California

Fortney, Jefferson S. – Obituary

Jefferson S. Fortney, 85, former valley resident, died Sunday [December 17] at Yucaipa, Calif. He was born Aug. 29, 1893, east of Kittitas in an area known as Warm Springs. He is the son of the late Levi and Julia Hayes Fortney. He married Alice Anderson in Ellensburg in 1913. He was employed by the Milwaukee Railroad in 1915 and worked as a section foreman and superintendent of the Extra Gang. He moved to Tacoma in 1930 and retired in 1958. He was preceded in death by his wife, July 23, 1962 in Tacoma. He moved to California in 1968. … Read more

Banister, Samuel Newell – Obituary

Aged pioneer of valley loses his life in the river; Samuel Newell Bannister, resident of valley for many years, drowns; Body is recovered; Falls from Lower River Bridge at noon yesterday; No witnesses Samuel Newell Banister, 92, a pioneer of this state and the Kittitas valley, lost his life yesterday when he fell from the lower Yakima River bridge into the river. Physicians stated death was probably cased by striking his head on a pier in the fall. The accident occurred about noon, and his body was recovered about two hours later nearly a mile down the stream [died February … Read more

Cooke, Edward V. – Obituary

Edward V. Cooke, 84, long-time Ellensburg resident, died at a local nursing home Wednesday. Born May 4, 1888 in Ellensburg, he was son of pioneer family, Father was C. P. Cooke, Mother Verenda Wheeler, whose parents were early-day settlers here in the valley. He was married to Ada Rich 1908, in the Fairview District. They moved to Yakima, where he learned the plastering trade and later went into contracting. He lived in Portland, Ore., and Stockton, Calif. and returned to Yakima and later moved back to Ellensburg, where they purchased a home o Rt. 3, and lived until his retirement. … Read more

Harris, Giles P. – Obituary

Giles P. Harris Expires Sunday, Resident of Valley for 53 years; Funeral to be held Wednesday. Giles P. Harris, age 60, who has been a resident of the Kittitas valley for 53 years died at the Ellensburg General hospital Sunday evening. Mr. Harris was born in Gilestown, Iowa, March 10, 1871. When he was small, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Thomas Harris, moved to California and about two years later moved to Oregon where they remained until they moved to Ellensburg in 1878. His father took the homestead on what is now known as the George Snodgrass place. In … Read more

Wheeler, Annie Montgomery – Obituary

Annie M. Wheeler Pioneer, Passes; Death Comes To Valley Resident of Past 65 Years Mrs. Annie Montgomery Wheeler, 82, a Kittitas valley resident 65 years and one of he valley’s oldest remaining pioneers, died here last night following an illness of six weeks [died April 26, 1945]. Mrs. Wheeler had not been in good health, for several years. However, she survived a fall five years ago in which she suffered fractures of both hips, learning to walk again. Mrs. Wheeler was born near St. Helena in Napa county, California, March 27, 1863. She made her home there with her parents, … Read more

Kinkade, David – Obituary

David Kinkade, Aged Civil War Veteran Passes Away Today. Death Leaves Only One Remaining Member Of G.A.R. Post In Ellensburg. Came To Kittitas Valley In 1882; Has Lived In Retirement For Past 32 Years. David Kinkade, 88-year-old Civil War veteran and pioneer of the Kittitas Valley passed away this morning [August 13, 1931] at his resident at 401 East Fourth Street. He was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, August 11, 1843, and was the son of James W. and Margaret Kinkade. In 1862, while residing in Illinois, he enlisted in the Union Army and served three years as a private … Read more

Huss, Rose Rader – Obituary

Mrs. Rose Huss, Pioneer, Passes. Widely Known Valley Resident Taken By Death Today. Mrs. Rose Huss, 73, widely known Kittitas Valley pioneer, died at her home here this morning [March 12, 1946]. Mrs. Huss traveled with her parents to this area by covered wagon over the Old Oregon Trail when a girl of seven, in 1879. She was born Rose Rader, a daughter of the late A. J. and Margaret Rader, October 9, 1872, near Hollister, Cal. She was the youngest member and last survivor of the sturdy Iowa family which moved into the Northwest in pioneer days. Their first … Read more

Montgomery, William Thomas – Obituary

Valley Pioneer, Tom Montgomery, Succumbs today. Death follows a three months Illness; funeral to be held her on Thursday. W. T. Montgomery, 74, Kittitas Valley pioneer, passed away at the home of his daughter Mrs. Leta Bates, 200 N. Sprague Street early this afternoon [December 22, 1931]. Mr. Montgomery’s death followed an ailment of three months duration, which confined him to bed. His passing marks the end of another pioneer life vividly reminiscent of long treks over the plains in covered wagons. His entry to the Kittitas Valley was from California in 1861 when he made the trip in a … Read more

Barnhart, Olive A. Brisson – Obituary

Mrs. Olive A. Barnhart, former Ellensburg resident, died Tuesday, Jan. 24 [1961] at the home of her son Fred G. Barnhart in San Diego, Calif., at the age of 76 years. Mrs. Barnhart was born August 15, 1884 in Flint, Mich., and was married to P. Fred Barnhart in Wenatchee, June 1903. Following their marriage they moved to Ellensburg where he farmed for several years in the Fairview District before moving into town when Mr. Barnhart began working for the N. P. Railway. In 1917 they were moved to Pasco by the railroad and Mrs. Barnhart lived there until 1952, … Read more

Hammond, Betty Leah Pease – Obituary

Funeral services were Tuesday in Fremont, Calif., for Betty Leah Hammond, 44, a former Ellensburg resident August 22, 1970. A native of Union, Oregon, she was raised in the Ellensburg area and graduated from Thorp High School. She lived in Fremont for 23 years. Survivors include her husband, Wesley L. Hammond; three children, Kirk, Kathryn, and Mary Ann, all of Fremont; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Pease of Thorp; two brothers, Clifford Pease of Virginia Beach, Va. and Fred Pease of Othello. Remembrances may be made to Children’s Hospital, Oakland, Calif.

Fulton, Arabella Clemens – Obituary

Arabella Fulton, Valley Pioneer, Succumbs Today. Mrs. Arabella Clemens Fulton passed away July 30 1934 at 3:45 a.m. at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Will German. She was born in Boone County, Missouri, on January 23, 1844. She crossed the plains in the spring of 1864 by wagon trains to Boise, Idaho. On November 24, 1864, she married Francis M. Fulton. Four children were born in Idaho; J. L., John Hugh, Della, and Isabelle. In 1872 Mr. and Mrs. Fulton moved by wagon train to Decatur, Wise County, Texas. In Texas the following four children … Read more

Rader, Hilda G. Brunn – Obituary

Former Ellensburg area resident Hilda G. Rader, 90, died Monday [January 16, 1984] following a short illness in Modesto, Calif. She had been living in California with her son and daughter-in-law since 1980 She was born in Freeport, Ill., on Jan. 3, 1894, one of eight children of Christian and Marie Brunn. Her father emigrated from Sweden in the early 1880’s and her mother, Marie Horz [Hertz], was a native of Germany. The Brunn family moved to the Kittitas Valley shortly after the turn of the century Mrs. Rader was graduated from Ellensburg Normal School and taught in public schools … Read more

Kinkade, Rawlin Madison – Obituary

R. M. Kinkade, Pioneer, dies. Farmed in valley over Half-Century. Rawlin Madison (Roll) Kinkade, 86-year-old long-time Kittitas Valley resident and the last surviving son of a pioneer valley family, died last night [February 16, 1955] in Sorensen Memorial Hospital here. In ill health for some time, he had been hospitalized 12 days Kinkade came to the Kittitas Valley with his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. David Kinkade, in September, 1882. He farmed here more than half a century before retiring in 1940. He was born in Denver, Ill., Nov. 4, 1868, and the family came here from California Kinkade … Read more

Prater, Sarah Martha Hall – Obituary

Mrs. Martha Prater, 87, valley pioneer, passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Minnie Wangeman, on North Walnut Street, at 11 o’clock yesterday morning [March 11, 1934]. Mrs. Prater suffered a paralytic stroke Thursday evening and her condition gradually grew worse until her death. Conscious almost to the end, she seemed cheerful and talked to relatives present. Her last words were “All is well.” Mrs. Prater had been in unusually good health for her age and only last Monday evening visited Mr. and Mrs. Austin Mires to extend greetings on their 50th wedding anniversary. A few days later … Read more

Noel, Clarissa Jane Farris – Obituary

Mrs. Clara J. Noel, 75, died Friday [October 9, 1942] at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Pauline Stalcup, 634 North Oakes Street [Tacoma]. She was a native of Fresno, Cal., and had been in Tacoma 12 years. She lived some years at Ellensburg and Snohomish. Her home was at 2603 ½ 6th Avenue. She was married Nov. 30, 1882 at Ellensburg to W. H. Noel who died in 1930. She was member of Glendale Camp Royal Neighbors in Tacoma and of the Epworth Methodist Church, Tacoma. Besides Mrs. Stalcup, she leaves daughters, Mrs. Myrtle Francis and Mrs. Stella Faithful … Read more

Montgomery, James M. – Obituary

Following a brief illness J. M. Montgomery, one of Kittitas Valley’s oldest residents died at the Ellensburg General Hospital Friday afternoon [October 29, 1937]. Mr. Montgomery was born at Scio, Linn County, Oregon, June 30, 1852. Until 1881 he lived with his family in Salinas, Calif., when he moved to Kittitas County where he lived the remainder of his 56 years. Besides owning a farm in the Broadview District where he has made a home since 1881 he operated a freighting line from various supply points until the railroad was built into this section in 1886. He is survived by … Read more

Montgomery, George – Obituary

George Montgomery, valley pioneer, passed away yesterday [April 29, 1934] at his home, 712 East 8th Street following a short illness. He was born in Jackson County, Oregon, Sept. 29, 1860, and came to the Kittitas Valley at the age of 21 from Salina, Calif. He was married to Deliah Davis, Feb. 14, 1890. Mr. Montgomery worked as early pioneers did and driving freight in from The Dalles, Oregon, and suffered many hardships. He has been gardener at the Normal School for 14 years where he was affectionately known as “dad.” He leaves a widow and two sons, Carl of … Read more

Taylor, Emma Augusta Abraham – Obituary

Funeral services for Mrs. Frank (Emma Augusta) Taylor, Sr., will be held Thursday, December 28, at the Evanson Funeral Home. A well-known resident of Ellensburg for more than 60 years, she died Sunday, December 24 [1967], at the Kittitas Valley Memorial Hospital. Born in West Bloomfield, Wisconsin, she was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Augusta Abraham. At the age of 6 months, her parents moved to Orange, California, where she was reared. She attended schools in Orange and Santa Rosa. She moved with the family to a ranch in the Teanaway valley just before the turn of … Read more

Cooke, Emma Margaret Rader – Obituary

Mrs. George B. Cooke, widow of the late pioneer valley stockman, died yesterday at 1 o’clock at her home on East Eighth Street after an illness of several weeks [died November 26, 1926]. When only a small girl she moved to the Kittitas Valley with her parents, residing here the remainder of her life. [George died only five months earlier]. Mrs. Cooke was born October 22, 1869, in San Benito County, California, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Rader. She grew to womanhood in this valley and on December 18, 1884, was married to the late George B. … Read more

Biography of Rev. Dr. Michael M. Stolz

Rev. Dr. Michael M. Stolz. It would be impossible to do justice in a brief sketch to the life of this devoted follower of Christ and pioneer Methodist leader of Kansas. Doctor Stolz entered the ministry while the great Civil war was being fought. He served faithfully in Indiana and elsewhere, and for nearly forty years had been identified with the Kansas Conference. He is now retired from the active ministry, a resident of Salina, but though past eighty-one years of age still finds congenial employment as librarian of the Kansas Wesleyan University. He was born April 30, 1836, at … Read more