Jess Ferrier, 67, well known retired Ellensburg contractor, died in a local hospital [October 6, 1948] yesterday afternoon. He had been in failing health for some time. A resident of Ellensburg nearly half a century, Ferrier came here in 1901. He was engaged in the construction and house-moving business for many years. Mrs. Ferrier died four years ago. He is survived by a sister, Mrs. Stella McDebitt of Spokane. Funeral arrangements have not been completed.
Al Grunden, 41, dies after fall her Tuesday; Topples from Top of Tank in County Jail; Sheriff Ballard Spectator. Al Grunden, an Ellensburg boy, died in the Ellensburg General Hospital Tuesday afternoon a couple of hours after he was the victim of an unusual accident in the Kittitas County Jail. Grunden had just been committed a few hours previous to serve out a $12.50 fine and costs imposed by Police Judge Chester Thomas for intoxication and to pay for two previous suspended sentences. The accident occurred in full view of Sheriff Wayne Ballard who was standing in the door of … Read more
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
Resident Here Since 1882, Former Mail Carrier Dies Sunday. Death came to another pioneer resident of the Kittitas valley here Sunday when Elwood J. Dixon, 82, died at the Ellensburg General hospital following a major operation [died May 9, 1937]. A resident of this valley since 1882, and one of the earliest rural mail carriers here, Mr. Dixon was widely known throughout this section. He was born in Fulton County, Illinois, on October 3, 1854 and came west to Vancouver, W., with his parents [John Wesley Dixon and Sarah E. Smith] when he was 24 years old. The family came … Read more
Long time Denmark District farmer William F. Erickson, 81, died Friday August 7, 1970 at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. Born April 3, 1889 at Wheaton, Minn., he moved to the Kittitas Valley from Beverly, Wash., in 1919. He farmed in Badger Pocket and Fairview districts before moving to the Denmark District 30 years. He was married to Elizabeth Dixon on December 25, 1919 in Ellensburg. He served in the Army during World War I, was a member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, World War I veterans, and the Farm Bureau. He is survived by his wife; … Read more
Mrs. Alice Edna Harrel, 64, died at her home on the Thorp highway at 10:30 a.m. today January 19, 1952 following a long illness. She was born in the state of Kansas and came to Kittitas Valley from Seattle in 1915. She was married in Ellensburg to Tom A. Harrel, September 4, 1925. She was a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Harrel farmed in the Badger Pocket area prior to moving to their West Side ranch six years ago. She is survived by her husband and by a stepdaughter, Mrs. Louise Fleming of Seattle, two sisters, Mrs. … Read more
Rose Morrison, 86, longtime Ellensburg resident, died Wednesday August 28, 1985 at Royal Vista Care Center. She was born in Missoula, Mont., on Aug. 16, 1899, and moved to the Ellensburg area at age 8 with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Quincy A. Davis. She attended local schools and started to work for the Ellensburg Telephone Co. when she was 15. She was a telephone operator during World War I and handled the emergency created by the flu epidemic then. Her telephone-operating career was interrupted by her marriage in 1919 to Abraham B. Morrison. They settled in the Badger Pocket … Read more
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
Burton L. Peffers, 63, 908 E. Fifth Avenue, a native of Ellensburg, died at Sorensen Memorial Hospital Wednesday afternoon [November 21, 1956]. He had been in ill health 2 ½ years and had been hospitalized the past week. Peffers was born here Feb. 2, 1893, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Moses Peffers, pioneer residents of the Fairview District. He married Zelma Hailey on Nov. 8, 1950, in Reno, NV. He was a veteran of World War I. He is survived by his wife; a stepson, Homer Seriven, of Stockton, Calif.; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Lela Stiger, of Miami, Fla.; three … Read more
Death Take Well-Known Resident Oscar Mcewen Oscar (Ott) McEwen, well-known Ellensburg resident, died Sunday at the Kittitas Valley Memorial Hospital. He was 89 years old [died June 4, 1967]. McEwen was one of the last true cowboys in the northwest, and the familiar scene of McEwen astride his horse, riding through town, was a common-place occurrence. He was for many years a rider at the Ellensburg Rodeo and participated in many of the early events at the rodeo. He still made an annual appearance at the show. He was born October 6, 1877 in a frontier home three and one … Read more
Sam L. Banister, 55, former Ellensburg resident who had resided for several years in Kirkland, died Thursday in Maynard Hospital, Seattle, following a lingering illness. Born in Tieton Aug. 28, 1913, Banister resided in Ellensburg until 1943 when he went to work for Boeing Aircraft Company. He is survived by his wife, Helen at the family home in Kirkland; two sons, Paul and Perry Banister, both in the U.S. navy; a brother, George Banister, Seattle; an aunt, Mrs. Belle Lewis, Yakima; and four cousins, Bertha Longerbeam, son, Cora McEwen and Mrs. Pat Jordin, all of Ellensburg. Funeral arrangements are pending. … Read more
Pleasant Frederick Barnhart, 70, son of original pioneers of Kittitas Valley, died Wednesday night, March 28 [1951], in a Pasco Hospital. He had made his home in Pasco since 1917 Barnhart was a veteran railroad man. He had been employed by the Northern Pacific since 1906 until retirement three years ago. Death followed illness of three months He was born here [Ellensburg] on October 7, 1880, and lived with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Barnhart, on the family farm in the Fairview District until he began his railroading career. In 1906, he went to live in Pasco, returned … Read more
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
Mrs. Walter Zelten, 77, of 1001 E. 32nd St., died Wednesday [February 4, 1981]. Mrs. Zelten was born in Ellensburg and moved to Tacoma in 1942. Survivors include a son, Walter, Jr. of Tacoma; a daughter, Mrs. Irene Aylett of Tacoma; two sisters, Mrs. Mary Henry of Tigard, Ore., and Mrs. Louise Durland of Portland; four grandchildren and a great grandchild. Buckley-King at Brookside is in charge. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman
Abe L. Cooke Dies in Seattle Abe L. Cooke, 47, of Yakima, a former Ellensburg resident and a veteran of the first World War, died Wednesday in the Marine hospital in Seattle after an illness of several months. He was born April 27, 1897, at Coberg, Ore., the son of Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Cooke, Kittitas valley pioneers. The Cooke family returned to this valley while he was still an infant and he received his education in valley schools. He served with a National Guard company which was sent to patrol the Mexican border in the fall of 1916. … Read more
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
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
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
Frank C. Barnhart, pioneer sheepman of this valley, died at the Ellensburg Hospital Friday evening [December 23, 1932]at 7:30 o’clock 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 widow … Read more
Mrs. Annie Grimm died in this city at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Poland, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 1911. Funeral from Briley’s Chapel, Friday at 2 p.m., Rev. A. L. Crim officiates. Mrs. Grimm was born in Missouri, October 19, 1852. When yet a child, she moved with her parents to Salem, Oregon, where she married William Grimm, who died seven years ago this month. A few years after her marriage, the family moved to this valley where she has lived for 34 years. She became a member of the Christian Church in her early life and lived a … Read more