Ellensburg Washington

Biography of David Murray

DAVID MURRAY. – This gentleman is a well-known capitalist. He has retired from active business, and is now reaping the benefits of a life full of even and unceasing hard work. David Murray is a name that every youngster in the Kittitass valley, Washington, is familiar with. It might be well for those very same youths if they had a few of the hardships to go through that Mr. Murray did in his early life. He was born in Maine in 1831, and at the age of twenty left his home to seek his fortunes in the Golden state of … Read more

Arps, Herman Otto – Obituary

Herman Otto Arps, 97, of Ellensburg, died Saturday, March 26, 1994, at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. He was born Jan. 2, 1897 in Nebraska, one of nine children born to Henry and Mary (Schultz) Arps. Following his education in Nebraska, Herman traveled to Montana, where he farmed. After Montana, he migrated west, where he worked as a line foreman on various jobs in Washington, Oregon and California. He came to Ellensburg in the early 1940s. He and Lena Blair were married in Albany, Ore. in October 1946. He retired in 1970. His interests included vegetable and flower gardening. He was … Read more

Wheeler, Charles – Obituary

Charles Wheeler, a young man who was raised in the valley, but who has lately been living at Toppenish, died on Thursday [August 12, 1909] at the home of Phil Olmstead. He was about 23 years old and was a son of G. W. Wheeler. Charles was born January 16, 1884 in Ellensburg. His parents were George Washington Wheeler and Anna Montgomery. He was single. Charles was interred at the IOOF Cemetery. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Cooke, Ada Rich – Obituary

Ada C. Cooke, 89, formerly of 103 S. Clark in Kittitas, died Friday at Haven House Nursing Home [died May 22, 1981]. She was born in Lincoln, Neb. on Aug. 3, 1891. She came to Ellensburg from Cle Elum in 1905 with brother Orval and her father, A. E. Rich. The family worked first for the Barnharts and later rented the property northeast of Ellensburg known as the Smyth Panhandle Ranch. She and Edward V. Cooke were married in 1908. They worked for his grandmother, Mrs. Charles Cooke until 1918 when they moved to Yakima. They returned to Ellensburg in … Read more

Biography of Charles A. Splawn

CHARLES A. SPLAWN. – This veteran of Indian wars was born in Clay County, Missouri, in 1831. He went from there to Davis County, near Galiton, and was there during the Mormon trouble. His mother, in the absence of his father, was compelled to leave her home by the “saints” who threatened to burn the house over her head if she remained another night. In 1844 he moved with his father’s family to Hold county, and in 1851 crossed the plains to Oregon. After reaching this territory he became alternately trader, miner and packer, until in 1853 he joined the … Read more

Dixon, Florence Richards – Obituary

Mrs. Florence E. Dixon, 24, wife of Archie Dixon, died at 10:30 o’clock this morning at the family residence in the Sunnyside addition. She had not been ill long In addition to her husband, Mrs. Dixon leaves three small children, Wesley, William and Rachael. The oldest is five years old and the youngest six months. Her mother, Mrs. Sylvia Richards, resides in Cle Elum Funeral announcements will be made later Florence was born in January 1899 in Washington and died in Ellensburg on September 27, 1922. She was the daughter of David Richards and Sylvia Bridge. Florence is buried in … Read more

Woodyard, James A. – Obituary

J. A. Woodyard Is Laid To Rest A Minister and Servant of God Has Been Called to His Reward Elder J. A. Woodyard died at the home of his son-in-law in North Kittitas precinct twelve miles north of this city, Friday morning at 12:30, June 7, 1912. The remains were brought to this city and placed in charge of Ross & Inman who prepared for the same burial. The funeral took place from the Christian church, Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock. The remains were followed to their last resting place by a considerable number of his old time friends and … Read more

Cooke, Rufus – Obituary

Death this morning [March 7, 1922] claimed one of the earliest and best known residents of the Kittitas valley when Rufus Cooke passed away. Mr. Cooke died this morning at the home of his sister, Mrs. P. H. Schnebly where he has been ill for the past two weeks. The Kittitas Valley had been his home since 1870 when he came here from Yakima with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Schnebly. Both are now deceased Mr. Cooke was born in Yakima on Sept. 12, 1867, the family removing to Ellensburg three years later, where they took up a … Read more

Bates, George Edward – Obituary

George Edward Bates, brother-in-law to Mrs. Leta Bates, Ellensburg, died July 4 [1969] in Coeur d’Alene, Ida. A resident of Spokane for the last 40 years, he is also survived by his wife, Mabel Bates; 3 sisters, Mrs. Joy Gage, Mrs. Murrel Baird both of Yakima; and Mrs. Ruth Cole, Long Beach, Calif. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

McGranahan, Chester Claude – Obituary

Chester C. McGranahan, 65, senior vice-president of the National Bank of Commerce, in charge of all branches outside Seattle, Ellensburg pioneer, World War I veteran and one of the state’s best known bankers, died at the family home in Bellevue Sunday morning [October 6, 1957] and will be buried in Ellensburg Tuesday. His wife, the former Edith Schnebly is a member of the family of one of the valley’s earliest settlers. He was born in Delta, Colo. in 1892 and moved with his parents to Ellensburg in 1900. His father was the late Thomas Harvey McGranahan, and his mother, Anna … Read more

Dewees, William S. – Obituary

Prominent Resident dies at home here. William S. Dewees came her 14 years ago. He was born in Kentucky and was 77 years of age. Leaves Large Family. William Shaw DeWees, aged 77 years, a resident of Ellensburg and the Kittitas Valley for the past fourteen years, died yesterday afternoon at his home on South Sprague Street after a lingering illness of six months’ duration. The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock from the home under the direction of M. L. Bridgham. Rev. Mr. Sharp will conduct the services. Interment will take place in the Odd Fellows … Read more

Morrison, Abraham – Obituary

A son of one of the Kittitas Valley’s earliest pioneer families, Abraham David Morrison, died in the Ellensburg General Hospital at 10:30 a.m. today [March 28, 1953], at the age of 69. He had been seriously ill for the past two months and entered the hospital Friday. He was one of seven children of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Morrison, who came to the valley in 1870. He was born on the original Morrison homestead, one mile northeast of the town of Kittitas, and attended the Denmark district school. He married Rose Dorothy Davis of Ellensburg, here, May 18, … Read more

Hayes, Harry Klondike – Obituary

Harry K. Hayes, 79, died Monday [May 2, 1977] at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. He was born June 16, 1897 in Ellensburg. He farmed in the Denmark District until retirement in 1962. He continued to live on the farm until he moved to Ellensburg in 1972. He and his wife Ruby then made their home at 700 S. Whitman St Survivors in addition to his wife include four sons, Homer Hayes of Oak Harbor, bill Hayes of Oak Harbor, bill Hayes of Prosser, Jerry Hayes of Yakima, and Joel Hayes of Renton; four daughters, Mrs. Juanita Dusbabek of Seattle, Mrs. … Read more

Meagher, Agnes – Obituary

Agnes Meagher, 85, formerly of 608 E. 5th Ave., Ellensburg, died Sunday [August 31, 1980] in Cheyenne Mountain Nursing Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. She was born in Ellensburg, Aug. 8, 1895, a daughter of the late Michael and Mary Heraty. She attended Ellensburg Normal School for one year, business college in Tacoma for two years, and worked as a legal secretary in Seattle for a number of years. She married Martin Meagher in Seattle, Aug. 21, 1929. He preceded her in death June 29, 1951. Mrs. Meagher was a member of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church. She is survived by … Read more

Prater, Felix – Obituary

An illness of three weeks with heart disease brought death early this morning [August 5, 1937] to Felix G. Prater, 58-year-old, well-known farmer, at his home on the West Side. Mr. Prater was born on October 23, 1878, on the West Side, on a farm near that on which he lived for most of his adult life and resided there and in Ellensburg throughout his life. For a short time he operated an automobile agency in Ellensburg. He was married to Miss Alice Harrell on August 10, 1904. He is survived by his widow; a son, Dorsey Prater of Ellensburg; … Read more

Cleman, Nora Belle Sharp – Obituary

One of Kittitas County’s earliest settlers died Monday [January 4] in the passing of Mrs. Jake Cleman, 63, who passed at the Ellensburg hospital from a brain hemorrhage which had confined her since Christmas Day. Mrs. Cleman, whose maiden name was Nora Belle Sharp, came to this valley with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. sharp in 1874 and has resided here continually since that time. She was born in Oregon in 1868 and in 1887 was married. Eleven children, three sisters and two brothers survive her. The children are Clarence of Sacramento, Calif.; Mrs. Lelah Pratsch of Aberdeen; … 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

Cooke, Susan Brewster – Obituary

Mrs. Susan E. Cooke, Kittitas Pioneer, Dies At Age Of 89. Was Resident Of Valley Since 1870; Crossed Plains In 1851; Funeral Monday; Deceased Came From Noted Family; Was Descendant Of Pilgrim Following a decline suffered nearly two years ago, Mrs. Susan Eliza Brewster Cooke, one of the oldest pioneers of Kittitas Valley, died last night at the family residence, 11 miles northeast of Ellensburg [died March 11, 1921]. Last Monday Mrs. Cooke celebrated her 89th birthday, having been born in Waterford County, four miles from Troy, New York, on March 7, 1832. Mrs. Cooke was a direct descendant of … Read more

Gage, Tami – Obituary

Tami Gage, 34, passed away April 12, 1997 at Levan, Utah. She was a frequent visitor to Ellensburg. As a teenager, she was very active in 4H and FFA; show her sheep here on many occasions. She attended the University of Utah and received her Master’s degree in biology and animal research from there. She is survived by her parents, Fred Gage of Tonasket and Linda Pauly of Levan, Utah; brothers Marty (Tara) of Levan, Utah and Stacy (Crystal) of Tonasket; uncles, Cliff, Bob and Seth of Ellensburg and Harrell of Dufur, Ore.; aunts Tressa, Esther, and Ellen, of Ellensburg, … Read more

Bailes, William Keithly – Obituary

Grandpa Bailes Pioneer Pastor of City is dead aged couple celebrated their 68th Wedding Anniversary here, Wife is seriously ill now confined to her bed with Pneumonia – leaves 100 living descendants The death of Grandpa Keathly Bailes at the home of his daughter, Mr. F. C. Barnhart, on North Ruby Street, occurred at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday [March 17, 1915]. The funeral will take place at the Christian Church Sunday morning next, Rev. Mr. Escherman of Tacoma officiating. Death was a result of a complication of diseases, coupled with extreme age Grandpa Bailes leaves his aged wife, who is now … Read more