History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 8

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 8
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 8
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 8

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).

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

period he purchased a ranch and is now the owner of one hundred and forty acres of land, which he acquired in 1915. His place is devoted to the raising of grain and hay and is an excellent ranch property, well equipped and improved. He employs modern scientific methods in the further development of the farm and that his labors are of practical character is indicated in the excellent harvests which he annually gathers.

On the 18th of February, 1904, Mr. Goodwin was married to Miss Edna Dun- can, a daughter of James F. Duncan, of Thorp, Washington, where he located at an early period in its development. Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin have a son, Marshall Clay, born April 24, 1905.

In politics Mr. Goodwin maintains an indepnedent course, voting for men and measures rather than for party. His father was quite active and prominent in political affairs and at one time served as a representative in the state legislature. Stanley E. Goodwin, however, prefers to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business interests and is today numbered among the bore progressive of the young farmers of Kittitas county who are numbered among its native sons.

LINDEN MCCULLOUGH.

Linden Mccullough, superintendent of schools at Ellensburg, in which con- nection he is introducing many improved methods of education, was born in Lexing- ton, Illinois, May 30, 1881, a son of James Vance and Mary (Power) Mccullough, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. They removed westward to Illi- nois about 1858 and there the father followed the occupation of farming. The mother has now passed away, while Mr. Mccullough is at the present time living retired from active business life.

Linden Mccullough acquired a public school education, completed by a high school course in Illinois, after which he entered the Lake Forest University of that state, finishing his course there by graduation with the class of 1904. Since then he has taken summer work at the University of Chicago, at the University of Washington and at the University of Oregon. Throughout his entire life he has remained a close and discriminating student, reading broadly, thinking deeply and at all times progressing along educational lines. He engaged in clerical work from 1904 until 1909 in Chicago and then, leaving the metropolis of the middle west, made his way to New Bridge, Oregon, where he took up the profession of teach- ing. He afterward went to Baker City, Oregon, where for two years he occupied the position of teacher of history in the high school. He then became superintend- ent of the schools at Roslyn, Washington, in which position he continued from 1912 until 1916, and through the succeeding scholastic year he was superintendent of the schools at Lagrande, Washington. In 1917 he accepted the superintendency of the schools at Ellensburg, where he has since remained, and his labors here have been most effective, far-reaching and beneficial. He established a special night school for instruction in commercial branches at the high school building of the city. This was in 1917 and in 1918 his night school was broadened in its scope until it covers all the studies of the high school course for those who have had to be absent. Instruction is also given in radio buzzer work, in automobile repairing and machine shop work, together with other courses. Among the students are fifteen boys who are working part of the time, under the provision of the Smith- Hughes bill that provides for regular studies part of the time and work during the remainder of the time. The same plan will be worked out in connection with the Northern Pacific Railway machine shop and the car repair department. The school formulates the plan for the evening work, which is in many respects different than any in the state and indicates a decided improvement upon methods followed elsewhere.

On the 12th of June, 1911, Mr. Mccullough was married to Miss Mildred Hazeltine, of Canyon City, Oregon, a daughter of G. S. and Emma (McCollom) Hazeltine. Mr. and Mrs. McCullough have four children: Robert, Mabel, Ruth and Marjorie.

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

In his fraternal connections Mr. Mccullough is a Mason, belonging to the blue lodge at Lexington, and he is also identified with the Elks lodge at Baker City, Oregon. His political endorsement is given to the democratic party and his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. A broad-minded man, recognizing the opportunities of his profession, he is constantly putting forth effective effort to advance the interests of the young and make education a thorough and practical training for life's responsible duties.

JAMES J. WILEY.

One of the foremost ranchers of Yakima county is James J. Wiley, who repre- sents very important interests in that line, his property being located at what is now Wiley City. This town, named in honor of the family, was founded in 1910 on part of his land. James J. Wiley was born in Wabasha county, Minne- sota, September 27, 1863, a son of Hugh and Mary Ann (Tufft) Wiley, the father a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and the mother of Quebec, Canada. The grandfather was James Wiley, of Pennsylvania, and his son, Hugh' Wiley, father of our subject, became one of the pioneers of Minnesota, where he took up a homestead on the present site of the city of Plainview. It seems, however, that conditions in that state did not meet up with their expectations and in October, 1866, Mr. and Mrs. Wiley arrived in Oregon, having made the trip via New York and the isthmus of Panama. In 1868 they came by team to Yakima county and here the father took up a homestead on the Ahtanum upon which James J. Wiley now lives. The Wileys were among the first few white families to settle in this valley. Hugh Wiley was thus closely connected with the history of the white

race in this county from its beginning. He assisted in building the first school- house and in order to assure the children of the settlers of some kind of an educa- tion paid two-thirds of the teacher's salary. He also assisted in organizing the first church in Yakima county. He was a strict member of the Presbyterian church, to' which faith he was deeply devoted. Throughout the remainder of his life he gave his attention to ranching and to the live stock business and passed away January 1, 1884, being survived by his widow, who lives in Wiley City. It was Hugh Wiley who opened the first canon road to The Dalles, Oregon, and his name is in other connections identified with pioneer movements. Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Wiley were the parents of nine children: William, who is engaged in ranching on the Ahtanum; Wallace, who is closely associated with our subject in his ranching and live stock interests; James J., of this review; John, who also is ranching on the Ahtanum; Isabel, who married Norman Woodhouse, a retired farmer who now lives in Wiley City and is connected with the telephone business; Charles, who was married and is now deceased; Martha, who for seventeen years has been a mission- ary in China; Annie, the wife of W. F. Achelpohl, an attorney of St. Charles, Mis- souri; and George.

James J. Wiley was reared amid pioneer conditions and after attending the rural schools took a course at the Columbia Commercial College at Portland in 1884. Having completed his education, he, with his brother Wallace, then gave their entire attention to the development of the home ranch and so continued until about 1892, when they organized the Wiley Land & Stock Company. Under this name they are now operating seven thousand acres of land, of which one thousand acres are in hay and grain, a very substantial income being derived therefrom, while the remainder is range land. Their cattle interests are of the greatest importance as annually a large number of shorthorns are made ready for the market. Moreover, they are large horse raisers, breeding standard and draft horses. It thus has come about that in the course of years Mr. Wiley has become one of the largest and most prosperous ranchers of the west. He and his brother Wallace still conduct their extensive interests together and their co-operation has proved of the greatest benefit to them individually. They are business men of rare acumen and, moreover, close students of local conditions, thus getting the best out of their land. Mr. Wiley is also thoroughly informed in regard to live stock and keeps in touch with

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

the latest discoveries and methods in regard to that line. In 1911 he built a handsome new residence at Wiley City which is now the family home.

On January 17, 1900, Mr. Wiley married Rosalie Ward, a daughter of B. F. and Eliza J. (Sartan) Ward, the former born near Boston, Massachusetts, and the latter near St. Louis, Missouri. In 1867 the parents made their way to Wyoming, of which state they became pioneers. Mrs. Rosalie Wiley was the first white child born at Lander, Wyoming. Mr. and Mrs. Wiley have five children, Malcolm, Madeline, Marguerite, Gordon and Clifford.

Mr. and Mrs. Wiley are numbered among the most influential and respected people of their neighborhood, both taking part in all movements undertaken on behalf of the general welfare along material as well as moral and intellectual lines. Mrs. Wiley is a devoted member of the First Presbyterian church, in the work of which she is deeply interested. Her husband belongs to Yakima Lodge, No. 318, B. P. O. E .. and in politics is a republican but not desirous of holding office, pre- ferring to give his undivided attention to his large farming interests. Coming of one of the honored pioneer families of the district, he adds new laurels to a family name that has long been distinguished here for reliability, enterprise and loyalty to state and nation.

ORLA L. FRENCH.

A picture of rare interest and beauty is that presented by the region surround- ing Yakima in the fruit-bearing season. Hundreds of acres have been transformed into fine orchards or, brought under the plow, are producing large crops of various kinds. Actively identified with the work of tilling the soil-a work which must precede all industrial or commercial activity-Orla L. French has made for himself an enviable position in business circles. He was born at Flushing, Michigan, Sep- tember 23, 1861, a son of G. A. and Harriet French. The father was also a native of Flushing, being the first white child born there, his natal year being 1840. He was a son of Henry H. French, who settled in Michigan in the '30s. After arriving at years of maturity G. A. French wedded Harriet Woodruff, a native of Ohio, and as the years passed he continuously and successfully devoted his attention to general farming. His death occurred in 1897 and his widow passed away in Yakima in 1906.

After acquiring a high school education in his native state Orla L. French re- moved to Minnesota when twenty-three years of age and purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land. There he carried on farming until January 3, 1900, when he came to the Pacific northwest and for two years rented a stock farm in Yakima county. Upon his arrival in this state he also purchased sixty-six acres of land on the Ahtanum and has since given his attention to the raising of diversified crops, also hay, fruit and live stock. He has ten acres in orchards two miles southwest of Yakima, raising thereon fine apples, pears, peaches and grapes. The fruit pro- duced is not only of splendid size but is equally fine in flavor and commands the highest market prices. The progressiveness of his methods, the systematic manner in which his work is carried on and the unfaltering industry and enterprise which he displays in the operation of his farm have made him one of the leading agri- culturists and fruit growers of this section of the statc.

On the 2d of March, 1888, Mr. French was married to Miss Millie A. Lyman, a daughter of O. G. and Katherine (Wheeler) Lyman. They have become the parents of five children: Goldie, the wife of Charles Woerner, of Granger, Wash- ington, by whom she has six children; Lera, who is the wife of Charles Peterson, of Yakima, and the mother of three children; Harold, a rancher on the Tieton: Esther, at home; and Milo, who is fourteen years of fage.

Mr. French is well known in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a past noble grand of Yakima Lodge No. 22, of which he is now serving as a trustee. He is also overseer of the Grange and he is a loyal member of the Methodist church. In politics he is a republican where national questions and issues are involved, but at local elections casts an independent ballot. He served as township treasurer while in Minnesota but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking,

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs and thus provide a comfortable living for his family. He is a member of the Yakima County Horticultural Union and during the period of his residence in the north- west he has won an enviable place among the successful farmers and fruit raisers of his section. He has upon his place a plant for packing his fruit and his farm is thoroughly modern in its equipment in every respect.

E. W. R. TAYLOR.

Among the pioneers of Prosser is numbered E. W. R. Taylor, who is half owner of a large flour mill in this city which he has now operated for nearly a third of a century. From a small beginning it has become one of the large industrial enterprises of the neighborhood and he derives therefrom a gratifying income, so that today he is numbered among the prosperous men of the valley. He was born in Lucas county, Iowa, May 12, 1859, a son of George S. and Nancy Rebecca (McLaughlin) Taylor, both natives of Indiana. They removed from their native state of Iowa at an early day in the development of that state. Thence they crossed the plains in the primitive style of the pioneer in 1866, making their way to Washing- ton, and remained in Walla Walla for a few months, whence they removed to Seattle, which remained their home for a year. The year 1867 found them in Selah, Washington, and at the time of their arrival only eight families were located in the valley. George S. Taylor took up land here and gave his continued attention to agricultural pursuits and live stock dealing with good results until death claimed him, his demise occurring as the result of an accident. His widow survived until 1916. Mr. Taylor, Sr., took a very prominent part in the public life of the valley, being an ardent exponent of democratic principles. For one term he represented Yakima, Klickitat and Kittitas counties in the state legislature, and his word and opinions were of great weight with his confreres. In his position he was able to do much good for his constituency and many measures which were passed through the legislature on account of his arduous representation have brought such good results that the benefit from them is apparent to this day.

E. W. R. Taylor removed with his parents to Washington when but seven years of age and is therefore numbered among the early and honored pioneers of this state. Amid the new surroundings of residence he received his education in the schools of the neighborhood and after putting aside his textbooks began to assist his father in the farm work, becoming thoroughly acquainted with agricultural methods and values. He was then engaged in the live stock business with his father until the age of twenty-four, when he struck out for himself and proved up on a homestead claim. In 1888 he came to Prosser and bought a primitive little flour mill there which under his able management has grown until it is today an industrial enterprise of vast importance to all the surrounding farmers. For thirty years Mr. Taylor has been a resident of Prosser and during that period has built up a reputation in private and commercial life which stands second to none, his word being as good as his bond. Mr. Taylor also conducted a general store in his city, where he carried well assorted lines of goods, his fair dealing and honorable methods securing to him a large custom. This business he owned for over twenty years. It was established in 1890, but in 1910, on account of his other interests, he sold out. He also had a store of the same kind in Yakima which he owned for two years, from 1895 until 1897. The mill, to the operation of which he now gives his whole attention, is one of the oldest in the valley and was built in 1887, just a year before he became the proprietor. It has a capacity of two hundred barrels per day, and is therefore one of the largest of its kind in this part of the state. A very high grade of flour is turned out and the farmers of the neighborhood who have dealings with Mr. Taylor are as one in their agreement as to his fair treatment of all.

E. W. R. Taylor has been married twice. His first union was with Miss ·Annie Sutton, of Yakima, and to them were born six children, namely: Pearl, who mar- ried Harry Forsyth and is now residing in California; Arthur, who has the active

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

management of the mill; Roy, who is also associated with his father in business, acting in the capacity of miller; Claude, who is serving his country in the United States army; Edna, the wife of Fred McNeil, of Prosser; and George, who is a member of the United States Ambulance Corps, No. 570, and is now doing duty in Italy. The death of Mrs. Taylor caused deep sorrow not only to her immediate family but also to the many friends whom she had made in Prosser and the neigh- borhood. Mr. Taylor later contracted a second union with Miss Mae Widby, of Prosser, and both are popular members of the social set of their town.

Mr. Taylor has always taken a deep and lasting interests in the upbuilding of his community, of which he is one of the honored pioneers, and this interest finds documentary evidence in the fact that he is serving at present as president of the Prosser Commercial Club, whose projects for expansion and growth in industrial and agricultural ways he largely promotes. In politics he is a democrat but with- out desire for office, preferring to do his duty as a citizen at the ballot box. The religious faith of the family is that of the Baptist church and fraternally Mr. Tay- lor is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which organization he has many friends. He is a man of sterling character who by his honorable dealings has reached a state of prosperity to which he is fully entitled and none can grudge him his labor's fruits which he has so honorably attained.

JAMES A. KARR.

While several years have been added to the cycle of the centuries since James A. Karr passed from this life, his influence is yet felt and his memory cherished by all who knew him. He was for many years a most prominent citizen of Washington, contributing in marked measure to the development and upbuilding of the state. He became an investor in lands in the Yakima valley which are still being further devel- oped and improved through the efforts of his son, Arthur T. Karr, who is now the manager of the Karr estate.

A contemporary writer has said of James A. Karr: "The history of Hoquiam and of the Grays Harbor country cannot be better told than by detailing many of the incidents of the life of James A. Karr, who lived until November, 1914, to te.l the tale of the wonderful development of this section of the country, his memory forming a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present. Fifty-seven years have come and gone since he filed upon a claim in Chehalis, now Grays Harbor, county, in 1860, being then a young man of twenty-six years. Until that district emerged from pioneer conditions much of his life had been spent upon the frontier, for Indiana had taken on statehood only eighteen years before he was born on Little Indian creek, not far from Martinsville, Indiana, on the 18th of September, 1834. His earliest recollections are of playing on the sand on the bank of that creek with his little sister, who died after he left home. He has no memory of his father, save as he saw him in death, the grief of his mother impressing this sight indelibly upon the mind of the three-year-old boy. However, he remembers his grandfather Karr, a fine type of the Irish gentleman, dressed like a squire in leggings and hunting coat. After the death of the father the family removed from place to place and was subjected to many hardships. Later the mother married a Mr. Storick and again the family moved, settling on a good farm in St. Clair county, Illinois, not far from St. Louis. There was much hard work to be done in the further clearing and cultivating of the land and the Karr brothers did their full share. Mr. Karr, however, recognized that as stepsons they had little chance in life because of a lack of education and that they would always have to depend upon severe manual labor. He often expressed a desire to attend school but re- ceived no assistance from Mr. Storick, although his mother encouraged the idea. At length, feeling that if he obtained an education it must be through his own efforts, he left home at the age of fourteen years and hired out for the summer at a wage of five dollars per month. At harvest time a man who could swing a cradle or who could bind after the cradle was paid a much better wage than the regular farm hand, and Mr. Karr proved that he could bind as well as men of twice

JAMES A. KARR

MRS. ABIGAIL KARR

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

or thrice his years. Accordingly he did work of that character, earning at first a dollar and afterward a dollar and a quarter per day, and the money thus gained was used in buying books and clothing, while by working on Saturdays and morn- ing and night to pay for his board, he was able to attend school for several months that winter. He afterward entered upon an apprenticeship to the brickmakers' trade and the money which he earned through the summer months in that way enabled him to again attend school in the winter. One of his teachers, John Leeper, a graduate of McKendree College of Illinois, proved an inspiration to him and assisted him in every possible way in his studies. For six years Mr. Karr continued working in the summer and attending school in the winter, and finally, with a partner, lie established and operated a brickyard, in which he won a measure of success that enabled him to pay his board and devote an entire year to study, in which time he acquired a knowledge of algebra, natural philosophy and astronomy. He was par- ticularly interested in the first named and his fellow students often called upon him to assist in solving their problems. After that year he taught school for a term and then, inclined to the study of medicine, he spent some time in a drug store. All these experiences not only proved to him a means of earning a living at that period but gave him a fund of knowledge upon which he called in his later pioneer experiences in the northwest. He became one of the first school teachers and one of the first brickmakers of Chehalis county when some years later he es- tablished his home in the Grays Harbor country.

"In 1852, following the discovery of gold in California, Mr. Karr and his brother decided to go to the mines, as this would enable them also to see something of the world. Returning to Indiana, Mr. Karr, who was then twenty-one years of age, settled his mother's estate, his share thereof being about five hundred dollars, which furnished the brothers the capital for their trip. Proceeding to New York, they took passage on a steamer bound for Panama, crossed the Isthmus and thence proceeded northward to California, where they spent three years in the mines. They made Nevada City their headquarters but they did not find the expected fortune and in 1858, attracted by the Fraser river excitement, started north as passengers on the Anne Perry from San Francisco to Whatcom. There they purchased a small boat to go from Bellingham Bay to the Gulf of Georgia and thence up the Fraser river. Point Roberts extended into the gulf in a southeasterly direction for quite a distance. South of this point the water was quiet but on the river side there was a strong surf driven on by the northwest wind. However, they decided to land on the north side in order to be ready to make the start up the river, but while so doing their boat filled with water and their provisions received a soaking, althoughi little damage resulted. Proceeding up the river, they stopped at Fort Yale for a week or more in September, 1858, and there purchased Sockeye salmon from the Indians, which furnished them many an appetizing meal when the fish was fried in butter.

"As the winter was coming on and there seemed to be no prospect of getting gold, the brothers returned southward, accompanied by their partner, John C. Gove, who became one of the pioneer settlers near Seattle. Purchasing their partner's interest, they started back to the Sound and at Olympia sold their boat, proceeding on the trail with their packs. They spent the night on Mound Prairie at the home of a Mr. Goodell, whose son Ed had just been helping to make a survey of the land at Grays Harbor. He told of the country and of the river called Hoquiam, Mr. Karr and his brother retaining a distinct remembrance of this. However, the brothers proceeded to Portland to spend the winter and there entered the employ of Colonel Frush, who was building streets, for which purpose 'he hanled gravel from the Willamette river bars. In securing the gravel the brothers were able to earn three dollars per day and later they cut cordwood, for which they were paid a dollar and a half per cord, and by working steadily they could earn three dollars per day in that way. In the spring James A. Karr ran the steam ferry across the Columbia, while his brother drove a team, but they never abandoned the idea of returning to Grays Harbor and in August made preparations for a trip into the new country. Returning to Olympia, they purchased cloth from which they made a tent, and also laid in supplies for the trip. Proceeding on their way, they stopped for a time at the ranch of 'Blockhouse' Smith at Cedarville and there proceeded

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 8

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