Kittitas County WA

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

Jensen, Jens C. – Obituary

Jens C. Jensen, 68, a widely known Ellensburg resident, was instantly killed when a Northern Pacific passenger train struck his automobile at the grade crossing on South Main street yesterday afternoon. His car was hit at 4:45 P.M. by the second section of N.P. passenger No. 5, running two hours behind the first section, which arrived at 2:45 P.M. Driving north on his way home from the George Kontos place across the Yakima river, Jensen had almost cleared the crossing when the passenger’s engine struck the rear of his 1926 model Overland sedan. The road angles across the tracks and … Read more

Gerard, Ida May (Hall) – Obituary

Mrs. Ida M. Gerard, 91, a former Ellensburg resident, died Wednesday at the Central Memorial Hospital in Toppenish. She had been in the hospital one day, having been in the Parkside Sanitarium in Toppenish since March 21. She was born July 26, 1866, in Covington, Kentucky. She was married to Joseph N. Gerard in Mt. Vernon, Ill. in 1884. He preceded her in death in February, 1938 in Los Angeles. Mrs. Gerard came to Ellensburg from Mt. Vernon in 1888, moved to Spokane in 1901, to Wapato in 1916, to Detroit, Mich. in 1923, to Seattle in 1925, returned to … Read more

Uebelacker,Geneva Bronson – Obituary

Geneva Bronson, 97, of Yakima, passed away on Sunday, January 4, 1998 in Crescent Convalescent Center. She was born on June 17, 1900 to Frank and Anna (Michels) Uebelacker in Ellensburg, WA where she was raised and educated. She and her husband resided in San Jose, California, where Mrs. Bronson was a first grade teacher at Willow Glen Elementary School for many years. She has resided in Yakima for the past fifteen years. She is survived by two nephews, Don Uebelacker and wife Anna of Yakima and Bill Uebelacker and wife Jean of Milwaukee, Oregon; numerous great nieces and nephews, … Read more

Blair, Louis – Obituary

Louis Blair, 63, Taken By Death Louis Blair, 63, Kittitas valley resident for the past 49 years, died at his home in Ellensburg at 10 a.m., November 05, 1949. A native of Quebec, Canada, Blair was a former Kittitas county employe and more recently was employed by the Schaake Packing Company. Blair was the father of Mrs. Berniece Dossey of Chandler, Arizona, well known professional Rodeo trick rider. Also surviving him are his widow, Winifred; four sisters, Mrs. Helen Jensen of Ellensburg, Mrs. Leva Nicol of Ellensburg, Mrs. Lena Arps of Soap Lake and Mrs. Liza Hayes of Ellensburg, and … Read more

Hayes, George W. – Obituary

Heart Trouble Fatal To Youth, George W. Hayes, 20, Born In Ellensburg, Succumbs Last Night. George Wesley Hayes, 20, son of Mr. and Mr. J. J. Hayes, died Wednesday evening at 8 o’clock at the home of his uncle, Harry K. Hayes at 14th and Water streets. He had been ill for a year with heart trouble. The deceased leaves, in addition to his parents, two sisters and two brothers, Mrs. Martin Indermuhle of Meridian, Idaho; and Velma, Earl and James Hayes of Ellensburg. He was born in Ellensburg Feb. 15, 1904. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 2 … Read more

Hall, Zumbrunnen Bertha Annen – Obituary

Bertha Zumbrunnen Hall, 91, of Rt. 5, a long-time Kittitas Valley resident, died Monday at Royal Vista Care Center. Mrs. Hall, who was born in Switzerland on Nov. 15, 1892, came to the United States in 1912. On March 16 in that year, she and Victor Zumbrunnen were married on the ranch north of Ellensburg where she spent most of her life. Mr. Zumbrunnen died in January of 1935. In 1942, she married Evert Hall in Yuma, Ariz. They lived for a time in California, Friday Harbor and Aberdeen before returning to the original family ranch north of Ellensburg to … Read more

Hall, Lottie M. Ferrier – Obituary

Mrs. Wm. R. Hall died last night [October 16, 1910] at 8 o’clock at her home on West Tenth Street after a short illness. She was 28 years of age and leaves a husband, son, and infant daughter, besides her father, E. I. Ferrier, of this city, two sisters, Mrs. Frank Simpson and Mrs. Bert Carroll, and three brother, Jesse, Harry, and Jack Ferrier. She was buried this afternoon. [Interment at IOOF Cemetery] Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

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

Charlton, Glenn Carmi – Obituary

Glenn C. Charlton native Kittitas Valley resident died July 2 [1961], at the age of 60 at Eastern State Hospital. Charlton was born Aug. 13, 1900 in Ellensburg and attended the No. 18 Nanum Grade School and graduated from Ellensburg High School. In 1926 he graduated from Washington State College School of Agriculture. He served for 29 years with the Forest Service. He first was in the Umatilla National Forest and after two years was transferred to the Wenatchee National Forest where he served until 1935 when he was transferred to Willamette National Forest in the Detroit District. In 1942 … 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.

Nealis, Martha Shelton – Obituary

B. M. Shelton of Ellensburg has received word of the death of his sister, Mrs. Martha Nealis, 92, Saturday morning in Seattle [October 25, 1941], at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. T. Gott. Mrs. Nealis and Mr. and Mrs. Gott will be remembered by may friends in Ellensburg, where they lived for 17 years before moving to Seattle in 1923. Funeral services will be held Tuesday in Seattle. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

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

Michels, Mabel Anita Yocom – Obituary

Oregon Funeral Notice -Michels–At Milwaukie, Or., Feb. 23, Mabel Anita Michels, aged 26 years, beloved wife of Martin L. Michels, mother of Beatrice Louise Michels. The remains will be forwarded this Tuesday morning by the F. S. Dunning, Inc., 414 East Alder, to Ellensburg, Wash., for services and interment. [IOOF Cemetery] Mrs. Martin Mitchell [Michels] died at her home in Portland [Clackamas Co. not Multnomah Co.] Monday morning. The remains were shipped to Ellensburg and funeral services were held at the home of her uncle, B. A. Gault, yesterday afternoon, Rev. Lux officiating. Mrs. Mitchell was born and raised in … Read more

Cooke, Ella Harrel – Obituary

Ella Cooke, 96, died Saturday, April 19, 1997 at the Masonic Retirement Center in Des Moines, Wash., where she has been a resident for 9 years. She was born Jan. 1, 1901 in Hawkins County, Tenn. She came to the Ellensburg Valley with her parents, Edward and Julia Harrel, as a small child. She and her husband, Budd Cooke who preceded her in death, lived in the Colockum Pass area north of Ellensburg for over 40 years. She loved to do crafts and handiwork. Before her move to the coast, she belonged to Jolly Neighbors and to the Country Mothers … Read more

Cooke, Irma Lucile Wilson – Obituary

Irma L. Cooke, 90, of Kittitas, died Sunday, Dec. 23, 1990, at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital in Ellensburg. She was born Aug. 26, 1900, in Wausau, Wis., the only child of Vernon E. and Caroline (Finup) Wilson. She earned her teaching degree at the University of Wisconsin at Grand Rapids and, following her graduation, she was a high school teacher teaching English, Spanish and piano. She came to the Ellensburg area in 1932. She was a member of the Kittitas Community Church, where she was organist and pianist. She and Norman L. Cooke were married in Ellensburg on March 29, … Read more

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

Durland, Louise Serene Pedersen – Obituary

A private service will be Thursday in Willamette National Cemetery for Louise Serene Durland of Southeast Portland. Mrs. Durland died Sunday [November 25] in a Portland hospital of causes related to age. She was 89. She was born Jan. 26, 1901, in Ellensburg, Wash. Her maiden name was Pedersen. She had lived in the Portland area since 1934 and married Coe Irving Durland, who died in 1960. Mrs. Durland was a homemaker. Survivors include her sons, Richard of Portland and Peter of Chula Vista, Calif.; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family suggests that remembrances be contributions to the Salvation … Read more

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

Hayes, Lydia Montgomery – Obituary

Mrs. Geo Hayes Passes Today At Broadview Home Mrs. Lydia Hayes wife of George Hayes, passed away at her home in the Broadview district this morning [August 1, 1934]. She had been ill for several months but her death comes as a great shock to her family and many friends. She was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Montgomery and was born September 3, 1887. With the exception of about 13 years, Mrs. Hayes spent her entire life on the home farm where she passed away, eight of which were spent in the Yakima Valley. She … Read more