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
S.R. GEDDIS. – Mr. Geddis, a portrait of whom, together with a view of his beautiful home farm, appears in this history, is a leading and wealthy citizen of Kittitass county. He is one of the men whose success in life has been mainly achieved in the county in which he now lives by the exercise of economy, industry and business integrity, guided by intelligent financial ability. He is now a rich man, while but a few years ago he came to the Kittitass valley with nothing but an unblemished reputation as his entire capital. Mr. Geddis was born in … Read more
Ace W. Gage [Asa], 72, of 911 E. Washington Ave., died Tuesday morning at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital [died February 19, 1985]. He was born in Ellensburg on Dec. 1, 1912. Mr. Gage attended local schools, served for a time in the Merchant Marine and worked for Twin City Foods. Before retiring in 1982, he was manager of the local Eagles Lodge. He was a member of the Eagles and Moose lodges. Survivors include his wife, the former May (Moffet) Mitchell, whom he married at Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on June 6, 1972; a grandson, LeRoy Mitchell, of Wilbur; a niece, … Read more
Lester V. Cooke, 96, of Ellensburg died Thursday in Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. He was born January 27, 1890, in a house on the banks of Coleman Creek north of Ellensburg. He parents were early Kittitas Valley pioneers Mode and Isabella (Fulton) Cooke. After graduating from Ellensburg High School in 1910, Mr. Cooke entered Washington State College, where he received a bachelor of science degree in agriculture in 1914. While attending school he was well known as a sprinter and competed in track events, attaining undefeated status. He married Mary B. Edwards in Drain, Oregon, in 1917, and they farmed … Read more
Mrs. Barnhart of the Methow, mother of Frank Barnhart of this valley; died at her home Tuesday, and the remains were brought to this city for interment today Mary was the wife of Thomas Henderson Barnhart. She was born in Indiana in 1837. She married Thomas in Missouri on November 8, 1855. Mary died August 5, 1902 and is buried in the IOOF Cemetery Contributed by: Sheli Steedman
Edith M. Thomas, 77, died Monday, July 11, 1994 at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. She was born on March 17, 1917 in Ellensburg, the youngest of three children born to Benjamin Franklin and Nora Estella (Wyatt) Ferguson. By horseback she attended Dysart, or No. 5 school. After her education, she helped her family on the ranch, breaking, and riding young horses, caught from the herd of wild horses that they owned. In 1920, Mrs. Thomas assisted in establishing the first rodeo held in the Kittitas Valley at the Ferguson Ranch. Also the Ferguson’s supplied some of the bucking stock for … Read more
J. H. McEwen, formerly known as “Grandpa McEwen,” was born Bartholomew County, Feb. 4, 1832. When but an infant his parents moved to Decatur Co., Ind., where they resided until 1848, when with their family they moved to Fremont, Mahaska County, Iowa, where their son, J. H. was married to Miss Jerusha Amelia Morrow, Aug. 11, 1850. With his wife and young family, McEwen left Iowa in 1860, making his way across the great plains with an ox team. After a long and perilous journey they arrived at the Dallas, Ore., from which point the family were sent by boat … Read more
R. B. Gage, a well known farmer of East Kittitas, died Monday, Nov. 1 [1909], after a lingering illness of several weeks. The funeral services were conducted at the home Wednesday at 10 a.m. and burial at 1:30 p.m. in IOOF Cemetery. Mr. Gage was well and favorable known in this city and valley where he has lived for the past ten years. He came from Texas to this valley. Reese was the son of Jeremiah Gage and Mary Cheney. He married Miranda America German. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman
The Kittitas Valley lost another of its well known pioneers Sunday [October 17, 1926] when Philip Henry Schnebly passed away after an illness that extended over a period of more than three years. Death came at 7 o’clock Sunday, morning but was not unexpected, as Mr. Schnebly had suffered an acute sinking spell Friday. Coming here from Oregon, his birthplace, in 1872, Mr. Schnebly became one of the most important growers of beef cattle in the state, both stock and acreage mounting into the thousands. For a number of years, however, his livestock interests have been handled by his six … Read more
Bertha M. Godbey, 95, a longtime Ellensburg resident, died Friday [September 19, 1986] evening at Gold Leaf Convalescent Home. She was born in Hawkins, Tenn., on Dec. 15, 1890, a daughter of John P. and Phoebe (Derrick) Looney. She and Bert Godbey were married in Yakima on Aug. 22, 1936. The family home was at 504 S. Pearl St. for more than 50 years. Her husband preceded her in death in 1968. Survivors include a niece, Mrs. Jim Wallace, of Wenatchee. Funeral will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at the IOOF Cemetery. Friends who wish to attend may meet at the … Read more
Lulu D. ‘Lu’ Ferguson, 81, of Selah died Tuesday July 3, 1984 in St. Elizabeth Medical Center. She was born Nov. 12, 1902, in Surgoinsville, Tenn., but was raised and educated in Ellensburg. Mrs. Ferguson graduated from Ellensburg High School in 1921. She married Lester J. Ferguson in 1924 in Prosser. In 1932, the couple moved to Yakima, where Mrs. Ferguson worked as a bookkeeper for several years. In 1965, the family moved to Lynnwood, but returned to Yakima in 1978. Mrs. Ferguson was a past president of the Yakima and Edalyn business and Professional Women’s Clubs. She is survived … Read more
After a lingering illness, Mrs. Margaret A. Schnebly died last Saturday afternoon [February 9] at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. B. Davidson, at an advanced age. She had been an invalid for years and much of the time was a great sufferer. Mrs. Schnebly was one of the pioneer women of the valley and was widely known and much esteemed. She was a woman of strong personality and left an impression of her characteristics upon the community, with a strong influence for good. Besides her daughter she leaves two sons, P. H. and C. P. Schnebly and a … Read more
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
Chester C. McGranahan, 65, senior vice-president of the National Bank of Commerce, in charge of all branches outside Seattle, Ellensburg pioneer, World War I veteran and one of the state’s best known bankers, died at the family home in Bellevue Sunday morning [October 6, 1957] and will be buried in Ellensburg Tuesday. His wife, the former Edith Schnebly is a member of the family of one of the valley’s earliest settlers. He was born in Delta, Colo. in 1892 and moved with his parents to Ellensburg in 1900. His father was the late Thomas Harvey McGranahan, and his mother, Anna … Read more
Funeral services will be held at the Honeycutt Chapel here at 3:00 Wednesday afternoon for Myrtle Dixon Eaden, former valley resident, who died in Tacoma on Sunday [April 21, 1946] Born in Ellensburg on February 16, 1899, she was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Dixon, valley pioneers. She attended local grade schools and high school and spent the most of her life here until she moved to Tacoma 15 years ago In 1922 she was married to William Eaden, who survives her. She is also survived by a brother, Archie Dixon of Vancouver, Wash.; a half brother, … 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
Valley Pioneer, Tom Montgomery, Succumbs today. Death follows a three months Illness; funeral to be held her on Thursday. W. T. Montgomery, 74, Kittitas Valley pioneer, passed away at the home of his daughter Mrs. Leta Bates, 200 N. Sprague Street early this afternoon [December 22, 1931]. Mr. Montgomery’s death followed an ailment of three months duration, which confined him to bed. His passing marks the end of another pioneer life vividly reminiscent of long treks over the plains in covered wagons. His entry to the Kittitas Valley was from California in 1861 when he made the trip in a … Read more
Benjamin Franklin Ferguson, 93, a lifetime resident of the Ferguson Road are east of Ellensburg, died Saturday at a local nursing home. He was born July 14, 1886, a son of the late James and Elizabeth Ferguson, who settled in the area in 1872. They came here from Shelton. He attended Dysart Rural School No. 5. He and Nora Wyatt were married March 4, 1912. She preceded him in death Jan. 23, 1968. He retired from active farming in 1977. He had been affiliated with the Baptist Church. He is survived by a son, Bud Ferguson, and two daughters, Gwendolyn … Read more
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
Mrs. Myrtle Elizabeth Wright, wife of Wm. J. Wright, resident in the valley for the past ten years, died yesterday morning [June 13, 1920] at the general hospital at 4:30 a.m. at the age of 47. Mr. and Mrs. Wright located in the valley in 1910, from Missouri, having lived in the city since that date on their ranch four miles east of town. During the winter Mrs. Wright was taken with smallpox and in her weakened condition contracted the “flu,” from which she never had fully recovered. Besides the many friends which she has made since locating in the … Read more