Kittitas Valley Washington

Barnhart, Matilda Bailes – Obituary

Death Comes To Valley Resident Matilda Barnhart Succumbs Sunday Mrs. Matilda L. Barnhart, 87, pioneer Fairview District resident, died yesterday at the Ellensburg General Hospital, where she had been confined since March 1 with a broken hip died June 19, 1950. A resident of the Kittitas Valley for 73 years, Mrs. Barnhart was born in Salem, Ore., on August 26, 1862. She came to this area with her family in 1877. She was the widow of F. C. Barnhart, who died December 23, 1932 Mrs. Barnhart was a daughter of Keithley Bailes, one of the pioneer ministers of the Kittitas … Read more

Erickson, William F. – Obituary

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

Grunden, John William – Obituary

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

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

Gore, Etta McEwen – Obituary

Rev. Floyd Brown of the First Baptist church conducted funeral services Tuesday afternoon for Mrs. Etta McEwen Gore, who passed away Friday after a short illness. Mrs. Gore was born here on March 6, 1873, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. McEwen and third white child born in the valley [Kittitas Valley]. In 1888 [10-13-1889] she married William Lee and after some years wed Wilfred A. Gore, who died in 1916 [7-27-1918]. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Harry T. Logsden of Texas City, Tex.; her sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Ferguson of Ellensburg and Mrs. A. L. Wheeler [Laura]. Etta divorced … Read more

Huss, Elisha Harvey – Obituary

Harvey Huss died at his home in the Fairview District Tuesday [January 27, 1920] at the advanced age of 80 years. Mr. Huss had been a resident of Kittitas Valley since 1885 and was well known in this community. Mr. Huss was born in Ohio in 1840. In 1863 he married [Dorcas] Jane Graham, who survives him. In 1865 he crossed the plains by ox team and settled in Grant County, Oregon, coming to this valley in 1885 and settled upon the ranch where he died, which is located about 12 miles northeast of Ellensburg. Besides his widow, Mr. Huss … Read more

Hayes, Samuel – Obituary

Sam Hayes, 73, former long-time resident of the Kittitas Valley, died last night October 30, 1949 at a Yakima hospital. Hayes had been a farmer in the Kittitas Valley for the greater part of his life until he retired and moved to Yakima about 10 years ago. A native of Colorado, Hayes came to the Kittitas Valley 65 years ago with his father, the late Sanford Hayes, a pioneer of this area. Hayes is survived by a sister, Mrs. W. S. Sheldon of Twin Falls, Ida., a grand nephew, James Hayes of Ellensburg, and numerous other nieces and nephews in … Read more

Schnebly, Elsie Winifred Hodgson – Obituary

Elsie Schnebly, 98, passed away Sept. 6, 1994 in Ellensburg. She was the daughter of Thomas and Anna (Schwartz) Hodgson. Mrs. Schnebly was born in Zillah on Feb. 8, 1896. She moved with her family to Roslyn later that year and in 1900 the family moved to Ellensburg. She graduated from Ellensburg High School in 1913 and attended the Normal School. She taught in rural schools in Kittitas County: Tarpiscon School in 1914-15 and the Sunset School 1915-1916. She taught at the Fairview School 1916-17. On June 5, 1917, Elsie married Frank B. Schnebly and they ran a cattle ranch … Read more

Hayes, George – Obituary

George Hayes Dies At Pasco, Valley Pioneer Passes Thursday George H. Hayes, 75, a Kittitas Valley pioneer, died Thursday afternoon at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Pasco following an illness of two weeks [died May 31, 1956]. He had made his home in Pasco with a daughter, Mrs. Helen Rombough, for the past year. Hayes was brought to the valley by his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. James T. Hayes. He farmed for many years in the Edgemont District before his retirement. He was a past master of the Kittitas Grange, a charter member of the Ellensburg Moose … Read more

Grunden, Selma Caroline Jacobsen – Obituary

Death came here this week to another of Kittitas Valley’s pioneers, Mrs. Selma Caroline Grunden, 80, who had lived here 68 years died November 29, 1946. Born in Sweden May 31, 1866, Mrs. Grunden came to Ellensburg in 1878, when she was 12 years old, and had made her home here continuously since that time. She was in Ellensburg during the last Indian uprising in Central Washington and witnessed growth of this area from a frontier section to its present development. She made her home with the late J. L. Vaughn for several years after coming to the valley. She … 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

Hayes, James Thomas – Obituary

James T. Hayes, Kittitas Valley pioneer, passed away at his home Friday, May 24 [1935], at the age of 79 years and one day. He was born in Iowa, May 23, 1856, and came to this valley 52 years ago and has remained here since that time. Besides his widow to whom he was married 59 years ago he is survived by seven children, three brothers, and one sister. The children include John, George, Abe, Clarence, Harry, Mrs. Louis Bender and Mrs. Dora Willis, all of this city. The brothers are Sam and William of Ellensburg and Milo of Idaho … Read more

Harrell, Thomas Andrew Sr. – Obituary

T. A. Harrell, Sr., dies Sunday. Well known Valley farmer passes away at age of 82, leaves many relatives. . Thomas A. Harrell, Sr., 82, well known in the valley where he has farmed for 16 years, passed away early Sunday morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Jessie Cates. Mr. Harrell had been in poor health for a year, but his illness became serious only within the last week. Mr. Harrell was born in Tennessee in December, 1843, and he lived in that state until 16 years ago this spring when he came to Kittitas valley where he … Read more

Ferguson, Elizabeth McEwen – Obituary

Death Comes To Mrs. Ferguson/Valley’s Oldest Pioneer Passes Only four months short of attaining her 100th birthday, Mrs. Elizabeth (Grandma) Ferguson, who was the oldest pioneer woman living in the Kittitas valley, died this morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Lottie Ferguson Harris, at 302 E. Fourth street here [March 24, 1951]. She died at 2:10 a.m. She was a daughter of a pioneer family, as well as being a pioneer herself. She came across the plains in 1860 with her family, making the six-month trip when a girl 9 years old. Grandma Ferguson was born Elizabeth McEwen … Read more

Cooke, Morand – Obituary

Mode Cooke, 88, Valley Pioneer, Taken By Death Widely Known Fairview Farmer Resided Here 75 Years Death yesterday took Morand D. (Mode) Cooke, 88, in the Kittitas valley’s oldest pioneer in point of years and the last remaining member of one of the Northwest’s pioneer families. He died at his home in the Fairview district, where he had lived for 74 years, yesterday afternoon [died September 2, 1945]. A son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Cooke, Oregon and Washington pioneers, he came to the Kittitas valley with his parents in 1871. At his death he made his … Read more

Barns, Malinda Anna Geddis – Obituary

At her home on the West side, Feb. 26, 1903, Mrs. A. Barns, aged 43 years. Mrs. Barns was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. R. Geddis, pioneers of this (Kittitas) Valley and county. She was born in Linn County, Oregon, in 1860. She was married to A. Barns Feb. 2, 1879. She leaves a family of seven children and a husband, besides a host of warm friends to mourn her departure. She had been ill a long time with dropsy, which finally terminated in death Malinda was the daughter of Sylvanna R. Geddis and Emily Christine Tureman. She … 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

Barnhart, Pleasant Frederick – Obituary

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

Gage, Asa – Obituary

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

Barnhart, Mary Magdalene Letterman – Obituary

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