History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 96

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 96
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 96
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II > Part 96

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On December 11, 1906, Mr. Cadle wedded Mrs. Amelia Sherman, a native of Wis- consin and a daughter of M. Hausy and Elizabeth (Heinig) Hausy. Mrs. Sherman was a resident of Tacoma at the time of her marriage.

In his political affiliation Mr. Cadle is a republican and has ever stanchly sup- ported the candidates and measures of that party although he is not an office seeker. On the other hand, however, he is interested in the issues of the day as regards the state and nation and readily supports worthy movements which he considers of value to his community. Both he and his wife have many friends in Zillah and vi- cinity, all of whom speak of Mr. and Mrs. Cadle in terms of the highest appreciation.

JOHN DOBIE.

Agricultural and particularly horticultural interests of Yakima county have re- ceived a great impetus through the activities of John Dobie, one of the many valu- able American citizens whom Scotland has furnished to this country. A native of the land of hills and heather, he was born in Dumfries, March 16, 1873, a son of Joseph and Janet ( Broatch) Dobie, both deceased. For thirty years the father was road overseer in one district. In 1875, when their son John was but two years of age, the parents removed to Cumberland, England, and there John Dobie received his education. He continued in the mother country until 1893, when he decided to come to America. Having heard glowing stories of the opportunities offered on the Pacific coast, he made his way direct to Spokane, Washington, and for two years, or until the fall of 1895, he worked for wages. During the following winter he hunted in the neighborhood of Chelan Lake, but in the spring of 1896 turned to the Yakima valley and again took a position on a ranch, so continuing for a year. Perceiving greater financial returns in performing his duties in another way, he then made a contract for putting up hay, thus increasing his earning capacity. The two following years he rented land and in 1901 acquired title to eighty acres on the lower Naches, to the cultivation of which he has since given his close attention. Never losing sight of his purpose, he ever carefully saved his earnings, which at length enabled him to purchase this land. Mr. Dobie has remodeled the house, has commodious barns upon the land and also has instituted other equipment in order to facilitate the farm work, raising grain, hay and potatoes. He has also taken up fruit grow- ing, along which line he has been very successful. Mr. Dobie is a progressive man who not only embraces the latest ideas in regard to general farming and fruit grow-

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ing but who also has decided ideas upon other questions which relate to the duties of citizenship and of man to man.

On the 17th of December, 1897, John Dobie was married to Miss Nora Livesley, a daughter of George and Mary E. (Berge) Livesley, early and respected residents of the Yakima valley, where the father owned large agricultural interests. Mr. Livesley has passed away, but is survived by his widow, who makes her home in Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Dobie became parents of five children of whom Nora Elizabeth died in infancy. The others are: Joseph, George Harold, Carrie Marguerite and John B. In social circles of their community Mr. and Mrs. Dobie are well known and well liked and the latter is a member of the Congregational church, in the work of which organization she takes a laudable and helpful interest.

Mr. Dobie identifies himself with the socialistic party in politics and stands ever for all measures which promise to be of the greatest good to the greatest number. He is ever ready to lend a helping hand to those who struggle on in order to make a living, well remembering the days when he worked hard himself in order to gain a foothold and to set himself up independently. His interest along agricultural lines is evident from the fact that he is a charter member of the Yakima Valley Fruit Growers Association and has served as president of the lower Naches Fruit Growers Association, also having been on the executive board. Fully recognizing the value of irrigation, he has served for nineteen years as president and a director of the Wapato ditch. These various connections, however, do not yet exhaust the subjects which are near his heart, as he has always been a loyal champion of educational progress and for eighteen years has served as a member of the school board, using his influence in order to advance and improve school facilities in his district. All who know him give him their confidence, to which he is well entitled by reason of his upright character and honorable career.

WILLIAM M. HUFNAIL.

William M. Hufnail has twenty-seven acres of land which he is devoting to fruit raising, having become well known as one of the successful and prominent or- chardists in the vicinity of Grandview. He was born in Wisconsin on the 6th of March, 1886, a son of Dr. William H. Hufnail, whose birth occurred in Montgomery county, New York, on the 3d of May, 1836. The latter was a son of George and Catherine (Wormuth) Hufnail, who were likewise born in the Empire state. The great-grandfather, Christian Houghnagle, was a native of Holland and, crossing the Atlantic, became one of the earliest settlers of Herkimer county, New York. He served in defense of his adopted country in the War of 1812 and in days of peace devoted his life to the occupation of farming. It was George Hufnail who changed the orthography of the name. On leaving New York he removed to Sauk county, Wisconsin, in 1845, becoming one of its first settlers. He purchased a tract of wild land, which he converted into fertile fields, and was numbered among the successful farmers of that district, in which he continued to reside until called to his final rest.

His son, Dr. William H. Hufnail, was graduated from the Bennett Medical Col- lege of Chicago when about fifty years of age. He had been reared to the occupation of farming, which he continued to follow until he determined to devote his further time and attention to the practice of medicine. He then studied medicine according to the eclectic system and was graduated as indicated, after which he located for practice in Wisconsin, where he remained until 1909. With his removal to Washington in that year he purchased ten acres of land near Grandview. It was a wild tract covered with the native growth of sagebrush, but his characteristic energy and effort soon wrought a marked transformation in the appearance of this place. In the midst of the brush he built a good home and at once began cultivating the land, which hc planted largely to fruit trees.

On the 24th of May, 1864, Dr. Hufnail was united in marriage to Miss Abigail Ann Dammon, who was born in Sparta, Wisconsin, a daughter of Chandler and Ma- tilda (Doan) Dammon, the former a native of Maine. To Dr. and Mrs. Hufnail were born six children: Dr. Francis E., now residing in Minneapolis; Albert C., whose

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home is at Sunnyside, Washington; Katherine E., the wife of W. H. Denny, living at Williston, North Dakota; May R., the wife of R. W. Wilson, who is located at Sunnyside; William M., of this review; and Ada D., deceased.

Dr. Hufnail is a member of the Masonic fraternity and in his life has exemplified the beneficent spirit of the craft, for he has constantly extended a helping hand to those in need of assistance. His attitude on the temperance question is indicated in the loyal support which he gives to the prohibition party. He is a man wonder- fully preserved for one of his years, as he has passed the eighty-second milestone on life's journey, yet he remains hale and hearty and gives out of the rich stores of his wisdom and experience for the benefit of others.

His fifth child, William M. Hufnail, whose name introduces this review, spent his youthful days under the parental roof and in 1912 purchased the Grandview ranch from his father. He also rents ten acres of land that he and his brother own and seven acres more which is in orchard tracts. He has altogether twenty-seven acres in apples and is one of the prominent fruit growers of this section. His busi- ness interests are wisely and carefully conducted. He is thoroughly progressive and energetic in all that he undertakes and at the same time is most systematic. His labors are producing most desirable results.

Mr. Hufnail belongs to the Masonic fraternity and is a past secretary of Grand view Lodge, No. 191, A. F. & A. M. In politics he maintains an independent course, voting according to the dictates of his judgment. Much of his life has been spent in the northwest and his sturdy qualities and admirable characteristics have im. pressed themselves upon all with whom he has come in contact.

WILLIAM WILSON.

William Wilson, prominently known in connection with the sheep industry in the Yakima valley and making his home in the city of Yakima, was born in Aber- deenshire, Scotland, December 1, 1874, a son of Alexander and Mary Ann (Douglas) Wilson. The father, a farmer by occupation, is still living in Scotland. The son oh- tained a public school education in his native country and was thirty years of age when he came to Yakima in the year 1905. He then entered the employ of Samuel Cameron, with whom he remained for a few years and later was admitted to a partner- ship. About 1910 he purchased a band of sheep and has since been engaged in the sheep industry, developing his interests along this line to extensive proportions. He has conducted his business wisely and carefully, so that success in substantial meas- ure is coming to him.

In 1914 Mr. Wilson returned to Scotland and married Miss Jean Gauld of that country. They have one child, William Gauld. Mr. Wilson has membership in the Masonic fraternity and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He became a naturalized American citizen and since securing the right of franchise has voted with the republican party. He is not active in political circles but concentrates his efforts and energies upon his business affairs and has never had occasion to regret his de- termination to come to the new world, for here he found the opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has worked his way steadily upward.

SAMUEL H. MILLER.

Samuel H. Miller, who for more than two decades has been identified with the ranching interests of Yakima county, took up his abode in the Sunnyside district in 1898, purchasing eighty acres a mile east of the town. That his has been a busy, active and useful life since then is indicated in the excellent and well kept appear- ance of his place, which is now one of the highly developed ranch properties of that region.

Mr. Miller came to the northwest from lowa but is a native of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, where he was born May 15, 1838. He is a son of Jonas A. and Sally

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(Horner) Miller, who were also natives of Somerset county. The paternal grand- father, Abraham Miller, was likewise born in that district and both he and his son, Jonas A., devoted their lives to farming. Jonas A. Miller, on leaving the Keystone state, removed westward to Blackhawk county, lowa, in 1872 and there made his home until his death.

Samuel H. Miller is indebted to the public schools for the educational oppor- tunities which he enjoyed and after his own course was completed he taught school for several terms. In 1860 he removed from Pennsylvania to Illinois, where he con- tinned teaching for two years, and in December, 1862, he became a resident of Iowa, where he taught school for two terms in Blackhawk county. In 1863, in connection with a cousin, he began the manufacture of sorghum and devoted his attention to that undertaking in connection with general farming for several years.

On the 1st of September, 1863, Samuel H. Miller was married to Eliza Beechley, a native of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Daniel and Eliza (Meyers) Beechley, who were pioneers of the Keystone state. Mr. and Mrs. Miller became the parents of a son, Edwin Stanton, who is a resident of Omaha, Nebraska, where he is engaged in the milling of corn products. The wife and mother passed away October 26, 1865, and on the 9th of January, 1870, Mr. Miller was again mar- ried, his second union being with Susan Saylor, who was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Miller) Saylor, who were pion- eers of Pennsylvania. Before his second marriage Mr. Miller had purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in lowa, which he greatly improved and developed, building thereon a pleasant residence in 1869. For a long period he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits in Iowa but in 1898 left his farm there and came to the northwest, making his way to Sunnyside. Here he purchased eighty acres of land a mile east of the town, and although the tract was then all covered with sagebrush, he at once began the work of improvement and development, built thereon a good home and brought the farm under a high state of cultivation. He now raises hay and corn and formerly he was extensively engaged in the dairy business but has retired from that line of activity. He, however, keeps good graded Holstein cattle. In addition to his other crops he raises sugar beets and as a general farmer is meeting with substantial success.

In 1906 Mr. Miller was called upon to mourn the loss of his second wife, who passed away on the 10th of August of that year. Their children were: Wilbert, who died at the age of four years; Grace, the wife of N. E. Blough, who is engaged in clerking in a store at Sunnyside and by whom she has three sons and three daugh- ters, the family making their home with her father; Ira, residing at Ashford, Wash- ington; Howard, living at Great Falls, Montana: Catherine is the wife of Charles Amondson, a hardware merchant residing at Sunnyside, and they have three chil- dren: Lizzie Maude, who was born in 1882 and died in 1900; and J. Quinter, who is engaged in ranching near his father's place and has a wife hut no children.

Mr. Miller is a minister of the Church of the Brethren. He and D. B. Eby were the first two Brethren pastors at Sunnyside. He preached regularly for several years and still occupies the pulpit at intervals. In politics he maintains an independent course, voting for men and measures rather than party. While in lowa he was ac- tive on the school board, also served as township assessor and for twelve years was president of the Blackhawk Mutual Fire Insurance Company, which developed an extensive husiness. He has been a successful pioneer rancher of the northwest and a valued citizen who has contributed in substantial measure to the material, intel- lectual, social and moral progress of the community in which he makes his home.

HARRY COONSE.

Harry Coonse, prominent, in the real estate and abstract field and recognized as one of the representative business men of Yakima, was born in La Fayette, Indi- ana, March 27, 1870, a son of George W. and Emma E. (Harris) Coonse. The father was a manufacturer and jobber. He is now deceased, but the mother sur- vives and is living with her son Harry.

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After acquiring a high school education Harry Coonse came to Yakima in 1889 and accepted the position of chief clerk in the United States land office. He served there for a few years, when he was appointed deputy county auditor, which posi- tion he occupied for two years. He also spent a similar period as deputy county treasurer and for several years he was bookkeeper in the Yakima National Bank. He later devoted two years to the lumber business in Seattle but in 1899 returned to Yakima as deputy assessor, continuing in that capacity for three years. He served as county assessor for four years and in 1906 he entered the real estate business, in which he has continuously engaged throughout the intervening period. He was again called to public office in 1912, when he was made city commissioner of public works and occupied that position for five years. His time has largely been given to public service and yet he has successfully conducted important private business interests. In 1907 he organized the Consolidated Abstract & Title Company, of which he has since been the president. It was incorporated in September, 1908, by J. T. Fos- ter, Fred Parker, Harry Coonse, F. E. Craig, Henry Taylor and others. The office was first located at No. 6 South Second street but in 1916 a removal was made to the Yakima Trust building. Mr. Coonse has served continuously as president of the company, while J. T. Foster was manager until the spring of 1915, when he was succeeded by J. H. Hinsdale, who served as manager until the spring of 1917. In that year J. A. New- ton took charge as manager and continues in that position. The company has a very complete set of abstract books and at one time maintained offices in Yakima, Ellens- burg and Prosser, but the Ellensburg office was sold in 1912, the business being .. however, continued at Prosser as well as at Yakima.

Mr. Coonse has a fine forty-acre orchard and also a big hay ranch at Prosser. He has handled a large amount of farm lands during the period of his connection with the real estate business in Yakima and is one of the oldest and kest known real estate men of the city, conducting his interests at the present time under the firm name of Coonse, Taylor & Bond.

On the 1st of January, 1904, Mr. Coonse was married to Miss Minnie F. Sin- clair, a daughter of Hugh K. Sinclair, who came to the Yakima valley as a pioneer in 1878. The children of this marriage are Marion G. and George Kenneth.

In his fraternal relations Mr. Coonse is a Knight of Pythias and an Elk and in Masonic circles has attained high degree. He belongs to Yakima Lodge, No. 24, F. & A. M .; Yakima Chapter, No. 21, R. A. M .; Yakima Commandery, No. 13, K. T .: the Lodge of Perfection of the Rose Croix; and Afifi Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is likewise a member of the Commercial Club and has served on its board of trustees. He was one of the organizers of the Yakima Club, which was afterward converted into the Commercial Club. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, but while he keeps well informed concerning the vital issues and questions of the day, he has never been an office seeker nor sought political prefer- ment. He is a substantial, farsighted and energetic business man in whose career there are no spectacular phases but whose persistency of purpose and sound judg- ment have carried him steadily forward until he is numbered among the most promi- nent real estate dealers and business men of his adopted city.

JAMES SUTOR.

James Sutor, the owner of a fifteen-acre ranch property devoted to horticultural pursuits and an equal tract on which he is raising alfalfa, was born in Ontario, Can- ada, December 23, 1856, a son of Robert and Mary (Topp) Sutor, both of whom have passed away. The father was a lumberman and farmer.

The son, spending his youthful days under the parental roof, acquired a public school education and when not busy with his textbooks assisted his father in the farm work and continued upon the old homestead until he reached his majority. He then went to Minnesota and took up a homestead claim in what was then Polk county but is now Red Lake county. There he continued until 1905, when he came to Yakima county and has since been identified with the agricultural and horticul- tural development of the valley. He purchased twenty acres of land two miles south

JAMES SUTOR

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of Yakima and has since invested in an additional ten acres. One-half of his land is now producing large crops of apples, pears and pruncs. The other fifteen acres is producing an abundant yield of alfalfa and both branches of his business are proving profitable by reason of his careful management, his close application and sound business judgment.

On the 28th of March, 1882, Mr. Sutor was married to Miss Wanda Libert, of Wisconsin, and to them have been born six children: Lerren, deceased; Wanda. the wife of E. W. Petzel; Frederick, a farmer who is married and resides on the Tieton; Clarence J., who is also farming on the Tieton; Harriet; and William, at home.

In politics Mr. Sutor is a democrat and for twelve years served as county com- missioner while in Minnesota. He belongs to the Horticultural Union and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and in these organizations is highly esteemed by reason of his sterling worth and admirable traits of character that give him high rank as a business man and citizen.

ELBERT MILAM CHANDLER.

Throughout practically the entire period of his business career Elhert Milam Chandler has been identified with water interests. He has been connected with vari- ous hydraulic companies and is now concentrating his efforts and attention upon ir- rigation projects, being chief engineer of the Naches-Selah irrigation district. He was born in Santa Cruz, California, on the 11th of April, 1886, a son of Milam and Jessie A. (Peck) Chandler. The father was also a native of California and a son of Lewis Chandler, who fought in the Mexican war. The latter went to California in 1850 and was a territorial ranger of the early days. Settling in the Golden state during pioneer times, he became a stock farmer of Santa Cruz county, where he lived until 1916, when death called him at the age of nearly one hundred years. His son, Milam Chandler, died in the year 1891. The mother of Mr. Chandler of this review is still living in California. She is a daughter of Elon G. Peck, 'who went to that state in 1851 and there engaged in the stock business until his death, which oc- curred forty years later.

Elbert M. Chandler was graduated from the University of California with the class of 1907. receiving the degree of Civil Engineer. He specialized in irrigation work and from May until September. 1906, was connected with the hydraulic and reconnaissance department of the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company. From May until September, 1907, he was topographer, draftsman and transitman with the Southern Pacific Railway Company and on the expiration of that period became assistant engineer on the San Joaquin irrigation project, with which he was identified until March, 1908. From that date until May, 1909, he was hydraulic engineer with the Tuolumne Water Power Company and special agent of the United States De- partment of Agriculture, in charge of some investigations in Tuolumne and Stanis- laus counties of California. From May until September, 1909. he was chief engineer for Will H. Parry, receiver for the Pasco Power & Water Company at Burbank, Washington, and at the latter date he hecame manager and chief engineer of the Burbank Power & Water Company of Burbank, Washington, so continuing until December, 1911. He was then made receiver for the Burhank Power & Water Com- pany and so served until November, 1912. From that date until May, 1916, he was manager and chief engineer of the Burbank Company and next became active in the development of the Edgewater farm on the Snake river, near Burbank, where he en- gaged in breeding Percheron horses and Ayrshire cattle, handling registered stock. This is the only farm in Washington on which every animal is pure bred. Over sixty acres of the land is under cultivation and Mr. Chandler has invested over thirty thousand dollars in improvements upon the property. He is still the owner of that farm but ceased to do active work thereon in September, 1917, when he ac- cepted the position of chief engineer of the Naches-Selah irrigation district, having charge of designing and construction for permanent reconstruction work on the main canal and laterals. He is providing general plans and detail designs for work to the value of one million dollars and at present is in charge of actual construction

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work amounting to four hundred and fifty thousand dollars, which includes nine tunnels of concrete and four miles of reinforced concrete canal lining, also a third of a mile of heavy reinforced concrete flume. This represents the best construction of the kind in the country, being permanent work, and there will he as high as three hundred men employed on the prosecution of this project. Mr. Chandler by reason of his college preparation and his long experience is splendidly qualified for the conduct of such an important work as now claims his attention. He is familiar with every scientific phase of the business and every practical detail and his efforts are producing the most excellent results, whereby the district will be greatly henefited in enhancing the productivity of its land. Mr. Chandler has been a most thorough student of irrigation projects and is now the president of the Washington Irriga- tion Institute, which is widely disseminating valuable knowledge concerning the best methods of irrigating land. He is the second person to occupy the presidency, having been elected in December, 1917. The organization is very active in plans for the settlement of the valley after the war.

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History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. II, Part 96

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