Kittitas County WA

Schnebly, Joseph Jay – Obituary

Joseph J. Schnebly, age 62, prominent Fairview District rancher and valley native son, was killed when a team he was driving to a hay rake on his farm bolted and threw him under the machine [June 27, 1947]. This was the second similar accident this week in the Kittitas Valley. Ira Johnson, driving a second team on a rake in the same field, was thrown from his machine and knocked unconscious when his team ran away after Schnebly’s horses bolted but he escaped serious injury. Schnebly was breaking in a young horse on the team on his rake. This horse … Read more

Filer, Martha Ann Bacus – Obituary

After an illness of several months at her home near Twisp, Washington, Mrs. Martha Filer, died Thursday, August 25 [1913] age 73 years. Mrs. Filer was born January 8, 1840 in Illinois and when a girl moved with her parents to Texas, where in 1869 she was married to Jacob Filer. [Marriage date is incorrect. First child was born about 1862]. To this union twelve children were born, eight of whom are living; her daughters, Mrs. Jones of Twisp, Mrs. Tuverson of Kellogg, Idaho, Mrs. Manning of North Yakima, and Mrs. G. C. Charlton of this valley. Four sons Fred … Read more

Prater, Jess C. – Obituary

Jess C. Prater, 90, died Friday [February 28, 1975] at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. A native son of pioneer parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Prater, he was born Dec. 24, 1884 on his parents’ farm on the Westside. A farmer all his life, he ranched on the Hanson Road for many years. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Norma Noble Prater. The celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on February 14. Other survivors include two sons, William of Tacoma, and Gene of Ellensburg; two daughters, Marjorie Williamson of Seattle and Myrna Halvorsen of Bellevue; a sister, Mrs. … 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.

Biography of James S. Dysart

JAMES S. DYSART. – The subject of this sketch, a portrait of whom is placed in this work, was born in Delaware county, New York, March 22, 1838. His parents were Duncan and Elizabeth (Shaw) Dysart, natives of Scotland. James resided at the place of his birth until he was seventeen years old, when he went via Nicaragua to California to join his brother Alexander, who was living in San Francisco. He reached that city in 1855. His first location was at Placerville, where he engaged in lumbering. That point he made his home till 1862. In that year he … Read more

Poland, Arthur Melvin – Obituary

Stricken by a heart attack on the local bus, Arthur Melvin Poland, 43, Collins school teacher, died Friday [June 8, 1945] in a shipyard hospital where he had been taken for emergency attention. Poland was a native of Ellensburg and had resided in Tacoma 10 years. He is survived at the home, 2356 South G Street, by his wife, Esther, and daughter, Patricia Poland; mother, Mrs. Cora [Grimm] Poland, Sumner; brothers, Elmer and Lynn Poland, Ellensburg; five sisters, Miss Ann Poland, Montana, Mrs. Clinton Morrow and Mrs. Edna Kenyon, Seattle; Mrs. Dollie Brown, Portland, and Mrs. Leta Doyle, Spanaway. C. … Read more

Olmstead, Phil – Obituary

Phil Olmstead Valley Pioneer Called–Resident of Valley for 61 Years Passed Wednesday From Heart Attack–Had Distinguished Ancestors Philip S. Olmstead, 73-year-old resident of the Kittitas Valley for nearly 62 years, died suddenly at his farm home Wednesday morning [March 23, 1938] from a heart attack. Death came to him without warning about 9:30, shortly after he had conferred with D. W. Brunson, local auctioneer, about a sale which he was contemplating next week, after which he planned to retire from active farming. Mr. Olmstead was born in Ottawa, Illinois, the 14th day of February in 1865. He came to the … Read more

Robertson, Mary Virginia Morrison – Obituary

Mrs. J. W. Robertson departed this life May 1, 1903, aged 23 years, 11 months, and 19 days. Mrs. Robertson was born in Ellensburg, May 11, 1879, and lived there till June 2, 1899, when she went to Tacoma, and after a short time was married to J. W. Robertson and resided there until her death. She was a loving wife and a devoted mother, and was beloved by all who knew her. She leaves a husband, one child, four brothers, a sister, a mother and father an many friends, and relatives to mourn their loss When our earthly life … Read more

Lundstrom, Lucille L. – Obituary

Lucille L. Lundstrom, 76, an Aberdeen resident since 1979, died Tuesday March 27, 1990 at a local nursing home. She was born May 17, 1913. (Really June), in Ellensburg. She married Fred Lundstrom in 1939 at Ellensburg where they farmed for 14 years. He survives at the family home in Aberdeen. They lived in Stitzer, Wisconsin, where they farmed for nine years before returning to Ellensburg. They moved to Aberdeen from Ellensburg. She enjoyed needlework and crocheting, watching golf on television, gardening and reading. In addition to her husband, she is survived by two sons, Richard Lundstrom of Aberdeen and … 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

Cooke, Jay – Obituary

The people of this community were surprised and shocked to learn that Jay Cooke had died Monday [July 22, 1907] night at his home about twelve miles northeast of town. He only took to his bed last Saturday, but he was unable to combat the fearful ailment—gall stones—and passed away as stated. The young man was a native of the valley and few farmers were better known. He was of a genial disposition, industrious and temperate in his habits, and his death is a distinct loss to the community. He leaves a wife and two children. Interment will be at … Read more

Grimm, Jacob – Obituary

Jake Grimm, former Kittitas Valley farmer, died at his home in South Tacoma last night July 2, 1973, according to word received by relatives here today. He lived in the valley all of his life before moving to Tacoma 15 years ago. He farmed in the Broadview District. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Rose Carver Grimm; two sons, William and Archie Grimm; three brothers, Bird and John Grimm of Ellensburg and Harry Grimm of California, and two sisters, Mrs. Jesse Poland of Sumner and Mrs. Charles Walker of Ellensburg. Funeral arrangements have not been completed, but are tentatively … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Henry L. Valade

Henry L. Valade, proprietor of the City Hotel of Canyon City, has had a number of years of experience in his chosen calling, namely, with the Norton House, of Ellensburg, Washington, and the Rainier Grand and Arlington hotels of Seattle, since taking charge of his present property he has made a number of desirable improvements, having added a first-class bar, over which is dispensed high grade wines and liquors, making a specialty of case goods. His wife, formerly Mrs, Ella Rau, of this county, has personal charge of the culinary department which is sufficient guarantee of the service rendered their … Read more

Graaff, Mary Margaret Michels – Obituary

Mary Margaret (Mae) Graaff, 93, 107 W. 11th Ave., died Thursday evening [December 19, 1985]. She was born in Ellensburg on Dec. 27. 1891, one of 11 children of George and Cecilia (Quinn) Mitchell {Michels]. Mrs. Graaff was the last survivor of the family. She and Francis A. Graaff were married in Ellensburg on May 28, 1914. Her husband preceded her in death on Sept. 2, 1955. Mrs. Graaff was a member of St. Andrews Catholic Church, the Altar Society, Legion of Mary, Navy Mothers Club and the Grandmothers Club. She is survived by three sons, the Rev. Joseph Graaff … Read more

Barnhart, Frank Cooke – Obituary

Frank C. Barnhart, pioneer sheepman of this valley, died at the Ellensburg Hospital Friday evening at 7:30 o’clock [December 23, 1932] following a brief illness. He was 74 years of age. Mr. Barnhart, a resident of the Kittitas Valley since 1878, was born in Missouri in 1858. He was married in 1879 to Miss Matilda Louise Bailes. Mr. Barnhart was an active pioneer sheepman and resided in the Fairview District until five years ago when he moved to the Denmark District. He was a member of the Christian Church and a charter member of the Odd Fellows Lodge. Besides his … 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

Uebelacker, Hallie Dell Montgomery – Obituary

Hallie Dell Uebelacker, 88, of Ellensburg passed away on Thursday, September 5, 1996 at Kittitas Valley Regional Rehab Center in Ellensburg. She was born in Ellensburg, Washington on October 27, 1907, a daughter of William Thomas and Margaret Olive (Ferguson) Montgomery. Hallie’s mother’s family arrived in the Kittitas Valley in 1872, crossing Snoqualmie Pass in wagons and on horseback. Her father drove an eight horse hitch freight wagon from the Dallas, Oregon to Waterville, Washington Territory. After his many trips through the Valley, he decided to settle in the Valley. He filed a homestead claim on 160 acres in the … 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

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

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