Kittitas County WA

Cates, Jesse – Obituary

Jesse Cates, 79, well-known Ellensburg resident for a quarter of a century, died at the Valley Hospital last night. He was born in Campbell County, Tennessee, August 27, 1858, and was married to Nannie Harrell of Rogersville, Tenn., February 28, 1904. For many years he was a federal revenue inspector in Tennessee. He had lived in the valley since 1913, residing at 301 Washington Street. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Nannie Cates; a daughter, Mrs. Fannie Baker of Knoxville, Tenn., a grandson, and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at … Read more

McEwen, Catherine Chambers – Obituary

Near Oakland, Mason County, Oct 16, 1876 of heart disease, Mrs. Catherine McEwen, aged 87. Catherine was the daughter of William H. Chambers and Mary Ann Perry. She was married to the Rev. James McEwen. Catherine was the mother of John Hager McEwen. Her son John was a well-known pioneer of Oakland and Ellensburg. Catherine was buried in the Oakland Cemetery. The grave is no longer marked. A memorial headstone has been placed in the Shelton Memorial Cemetery.

Davis, Maria Harris – Obituary

Funeral Of Pioneer To Be Held Tomorrow. Mrs. Maria Davis Was In Valley In 1869 Crossed Plains On Horseback At Age Of Six Years-First Settler On Lake Washington The death of Mrs. Maria Davis, 77 years old, one of the earliest pioneers of Washington, who passed through the Kittitas Valley on her way to Lake Washington in 1869 and met at the summit of Snoqualmie Pass, Tillman Houser and Gus Nesalhouse, first settlers here, resulted from a short illness from pneumonia, according to information received here today Mrs. Davis and her husband, John Davis, lived in Yakima in 1867 to … Read more

Wyatt, Helen Hartwell – Obituary

Mrs. Helen Hartwell Wyatt, 68, a Kittitas valley resident for 31 years, died here Thursday [January 3, 1952] evening at 9 o’clock in the Airway Nursing Home. She had been ill for the past 18 years and had been at the nursing home for the last four years. She is survived by her husband, Arthur Wyatt of Kittitas, whom she married January 12, 1918 at Twin Falls, Idaho. Other surviving relatives include a daughter, Mrs. Lucille Martens of Montesano; three sisters, Mrs. Louie Welles of Los Angeles, California, Mrs. Caroline Patrick of Rogerson, Idaho, and Mrs. Dorothy Gish of Benicia, … Read more

Gage, Tami – Obituary

Tami Gage, 34, passed away April 12, 1997 at Levan, Utah. She was a frequent visitor to Ellensburg. As a teenager, she was very active in 4H and FFA; show her sheep here on many occasions. She attended the University of Utah and received her Master’s degree in biology and animal research from there. She is survived by her parents, Fred Gage of Tonasket and Linda Pauly of Levan, Utah; brothers Marty (Tara) of Levan, Utah and Stacy (Crystal) of Tonasket; uncles, Cliff, Bob and Seth of Ellensburg and Harrell of Dufur, Ore.; aunts Tressa, Esther, and Ellen, of Ellensburg, … Read more

Jensen, Hellen Mrs. – Obituary

Death Come To Hellen Jensen Mrs. Hellen Jensen, 72, long-time Ellensburg resident and widow of Jens. C. Jensen, died Sunday at Sorensen Memorial Hospital. She had been hospitalized for two weeks. Mrs. Jensen was born May 24, 1883, in Wabassee, Canada, and came to Ellensburg in 1900. She and Mr. Jensen were married here in April, 1900. They farmed for a number of years in the Kittitas area. Mr. Jensen worked for 24 years for the Carter Transfer Co., and then was employed by the Northeran Pacific Railroad. He was killed Jan. 11, 1944, when a N. P. passenger train … Read more

Cleman, Nora Belle Sharp – Obituary

One of Kittitas County’s earliest settlers died Monday [January 4] in the passing of Mrs. Jake Cleman, 63, who passed at the Ellensburg hospital from a brain hemorrhage which had confined her since Christmas Day. Mrs. Cleman, whose maiden name was Nora Belle Sharp, came to this valley with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. sharp in 1874 and has resided here continually since that time. She was born in Oregon in 1868 and in 1887 was married. Eleven children, three sisters and two brothers survive her. The children are Clarence of Sacramento, Calif.; Mrs. Lelah Pratsch of Aberdeen; … Read more

Brown, Elizabeth Jane Bailes – Obituary

Oldest Valley Pioneer Passes Elizabeth J. Brown, 98 Succumbs to Heart Attack Elizabeth J. Brown, oldest pioneer resident of the Kittitas Valley, who lacked just six weeks of becoming 99 years of age, succumbed to a heart attack yesterday in her home at 108 North Ruby Street died October 24, 1949. An invalid for the past 10 years, Mrs. Brown has made the valley her home for the past 70 years, since she first came here August 6, 1879. Born December 8, 1850, in Springfield, Missouri, the daughter of Rev. Keathley Bailes and Mrs. Bailes, she and her family crossed … Read more

Hall, Margaret Olding – Obituary

Mrs. A. M. Hall Dies On Sunday. Was Born In Valley, Parents Being Pioneer Olding Family. Mrs. Margaret V. Hall, wife of a. M. Hall of the Fairview District and daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John G. Olding, pioneer residents of the valley, died here Sunday morning December 19, 1932 at 10 o’clock. She was born in this valley August 16, 1882. Her father and mother came here in 1871 and settled on the homestead, six miles north of Ellensburg where Mrs. Hall was born and died. Her parents came here by ox team, driving from Walla Walla. … 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

Bender, Louis Charles – Obituary

Louis C. Bender, 68, Rt. 5, died Saturday [August 21, 1982] while on a fishing trip near White Salmon. He was born in Ellensburg on Dec. 22, 1913. He was a rural mail carrier for nine years and later, from 1936 to 1972, he owned and operated the Horse Shoe Tavern He and June Molotte were married in Pasco on Feb. 15, 1948. Mr. Bender was a member of the Eagles Lodge and he was an avid fisherman and hunter. He enjoyed gardening and working in his flowers. He also was a member of the Kittitas County Field and Stream … Read more

Harrell, Thomas Andrew Jr. – Obituary

Thomas Andrew Harrell, 71, died today March 2, 1959 at the Valley General Hospital. He had been seriously ill for a week but has been in failing health for some time. He was born in Rogersville, Tenn. And came to the Kittitas Valley where he has been a rancher since 1904. He married Miss Maxie Taylor here in 1908. Following her death, he subsequently married Miss Alice Poskey who has also passed away. He is survived by his present wife, Mrs. Esther Harrell and by a daughter, Mrs. Louise Fleming now a resident of Ellensburg formerly of Seattle. He leaves … Read more

Hayes, Matilda Curtis – Obituary

Matilda (Tillie) Hayes, 92, died at a local nursing home Friday. She was the daughter of valley pioneers Mr. and Mrs. James Curtis. Born November 16, 1879, at the site where Kittitas now stands, she married James J. Hayes, January 29, 1899, and she lived in the Denmark-Badger Pocket area until five years ago when she moved to Ellensburg to live with her daughter, Mrs. Velma Casey, 105 S. Ruby. She is survived by a son, James A. Hayes, Ellensburg, two daughters, Mrs. Hazel Indermuhle and Mrs. Casey, both of Ellensburg, seven grandchildren, twenty-four great grandchildren, ten great-great grandchildren, and … Read more

Cooke, Winifred Joyce Churchill – Obituary

Winifred Cooke, 83, died Monday [January 13, 1975] at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. She was born March 13, 1891 in Capac, Mich., and after marrying Chester A. Cooke in 1910 moved to the Edgemont-Thrall area where they farmed. He proceeded her in death in 1950. Survivors include three daughters, Mrs. Dorothy Ohlander, Mrs. Frances Bryant and Mrs. Ruth Treischel, all of Seattle, two sons, Bruce of Milton and Bob of Chelan, 12 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. At her wishes there will be cremation and no services. [Interment in IOOF Cemetery] Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Johnson, Dora Evans Crawford – Obituary

Mrs. Dora Evans Crawford Johnson, better known as Mrs. George Crawford, passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Pete Sorenson, this morning following a lengthy illness. Mrs. Johnson was born in Todd County, Minnesota 54 years ago and has been a resident of this community since she was 14 years of age. She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Spanish American War Veterans and for her 40 years residence here has been a worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Besides her widower, Joseph R. Johnson, one son, Stephen E. Crawford of Ellensburg and three daughters, … Read more

Biography of Frederick D. Schnebly

FREDERICK D. SCHNEBLY – Our subject was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, in 1832, and was educated in the Franklin and Marshall College of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In 1854 he started for California by way of Nicaragua. In passing up the Pacific, the steamer, Star of the West, on which he had taken passage, took fire; but the horrors of a burning ship tragedy were avoided by the timely and effective labors of the crew and passengers. After stopping for a time in San Francisco, he visited the Sandwich Islands, but, returning to the Golden state, spent two unsuccessful years in mining. … Read more

Biography of Hon. Charles P. Cooke

HON. CHARLES P. COOKE – The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Erie county, Ohio, in 1824. His early life was spent in his native place. In 1846 he went as a volunteer to the Mexican war, and served as second lieutenant in the first regiment of Ohio Volunteers. He was in the army a full year, and participated in the engagements at Monterey, Buena Vista and other bloody battles of that war. He then returned home, but in the spring of 1849 left for the Pacific coast, crossing the plains with ox-teams … Read more

Schnebly, Frederick Cooke – Obituary

Fred C. Schnebly, 74, who was born in the Kittitas Valley of a pioneer family, was a director, board president and outstanding leader in the creation and operation of the Kittitas Reclamation District, and for more than 50 years was one of the best known cattlemen of the Pacific Northwest, died at the Valley General Hosptial Tuesday evening [April 12, 1955]. Death followed an illness from a kidney infection started last September. His father and all his brothers were likewise leaders in the cattle industry of the Northwest, as his son is today. His father was the late P. H. … Read more

Hayes, James Jonathan – Obituary

James J. ‘Johnnie’ Hayes, 98, of Rt. 2 in the Thrall area, died Wednesday [died February 23, 1977] at a local nursing home. He was born February 22, 1879 (headstone 1880) in Otoe County, Neb. He came here from Iowa in 1883 and lived in School District No. 12 for 80 years. He farmed in the Badger Pocket and Denmark areas until 1967 when he moved to Thrall. He and Dorothy (Tillie) Curtis were married Jan. 29, 1899. She preceded him in death Oct. 6, 1972. Survivors include: two daughters, Mrs. Hazel Indermuhle and Mrs. Velma Casey, and one brother, … Read more

Rutledge, Nellie Bessie Ferguson – Obituary

Mrs. Nellie Bessie Rutledge, 26, wife of Edgar Rutledge, died early this morning [January 25, 1928] at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Ferguson, at 210 South Main Street. Funeral announcements will be made later. Mrs. Rutledge leaves besides her husband and parents, two sons, Marvin and Glenn; a brother, Lester Ferguson, well-known baseball player, and a sister, Mrs. Bertha Wright. She was born in Ellensburg, February 24, 1901, and was a member of the Baptist Church. Nellie died from injuries incurred in a horse and buggy accident. She was buried in the IOOF Cemetery. Contributed … Read more