Kitittas Valley Washington

Olmstead, Sarah Yale – Obituary

Mrs. Sarah Yale Olmstead of 801 East Summer Street died at her home about noon yesterday [September 16, 1918]. Mrs. Olmstead was born at Saratoga Springs, New York, December 25, 1841. She moved with her family to Oregon in 1870, where she lived for four years, when she went to Seattle and later came to Kittitas Valley and settled on a farm about five miles southeast of Ellensburg. She is survived by Phil Olmstead of Ellensburg and two granddaughters, the Misses Berdie and Leta Smith. The funeral services will take place at the residence Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock, Dr. … 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

Sorenson, Soren – Obituary

Soren Sorenson, prominent farmer of the Denmark District, died Tuesday afternoon [December 29, 1931] at the hospital from a heart ailment after an illness that confined him to his bed for little more than two weeks. The end came peaceably and while it was a great shock to relatives and friends was not unexpected. Soren Sorenson first entered the hospital on December 11 for the second serious illness of his entire life. He was taken there suffering from a heart ailment that terminated in a blood clot. After a bad two or three days during which time his life was … Read more

Taylor, Mary Grewell – Obituary

Mrs. Wm. Taylor, early pioneer of Kittatas, passes. One of the oldest living settlers here, dies Sunday first teacher. Crossed Plains Oxteam, fought Indians, was still active . Mrs. William Taylor, 75, joined the band of Kittitas county’s vanishing pioneers in mid-afternoon Sunday [October 1, 1933], succumbing to a month’s illness. Mrs. Taylor, despite her advanced age was in rugged health and quite active until she became ill the first of last month. Her passing takes from the ranks of the valley pioneers another of the earliest settlers. Mary Grewell was a true product of the West, crossing the plains … Read more

Hayes, William – Obituary

William Hayes, 71, a resident of the Kittitas Valley for 60 years, died here Saturday evening. He came here in 1882. For the past few years, he made his home with a niece, Mrs. Dora Willis, here He is survived by a brother, Samuel T. Hayes, of Yakima; a sister Mrs. W. T. Sheldon, of Twin Falls, Idaho, and numerous nieces and nephews ************* William was the son of Sanford Hayes and Rebecca Fry. He died May 30, 1942. He is buried in the IOOF Cemetery with a marker provided by the cemetery Contributed by: Sheli Steedman

Barnhart, Thomas Henderson – Obituary

T. H. Barnhart, Old Pioneer is called, was 85 born in Tennessee, has spent many years in valley The death of T. H. Barnhart, a pioneer of this valley, occurred this morning [April 16, 1921] at the home of his son, S. C. Barnhart. He was 85 years old Mr. Barnhart was born in Tennessee, and came to this section a number of years ago. Since coming west, he has spent all of his time here with the exception of a few years in the Methow Valley For the past 19 years he has made his home with his son, … Read more

Wheeler, Maria Fry – Obituary

Mrs. Maria wheeler, pioneer of the ’70s, is called by death. Was mother of 11 children, and leaves 28 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren. Crossed plains in 1850. Funeral to be held tomorrow from baptist church-well known among pioneers. Mrs. Maria (Grandma) Wheeler, aged 84, one of the earliest pioneers of the state, and a resident of Kittitas Valley since 1871, passed away last evening [May 27, 1917] at the home of her son, A. L. Wheeler of Kittitas. The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock from the Baptist Church, Rev. Mr. Cline reading the service. Interment … Read more

Ferguson, James – Obituary

James Harvey Ferguson, 93, member of a pioneer Kittitas Valley family, died Saturday, October 18, 1969 in a Seattle nursing home. He was the son of James Ferguson and Elizabeth McEwen Ferguson, and the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. John McEwen. The Ferguson and McEwen families came to the Kittitas Valley in 1871 over the Snoqualmie Pass from the Puget Sound Country. The McEwens bought land in what is now known as the Denmark District. The Fergusons settled on a homestead close by Naneum Creek, where they built a log cabin. In this log cabin, James Harvey Ferguson was born … Read more

Wright, Bertha Rose Georgia – Obituary

Mrs. Bertha Wright, wife of A. M. Wright, died at her home on the north side early last Monday morning [September 30, 1901] of typhoid fever. She had been sick for a couple of weeks but as her friends had all long hoped for her early recovery, her death came as a great shock. The high esteem in which Mrs. Wright was held was evidenced by the many sincere expressions of sympathy and the presence of so many at the services on Tuesday afternoon at the home. Besides the grief-stricken husband, she leaves six children, who are thus deprived of … Read more

Schnebly, Philip Henry – Obituary

The Kittitas Valley lost another of its well known pioneers Sunday [October 17, 1926] when Philip Henry Schnebly passed away after an illness that extended over a period of more than three years. Death came at 7 o’clock Sunday, morning but was not unexpected, as Mr. Schnebly had suffered an acute sinking spell Friday. Coming here from Oregon, his birthplace, in 1872, Mr. Schnebly became one of the most important growers of beef cattle in the state, both stock and acreage mounting into the thousands. For a number of years, however, his livestock interests have been handled by his six … Read more

Dewees, Rebecca Ellen Freels – Obituary

Death came to Mrs. Rebecca Ellen DeWees, 71, at her home at 210 South Sampson Street this morning [February 14, 1940] after a two weeks’ illness. Her death follows that of her daughter-in-law, Mrs. George DeWees by just one week Mrs. DeWees was born in Havensville, Kentucky, March 17, 1858, and came to the Kittitas Valley in 1902. She has lived in her present home for 17 years. She was a member of the Miriam Rebekah Lodge here Mrs. DeWees is survived by five daughters, Mrs. Robert Kirk of Coldwater, Kansas, Mrs. Emma Sherman of Wichita, Mrs. Ina Davis and … Read more

Schnebly, Edna Emily Smith – Obituary

Edna E. Schnebly, 78, lower Taneum retired schoolteacher, died at Ellensburg Hospital, Wednesday [September 1, 1971]. Born Oct. 24, 1892 at East Stanwood, Wash., she received her early teaching training at Bellingham, taught at Willipa Harbor and Fairview for many years. She came here as a young woman and married John Henry Schnebly in 1916 in Ellensburg. She returned to teaching during the war and taught at Denmark [area around Ellensburg] and Kittitas until her retirement in 1960. She made her home in the lower Taneum District. She was a member of Episcopal Church, St. Anne’s Guild and Gallina Club … Read more

Wright, Della Daisy Litch – Obituary

Mrs. Della D. Wright, 62, widow of the late Al Wright, died yesterday afternoon [February 26, 1943] at her home at 1005 North Water Street. She had been ill a year. Mrs. Wright was born September 17, 1880 in Missouri. She was married to Mr. Wright 35 years ago. A son born to them died when five years old [James Cuttrell Wright]. She was a member of the Christian Church. Survivors include three sisters, Mrs. Laura Schooler, Bixby, Okla.; Mrs. Mollie Barnett, Mendota, Mo., and Mrs. Margaret Gum, Green City, Mo.; and seven stepchildren, Mrs. Doris Zastron, Mrs. Roy Maryatt, … Read more

McGranahan, Anna Friel – Obituary

Mrs. T. McGranahan, a resident of Ellensburg for 26 years, died here on Wednesday [March 2, 1927] of pneumonia, which developed following a relapse suffered by the deceased after a short illness with influenza. Coming here in 1901 from St. Anthony, Idaho, Mrs. McGranahan has been numbered among the pioneers of the valley. Besides her husband, and her son, C. C. McGranahan, assistant cashier of the Farmers Bank, she is survived by three brothers and two sisters in the East. Funeral services will be held at 2 o’clock. Friday from the family home, 109 W. Ninth Street, with the Rev. … Read more

Stickney, May Briody – Obituary

Her death following that of her husband, Elmer E. Stickney, by a little more than a month, Mrs. May Stickney, 70- year-old Kittitas County pioneer, passed away at her home here last night [July 5, 1934] following a lingering illness. Mr. Stickney died on May 29. Mrs. Stickney was born February 10, 1864, at Oregon City, Oregon, and came to the Kittitas Valley in 1892. May 2 of that year she was married to Mr. Stickney. Eight children, all residents of Ellensburg, survive. They are: Earl, Henry, Fred, Mrs. Anna Miller, Mrs. Effie Kinkade, Mrs. Mabel Grimm, Mrs. Bertha Besaw … Read more

Davis, Maria Harris – Obituary

Funeral Of Pioneer To Be Held Tomorrow. Mrs. Maria Davis Was In Valley In 1869 Crossed Plains On Horseback At Age Of Six Years-First Settler On Lake Washington The death of Mrs. Maria Davis, 77 years old, one of the earliest pioneers of Washington, who passed through the Kittitas Valley on her way to Lake Washington in 1869 and met at the summit of Snoqualmie Pass, Tillman Houser and Gus Nesalhouse, first settlers here, resulted from a short illness from pneumonia, according to information received here today Mrs. Davis and her husband, John Davis, lived in Yakima in 1867 to … Read more

Schnebly, Marguerite Nelson – Obituary

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday [February 27, 1966] at Evanson’s Chapel for Mrs. Marguerite A. Schnebly, pioneer resident of the Kittitas Valley, who died Friday at Bernath’s Nursing Home Mrs. Schnebly, 80, was born August 8, 1885, in Copenhagen, Denmark and came with her parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. James P. Nelson. They lived in the Fairview District until 1934, when she and her husband, Frank Schnebly, moved to Ellensburg to make their home at 101 W. Eighth The Schneblys were married September 27, 1905 in Ellensburg and Mr. Schnebly preceded her in death April 12, … Read more

Sorenson, John O. – Obituary

John O. Sorenson, 57, prominent Kittitas Valley farmer, died this morning at his home in the Denmark District. In poor health for some time, he had been seriously ill the past month. Sorenson was a native son of the valley. A son of the late Soren Sorenson, a valley pioneer who came here from Aarhus, Denmark and Nielsine Pedersen Sorenson, he was born here May 13, 1893. He had lived all his life in the valley. An active community worker throughout his adult life, Sorenson had been identified with scores of agricultural and civic enterprises. He was active in the … Read more

Sorenson, E. Peter – Obituary

E. Peter Sorenson, 65, pioneer Denmark District farmer, died suddenly Tuesday evening [October 12, 1937] of a heart attack. Mr. Sorenson was born near Aarhus, Denmark, on April 7, 1872, and came to Minnesota in 1888 where he joined his brother, the late Soren Sorenson. They came together to the Kittitas Valley in the fall of that year. Active in enterprises connected with the development of the valley, he worked and farmed near Ellensburg until 1892, when he obtained land in the Denmark District where he has resided ever since. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Ann Sorenson, a … 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