose, holding to high professional ideals and utilizing every opportunity to advance his knowledge and promote his skill, which has reached a high point in the field of his specialty.

WILLIAM H. McKEE.

William H. McKee has been a resident of the Kittitas valley for three decades and during the past twenty years has been actively identified with ranching and stock raising interests, now owning one hundred and twenty acres of excellent land five miles west of Ellensburg. He was born in Allamakee county, Iowa, on the 1st of May, 1859, a son of David and Henrietta (McWillie) McKee, both of whom were of Scotch-Irish descent. They had become pioneer settlers of Iowa and con- tinued to make their home in that state until called to their final rest.

William H. McKee spent the first fourteen years of his life in the state of his nativity and in 1873 removed to Kansas, where he followed farming until 1887. Sub- sequently he spent one year in Nebraska and on the expiration of that period made his way westward to Washington, settling in the Kittitas valley in 1888. Here he devoted his attention to the trade of carpentering for a number of years and then in 1898 purchased eighty acres of land five miles west of Ellensburg. He has since purchased an additional tract of forty acres, so that his holdings now embrace one hundred and twenty acres, whereon he cultivates both grain and hay and also raises cattle and sheep. His undertakings along these lines have been attended with gratifying and well-deserved prosperity, for he is a man of good business judgment, unfaltering industry and undaunted enterprise.

In 1882 Mr. McKee was united in marriage to Miss Annie Crabtree, daughter of Benjamin Crabtree. They have become the parents of two children: Blanche, who is now the wife of E. A. Smith, a ranchman of Kittitas county, and William Glen, who is engaged in ranching in the Kittitas valley and is married and has two children.

In politics Mr. McKee is independent, always considering the capability of a candidate rather than his party affiliation. His religious faith is that of the Pres- byterian church, while fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His career has ever been characterized by upright principles and honorable motives and during the long period of his residence in this section of the state he has won an extensive circle of warm friends.

ERNEST J. TWEED.

Prominent among the energetic, farsighted business men of Toppenish is num- bered Ernest J. Tweed, one of the proprietors of the Arcade Department Store, which is the largest mercantile establishment under one roof in the city. Mr. Tweed comes to the Pacific coast country from Iowa, his birth having occurred in Wesley, that state, on the 8th of June, 1885. He is a son of A. J. and Carrie Tweed, who, in 1904, left the Mississippi valley and made their way to Silverton, Oregon, where the father took up the occupation of farming, which he there followed to the time of his demise. The mother is still living in that locality.

After leaving the public schools, Ernest J. Tweed continued his preparation for life's practical and responsible duties by pursuing a course in a business college in Salem, Oregon. He then took up bookkeeping in Portland and was thus employed until 1908, when he came to Toppenish and entered the employ of the Washington

645

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

Nursery Company, with which he remained for four years. Ambitious, however, to engage in business on his own account, he carefully saved his earnings until his economy and industry had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to establish a grocery store, which he opened in 1912 on South Toppenish avenue. He has been active in that line continuously since, and in 1918 he broadened the scope of his interests by combining his business with that of the Arcade Department Store, his official connection being that of treasurer of the company. Their establishment is an extensive one, attractive in its various departments, a large line of goods being carried. Mr. Tweed remains in direct control of the grocery department and has built up for the business an extensive and well-deserved patronage.

On the 19th of October, 1911, Mr. Tweed was married to Miss Pearl Wilson, of Toppenish, a daughter of J. T. Wilson, and they are now parents of one child, Aud- rey. Mr. Tweed is well known as a representative of fraternal interests, having membership in the Elks lodge of Yakima, in the Independent Order of Foresters and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His political endorsement is given to the republican party, which he has supported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. The Commercial Club of Toppenish finds in him a worthy and sub- stantial representative, always ready to aid in its work for the upbuilding of the city and the promotion of its interests. He stands for those things which are most worth while in the life of the individual and the district at large and Toppenish may well be glad that he decided to cast in his lot here, for he is connected with that class of progressive men to whom opportunity is ever the call to action.

ALFRED HICKS.

Alfred Hicks, one of the prominent orchardists in the vicinity of Grandview, hav- ing thirty acres planted to apples, has readily adapted himself to conditions and op- portunities of the northwest and through indefatigable effort and energy is winning substantial success in his business affairs. He comes to this section from Illinois, being a native of Jo Daviess county, that state, where his birth occurred January 3, 1866. His father, Henry Hicks, was born in Cornwall, England, as was the mother, who bore the maiden name of Hester Ann Ingram. They were married in their native country and their wedding journey consisted of a trip to the United States. Making their way across the country, they settled in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, about 1845, becoming pioneer residents of that district, where they spent their remaining days. The father secured land and began farming, winning a place as the years passed among the progressive, substantial and highly prosperous farmers of his region.

Alfred Hicks acquired a business college education after completing his public school work and then concentrated his efforts and attention upon the work of the fields upon the old homestead. He was thus engaged in farming until he reached the age of twenty-four years. Disposing of his interests in that way, he then turned his attention to the grain and live stock business at Scales Mound, Illinois, where he re- mained for five years. In 1896 he went to Alaska and spent ten years in the far north, traveling all over that section and making trips up and down the Yukon. He won fortunes and lost them in that country but came out with some money. In 1906 he arrived in Benton county, Washington, and purchased forty acres of land near Grand- view, in the direction of Prosser. He now has thirty acres planted to apples and the remainder to hay. His is a highly cultivated and improved ranch and he is meeting with most gratifying success in fruit raising. Upon his place are produced some of the finest apples grown in this section of the Yakima valley and his shipments are very extensive.

On the 3d of July, 1903, Mr. Hicks was united in marriage to Miss Rachel Bel- lend, who was born in Norway, a daughter of Rasmus and Annie Bellend. The mother has passed away but the father still resides in Norway. Mrs. Hicks went to Alaska in 1899 and they were married at Dawson, she having spent seven years in that northern country. To Mr. and Mrs. Hicks have been born three children: Esther Olene, born at Dawson in the Yukon territory, April 22, 1905; George Alfred, born at Prosser.

646

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

Washington, February 16, 1907; and Martha Bellend ,born at Grandview, October 16, 1912.

Fraternally Mr. Hicks is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. His political allegiance is given the democratic party and while he has never sought nor desired political office he served for six years on the school board and did everything in his power to advance the cause of education in this locality. He is actuated by a spirit of enterprise in all that he undertakes and his progressiveness is manifest in the excellent results which have attended his efforts as an orchardist of Benton county. His experiences have been broad and varied and especially interesting are his reminiscences of his sojourn in Alaska. His activities at the present time are being intelligently directed and the results achieved are most gratifying.

WILLIAM CORPRON, M. D.

Dr. William Corpron has been actively and successfully engaged in the general practice of medicine in Yakima for the past eleven years and has won an enviable reputation as a skilled representative of his profession. His birth occurred in Middle- sex county, Ontario, Canada, on the 7th of January, 1864, his parents being William H. and Matilda M. Corpron, both of whom have passed away. The father followed farming as a life work.

In preparation for his chosen profession William Corpron entered the medical department of the University of Michigan, which institution conferred upon him the degree of M. D. in 1891. He then began practice at Minnesota Lake in Faribault county, Minnesota, and there remained continuously until 1901 with the exception of the year 1898, which he spent in post-graduate work in New York. After leaving Minnesota Lake he opened an office at Redwood Falls, Minnesota, where he followed his profession for a period of six years or until the time of his removal to the Pacific northwest. It was on the 4th of September, 1907, that he arrived in Yakima and here he has remained active as a general practitioner of medicine to the present time. Merited success has come to him. He is a member of the American Medical Association and is widely recognized as a representative and able physician and surgeon.

On the 16th of August, 1893, Dr. Corpron was united in marriage to Miss Anna Victoria Douglas, a native of Strathroy, Ontario, Canada, by whom he has three children, namely: Douglas, who is a student in the medical department of the Uni- versity of Michigan; Mae Victoria, who is attending the University of Oregon; and Bernice Winifred, now attending the Spokane University. All of the children are graduates of the Yakima high school.

Dr. Corpron exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the democratic party, while his religious faith is that of the Christian church. Fra- ternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Modern Brother- hood, the Independent Order of Foresters and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

ALVIN H. WINEMAN.

Modern commercial enterprise finds a worthy representative in Alvin H. Wine- man of the firm of Wineman Brothers, owning and conducting at Yakima the largest shoe store between Seattle and Spokane. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, February 19, 1882, a son of Samuel S. and Jennie Wineman, the father a clothing manufacturer who in 1889 removed to California, where he established and conducted a successful business that was ultimately taken over by his sons.

Alvin H. Wineman was but seven years of age at the time the family home was established on the Pacific coast. He acquired his education there in the schools of Oxnard and he received his business training under his father's direction. When his textbooks were put aside he entered the store, which in 1889 had been established by

647

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

his father. He became associated with his brother, M. J. Wineman, in the conduct of this enterprise and the Oxnard store is still carried on by the brother. In 1909 they established business in Yakima, but in 1913 M. J. Wineman returned to California upon the death of their brother, Samuel S., and assumed the management of the Ox- nard store, which is one of the leading commercial establishments of that city, em- ploying seventeen people. The Yakima store was purchased from W. B. Dudley, who had established it as the pioneer shoe store in the valley, and its first location was at 206 East Yakima avenue. They removed to the corner of Third street and Yakima avenue in September, 1917, remodeling the corner store, which is twenty-five by one hundred and forty fect. They carry the leading stock of shoes in the city and in fact have the largest retail shoe house between Seattle and Spokane, employing seven people. The business has increased one hundred per cent between 1913 and 1917. They began with three clerks and now have more than double that number. Their store is thoroughly modern in its appointment and equipment and they have a fine second-story stock room. They carry in stock more than ten thousand pairs of shoes all of the time, including shoes for men, women and children, handling the Stetson, Hanan, Florsheim and other fine lines of footwear. Their progressive business methods, their earnest desire to please their patrons, their reasonable prices and straightforward dealing, combined with the uniform courtesy ever extended patrons, have been the salient features in the upbuilding of their constantly growing trade.

Mr. Wineman belongs to Yakima Lodge, No. 24, F. & A. M .; Yakima Chapter, R. A. M .; Yakima Consistory, S. P. R. S .; and to the Mystic Shrine. He is also con- nected with the Elks lodge and his membership relations extend to the Commercial Club, of which he served as director for several terms, to the Yakima Valley Busi- ness Men's Association, of which he has also been a director, and to the Country Club. He is preeminently a merchant and one who possesses in large measure that quality which for want of a better term has been called commercial sense. He is the principal stockholder of the Storaasli Company, of which he is the secretary and treasurer, handling general lines of men's furnishing and outfitting goods. This con- nection and his shoe business rank him with the most prominent, progressive and enterprising merchants of Yakima. He looks ahead, studies modern conditions, formu- lates his plans wisely and well and is ready for any emergency. There are no spec- tacular phases in his career and he is the last to claim any unusual qualifications, but he has those admirable characteristics which make the typical, reliable and progres- sive business man.

WALTER F. LOWE.

Walter F. Lowe has found in the vastness of Washington his opportunity for a successful career and is now a prosperous rancher near Sunnyside, where he has im- portant property interests, deriving a gratifying income from his activities. He was born in Sullivan county, Pennsylvania, December 2, 1880, a son of William J. and Ruby (Gavitt) Lowe, both natives of the Keystone state, the former born in Sullivan county and the latter in Susquehanna county. In that state they were married. The paternal grandfather of our subject, William Lowe, was a farmer in Pennsylvania, which vocation the father also successfully followed. In 1911 the parents removed to Ellens- burg. Washington, and there they are now living retired.

Walter F. Lowe received a public school education, after which he pursued a course at the Scranton Business College, from which he was graduated. For the following five years he was engaged in office work and in 1904 arrived in Ellensburg, where for about a year he worked for wages along agricultural lines. At the end of that time he had acquired sufficient means to enable him to rent land, which he con- tinued to cultivate for two years, and then bought fifty acres in the vicinity of Ellens- burg. In 1914 he sold that tract and acquired thirty-eight acres four and a half miles southwest of Sunnyside and a quarter of a mile west of Emerald. There he has built a fine eight-room house, has erected substantial barns and also a modern garage and has installed modern machinery and equipment upon his place, which is now one

648

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

of the most valuable properties of the district. He is largely engaged in raising hay, specializing along this line, and derives a very gratifying income from this source.

On the 25th of April, 1907, Mr. Lowe was married to Miss Katie M. Killmore, a native of Ellensburg, Washington, and a daughter of W. D. and Josephine (Rego) Killmore, who were numbered among the first pioneers of Kittitas county, having made their way to Ellensburg by packhorse from Seattle across the Cascades. The father is now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Lowe have been born two children, Geral- dine and Donald, aged respectively eight and five years. The family are highly es- teemed in their neighborhood, where they have made many friends, and at their beauti- ful home they often entertain, their hospitality being greatly appreciated by all who have the honor of their acquaintance.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 77

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