Kittitas County WA

Montgomery, Sadie “Sasie” Folsom Sutherland – Obituary

The death of Mrs. Sasie F. Montgomery occurred this morning [December 1, 1922] at 5 o’clock at the family residence in the Broadview District, following an illness of a year. Mrs. Montgomery was born in Kerona, Illinois, May 21, 1858, coming to Kittitas County in 1888, where she has since made her home. She was married to James Montgomery in 1891. For several years in the pioneer days of Ellensburg, Mrs. Montgomery was employed as a teacher in the city schools, and later served on the county examining board. She has always been very much interested in school work, and … Read more

Packwood, Harvey – Obituary

Harvey Packwood, 74, member of a pioneer Kittitas Valley family, died Tuesday in a Seattle Hospital. He had been in ill health for the past year. Packwood was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Packwood who came to the Kittitas Valley in 1874. He and his twin brother, the late Harry Packwood, were born here in April 1882. Harry Packwood died at Pe Ell in 1937 [died November 18, 1940]. [Obit says Perry]. Harvey Packwood lived here until 1907. He resided in California and Kennewick before moving to Seattle in 1930. He made his home there with … Read more

Rutledge, William Thomas – Obituary

William Thomas Rutledge, 79, died yesterday [died December 13, 1938] at the family residence on North B Street here. He was born in Knoxville, Tenn., September 10, 1859, and was married September 9, 1886, to Mary Harrell, who survives him. He is also survived by two daughters, Mrs. L. E. Wyatt, Kittitas and Mrs. Earl Elmer of Ellensburg; four sons, Ernest and Oscar Rutledge of Ellensburg; Earl Rutledge of Prindle, Wash., and Edgar Rutledge of California; a brother, Rev. S. W. Rutledge of Knoxville, and a sister, Mrs. Bert Childs, of Knoxville. Funeral services will be held at the Honeycutt … Read more

Purdin, Mary Lulu Huss – Obituary

At her late home, 776 North Commercial Street, Mary Lulu, wife of Robert L. Purdin, age 49 years [October 21, 1924 in Marion Co., OR]. Besides her husband she is survived by five children, Mrs. Leston Downes, Mrs. Lester Mooney of Cottage Grove, Harvey, Eileen, and Mary at home. Her mother, two sisters and six brothers who reside in Washington. She was a member of Neighbors of Woodcraft of Ellensburg, Wash. Funeral services will be announced later. Remains are in care of the Terwilliger Funeral Home. Mary Lulu was the daughter of Elisha Harvey Huss and Dorcas Jane Graham, long-time … Read more

Barnhart, Frank – Obituary

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

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

Carver, George Washington – Obituary

George W. Carver Civil War Veteran Died Monday Night George W. Carver, died Monday night at the family residence, 209 South Pearl, from cancer of the bladder. Mr. Carver was born in Licking County, Ohio, June 15, 1840. He served three years in Company E. of the 94th Illinois during the Civil War and remove d to the Kittitas Valley in 1876. He had lived here since that time on the old homestead three and a half miles southeast of town until recently, when he moved to the present family residence. He is survived by his widow and six children, … Read more

Ferguson, John M. – Obituary

John M. Ferguson Pioneer Is Dead Well Known Local Farmer Was Born In This State 56 Years Ago Death claimed another Kittitas county farmer, when John M. Ferguson, one of the pioneer farmers of the valley passed away last Friday [April 22, 1927] at the age of 56. Besides his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Ferguson, Mr. Ferguson who was unmarried is survived by five sisters, Mrs. W. T. Montgomery; Mrs. G. P. Harris, Mrs. George Minielly, Mrs. T. J. Morrison, Mrs. O. N. Phelps; and three brothers, Jim, George, and Ben Ferguson, all living in the valley besides a large number … Read more

Alexander, Burl Lee – Obituary

Burl Alexander, 1445 Corona St. Husband of Pearl E. Alexander; father of Terry V. Colburn, Denver. Services, Friday 3:30 p.m., Little Stone Chapel, 17th and Clarkson. Services conclude at the chapel. Family prefers gifts to the Emphysema Anonymous Incorporated, P. O. Box 66, Fort Meyers, Fla., 33902. [Died February 14, 1978 with interment in Hampden Memorial Garden] Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Godbey, Bert – Obituary

Funeral services for Bert (Bertie) Godbey, 95, longtime Ellensburg resident, who died Friday [December 27, 1968] at Bernath Nursing Home, will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Evenson Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Maurice Swisher will officiate. Interment will be in the IOOF Cemetery. Born April 13, 1893 in Kearney, Neb., Godbey was a veteran of army service in World War I. He came to Ellensburg from Nebraska in 1932 an was married to Bertha Looney Aug. 22, 1936 in Yakima. Godbey followed the cement finisher’s trade. Surviving are his wife, Bertha at the family home, 504 S. Pearl; … Read more

Yocom, Melissa Jane Taylor – Obituary

Mrs. Brian Yocum [Byam Yocom], a former pioneer resident of the West Side, died December 7 at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Mrs. and Mrs. Jesse [Edward] Dennis, in Wenatchee, according to word received. Mrs. Yocum was 90 years old November 25. She lived in the Kittitas Valley for many years before moving to Wenatchee. Burial was in Wenatchee. [Interment in Wenatchee Cemetery] Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Sisk, Gladys Morrison – Obituary

Gladys B. Sisk, 84, a lifetime resident passed away on Wednesday, July 27, 1994 at Lakeridge Care Center of Moses Lake, Washington. She was born on August 9, 1909 in Ellensburg, the only daughter of pioneer parents Tom and Lillie (Ferguson) Morrison. Gladys attended Kittitas schools and was on all the girls athletic teams-basketball, baseball, tennis, etc. After graduation in 1928, she enrolled in Success Business College in Seattle. After 7 months at school, she was called home to take care of her ill mother. September 16, 1929 Gladys married Clarence C. (Irish) Sisk and they made their home in … Read more

Curtis, Rosetta Carver – Obituary

Mrs. G. Carver, Valley Pioneer, Expires Today Resident Here Since 1876; Passes At Age Of 77 After Long Illness Mrs. George W. Carver passed away at her home at 9 o’clock this morning [November 14, 1930] following a long illness and after being bedfast for more than three months, at the age of 77 years. Mrs. Carver was one of the earliest pioneers of the Kittitas valley, coming here in 1876. Rosetta Curtis was born in Macomb County, Michigan, January 3, 1853. She was married to George W. Carver at Cottonwood Springs, Nebraska, on March 6, 1869. Homestead on Nanum. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles T. Kineth

CHARLES T. KINETH. – Mr. Kineth is a native of Washington, having been born near Coupeville, on Widby Island, November 3, 1855. His father, John Kineth, was a resident of Springfield, Illinois, when our martyred President Lincoln was studying his profession in that city. He moved to Oregon in 1848, and was a saddler at Lafayette during the Rogue river war, moving in the fall of 1852 to Whidby Island. The subject of this sketch was married to Miss Jessie Drake in 1879, and has two children, Jennie and Agnes. Having an ambition to be the architect of his own … 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

Olmstead, Sarah Yale – Obituary

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

Curtis, Samantha Wheeler – Obituary

Mrs. Samantha Ann Curtis, 79, valley pioneer, passed away at the home of her brother, Abe Wheeler, near Kittitas, last night [died March 12, 1934]. Mrs. Curtis came here in 1871 and has resided since that time in the valley with the exception of a few years spent at Okanogan. She was married to Mr. Curtis here in 1875 but was widowed in 1923 by his death. She leaves four children, Mrs. Etta Vaughn, Mrs. Mae Goldberg, Wesley Curtis, all of Brewster, and Mrs. Tillie Hayes, Kittitas. There are 27 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held … Read more

Prater, Charles Cornelius Jr. – Obituary

C. C. Prater, 57, life-long Kittitas Valley resident and prominent Westside farmer, died here last night at the home of his sister, Mrs. Minnie Wangeman, after an illness of 10 weeks. The son of pioneer valley settlers, he was born on the family farm on the Westside on December 15, 1881. He was married here to Miss Velma Weaver on November 14, 1906. From his youth he took an active part in the activities of the community. Among the many responsibilities which he held at the time of his death were: Community Committeeman of the Kittitas County Conservation Association; Director … Read more

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

Grindrod, Mildred Miller – Obituary

Mildred M. Grindrod, 61, Kittitas, died Tuesday [December 3] morning at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. She was born in Ainsworth, Neb., on Sept. 3, 1924. She and Owen Grindrod were married in Sumner on April 4, 1942. They came to the Kittitas Valley from Puyallup in 1944 and farmed in the Badger Pocket area. They moved to Kittitas in 1959 and operated the O&M Café for a number of years. Mrs. Grindrod had been employed as a cook at Husky House for the past five years. She was a member of the Kittitas Community Church and the Kittitas Booster Club, … Read more