Kittitas County WA

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

Weaver, Clyde Carl – Obituary

Clyde Weaver, son of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Weaver, and a well-known young man died at his residence in West Kittitas, six miles west of this city, Friday, January 4th at 9:15 p.m., of heart failure. Mr. Weaver had been more or less indisposed for several days and had returned from a trip to Roslyn where he went on business. He retired rather early and shortly his wife noticed that he was restless and gasping. She arose and lit a lamp but he passed away before she could do anything for him or even give any alarm of his … 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

Minielly, Addie Ellen Ferguson – Obituary

Death took Mrs. Addie Ellen Minielly, 68, a native of Ellensburg, on December 31, 1949 at the Ellensburg General Hospital, following an illness of about three years. Mrs. Minielly, the daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth Ferguson of Ellensburg, who survives her, was born while this area was still a part of Washington Territory. She lived here all her life. She is also survived by a daughter, Myrtle Fray of Ellensburg; a son, Stanley Minielly of Kennewick; three brothers, James, George, and Benjamin Ferguson of Ellensburg; three sisters, Mrs. Lottie Harris, of Ellensburg; Mrs. Lillie Morrison, of Ellensburg, and Mrs. Bessie Phelps … Read more

Rogers, William Spencer – Obituary

Another pioneer has been laid away beneath the sod, W. S. Rogers died Thursday, February 9th at 4 o’clock a.m. after a lingering illness covering a period of 15 years. The funeral took place from the Baptist Church, Sunday at 11 a.m., the funeral eulogy being delivered by Reverend M. H. Yager, Pastor. Mr. Rogers was born in Alabama, September 7th, 1840. From his native state he moved to Texas and lived there several years prior to moving to this valley in 1886. He settled on a claim on the Nanum which he sold 10 years ago and moved to … Read more

Grunden, John William – Obituary

John W. Grunden, 94, an Ellensburg native, died Saturday June 26, 1982 at the Goldleaf Nursing Home where he had lived for the past 10 years. He was born on Oct. 12, 1887 in rural Ellensburg, a son of the late Elof and Selma (Jacobsen) Grunden. He served in the army during World War I. Mr. Grunden had worked in the hay baling business as a pressman and foreman of the bailer crew. With the exception of 10 years in Toppenish, he had spent his entire life in the Kittitas Valley. Survivors include a brother, Glenn Grunden of Ellensburg; and … Read more

Wright, Ems Walter – Obituary

Funeral services will be held at the Shaw & Sons Funeral Home in Yakima, Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. for Ems Walter Wright, 52, Yakima barber and a former Ellensburg resident. Interment will be in Terrace Heights Cemetery there. Wright was found dead in his automobile Sunday about 36 miles north of Yakima on the Wenas Road. Yakima County Corner Dr. Ralph W. Shirey said the death was a suicide caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. A garden hose was attached to the car’s exhaust and looped into a window. A fisherman, John Jackson of Ellensburg, spotted the car parked in brush … Read more

Brown, Elizabeth Jane Bailes – Obituary

Oldest Valley Pioneer Passes Elizabeth J. Brown, 98 Succumbs to Heart Attack Elizabeth J. Brown, oldest pioneer resident of the Kittitas Valley, who lacked just six weeks of becoming 99 years of age, succumbed to a heart attack yesterday in her home at 108 North Ruby Street died October 24, 1949. An invalid for the past 10 years, Mrs. Brown has made the valley her home for the past 70 years, since she first came here August 6, 1879. Born December 8, 1850, in Springfield, Missouri, the daughter of Rev. Keathley Bailes and Mrs. Bailes, she and her family crossed … Read more

Cooke, Henry Daniel – Obituary

Henry Daniel Cooke, 69, descendant of two pioneer families of this area, died at his home in Fairview district at about 1 a.m. today [July 2, 1951]. He had lived in Kittitas valley most of his life and farmed at the present Cooke place in the Farview district for the past 16 years. He was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. E. [Edward] Ward Cooke. His grandparents were the pioneers, Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Cooke and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wheeler. Henry Cooke was born here December 4, 1881. In the fall of 1887, his parents built … Read more

Nicol, Leva – Obituary

Leva Nicol Is Taken By Death Mrs. Leva Nicol, 71, wife of Robert W. Nicol of 815 E. Ninth Avenue, died this morning in Valley General Hospital. Mrs. Nicol, was born Nov. 22, 1884 in Ottawa, Quebec, and came to Ellensburg 56 years ago. She was married in Ellensburg 34 years ago and lived on a Wilson Creek ranch for 22 years. She and her husband moved from the Wilson creek ranch to their Ninth Avenue home in 1942. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Nicol is survived by a son, William Johnston of Tacoma, and four daughters, Mrs. Rose … Read more

McEwen, Mary Louise Hyde – Obituary

Toppenish—Mary Louise McEwen, 81, of Toppenish passed away at the Providence Hospital, Toppenish, on Friday, November 27, 1998. She was born on January 24, 1917 in Ashley, ND, the daughter of John and Mary Hyde. When she was three-years-old, the family moved to Quilcene, Washington, where she was raised and educated. She moved to Granger in 1945. She married Ralph McEwen [son of Oscar McEwen and Mary Peffers of Ellensburg]on March 25, 1978. Mary’s hobbies included crocheting, feeding the animals and spending time at Liberty where she and Ralph had a summer home. She was an avid traveler and had … Read more

Biography of Capt. J. D. Dammon

CAPTAIN J.D. DAMMON. – This pioneer of the Kittitass valley was born in Seabeck, Maine, June 22, 1825. In 1843 he removed to Wisconsin, then a territory, living in Dane and Monroe counties. In the spring of 1859, he went with others to Colorado. Denver was then a small place of a few tents and log huts. At Arrapahoe and on Clear creek he engaged in blacksmithing; then with his partner, R.S. Kingman, he bought the Bob Tail Lead in Gregor’s gulch, from which millions of dollars have since been taken; but his partner sold it for $300 during Mr. … Read more

Cooke, Guy Wolford – Obituary

Funeral services will be held here Wednesday afternoon for Guy W. Cooke, 64, Ellensburg native and prominent Kittitas Valley cattlemen who died of a heart attack Saturday morning [December 17, 1955] at his home in the Wilson Creek area. Cooke was Kittitas County Cattleman of the Year in 1953. The services will be held at 2 o’clock at the First Methodist Church with Rev. Miller C. Lovett officiating. Burial will be in the IOOF Cemetery. The family requests that those who desire to send remembrances in lieu of flowers make memorial contributions to the Heart Fund. Six first cousins will … Read more

Obituary of John Bull

Private services were held Tuesday at the Sunnyside Memorial Park Chapel for John Bull, 85, who died Feb. 10 at his home in Toppenish after a long illness. John Bull was born in Ellensburg and lived here until 1919. He is survived by his wife, Ida K. Bull of Toppenish and three daughters, Mrs. Spencer Short, Ellensburg; and Mrs. F. M. Petrie and Mrs. Seville Schaeffler, both of Toppenish. Daily Review/Ellensburg, February 12, 1959 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Indermuhle, Jacob – Obituary

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Evenson Chapel for Jake Indermuhle, 74, of Rt. 2, who died at his home Saturday [July 25, 1964]. Rev. C. M. Strong will officiate and burial will be in the IOOF Cemetery. Mr. Indermuhle was born Oct. 28, 1889 in Ellensburg and married Luella Van Doren, Dec. 4, 1914 at Twin Falls, Ida. They came to Ellensburg from the Boise Valley in 1937 and farmed in the Denmark District until 1961 when they moved to their present home at the south edge of Kittitas. Survivors include his wife, a … Read more

Alexander, Pearl Everette Taylor – Obituary

Pearl E. Alexander, 10201 E. 3rd Ave. Mother of Mrs. Terry Colburn, Denver; sister of Dollie Lickey, Wichita, Kan.; beloved aunt of Lucretia Mathews, Wichita, Kan. Services Friday, 1 p.m., Little Stone Chapel, 17th and Clarkson, Dr. Harold Warner officiating, followed by Rainbow Rebekah Lodge No. 139. [Died June 20, 1978; Interment Hampden Memorial Gardens] Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Yocom, Chester Lee – Obituary

Born Dec. 31, 1892 in Ellensburg, Wash. Passed away Nov. 1, 1974 in Seattle, Wash., at the age of 81. He operated a farm at Colockum Creek outside of Wenatchee, Wash., for many years. He also served in the U.S. Army during World War I. In 1940 he moved to Alderwood Manor, and later to Edmonds, where he operated his own ranch until 1948. In March of that year, he was married to Dorothy Zoellern, and they moved to White Center a short time later. He is survived by his wife Dorothy, of Seattle; a daughter, Roberta Stanfield of Yakima; … Read more

McEwen, Catherine Chambers – Obituary

Near Oakland, Mason County, Oct 16, 1876 of heart disease, Mrs. Catherine McEwen, aged 87. Catherine was the daughter of William H. Chambers and Mary Ann Perry. She was married to the Rev. James McEwen. Catherine was the mother of John Hager McEwen. Her son John was a well-known pioneer of Oakland and Ellensburg. Catherine was buried in the Oakland Cemetery. The grave is no longer marked. A memorial headstone has been placed in the Shelton Memorial Cemetery.

Stevens, Nell S. Wright Burnett – Obituary

Mrs. Nell S. Stevens, 77, who was injured in an automobile crash in the Teanaway District Sunday, died Monday at the Kittitas Valley Community Hospital [June 10, 1968]. Her husband, Avery, received serious injuries in the mishap She was born July 27, 1890, the daughter of pioneer residents, Mr. and Mrs. Al Wright. She was marred to Robert O. Burnett, Nov. 9, 1910, and he preceded her in death in February of 1952. She was later married to Avery Stevens, Oct. 15, 1953. They have farmed in the Woldale District since that time. She was a member of the Eastern … Read more

Taylor, John – Obituary

Passing of John Taylor With the burial of John Taylor upon the old home ranch at Bristol last Saturday afternoon, there passed over the Great Divide another Kittitas county’s honored pioneers. He was born in Wise county, West Va., in 1851 and died at his home at Bristol station December 12, 1917, of cancer. When but a small boy he removed with his parents to Dassel, Minn., and in 1868 was married to Elizabeth Hutchins who still survives him. To this union were born nine children, seven of whom are now living; L.W. Taylor of Cle Elum, Elmer Taylor of … Read more