Kittitas County WA

Grunden, Selma Caroline Jacobsen – Obituary

Death came here this week to another of Kittitas Valley’s pioneers, Mrs. Selma Caroline Grunden, 80, who had lived here 68 years died November 29, 1946. Born in Sweden May 31, 1866, Mrs. Grunden came to Ellensburg in 1878, when she was 12 years old, and had made her home here continuously since that time. She was in Ellensburg during the last Indian uprising in Central Washington and witnessed growth of this area from a frontier section to its present development. She made her home with the late J. L. Vaughn for several years after coming to the valley. She … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John M. Newman

JOHN M. NEWMAN. – The gentleman whom we here introduce to the reader, and a view of whose residence is placed in this history, is a native of Sullivan County, Missouri, and was born August 10,1851. While but a lad of thirteen he came to eastern Oregon, and, after a sojourn of a year upon the sage-brush plains, continued the march to the Willamette valley. Some years were there spent in Marion and Benton counties, the most interesting period of his life there being his marriage to Miss Isabel Forgey, a noble woman who has borne him eight children. In … Read more

Morris, John “Casey” – Obituary

Fatality results in Mine Accident: John Morris, 65, Dies Under Trip Car Wheels John Morris, 65, known familiarly throughout Roslyn as “Casey” died under the wheels of a string of trip cars in the 12th east parting of the Northwestern Improvement Company’s No. 9 mine at Roslyn shortly before noon yesterday. He had been an employee of the company for 31 years. The fatal accident, which leaved the dead miner’s six children – all under 21 years of age – fatherless, is being investigated today by a state mine inspector. There were no witnesses to the accident, Harr Boyle, resident … Read more

Indermuhle, Martin – Obituary

Martin Indermuhle, 89, of 411 So. Pearl St. died Tuesday May 12, 1981 in Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. He was born in Ellensburg, Sept. 22, 1891, a son of Christian and Susan (Zumbrunnen) Indermuhle. He and Hazel Hayes were married in Ellensburg, March 24, 1917. They farmed in Gooding and Meridian, Idaho from 1917 to 1931 when they returned to the Kittitas Valley. They farmed in the East Kittitas District until retirement in 1964 when they moved to Ellensburg. Survivors, in addition to his wife, include two sons, Marvin, of Beavercreek, Ore., and Merlin, of Kittitas; a daughter, Ellen Leader, … Read more

Seaton, James A. – Obituary

James A. Seaton, 73, well-known native Fairview District farmer, passed away Sunday [January 7, 1968] at his home. Born Nov. 12, 1893, near the head of Wilson Creek in Kittitas County, he was married to Ruth Z. Wallace, July 3, 1924 at Tacoma. His wife preceded him in death, passing away June 2, 1952. A member of the Kittitas County Farm Bureau, Mr. Seaton also operated a hay baling business from 1923 to 1927. He is survived by one son, James A. Seaton, Jr., Ellensburg; one daughter, Mrs. Robert (Margaret) Paul, Ellensburg; nine grandchildren; one brother, Ralph Seaton, Ellensburg; two … Read more

Fray, Myrtle Mildred Minielly – Obituary

Myrtle fray, former long time Ellensburg resident, died in Colorado Springs, Colo. Funeral services will be handled by Cotton Chapel with graveside services at 3 p.m. Thursday at the IOOF Cemetery. Friends may meet at the cemetery. The Rev. Donald Meekof will officiate and members of the American Legion will participate. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Grewell, Thomas Clayton “Clate” – Obituary

Veteran Of Indian Wars Passes Away. Clate Grewell Made First Trip Through This Valley In 1878. Clate Grewell, 75, pioneer resident of Washington and a veteran of the Indian Wars, passed away Friday night, April 1, 1938, at the Pasco Hospital after a brief illness. He had suffered a stroke on March 27. Funeral services were held at Kennewick on Monday, the service being read by Rev. Stanley Grewell of Ellensburg, a cousin of the deceased. Burial was in the Mabton cemetery, pallbearers being C. I. Wright, Matt Wiehl, Henry Young, Colburn Anderson, Archie Borden and Paul Schicka. He is … Read more

Davis, Ina Lorene Dewees – Obituary

Mrs. Ina Lorene Davis died this morning [January 12, 1959] at the Ellensburg General Hospital where she has been a patient for the past month She was born in Enid, Okla. and came here about 55 years ago with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William DeWees and has made her home here since then For many years she was a grade school teacher here, her most recent work having been with the handicapped children as their first instructor at the Lincoln School She was married in June 1916 to Ellis Davis who died here Dec. 16, 1958. She was a … Read more

Cooke, Claude Paul – Obituary

Funeral services for Claude Paul Cooke, 62, of Bellingham and formerly of the Colockum and Entiat, will be held from the Jones and Jones Chapel, Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock. The Rev. George W. Pratt of Entiat will officiate, and interment will be in the Wenatchee Cemetery. R. E. Patterson will sing, with Miss Carolyn Sterling at the organ. Mr. Cooke died in a Bellingham Hospital Friday evening, following an illness of two years. Born July 4, 1882 in Ellensburg, he grew to manhood there and was married to Emma Storey in 1908 [1909] at Wenatchee. He lived for many … Read more

Bratton, Sophia R. – Obituary

Bratton Rites Set Saturday Funeral services for Sophia R. Bratton, 56, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Ellensburg. Mrs. Bratton, a former Ellensburg resident, died Wednesday in Seattle. She was born January 16, 1909 in Tacoma and spent her childhood years in Ellensburg. She had lived in Seattle and Tacoma the past 43 years. She is survived by a son, Frank Frost of Chicago, Ill., a brother, W. R. Johnston, Tacoma; a sister, Mrs. Fred Lundstrom of Ellensburg; two half sister, Mrs. Margaret Hinkle of grand Coulee and Mrs. Dorothy Buroker, Renton; a granddaughter, Miss Deborah Frost, Seattle; and … Read more

Phelps, Mary Smith – Obituary

Mrs. Mary Phelps, a resident of Ellensburg from 1884 to 1945, died recently [January 16, 1951] in Everett, where she has lived for the past five years. She was born in Pike County, Missouri, in 1867. Surviving are three sons, Gilbert of Everett, Tracy of Chelan, and Odie Phelps of Seattle; a sister, Mrs. Ella Wilson of Everett, and a brother, Sherman Smith, of Ellensburg. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday at the Honeycutt-Evenson Chapel, with Rev. Dan Rueb officiating. Interment will follow at the IOOF cemetery here. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Noble, Louis – Obituary

Louis Noble, 78, retired mail carrier of the Kittitas Valley, passed away early Wednesday morning [August 27, 1930] following a long illness. He was born June 5, 1852 in Cleveland, Ohio, and was marred to Miss Addie M. Huntley on December 5, 1880. The couple came to this valley in 1908. Mr. Noble was a rural mail carrier–seven years of which were on route one–for over ten years after which he retired to his small valley farm. His death is deeply grieved by the many farmers and friends to whom he delivered mail daily for a number of years. He … Read more

Grunden, John William – Obituary

John W. Grunden, 94, an Ellensburg native, died Saturday [June 26] 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 bailing 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 three … Read more

Morrison, Thomas Edward – Obituary

Ed Morrison, 54, a native Kittitas County farmer, 54, died Sunday [July 2, 1978] at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. He was born May 15, 1924 at Kittitas. He has farmed in the Kittitas Valley since he was 14-years-old, more recently in the Denmark and Badger Pocket districts. He attended Kittitas schools and was married Juanita Borgman May 27, 1944 at Kittitas. He was active as a volunteer in the Denmark area rural fire department. He is survived by his wife at the farm, Rt. 2, his mother, Mrs. Rose Morrison of Ellensburg; one son, Tom Morrison of Enumclaw; a daughter, … Read more

Nicol, Robert W. – Obituary

Robert W. Nicol, 93, former Ellensburg resident and Wilson Creek area farmer, died Thursday in Yakima. Funeral services will be Monday, 2 P.M., at Evenson’s Chapel. A complete obituary will appear in a later edition. Nicol, Robert W. Robert W. Nicol, 93 former Ellensburg resident and Wilson Creek farmer, died Thursday, June 07, 1973 in Yakima, where he had lived for the past three years. He was born in Scotland, Feb. 1, 1880, and came to the United States in 1900. In 1901 he settled in the Colockum area where he homesteaded for many years and ran wild horses. He … Read more

Michels, Frank – Obituary

Frank Michels, 83, member of a Kittitas Valley pioneer family, died here this morning [March 27, 1951] about 6:30 a.m. at the Airway Nursing Home. Michels was born at Shakopee, Minnesota., October 10, 1868 and came to the Ellensburg area at the age of 15, with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Michels in 1882. In 1892 here he was married to Mary O’Brien. She died in 1924 and three years later Michels was married to Vera Johnson. The marriage took place at Ephrata, although both resided here. During a 20 year period, until three years ago, Mr. and Mrs. … Read more

Schroder, August – Obituary

August Schroder, 89, well-known Ellensburg resident and retired Snohomish County farmer, died yesterday [April 11, 1947] afternoon at his home here. Had he lived until next Sunday, he would have been 90 years old. Born at Hamburg, Germany, April 20, 1857, he came to the United States when he was 27 years old and to Washington State in 1888. He farmed for many years at Granite Falls, moving to the Kittitas Valley 7 ½ years ago. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Ada Schroder; three daughters, Mrs. J. A. Mansfield of Spokane, and Mrs. T. A. Harrell and Mrs. A. O. … Read more

Bailes, Amos W. – Obituary

Amos W. Bailes, 58, died yesterday [May 25, 1932] afternoon at his home in the Fairview District following an illness of two weeks. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 o’clock Sunday afternoon at the Honeycutt Chapel with Rev. Harry Bell in charge of the services. Burial will be in the IOOF Cemetery. Mr. Bailes was born August 7, 1874 in Oregon. He is survived by a widow, Helen and six children, Glen, Lydia, Virgil, Loren, Nora and Dorothy; a brother Archie McDonald and a sister, Mrs. A. H. Berry, all of Ellensburg. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Clymer, Doris Schnebly – Obituary

Doris Schnebly Clymer, 99, of Issaquah, Washington, died Sunday May 18, 2008 after a short illness. She was born April 3, 1909, in Ellensburg, Washington to Joseph Jay and Elizabeth Barnhart Schnebly. Her early years were spent on the family ranch which was located in the Fairview District, where she attended a one-room schoolhouse. After graduating from Ellensburg High School, Doris went on to study History and English at Washington State College (now WSU), where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1931. In 1932, Doris married high school sweetheart and artist John Ford Clymer. Over the 58 years of their … Read more

Schnebly, Joseph Carroll – Obituary

Joseph Carroll Schnebly, 67, of Ellensburg, died Sunday [February 10, 1985] at his home following a brief illness. He was born May 6, 1917, in Ellensburg, the son of the late Joseph Jay and Elizabeth (Barnhart) Schnebly He was graduated from Ellensburg High School and Washington State University, where he was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He operated a ranch in the Fairview District until his retirement in 1972 Mr. Schnebly was a past president of the Kittitas County Farm Bureau, and was a member of the Kittitas County Cattlemen’s Association and the county board of tax … Read more