History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 78

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 78
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 78
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 78

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Fraternally Mr. Lowe is connected with the Woodmen of the World and in politics he is independent, preferring to follow his judgment instead of party dictation. In his ranching interests he has become a leader and thus has not only acquired individual prosperity but also has been a factor in developing and carrying forward successful agricultural methods in his section of the state.

H. B. MILLER.

H. B. Miller is the cashier of the Central Bank of Toppenish and one of the most progressive and public-spirited citizens of the community. He attacks every- thing with a contagious enthusiasm that secures co-operation and his plans and efforts are at all times practical and resultant. Mr. Miller was born in Adams county, Ohio, in 1885, a son of S. B. and Elizabeth (Leach) Miller, who in 1904 removed to Iowa, where the father engaged in the grain business.

H. B. Miller was at that time a youth of nineteen years. He supplemented his high school course by study in a college and in a state normal school and then took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for four years, spending one year of that time in Ohio and three years in Iowa. He next entered the government service in connection with the interior department and was thus employed for six years. In 1907 he made his way to Oklahoma and the following year arrived in Washington. He first settled at Fort Simcoe, where he spent five years as chief clerk and in December, 1913, he was called to the position of cashier of the Central Bank of Toppenish and has since occupied that position, contributing in marked measure to the growth and success of the institution, which was organized in the spring of 1910. Its first officers were: H. M. Gilbert, president, and E. O. Keck, vice president, with L. A. Nichols as cashier. Mr. Keck died in February, 1917, and was succeeded by J. D. Laughlin. The cashier resigned in 1913, at which time H. B. Miller was called to the position and has since continued therein. E. P. Hinman was the assistant cashier until November, 1916, when he was succeeded by F. F. Smith. When Mr. Miller became cashier in December, 1913, the deposits amounted to only seventy thousand dollars, while in November, 1918, they amounted to four hundred and five thousand dollars.

The bank building was erected in the fall of 1910. It is a three-story white brick structure, fifty by one hundred feet, and the second floor is used for offices, while the third floor is a large hall used for lodge purposes, it being rented the entire time. The bank occupies a space twenty-five by seventy-five feet on the first floor. The bank room is finished in golden oak and there are modern vaults, safety deposit boxes and in fact every equipment conductive to the comfort and convenience of the patrons. Mr. Miller is thoroughly familiar with every phase of the banking busi- ness and his enterprise and progressiveness have been dominant elements in the upbuilding of the institution, which is now regarded as one of the strong financial concerns of this section of the state.

Mr. Miller is also a heavy stockholder and secretary-treasurer of the Gang- Miller Produce Company, a corporation engaged in the storage and general produce business, such as the buying and selling of grain, hay, coal, potatoes, onions, etc. The company owns a brick and cement warehouse two stories in height with a base- ment, the dimensions of which are one hundred by one hundred and fifteen feet.

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H. B. MILLER

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It is located in the heart of Toppenish. This company was organized in 1917. Mr. Miller is not active in the management of the business only in an advisory way. He owns several hundred acres of general farm land on the Yakima reservation and also has a well developed fruit ranch in Idaho.

In June, 1913, Mr. Miller was married to Miss Mary B. Dennison, a native of Waverly, Illinois, their wedding being celebrated, however, in Chicago. Mr. Miller is chairman of the Toppenish branch of the Yakima Valley Chapter, American Red Cross. He belongs to Toppenish Lodge, No. 178, A. F. & A. M., also to the Elks Lodge No. 318 of Yakima and to the Court of Foresters of Toppenish. He is like- wise a member of the Toppenish Commercial Club, of which he served as vice presi- dent in 1916. During 1917 he was chairman of the special committee to get the sugar beet industry started on the reservation. He took a most active part in this project and his labors were resultant in obtaining a million dollar sugar beet fac- tory, which is one of the most important industries of the valley. To do this a drive was started whereby six thousand acres of land should be secured on which to grow sugar beets. An offer had been made to the citizens of Toppenish that if they would guarantee six thousand acres of land on which the farmers of the community would raise sugar beets the factory would be erected and in addition a molasses factory would be built which would manufacture molasses as a by-product of the sugar beets. Many farmers were skeptical at first, but the agriculturist who was employed by the sugar beet company told the men that in all his years of experience he had never seen soil so particularly well fitted to growing sugar beets, the average production running from seventeen to twenty tons per acres and at times as high as thirty-four tons. The campaign for the six thousand acres of land was started in team work, each manned by a captain, and after two weeks' work about a thousand acres had been signed up. The factory people, however, said that the work was going too slowly and a new plan was entered upon whereby a certain week was designated as the one in which to secure the desired amount of land and Wednesday was the particular day on which the special campaign was to be closed. It was a splendid opportunity to show a community spirit of co-operation. While the farmers must furnish the land, it was up to the townsmen to secure this co-operation of the agri- culturists. Toppenish closed every business house on the designated Wednesday and each merchant and salesman, employer and workman got out to do his bit in con- vincing the farmer that Toppenish must have the beet factory. The canvass was most thoroughly and systematically made, practically one hundred and fifty men being out all day long canvassing the surrounding country, interviewing ranchers, both white and Japanese. They returned in the evening tired with the day's work, but when the result was announced there was a wild cheer, for the total acreage had been brought up to sixty-nine hundred and community spirit had won! As the directing spirit of the drive Mr. Miller certainly deserves much credit for what he accomplished. He is at all times actuated by devotion to the general good and his co-operation in behalf of many movements for the public benefit has been far-reach- ing and effective. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and his religious faith is that of the United Presbyterian church. Both are dominant factors in his life. He is loyal to every duty that devolves upon him and faithful to every trust reposed in him, and Toppenish may well number him among her foremost citizens.

ANNEUS A. GRUNDEN.

Anneus A. Grunden, who is engaged in the raising of apples in the lower Naches, was born in Norway on the 1st of October, 1853, a son of Arndt and Annie Grunden, who in the year 189] became residents of Kittitas county, Washington, where the father took up a homestead claim. He afterward removed to Yakima in 1902 and lived retired throughout his remaining days, enjoying the fruits of his former toil. Both he and his wife have now passed away.

Their son, Anneus A. Grunden, acquired a public school education in the land of the midnight sun, where the days of his boyhood and youth were passed. He came

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HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

to the United States in 1887 and for a few months was a resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He then made his way to the Pacific coast, arriving in Kittitas county, after which he worked for eight years in the mines. He was next employed on his father's ranch and contributed to its successful development and improvement until the family left the farm and removed to Yakima. Mr. Grunden afterward was em- ployed by others until 1908, when he invested his savings in nine acres of land on the Naches. Of this he has four acres planted to apples, while the remainder is devoted to the raising of hay and potatoes. His place is well cultivated and his crops bring to him a substantial annual income.

On the 5th of March, 1902, Mr. Grunden was married to Miss Clara Curtis, who was born in Montana, a daughter of Irvine Curtis. They have become parents of six children: Irvine, deceased; Esther; Glora; Andrew; Bessie; and Iva.

Mr. Grunden has never had occasion to regret his decision to make America his place of residence. In this country he found the opportunities which he sought and in the improvement of the advantages offered him, he has gained a place among the sub- stantial citizens of the community. There have been no spectacular phases in his life. His course has been a quiet one and the substantial worth of his character and his business ability have gained for him the creditable place which he occupies in a busi- ness way and in the regard of his fellow townsmen.

J. H. PRATER.

For over a quarter of a century J. H. Prater has been connected with agricultural interests in Kittitas county, having come to the west in 1890. That he has been suc- cessful in his pursuits is evident from the fact that he owns today a valuable property called Spring Brook Farm, which is largely devoted to the raising of hay and grain and to dairy interests. Mr. Prater is a native of Springfield, Missouri, born Sep- tember 16, 1874, and is a son of John A. and Martha Jane (Roberts) Prater. The mother was a native of Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Prater were pioneers of Missouri and both have now passed away.

J. H. Prater was reared under the parental roof, acquiring his education in neigh- boring schools and early becoming acquainted with farm work. In 1890, at the age of sixteen, he came to Ellensburg and began his independent career by working as a farm hand for some time. Subsequently he was for one and a half years an employe of the electric power plant at Ellensburg and also followed farming until 1902, in which year he started out for himself by renting land, so continuing for about six years. At the end of that period he bought a farm three miles southwest of Ellens- burg, to the further cultivation of which he gave his attention until 1911, when he disposed of it and bought the adjoining property, which in the succeeding years has become very valuable through his untiring labors and close attention. He has built a new barn on the ranch and otherwise improved his property and installed modern equipment, increasing the yield from year to year until he is now numbered among the prosperous agriculturists of his neighborhood. His place is known as the Spring Brook Farm and there he raises large crops of hay and grain and is also giving close attention to dairying, keeping high grade Jersey cattle.

On the 8th of November, 1899, Mr. Prater was united in marriage to Lillian Josephine Borden, a native of Farmington, New Mexico, and a daughter of Alex- ander and Mary Borden, who in 1890 removed to Kittitas county. Both Mr. and Mrs. Prater are well and favorably known in the social circles of their vicinity and have many friends in Ellensburg, all of whom speak of them in the highest terms of appreciation.

In his political affiliations Mr. Prater is a republican and has ever loyally sup- ported the party although he is not an office seeker nor a politician in the commonly accepted sense of the word. He is ever interested in all movements undertaken on behalf of the public welfare. By his labors he has not only attained prosperity for himself but has contributed to an appreciable degree in the upbuilding of his sec- tion. His contagious enthusiasm in regard to the opportunities offered in Kittitas

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county has had good results as it influenced others to take up farming here with ex- cellent success. Particularly notable is his work in regard to dairying and the cattle industry has received new impetus through his progressive and resultant methods.

DOLPHUS BECHARD.

Thirteen years have come and gone since Dolphus Bechard arrived in the Moxee valley and through the intervening period he has been closly associated with its agri- cultural and horticultural development. He was born in Quebec, Canada, April 2, 1864, a son of Moses Bechard, who in 1873 removed with his family to Illinois. Later he became a resident of Kansas and subsequently returned to Canada, settling in Alberta, where his remaining days were passed.

Dolphus Bechard accompanied his parents on their various removals and the public schools of the different localities afforded him his educational privileges. He came to the Moxee valley in 1905 and made investment in forty-five acres of land. Four years later he sold that property and he and his brother Felix invested in twenty-five acres, upon which they have since lived. They have devoted their atten- tion to the further development and operation of the ranch, which has been brought under a high state of cultivation and returns to them a gratifying annual income.

In Alberta, Canada, Dolphus Bechard was married on the 26th of February, 1900, to Miss Mary Anna Rabie, a daughter of Alphonse and Zelia (Houl) Rabie, both of whom were natives of Quebec but removed to Red Lake Falls, Minnesota, and later became residents of Alberta, Canada. In 1901 they came to the Moxee valley, where the father is still living, but the mother passed away in 1907.

Mr. and Mrs. Bechard are members of the Holy Rosary Catholic church of Moxee, and his political faith is that of the republican party. He is now well known in the section of the county in which he lives and is regarded as an energetic and active business man whose well defined labors are bringing him substantial success.

CHARLES H. BARNES.

Charles H. Barnes, a Yakima merchant imbued with the spirit of western enter- prise and progress, was born in Nebraska, April 11, 1878, a son of Ambrose and Catherine (Milliner) Barnes, both of whom were natives of Indiana and became pioneer settlers of Nebraska, where they homesteaded land. The father devoted his life to the occupation of farming and both he and his wife have now passed away, the mother having died in 1885. The father afterward removed to Seattle, Wash- ington, where he arrived in 1888, and later he took up his abode at Sehome, Wash- ington, where he preempted government land. He realized ten thousand dollars upon that investment and later he purchased a schooner and entered the trading business, making trips among the islands of the Sound. He was thus engaged tor several years and in later life he lived retired in Bellingham, enjoying the fruits of former toil. His death there occurred in the year 1915. He had served his country as a soldier of the Civil war and was at all times a loyal citizen, being as true and faithful to his country in days of peace as when he followed the nation's starry banner on the battlefields of the south.

Charles H. Barnes was a lad of but seven years at the time of his mother's death and was but ten years of age when the family home was established in Washington. His education was largely acquired in the public schools of Bellingham and when sixteen years of age he went to the east, where he secured a clerkship and also attended school. He afterward returned to Bellingham, where he engaged in clerk- ing for a number of years, and in 1901 he took up his abode in Yakima and became a traveling salesman. Subsequently he was taken ill and remained at the hotel in Yakima for a considerable period. He next took a position with J. A. Cook, proprie- tor of a variety store, and afterward the business was removed to the Miller building and about 1906 was taken over by Mr. Barnes, Miles Cannon and William Iler under

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the name of the Boston Store Company. This business was located on East Yakima avenue and the firm continued to conduct the enterprise for a year and a half in the original partnership relation, after which Mr. Barnes and Mr. Cannon purchased the interest of Mr. ller. A little later C. H. Woodin became the successor of Mr. Cannon and the Barnes-Woodin Company was thus formed, with Mr. Barnes as the manager of the business. He so continued until 1914, when he sold his interest to his partner and entered the jobbing business as a partner in the Rolle-Barnes Company, with which he was associated for two years. Then going to New York for this company, he did the buying for eleven retail stores handling ready-to-wear clothing. He still has an interest in the wholesale business in Seattle but on the 6th of April, 1918, he returned to Yakima and opened a fine store in the Masonic Temple, where he ocen- pies a space fifty by one hundred and thirty feet, carrying an extensive line of attrac- tive millinery and ladies' and children's ready-to-wear clothing. Throughout prac- tically his entire life he has been identified with the dry goods business and is thor- oughly familiar with it in every detail. He has closely studied the trade, the market and the demands of the public and is ready to meet any emergency or call that may arise. His experience as a New York buyer has well qualified him to stock his store in such a way as to give to the public a most desirable and attractive line of goods. His business methods, too, are most reliable and his patronage, is continually increasing.

On the 12th of June, 1900, Mr. Barnes was united in marriage to Miss Pearl Van Loon, a native of Iowa and a daughter of John and Laura (Thompson) Van Loon. The father was a grandson of Mr. Brady, a well known Iowa pioneer. his name being also remembered in connection with the famous "Brady's Leap." Lanra (Thompson) Van Loon was a daughter of William Thompson, who was the first white man to till soil in Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Barnes have been born two children, Charles H. and Catherine Dean.

Mr. Barnes belongs to Yakima Lodge No. 24, F. & A. M., Yakima Chapter No. 21, R. A. M .; Yakima Commandery No. 13, K. T .; the Consistory; and Afifi Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a life member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. That he is active in support of business measures and conditions having to do with the commercial welfare and progress of the city is indicated by his mem- bership in the Yakima Valley Business Men's Association and in the Commercial Club and in the latter he has for many years served on the governing board. He attends the Congregational church and he gives his political allegiance to the repub- lican party. Aside from his business he has become the owner of several fine ranches and by his investment in property in the valley has manifested his faith in its future. He is a self-made man whose enterprise and progressiveness have been the dominant factors in his advancement. He is popular because of his personal worth and a social, genial nature manifest in an unfeigned cordiality. Yakima numbers him among her leading merchants and the valley classes him with the representative citizens who have been the dominant element in the substantial upbuilding of the west.

ROSS MORRIS.

Ross Morris, connected with the plant department of the Valley Telephone Com- pany, and also a rancher living near Zillah, was born in Harrison county, Missouri, September 18, 1886, but has spent the greater part of his life in the northwest. He is a son of Condee and Lovina (Alexander) Morris. The father was born in Newburn, Indiana, in 1838, while the mother was born in Ray county, Missouri, a representa- tive of a pioneer family of that state. The paternal grandfather, John Morris. was a native of Philadelphia, born in 1760, and his death occurred in 1850. He became a pioneer of Indiana, where he took up government land, and in that state spent his remaining days. He was married twice and had twenty-two children. His second wife also had a large family. His son, Condee Morris, was reared in Indiana and after the outbreak of the Civil war enlisted as a member of Company C. Sixth Indi- ana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for three years and four months. All but seventeen members of his company were killed, including all of the officers.

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Following the war he became a contractor on the Union Pacific railroad through Kansas and subsequently went to Missouri, where he engaged in the sawmill busi- ness. He afterward became a resident of Harrison county, Missouri, where he car- ried on farming until 1890. In that year he made his way across the country to Goldendale, Washington, and in 1891 came to Yakima county, where he purchased forty acres of land a half mile north of Zillah. He had contract No. 1 and deed No. 4 from the Washington Irrigation Company, being one of the first men to buy land under this project. In 1898 he sold twenty acres of the property, which he had cleared and planted to hay. He planted the remaining twenty acres to apples and was one of the leaders in the development work of the region. He lived in Yakima most of the time and as his financial resources increased made investment in prop- erty over the valley. He died in the year 1912 and is still survived by his widow, who yet makes her home in Yakima.

Ross Morris obtained a public school education in Yakima and afterward pursued a course in the State College at Pullman, Washington. Early in his business career he spent two years with the Oregon Western Railway Company and since that time he has been wire chief of the Valley Telephone Company. He also conducts the home ranch near Zillah, upon which he resides, and he is likewise the owner of forty acres on the Yakima Indian reservation, on which he raises hay. His has been an active and useful life, productive of good results. The home ranch has fifteen acres in apples and three acres in prunes, and Mr. Morris is thoroughly familiar with the best methods of developing and caring for his orchards and packing and shipping his fruit.

On the 28th of April, 1917, Mr. Morris was married to Miss Anna Steffen, a native of North Dakota and a daughter of A. E. Steffen, who removed to King county, Washington, where he took up the occupation of farming. Mr. and Mrs. Morris have become parents of one child, Jean.

Fraternally Mr. Morris is connected with the Masons and is a past master of Meridian Lodge No. 196. of Zillah. He is also a Royal Arch Mason, belonging to the chapter at Yakima, and is identified with the Knights Templar Commandery at Yakima and with the consistory and the Mystic Shrine at Tacoma. His political allegiance is given to no party. He maintains an independent course, voting for the candidates whom he regards as best qualified for office. He is leading a busy and useful life and the results which he has accomplished place him with the substantial business men of his section of the valley.

JOHN D. GAMMONS.

John D. Gammons, the owner of an excellent ranch comprising one hundred and sixty acres on the Naches river, has here been actively and successfully engaged in agricultural and horticultural pursuits since 1905. His birth occurred in Nova Scotia on the 5th of July, 1868, his parents being Thomas and Matilda (Keith) Gam- mons. In 1878 they crossed the border into the United States and settled at Boston, Massachusetts, where Mrs. Gammons passed away. Thomas Gammons became a bandmaster in the English army and died in England.

John D. Gammons, who was a youth of ten years when the family home was established in Boston, acquired a public school education and when thirteen years of age began providing for his own support. He entered the employ of the Whitney- Reed Chair Company and that his work proved highly satisfactory is indicated by the fact that he was retained in the service of that concern for almost a quarter of a century or until his removal to the Pacific northwest in 1905. That year witnessed his arrival in Yakima county, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on the Naches which he has cultivated continuously to the present time. He has planted sixteen and a half acres of the tract to orchards, while the remainder is devoted to the raising of hay and grain, of which he annually gathers abundant har- vests. He has erected an attractive modern residence on the property and through the wise and able management of his business affairs has gained a measure of success which now ranks him with the substantial horticulturists and farmers of his section.

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In 1891 Mr. Gammons was united in marriage to Miss Cora Belle Powers, a native of Oswego county, New York, and a daughter of Albert and Charlotte Powers. To them have been born four children, namely: Albert, Etta, Dorothy and Charlotte. The last named, however, died in infancy.

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History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 78

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