History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 9

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 9
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 9
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 9

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HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

to make a canoe. The cedar tree which they selected for the purpose split, so they secured a green cottonwood growing beside the river. They hewed this out and, wishing to hasten the work, they piled the canoe full of branches of vine maple, to which they set fire, but found that they had burned a hole in the cottonwood. A thin board, oakum and pitch repaired the damage, and packing their supplies in the canoe, they started down the river, after two days reaching Cosmopolis, which was the metropolis of this country. The district was largely an unsettled and un- developed region, the Metcalfs living at Montesano and the Scammons at Wyn- oochee, which was the county seat. From that point they proceeded to Hoquiam, rounding Cow Point and so coming into the mouth of the river. They landed where the first schoolhouse was afterward built, near the present site of the Hoquiam sash and door factory, and proceeding at once to the upland, Mr. Karr found a level green bench which dropped abruptly into the tidal prairie, where the grass grew tall among the scattered forest trees and a spring of clear water issued from the hillside. So attractive was the site that Mr. Karr decided to make it his home, while his brother chose a site across the river. Then they began building a cabin of hemlock logs, chinked with dirt and soft sandstone. Inventive ingenuity was brought into play to protect their cabin and its supplies during their absence. The usual latchstring hung out, but instead of opening the latch, as was customary, when it was pulled it only shut the more tightly. But another string with a little block of wood attached was brought out further on and the end concealed with soft earth. It was this string that opened the door, but it would not be noticed by anyone who was not accustomed to such an arrangement. However, one day when the brothers were absent from home, Captain Winsor, a well known frontiersman, called. Used to all kinds of pioneer devices, he soon discovered their arrangement and he and his party entered the house, built a big fire and prepared a meal from supplies which they found. After they were gone the fire in some way spread to the timber, burn- ing away the mantel and doing some damage to the interior, but fortunately the wet hemlock logs of which the cabin had been built proved fireproof, so the Karrs found their home only somewhat dismantled. They had met Captain Winsor and his friends, who told them of their visit but little dreamed of the result of their self-obtained hospitality.

"As time passed on, the brothers continued the work of clearing and develop- ing their places and in 1860, after making a trip to Olympia accompanied by Austin Young, James A. Karr established a brickyard at Cosmopolis, hoping thus to obtain ready money by supplying the commodity which the community greatly needed. He was not only associated in this undertaking with his brother but was also joined by Austin Young, Ed. Campbell and David Byles. They furnished brick for the government barracks at Chehalis Point and when the buildings were abandoned after the war, Mr. Campbell bought one and moved it to Hoquiam, where it still stands on the east side of the river. The brick manufacturers furnished brick for many of the fireplaces in the early homes and the income which they acquired enabled the Karr brothers to secure many needed supplies.

"Olympia was a small village of about four or five hundred people when in March, 1860, Mr. Karr went there to enter his claim, which he secured as a pre- emption, the homestead law having not then been passed. When Chehalis county was formed James A. Karr was elected its first auditor and filled the office for twelve years. There was no salary attached to the position but the incumbent was allowed fees and three dollars per day for full time. In the winter of 1860 Mr. Karr taught the first school at Cosmopolis in a little building erected from lumber brought from Cedarville, while his own brickyard supplied the brick for the fire- place and chimney. He had twelve or fifteen pupils, for several families, including the Metcalf. Goodell, Smith, Byles and Young families, were then living in the neighborhood. Christmas of that year was celebrated at the home of Mr. Goodell, with speaking, singing and a general good time. The families of the neighbor- hood gathered and the invitation was also extended to the soldiers stationed there. It was feared that the Indians, knowing that war was in progress among the whites of the north and the south, might go upon the warpath, so that a garrison was maintained at Chehalis Point and a blockhouse was erected at Cedarville. In the winter of 1861-2 Mr. Karr engaged in teaching at Montesano and as there was little

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

money in the neighborhood he was largely paid in cattle, so that when he was ready to develop his farm he had quite a small herd of excellent cattle. In the winter of 1862-3 he taught at Mound Prairie. It was there that he had first heard of Grays Harbor when stopping at the Goodell home in 1859. One of the sons, Ed Goodell, had in the meantime married and removed to Forest Grove but Mr. Karr met him again at the close of the school term in 1863.

"It was an occasion that, seemingly trivial, proved a most momentous one in the life of Mr. Karr, for Mr. Goodell showed him the picture of an attractive looking young lady, saying that he would give him the picture if he would take it to the original. In a spirit of fun Mr. Karr took the picture and about that time, desiring to see his brother on business matters and thinking that he might find work at harvesting or masonry and thus bring in money needed for carrying on the farm at Hoquiam, he started for the place where his brother was working, not far from Hillsboro, between Portland and Forest Grove, Oregon. In the course of a con- versation with a woman with whom his brother boarded Mr. Karr chanced to say that he had the picture of a very nice looking girl. On seeing it the woman ex- claimed: 'Why, I know her! That's Abbie Walker and she is teaching at Hills- boro, only about a quarter of a mile away.' She proposed that they visit the school- house about the time the school would be closed. This plan was carried out and Mr. Karr walked with the young lady to her boarding house, which was some dis- tance from the school. The old-time pioneer hospitality was extended him by the people of the house and after remaining there through the night he next day ac- companied the young lady to school and they planned a ride together to her home at Forest Grove, where they spent the following Saturday and Sunday. The ac- quaintance progressed rapidly and when Miss Walker spoke of making a trip east of the mountains to visit the scenes of her childhood near Spokane, Mr. Karr re- plied that it would be a long, tedious journey and he wanted her to go to Hoquiam with him. An immediate marriage was agreed upon and was celebrated at the Walker home September 14, 1863, the bride's father, the Rev. Elkanah Walker, be- ing the officiating clergyman, assisted by Rev. Chamberlain, of Portland, who was then visiting at their home. The wedding trip consisted of a visit to the State Fair at Salem and a trip to Mound Prairie.

"Mr. Karr was engaged to teach the Little Rock school that winter and in the spring he went to the farm to start the work, his wife remaining to finish out the two months of school. In the latter part of March he returned and accompanied his wife down the river to the homestead which they occupied for forty years. They earnestly undertook the task of developing the place and the labors of both were soon evident in its transformation and improved appearance. The first year they had ten cows and butter constituted their chief export. Mr. Karr remained con- tinuously upon the farm save for the years 1875, 1882 and 1893, when he repre- sented his district in the state legislature. As a member of the legislature he care- fully considered the vital questions which came up for consideration and gave his support to many measures which have been far-reaching in their beneficial effects. The journals of the house of the territorial legislature show that Mr. Karr had been a most active agent in the educational interests of the state, was on the committee of education and introduced the bill providing for a common school system. He was one of the leading champions of legislation establishing and supporting the State University. Chehalis was a republican county, but as it did not contain enough people to form a district, the legislature resorted to gerrymandering when the demo- crats were in power and Chehalis was attached at various periods to different dis- tricts. It was first joined to Pierce, and although a republican stood no chance of winning, Mr. Karr made speeches throughout Pierce county, which was strongly democratic. At that time he was defeated, but when Pierce and Chehalis counties were again joined, Mr. Karr received a large majority in Pierce and said that he thought the speeches he made several years before must have just begun to take effect. He always kept in close touch with the questions and issues of the day from the time when he acted as secretary of the first political meeting held in Grays Harbor in 1860, on which occasion Governor Stevens was in the midst of his cam- paign for delegate to congress.

"Mr. Karr actively continued the work of the farm and for ten years the family (4)

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lived in the original log cabin, although some additions and improvements were added thereto. In 1874 he planned to build a new home, bringing lumber from Elma, doors and window sash from Tumwater and brick from a schooner that had carried its cargo from Portland. Mr. Karr quarried the stone for two fireplaces from the bluff across the river and secured shingles at Montesano. When ma- terials were thus assembled a story and a half house was erected, facing the south and overlooking the waters of the bay. It was a period when the settlers had to depend upon their own labor for nearly all supplies and Mr. Karr undertook the task of tanning leather, at first using smartweed and other ingredients from the east, but he discovered the astringent properties of hemlock and alder bark and from those made in tanning materials. After producing leather this was cut up and shaped into boots and shoes for the family, Mr. Karr making the lasts and pegs, and the shoes, it is said, 'made up in durability for what they lacked in elegance.' All garments, even those for the boys, were homemade and raincoats were made of unbleached cotton soaked in linseed oil. Mr. Karr's former experience as a drug clerk enabled him to provide remedies for his family when there was no physician near at hand and not infrequently he was called upon to prescribe for his neighbors. He contributed to the social enjoyment of the community by his violin music, having studied in Nashville, Illinois, and afterward in Nevada City, California. While teaching at Cosmopolis he gave instruction in music as well as in the common branches. It was at Mr. Karr's suggestion that a trail was opened from Elma to Olympia over which horses and cattle could be driven, and this trail proved the predecessor of the stage road when a stage line brought the community into seem- ingly close connection with the capital. Later Mr. Karr and Mr. Campbell were owners of a big shovel-nosed canoe, with which they took their farm produce up the river in the fall, finishing the journey by wagon, and on the return they brought with them provisions to last for a year. They had little trouble with the Indians in that locality, although when the Modoc war was in progress it seemed that there might be an uprising at Grays Harbor.

"Mr. and Mrs. Karr became the parents of twelve children: Mary Olive is the wife of H. L. Gilkey, who was cashier of the First National Bank of Southern Oregon at Grants Pass, Oregon. Beatrice Abigail gave her hand in marriage to H. B. McNeill, of Aberdeen. Elkanah Walker has passed away. Cyrus James is captain of one of the merchant marines on the Atlantic. Henry Anderson, twin of Cyrus, died at the age of fourteen years. Phoebe Rose is the wife of John Snow, manager of ship yard at Vancouver, British Columbia. John Ross, a twin of Phoebe, is a resident of Yakima. Ruth is now the wife of J. S. McKee, of Hoquiam. She is the only woman member of the State Council of Defense and is the first woman regent of the University of Washington. William Hay is deceased. Eunice Viola resided with her mother in North Yakima until the latter's death. Levi Zebulon, the next of the family, is a resident of Seattle. Arthur Thompson Karr resides at Yakima. On the 14th of September, 1913, at North Yakima, Mr. and Mrs. Karr celebrated their golden wedding anniversary.

"Mr. and Mrs. Karr gave their children good educational opportunities. School was held during the summer months, and when the term was over the big family living room at home was converted into a schoolroom, with homemade desks, and the parents acted as instructors to their children until the older sisters were able to assume the task of teaching. Mr. Karr was advanced in his ideas concerning education and believed firmly that girls should be given the same chance as boys and accordingly his daughters received as good educational advantages as his sons. Three daughters graduated from the University of Washington and Mrs. McKee has a Master of Arts degree and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, admission to which is gained only by high scholarship. Mr. Karr took a great deal of pride in Mrs. McKee's fine scholastic record. In winter a society was formed which was prac- tically a parlimentary law club-the first on the Harbor-and Mr. Karr acted as president. His children received training therefore along that line and the instruc- tion has proven valuable in later years. With the passing of pioneer conditions the Karr farm, owing to the progressive spirit of the owner, took on all of the im- provements of modern times and through his business ability Mr. Karr won very substantial success, his estate becoming valuable. In 1904 the family removed to

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

Yakima, where his last years were spent and where his widow passed away Novem- ber 9, 1918. He died of apoplexy on the night of November 4, 1914. He had been keenly interested in the general election which took place on the preceding day and particularly in the fate of the prohibition law, had voted and seemed in his usual health. He was a stanch republican in his political belief and fraternally was a Mason and a charter member and past master of the Hoquiam lodge of that order. Although there were many happy memories of early times, he looked back with no sigh of regret to the past but rejoiced in the progress of the present and kept in touch with the trend of modern thought. He had passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey when called by death, but old age need not suggest as a matter of course idleness and want of occupation. There is an old age which grows stronger and brighter mentally and morally as the years go on and gives out of its rich stores of wisdom and experience for the benefit of others. Such was the record of James A. Karr."

MRS. ABIGAIL KARR.

Mrs. Abigail Karr, wife of James A. Karr, whose record is given above, passed away on the 9th of November, 1918, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. She was the first white girl born within the limits of the present state of Washington, to survive infancy. Mrs. Karr was the second child of her parents, Rev. and Mrs. Elkanah Walker, missionaries, who crossed the plains in the second company brought across by Marcus Whitman in 1838. In the spring of 1839 Rev. Walker and his associate, the Rev. Cushing Eells, established a mission at Tschimakain meaning "the place of springs") not far from the present city of Spokane. Here on May 24, 1840, Abigail was born. The place is still known as Walker's Prairie. The chief anxiety of these pioneer parents was that their children must grow up without other companionship than that of the Indians. The mothers banded themselves together in what was known as "The Maternal Association" for the express pur- pose of keeping fresh in their own minds the ideals and standards of their far away New England home. This was the more necessary when we reflect that it required usually a year for mail from the east to reach these far away places. Mrs. Walker who kept a diary of these days, gives many interesting glimpses of the primitive methods of living necessitated by pioneer conditions. Here Mrs. Karr spent the first seven years of her life.

When Dr. Whitman was massacred in November, 1847, the terrible news came swiftly to the little group of people at Tschimakain. Great anxiety was felt as it was reported that the Cayuse Indians were coming on to murder the two families at Tschimakain. The men of the station felt that they must be away at times to aid in the search for the murderers and to do scout duty. Needless to say these anxious times made a great impression on the seven-year-old child, to whom thus early tragedy came close. The Flatheads, who were attached to the Tschimakain mission, waited upon the people of the mission and told them that the bad Indians could not reach them except over their dead bodies. In this confidence they rested and in the end met no harm, though they remained at the station until spring. Then they went for a time to old Fort Colville and still later they were accompanied to Oregon City, then the metropolis of the west, by a company of soldiers. When a few years ago the Historical Society of the state unveiled a monument at Walker's Prairie to Messrs. Eells and Walker, one of the soldiers who formed this escort was present and gave a vivid description of the party as they started overland for Oregon City.

"Mrs. Karr spent her girlhood here and at Forest Grove, where she received her education. Among her earliest teachers was Professor Thomas Gatch, a pioneer educator of the northwest, who for many years was president of the University of Washington. Upon reaching young womanhood Mrs. Karr took up the work of teaching and while acting in that capacity she met James A. Karr, the pioneer resident of Hoquiam, who sought her hand . in marriage. The wedding was cele- brated Septemher 14, 1863, and their wedding journey consisted of a trip by team

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to Olympia. They spent the first winter of their married life at Little Rock, where Mr. Karr was teaching the village school. In the spring of 1864 they took up their abode upon the old homestead, which now constitutes the north half of Hoquiam, and thereon they resided for four decades or until 1904, when they removed to Yakima. There Mr. and Mrs. Karr celebrated their golden wedding in 1913 and a year later Mr. Karr passed away. By request of the State Historical Society the special pictures of Mr. and Mrs. Karr taken at that time will be presented to the society to be placed in the pioneers' corridor.

"While living upon the homestead at Hoquiam the twelve children of Mr. and Mrs. Karr were born, eleven of whom reached adult age and eight were present at the fiftieth anniversary of their parents' marriage together with many grandchildren. Notwithstanding the manifold duties which devolved upon her in the care of her household and the rearing of her children, Mrs. Karr took the deepest interest in things intellectual and ever kept in touch with the trend of modern thought and progress even to the end of her days. She was a broad reader and discussed most intelligently many questions bearing upon the welfare of community, state and nation. She belonged to the Congregational church, to the Woman's Christian Tem- perance Union, to the Order of the Eastern Star and the Daughters of the Amer- ican Revolution. Her grandfather had been a minute man in the war for inde- pendence and the same patriotic spirit was ever manifest in Mrs. Karr, who after the United States entered the great world war devoted long and happy hours to Red Cross work. She had early become most skillful in knitting and she employed her time in knitting for the soldiers, shaping many an article of comfort for them. She lived to know that the signing of the armistice would soon come, recognizing that the world had thus been saved from the militarism of Prussia to benefit by the democratic principles that recognize the rights of all mankind. She was a lovable woman, her life enriched by broad experiences and liberal study and most of all by that deep human sympathy which was constantly manifest in a hand extended to assist others. She was ever indeed a helpmate to her husband and an inspiration to her family and friends, and 'her good works follow her.'"

GEORGE BIEHN.

Substantial equipment for fruit raising, combined with sound judgment and keen discrimination in the management of his business affairs, has won for George Biehn a most gratifying measure of success as an orchardist. He was born in Kenosha county, Wisconsin, November 26, 1856, a son of Henry and Margaret (Meyers) Biehn, both of whom were natives of Germany but came to the new world in childhood and were here married. The father was a farmer by occupation and followed that pursuit for many years in Wisconsin, where his death occurred. The mother survives and is now living in Racine, Wisconsin.

George Biehn, mastering the branches of study taught in the public schools of his native state, completed a course in the high school at Kenosha, Wisconsin, after which he concentrated his efforts and attention upon farming to the age of nineteen years. He then started out in commercial circles, securing a clerkship in a store, and afterward he engaged in the conduct of a general store and grocery business of his own at Racine, where he remained until February, 1890. He then removed to the northwest and for a few years was a resident of Tacoma, Washington, during which time he was connected with the house of A. S. Johnson & Company, dealers in paints. In 1894 he removed to Yakima and opened a branch store for A. S. Johnson & Com- pany. In the same year he purchased ten acres of land in the Selah valley and he was the first to use water under the Selah-Naches ditch. There were only four or five houses in the valley at that time. At a subsequent period Mr. Biehn purchased forty acres additional and later he sold a part of this land but still retains twenty- eight acres. He took up his abode upon the ranch in 1896 and has nearly the entire tract planted to orchard, raising apples, pears, peaches and prunes. He built a fine hop house that is now used for a fruit packing house and everything about his place

GEORGE BIEHN

HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY

is indicative of his care and supervision and his progressive spirit. In 1909 he erected one of the fine homes of the district and is now most pleasantly situated.

ln: 1885 Mr. Biehn was married to Miss Mary L. Johnson, a daughter of Samuel and Amelia Johnson, of Racine, Wisconsin, who were pioneer settlers of the north- west. Mr. and Mrs. Biehn have the following children: Edward, who is with the Yakima Valley Fruit Growers Association and makes his home in Yakima; Georgia, at home; Jerome, who is a member of the United States army; Byron, who is with the United States navy on the transport Leviathan; Gertrude, at home; Thelma, at home; and Stanley, thirteen years of age.

Mrs. Biehn is a member of the Episcopal church but Mr. Biehn was reared in the Lutheran faith. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and to the Woodmen of the World. In politics he maintains an independent course. He has served as postmaster of Selah for a year and was school clerk for eight years but has had little time or inclination for public office as his developing business affairs have made constant demand upon his energy. He has been keenly interested in everything pertaining to fruit raising interests in this section and for four years he was a director of the Selah Irrigation District. He was also one of the organizers of the Yakima County Fruit Growers Association and assisted in organizing the Selah Fruit Products Company. What he has undertaken he has carried forward to successful completion and has for more than two decades been numbered among the representative farmers and orchardists of this part of the state.

WILLIAM L. SHEARER.

With the development and upbuilding of Toppenish, William L. Shearer has been closely associated. He served for a considerable period as its postmaster, has been identified with its commercial interests and at all times has worked for general improvement as well as individual success. Mr. Shearer was born in Monroe county, Missouri, October 31, 1862, a son of Joseph Mathew and Hester (Kennett) Shearer, who were natives of Kentucky and pioneer settlers of Missouri. The mother has now passed away, while the father is living retired, having put aside the active cares of business life.

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History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 9

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