Erickson, Mary Elizabeth Dixon Shelton – Obituary

M. Elizabeth Erickson, 82, died Wednesday [August 27, 1975] at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. Born July 29, 1892 in Ellensburg, she was the daughter of pioneer parents Mr. and Mrs. Elwood Dixon who came to Ellensburg from Walla Walla in 1879. She was married to William F. Erickson, Dec. 25, 1919 in Ellensburg. They farmed north of town, in the Badger Pocket and later on the west side. He preceded her in death Aug. 7, 1970 and a short time later she moved to Ellensburg and made her home at 502 E. 3rd Ave. She was a member of the … 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

Harrell, Herbert – Obituary

Herbert Harrell, 39, former valley resident, died at Laramie, Wyoming, Wednesday, September 14 [1938]. Born at Rogersville, Tenn., August 5, 1899, he came west with his parents in the spring of 1909. Her parents settled in the Kittitas Valley and he received his education in the Ridgeway and Thorp schools. He was married to Eula Mundy April 27, 1917. The family moved to California in 1923, residing there until 1933 when they moved to Wyoming. He is survived by his widow, three daughters, Juanita, Louise and Bernadine; seven sisters, Mrs. W. T. Rutledge, Mrs. J. R. Morefield, Mrs. Jesse Cates, … Read more

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

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

Bailes, Sarah Jane Rader – Obituary

Mrs. A. J. Bailes dies last night. Early Valley Pioneer succumbs; resided here since 1877. Death came last night September 16, 1937 to an early and widely known Kittitas Valley pioneer, Mrs. Sarah Jane Bailes, 78, at her home at 603 East Ninth Street. Mrs. Bailes came to the valley in 1877, and had lived here 60 years. She was married to Andrew Jackson Bailes, who survives her, 57 years ago. In addition to her widower, she is survived by four daughters, Mrs. Clarence Houser, Mrs. E. R. Edwards and Mrs. Ray Ayers of Ellensburg and Mrs. H. M. Sheppard … Read more

Bull, John Alva – Obituary

John Alva Bull, 78, died suddenly at his home on Route 5, Saturday [September 20]. Bull was born at the family farm, September 10, 1891 to Walter A. and Rebecca Bull and spent his entire life in the Kittitas Valley. He graduated from the local school and attended the University of Washington where he studied law. On Dec. 24, 1915 in Salt Lake City, he married Margaret Porter whom he had met while both where students of the University. Since their marriage they have made their home on Route 5 on the farm his mother, Rebecca Nelson [Bull], had homesteaded. … Read more

Morrison, Thomas Jefferson – Obituary

Tom Morrison Taken By Death, Pioneer Family Member Passes. Thomas Jefferson Morrison, a son of one of the Kittitas Valley’s earliest pioneer families, passed away this morning in the Valley General Hospital at the age of 75 years [April 11, 1953]. He had been in ill health for several years and entered the hospital last Wednesday. He was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Morrison, who came to the Kittitas Valley in 1870. His grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wheeler, who came to the valley in the same year. William Morrison, who was a Civil War … Read more

Michels, Henry – Obituary

Henry J. Michels, 69, Kittitas valley pioneer and widely known Westside farmer, died at the Valley General Hospital yesterday afternoon [died October 12, 1943]. Born in St. James, Minn., he came to the valley with his parents in 1882 and had resided here 61 years. He was educated in the Ellensburg schools and was married here May 22, 1900, to Miss Anna Olding, likewise a member of an early pioneer valley family. With the exception of a few years when he was in the drayage business in Ellensburg, he operated a farm on the Westside. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. … 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

Harrell, Julia Derrick – Obituary

Valley Pioneer Dies on Monday. Mrs. Julia Harrell Resident of the Valley for 16 years dies after brief Illness. Mrs. Julia Harrell, 70, wife of T. A. Harrell, Sr., West Side rancher, passed away at her home Monday afternoon August 24, 1925 at 2:30, following a brief illness due to heart failure. Mrs. Harrell, with her husband and family, came to Ellensburg in 1909 and had lived on a ranch on the West Side ever since. She was born April 16, 1855, at Rogersville, Tenn. On December 25, 1871, she was married to Thomas A. Harrell and 11 children were … Read more

Cooke, Virinda Wheeler

Mrs. Ward Cooke, of East Kittitas, and who has been seriously indisposed for some time, died Thursday forenoon. The funeral takes place in the forenoon at the residence and the burial at 1 p.m., Saturday, in the I.O.O.F. cemetery. The grief stricken husband and family have the sympathy of a wide circle of friends. Virinda was the daughter of Charles Wheeler and Mariah Fry. She was born February 23, 1861 in Yelm, WA and died August 2, 1906. Virinda married Edward Ward Cooke in 1878. She was the mother of 12 children.

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

Bender, Maria Elizabeth Hayes – Obituary

Mrs. Maria E. Bender, daughter of one of the earliest Kittitas Valley pioneer families, died Saturday morning March 30, 1968, at Bernaths Nursing Home at the age of 82 years. She was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. James T. Hayes A Valley resident all of her life, she was married to Louis Bender June 22, 1907, at Ellensburg. He preceded her in death in 1946. She was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Moose for 40 years Mrs. Bender is survived by four sons; Bernard, Louis, Russell, and Harrell, all of Ellensburg; one daughter, Mrs. … Read more

Hayes, Nancy Fortney – Obituary

Mrs. Nancy Hayes, Pioneer, Passes/Valley Resident For 59 Years Dies; Many Descendents Mrs. Nancy E. Hayes, 83-year-old Kittitas valley pioneer, died at the Valley hospital yesterday [died March 19, 1941]. She was the widow of the late James T. Hayes, and had lived in the Kittitas valley since 1882. Mrs. Hayes was born in Missouri, March 14, 1858. She was married in 1876. She leaves 64 descendents. She is survived by seven children: J. J. Hayes of Badger Pocket; George Hayes of Sunnyside; Abe Hayes of Kittitas; and Mrs. Lou Bender, Mrs. H. P. Willis, C. P. Hayes and H. … Read more

Montgomery, William Thomas – Obituary

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

Ferguson, Susan Matilda Carver – Obituary

Susie Matilda Ferguson, native pioneer resident, passed away Wednesday May 24, 1967 at the Burien General Hospital in Seattle at the age of 87 years. She was born October 18, 1879 in Ellensburg, the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. George Washington Carver [mother Rosetta Curtis] and was married to James Harvey Ferguson on December 25, 1898. They farmed for several years in the Kittitas Valley, moving 17 years ago to Kent. She is survived by her husband, James Harvey Ferguson, Kent; one son, Lester J. Ferguson, Lynnwood; one daughter, Mrs. Bertha Wright, Seattle; four grandchildren, including Marvin Rutledge, … 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

Bailes, Andrew Jackson – Obituary

Death came here early this morning September 18, 1943 to an early and widely known Kittitas Valley pioneer, Andrew Jackson Bailes, 83. Born in Springfield, Mo., November 4, 1859, he came to the valley in 1878 and resided in the Fairview District most of his life. At the time of his death, he resided at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Clarence Houser, in Ellensburg. He was a charter member of the Ellensburg Christian Church. Besides Mrs. Houser, he is survived by three other daughters, Mrs. E. R. Edwards and Mrs. Ray Ayers of Ellensburg, and Mrs. H. M. Shephard … Read more

Huss, Rose Rader – Obituary

Mrs. Rose Huss, Pioneer, Passes. Widely Known Valley Resident Taken By Death Today. Mrs. Rose Huss, 73, widely known Kittitas Valley pioneer, died at her home here this morning [March 12, 1946]. Mrs. Huss traveled with her parents to this area by covered wagon over the Old Oregon Trail when a girl of seven, in 1879. She was born Rose Rader, a daughter of the late A. J. and Margaret Rader, October 9, 1872, near Hollister, Cal. She was the youngest member and last survivor of the sturdy Iowa family which moved into the Northwest in pioneer days. Their first … Read more