Washington

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

Olmstead, Phil – Obituary

Phil Olmstead Valley Pioneer Called–Resident of Valley for 61 Years Passed Wednesday From Heart Attack–Had Distinguished Ancestors Philip S. Olmstead, 73-year-old resident of the Kittitas Valley for nearly 62 years, died suddenly at his farm home Wednesday morning [March 23, 1938] from a heart attack. Death came to him without warning about 9:30, shortly after he had conferred with D. W. Brunson, local auctioneer, about a sale which he was contemplating next week, after which he planned to retire from active farming. Mr. Olmstead was born in Ottawa, Illinois, the 14th day of February in 1865. He came to the … Read more

Mullen, Etta Emma Orr – Obituary

Mrs. Etta Emma Mullen, 69, died this morning [December 10, 1937] at her home in Kittitas. She is survived by four daughters, Mrs. A. M. Johnstone of Seattle; Mrs. Mabel Wheeler of Seattle; Mrs. Lois Kenworthy of Seattle; and Violet Hickman of Fullerton, Calif.; three sons, V. E. Mullen of Port Angeles; L. N. Mullen of Kittitas and V. O. Mullen of Portland, Ore.; and two sisters, Mrs. Cora M. Gates of Denver and Mrs. Povery Ludeman of Spokane. Funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock at the Honeycutt Chapel. [IOOF Cemetery] Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

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

Michels, Anna Olding – Obituary

Anna Michels, 69-year-old native daughter of the Kittitas Valley died at her home today [August 25, 1949] following an illness of several months. She was born in Ellensburg on May 23, 1880. She was married to Henry J. Michels on May 22, 1900. He preceded her in death on October 12, 1943. She was a member of the Kittitas County Fair Board for several years. Surviving are a son, Roy, of Ellensburg, and four sisters, Mrs. Eva Shaw of Ellensburg, Mrs. Lida McGuire, and Mrs. Nettie Galvin, both of Kirkland, and Mrs. J. A. Tesack of Seattle. Funeral services will … Read more

McKenzie, Charles Maxfield – Obituary

Former Yakima Valley resident Charles “Max” McKenzie, 84, of Edmonds, died Sunday in Edmonds [August 17, 1986]. Mr. McKenzie was born Dec. 8, 1901, in Omaha, Neb., to Charles and Maude McKenzie. They moved in 1903 to Quincy, where his family homesteaded until the death of his father in 1915. In 1917, they moved to the Kittitas Valley and took up farming. Mr. McKenzie went to work for the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1923, retiring in 1967. He was married in 1926 to Ruth Barnhart. They were transferred to Yakima in 1932. While working for the railroad, he maintained a … Read more

McGranahan, Thomas H. – Obituary

Death came peacefully this afternoon [April 14, 1928] to Thomas H. McGranahan, retired Ellensburg business man, who was stricken with an acute heart attack last Monday night. His health, however, had been poor for the last year or two, especially since the death of Mrs. McGranahan a year ago.. Mr. McGranahan, who was born in Jamestown, PA., April 11, 1852, had resided in Ellensburg since 1901, and formerly was associated with A. C. Butler in the grocery business here. Prior to that he was proprietor of a bank and general merchandise store at Delta, Colorado. The funeral services will be … Read more

McGranahan, Anna Friel – Obituary

Mrs. T. McGranahan, a resident of Ellensburg for 26 years, died here on Wednesday [March 2, 1927] of pneumonia, which developed following a relapse suffered by the deceased after a short illness with influenza. Coming here in 1901 from St. Anthony, Idaho, Mrs. McGranahan has been numbered among the pioneers of the valley. Besides her husband, and her son, C. C. McGranahan, assistant cashier of the Farmers Bank, she is survived by three brothers and two sisters in the East. Funeral services will be held at 2 o’clock. Friday from the family home, 109 W. Ninth Street, with the Rev. … Read more

Stickney, May Briody – Obituary

Her death following that of her husband, Elmer E. Stickney, by a little more than a month, Mrs. May Stickney, 70- year-old Kittitas County pioneer, passed away at her home here last night [July 5, 1934] following a lingering illness. Mr. Stickney died on May 29. Mrs. Stickney was born February 10, 1864, at Oregon City, Oregon, and came to the Kittitas Valley in 1892. May 2 of that year she was married to Mr. Stickney. Eight children, all residents of Ellensburg, survive. They are: Earl, Henry, Fred, Mrs. Anna Miller, Mrs. Effie Kinkade, Mrs. Mabel Grimm, Mrs. Bertha Besaw … Read more

Sorenson, E. Peter – Obituary

E. Peter Sorenson, 65, pioneer Denmark District farmer, died suddenly Tuesday evening [October 12, 1937] of a heart attack. Mr. Sorenson was born near Aarhus, Denmark, on April 7, 1872, and came to Minnesota in 1888 where he joined his brother, the late Soren Sorenson. They came together to the Kittitas Valley in the fall of that year. Active in enterprises connected with the development of the valley, he worked and farmed near Ellensburg until 1892, when he obtained land in the Denmark District where he has resided ever since. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Ann Sorenson, a … Read more

Shaw, Albert E. – Obituary

Albert E. “Shorty” Shaw, 68, Westside farmer and former owner of the Consolidated Creamery, and a resident of this valley since 1883, died here this morning [July 18, 1931]. Tuesday he had a leg amputated, two weeks after it was injured by a chain tied to a 15-months’ old bull calf which caught in his leg and dragged him a ways. It was thought at the time of the operation that he would recover but his passing came as a shock to his friends today. He was born in Handsport, Nova Scotia in 1863 and came to Ellensburg in 1883 … Read more

Seaton, James A. – Obituary

James A. Seaton, 73, well-known native Fairview District farmer, passed away Sunday [January 7, 1968] at his home. Born Nov. 12, 1893, near the head of Wilson Creek in Kittitas County, he was married to Ruth Z. Wallace, July 3, 1924 at Tacoma. His wife preceded him in death, passing away June 2, 1952. A member of the Kittitas County Farm Bureau, Mr. Seaton also operated a hay baling business from 1923 to 1927. He is survived by one son, James A. Seaton, Jr., Ellensburg; one daughter, Mrs. Robert (Margaret) Paul, Ellensburg; nine grandchildren; one brother, Ralph Seaton, Ellensburg; two … Read more

Schnebly, Elizabeth May Barnhart – Obituary

Elizabeth Barnhart Schnebly, 95, of 502 E. Fifth, a life-time resident of the Kittitas Valley, died Saturday [May 21, 1983] at Haven House Nursing Home. She was born Oct. 15, 1887, in the Fairview District, a daughter of the late Frank C. and Matilda (Bailes) Barnhart and a granddaughter of the Rev. Keithley and Sarah (Marshall) Bailes and Thomas Henderson and Mary (Letterman) Barnhart, all pioneer settlers of the Kittitas Valley. Mrs. Schnebly was educated in local schools and attended one of the early classes at the then Ellensburg Normal School. She and Joseph Jay Schnebly were married on Oct. … Read more

Schnebly, Edna Emily Smith – Obituary

Edna E. Schnebly, 78, lower Taneum retired schoolteacher, died at Ellensburg Hospital, Wednesday [September 1, 1971]. Born Oct. 24, 1892 at East Stanwood, Wash., she received her early teaching training at Bellingham, taught at Willipa Harbor and Fairview for many years. She came here as a young woman and married John Henry Schnebly in 1916 in Ellensburg. She returned to teaching during the war and taught at Denmark [area around Ellensburg] and Kittitas until her retirement in 1960. She made her home in the lower Taneum District. She was a member of Episcopal Church, St. Anne’s Guild and Gallina Club … Read more

Rutledge, Roy Ernest – Obituary

Ernest Rutledge, 44, Ellensburg, was critically injured early this morning [June 28, 1943] when the westbound section of the Milwaukee Olympian passenger train crashed into the logging truck he was driving at the “B” Street crossing. Physicians at the Ellensburg General Hospital, where he was rushed in a Honeycutt ambulance, said he suffered a skull fracture and a severe back injury. The accident happened about 5:45 o’clock this morning [June 26, 1943] as Rutledge who was driving a truck belonging to A. J. McCracken, was leaving for logging operations in the Menastash Canyon. He lives with his mother, Mrs. W. … 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

Rader, Benjamin Franklin – Obituary

Funeral services will be held at the Evenson Chapel Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 2 p.m. for Ben F. Rader, native Reeecer Creek rancher who died Thursday [September 12, 1963] at the Ellensburg General Hospital. Rev. Paul G. Nance will officiate and interment will be in the IOOF Cemetery. The family suggests that anyone wishing to make a memorial in Mr. Rader’s name, send it to the First Christian Church Memorial Fund. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Peffers, Moses – Obituary

Moses Peffers, a pioneer of the Kittitas Valley since 1882, passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Oscar McEwen, 801 East First Street, Sunday evening [April 13, 1930] at the age of 79. He came to this valley in 1882 and resided on his ranch in the Fairview District until the time of his illness, one and one-half years ago, when he came to the city to live with his daughter. He is survived by five sons, John, Elmer, William, Burton, and Albert and one daughter, Mrs. Oscar McEwen, all residents of this city. Another daughter, Mrs. Henry … Read more

Montgomery, James M. – Obituary

Following a brief illness J. M. Montgomery, one of Kittitas Valley’s oldest residents died at the Ellensburg General Hospital Friday afternoon [October 29, 1937]. Mr. Montgomery was born at Scio, Linn County, Oregon, June 30, 1852. Until 1881 he lived with his family in Salinas, Calif., when he moved to Kittitas County where he lived the remainder of his 56 years. Besides owning a farm in the Broadview District where he has made a home since 1881 he operated a freighting line from various supply points until the railroad was built into this section in 1886. He is survived by … Read more

Montgomery, George – Obituary

George Montgomery, valley pioneer, passed away yesterday [April 29, 1934] at his home, 712 East 8th Street following a short illness. He was born in Jackson County, Oregon, Sept. 29, 1860, and came to the Kittitas Valley at the age of 21 from Salina, Calif. He was married to Deliah Davis, Feb. 14, 1890. Mr. Montgomery worked as early pioneers did and driving freight in from The Dalles, Oregon, and suffered many hardships. He has been gardener at the Normal School for 14 years where he was affectionately known as “dad.” He leaves a widow and two sons, Carl of … Read more